And the award goes to… (cheeky)

Please do yourself a favor and go read the conclusion of The 50 Worst Songs of the 00’s, F2K over at the Village Voice’s blog. I’ve read it several times already today, and I laugh harder each time. It’s a vicious deconstruction of Counting Crows featuring Vanessa Carleton covering Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi.” There’s so much gold I couldn’t possibly quote it all here without copying and pasting the whole damn thing but just as a teaser:

When “Big Yellow Taxi” appeared, it wasn’t because Counting Crows didn’t have any ideas. (Though it wouldn’t be too surprising if Adam Duritz’s pea-sized brain was 85% dreadlocks, 10% water, and 5% actress phone numbers.) “Big Yellow Taxi” exists because the same nation that re-elected President Bush and demanded a sequel to Beverly Hills Chihuahua practically pisses their sweatpants at the idea of a modicum of change.

Counting Crows might seem like an easy target, but Maura Johnston and Christopher Weingarten manage to make art out of a travesty against music. [via Weekendsofsound]

Murder By Death has emailed its fans a link to download a free (or name your own price) holiday themed mp3, entitled “Pizza Party (at Gloria Estefan’s House).” The song is only 39 seconds long and sounds like, well, a pizza party quite possibly taking place at Gloria Estefan’s house. So, well done on the name. The band has been busy holed up in the studio recording the follow up to its 4th studio LP, Red of Tooth and Claw. In the meantime, you can also check out the quartet’s instrumental soundtrack to the sci-fi novel “Finch” by Jeff Vandermeer.

In a battle for the #1 spot, a grassroots campaign puts Rage Against the Machine’s classic ahead of the x-factor winner’s debut single. Riotous.

The trailer for The Runaways starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning looks and sounds equally amazing and cheesy: “In 1975, Rock was a man’s world.” Consider me there. And I take back anything I may have ever said about Kristen Stewart playing Joan Jett. She looks awesome. And Sadie over at Jezebel is spot on with her assessment of Dakota Fanning’s Cherie Currie having “a little bit of the ‘Jenny Humphreys.'”

The video for I Blame Coco‘s new single “Caesar” has just debuted on MySpace. The physical version will be officially released on January 25th in a limited edition 10″ format with a special remix by Miike Snow. It’s a jolting change of direction from the reggae-influenced pop of her demos that have been floating around the blogs for the past year. With a driving electronic backbeat, Coco’s husky voice is joined by Scandinavian pop star Robyn, hinting at a slicker, poppier, though still dark direction. Her debut album, which was written and recorded in Sweden (further throwing off the reggae trail), is expected in early 2010. [via LKY]