A Brit of All Right

If you date a Brit-pop fan, and have zero idea what to get them for the holidays, here ya go, the gift that keeps on giving. A bloody brill 4CD box set from those cheeky blokes at Rhino Records. Retails for around $52. The evolution of the Brit-pop movement (at least from '84 to '99), well worth the cash.

Box set: The Brit Box (Rhino)
In stores: Now
Why we care: We here at Pop Life have a strong desire to be British. And this 4CD set, subtitled UK Indie, Shoegaze and Brit-Pop Gems of the Last Millennium, only enhances our Anglophilic daydreams. Spanning from the early '80s to the late '90s, from the Cure, the Primitives and Primal Scream to Suede, Supergrass (click for a video) and Super Furry Animals, it's a must for anyone who craves jangly, gauzy, randy heart-sleevers.
Why we like it: We've always liked such '90s acts as James, Blur and Pulp (and Oasis, the Verve and Placebo) -- all of whom appear on this box set -- so it’s a thrill to discover such early '80s Brit-pop progenitors as the Primitives, the Pale Saints and the Charlatans UK (click here for video). Cool points go to Rhino for the blinky red-phone-booth design. (There's an on/off switch on the back of the box.)
Reminds us of: "There she goes, there she goes again, racing through my brain..."
Download these: April Skies (The Jesus and Mary Chain), Sight of You (Pale Saints), There She Goes (the La's), Here's Where the Story End (the Sundays)
Grade: A

LIVE NUDE DALY!

Think I suck in the newspaper? Just wait 'til you see me on TV!

I was on Tampa Bay's Fox 13 yesterday, pimping my Christmas CDs roundup. Thankfully, that blue shirt is so slimming. Wow. I'm fat.

Click here for the LINK.

Squirrels on crack are LESS hyper than I am. Enjoy!

BLOG BATTLE! The Boss vs. Bon Jovi!

The Turnpike Takedown!

The Meadowlands Massacre!

The Garden State Grudge Match!

So the other day, my Arby's-scarfing '80s associate Steve Spears bellies up to my desk, points a hairy-knuckle in my maw and says: "Bon Jovi could kick Springsteen's faux-populist, saggy-Levis, prez-bashing butt! Bon Jovi is the true Garden State icon!" If I weren't in horrifically bloated shape, I would have vaulted gymnastically from my swirly seat, grabbed that sweaty blowhard by the lapels of his painfully snug Journey shirt and rebutted with fervor, froth and ferocity.

But alas, Steve and I get winded easily. So we've decided to settle Bruce vs. Bon Jovi in an old-fashioned Blog Battle. (Both acts are hitting Tampa Bay next spring. I'll be at both shows. Spears, on the other hand, will be home watching Meatballs 4 and crying himself to sleep.) Spears hates Springsteen, thinks he's a pinko phony with more money than sense. Me? I don't mind Bon Jovi at all. But I can't just sit here and take this crap about Bruce. After all, playin' blindman's bluff is a little baby's game. So if I must, I'm gonna go out and make that baby run. Or, um, something like that.

FOUR REASONS WHY SPRINGSTEEN IS THE ULTIMATE BLUE-COLLAR BARD
1. I could pull out the big guns, and talk about how I witnessed Bruce Springsteen buoy the spirits of 40,000 post-Katrina New Orleanians. And I could add that I've never seen a crowd of people -- tears streaming down their faces, hands in the air in swaying communal prayer -- respond to a performer with such a hungry, visceral voice. And I could conclude by mentioning the Crescent City woman who saw me and my reporter's notebook and grabbed my shoulders and sobbed, "Do you know what this means to us? Do you know what this means to our city?" But that would be unfair. Especially since I saw Bon Jovi in concert once, and the most memorable moment was the girl barfing in front of me.

2. So I'm walking around the neighborhood, cranking my iPod, which is on SHUFFLE mode. I'm pissed off about everything in my life being broken, when all of a sudden, I get two Bruce songs in a row. Weird, right? How often does that happen on shuffle? The songs are -- get this -- I'm Goin' Down and Pay Me My Money Down. That second number, which turns into a rowdy Basin Street stomp, manages to put a darkly comic spin on my financial woes. And for that, I was thankful. But still kinda pissed.

