Blind Man’s Colour Member Forms Hip-Hop Side Project, Skyway

A recent read on the Penned Madness blog led County Grind to Tallahassee-based Skyway, which features a few components that might already be familiar. The vocal half of the project is laid-back rapper Rufat from the Q-Tip school, who possesses an interesting flow (“I’m feeling like Dave Hoff, cuz I…

Happy Birthday, Shirley Manson!

First brought to light by her unique voice and fetching good looks, this starlet continues to rise to prominence as she reaches her 45th birthday today. Much like the Highlands in her home country of Scotland, the first thought that can be attributed to Shirley Manson will always be, “There…

Cash Money Records’ Entry Into Pop Is Savvy, But Is it Smart?

Plenty of Cash Money Records signees have made a huge pop splash — a short, incomplete list includes Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Kevin Rudolf, and Drake — but this has come almost completely from the hip-hop lane. Today, the image of diamond-encrusted Bentleys is getting a makeover for the tweens…

Happy 57th Birthday, Elvis Costello!

The man who borrowed Buddy Holly’s glasses and stole Elvis’ name in order to sneak onto pop-rock radio, Elvis Costello, turns 57 today. With a look based on the spirit of ’57 and an attitude shaped by the spirit of ’77, Costello took punk rock attitude and classic pop sensibilities…

Mixtape: Protoman’s Accomplishments Are Numerous

Already know what you’re thinking: is Protoman now a member of the No Limit Army? Did he get that tank chain? Get him on the court with Percy “Master P” Miller and Romeo, and would there be trouble? As amusing at a little stunt like that would be, our homegrown…

Happy Birthday to Stuart Murdoch and Jeff Tweedy!

Today marks the respective 42nd and 43rd birthdays of Belle & Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. As leaders of their seminal and highly enduring bands, both have grown from cult status in the mid-’90s to established indie-rock big-hitters. T-shirts from their acts sit in many cool dad and…

Beat Primer: A Beginner’s Guide to the Identity Festival

Pop commentators have ecstatically argued that dance music’s gonna blow up in 2011. However, this perception that electronic tuneage has been waiting idly on the sidelines just isn’t true. Dance music crossed over a long time ago. In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s been crashing on our couch and raiding…

Jacuzzi Boys’ Glazin’ is Streamin’ at SPIN

The point here is to give you an opportunity to hear the new Jacuzzi Boys album, Glazin’, which hits shelves on August 30. Through the mighty powers of the interweb (and SPIN magazine), the album is available for immediate perusal.Recommended for listening time: give Matt Preira’s print preview piece a…

Vanilla Ice: “I Don’t Smoke Pot”

One thing is for sure: Vanilla Ice had an epic weekend at the Gathering of the Juggalos earlier this month. The yearly event put on by the Insane Clown Posse and its family of associated Ninjas was such a hot ticket that even Charlie Sheen showed up. For some reason,…

Happy Birthday, Keith Moon: We Miss the Mad Man Still!

Arguably the greatest rock drummer of all time, Keith Moon had a talent that was surpassed only by his penchant for mischief and mayhem. Born Keith John Moon on August 23, 1946, but famously nicknamed “Moon the Loon,” he would have been 65 today had he not succumbed on September…

Ryan Alexander Forms Civilian, Releases New MP3

Big changes happening with Fort Lauderdale singer/songwriter Ryan Alexander, who announced that his band Alexander is finished and that he’s starting a new chapter with Civilian.”So. me and my best friends have been working on a new record,” Alexander writes in a Facebook posting. “We have changed the name and…

Tom Waits Unveils New Record, Bad as Me, Releases Title Track

After making a cryptic post on his official Facebook page last week, Tom Waits has announced that he will release a new full-length record of original material on October 25 via Anti- Records. This will be the first from Waits since Real Gone, which was released seven years ago. The…

Happy 62nd Birthday, Rick Springfield!

Our favorite hunk, Rick Springfield, turns 62 today. Can someone say silver fox? In the early ’80s, Springfield was on up on magazine covers, bedroom walls and pre-teen fantasies. Like a Bieber with feathered hair, he was the dreamiest. His fifth album, Working Class Dog, had four Top 40 singles…

MP3: Lil Jon & LMFAO’s “Drink” Celebrates Binge Consumption

There are many enjoyable compositions extolling the virtues of alcoholic beverages, but Lil Jon’s new song has a bit of a drinking problem. Not to say that “Drink,” which features a guest verse by LMFAO, won’t find an audience near the beer pong tables, kegerators, bottle service lounges, and parents’…

Lil Wayne Hospitalized After Skateboarding Accident

Lil Wayne was taken to a St. Louis hospital Sunday evening after a pleasant evening of skateboarding turned “gnarly.” Weezy was in Missouri for a performance at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on his I Am Still Music Tour, and as is common, the tour bus stopped at a local skate…

Happy Birthday, Kenny Rogers — How the Gambler Hit the Jackpot

Turning 73, Kenny Rogers still looks every bit like the refined country gentleman he’s portrayed since early on, with his perfectly coiffed hair, silvery beard and GQ three-piece apparel. But has the man whose ongoing list of hits famously included “The Gambler” really taken that much of a gamble with…

Happy Birthday, David Brock — 5 Far Out Hawkwind Jams

Hawkwind were hippies who stayed hippies after Altamont, Nixon and the still roaring Vietnam War were seriously bumming out flower power muppet babies across the world. While many late ’60s/early ’70s rock ensembles jumped the Free Love ship into the shadowy waters of sign-of-the-times darkness (the Stooges, Velvet Underground and…

Weekend Playlist: Electric Somber British

The United Kingdom is famed as a home to some of the greatest music to ever grave the surface of the planet, making enormous waves in the 1960’s with trailblazers like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. While best know as a cradle to the best rock ‘n’ roll on…