Genre Report: Ben Kweller Streams New Album & More
INDIE: Ben Kweller Streams New Record
Ben Kweller, former 14-year-old rock star, has parted ways with ATO Records and set up a new label called The Noise Company, which will release his forthcoming album Go Fly a Kite next week. Rolling Stone's got the stream of deeply personal roots rock jams reminiscent of his early solo work. [RS]
R&B: Legend Sings "Ordinary People" as "Extraordinary Tebow"
John Legend's not a religious guy, but he must really worship Tim Tebow. The singer went on ESPN's First Take yesterday to perform a version of his song "Ordinary People" rewritten as "Extraordinary Tebow". Legend changes the rest of the song's lyrics too, riffing on Tebow's on-field performance, the nation's fascination with him and the hosts' coverage of Tebow. It's weird, but, ummm... definitely straight from the heart! [Prefix]
COUNTRY: Vince Gill, Honorary Narcotics Officer
Vince Gill is a Country Hall of Famer, the husband of "Baby Baby" singer Amy Grant and now an honorary narcotics officer in a meth-plagued town in southeastern Tennessee. The McMinn County Sheriff's Office deputized Gill because of his "outstanding character," and Gill's statement that if "I [had ever used drugs], my daddy would have killed me." But Gill probably won't be busting down doors anytime soon: his role is mostly ceremonial. [The Boot]
HIP HOP: Raekwon: "Solo Careers Hurt Wu-Tang"
Raekwon, Wu-Tang Clan member and the man behind the massively influential 1995 solo record Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, sounded saddened as he told Vlad.tv that solo records hurt the Wu-Tang Clan as a whole. "It kinda put us in a more competitive situation with each other instead of focusing more strongly on [Wu-Tang]," said the rapper. "We probably would've had about 30 albums right now." Damn. We missed so much Wu-Tang. [XXL/Vlad.tv]
22m
12m
4m
57m
1m
22m
57m
21m
56s
45m
20m
1h 39m
44m
21m
22m
2m
22m
1m
43s
6m
2m
30s
46s
20m
3m
1m
3m
1m
1m
3m
12m
10m
22m
21m
2m
41m
22m
21m
11m
8m
15m
9m
13m
20m
5m
2m
4m
10m
20m
24m
6m
13m
3m
43m
20m
1h 27m
2m
2m
1m
45m
22m
42m
46m
46m
45m
14m
20m
20m
13m
1h 22m
45m
7m
1m
20m
2m
13m
46m
7m
41m
2m
26m
1m
22m
1m
11m
41m
25m
21m
6m
23m
26m
2m
2m
27m
19m
1m
24m
21m