Click Track: Taking sides


Posted at 03:49 PM ET, 01/12/2012

The Annual Click Track Coachella Draft
By Click Track
Picking favorites from this year’s festival.

By Click Track  |  03:49 PM ET, 01/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Coachella, Pulp, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Radiohead, Bon Iver, Kendrick Lamar, Destroyer, Mazzy Star

Posted at 12:34 PM ET, 10/20/2011

Taking sides: Which albums from 1991 should we really be fussing over?
By Click Track
Shining a light on three unheralded discs that turn 20 this year.

By Click Track  |  12:34 PM ET, 10/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  The KLF, Soundgarden, Material Issue

Posted at 01:36 PM ET, 10/13/2011

Taking sides: Drake, Yelawolf, Rick Ross or Wale — which rap album will rule the 4th quarter?
By Click Track
Click Track’s contributors pick the album they hope to find in their stockings.

By Click Track  |  01:36 PM ET, 10/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Drake, Yelawolf, Rick Ross, Wale

Posted at 11:35 AM ET, 09/29/2011

Taking sides: Who should “The Colbert Report” book next?
By Click Track
To be a successful musical guest on the “Report,” you must be somewhat politically literate, sound awesome on a TV soundstage and be funny.

By Click Track  |  11:35 AM ET, 09/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Radiohead, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Tom Waits

Posted at 12:17 PM ET, 09/22/2011

Taking sides: R.E.M.’s greatest hits (and greatest sleeper hits)
By Click Track
In light of the legendary band’s break-up, we parse their catalogue for the biggest tunes.

By Click Track  |  12:17 PM ET, 09/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  R.E.M.

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 09/15/2011

Taking sides: Mary J. Blige’s greatest hit
By Click Track
With Mary J. Blige set to open the Fillmore Silver Spring tonight, fans are expecting hits and hits and hits. We pick our faves.

By Click Track  |  12:00 PM ET, 09/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Mary J. Blige

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 09/08/2011

Taking sides: Long albums we love
By Click Track
With Lou Reed and Metallica set to release a 90-minute album this fall, we picked some of our favorite very, very long players.

By Click Track  |  12:00 PM ET, 09/08/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Lou Reed, Metallica, Tony Conrad, Liz Phair, Oneida

Posted at 01:48 PM ET, 08/25/2011

Taking sides: What if the VMAs were actually about videos, music and awards?
By Click Track
Click Track picks music videos they believe are worthy of some recognition.

By Click Track  |  01:48 PM ET, 08/25/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  James Blake, New Pornogrphers, World Order

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 08/18/2011

Taking sides: Summer jam of 2011
By Click Track
As the dog days wind down, Click Track debates this year’s best summer anthem.

By Click Track  |  12:00 PM ET, 08/18/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  YC, Eleanor Friedberger, Foster the People

Posted at 11:27 AM ET, 08/11/2011

Taking sides: Who sits on the “Throne” 72 hours later — Kanye West or Jay-Z?
By Click Track
Click Track’s contributors pick the highs and lows from Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Watch the Throne.”

By Click Track  |  11:27 AM ET, 08/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Jay-Z, Kanye West, Beyonce, Frank Ocean, Mr. Hudson

Posted at 12:01 PM ET, 08/04/2011

Taking Sides: The next great predictive rap epic
By Click Track
In 2008 Young Jeezy gave us “The Recession.” Which rapper will predict the future next?

By Click Track  |  12:01 PM ET, 08/04/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Young Jeezy, Kendrick Lamar, Killer Mike, Freddie Gibbs

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 07/28/2011

Taking sides: Watch The Throne or listen to the album?
By Click Track
Which will be better: the Jay-Z/Kanye West tour or album?

By Click Track  |  01:30 PM ET, 07/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Jay-Z, Kanye West

Posted at 12:35 PM ET, 07/21/2011

Taking sides: Picking the Mercury Prize winner
By Click Track
Adele is almost a lock to win the prestigious British award, but the field is filled with strong choices.

By Click Track  |  12:35 PM ET, 07/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Adele, Katy B, James Blake, Anna Calvi

Posted at 01:51 PM ET, 07/07/2011

Taking sides: Animal Collective's best campfire songs and strawberry jams
By Click Track
We pick the highlights of the band’s discography before Saturday’s show at Merriweather Post Pavilion.

