That’s right–it’s Hurley! In an interview with Spinner Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo explained where the idea of having Lost‘s Jorge Garcia cover their next LP:
“We struggled super hard trying to come up with an album title, trying to find some kind of phrase that summed up the whole aesthetic behind the album: ‘Heavy Mental,’ ‘Smaller Than Life.’ I was coming up with all kinds of stuff, but ultimately, we just went with some random word that doesn’t really have anything to do with anything. I just loved this photo of Jorge Garcia — it just had this amazing vibe. We didn’t want to do a fourth self-titled record and we knew people would refer to it as ‘the Hurley record’ even if we left it without that title, so we just called it ‘Hurley.’ No words are on the cover because all we wanted was his amazing face.”
Although he “really like[s] the show” Cuomo confesses there’s no connection between Lost and the next collection of music from Weezer. Oh well…the cover rocks! Hurley releases September 14.
The Kanye West headlines just won’t stop. But I’m not complaining. Today Mr. West stopped by Hot 97’s Angie Martinez Show to play a brand new track that may or may not be off his next yet-to-be-titled album. It’s called “See Me Now” and features beautiful vocals from the talented Beyoncé and R&B/soul singer “Uncle” Charlie Wilson. Unknowingly we had heard a preview of this track when Kanye paid a visit to Facebook HQ two weeks ago; he rapped “I’mma need you to kill all the hypocrisy / This is an aristocracy / I’m Socrates, but my skin more chocolatey.” The track literally is brand new; it was completed this morning at 5am! Though Wilson’s vocals were recorded about two weeks ago, Kanye met with Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Consequence this morning and rushed to write Beyonce’s part so that it could be recorded and played for us today on the radio. The final package is nothing short of excellent. Big shout-out to Lex Lugar and No I.D. for helping Kanye produce the light-hearted track. “See Me Now” falls on the other side of the spectrum when compared to “Power.” It’s got the stylistic drums and synths banging in the background, but it is not nearly as dark and brooding. It’s more uplifting, very reminiscent of “Through the Wire” and other The College Dropout tracks. It’s good to see Kanye having some fun in the studio again. Preview and download the song below.
During his four part interview with Angie Martinez, Kanye mistakingly let loose an expected album release date of November 16. So mark your calendars and let the anticipation begin continue. Click here to stream the entire interview. Kanye is surprisingly candid at the mic.
Update: Kanye just used Twitter to point out that this version of “See Me Now” is not the final mix. When the mastered version is available I’ll post it here. Also, a “Power” remix is on the way.
Gregory Kaufman, a student at Kansas City Art Institute, imagined and implemented “DJ touch screen interface and gesture interaction concepts” for his senior degree project. Though it’s not quite as visually stunning as the rear projection setup we spied earlier this week, it does bring a new kind of functionality to the up-and-coming DJ multitouch game–the ability to replicate a standard DJ turntable-mixer setup using a touch-based interface. Check out the video embedded above to hear all about from Kaufman and see a demonstration of the concept tech.
On the final day of the TCA press tour, HBO programming president Michael Lombardo strung together these words in a sentence concerning the premium cable network’s longest running series Entourage: “Next summer will definitely be the final season.” Yes, tear. After seven seasons of watching Ari Gold and crew perform their comedic magic creator Doug Ellin is ready to call it quits. Summer 2011 will be host to a shortened final season that will likely air a six episode story arc that may or may not lead into an Entourage theatrical release sometime in the future. Lombardo: “[Ellin] wants to write a film, but wants to do it when the story will make sense.” Hey–at least the idea of a movie was mentioned; better than no news at all. Apparently Ellin is ready to move on to new projects. He’s already pitched multiple show ideas to HBO. Lombardo “expect[s] that within the next couple years” he will have another show up and running on the network. Entourage fans, it’s been a great run. (But what am I saying? We still have this season plus the mini-season next summer, then possibly a movie; it’s not over just yet!)
Kanye West has been making the rounds on the Internet even since he decided to come out from hiding. First it was Twitter, then Facebook, now Ustream. On Friday Kanye hosted a live Ustream video chat from Korea to answer a bunch of fan questions. The most important news to come out of the twenty-five minute chat session is that the upcoming album is coming out “sometime in November” and that the next single is expected to drop within the next 20 days. He’s still deciding between “Lost In The World” and “All of the Lights” for the next single. He gave a 30 second preview of the latter song, and man did it sound great. Besides spilling that info, he also talked about his influences on the album and the “Power” painting video. He says that he’s constantly looking at thousands of pictures and a number of artworks and movies for inspiration. (He name dropped Avatar, late designer Alexander McQueen, Thom Yorke, and Trent Reznor.) About the “Power” video he said, “I always wanted to recreate the Sistine Chapel. This is not the full re-creation [though]. I still might want to do that.” He went on to set the record straight concerning his time on the web; he held up his second laptop to prove he has a hand in updating his blog and Twitter feed. He also addressed more serious issues about his new (and so far much improved) public attitude: I’m not allowing my attitude to get in the way of my creation anymore.” He continues, “That’s all I want to do, is give you all the most amazing work I can.” “All I can do is focus on being a better person,” he adds. When a commentor asked Kanye why he is a racist, a surprisingly appropriate and light response was given. “I actually don’t know a rapper before me that liked white people more than me. I don’t know a rapper that wore tighter jeans. I don’t know a rapper that collaborated with more white people than me.” Atta boy, Mr. West. Watch the recorded Ustream chat here.
Check out this crazy amazing homemade DJ setup called Token Concept. Sure it uses rear projection video on glass for the cool visual effect, but the multitouch implementation is far out. Into the future. It’s running off a Traktor Pro controller called Emulator.
