Merry Christmas!

I just want to take the time to wish all my visitor's a very Merry Christmas. I hope this day is full of joy for you and your family while you spend quality time together and be thankful for each other. I thank you myself for visiting this blog and keeping it going for so long. I look forward to the New Year with new music and new features. Have an amazing day of relaxation!

-matt :-)

CandyRat - I love this label

Peter Ciluzzi


Other artists on Candyrat:

• Andy McKee
• Craig D'Andrea
  
• Andrew White
• Don Ross
• Antoine Dufour
• Nicholas Barron
• Matthew Santos
• Robert Taylor
• Dean Magraw

Also, check out the CandyRat You Tube Channel to see all these artists.

Who wants to go to San Juan, Puerto Rico?

• Grammy Nomination
• 35 Million albums
• No. 25 top-grossing tour of the year
• Grossed $29.7 million
• Drew more than 517,000 fans to 48 shows
• $1000 jacket

Malignant Narcissism

NEW LAYOUT

FINALLY!!! thoughts?

I changed the banner I made with the Contest winner's

by Nathan. I thought he did a better job than mine and Im

fulfilling my promise to put his up. What do u guys think!?

Wired Mag's Great Interview Between David Byrne and Thom Yorke on the Real Value of Music

El Ticknor brought to my attention a sweet article where David Byrne interviews Thom Yorke about the real value of music and how Radiohead ended up offering "In Rainbows" online at whatever somebody offered to pay for it...There are a ton of great audio clips of both David Byrne and Thom Yorke talking and joking around.

"It turns out the gambit was a savvy business move. In the first month, according to comScore, more than a million fans downloaded In Rainbows. Roughly 40 percent of them paid for it, at an average of $6 each, netting the band nearly $3 million. Plus, since it owns the master recording (a first for the band), Radiohead was also able to license the album for a record label to distribute the old-fashioned way — on CD."

The Radiohead Website

By the way...ya can't get the "In Rainbows" digital album via whatever you feel like bidding anymore. Ya gotta get the "discbox" on the site or get the CD in stores Jan 1st, 2008

Led Zeppelin Concert News, Videos, Pics, and Links

So I was in O.C./L.A. the past couple of days for biz and had a LOT of time to listen to the radio (O.C. to L.A. is not a short or fun drive) and according to KLOS there wasn't one critic who anything bad to say about the Led Zeppelin reunion show at the O2 arena in London...even the UK critics were astounded by the first Led Zeppelin show since 1980 and we all know how critical UK critics are - uh, yeah. Anyway, I figured I'd throw some news, videos, pics, and links for ya.

• Led Zeppelin Official Site
• Associated Press Rave Reviews
• Kick ass 02 concert video clip from CNN
• YouTube results for "Led Zeppelin"
• Billboard Led Zeppelin @ O2 Arena Review
  

DISCOGRAPHY

1969 -- Led Zeppelin
1969 -- Led Zeppelin II
1970 -- Led Zeppelin III
1971 -- Led Zeppelin IV
1973 -- Houses of the Holy
1975 -- Physical Graffiti
1976 -- Presence
1979 -- In Through the Out Door

Zeppelin Encore - O2 Arena - Whole 'Lotta Love


Led Zeppelin - O2 Arena - Kashmir


Led Zeppelin - O2 Arena - Good Times, Bad Times

Taco Leg Tour = Another Great Way to Keep from Doing your Day Job

Howdy yall,

Shameless self promotion, but not only does the Top 40 suck, so do the pricks in Taco Leg... so go out and suck with them.

Eastcoasters Rejoice for a A Very Taco Leg Christmas Tour:

12/23 - Boston, MA - The Middle East
12/26 - Ithaca, NY - The Rongovian Embassy
12/28 - Brooklyn, NY - Luna Lounge (w/ the Sutras)
12/29 - Philly, PA - The Fire

There are a couple secret shows and private parties (Manhatten and Philly) along the way for more time to be wasted, get wasted, and hike yo pants up till they high-waisted. So holler if you want in.

For more tunes not on the top40 that kick ass, check these cats out:
The Sutras

Warfish = Online Risk = A Great Way to Keep from Doing Your Job

So Mahsheet, Paxtejana, and Bob Pantsoff (an extremely infrequent contributor, but a friend of Top 40 Music Sucks anyway) play this game called Warfish which is basically the game RISK online where one person makes a move and then the next player is notified via email or IM that's it's their turn to battle. We have had many a game on many a front. I thought I'd show you a video of all of our moves to date. This game has been running for 3 weeks so far...

Mahsheet = Red
Paxtejana = Pink
Bob Pantsoff = Orange

You will see it's been quite a battle. Enjoy.

Blake Lewis - A.D.D. (Retail) + Bonus Track

Credit to kevin from Envvy. Link will be taken down this Friday 12/7

1. Silence is Golden...(Intro)

2. Break Anotha

3. Gots to Get Her

4. Know My Name (ft. Lupe Fiasco)

5. How Many Words

6. Surrender

7. Hate 2 Love Her

8. Without You

9. Here's My Hello

10. What'cha Got 2 Lose

11. She's Makin Me Lose It

12. BShorty Grabs the Mic!

13. End of the World

14. 1000 Miles

15. I Got U

16. ...I Choose Noice (Outro)

17. Human (iTunes Bonus Track)

LINK REMOVED.

