My Chemical Toilet

Alice Cooper on the Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock widget - putting the rock into RSI

There's a reason I don't write for any of our neighbouring games sites -- I have the hand-eye co-ordination of someone with no eyes. Or hands. This assessment of my gaming skillz was confirmed when I tried out the Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock widget, which was kindly forwarded to me by Dan on Tech Digest.

Really it's just a case of pressing buttons, but it was still beyond me. However, if you fancy having a go at songs by Alice Cooper, Living Color or, er, Lions, be my guest and have a bash over the page. Don't come to me when you get rock-related carpal tunnel syndrome, though.

Check out classic album cover art at Sleevage

In these days of digital music I wonder if some young whippersnappers even realise that albums have cover art. For there was a time, younglings, when the album cover, along with the sleevenotes, was part of an overall package to be cherished. Now? Not so much.

However there are plenty of folk out there who have gained inspiration from classic album covers, and, the internet being the internet, there's a rather good site dedicated to appraising cover art over the years.

Posted by Stuart Waterman on April 9, 2025 11:17 AM in Gone To The Blogs
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Classy camping: Millets Celia Birtwell tepee

Festival season is but a couple of short months away, readers, which means minds are gradually turning to a) what tickets you should be buying; b) how you're going to afford them; and c) what designer teepee you should choose.

OK, so designer teepees aren't what you might have traditionally associated with Glasto over the years, but don't forget we're in an age of "glamping" (eesh) now. With folk such as handbag designer Orla Kiely producing all manner of funky retro-themed festival bits and bobs, it's no great surprise to see more designers getting in on the act.

The Archies gains rare UK cultural impact thanks to Pulp's "Common People"

Comic book mash-ups/reimaginings appear to be this year's LOLcats or something. And you can bet that this site's application of Pulp's "Common People" lyrics to The Archies is going to lead to all manner of music/comic combinations.

Do the frames make sense with the lyrics inserted? Not really. That's what makes the whole thing funnier, innit. Sadly I think the claim at the end that The Archies will return in "This Is Hardcore" is just a joke.

Whatever, I would hereby like to place my order for The Beano as reworded by Megadeath, and Jackie photo-stories defiled with Peaches lyrics. Then stop before we get bored with the whole thing. Thanks.

Read the whole "Common People"/The Archies thingy thing thing at Chris's Invincible Super-Blog

[via Idolator]

Posted by Stuart Waterman on March 14, 2025 11:50 AM in Gone To The Blogs
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Pop Heaven: Clip of new Annie track "Girlfriend" appears on MySpace

A few years back, I proclaimed to a table of utterly uninterested friends that Annie was going to be a massive popstar within twelve months. I am glad the friends weren't really listening, because I was just about as wrong as it's possible to be.

However, Annie did get a fair amount of blog loving, and her track "Heartbeat" from debut album Anniemal even got Pitchfork's Single Of The Year award for 2004. Basically, since then everyone who tipped her the first time around has been waiting for to come back and prove them right.

And now she is back-ish. A clip of the song "Girlfriend" has surfaced on her MySpace, and it's a pleasing dose of Richard X-produced electro-pop topped by Annie's typically fragile falsetto. Good to hear she hasn't become a baritone over the last few years, then.

Go here to give the clip a listen - with an album slated for April more stuff should surface soon...

[via Popjustice]

Pitchfork.tv: now you'll know what you should be wearing as well as listening to

Leading indie brainwashers (I kid, I kid) Pitchfork are all set to launch Pitchfork.tv next month. First thought: will their verbal output be as impenetrable as their written content?

Stereogum have a pretty impressive list of details regarding the type of stuff you can expect to feast your eyes and ears on when the channel hits your monitor. It looks like we're talking full-length concerts, documentaries, classic live footage, interviews, unique collaborations...

Under The Covers: Covering The Mouse - a blog dedicated to Disney cover versions

What the hell would we do without the internet, eh? I mean, with no cybertubes I'd need your address to send you this post after writing it on paper, for one thing - and I'm not sure it would be worth the postage cost, to be honest.

Another thing the internet is good for - thanks to coveringthemouse.com - is providing you with a very comprehensive collection of Disney cover versions. They've got the lot. "I Wanna Be Like You", as performed by Los Lobos? And also as performed by Smashmouth? And also as performed by, er, Voodoo Glow Skulls? Got those.

