Nerdy as I am, I do not like this:

Later this year, MTV plans to launch a groundbreaking initiative called the Rock Band Network that will enable any artist—unsigned emerging act, indie cult fave or major-label superstar—to submit songs for possible inclusion in the game [Rock Band for Xbox 360].

Songs submitted through this process must then be reviewed by other developers to check for playability, inappropriate lyrics, copyright infringement and so on. Harmonix will post approved tracks to an in-game download store separate from its existing "Rock Band" store where creators can set their own price (50 cents to $3 per song) and receive 30% of any resulting sales. Gamers will also be able to demo 30-second samples of each track.

Bands who submit a song to Rock Band's "community" venture—and go through the work of coding the game's timing patterns themselves—will be thanked by giving up 70% of their sales to MTV. iTunes, with its own upkeep and staff costs, takes around 35% of each song sale. And if bands are in a contract that forces 'em to split the remaining pennies with labels, managers, and so on, then what's the point? The only groundbreaking thing here is how desperate bands content generators have to be to not only enable MTV's shameless business model but lend the company their bands' cred in the whoring process. Say no to narrow-channel music outlets.

Unless, of course, bands agree en masse to price their songs at the lowest value possible, 50 cents a pop, as a middle finger to the laughable percentage. But, again, MTV controls the outlet, so don't bet on it.

Your hard-earned $495 will get you:

...all five Pixies' studio albums (Come on Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, Bossanova, and Trompe le Monde) in the following formats: 24k gold plated CD's; five 12" - 180 gram virgin vinyl LP's cut from the original analog tapes; Blu-ray audio mastered for 5.1 surround sound and 2 channel stereo at 24/192; DVD mastered for 5.1 surround sound and 2 channel stereo at 24/96. Also included is the previously unreleased Pixies 1991 live performance from Brixton, on both Blu-ray and DVD, mastered for 5.1 surround sound at 24/192 and 24/96, respectively. All discs are housed in a custom designed folio.

In addition to reinterpreting all of the original album covers, Oliver's and Larbalestier's extensive work is featured in a 96-page fine art book, measuring 22" x 14" inches, and an additional 54-page book, measuring 7.75" x 8.25". Also included is a 12" x 19.5" giclee print of the duo's work, and two double-sided fold-out posters measuring 48" x 36."

They're on sale now, and will be shipped in October. Only 3,000 will be sold.

(Via punknews.org.)

Dr. Dre's Rug.

(Package may also include Dr. Dre's Cat Pee Stain, Dr. Dre's Head Dander, Dr. Dre's Weird Smell, and Dr. Dre's Unfortunate Taste in Rugs.)

Thanks to Leah and thanks to Craigslist.

A new free app called Nabbit allows iPhone owners to identify songs from the radio and later gather information about them and potentially purchase them or tickets to concerts by the artists who performed them. The app also works with ads (yay).

How did you ever live without it?

Via themurdercitydevils.com:

As a special commemoration of the February tour and the re-release of the vinyl on Sub Pop we’ve put together a super limited edition Box Set called “Feather Bed Whiskey Blanket.” The three studio albums, The Murder City Devils, Empty Bottles Broken Hearts, In Name and Blood and the Thelema EP all will all be pressed on pristine 12″ white vinyl in a limited quantity of 275 sets that will be for sale exclusively on this tour. Unlike the black and white marbled represses, the white vinyl is only available in the box set.

Bundled in a custom made package with a button and string closure, each set will be hand-numbered and contain one of a kind photos, stencils, posters and other pieces unique to each set. Who knows, you might end up with rare promo photos, press stickers, outtake / live photos, studio notes, sketches, old set lists, old backstage passes, Gabe’s electric bill … anything from the massive MCD archives that can fit into a flat 12″ box. Each package will have the four 12″ records on exclusive white vinyl, a totally unique set of bonus items, be hand-numbered and shrink wrapped air tight so nobody but nobody will know what’s in there until you get it home and open it up. (We’ll know, and we’ll be keeping track.)

Also: The Murder City Devils are on Twitter.

Last night’s show at Neumos, which I previewed in the current Stranger’s Up&Coming section, was a record release party for the Fall/Winter ’08 Journal of Popular Noise, a Brooklyn-based zine that includes 7” singles with each edition. The new issue contains 7s by Seattle artists Climax Golden Twins, PWRFL Power, and Linda and Ron’s Dad.

Each Journal of Popular Noise is a beautiful artifact executed with great care and acute aesthetics. I regret that I didn’t mention this in my preview blurb.