The Gateway Drug to Lust

Last we heard of Fall Out Boy's follow up album to their hit Infinity on High, Pete Wentz said that the band would be drawing inspiration from rockers AC/DC, adding to the list of other artists he'd already name dropped (Oasis, The Smiths, Iggy Pop). 

But now, in an interview with Ryan Seacrest on KIIS-FM, Pete has talked about his writing now that he and wife Ashlee Simpson-Wentz are expecting their first child.


We became aware of Fall Out Boy's collective global focuse last year when they traveled to Uganda with Invisible Children.  While in the war torn country, the band recorded a video for their song "I'm Like a Lawyer With the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me and You)" focusing on the struggles of the Ugandan people.  But now it seems the Wentz's writing is being driven in a different direction.

I can't help but wonder, with Pete's new take on writing and with the mentioning of Oasis as inspiration (consider their songs "Wonderwall" and "The Masterplan") does this mean that Pete and Fall Out Boy's resident musical genius Patrick Stump could be working on something vaguely like a lullaby for their new album? 

Only time will tell.  But if Pete's already saying things like “It’s like making a record, but knowing you’re going to mix it for the next 18 years of your life," then I really can't wait to hear what else he's got to say.

I thought the sparkles might help get your attention.

Look, there's a lot of rumors going around right now.  But they're totally fake.  A bunch of people at a well known website called 4chan (I'm not linking you there and I suggest you don't visit it, I care too much for your sanity) decided to try and screw with My Chemical Romance fans.

The "news reports" and Facebook posts are not true.  Wikipedia was briefly edited but has been corrected and locked to prevent future editing.  No reputable news source has or will report this...because it's not true.  Keep in mind, it says that Gerard died near his home in New Jersey, but recently in the Umbrella Academy Trade Paperback Gerard identified his hometown as Los Angeles.  He has also been keeping a lower profile while going on and off tour with his wife Lyn-Z of Mindless Self Indulgence who are currently in the UK.  So Gerard may not even be in the US at this moment.

THE SAME THING HAS BEEN PLANNED FOR PETE WENTZ.  So any reports of either of their deaths are totally made up.  Please tell your friends.  And don't ask Mark/panasonicyouth what's going on.  He doesn't know.

Please be warned.  The cover is below.  I'm assuming from the cover shoot that hints are being given as to the events in Breaking Dawn.  As per Meyer's insane requests, I'm warning you and preparing to have this blog removed:



-The most important thing here is that Edward Cullen has, apparently, contacted the T-Virus.

-This implies that Bella Swann will discover that the evil vampires from the first three books were actually working to prepare Forks to become the new headquarters of Umbrella who is working with vampires in exchange for their DNA.

-Bella will discover how special she really is.  Rogue scientists, working under the direction of Alice Janus, created her as an experiment using information from Project Alice and DNA from Rain Ocampo:
Bella is meant to act as a sleeper agent, luring in the vampires so that they can be destroyed.  When activated she will cease being the dumb as fuck character we are familiar with and will instead instantly recall the military and survival training that was "programmed" into her brain during her creation.

-The Apple is obviously a reference to the cure that Bella will help recover...but will be not be able to administer to Edward in time.  She will be forced to use her training and skills to defeat him when he becomes a vampire-zombie hybrid.

SORRY FOR THE SPOILERS, SMEYER!  But really, that cover made it PAINFULLY obvious!

EDIT: The amazing skintight has shared this with us:

So RedEye, a subsection of the Chicago Tribune, is having a tournament to find the Best Superhero Ever.  The first round matches are ending on Friday and I'm taking this chance to put out a rallying cry.

I don't care if you vote more than once in the entire thing.  I don't care if even like the other superheroes or heroines involved.  The only thing I care about is this:


Yeah, sure, he's the God of Thunder and all that.  Good for him.  But Thor, you total N00B, Buffy has beaten gods before!


And so you've got a helmet.  Big damned deal.  Buffy's got trendy yet afforadable boots.  So why don't you just take your little hammer, turn around, and go back to Asgard, hm? 

