Rock Hall honors baseball's best music...also, Baha Men
You can argue all day about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's credibility (or lack thereof). The Sex Pistols called the hall a piss stain in 2004, and its latest class of inductees certainly includes some not-so-rockin' rockers. But we think future naysayers will point to the moment those Cleveland rock appreciators decided to allow "Who Let The Dogs Out?" through their hallowed doors. As a part of its upcoming "Take Me Out: Baseball Rocks!" exhibit, the Hall will include the Baha Men hit alongside music celebrating America's favorite pastime. Why? Well, according to the press release, because the... read more
U.S. anthem scores several covers on MLB Opening Day
Francis Scott Key probably never knew he'd become the most covered American artist in history when he set a patriotic hymn based on his prisoner-of-war experiences to a pub song. As it turns out, thousands of Americans will hear different versions of the “Star Spangled Banner” before the umpire shouts “Play ball!” in opening games across the country today. So to satisfy the sports fans in all of us, here is a mostly comprehensive list of the artists performing the national anthem this week: Atlanta Braves (vs. Pittsburgh — 7:10 p.m.) Performing the anthem: Former American Idol contestant Diana DeGarmo... read more
Paste Staff's Personal Walk-up Songs
When Atlanta Braves Third Baseman Chipper Jones needs to come through with that big game-winning hit, he steps to the plate to the tune of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train." read more
Oldest recording of human voice discovered
[Above: The 1859 model of Scott's phonautograph. Source: Franz Josef Pisko, Die neuere Apparate der Akustik (Vienna, 1865).] The words aren't clearly discernible. Even if they were, they're in French, so us uni-lingual, on-French types are out of luck. But the simple folk song excerpt, "Au clair de la lune, Pierrot répondit," sung by a woman in her quiet, warbly voice, packs worlds of meaning. It's the oldest voice anyone living now has ever heard. This particular recording predates what was previously considered the oldest by 17 years, MSNBC reports. Discovered recently by audio historians David Giovannoni and Patrick Feaster,... read more
The Black Keys go through "Strange Times"
No foolin': this April began with great news as The Black Keys released their second album on Nonesuch Records, Attack & Release (produced by none other than one half of this month’s cover story, Danger Mouse). But before you get all, "Yeah, yeah, Paste, I know. I read your review too, so don't even try to point me toward it," have you seen the first video from the album? Have you?!? It's for "Strange Times," and frankly, we think it's pretty neat. The clip features the duo going special-ops on what should have been a kid friendly game of laser... read more
Film adaptation of The Informers nixes vampires
Fans of Bret Easton Ellis’ novel The Informers may be surprised to see a few of their favorite characters missing when the film adaptation hits the big screen later this year. The Informers tells the interlocking stories of several wealthy, morally bankrupt families living in Los Angeles during the early 1980s. Gregor Jordan is directing the film, starring Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Winona Ryder, Billy Bob Thornton, Amber Heard and the late Brad Renfro, in his last theatrical role. The most unconventional storyline in Ellis’ original novel involved the character Jamie, a sadistic vampire who liked to lure club-hopping teenagers... read more
10 Best Baseball Songs
Hot dogs! Hot riffs! Get your crackerjack baseball tunes right here... read more
The Least Intimidating Walk-up Songs Ever
When you step up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with the game on the line, these fierce ditties... read more
Charley Pride was a Negro Leagues Pitcher
The Negro Leagues operated from 1920 to 1960, an indecorous period for American race relations but a splendid time for jazz... read more
My First Major League Game
“I remember the rush when we walked up the ramp, through the portal and I became one of the 60,000 people... read more
John Legend to headline Indy Jazz Fest
The American Pianists Association announced neo-soul star and pianist John Legend has replaced Aretha Franklin as headliner for the Kroger Indy Jazz Fest in Indianapolis planned for Father’s Day weekend, June 13-15. Legend has come a long way since 2004 when he was known mainly as coveted studio session man turned Kanye West protégé. He spent years playing and writing for artists such as Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z and, most importantly, West, who snatched him up and signed him to his new label. The association with West surely helped spread the appeal of Legend’s debut studio album Get Lifted.... read more
Andrew Bird, Suzanne Vega blog for New York Times
Perhaps the finest part of listening to Andrew Bird is pondering exactly how he got those words to fit together in that way and on top of such whistling. But buckle up, dear reader, because the confounding melodies and mysteries of Andrew Bird have finally been explained! Or at least an attempt has been made, and by Bird himself. Turns out, he really is on a whole different level than everyone else. We have The New York Times’ new blog, Measure for Measure, to thank for this insight. The blog, Bird’s entry marking its beginning, will give four master songwriters... read more
Rickey Henderson Haikus
A quartet of Henderson haikus from the Centro-matic frontman... read more
Did You Know? (Baseball Trivia)
Longtime homerun king Babe Ruth was an avid pianist, and in 1937 starred in musical short film Home Run on the Keys... read more
Rounding the Bases (Lovin' & Baseball)
It’s a time-honored baseball metaphor: how intimate you got on a date, explained using the bases scale... read more
Ladytron tours, gives away free MP3
One of the perks of working for an entertainment publication is the privilege to hear forthcoming albums. This enables us to tell you, our loyal and most esteemed audience, when to (and when not to) download one of the plethora of tracks that are floating around the interweb. That's how we're able to tell you to download the below MP3 if you're a fan of electronic, hip-hop, electroclash, alternative or pop music. Or drums. Or dancing. Or shady S & M clubs. Or seedy strip joints. Or if you're actually a stripper. Or if you are dating a stripper. Or... read more
Perfect Pitch: Music & Baseball's Love Affair
Springtime is upon us once again, and another baseball season is underway. But this year is noteworthy: “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”—the third most frequently sung tune in America, bested only by “Happy Birthday” and “The Star-Spangled Banner”—is turning 100... read more
Catching Up With… The B-52s
The B-52s played their first show at a Valentine's Day party in Athens, Ga. in 1977. The love just kept on pouring in. They released the first of their seven full-length records two years later, continuing on to build a legacy out of... read more
M.I.A., Holy Fuck tour together, separately
Ever since November of last year, everyone's favorite bamboo banga M.I.A. has been, well, M.I.A. There was a brouhaha over MTV censoring her “Paper Planes” video, and she's also selling Converse with a zombie Ian Curtis, but as far as live performances go, we’ve been going through some serious M.I.A. withdrawal. Well, the wait is over. Via a news post from her seizure-inducing website, M.I.A. is heading back on the road. Joining her for part of the tour will be Holy Fuck. The two groups will meet up in late April for a few North American shows, and then part... read more
Old 97's tour, Blame it on Gravity
Longtime twangy-meets-jangly Texas rockers, Old 97's, have announced plans to release their first new album in four years, Blame it On Gravity, on May 13 via New West Records. In the meantime, through April 9 fans can go to Old97s.NewWestRecords.com and sign up to receive an exclusive digital download of a performance of the new song "My Two Feet." The footage was filmed live at the end of the band's recording session party in Dallas earlier this year. In late May, frontman Rhett Miller and the rest of the poppy-meets-alt-country Old 97's crew will kick off a nationwide tour at... read more
The 20 Best Gadgets of the Decade…
The 17 Best Romantic Comedies This Decade
The 50 Best Albums of the Decade…
The 25 Best Movie Performances of the…
Blind Pilot - The Story I Heard
Kim Taylor - Days Like this
B.O.B. - Put Me On
Gregory Alan Isakov - The Moon Song
Punch Brothers - Punch Brothers at CMJ
Anya Marina - Whatever You Like
David Bazan - Hard To Be
