Month: January 2022

Most of us have experienced that moment of abject terror that comes just a moment after hitting “send” on an email in which you’re talking about another person… then fearing that maybe, just maybe, you accidentally copied the person you’re talking about on said email. It’s a legitimate fear in the fast-paced world of technology, and has happened to the best of us—including one of Rachel Maddow’s producers.

On Monday, according to Mediaite, a producer on The Rachel Maddow Show was having an email dialogue with colleagues about a group of North Carolina voters who are attempting to have Madison Cawthorn disqualified from running for re-election, given his participation in the rally that prefaced the attacks on the Capitol on January 6th. The unnamed producer was worried that reaching out to Cawthorn for comment would prompt the congressman to want to appear on the show to directly defend his position—but mistakenly copied Cawthorn’s office on that email, which read:

We are kinda interested in this AP story (below) that just dropped about Rep. Madison Cawthorn. A group of voters in NC is challenging his candidacy based on his ties to the insurrection,” the producer wrote, according to the email obtained by Fox News Digital. “1. Do you or any other NBC Hill folks plan to ask him for comment on this story? 2. If not, is that something you guys could do? We don’t have a relationship with his office and between you and me are a little worried that if we did inquire he might ask to come on and explain. I know that is HIGHLY doubtful, but don’t want to take that risk. Luke Ball (?) I guess is the spox quoted?

Cawthorn, sounding an awful lot like a former president whose name rhymes with Bronald Shrump, issued a statement to Fox News in which he claimed that: “Fake news MSNBC doesn’t want to ‘take the risk’ that I’ll come on their show and trigger the left with my America First message and burst their woke dystopian bubble. The left doesn’t want debate from conservatives, they want silence. And now we have it in writing. Sad!”

The recently separated congressman, whose wife of a whopping eight months may or may not have been a Russian operative, also shared the story on Twitter, and retweeted comments from some of his fans:

(Via Mediaite)

Destroyer has been consistent with releasing new albums since the ’90s, and their latest was 2020’s Have We Met. Now, they’re getting ready to quickly follow that up with Labyrinthitis, their newly announced thirteenth LP that’s set to drop on March 25. They also shared a video for “Tintoretto, It’s For You,” an adventurous tune that packs a lot of musical ideas into three minutes.

Dan Bejar says of the video:

“I had an idea of writing a couple lines on the idea of ‘mystery’ and ‘goin nowhere,’ as they are two of my favorite themes. That and the Grim Reaper and being pursued by some silent, unnamable thing that constantly lurks one foot to the left of you. Especially as the world’s decay becomes increasingly less abstract. Also wanted to write on the romance of terror. The song ‘Tintoretto, It’s for You’ speaks to all these things, oddly enough so does the video.”

Watch the “Tintoretto, It’s For You” video above and find the Labyrinthitis art and tracklist below. In case you missed it, also check out his previously announced 2022 tour dates below.

1. “It’s In Your Heart Now”
2. “Suffer”
3. “June”
4. “All My Press Dresses”
5. “Tintoretto, It’s For You”
6. “Labyrinthitis”
7. “Eat The Wine, Drink The Bread”
8. “It Takes A Thief”
9. “The States”
10. “The Last Song”

04/22 — Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
04/23 — Seattle, WA @ The Neptune Theatre
04/24 — Boise, ID @ The Olympic
04/26 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
04/27 — Denver, CO @ The Bluebird Theater
04/28 — Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
04/29 — St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill Duck Room
04/30 — Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
05/02 — Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
05/04 — Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle
05/05 — Washington, DC @ Black Cat
05/06 — Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
05/07 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
05/08 — Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
05/09 — Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount
05/10 — Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
05/11 — Detroit, MI @ El Club
05/12 — Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
05/13 — St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall
05/14 — Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
05/15 — Oklahoma City, OK @ Beer City Music Hall
05/16 — Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips
05/17 — Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
05/19 — Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
05/20 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
05/21 — Berkeley, CA @ The UC Theatre
05/22 — Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall

Labyrinthitis is out 3/25 via Merge. Pre-order it here.

Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week we got the first taste of a new album from Father John Misty, the debut single from a Radiohead side project, and the latest track from Gang Of Youths. Check out the rest of the best new indie music below.

While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.

Waxahatchee – El Deafo Soundtrack EP

Late last year, Waxahatchee (aka Katie Crutchfield) announced that she had penned a few new songs for the AppleTV+ adaptation of Cece Bell’s acclaimed 2014 graphic novel El Deafo, a process that she called in a statement “an amazing experience all around.” Now, Crutchfield’s original compositions for the series have been released by her label, Merge Records, in the form of a five-track EP. They definitely sound like Waxahatchee songs, but with an extra sense of levity that comes with composing for an animated children’s show.

