Topic: Karl

TOM JONES sings the "Elvis Presley Blues," written by Gillian Welch.

DEERHUNTER stopped by Morning Becomes Eclectic for a session.

AURORA plays a Tiny Desk Concert.

VAL HOLLIE streams his self-titled debut EP.

ANNA von HAUSSWORTH streams The Miraculous.

THE BIG PINK returns after a three year absence with “Hightimes.”

THE WHO: "I'm A Boy."

GUNS N' ROSES are reportedly ​​”days away” from announcing ​a​ world​ reunion tour ​next year.

SURFER BLOOD guitarist Thomas Fekete, diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, is getting help from Real Estate, Yo La Tengo, Guided By Voices, Julianna Barwick, Cults, and many more bands that are auctioning unreleased tracks as a fundraiser.

CHILLY GONZALES explains the timeless appeal of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."  I highly recommend this.

SHEARWATER: Michael Azerrad (author of Our Band Could Be Your Life) spoke with Jonathan Meiburg to discuss New York music, PiL, and the band's forthcoming album Jet Plane and Oxbow.

JEFF LYNNE talks ELO's return at Paste.

GWEN STEFANI got cheated on by Gavin Rossdale? With the nanny? Maybe this is leaked because of all those stories about Blake Shelton?

LAMAR ODOM has a lot of questions about Khloé Kardashian's new man.

TOM CRUISE is reportedly furious at Leah Remini's claims about him and Scientology.

HILARY DUFF: Packing Heat.

KATE WINSLET finds talk about gender pay equity vulgar.

IRAN: United Nations human rights investigators called on Iran on Wednesday to cease arresting, harassing and prosecuting journalists and other activists to pave the way for free debate ahead of parliamentary elections in February.

IRAQI forces appear better positioned than ever to launch an offensive against Islamic State militants controlling Ramadi, now that months-long efforts to cut off supply lines to the city are having an effect, but plenty of risks remain.

A LABRADOR steals a pizza, nearly burns down the house.

A 9-FT BURMESE PYTHON was removed from under a front porch in Miami.

CROCODILES may guard Indonesian prisons.

PACIFIC COD may have learned to hunt seabirds.

ALLEN TOUSSAINT, the versatile producer, songwriter, pianist and singer who was a fixture of New Orleans R&B, died after appearing in concert in Madrid on Monday. He was 77.  The Rolling Stones, Levon Helm, Billy Bragg, J.D. McPherson, and Robbie Robertson were among the musicians offering tribute. The Guardian rounds up seven of his best songs, performed by himself and others. NPR reposted a 2009 concert at the Village Vanguard.

JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD advance streams a double-LP titled Global Chakra Rhythms.

A SUNNY DAY IN GLASGOW advance streams a double-EP titled Planning Weed Like It’s Acid / Life Is Loss.

SNUFF REDUX advance streams their nifty Besides You EP.

SWINGS advance streams their debut, Sugarwater. 

MARK McGUIRE (Emeralds) advance streams Beyond Belief.

THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART unleash "Hell" from an upcoming EP of the same name.

HINDS drop "San Diego" ahead of Leave Me Alone.

THE MEKONS & ROBBIE FULKS team up on the British folk standard, "Go From My Window."

QUEEN: The video for "Bohemian Rhapsody" was shot 40 years ago yesterday. Guitarist Brian May recently talked to Newsweek about the song...and Wayne's World.

MAC McCAUGHAN talks to Drowned In Sound about the 80s UK vive of Non-Believers.

LANA DEL REY talks to The Current about paranoia, Father John Misty, Nina Simone and her fourth LP, Honeymoon.

AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler has launched Janie’s Fund to support abused and neglected girls.

ROY HARPER had sex abuse charges dropped against him, following an earlier jury acquittal on some charges and a hung jury on others.

MORENA BACCARIN's estranged husband changed his mind about co-parenting after learning her Gotham cos-tar Ben McKenzie was in the picture. Shocka.

CHRISTIE BRINKLEY isn't answering questions about marrying John Mellencamp.

GISELLE BUNDCHEN almost ditched TOM BRADY after he impregnanted his ex-gf Bridget Moynihan.

KHLOE KARDASHIAN says she's not married to lamar Odom for "intimacy."  Dude has issues to work out, you know.

PATRICK DEMPSEY and his estranged wife Jillian are “working on their relationship” nearly 11 months after filing for divorce.

VETERANS' DAY: Today is the observation of the anniversary of the end of WWI; thank a vet today, and read the excellent 2009 piece by the WaPo's David Ignatius that may be more true today.

IRAN stopped dismantling centrifuges in two uranium enrichment plants, state media reported on Tuesday, days after conservative lawmakers complained to President Hassan Rouhani that the process was too rushed.

SYRIAN soldiers fought their way into an airbase in northern Syria on Tuesday, state television said, breaking a nearly two-year siege by Islamic State insurgents at the facility and freeing military personnel holed up inside.

