These things made me smile today:

1. Kid singing “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga

Everyone loves overweight white kids named Timmy wearing Mickey Mouse pajamas in his kitchen sharply snapping along the beat to an a capella version of “Bad Romance”. Oh and did I mention he’s singing into a ripened banana?

The best part? Around 3:10 when Timmy starts stomping in rhythm with the song as he chants “Walk, walk fashion baby/Work it/Move that bitch crazy.” You go girl-er-boyfriend!

SOURCE: Youtube via FREEwilliamsburg

2. Apple Aims to Dethrone Ticketmaster(bastard)

Apple applied for a patent to develop an electronic ticketing system connected to iTunes called “Concert Ticket +” SOURCE: Patently Apple

3. New York magazine’s “Approval Matrix” will be made into a TV show.

Bravo is working with (brilliant) former VH1 exec Michael Hirschorn to develop a television show based off the popular “Approval Matrix” feature in New York magazine. SOURCE: NY Post

To be honest, I can’t remember the last time I looked for a print publication of NME in a magazine store (or the last time I stopped in a magazine shop), but after reading this Guardian interview with new editor Krissi Murison, I have to say I’m a bit intrigued.

Murison, a long-time NME staffer who worked her way up the ranks before leaving for a brief 7-month stint at music director at NYLON magazine in NYC, took the reigns of New Musical Express last June. Last week a new design and direction was revealed for the magazine — with a streamlined logo, a redesign and reorganization of the interior sections, and a more sophisticated, in-depth point-of-view.

Many detractors of the brand have complained that the magazine has increasingly become gossipy, laddish, and guilty of flip-flopping between lauding bands one week and then slamming them the next. Murison intends to bring NME back as a “heavyweight” in terms of reporting and information to its 18- to 24-year-old core readers.

The 28-year-old editor-in-chief has a long road ahead of her, with NME circulation down 24.3% year on year to 48,549 from the June – December time period from last year, and more more more eyeballs shifting from print to online.

What do you think of the revamp of NME? Can it stave off declines in its print numbers or is it a lost cause?

More on NME and Krissi Murison: Guardian style interview, Mediaweek, The Independent, Liverpool Echo

Yet another exciting announcement coming from the Third Man Records camp! They will be taking over a storefront at 131 Chrystie Street (between Broome and Delancey) for a two-day pop-up shop!

The store will only be around on July 16th and 17th, open between 10 AM-6 PM. It’s the perfect opportunity to pick up a copy of Horehound — the debut album of The Dead Weather, a member of the Third Man Record’s roster.

Who knows, maybe some of the Dead Weather will stop by to say hello.

So exciting! See y’all there!

The full press release below:

Third Man Records Comes To NYC

Limited Time Pop Up Store – July 16th and 17th

Pre-Order The Dead Weather’s Debut Release Horehound Now

Jack White’s Nashville-based Third Man Records will be opening a pop up store in NYC for a limited time. It will be located at 131 Chrystie Street (between Broome and Delancey) with retail hours from 10 AM-6 PM on July 16th and 17th only. Be sure to stop by to pick up your copy of The Dead Weather’s highly anticipated debut album, Horehound, out July 14th, as well as other Third Man releases and merch.

If you’re not in NYC or Nashville, you can pre-order your copy of Horehound from The Dead Weather webstore at http://thedeadweather.kungfustore.com/categories/76-music). Pre-order your double LP or CD prior to the July 13th (UK/Europe)/July 14th (US) release and receive one of two previously unseen live photos of the band, taken at the Roxy by photographer Nic Adler. The photo comes as a free download at checkout.

Don’t forget to check out the album prior to its release next Monday (UK/Europe)/Tuesday (North America) on iLike. Listen to Horehound in full and for free, exclusively at www.iLike.com/thedeadweather.

Some early praise for Horehound…

“…an excellent album of sex sweat, bourbon breath, gun smoke and guitar sleaze…these are all top-notch songs…what a lovely way to burn.” 4 Stars – Rolling Stone

“…when you listen to clattery Horehound tracks like “So Far From Your Weapon” or “Treat Me Like Your Mother”…you imagine a sort of Tennessee Williams, kitchen-knife-wielding scenario, starring an unhinged Nick Cave and PJ Harvey circa “Henry Lee.”" – Spin

“The 11 songs on the album…are spare and sexy, with the vocals often distorted or submerged beneath grinding, snaky rhythms.” – The New York Times

This just in: Jack White’s Third Man Records has announced their very own social network and subscription service. The basic jist is this- it’s called The Vault and it’s a two tiered subscription service: Premium service is $7 a month and the Platinum membership is $20 a month, both with a minimum of a 3 month signup. Members will have access to presales and exclusive content and merchandise for bands that are on the label (including The White Stripes, The Dead Weather, and The Raconteurs).