Mydreamfever – Rough And Beautiful Place EP

One of the sleeper hits of 2021 was To See The Next Part Of The Dream from anonymous Korean musician Parannoul. Now, it would seem that the same personality behind that record has shared another, under a different name. Where Parannoul’s music is a driving, shoegaze-inspired indie affair, Mydreamfever’s new EP Rough And Beautiful Place is a more ambient experience, centered around enveloping piano and soundscapes.

Father John Misty – “Funny Girl”

After a lot of cryptic teasing on social media that culminated in sending unmarked spoken-word vinyl to fans, Father John Misty has officially announced his new album Chloë And The Next 20th Century and shared its lead single. “Funny Girl” is described by Adrian Spinelli for Uproxx as “chock full of the FJM whimsy, with a throwback ballroom vibe.”

The Smile – “You Will Never Work In Television Again”

While Radiohead is taking a breather, Jonny Greenwood certainly hasn’t been. He’s been a near-prolific film composer, and now has returned with a new project called The Smile, which he formed alongside Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke. The new band made their debut during a livestream back in May and they’ve now officially dropped their official debut single. “You Will Never Work In Television Again” is one of the most straightforward rock songs the members of Radiohead have made in about 20 years, with “propulsive drums [that] drive the song forward as Yorke’s musings melt over a wall of washed-out guitar riffs,” according to Carolyn Droke for Uproxx.

Gang of Youths – “In The Wake Of Your Leave”

Gang Of Youths’ anticipated new album Angel In Realtime is due next month, and the latest offering is one of the most expansive and exciting previews yet. “In The Wake Of Your Leave” is another meditative reflection on the passing of Dave Le’aupepe’s father, and features what Adrian Spinelli describes for Uproxx as “propulsive drums, beautiful strings and Le’aupepe’s forceful delivery [that] showcase the sound of a killer band that’s firing on all cylinders.”

Let’s Eat Grandma – “Happy New Year”

Two Ribbons, the new album from Let’s Eat Grandma, isn’t out until April but they haven’t been shy about giving us a taste of what to expect from the LP. “Happy New Year” is an example of the duo’s symbiotic relationship, though it was originally borne out of a lengthy rift between them that comes through fully in the song’s tension. “Luscious vocal textures give way to a jump up chorus, celebrating what it takes to make friendship work,” writes Adrian Spinelli for Uproxx.

Bonobo – “From You” (feat. Joji)

While many of Bonobo’s compositions for the forthcoming album Fragments are instrumental, there is the occasional guest spot on the tracklist. Lucky for us, Joji was able to hop on to the atmospheric track “From You,” laying down some vocal lines that add to the track’s sonic exploration. The final product is what Adrian Spinelli describes for Uproxx as “whirling number that plays into the album’s theme of yearning for a sense of normalcy amid the isolation of a global pandemic.”

Jana Horn – “Time Machine”

Jana Horn originally self-released her album Optimism back in 2018, but now the album is getting a wider release in partnership with No Quarter Records. It’s a good thing, because it gave us another opportunity to discover Horn’s beautiful, esoteric songwriting. “Time Machine” is a minimal affair, built upon a lightly strummed acoustic guitar and a single egg shaker, with some additional harmonic flourishes.

Sasami – “Say It”

Last October, Sasami announced her forthcoming genre-defying record, Squeeze, promising a range of sounds from metal to folk pop. The album’s latest offering, “Say It” has an industrial vibe to it, sounding more like Nine Inch Nails than Julien Baker. “The track opens with a basement club bang, before pulling back to let Sasami’s vocals be front and center as the flashing drum beat remains,” writes Adrian Spinelli for Uproxx.

Why Not – “Casket”

Minneapolis-based outfit Why Not, described to me by a friend as a “punk rock postal service (good sounds with the bleep bloops)” shared “Casket” earlier this week, which definitely lives up to that description. As I’ve written in the past about artists like Kississippi, it’s always exciting to hear a band like this, with roots firmly in DIY/punk, but with a vision that goes much further than the confines of the local basement scene. Keep an eye on Why Not.

Young Guv – “It’s Only Dancin”

Every new track from Young Guv’s forthcoming LP, GUV III, is equally fun and full of energy. “It’s Only Dancin” sounds like a lo-fi version of Cheap Trick and The Cars, meaning that the melodies are infectious, the choruses are massive, and there’s a great guitar solo. If you aren’t on the Young Guv train yet, you’re going to be left behind!

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut was released during season three of South Park. The Simpsons Movie came out between seasons 18 and 19 of The Simpsons. Beavis and Butt-Head Do America waited until after season six of Beavis and Butt-Head. There’s no wrong time for a feature-length film adaptation of a TV show, which is why the time is right for The Bob’s Burgers Movie.