By Click Track  |  01:51 PM ET, 07/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Animal Collective

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 06/23/2011

Taking sides: Top 5 albums of 2011 — so far
By David Malitz, Allison Stewart and Chris Richards
Albums by Bon Iver, Adele and [Expletive] Up are among the year’s best at the halfway point.

By David Malitz, Allison Stewart and Chris Richards  |  01:00 PM ET, 06/23/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  [Expletive] Ip, Destroyer, Yuck, Bill Callahan, Dirty Beaches Adele, PJ Harvey, My Morning Jacket, Gil Scott-Heron, Jamie XX, Bon Iver, Katy B, James Blake, Trouble

Posted at 01:37 PM ET, 06/09/2011

Taking sides: Who’s America’s next rock star columnist?
By Click Track
Columnists and rockstars — one and the same?

By Click Track  |  01:37 PM ET, 06/09/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Henry Rollins, Courtney Love, Steve Earle, Bonnie Raitt, Stephen Malkmus, Ghostface Killah, Lil B, Bob Mould

Posted at 12:16 PM ET, 06/02/2011

Taking sides: Who should curate a festival next summer?
By Click Track
Summer dreaming: Click Track’s contributors choose an artist they’d like to see curate a summer festival and the opening acts they’d like to see open.

By Click Track  |  12:16 PM ET, 06/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Elvis Costello, OutKast, Beck

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 05/26/2011

Taking sides: Who’s king of the beach?
By Click Track
Click Track ranks bands with beach-themed names.

By Click Track  |  11:00 AM ET, 05/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Beach House, Beach Fossils, Best Coast, Wavves, Dirty Beaches, Frank Ocean, Surf City, Surfer Blood

Posted at 12:34 PM ET, 05/05/2011

Taking sides: Are Salem really the stupidest band on Earth?
By Click Track
Click Track’s contributors debate the merits of the band’s new Britney Spears remix.

By Click Track  |  12:34 PM ET, 05/05/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Salem, Britney Spears

Posted at 03:28 PM ET, 04/28/2011

Taking sides: Which band besides the Strokes should you make sure to see at Sweetlife Festival?
By Click Track
Everyone will want to catch headliners the Strokes — but what other acts should you make sure to catch at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sunday?

By Click Track  |  03:28 PM ET, 04/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Sweetlife Festival, Girl Talk, Crystal Castles, U.S. Royalty

Posted at 11:35 AM ET, 04/14/2011

Taking sides: Best little spring outdoor concert
By Click Track, In about an hour or so on this fine Thursday afternoon, we’re going to walk a few blocks to check out that chill bro, Toro y Moi, play a, free lunchtime show, outside of the Logan Circle location of Sweetgreen. (The same folks are bringing the Sweetlife Festival to Merriweather Post Pavilion in a few weeks.) And that got us thinking. While we are totally down to ride some chillwaves this afternoon, who would be our ideal act to see play a little lunchtime show on a sunny spring day? and --
Who would be the ideal artist to see at a little outdoor venue on a nice spring day?

By Click Track, In about an hour or so on this fine Thursday afternoon, we’re going to walk a few blocks to check out that chill bro, Toro y Moi, play a, free lunchtime show, outside of the Logan Circle location of Sweetgreen. (The same folks are bringing the Sweetlife Festival to Merriweather Post Pavilion in a few weeks.) And that got us thinking. While we are totally down to ride some chillwaves this afternoon, who would be our ideal act to see play a little lunchtime show on a sunny spring day? and --  |  11:35 AM ET, 04/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Toro y Moi, Kurt Vile, Wally Badarou, Adele

Posted at 01:45 PM ET, 03/31/2011

Taking sides: Who should Kanye collaborate with instead?
By Click Track
Click Track’s contributors debate who Kanye should work with instead of Jay-Z.

By Click Track  |  01:45 PM ET, 03/31/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Kanye West, Jay-Z, Bon Iver, Justin Vernon, Nicki Ninajl, RZA

Posted at 02:43 PM ET, 03/10/2011

Taking sides: Who needs to impress at SXSW?
By
Which acts need to deliver standout performances at the annual music conference?

