The new Alanis album “Flavors of Entanglement” dropped today. There is the regular version or a deluxe version with an additional 5 bonus tracks. Any Alanis fan will want the deluxe version of course just to get themselves more Miss Morissette.

The album streamed on VH1.com last week, so I gave it a listen there then. I ordered it from iTunes and actually got it last night. This is without a doubt her BEST album since “Jagged Little Pill.” I absolutely love love love it.

Alanis is back to her angry roots, as this album plays to her breakup with Ryan Reynolds. She’s also for some songs tapped back into her Canadian dance-pop roots a bit, as some of the songs have a very electro-dance-techno aspect to them, but not the sugary 80s kind. Some Alanis fans might hate this, but I love this aspect to the album. It gives it a harder edge believe it or not (think NiN actually).

If I had more than two thumbs, I’d give it more than two thumbs up!

So first thing I did this morning was get myself tickets to Madonna’s Philly concert, which went on sale this morning at 10am. Let me tell you it wasn’t as easy as it should have been either.

Ticketmaster, which I normally use for my tickets as they basically have a monopoly on the industry, dropped the ball. They did NOT have Madonna’s concert listed for Philly. It was up there as of last week, but then on Friday Madonna announced a date change. I suspect this has to do with why the concert was removed from their page. However they didn’t put it back up, so they’ve missed out on a lot of online ticket sales. This of course means they don’t get to rake in the money from their outrageous “service fees,” which Emily often refers to as being anally raped by Ticketmaster.

This basically left me with two choices. Call ticketmaster and order over the phone, or use the box office site for the venue. Well the first of those two choices were out of the question. I hate hate hate HATE dealing with people over the phone when it involves some kind of transaction like this. I wasn’t about to spend ten minutes navigating their automated “Push 1 for . . . ” menus only to end up being greated with “Hello, my name is “Bob,” I am here to help you with your ticket purchase today. Please tell me how I may assist you? . . . . . . . So please, yes, I understand that you would like to purchase Madonna tickets? Is this correct? Come again, I’m sorry but I did not understand that last sentence.” Yeah, I know that was mean, but sadly it’s true and you all know it!

So I was left with the Wachovia Spectrum’s box office site, which is the most unfriendly thing EVER. The first 3-4 tries to get tickets it kept telling me “Sorry no tickets are available because . . . ” Eventually I got through to their insane word verification system. It’s one of those ones where you have to read the letters and numbers mashed together AND read them through the 3 year old’s scribble ontop of it. Half the time you get the word wrong or have to ask for a new one because you can’t read it at all! So then I choose best ticket’s available, only to be given great seats, for 350 dollars a ticket. I love Madonna, but I don’t love the new album THAT much. So back to the begining and the whole process repeats over. No tickets, insane word verification, finally tickets. I had to go through this about 4-5 times to finally score seats I was happy with and at the price I was willing to pay. In the end I ended up with seats better than we had at the “Confessions” tour, so it was worth the pain.

I do have to add one final gripe aout the fees and crap. Not only did Wachovia charge me the normal 20 some dollars in “service and processing” fees, but then they charged me for mailing me the tickets! I don’t think Ticketmaster even has the balls to do that unless you expidite the tickets. Regular standard old mail was $3.50. Okay so stamps, paper, ink and envelopes cost money . . . whatever. So what are the “service and processing” fees I’ve already paid? Not only was mailing that much, they charged $3.50 for the option of holding my tickets at will call. That’s normally free too! I guess they have to pay the person at the booth to hand the tickets out? Finally there was the print your tickets at home option. Hey, my paper, my ink, my resources . . . . $2.50 cents. Are you kidding me?

I’ve never been a huge fan of Weezer, unlike my brother who loves them. However their new video is hysterical. It pulls in a bunch of “stars” who basically got famous thanks to YouTube. I know you all will at least recognize the Britney Guy Chris Crocker. Even Kelly from “Shoes” is in there. Special prop to the imfamous Zero Wing “All your bases belong to us” shows up in the video too!

Today on the radio I heard a song called “I Kissed A Girl” by Katy Perry and loved it! At first I thought it was a remake of the old Jill Sobule song, but it wasn’t.

Here’s a hilarious fan made video using “Xena” footage, which makes it so much better. Note, they are foreign Xena clips as they are speaking German I think.