The Bob’s Burgers Movie was supposed to hit theaters in summer 2020, between seasons 10 and 11, but it was taken off the schedule due to an “error.” It was pushed back to April 2021 before being delayed indefinitely due to the pandemic (creator Loren Bouchard understandably did not want a streaming-only release). But after 12 seasons and over 200 episodes, The Bob’s Burgers Movie is finally happening. There’s even a plot description and trailer, complete with very sexy footage of a burger being made.

Tina saying “butt”? That’s me saying “Bob’s Burgers movie.”

Here’s the official synopsis:

The Bob’s Burgers Movie is an animated, big-screen, musical comedy-mystery-adventure based on the long-running Emmy-winning series. The story begins when a ruptured water main creates an enormous sinkhole right in front of Bob’s Burgers, blocking the entrance indefinitely and ruining the Belchers’ plans for a successful summer. While Bob and Linda struggle to keep the business afloat, the kids try to solve a mystery that could save their family’s restaurant. As the dangers mount, these underdogs help each other find hope and fight to get back behind the counter, where they belong.

The Bob’s Burgers Movie, featuring the voices of H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Larry Murphy, John Roberts, and Kristen Schaal, comes out on May 27.

Following Merrick Garland‘s press conference on the status of the investigation into the January 6 insurrection, Boston-based attorney James Doyle was struck by what he saw as an overarching theme that Garland and the Biden administration view Donald Trump as “beneath the law.” In essence, Doyle argues that Biden and Garland’s view isn’t that Trump should be protected from prosecution because of his status as a former president, but instead, that’s it’s not worth the time and energy. Doyle disagrees.

In the opening of a new op-ed, Doyle lays out a compelling case that Trump’s actions during the January 6 riot show he’s guilty of seditious conspiracy. Specifically, reports that he rebuffed pleas to stop the violence while sitting in the Oval Office watching the chaos ensue and even rewound the footage to watch over and over again.

“From Trump’s inaction we can infer—the inference is inescapable—that he meant to see the certification of the electoral vote delayed and, if possible, prevented,” Doyle writes. “After that, something might break his way. He might hold onto power.” Via The Crime Report:

Delay would at least keep his hopes alive. The federal crime of Seditious Conspiracy is set out in 18 United States Code §2384. In relevant part it states that:

If two or more persons . . . conspire . . . by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States… they shall each be fined or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

It is not a complicated law. It is not a complicated case. Donald Trump is guilty of Seditious Conspiracy.

After laying out the case that Trump is guilty, Doyle spends the rest of the op-ed challenging Garland and the Department of Justice to not let Trump skate. The Boston attorney feels the case against Trump should be presented to a grand jury to decide. “For once, his conduct should be weighed by citizens, not politicians, and in a forum where tested proof, not wild allegation and fantasy, is required.”

(Via The Crime Report)

With just three more days to go until the release of his second album, From A Bird’s Eye View, Cordae stopped by The Tonight Show to give a stripped-down performance of two of the album’s tracks, the Hit-Boy-produced “Sinister” and the mellow but heartfelt “Chronicles.” Backed by just drums, guitar, and a lone horn, Cordae prowled the stage solo, spitting the venomous lyrics from “Sinister” before adopting a more inviting posture and singing his heart out on “Chronicles.” He also gave a lighthearted interview and met his hero, wrestler/actor John Cena.

From A Bird’s Eye View is the follow-up to Cordae’s 2019 debut album, The Lost Boy. While he also released the Just Until EP early last year, FABEV will be his first full-length album since then. The first glimpse of the new album actually came last year when Cordae freestyled over Drake’s “Way 2 Sexy” to tell fans they weren’t ready for his stylistic evolution. Then, just two days later, he released the album’s first single, “Super,” following up two months later with the official release of “Sinister” featuring Lil Wayne.

Then, after announcing the From A Bird’s Eye View Tour scheduled to kick off in December, he shared the “FABEV Freestyle” over Kendrick Lamar’s “The Heart Part 4” as a hype single and revealed the star-studded tracklist earlier this week. The album will reunite him with many of his past collaborators, including Eminem (with whom he worked on the “Killer” remix), Freddie Gibbs and Nas (who both appear on “Champagne Glasses” after the two younger artists helped Nas complete “Life Is Like A Dice Game” last year), and Stevie Wonder (Cordae rapped on “Can’t Put It In The Hands Of Fate” with a who’s-who of guests like Busta Rhymes, Chika, and Rapsody).

Watch Cordae’s Tonight Show performance above. From A Bird’s Eye View is out 1/7 via Atlantic. Get it here.