BUY THE ALBUM

New Banner Contest

I desperately need a new layout and banner and Im asking YOU guys for help. I need to keep having reasons to keep this blog up and I think a new layout will help me. Im slowly coming back and I want you guys to be apart of this change. My Mac doesnt have an application to make graphics like my Windows did before so Im kinda stuck. The banner should be the same size as the one I have now with color and obviously the title of the blog, and if you want to put a little something extra on it like a tagline, thats fine too. I thought this would be a fun idea for visitors to participate in the blog and help me bring it back.

Email all your entries to matt@nmnblog.com and Ill accept entries until further notice so send them in as soon as you can!

Thanks guys!

-matt

Van Halen - MSG, NYC - 11/13/07

Andy Mckee - Michael Hedges reincarnated?

This dude is sick and definitely has a huge Hedges influence. Andy McKee's album.

About Posting Full Albums

I know Alicia and Leona's albums both leaked recently and I havent posted them cuz I just dont know if I can. My internet connection here at school is ridiculous when I try to upload large files and usually takes hours to do which I dont have time for. I might post a couple individual tracks from the album though so you at least get something. And if you want the full album there are PLENTY of other blogs that have them available (the links to the right of this blog). Ill see how long it takes to upload an album and decide if Ill post it but for now, dont expect them right when they leak. Sorry

-matt

Name Three Actors or Actresses Who Released a Good Album

Prove me wrong, but it seems there has always been this thing with actors and actresses who aspire to be in a good band or do solo work...for the life of me I can't think of ONE that I have listened to where I would buy their music.

On the other hand, I see musicians become decent to good actors and actresses. Albeit the first that come to mind are rappers such as Ice Cube, Ice-T, and even Eminem was decent in his own "biography".

Can anyone name me 3 actors or actresses (by nature) who put out a decent album or two?

HEYYYYYY

I am SOOOOO sorry about not updating this blog as much as I could. Things here are so crazy with midterms this week and such. Ive really had a lot of things going on recently thats kept me away from here. Also, the iPod videos have been taking so long cuz whenever I use EvilShare or some other hosting site, it says it will take FOREVER to upload (No joke it will say like over a day). And my internet here at school isnt the fastest it could be so thats keeping me back as well. I will still continue to try and update this as much as I possibly can, I promise. Dont forget about this blog cuz its not dead, just going through a little dry spell. Thank you everyone who continues to visit here and support it - im doing this for you.

-matt

Blind Melon Back w/ Travis Warren as front man

Blind Melon is back with Travis Warren filing in for the late Shannon Hoon (RIP) on vox. Being a huge Blind Melon fan...the news of a reformation with Travis Warren, in a hole many would say is too big to fill, left me a bit skeptical and well...sorta disapointed? like seeing my old collectable die cast metal matchbox cars mixed with a shiny new plastic el Camino where the little yellow motorbikes in the back aren't even removable! The collection is ruined! Get it outta there!

But, ya know? The more I play with this new addition to my collection I'm starting to think it may be a collectable in the near future because it turns out the el Camino is indeed die cast metal...and the little motorbikes on the back not only are removable...they have real rubber tires! What the fuck am I talking about? Well...I don't know, but Travis Warren sounds pretty bad ass and the reviews from the fans so far of the 10/07:Providence,RI, 10/08:South Burlington,VT, 10/09:New York,NY, 10/11:Cleveland,OH, 10/13:Columbus,OH, and 10/14:Bowling Green,OH shows have been nothing short of spectacular.

Travis sounds eeirily like Shannon Hoon and the studio stuff sounds pretty cool...

Shannon Hoon (Deceased) - vocals, harmonica, kazoo and acoustic guitar
Brad Smith - bass, flute and background vocals
Roger Stevens - guitar and piano
Glenn Graham - drums and percussion
Christopher Thorn - guitar, mandolin and harmonica
Travis Warren - vocals, acoustic guitar

The sound sucks, but you'll get the idea...

Madonna Holds a Press Conference to Announce She's Relevant

Read all about it!


She's like a Woody Guthrie with boobs.

This is awesome. In the same week that Radiohead, NIN, and several other major mainstream artists announce they are going their own way from huge labels as a whole, and are finally putting some interesting spin into the new media pitch, aging (does she actually age or stay young with child blood?) music icon Madonna signs a bazzillion dollar deal with Live Nation for three records. See they aren't a label. But they'll be just like a label who gives her a taste of ticket sales. Apparently she's already worth 325 million.

That's balls. For those who don't know Live Nation, they sell concert tickets mostly promote gigs and exploit student wages/labor around UVA. There must be some irony somewhere in that the poor woman who was just sued by the RIAA for a quarter of a million is a big Madonna fan. She's gotta be. They should have Madonna come pick up the lifelong payments super fan will be making. Really exciting groundbreaking stuff here.

Like a vampire.

For Those About To Hambone . . .

