MEANINGFUL DISTRACTION

I am all about this anti-folk hottie and his sexy girlfriend Natalie Portman.  The song is in Spanish and I like the vids Bollywood take, but I sort of just wish they would have made something sexier, like, say a sex tape.*

*Why is that only the Verne Troyers and Dustin Diamonds of the world make these? (I am ignoring Pamela Anderson, I know. Thanks.)

I’ve been feeling under the weather today, which is why there is a lack of posts.   In order to keep my throbbing head from just exploding, I have been keeping the music mellow.  One of my favorites of the past interminably long hours is this tune by the Avrett Brothers.  If you like Townes Van Zandt, you’ll love them.

Okay, I am dying to get out of here, but I had to tell you that Ryan Adams got a book deal for prose and poetry, which if anything like his music and his on-again-off-again blog, should be amazing.

You know how earlier I mentioned that I am not fan-ish.  I lied.  I freaking love Ryan Adams.  Gold and Love is Hell Part 2 got me through an insanely tough break up in college and I swear whenever I am melanchoIy I still listen to Chelsea Nights (I’m lame, I know). 

And I gotta say I admire how prolific he is.  Chuck Klosterman (fan-ishness again!) said it perfectly in last months Esquire article in which he asked his students to name the most important person in American popcuture and one person named Adams.  Klosterman says there is, ”probably a 98 percent likelihood that Ryan Adams will read this sentence, put down the magazine, walk over to his four-track, and immediately write a psychedelic country song titled “Hey Little Leipzig Girl (I’m Glad You Dug Those Whiskeytown Bootlegs),” which I will be able to listen to on the Internet forty minutes from right now.”

Anyway.  I am pumped for this book. 

Happy weekend!

PS-Ryan if you read this, write us a song.  Please?

Again today this one does not have a moving image, just a picture.  For the legit video click here.  I have been into Yoav for a while now and this song is great for the weekend since it perfectly describes the Manhattan club scene and how pathetic it is.  Plus the beat is awesome-he uses a loop pedal and delay pedal and strikes his guitar to make the drum sound.

The Intelligencer has a post today in which they express shock that Moby is kind of a player.  Sure he’s dated Natalie Portman and Christina Ricci, but it’s not like he’s in the tabs for being a lady hunter nor does he have standard good looks, so they were surprised to see him hit on by two models at a party.

Really though?  Why?  Moby, while not physically modelesque, is still a stud for a variety of reasons.  His music is good, TeaNy makes a nice organic Darjeeling, but mostly he stands for what he believes in and that my friends, is hot. 

Moby has spoken out on a number of issues and has worked with MoveOn and The Humane Society, to name a few organizations.  He’s on the  Board of Directors of Amend.org^], a nonprofit that implements injury prevention programs in Africa and also works with the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function to see how music can help people with psychological problems. 

That’s sexy.

But wait, there’s more.  As someone who has suffered from crippling panic attacks (yeah, I am getting personal), I appreciate that Moby speaks out about his struggles and it’s good to see someone who has been able to rise to fame despite this problem.

Again-hottness.

And lastly-Moby’s blog rocks.  Now I am not a fan-ish person nor do I take to reading any other celebrity blogs (with the exception of Kanye West for comedic purposes), but Moby talks about real issues.  His last three entries focus on the Dalai Lama, Proposition 2 in California which will ban teh cruelest treatment to farm animals, and lastly, John McCain and Jesse Jackson NutGate.

Now tell me that doesn’t make you want to hit on him?  Just a little?

I am posting the Musical Distraction for the day early because I am hung over (see: Rusty Knot) and blasting music at my desk in order to keep from faceplanting on my keyboard.  If you feel the same-you’ll love this song.  The video is just one shot, but it’s good listening.

Bishop Allen Myspace

Love it.

Not only do I like this song, but i love the concept for the video.  Chris googled “biggest regret,” and has put his finding in this video. 

For more on Chris and his new album WAVE, check out his MySpace here.  His sound spans everything from country and progressive rock to folksy hip hop and 80s pop.

Her voice is gorgeous.  Enjoy.

You got the right stuff, baby?  Michael Jackson is known for bizarre behavior, but this is downright insane!

