When worlds collide! Jack White and Julian Casablancas share a few words (and a kiss) at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom back in the day.

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

The folding of music mag Blender Magazine earlier this year seems to be just the beginning for even harder times upon the already struggling print music magazine industry.

Two weeks ago indie-rock based Paste Magazine put a plea out to their readers to donate money in order help save the magazine from closing. (In exchange donors receive access to 70+ “rare and exclusive tracks” from artists like Of
Montreal, The Decemberists, Indigo Girls and She & Him.)

Now hot on the heels of that news comes word that renegade UK rag Plan B has decided to pull the plug on their operation. This saddens me deeply, as Plan B, and it’s predecessor Careless Talk Costs Lives were among some of the very few smart, original, and far from cliched music mags out there.

How do you feel about all the recent closings of the world’s music publications? Are there some you are glad to see go (and some you are hoping will fade away)?

Even though the band has only played one public live show (right here in NYC), The Dead Weather have managed to swing their first music magazine cover–the brand new issue of SPIN magazine.

The corresponding article by Charles Aaron details out some of the explosive work/friendship dynamic that exists between Dead Weather tour de forces Jack White and Alison Mosshart (which may have led to recent grossly false reports about a physical altercation between the two): “Not a day went by that he didn’t punch me in the face. No, not literally,” jokes Mosshart, referring to the three weeks recording session she spent with Jack and the band in Nashville. “But we do kind of hit each other and make fun of each other and pick on each other quite a bit. That’s our relationship, really. I don’t think I’d ever forgive myself if suddenly he just stopped talking to me. But I feel like I’ve pushed it to that point every now and then.”

Seems as though the tabloids are not the only ones who have been captivated by the band. Grizzly Bear front man Ed Droste couldn’t help but tweet about the new SPIN cover: “Does Jack White have dreads on the cover of the new Spin?? O____o.” (To answer your question Ed, no he doesn’t–he just has very VERY curly hair.)

SPIN also has a black and white video detailing out how they “cut vinyl with The Dead Weather.”

The favorite new party haunt of TMA…

VICE LIVE
NYC Edition
Vice Magazine Mexican Issue Release Party

Free with RSVP to:

http://www.viceland.com/vicelive

21+ w/ ID
Complimentary 42 Below Vodka & Colt 45 until it’s gone.

with
HONG KONG BLOOD OPERA (Mexico City) – First Ever NYC Show
VIVIAN GIRLS
THE MUSLIMS

and DJs
Semen Sperms
Max Wowch
+ special guests

Thursday, June 19th
9pm til…
SANTOS PARTY HOUSE
100 Lafayette St

New York City homies Vampire Weekend are quickly becoming as ubiquitous as MacBook Air commercials–currently gracing the cover of the music magazine for the “blawg-rockers”, SPIN and now they are featured in the new issue of Nylon magazine:

(Bigger photo on Vorrasi.com.)

The shots were taken at Tom & Jerry’s bar in the East Village by TMA friend Vorrasi. We were lucky enough to be on hand for the shoot. Here’s a behind-the-scenes shot:

VW are currently in the UK, but according to their MySpace blog post, have canceled their shows in Manchester and Glasgow due to illness. They are back in the States starting March 8th with a show at St. Augustine, FL.

Little did I realize that while I was watching Just My Luck last night on HBO that I would be checking out Lindsay Lohan’s naked breasts the very next day. It seems as though someone at New York magazine had the brilliant idea to let photographer Bert Stern recreate his famous Marilyn Monroe “The Last Sitting” photo shoot using La Lohan in place of the legendary blonde bombshell.

There are a few things that make me sad about this photo essay:

1. I hate seeing photographers who have done some amazing work in the bast totally biting off their own sh-t as they get older. Bert Stern has totally jumped the shark.

2. Whereas Marilyn looked like a beautiful mess in her photo shoot, Lindsay Lohan just looks like a mess in the obviously fake platinum wig, and a haggard looking face.

3. I’m not interested in seeing Lindsay’s boobs EVER AGAIN. It just seems so… desperate. Trying to be Marilyn + boobs + bad wig = disaster.

Debate over the sag of Lindsay’s rack, and a NSFW picture of her boobs after the jump.

4. Seeing Lindsay Lohan’s boobs instantly sparks fights amongst 15 year old girls debating whether or not her breasts should be considered “saggy”. Big boobies made by Mother Nature are saggy. It’s called gravity.

5. Marilyn’s boobs, ability to model, beauty > Lindsay. Lindsay has totally missed the boat on the magic of the original shoot. Marilyn isn’t TRYING to be sexy, she IS sexy. La Lohan looks like she’s trying way to hard to be sultry. THERE’S NOT ONE OUNCE OF JOY IN HER FACE!

Surprise surprise, Jack White hates journalists. Read an excerpt from the White Stripes interview with…Interview. Thanks to W. for the link.

The Stripey love of the UK continues, with a very special release of “Rag and Bone,” the first release of material off of Icky Thump, being distributed free with an issue of NME on June 6.

According to NME:

The track will be pressed onto red vinyl, while the flipside will feature a etching designed exclusively by Jack White and will come in special gatefold packaging featuring more artwork by the band.

Following the exclusive release with NME, the band will then release their album’s title track, ‘Icky Thump’, as a single on June 11…

To get hold of the unique release all readers have to do is buy the NME which hits UK newsstands on June 6. Details of how those outside Britain will be able to pre-order this unique issue will be available nearer the time on NME.COM.

Want to know what the cover of the first single, “Icky Thump” will look like? Check it out on Spinner.com.

Nope, it’s not another reality television show. I haven’t put too much thought into this theory, but judging from a recent job listing for an Executive Editor at Rolling Stone in the New media department, it seems as though RS has ideas of a new website brewing. How do I figure this out? Well first off, check out the job responsibilities:

Responsibilities: Rolling Stone magazine seeks a digitally experienced Executive Editor to create a music discovery site that features new, emerging artists both signed and unsigned; and provide an opportunity for artists and music enthusiasts to interact with one another. Artists will be enabled to mobilize their fanbase, and consumers will be exposed to new talent. Responsibilities include developing, launching, and managing this new venture.

Hmmm…that kinda sounds like this other website I’ve been too–maybe you’ve heard of it–I think it’s called MySpace. Or what about Purevolume.com? But I’m guessing in the new RS venture, it will be more editorially driven–you know, like a…uh…blog? But with REAL reporting done by REAL editors with REAL words.

Or something…

Thoughts?