By  |  02:43 PM ET, 03/10/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  SXSW, James Blake, The Strokes, Lil B

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 03/03/2011

Taking sides: Picking winners at the DMV Awards
By Click Track
Fat Trel's "No Secrets" is a deserving winner for Mixtape of the Year. (Josh Sisk/FTWP) The annual DMV Awards take place on Saturday night at the Crystal City Hyatt, honoring the best in local hip-hop, go-go and more. We looked...

By Click Track  |  12:00 PM ET, 03/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Local news, Taking sides | Tags:  Carolyn Malachi, Fat Trel, Raheem DeVaughn

Posted at 02:10 PM ET, 02/03/2011

Taking sides: What's the craziest concert you've seen?
By Click Track
If you see Monotonix on Friday night, you might have to adjust your craziest concerts list. Anyone who's been to a Monotonix concert has a story about it. Probably a few. When the Israeli garage-blues trio plays, it's a no-barriers,...

By Click Track  |  02:10 PM ET, 02/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Monotonix

Posted at 01:23 PM ET, 01/27/2011

Taking sides: Coachella 2011 draft
By Chris Richards
Your respective first picks in our mock draft: Kanye West and the Strokes. So much for the thought that California mega-festival Coachella was fading in popularity. The three-day April extravaganza sold out just six days after tickets went on sale....

By Chris Richards  |  01:23 PM ET, 01/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Animal Collective, Coachella, Kanye West, Lil B, Robyn, The Strokes, Titus Andronicus

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 01/13/2011

Taking sides: Who will give the best Grammy performance?
By Click Track
Will Arcade Fire steal the show at the Grammys? (Kyle Gustafson/FTWP) Earlier today the first batch of performers for next month's Grammy Awards were announced. Arcade Fire, Eminem, Cee Lo Green, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert and Katy Perry are the...

By Click Track  |  01:00 PM ET, 01/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Arcade Fire, Cee Lo Green, Eminem, Grammys, Lady Gaga

Posted at 01:05 PM ET, 01/06/2011

Taking sides: Happy new fears! Our biggest pop anxieties for 2011
By Click Track
This is Jessie J. And she scares us. The new year is a time of unbridled optimism, good things to look forward to, resolutions to make, bad habits to break and general positive thoughtwaves. But it's also a time of...

By Click Track  |  01:05 PM ET, 01/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Dr. Luke, Jessie J, Lady Gaga, Pomplamoose

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 12/09/2010

Taking sides: Which D.C. band should reunite next?
By Click Track
On Saturday, D.C. punks Government Issue reunite for one show at the Black Cat. Next month, Dismemberment Plan kick off a reunion tour at the same venue. So in this season of making a list and checking it twice...

By Click Track  |  01:00 PM ET, 12/09/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Arkade Funk, Dismemberment Plan, Fugazi, Government Issue, Jawbox, Wicked Witch

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 11/18/2010

Taking sides: Beatles, schmeatles -- who else is missing from iTunes?
By Click Track
Neo-Beatlemania swept the internet this week when the Beatles catalog finally came to iTunes. But who else is missing? (File photo.) Did you hear? An old rock band called the Beatles just started selling their music on iTunes and now...

By Click Track  |  01:30 PM ET, 11/18/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  AC/DC, Beachwood Sparks, Beatles, Bob Seger, Cluster, Kid Rock, Neu, Sheryl Crow

Posted at 02:00 PM ET, 11/11/2010

Taking sides: Which Kurt Cobain-endorsed band was the best?
By Click Track
Imagine the All Tomorrow's Parties festival Kurt Cobain could curate if he was still with us. (AP Photo/Robert Sorbo) Tonight, tropicalia superheroes Os Mutantes take the stage at 9:30 Club, opening for weird-rock rambler Ariel Pink. And while Mutantes first...

