Getting Sassy with...Doctor Rosen Rosen

We here around THE CULTURE OF ME were once obsessed with all things relating to Sassy and Dirt magazines. And while those titles are long gone, the sentiment of how they covered the culture industries has indeed left its mark on writers and culture vultures everywhere. It is because of that influence that we are proud to present our features post, "Getting Sassy with...", wherein we bring you that much closer to your favorite bands by way of a simple Q&A session that's both painless and informative. Ha! Beat that, FOX News!

This time: Doctor Rosen Rosen.

A short while ago, we started catching wind of this Doctor Rosen Rosen character (mainly from the man himself) talking up the fact that he'd undertaken a project that we'd never thought possible--and to be honest, all too necessary. He was remixing, no, re-interpreting the entire sophomore studio record from Lily Allen, It's Not Me, It's You. The record, albeit great and a more mature take on the once-chav girl, was not going to end up on our top 10 list. It just wasn't. But we gave the Rosen Rosen record a shot, because we'd heard teasers and individual tracks that were brimming with promise. But what we ended up with was nothing like we expected: an unusually melancholy and dark, swirling, head-to-toe tilt in a new direction while remaining mindful of the source material. Rosen Rosen has succeeded in an impressive feat: ending up assuredly in our top ten. We had to send our questionnaire his way to get inside his brain and see what he's all about--aside from tremendously creative processes.

Name?
Doctor Rosen Rosen.

Hometown?
Hailey, Idaho.

I now live in:
Los Angeles (more specifically in Silverlake).

Number of states visited?
I'm going to guess 20.

My favorite place in my hometown is:
A place called "Joint Point". I used to go there during high school with my friends almost daily. During the winter we would build a huge snowboard jump and spend hours fucking around.

Most recent phone bill total?
Just looked it up. $273.46. That can't be right.

Items found in my day-to-day bag (if applicable)?
No bag for me.

FFirst album bought on your own?
Paula Abdul, Forever Your Girl.

Favorite song memorized as a child?
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince "Summertime".

When I sing in the shower, itʼs usually:
I usually just freestyle rap in hopes of annoying my wife.

The one song that must be on every mixtape is:
Ice Cube "Today Was a Good Day". That song puts everyone in a good mood.

Last book read?
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell.

Favorite book ever?
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.

News: Streetlab release "Bootleg Remixes Vol. 1"

Completely devoid of price, the workaholics in Streetlab are offering up the download of their latest mixtape, a collection of some of their (and our) favorite bootleg classic remixes, including their revisionist take on works from The Doors, Bob Marley, Tom Petty, Pet Shop Boys, Hall And Oates, and many many more.

Below, get your hands on the teaser mix they've put together of the longer version, which you can download on the group's website. It also includes one of the raddest remixes we've heard in a while: their slithering, drunk-with-lust edit of the (maybe) anthem of the summer, "Fuck Work" from Cubic Zirconia. CZ dropped knowledge with a remix EP already of their unabashed single (edits from Jubilee, Dam-Funk, Dances With White Girls, etc.), but we think this one is fucking retarded good.

Streetlab have recently had their music included in the Apple App "Tap Tap Revenge 2", HBO's "Entourage" series, and the boys make a special appearance next weekend at BEMF in Brooklyn.

Tracklist:

01 Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Don't Come Around Here No More (Streetlab remix)
02 Bob Marley & The Wailers - Duppy Conqueror/Dracula (Streetlab remix)
03 The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Streetlab remix)
04 Hall And Oates - I Can't Go For That (Streetlab remix)
05 INXS - Need You Tonight (Streetlab remix)
06 Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls (Streetlab remix)
07 Streetlab - NYSound (C-List remix)
08 Cubic Zirconia - Fuck Work (Streetlab remix)
09 The Doors - Been Down So Long (Streetlab remix)
10 Streetlab - Our World
11 ZZ Top - Sharp Dressed Man (Streetlab remix)
12 The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (Streetlab remix)

(mp3)    Streetlab - Bootleg Remixes Vol. 1 promo mix

(mp3)    Cubic Zirconia - Fuck Work (Streetlab remix)

Godspeed!

