The Boss is back! (As if he ever left)

Bruce decided to take most of last week off and let us all catch our breath after his PR blitz leading up to the Super Bowl frenzy and the Crotch Heard Round the World (gonna be a long time before that one gets old) necessitated a massive recap of all his activities. He showed up for a minute to post his Super Bowl Journal on his official page, which alone is worth revisiting for its sheer brilliance (That's your cue to go check it out if you showed up late to the party. Don't worry, we'll still be here when you're done). Luckily, in the week since, The Boss has returned to his usual headline-grabbing, so we have a little bit more material to run through this week than a single-item recap, which I suppose wouldn't be much of a recap at all but more like a repost, which seems a bit redundant. What the hell was I talking about?

Is there anybody ALIVE out there???

Oh, right. Thanks, Boss. As I was attempting to say before I went all ADD, my Google reader was alive this week with all manner of Bruceness, so it is once again time to bring you the most fist-pumping feature in the history of these here interwebs and review the week that was in Bruce news. As per last time, we'll rate each item on a scale of one to five Rockin New Jersey Fist Pumps. Five Jersey Fists if the story makes you want to powerslide into someone's face, one Jersey Fist if the story is so miserable that you'd rather listen to Bon Jovi than read about it ::Imagines actually wanting to listen to Bon Jovi. Punches self in face with solitary Jersey Fist::
(Quick side note, I'm going to need a sweet name for these Jersey Fist Bruce Springsteen recaps if the guy is gonna keep making news. "Keeping Up With The Boss?" "Fist Week Ever?" Help me out here, people).

First things first, Pitchfork Media's interview series with up-and-coming, youngish artists about how Springsteen has influenced them has expanded and is now being hosted on Bruce's official site under the title "Hangin Out on E Street" (apparently I'm not the only one who needs help thinking of titles). Jersey guys the Gaslight Anthem, Ted Leo, Bouncing Souls and Schiff Happens inspiration Wyclef Jean - as well as some other folks who, though talented, can't say they hail from the great Garden State - talk about The Boss and then play a cover of one of his tunes. The point of the thing is to show how Bruce's influence has widened beyond the scope of mainstream rock. I've never been much for indie rock, but I'm all for this. It's just one more talking point for Springsteen fans when the non-Jersey people and the too-hip-for-you-old-man indie kids continue to fail or be unwilling to understand the magnitude of Springsteen's appeal, influence and legend. Face it, indie kids - The Hold Steady made it cool to dig Bruce, and if you don't like it, here's 3 Jersey Fists right in your face. Now wash your damn hair and put a smile on your face you miserable skinny jeans wearing fuck. (Scoring Note: This would have been a 4-Fister, but apparently BruceSpringsteen.net doesn't have much of a budget for acoustics quality control).


Next on the Bruce Watch, Springsteen debuted his video for "The Wrestler" about 2 months too late to prevent the Oscars from snubbing him for Best Original Song. I still have yet to see the movie but I truly do dig this song, and not just because it's simple enough to play that even I can strum along with it on guitar, but because I can't help but get choked up by toned-down acoustic Bruce singing sad songs about one-legged dogs and melancholy characters searching for meaning in this lonely life when society has turned its back on you. I also get emotional for run-on sentences. The fact that the Oscars so obviously effed up by snubbing Bruce and only nominating three songs is made all the more hilarious by Peter Gabriel's refusal to perform his “Down To Earth” from Wall-E in protest of the ceremony's 65-second-per-song rule. Now the Oscars are left with only a pair of Slumdog Millionaire tunes and are so desperate for performers that they've begged offered to let new mum M.I.A. perform Slumdog's "O Saya" from "some sort of fabulous bed on stage." An outdated awards show blatantly effs up and Bruce has the last laugh? That'll get you 4 Jersey Fists every time.


Meanwhile, while we were watching "The Wrestler" video, Bonnaroo posted live Springsteen videos on its web site - "Thunder Road" from Live in New York City and "Promised Land" from Live in Barcelona. There's absolutely nothing here that can't be purchased from your local public television station for a recession-friendly donation of only $200 - hey, at least it's a tax write-off - but it validates this pipe dream that I had that Bruce Springsteen and the legendary E Street Band were headlining freakin' Bonnaroo (BOSSaroo? BonnaRUUCE?) this summer! New Jersey 'Roo domination is the ultimate hype generator around here, so for that we give this one 3 Jersey Fists (if only because the videos themselves really are nothing new) as we are compelled to ask again, "Who's comin with me?"


Finally, Point Blank alerted us to upcoming albums that feature The Boss, which wouldn't necessarily matter one way or another except that one of those albums belongs to none other than Bernie Williams! Before Bernie became a superstar musician, he patrolled centerfield for the Dynasty Yankees, and his penchant for clutch hits launched a new era of awful John Sterling home run call nicknames. Bernie's new album "Moving Forward," due out April 14, includes a live version of "Glory Days" recorded with The Boss himself at Joe Torre's Safe At Home benefit in November 2007. Bruce and Bernie, the Bombers and The Boss together? Are there any 2 more dominating, legendary figures in their respective fields than Springsteen and the Yankees? More importantly, is there any combination more apt to stir Schiff Happens into a screaming, fist-pumping lather? Bruce cedes the floor to that other Boss, as this one gets an obvious 5 Jersey Fists.

I wanna know who got that N.A.S.A. music [we have liftoff!]

Tons to do today so could be a slow one for blogging, but let me just remind you of the only thing you need to know this morning: N.A.S.A. has launched, and we're already a day late.

If you don't know, you should have been learning along with me, because The Spirit of Apollo is going to be one of the biggest party bangers of the year. Write that down on the off chance that you didn't know already so I can take credit later, and read on for your 30-second tutorial.

