BuzzSugar

How Do You Feel About the Smaller Rolling Stone?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:30:54 -0700

On one hand, it feels like the end of an era now that Rolling Stone magazine is shrinking from its oversize format down to a "regular"-sized magazine, starting with the Oct. 30 issue. On the other hand, a smaller mag is easier to carry around and might be easier to read in general.

How do you feel about the shrinking of Rolling Stone?

Source

"Cane" Promotes Itself with an Ad You Can Eat

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:19:49 -0700

Sure, the whole scratch-and-sniff ad thing was revolutionary ... yesterday. We're way beyond that now. Today's hot new thing is ads you can eat.

The issue of Rolling Stone hitting newsstands on Thursday will include an ad for the new Jimmy Smits series, "Cane," that features a dissolving strip that tastes like a lime mojito. The idea is to promote the show and Duque Rum, the fictional brand that made Smits' character's family so wealthy. According to a CBS press release:

The insert includes a thin, tamper evident pouch with a non alcoholic lime mojito-flavored dissolving taste strip which will enable them to enjoy the full-flavor taste experience of a rum mojito, without any of the sugar, calories or alcohol.

OK, so I open up my magazine, find this ad, put a piece of paper on my tongue, and let it dissolve so I can taste the flavor of a drink without any of the things that make said drink taste good. This is supposed to make me want to watch TV? At least the "Reaper" drink promotion is actually, you know, a drink.

Mostly, this reminds me of those old spy movie scenes where the agents would eat the pieces of paper with their secret instructions written down ... or those dissolving breath strips, which have always made me feel a little squicky. What's next? A pair of special contacts that give you bionic vision? A geeky guy who just shows up at my door to tell me all about "The Big Bang Theory"?

Photo courtesy of CBS

You, Too, Can Be From Rolling Stone

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 15:47:31 -0800

Did anyone catch the "I'm From Rolling Stone" premiere on MTV the other night? If the six magazine interns bugged you as much as they bugged me, and you're thinking you could do better, it turns out you have a chance to prove it.

Rolling Stone has set up a weekly contest where you take on the same assignments as the wannabe music writers on the show. The first one: Describe your local music scene in 300 words or less. If you need inspiration, you can read the interns' original submissions, which range from good to cringe-worthy.

My favorite part: The big prize for winning the weekly contest is a guitar. Because clearly, everyone who writes about music also plays music, right? The overall prize for the whole contest is a bit better: a new laptop and a three-month blogging gig for Rolling Stone's Web site. If that sounds like a sweet gig, get writing - submissions for the first weekly challenge are due by noon Eastern time on Friday.

Best of the Best Lists: Albums of the Year

BuzzSugar — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 11:05:28 -0800

Starting Dec. 26, the day after Christmas, I'll be posting my picks for BuzzSugar's Top Albums of 2006. But until then, there are plenty of other best of lists to keep you occupied, so I'm posting a few of my favorites for your reading/arguing enjoyment. It has been a rather strange year for music, and the diversity of these lists reflects that.

Pitchfork Top 50 Albums of 2006

Top 5:

The Knife, Silent Shout
TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain
Joanna Newsom, Ys (Read my review.)
Ghostface Killah, Fishscale
The Hold Steady, Boys and Girls in America (Read my review.)

Most puzzling selection:
Band of Horses Everything All the Time at No. 12. I like that album too, but only because it reminds me of about 10 other indie-rock bands.

Two more, so read more

Rolling Stone Top 50 Albums of 2006

Top 5:

Bob Dylan, Modern Times
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stadium Arcadium
Sonic Youth, Rather Ripped
TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain
Ghostface Killah, Fishscale

Most puzzling selection: I understand wanting to give a nod to the Chili Peppers, but No. 2? No way.

NPR Listeners Best of 2006

Top 5:

The Decemberists, The Crane Wife
Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Bob Dylan, Modern Times
M. Ward, Post War
TV On the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain

Most puzzling selection:
Regina Spektor's Begin to Hope at No. 10. I like a little Regina too, but just a little.

TV Preview: The Rolling Stone Reality Show

BuzzSugar — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 06:15:15 -0800

Two musical media icons, Rolling Stone magazine and MTV, have joined forces to create a reality show. From the looks of the very melodramatic trailer, this show promises to be either highly entertaining or unwatchably annoying. Called "I'm From Rolling Stone" and premiering Jan. 7, the series will follow six writers as they spend a summer toiling at the magazine in the hopes of landing full-time jobs.
Check out the trailer and tell me what you think. Do you think you'll watch "I'm From Rolling Stone"?

