February 4th, 2009

MUSIC:

The new Speech Debelle on Pitchfork is equal parts catchy and smart; check it out. Also on Pitchfork, a sweet song and a nice video from Cut Off Your Hands. Oh, and the Gospel Gossip track kicks major ass.

Over on RCRD LBL, there's the rad opener from Iran's much-anticipated forthcoming, some holy-shit-time-to-download-this-album quality MP3s from the Phantom Band (you can buy their album digitally here, I recommend doing so immediately), more of those delicious Lemonade remixes, . Of their Demo feature, the music I see fit to download is the stuff by... well, by all of them. It's all really good shit. (Especially Lesser Panda - can you guys just release the Cure's next few records, please?) Damn it, RCRD LBL, this is too many songs to digest in one day! Spread this quality out!

I was joking before, but at the rate Kanye is leaking these tracks, I really might have the entire N.A.S.A. album by the time it drops. Also on Kanye's blog, support for Ma Dukes (J Dilla's mother).

I really respect Pitchfork on this one, sort of the anti-NME: they give Viva La Vida the respect it deserves, and they aren't all smiles and handjobs over Doherty.

FILM:

S. Darko is going straight to DVD. The movie gods do exist!

I'm not sure if this qualifies as film news, but my all-time favorite MST3k episode, Soultaker, is coming to DVD!

Fun new Watchmen viral bit.

So much SXSW analysis! Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo looks really friggin' good.

WEIRD:

The Lonely Island are on a boat. So is T-Pain, evidently.

Rick Ross isn't bad at retaliating, he's just a minimalist, I guess. Seriously, is he trying to look like a moron?

WORLD:

As the New York Times reports, Obama is calling for an executive pay cap.

The Times Online reports on UN accusations that Hamas is stealing supplies. The Times also reports on Obama's efforts towards nonproliferation with Russia.

The BBC reports on the softening of a clause of the U.S. stimulus package that entails buying American.

PERSONAL:

If news is a little scant today, it's due to some other projects; I'll pick up the slack tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, I'll be doing some babysitting! Exciting, a little nerve-wracking but exciting.

Speaking of nerve-wracking, my SXSW short doc is still in the running, so I am on the edge of my seat. This has got me terrified.

Oh, and that album by the Shadow Band? Incredible. Really, truly fantastic. Worth a purchase.

2009 FILMS SEEN: 1.5
2009 SONGS ON MY ITUNES: 265
Current Computer Situation: MacBook Pro, a little bit warm.