“Big Butter Jesus” melts…

The “King of Kings” statue (also commonly know as both “Touchdown Jesus” and/or “Big Butter Jesus”), located near the southern Ohio town of Monroe, has burned to the ground after being struck by lightning. The 62 foot tall homage to Jesus Christ, erected in 2004, was built of highly flammable plastic foam and fiberglass over a steel frame. The statue, which was honored in song by the great comedian Heywood Banks, is already planning to be rebuilt in a bigger and better (and more fire-resistant?) fashion. But first, we honor the original with this video memorial…

I heard Tom Petty has a new album coming out…

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – “Mojo” came out today… as if anybody needed to be reminded.

In other news, some other comparably great albums came out, including the new joint from C-Murder.

Nah, just kidding…

Check out this stuff instead:

Devo – “Something For Everybody” is a new album, I think… their website is very… strange…

Drake – “Thank Me Later” may or may not be horrible, depending on which of the eight million people who heard the leak you trust…

The Gaslight Anthem – “American Slang”

The Dimes – “The King Can Drink The Harbour Dry”

And… that’s it?

Wow.

OK, I guess that’s it.

Beck (ft. St. Vincent, Liars & Os Mutantes) – “Mystify”

Record Club: INXS “Mystify” from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

From Beck’s official website:

Record Club is an informal meeting of various musicians to record an album in a day. The album chosen to be reinterpreted is used as a framework. Nothing is rehearsed or arranged ahead of time. A track is put up here once a week. The songs are rough renditions, often first takes that document what happened over the course of a day as opposed to a polished rendering. There is no intention to ‘add to’ the original work or attempt to recreate the power of the original recording. Only to play music and document what happens.

I’m not scared to admit it: when INXS’ 1987 album, Kick, came out… I loved it. I mean, I knew all the words to all the songs, and played it until the tape broke (cassettes were a form of music medium the predated both CDs and MP3s, kids). So it is no surprise that when I heard that Beck’s “Record Club” was going to cover the album, I was front row center.

The video above is just one of the many from the Kick session available at his website. You can also check out other “Record Club” recordings at his website. This project is amazing in its simplicity: pared-down production, top-notch musicians, and, of course, the always amazing Beck. In the past year alone he has tackled Leonard Cohen’s Songs of Leonard Cohen and The Velvet Underground’s The Velvet Underground & Nico. Amazing stuff.

Eminem’s New Album Leaked! What a surprise…

As per usual, another major release gets “leaked” a couple of weeks prior to its release. Most recently it was the much hyped “Thank Me Later” album by Drake, and now it’s the new Eminem album, “Recovery.”

Eminem “Recovery” tracklist:

1. Cold Wind Blows
2. Talkin’ 2 Myself (Ft. Kobe)
3. On Fire
4. Won’t Back Down (Ft. P!nk)
5. W.T.P.
6. Going Through Changes
7. Not Afraid
8. Seduction
9. No Love (Ft. Lil Wayne)
10. Space Bound
11. Cinderella Man
12. 25 To Life
13. So Bad
14. Almost Famous
15. Love The Way You Lie (Ft. Rihanna)
16. You’re Never Over

To download the album, click here to go to the appropriately titled Probablysucks.com. I would say, “Hurry up, as I don’t know how long this link will be good for!” and/or “Download at you own risk!”… but you already knew that didn’t you? You’re a smart cookie.

Other New Music Of Note…

OK, so I’m obviously psyched about the new Blitzen Trapper album and the new Hot Hot Heat album that both came out today, but let me run down a few other notable releases…

…and no, I don’t give a crap about the Twilight Soundtrack. And yes, I know that there are a bunch of crazy-talented musicians on it. But it’s Twilight, and I’d rather ignore the whole vampire fad in its entirety. I’m an adult. Don’t even get me started about Glee…

So, where was I? Oh yeah.

Here are a few more releases to pick up if you’d like. There is a ton of stuff out today, but I think these few choice selections are where you start:

Teenage Fanclub – Shadows
Chali 2na – Fish Market Part 2
RATATAT – LP4
Morcheeba – Blood Like Lemonade
Lil Jon – Crunk Rock
Indigenous – The Acoustic Sessions

Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, blah blah blah… don’t care.

Rhymefest better come hard, too, as his last full length was, ummm… not good.

There you go.