Buzz Gift Guide: Mommy Dearest

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:30:44 -0800

What to get the woman who raised you? She may not be as hard to shop for as grandma or dad, but I still have a few ideas. Mine is a Dancing With the Stars fanatic, so I'm snatching up their new workout DVD. Also on the list: Valerie Bertinelli's memoir and a cute Liz Lemon tote to take to the grocery store. I'm considering a TiVo, too - that way, she doesn't have to decide between The Amazing Race and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on Sunday nights anymore. (Really, it's like Sophie's Choice.)

But if my suggestions don't strike your fancy, check out all of the gift guides across the Sugar network. You're sure to find something!

Link Time! Janet Jackson to Open Up on TV About Michael

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:30:09 -0800

Janet Jackson will be talking about her brother in a new primetime special - TV Squad
The Real Housewives of New Jersey are invading NBC's Mercy. Seriously. - The Ausiello Files
Ryan Seacrest is letting regular people grab money from celebs for his new show Bank of Hollywood - Vulture
Here's a guide to all of the guest stars during November sweeps - TV.com
George Clooney's top 10 movies - Rotten Tomatoes
CBS picks up five more episodes of Accidentally on Purpose - HitFix
Michael Jackson's This Is It takes No. 1 on Billboard - Rolling Stone
Listen to a preview of Adam Lambert's new album - Best Week Ever
Colin Hanks to play "Jack" to Bradley Whitford's "Dan" - Collider
Twilight's Rob and Kristen finally talk about each other. Check out snippets from the interview - PopSugar
Sigourney Weaver and Alia Shawkat sign on for Cedar Rapids - Zap2it
Prepare for the onslaught of skinny jeans: Kings of Leon are creating their own limited-edition clothing line - Spinner

Link Time! Heroes Is Killing Off a Major Character

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:30:36 -0800

Want to know who's getting the ax on Heroes? Click here for the spoiler - Watch With Kristin
Commemorate Election Day '09 with five of the best election campaigns in movies - MTV Movies Blog
Director/writer Richard Kelly talks about The Box and whether he would push the button - Collider
Weezer continues their run of head-scratching collaborations. Check them out with Chamillionaire, Sara Bareilles, and . . . Kenny G?! - Stereogum
Hey Muse fans, here's their new video for Undisclosed Desires! - Rolling Stone
Your childhood Berenstain Bears are coming to the big screen - Moviefone
Critics are just not liking the new Chris Brown album cover, and I have to agree - Vulture
Gordon Ramsay is taking on another cooking show for Fox - YumSugar
Now here's a holiday cover I can get behind: Strokes singer Julian Casablancas is taking on the SNL ditty, "I Wish It Was Christmas Today." Genius. - Pitchfork

Photo courtesy of NBC

Buzz In: Who Should Get Their Own Rock Band Game Next?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:30:11 -0700

Following in the footsteps of this Fall's release of The Beatles Rock Band, similarly seminal band The Who may also get their own version of the game. Roger Daltrey has been quoted as saying that it's planned for next year, but the news is still unconfirmed by reps for the game. More certain is the fact that you probably won't be able to smash the peripherals when you're done playing.

Honestly, though, the thing I'm most excited about is the road ahead for more acts to get Rock Band games. I'm a fan of The Beatles Rock Band and would love the chance to play another band's catalog. Rock Band has already hit up Metallica, Guitar Hero's already gotten Aerosmith; I think it makes sense to have a Rolling Stones game, or perhaps Led Zeppelin or U2. Maybe they could even use a younger band like Green Day or Pearl Jam? Which band would you like to see get their own Rock Band game?

Do You Care About Post-American Idol Albums?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:30:48 -0700

The music industry has been in a tizzy ever since Adam Lambert left the American Idol stage - remember that Rolling Stone cover? Well, Lambert is releasing his debut album next month, along with fellow AI alum Kris Allen, and just today his newest song, "Time For Miracles," leaked online. (Listen here.)

The track is for the upcoming film 2012, but I'm admittedly feeling a little meh about it. It reminds me of Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" for Armageddon. That's not a bad thing, but I was hoping for something a little more unique from the outlandish Lambert. Luckily, the song reportedly doesn't reflect the sound on his final album, which is supposed to be more glam, less classic rock.

But if I'm going to be 100 percent truthful, my interest in Idol graduates - even Lambert - usually wanes somewhat after the show's finale. They're built up so much on AI, but once the winner is announced, I tend to forget about most of the contestants. (The exception being Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, of course.) Still, I'll probably check out Lambert and Allen's respective albums out of curiosity.

How about you? Do you care about post-Idol albums?