By Click Track  |  02:00 PM ET, 11/11/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Daniel Johnston, Half Japanese, Kurt Cobain, Melvins, Nirvana, Os Mutantes, Pixies, Raincoats, Shocking Blue, Vaselines, Wipers

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 11/04/2010

Taking sides: Who has the uglier album cover? Kanye West or Taylor Swift?
By Click Track
Big sellers with ugly covers. (That Yeezy cover is blurred, of course.) When Kanye West's fifth album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" drops later this month, comparison's to Taylor Swift's already-platinum "Speak Now" will abound. But let's get a jump...

By Click Track  |  12:00 PM ET, 11/04/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Kanye West, Taylor Swift

Posted at 02:10 PM ET, 10/28/2010

Taking sides: Who should be performing the Stewart/Colbert rally?
By Click Track
Put Yoko Ono in between these two and you're onto something. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes) What you already know: Funnymen Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are bringing their Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear to the National Mall on Saturday afternoon....

By Click Track  |  02:10 PM ET, 10/28/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples, Spoon, Yoko Ono

Posted at 02:20 PM ET, 10/21/2010

Taking sides: Does a performer's personal behavior matter?
By Click Track
To the delight of many aged indie rockers, veteran Ohio rock heroes Guided By Voices are scheduled to stumble onto the 9:30 Club stage tonight. Some Click Track contributors (not naming names) have struggled with the band because of...

By Click Track  |  02:20 PM ET, 10/21/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Guided By Voices, James Brown, Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Van Morrison

Posted at 12:50 PM ET, 10/14/2010

Taking sides: Belle & Sebastian -- Indie-pop legends or comfort-rock enablers?
By Click Track
Scottish indie icons Belle & Sebastian mosey on into Constitution Hall tonight. You wouldn't think such a pleasant band would inspire such aggressive arguing but that's exactly the case. Some of us think they are rightful heirs to the...

By Click Track  |  12:50 PM ET, 10/14/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Belle & Sebastian

Posted at 01:28 PM ET, 10/07/2010

Taking sides: Does the 21st century music fan have too much control?
By Click Track
First there was "American Idol," where fans could help make an anonymous American a bland and ubiquitous global superstar. Then came Kickstarter, where fans could help make anonymous Americans marginally successful career artists. Now someone is actually raising money...

By Click Track  |  01:28 PM ET, 10/07/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Weezer

Posted at 02:15 PM ET, 09/30/2010

Taking sides: Giving the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame some cred
By Click Track
We're sure they don't wanna hear it, but MInor Threat belongs in the Hall. (By Rebecca Hammel) Earlier this week the latest batch of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees was announced and once again we were underwhelmed. It...

By Click Track  |  02:15 PM ET, 09/30/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Bad Brains, Black Flag, Minor Threat, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Fall, The Replacements

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 09/23/2010

Taking sides: Will M.I.A. win us back at FreeFest?
By Click Track
Will M.I.A. bounce back at FreeFest? On Click Track, 2010 might be remembered as the year that M.I.A. pushed our buttons, broke our hearts, pumped us up and let us down. We've dedicated a whole lotta keystrokes to Ms....

By Click Track  |  01:30 PM ET, 09/23/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  M.I.A.

Posted at 01:03 PM ET, 09/16/2010

Taking sides: If T.I. bails on FreeFest, who should take his place?
By Click Track
If we don't get T.I. at FreeFest, teenage skate rats Odd Future would make a fine consolation prize. (Courtesy of the artist.) Things aren't looking good for fans hoping to see T.I. perform at Virgin Mobile FreeFest on Sept. 25....

By Click Track  |  01:03 PM ET, 09/16/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  A Tribe Called Quest, B.o.B., Odd Future, T.I.

Posted at 04:50 PM ET, 09/09/2010

Taking sides: The VMA's worst winner
By Click Track
We'll keep it simple this week. With the VMAs coming up on Sunday we decided to look back at past winners of the night's most prestigious award - Video of the Year - and pick the worst song to...

By Click Track  |  04:50 PM ET, 09/09/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Aerosmith, Beastie Boys, Jamiroquai, VMAs, Van Halen

Posted at 12:15 PM ET, 09/02/2010

Taking sides: Who's missing from FreeFest?
By Click Track
Why isn't this woman performing at FreeFest? (Kyle Gustafson/FTWP) On Wednesday morning, promoters added three more acts to the already sprawling line-up at this year's Virgin Mobile FreeFest. Could this thing possibly get any bigger? Oh, definitely. In this week's...

