Teased last week and Launched earlier today, The Smashing Pumpkins have debuted what they (he?) are calling SPRC, of course standing for Smashing Pumpkins Record Club, which Billy hopes to use as a vessel to deliver the plethora of unreleased demos, alt versions, non album tracks, recordings of Harms shaving his cats, and whatever else he might have up his bald headed sleeve. Look, I love to talk sh-t on the current incarnation of the Smashing Pumpkins as much as the next guy, but this whole thing honestly seems rather endearing and exciting. Not only is Billy finally starting to listen to fans and tap into the back catalogue of music he’s been sitting on for years, but he’s doing it for free (at least for now anyway as they hope to provide higher fidelity files for $$$ down the road). Here’s Billy’s 2 cents on the whole thing

“…the first song we’re going to release for free is a demo recording of “Drown”, which we found in going through the archives. It was recorded roughly around the end of ’91, early ’92, somewhere in the Gish touring we were writing songs which we hoped were going to be for Siamese Dream. And I believe in a couple days we recorded five demos: “Luna”, “STP”, “Drown”, “Silver[fuck]”, and something else I can’t remember. And so this is the actual demo from that time. And as part of what we’re going to do here with the Record Club, we’re going to provide certain materials that the band worked with to make its decisions. So although we eventually hope to offer this demo for sale, remixed and updated to 96k 24-bit status, which all our releases will be available as 96k 24-bit unmastered files, the “Drown” here that you’ll have will be the actual rough mix from the time. Which we actually think is kind of cool, because even though it’s a little bit of a lower fidelity than we’ll eventually offer the song at, you do get a sense of what the band was listening to at the time… I think I’ve already said that.”

And things have certainly started off on the right foot, as for the low low price of your E-mail, not only do you get a free download of the above mentioned Drown demo but also snuck in there without mention is a vocalless early demo of a song called Suicide Kiss, which Pumpkins fans will be quite familiar with upon listening as the later renamed “Geek USA” (for those unfamiliar, perhaps one of the bands best tracks ever and the centerpiece of their classic album, Siamese Dream) We’ve posted both tracks below for listening ease but definitely sign up here to grab them as well as await future releases. Good to see things finally looking up in Pumpkinland, enjoy….

Smashing Pumpkins – Drown (8-track demo)
Smashing Pumpkins — Drown 8-Track Demo

Smashing Pumpkins – Suicide Kiss (Geek USA Demo)
Smashing Pumpkins — Suicide Kiss Geek No Vox

Don Cheadle goes green face and brings some of the best in heart breaking enviro-activism to the people of planet Earth!

[REDDIT]

:E GregR

While the world continues to find solutions to being less destructive to our environment it doesn’t mean that excessive sport like racing has to suffer or be less cool. Green technology seems to be a major player in Toyota’s bag of tricks. The makers of the Prius – the most successful EV car – just set a new green car record at what is often thought to be the world’s most demanding racetrack. The Nurburgring winds around a mountain for several miles and is so difficult the circuit has earned the nickname “The Green Hell”… appropriate for a green challenge of the such:

Weird how the engine doesn’t make any noise…

Here’s what a fuel burning Formula 1 racecar sounds/looks like headed around the same track:

If this is the future of being green, i’m on board!

[Engadget]

:E GregR

Country legend Willie Nelson has done a cover of Coldplay’s ‘The Scientist’ for a short film by Johnny Kelly.

from the description:

Coldplay’s haunting classic ‘The Scientist’ is performed by country music legend Willie Nelson for the soundtrack of the short film entitled, “Back to the Start.” The film, by film-maker Johnny Kelly, depicts the life of a farmer as he slowly turns his family farm into an industrial animal factory before seeing the errors of his ways and opting for a more sustainable future. Both the film and the soundtrack were commissioned by Chipotle to emphasize the importance of developing a sustainable food system.

Download the song “The Scientist” by Willie Nelson now available on iTunes for $0.99. Label and artist proceeds benefit The Chipotle Cultivate Foundation.

Here’s the film:

Because on any given day you can find ANYTHING on the internet, here’s video of Damon Albarn (Gorillaz, Blur) rocking a little Ping Pong with Englands National team.

The footage is from an upcoming BBC documentary about table tennis. The incredibly on top of it Gorillaz-Unofficial were first to snag the video, which is in 3 parts below

Part I

Part II

Part III

I’m fine with this…so long as he doesn’t work with another hot chick…. CLOWN IT UP J-DUB.

Insane Clown Posse – Leck Mich Im Arsch by Third Man Records

SW named 10 places you don’t want to be if/when the big one hits….like Safeco/Pimp Field, which is fine since we cant afford a ticket to a game anyways….or King County jail….fingers crossed we wont be there….we’ll be at Wild Waves… or Fainting Goat in Wallingford….yummmy gelllllato.

*and yes I scratched out my last name in hopes that any psychopaths that might be reading this are lazy.

Get out your pig tail wig, handkerchief and smoking device (stoner) in preparation to hear Willie Nelson covering Coldplay’s The Scientist:

Wonder if Willie would have done the cover without it being a paycheck from Chipotle? Think they convinced him with endless burritos – after 4:20p of course.

[CoS]

:E GregR

We had a ton of fun looking back at the last 20 years of our lives on The End. To help sum up our experience, check out this rad montage of photos and video that we collected to celebrate!