Adult film legend Jenna Jameson is no stranger to vaccine skepticism, and in fact, she’s spread plenty of conspiracies on Twitter. However, Jameson does want everyone to know that her current physical state (which is not good) has nothing to do with vaccination, and she knows this because she did “did NOT get the jab or any jab.”

Jenna was hospitalized a few days ago, as her partner, Lior Bitton, revealed in a video posted to Jenna’s Instagram page. Bitton detailed how Jenna underwent CT, MRI and Spinal Tap tests before being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, which has apparently (and very suddenly) taken away her ability to walk:

“[S]he came back home and she couldn’t carry herself. Her muscles in her legs were very weak. So she wasn’t able to walk to the bathroom. She was falling on the way back or to the bathroom, I would have to pick her up and carry her to bed. And then within two days, it got really not so good, her legs started to not hold her, she wasn’t able to walk.”

As noted above, Jameson followed up to let her fans know that the vaccine is not tied to her current condition, and she stressed, “This is NOT a reaction to the jab. Thank you for your concern.”

Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune condition, which leads one’s immune system to attack the nerves, and its cause is unknown, although the Mayo Clinic notes that “two-thirds of patients report symptoms of an infection in the six weeks preceding. These include respiratory or a gastrointestinal infection or Zika virus.” Following treatment, anywhere from 60-80% of afflicted patients can regain walking ability within six months, although weakness and numbness could persist.

You can watch Lior Bitton’s full video below:

The Weeknd is moving quickly here in the Dawn FM era. He started 2022 by announcing the album and released it a week later, and he’s already delivered two videos from it: “Sacrifice” and a new one from today for “Gasoline.”

The clip starts with an aged The Weeknd driving in a frantic, low-visibility situation before crashing into a sign. He then finds himself in a surreal club that features hands reaching up from the ground, a tangle of bodies, and young The Weeknd beating up old The Weeknd. There’s more to it than that and the whole thing is a real trip, and a cinematic one at that.

Daniel Lopatin (aka Oneohtrix Point Never) co-wrote and/or produced most of the songs on Dawn FM, but “Gasoline” is one of a couple tunes from the album (along with the short title track that directly precedes it) that’s a direct collaboration between him and The Weeknd with no other credited writers.

Meanwhile, while the Dawn FM era is just beginning, The Weeknd recently teased the bigger picture when he tweeted the other day, “i wonder… did you know you’re experiencing a new trilogy,” which prompted plenty of fan theories about where Dawn FM fits into things.

Watch the “Gasoline” video above.

Dawn FM is out now via Republic. Get it here.

Don Jr. typically dominates the headlines, but Eric Trump is getting absolutely roasted on social media after attempting to claim that New York Attorney General Letitia James is violating the U.S. Constitution with her investigation into the Trump family business. Eric made the claim on Hannity on Monday evening, which is an interesting venue given the recent tension between the Fox News host and the eldest Trump after the January 6 committee released text messages from Hannity saying Trump should pull back on his election fraud claims.

Via Newsweek:

“She ran on the campaign promise of suing my father because she didn’t believe in his political party, because she didn’t like us, because the people of Washington, D.C. told her to do that. It violates the Constitution, it’s unethical, it’s wrong.”

Eric Trump went on to say the inquiry into his family is “third rate stuff” which he said you would expect to see in countries such as Russia and Venezuela, and said that New York prosecutors should be focusing on tackling violent crimes in the city.

Eric’s wild claims started immediately getting dunked on starting with author Michael Marshall Smith who tweeted, “I have pan-fried smarter things than Eric Trump and used them as a garnish on a side salad.”

And the hits kept pouring in:

(Via Acyn on Twitter)

The last time the world got a new Post Malone album was 2019 with Hollywood’s Bleeding. That’s an eternity ago with how fast the music world moves, so fans are eagerly awaiting a new project from Posty. The good news is that it looks like his next project is done, but that bad news, as Malone’s manager Dre London alleges, is that the album is being delayed by Malone’s label.

On Instagram yesterday, London wrote, “Our sync & energy always on a Insane level!! Album has been done!! We Ready!! But seems @republicrecords @universalmusicgroup isn’t [shrugging emoji] Posty fans no more need to press me anymore we did our part!! Now it’s time for the label to get the business right before we drop BIG Album! Hit them up! We been ready like u are! #DreVision #2022 It’s Time!!!

While we’re still waiting on new album news, Malone hasn’t been absent. Last year, he released his The Weeknd collaboration “One Right Now,” “Motley Crew,” and a Pokémon-themed cover of Hootie And The Blowfish’s “Only Wanna Be With You.” He’s also got some plans lined up for this summer as he has popped up on some 2022 festival lineups, like Lollapalooza Stockholm and Hangout Festival.