• the black keys’ new album.  don’t know what it’s called, but we’ve been hearing about this ad-nauseum because, aside from them being a good band already (I’ve only heard random songs here and there) the new album was produced by King Midas himself  DangerMouse.  Sadly, I do want to hear this, as if I’m going to point out DM’s intricate touches on the record.  the Black Key’s new album is being overshadowed by a person who’s not a member of the band, but i bet they’re happy sales for the record will increase five-fold.
• the raconteur’s new album leaked earlier than expected on i-Tunes.  C’mon Steve Jobs, get your shit together!  you’re just trying to one-up the rest of the internet trash by getting the leak out before the rest of them.  I’m curious on two fronts:  just how many people purchased the album online while it was available, and how many people really want a new raconteurs album.  that’s one side project i cant get with.  you’d think Jack White with a bass player would kill, but it shows just how much White thrives on simplicity.  On a side-note, i used to buy albums all the time before the release date through mom and pop shops, so this was a feel good nostalgic story for me.
• REM’s new album is their best in years, and Michael Stipe is gay.  Apparently everyone already speculated Stipe was gay to begin with, making indie/alternative rock media just another US Weekly.  I do want to hear the new album, Pitchfork says it’s their best since New Adventures in Hi-Fi.  My research skills tell me “What’s the Frequency Kenneth” wasn’t on this album (the last REM song i liked), so i have no idea what it sounded like.  and their new song sounds like Stipe is likely to die at any moment.  hopefully the next single is better.
• Fluxblog likes one of the new Janet Jackson songs.  doesn’t surprise me at all.  i liked one of those Kanye produced songs from the last album that was unsuccessfully marketed for the 106 and Park crowd.  So I do agree that Janet sounds better when she’s “sweet” as opposed to Janet if she tried to convince me she would be my personal blow-up doll.  why is she pretending to be Mariah Carey?  MC is insane-crazy but it works for her at least (even though she wont sell many copies of her new album).  Janet just wont learn from the mistakes of Michael.