Explains Jack in a blog post, “The community we are building here will be like no other you’ve been a part of in regards to music. We hope to have a place where positivity and beauty in music and art can be shared together as a community. A place that has content that you can only see if you truly want to explore the deepest depths of the third man records vault.”

Platinum subscribers who sign up between July 3rd and July 21st will receive a double album of The White Stripes LP Icky Thump. This will be an exclusive never before heard MONO mix of the album on 180 Gram Vinyl, with customized artwork in a gatefold sleeve. In addition to that behemoth, you’ll also receive a 45 of The Dead Weather performing two covers, Pentagrams Forever My Queen and The Downliner Sect’s Outside. This 45 will come with special labels and sleeves that you will only get through the Vault. Last but not least, you’ll get a Third Man Records T-shirt, with a new design that AGAIN you can only get through The Vault service.

There’s a lot of info on the site, so check it out now.

Press release after the jump.

In their latest groundbreaking initiative, Jack White’s Third Man Records announces the July 3rd opening of The Vault at 3:33 p.m. CST. The Vault is a social networking and subscription service that provides exclusive offerings from the label’s artists. Subscribers will have access to online content and physical products from Third Man artists including The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, all of which will ONLY be available to Vault subscribers.

The Vault is a two-tiered service, providing a forum for all subscribers to create member profiles and usersites, post comments and interact with other members. For the $7-a-month Premium Service (three month minimum), subscribers will get unlimited access to all online Vault services, including exclusive pre-sale concert tickets, streaming video, video messages, official chat rooms, photos, artist updates and pay per view live concerts. The $20-a-month Platinum Service (three month minimum) includes all online content as well as quarterly Third Man 12″ LPs, extremely limited 7″ records and t-shirts These products will only be available through The Vault and will not be distributed to shops or available from Third Man’s online mail order service.

Platinum subscribers who sign up between July 3rd and July 21st will receive a double album of The White Stripes’ LP Icky Thump featuring an exclusive MONO mix, 180 Gram Vinyl and customized artwork, as well as a Third Man Records exclusive T-shirt and a 45 of The Dead Weather performing two covers, “Forever My Queen” and “Outside,” with special dedicated labels and sleeves exclusive to The Vault. While the Premium subscription is available at all times, Platinum subscribers who miss the July 21st deadline must wait until the following registration period for the next set of Third Man products.

For more information on The Vault, check out

http://thirdmanrecords.com/vault.html

Jack White’s newest business venture, Third Man Records, will be celebrating Record Store Day this Saturday, April 18th.

The store, located in Nashville, TN will be selling the Dead Weather’s 7-inch single of “Hang You From the Heavens” as well as “various Third Man-related vinyl and whatever else we find laying around.”

Cash only folks!

From the official Third Man Records mailing list:

Come celebrate Record Store Day this Saturday, April 18th with Nashville’s newest vinyl institution, Third Man Records. While showcasing the Third Man label’s first release (The Dead Weather’s “Hang You From the Heavens” 7-inch single) there will also be other assorted sundries available…t-shirts, various Third Man related vinyl and whatever else we find laying around and have the common decency to try and sell you (Did someone say cameras? Maybe. USB’s? It’s possible).

So come on down and meet various members of the Third Man team. Ben and Ben will be there (the third Ben has previous commitments) and they’ll be glad to take your money. Cash only please as we don’t know how credit cards work and they scare us. No early-birds and street numbers will not be honored. We look forward to meeting you.

Third Man Records
623 7th Avenue South
Nasvhille, TN 37203
Hours: 12 pm-4 pm

…don’t ever make me watch the Jonas Brothers perform with Stevie Wonder ever again. It’s just too painful.

…watching a uber pregnant M.I.A. perform alongside T.I., Jay-Z, and Lil’ Wayne, was awesome. She is possibly the coolest woman in music EVER.

…make all of Coldplay wear the same purple outfits that Will Champion was wearing.

