He may be a living parody of himself, but darn it if Fred Schneider isn’t a consistent classic.

The B-52s front man’s new group, The Superions is doing some publicity for their new Christmas album — yes, Christmas — called Destination… Christmas! which drops October 26 on Fanatic Records.

The lyrics are classic Schneider, who is a bit of a fruitcake himself.

What’cha makin’? Fruitcake! What’cha bakin’? Fruitcake! Candied cherries, red dye #2 Green cherries? Green ones too! It’s fruitcake! It’s fruitcake! Pecans or walnuts, citrus peel Lots of stuff, add what’cha feel Sticks of butter, cinn-a-mon Mo’ molasses, lots of dark rum Artificial color, artificial flavor If your family . . . → Read More: Whatcha makin? FRUITCAKE]]>

He may be a living parody of himself, but darn it if Fred Schneider isn’t a consistent classic.

The B-52s front man’s new group, The Superions is doing some publicity for their new Christmas album — yes, Christmas — called Destination… Christmas! which drops October 26 on Fanatic Records.

The lyrics are classic Schneider, who is a bit of a fruitcake himself.

What’cha makin’? Fruitcake!
What’cha bakin’? Fruitcake!
Candied cherries, red dye #2
Green cherries? Green ones too!
It’s fruitcake! It’s fruitcake!
Pecans or walnuts, citrus peel
Lots of stuff, add what’cha feel
Sticks of butter, cinn-a-mon
Mo’ molasses, lots of dark rum
Artificial color, artificial flavor
If your family don’t want it, give it to a neighbor!
It’s fruitcake! It’s fruitcake!
What’cha makin’? Fruitcake!
What’cha bakin’? Fruitcake!
Candied cherries, red dye #2
Green cherries? Green ones too!
It’s fruitcake! Bakin’ a fruitcake!
A little bit of mace
The stuff they spray in your face?
Oh no you sillies, it’s a spice for taste
Put the oven on low, 3 hours or mo’
Wrap it in rum, yum yum yum!
Fruitcake!
Fruitcake!
Heavy as lead…
Fruitcake!
If it hit’cha in the head…
Fruitcake!
It could kill ya dead…
It’s fruitcake! Yeah, fruitcake!
Artificial color, artificial flavor
Your family don’t want it, give it to a neighbor!
Fruitcake! Yeah, fruitcake!
What’cha makin’? Fruitcake!
What’cha bakin’? Fruitcake!
Candied cherries, red dye #2
Green cherries? Green ones too!
It’s fruitcake! In a fruitcake!
Hey fruitcake!
Do the fruitcake!
Don’t call me fruitcake!
Do the fruitcake!
What’s the fruitcake?
Hey fruitcake!
You’re a fruitcake!
Yummy fruitcake!

In a decision that could affect the financial relationships between record labels and performers, a federal appeals court in San Francisco on Friday ruled that songs downloaded from Apple’s iTunes store are not actually purchased, but are rather “licensed” by the ostensible buyer.

The distinction is hardly academic. Under most recording contracts, artists are entitled to 50% of revenue from licensed uses of their music. That usually means soundtracks for movies, TV shows and ads. Sales, on the other hand generate royalties for the artist at a much lower rate—generally in the low teens, and rarely more . . . → Read More: iTunes tracks aren’t purchased but licensed]]>

From the Wall Street Journal:

In a decision that could affect the financial relationships between record labels and performers, a federal appeals court in San Francisco on Friday ruled that songs downloaded from Apple’s iTunes store are not actually purchased, but are rather “licensed” by the ostensible buyer.

The distinction is hardly academic. Under most recording contracts, artists are entitled to 50% of revenue from licensed uses of their music. That usually means soundtracks for movies, TV shows and ads. Sales, on the other hand generate royalties for the artist at a much lower rate—generally in the low teens, and rarely more than 20%.

Universal Music Group will be appealing, and the article goes on to say pretty much all record contracts directly address download royalties — meaning this ruling won’t set a precedent…other than reinforcing major labels are still super greedy.

I’m a big fan of this band. I saw Dungen live in 2005 and 2007 and just revel in their sound.

With a diverse repertoire segueing from wonder-lush ballads to catchy pop to progged-out psychedelia, watching Dungen’s live set is like sucking down an alpenhorn of acid, eating a full plate of Ikea meatballs, and heading up to Buck Hill to intermittently gaze at the Milky Way and watch the car pile-ups on 35W.

Here’s one of the more restrained . . . → Read More: Alpenhorns of acid: Swedish psych-rock’s Dungen]]>

Swedish psychedelic rock group Dungen are prepping their sixth album, Skit I Allt for release next week and coming to Minneapolis next month.

