David Lynch and ‘Blue Velvet’’s Isabella Rosellini, as shot by Helmut Newton

• David Lynch has agreed to direct a Web-only series.
• And just went you thought Devendra Banhart couldn’t get any weirder …
• Thurston Moore and former Be Your Own Pet frontwoman Jemina Pearl have covered “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” for a Gossip Girl scene.
• Icy Demons has grabbed members of Man Man, Tortoise, Prefuse 73’s backing band and more for their tour dates with Of Montreal and Yeasayer.
• Joaquin Phoenix has decided to quit acting and focus on music.
• Franz Ferdinand have released the remix stems for their new single.
• Scott Walker has tapped Damon Albarn, Jarvis Cocker and more for next week’s tribute concerts.
• The Hold Steady’s mustache-rocking keyboardist has wrapped up a solo record.
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Jay Reatard @ self-titled’s unofficial CMJ party

[Photo by Shawn Brackbill]

Wondering where the hell we’ve been for the past week? Well, we weren’t exactly planning our Halloween costumes (s/t’s editor actually threw this getup together—ouch!—on Saturday afternoon) or recovering from a rather boring CMJ. We’ve been busy finishing self-titled’s second interactive, digital-only issue, which is now online and tempting your cursor with the following:
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So our art director, Garrett Morin, shared this little tidbit about the magic of TV earlier today: When Gossip Girl introduces Serena’s new main squeeze tonight at 8—the ‘Brooklyn artist,’ Aaron Rose—you’ll be watching the carefully-sculpted handiwork of Garrett and Radio Silence co-author Nathan Nedorostek, who helmed Rose’s faux ‘process work’ project.

Anyway, be sure to scope that episode tonight, or buy it on iTunes to pseudo support the cause.

Part of the weekend never dies.

In all fairness, Ms. CMJ Virgin has gotten a shit deal this week. Typically, her concert-going relies upon +1 guest-list spots, which our dear ol’ Mr. Virgin is always happy to provide. But the admit-one-only CMJ badge (a useless tool if ever there was one) has nixed any prospects of the missus joining her man on for the week’s exploits. So Friday evening’s excursion to Pete Tong’s Insiders showcase–featuring Late of the Pier, James Lavelle and Soulwax–was planned, strategized, executed and +1-equipped with her in mind. Girls just wanna have fun, too, right?

Several weeks ago, Mr. CMJ Virgin proclaimed Late of the Pier “annoying” and “unlistenable” after delving through their debut. But he ate his words as the baby-faced four-piece tore through a unbelievably polished set of scatter-brained, impassioned dance-rock. Shame on whoever mixed their album. James Lavelle, however, failed to really connect with the audience–though Soulwax tore the roof off. The CMJ Virgin has never done cocaine, but he imagines it’s something like seeing Soulwax live. In conclusion: Pete Tong looks and sounds exactly like Ricky Gervais.

Read The CMJ Virgin’s notes from the evening and see a few photos he snapped after the jump. Read more

self-titled Managing Editor Arye Dworken is a damn handsome man. Last night he had his small-screen debut on MTV2’s Subterranean with an interview of Brooklyn duo Matt & Kim. Arye asked the tough questions and looked like a regular John Norris. (Too bad they spelled his name wrong…oopies!) However, we only have one question for you, Arye: Where did you get your shirt? 

As you might have noticed in recent months, self-titled struck a loose partnership with MTV2’s Subterranean show earlier this year, one where the folks over there shared their favorite clips with us while we schooled them on some of our favorite acts. Tonight at 1 a.m. EST, our managing editor, Arye Dworken, takes things to another level as Subterranean’s Matt & Kim-interviewing host.

We hear the program’s looking to finally fill its vacant talking-head position, so if you like what you see—despite Arye’s young Woody Allen demeanor—be sure to shoot us some feedback and we’ll pass it on to the proper authorities.

Mazel tov, Arye!

CMJ does not care for The CMJ Virgin. Apparently.

And now, The CMJ Virgin presents a brief history of success and failure: Arriving at Bowery Ballroom for a showcase of bands no one cares about, our Virgin is informed that no more CMJ badges are allowed inside (fail). Hitting Mercury Lounge to catch another band no one cares about, the Virgin discovers it will be an hour before any more badges are allowed in the venue (fail). Strolling past a Stones Throw showcase, V-Money sours at the 200-plus line outside (fail). Discouraged, he hails a cab with self-titled Editor-in-Chief Andrew Parks and heads back to the CMJ Artists Lounge (where he caught shows the day prior). No line. Small crowd. (Success!) Sets by Women and Takka Takka there are worth the trip. The Women guys look bored (or maybe just tired), and Takka Takka transforms songs from Migration into dynamic, earnest and emotive catharsis. Out the door and off to Santos for Free Blood. No line. Small crowd. Best set yet of CMJ (success). 

To summarize: The CMJ Virgin is confused. What’s the point of buying a CMJ batch if it doesn’t give you access to all the shows? Why are showcases that are populated with awful bands full while sets by good bands are sparsely attended? Does the CMJ Virgin just have really bad taste? Does the rest of the CMJ-going public know something our precious Virgin does not? How angry would he be had he actually paid for his badge? And most importantly, what do you think of Andrew’s new glasses?

Read The CMJ Virgin’s notes from the evening and see a few photos he snapped after the jump.

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Balancing a beer on your head (disguised as a can of Red Bull) is a skill and a fine art. 

If The CMJ Virgin were ever to get married, win the lottery or die, skuzz-bucket rockers Cheeseburger would play his party. No doubt. So it made perfect sense that on Day 1 of CMJ, our brave Virgin hit up the Red Bull CMJ Artists Lounge to catch sets by Wild Light, Cheeseburger and Vivian Girls. No line outside. Small crowd inside. White Light, the only band no one knew from last year’s epic Arcade Fire/LCD Soundsystem bill at Randall’s Island, chugged through sound problems but showed a lot of exuberant tenacity, even if the songs weren’t quite there yet. Cheeseburger got naughty and showed a bit (read: a lot) of ass crack. And Vivian Girls peeled through its blisteringly cuts before a tiny crowd. Isn’t there significant buzz surrounding this group—with a terrific re-issued debut to back up the hype? Weird that barely anyone showed. In summation: The CMJ Virgin’s mood is positive. He’s tired (definitely). Pretty fucking exhausted (actually). But he’s ready for more nights of music. Four more nights of music to be exact. 

Read The CMJ Virgin’s notes from the evening and see a few photos he snapped after the jump. Read more

By Aaron Richter

As we all know by now, new releases hit record-store shelves and digital-download services each Tuesday. That’s why self-titled presents the following every week: a new release you’d be stupid not to own (Buy It), one worth checking out if you’re the curious type (Burn It) and something you might have heard about but probably should avoid (Skip It). Simple, ain’t it? Read more

This is what a CMJ virgin looks like. He wears thick glasses. And has a recently grown beard–it’s slightly trimmed but mostly unkempt because he wants it to get quite bushy. (And yes, that is a bulldog puppy calendar over his shoulder. It’s adorable as hell. So shut the fuck up.)

It’s true: He has never before attended CMJ, despite the fact that he’s lived in New York City for several years now. He is somewhat excited but somewhat hesitant as well. Mostly, though, he just wants to see some bands he loves, discover some bands he’s never heard of and get this damn thing rolling. So please, dear reader, follow the CMJ virgin’s exploits throughout the week. Say hi if you see him out. He will be taking notes to share with you. After all, he loves you. And don’t you forget it.