…keep giving Jennifer Hudson awards for her amazing singing, but make it a stipulation that she’s not allowed to wear outfits that cover her face anymore. (Luckily her makeup was gorgeous.)

…Katy Perry should not be allowed to perform anywhere, let alone as Chiquita Banana.

…Alison Krauss and Robert Plant doing “Rich Woman” = fantastic. It kinda was like this:

…don’t ever allow Gwyneth Paltrow to present again dressed up as a gold disco ball. Especially when she’s wearing some throwaway shiny tights from some high school cheerleader conference. Especially when she’s salivating over Radiohead. (Are you trying to make her British-obsessed lady boner explode? Granted, it’s hard to say who was more excited, her or her Radiohead-worshiping husband.)

…thank you for making Zooey Deschanel the obligatory actress/singer/songwriter presenter of the night instead of Scarlert Johansson, even if she had the laborious task of explaining about 50 times to reporters that she’s NOT Katy Perry.

…even though I think the Beatles are amazing, I don’t think Paul McCartney is amazing. And I’m insulted that he only did a Beatles song. John Lennon is turning over in his grave.

…thanks for giving Taylor Swift to redeem herself from that awful SNL performance by allowing her to perform with a simple arrangement and no dance moves. However, I still preferred Miley Cyrus, because despite what anyone says, she can actually sing.

Toerag Studios is the place where Jack White and Meg White of the White Stripes did the whirlwind recording of their 2003 album, Elephant. Watch a behind-the-scenes tour of the space in London, England:

SOURCE: SonicState.com

My friend Mark just started this awesome website called Trendrr.com, which allows you to track and graph all sorts of different data, then slice, dice, and compare your findings at will. Want to track record sales of “Consolers of the Lonely” against the frequency of “internet downloading” on Google News? Just punch in the appropriate keywords and start tracking.

Ever since joining the site I’ve spent hours creating, searching, and viewing my own and other people’s graphs. It sure does make for some fascinating findings. Take for example, my recent comparison of sweater sales on eBay vs blog posts about Vampire Weekend:

Not only is eternally preppy overwear on a greater upswing than Vampire Weekend, it seems like VW might even benefit from the increased awareness of knitted pull-overs in the form of more blog posts. Are the two really related? The world may never know, but it sure is fun finding what other keywords might be tangentially linked to the band.

Officially in stores starting today, folks! The Raconteurs’ second album, Consolers of the Lonely. Post your first listen opinions right here. And if you have any photos of the record in your local shop, post those too!

For local peeps: Other Music opens at 12 noon and is selling the album for 16.99. Best Buy locations open at 10am and have it on sale for 14.99. Circuit City is selling it for 13.99 and open at 10am. Etherea’s site is down so not sure how much they are charging.

Sound Fix in Brooklyn is having a listening party today: “Come out and listen to the new Racontuers release “Consolers of the Lonely.” Free PBR and Vinnie’s pizza from 7-8pm. This is also street date for the CD so pick up a copy in the store.”

Some early comments, “Why are the Raconteurs grow-ers, not show-ers?”

Looks like the much bally-hooed effort of the Raconteurs to make their music available in various formats simultaneously has been foiled by the crew over at Apple’s iTunes. Folks over at The Little Room message board are reporting that they are now able to legally download the ENTIRE Consolers of the Lonely album via the iTunes digital website.

Writes one poster, “Um, so…am I in the dark about something?…cause I just downloaded the new album on itunes thinking it was a pre-order and now have the entire album on my computer…….isn’t official release tuesday?”

It’s currently available on the US and UK iTunes websites. UPDATE: Looks like Apple has at the very least disabled the US download.

It has also been rumored that some record chains in the US have already sold copies of the album to customers. Fans in the UK have been treated to auditory previews by overzealous music shop clerks who have played the album over the PA systems in stores.

In addition to that, folks are posting that the album has now made it to the illegal downloading circuit.

Will Jack and the boys be pissed at this technical snafu? Was this not a mistake, but a carefully planned “legal leak” to drum up publicity? Will Jack go on a No Country for Old Men-style rampage, killing everyone who downloaded the tracks early? You make the call… Either way, I’m kinda bummed that it’s already out there.

Tip for UK peeps: Don’t search for “raconteurs” — it won’t come up. Instead, search for “consolers” or “consoler”

PS: I haven’t downloaded it, will wait to purchase it next week in the store so I can’t say that it’s 100% true, but sounds valid. Have any of you, dear readers, been able to purchase a copy in advance?