By Click Track  |  12:15 PM ET, 09/02/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Beck, Boris, Cee-Lo Green, Darkest Hour, Janelle Monae, Neurosis, Virgin Mobile FreeFest

Posted at 01:02 PM ET, 08/26/2010

Taking sides: The hip-hop classic we're most looking forward to at Rock the Bells
By Click Track
"Doggystyle" > Tiger Style. (Kevin Clark/TWP) This year's edition of Rock the Bells is top-heavy with nostalgia. The annual hip-hop mega-festival features a whopping six full-album performances of genre classics. While this certainly isn't our favorite exercise, it still got...

By Click Track  |  01:02 PM ET, 08/26/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One, Rakim, Rock The Bells, Slick Rick, Snoop Dogg, Wu-Tang Clan

Posted at 01:45 PM ET, 08/19/2010

Taking sides: How to make Justin Bieber cooler
By Click Track
Darling, please go and cut that hair. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) As if Justin Bieber didn't already have it good enough, now he might actually be cool. Kanye West loves him, is going to help him collaborate with Raekwon and that...

By Click Track  |  01:45 PM ET, 08/19/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Justin Bieber

Posted at 01:35 PM ET, 08/12/2010

Taking sides: Who are the arena rockers of tomorrow?
By Click Track
Titus Andronicus played at St. Stephens Church in April. Could they be playing Merriweather in years to come? (Kyle Gustafson/FTWP) Today, Arcade Fire is at the top of the charts. Last night, Green Day headlined to scores of fans at...

By Click Track  |  01:35 PM ET, 08/12/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Arcade Fire, Deerhunter, Gaslight Anthem, Green Day, Titus Andronicus, We Were Promised Jetpacks

Posted at 02:15 PM ET, 08/05/2010

Taking sides: Which popstar's autobiography would you most like to read?
By Click Track
Wouldn't u like 2 read this man's autobiography, 2? (AP Photo/Wireimage, Kevin Mazur) Earlier this week, human trending topic Justin Bieber announced that he'll be publishing an autobiography. Here at Click Track, we love the Biebs as much as the...

By Click Track  |  02:15 PM ET, 08/05/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Justin Bieber, Prince

Posted at 02:40 PM ET, 07/29/2010

Taking sides: Build your own Lilith Fair
By Click Track
Wouldn't it be great to hear Joni Mitchell at Lilith Fair 2010? (AP file photo.) Sarah McLachlan's reincarnated Lilith Fair comes limping into Merriweather Post Pavilion next Tuesday -- its line-up a far cry from what was first announced. Lilith...

By Click Track  |  02:40 PM ET, 07/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Lilith Fair, Sarah McLachlan

Posted at 05:17 PM ET, 07/22/2010

Taking sides: Which FreeFest non-headliner will steal the show?
By Chris Richards
Trombone Shorty is a FreeFest opener who's not to be missed. We were pretty excited by the line-up for this year's Virgin Mobile FreeFest when promoters announced it earlier this week. Sure, M.I.A.'s new album is a clunker, but we're...

By Chris Richards  |  05:17 PM ET, 07/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Die Antwoord, Joan Jett, Trombone Shorty

Posted at 04:00 PM ET, 07/15/2010

Taking sides: Is the M.I.A. backlash a result of truffle fry angst or crummy songs?
By Click Track
Why is everyone down on "/\/\/\Y/\?" (Photo courtesy of N.E.E.T. Recordings) It's been a whiplashing week for M.I.A. Her new album, "Maya," was released on Tuesday to lukewarm reviews. Bummer. But the Brit rapper bounced back that very evening...

By Click Track  |  04:00 PM ET, 07/15/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  M.I.A.

Posted at 04:30 PM ET, 07/08/2010

Taking sides: What's the deal with Liz Phair?
By David Malitz
Last weekend Liz Phair dropped a new album out of nowhere, "Funstyle." She released it on her Web site and based on early listens it's, well, a lot like recent Liz Phair albums. Which isn't a good thing. It...

