Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me!

Next Saturday at 2 PM, the gates open in dowtown L.A. and many Angelinos will be reminded of why they love this city so goddamn much, for

LA Weekly

is brining the noise and bringing the funk with their first annual LA Weekly Detour Music Festival. For only $35.50 anyone who shows up gets treated to 3 stages featuring the following acts:

Beck [!]*
Queens of the Stone Age [!]
Basement Jaxx [!]
Peeping Tom
Redd Kross
Blonde Redhead
!!! [!]
Nortec Collective
Blackalicious
Of Montreal [!]
The Like [!]
The Elected [!]
Oh No! Oh My!
The Blood Arm
Everybody Else
The Howling Bells
Wired All Wrong
and DJ Sets by:
VHS or Beta [!]
Steve Aoki/Kid Millionaire
Shepard Fairey
Travis Keller

Gotta get myself into it! No doubt about it!


*Must see acts!

Stacy's Mom has got it going on!

Q magazine is turning 20 and to celebrate they have pulled together 20 "musical icons" and gave each one of them their own cover.

[See all 20 here.]

Of course I have a favorite, and here it is:



I,

like Trent over at Pink is the new blog,

can never count Britney out. I may roll my eyes or shake my head in disbelief when she does something outrageous [no pun intended], but I still got love for the girl. Here's hoping she bounces back, and brings along some of that sexy she covets every now and then. [and here even while pregnant with baby #2.]

It ain't over til it's over

Way back in January a little EP came along that rocked me and my roommate's little world. You see Wheeler and I were music directors for our school's radio station which meant we got to scan all the new discs and decide if they would make a perfect fit for a college radio station in our tiny New England town. The EP was plain and simple. The cover was in black and white and it's title elicited a few chuckles when read aloud: Gnarls Barkley. Open. Insert. Press Play. Go Go Gadget Gospel followed by [the now ubiquitous, then unknown ]Crazy which was followed by St. Elsewhere and a too good for words cover of the Violent Femmes' Gone Daddy Gone that I would not shut up about.

The Cee-Lo/Danger Mouse collabo hinted at during the summer and fall of 2005 had slipped my mind, but now here it was, right in front of me and my roommate, and for all the station's DJ's to enjoy. I was still reveling in my love of Cee-Lo's last album Cee-Lo Green is the Soul Machine, and impressed with what DM had done for the Gorillaz on Demon Days. I was happy for Lo and glad to have a new batch of tunes featuring his dazzling wordplay and vocals to present to my friends as evidence of Lo's greatness whenever I professed my love for his music from the rooftops.

Eventually I got my hands on the whole LP and was still nothing short of amazed. Here it was, an album steeped in sheer creative thinking and ideas, bursting at the seams with color, passion, soul, and avant garde flourishes. No track needed to be skipped and no face was left unsmiled. Cee-Lo [with the help of Danger Mouse] had done it again.

And then something funny happened. Crazy got crazy big. The album started to get old. And suddenly, out of nowhere I became my worst nightmare. I became a -sigh- music snob. Now funny thing about me is I don't listen to the radio at all. Repeat, AT ALL. But I knew that Crazy was getting crrazy airplay [okay I'll stop] and Gnarls Barkley became THE band of the moment. [And the band to cover. Seems even big name artists and musicians couldn't help but revel in the pop magic that is Crazy and got their cover on.] What was once cute and innovative and/or creative [see concert get ups and promos in which they appear as characters from movies] was now as stated before, old and dead to me. I even skipped out on seeing them live, something highly unlike me, particularly when I like a debut album as much as I like this one, not to mention the chance of seeing Cee-Lo live and in charge.

I wanted to continue rooting for the underdog, but I also had to move on. For most of the summer Gnarls Barkley's record would still remain a constant go to album at home or on the go. [Crazy is currently resting at number three on my Top 25 most played list on Itunes. Not listening to the radio all summer probably had something to do with that.] And just when I was ready to completely move on and anxiously await another output or something different from the duo, they go and do something that instantly grabs my attention and reminds me of why I fell in love with them in the first place. So here it is, the video for Gone Daddy Gone, the song that swept me in and never let me go. [completely] I guess it ain't over til it's over.

Karma-Karma-Karma-Karma -Karma Chameleon!

This just in! Married thrill seeking adventurist Alicia Moore a.k.a Pink is a spokesperson for the Human Right's National Coming Out Day. According to the HRC president, "Pink is one of millions of straight Americans who supports fairness and honesty for everyone - GLBT or straight...This project will show the faces of countless Americans who support openness over painful silence and isolation. Young people who are afraid to come out will see these pictures and faces and know that they are not alone."

