sonic slang

Ringo Starr is Far too Busy for the Likes of You

Oh Ringo...Listen, if you don't want to be bothered with fan mail anymore, there are much simpler solutions than your recent semi-crazy rant.  Why not just get an assistant to answer it for you?  Or if that's still too much trouble, a polite message on your official site about your "busy schedule" would more than suffice.  But a "serious message to everybody watching" makes you come off like an out-of-touch, self-important d-bag and literally forces us to point out a)The irony of your guest spot on The Simpsons, b)Your fan base consisting of 12 people under the age of 45, and c)The overall crappiness of your music. 

Stinson and Westerberg "Good Friends" Again

A Star Tribune interview with ex-Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson revealed, almost off-handedly, that he spent last week back in Minneapolis "messing around" with Paul Westerberg.  OK 'Mats fans, let's not geek out yet.  There have been reunion false alarms before, but if nothing else, these guys certainly seem on good terms:

"He sounded enthusiastic about the sessions and said, 'It was a lot of fun.' When I asked if they did any recording, though, he answered, 'Nah, that’s getting to first base. We’re sort of still in the dugout chewing gum.' As for the general state of the two former ‘Mats mates relationship, he said, 'We’re good friends, and I’m sure we’re going to work together again.'"

Westerberg Still Open to 'Mats Reunion

As previously reported, the latest 'Mats reissues are on the way this week, which means our favorite hermit had to play nice with the media for a little while.  Naturally, the "will they, won't they" question came up, and Paul was characteristically (at least in recent years) cagey but sort of optimistic about the prospect.

Noel Gallagher Rips Radiohead

Noel Gallagher might never win Miss Congeniality, but his "everything sucks" demeanor certainly makes for a good sound bite - And in the case of his comments about do-gooder rock stars (seen in the October issue of DETAILS), he kinda has a point.  Read his latest rant after the jump.

Ryan Adams Gets Book Cover, Unlikely Props

It's been a pretty good couple of weeks for the perpetually angsty Ryan Adams. His forthcoming book, now titled Infinity Blues, got a pretty kick-ass cover (left), The Cardinals' tour with Oasis has been getting some great reviews, and perhaps most surprisingly, even a normally less than agreeable Noel Gallagher is giving the guy some props.  Happy days.

"How to Enjoy A Cardinals Gig" by Ryan Adams

Foggy (now in all new orange and black flavor) has offered up some tips for enjoying a Cardinals/Oasis gig.  Ryan, sounding totally cool with stroking the Gallaghers' egos ("It's their game, and we're their too...they got mad hits."), above all wants us on our best behavior:

"Be kind to your neighbors. They might really have to use the men’s/women’s room- maybe you could be polite and hold their place and stuff- It’s nice when you guy’s have your own seats though. It makes me feel like we are actually like showing you guy’s a movie of a concert we are editing as we play. Also, long shows are tiring and some people are older than others or maybe they have challenges and I think it’s okay for rock to happen where people can sit."

[via Foggy - The Cardinal Cave]

RIP The Who?

Pete Townshend, God love em', managed to sound simultaneously ego-maniacal, and self-deprecating in his assessment of The Who in 2008.  Either way, looks like the Endless Wire flop kinda stung...

via Rolling Stone:

“I am no longer a member of a band called the Who,” he wrote. “I am Pete Townshend. I used to be in a band called the Who. It does not exist today except in your dreams. I am a songwriter and guitarist who — if I create the right setting — can walk onto a stage with my old buddy Roger Daltrey and evoke the old magic of the Who in the dreams of the audience. … There are many Who fans who have just as good a time watching one of the many fantastic Who tribute bands as watching Roger and Pete (and their supporting musicians) pretend to be who we used to be.”

Dave Grohl Wants to be in Metallica

Dave Grohl's a pretty damned likable fellow, so I guess that's why he's able to get away with the backhanded compliments in his "Open Letter to Metallica"

"Dear METALLICA,

"Hey, it's Dave! Remember me? Yeah, I'm the guy that's been listening to your band faithfully since 1983. I bought your first album 'Kill 'Em All' from a mailorder catalogue called Under The Rainbow, I think. Actually I can't remember. It was 1983 for Christsakes! But that album changed my life and I've been listening to your albums ever since (even 'St Anger'!)

"I can't wait to hear the new shit, and no matter what you guys do I'll always be first one at the shop waiting to hear it. I'm sure you'll come out and blow everybody's fuckin' minds, because you're fuckin' METALLICA!

"Good luck. And don't release it until it's kick-ass.

"Yours, Dave Grohl.

"P.S. Are you finished recording the drums yet?"

Translation: "Dude, you guys used to rock, and even though your last couple albums have sucked, and you've alienated your fanbase with all that bitching about Internet downloads, I am totally hoping the new album is good.  PS - can I be in Metallica?"

Thom Yorke to World: No More Freebies

To all of you (us including) who hyped Radiohead's In Rainbows release strategy as a permanent game-changer, Thom Yorke wants us to settle down.  In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he's called the pay-what-you-want model a "a one-off response to a particular situation."

Hmmm, could it be that Yorke was a little miffed by all the fans who elected to pay $0.00 for his band's stellar new disc?  Read the full interview here.

Springsteen Endorses Obama for President

In a move that should surprise no one that's ever been to a Springsteen show (though we suspect there's still a lot of misguided fans from the 80s that assume he hangs out at the gun club with that dude who sang "Proud to be An American"), The Boss has officially endorsed Barack Obama for President via his official site.  Sadly, his fellow Garden Staters sided with Hilary in this year's primary.

Read the full statement after the jump.