How To Destroy Angels Give You a Free EP

In case you hadn’t heard, Trent Reznor and his new wife Mariqueen Maandig have formed a new band: How To Destroy Angels. The band will release their first EP, a self-titled affair, on June 1st through the band’s website. If you “pre-order” the free download, you can get an immediate mp3 download of “The Believers,” which follows nicely on the heals of the band’s first video for “The Space In Between.”

This new Reznor venture isn’t exactly a new direction for the Nine Inch Nails mastermind. NIN fans will remember the Ghosts I-IV album series of instrumental music. This is very similar in sound and feel to those releases, only with Maandig adding vocals. While I’m not a huge fan of HTDA, and I don’t really see either song we’ve heard yet being a huge deal in a commercial sense, I do see NIN fans jumping all over this new project.

Hit the jump to see the video for “The Space In Between” and download the first  song from the band’s forthcoming EP.

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Korn Release New Song, Earth Continues To Spin

A lot of bands have been releasing single songs over the last several days. Korn, not wanting to be left out, released a song from their forthcoming III – Remember Who You Are today at roadrunnerrecords.com. The download is available today only (for 24 hours) and is a return to the Freak On a Leash era sound for the band.

The “III” in the album’s title was used by the band as a constant reminder that they were returning to their roots, and while this new song wouldn’t fit as a natural follow-up to their Life Is Peachy album, it does seem to be a better fit as a follow-up to what they had on Freak. The artwork for the forthcoming album is, according to Wikipedia, supposed to be an extension of the artwork from the band’s self-titled debut.

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Hear Vampire Weekend’s “Jonathan Low”

It’s a banner news day for New York afro-rockers Vampire Weekend.

They debuted the video for “Holiday,” and now you can hear their contribution to the Twilight: Eclipse soundtrack, “Jonathan Low.”

Hit the jump to stream the jangly song that bests about half of their recent album Contra.

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Vampire Weekend Are Gangster As Fuck

“Vampire Weekend are ganster as fuck,” emotes a recent post on Pitchfork.com.

Can’t say that I disagree after seeing the video for “Holiday.” Apparently the video was debuted late last night on MTV. (They play videos?) In it, the band pokes fun at their detractors who say they are just preppy wannabes by dressing as 18th century noblemen. Complete with powdered wigs. They also beat up a couple of surfers at the end of the clip.

Check it for yourself after the jump.

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American Idol Via Tweets: Finale

I cannot put into words how happy I am that there aren’t any more episodes of American Idol that I’ll have to sit through in agony simply to hate on everything about the show. Simon Cowell is done (he’ll appear tomorrow, for the last time on the show), and the show may follow in his British footsteps. I don’t really see Idol lasting very long without him. That’s a discussion for another day, though.

Let’s get into the tweets about the finale. Crystal took on Lee it a lackluster night, but I’ll explain it 140 characters at a time.

I’m gonna watch Idol now. Pray for me!

Crystal dropped her mic during her entrance. Sign?

Lee starts. I hate that we’re going to have to deal w this guy for the next 3 yrs. Hopefully he’ll flop like so many Idols b4 him.

Lee’s 1st song was boooooooring. Not any better than the 1st time he did it.

Crystal doing Joplin again. If Crystal could manage an ounce of originality she will be HUGE.

I’ve done some karaoke in my time, and I’ve heard drunk chicks in dive bars do better at “Bobby McGee” than Crystal just did.

Lee has “Everybody Hurts” picked for him. He does nothing w it. Grasp the opportunity, Lee! So far ur just pissing in the wind.

Crystal gets “Black Velvet,” which is better than if they had chosen another Joplin song, at least.

Crystal’s 2nd performance wasn’t bad, per sé, but it was pretty ‘meh’ imo.

I keep hearing a pop from @RyanSeacrest’s mic. Audio guy, get your shit together. Ryan, chill the eff out.

Yikes, who picked this for Lee? He should never try to cover U2 again. 1 of his worst performances of the season, and that says a lot.

Lee just seems so disconnected tonight, and especially in that 3rd performance. I understand nerves, but bro this is bigger than that.

Haha, Ellen said she could see Lee was ‘present’ when he CLEARLY was not. Ellen is a terrible judge and adds nothing to this show.

Crystal’s single will be “Up To the Mountain.” Not mind blowing, but FAR better than Lee.

Crystal should win this by a landslide, but America is stupid so Lee will prob walk away the winner tmrw.

“I can not compare you to a contemporary artist.” Except for EVERY female singer/songwriter today. Think Hotel Cafe, Ellen. Come on!

“That was outstanding.” Simon’s final words on Idol.

There you have it. The final Idol twitter blog for the season. Who do you think should/will win?

Follow my tweets in real time at twitter.com/grantruby.

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American Idol Via Tweets: Finale

I cannot put into words how happy I am that there aren’t any more episodes of American Idol that I’ll have to sit through in agony simply to hate on everything about the show. Simon Cowell is done (he’ll appear tomorrow, for the last time on the show), and the show may follow in his British footsteps. I don’t really see Idol lasting very long without him. That’s a discussion for another day, though.