A LABRADOR, rescued by a sailing club in the Gulf of Naples. And apparently returned to its owner.

A KANGAROO at Hervey Bay Golf Course chases some lads in a golf cart. Meaning the lads, not the roo.

AN ALLIGATOR fought A PYTHON on a Florida golf course.

FOSSILS OF ANCIENT FANGED EELS were discovered in Brazil.

THE BEATLES: A video for "We Can Work it Out" drops to promote the upcoming box set.

DESTROYER stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set.

FRANKIE COSMOS streams her Fit Me In EP.

ALEX BLEEKER covers The Beatles, Little Wings, and the Jeremy Spencer Band for Aquarium Drunkard.

YO LA TENGO playlists your next dinner party.

BOB DYLAN: The day "Like a Rolling Stone" came together.

MUSIC-MAKING and the Myth of the Tortured Genius.

DAN CORRIGAN, who photographed The Replacements' Let It Be cover, as well as many bands of the era, is interviewed for Pitchfork Unsung.

TEN ESSENTIAL SPARKS SONGS, according to Pitchfork.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Spectre topped the chart with 73MM, which is strong, but short of Skyfall's 88MM debut.  Given 223MM in overseas receipts already, the North American take is probably enough to suggest it will break evenagainst its reported 650MM breakeven cost.The Peanuts Movie placed with 45MM against a 100MM budget, but good reviews, an "A" Cinemascore from viewers, no serious competition until Thanksgiving, and the merch sales (Oh, the merch sales!) will likely leave Charlie Brown unusually content.  The Martian shows with 9.3MM, which is pretty darned leggy, considering Bond was at the box office; Ridley, Matt & Co. are well into the black with 458MM worldwide against a 108MM production budget. Goosebumps takes the fourth slot with 7MM, which probably should be considered good post-Halloween against Peanuts.  Bridge of Spies rounds out the Top Five with 6.1MM, and istill rolling out slowly in foreign markets.  Beow the fold, there are mostly flops and disappointments...but The Intern, coming in ninth this weekend, has earned 180MM worldwide against a 35MM budget.

SPECTRE: I'd rank this lower than Skyfall or Casino Royale, but above Quantum of Solace.  That said, it's closer tot he first two than to the last of these.  It contines the Craig-era's focus un Bond's backstory (which hardcore Bond fans tend to dislike).  OTOH, it continues to to evolve the franchise more toward the more typical Bond film (which I presume others may dislike), albeit with less humor.  Given the title, I don't think it's a spoiler to note that Bond's nemesis is revealed and in that sense, there are elements of the third act that reminded me of Dr. No.  The cast, pretty much returning from Skyfall, all does well, with Lea Seydoux (Midnight In Paris, Mission impossible: Ghost Protocol, Inglorious Basterds) and  Monica Bellucci (The Matrix Reloaded and so much more) making for two notable Bond women (though I wish Bellucci had more to do).  Christopher Waltz also brings his quirks to the role of the antagonist. Sam Mendes manages the drama and the action with aplomb (the latter being my problem w/ QoS).  My main issue with the film is Bond's caharacter arc, which technically falls within the scope of the novels and previous films, but which I think will ultimately ring untrue with most viewers.

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS has a TV spot with new material as well as an international trailer with even more new footage. TIME looks for clues in the translated subtitles for the latter.

THE HATEFUL EIGHT: Quentin Tarantino's 8thfilm has a new trailer online.

GAVIN ROSSDALE is “suspicious” over estranged wife Gwen Stefani's story that she just became an item with Blake Shelton.

CHLOE MORETZ is set to play the title character in Working Title and Universal's The Little Mermaid retelling with Richard Curtis in talks to pen the script.

GERMAN INTELLIGENCE systematically spied on friends and allies around the world. I'm not sure why this is scandalous; I expect most all countries spy on friends and foes alike.

THE ISLAMIC STATE: U.S. spy agencies now believe the preponderance of intelligence about last week’s crash of a Russian passenger plane over Egypt points to a terrorist bombing as the cause, U.S. officials said Sunday. The U.S. and U.K. are shared intell with Russia and Egypt regarding the crash.

A HUGE TRAPDOOR SPIDER plays tug-of-war with a human.

KANGAROOS fail to solve climate change issue.

EMUS ON THE LAM, recaptured in Pima County, AZ.

PART HUMAN, PART MOUSE: Chimeras Face Ethical Scrutiny. What is the law?

THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE:

...with THE FACES! Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Ronnie Lane, Kenny Jones, and Ian McLagan, live on the Beeb circa 1972.  Your setlist includes: "Three Button Hand Me Down"; "Maybe I'm Amazed"; "Too Much Woman/Street Fighting Man"; "Miss Judy's Farm"; "Love In Vain"; "Stay With Me"; and "I'm Losing You."

JEFF LYNNE's ELO advance streams Alone In The Universe.

CHRIS ISSAK advance streams First Comes The Night.

BILL RYDER-JONES (The Coral) advance streams West Kirby County Primary.