By David Malitz  |  04:30 PM ET, 07/08/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Liz Phair

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 07/01/2010

Taking sides: Top five albums of 2010 -- so far
By Chris Richards
Sade's "Soldier of Love" proved to be well worth the wait. The year is half over so it seems like a good time to take stock of 2010's musical bounty to date with by picking our top five albums so...

By Chris Richards  |  01:00 PM ET, 07/01/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Beach House, Black Keys, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Choc Quib Town, Drunkdriver, Harlem, Jonsi, LCD Soundsystem, Laura Marling, Sade, Sleigh Bells, The Soft Pack, Titus Andronicus, Yelawolf

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 06/24/2010

Taking sides: Make your own Michael Jackson "Greatest Hits" album
By Chris Richards
It's been 364 days since Michael Jackson passed away and here at Click Track we're breaking out our old MJ LPs to mark the anniversary. But of all his stellar recordings, here's one Jackson collection we don't own: A...

By Chris Richards  |  12:00 PM ET, 06/24/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Michael Jackson

Posted at 12:05 PM ET, 06/17/2010

Taking sides: Which music video best steals from famous art?
By Chris Richards
Katy Perry: California gurl, art lover. Vampire Weekend recently sang about a "Richard Serra skatepark" but we've yet to see a video featuring the band performing in a skatepark designed by sculptor Richard Serra. Hop to it, dudes. Still, plenty...

By Chris Richards  |  12:05 PM ET, 06/17/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Beck, Grace Jones, Kanye West, Katy Perry, REM, Thom Yorke, Vampire Weekend

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 06/10/2010

Taking sides: If they gave a World Cup for best World Cup anthem, who deserves to win it?
By Chris Richards
Let's be real. This is D.C. and everyone here at Click Track knows that the best World Cup anthem that will ever be written belongs to Washington indie-pop heroes Air Miami. (If you haven't heard 1995's "World Cup Fever,"...

By Chris Richards  |  01:00 PM ET, 06/10/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Air Miami, Dario G, Mark E. Smith, Pitbull, R. Kelly, Shakira, Shuttleworth, TKZee

Posted at 02:00 PM ET, 05/27/2010

Taking sides: Who should win the next Gershwin Prize?
By Chris Richards
These are our picks for who should be the next Gershwin Prize recipient. (Clockwise from top left: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AFI; AP Photo/Patrick Semansky; Andrew Propp; Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images) Macca Week continues here on Click Track -- despite much...

By Chris Richards  |  02:00 PM ET, 05/27/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, James Taylor, Paul McCartney, Prince

Posted at 03:50 PM ET, 05/20/2010

Taking sides: Ke$ha or Katy Perry? Which Dr. Luke-produced summer smash will prevail?
By Chris Richards
You don't have a choice. Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald's fingerprints are going to be all over the airwaves this summer, like it or not. The candy-pop producer has penned some of the most tenacious earworms of our time (Kelly...

By Chris Richards  |  03:50 PM ET, 05/20/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Dr. Luke, Katy Perry, Ke$ha

Posted at 01:15 PM ET, 05/13/2010

Taking sides: Can one horrible song ruin a near-perfect album?
By Chris Richards
James Murphy has made another great album - with one glaring exception. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images) LCD Soundsystem's fine new album "This is Happening" isn't due out until Tuesday, but it began circulating around the Internet a few weeks back....

By Chris Richards  |  01:15 PM ET, 05/13/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Bob Dylan, Jay-Z, Kanye West, LCD Soundsystem, R.E.M., The Clash

Posted at 02:15 PM ET, 05/06/2010

Taking sides: Is guerrilla music marketing effective in 2010? Or just annoying?
By Chris Richards
Pink Floyd's Roger Waters apologized when his marketing campaign postered over an Elliott Smith memorial, but should he have launched the campaign in the first place? (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen) Earlier this week, the blogerati hurled criticism at Pink Floyd vet...

