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Music News: February 8-14

Courtesy of Pitchfork 1. For all of you who haven’t heard, Lil Wayne isn’t getting locked up just yet. Although he was set to start his prison term on Feb. 9, a cracked tooth is keeping him out for the time being. Following his Feb. 12 surgery, Wayne will be free until March 2, when he is finally set to being his year-long term for attempted weapons possession.  (via Pitchfork)  2. The White Stripes are facing off against the Air Force over what appears to be an unauthorized use of one of their songs for a commercial. The commercial, which aired during the Super Bowl and promotes the Air Force Reserve, has an instrumental backing that sounds an awful lot like “Fell in Love With a Girl.” The Air Force has pulled the ad, but still claims that the music in the commercial is original and not influenced by The White Stripes.  (via Pitchfork)  3. MGMT’s second album, Congratulations, is set to hit stores on April 13. This follow up to 2007’s break through, Oracular Spectacular, has nine tracks and is “definitely going to shock people,” according to MGMT’s Andrew Vanwyngarden. A supporting tour is also to be announced shortly.  (via Spin)  4. Grammy Award-winning Phoenix is beginning a world tour at the end of February, and has plans to stop in Cary, NC. Its fourth album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, topped multiple charts since its May 2009 release and the band is ready to engage in some non-stop touring in promotion of the album.  (via Pitchfork)


Screen Time for Feb. 12

It's either going to be really good or really bad, but whatever "The Wolfman" is, it'll be well worth watching. Rehasing beloved Victorian tales has become popular in recent years ("Sweeney Todd," "Sherlock Holmes"), but they have normally been rehashed by experimental, (dare I say ironic?) filmmakers who prize a good time over a faithful rendering of source material. "The Wolfman" looks like it might be truer to form for its classic story of the werewolf, which is a good thing considering the fact that the werewolf is probably the archetypal Victorian monster. And as director Joe Johnston can tell you, having worked as an art director on all three of the archetype-heavy original "Star Wars" films, straying from our collective unconscious is not normally a good idea (or a good way to make money). Johnston has had a spotty career as director -- he butchered "Jurassic Park III" in 2001, but then made up for it with the smart, culturally dynamic and entertaining "Hidalgo" three years later -- which just confirms the first sentence of the paragraph that you are currently reading. Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving star, but who are we kidding? This isn't going to be about acting. It's going to be about how impressively Johnston can turn a handsome, Academy Award winning actor into a werewolf in front of our very eyes. And how many chills he can send up our spine like a damp English fog. I don't personally find the previews to be chilling (the ultimate compliment for Victorian horror), but I do find them entertaining, and perhaps that's all it will take to get audiences howling at the moon.


Reel Deal: The Green Hornet

The closest that the pale and chubby Seth Rogen has ever come to being seen as a superhero was his role as an overzealous mall cop. We can sometimes take the actor seriously, but at the end of the day he’s an oafish buffoon (and I mean that in a good way) that we love to laugh at. Whether he’s a modest and self-effacing stand-up comic (“Funny People”) or a rambunctious and immature police officer (“Superbad”), Rogen always delivers his signature under-the-surface candor. But what if his heroics were not delusions of grandeur? What if Rogen were to portray a daredevil without parodying the role? Ladies and gentlemen, The Green Hornet... Sony Pictures has begun development of a new superhero revamp, “The Green Hornet,” which is to be released in December of this year. Based on the radio and television series of the same name, “The Green Hornet” features the crime-fighting life of Britt Reid, a Los Angeles newspaper publisher by day and a masked vigilante by night. Aided by an Asian sidekick/martial-arts extraordinaire named Kato, Reid combats gangs and crime lords in order to make Los Angeles a better place. Lacking super powers, the Green Hornet is a master of hand-to-hand combat and drives a high-tech death machine called “Black Beauty.”