I’m a big fan of this band. I saw Dungen live in 2005 and 2007 and just revel in their sound.

With a diverse repertoire segueing from wonder-lush ballads to catchy pop to progged-out psychedelia, watching Dungen’s live set is like sucking down an alpenhorn of acid, eating a full plate of Ikea meatballs, and heading up to Buck Hill to intermittently gaze at the Milky Way and watch the car pile-ups on 35W.

Here’s one of the more restrained tracks off the new album:

MP3: Dungen – “Marken Låg Stilla”

Dungen play Minneapolis’ Triple Rock Social Club on October 6.

CRANK your speakers and introduce your neighbors to some anthemic post-punk anti-pop from Leeds by a little band called Whole Sky Monitor…

Whole Sky Monitor – Sold by CrashAvenue

Twisted Little Piggies comes out on . . . → Read More: AHHHHh….my ears!!!]]>

CRANK your speakers and introduce your neighbors to some anthemic post-punk anti-pop from Leeds by a little band called Whole Sky Monitor…

Whole Sky Monitor – Sold by CrashAvenue

Twisted Little Piggies comes out on September 28.

MP3: The Drums – “We Used to Wait” (Arcade Fire cover)

The Drums play Minneapolis’ Varsity Theater on . . . → Read More: The Drums cover Arcade Fire]]>

Check out The Drums‘ cover of Arcade Fire’s ‘We Used to Wait’ as performed at BBC Three Live Lounge with Huw Stephens.

MP3: The Drums – “We Used to Wait” (Arcade Fire cover)

The Drums play Minneapolis’ Varsity Theater on October 13.

Stream the band’s new . . . → Read More: Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr playing 400 Bar tonight]]>

Stream the band’s new EP

Villagers play Minneapolis 400 Bar on . . . → Read More: Villagers’ Tiny Desk Concert]]>

Robin Hilton described this “one of the most beautiful and memorable sets” at NPR headquarters…

Villagers play Minneapolis 400 Bar on September 22.

So I was driving clear across town twice yesterday, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to check out these two EPs Scion sent me as part of their Scion A/V program.

First up was Sound Pellegrino‘s “Straight From the Spring,” featuring Gucci Vump, Bambouno, Para One, Renaissance Man and others.

This particularl xB doesn’t have a great sound system, but the base sure works. This is minimalist house music, to the point of stripping too much out. I found myself skipping tracks and quickly growing bored with the entire . . . → Read More: Scion A/V albums, reviewed in a Scion xB]]>

I’m driving a bright purple Scion xB this week (don’t ask).

So I was driving clear across town twice yesterday, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to check out these two EPs Scion sent me as part of their Scion A/V program.

First up was Sound Pellegrino‘s “Straight From the Spring,” featuring Gucci Vump, Bambouno, Para One, Renaissance Man and others.

This particularl xB doesn’t have a great sound system, but the base sure works. This is minimalist house music, to the point of stripping too much out. I found myself skipping tracks and quickly growing bored with the entire album.

So I popped in DJ Sneak‘s single “Southern Boy,” which features remixes from Jesse Rose, Radio Slave, 12th Planet, and the original as the final track. Frankly, the original was the best. No remix required.

Overall, I need more substance with my house music for fear of nodding off on my commute. If I’m going to be driving a little purple xB, I best stay alert.

The group has this knack for finding off-scale and dissonant chords and pounding them repeatedly until they gel into your brain. Apparently it worked so well, I totally forget to remember them.

I just got a note that Clinic is gearing up to release their new album, Bubblegum on October 5th here in the US. It will be available as a special edition vinyl with the original album on LP and a bubblegum pink LP titled Son of Bubblegum, which has six acoustic . . . → Read More: My brain forgot to remember how much I love Clinic]]>

Wow, I’d totally forgotten about Liverpool-based Clinic. I loved Winchester Cathedral. I even saw them live twice.

The group has this knack for finding off-scale and dissonant chords and pounding them repeatedly until they gel into your brain. Apparently it worked so well, I totally forget to remember them.

I just got a note that Clinic is gearing up to release their new album, Bubblegum on October 5th here in the US. It will be available as a special edition vinyl with the original album on LP and a bubblegum pink LP titled Son of Bubblegum, which has six acoustic versions of songs from the album.

Here’s a track off the new album:
MP3: Clinic – “I’m Aware”

SWEET!

And the video:

Clinic play Minneapolis 7th Street Entry on November 12. I hope it’s frigidly cold outside yet unbearably hot inside for this show.