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Initially released only in Japan and later in the U.S. via Menlo Park, Deerhoof's Green Cosmos EP shows off a less manic side of the band than their usual modus operandi. The bright, brassy rocker "Come See the Duck" (based on the way the song sounds, the duck must be fire-breathing and six feet tall) is the closest the EP gets to Deerhoof's quintessential approach; even though Green Cosmos is only seven songs long, the band spends the rest of the EP trying on as many different sounds and feelings as they can cram into it. The production is surprisingly lush, with songs like the jazzy "Hot Mint Air Balloon" boasting brass and xylophones and "Spiral Golden Town" moving from trippy symphonic samples to an odd -- but totally Deerhoof -- fusion of chamber-pop, synth-pop and big-beat. Elsewhere, the band goes gentle: "Malalauma" is delicately psychedelic, with an appropriately Asian feel, while Satomi Matsuzaki's meowed vocals on "Koneko Kitten" make the track that much more adorable. Since Green Cosmos is so short, its eclectic sound doesn't stick around long enough to feel scattered. Instead, it just reaffirms Deerhoof's unspoken manifesto -- that music should be fun -- and offers a nice, bite-size portion of their crazy sweetness. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
MP3 News Breakers: Britney, U2-Green Day, Saw, Buckcherry
Spears and K-Fed reportedly name baby Sutton Pierce; Rockers to debut punk cover for NFL; NYC concert to kick off hype for Saw III; Buckcherry says girl used fake ID.
Report: Britney & K-Fed go with SPF again
SPF 2.
Britney Spears and Kevin Federline have reportedly named their newborn son Sutton Pierce Federline, sticking with the initials they gave their first son, Sean Preston Federline, who celebrates his first birthday today. Spears gave birth to her second child at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles early Tuesday morning via scheduled Cesarean section. Spears gave birth in the hospital's VIP suite, where such stars as Jennifer Garner, Kim Basinger, and Madonna, with whom Spears infamously locked lips at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, bedded down for their deliveries.
U2, Green Day to debut collaboration at Superdome
Bono and Billie Joe.
U2 and Green Day aren't going to waste any time in performing their collaboration on the Skids' "The Saints Are Coming." The two bands will unveil the song, for which proceeds will benefit the Music Rising charity started by U2 guitarist the Edge, in a live performance at the September 25 reopening of Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The bands will play the song before the New Orleans Saints take on the Atlanta Falcons in the first regular season pro football game in the city since Hurricane Katrina ravaged it. Music Rising seeks to help bring music back to the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast region by donating musical instruments to musicians, churches, and schools affected by the storm and its aftermath.
"Music Rising is dedicated to helping regain a foothold on their future but will also ensure that one of the Gulf Coast's greatest assets, its music, will rise again," the Edge said in a statement. ESPN will broadcast the performance live during the network's Monday Night Countdown pregame show, which begins at 7 p.m. Eastern time. After the event, Rhapsody will make a download of the performance available, with all net proceeds going to Music Rising.
Saw III hype kicks off with concert, torture museum
Saw III
Fans of the bands Helmet, The SmashUp and Hydrovibe; the movie Saw III; and instruments of torture are in for a treat. In the run-up to the premiere of the October 27 release of the movie, the third installment in the wildly popular series, Warcon Records is holding a concert in New York City with the aforementioned bands, all of whom are featured on the Saw III soundtrack. The show, which takes place October 19 at Webster Hall, will be hosted by Shawnee Smith, who plays "Amanda" in all three films, with other Saw regulars appearing as well. The show will also feature a Saw museum that includes torture devices, headgear, set pieces from the movies, and other authentic props from the films. The Saw III soundtrack hits stores October 27.
Buckcherry refutes lawsuit claim
Buckcherry
LA rock band Buckcherry has responded to a lawsuit filed against it earlier this week, saying the plaintiff, a 16-year-old girl who allegedly "starred" in a pornographic rock video for the band, used a fake ID to enter the video shoot. The girl has claimed the band lured her via MySpace into a Hollywood club, where she was given alcohol and was filmed exposing her breasts, kissing another female, and writhing against a pole while Buckcherry performed. The lawsuit, which also names record labels Warner Music Group and Atlantic Records, seeks $25,000 in damages.
The band's attorney, Skip Miller, issued a statement yesterday, saying, "The claims in this case are entirely unfounded and without merit. Strict precautions were taken to ensure that only those over the age of 18 would gain access to the music video shoot. The casting ad called for over-18 talent only, signs were posted to that effect at the venue, and IDs were checked at the door. This woman not only used a phony ID to gain access, but filled out and signed a talent release form with what we now know to be false birth date information to match her phony ID. She was later seen boasting into the camera about her exploits in the video. This lawsuit was filed almost a year after the video was shot, only after the financial success of the band. We are going to defend this action vigorously and let the evidence speak for itself."
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