Besides, if Buffy wins we get Buffy versus Batman in the next round.  And tell me that's not fucking awesome!

SO GO!  VOTE BUFFY!  FOR TRUTH!  AND JUSTICE!  AND PUPPIES!

One of Buzznet's own, False Start, has lent their own twist to Katy Perry's bisexual experimentation and/or drunken sorority girl-esque attention whoring anthem "I Kissed a Girl."  The cover can currently be found on their Myspace and, according to a bulletin the band sent around, will be featured as part of Buzznet's MPFree program next week.

The band's album Through the Looking Glass will be released on July 21st and is currently available for pre-order here.

Hey!  So you remember awhile back when I posted these pictures?

Bring Me the Horizon just won't stop in 2008.  Which is far from a bad thing, at least for their dedicated fans.  Already this year they've toured constantly, taking time to hit up the European festival circuit, including Geleen, Summer Blast, Graspop and Eastpak Etnika, and in July and August they'll be appearing on the Vans Warped Tour in the US. 

Where will BMTH show up next?

Edward Cullen "died" at the age of 17, right?  And has been physically 17 for almost 100 years. 



Think about your average 17 year old boy.  Even your above average 17 year old boy.

Actually, I really think it was said best in that GOOD teenage vampire series by Joss Whedon:

Okay, so we know that Edward hasn't felt ANYTHING for ANYONE until Bella.  And because in Meyer's universe, love and sex are equated and having sex without true love and marriage is BAD, NAUGHTY, WRONG, TERRIBLE, CANDLE SALAD, this implies Edward Cullen is more than likely a virgin.

LOL 100 year old virgin.  They really should have gotten Steve Carell to play the part in the movie.

With July 4th right around the corner, it seems like an awesome time to talk about America's past time, baseball!

*crickets chirp*

Okay, okay.  I'd rather watch soccer, too.  But stay with me here.

From ESPN.com:


And who's on that list?  Why, none other than those awesome up and comers, The Cab.  They're up against artists like REO Speedwagon and Gretchen Wilson, so it's stiff competition.  But come on, let's at least see if we can get the boys into the top three, if not help them bring home the pennant!


See, it's a baseball reference.  You know, World Series?  Oh, dammit.  You didn't get it.  I'm gonna cry.





;_;

According to Dlisted, Benji Madden of Good Charlotte has announced his intentions to get a tattoo of current girlfriend Paris Hilton.  Believe it or not, that's not the part that made me go O_o.  I mean, getting a tattoo of your girlfriend is fairly dumb in my humble opinion (I don't believe in even getting names tattooed on you unless they are the names of someone close to you who is deceased as a memorial, or the names of your children), but it's really nothing offensive, even considering who his girlfriend is.


It was this quote from Hilton herself that made me go "Wait, what?"


...okay, so let's get the Hilton-centric ranting out of the way.  One: PURE, Benji?  PURE?  Did you miss the jail time and sex tape?  Two: Benji, you are aware she already had a tattoo at one point that she's since had removed, right?  It was the name of her boyfriend at the time, Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys.  See, kids, this is why you don't get your boyfriend or girlfriend's name tattooed on your body.  Because there are these messy things called "break ups."

But let's get right down to what set me off.  "...he won't let me get one." 

Which brings up a whole NEW set of problems.

Like the idea of cultural double standards for body art on men and women's bodies.  I've run into it before from guy friends who basically used the same argument.  "I don't like the idea of a woman's body being defiled like that, but look at the sweetass skull I got on my chest!"  And yes, we can get into physiological and biological differences in the male and female body, but not one of those differences explains why a woman shouldn't have a tattoo.  Which brings us to...

...the cultural stereotype of women as something "pure."  The female body does just as many gross things as the male body, and a few tricks that are all our own.  And I have to wonder, if Benji Madden thinks women are so "pure" what does he think about menstruation?  See, this is where the problem tends to come in: a woman is pure until she starts bleeding from her crotch.  Then she's unclean for about a week before returning to purity again.  If you're going to claim the female body is pure, then you've gotta claim all of it's fun little quirks are pure too. Including visits from our Aunt Flo.