The highlight of this past weekend's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest -- the free festival in Golden Gate Park -- was the intimate set by the "strictly" bluegrass group Dry Branch Fire Squad. You could've heard a pin drop -- and lots of tear drops -- when the band-leader did a Civil War lament, unaccompanied on his Mando, dedicated to his son who joined the army on 9/12/01. The hamboned version of Hot Corn Cold Corn that followed was stunning. Luckily, this is a canned set, so you can see them doing both here -- you may want to skip all the talking, but don't miss the end of the clip when this fucker hambones.

iPod Videos

MOVED TO ABOVE POST

Van Halen is going to fucking ROCK

I still wish Michael Anthony was there....but they sound fucking awesome!

Van Halen 2007 - Everybody Wants Some


Van Halen 2007 - Part of Romeo Delight

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 7: Oct 5 - Oct 7, 2007

I will be ashamed of all of you if you don't go see Jeff Tweedy for free next Friday.

It's gonna be a train wreck...

But I guess that's obvious.

Sat 12.22 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena ON SALE 9/23 @10 AM

Tue 11.13 New York, NY Madison Square Garden ON SALE 9/24 @10 AM

Modest Mouse at Treasure Island Fest

Modest Mouse was very, very disappointing last night at the otherwise pleasant Treasure Island Music Fest.

I saw Modest Mouse several times around 2002-2004 and they were fantastic, but its been that long since I've seen them live. The new line-up -- especially having two drummers (WTF?) -- makes the music very sluggish, and they've polished away all the ragged edges from their compositions, when all that edginess and nervous energy is what made them great in the first place. The result is that even when they played the old (far better) tunes, the songs were transformed into antiseptic ditties. Shame. MM is simply inessential now. Damn shame.

Update

Hey guys! Sorry for the lack of updates lately. I just moved into my college dorm today so as you can imagine, its been a pretty hectic weekend. I also wanted to let you know about the future of this blog. Since Im in school now my main focus will obviously be my academics but Ill try to update daily; also I dont know how much activity I can use on this  blog because the internet network im connected to at my school tracks downloads and illegal material, so you can imagine what state that puts me in. I know it sucks for you but it also does for me to cuz i really dont think i can stop what im doing in bringing you guys the latest media. I just dont know what my restrictions and consequences will be if i continue to do so. Ill still try to update as much as i can for now but we'll see where that takes me. Feel free to give advice in the comments cuz im really torn in this situation.

thanks,

matt

EDIT:

thanks for all the encouraging comments guys! it really means a lot. Let me try to explain the situation a little more clearer since im learning more about it every day. The school sets every computer that uses their internet system on a security line. The line monitors everything we do, not necessarily by the school, but by something like the RIAA. If i download a new song for album they could catch that and alert my school. If i get caught, i need to sign a form to not do it again, AND my music library is search for any illegal downloads that i cannot prove are mine. Since i cant claim ownership to most of the songs they would probably be taken away, which sucks. Im hating this as much as you guys cuz even im crippled in what i can download for just myself. Im still trying to decide on the future of the blog and will let you know.

thanks again

-matt

Vanessa Carlton - Nolita Fairytale (Stream Video)

If you guys like it, i can post an iPod video, if you want

Easin back in after a hiatus...

Howdy TFS... it's been a while. I just want to get a few questions and comments up.

First, why no Vegas/Rush recap from Mansheet?
Pax gets a pass as he's out of the country.
Is Binns even on here?

Second, "best band in 25 years" Taco Leg, was able to open up for these face melting cats last night...

The El Paso Heist
http://www.myspace.com/theelpasoheist

They will run the world shortly i do believe. Their mp3 tracks don't do justice to the amount of searing rock they threw down.

Thanks for having,
Topple

Van Halen And David Lee Roth Announce North American Tour

Van Halen And David Lee Roth Announce North American Tour

Historic Concert Tour Marks First Of Its Kind For Van Halen In 22 Years

LOS ANGELES, CA -- August 13, 2007

Beginning this September, in what promises to be the most exciting live tour this year, Van Halen will embark on a national concert tour throughout the U.S. and Canada with its original lead singer David Lee Roth for the first time in 22 years.

Considered by fans and media alike as one of the most highly anticipated tours in rock and roll history, Roth, guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen will perform with Eddie’s son, Wolfgang who joins the line-up as the band’s bass player. Van Halen and Roth have not performed or recorded together since 1984’s classic multi-platinum album “1984” and subsequent tour, making this tour truly a historic event.

25 dates in all were announced today for the tour which is slated for a September 27th kick-off in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tickets for select dates on the tour go on sale beginning on Saturday, August 18th and are available on http://www.LiveNation.com. A complete list of confirmed dates is attached. The Van Halen tour is being produced by Live Nation. Individuals who have the Citi® / AAdvantage® card, the official credit card of the tour, will be offered access to purchase preferred seats to all U.S. shows.

Fans can enjoy the ultimate Van Halen experience including concert pre-show parties, backstage access, premium seating and more. For additional details go to http://www.iloveallaccess.com.

Fans are encouraged to also check in at http://www.van-halen.com/ or http://www.davidleeroth.com/ for additional information.

