MTV's 25th Video Music Awards: The Collapse Of Mankind

I'm debating whether or not I want to get into this, but whatever, here it goes. Britney Spears: train wreck, worst mother in modern times, Satan, whatever - took home 3 awards. It's obvious that MTV wants to resurrect her (or just bring her up only to have her come crashing down - again). Regardless, her music is ass and I'm surprised she's still alive.

Other categories, let's see. Tokio Hotel (sp?)? The lead singer looks like a chick, sounds like a chick, hair looks like an explosion. Another pop-punk band that ruins good labels and further brings about the Apocalypse. They won Best New Artist. Good God.

Russell Brand was host. Very British. American audiences didn't get him. It's cool, he's British. His whole angle was being outlandish to us. I think he did his job.

I didn't really watch the whole thing, but I heard Lil' Wayne put on a good show. Maybe I'll catch it sometime soon. I mean, MTV will only play it 50 more times within the next 2 weeks or so (they could be playing "Music Videos"...).

What a joke. This makes me want to puke. I'm surprised I didn't talk about the Jonas Brothers. ...Too easy.

Stereogum does a good job of pointing out some awards given to good bands (Death Cab For Cutie, Gnarls Barkley, The White Stripes) in a post last week. Check it out here.

I'm going to go watch clips of early 90's performances at the VMA's and cry. Later.

P.S. In 1991, R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" won Video of the Year. In 1993, Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" won the prestigious one, too. Fast forward: Britney Spears wins it in 2008 with "Piece of Me". ... I am looking forward to the end of time in 2012.

P.P.S. I will not bold shitty artists. They do not deserve it. Even on a cheap college blog.

Enjoy Every Sandwich.

Warren Zevon died 5 years ago today.

Other than "Werewolves of London" I didn't know much of Warren Zevon when he died. Having grown up on a heavy diet of mainly Bruce Springsteen, you'd have though Mr. Zevon's records and I would've crossed paths, but it just didn't happen. Now I would like to remedy that for anyone who is possibly reading this.

Warren Zevon was brilliant. His songs are what you can call "classic rock" at its best, and he even threw some serious dark humor into a bunch of his songs, a sense of humor he honed over years of alcohol abuse and rough times. He also spent some time in my hometown, Philadelphia, engaged to a DJ at local rock station WYSP. However his drinking was out of control and he eventually left Philly for the west coast once again. It was inoperable cancer however, and the same cancer that killed Steve McQueen, that eventually took his life. When it came down to the end, he knew his cancer was inoperable, and he knew he would die. Knowing this, he refused treatment to ease his pain and instead spent his last months recording his final album, The Wind, that would be released two weeks before his death.

On October 30, 2002 Zevon made his last final appearance in public as the only guest on the entire hour of The Late Show with David Letterman. Letterman, who Zevon called "the best friend my music's ever had", had been a huge fan of Zevon for years, and knowing he was dying dedicated the entire hour long program to him. Zevon played three songs and spoke about his illness.

When asked by Letterman if there's anything he should know about life and death, Zevon responded "you're supposed to enjoy every sandwich."

Here is Warren Zevon's last public appearance and performance, playing my favorite song of his and Letterman's as well, "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner"

Video: (Summer Favorites - Part 4)

Part 4 of ??

Radiohead - Videotape


"When I'm at the pearly gates,
This'll be on my videotape.
My videotape.
My videotape."

Now I know we've already had a Radiohead post in our young blog life, but we can't get enough. This song was one of my most played on iTunes in the middle of the summer and it's just beautiful. "Videotape" is a song about death, or entering the afterlife, if you will. It's a reflection on a perfect day, right before your called by the Piper. It's a collection of what has been won and what has been lost, in life. Furthermore, it's about saying goodbye. It's the closing track off "In Rainbows", and rightfully so. It's great modern piano work and very Radiohead-esque moan sessions.

Bask in Radiohead mystery.

"No matter what happens now,
I shouldn't be afraid.
Because I know today has been the most perfect day I've ever seen.

Video: (Summer Favorites - Part 3)

This is becoming routine.

