sonic slang

Danny Elfman Returns to Pop with "Little Things"

So we got a couple of neat surprises during a weekend viewing of Angelina Jolie's latest ode to sadomasochistic fanboys, Wanted.  One, it's actually pretty good.  Two, the dark, 80s-fueled rocker "Little Things," that sets the tone for a few of the movie's coolest moments, is performed by none other than Danny Elfman!

Elfman is no stranger to film buffs, having made a name for himself as a composer in recent years through scoring the majority of Tim Burton's movies, but we haven't heard him lay down a pop song since Oingo Boingo bid us Farewell in 1996.  Though we seriously doubt this will mark a permanent return to rock stardom (he is 55, after all), it's pretty cool that he can still deliver the goods on a lark. 

Check out the track here, and if you're feeling inspired enough to create your own video mash-up, enter the Wanted contest at Rhapsody for a chance to appear on the DVD.

Franz Ferdinand - "Katherine Kiss Me"

Admittedly, we were pretty stoked when Franz Ferdinand revealed plans to move away from a guitar-based sound, incorporating synth-heavy pop into the band's repertoire.  The best of their work has always been one step away from the disco, and a double-bill with Scissor Sisters would kick ass.  Hopefully confirmation of that promise is just a few short leaks away...

"Katherine Kiss Me" is not that song - But it is the catchiest thing Franz Ferdinand has dropped since "Take Me Out."  So even though we're still hoping for something a bit more groovalicious down the road, this will do just fine in the meantime.  Check it out after the jump.

John Oates' Mustache to Star in Cartoon

Maybe Hall and Oates wouldn't be our first choice for a musician-turned-cartoon (Andrew W.K. tops that list), but this actually sounds pretty funny in an Adult Swim after 3 bong hits kind of way:

According to Billboard, on J-Stache “Oates is portrayed as a modern-day family man and finds himself enticed back to the rock star life by his mustache, which is voiced by comedian Dave Attell.”

Hall and Oates' brand of white-boy soul has already been embraced by hipsters over the last year, and with mustaches back in fashion, the move sorta makes sense.  But let's hope the tight pink pants stay in the closet.  I Can't Go For That.

UPDATE: Remember the "Catholicism Wow" campaign in Dogma?  Well either Kevin Smith is a secret collaborator on J-Stache, or our boy John does a mean Buddy Christ imitation.  Compare for yourself kids.

Jay-Z Covers Oasis at Glastonbury

You might recall Noel Gallagher getting all pissy (believe it or not) about Jay-Z's appearance on the Glastonbury Festival lineup, since the bill was "built on a tradition of guitar music."  Whatever.  Noel might be technically right, but if Metallica can hang with the hippies at Bonnaroo, then the Jigga Man can hang with Oasis.  In fact, not only can he hang, he can do a boozy, warbling cover:

Hey Noel, when you guys see that iTunes spike this week, be sure to send a thank you note.

The Verve Returns with "Love is Noise"

After the brooding and almost-brilliant, Alone with Everybody, Richard Ashcroft sorta went off the rails.  It didn't help that he publicly regarded his overlooked second solo LP, Human Conditions, the artistic equal of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, but whatever bad blogger blood Ashcroft might have built up since the "Bittersweet Symphony" heyday, could easily be erased by a solid comeback disc with The Verve.  Judging by first single "Love is Noise," a dark but dancey little track, he's at least got a bit more spring in his step this time around.  It's a start.

Check out "Love is Noise" at The Verve's MySpace page.  Forth is due in stores later this year, to be supported by a European tour this summer. 

Cold War Kids Tease Sophomore Disc

Cold War Kids debut full-length, Robbers and Cowards, was one of our favorite little surprises of 2006.  On songs like "Hang Me Out to Dry" and "Hospital Beds," Nathan Willett's soulful howl and jarring piano riffs helped create a batch of semi-foot-stomping southern blues that came at you like a poppier White Stripes. (This make sense, as they band gigged with Jack White and company on a 2007 tour.)

The always tricky follow-up is due September, but from the sounds of this video teaser, they haven't lost their mojo.  We're psyched.

Wanna Open for Coldplay?

With the release of the generally-well-received Viva la Vida, It's finally permissible to like Coldplay - So why not open for them?  If you leave near the Chicago, San Jose, Philadelphia, DC, Boston, or Hartford metropolitan areas, that's exactly what you can do if U2 2.0 digs your YouTube video.  Our vote is for this dude.

Check out the details at http://www.coldplayontour.com/

Kanye West IS ANGRY!!!!

Dearest Kanye,

You've made some of the best hip hop of this young century, sold a gajillion records, have never been arrested nor accused of selling crack, impersonating a fed, stabbing a party-goer or plotting to burn a house down with your ex-wife in it, and you loved your mama - Why must you make it so gosh darn hard for us to love you back? Sincerely ~ Sonic Slang

Weezer - "Turnin' Turnin'"

What does it mean when Weezer's fan collaboration project, "Let's Write a Sawng," is turning out better than almost anything on the Red Album?  Just sayin'...

Oasis Names New Disc

Oasis is calling its latest LP (due 10.7) Dig Out Your Soul, with "The Shock of the Lightning" set as the the lead single.  Like many, we saw a spark on 2005's Don't Believe the Truth that's been missing for years in the Gallagher camp.  Hopefully the new disc will continue the comeback.