Mixtape Round-Up: February 5-11

Seeing as how the Saints prevailed in the Super Bowl Sunday, we'll kick things off with NOLA's own Curren$y. While at first I was reluctant to cosign(because my approval holds a lot of clout) Spitta because of his initial affiliations with Weezy, I've made a complete 180. With his nasally flow, the MC spits some of the laziest, yet intricate flows about chronic, girls and really anything. But I gotta love the drug raps, especially when partner in rhyme Wiz Khalifa joins him. I just love this tape all around. Nothing bad to say about it. Download now.What's Good?: "Fat Raps" Feat. Chip the Ripper and Big Sean (yes, it's been around but damn this knocks), "Invincible Jets"Tracklist and Download link for Smokee RobinsonAnother project I've really been looking forward to is Donwill of Tanya Morgan's upcoming solo project based on the movie/book High Fidelity. Before he drops it though, he's given up Laura's Tape, another nod to the movie playing off the mixtape theme. Great concept, no? If you know Tanya Morgan, then you know they are on that okayplayer tip, and this is along the same lines. Smooth joints and old school flavor. Did I mention it's got a concept? I know I did, but it means so much to a hip-hop head like myself when rappers try something new.What's Good?: "Ditto," "Top 5 Breakups" [Brick Beats Remix]Tracklist and Download link for Laura's TapeIf for some reason you don't know 9th Wonder, please don't admit it. Just kidding, but really don't tell anybody. But here's a great remix tape by 9th to vibe on. Even if you're already a 9th stan cop it still, because it is nice. That's all there is to say about it. 9th invented the remix, again.What's Good?: "Not Enough (More) (9th Wonder STILL Ain't Enough Remix)" Feat. Little Brother, "Wordplay (9th Wonder Lounging Around Remix)" Feat. A Tribe Called Quest & ConsequenceTracklist and Download link for 9th Wonder Invented the Remix, AgainNeed more?Cookin' Soul x J Dilla x Big Pun Big DillaTerry Urban Presents: The Dills (Unreleased Dilla Blends)Re-Up Gang Cracksploitation Vol. 2Kidz in the Hall Reality Bites


The Movie Trail for Feb. 9

Download the original attachment There isn’t much that’s new in the movie trailer world this week, but I’ve culled the top three from the pack. Not really, but I do have three recent ones for you. First up is “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” Oliver Stone’s sequel to his 1987 film “Wall Street.” Michael Douglas will again take the role of Gordon Gekko, although he apparently plays a less villainous role this time around. I’m incredibly uneasy about the fact that Shia LeBeouf has top billing in this, and to make things worse, the movie’s excellent supporting actors (Eli Wallach, Frank Langella, and Josh Brolin, to name a few) don’t appear prominently in the trailer except for the cast listing. At any rate, it’s probably worth seeing the ever-erratic Oliver Stone’s unhinged take on the recent financial crisis.  Flying somewhat under the radar is the animated zombie apocalypse film “A.D.” I know next to nothing about it, and search for information doesn’t reveal much more than it was directed by Ben Hibon and written by Haylar Garcia, neither of whom are of any note. The trailer fails to offer any illuminating information, but it did leave me feeling that the somewhat comical animation didn’t suite the more serious tone of the trailer. I’m always down for some zombie mayhem, and until I get more information I’ll suspend judgment.  Kevin James is fat, Chris Rock is sassy, Adam Sandler is childish, Rob Schneider and David Spade are losers, and Salma Hayek is foreign and attractive. I just boiled the new trailer for “Grown Ups” down to a sentence, thus saving you the indignity of watching it. Don’t believe me? Look below. 


Approaching mountains

Mountains - Nightlight - Feb. 6 Experimental shows don't come much better than Saturday's display at the Nightlight. First one-man group Ghost Hand treated the crowd to waves of ambient distortion. Then Swedish group Tape melded a blissful pop sentimentality to excellent electronic sounds and elongated melodies. Next up Chapel Hill's own ever-evolving Horseback took to the room's back corner. Main man Jenks Miller teamed with Megafaun's Brad Cook for a keyboard duo performance. The two constantly tweaked the effects on their hazy sound resulting in a short peaceful set. Last up, Brooklyn's Mountains lived up to its openers. Filtering acoustic guitar and other instruments through rich reverb, the duo filled the room with engrossing sound. Relaxing, yet mentally invigorating, it was a show best enjoyed lounging on one of Nightlight's many couches, sipping a fine brew or spirit.


