Here a banjo, there a banjo, everywhere a twangy banjo.

Twenty-eight. That is the amount of times in one day that I heard the songs play. Between my daily morning routine, my various commutes throughout the city, and a quick visit to CVS, "Home" came on eight times, "Ho Hey" seven, "Little Talks" also seven, and "I Will Wait" six.

Phillip Phillips and company really have made this place their home... and this place is Top 40 Radio.

I guess it isn't exactly "news" that Top 40 radio kills music. A song gets popular and then completely destroyed through massive amounts of overplay. This is still happening to some of the greatest bands of all time. I often think that classic-rock stations seem to only be aware that the Rolling Stones have five songs, and three of those songs are "Brown Sugar." So why is it any more annoying this time around?

More »

Hey there, Twitter-feuding musicians. It's time we take it old-school with a kindergarten version of the quiet game. Don't know the rules? Here's a crash course: Whoever shuts up the longest wins.

I know you love the media attention, and you've got a subpar album to promote, but there's nothing hard about fighting over social media. Think about it; you're using a little blue bird to deliver insults with the chirp of his "tweet," and it's causing your virtual girl panties to show.

Perhaps it's time to hike up your britches and play along with me, no?

More »

Ol' Dirty Bastard of the Wu-Tang Clan is the only rapper to use his welfare card as an album cover; and the only rapper to take America along with him as he used the card to pick up his welfare check.

Ol Dirty Bastard was a breakout star on the Wu-Tang Clan's debut album, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), but as he began his solo career, he contributed less and less to successive albums. In fact, he may have invented more names for himself than verses on Wu-Tang records: Dirt Dog, Dirt McGirt, Freeloading Rusty, Big Baby Jesus, and Knifey McStabb, just to name a few.

But whether he was Big Baby Jesus or Ason Unique, he aaaalways kept it real. He was unrelentingly erratic and seemed to be constantly battling legal troubles. He also was convinced that the government was trying to kill him. But maybe Ol' Dirty was right.

More »

In a recession, particularly one as deep and annoyingly persistent as the one we currently find ourselves in, it is tough to justify larger purchases, particularly for things that aren't necessities. As much as we love music here at Rocks Off, we too are often shocked at the price of boxed sets and special limited releases that come out around the holidays. While some of them are worth it, many are just garbage wrapped up to look like a Christmas present.

Well, we aren't alone. Apparently, Elvis Costello also thinks some of these are too expensive, namely, his own limited edition release of The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook. No, seriously. The release, which includes the CD, the DVD and a limited vinyl pressing (only 1500 of the entire set are available, but each piece will sell separately after the first of the year) sells for over $200 on Amazon, but you're eligible for free shipping, so that's something.

More »

Dig on these video of Israeli titans Monotonix playing last night at Super Happy Fun Land. We followed the band from the floor of the venue, to the bathroom of the venue, to the dumpsters, and all the way out damn near the train tracks off Polk. We have a harrowing sweat-drenched slideshow coming tomorrow morning, along with a review. But hell, with footage like this and the video below, anything we say won't really do this video justice.

Monotonix at Super Happy Fun Land in Houston (Full Tilt Boogie, Ya'll)

We are currently nursing one hell of a sun hangover, but we have a video from yesterday's Vans Warped Tour to hold you over until Monday morning. Have a safe and happy Independence Day from all of us at Rocks Off.

Warning: This contains sweat, cursing, dust, and a whole lotta teenage vitriol.

Rocks Off's latest toy is one of those nifty Flip mini-camcorders you can check out here, and coming soon to a concert near you, Houston. We gave it a test run at Ghostland Observatory Saturday evening at Sam Houston Race Park...

More »