New Wonderful Spells song posted

The Wonderful Spells, who have been in discussions to perform at the 6th annual pill Halloween show later this year (shhh!), have posted a teaser track from their new EP, which should be out shortly.

The song is called "Bad News Blues," and it's more catchy-as-fuck psychpop from the local melody-maker trio. This looks like it will be a worthy follow-up to last years sterling debut, "The Prophecy of Smarulous Rex," which launched a shit ton of pill shows and garnered much respect around the city. I think they're doing a free show on Saturday at the Alchemist in JP, but don't quote me on that. I'm not even sure Jamaica Plain actually exists.

Also, I decided against trading Dan Haren (and his rights until after 2010), so I'm deleting the previous post. If I don't have Derreck Lee and Joe Mauer to show for it, I'm not going to let the man who signs my paychecks see how I spend post-deadline afternoons.)

True North "Nut Sacks," part II

So yeah, I'm still a giggly schoolgirl over the True North Nut Snack nonsense, and am soliciting opinions on other commercial taglines that sound like one thing but say another. Free free to join in at Herald Online. (Blog within a blog within a blog within a blog.)

ITP: Apartment mess

As the lady and I searched for apartments this summer, one thing became painfully evident: People live like shit. We couldn't believe the state of many apartments that were shown to us, from seas of garbage obscuring the floor to mouse droppings growing into gremlins to widowed mattresses gettin' on by without need fo' no boxspring.

Realtors backed up my assumption that when people decide to move out, they let their living spaces go to shit. No need to even make an appointment to see the squalor in person. Look on Craigslist and other online sites.

(Note to self: Move out of Allston.)

Mr. Boston goes out with a bang

As any good ol' boy from eastern Massachusetts would have it, Mr. Boston didn't leave the "I Love Money" house quietly in February after the cameras shut down. The one and only Lee Marks posted a blog this morning, and well, here's what he had to say about Megan (who D-Listed once famously said had a face "made for cum"):

"I actually got sweet revenge on her that she doesn't know about until now! After the elimination, when I was packing my things....I jerked off into her bed and she had to sleep in it! (Plus the dog was loving the show I put on). Now take that you backstabbing bitch."

He also had a nice take on Brandi, her porn career and her gut, as well as 12 Pack's steroid use. Quite the read this morning! Good to see Mr. Boston is still bringing the goods.

Wait, an extraordinary...what?

Clearly the biggest commercial news of the year comes from True North nuts. Yes, I'm talking about the last few words. Yes, I am 6 years old.

Russia to outlaw "emo" and "goth" music, culture and style: kids now more sad

I always said that I was thankful I graduated high school before Columbine, because walking around in fishnets, makeup and shredded Skinny Puppy t-shirts was hard enough before Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris suddenly made "freak culture" a violent one.

But WTF City, this is just some next-level, 1984-type shit right here, and I'm thankful I'm too old to get all My Chemical Romance on Putin's rock-solid ass: Russia to outlaw emo.

Pouting, piercings and Pete Wentz may soon be illegal in Russia. The Russian government is in the process of drafting a law to make emo and goth music illegal, says the Moscow Times.

"State Duma deputies, Public Chamber members and social conservatives have hammered out legislation aimed at heading off the spread of emo culture, which they describe as a 'dangerous teen trend.'

Interestingly, when I was in St. Petersburg in 2004, I bought a bootleg HIM album (dont. fucking. ask.) from an underground subway stand. It's good to see there are no copyright laws in the motherland, but soon listening to the Sisters of Mercy are grounds for exile to Siberia. Dominion, indeed!

Passion Pit signs to Frenchkiss Records

The best local band to emerge in 2008, Passion Pit, has signed to Frenchkiss Records, home to Les Savy Fav and the Hold Steady. According to my column published today, here's what Paul Hanly of Frenchkiss had to say about the 'Pit:

“What really initially drew us to Passion Pit was how immediate the music was,” said Hanly. “Michael writes the kind of music that gets stuck in your head, and it never leaves, which is a good thing in this case. We were drawn to it, and this was only exemplified by how fun their live shows are.”

Agreed. I think the lady and I still deem "I've Got Your Number" as our cute little high-school relationship mixtape love song. Frenchkiss will re-release their debut EP in September, along with a new album next year. World domination is in short order.