Live: Plant Music dance party happening tomorrow at Governor's Island

Plant Music kids Dominique (The Glass) and Eli Escobar are taking over Water Taxi Beach on Governor's Island here in New York City tomorrow afternoon for a free, four-hour dance party. You can get to the island on a free ferry from South Ferry every hour on the hour, but might we suggest getting on the 2pm one, in order to capitalize fully on what's going down. Should be a hot, sweaty, electro-fueled riot. To get your pulse racing and ready for it, then, here's a remix of The Glass's anthem "Wanna Be Dancin'" from Boston's up-and-coming destroyer, Fantastadon.

(mp3)    The Glass - Wanna Be Dancin' (Fantastadon remix)

Godspeed!

Cinema: Noah And The Whale pen film "The First Days Of Spring"

For their second album, UK indie popsters Noah And The Whale have created the soundtrack accompaniment to a film that guitarist/vocalist Charlie Fink has just completed of the same name: "The First Days Of Spring". The film itself stars Alex Barker, Ben Lloyd-Hughes and model/actress Daisy Lowe, one of the more prevalent indie crushes of the last few years. The film and album are both set for an August 31 release and from the looks of the trailer, should both be remarkably frank and subtly beautiful. Cardigans and fixed gear bikes and beards, oh my! Also, the Yacht remix of their song "Blue Skies" is currently our heart.

(mp3)    Noah And The Whale - Blue Skies (Yacht remix)

(mp3)    Noah And The Whale - The First Days Of Spring

Godspeed!

Download: Zodiac Cartel - "Kneel Before Zod August mixtape"

The newest, piping-hot compilation from UK mystery man/epicly rad producer Zodiac Cartel, "Kneel Before Zod August mixtape" just hit us like a bag of bricks, with fresh originals and edits from the likes of AC Slater, Boltan, Sinden, Detboi and more. It'll brighten up your Friday, Saturday, whenever.

Tracklist:

01 Intro (Kneel Before Zod)
02 AC Slater - Calm Down
03 Tony Anthem & Axl Ender - Foxy Lady
04 Lee Mortimer & Foamo - It's Going Down
05 Figure - Aura (original)
06 Rockwell D - Tempo Critical
07 The Yank - We Can't Be Stopped (ZC re-edit)
08 Hijack - Party People (Bootleg remix)
09 Mike Hulme - 100mg (The Loops of Fury remix)
10 Laidback Luke & A-Trak - Shake It Down (ZC re-edit)
11 RQM - Barely Evil (Bass Weazal dub)
12 Shab Ruffcut - Little Lady Lou Lou (Tom EQ remix)
13 Boltan - Creepy (Mighty Fools remix)
14 Haggstrom & Casswell - Room is Spinning Quickly
15 Zodiac Cartel - We Don't Play That (Aniki remix)
16 Zodiac Cartel - Sweet Control
17 Bill Eff - Trouserflap (Will Bailey remix)
18 Detboi - Y'all Want More (Sinden remix)
19 TC - Where's My Money (Caspa remix) (Elite Force re-fix)

(mp3)    Zodiac Cartel - Kneel Before Zod August mixtape

(mp3)    Boltan - Creepy (Mightyfools remix)

Godspeed!

Live: The Soft Pack North American fall tour

(photo by Shay Peretz)

After supporting the likes of White Lies and Friendly Fires and playing a residency at LA's venue The Echo, what better thing for So Cal indie rockers The Soft Pack to do than head back out on dates, right? Well, right. The boys are heading out on a fall headlining tour, going coast to coast and north to south for three weeks in North America. The band are gearing up for their debut record's release (who knows when) on their new imprint, Kemado.

