Rock Snob: March 2007

Did anyone else watch Test The Nation on Sunday night? Sadly, the test confirmed that while I am one smart cookie I'm not a technical "genius". Sigh. Toronto kids will be happy to know that the mayor's pretty darn smart too!

am i wrong?

The Guardian has an interesting article on Nico. Like who knew she was a psycho racist?

OK so I’m all about women having a positive body image no matter what size they are... but am I wrong to think this is a bit much? (For the record, I think it’s just as inappropriate when dudes or even those super-hot Pussycat Dolls don’t wear shirts either!)

Happy St Paddy's Day tomorrow... Just remember that everything green that goes down can also come up the same colour so prepare thyselves!

quickie

Arcade Fire’s “Neon Bible” debuted at #2. Well done Team Canada.

Toronto’s still the centre of the Universe.

Kate Moss helped Pete Doherty celebrate surviving his 27th year in high style.

Daniel from Interpol talks to NME about the next album.

For the lucky bastards attending SXSW, Pitchfork has posted a “guide”.

no love for canadian fans (once again)

The first part of Morrissey's U.S. tour has been announced.

clap your hands if you're ready for a nap

First of all, fuck this time change shit... I want my hour of sleep back.

blogTO has a review of The Pipettes show.

Some people from Razorlight (who are not Johnny Borrell) were in a car accident last Friday.

Carl Barat still wants to work with Pete Doherty so hope for a Libertines reunion lives on.

Lily Allen likes a man with "junk in his trunk". (Which explains why she's dating this guy!)

Ben Stiller is in the new Travis video.

Maximo Park and Air have announced North American tour dates.

The Guardian has listed 10 essential albums for spring.

public service announcement

I saw The Pipettes last night. It was freakin fabulous! Adorable girls and SUCH an entertaining show. It really made me wanna stop eating, take singing lessons, choreograph dance routines and replace everyhing in my wardrobe with polka dots. It was THAT fun. I highly recommend you check them out if given the chance.

boo on bono

This was in today's Popbitch. I thought is was interesting enough to share.

>> Re-branding Bono <<
Charity doesn't always begin at home

Vanity Fair have invited "pop-humanitarian" Bono to be guest editor of the July issue, to try and "rebrand Africa". Some magazines have been sharing some other facts about Bono:
* In the year since it was founded, his Red campaign (licensed to Gap, Motorola, Apple etc) has raised $18 million - but companies have spent $100 million to market it.
* Bono doesn't invest his own money in Red.
* Apple sells a Special Edition U2 iPod. Its profits are not donated to Red.
* U2 made $389m from the recent Vertigo tour. Its revenue was then funnelled through companies mostly registered in Ireland and structured to minimize taxes.
* U2 moved its music publishing company to the Netherlands from Ireland in June 2006, six months before Ireland ended a tax exemption on musicians' royalty income.
* Richard Murphy, adviser to lobbying group the Tax Justice Network, says "This is somebody who's exceptionally rich taking the opportunity to shift his tax burden to somebody else, but then asking governments around the world to spend that tax take in the way that he would like."

More on this:
http://tinyurl.com/2ssocz
http://adage.com/article?article_id=115287