Bill "PHAT Albert" Cosby Releases 'Non-Rap' Comedy Album, With Soundtrack

Bill Cosby, most known for being Dr. Huxtable, most respected for his comedy stand-up. Today Cosby gets decidedly mixed reactions as he tries to be a voice to a new generation by brining the serious.

Arguably this new seriousness happened after his son was tragically killed, though 12-year run of The Cosby Show offered a serious, sober take of the reality of many African Americans other than inner-city.

Cosby, 70, has a reputation, now, as trying to preach and convince rather than persuade African Americans that a lot of what they're doing is dysfunctional and/or damaging. Of course, there is much to be said.

And he sees nothing useful in rap, so has made a point of saying his latest album will not feature any rap even though it has other music in the background. in the tradition of beat poetry.

The CD, Cosby Narratives Vol. 1: State of Emergency has Cosby, the voice of Fat Albert and Jell-O Pudding Pops, telling stories along with the hip-hop, pop and jazz stylings of others. It will be released next month.

I do not rap on any of these things. I wouldn't know how to fix my mouth to say some of the words.

(The album is) the opposite of what I think is the profanity for no particular reason, the misogyny for no particular reason. It really looks at the frustration and the anger that a young man may have.

[ --The Associated Press]

Britney Spears: As Troubled As She Wants To Be

I've already said my piece about Britney and how the world would pretty much be better off if she, and a few other members of the SupahFly Tramp Club sort of, well died.

The start of the downfall, arguably, was her TV series, Chaotic. The more people knew about her and what she wanted out of life the more they lost any last vestige of being able to believe she wasn't exactly what they already thought. Then they just wanted to see her naked or more. Then she they just didn't want to see her.

Now people want to see her so they can mock her. What a career arc!

And Spears is more than happy to oblige. Apparently she's planning some "personal journal" videos for the Web. Presumably for BritneySpears.com, which hasn't changed much in a long time, which still shows her gloved hands over breasts from whenever, and which now promises "A New Official Site Coming Soon."

She might also appear in some reality show or Bally Fitness ad campaign to get fit and lose weight. That's be good, too. I don't think I've ever criticized her for her looks, more for her attitude, stupidity and general all around shameless cluelessness.

Either way, the mocking will continue and those with a soft heart - or more likely those who hate XYZ more will root for Britney' success because, well, because they've got nothing else to do apparently.

Amy Winehouse's Record Label, Empty Threats

If Amy Winehouse can't learn to walk and run upright without a lean, her record label, Universal Music, says it will stop her recording career cold.

It's a pretty empty threat because the clamour from other record biz execs and fans will be too loud for them to get away with it. "Unofffical" recordings will filter out
Winehouse, like the (very very few) wife-beaters in pro-sports will find a venue and a market based on talent. Besides, drug use in music isn't exactly a taboo, though it remains extremely destructive.

Sex, drugs and rock n' roll may be more a myth now in corporate music land, but it's still a welcome myth.

So Winehouse - who must have felt from an early age that she needed to live up to her name - will be fine, though taking the booze and other assorted vices down a notch could fell good more than hurt. Winehouse's musical output so far isn't enough to establish her in rock history, however smoky and weighted her voice. Frank and Back In Black, as well as last year's well-received DVD, I Told You I Was Trouble are all wonderful but apparently not as wonderful or satisfying to Winehouse herself as drugs and being out of it. Woe is the pressure. Please. Say no more, create music, keep off the heavy stuff and enjoy life. If you can't enjoy it, create, create, create. Creation is almost always more useful than destruction.


Of course, then there's Prince, equally talented if not more so who was stuck behind a wall of death until he was able to put together enough greatest hits / remix packages and other assorted garbage - Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic is - to get out.

They were able to stop him. For a while. But he didn't stop himself.

REVIEW: Tila Tequila - Electric Bon Bon

After ripping Tila Tequila - the most famous bisexual reality star this side of I don't give a shit - for "I Love U", the weakest I'm going to kick your ass song since TNKOTB's Hang Tough, I have to give a speck of credit here.

Electric Bon Bon. I don't think the song is really about anything but it sounds great. Rap-chant lyrics where very few of the words can be understood, the fucking back beat kills. There's wordless breaks and hand claps that just drive the song to 120 down the highway.

Ms. TT doesn't seem to have a strong sense of what makes sense. So the less words the better.