Let’s get into the tweets about the finale. Crystal took on Lee it a lackluster night, but I’ll explain it 140 characters at a time.

I’m gonna watch Idol now. Pray for me!

Crystal dropped her mic during her entrance. Sign?

Lee starts. I hate that we’re going to have to deal w this guy for the next 3 yrs. Hopefully he’ll flop like so many Idols b4 him.

Lee’s 1st song was boooooooring. Not any better than the 1st time he did it.

Crystal doing Joplin again. If Crystal could manage an ounce of originality she will be HUGE.

I’ve done some karaoke in my time, and I’ve heard drunk chicks in dive bars do better at “Bobby McGee” than Crystal just did.

Lee has “Everybody Hurts” picked for him. He does nothing w it. Grasp the opportunity, Lee! So far ur just pissing in the wind.

Crystal gets “Black Velvet,” which is better than if they had chosen another Joplin song, at least.

Crystal’s 2nd performance wasn’t bad, per sé, but it was pretty ‘meh’ imo.

I keep hearing a pop from @RyanSeacrest’s mic. Audio guy, get your shit together. Ryan, chill the eff out.

Yikes, who picked this for Lee? He should never try to cover U2 again. 1 of his worst performances of the season, and that says a lot.

Lee just seems so disconnected tonight, and especially in that 3rd performance. I understand nerves, but bro this is bigger than that.

Haha, Ellen said she could see Lee was ‘present’ when he CLEARLY was not. Ellen is a terrible judge and adds nothing to this show.

Crystal’s single will be “Up To the Mountain.” Not mind blowing, but FAR better than Lee.

Crystal should win this by a landslide, but America is stupid so Lee will prob walk away the winner tmrw.

“I can not compare you to a contemporary artist.” Except for EVERY female singer/songwriter today. Think Hotel Cafe, Ellen. Come on!

“That was outstanding.” Simon’s final words on Idol.

There you have it. The final Idol twitter blog for the season. Who do you think should/will win?

Follow my tweets in real time at twitter.com/grantruby.

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U2 Postpone North American Dates, To Be Rescheduled For 2011

With the recent emergency back surgery underwent by Bono, lead singer of seminal rock band U2, the band has announced that the North American leg of the 360° Tour has been postponed and will be reschedule in 2011.

Those with tickets to the shows, including the June 3rd tour kickoff in Salt Lake City, are encouraged to hold on to their tickets.

Paul McGuinness, the band’s manager, makes the announcement outside of LMU Hospital in Munich in a video after the jump.

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Why Is Cannibalism Funny?

A friend of mine, who will not remain nameless (clearly), posted a link on the twitter today about “hufu.” Which is, apparently, a tofu that tastes like human flesh.

Why anyone would a) want to make such a product or b) actually know how it should taste is beyond me. They give an interesting description of how human flesh tastes:

If you’ve never had human flesh before, think of the taste and texture of beef, except a little sweeter in taste and a little softer in texture. Contrary to popular belief, people do not taste like pork or chicken.

There’s more at StrangeNewProducts.com.

This, of course, resulted in me reminding the tweeter that people in Winnipeg are big on cannibalism. As evidenced by this story.

Which then resulted in a series of inside jokes and tomfoolery, mostly that you wouldn’t understand, and I’m too lazy to explain.

Just remember: Canadians eat people. And, apparently, now you can eat hufu.

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M.I.A. Pushes the Envelope With New Video

“I don’t want to live for tomorrow/I push my life today”

There has been a lot of buzz about M.I.A. and her new video for “Born Free” and the violence on display in the video. In particular when a child is shot right on camera. If you’re upset about the video, then you clearly don’t get the message.

Give it an honest view and download the song after the jump.

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Over Hyped? Two Door Cinema Club

For several weeks, all I’ve heard from a ton of industry peeps is “Two Door Cinema Club this.” and “Two Door Cinema Club that.” I finally took the liberty to download the album and give it a listen.

I was kind of disappointed, to tell the truth.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good album, but it doesn’t match the hype. (Maybe it just doesn’t compare well to the other amazing albums I’ve downloaded in the last couple days.) The sound of Tourist History is similar to the first album from Arctic Monkeys, only with out the attitude. Add in some of the surf guitar that you hear throughout Vampire Weekend’s catalog with a pinch of Phoenix for dance-ability, and you have Two Door Cinema Club. After all the “you gotta hear this band” statements that I’ve been inundated with of late, I was expecting something Earth shattering. Or at the very least, something original. Instead I was introduced to something rather derivative and seemingly uninspired.

Perhaps I’ll change my mind. Maybe this is one of those records that has to grow on me. Maybe I’ll have to write a retraction next week when I decide that TDCC is the best thing since sliced bread.

I doubt it though.

You be the judge. Check out the band’s first single, “I Can Talk,” which is getting some airplay at Alternative radio.

LINK TO DOWNLOAD.

Let me know what you think of Two Door Cinema Club.

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