Music News Monday: February 1-7

 Courtesy of Pitchfork1. The season for music festivals is approaching, and the various lineups are on the verge of being announced. This week, the lineup for the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival has been announced and is set to include Modest Mouse, LCD Soundsystem, St. Vincent and Raekwon.   The fifth annual festival, which takes place over three days, is scheduled for July 16-18 in Chicago’s Union Park. (via Pitchfork)2. The waiting is over, the Strokes have finally returned! After a several year hiatus following First Impressions of Earth, the garage rockers are back in the studio to record a new album, and also promise some “video vignettes” of the process. In addition, they have plans to perform at two European summer festivals.(via Pitchfork)3. It seems the guidos from Seaside Heights are here to stay. Jersey Shore’s Snooki got the chance to interview Phoenix following their win at the Grammys. Her burning question, “Do you have guidos in France?” Ironically, neither of the entertainers had previously heard of each other. (via Spin)  4. The release of the official autopsy report for Jay Reatard reveal that the rocker was killed by “cocaine toxicity and that alcohol was a contributing factor.” Reatard, who was found dead in his Memphis home early Jan. 13, was 29 years old.(via Spin) 5. As spring semester continues, Cat’s Cradle is showing some local love with show announcements of several hometown bands including Bowerbirds, The Rosebuds, and Megafaun. Tickets for all three are on sale now through etix.com. (via Music.MyNC.com)


Dive TV

 First video this week should be an instructional video, entitled "How to Frolic Like A Hipster." The instructors in this case go by the name of Lemonade, and the song is called "Lifted" from their Pure Moods EP.    Next up we have indie rockers Spoon performing  "Written in Reverse," fittingly in front of a mirror. Shot in crisp black and white, Spoon are definitely having a good time. It's hard to watch this video without smiling, and it definitely makes me cross my fingers for a upcoming Spoon show here in N.C.   Finally, Massive Attack has put out a single for their long-awaited 5th album. The album is called Heliogland, the song here is called "Splitting the Atom" and the video looks like a Sci-Fi movie i'd gladly go see. 


Screen Time for Feb. 5

My movie recommendation for the week goes to “Dear John,” the new adaptation of a heart-warming literary masterpiece of true love by Nicholas Sparks… Syke!My recommendation for the week actually goes to “From Paris With Love,” the witty… Yeah, I can’t even really make a joke about that one.OK guys, no BSing this time. My recommendation for the week actually goes to “Crazy Heart,” a serious movie with serious acting by serious actors for serious people. With all that seriousness flying around you might think “Crazy Heart” must run the risk of being over-serious, and it would, if it weren’t about a washed up, drink-sodden country music singer struggling to make a living playing local dives and one-night acts. Country musicians keep their senses of charming humor through thick and through thin, and when your redneck troubadour is acted by Jeff Bridges its hard to be too dour. Bridges’ performance in this movie is supposed to be phenomenal, and by some accounts actually transcendent. (But not transcendental. That’s hippy shit!) With Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall in backing roles, and a score by T-Bone Burnett, this one should feel as authentic as a glass of Jack on ice. 


Reel Deal: "Sucker Punch" (2011)

Considering both casts of Zack Snyder’s two hit films, “300” and “Watchmen,” you’ll notice a grand total of four females, three of which have negligible supporting roles. Even though Silk Spectre II (Malin Ackerman) has her moments in “Watchmen,” we have yet to see a woman occupy Snyder’s visually brilliant universe kicking some major ass. But in his new project, “Sucker Punch,” we’ll see, not one, but FIVE dangerous heroines. No, “Sucker Punch” is not a female boxing movie. Snyder’s film, now set to be released in March 2011, centers in on a young girl in an insane asylum who will soon be lobotomized. After first describing the film’s concept with “Alice in Wonderland with machine guns,” Snyder released a more detailed synopsis in February 2009, stating, “"Set in the '50s, it tells the story of Baby Doll (Browning), who is trying to hide from the pain caused by her evil stepfather and lobotomy. She ends up in mental institution and while there she starts to imagine alternative reality. She plans to escape from that imaginary world but to do that she needs to steal five objects before she is caught by a vile man. She has 5 days to escape before being lobotomized. In order to cope with the situation, she enters the hyper-real world of her imagination, and the lines between reality and dream begin to blur. She is joined with friends who are inmates from the institution. Lessons learned in the said fantasy world could help the girls escape their real-world fate."


