Mandy Moore is on the most recent episode of the Marc Maron podcast.
Matty Healy Talks with GQ
Matty Healy of The 1975 sat down with GQ:
n just under an hour, the topic switches from albums – specifically the next one they’re releasing before August, Notes On A Conditional Form. “We’re at a time now when people enjoy that level of emotional investment, as long as it’s rewarding. And I make albums. I don’t make singles. So I’ve just got to make another album. Also, to feel like I have a purpose, because otherwise what the fuck am I doing?” To social media, “Awful stuff happens and great stuff happens every second and we wake up in the morning and tune in to this algorithm that keeps us informed on every single bit of chaos that happens until we go to bed.”
Ariana Grande Tops the Charts
Ariana Grande has the number one album in the country:
The set launches with the biggest week for a pop album in over a year and garners Grande her fourth No. 1 — and second in less than six months. Of Thank U, Next’s starting unit sum, 116,000 were in album sales.
Gerard Way on ‘The Umbrella Academy,’ My Chemical Romance … and Liza Minnelli
George Gene Gustines, writing at The New York Times:
My initial inspiration was a few different things. I had been such a fan of the Marvel Silver Age, and I grew up reading Chris Claremont’s X-Men. Marvel characters had a lot of issues and problems, but I wanted to give them deeper, more complex problems. I was also reading Hellboy by Mike Mignola, and to me that was a postmodern horror comic. There was nothing like that for superheroes. I usually try to make things that I wish existed that I would want to listen to or read.
Copyright Office Refuses Registration “Carlton Dance”
Eriq Gardner, writing at Hollywood Reporter:
The U.S. Copyright Office is skeptical about Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor Alfonso Ribeiro’s ownership claim over the signature “Carlton Dance,” which became famous after a 1991 episode of the Will Smith series. […]
Take-Two Interactive, publisher of the game NBA 2K, is now seizing upon the refusal in support of the argument that movements for the “Carlton Dance” are not protectable. Ribeiro is suing Take-Two as well as the publisher of Fortnite over special features that allow game players to have their avatars perform the dance.
Ryan Adams Cancels Upcoming Album; FBI Opens Inquiry
The FBI has opened an inquiry into Ryan Adams’s alleged communications with a minor:
In response to The Times’s article, F.B.I. agents in the bureau’s New York office on Thursday took the first steps to open a criminal investigation, according to the official, who declined to be identified because the person was not authorized to discuss it publicly.
Ryan’s upcoming album, Big Colors, has been pulled from all retailers.
Mike Ness of Social Distortion Signs With Concord Music Publishing
Billboard reports that Social Distortion will release their new album on Epitaph Records:
Concord said on Wednesday that a new album is in the works via Epitaph, while Craft Recordings, which represents Social D’s earlier albums along with Ness’ solo LPs, is working on various archival releases for later this year.
The Ryan Adams Allegations Are the Tip of an Indie-Music Iceberg
Laura Snapes, writing for The Guardian:
The concept of male genius insulates against all manner of sin. Bad behaviour can be blamed on his prerequisite troubled past. His trademark sensitivity offers plausible deniability when he is accused of less-than-sensitive behaviour. His complexity underpins his so-called genius. As I wrote for this paper in 2015: “Male misogynist acts are examined for nuance and defended as traits of ‘difficult’ artists, [while] women and those who call them out are treated as hysterics who don’t understand art.” This was after, in response to an interview request, Sun Kil Moon’s Mark Kozelek told a crowd that I was a “bitch” who wanted to have his babies. Note, too, how many female geniuses are dismissed as divas, their art depicted as a symptom of disorder, their responses to mistreatment and calls for respect characterised as proof of an irrational nature.
Holy Pinto – “Adult #2”
Holy Pinto’s new song “Adult #2” can be streamed over at Radio Milwaukee.
‘Ryan Adams Dangled Success. Women Say They Paid a Price.’
Some now say that Adams’s rock-star patronage masked a darker reality. In interviews, seven women and more than a dozen associates described a pattern of manipulative behavior in which Adams dangled career opportunities while simultaneously pursuing female artists for sex. In some cases, they said, he would turn domineering and vengeful, jerking away his offers of support when spurned, and subjecting women to emotional and verbal abuse, and harassment in texts and on social media. The accounts have been corroborated by family members or friends who were present at the time, as well as by correspondence from Adams reviewed by The New York Times.
‘Breaking Bad’ Movie Is a Sequel
[T]he feature-length movie will be a sequel revolving around Aaron Paul, who will reprise his Emmy-winning role as Jesse Pinkman. Sources also confirm that Netflix will have first-run rights to the top-secret project, which will then air on AMC. (Representatives for AMC, Netflix and producers Sony Pictures TV all declined to comment.)
Hawthorne Heights Launch Patreon
Hawthorne Heights have launched a Patreon:
We have heard many of you ask this question. “When are you going to do another Hawthorne Heights Explains It All Podcast?” If we reach 250 patrons, then we will continue the podcast in either audio or live video format. When we really start ramping up the songwriting, it is hard to dedicate the 5 hours per week to get a quality podcast. With your support, we could utilize some of the funds for a better set up, that will allow us to be able to record remotely in places that aren’t just HHHQ,
Death to Autoplay
Adam Engst, writing at TidBits:
The auto-play offense that has pushed me over the edge is Netflix’s Apple TV app, which auto-plays previews for movies and TV shows as you browse through Netflix’s library. Within 3 seconds of when you navigate to a show’s icon, it starts playing a preview for the show, complete with audio. It’s difficult even to read the show’s description in that amount of time, much less reflect on whether you might want to watch the show. As soon as the audio starts, it interrupts whatever thoughts might be going through your head (Josh Centers made this example video; it shows what he hears as his 5-year-old browses).
Is there anyone that likes this “feature?” Anyone?
Gerard Way Talks With the Guardian
Leonie Cooper, writing at The Guardian:
“That’s stuff I thought about when the world started to get super fucked-up again,” he reveals. “It definitely came into my head, but I’d changed so much as a person. I didn’t know how I’d fit into it any more, I didn’t know how the band would fit into it any more. But you’re right, the world is definitely in need of something positive.”
I am evidently not the only one inquiring about the possibility of a comeback for a band that meant so much to so many. “We definitely get offers regularly to reunite – it’s a constant thing,” he says. “It’s flattering, it’s really nice of people …” But no chance? “I miss playing with the guys, but I don’t think so …”
Jeff Bezos Reveals Extortion Attempt from National Enquirer
Well, that got my attention. But not in the way they likely hoped. Any personal embarrassment AMI could cause me takes a back seat because there’s a much more important matter involved here. If in my position I can’t stand up to this kind of extortion, how many people can? (On that point, numerous people have contacted our investigation team about their similar experiences with AMI, and how they needed to capitulate because, for example, their livelihoods were at stake.)
Holy shit. After reading this piece, my first thought was this scene from The Dark Knight.