LL Cool J, "Going Back To Cali"

From 1989, here's LL Cool J's "Going Back To Cali."

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Mario!

Today marks the 25th birthday of an '80s icon: the little plumber in red overalls, Super Mario! I don't know about you, but I played the heck out of all the Mario games back in the day. In fact, if I played it today I'd remember where the secrets are. Do I remember what I had for dinner last night? NO! Priorities people.

Kotaku has an excellent tribute to the plumber we all know and love. Some of the videos from commenters are hilarious.

If you'd like to get your Mario on today, I found a website with a ton of Mario themed Flash games. You go rescue that Princess from the evil Bowzer!

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New Music Releases: Weezer, James, The Vaselines, The Charlatans UK, Superchunk, Pantera, Bill Hicks

You could spend a small fortune on good music this week! Here are this week's new releases by '80s and early '90s artists. We've compiled this list to the best of our abilities.

Artist: Weezer
Title: Hurley
Release date: September 14, 2010
Rebirth or Reissue: Rebirth
More information: The deluxe edition of this album contains 4 extra tracks: a cover of Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," "All My Friends Are Insects" from Yo Gabba Gabba!, a remix of "Represent" (the song they released for free for the World Cup, and "I Want To Be Something"


Artist: James
Title: The Morning After The Night Before
Release date: September 14, 2010
Rebirth or Reissue: Rebirth
More information: Fourteen new tracks across two CDs from the band best known for "Laid"



Artist: The Vaselines
Title: Sex With An X
Release date: September 14, 2010
Rebirth or Reissue: Rebirth
More information: This is the second album, and first since 1989, from The Vaselines



Artist: The Charlatans UK
Title: Who We Touch
Release date: September 14, 2010
Rebirth or Reissue: Rebirth
More information: The deluxe edition contains thirteen demos and studio out-takes



Artist: Superchunk
Title: Majesty Shredding
Release date: September 14, 2010
Rebirth or Reissue: Rebirth
More information: You can preview the album on NPR


Artist: Pantera
Title: Cowboys From Hell
Release date: September 14, 2010
Rebirth or Reissue: Reissue
More information: This three-disc set contains a remastered Cowboys From Hell, twelve live tracks, and eleven demos


Artist: Bill Hicks
Title: The Essential Collection
Release date: September 14, 2010
Rebirth or Reissue: Reissue
More information: I know we don't usually cover comedy, but we couldn't resist mentioning two CDs and two DVDs of classic and never-before-seen material from the late Bill Hicks


Also this week: new Michelle Branch, Bandon Flowers, Of Montreal, and Robert Plant

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Set Your DVRs: Week Of September 13, 2010

Pretty good week coming up! You've got new performances from Green Day, Devo, Brandon Flowers (twice), and Weezer as well as repeats from Janelle Monae and Jay-Z.

Here are the musical acts appearing on the talk show circuit this week. We compiled this list to the best of our abilities. Check your local listings and don't shoot the messenger.

Monday, September 13th
Jimmy Kimmel Live: Green Day
Last Call With Carson Daly: Janelle Monae (R)
Lopez Tonight: Goo Goo Dolls
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Brandon Flowers

Tuesday, September 14th
Jimmy Kimmel Live: Brandon Flowers
Last Call With Carson Daly: The Black Lips (R)
Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: Sarah McLachlan
Late Show with David Letterman: Katy Perry (R)
Lopez Tonight: Enrique Iglesias
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Trace Adkins

Wednesday, September 15th
Jimmy Kimmel Live: Trace Adkins
Last Call With Carson Daly: Surfer Blood (R)
Late Show with David Letterman: Nas and Damian Marley (R)
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Weezer

Thursday, September 16th
Jimmy Kimmel Live: Usher
Last Call With Carson Daly: Never Shout Never (R)
Lopez Tonight: Devo
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno:

Friday, September 17th
Last Call With Carson Daly: La Roux (R)
Late Show with David Letterman: VV Brown
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Santana with India.Arie

Saturday, September 18th
Austin City Limits: The Avett Brothers/Heartless Bastards (R)
Saturday Night Live: Jay-Z (R)

(R) = repeat performance
shows in red = our picks for the week

Live From The 2010 MTV VMAs: Kanye West, "Runaway"

Meet my new anthem:



Let's hope "Runaway" is this week's Good Friday track!

Florence + The Machine, "Dog Days Are Over"

Next to Kanye's Douchebag/Asshole/Scumbag/Jerkoff song, this was the best performance on last night's MTV Video Music Awards.

From 2009, here's "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine.

Enjoy!

Open Thread: The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards

We liveblogged the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards last night! Everything from the pre-show to Kanye's Douchebag/Asshole/Scumbag/Jerkoff song.

Want to read it? Check the comments. Let us know how we did.

LinkChurch: The Ting Tings, Liz Phair

Here's our weekly wrap-up of pop culture commentary and news we didn't get a chance to cover during the week.

Culture Brats Highlights of the Week

• We reviewed Hellcats.
• We reviewed Nikita.
• We make fun of Insane Clown Posse, Juggalos, and the "Juggalo Island" video.
• We give Robert Pattinson some career advice.
• We rank '80s slang.
• We wonder if one can separate the art from the artist.

Music

• Which reeks more of the '80s: "Hands" by the Ting Tings or the song's video?
• Liz Phair is finally releasing the Girlysound Tapes, which have long been rumored to rock and cure cancer.

Mixtape: Songs About Money

On this week's Culture Brats Radio, we played songs about money. In case you missed it or just want to reminisce, here's the playlist:

SIDE A

1. Cyndi Lauper, "Money Changes Everything"
2. Willie Nelson, "If You've Got The Money, I've Got The Time"
3. ABC, "How To Be A Millionaire"
4. Madonna, "Material Girl"
5. Kanye West, "Gold Digger"
6. Notorious B.I.G., "Mo' Money Mo' Problems"
7. AC/DC, "Money Talks"
8. Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
9. Donna Summer, "She Works Hard For The Money"
10. The Offspring, "Why Don't You Get A Job"

SIDE B

1. Bulletboys, "For The Love Of Money"
2. Nine Inch Nails, "Head Like A Hole"
3. ABBA, "Money Money Money"
4. Atom & His Package, "Shopping Spree"
5. Faith No More, "Everything's Ruined"
6. Pet Shop Boys, "Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)"
7. Warren Zevon, "Lawyers, Guns, And Money"
8. Warrant, "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich"
9. Liz Phair, "Shitloads Of Money"
10. Reel Big Fish, "Sell Out"
11. Gwen Stefani, "Rich Girl"
12. Eric B. & Rakim, "Paid In Full"

Thanks to everyone who came out and requested songs. If you'd like to catch future shows, follow us on Twitter.

Free Download: Kanye West's "Good Friday"

Another Friday, another free awesome jam from Kanye. He wants your email address in return this time, but aren't you intrigued by the possibility of receiving crazy Kanye spam? Just a little?