3. Jon Bon Jovi is a good-looking dude. There, I said it. It's out there. A great deal of Jon's appeal is that he could bed any man or woman in the Tri-State area. Sure, he can write a hook and growl a chorus and pretend to play a guitar. But it all starts with his looks -- which makes sense seeing as how he started in the '80s. Right hair, right time. As for Springsteen, well, he ain't exactly Clooney. In fact, he's starting to morph into Dylan, the rock version of growing hair in your ears. Bruce has had to conquer the world on sheer talent and mystique alone. Give him the awesome power of feathered locks and a cute face, and Springsteen would have knocked GW off the $1 bill.

So there, that oughta do it. Spears is no doubt slobbering about Bon Jovi over on his site. You can read all that claptrap right here. Not that it's gonna matter. Springsteen vs. Bon Jovi. I think we all know how this is gonna end.

Chuck's Still Fighting

You gotta love Chuck D, a true original and a genuine badass. Even when he's wrong, you nod your head and throw up a fist. Chuck took part in a hip-hop summit at the University of South Florida last night: "Perspectives of Hip Hop in Today's Society," a rather wonky title for a decidedly hot-button event. I'm not that crazy about the story I filed on deadline -- it's pretty stiff -- but I've provided it below nonetheless. There's definitely more to be said about hip-hop perpetuating the very stereotypes it claims it hates.

Anyway, at the very least, I can clarify here what Chuck D said about Viacom media mogul Sumner Redstone, puppetmaster of MTV and BET: "I wanna whup that cracker's ass!" Again, god bless Chuck D.

TAMPA — Listening to rapper Chuck D's persuasive state of the union smackdown at the University of South Florida on Tuesday, you could envision the incendiary mouthpiece of Public Enemy debating head to head with our presidential hopefuls.

Forget about YouTube. The sucker would be better suited as a boxing match on ESPN.

Taking part in a passionate panel discussion called "Perspectives of Hip Hop in Today’s Society," sponsored by the school’s University Lecture Series, the musician took aim not just at the consumers who gobble up misogynistic, racially demeaning rap music, but also the executives and powers-that-be who sell the party-centric songs with little care for the negative message.

Chuck's pull-no-punches hit list included octogenarian media mogul Sumner Redstone — chairman of Viacom, owner of MTV and BET — whom D offered to, ahem, teach a few things in a most unpleasant manner. Speak loudly and threaten to beat someone's a-- — that's the Chuck D way.

“Young people have been tricked by older people,” said the famously in-your-face musician, whose body of work in the ’80s stressed pro-unity in the African-American community rather than pro-booty, pro-bling, pro-I gotta get mine, who cares about yours.
The money men driving the hip-hop machine are "not family." They don’t care about anything but the bottom line. And if we keep buying harmful music, why would executives stop selling it?

“You have to be accountable,” D urged in his booming voice. “When you don’t stand up for something, you don’t stand for anything.”

Questions for Dee Snider?

WHERE ARE MY TWISTED SISTER FANS AT?

I'm working on a story about the curious business of Christmas CDs -- 65 years after Bing daydreamed himself a White Christmas, 2007 could be a booming banner year for holiday CD sales.

Last year, Dee Snider and his hair-metal mates made a stir when they released A Twisted Christmas, which I appreciated for its sheer perversity. That sucker rocks Frosty's face off. The metal-Christmas movement is booming.

Anyway, I managed to score an interview with Dee. (It took more wrangling than you'd think.) I have some Christmas questions, but I thought a few fans might like to hit him up with other queries.

Lemme know if you're dying to ask Dee a question...

A Very Angus Christmas

Looking for a reason to throw a Christmas shindig? But can't figure out how to entertain both Grandma with the blue hair and Cousin Greg with the nipple clamps and cellblock 'tude? Have I got a solution for you...

Courtesy of Santa Claws and the Naughty but Nice Orchestra, here's the new and devilishly inspired Hell’s Bells of Christmas: The Holiday Tribute to AC/DC (on the Christmas Rock label).

A Lawrence Welkian ensemble better suited for elevator output puts jingle-jangle spin on such wicked hits as Back in Black, Thunderstruck and that tender yuletide fave, Whole Lotta Rosie. (And yes, they provide a Mistress for Christmas.) Chimes, flutes, xylophones and bells, bells, bells turn the wild 'n' whiskey-eyed Aussie icons into cheeky family fare.

