Sell out? Yes, please!

Today's act is probably one of your best all-time examples of how "selling out" is, in fact, a fantastic idea...



... although Alabama 3 claim on their website that the use of their song "Woke Up This Morning" as the theme song for The Sopranos "...bought someone a swimming pool, but it sure wasn't any of us..." Now, I find this kinda hard to believe... unless, of course, they were a bunch of idiots and signed a bad deal. They wouldn't be the first. But either way, the fact that they even have a website (and more importantly a continuing career) probably has a lot to do with James Gandolfini and his paisans, don't ya think? Even so, I didn't even know they were still a going concern until today, and well... good for them...

Alabama 3 - U Don't Dance 2 Tekno Anymore (ysi)

From the title of the song, you'd think it might be about a retired raver such as myself, but it's actually far more depressing than that... apparently she don't dance 2 tekno anymore because... she dropped dead while dancing to tekno... from teh drugz... so good times...

Blog-achella 09: Tex-Mex Sabor!

A special announcement to start this Friday... Terrell Owens has been signed for the 2010 season by the Tonegents flag football team, The Pork Barrel Pirates, for $12 and a bag of Doritos. The Pirates feel he will greatly improve their league-worst passing game... In other Coachella news...

We're going to skip over The Bob Mould Band, although it's worth a listen. Dude was the singer of Husker Du after all, and has had some good solo moments as well. Honestly, the new stuff sounds like R.E.M., so I'm not sure what to make of that. Meh.

And then we have Liars, who are proof again (Deerhoof, I look in your direction) that Radiohead, no matter their brilliance, often make lousy choices in opening bands. I'll forgive 'em, though, but seriously... someone good next time, pretty please?

And we end the week with my choice for the Sundown set...

Calexico



Who they are: A band from Arizona that I was going to say reminded me of the rather obscure act Friends of Dean Martinez until I read their Wiki and found out that they were in fact Friends of Dean Martinez. Damn, I'm good!

What they sound like: Not so much Country as Western, if ya catch my drift. A Tex-Mex flavor, if you will. Very laid back... music that sounds like the desert...

Calexico - Victor Jara's Hands (ysi)

What I think: Like I said, how about this for Sundown? Especially if they go with the full Mariachi fandango like so...



Put that in yer guacamole and smoke it. Have a great weekend!

The ORIGINAL Gangsta

Another one of my all-time favorite artists to start the new week, but this one you might not expect...



Now, don't get me wrong. I hate Country music. Watered-down rock with a slide guitar and an annoying accent? No thank you, sir. So why then, do I love Johnny Cash? Because he's the baddest mutha ever to put a song on wax, that's why! He shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die! Johnny Cash didn't need no beef, he just whacked fools because he was bored! One time, Johnny Cash was playing Ice Cube in basketball... know what happened? Johnny Cash fucked around and got a triple double, that's what! Back when I did this blog on Mysuck, I wrote a whole essay one day about how Johnny Cash was so much more gangsta than 50 Cent, and I stand by that! But I won't rehash the whole thing...

But there's another reason to love Johnny Cash. He was one of the best storytellers ever through his lyrics. Listen to this song, and doubt for a second that Johnny hadn't lived every second of it a thousand times over. Hell, your own hung-over self can probably relate quite well today, US readers on Day 3 of the long weekend...

Johnny Cash - Sunday Morning Coming Down (ysi)

So yes, I hate Country music, but I love Johnny Cash. And if you have a problem with that, Johnny will rise from his grave and kill you with his bare hands, just to watch you die. Don't fuck with Johnny Cash!

Blog-achella '07 - Nickel Creek (Fri.) / The Nightwatchman (Sat.)

Blog-achella, being the public service that it is, sometimes makes it necessary for me to post music that I wouldn't normally give a rat's ass about. But I do it for the children. We must always think of the children!

Nickel Creek

Who they are: Strangely enough, they hail from Carlsbad, CA...

What they sound like: ... a place I would necessarily identify with acoustic country bluegrass pickin' and grinnin'.

Nickel Creek - When In Rome

What I think: Okay, we get it... the tie-in from Stagecoach. Willie Nelson is one thing, but it's getting kind of silly. Next!

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The Nightwatchman

Who he is: Tom Morello, with a lame alias.

What he sounds like: A bad Johnny Cash impression. Amazingly (me being such an interwebs ninja and all) I couldn't find a single mp3 anywhere to share with you. But the YouTubes came through for me.



What I think:

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Okay, phew... that's done. But that just doesn't seem to be enough for a Friday. You deserve some bonus content... so... Super Mario Brothers!!!!!





Have an awesome weekend. With March Madness and St. Paddy's Day going on at the same time, here's a link that should come in handy on Monday. ;)

Blog-achella '07 - Willie Nelson (Sun.) / New Pornographers (Sat.)

Who can blog when March Madness has started?

Okay, okay, I'll do it.

Willie Nelson

Who he is: America's favorite stoner.

What he sounds like: Surprisingly lucid!

Willie Nelson - We Don't Run

What I think: Not a country music fan at all, but I'd rank Willie a strong yet distant #2 to my man Johnny Cash. It's kind of interesting how they are throwing in a few hold-overs from the next weekend's Stagecoach Festival. I wonder how it will go over... I imagine Willie will have a large crowd, though, and that the contact high will be especially pungent ;)

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The New Pornographers

Who they are: Yet MORE Canucks, this time from Vancouver, where, oh so appropriately for this particular pairing, they actually have pot cafes! Bonus points for Neko Case being such a hottie.

What they sound like: More of that Indie Pop that seems to be the rage in Canada right now. When I was growing up, it seemed like the only music they had was The Tragically Hip... who rule, btw. If you disagree with that, I will fight you.

The New Pornographers - Sing Me Spanish Techno

What I think: Not bad at all... well this song anyway. Didn't know these guys before, but I may have to investigate further...

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And not that you care, but my Final Four picks are Georgetown, Texas A&M, Florida and Kansas, with the Jayhawks over the Hoyas in the finals... because it's 11:39...

... AND GEORGETOWN STILL SUCKS!!!!

Blog - achella '07 - The Avett Bros. (Sun.) / Benny Benassi (Fri.)

Okay, um, possibly the wierdest tandem of tunes ever here in the blog. Guess that's what keeps it interesting, eh? That and my witty commentary, of course.

The Avett Brothers

Who they are: They are from North Carolina, and only two of them are brothers... which I guess means the other guy is some kinda dirty interloper or something.

What they sound like: Blugrass, bitches! No, really. This is a blugrass band. At Coachella. OMGWTFROFL!

The Avett Brothers - Swept Away

What I think: Hey man, I love bluegrass as much as the next guy. Unfortunately, this...

... is the next guy. Squeeeeal!

But I jest.

Ok, not really.

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Benny Benassi

Who he is: No less than Italy's leading DJ! No, really. It says so right on his website.

What he sounds like: I'm guessing your typical big room house DJ fare. As for his original productions, he seems to specialize in bad house remakes (anyone for "Girls Just Want to Have Fun 2006"? Anyone?) but he's put out a couple good choons. Like this one. You know it.

Benny Benassi - Satifaction

What I think: I think he makes excellent videos...

Well, excellent for the fellas, anyway. Us mens is pigs :P

'Til Tomorrow!