- A legend passed away December 2. Read KEXP’s tribute to Ms. Odetta Holmes, who for decades shined not only as a singer, songwriter, and actress, but also as a powerful human-rights activist.
- The Muslims — now The Soft Pack — have changed their name. They explain their reasoning through the following, somewhat cryptic commentary: “Working on new material and firing on all four cylinders, we feel strongly about this one. It’s a new chapter in our lives and hopefully yours.”
- Kanye West is curious: “Who the [fleeting expletive] is Stephen Colbert?” (Constitutional law scholars: Not sure if Twitter constitutes a “live broadcast,” but you get the point.) This apparently comes after Mr. Colbert announced “Operation Humble Kanye,” a campaign encouraging Comedy Central fans to buy Colbert’s Christmas album with the goal of bumping Kanye’s off the top of the charts. As reported by bloggers across the W[orld]W[ide]W[eb], “This [faux-confrontational, media-baiting] schtick is getting kind of old.” But, still, look. We have been baited.
- Speaking of Christmas albums, music-related campaigns, six geese a-laying, and the like, it’s that time of year again. Just because everyone’s in a “recession” doesn’t mean purveyors aren’t out there purveying albums in support of World AIDS Day, Darfur, Red Hot Organization, and, uh, Vice Records. Pick your cause.