Mixtape Round Up: Jan. 29 to Feb. 4

If you read in today's Dive section, I don't need to say much else about this tape. Bob is legit and everyone should be on his shit. He's got more crossover than a basketball game and better music than most albums. The title of this badboy is a nod to the release date of his debut, B.o.B. Presents: The Great Adventures of Bobby Ray, but until then enjoy this.What's Good?: "Fuck the Money" Feat. Asher Roth [Prod. by Kanye West], "Gladiators" Feat. J. Cole, "Don't Feel So Good"Tracklist and Download link for May 25thI try to put up as much new music as I can in all these round-ups, but this week was kinda slow besides the above tape so I grabbed this collabo from Styles P. I hadn't mentioned much of Styles on here so this is a best of tape put together by Mr. Peter Parker. P is one of the founding members of The Lox with Jadakiss and Sheek Louch so he's not really new to the scene, but he is often overlooked. Take some time to get reacquainted with a street-wise lyricist you may have forgotten.What's Good?: "Blow My Mind," "Banned from TV" Feat. JadakissTracklist and Download link for Here's Why They Call Me The GhostB.o.B. put me in a down south mood for most of the week, so I actually checked out this compilation by Greedmont Park that I normally wouldn't have. Here's a lot of Atlanta acts that are doing their thing on their own accord. You won't catch these guys on the radio, but if you browse the blogs you're very aware of a lot of these guys. Donnis, Hollyweerd, Sean Falyon, Mums FP and more. A lot of dope beats and clever wordplay on this tape. Even a really nice Lil Wayne sample I approve of.What's Good?: "Pussy Poppin'" Feat. Donnis and Mach Five, "Good Things" Feat. Corey DavisTracklist and Download link for Playground: A Compilation Vol. 1


Coping at Cradle

Citizen Cope - Cat's Cradle - Feb 2 Cool and collected, Citizen Cope took to the stage Tuesday night to a packed Cat’s Cradle. Frenzied teenage girls filled the sold-out show – their presence second only to their boyfriends. I definitely knocked a few elbows and scored a dirty look or two on the battle to the front for shooting photos. But the melee for the edge of the stage was undeniably justified. Greenwood’s performance captivated the crowd and built up to a four song encore. The too-cool-to-care attitude was occasionally abandoned for genuine moments of rocking, fueled by the reggae bass lines and driving percussion. Once, I think Mr. Cope may have even cracked the idiosyncratic stoic exterior for a smile. But I’ve been wrong before.


Interesting CD Releases for Feb. 2

Today I'm going to focus on one interesting release that hits close to home.Rising Columbia, S.C. star Toro Y Moi will hit Durham's Duke Coffehouse on Friday for an impromptu show, only three days after the release of their debut full-length. That Causers of This arrives during a frenzy of such music. Animal Collective's last salvo was one of the most heralded releases of last year, and artists in the genre from Dan Deacon to MGMT continue to grow in popularity. But after my one free listen on Lala, Toro Y Moi stand out. This is because they are not limited by the confines of their genre. Staying true to its sweet pop roots, the outfit combines more popular electronic sounds with stop-and-go modulation of dub step, creating a sound that remains accessible while never ceasing to be sonically adventurous. So check out the songs the band has up on MySpace, and see them live Friday at Durham's Duke Coffeehouse. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. and costs $5 for non-Duke students.


