Instinctiv.com wants to make your iPod or iPhone smart! They describe the features of their application this way: “The random shuffle was a cool feature when it first launched. But, let’s be honest, it left out the most important element: you. After all, your taste in music isn’t random-it’s instinctive.
That’s why Instinctive Shuffle was created. This smart new app goes far beyond the random shuffle and actually makes song recommendations to match whatever mood you’re in. So you can explore and experience your music in a whole new way.”
By skipping the songs that you don’t want to hear Instinctiv captures these decisions and learns from your preferences/choices. It sounds very similar to Pandora.com’s free music streaming feature but takes it directly to you and your iPod. I’m a fan of any tool that helps my music experience become a better one.
Instinctiv Shuffle™ is the first product by Instinctiv (formerly Predict Systems), a company dedicated to changing the way that consumers experience their entertainment.

But the main subject of this post is about Lollapalooza (which, by the way, I guess is in the MS Dictionary as it does not pull up on spell-check…funny enough) This year there is a whole host of after parties to attend after the festival has ended on Friday and Saturday. The biggest ones out right now are…

8.1.

Mates of State
w/ MGMT
Double Door
Ages 21+
Doors @ 10pm

Black Lips
Empty Bottle
Ages 21+
Doors @ 9pm

8.2

Broken Social Scene
w/ Yeasayer
Metro
Ages 18+
Doors @ 10pm

Bloc Party
w/ CSS and Does it Offend You, Yeah?
House of Blues
Ages 17+
Doors @ 9:30pm

Battles
w/ Foals and Magic Wands
Double Door
Ages 21+
Doors @ 10pm

For those of us interested in a lot of the bands at Lolla, these after parties look appealing. Broken Social Scene/ Lupe Fiasco scheduling conflict got you down? Go see Lupe at the festival, and catch BSS at the after show. Before you go buy your tickets let me point out a few cons. First of all, Lolla weekend is an expensive enough endeavor already, the cost of going to some of these after shows would require an increase in ones entertainment budget. But if you’re balling out of control, let me warn you that Lolla is a tiring three day event if you like to go out after the festival ends each day. It would take some serious music dedication to rock out all day and then go back at it at night. But to those brave souls I applaud. All tix go on sale the 6/21 at 10 am. Now if only Dierks Bentley had an after show…

And by the way, the Cease to Begin album is very, very good…

About the album:
Here we go: it’s the official release of The Hood Internet vs Chicago. We’ve got 23 completely new jams for you, 24 if you count the intro. Some of the artists on here have been in Chicago for a minute, some are relatively recent transplants, and some have even moved away — but at one point or another, they called Chicago home. And yes, there are a few cameos from some non-Chicagoans, but seeing as they were already part of the track(s) in question, they’re like friends of friends, you know?

Check out the clip for yourself and keep those fingers crossed.

Weezer - Pork and Beans

_____________________________________________

Studio album ratings rundown:

1994 Weezer (The Blue Album) - 5/5 stars
1996 Pinkerton - 4.5/5 stars
2001 Weezer (The Green Album) - 4/5 stars
2002 Maladroit - 3.5/5 stars
2005 Make Believe - 2/5 stars
2008 Weezer (The Red Album) - a break in the trend? we hope so.

Radiohead took another innovative step last week when they decided to release the 4 individual tracks that combine to make up the song “Nude” on 2007’s In Rainbows. Fans can now purchase the vocal, drum, guitar, and strings tracks separately on iTunes. What’s even more interesting is that Radiohead is encouraging fans to use the tracks to create their own remixes. This is just another head turning move from the band who decided to release Rainbows for free on the Internet - encouraging fans to donate. We can’t wait to see them at Lollapalooza this year!

Check out radioheadremix.com to upload your remix or vote for the best ones uploaded by others. Here’s an example of one remix uploaded by a fan:

JUST ANNOUNCED: Lupe Fiasco will also be included in the 2008 lineup.

Here’s what he’s saying about this year’s festival…

Dan’s must see list:

- RADIOHEAD (duh)
- Rage Against the Machine
- Kanye West
- Wilco
- Gnarls Barkley
- Bloc Party
- Girl Talk (get your fist pump ready)
- The National
- Broken Social Scene
- Okkervil River
- John Butler Trio (amazing Australian folk rock)
- Chromeo
- The Go! Team
- Mason Jennings (one of my all time favs)
- MGMT
- Black Kids
- Foals
- Cadence Weapon (indie hip hop)

Rejoice!