Finally, the idea that men have sovereignty over the bodies of their wives and girlfriends.  That they have the right to just say "No, you can't do that to YOUR body."  It's one thing when a guy says "I'd rather you don't, and here's why.  But it's your choice."  Hell, even if he leaves off that "your choice" thing it's better than this.  But Benji is making it clear that Paris's body is his territory and he can tell her what she can and can't do with it...and Paris is going along with it just fine.

And that's what kicks me in the gut.  I don't ever look to Paris Hilton as a bastion of feminism, but like my issues with Twilight I don't see this sort of thing in the media as a cause.  I see it as a reflection of where society is.  Women still allowing men to basically own their bodies because it's just what girls are supposed to do is really disgusting.  That a woman like Paris who is, for whatever reason, independently wealthy and could walk away from Benji without a thought and still be set for life would let someone order her around like that.

Ladies, I know we know better than this.  Relationships should be built on a platform of equality, of both parties entering into it as joint partners,.  That's not to say men can't be stereotypically masculine and women can't be stereotypically feminine, that's not saying that traditional gender roles are wrong for everyone.  It's just saying that both partners need to understand the expectations of the other, you need to be able to talk about things like this as equals, weigh each other's opinions.  And when it comes to matters of the body, be it body modification, surgery or choice issues, while both of you can express an opinion, it comes down to the owner of the body to make the final call.  There is no right or wrong choice, there's just your choice.  But it should be YOURS.

Oh, and Benji?  If you really don't think a girl should have tats, you might want to change the lyrics to your band's song "Riot Girl:"

Hey, heads up!  Tomorrow, July 2nd, a new Umbrella Academy story will be running on the Myspace Dark Horse Presents page, free of charge!

Supposedly the story is set to revolve around Vanya and Diego/The Kraken in their teenage years.  While we saw a little bit of the younger versions of the members of the team in the free comic book day issue, this issue will supposedly explore their background a little more and help show us more of why Vanya and Diego were so close in The Apocalypse Suite (now available in trade paperback.  Have I shilled enough for this damned thing yet?).

So check it out.  And take some time to look over some of the other titles, like Sugarshock by Joss Whedon (Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Astonishing X-Men).

EDIT: So, due to timestamps being vague on a message sent out by DHP, I can't tell if the new issue launches today or tomorrow.  It's possible that July 2nd will be a day of celebration, or that Dark Horse, like The Rumor, is a LYING LIAR OF LIES!

However, the message also warned for us to watch for updates on the next Umbrella Academy series next month, AND promised a sneak peek at Joss Whedon's new project, an online horror film called "Doctor Horrible's Sing Along Blog."  It stars Neil Patrick Harris.  Need I say more?

EDIT THE SECOND: I heard a rumor that it's gone live!

Fuse is celebrating the beauty of democracy with state-by-state battles between musicians.  And they're asking you to vote so they can figure out who to play over July 4th weekend.

I linked Ari and she and I are currently bemoaning some of the choices we're being asked to make:

