Blog: Don't Fear the Mainstream

It's time to drop back in with an update on the 2012 Grammy Awards. The Dance categories at the Grammys will look a whole different from now on, because Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Kesha and other dance-pop artists have been banned from the Dance awards. As I noted over at Examiner , the Grammys have changed their policy on dance music so that only DJs and electronic artists like Skrillex, David Guetta and Afrojack are eligible. The change is good for those guys, but not so good for Gaga, Spears and Rihanna, who have all [...]

Just thought I'd pop in with another update on what I've been up to lately. As promised in the last post, I've started a new travel blog called Quirky Travel Guy . It provides photos and stories about interesting travel attractions across the country. Check it out, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook ! I'm no longer freelancing for AOL Radio Blog, but I've moved on to popcrush.com, where I post about the latest pop music news of the day. I'm also still writing for Examiner. I was fortunate enough to [...]

Greetings, yinz. The time has come to announce that Unrescuable Schizo is going on hiatus. I'm suspending the blog for two reasons. First, some of you may know that I moved away from Pittsburgh a while back. While I love the city and its music scene, at this point it no longer makes sense to write about shows and venues I cannot attend. Second, I've turned my attention to writing as a career and there just isn't time to keep this site going. Check out the end of this post to see where you can read [...]

I held off on my Top 10 Albums list just in case the new Michael Jackson album was worthy of inclusion, which turned out to be an unnecessary delay. These are the ten discs that did it for me in 2010. 10 OF THE BLUE COLOUR OF THE SKY, OK Go Tim from OK Go promised when I interviewed him that this record was inspired by a lot of 1999-era Prince, and he wasn't lying. The music would be worthy of attention even without the mind-blowing music videos. [...]

One of our favorite bands, Austin electro-dance-rock duo Ghostland Observatory, is playing two all-ages shows this weekend at Mr. Small's with other local and national electronic acts and we have two tickets to give away. You can win two passes to either Friday or Saturday night's show (whichever you prefer). Just email your full name and which night you want to attend to scoots2000@hotmail.com. The entry deadline is Thursday, December 9 at noon. One winner will be selected at random and notified by email. Ghostland performs with a laser-light show that takes their hypnotic music to [...]

MUST-SEE SHOWS: 12/3-4 Girl Talk @ Stage AE 12/16-17 Wiz Khalifa @ Stage AE The new Stage AE venue is open and Pittsburgh's two biggest names are ready to christen it. Girl Talk just dropped his newest album All Day and celebrates with two big shows. Meanwhile, local rapper Wiz Khalifa prepares to hit the stage just as he's finally starting to break through to the bigtime. His single "Black and Yellow" is lighting up iTunes (based on actual sales, unlike when local rapper Kellee Maize hilariously [...]

If you missed the first two parts: Part 1 (Songs 100-66) Part 2 (Songs 65-31) 30. Peter Schilling "Major Tom" This is one of the few '80s songs on this list that I only started to enjoy in the 2000s. Hearing this song reminds me of fabulous '80s nights dancing at Belvedere's and Lava Lounge. 29. Joy Division "Love Will Tear Us Apart" [...]

Here's part 2 of the list, covering songs 65-31. If you missed it, check out Part 1 here . Part 3 will feature the Top 30 and will be published next. 65. ABBA "Dancing Queen" It's funny how bands like the Bee Gees and ABBA were made fun of for years, but their work is now appreciated. These days, if you don't like "Dancing Queen," you're pretty much a commie. 64. Berlin "Take My Breath Away" [...]

After several weeks of brainstorming and calculating, I'm finally ready to unveil my Favorite 100 songs of All-Time list. This is not the list of a typical music blogger. It's the list of someone who grew up religiously listening to Casey Kasem's weekly Top 40 countdown and who unabashedly loves cheesy '80s love ballads. I'm not joking - Bette Midler's "The Rose" is on the list. If that kind of thing scares you, now would be a good time to click away to another page. I readily admit this is a ridiculous collection of [...]

