- Apparent “Indie” band Smashing Pumpkins have a new album on the horizon, with a release date scheduled for next Tuesday the 17th. Although it’s not really Smashing Pumpkins. I mean, Billy might as well have called this band Zwan and it would have made as much sense. The only difference is, he’ll sell a few more albums due to brand recognition, and probably play larger venues due to idiots wanting to hear “the classics.” Sorry, that’s an indefensible position to take, Smashing Pumpkins concertgoers. You’re going to line the pockets of a guy who is clearly on his last legs, playing with a bunch of talentless hired guns, just to recapture a glimpse of your youth? It’s not even the same people playing the songs! That would be like paying to see Pavement without Scott, Mark, or Bob. Sounds like a real hoot, right? I watched some YouTube videos from the band’s performance at Live Earth, and it was atrocious. Billy Corgan needs a syphilitic pirate to fuck him in the eye right about now…

- I’m totally against bands deciding to play an album in its entirety just to sell tickets, but the fact that I’m not going to be around next weekend when Girls Against Boys plays Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby is mildly upsetting. Not as upsetting as, say, only getting a check for half of the money I am owed from the contracted job that was completed two months ago, but close…

- And if there’s one thing I don’t like hearing about more than bands playing albums in their entirety, it’s bands licensing music to corporations or playing corporate sponsored gigs. I mean, that’s not very “indie” is it? What does it say about your passion for creating music when you’re entrusting it to Miller Genuine Draft to sell it for you? Or Starbucks? Or Nike, Comcast, Jack Daniels and Virgin?

- Hey! There’s a new Interpol album out! …Wait — Interpol is still around?

- The Decemberists performed at Hollywood Bowl Saturday with an orchestra. According to my roommate, it sounded like “Disneyland”. I’ve been laughing about this comment ever since she said it, because the image it conjures in my head is hilarious. It’s equal parts “It’s A Small World” and Mr Toad’s Wild Ride. Sure, it appears lavish from the outside, but once you’re strapped in you’re forced to suffer through one continuous stupid song until it begins to drive you insane with anger. Isn’t it amazing how far bands whose reputations are built solely on kitsch factor will go to keep an audience even mildly interesting? “Look at us, we’re different!” they plead. It’s really kind of pathetic.

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