I did some searching, her album comes out in June and she has another hilarious song called “Ur So Gay.”

First up, I know it’s been a few days since I posted. After Vegas I needed some down time, plus I got hit with kidney stones . . . always fun! Anyway I’m back to normal and getting back to work and the daily grind. Just a few updates on what other stuff has been going on.

Madonna’s “Hard Candy” album dropped this week. Unlike “Confessions,” which I instantly fell in love with, this is more of a “have to listen to it a few times” to get the feel for it. There are definitely some great songs on it with an 80s electro-pop dance feel as well as a 70s disco-soul groove. “Give It 2 Me, ” “Incredible,” “She’s Not Me” and “Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You” are my favorites on the album. Other songs are okay, some I could have done without. Some just don’t feel like Madonna should be singing them to me, and she really needs to stay away from rapping.

Last night I watched “The Orphanage.” Watching this around 3am was a mistake, because it was a subtly creepy movie. Nothing overwhelming, jump out of your seat scary. Just creepy. It’s from producer Guillermo del Toro, who is probably best known for writing/directing “The Devil’s Backbone” and “Pan’s Labyrinth.” Both of these are set during the Spanish Civil War, but “The Orphanage” (which he just produced) is in modern times. It’s the story of a woman who buys the home/orphanage she grew up in to return to with her husband and son. However it seems the children she played with as a child might still be around! Very good movie, very creepy. One of the better in the horror genre to come out these past few years in my opinion. Warning though, it’s subtitled for those who don’t like reading during a movie

Also out this week is “GTAIV” better known as “Grand Theft Auto 4.” Yes this is the controversial game said to warp children’s minds and make them go out and shoot up people and stuff. It’s rated M for mature, there is a reason, kids shouldn’t be playing it! If you wouldn’t let your kids go to an ultra-violent movie, don’t let them play these types of games either, it’s that simple. I picked it up because it’s a fun stress reliever honestly. I know the difference between right and wrong and real and imaginary, so I’m pretty confident I won’t be carjacking anyone tonight or running people over on the street

Finally I ordered the “His Dark Materials” trilogy, the first book being “The Golden Compass.” It’s been awhile, since the last Harry Potter, since I read something for fun. I decided I liked the movie enough to give the books ago. Plus I want to see what the “controversy” is about.

Seriously, let’s get serious for a moment shall we? When the hell did everything get so serious and fun go out the window? I’m so sick and tired of the Oscars and their “serious” movies and all the nominations they give these movies no one sees. When did we start kissing Ebert and Roeper’s asses so much? I miss when movies were just fun and fun to watch, when you didn’t have to “think” so much and leave the theater pondering the meaning of life.

The same goes for music. Alot in music nowadays seems to have to have some social or political meaning. As much as I love Alanis (I love you Alanis baby), I also love just being able to have fun to music. I don’t want to think of the damn political situations or the strife of the common man when I listen music, does this look like the 60’s to you?

Sometimes you just need to say “F” everything going on in the world right now. That’s why I say “Thank God For the B52’s!” They have a new album out, in case you didn’t know. Don’t feel bad, I didn’t either. It took super lesbian Ellen DeGeneres to let me in on this when she had them on her show last week. Anyways, they have a new album out called “Funplex” which is their first album in umpteen years, which also brings back the blond girl Cindy Wilson to the group. For those not in the know, she left the group for a brief period to have a kid and a life, and they put out the album “Good Stuff” without her. It’s a pretty frakin awesome album in case you didn’t get it!

Well she’s rejoined the group and now they have their new album “Funplex” out. I command you to go out and buy it now and begin to have fun with music again! What are you still reading this for? BUY their album now!

This video was on the front page of YouTube last night, and probably still is today. I’m not sure what to think of it honestly. Are these girls serious, or is this a joke? First I’ll give them props for the video. While it’s crude, it is something I couldn’t do without setting a whole lot of time aside to do. The singing? Well they had the guts to do it and put it on the net.

What makes me ask if this is a joke is simple. I know women love this song, but guess what? So does every gay man in America. This one of the top, if not the top, gayest song ever. So to use it to make a campaign video supporting McCain, a republican who has flip-flopped on gay issues to suit whatever way his political wind is blowing (to be politically fair though, they all do), is somewhat hilarious.