Wacko Jacko will be making his “comeback” along with the New Kids on the Block, which seems like an odd pick when he could choose to latch himself on to a group that is currently famous and not also attempting to lure new fans as well as rekindle their old fan base.

A source also tells the Mirror, that the King of Pop, “has been in the studio for months. He wants to create an amazing album and won’t release anything until he is totally satisfied. He’s a musical genius and record bosses want to leave him to develop his magic. It will be down to him when it is released.”

The album will be called Lollipops in Neverland.  Just kidding.

I discovered Phoenix back in 2003 when they were featured in the movie Lost in Translation (one of the guys has a kid with Sofia Coppola) and have been following them ever since.   They are based in France and are planning on releasing an album this year.

I discovered Scissors for Lefty when they played SXSW earlier this year.  Based in San Francisco, the band is made up of two sets of families:  Bryan Garza, Robby Garza, Steven Garza, Peter Krimmel and James Krimmel.  They’ve got a Vampire Weekend-esque sound and have toured before with the actress Juliette Lewis.

Kanye has taken to the Internets again, (this time without capital letters and an abundance of exclamation points) to resurrect some pissed off emotions he’s been harboring over a Harper’s Bazaar story that ran almost a year ago!!!

The article stated that Kanye had a picture of himself as an angel hanging in his “crib.” The angel was actually not him. Lunacy ensues below:

“To put it short as Kanyely possible (don’t mean to speak in third person)…. Harper’s Bazaar came to my home, took pics, asked a lot of questions and then assumed the painting in my dining room was of me as an angel. This isn’t true and it bothered me greatly because people think I’m so so so cocky that I would have something like that.

Read the rest of this entry »

Ringo Starr turns 68 today and is asking everyone around the globe to share in his birthday by giving the peace symbol at noon or “saying, singing, shouting, whispering, signing, writing or quietly thinking one simply beautiful and universal message: ‘Peace & Love.’”

Meaningful Distraction will be taking part.  We ask that you do as well.

Click through for the lyrics of the Beatles’ Give Peace A Chance.

Read the rest of this entry »

Running secretive PR stunts like countdown timers is usually a good move.  You build up anticipation and get fans/consumers discussing what mystery will be unveiled.

This move can go terribly wrong however, if the countdown ends in nothing, as is the case with Bloc Party. 

The band had placed a cryptic countdown on their website, Blocparty.com and many fans thought that it would end in new songs.  When it hit the zero mark today, it turned out to be merely a plug for Zane Lowe’s radio show on BBC Radio 1, set to air tonight.

Music website NME has been flooded with emails voicing fans displeasure and many people expect new music on the show tonight.  As for me, I am skeptical.  If they were going to release new music vis the radio show, the plug probably would have said something about it.

The above song starts out slow, but keep listening because they throw it down dirty and quick.  The San Diego band is made up of Peter Arcuni, bassist Justin Tenuto, guitarist and pianist David Klein, and drummer Zach Winter. There new album From The Mountain To The Sea is out August 5th. Until then, check out their MySpace.

Shadow has been beating me to the punch lately so I have a couple of new songs for you.

-Pop Levi - “Never Never Love” (MP3)

Flamboyant and funky, Pop Levi is back with his sophmore album The Return To Form Black Magick Party.  Love it. 

-Neil Halsted - “Paint A Face” (MP3)

Some of you may know Neil as the front man of Mojave 3.  Others, like me, have been waiting for a new album since his amazing 2002 debut Sleeping on Roads (please listen to this album, if you haven’t heard it). Well, it finally happened.  Look out for Oh Mighty Engine July 29.

  -Throw Me The Statue - “If This Is It” (Huey Lewis Cover)

You may recognize this band’s sound from the Rhapsody commercial featuring Lolita.

(Tracks Via Stereogum) 

But wait…You didn’t think we would forget.  NEW BECK ALBUM OUT JULY 8!!!!!  Check out a few leaks here.

The concert is July 12, so mark your calendars now while you enjoy one of his most underrated hits, Blaze of Glory. He’s a six gun lover, a gambler in the wind!

Simply put-fucking awesome!