By Chris Richards  |  02:15 PM ET, 05/06/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Craig Mack, Elliott Smith, Neon Indian, Nine Inch Nails, Notorious B.I.G., Pink Floyd, Roger Waters

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 04/29/2010

Taking sides: Four days later, is M.I.A.'s new video still too much?
By Chris Richards
M.I.A. goes NSFW. We've had four days to mull it over, but the video for M.I.A.'s new single, "Born Free," is still tough to sit through. In it, riot gear-clad cops swarm the streets of Los Angeles, rounding up red-haired...

By Chris Richards  |  01:00 PM ET, 04/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  M.I.A.

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 04/22/2010

Taking sides: Does Rolling Stone really expect us to be excited about these 40 things?
By Chris Richards
You've got to be kidding us. The latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine boasts quite a cover story: "40 Reasons to Get Excited About Music." Sounds cool, right? We dove in with eager eyeballs only to find 40 reasons...

By Chris Richards  |  01:00 PM ET, 04/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Amy Winehouse, Black Eyed Peas, Bob Dylan, D'Angelo, Dr. Dre, Katy Perry, Neil Young, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, The Beatles, U2

Posted at 02:15 PM ET, 04/15/2010

Taking sides: If "selling-out" is obsolete, why do the Black Eyed Peas still offend us?
By Chris Richards
Will the Black Eyed Peas perform with a man wearing a bird outfit? Yes. (REUTERS/Ross D. Franklin) Prophetic words from the Beastie Boys circa 1992: "Everybody's rapping like it's a commercial, acting like life is a big commercial." Today, that...

By Chris Richards  |  02:15 PM ET, 04/15/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Bob Dylan, Dr. Dre, Neon Indian, Santigold

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 04/08/2010

Taking sides: Is M.I.A. speaking the truth about Lady Gaga or just being bratty?
By David Malitz
M.I.A.: Troublestarter. As you read in today's morning news, M.I.A. had a few words to say about Lady Gaga. "None of her music’s reflective of how weird she wants to be or thinks she is. She models herself on...

By David Malitz  |  01:00 PM ET, 04/08/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Lady Gaga, M.I.A.

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 04/01/2010

Taking sides: Will puberty destroy Justin Bieber?
By Chris Richards
Justin Bieber is about to experience his awkward teenage years in front of an audience of millions. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for KCA) There comes a time in every chart-topping kiddie-pop superstar's life when his voice begins to change. Based on...

By Chris Richards  |  01:00 PM ET, 04/01/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Justin Bieber

Posted at 03:45 PM ET, 03/25/2010

Taking sides: Which reunited rock bands should stay broken up?
By Chris Richards
Sleater-Kinney reunion? Maybe not ... but maybe! (John Clark) With the summer concert season swiftly approaching, bands are reuniting with a quickness. Pavement has embarked on what essentially feels like a global festival tour. Sleater-Kinney recently hinted at a possible...

By Chris Richards  |  03:45 PM ET, 03/25/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Faith No More, Hole, Pavement, PiL, Sleater-Kinney, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, the Strokes

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 03/11/2010

Taking sides: Will Lil Wayne write his masterpiece in prison?
By Chris Richards
T.I., Lil Wayne (both pictured above), Gucci Mane and Lil Boosie are currently crafting rhymes while serving time. (Patrick Hoelck; AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) After delays involving dental surgery and courthouse fires, the fates refused to intervene on Monday when rapper...

By Chris Richards  |  01:00 PM ET, 03/11/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Gucci Mane, Lil Boosie, Lil Wayne, T.I.

Posted at 02:00 PM ET, 03/04/2010

Taking sides: Which iTunes bestseller is really the best?
By Chris Richards
Your iTunes most downloaded include (clockwise, from upper left): Flo Rida, Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas and Coldplay. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images; Reuters/Mario Anzuoni; Bryan Bedder/Getty Images; Reuters/Mario Anzuoni) Last week, iTunes patted itself on the back for selling its ten-billionth...

By Chris Richards  |  02:00 PM ET, 03/04/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay, Flo Rida, Jason Mraz, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, Leona Lewis, Taylor Swift

Posted at 03:00 PM ET, 02/25/2010

Taking sides: LCD or M.I.A.? Whose album will be better?
By Chris Richards
James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem and M.I.A. will release two of 2010's most anticipated album. (Jake Walters; AP Photo/Jim Cooper) For music mega-nerds who are already fussing over Excel spreadsheets labeled "Best Albums 2010" (i.e. us), big news splashed across...