No word yet on whether or not Pink's image and support will or help many a closeted man, woman, boy, or girl come out of the closet. Stay tuned. Until then enjoy a great video for U + Ur Hand, a great single from her slightly [and sadly] overlooked album I'm Not Dead!

Now what you hear is not a test, I'm rapping to the beat

Just when you thought it was safe for indie kids and critics to back away, Ryan Adams bounces back on a hip-hop tip, channeling Beck and the Beastie Boys, and for some strange reason David Cross. [I should really lay off the Arrested Development DVDs]If it weren't for the fly ass beat, old-school vibe, and tongue-in-cheekness of it all [ca-ca-ca critics one and a half stars yeah! One and a half stars yeah! 3 albums sold!]it would be completely awful and not worth anybody's time. [though is does get a little crazy in the middle with the witch voice and all] As if I needed more reason to adore his crazy ass. Wonder if he dipped his hand in some of

Willie Nelson's goodies?

Ryan "raps"!

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!

Despite what some may tell you, there is a huge plus to going to a small college in Brunswick, ME, especially if said college is filled with students who have a keen taste in music and know how to get things done. While studying at

Bowdoin College

I was fortunate enough to see Rufus Wainwright, Ok Go [twice], the Secret Machines, Autolux, the Moving Units, Rainer Maria, and Mos Def among others grace the tiny stages on my 1500 student having campus. Shortly before I graduated in May, kids in the know across campus shat themselves silly [and one fly ass English professor] when Bowdoin booked The Hold Steady. I had not heard of them or listened to any of their music, but from what I heard and hear from both friends and critics on high, they are hot shit and know how to par-tay. [Another benefit of having a "big" act come to a school in Brunswick, ME. Nothing else to do but party with the student fans. FYI: the drummer from the Secret Machines is pretty hillarious and Rufus Wainwright is really nice.]

I also hear that the new album Boys and Girls in America in stores this Tuesday is pretty stellar and I for one can't wait to get my hands on it and hopefully join the Hold Steady bandwagon. As a matter of fact I think I'll head over to

this site

and get my stream on right now. I suggest you do the same.

Big Ups Scissor Sisters!

When an artist is set to drop a new album everyone is quick to get all excited for a batch of new tunes. But after the umpteenth magazine cover and appearance on TRL, The View, or 106 & Park, our patience can wear thin and our eyes begin to roll as the covers and appearances keep coming and the release date doesn't.

This week belonged to the Scissor Sisters [and Janet Jackson too, but she's not the focus of this post]who dropped a a fantastic new album, Ta-Dah, on Tuesday, and gained some much needed exposure on Wednesday's "mind-fuck" [their words, not mine]also known as ABC's Dancing with the Stars. And to top it all off, a worldwide tour is off and running, starting last night in Los Angeles at the Shrine Expo Center which I was fortunate enough to attend. Here's hoping that all this exposure and hard work pays off and places Ta-Dah in the top ten on the charts next week. In the meantime enjoy the video for 'I Don't Feel Like Dancing!' which is, hands down, one of the best singles of the year.

News Blurb of the Day!

Taken from

Rollingstone.com's Rock and Roll Daily Blog:

"Panic! At the Disco guitarist Ryan Ross feels descriptions of the group as a “hot boy band” are demeaning and “water down what’s important.” Ryan is the cute one in the vintage couture tuxedo shirt, right?"

If you want my body and you think I'm sexy...[y'all know the rest]

Even former pop stars find themselves in sticky situations. Yesterday former 98 Degrees member Jeff Timmons appeared in court pleading no contest to two misdemeanors: reckless driving and refusing to sign a citation. As reported by Rollingstone.com:

"In April of this year Timmons was caught driving 60 mph in a 45 mph zone and was charged with a DUI. The charges were reduced, “due to a lack of evidence,” after he refused to submit to breath, blood or urine tests."

Now I know we are all quietly thinking to ourselves who the f**k cares right? But seeing as how I came of age when manafactured pop was all the rage, I read this post and looked at the image and was surprised that I couldn't put an image of the Jeff from the past to his name or even recognize him in his mug shot. Let's not act like we don't know what Nick looks like [thanks MTV], or Drew [thanks ABC], or the blonde haired kid who looked 30. But Jeff Timmons? Nope, slipped my mind. Had to research it and look at some pictures and when I did I got hit with another thought: Is it just me or were 98 Degrees the

Abercrombie and Fitch

of boy bands? As if the thing that made them different from Nsync and the Backstreet Boys was 'hey we lift weights five to six times a week!'

