I’ve never been the biggest fan of “web jukebox” sites like Pandora because they try to “introduce” me to crappy bands like Interpol when I say I like the Strokes. It’s also not very good for genres other than rock or country (who wants to listen to a cappella versions of rap?). Okay okay, I suppose it’s not the worst site in the world, especially if you find yourself ipod-less, but I FINALLY discovered a music site that I like. It’s called Songza; the interface is beautifully simple and easy to use:

The site was created by Aza Raskin, the son of Jef Raskin (interface expert who worked for Apple Computers). It streams all its music from youtube and other sites. As a result, it doesn’t have everything, but it won’t try to impose lame bands on you. And it’s pretty. So check it out!

In case you haven’t already heard, the R.J. Reynolds Company (parent co of Camel Cigarettes) and Wenner Media (publisher of Rolling Stone) are being sued bigtime over a Camel ad that appeared in Rolling Stone a few weeks ago. According to the Daily Swarm, Xiu xiu and Fucked Up filed a class action lawsuit claiming that artists’ names were misused for commerical advantage, and are demanding that Rolling Stone publishes a statement saying they did not have the artists’ consent (in a spread as big as the original ad). Oh, and they’re also seeking financial damages that could be as high as $195 billion. Ouch!

Skimming through the AM paper this morning, I noticed an article on a Brooklyn band called O’Death. I figured any band that’s described as being gothic bluegrass is worth a listen, even if it’s just to laugh at them. Turns out they’re actually not bad… the vocals are Modest Mouse-ish but grittier and the overall aesthetic is like a sloppy “O Brother Where Art Thou.”

Check out “Only Daughter” on their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/odeath

Not knowing much about French rap, I found this article to be really interesting and informative. It includes samples of songs from some of the most popular French rap groups, such as IAM, Bouga, and Psy4 de la Rime. The writer also discusses what makes Marseilles rap different from Parisian rap: “Rappers in Marseille, some of the most original and distinctive ones anyway, compose sad odes to their local neighborhoods and hymns to the whole melting-pot city. The sound of Paris hip-hop, slicker and more aggressive, adopts much from American gangsta rap, as Marseille hip-hop does too, but Marseille boasts a groovier style. It mixes in blues, flamenco, Jamaican ragga.”

Anyway, from listening to the samples, French rap sounds kinda old school, like they’re behind a few years. Thoughts?!

Josh Groban’s Christmas album Noel, which was released only 10 weeks ago, has now surpassed the High School Musical 2 soundtrack to become to best selling album of the year. Selling almost 2.8 million albums, it beat out High School Musical 2 which had sold 2.7 million, and Chris Daughtry (of “American Idol”), whose debut album Daughtry sold 2.3 million.

Noel is the first Christmas album to spend four weeks in a row at the top of the charts, and only the second Christmas album to spend that many weeks at #1 at all (after Elvis’ 1957 Christmas album). It’s also the first album to experience an increase in sales each week at #1 since No Doubt’s 1995 album Tragic Kingdom.

I can’t believe there’s a wikipedia entry about this video.

It seems that a lot of quirky, “heartfelt” acts get their real first big break through Grey’s Anatomy. Why is that?

“Apparently my glasses make me sound just like Lisa Loeb” -Ingrid.

“The Seven Ages of Rock” is a series running on VH1 Classic that started last night and ends on Sunday. According to this Times article, the series hails 1965 as the “birth of rock,” and there is no mention of Elvis, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and only a brief mention of the Beatles. Instead, the series focuses on British musicians such as the Who and Cream. I think it’s great to look at the history of rock from a slightly different perspective, but then why not call the show “The Seven Ages of Rock in England?” It’s completely bogus to not even mention an artist like Chuck Berry. I think a lot of people would agree with what the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s website says: “While no individual can be said to have invented rock and roll, Chuck Berry comes the closest of any single figure to being the one who put all the essential pieces together.” I guess I have to actually watch the series before I totally bash it, but I’m pretty skeptical. I’m sure it’s a great documentary, but it can’t really claim to be a definitive history of rock without mentioning those key figures. Lame, lame, lame.

I can’t stop laughing at the dancing in this video