The Week That Was
omgomgomgomgomgomg OMFG I hope M.I.A. really is dropping a new album soon. Remember two years ago on the Grammys when she was about to pop that kid out onstage and she was still the best thing about the show?
Friday: I feel like Danger Mouse is the cool kid on the playground that’s not only the reigning king of dodgeball, but totally kissed Tiffani by the soccer fields after school. It seems like anytime he’s collaborating on something, that shit turns out to be gold. So, expectations are understandably high for Broken Bells, which puts him in a duo with the Shins’ James Mercer. Their debut drops on March 9, and they’ve got a few shows lined up in Paris, London, and Austin next month. If you’re in those areas, try to snatch tickets and then challenge the Mouse to a rousing playground tournament.
Saturday: So, I think the new Vampire Weekend album is fantastic. I even said as much in a review last month! I’m so consistent. But what’s more fantastic is the band’s video for “Giving Up the Gun.” I have an unapologetically huge crush on Jake Gyllenhaal, so that’s what drew me in, but Referee RZA kept me around.
Sunday: Guys, I can’t wait to see Shutter Island. I don’t care if Leo DiCap (yeah, I call him that. It’s cool.) just runs around a mountainous island in a trenchcoat for two-and-a-half hours. I love me a pulpy detective flick. And hey, so does America! It made $40.2 million at the box office this week. Sunday’s not complete unless I’ve hated on Avatar at least once, so…BAHAHAHA, you lost Best Picture and Best Director at the BAFTAS to the superior film, The Hurt Locker. Here’s hoping (praying, dreaming) that the Oscars follow suit.
Monday: Feist has been oddly silent after blowing up with The Reminder. Yes, she’s guesting on the new Broken Social Scene album (YAYAYAYAY!), but other than that and some appearances on Beck’s Record Club series, her profile has been rather low. So, imagine my excitement when Pitchfork posted a new track from her! Performed at an Olympics-themed arts program, no less. I knew these two weeks without decent primetime TV would yield something good.
Tuesday: Reuters and I have such different priorities. GUYS—BONER FROM GROWING PAINS HAS BEEN REPORTED AS MISSING. They’re billing the article as “Star Trek veteran’s actor son missing in Canada.” Ridiculous! Andrew Koenig was last seen on February 14, and while several sources have leaked news that he’s just become reclusive, people are still pretty worried.
In folksy singer-songwriter news today, both Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Bill Callahan are set to release new albums. The Wonder Show of the World will debut on March 23, credited to Bonnie “Prince” Billy & the Cairo Gang. Callahan is releasing a live disc called Rough Travel for a Rare Thing on the same day, and will feature songs spanning his whole career, including some songs originally recorded under his Smog moniker.
Wednesday: OMFG YES. The Hold Steady is releasing another album in May. The month of my birth. It’s like Craig Finn really, really cares about me and wants me to know it. Right? Right. It’s called Heaven is Whenever. Amazing. While it won’t feature Franz Nicolay, it does have them back with the guy who produced Separation Sunday and Almost Killed Me, Dean Baltulonis.
More great (rumored) album news! M.I.A. may have an album coming out in June. Personally, I think these cryptic tweets—“BANNED FROM LEAVING THE U.S, FAMILY BANNED FROM COMING TO U.S TO SEE ME, BABY, RECORDING LP, SIGNING THE DOPEST ACTS THATS HITTIN 2010," "I THINK IM READY," and "JUNE 2010"—aren’t any kind of solid confirmation, but if bloggers and writers can’t speculate, then what CAN we do?
Posted by Alyssa Vincent, Alyssa Vincent on Feb 27, 2010 @ 12:00 am
