When my favorite critic for the New York Times, Kelefa Sanneh, recently wrote an article praising the German rock band Tokio Hotel, I decided to check them out. On YouTube I watched their videos for “Monsoon” and “Ready, Set, Go!” which are supposed to be their more popular songs (and some of the only ones they sing in English), and I really wasn’t that crazy about them. The music was a lot darker than I had anticipated- I was expecting more of a pop sound. THEN, I watched some of their videos in German, and it was almost like seeing a different band. They’ve got tons of energy, and seem to have a much more upbeat, pop sound. The band is scheduled to release their first American album in April called Scream, and I’m hoping it features more upbeat songs like “Beitche” (posted below), rather than sticking with the dark, Evanescence-like sound of “Monsoon.” They’ve already sold over 3 million albums in Germany and Austria, as well as other European countries, but they’ve had a hard time appealing to English speaking countries. They do seem like a cool band though, and I hope they figure out a way to successfully cross-over.

Check out one of their more upbeat pop-sounding songs (in German):

The above picture is a computer rendering of the proposed Museum of Musical Instruments, scheduled to open in 2010. The museum will be the only one in the country that is devoted solely to instruments of world culture. Robert J. Ulrich, the CEO of the Target Corporation, is giving millions of dollars to the project, which is estimated to cost about $125 million, according to the NY Times. There will be about 5,000 instruments, occasional musical performances, and the opportunity to play some of the rare instruments. Sounds pretty great - too bad it’s going to be in the outskirts of Phoenix.

In the last year Mexico has seen an unprecedented 2,544 drug-related murders (these numbers are according to the press, since the government doesn’t keep tabs). Unfortunately, this violence has affected the music scene. Last week two of Mexico’s biggest pop stars, Sergio Gomez of K-Paz de la Sierra and Zayda Pena of Zayda y Los Culpables were brutally murdered - Zayda in her hospital bed after a failed murder attempt left her injured.

The reason these pop stars are getting murdered is that their songs are being adopted as anthems for various cartels. The artists then become a symbols of whichever cartels adopt them, and murdering these artists is just another way for these groups to battle one another.

The cartels don’t care about how they are seen by the public, they are worried about showing their absolute control of their territory, and they will impose their control at all costs,” González said. “(Killing a singer) is like planting the flag of their cartel in the ground.
- Samuel González Ruiz, former head of a federal organized crime task force

I LOVE THIS BAND. These four nerdy rock guys from Columbia University have an upbeat, quirky sound that blends punk rock with South African traditional music. Their self-titled debut album comes out this Tuesday, 1/29. Check out their video for “A-Punk”! Seriously, DO IT.

Read what NPR has to say about Vampire Weekend.
Vampire Weekend’s myspace.

A NY Times article reports that 50 Cent, Wyclef Jean, Timbaland, Mary J. Blige, and other rappers have been implicated in a steroids investigation. Shocking!

The spectacle of hip-hop now is so much greater than it’s ever been,” said Jeff Chang, the author of the hip-hop history “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop.” “There’s always the battle aesthetic at work, this idea that you’re going to go up there and show that you’re badder than everybody else. It’s part of the swagger that hip-hop carries.

Sony BMG dumped legendary singer Annie Lennox by not answering or returning her calls. OUCH.

“They totally ignored me. It was bizarre. It was a kick in the teeth. They didn’t return my phone calls or emails for three weeks. I’m trying to find out what’s behind it.”

Harsh!