The Movie Trail for Feb. 2

Without a doubt the most exciting new trailer out this week is “Cemetery Junction,” directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Taking a more overall serious tone than much of Gervais’s other work, the film follows a group of unmotivated young men as they begin to leave behind their days of drinking and tomfoolery and grow up. Gervais and Merchant have produced excellent work together (“The Office” and “Extras”), and specialize in awkward humor with surprisingly poignant moments interspersed. Gervais is also acting in the film, and in the past his talent alone has managed to elevate what would have otherwise been lackluster fare (most notably “Ghost Town” and “The Invention of Lying”). I’ve posted both the official trailer and the teaser from a few months back, which features Gervais, Merchant, and Ralph Fiennes at their most hilarious.


Dive TV for Feb. 1

It's been a pretty dry past week for music videos, so today I've actually got, one live performance from Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck, a music video from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs one movie trailer from Animal Collective (yes, you read that right). Onward. The Yeah Yeah Yeah's music video is for "Skeletons" off their newest album It's Blitz!. Just like the song title suggests, the video itself is otherworldly and a little creepy - the band are haunting a graveyard as either ghosts, angels, or demons. Apparently the director got the effect by projecting images of the band onto plumes of smoke.Charlotte Gainsbourg recently released her new album IRM, which was awarded "Best New Music" by Pitchfork. Here, she and Beck, her collaborator for much of the album, stop by the famous California radio show "Morning Becomes Eclectic" to perform "Heaven Can Wait." Finally, check out the trailer for the visual masterpiece by Animal Collective and director Danny Perez, which will be premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. It's 30 seconds of flashing lights, shifting colors and shapes, images of faces and a guy whose head is smoking running through the woods. I'm not sure what the plot line is (is there a plot line?), but I suggest the faint of heart do not see this movie under any type of influence...


Music News Monday: January 24-31

 Courtesy of PA Photos 1. This year’s Grammys weekend honored Neil Young, named, featuring with a collection of artists such as Ben Harper, Dave Matthews, Norah Jones and Wilco performing Young’s songs. At Sunday night’s ceremony, wins included Phoenix’s Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix for Best Alternative Music.  Additionally, Lady Gaga racked up a few, Beyoncé ended the night with 6 awards (husband Jay-Z took home his own three awards) and Taylor Swift beat out the tough competition for Album of the Year. (via Pitchfork and Spin)   2. Pete has done it again, but are we surprised? Babyshambles (and ex-Libertines) leader Pete Doherty was fined for dropping a bag of heroin in a courtroom during December.   Doherty was originally in court on accounts of reckless driving, when the heroin simply feel out of his pocket. In addition, Doherty has already been surrounded with bad news, as his manager pleaded guilty to a hit and run, and a famed Libertines’ filmmaker suddenly died Jan. 25.  (via Pitchfork and NME) Click below to read more.


Screen Time for Jan. 29

It was a close call this week between Mel Gibson's psychologically tough new Boston crime drama, "Edge of Darkness," opening wide, and last year's critically acclaimed "The Messenger," finally opening at the Chelsea. But the ponderous weight of the critics won out in the end: my recommendation for the week goes to "The Messenger." Directed by the Israeli-American Oren Moverman, who also co-wrote the screenplay, "The Messenger" takes an uncompromising look at the jobs of soldiers in the Army's Casualty Notification Service. These men and women are responsible for going door to door and informing the families of fallen soldiers that their loved ones have been killed in action. Granted, any job is a good job in our current economy, and there's little risk of being killed yourself when serving in the CNS, but that's one job that I would never want to have.Moverman was a co-writer for "I'm Not There," the 2007 anti-bio-pic of Bob Dylan, but "The Messenger" is his directing debut, so look for fresh,innovative approaches to the personal story of these soldiers and his take on the Iraq War. Woody Harrelson stars alongside Ben Foster as the two main CNS officers, and Harrelson has garnered much critical buzz for his performance (even earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor). Steve Buscemi also has a minor role, to throw something odd in the mix. On the tail end of our seven year involvement in Iraq, "The Messenger" should be a brutally honest movie, and therefore a very necessary movie, about what war means on the home front.


