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The Allmusic Blog

Hot Damn Jamz: 10 Bands We like RIGHT NOW!Yesterday

One of our New Year’s Resolutions here at the AllMusic Blog is to help you, the loyal readers, stay on top of today’s exciting and dynamic music scene. We pledge to scour the airwaves, trade journals, blogs and the world wide web seeking out only the hottest, freshest young talent and delivering it with no delay and no fancy packaging to distract you from what really matters. The music! Count on getting the Hot Damn Jamz every week - maybe you’ll discover your new favorite band. Read on for the first installment…

Memory Cassette
Hissy, lo-fi disco with robotic female vocals (discogaze?) is all the rage these days, and Memory Cassette do it as well as anyone (Italians included).

Betty and the Werewolves
Three cute as a button girls (plus hirsute drummer) bash out post-punk indie-disco floor-fillers in the style of a cuddly Comet Gain.

Let’s Wrestle
Creating knuckleheaded and hilarious indie rock with little regard for frivolous things like singing in tune or playing more than three chords, Let’s Wrestle hits the jerkpot with “Tanks” and the soon-to-be-classic “I Wish I Was in Hüsker Dü”.

Young Fathers
After hearing “Straight Back On It,” all doubts about whether or not an Edinburgh-ba

News Roundup: 1/8/2009Yesterday

Carrie Underwood won big at Wednesday night’s People’s Choice Awards, earning Favorite Female Singer, Favorite Star Under 35 and Favorite Country Song for “Last Name.” Chris Brown was named Favorite Male Singer, Rascall Flatts won Favorite Group, Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long” was named Favorite Rock Song and Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” earned Favorite Pop Song. [Billboard.com]

Hold the phone on that Robert Plant-less Led Zeppelin reunion! Jimmy Page’s manager, Peter Mensch, declares that the band and plans to tour and record are “over.” [RollingStone.com]

Hard Rock Park, the South Carolina theme park where fans could ride an Eagles-themed roller coaster, has gone into Chapter 7 bankruptcy after being open for just under a year. [Idolator.com]

Damon Albarn will play DJ and premiere some new Gorillaz songs on Wednesday, January 14, when he fills in for BBC Radio 1 presenter Zane Lowe. [

Real Cool Time: The Life and Music of Ron Asheton, 1948-2009January 7

Whenever folks talk about the Stooges, the first name mentioned is Iggy Pop, and not without reason — the man was and is arguably the greatest front man in rock and roll, and a spectacle that refuses to be ignored even today. But the real sonic foundation of the first two Stooges albums, The Stooges and Fun House, belongs to guitarist Ron Asheton, who created a sound that fully equaled Iggy’s vision. His primal guitar runs, howling like a glorious scream from the collective id that suggested two decades of teenage angst and delinquent cool given voice through a Fender Stratocaster and a Marshall amp, added bone and muscle mass to the moody blast of Iggy’s vocals. Asheton created a sound that easily matched rock’s most unshackled singer for sheer explosive impact and mutant soul. Iggy has made records with plenty of worthwhile musicians over the years, but listen to Fun House and it’s clear that Asheton is the only guitarist who was truly Iggy’s equal and not just an accompanist.

The Stooges were a band ahead of its time, and for many musicians that can be a thankless chore. It took rock and roll a few decades to catch up with what Ron Asheton was doing with the Stooges, but if fate was cruel in claiming his life at the age of 60 — he was found dead in his

News Roundup:1/7/2009January 7

Led Zeppelin are still planning to record a new album and tour without Robert Plant. Guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones, and drummer Jason Bonham are keen to find a singer to replace Plant who, despite participating in the band’s 2007 London reunion concert, hasn’t expressed interest in the project. The search continues… [NME.com]

New songs from rappers Eminem and 50 Cent were leaked to radio stations recently. While Eminem has yet to announce a release date for his next full-length effort, 50 Cent’s upcoming album Before I Self Destruct is rumored to drop in Februrary. [Billboard.com]

Swedish pop-sensations Peter Bjorn and John have released another new song from their upcoming album. The track, “Nothing to Worry About,” appeared recently on Kanye West’s blog. In December, the band also premiered the video for “Lay It Down.” [Pitchfork.com]

Norwegia

Retro Ad of the Week 46January 7