Good news for Sonic Youth fans: Geffen is releasing a new collection titled The Destroyed Room: B-sides and Rarities.

Fortunately this collection actually offers up some material worth getting all twisted-up about. The songs span the group's career, focusing on material previously only available to those who purchase vinyl, limited-release compilations, or b-sides to international singles. Also of interest is that Sonic Youth hand picked the songs to appear in this collection.



Interview: Exclusive Interview with Kim Gordon
Video: Sonic Youth videos

Hey D-Ciples in Southern California!  Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Tenacious D lilve on 11/17 or 11/18, both at Gibson Amphitheater in LA.  All you have to do is to send your full name in an email to LAcontest@tenaciousd.com but be quick about it!  The dates are fast approaching.

For those of you not in the LA area, you can check out all of the Tenacious-y goodness on the new movie "Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny" online now.  MP3.com has the racey animated video for "Classico" (Explicit) and the new title track from the film here .  

The new soundtrack album for ‘The Pick of Destiny’ will be  in stores November 14th and  "Tenacious D In: The Pick of Destiny’” movie is in theaters November 22nd.

For those of you not already in love with Jack and Kyle, have a look at the "History of the D" video.

Yes, even the best of music producers get bored after long hours spent in the studio.  Electronic music producers, Cedric Gervais & Second Sun reveal the experimental side of their creative process.

Jim Dubois, a consumer market executive for the Manhattan market (whatever that means), gets his Bono on, in this truly weird and oddly hypnotic self-referential ode to mega-mergers. Who knew rich, stuffy white guys partied like that?

The prolific John Vanderslice dropped by MP3 Live and performed new material that may or may not be from his forthcoming album. Regardless, the performances are beautiful and this is the only place to see them!





Video: John Vanderslice exclusive performance!

Just in time for their new collabo album, Like Father Like Son, the streets (ok, internets) are all abuzz over this picture that surfaced yesterday, with Cash Money superstars Lil Wayne and Baby sharing a tender moment amongst friends. The fact that they often kiss each other on the mouth is hardly a revelation. They did it on Rap City a while ago, and Young Buck (who rolled with those guys briefly in his pre-G-Unit days) has mentioned it in several interviews.

Whether the picture is real, or just some photoshop magic, remains to be seen. Supposedly it was taken on the set of a video. Perhaps they're just tight like that, or maybe they are deeply in love. It would be cool if they just came out and said "yes, we are gay please respect our lifestyle and keep listening to our music." But in the hyper-macho world of hip-hop (especially mainstream Southern gangsta rap) that will never, ever happen.

Listen to the new single "Stuntin Like My Daddy" here.

Stones Throw Records fantatics take notice: Adult Swim has finally released more videos from Chrome Children. Metal Faced terrorist MF DOOM gets the animated treatment with "Monkey Suite," while Madlib the bad kid represents with "Take It Back."

Much like No Limit in their heyday, NYC rap crew The Diplomats are all about the paradox. Headed by Cam'ron, known for rhyming about Irritable Bowel Syndrome and popularizing the color pink, they consistently put out some of the worst music imaginable, full of absurdly vacant/nonsensical lyrics, beats that sound like a toddler rolling around on a keyboard, and cover art that makes classic-era Cash Money seem refined by comparison. And yet they remain HUGELY popular, especially on the east coast, primarily by catering their "movement" to young children who don't know any better. Seeing Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell do the whole "skateboard rap" thing (a post for another day), they have done one better, and started their own rollerblade team.

Seriously.

The best part is when Dipset "Capo" Jim Jones tries to give street credibility to what is arguably the lamest development in the history of the wheel, by saying that you can "do dirt in them, and skate away from police." My guess is this whole endeavor will fare about as well as Cam's fake shooting/Jay-Z diss/press conference a while back. People will be initially confused, then laugh it off and forget all about it.

So like did Fergie crawl up inside Gwen Stefani and take over her career? Not really sure what is happening with these ultra-fem anglophile club rawkers, but they seem to be ramping up for an after school dance-off complete with Asiatic posses. Although, if this new track from Gwen is any indication, well she may have dove off the deep end searching for strange looped themes to accompany her marching band freak outs. I mean really; yodeling? Since when did the Sound of Music become cool?

Audio: check out "Wind it Up" here.

MP3.com Editor, Chris Rolls provides an in-depth interview with Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio. Kyp speaks about the forunate happenstance of TVOTR's slice of popular sucess, his pre-New York days in San Francisco, touring with the OhSees, and his take on the potential impact of Vice magazine.

While your reading the interview be sure to stream TVOTR's latest album Return to Cookie Mountain.

Audio: Stream Return to Cookie Mountain
Video: Watch TV on the Radio

Not to sound like a "hater", but most of the rap music coming out this year is mediocre at best, and horrendously wack at worst. For a myriad of reasons, it seems as though the more commercialized hip-hop gets, the weaker the actual records are. As such, I was looking forward to the 3rd annual VH1 Hip-Hop Honors show, after being seriously impressed by last year's, and specifically Big Daddy Kane's insanely dope performance.

Hosted by Ice-T, this year's edition featured tributes to pioneers like Afrika Bambaataa, who still dresses like a crazy intergalactic warrior, the God Rakim, MC Lyte, Russell Simmons, the Beastie Boys, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and the Wu-Tang Clan.

The show's format is straightforward but effective -- short speach by somebody, video tribute/retrospective, performance by younger cats covering a classic, then the honoree rocking it live. The Beasties killed it early, with a dope medly that incorporated both "So Whatcha Want" and "The New Style." MC Lyte is still nasty on the mic, this time flanked by Lil Kim (in her first post-prison set), Da Brat, and Remy Ma, (with Yo-Yo introducing). Common introduced Rakim, who rocked it appropriately with Kid Capri on the wheels. Eazy's kid Lil Eazy did his thing with Young Jeezy as hypeman, while the Ruthless one's wife (who looked GOOD) watched on from the crowd - even DJ Yella was in the house. Cube did a few joints but unfortunately just his new stuff, while the Wu did a strong medley at the end but Ghostface was notably absent.

