Santogold, Julian Casablancas And Pharrell Are
Converse All Stars

What do you get when you combine the selling power of Bud Light's Santogold with the laconic New York charm of the Stroke's Casablancas and the non-laconic L.A. sizzle of N.E.R.D.-y Pharrell Williams (not featuring Lindsay Lohan)? Basically, a well-produced Neptunes-style sneaker jingle with the guy from the Strokes and Santi on it. Could be worse ... we like commercials that sound good. The Guardian gives us the deets about how the power trio plans to lace up and sell us new kicks.

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Macy Gray Too Drunk For Gig

Macy Gray cut her gig short at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday because she was reportedly too drunk to perform.[...] Read more!

Read The Full Article:
http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/05/16/macy_gray_too_drunk_for_gig_

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More iPhone: A TR-909 Clone, and Dreaming of
Ableton

Here’s another addition to our iPhone / iPod touch round-up: the author of the beautiful, minimal iPhoneSynth has created a drum machine inspired by Roland’s classic TR-909. Basic features, but it could be fun to hash out a drum pattern for your next tune on the subway:

IR-909 is a drum machine for the iPhone inspired by the Roland TR-909. IR-909 features a 16-step sequencer, 4 patterns, 8 different drum sounds and the ability to adjust tempo(BPM) and shuffle amount.

iPhone Applications at roventskij.net

It’s interesting: I heard some complaints in comments on our previous round-up that the applications were basically toys. To me, there’s a certain appeal to having something simple and elegant to toy around with musically, whether on an iPhone or other mobile gadget (Nintendo DS, Palm) — and that’s long been the draw. Of course, we know what you want to be able to do with your iPhone, as exemplified in this fake mock-up by our friend Tricil.

Before you get excited, it’s fake! It’s not real! He admits it’s fake! (Nice fakery, in fact, Tricil!) But it does raise an interesting question. For now, Apple’s APIs are largely incomplete on iPhone in the way that would be necessary to support something like Live. But mobile devices in general are moving fast, and I don’t think it’s that far out of the question. The question is, would you actually want something far simpler than Live in your pocket — or perhaps you’d want to do what mobile users have been doing, using sophisticated trackers for music arrangement that are better suited to mobile hardware.

And, likewise, it’s very possible that tools like the iPhone, iPod touch, or others could work as effective remote controls for full-blown music apps. See our previous story on an upcoming, commercial multi-touch controller app for iPhone/iPod touch and Pro Tools:

Control Pro Tools with an iPhone or iPod Touch

As for your mobile Linux nuts, I say bring it on. (Hey, if I saw a nice enough gadget, I might try to code that one myself…)

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New Pelican Video - "Dead Between The Walls"

Chicago/Los Angela instru-metallers (and Whole Foods workers) Pelican have a new highway-side video for City Of Echoes track "Dead Between The Walls." The album's been out a while, yes, but circumstances reared their head and the guys decided to make their first official video, shot at Saddleback Butte State Park, directed by David Kleiler, and paying homage to Kyuss' "Green Machine." As guitarist Laurent Schroeder-Lebec told Headbangers Ball:

We wanted sand, fast cars, blistering colors, and just a focus on rockin'. The loose narrative that plays out in the video came up later, and it's our embrace of the vocal-less approach of our band. (And how else were we going to include Juan Perez and Attie the pitbull?)

Exactly.

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New Cure Video - "The Only One"

There's been plenty of discussion about the Cure's new single "The Only One," which won't be the only one; the new album's getting four singles before it's out this fall. But we're still absorbing this particularly poppy, suggestive jangle, Robert yowling and enjoying his loved one's hips and lips, and the power they have over him. The song showed up live last year in Mexico, but now the song has an official video, and it's a fairly straight-up performance clip, shot in b&w, but with plenty of colorful shapes on bald heads, hands, and guitars. Of course, at the center is Robert, looking relatively ageless, with his messy mop, eyeliner, and that coy boys-do-cry thing he does so well.

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Scarlett Johansson Does Tom Waits Live On AOL

Zooey's winning the battle of the singing actresses, but while Scarlett doesn't have strong a voice, she does look a little more comfortable fronting her extensive, shape-shifting backing band. A little more comfortable, mind you. The highlights of the hoarse whisperer's in-studio Session are a Bowie-free "Falling Down" and Anywhere I Lay My Head's title track. She also does a Q&A, answering questions about Bowie and Waits and whether it's more frightening to act or sing. You can likely guess what she'll say for each question before watching her answer them, but the thing is, you do get to watch her answering them. Which isn't too difficult.

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Miley Cyrus Defends 'Stolen' Song

Teen star Miley Cyrus has hit back at accusations she ripped off a Los Angeles band's song - because she doesn't write any of her own music.[...] Read more!

Read The Full Article:
http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/05/16/miley_cyrus_defends_stolen_son
g_

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Death Cab Perform In A Black Cab

Earlier this week we saw Futureheads' Barry Hyde give "Radio Heart" his all for a Black Cab Session. Now it's Ben Gibbard and Chris Walla's turn to jump in the back. They opt for an acoustic version of Narrow Stairs gem "No Sunlight." The irony here is that sunlight keeps streaming through the windows, practically blinding Chris.
Some guy in a passing bus is mesmerized. Watch it here. As far as the nice "cab" echo in the headline, we'd like to see Jens perform "Black Cab" on Black Cab, too. Because that'd be something.

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Arcade Fire Not Scoring The Box, Enjoying Wolf
Parade

Our pals at Videogum commented on P4K's report that Arcade Fire are soundtracking Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly's new sci-fi horror flick The Box.

Well, now Win Butler's telling the internet to calm down because it's not exactly true. Via Win's Blog:

Hi everyone. Hope you are having a great spring...

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Raconteurs, Bon Iver Unplug For Jools Holland

A couple days ago those Consolers of The Lonely the Raconteurs tore through a couple electric songs on Jools Holland -- "Salute Your Solution," "Consoler Of The Lonely." Afterwards (or before, because who knows when it was recorded) they stripped down for an acoustic "Many Shades Of Black" for Holland's BBC website. It's a subdued, but pleasant take. There are some smiles, nervous three-part backup harmonies. Jack looks a tad listless here and there, but he does get into it, for sure, nodding with his eyes closed and singing along by the time we get to the close.

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