N.A.S.A. (North America/South America) is a collaboration between DJ Zegon and DJ Sam Spiegel (aka Squeak E. Clean, aka Spike Jonze's brother) rooted in celebrating unity across a vast spectrum of artists. First, we heard "Gifted," featuring Kanye West, Lykke Li and Santogold (apparently now known as Santigold). Next it was "Watchadoin," which brought together M.I.A., Spank Rock, Santi, and Nick Zinner, and "Spacious Thoughts," an ethereal meeting between Tom Waits and Kool Keith. Schiff Happens was convinced after hearing David Byrne trade verses with Chuck D on "Money." Since then, we've heard even more tracks featuring The Cool Kids, Ghostface Killah, DJ AM, Scarface, KRS-One, Fatlip, Slim Kid Tre, Method Man, and even Schiff Happens favorite Ol' Dirty Bastard. “This record is about bringing the craziest combination of people together,” says Spiegel. Well no shit, Sam - mission accomplished.

In addition to the wild collaborations in the studio, N.A.S.A. have taken their concept a step further and enlisted some of their favorite fine artists, such as Marcel Dzama and Shepard Fairey (yea, that guy) to produce 5 interchangeable album covers which will all come with the album. The beatmakers then paired their artist pals with animators to create some fantastic music videos for songs off of Apollo. Check out the different covers here.

You can pick up your copy of The Spirit of Apollo at iTunes, Amazon, and purveyors of fine music everywhere, via Anti-. For now, enjoy a little taste with these videos.

N.A.S.A. "The Spirit of Apollo" Trailer


"Money" ft. David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge & Z-Trip


"Hip Hop" ft. KRS-One, Fatlip, & Slim Kid Tre


"The People Tree" ft. David Byrne, Chali 2na, Gift of Gab, & Z-Trip


N.A.S.A. Previously on SH:
No- No- No more work this week! [Friday Jams]
More tunes! aka Where the F are my Friday Jams?
To all my people who don't wanna go to work [Friday Jams]

Blink-182 are back! [the one where the nerd goes "I HAVE NO LEGS!"]

I popped in on the Grammys a couple of times last night, mostly to A) check out Dave Grohl's positively giddy drumming with Sir Paul on "I Saw Her Standing There." If you didn't like seeing Grohl, a legitimate rock lord who has collaborated with the biggest of big names, reduced to giggling schoolgirl joy while playing alongside a walking rock god, then I'm not quite sure how to say this, but I don't think we can be friends. Free whoppers for everybody! Sorry. Wandered off a little bit there. Seriously though, "I Saw Her Standing There" can still rock a room. Like you weren't watching at home singing, "WOOOOOOOO." Meanwhile, somewhere, Ringo Starr turned to whoever he was watching with and desperately tried to convince them, "I used to be in this band, I swear! Who the bloody hell is that bloke? I'm Ringo! I'm in the band! I'M IN THE BAND!!!"

...and B) to see if M.I.A. was going to go ahead and have that natural childbirth right there on stage mid-"Paper Planes." She may have gotten shafted on the awards, but that was definitely the greatest live performance I've ever seen by a nine-months pregnant woman in a see-through dalmatian bikini, an honor which as you and I and Homer Simpson all know is more valuable than any Grammy. You feelin that, Weezy? Word? Me too - the performance that is. The black and white tripped me up for a minute, but it was a cool presentation and was delivered well. Weezy was a big winner on the night overall; he got 4 of these things including best Rap Album and Song, but he also paid homage to New Orleans alongside Allen Toussaint, Terence Blanchard and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. This performance was a surprise highlight for me. Dirty Dozen was a college favorite and I'm already lining up the convoy to Tennessee to see Toussaint in June. Aaaand there's your first Bonnaroo mention.

I honestly didn't see a single award handed out amidst all the performances, so I wasn't watching live during what was definitely the biggest moment of the show if you were a teenager at any point in the mid to late 90s or if you vehemently believe that "Can't Hardly Wait" is a brilliant and sadly under-appreciated movie of your generation. Blink-182, together on stage for the first time since 2005 to present the Best Rock Album award to Coldplay (really? was nobody else nominated?), officially announced their reunion. Read their official statement, via Rolling Stone Rock and Roll Daily, if you don't believe me:

“Hi. We’re blink-182. This past week there’ve been a lot of questions about the current status of the band, and we wanted you to hear it straight from us. To put it simply, We’re back. We mean, really back. Picking up where we left off and then some. In the studio writing and recording a new album. Preparing to tour the world yet again. Friendships reformed. 17 years deep in our legacy.”

The band leaves things with the words “Summer 2009. Thanks and get ready…”

It's already being rumored that "Summer 2009" means they're opening for Green Day, who - would you look at that? - have an album coming out in May. Well isn't that just convenient? It's safe to say that Blink/Green Day Tour '09 would make my summer concert schedule that much more epic. I had a quality high school flashback fairly recently, so while I'd probably be very excited to see a reunited Blink, friends of this airspace know that I'd about flip a shit at a Green Day concert. That's beyond a high school flashback, that's more like Pine Brook Elementary. I've only dreamed of seeing Green Day in concert since Dookie was my first CD in 1994. Of course, I shudder to think of attempting to get tickets,as TicketBastard and LineNation merge into a scourge of the hippies ticketopoly. But if Blink-182 really wants to go all out and conquer the world this summer, there's plenty of room on our convoy. What, you didn't think this was really a Grammys post? It could happen! I'll kick everyone's ass in this room!

Blink-182 make reunion official on Grammy stage [Rolling Stone]