Santogold, Julian Casablancas, & N.E.R.D. - My Drive Thru


This video is not so much "vintage", "retro", or "old". However, I think it's the coolest collaboration in a very long time, just because of the "who's who" in good music factor. You got Santogold, who may or may not be adding to the cult of trendy indie hip-hop divas (who's riding M.I.A.'s coattails?). She's great. Pharrell Williams has never sounded more like a chick in his life, and when I first heard the tune, I didn't even believe it could be him. But it's all good - some dudes have high voices. And then Julian Casablancas (lead singer of The Strokes) + (and where the hell have they been? I've had enough of Hammond Jr. doing his own thing) who adds some great riffs to this track. "My Drive Thru". What's it about? Doesn't matter. It's too dancy and catchy to be denied.

There are a bunch of cool lines in this cut (for lyrics, go here). I especially connect with "it's summer in the city." How true. Every time I worked in New York City this summer, I thought of this little number. Then I thought about how I wasn't getting paid and how I would be in debt well into the school year.

Converse, well done. You made this happen. Forming super groups and flashy kicks - I approve.

Vintage Video: (Summer Favorites - Part 2)

Ah, alas - Part 2. This one is a little more serious of a song than "Been Caught Stealing". Although, the gang does joke around before they start playing once they hear a request for a Southern Rock anthem. Listen for the Nine Inch Nails plug, too. This is one of many covers Nirvana played during their MTV Unplugged set on November 18, 1993.

Nirvana - "Plateau" (Meat Puppets Cover)


"Plateau" is a beautiful song. I always think of some sort of biblical journey through a desert or a plain when I hear the tune and listen to the lyrics. I think it's a self-realization song. Kurt's vocals suit it very well, adding a slightly depressing tone to it, rather than the upbeat Meat Puppets version. It was nice to have those dudes join Nirvana onstage. This performance, 15 years after it was recorded, is still haunting. Watch the entire unplugged: it's especially creeping during the final song (Leadbelly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?") and Kurt's last scream. Looks painful. Big time spooky.

R.I.P. Kurt Cobain.

Vintage Video (Summer Favorites - Part 1)

Ever get really into a song during some point in your life when it's either really irrelevant to your current situation or not even remotely modern? I find myself digging into the past with old school alternative videos from the late 80's and early 90's more and more often these days. There's a lot to be learned and admired from these artists and their videos. They were creative, not terribly flashy, and pretty unique for their time.

I've got about 9 or 10 of these that I'll be posting. But basically, these are some songs from over the past summer that really stuck out to me. And these videos (whether official or not) are cool concepts. The first one belongs to LA's own Jane's Addiction.

Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealing (1990)


Nothing wrong with a little theft to spice up your life. It's also cool to have your girlfriend be into the same criminal mischief. Perry Farrell, Dave Navaro and the rest of the gang in this alt. rock quartet offer up an idea for excitement - just make sure you don't wind up in trouble with the law. Check out the sweet dance fest that goes on in isle 7.

P.S. Try not to be totally freaked out by this cross-dresser.

Tuesdays on the 'Tube

Tuesdays on the 'Tube is a weekly feature where I will be posting my favorite youtube videos of the moment, music related or not.

The inaugural post for Tuesdays on the 'tube is one of my favorite songs of the year, from my favorite album of the year in a beautiful live setting. Bon Iver's "For Emma, Forever Ago" is one of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard, and I cannot see it being usurped from the top spot on my best of the year list as of right now. So if you watch one video on youtube this week, please make it this amazing live performance of Creature Fear by Bon Iver.

Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's Our Schedule!

Hey you, listen to this!:

We got our schedule for "Never Mind the Mainstream" on Kutztown University Radio (KUR). We got a pretty solid time slot and we're going to use it to the best of our advantage. Now, we're only on once a week, so get your alternative and indie rock dosage when you can. Here it is:

Every Friday: 6-8 PM!

Wanna know how to listen? Of course you do. Here are all the fascinating ways you can do so:

88.3 FM & 1670 AM (If you're in the Kutztown, PA area)
Service Electric Channel 24 (Kutztown, PA)
Hometown Utilicom Channel 41 (Kutztown, PA)
On The Web (via our web stream) @ http://kur.kutztown.edu

For more information and other fun stuff, head over to KUR's official website here.

We're excited. We're pumped. We're going to rock. And we're going to be on the air on...

SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 (6-8 PM)!

You do not want to miss this. More to come. Peace.

Microsoft Paint 95 - you never cease to amaze me.