Heal the world! Make it a better place!

It's a mad and crazy world we are living in these days. Terrorism, conflict in the Middle East, domestic problems here at home, and of course Fox News reporters pushing the buttons of former Presidents. With so much drama in the LBC, it's good to know that small steps are being taken to heal the world and make it a better place. Just ask Ja Rule and DMX who have decided to follow in the footsteps of old "foes" Jay-Z and Nas, and

squash the beef.

Love is all

Sorry for all the videos today. God, Youtubin' is just too easy. Anyways check out this trailer for Home of the Brave, out December 15th. Now nobody wants to make light of anything that deals with the war in Iraq, but the trailer presents this movie as sappy and stuck in the rut of trying to hard. [or maybe it's just me.] It all hits home once that "space between us" song starts playing towards the end, or whenever Samuel L. Jackson opens his mouth. And don't get me started on Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. [Though I am curious as to what the hell is going on at 1:50-1:53 which is quickly follwed by the age old adage "Hope Conquers Everything"]

Check it out!

And the band played on

So here it is, some footage of Ashlee Simpson as Roxie Hart. The kid's actually alright. She is lacking a little bit of the strong comedic timing and/or sexuality of the role, but this may be rehearsal footage so I guess it's all good.



And now here is Usher as Billy Flynn bringing some gritty hip-hop flavor to his dance moves; moves that are slightly out of character for Billy Flynn and the play, but charming nonetheless.
[I mean I didn't really complain when Big Boi spit his southernplayalistic bars at the Church in 'Idlewild.']

Comfortably Numb

Wow. We already know how much I adore this song, and now there's some finely crafted imagery to compliment the sounds. I love the surrealist/silent movie era theatricality of it all. It seems like somebody is trying to gain a spot on my favorite bands of the moment list. Here's hoping single number #2 [along with the rest of the upcoming album] is just as good.

I got to get it

Beyonce and her mama Tina ask: Got Milk?



Cute or just awkward?

Image of the day!

Clay Aiken and Late Night Talk Show Host Jimmy Kimmel at Aiken's CD signing in Hollywood on Tuesday.

STEVE HOLT!

I am so excited that all I can do is throw my hands in the air and shout STEVE HOLT! I just purchased two tickets to see the MOTHAFUCKING SCISSOR SISTERS AT THE SHRINE TOMORROW NIGHT IN LOS ANGELES! I love the new disc and from what I hear you have not lived if you are a fan and have yet to see them live. I CAN'T WAIT!

Pull up the people!

Guess who's back?

That's right, M,M,I,I,A, M.I.A. She's spent the past six months in Trinidad and India getting her record on and is set to return with a new single titled Bird Flu. Here's hoping that she still has the bombs to make you blow and the beats to make you bang, bang, bang.

SAY WHAAAT!

Reading up on this week's charts and I see this:




"Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's Thug Stories debuts at #31 with nearly 26,000 first-week sales"

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony? They still making hits?... I mean records? News to me.

Great minds think alike

"I'm a big fan of Justin and he's allowed to use my catchphrase 'sexy' and run with it I mean, I got it from somebody else, so it's all good. [But] I am the king of the sexy, Justin. Let's not get it twisted."-Diddy

Remember what I said about this pic?



I don't even know what to say on this one. It's as if Diddy [that's what he's going by now right?]was up late one night, high, and was bumping Justin Timberlake's 'Sexyback.' Of course this was before the video dropped leaving Diddy all alone to craft what 'if this song was a photograph or a work of art? It would like this son!' images in that diamond encrusted brain of his.

And now check out this pic also taken from Justin Timberlake's photo spread in Bon Magazine, that I forgot to post yesterday:



Are either of them bringing sexyback? Or is one channeling the Matrix while the other gets his Una Bomber on? You be the judge.

5...6...5,6,7,8!

I know, I know another post about Ashlee Simpson starring in Chicago, but after seeing this pic from the show's opening last night in London, I couldn't help but think about either a)a high school production of Chicago b)a talent show put on in the tiny Texas town she hails from or c)baby girl's first dance recital. And of course all of the above were shot on Daddy's brand spanking new video camera [circa 1996].