Van Halen remains one of the most important and influential bands of all time. Formed in Los Angeles in 1974, the band quickly won a loyal hometown fan base with their electrifying live shows. From the moment they released their self-titled 1978 debut album, Van Halen shook the foundations of rock, thanks largely to Roth’s peerless showmanship, Eddie Van Halen’s revolutionary guitar virtuosity and their songwriting abilities. It changed rock music forever.

The band’s first album proved one of the biggest selling rock debuts, with key tracks like “Eruption,” “Running with the Devil,” “Jamie’s Cryin’,” “You Really Got Me” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” leading the way. The next year, the band followed up with “Van Halen II,” which included the hit “Dance the Night Away.”

Subsequent albums like “Women and Children First” (1980), “Fair Warning” (1981) and “Diver Down” (1982), along with worldwide touring, solidified the band’s reputation for innovative and unparalleled live performances. Classic Van Halen tracks from the early 80’s include “Everybody Wants Some,” “Unchained”, “And The Cradle Will Rock”, “Beautiful Girls”, “Mean Street” and “Somebody Get Me A Doctor” just to name a few.

With their sixth album, released in, and titled “1984”, Van Halen rose to stratospheric heights. Recorded at Eddie Van Halen’s 5150 Studios, the multi-platinum smash yielded one of Van Halen’s signature hits, “Jump,” which remained #1 on the Billboard charts for an astounding five weeks straight. Other hits from the album include “Panama,” “Hot For Teacher” and “I’ll Wait.”

The band’s record of achievement is hard to top. Presented with two Diamond Award RIAA Certified Status’ for their albums “Van Halen” and “1984”, Van Halen joins an elite short list of two time Diamond Award honorees in the history of the music industry. The Diamond Award is presented to an artist for album sales of 10 million or more units. They are also in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most #1 hits on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart than any other band in history.

Inducted into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame in March of this year, Van Halen has produced a treasured body of work that fans will admire for decades to come.

VAN HALEN TOUR

North American Dates

Sep. 27 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Bobcats Arena
Sep. 29 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
Oct. 01 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
Oct. 03 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
Oct. 07 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Oct. 10 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena
Oct. 12 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Oct. 14 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Field House
Oct. 16 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
Oct. 18 Chicago, IL United Center
Oct. 20 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
Oct. 22 Auburn Hills, MI Palace of Auburn Hills
Oct. 24 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
Oct. 26 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
Oct. 28 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
Oct. 30 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden
Nov. 01 Washington DC Verizon Center
Nov. 03 E. Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena
Nov. 13 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Nov. 20 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
Nov. 23 Glendale, AZ Jobing.Com Arena
Nov. 25 San Diego, CA Cox Arena
Nov. 27 Sacramento, CA Arco Arena
Nov. 29 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose
Dec. 01 Portland, OR Rose Garden
Dec. 03 Seattle, WA Key Arena
Dec. 05 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place
Dec. 09 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
Dec. 11 Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome

Chocolate Rain

From the LA Times:

"Chocolate raiiiiiin," belts Zonday again and again, in a voice so cavernously deep that it couldn't possibly be coming from the skinny, sweet-faced young boy on the screen (he's actually 25). "Some stay dry and others feel the pain. Chocolate raaaiiiin."

Helping this refrain to super-glue itself into your mind is the short, looping piano phrase that is the song's musical backbone. The riff is replayed, with minor variations, something like 50 times -- the same number that Zonday chants "Chocolate rain." This repetition is such that a single viewing will have you twitchily blurting these two words for hours afterward, disconcerting friends and strangers alike.


 

Van Halen Tour To Be Announced Next Week

From billboard.com:

Sources say a Hollywood press conference in one week will announce a 50-date American arena tour by Van Halen to begin in early October. The tour will feature founding Van Halen members David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen and Alex Van Halen, with Eddie's son Wolfgang on bass.

A proposed summer amphitheater tour by the group, never got off the ground, with Eddie Van Halen entering a rehabilitation facility for undisclosed reasons in March.

In the months since, the artist has been seen publicly looking healthy and fit, and Billboard.com reported a month ago that several arena holds were in place in major markets for potential Van Halen dates.

Van Halen last toured in 2004 with vocalist Sammy Hagar, grossing nearly $40 million, according to Billboard Boxscore. Roth has not fronted the band on tour in more than 20 years.

The Police - 8/3/07 - MSG, NYC

Absolutely fantastic. I could have watched them all night. Andy was trying to melt my face off. Message in a Bottle Synchronicity II Walking On The Moon Voices Inside My Head When The World Is Running Down Don't Stand So Close To Me Driven To Tears Truth Hits Everybody Bed's Too Big Without You Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic Wrapped Around Your Finger De Do Do Do De Da Da Da Invisible Sun Walking In Your Footsteps Can't Stand Losing You Roxanne E1: King Of Pain So Lonely Every Breath You Take E2: Next To You

Quick Weekend Vaca

Yes, another Vacation, but this one is MUCH shorter. Im going to Nantucket to see some family for the weekend and won't be home till Monday. I left a few posts below so I gave you something before I felt. Ill have more stuff to add when I get back on Monday.