Okay, I am shameless.  I have gone the Craigslist route and scoured the Internet (every fucking corner of it, I swear) and I can not find a Bob Dylan ticket for the Prospect Park show under $300.

Is there any one out there with a heart of gold and an extra ticket that would be willing to negotiate a moderate price with me?

If not, I am debating going to see him in Saratoga Springs.  However, all of my friends are acting like big losers and don’t want to travel that far (it’s never too far for Dylan) and I am nervous, not about getting there, but about finding my way home.  I have, in the past, had bad luck with this. 

So—anyone out there want to come with me?  I am trusting that you are all not serial killers, rapists, douchebags, seeing how you read this here lovely blog.  It should be noted that I am not a serial killer, or a douchebag.

To celebrate Hillary and Barack making sweet political love this afternoon, Meaningful Distraction is proud to bring you today’s Musical Distraction: Reunited, by Peaches and Herb.

With lyrics like this, can you think of a more appropriate song?  Just substitute Hillary for Peaches and Obama for Herb and look what you get…

HERB Obama
I was a fool to ever leave your side
Me minus you is such a lonely ride
The breakup we had has made me lonesome and sad
I realize I love you ’cause I want you bad, hey, hey

PEACHES Hillary
I spent the ev’ning with the radio
Regret the moment that I let you go
Our quarrel was such a way of learnin’ so much
I know now that I love you ’cause I need your touch, hey, hey

CHORUS: BOTH
Reunited and it feels so good
Reunited ’cause we understood
There’s one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it
We both are so excited ’cause we’re reunited, hey, hey

Read the rest of this entry »

Tim personally booted a fan from his show at the White River Amphitheater in Auburn, Washington last night when he saw him striking a woman. You can hear him say, “Get rid of this guy! Security!” and then stoop down, drag the man onstage and almost punch him before security guards took the offender away.

UPDATE: For more McGraw love, check out today’s Musical Distraction.

Kanye took to his blog to get all psychopathic with a bunch of big type and exclamation points.  He was even typing so hard he thought he might break his MacBook air (and maybe even his gold plated, diamond-encrusted typing gloves-gasp!).

Basically he blames Bonaroo and Pearl Jam for his show going on super-late.

I gotta say I usually don’t like Kanye’s egotism or his tendancy to blame others, but this was pretty cool of him.  Check it out in full glory below, or click here:

“FOR OVER A MONTH WE WENT BACK AND FORTH ON WETHER OR NOT WE COULD EVEN FIT MY STAGE AT THE FESTIVAL. ONE DAY THEY WOULD SAY YES… WE’D SEND THEM OUR SPECS THEN THEY THEY’D SAY OK… THEN THEY WOULD SEND SPECS BACK THAT DIDN’T FIT THE STAGE. WE WERE OBVIOUSLY DEALING WITH FUCKING IDIOTS WHO DIDN’T REALLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO REALLY PUT ON THIS SHOW PROPERLY. THEY TRIED 2 GIVE ME A TIME SLOT WERE IT WAS STILL LIGHT OUTSIDE … I HAVE A FUCKING LIGHT SHOW DUMB ASS, IT’S NOT CALLED GLOW IN THE DARK FOR NO REASON SQUID BRAINS! MY PEOPLE WORKED OUT A COMPROMISED STAGE PLOT AND A 3AM TIME SLOT AND I AGREED. FAST FOWARD TO THE DAY OF THE SHOW. MY PRODUCTION MANAGER TRIED TO LOAD IN FOR 24 HOURS BEFORE I WENT ON STAGE BUT THE FESTIVAL WOULDN’T ALLOW US TO DO ANYTHING UNTILL PEARL JAM LEFT THE STAGE. PEARL JAM ENDED ONE HOUR
LATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AT THAT POINT WE’RE RACING AGAINST THE SUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AT 4:20AM DON COMES BACK 2 THE BUS AND TELLS Read the rest of this entry »

The always reliable Depeche Mode.  There’s just something really satisfying to see a man wearing eye-liner stand there singing, “understand me, understand me…”

(quite right! hat tip: ASC)

I am in love.  I saw Free Blood at (my new fav place) Santo’s House Party on Saturday night and they tore it up.