Hooray. I found a gem in the pile of public-persona manure that is MySpace maven Tila Tequila.

Just how did she get a reality show? Because vapid vastly outruled vamp in perception.

NEW MUSIC: Gabriella Cilmi's Serious Voice

Just 16, Gabriella Cilmi's voice reminds me of Debbie Harry - especially "Echo Beach" and, yes there's a deepness and maturity, in the voice anyway, that brings Amy Winehouse to mind. There are also hints of 70s disco and smooth RnB (eg the title track to her debut album), as well as rocker chick sensibilities.

She apparently got her start by getting on stage during a Rolling Stones' tribute night, belting Jumpin Jack Flash and awing the crowd. That was three years ago, and she's been crafting an album ever since.

That album, "Lessons to be learned" iTunes UK store) came out yesterday.

Heather Mills Got McCartney To Record 'Disability Rap'

As I start to write this I suddenly wonder whether an article I saw yesterday was an April Fool's joke. I did find it on an Australian site where it was already 4/1 - or 1/4 I guess.

Still I'll write and then check back.

Heather Mills, who lost part of one leg in a 1993 motorbike accident, apparently persuaded Paul McCartney, her doting and adoring boyfriend at the time of the recording (hint, no all you is more than love) to add some music to her words.

And really bad words they are too. In the excerpts given I can't even begin to figure out a rhythm scheme much less a rhyme scheme.

It's been hard, other children can be cruel. Teasing and tormenting - freak, weirdo, retard. What do they know?"

AND

So you go to the NHS and they do their best with their limited budget. They make her limbs but she can't wear them - they're painful. And every step you take is even more painful to you. So you thank them because it's the best they can do. No Mr. Minister. It's not. And you know it.

Tempe Music Festival This Weekend

When your headliner is Fergie - and no disrespect to her - your rocking Tempe Music Festival - seems a bit of a dud.

Turns out the festival, in the middle of ASU land has a lot more going for it than Fergie, who live in the great outdoors can't be much.

The Meat Puppets and Gin Blossoms for starters.

See, there is a certain type of person who goes to an outdoor concert. That type would much rather see the Gin Blossoms and the Meat Puppets.

Then, of course, there's My Chemical Romance. Their fan base is large and loyal, but generally younger. They take the stage Friday. But they would be more excited to see My Chemical Romance than Fergie's fans would be.

Across the three days and four stages are:

Friday -
DORSEY
THE SUMMER SET
DEAR AND THE HEADLIGHTS
BILLY TALENT
PUDDLE OF MUDD
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
AGE OF EVIL
DRIVE BY
VAYDEN
PEACHCAKE
NONPOINT


Saturday -
SOUNDRABBIT
CHRIS PARKER PROJECT
MATTHEW MOON
COWBOY MOUTH
EVE 6
MEAT PUPPETS
GIN BLOSSOMS
FERGIE (These last three come right after each other on the same stage.)


FLIGHT TO LONDON
3UG
TRACTOR PULL DIVAS
WHAT LAURA SAYS THINKS AND FEELS
JEDS A MILLIONAIRE
DREW ALEXANDER
LOVEBLISTERS
SECONDS TO BREATHE
THE SEASON PREMIERE
DUBWISE
SOUND THE CITY
WESTCOTT AVENUE
THE RINGLEADER

Uh-oh, Time to Think - Podcasts To Heat Up Your Brain

A. Quinn sent me a link from the Online Education Database, which I believe she had a part in creating.

It's 100 of, in their view, the best College Podcasts out there.

Subjects such as Modern Theoretical Physics, Aircraft Systems Engineering and Principles of Chemical Science, are tackled, no doubt with killer bumper music.

I'll be buzzing through and seeing which ones may be most interesting - to mass and specific audiences both

Something for Rockets Live Webcast now

I'm listening to a live Web cast as the band something Fort Rockets - or i think an offshoot - airs a Live Web cast of, I think, just an informal jam session.

I found out about it because SFR are on my Myspace listings so I'm checking it out and trying to figure it out.

The one guy, Rami, is reading some of the chat moments as he's on the screen. Kinda cool, since I haven;'t done one of these before.

Savvant Music @ SXSW

Savvant Music label owner Anny Randel spent some time at SXSW this past week, looking not only at new bands but how to develop an online community. She blogged about it all here

SXSW, I have to get to this thing next year, i could drive there no problem.