oh no
(4:14:40 PM) Arianrhod: they're making me pick between Dashboard and John Mayer
(4:14:47 PM) newageamazon: Yeah
(4:14:52 PM) Arianrhod: :-D
(4:14:56 PM) Arianrhod: its hard for ME!!!
(4:15:05 PM) newageamazon: California is G and R versus The Chili Peppers
(4:15:11 PM) Arianrhod: i know
(4:15:11 PM) newageamazon: New York is Jay-Z versus the Beasties
(4:15:13 PM) Arianrhod: i saw that
(4:15:15 PM) Arianrhod: ahhhh
(4:15:20 PM) newageamazon: NJ is My Chem versus Bon Jovi.
(4:15:23 PM) Arianrhod: i haven't gotten there yet... tha;ts a rough one
(4:15:25 PM) newageamazon: THESE ARE NOT EASY CHOICES!
(4:15:59 PM) Arianrhod: no they're really not
(4:16:15 PM) Arianrhod: but you have to chose your favorite jackson for indiana so i guess some are easy (janet)
(4:16:20 PM) newageamazon: lol
(4:16:21 PM) newageamazon: Yeah
(4:16:31 PM) Arianrhod: Slip knot vs stone sour
(4:16:32 PM) newageamazon: One of the most amazing women in the business, or a creepy child rapist
(4:16:40 PM) Arianrhod: do they realize they're the SAME BAND?
(4:17:05 PM) Arianrhod: like not figuritively, literally
(4:17:25 PM) Arianrhod: stone sour is all the talent in slip knot made into a band
(4:18:09 PM) newageamazon: lol
(4:18:20 PM) newageamazon: ...dammit, I really don't know how to vote on New Jersey
(4:18:43 PM) Arianrhod: or to be more factual, ston sour is cory taylor's first band, and slip knot beat him up and made him join their band so that they would have some talen
(4:18:49 PM) newageamazon: Bon Jovi has staying power...but his past couple albums sucked. And My Chem is MY CHEM
(4:18:56 PM) newageamazon: HAHAHAHA
(4:19:06 PM) Arianrhod: I like his last two albums more than the early stugg
(4:19:08 PM) Arianrhod: stuff
(4:19:12 PM) newageamazon: Nah.
(4:19:40 PM) Arianrhod: m'n'm vs the white stripes?
(4:19:43 PM) newageamazon: and dammit, now it's Jay-Z and the Beasties.
(4:19:47 PM) newageamazon: I voted Eminem.
(4:19:48 PM) Arianrhod: I actually dis like both enough to not want to vote
(4:19:54 PM) newageamazon: There's a bunch I didn't vote for
(4:19:57 PM) newageamazon: I didn't vote in Florida
(4:20:10 PM) Arianrhod: I hate the white stripes
If I don't know the bands i skipped it
(4:20:20 PM) newageamazon: yeah, same here
(4:20:34 PM) Arianrhod: oh no
(4:20:41 PM) Arianrhod: 311 vs bright eyes...
(4:20:46 PM) newageamazon: I took 311
(4:20:52 PM) Arianrhod: you didn't tel me i had to chose between 311 and Bright eyes
(4:20:55 PM) newageamazon: I'm sorry!


Join us in our pain!  Go vote!

Only one story arc of My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way's comic, "The Umbrella Academy," has been released, but it's already made an impression on the comic world. So much in fact that soon "TUA" will join other big-name comics such as "Iron Man" and "Batman" as a major motion picture. More.

Hey, I'm making plans for the future of Very Much Alive and I'd like to get you guys to answer a few questions regarding it!  No pressure, but I'd like to see what the reaction would be.  Please post your answers in the replies to this blog.

QUESTIONS:

If "Very Much Alive" wristbands, a la the Livestrong bracelets, were to be made available, would you buy one?

If these bracelets existed, do you have suggestions about which VMA-related charities you would like to see the money donated to?  (Please note: my thought is To Write Love On Her Arm, which is a similar group to VMA)

If the bracelets were available, what color would you like to see them in?

Would you buy other VMA merchandise if the money were going to charity?

If so, what other kind of merchandise would you buy?

Any other thoughts or suggestions in this vein?

Thank you so much for your time and your participation!

-Ashly

While it may seem like something only dorks or old people are into, NPR really does keep track of musical trends.  And right now, they want help deciding which CD is the best of 2008...so far.

Nominees include Panic at the Disco, Coldplay, Vampire Weekend, Weezer, Cat Power and Death Cab for Cutie.  They're also allowing write in votes for any CD's they may have missed (such as The Hush Sound's Goodbye Blues or The Cab's Whisper War, hint hint).

So head over and voice your opinion!  Voting ends July 2nd (that's next Wednesday, for those of you who don't keep track).