I have no idea why you’re here either. I actually post things from time to time over at WELCOME TO WISCANSIN.
Usher is the latest artist to link up with TouchTunes jukeboxes for promoting “exclusive” tunes. If you are reading this post, it’s unlikely that you’ll be rushing out to your favorite dive, bowling alley or Dave & Busters club just to preview “Love in This Club Part II,” featuring Beyonce and Lil Wayne, because the song has been floating around the interweb for about a month. Since Usher’s return to pop prominence is already cemented as the May 27 release of Here I Stand approaches, could the jukebox industry be flagging? With Rock Band or an iPod on random often catering better to a crowd and their sensitive beer money, maybe the “jukebox hero” is finally vanquished. A highly unscientific poll would follow if Tumblr would allow me to embed it.
Do people still use jukeboxes or not?
Track: Jaguar Love - “Bats Over the Pacific Ocean” from the upcoming Take Me to the Sea (Matador) out August 19.
The Sound: Post-screamo indie rock with a nod to the Alvin and the Chipmunks set.
You Might Know Them From: Singer-pianist Johnny Whitney and guitarist-bassist Cody Votolato were helping make the now-split Blood Brothers one of the fiercest and catchiest punk experimenters around. J Clark used to shred guitars for Pretty Girls Make Graves.
What’s Good: Solid pop songwriting rises from the ashes of the Jaguar Love members’ former groups. Whitney’s helium-filled fits (with only a few full-on screams) on vocals add unmistakeable color to the twee arrangements. Even if Axl Rose listened only to Ween for a whole year, he couldn’t manage this.
“I’ve been dying to break into Adult Contemporary, for reals” —Crooner Josh Groban probably became aware of Sean “Diddy” Combs when the rapper appeared in ABC’s A Raisin in the Sun earlier this year. Following Josh’s performance at the opening of the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Ledyard, Conn., over the weekend, their faces tell us what we already know: they’ve just realized that they have absolutely nothing to gain professionally by being photographed together.
Surprise! After Entertainment Weekly broke the news that Nas backed off on titling his upcoming album N***** and is instead settling with Nas, the Internet went a little nuts. “The people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it,” Nas said in a statement. However, some different titles come to mind when running down what disgruntled bloggers the people had to say. Our thinking here, by the way, is that Nas could have gone this guy’s route, if he really wanted to call the album by its original title.
The New York Times’ Ben Sisario might have preferred Wuss (I Am):
“Now, six weeks before street date, having reaped all the outrage and free ink he could, he has changed the title to … Nas. That’s right, this lion of provocation has chickened out where John Lennon and Patti Smith did not fear to tread.”
Nah Right seems to be leaning towards Label’s Disciple:
“It’s not really a surprise that all that talk from L.A. Reid turned out to be just that, talk. This is wack all around. Nas should’ve been prepared to fight this one to the death, or he should’ve never opened his mouth.”
The Fader wants It Was Written, But Poorly Produced:
“Our concern is less over the name and more to whether Nas’ albums wouldn’t be better as totally a cappella.”
TMZ’s titling needs no explanation:
“The best title of all might be untitled — as in no album at all, especially after all this n-sense.”