-matt

Golf Claps for Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation at the Berkely Community Theatre

I have to say that I was a little disappointed at the crowd who attended the Sonic Youth show at the Berkeley Community Theatre. As Paxtejana commented "What's with the golf claps after each song?" The crowd seemed like they were watching a Pat Metheny show...quiet, listening to every nuance to make sure a note didn't go unheard. I guess that's all fine and good, but this is SUPPOSED to be a fucking Sonic Youth show! Not a group meditation.

Kudos to the one dude in the front row who was jumping around, flipping out, flailing wildly...that's how they do it at the Fillmore in S.F. Maybe the crowd was down because they don't sell beer at the Berkeley Community Theatre? I know Paxtejana and I were...Maybe the crowd was so reverent due to the reason we were all there...to enjoy Sonic Youth's epic album Daydream Nation from front to back? I guess...but still...

Anyway, the pic shown here is a survey sent to me by Live Nation that I filled out...basically it says the theater was too damn hot, no beer, the sound was rough up top, and you couldn't see where your seats were after the lights went out. Basically, if you're gonna see a show at the Berkeley Community Theatre get tanked before hand and wear shorts.

Oh, and Sonic Youth seemed to be just getting warmed up during the first encore...over all an OK show.

Nickelback - All the Right Reasons: 6 times Platinum - PUKE

Who are these people who listen to such drivel? Gawdddd.....Jeeezzzzz....Mannnnnnn....PUUUKE!

That dudes voice from Nickelback makes me think he's gotta a serious case of constipation.

6 million people listing to that crap...what the hell is going on?

6 times platinum is like U2 big or The Police big or even Madonna big (on one album release)... sad, sad, sad.

OH, and you fans of crapperback...here is what happens to a crappy band like Nickelback when people realize that they really suck without really good engineers and producers.

Deerhoof - Indie Prog?

In a Pitchfork review of Deerhoof's new album "Friend Opportunity" Chris Dahlen says "We've been using the term "inde prog" mostly to describe bands that quick-cut between ideas and construct mini-suites out of mini-songs. But on this record Deerhoof take everything that clique of indie bands has worked toward-- add the suddenly popular twee vocals-- and ride it like an h-bomb."

Chris Dahlen further goes on to mention 70's art rock bands like Yes, Genesis, and King Crimson to describe Deerhoof's musical highs...interesting. Sounds like a band I could get into, but what other bands would be considered "indie prog"? When I did a search on Pitchfork Media's website for this so oft term to describe bands like Deerhoof I got...well...nothing. Also, what the hell are "twee vocals"?

Reunited Van Halen Eyeing Fall Arena Run

A proposed summer amphitheater tour by a reunited Van Halen that was derailed when guitarist Eddie Van Halen checked into rehab now looks like it may be resurrected as a fall arena run. Several arena holds are in place in major markets for potential Van Halen dates, Billboard.com has learned.

The tour, negotiations for which were first tipped here on Jan. 24, would feature David Lee Roth, Eddie and Alex Van Halen and Eddie Van Halen's teenage son Wolfgang on bass.

Metal Imagery

Is a band really metal if its lyrics and iconography don't feature dragons, Frodo, vikings, hellhounds or other creatures and places of Western European lore and mythology? A recent post from one of our esteemed colleagues here at Top 40 Music Sucks criticizes RUSH's lyrics on the grounds that they include such phantasms. But, in defense of Rush and the sacred devil horns, it seems that this is one of the defining elements of Metal -- from Immigrant Song, to Ironman, to Rime of the Ancient Mariner, to By-Tor and the Snow Dog, to Slayer's and Dio's and Maiden's album covers . . . it's elemental. Right?

Does Technical Proficiency = Lack of Soul? Ever hear of Michael Hedges?

An interesting underlying debate here at Top 40 Music Sucks... Here is Michael Hedges (RIP) playing Rickover's Dream at a 8/1/87 performance at the Maheavy Theater in Great Barrington, MA. Tuning: C2G2D3G3B3C4

A perfect marriage of technical proficiency and Soul IMO...

Speaking of Peart using Deerhoof's dummer as a drumstick, this dude is throwing two enthusiastic devil horns up to the Rush tour. Reminder: go get tickets -- they're breaking out some sick shit this tour.


June 23, 2007 Setlist:

Limelight
Digital Man
Entre Nous
Mission
Freewill
The Main Monkey Business
The Larger Bowl (with McKenzie Brothers intro)
Secret Touch
Circumstances
Between The Wheels
Dreamline
(-Intermission-/video intro)
Far Cry
Workin' Them Angels
Armor And Sword
Spindrift
The Way The Wind Blows
Subdivisions
Natural Science
Witch Hunt
Malignant Narcissism
Drum Solo
Hope
Summertime Blues
The Spirit of Radio
Tom Sawyer (with South Park intro)
Encore:
One Little Victory
A Passage to Bangkok
YYZ


THE MAKING OF SNAKES AND ARROWS

Vacation for 2 Weeks

Today I leave for my Graduation trip to Europe for 2 weeks where Ill visit Paris, Rome, Venice, Florence, Tuscany, and Voltar. That means there will be no posts on the blog till I get back on July 11th. I made two more posts below just before I left so i wouldnt leave you hanging with nothing. Hopefully once I get back there will be a bunch of newer and better stuff to update and share with. Also, Im going to take away the tagboard while Im gone because I dont want that to become a free-for-all without my advisory - Ill make sure to bring it back right when I come back home. For now, I suggest the blogs Music for All, XNicky, Ali's Blog, and Kevipod to visit while Im away cuz theyre all great. Ill talk to you when I get back!