Dates:

Sep 16 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre
Sep 17 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theatre
Sep 18 Portland, OR Dante’s (NXNW Festival)
Sep 19 Seattle, WA Crocodile Cafe
Sep 23 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
Sep 24 Madison, WI University of Madison
Sep 25 Chicago, IL Chopin Theatre
Sep 26 Indianapolis, IN Locals Only
Sep 27 Detroit, MI Pike Room
Sep 29 Toronto, ON Silver Dollar
Oct 01 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
Oct 02 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
Oct 03 Boston, MA Middle East (upstairs)
Oct 09 Houston, TX Walter’s On Washington

(mp3)    The Soft Pack - Future Rock

Godspeed!

Photos: The Pretty Reckless at Hiro Ballroom on July 28

To celebrate lead vocalist/ingenue Taylor Momsen's "sweet 16" the only way a rock 'n' roll band would want to, The Pretty Reckless played their second New York City show ever Tuesday night at Hiro Ballroom. One might argue from listening to the recordings that Momsen's talent lies mostly in studio magic and the persona she's made for herself (sure, she's on "Gossip Girl", but she says weird things like how she doesn't "get" kids her age and name-checks Hole as a reference point) is all falsity and cover, however we were a little blown away by the girl's vicious presence and pretty stellar delivery.

The band may be still Teflon'd from snarkiness--so far, at least--but consider us fans. Honestly. Teen pop rock that has even a sharper edge than the rest of the drivel you'd expect from Momsen's age bracket is well appreciated. Plus, she writes the songs, the band is signed to Interscope and they're releasing their debut (hopefully) by year's end. So, there you go. Happy birthday "Little J".

This isn't the first time we've been affiliated with the "GG" players. You may remember that first-US-date-ever show we booked for Ed Westwick aka Chuck Bass and his UK Brit-pop/punk group The Filthy Youth a long while back. Well, he and his bestie Chase Crawford and a handful of the cast were in the audience as well, showing support for Momsen's project.

(mp3)    The Pretty Reckless - Blender

Godspeed!

Web: Esser talks to Yours Truly

Shot inside one of the more epic and wonderful record stores still left standing in these united states, Rooky Ricardo’s Records in San Francisco's Haight area, the newest clip to come from Yours Truly features Esser taking some time off in the middle of his US tour dates in support of Breakface to talk vinyl, the detriment of disposable music (mp3s, naturally), old soul favorites and his father and Essex. Short and sweet, but you get a chance to travel down Esser's rabbit's hole even further than you'd gotten the chance to before.

(mp3)    Esser - Satisfied (Mad Prof Toast remix)

Godspeed!

News: Dananananaykroyd drummer gets injured; tour canceled

(photo by Collette McGuire)

According to ABC.net, Dananananaykroyd drummer John Baillie Junior "ell off stage two songs in to their set at the Annandale Hotel in Sydney", breaking his arm and causing the other manic Scots in his band to cancel all of their remaining dates, refunding money and whatnot, to wait out the healing process.The band had scheduled dates next month at Belladrum, Summer Sundae, Pukkelpop and Reading (all major festivals), but no word on whether they're part of the cut itinerary.

(mp3)    Dananananaykroyd - Hey Everyone

(mp3)    Dananananaykroyd - Chrome Rainbow

Godspeed!

Live: Heads We Dance play London tonight + remix record out soon

Future-leaning disco pop kids from Leeds Heads We Dance are taking to the stage tonight in London for a headlining gig as part of the "Bloody Awful Poetry" night at Madame Jojo's. Doors are at 8pm, it'll cost you five quid (get there before 9) and the trio is appearing with support from A.Human and Colouring In. We are all about this band's terrific mix of future, present and a teency bit of past, all balled up into fiery dance cuts that transcend all three tenses. Love Technology is out now.

Interestingly enough, the group is releasing a remix-only treatment of their debut this September, featuring edits by Don Diablo, Frankmusik, Tepr, Russ Chimes, Sidechains and Louis La Roche, among unnamed others.

(mp3)    Heads We Dance - When The Sirens Sound (Don Diablo remix)

Godspeed!