Girl Talk's All Day is officially available right now via his website for free - no donation or any kins of strings attached. I'm writing this before I've had a chance to check it out so I have no review to post yet, except to say I can't wait to hear it since his last two albums have been two of my favorite records of the 2000s.

The long-awaited new single from Michael Jackson arrived today, and it resulted in pretty much the worst possible outcome: The song sucks, and it's NOT EVEN MICHAEL JACKSON SINGING. Sony is sticking by its claims that the song is all MJ, but several of Michael's family members - his nephews, mother and children - all say the main vocal on the track "Breaking News" isn't Michael's. I don't think it is, either. Hardcore MJ fans believe the voice on the record of that of MJ imposter Jason Malachi. Even worse is the news that family members [...]

MUST-SEE SHOW: 11/4 Gogol Bordello @ Mr. Small's I've seen these crazy gypsy punks four times now, always at large festivals - twice at Lollapalooza, once at Bonnaroo and once at All Points West. I can't imagine how their manic energy would blow the roof off a small venue. ALSO WORTH ATTENDING: 11/2 Frightened Rabbit @ Diesel Frightened Rabbit were one of the highlights of Lollapalooza 2010 with their soul-baring sorrow and surprisingly catchy melodies. 11/7 Bob Dylan @ Petersen [...]

Weird Al offered this nugget of wisdom recently: Re: signing a contract with Satan – never use your own blood, just regular ink. http://twitter.com/alyankovic

CONCERT REVIEW: Fall Q Ball featuring Steven Page, David Archuleta, & Gin Blossoms October 19, 2010 Altar Bar, Pittsburgh The Fall Q Ball, a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation sponsored by local radio station 92.9, was a mish-mash of old and new pop artists that didn't quite fit on the same bill. I skipped out on openers Christina Perri and Ryan Star but arrived in time to see Steven Page , former Barenaked Ladies [...]

The two songs I've been listening to most often lately: Sugarland are back with a new single, "Stuck Like Glue." Besides featuring a strange reggae breakdown, it's the first country song ever to use Auto-Tune. Thanks T-Pain, your reach is now greater than you ever could have imagined! (The Auto-Tune is subtle and only during the final chorus.) My favorite country song of the year so far. Video : Sugarland - Stuck Like Glue My Chemical Romance have a new single "Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na [...]

A few months ago, "Paper Planes" heroine M.I.A. released MAYA , a record I only got around to listening to recently. I was intrigued after reading a review on Coke Machine Glow with the opening sentence: " MAYA , M.I.A.'s third and so obviously worst album, is the sound of a devoted audience getting fucked over by a musical sociopath." So I listened and realized that review was correct. The album is disturbing and almost unlistenable. And for that reason, I love it. It reminds me of Liars' second album They Were [...]

I probably wouldn't take dietary advice from Leann Rimes under normal circumstances, but this one makes my mouth water: For those of you who have access to a Whole Foods go buy freshly ground chocolate peanut butter, omg so good. http://twitter.com/leannrimes

MUST-SEE SHOW: 10/3 !!! @ Lawrenceville Moose We've seen indie dance rockers !!! in venues both large (Lollapalooza) and small (Rex Theatre), and their live show is always a good time. This one is especially exciting because it's part of the first VIA Festival, a weekend visual and music fest. ALSO WORTH ATTENDING: 10/19 New Pornographers & Tokyo Police Club @ Ches-A-Rena The buzz around Tokyo Police Club died down a bit after their last two albums didn't make a big [...]

John Vanderslice operates a studio called Tiny Telephone. He tweeted about it last week: I had a long, agonizing nightmare that a client gave Tiny Telephone a 1 star review on Yelp because we didn't have a 52" flat screen. http://twitter.com/johnvanders lice

Joel Madden and Rivers Cuomo discussed upcoming Weezer concerts and Weezer's new album Hurley: Joel: Hey @ riverscuomo I'm getting my tix for the bluealbum & Pinkerton shows u should add nights 4 the greenalbum, make believe & Hurley! Rivers: @ JoelMadden thanks, man. will be playing lots of goodies from the other albums too. would love to meet u at the shows. [...]