Ah, you're looking for "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" as covered by punk snots The Vandals? Step right in.

You get the idea. See what else they've got by checking out their site.

[via Boing Boing]

The Lipster's Sylvia Patterson recounts her experiences of meeting Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse

As a nipper, I loved Smash Hits. Obviously, these were the days before I deemed all pop naff, meaningless fluff, and became a surly indie brat. Nowadays I'm quite happy to drift along between the two sensibilities. But enough about me. Over the weekend I encountered The Lipster, a pop culture site produced by an all-female line-up of writers. One of their contributors is Sylvia Patterson, who I remember from the good old Smash Hits days.

Patterson has only written a few features so far for The Lipster (at least, I don't think they've appeared elsewhere), but for music fans they're all well worth reading. One takes a look at the good old days of The Brits, when Smash Hits reporters would mingle with rock behemoths during the ceremony, and mischievously approach them with questions such as "Are you sure you haven't left the iron on?"

"Greatest Duets List" scandalously omits Paula Abdul and her cartoon pussy

What's you favourite duet? Mine is "Opposites Attract", by Paula Abdul and MC Scat Cat. For some hellish reason, this number does not show up on RetroCrush's otherwise very impressive collection of The 25 Greatest Duets Of All Time.

So what will you find on the list? It's a wide-ranging one, for sure. Nestling next to Neil Diamond & Barbara Streisand you'll find John Lydon & Afrika Bambaataa, for instance. Now there's a supergroup I'd like to see. And obviously you'll find Dolly and Kenny - pictured above at their post-fight press conference - in there as well.

RetroCrush have very kindly provided videos for each and every song they cover, so you could pretty much spend the rest of the day on there if you have nothing better to do. But when you're done, do check out Abdul & Scat Cat. She don't like cigarettes but he likes to smoke, you know.

[via Pop Candy]

Amy Winehouse performs "Love Is A Losing Game" at The Brit Awards

Like you, and me, and everyone we know, our sister Cate at terrific ladyblog Dollymix is big fan of Amy Winehouse. And like most folk - although perhaps not tabloid newspaper editors - she was delighted to see La Wino back on some kind of form at last night's Brits. She's been quick off the mark as far as video goes as well, so I'm blatantly nicking this video of "Love Is A Losing Game" from her site. Thanks Cate!

[Video: Jayne1966]

[via Dollymix]

Goldfrapp's "A&E;": a bit floaty with dancing leaf-men

I've never really got Goldfrapp, and I'm not entirely sure why. I love electropop as much as - if not more than - the next guy, but something about them has never clicked with me. Anyway, a lot of people love the arse off them, so at least they'll be chuffed they're back.

Alison Goldfrapp has developed a reputation for being a bit of a contrary sort, and the duo's direction on their new album seems to be proving similarly prickly to some hardened fans. They seem to have gone a bit floaty-folky, see. The new single, "A&E;", does seem to coast along in a pretty but rather unexciting manner. It may be what unimaginative folk like me refer to as "a grower". Either way, kudos to them for the dancing leaf men.

See what I'm on about after the jump - and if you want to hear an interview with Alison Goldfrapp head on over to Arjan Writes.

Vampire Weekend are ready for their close-up with "A-Punk" video

Up until now the whole Vampire Weekend palavar has been big on blog hype (guilty) and slightly light on signifiers that they're ready to embrace mainstream success. That looks set to change.

Firstly, their debut album is set for release at the end of the month. Secondly, following the low-fi Duran Duran aesthetics of the "Mansard Roof" video, the "A-Punk" clip is a comical little number with jerky, high-speed movements and more costume changes than a Kylie show. Looks like the onslaught might be about to get a little more MTV-friendly.

[via Let's Sexy Fighting]

[video: Beggars Group]

Kaiser Chiefs collaborate with Irish Guards on Jools Holland's Hootenanny

Of course, since you're such a hip young thing, you were out and about on New Year's Eve drinking and partying and trying to fight off the creeping sense of anti-climax.

Which means you'll have missed Jools Holland's Hootenanny thing (because you can't work the video / dvd / hard disc recorder either, remember?), where everyone gathers and pretends it's NYE even though it's recorded in July or something.

