Sneak Peak of Tinted Windows

Stereogum has released video footage of Tinted Windows performing. It's so awesome to see Taylor fronting this band. However, I never thought I'd see him in a skinny tie! Hopefully now Hanson will see more mainstream respect, because love it or not, they are a talented straight-up rock band who just happen to all be brothers and have legions of young women falling at their feet.

Some have already said that Tinted Windows is just like Fountains of Wayne fronted by Hanson. You can waste your time being a critic or have fun, sing along (one listen and it's already stuck in my head) and just enjoy the music for what it's supposed to do: entertain you!

You can also hear the full track of "Kind of a Girl". Click it.

* By Joelle, who can't wait to hear more!

Perhaps the oddest new musical venture...

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos, Hanson's Taylor Hanson and Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger have formed a new band, Tinted Windows.

The group has recorded its debut album at Stratosphere Sound Studios in New York, which Schlesinger and Iha co-own with Ivy's Andy Chase. A spring release is planned, on a label to be announced.

Smashing Pumpkins' "Siamese Dream" turns 15

Thinking back, I was rather young when the Pumpkins released this album (10 yrs old to be exact) but the second single from the album, "Today", caught my attention immediately. I quickly threw away my Ace of Base and proceeded to fall into a now 15 year love affair with the Smashing Pumpkins. My family didn't have cable at the time so my only exposure to new music was the old fashioned way, a run of the mill home stereo. (Explains the Ace of Base) I even went as far as to record my favorite songs onto cassette so I could listen to them whenever I felt like it.

Siamese Dream featured some of the best songwriting we've seen from Billy Corgon to date, even better than what the Pumpkins would later release on the dubious, blown load of a 3rd album (with the exception of a few songs) Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Loaded with some of alternative rock's best riffs, Siamese Dream wasn't without it's complications. Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin was at the height of his heroin addiction, guitarist James Iha and bassist D'arcy Wretzky had recently ended their relationship and Corgan was in the midst of a suicidal depression. All the ingredients for an album full of loud, angsty rock music.

There is a certain feeling this album will always give me. It's a timeless record that helped set the tone of alternative rock in the 90's. Granted, the Pumpkins weren't the only ones at the time mixing grunge with 70's and 80's style guitar rock but Siamese Dream was and is definitely a benchmark album for many bands at that time and still today. Sadly, that doesn't happen to include the latest Smashing Pumpkins album which is something we will all just have to learn to excuse.

Though I don't always remember to recognize them as one of the more influential bands for me, they are definitely one of the bands that shaped most of my early teen years and nothing can replace that nostalgic feeling I get every time I hear a Smashing Pumpkins song come on the radio. However, nowadays it's more likely to come on my iPod instead.

Check out this rather humorous video from Smashing Pumpkins.com regarding the 15th anniversary of the album. Enjoy!

Smashing Pumpkins smash profits

The Smashing Pumpkins are suing Virgin Records.

The band claims that the record label is using their name illegally in advertising and promotions with Amazon.com and Pepsi, and that these marketing attempts are detrimental to the band's credibility.

According to the Associated Press, the lawsuit demands the profits of the promotions and an injunction against any further use of the band's name or music in cross-advertising.

Virgin Records has owned the rights to the band's songs and released them for the past 17 years. The Smashing Pumpkins have an agreement with Virgin to release digital copies of their records, but claim in the suit that there is no permission granted to tie the band's music with any other merchandise.

The band would "never grant such authority to Virgin, or any other entity."

Essentially, the Smashing Pumpkins feel they're being sold out, and they don't like it. This is a refreshing change from the insane cross-promotional deals of so many acts. Remember when the Spice Girls had their own bubble gum? While tasty, it really did nothing to further the arts.


*By Jess, who has an unhealthy obsession with Medieval Times.

Exciting Revelation

I just realized that the new bass player for the Smashing Pumpkins is Ginger Reyes from the Halo Friendlies! Halo Friendlies were the first female artists I ever interviewed (they were opening for Good Charlotte) and they made the cover of Issue 3 of Planet Verge Magazine many years ago! The band has been on hiatus and members have been doing side projects, but it's so nice to see Ginger stepped up to the big time. Even if I don't really care for Smashing Pumpkins either way and that's prob. why I just figured it all out now.




Reminise with me: www.myspace.com/thehalofriendlies

Love,
Joelle

More on the musical act that makes Jay-Z bob his head

Remember a little bit ago when I introduced y'all to PlayRadioPlay?

Since then, I got to talk to him on the phone (while baking biscuits, no less!), and now I just love him even more. And don't be fooled by his Texan roots--he's not an idiot (like one really famous, powerful person from that state, or my older brother--hi Steve!), nor does he have a really strong accent. However, they say everything is bigger in Texas--and if they're talking about potential for greatness in powerpop, by God, they finally got something right with Dan.

Tell us a bit about your newest EP, The Frequency.
Ah, The Frequency--it's six songs; they're demos I recorded by myself at my house over a year. Half of it is very electronic-y--is that a word?--and half's a lil' mellow but dancy. I'm actually working on a full length that should be out in January.

Oh, neat! Wanna dish a little about that?
We might redo one or two songs from The Frequency EP, but things are going well in studio, so now maybe we won't. And I'm recording with producers! So it's gonna be a lil'–-still really electronic, but a lil' bit more full band interaction, too.

Do you prefer working with a full band, or do you like to be on your own to have more control over your sound?
You know, I'm excited for the chance to do a full album on my own, but I'm definitely not in a place yet where I can make a full album by myself. I'm working with Garrett Lee and Dr. Luke--and we're all from such diff backgrounds, with different musical experiences... I'm just taking it all in right now, and I'm really learning a lot. But, I would like to do one on my own in future.

One of your marketing points is "straight edge Texas softcore." Do you listen to any hardcore bands at all?
Hmmm, I dunno'. I listen to metal, but I'm not a connoisseur. I do like harder stuff definitely, but I'm not the best versed person. I will never be an encyclopedia of metal bands.

You're straight edge after a pretty tough battle with substances. Is it hard for you on the road, like if you're playing with other acts that don't share that quality?
Ah, straight edge--I started being straight edge right out of rehab. It was really difficult at first, but now it's really just not an issue.

What could we find if we invaded your iPod right now?
Muse, Arcade Fire—-I actually just saw them live last night at the Amphitheater in LA, and man, it was quite an experience!—Sigur Ros too. And my all time favorite, the Smashing Pumpkins.

You must be excited for their new material.
Ohhh yeah, definitely. The new album will be awesome, I'm sure.

You just played Bamboozle, which is pretty huge. Do you prefer big crowds or smaller, more intimate shows?
Oh boy, the bigger the better! But I definitely like small shows where everyone knows the words. Bamboozle was unreal--it was such great experience, and I really liked it a lot, but I definitely do like more intimate shows too.

You've accomplished all this before you even graduated high school. Are you gonna don the cap and gown with your class?
I finished school two months ago with online courses. The ceremony is next week, but I'm not really excited…

As a rehab veteran, what do you think of Lindsay and Britney? You think they'll make it?
Ha, I'm not sure, but you know what? Any press is good press, so rehab press is good press.

And naturally, I have to ask. What was it like meeting Hova?
Jay-Z works at Def Jam, which is a part of Island, and I played for everyone there, and he was there, and he was bobbing his head discreetly in back room while I played. And we had an awkward handshake and an extremely awkward picture taken.


*By Jess, whose biscuits are better than Red Lobster's (are you paying attention, Joelle?)