Rocky Horror Playhouse

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is the epitome of cult cinema. Some people get it, some people don't. I've seen it once or twice, and I admit that I was at least mildly amused, but I'm not what one would call a "Rocky Horror" enthusiast. All the same, I respect the Show's unique place in film history and culture, and I deeply appreciate the texture that it brought to the movies. In honor of that texture, and also in honor of Stuart Hoyle, the Varsity projectionist who is featured in this week's cover story for Diversions, I've dug up a little Youtube clip of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" at the 8th Street Playhouse in New York City. The Playhouse was one of the two most important venues for launching "Rocky Horror" into its cult status, along with the Waverly Theater, also in NYC. Hoyle worked at the Playhouse for four months sometime in the mid 1980's, before coming to Chapel Hill to work at the Varsity. So enjoy this little slice of movie-house fun, and remember, if you ever go see "Rocky Horror" live, never, ever tell them that you're a "virgin."


Reel Deal: Paul Thomas Anderson's New Project - "Master"

If you’ve seen “There Will Be Blood” (especially the last five minutes of it), you’re well aware that director Paul Thomas Anderson is not afraid to explore religion in his films. In his uniquely harrowing way, he showed us the lions-and-lambs relationship between capitalism and faith in the divine. In what will undoubtedly be a fresh look at religion, P.T. Anderson’s new project, “Master,” centers it’s story on a persuasive man who hatches a religion that catches on in 1952. The working title refers to this “master of ceremonies,” who gains notoriety with the great number of people he proselytizes. The story’s main focus is the relationship between The Master and Freddie, a young vagabond roped in to the religion who becomes the Master’s lieutenant. Freddie begins to question his faith, as well as the divine authority of the Master, sparking a “Blood”-esque struggle (minus the oil and the almost godly presence of Daniel Day-Lewis).Click below to read more.


Interesting CD Releases for Jan. 26

Interesting CD Releases starts out this week with a local collection that is both splendid and FREE. Impeccably talented Chapel Hill producer and musician Jeff Crawford had quite a 2009. Producing new material for his bands The Tomahawks and Luego, in addition to great stuff from Brett Harris, Ryan Gustafson and Mandolin Orange, Crawford was involved in a large share of the town's prodigious pop output. The new 2009 Compilation brings together a sampling of the pristinely produced gems Crawford continues to polish up down at his Arbor Ridge Studios. A testament to a great talent and an excellent gateway to a good line-up of local artists, this is a must download. Check it out here.Staying on our local bent, we've got the debut from Chapel Hill's Minor Stars. The Death of the Sun in the Silver Sea is built on big classically hard rock riffs and stretched out with soaring harmonies. The result is a streamline amalgam of the '70s AM dial and the more crushing riffs of indie rock heroes such as Dinosaur Jr. It's epic stuff, and it's used as the backdrop for eloquently oblique probes into uncertainty. All told it amounts to a booming yet cerebral experience, a record that plays as well blasting out of a car window as it does under bedroom headphone scrutiny. For a full review, check out Thursday's issue of Dive.For all its success in the world of full length, Toronto hardcore band Fucked Up releases a lot of its best material in the form of singles, 7-inches and other obscure materials. Lucky for the people who don't try to track such things down, the band is releasing an excellent two disc collection of singles and rarities entitled Couple Tracks. With two discs and 24 songs worth of furiously hard rock, the collection is yet another example of just how wickedly talented this band is. It's full of all the genre-bending musicianship that's come to be expected from this outfit. For a full review of Couple Tracks, check out this week's issue of Dive.Next on the agenda this week is Beach House's Teen Dream, a dreamy wash of reverb, guitars, and Victoria Legrand's husky vocals. Don't let the band's name fool you — Legrand and guitarist Alex Scally have penned a set of tracks that are more akin to a barren, snow-covered isle than the Jersey Shore. It's an album well worth picking up, not only because Pitchfork is hailing it as the next coming of God — alright, that's a little hyperbolic — but because it's the perfect accompaniment to gray January afternoons and days spent lazing around while a record spins. It's not necessarily straightforward, but once the last track winds down, Beach House has established a sonic landscape you'll want to return to again and again.