-matt

Drummers: Greg Saunier is not afraid of you and he will beat your ass

All you drummers who think it's all about having a multi-thousand dollar kit with twelve toms, two kicks and snares, 18 different cymbals and a dozen mics, take a look at this and shut up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEYSeygs97Q&mode=related&search

Eddie Van Halen Unveils His "Frankenstein" Replica Guitar

Kelly Clarkson - My December (RETAIL)

FINALLY!!!

1. Never Again

2. One Minute

3. Hole

4. Sober

5. Don't Waste Your Time

6. Judas

7. Haunted

8. Be Still

9. Maybe

10. How I Feel

11. Yeah

12. Can I Have A Kiss

13. Irvine / Chivas

LINK REMOVED

PROVE CLIVE DAVIS WRONG

AND GO BUY THIS ALBUM AND MAKE

IT A HIT!!! SUPPORT KELLY!

The Starbucks Madness spreads to a most unlikely band: Sonic Youth

As reported by Pitchforkmedia, an exclusive "celebrity-chosen" compilation of Sonic Youth songs will be sold only at Starbucks, and will include one new exclusive song SY will record just for the corporate coffee-mongers. Read all about Sonic Youth and Starbucks.

The Police at McAffee Coloseum - A dicotomy of sorts

• The Police were loose as shit - The Police were still brilliant

• The Police would fall apart frequently - The Police were still brilliant

• Sting threw in a bunch of his Stink like Aguilera Vocal Parts - Still Sting was golden boy, his voice like buttah

• Andy Summers is 64 yrs old a floundered a bit- Andy had his rips and soloed like a motha'

• Stewart Copeland was behind a lot of the time like he couldn't hear his stage mix and missed many Copeland "must have" fills - He still ripped like Animal when in the pocket and had a HUGE grin on his face the whole time.

The moral of the story? The police just can't suck - EVER...no matter how hard they try the songs are brilliant as well as the players who play them. They just can't suck. There were times of incredible brilliance during songs like "Beds to Big Without You" and "Invisible Sun" where I shat myself twice (The people around me didn't like that so much).

They jammed like I've never heard them jam before...and one in particular that I've NEVER heard before which was obviously structured and a potential new tune. Andy Summers said in the latest issue of Guitar Player Magazine that they have been jamming on 2 possible new tunes and if all goes well another ALBUM! Sweet...I think that jam was a taste.

Lastly, Sting's bass playing was so dead on. Thump thump thump through the whole show. I have such a new found respect for him (until I put on his latest solo efforts).

Oh, and I'd like to welcome Gusten Vincent Ticknor (known as Gus to his friends) who was born at 1:24pm, June 12, 2007. He weighed 6 pounds 5 ounces, and he was 19 and 1/2 inches long. Gus has a very good chance at being the next Sting. Congrats el Ticknor and Mrs. el Ticknor!

American Idol - Contest Album Covers

Since there are no new songs for today......iTunes just added a bunch of albums of the contests as well as compilations of the whole season. I retrieved all the covers for you guys to use in whatever way you want. Im not posting all the songs, again, either. So enjoy these!

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/8775/aigh6sp5.png

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/5649/aitce6mv6.png

_________________________________

Brandon Rodgers:

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/3996/brandonrogers1ti4.png

Chris Richardson - EP:

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/7945/chrisrichardson1ek1.png

Chris Sligh - EP:

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/7987/chrissligh1mx0.png

Gina Glocksen - EP:

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/3663/ginaglocksen1ay8.png

Haley Scarnato - EP:

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/4846/haleyscarnato1rx6.png

LaKisha Jones - EP:

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/7807/lakishajones1mu7.png

Melinda Doolittle - EP:

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/6329/melindadoolittle1xt5.png

Phil Stacey - EP:

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/5665/philstacey1gf1.png

Sanjaya Malakar - EP:

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/9786/sanjayamalakar1cv1.png

Stephanie Edwards - Single:

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/2124/stephanieedwards1ty8.png

Fergie - Big Girls Dont Cry (EP)

1. Clean Radio Edit:
http://www.evilshare.com/4295739e-69d2-102a-847b-00a0c993e9d6
2. Hommer Remix:
http://www.evilshare.com/8bc36616-69d2-102a-847b-00a0c993e9d6
3. AC Beats DJ Ray Radio Edit
http://www.evilshare.com/c0b2bce6-69d2-102a-847b-00a0c993e9d6

Geddy Lee joins Doug & Bob MacKenzie on 24th Anniversary

Geddy Lee hangs with Doug and Bob MacKenzie on their 24th Anniversary. Funny, funny shit.

MY BIRTHDAY!!

WOOOTT!!! Today is my 18th birthday! Im FINALLY legal! haha What an awesome day its been and busy month its going to be with my senior prom tomorrow and college orientation sunday, and graduation the 21st. THEN going to Europe the 27th for 15 days! Cant wait! And I added a new layout i hope you guys like. Comment on what you think! thanks!