Baby you could DRIVE my car

File under Saddest News Item of the day. I don't even know where to begin, so I'll just repost it, word for word.

A Socialite's Life

reports:

Bobby Brown seems to be broke. In exchange for an appearance on the urban cable network One, Brown demanded a car. No, not a car and driver, but a car he could keep. Like, forever. [

Lowdown

]

Damn son...damn.

I'm bringing sexy back! YEP!

A few weeks back I wrote a lengthy little blurb on Oasis. It was there that I revealed my undying love for the band and how I pretty much own about 75% of their catalogue. While the rest of the world were busy passing them by and reliving the joy that is Wonderwall [myself included] over and over again, I was busy giving each new album a chance and actually enjoying them. I am always down with looking for new music and giving artists a chance. Best case scenario: I find an artist and add them to my list of artists who pull me in with each release. It's not a very long list but off the top of my head I can think of a few who get my attention with each new release: Beck, Janet Jackson, Ludacris [although I am iffy on this new one], Radiohead, Nelly Furtado, and of course Oasis. There are others of course, but for the time being I'll stick with those.

Actually scratch that, I do have someone else to add: Marilyn MOTHERFUCKING Manson. Yeah you heard me. I love me some Marilyn Manson. Unlike most I did not come in with Antichrist Superstar. I came in with Mechanical Animals and since then I have loved everything about the man. His artistry [yes artistry], shock value, autobiography, taste in fashion, opinions both in and out of the studio, his glowing Rolling Stone essay post Columbine [a well written and subtle fuck you to all of those placing part of the blame for Columbine on him], and of course the music.

Antichrist Superstar-industrial/Trent Renzor influenced shock rock
Mechanical Animals-Glam inspired/David Bowie channeling maturity
Holy Wood (In the shadow of the Valley of Death)-A post Columbine record steeped in social commentary with its finger on the pulse
And 2003's The Golden Age of Grotesque-Dada/German Third Reich influenced/Vaudevillian themed collection

There's a reason why bullmoose.com gives these albums a rating of 4 1/2, 4, 4 1/2, and 4 out of 5 stars respectively, because like David Bowie and countless others before him, there is genuine artistry and magic behind the make-up with songs to back it all up.

It's been three years since Manson has released new material and I couldn't be happier to here that Marilyn Manson is working on new material. Accoring to NME.com, "Manson has half an LP's worth of material completed." Including a new track titled Rebels Without Applause, which is supposedly about "new bands becoming popular." Manson tells Rolling Stone:

I'm not the bitter guy that's jealous of these other bands that are coming up and stealing my thunder. I invented thunder and rain. I am THE black. And I'm here to vacuum the red carpet.

Damn straight man. I can't wait for this album to drop. In the meantime do yourself a favor and get your hands on some Marilyn Manson. You'll be doing yourself a big favor. As I type this, Mechanical Animals plays in the background. The Dope Show to be exact. I forgot how great and dare I say it, sexy this song is. Rock on M&M. Rock on!

NME Manson brief.

No Cabaret!

Justin Timberlake. Bon magazine spread. Bringing sexyback? You be the judge.






Somewhere in the world Brandon Flowers is pretty pissed.

What it is?

Too much going on here. Can't...form...sentences...complete...just...words. Violence, the Klan, nip...tuck, black... power, MJ.

The man behind the mask.

Dirty Pop!

See, I am not the only one who appreciates the magic of a good pop tune when he hears one. Even the folks over at Pitchfork can set aside their highfalutin' tastes and suggestions and show Paris Hilton the singer some love.

Picthfork gives Paris' new single Nothing in this world 3 1/2 stars.

Me against the music

The time has finally come. Tomorrow we lucky lads here in America can get our hands on the Scissor Sisters' sophomore disc Ta-Dah! And believe me it is worth the asking price. You like disco? Elton John? The Bee Gees? Balls to the wall flamboyance and high energy? Well this record is for you and all your ass shaking head bobbing friends. Until midnight hits, enjoy today's quote of the week courtesy of Scissor's front man Jake Shears.

"American music fans are just as musically open-minded as their British counterparts. But the powers that be in the U.S. may not be as open-minded. Which, to a degree, will hold us back in the U.S. ... Tons of Americans would love our music, but they don't know we exist. People have lots of preconceived notions about us. But they get over them by hearing us or seeing us live. People just need to be exposed to this song ("I Don't Feel Like Dancin'")-- and our music in general. They'll get it. People may look at us and think, 'What a bunch of weirdos.' But give them time and they'll see that we're pretty special."-told to Billboard magazine

Damn straight Jake. Damn straight. Be sure to catch them this week on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Dancing with the Stars. Check your local listings.

