During my stay in Austin for South by Southwest, one of my more random encounters was a 10-minute interview with LL Cool J. I had no real reason to talk to him, but the opportunity seemed too interesting to pass up. So we chatted before he hit the stage for his music showcase, sponsored by Doritos. The interview never ran because, quite frankly, I've historically had a great deal of love for Cool James. And what transpired in that interview, and the way he tackled questions, just wasn't the man I was expecting. And, at the end of the day, I simply didn't feel like clowning him.
I didn't delete the interview, however. Even though I felt as if I was doing him a favor, I still wanted some of his answers for my own personal enjoyment. Because they were from another planet.
And then this morning, news broke of a collaboration between LL and country singer Brad Paisley.
Jake Owen brings John Mellencamp-style heartland rock to Cocoa Beach, Florida. This video had a Proustian meta-effect, where the more times I watched it, the more nostalgic I felt for the first time I watched it an hour ago.
Grade: B
Best YouTube Comment: "this song is so sad I felt this way once" — dariandozier
There are multiple Americas and in at least one of them nobody cares about Watch The Throne, techno music, or pop stars whose breasts ejaculate fireworks and/or whipped cream. I'm talking about the "real" America, where the beer tastes like water, the water tastes like chemicals from the old mill, and banjos are a rock instrument. These are the Top Ten songs from Billboard's country chart. Love, pain, and partying.
1. Zac Brown Band feat. Jimmy Buffett, "Knee Deep"
Does it never occur to the makers of songs about tropical escapism that it is completely possible to be bummed out at the beach? Featuring Jimmy Buffett, the king of tropical escapism, this song is hilariously manic-depressive, veering between aggressive optimism and brutal melancholy, just like somebody on rum drinks! Grade: B