Fun for a few laughs...and a few shots of eggnog. CLICK HERE to sample some clips. (There's also a Green Day version if that's more your bag.)

I'm a close personal friend of Brian Johnson, and I bet the Sarasota resident gets a kick out of this.

Get Your Bruce Tix This Saturday

I'm mainly posting this to mess with all the rabid Springsteen fans in the office who asked me not to make too big of a deal that...

SPRINGSTEEN TICKETS GO ON SALE THIS SATURDAY (12/1) FOR HIS APRIL 21 SHOW AT THE ST. PETE TIMES FORUM!!!!

Prices are $67.75 and $97.75, service charges not included. (That's high, but not Police or Rolling Stones high. And lord knows Bruce could get more, especially if this is his last go-round with the E Street Band.)

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. at the St. Pete Times Forum Box Office and through Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and phone (813) 287-8844 and (727) 898-2100.

I'm setting the over/under for total sellout at 5 minutes.

My advice? If you REEEAALLY want those tickets, go to the St. Pete Times Forum Box Office in person. That's your best bet. I doubt they'll turn anybody away.

WANTED: Songs About Girls

Good Golly, Miss Molly.

Mary Mary. Sweet Jane.

I'm desperately seeking the greatest rock 'n' roll girl names.

Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.

Black Betty. Beth.

These songs have to be name specific -- although all sorts of women are invited to the party: good ones, bad ones, ones that will break your heart and steal your wallet (my personal faves).

Maggie's Farm. Angie. Darling Nikki.

So now, if you will, please unload all the lovely ladies from your iPods. I'm setting our number at 100 names. (Tonianne, you should be good for at least 30.)

All I Want for Christmas

I wrote this gadget guide for today's Business section. You might want to talk to Santa about these...

Apple iPod Touch
I have an iPod. In fact, I have two iPods. But alas, Apple is my opiate, so I crave the new iPod Touch, which touts the same multitouch screen technology as the iPhone. On that 3.5-inch widescreen display (much bigger than normal iPods), I'll finally be able to appreciate the subtle complexities of a Rihanna video. Although the memory space for songs, movies and photos is smaller than regular iPods, the iPod Touch ups the ooh factor with Wi-Fi capabilities. Memory ranges from eight to 16 gigabytes. Prices start at $299.

Hammacher Schlemmer LP-to-MP3 Converter
$189.95 This belt-driven turntable doesn't just spin your vinyl albums -- it plugs into your computer and converts that gloriously warm sound of all your old faves to MP3s. I'm a total vinyl junkie, and the thought of connecting the testosterone-jacked classic rock of my past to the player of the my present (preferably an iPod Touch) is pure heaven. And heaven, my friends, will only cost you $189.95.

Bose QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones
$349 Why do I have the best job? Because when I sit in my cubicle and rock out with my headphones on, I'm actually working. Suckers! When it comes to headphones, Bose is tough to beat. I tried an earlier version of the QuietComfort 'phones on a roaring jet, and the only thing I could hear was the sweet sound of David Lee Roth howling Hot for Teacher. Engines, flight attendants, that guy in the middle seat -- all were blocked out. If you're looking to shut out the world (or at least your coworkers), they're worth every penny.

NEW MUSIC: Nicole Atkins

Nicole Atkins
Album: Neptune City (Columbia)
In stores: Now

Why we care: This 28-year-old NYC act has described her sound as "a girl group in a David Lynch movie." Weird, but true. There’s a heartache darkness to her songs, as well as a Spectorian grandeur and swooping string parts. The song Maybe Tonight is a marvel of shimmering pop kookiness.

(CLICK HERE to LISTEN to Maybe Tonight. You won't be sorry.)

Why we like it: David Lynch never cared about making hits, but Atkins is a showboat at heart. With a voice not unlike Stevie Nicks’ Wiccan come-on, she builds her songs from the handclaps up. And although she likes to play it cool, she can’t resist the occasional disco beat and vocal flurry.
Reminds us of: If Fleetwood Mac and ABBA started dating.
Download these: Maybe Tonight and Together We’re Both Alone
Grade: B+