The Fire Dies

Sorry, I just had to use that title.

Via NickelCreek.com:

Dearest Listener,

After seven years of extensive touring in support of three records (seventeen years as a band), we've decided to take a break of indefinite length at the end of 2007 to preserve the environment we've sought so hard to create and to pursue other interests. It has been a pleasure to write, record, and perform for you through the years and we'd like to heartily thank you for your invaluable contribution to our musical lives.

Yours,

Nickel Creek
(Sean, Sara, and Chris)

Huh.

I find it a little odd to announce a breakup occurring over 12 months from now, although I suppose they have various business commitments until then, and it's a damn good way to increase ticket sales.

I saw NC with Mike at Bowery Ballroom once. They played brilliantly, but I found I much preferred their bluegrass leanings to their poppier songs. I heard a few tracks from their last album, Why Should The Fire Die?, but based on ehat I heard, never bothered to buy it.

There's much, much more detailed info on their breakup at Billboard.

Why I like Iceland

This video by Nylon who are from Iceland. They are climbing the British Pop Charts. It's nice to have some music from there that isn't Bjork or Sigur Ros.

But this is why I like Iceland, first, the girls there aren't so hard on the eyes. Second they shot this while travelling all over Iceland.

Skogafoss is one of the locations! Iceland what a beautiful country!

I owe you a post with content...

...or at least some links.

I know that I've been lax in updating lately. I promise it's for a good reason. However, I have come across a few links lately that I wanted to share, so enjoy.

• Mike linked to this in one of his posts, and I think I may have actually mentioned it before: Worth1000.com has some of the best freaking photoshop work I've ever seen. I know, I'm probably late on the bandwagon here, but I have had a great time checking out a number of their contests, specifically the Fountain of Age ones mentioned on Kottke.

• While listening to On The Media last weekend, I heard an interview with journalist Eric D. Snider, regarding an essay he wrote entitled "I Was A Junket Whore." He pretty much exposes the big-budget movie press junket for what it is: an opportunity for the studio to pamper "journalists" into providing a positive review. I have a few issues with Snider's own ethical code for a few different reasons, but other than taking a cheap-shot about Maggie Gyllenhaal's face, it's really not relevant to this article. Still, you'll enjoy reading Snider's humorous piece, as he bites the hand that feeds fed him. Note: Snider has now been banned from attending any future Paramount screenings, as well as screenings from a few other studios.

• Raz sent me this article last week, about how "retarded people love them some Huey Lewis." That's a direct quote. Sounds offensive, right? Read the article. As Raz mentioned, the article had the potential to make both Huey Lewis and retarded people look bad, but somehow avoids doing either.

• Stereogum reports on a new take on a Shakespeare fave: Much Adoobie Brothers About Nothing. I have no doubt in my mind that as much as this sounds awesome, it probably really sucks. That being said, if it weren't in Santa Monica, I would have gone to see it already. Twice.

• Finally, via...I can't remember who...a whole bunch of Beatles soul covers. Awesome.
  

Yes, it's true, I feel pretty.

Thanks, Mike, for finding that Brandweek article. I have no idea why they decided to use that screenshot, but hey, I'm not complaining.

Please excuse what must seem like sheer egotism here. I'm trying to keep track of the media hype around this commercial right now (which surely will not last past the US Open), so I'm going to try and post some links - mainly for my own reference.

Nike website with commercial - click on upper right, then click at left to see the TV spot. Can anybody figure out how to save the high-quality version? It's an embedded flash file and I can't seem to track it down.

YouTube version of commercial

Brandweek article

The production company, Smuggler, has some behind-the-scenes pics on their website. However, they seem to block direct access to them, and navigation to the pics themselves from the main site isn't easy. Here are the pics directly - me rehearsing with her stand-in (poor girl, on her feet all day and doesn't even get into the commercial), and just generally looking like a putz.

More to come, perhaps...unfortunately for you. :)

He Feels Pretty, Oh So Pretty

Yes, that's our favorite thespian next to Miss Sharapova. Isn't that a great face?

Everyone say congrats, and please post caption suggestions in the comments. I'll go with: "Mah wife, she nice...she die in ze field"

Follow the Bouncing Meme - Favorite Songs

Thanks, Mike. I was hesitant to do this because I feel like it very easily becomes a "ooh, look at how my favorite [insert artist here] song is so OBSCURE!" thing, but it was actually quite fun.