Sorry, didn’t mean to get so political, but this video and everything about it I find hilarious. Oh they have another video too, “Here Comes McCain Again” to the tune of gender-bending Annie Lenox/The Eurythmic’s song “Here Comes The Rain Again.” Please tell me this is a joke? Please?

Post-Post Note: It seems “Here Come’s McCain Again” has been removed. I wonder if Annie Lenox threatened to sue? It was working and up last night and their new video, now it’s gone.

PPP Note: This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by The MCPS - PRS Alliance Ltd.

Oh Madonna. I’m not sure what to say to you in this letter! In about one month your new album “Hard Candy” drops. The news came out awhile ago that this was going to be your R&B album, much like “Confessions” was your dance album. You are the mother of reinvention, but in this case I’m not so much sure that you are reinventing yourself as much as playing up to what the trends of the market are right now.

Your “Confessions” album was such a breath of fresh air for myself and probably many. I know it probably didn’t get the airplay you might have wanted, but the album was amazing. Yes it was 80s-disco-retro, but that is not a bad thing. The Scissor Sisters are too and in my opinion one of the best new bands in years out there (and I swear I’m not playing favorites here). Unfortunately they have not broken through in the US as they have in Europe. I believe I have said it before, I often agree more with Europeans’ tastes in music lately, except Germany because cause they seem to really like David Hasselhoff there.

But Madonna, this new album, really! Aside for going for some serious airplay in a Clear Channel dominated market, what were you thinking? Yes I know I have not heard it, and I really should reserve judgment until I do. However I have heard three leaked songs from it, two of them of course being early demos as far as I know. I wasn’t really that impressed. They sounded so much like what I hear every time I turn on the radio, which is usually why I usually now have the “oldies” stations on. Regardless, I did pre-order your new album on iTunes and have been listening to your new single “4 Minutes.” It took awhile, but it is a catchy tune, and I really like the parts when your actually singing as opposed to Justin once again singing like he’s Michael Jackson or beatboxxing.

I’m no fan of hip hop, I’ve made that clear on this blog before. I think at this point its taken over most of the music market to the point that grunge/alternative once did. I for one am over it. Madonna, will your album be a huge success, or will it be like Ethel Merman and Kiss’ disco albums . . . the nail in the coffin for hip hop? If it’s the later, I will applaud you.

(Running to hide from Justin’s fans, who will probably descend on me sooner or later screaming at me! See my infamous Jessica Simpson post)

To listen to “4 Minutes (To Save The World) Here it is on YouTube

So I had my fun fun fun trip to the dentist today. I must either really be getting old or did some serious teeth mashing last night, as it just hurt to sit in that chair holding my mouth open. I was like please let this end cause my mouth is so sore! I think I probably ground my teeth last night out of stress, nerves and everything else. However the check-up went okay, no cavities and no work to be done. Yay! I was shocked basically because the past 6 months have been pretty stressful for me and I know I haven’t taken as good care of myself as I should have.

There is a lot I really want to say, but I don’t what I can and can’t say. I’m feeling very stifled right now lol, and I really want to scream and yell about a lot! I’m having trouble sticking to my decision, so I need to sit down and write out an email and send it off and be done with some things for good. It’s time to realize I have to walk away . . .

Changing the subject slightly, I had written a previous post before and saved it about that damn Miley Cyrus song that I hear every single time I seem to get in the car and turn on the radio. I didn’t know who sang it the first few times I heard it, but I liked it cause it was something different than the Rhianna/Justin/Timbeland produced stuff that only seems to get airplay in my area. However it soon became the “it” song, and they played it over and over to the point where I got tired of hearing it. Unfortunately it’s one of those infectious songs you can’t help but sing when you hear it. Plus I feel like it’s kind of my anthem lately. Just the “last time I freaked out” part, not the part about an obsessed teenage girl talking some boy she likes

I’m home in Virginia for a few days. I get to visit the dentist tomorrow. Fun fun fun! Not not not! I was warned last time one of my old fillings is breaking down and I might need a crown or worse. I’m hoping I do NOT need a root canal, that would just top off all the other crap going on in my life right now!

While on the way home I saw a huge billboard for some colon hydrotherapy clinic. That was not the image I needed in my head while driving home. Talk about getting some crap out of your life!

Anyway, before I make anymore crap jokes that are in poor taste, enjoy the following crap which is good. The new trailer for “Mamma Mia!”