Also in today's space: The Luxury pulled more than 5,000 online votes and won the "Open For Coldplay" contest. They'll hit the stage first on Aug. 4 at the TD Banknorth Garden. Really cool contest by FNX.

Goodbye Mr. Boston

So last night Acton's very own Lee "Mr. Boston" Marks got the boot from "I Love Money" after his scheme (well, 12 Pack's scheme) to deliberately lose a challenge blew up in his nose-pickin' face. Quite the bummer, as I truly <3'd the strange, teary-eyed Nerdtron, but it was too much to see him constantly harassed by the increasingly cartoonish Stallionaires and White Boy (Who I can't see going home until fall). It was clear Mr. Boston's time had come.

But frealz, what kind of world do we live in where Possum Queen Brandi C. sticks around, Rodeo gets bitchslapped by a frozen chicken and Destiney takes it on the arm (instead of the chin, for once), but Mr. Boston goes home? I'll have more to say about this in tomorrow's Boston Herald. We'll miss you, Boston.

I Love Money straight bringin it

So as I wonder what in the name of D.A.B. happened to Miss Rap Supreme and realize that MTV’s From G’s to Gents is really just Charm School with a different kind of boob convention, it’s exciting to see VH-1’s cash cow collective, I Love Money, really starting to uh, "Heat" up.

Episode 4 rolls tonight at 9pm, where the teams compete in some sort of chicken tossing competition, immediately putting Pumkin’s well-being in jeopardy. So far, we’ve said goodbye to Midget Mac (episode 1) because he didn’t want his stumpy ass to wear a thong, then Obi-Wan Ka-Nibblez (episode 2) got tossed American Gladiator-style by Mr. Boston on the high-rise bed thingy, despite her use of a "Jedi mind trick" (which didn't have any effect on Lee Motherfucking Marks).

And last week, the lesser of the Party Boys, Heat, was shown the door in an hour-long mental and physical beat down. Adding insult to infidelity, Heat was bounced by the world’s last remaining home boy, Frank the Entertainer, who not only stole Destiney his woman in what should eventually lead to more prime time toe sucking, but also had the final say in kicking his ass off the show. The Entertainer could have gotten rid of one of the Brothers Stallionaires, Real or Chance, or even Whiteboy, which would have helped his team in the long run, but he let poon rule the day and ghosted his competition with the womenz, not with $250,000. Will it come back to haunt the Gold Team? Yes, I think so.

In other noteworthy news: Lone remaining Party Boy, 12 Pack, is proving Alpha Dog status with the ladies, banging it up with both –large-in-charge Heather and conniving cunt all-star Megan. Tonight, Mr. Boston is about to get dirty with Real, Chance and Whiteboy, and it does not look good for Acton’s famous son. And for Rodeo, well, "I love rock, I love country. That's why I wear my hat, that's why kids love me." It still holds up.

Also, no one knows why Pumkin and Brandi C are still around. And I still can’t get that image of Toastee’s pasty ass beaver out of my head.

Help out the Prids (car accident content)

Saw this bulletin earlier... Apparently the Prids, a great post-punk band out of Portland, Ore., were in a very serious car accident in Los Angeles recently. Please help if you can; these guys and gal are great people and a great band. I saw them a few summers ago at a house in Harvard Sq with Protokoll and others, and it was killah. Donate to the band, then buy their albums.

From the bulletin: Our friends (and labelmates) The Prids - David, Mistina, Joey and Maile - and two of their significant others - Kristin and Chris - were in a serious accident early Sunday evening while en route to Los Angeles on tour.

A tire blew and they lost control of the van and it rolled several times. David was airlifted from the scene of the crash, he suffered a broken collar bone, broken ribs and has 6 staples in his head and will be released from the hospital shortly. Everyone else was released last night. Chris broke his arm, and may have spinal injuries. Maile has a broken vertebra and toe and a severe cut with stitches on her knee. Joey broke ribs, Mistina suffered a concussion, and as far as I know Kristin is in similar shape. They are currently staying at a hotel in Fresno. Mistina and David *do not* have health insurance.

A special paypal account has been set up to help out and donate directly to The Prids. They need help getting home and paying their hospital bills. If you can't help out monetarily, please repost this info on your blogs, etc.

Thanks! You can send money using paypal directly to "donate@theprids.com".