ooooh I needed that.

"Headlines" is a classic anthem, one for our times. One for the times of grand failures and grand successes, one in which Drake admits "yeah, I did this shit, and what of it?" Drake usually sucks live, at least from what I've seen but that's not the case here. Maybe we've actually watched him grow as a performer? Thank you, Drake. I'm thanking you right fucking now. 

I might be too strung out on compliments, overdosed on confidence

Started not to give a fuck and stopped fearing the consequence

Drinking every night because we drink to my accomplishments

Faded way too long, I'm floatin' in and out of consciousness

And they sayin' I'm back, I agree with that

I just take my time with all this shit, I still believe in that

I had someone tell me I fell off, ooh I needed that

Drake's made an anthem for trying harder, the "I'm sorry I don't want to be a slacker" jam for all of us who get up too early, work too late, and try too fucking hard. 

Witch-House

I interview the founder of witch-house dot com for MTV O 

It's the end of R.E.M. as we know it.

 So we're still saying goodbye to R.E.M.  As a further method of coping, both Liz and I have compiled our 10 favorite R.E.M. songs, some known, some unknown, some from albums you may not own if you're pretty sure they stopped recording with Automatic (spoiler: they didn't!). Additionally, if you're in New York we'd love to have you come raise a glass and shout THAT'S GREAT IT STARTS WITH AN EARTHQUAKE etc etc along with us when I DJ this R.E.M. tribute night on Thursday in Greenpoint. 

 

The Facebook RSVP is here, where you can leave song requests.  We'd love to see you/sing/cry with you.

For now, though, let's take a look at the living document of R.E.M. masterpieces, as selected by Liz and myself.

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On listening to the mountain goats for the first time

A few years ago, I began a passing hobby that I haven't really kept up--I'd approach a friend who was in love with a band I didn't know or barely knew or only knew a few "popular songs" by, and ask them to dig in deep and make me a mix tape of that band. My friend Jill, for instance, made me an incredible, illuminating R.E.M. mix (not that R.E.M. was a band I was unfamiliar with but I, unlike most I think, really connect with later-period R.E.M., from Monster to Reveal I can assure you I've broken apart and pieced back together to all those songs) called, I think, "Mandolins and Metaphors". I have a pretty spectacular mix in which I chronicle my 13 favorite New Order songs from my least-favorite favorite ("Blue Monday") to my most favorite favorite ("Temptation"). 

Sophie's  fanaticism for the John Darnielle project The Mountain Goats used to stick in my craw. She's young, so I figure she's probably more tolerant of this insufferable "let's record things that sound like shit" aesthetic that the kids like these days. Sure it's cool, but even Zola Jesus is making better, more enlightening music now that she fucking sings into the goddamn microphone.

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OVO SAD BOI

Run, do not walk, to this tumblr which attempts to explain why Drake is so sad on the recently-released cover for his new album Take Care