Really the only weak parts of the show was when the less skilled cats (I'm looking at you Diddy) got on the mic in attempt to pay homage by butchering old hits. Also, we didnt really need the charisma-less trio of Black Thought, Talib Kweli, and Styles P doing short routines all night long. Overall though it was a great night, a total love-fest for rap fans over 30.

Next year they should make it an hour longer (2 just seems kinda brief), get rid of the scrubs, and give some props to The D.O.C., Too Short, and DJ Premier, and Lord Finesse. Check out pictures and video clips at the official site here.

With its release only weeks away, the anticipation for Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan is reaching Snakes On A Plane proportions. This "commercial" for the movie's soundtrack--featuring fiery, dueling keytar solos--only heightens these fuzzy feelings.

Whether by wily marketing or life imitating art, UK soul songstress Amy Winehouse is doing a heckuva job promoting the first single off her forthcoming album. On the track, dubbed "Rehab," the aptly named Winehouse rejects suggestions that she needs rehab herself, but doesn't deny she's got a problem with the sauce. In a recent interview with the UK's Sun newspaper, Winehouse admitted to being a "nasty drunk" who has lost a lot of weight recently because "I drink a lot and sometimes forget to eat."

Winehouse also said that she'd recently punched a female fan in the face for making a snide comment. For the cynics out there who think it's simply promo pablum, this YouTube video of Winehouse's recent duet with TV show host Charlotte Curch of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" says it all: slurred words, random grunts, and glossy eyes.
Subject matter aside, the track is dope and features the New York-based horn section from the bands Antibalas and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. If the 23-year-old singer can avoid her demons, her forthcoming album could make her one to watch.

In keeping with the Stones Throw-related posts (see below), it should be noted that Otis Jackson Sr. -- father to both Madlib and Oh No -- has a brand new album out. The family patriarch was a soul singer back in the day, and recorded with the likes of David Axelrod and H.B. Barnum, among others. The Art of Love sounds kind of like a late-era Barry White effort, with plenty of twinking keys, wah-enriched guitar licks, and romantically-minded crooning. A lot mellower than the brash, synthesized sounds of "Today's R&B", it's more on the smooth jazz/quiet storm tip. The younger Jackson's also produce one track each. Check it out here.

This isn't just an excuse to post a sexy photo of the world's most famously beautiful woman (although the photo does speak for itself). According to Fox News, Johansson is currently in the studio working on a record consisting entirely of Tom Waits songs with the obvious title Scarlett Johansson sings Tom Waits and a possible release this Spring on Rhino Records.

Now, the world has no shortage of actress-turned-songstress records (everyone from Jennifer Love Hewitt to Beverly D'Angelo to Brittany Murphy has taken a stab), but the results are usually dubious at best. Is it wrong to be excited about this? What's next, Zooey Deschanel Sings Harry Nilsson?

A few MP3.com editors bum rushed backstage at the Adult Swim and Stones Throw party this past spring at SXSW. For many of us it was dream made in hip-hop heaven. Blunts, a variety of juices, Elijah Wood bumming cigarettes from us, and several deep convos with Mablib, Oh No and Dudley P. Several of our co-workers were pissed and jealous at our golden opportunity, but fortunately we can share the moment.

Check out this nine minute teaser from Stones Throw - and make sure your speakers are up!

EMI, Slayer's label in India, has pulled the metal band's album Christ Illusion from store shelves in reponse to protests  from India's small christian community over its cover art and track titles.

But aren't we lucky? Visitors to MP3.com can listen to Slayer's Christ Illusion  free, now, in full.  Bloodletting not required.

Everyone knows Andre, the "eccentric," "artsier" member of Atlanta mega-stars and crossover hip-hop trailblazers OutKast. While his partner in rhyme Big Boi indulges in the usual rap-related lifestyle -- rugged lyrics, in-home stripper pole, pitbull kennel -- Mr. 3000 is all about pushing the envelope. Whether that means recording all of his music seperately, doing suspect love jams, naming his kids after numbers, or dressing like Farnsworth Bentley. Easily one of the most popular acts on the planet, thanks largely to the runaway success of Stankonia and Speakerboxxx/A Love Below, the duo put up two major bricks recently with their throwback film and album Idlewild. The LP got beat first week out by Danity Kane, and has yet to go gold, while the movie was generally panned by critics and ignored by the masses.

It seems like this double disappointment has affected Andre's already fragile mindstate, as he has emerged with some pretty bugged-out statements to the press this week. Frankly, we started to get worried a few months ago when he announced that he was going to "rework" Miles Davis' landmark album Kind of Blue. Then, just yesterday, it was reported that the decidedly non-gangster rapper stays strapped 24/7, stating matter of factly "Of course I carry a gun. I don't advertise the fact, but I need to have a gun with me at all times. I don't see what's wrong with that. To me it makes sense. I would want my son to have a gun when he gets older. It's just something you've got to have if you want to live and be safe."

The next day, perhaps in an effort to downplay the uncharacteristic gun-talk, Esquire's "Best Dressed Man of 2004" comes out of left field with fashion praise for...Prince Charles? "My style icon is Prince Charles. I like the way he wears his suits, and he has great overcoats and good buttoning." Wow. In between target practice and royal polo games, keep an eye out for Andre getting animated; he's doing voicework for the upcoming Charlotte's Web flick, and is developing a new show for the Cartoon Network.