-matt

It's not right

But I still want one.

Stewart Copeland - OUR FIRST DISASTER GIG!

Stewart's blog.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonley Hearts Club Band

'Sergeant Pepper' Turns 40

Eddie in the September 2007 issue of Guitar World

Eddie's new statement on www.van-halen.com:

"I want to say thank you to all the Van Halen fans for the tons of emails and all the support they provided when I was in rehab earlier this year. It was an intensely personal thing that I'm not really comfortable talking about right now, but I want everyone to know that their support has and always will mean the world to me. I want everyone to know that I am truly grateful."

He will also be on the cover of the September issue of Guitar World (on sale June 26) with an interview and first look at the 5150 III amp.

The Police Opening Night Setlist

Set 1: Message In a Bottle, Synchronicity II, Don't Stand So Close To Me, Voices Inside My Head > When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around, Spirits In the Material World, Driven to Tears, Walking On the Moon, Truth Hits Everybody, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Wrapped Around Your Finger, The Bed's Too Big Without You, Murder By Numbers, De Do Do Do De Da Da Da, Invisible Sun, Walking In Your Footsteps, Can't Stand Losing You > Reggatta de Blanc > Can't Stand Losing You, Roxanne, E1: King of Pain, So Lonely, Every Breath You Take, E2: Next to You

18th Dye Reunited, Working on Album

18th Dye was one of the most underrated, forgotten indie bands of the 90s. This German/Danish noise rock trio was incredibly talented, reaching their pinnacle with the Steve Albini-produced album "Tribute to A Bus" in 1995. Their live sets were legendary (according to the few people clued in enough to attend them), and not even Sonic Youth or Yo La Tengo could better their highly controlled use of feedback as a source of melody and texture.

After breaking up in 1999, the band reformed last year, and have been playing new material live here and there. They are recording a new album with a release date to be determined. I think their web site has said this for months, but I just noticed it, so it is therefore Top 40 Sucks breaking news.

Method Man a Pot Smoker? NO WAY! I..I..I..JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

According to Pitchfork Media, Method Man was arrested for possession of The Chron in NYC this past weekend. This completely blows my mind as I had no idea that Method Man was a pot smoker. All those pictures of smoke coming out of his mouth...that wasn't tobacco? And these lyrics:


"I got, fat bags of skunk
I got, White Owl blunts
And I'm about to go get lifted"

...weren't about animals and the mystic magic of nature? Boy do I feel dumb.

Lack of Updates/Slowness

Im SO sorry about the lack of updates lately, things have been kinda crazy in my life right now with the end of the school year coming. I also went to the Gwen Stefani concert last night (which was amazing) so i missed posting yesterday too. Also, the TagBoard is getting kinda crazy! You guys need to seriously chill out with the American Idol fueding cuz I just went though all the posts and had to delete and ban 3 people, sorry. Everyone has their own opinions on the show and their contestant which needs to be accepted. Anyway, Ill try to look around for some new things to post for you guys to make up for this dry period.

-matt

Bob Dylan, Bjork, Arcade Fire, White Stripes among notable acts for 2007 Austin City Limits Festival lineup

This year's Austin City Limits Festival lineup may dissapoint some longtime atendees, due to the high percentage of repeat performers, but for folks like me who have never been, it's a perfect year to go. And it's cheaper than any of the other big name festivals of a similar ilk and has a killer lineup.

I'd just like to say that I am proud of myself for not including Yo La Tengo in the title of this post. YLT are performing at ACL Festival, but apparently not everyone else thinks of them as the most important band in the world like I do, evidenced by the fact that their name is listed in print ads and banner ads in the smallest of the three font sizes, underneath bands that have been around for less than one tenth of the time YLT have been around. YLT have always been the tortoise to rock music's hares, though.

Some acts of note:

Bob Dylan (!)
Bjork
Arcade Fire (!!!)
Wilco
The Killers
The White Stripes
The Decemberists
Spoon
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Crowded House (!)
Lucinda Williams
Bloc Party
Indigo Girls
Damien Rice
Ziggy Marley
Peter Bjorn and John
Blonde Redhead
Steve Earle
LCD Soundsystem
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Yo La Tengo
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Ben Kweller
M.I.A.
Robert Earl Keen
Paolo Nutini

Go to the ACLF website for the complete lineup, tickets and more:

http://www.aclfestival.com/generalinfo.aspx

Darth Vader to revive Smashing Pumpkins - new album Zeitgeist - new tour announced

Billy "Darth Vader" Corgan and Jimmy Chamberin from the band Smashing Pumpkins have announced the first tour in seven years supporting a new album entitled "Zeitgeist" which Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin recorded in tandem with out original members D'arcy and James Iha. It has been reported b y the Chicago Tribune that D'arcy and James Iha will not tour but bassist Ginger Reyes and guitarist Jeff Schroeder will take their place.

The opening night will be in Paris on May 22nd and the rest of the tour dates are as follows:

The Orange Peel in Asheville
June 23-24, 26-27, 29-30
July 2-3 and 5.

San Francisco's Fillmore
July 22, 24-25, 27-28, 30-31 and Aug. 1. Tickets go on sale Sunday (May 20) but will only be available online.