Back to life, back to reality

The Killers have a new album out next week, so until then just accept the fact that you will be bombarded with glossy magazine covers, photo spreads, and delusions of grandeur from Brandon Flowers. Take this quote, taken from The Observer, in which America's favortie front man throws a little advie in Thom Yorke's direction. Apparently Radiohead have strayed far from the magical luster that was Creep and Pablo Honey. To Brandon, Thom Yorke "should feel grateful that he's [been] given the gift to write pop songs, which he needs to write again!" Spoken like a true artist there Mr. Flowers. Oh wait,

don't call him that.

What not to wear: Hip-Hop Edition

Though I may be a Black male who strays away from the over-sized jeans, fitted caps, corn rows and the like I still give props to those Black males who adorn themselves in the fitteds, designer jeans, and fly ass kicks.[The verdict is still out on the whole over-overized white t-shirt phenomenon.] Matching from head to toe these men are sometimes nothing short of being impeccably dressed. But sometimes, more than not, you get this:



F-A-B-O-L-O-U-S, stay out of Pharell's closet. And was that medallion around your neck ripped from the bumper of a 1986 Thunderbird and/or Cadillac? I'm confused. Digging those stunna shades though.

What you know about that?

The following pic is taken from

Nah Right:

Is that "Tiny" from Xscape? [Them of Who can I run to? and My Little Secret fame.] Wow. Talk about taking a brotha back to his childhood. Who can I run to was my JAM.

You must be my lucky star

Creative?

Paris Hilton - Nothing in this World Music Video (NEW)


Seriously, someone needs to let Paris Hilton know that her scantily clad gyrations don't qualify as dance steps. [And what the hell is that at 2:54?!@ (and don't get me started on 3:10-3:15)] And why does her boy next door seem like a lost younger brother during bring your junior high school aged sibling to high school week?

I hope you like REGGAETON!

MTV, the public. The public, allow me to introduce my new friend,

MTV Tr3s.

Lifestyles of the rich and famous

Whoa! I can't believe my ears!

Listen to the new Good Charlotte single, Keep Your Hands Off.. here.

I actually like it[hard to believe right?] Yeah I said it. I can't believe this is the same band that gave us such "pop-punk" gems as The Anthem and -ahem- Hold On. Looks like spinning with DJ Steve Aoki,

chilling with the Cobrasnake,

and hitting the hot spots around LA [hotspots as in where all the hipsters come out to play] really rubbed off on the Madden Brothers.

Here and Now!

Random thought:

No disrespect to Luther Vandross [God rest his sensual soul] but Clay Aiken...a Luther Vandross for many a Caucasian female?

Developing...

Stop right now, thank you very much

It never ends.

Sucka Free Sunday!

Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you, "hip-hop" at its finest.

Kanye West and Fonzworth Bentley at Fashion Rocks 2006


VS.

K-Fed Performs at Teen Choice 2006

Oh I'm ready for it!

So I went ahead and saw

Jackass

2

this weekend...

Twice...

Don't ask.

For Your Consideration

The Game. The Doctor's Advocate.



Here's another one of those rare instances where there's a whole lot of something going on while a whole lot of nothing is going on at the same time. If anything all I can think about are my junior high school years where everybody and their momma went to the photo place on the weekend in their best fits and took wallet sized photographs in front of all kinds of different backgrounds. [Dollar wallpaper, bubbles, forests, street scenes, etc., etc.] And if you went to school in a city with some minorities, don't act like you don't know what I am talking about, cause I think you do.

Happy days are here again!

As was the case with my Clay Aiken post, I am not touching this one. I ain't trying to get shot up in this piece.

Headline of the Day!

"Holmes To Play Victoria Beckham."

Holmes as in Katie...playing Victoria Beckham, formely known as Posh Spice. Just in case you were wondering and all.

What the hell is this?

I mean seriously.

Chicken Noodle Soup Video

Thank you for being a friend!

Promo pic for Beck's upcoming album The Information:




I'm not sure what is going on here, but I like it. And who's not down with giving Devendra Banhart more exposure, even if it's all surrealist and non-sensical.