By Chris Richards  |  03:00 PM ET, 02/25/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  LCD Soundsystem, M.I.A.

Posted at 02:30 PM ET, 02/18/2010

Taking sides: Is the return of nu-metal a sign of the apocalypse?
By Chris Richards
Fred Durst is back, whether you like it or not. (Rich Lipski/TWP) Undeniable sign that the end is nigh: The widely loathed rap-rock brohams of Limp Bizkit are gearing up to release a new album called "Gold Cobra" this March....

By Chris Richards  |  02:30 PM ET, 02/18/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Limp Bizkit

Posted at 01:21 PM ET, 02/11/2010

Taking sides: David Malitz argues with himself
By David Malitz
It's your own fault for being in a position to care about what John Mayer says, one way or the other. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini) Because that's what happens when you are snowed in. So here are some of this...

By David Malitz  |  01:21 PM ET, 02/11/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Bonnaroo, Coachella, John Mayer

Posted at 03:00 PM ET, 02/04/2010

Taking sides: Picking Super Bowl halftime talent
By David Malitz
Forget the geriatric rockers - give us Beyonce at halftime. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show -- excuse us, the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLIV Halftime Show -- will feature a performance by U.K. rock legends the Who. Other...

By David Malitz  |  03:00 PM ET, 02/04/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Beyonce, Eminem, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Prince, Radiohead, Rick Ross

Posted at 02:25 PM ET, 01/21/2010

Taking sides... Choose your own Coachella adventure
By David Malitz
Jay-Z and Thom Yorke can play at your version of Coachella - but it will cost you. In an effort to turn everything in life into some kind of draft and/or fantasy sport, Click Track has developed a Coachella salary...

By David Malitz  |  02:25 PM ET, 01/21/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Baroness, Beach House, Calle 13, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Coachella, Corinne Bailey Rae, De La Soul, Dead Weather, Dirty Projectors, Echo and the Bunnymen, Faith No More, Gil Scott-Heron, Girls, Grace Jones, Jay-Z, LCD Soundsystem, Pavement, Phoenix, Sleigh Bells, Sly Stone, Spoon, The Soft Pack, Thom Yorke, Wale

Posted at 01:02 PM ET, 01/14/2010

Taking sides: Has Johnny Cash been over-memorialized?
By Chris Richards
The Man in Black in 1996, the year he was honored by the Kennedy Center (Photo by Jonathan Wilson/FTWP) At parties, at concerts, on dates and even on job interviews, we've heard this dreaded phrase: "I don't like country music......

By Chris Richards  |  01:02 PM ET, 01/14/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Johnny Cash

Posted at 12:39 PM ET, 01/07/2010

Taking sides... Better alterna-reunion: Soundgarden or Hole?
By Chris Richards
Courtney Love or Chris Cornell? Which band's reunion will be better? After challenging 2009s, respectively, Courtney Love and Chris Cornell seem to have bounced back with the same New Year's resolution: Get the band back together! Cornell announced that Soundgarden...

By Chris Richards  |  12:39 PM ET, 01/07/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Courtney Love, Hole, Soundgarden

Posted at 10:05 AM ET, 12/24/2009

Taking sides: What's the most underrated holiday song of all time?
By Chris Richards
Can't go wrong with Cash on Christmas. For this week's Taking sides column we've decided to ditch our regularly scheduled argument for some gentle-and-mild bickering over seasonal songs that never got their due. You know, peace on Earth and good...

By Chris Richards  |  10:05 AM ET, 12/24/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Christmas

Posted at 12:09 PM ET, 12/17/2009

Taking sides: Should Andy Samberg win a Grammy?
By Chris Richards
Should this guy beat Jay-Z for a rap Grammy? Welcome to Taking sides -- our weekly post where Click Track's contributors argue over the week's juiciest morsels of music news. This week's topic: the rap on comedy rap... Funnyman Andy...

By Chris Richards  |  12:09 PM ET, 12/17/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Taking sides | Tags:  Andy Samberg, Grammys, Lonely Island, T-Pain