Anyway, here are the Kaiser Chiefs with some bushy-headed Irish Guards doing "The Angry Mob". To be honest it's not that amazing, and therefore fits in with the NYE vibe perfectly. Hurrah!

[via The Music Slut]

[video: HarryStottle]

The best of 2007 according to Pitchfork, Stereogum, Rolling Stone

People say that porn makes up like a gazillion percent of the traffic on this dear old internet of ours, but I reckon end-of-year music blog lists must run it pretty close. I'm not complaining - if stuff passes you by during the year, Christmas can be a good time to catch up on what you've missed, since you can be sure there are plenty of spods out there willing to tell you what you should have been listening to.

Pitchfork is still the biggie, really. As usual, they've got a juicy Top 100 Tracks Of 2007 list for you to wade through, along with links to places you can hear said tunes. I spent an unnatural time on their list last year, and will probably do the same this.

More ways to waste your Christmas money: Vic Reeves, Shaun The Sheep, X Factor, et-bloody-cetera

I've been banging on about the shabbiest Christmas songs in the history of history over the last couple of weeks, but you mustn't - MUSTN'T - forget that there's a whole slew of new crap being released this year hoping to enter the an(n)als of Christmas "Classics".

Our friends at the ceaselessly caustic Hecklerspray have throughtfully rounded up what you can spend your money on this year, along with betting odds. Which is handy if you have coins lying around after spending yourself into debt already this month.

Wu-Tang's Ghostface gets his blog on

The latest music star to get in on the blog action is Ghostface from Wu-Tang Clan. He's been guest blogging at SOHH.com recently. You probably won't be surprised that he doesn't really go in for the Lily Allen-style selp-pity vibe. Something tells me that his words may be slightly edited, mind you. I don't think Ghostface would be too bothered about asterisking.

Choice quotes from his guest blog over at SOHH.com include:

On blogging: "Aight it’s your man Pretty Tone. I’m going to f**k with this blog thing-thing for my peoples at SOHH."

Alternative version of Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah"

I've said previously that I've always felt a little surprised that Jeff Buckley gets all the "dead singer-songwriter" love these days over Elliott Smith. But I won't bang on about that. It's Christmas, kind of, and I feel I need to make some kind of penance for all the songs I've torn apart this year. Er, I'm not entirely sure how to do that, so can I just put a video up instead please?

Thanks to The Music Slut I came across a version of "Hallelujah" which I've never encountered before. Like it or not, the Leonard Cohen song is the one most people associate with Buckley. Even though it's been totally overexposed on various film / TV soundtracks over the last few years, it's still a track that can give me the shivers. This video sees Buckers right there in the studio, just him and his geetar.

[video provided by corsilorenzo]

Stereogum "Gummy Awards": vote for the best stuff from 2007

As 2007 prepares to enter its final lap, there will be no shortage of end-of-year lists out there amongst the internets. Stereogum's "Gummy Awards", however, have opened the voting up to their indie connoisseur readership.

If you go here, you'll be directed to a natty page which allows you to cast your votes for best album, music video and live act, as well as most overrated act and your favourite indie, ahem, "hotties".

Just don't waste your time voting for Girls Aloud. You'll probably get banned.

Gummy Awards page

Up-And-Coming-Acts: Vampire Weekend

Last night I went to see one of the most buzzed-about bands of the year - Vampire Weekend. The NYC foursome were making their London debut at the cosy little Borderline club. To be honest I was expecting to be disappointed, such is the amount of blog love these preppy types have received over the last few months. I first heard of them over at Good Weather For Airstrikes, and they've been playing rapturously-reviewed shows in the States all summer.

Happily not only was I not disappointed, I came away seriously impressed. The stuff written about the band so far has tended to mention their Ivy League dress sense and fondness for student-y lyrics ("Oxford Comma" perhaps unfairly suggesting they're a bunch of whimsical nerdlingers). In a live setting - especially in a place the size of The Borderline - you can't help but be impressed with Vampire Weekend's a) professionalism, b) enthusiasm and c) confidence. Lead singer Ezra Koenig referred to a couple of their songs as "gems" while introducing them, and, while that made me chuckle, I don't think he was being remotely ironic.

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