QUESTION: Tell me what you think about me

Clay Aiken's response to the question of whether or not he is gay from People magazine:



"What do you say (to that question)? … It's like when I was 8. I remember something would get broken in the house, and Mom and Dad would call me in and say, 'Did you do this?' Well, it didn't matter what I said. The only thing they would believe was yes. … People are going to believe what they want."

Now normally I would insert my opinion on the matter here and/or what I think his sexuality is, but everybody knows that you do not, I repeat DO NOT mess with Clay Aiken or you will have hell to pay. His fans ain't no joke. They will come after your ass.

God takes care of the little things

Word on the street is that Clive Davis

has called on Courtney Love to help get Whitney Houston back on track.

I am guessing it's because Court [can I call you that?] has been around the block a few times. It makes perfect sense. Hell, if I had a drug problem and needed some help I too would seek the assistance of the one they call Courtney Love.

You know it's hard out here for a pimp!

DMX was raped ya'll. That's right, I said

RAPED!

Ring the alarm!

Hold up wait a minute! I go and pop open Pitchfork's home page and my eyes see this:

Missy Elliott
Respect M.E.

"The hip-hop superstar finally has her inventive, brilliant singles compiled onto one disc. The rub: It's only out in the UK."

First off I was like OH WORD! Missy "MISDEMEANOR" Elliot has a greatest hits CD (?)and got all kinds of excited. [Despite the fact that I could easily compile this disc myself seeing as how I own every album she's put on wax]Then I was all like SAY WHAT?! OUT ONLY IN THE U.K.? AWW HELL TO THE NAW. Whatever, it's cool, but that shit needs to be released stateside. I like the album cover and who doesn't want a CD full of Missy Elliot hits to bump from time to time. If Respect M.E. can't get your party started, I don't know what will.

Read Pitchfork's spot on

review of Respect M.E. here.

Big Ups JT!

This week Mr. Timberlake scored his first number one as a solo artist with Futuresex/Lovesound. I don't think anyone is surprised by this. We all saw it coming. 684,000 copies to be exact. I knew he would go all the way to the top last Saturday when I went to a Best Buy in Venice to cop the disc only to be told that they were sold out. Goddamn it. So wanted to bump it in my friend's Mercedes SUV.

This week's top ten albums:

1. Futuresex/Lovesounds
2. Continum-John Mayer-300,000 copies sold
3. B'Day-Beyonce-162,000 copies sold
4. Face the Promise-Bob Seger-151,000 copies sold
5. Modern Times-Bod Dylan-93,000 copies sold
6. Coming Home-Lionel Richie-75,000 copies sold
7. Extreme Behavior-Hinder-64,000 copies sold
8. Danity Kane-62,000 copies sold
9. Amputechture-The Mars Volta-59,000 copies sold
10. "Descending 8-10 in its 50th week on the chart,(?!#@) Nickelback's "All the Right Reasons" (Roadrunner) rounds out the top tier with 57,000 and a sales decrease of 3%." (Why America? Why?) [Taken from Billboard.com]

Oh well, whatever, nevermind

Hard to believe it, but it has been 15 years since Nirvana changed the game with their album Nevermind, an album full of angst, pain, heartache, and passion, all hanging on like a thread dangling from Kurt's ripped jeans.
There's also some love there and as we all know this wouldn't be a Nirvana story without a few bits of knowledge from Kurt's widow Courtney Love. Love tells NME:

"There's only really one [song] about me because it was written late in the day. Most of the songs are about another girl, which is annoying. But I'm not gonna name (which one's about me) because I feel like it's just my secret."

Way to go Courtney. Let's hope you aren't trying to get a piece of that classic album nostalgia going on right now with Nevermind. I like you and all, but for those who don't, [particularly the Nirvana fans] all you are doing is adding more fuel to the fire.

Read more about it

here.

What we gon' do right here is go back...

With his new album, Futuresex/Lovesounds, Justin looked to the eighties, a time of decadance, good times, and impeccable dance grooves. Not to mention the creative ambitions and excercises in funk and sexuality a la the artist now known as Prince. [And yes there's a little MJ thrown in for good measure.]

But if one is to harken back to a time where many a good tune was in heavy rotation, you can't just wink and nod towards Prince and the gloved one. Maybe that is why, as noticed by Miss Modernage over at her site

The Modern Age,

JT's album cover is strikingly similar to the cover for New Order's 2002 box set, Retro.




Once again the young kid who doesn't know any better was all impressed and shit with the sleek minimalism of Justin's cover [and still is] but this kid must also admit that the New Order cover is just as hot and sleek and possibly more fun to look at.