COOL UNCLE: Veteran smooth pop and soul singer-songwriter Bobby Caldwell and the contemporary hit-making producer Jack Splash advance stream a self-titled LP.

THE WINTER PASSING is streaming A Different Space of Mind.

BLITZEN TRAPPER is profiled at length by the HuffPost.

ALICE COOPER discusses classical composers crazier than he is. He's narrating a new version of Peter and the Wolf.

EVERY SMASHING PUMPKINS SONG, ranked by SPIN.

THE 12 BEST DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS SONGS, according to Paste.

NOW SHOWING: This weekend's wide releases are Spectre, which is currently scoring 61 percent on the ol' Tomatometer; and The Peanuts Movie, scoring 86 percent.

BLAKE SHELTON & GWEN STEFANI are not just dating, they've written a country song together.

EDDIE MURPHY  is going to be a father for the ninth time.

ANGELINA JOLIE PITT gets a super-deluxe profile from the WSJ magazine.

KATY PERRY tops the 2015 Forbes list of the Highest Paid Women in Music.

ALL 102 BOND VILLAINS, ranked by Esquire.

RIDLEY SCOTT, SAM ROCKWELL, TREY PARKER and more discuss seeing the original Star Wars for the first time.

ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: Tim Burton & Co. have a trailer online for the sequel to the director's billion-dollar hit.

THE ISLAMIC STATE: The growing fears that an explosive device may have brought down Russian Metrojet Flight 9268, killing all 224 on board, stems in part from the rise of the ISIS affiliate in the northern part of the Sinai peninsula.

IRAN is banning the entry of US consumer goods, the commerce and industry minister said Thursday, as the country prepares for a lifting of economic sanctions.

SYRIA:  Chemical weapons experts have determined that mustard gas was used in a Syrian town where Islamic State insurgents were battling another rebel group, according to a report by an international watchdog seen by Reuters.

A DACHSHUND and his teddy bear.

A LIVE TAPEWORM was removed from a California man's brain during emergency surgery. The man had 30 minutes to live.

A FOX slaughtered14 penguins at Australia’s Melbourne Zoo.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: A lizard with six tails.

THE BEATLES' "Penny Lane" video, restored for an upcoming box set.

DIANE COFFEE: Shaun Fleming (Foxygen) & Co. played a Tiny Desk Concert.

MAC McCAUGHAN + THE NON-BELIEVERS played KEXP's Midday Show.

NOUN: Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females) streams Throw Your Body on the Gears and Stop the Machine With Your Blood.

GREYS stream their Repulsion EP.

THE HIGH LLAMAS drop the title track to the upcoming "musical narrative," Here Come the Rattling Trees.  If you're not familiar, the Brian Wilson and Steely Dan references are in the ballpark.

COOL UNCLE: Bobby Caldwell and Jack Splash team with Mayer Hawthorne for the 80s-style R & B of "Game Over."

BILLY BRAGG: The Guardian excerpts his new book, A Lover Sings --  and performs the song for which the book is named.

SON VOLT: Jay Farrar talks to PopMatters about Trace‘s shoestring budget, his own distinctive voice, and his relief at leaving a collapsing Uncle Tupelo.

THE ZOMBIES: Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent talk to All Songs Considered about making and revisiting Odessey and Oracle.

NEW ORDER: PopMatters excepts Bernard Sumner's memoir, Chapter and Verse: New Order, Joy Division and Me.

BRITISH SEA POWER: Jan Scott Wilkinson talks to ClashMusic about the Sea Of Brass. (Thx, Frank Yang.)

ANGELINA JOLIE talks to the NYT about directing herselfa nd husband Brad Pitt in a movie about an imploding marriage.

GWEN STEFANI & BLAKE SHELTON appear to be in Nashville, where the latter was scheduled to perform for the CMAs. Shelton's ex, Miranda Lambert, does not seem surprised.

LAMAR ODOM & KHLOE KARDASHIAN may remain on rocky ground.

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM: Entertainment Weelkly has your first look at the Harry Potter spinoff.

LUPITA N'YONGO: Broadway Diva?

THE ISLAMIC STATE: The latest U.S. intelligence suggests that the crash of a Russian passenger jet in the Sinai over the weekend was most likely caused by a bomb on the plane planted by ISIS or an ISIS affiliate, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.

SYRIA: Russia's military force in Syria has grown to about 4000 personnel, but this and more than a month of Russian air strikes have not led to pro-government forces making significant territorial gains, U.S. security officials and independent experts said.

IRAN: The New York Times reports: " Anyone who hoped that Iran’s nuclear agreement with the United States and other powers portended a new era of openness with the West has been jolted with a series of increasingly rude awakenings over the past few weeks."

A LABRADOR surfs to retrieve a tennis ball in a swimming pool.

DOG vs PORCUPINE: Who you got?

A TODDLER bit and killed a venomous snake in his backyard.

THE SQUIRREL THREAT: Now they're training to jump from skyscrapers.