Fans are encouraged to record the show with their own audio (we'll see what kind of viral action this will have) so we should have links to the show in the near future.

Lastly, the amazing technology of today's dermatology procedures has rendered Darth Vader's intensely disgusting scars on his skull virtually invisible (see above picture).

Whoever Is Saying Im Spamming Their Site

Some person naming themselves "Annonymous" is claiming im spamming their site when I have no clue what theyre talking about. If your reading this, just know - its not me. I have no clue what your site is and I would never go around spamming on someone else's work. If you really did report me thats pretty sad because you wont even state what site you own so I can send you a personal statement. Im sorry for the confusion and hopefully you understand

-matt

David Hasselhoff ties one on while eating Wendy's

David Hosselhoff ties on a big ol' buzz as of late and his little girl video tapes it's (and annoyingly badgers him about it). It seems the once girlie stud muffin of the 80's and even the 90's has found comfort in pounding his liver with the elixer of life and then doing what any red blooded American would do....get some late night fast food...this particular dinning establichment being Wendy's. I have to warn you...this video is mildly painful to watch because we all know we have been there. Shit canned and hungry...and having trouble getting the food to our mouths while making extremely terrible grunts and noises while trying to force all that fast food goodness down our pie hole. Enjoy the life of the Night Rider getting pissed...

A bit about Hasselhoff's singing career (since this is a music blog) Brought to you by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hasselhoff

Hasselhoff launched his career with guest appearances on the children's program Kids Incorporated and also obtained permission to produce a Knight Rider episode ("Let It Be Me") which focused on his singing abilities. The episode served as a springboard for his 1985 debut album Night Rocker.

The debut album was released while he was still working on the show. After two moderately successful albums, he recorded "Looking for Freedom" with German producer Jack White in the summer of 1989 and released it just as the Berlin Wall came down. He performed it at the Berlin Wall on New Year's Eve, 1989. In a VH1 interview, Mr. Hasselhoff still claims he had something to do with the end of communism in Germany.(HA!)

In Germany, his song became an anthem of sorts at the time, and the album went gold and triple platinum, topping the charts for three months whilst the single managed a mere eight weeks. He was later announced as the best selling artist of 1989 in Germany even prompting the newspaper headline "Hasselhoff: not since the Beatles." (See HA! up above) Since then, another six of his albums have gone platinum in Europe.

It was reported that Hasselhoff had teamed with rapper Ice-T and was planning to record a rap album under the handle of Hassel the Hoff. On Late Night with Conan O'Brien Ice-T confirmed that he was not involved in any such project. In June 2006 Hasselhoff confirmed that the project was a "prefabrication" on The Kevin and Bean Show on KROQ, Los Angeles. (THANK GAWD)

You're gonna love this:

New Banner and Colors!

I felt like I needed to bring back colors to the blog so I made a new banner with different color page elements. Hope you like it for the summer!

-matt

Attention!! Attention!

All Members of the Britney Spears Forum @ Hollywood.com, if you havent gotten the "memo" yet, everyone has moved to Britney Spears @ Glamology Forums. Hollywood Forums completly fucked up their site with an "upgrade" that is crap and everyone left. Sorry I havent made a post today its because Ive been so into this Forum switching thing that takes over my life. Heres a link to Glamology:

http://xmb.glamology.org/portal.php

100th post on Top 40 Music Sucks!

I just noticed that we hit our 100th post. Not bad for us slackers here on Top 40 Music Sucks! In celebration I thought I'd share this kick ass streaming site a friend just showed me which is located in the UK. There's everything there from TV shows, movies, anime, cartoons, to music videos...and everything streams really fast. The quality ranges from video to video, but it's a really cool site none the less. I just checked out last nights episode of Entourage (Ari is great) and a couple of Queens of the Stone Age video's...good stuff.

Music Videos: http://tv-links.co.uk/index.do/5

Shows: http://tv-links.co.uk/index.do/1

Movies: http://tv-links.co.uk/index.do/4

Cartoons: http://tv-links.co.uk/index.do/2

Anime: http://tv-links.co.uk/index.do/3

Sports: http://tv-links.co.uk/index.do/6

Paul McCartney - Track list for "Memory Almost Full"

Sounds like McCartney is jumping feet first into the digital age as this is the first McCartney album to be available in a digital only format as well as a familiar album title frequently seen as a warning on our computer screens.

Here is the track list for "Memory Almost Full":

"Dance Tonight"
"Ever Present Past"
"See Your Sunshine"
"Only Mama Knows"
"You Tell Me"
"Mister Bellamy"
"Gratitude"
"Vintage Clothes"
"That Was Me"
"Feet In The Clouds"
"House Of Wax"
"End of the End"
"Nod Your Head"

What do you think Paul McCartney thinks of Yoko Ono's new album "Open your Box" (man that's a brutal album title)?

Eddie Van Halen before and after rehab

BEFORE REHAB...

AFTER REHAB...

BEFORE REHAB...

AFTER REHAB...

26hrs, 4min, and 32sec until new RUSH album "Snakes and Arrows" comes out

I hear Niel Peart is going to bring back the "porn-stash", Alex Lifeson the "marble sack", and Geddy Lee the "starved child arms" look.