1. Favorite Beatles song: Golden Slumbers Medley (Yes, I consider this all one song)
2. Favorite Rolling Stones song: Bitch
3. Favorite Doors song: Roadhouse Blues
4. Favorite Bob Dylan song: Ballad In Plain D
5. Favorite Led Zeppelin song: Black Dog
6. TV Theme Song: Growing Pains
7. Favorite Prince Song: Sexy MF
8. Favorite Madonna Song: Promise To Try
9. Favorite Michael Jackson Song: Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
10. Favorite Queen Song: Really? I have to pick ONE? Fuck it, this is my blog. From the 70s: Long Away. From post-70s: The Show Must Go On
11. Favorite Motorhead Song: n/a
12. Favorite Ozzy Song: n/a
13. Favorite Public Enemy Song: Fight The Power
14. Favorite Song from a cartoon: All In The Family parody from The Simpsons, "Lisa's Sax"
15. Favorite Bruce Springsteen song: Sixth Tenth Avenue Freezeout (fuck you, Mike, it's not as bad as you)
16. Favorite Depeche Mode song: Enjoy The Silence
17. Favorite Cure song: Love Song
18. Favorite song that most of your friends haven't heard: Rain by Patty Griffin
19. Favorite Smiths song: There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
20. Favorite Beastie Boys song: Shake Your Rump
21. Favorite Clash song: Train in Vain
22. Favorite Police song: I Burn For You
23. Favorite Eurythmics song: Would I Lie To You
24. Favorite Beach Boys song: Our Prayer
25. Favorite Cyndi Lauper song: All Through The Night
26. Favorite song from a movie: Shooting For The Moon by Amy Holland, from Teen Wolf
27. Favorite Duran Duran song: Ordinary World, just because it drives Mike insane
28. Favorite Peter Tosh song: n/a
29. Favorite Johnny Cash song: Hurt
30. Favorite song from an 80's one hit wonder: Electric Blue by Icehouse
31. Favorite song from a video game: Super Mario theme
32. Favorite Kinks song: Picture Book
33. Favorite Genesis song: Firth of Fifth
34. Favorite Thin Lizzy song: n/a
35. Favorite INXS song: Never Tear Us Apart
36. Favorite Weird Al song: You Don't Love Me Anymore
37. Favorite Peter Gabriel song: Big Time
38. Favorite John Lennon song: Jealous Guy
39. Favorite Pink Floyd song: Shine On You Crazy Diamond
40. Favorite cover song: Let's Get It On by Shannon Lawson
41. Favorite White Stripes: The Hardest Button to Button
42. Favorite dance song: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing by Jamiroquai
43. Favorite U2 song: Where The Streets Have No Name
44. Favorite song from an actor turned musician: My God by Steven Seagal
45. Favorite disco song: Get Up and Boogie by The Silver Connection
46. Favorite Power Ballad: When I See You Smile, Bad English
47. Favorite Guns N' Roses song: Sweet Child O'Mine
48. Favorite The Who song: Baba O'Riley
49. Favorite Elton John song: Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
50. Favorite song, period: Quadrophenia by The Who, from (duh) Quadrophenia

I'm a little pissed I wasn't able to fit "What A Fool Believes" on here.

If you'd like to play along, Mike has the blank list.

A Night with Harry, Carrie, and Garp

I wish I got this sooner....

I went to this charity event the the other week. It was fun to see Stephen King read the original story that was told by the Storyteller in Stand By Me and he says, "It's the R Rated version." John Irving read a christmas tale, and JK Rowling, she read from the latest book. After the readings they took 12 questions answered by the authors. People seem to ask Stephen King, "What scares you?" all the time and they wasted this opporutnity to ask him it yet again.

New York, NY – August 9th, 2006 -- For those book lovers and fans world-wide who could not attend the star-studded literary event at Radio City Music Hall last week, “AN EVENING WITH HARRY, CARRIE & GARP” will now be available to watch free of charge in its entirety for two days only. On Thursday, August 10 and Friday, August 11 MSN will stream the event at http://video.msn.com, and beginning on Saturday, August 12 until the end of the month, highlights will be available on demand. MSN will enable viewers to make contributions to The Haven Foundation and Doctors Without Borders.

Patience, Young Padawans

I know it's been a while since I've updated Plagiarist. It's not because I'm ignoring you. I promise. I'm working on some big blog-related things, just haven't been able to put them into action yet, but I'm hoping to complete them very soon.

In the meantime, here's what you can do to pass the time.

Check out DWS' latest installment of Guitarists Who Have Influenced Him

Check out Jefito's recent Idiot's Guides. Even if the mp3s aren't up anymore, you'll learn more than you ever thought you needed to know about Journey, TMBG, and Chicago.

Download a couple of Muppet mp3s from Domino Rally. To quote Steve, "If you can listen to [Halfway Down The Stairs] without even the slightest hint of emotion, you have a heart of stone."

Watch this clip, which caused me to spew water all over my desk.

Watch this clip, which just basically disturbed me more than anything else.

Watch the latest episode of Chad Vader, Day Shift Manager.

Get a semi-sorta-personalized message promoting Snakes on a Muthafuckin' Plane from Samuel L. Jackson. Beware, though - it doesn't always work. Calling Z and Adam went fine, but my calls to Ryan, Mike, Jess and myself didn't go through - and once you call a number once, you apparently can't call it again. Still, a great idea for a promotion.

I'll be back soon. Promise!