(The Post With No Title)

At Puneet's request, here is some music.

Stars - The Night Starts Here

Stars is a Canadian indie pop band, according to Wikipedia. Anyways, I forgot how I found them about a year ago but I'm glad I did. Here is a sampling. I actually never bothered to look on Youtube for a video until today so I have no commentary on that whatsoever.



Also, what I think is the best song on Coldplay's new album, Viva la Vida.

Coldplay - Lovers in Japan / Reign of Love



I wish they didn't tack on the second song as part of this track because I either have to a) sit through it or b) actually lift a finger to skip through it.

Finally, it's necessary to represent.

San Quinn - San Francisco Anthem (feat. Big Rich & Boo Banger)


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EDITOR'S NOTE: This post originally had no title intentionally. The Editor (me) included a title to avoid any confusion. That probably did not help.

John Tesh is that ish

The NBA on NBC theme song composed by Mr. John Tesh has returned for Olympic basketball games on NBC. Rarely, if ever, has a tv theme song created so much drama for years to come. Every time I hear it I am brought back about 15 years to a Sunday afternoon for a classic Knicks playoff game- good times. Enjoy this ridiculous live version of the theme song and bask in the glow that is John Tesh.



Tell you the rest when I see you, peace.

The Archive

"Paul Mawhinney was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Over the years he has amassed what has become the world's largest record collection. Due to health issues and a struggling record industry Paul is being forced to sell his collection."

The Pun Spot Dabbles in Shoes and Such

Air Questos anybody? Yup - apparently anyyyyyone can make his/her mark on a pair of AF1's.

?uestlove is the 5th designer (on the heels of Rasheed Wallace) for Nike's 1world, which is essentially a forum/canvas for global innovators in music, sports, entertainment, etc. I smell a sorta kinda copycat here...

Also also - some Lupe (old and new) stuff for your back pocket:

and something for my ladies/Ajay:

I'm flying high over Tupelo, Mississippi with America's hottest band and we're all about to die

Saw this video a few weeks ago and waited to share it with all of you.

She & Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here



You may recognize the singer Zooey Deschanel from such movies as Elf, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, a movie with an even longer name, or, of course, Almost Famous. She also did a few episodes on Weeds.

Setting aside the fact that the band's name would make an English teacher crazy, they made a pretty interesting / very strange video.

- Ben Fong-Torres

Throwback

I have been trying to re-appreciate hip hop since I've fallen off for a couple years. To that end, I've been listening to some older tracks and I rediscovered Tonedeff's "Monotony". Not only is his flow and lyrics the illest, it seems particularly pertinent to a lot of artists from then and today. Ch-check it out:

Tonedeff - Monotony
Tell you the rest when I see you, peace.

Cacophony?....or awesomony?

Here's Late of the Pier - a synth pop quartet from the quaint English village of Castle Donington. They've released a few singles and their first album 'Fantasy Black Channel' is slated for release on August 11. Their songs have been remixed quite a bit this year and I'm pretty amped on this one, the best of the bunch in my opinion - The Haunts remix of The Bears are Coming. This version adds some bass and cohesion to the original, and the best addition - a sweet electric guitar number about three minutes in.

Late of the Pier - The Bears Are Coming (The Haunts Remix)

Jocking

1) Los Angeles-based rapper DeLon has reignited interest in M.I.A.'s affiliations to the Tamil Tigers or LTTE. Also of Sri Lankan descent, DeLon lays heavy allegations on M.I.A. in his remix to "Paper Planes."

He claims M.I.A. is pro-terrorist because her music, videos, and album artwork celebrate violence and contain LTTE imagery (namely tigers). M.I.A. responded:

"I don't support terrorism and never have," she wrote in a statement. "As a Sri Lankan that fled war and bombings, my music is the voice of the civilian refugee. Frankly, I am not trying to start dialogue with someone who is really just seeking self-promotion."

She has rich, complicated roots to the region and to the liberation movement and I don't think her affiliations will ever be very clear cut. I do feel she does her best to negotiate her contradictory ties through her music.

2) Kanye introduced "Jocking Jay-Z" at last night's MSG show... a preview of Jay-Z's Blueprint 3.

Bedtime Video

Video for N.E.R.D's "Everyone Nose" Remix, featuring Kanye, Lupe, and Pusha T. Love it!

NKOTB feat. Ne-Yo

Or the other way around? Second single product of their reunion fittingly entitled 'Single.' Smooth production by Polow Da Don, but what an ill-fated idea it is jumping on a track with Ne-Yo. He most certainly makes NKOTB sound like the sonic equivalent of a lukewarm side dish of congealing frijoles looking mighty unappetizing next to a platter of sizzling fajitas.

Rosie Perez - Beef (feat. Jay-Z and Kanye West)

Last night on Jimmy Kimmel, Rosie spoke about her experiences on the set of "Pineapple Express" and had some pretty funny stories to share. She also talked about the status of her beef with Jay-Z [around 2:22 mark] and premiered her new found beef with Kanye in a great interview.



I pretty much loved her before, but after seeing this, my admiration for her has reached another level. She keeps it so real.

I Know They Got Soul

Caught this new Wieden + Kennedy produced NIKE spot during the replay of the USA/Aussie friendly:



Beautiful. Features Marvin Gaye's 1983 NBA All-Star rendition of the anthem which has kind of become the unofficial theme song for the 'Redeem Team.'

Inspired. I know I'll be waking up early Sunday morning for USA/China. YAO!

Gum is the New Black

VIBE recently announced its newest - and frankly, dumbest - audience-engager yet: the "Best Rapper Alive" contest. Structured exactly like the NCAA bball tourney, the mag has fans vote in each round to determine the winner. And somehow, both Cam'ron and Bun B (huh?) get away with a #5 seeds. Strange.

Also - a Pun Spot contributor told me about the origins of Chris Brown's "Forever" jingle - turns out Ne-Yo wants in on the gum game too.