Since Arrested Development executive producer and Narrator Ron Howard uttered the final line of the 2003-06 FOX series (“No, I just don’t see it as a TV series. Maybe a movie?”), fans of the cancelled cult hit have been yearning for an official press release stating that a movie based on the Bluth family is a-go. Though word has yet to escape from the mouth of a studio exec, AD creator Mitch Hurwitz has kindly updated fans on the matter. Hurwitz was on hand this week at the Television Critics Association press tour (touting his new FOX series Running Wilde, starring AD alum Will Arnett and David Cross) and he gave this straight answer to the press: “We’re writing it [the script]; we’re about halfway through.” He sounds very confident that the script will get picked up and things will move forward as planned. “We will make this movie. The only stumbling blocks will be scheduling. Everybody wants to play together.” That is true; virtually every actor from the ensemble cast has publically state they are willing and excited to reprise their roles for a movie. Hurwitz added, “It’s not going to be a big money maker. It’s going to be fun, like a family reunion.” That is exactly what I am expecting it to be, nothing more. To see Michael, George Michael, G.O.B., Buster, Lindsey, Tobias, Maeby, Lucille, George Sr., and Oscar together again, for one last hurrah, would be a wonderful treat. Oh, and who could forget…STEVE HOLT! The only information Hurwitz would divulge is that political references are being changed (from George Bush to President Obama) since the script was “started it awhile ago” and that “the Bluths may not be vacationing in the Gulf of Mexico anymore.” Beyond the rewrites, completing the script, and recasting the Uncle Mel character, “we have a clear path”, Hurwitz reassures. I will be keeping my ear to the ground with this one; as soon as a deal is struck with final script in tow you will be informed.
Before tonight’s episode of The Jersey Shore, MTV premiered the music video for Eminem’s chart-topping single “Love the Way You Lie.” Not only does it include Eminem spitting his game and Rihanna belting out the catchy hook, but Charlie from Lost and the hot chick from Transformers lend their acting chops to the powerful lyrics. Domestic violence is the theme, something that Eminem and Rihanna have experienced in their own personal lives. Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox make for an attractive couple in an over-the-top love/hate relationship. One second punches are thrown and in the next lips and tongues are interlocking. It all plays out very theatrically and I commend the effort put into it. Check out the music video above and share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Tonight MTV premiered the music video painting for Kanye West’s new single “Power.” Kanye started to hype the one minute forty-three second video/painting hybrid yesterday on his blog and Twitter account. He constantly made sure to specifiy that the final product would not be a music video but instead a “painting”. The video begins with a close-up of Kanye’s face with two lines of parallel pillars behind him. As the track plays, the camera slowly pans outward to reveal scantily-clad women donning horns, canes, and wings. Almost immediately you realize that this is not a traditional music video but instead a slow moving painting taking place in the clouds among angels and demons. After only one verse the video draws to its conclusion when the camera starts to sporatically dart around the scene. Then the mystical creatures disappear, two men fly through the air with swords aimed for Kanye’s head (and another one dangling above him through a halo ring), and the letters P-O-W-E-R filled with images from the video take over the screen.
Artist Marco Brambilla directed the video; he successfully invokes Michelangelo’s frescos in the Sistine Chapel, his source for inspiration, by placing historical characters and creatures in the neoclassical scenery. Kanye approaced Brambilla after watching his tremendous specticle “Civilization.” Click here for a brief behind-the-scenes look at the making of the “Power” video. (NSFW warning: It does contain minor instances of nudity.)
I have one word to describe what Kanye has done here: interesting. It’s definitely a bold risk for a music video for two obvious reasons. One, it’s not really a music video, it’s a “painting”; and two, it does not encompass the entire song. That said, the art direction is spectacular and the featured goddesses are a nice treat. I also like the way it was filmed; the slow panning, the quick darting shots, and the awesome illusion on the eyes that made it look like Kanye was moving ever-so-slightly towards us all made for a high value viewing. I am disappointed that “Power” will not be getting a standard music video that it so rightfully deserves. I’d almost rather purchase an enlarged poster of this living portrait than watch it in video form. But this is what Kanye wanted, and Kanye gets what Kanye wants. Unconventional as it may be, the “painting” proves to be stylistically impressive and easy on the eyes.
Rapper Lil Wayne might be in jail but that’s not stopping him from releasing new music. A track from his upcoming EP I’m Not A Human Being hit the ‘Net the other day and I’ve got it streaming down below along with a download link. Wayne doesn’t pull any surprises in “Right Above It”, but it proves he’s ready to bring his music back into the spotlight. The crazy cool beat and the feature by fellow Young Money pard’ner Drake really make the track shine. The EP drops on Weezy’s birthday September 27 in digital form only. He’s expected to leave jail in October, and you can anticipate production on Tha Carter IV to ramp up thereafter.
The Jackass gang is back, this time in EYE-POPPING 3D. Get ready to see some foul and painful stunts like you’ve never witnessed them before when Jackass 3D hits theatres October 15, 2010.
Remember when Joaquin Phoenix grew a filthy beard, stopped going to the barber, and decided to quit acting to become a rapper and act like a total idiot (much to our amusement) on Letterman? Well all of that insanity will culminate in the upcoming (mock?)-umentary film titled I’m Still Here. Magnolia Pictures recently outed the official poster for the Casey Affleck-directed movie (see above) and it’s been confirmed that it will release wide on September 10. The press release describes the movie as “sometimes funny, sometimes shocking and always riveting, the film is a portrait of an artist at a crossroads. Defying expectations, it deftly explores notions of courage and creative reinvention, as well as the ramifications of a life spent in the public eye.” Are you willing to pay money to find out what exactly happened to Phoenix during his tumultuous days as an actor-turned-hip-hop artist? Was he for real or was it all just a hoax for a social experiment?
Update: Theatrical trailer posted after the break.
