ChordStrike

Thurston's Lesson For Sonic Youth

If your kids aren’t already noisy enough, why not take them to a lecture explaining the artfulness of white noise? This Sunday, April 11, precocious young music lovers can make their way to Partners & Spade Gallery in New York City for a very special hour-long event featuring Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore. For a mere $30 attendees will be able to listen to Moore presenting “A Dissertation on White Noise,” though quite what the eight-to-twelve year-old target audience will make of the subject matter is anyone’s guess.

The event forms part of the gallery’s Avant Garde Preschool series, which aims to nurture the interests of the upcoming generation in art, though it seems likely that the event might be anticipated rather more eagerly by the parental chaperons. The preschool series of events is the brainchild of Andy Spade, a co-owner of the gallery who is also the father of a – probably achingly art-aware – 4 year-old.

As for Moore, he is due back on the road with Sonic Youth on April 16, when his grown-up fans in Barcelona will surely honor him with a more ecstatic reception than the bewildered eight year-olds of New York.

--Hazel @ SoundUnwound

SoundUnwound's editorial team write about the latest big music news and quirky stories which catch the eye. We also post a selection of these news stories on Chordstrike; for much, much more, visit SoundUnwound.com, the new music site from IMDb and Amazon. Follow us at twitter.com/soundunwound.

Can You Master The SoundUnwound Genre Quiz?

Hi there!

SoundUnwound is the new music website from IMDb and Amazon. We are primarily a music database, which is editable by all users, but moderated to help keep data quality high. Recently we’ve been adding a few extra features for a bit more fun. We know some of the Chordstrike team have been enjoying them, so we thought we’d let you know too.

We’ve made use of Amazon's vast library of 30-second song samples to put together five genre quizzes which test your musical knowledge, and your reaction times. Do you think you know about pop, rock, indie, country or hip-hop? Can you tell the difference between Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato? Pearl Jam and Soundgarden? Modest Mouse and the Manic Street Preachers? Toby Keith and Brad Paisley? Jay-Z and Ludacris?

 

Yeah, of course you can! But can you make your choice within a few short seconds, before you've heard their voices? The longer the clock ticks, the less points you win for answering correctly. We’ve already seen some users rack up impressive scores. Can you join them on the individual genre leader boards, or on the overall board?

And once you’ve mastered your own specialist subject, why not try the quiz of a genre you know less about? Everything you hear is shown with links to the main SoundUnwound site, so you can find out more about any new discoveries, or add them to your SoundUnwound library.

We have to warn you: please make sure you’ve already done your homework, washed the dishes and put the cat out, because these quizzes can be addictive!

We’d love you to try them out and, if you’ve got any comments on the quizzes or on the rest of the site, please let us know in the comments here, or by sending us feedback.

Ed @ SoundUnwound

Pink Floyd and Seattle: Another Decade in The Wall

Seems hard to believe, but The Wall by Pink Floyd was released 30 years ago today, November 30, 1979.

And, even harder to believe, the WTO protests in Seattle, also known fondly as The Battle in Seattle or N30, started 10 years ago today, November 30, 1999.

Both of these N30 anti-establishment zeitgeists featured elements of rioting, burning rubbish, and gas masks. Coincidence? I think not.

Pink Floyd, 1979:

Seattle, 1999:

--Lucas Hilbert

The Worst Lyric of 2009

For my money, this dubious honor belongs to Five For Fighting for the first song on their new album Slice (also called "Slice"). Behold:

"Have you ready my blog today/300 million little USAs"

Honestly, I've never really liked this band, but, BARF! Really? Really?? You're going there?

Everything about this lyric makes me cringe. I dare you to tell me I'm wrong--I'd love to hear what you think is the worst lyric of 2009. Please share the not-so-poetic lines that made you hate music this year in the comments.

--Alan Wiley

The Best Music of 2009

It may feel a little early for this sort of thing, but we on the Amazon music team have pooled our collective knowledge and taste to determine the best music of 2009.

We spent 2009 soothed by Neko Case's wail, moved to dance by Yeah Yeah Yeahs' turn towards big beats, intrigued by Somali hip-hop Troubadour K'naan, and ready to hear three key words from neo-twangsters the Avett Brothers.

On the songs side, French popsters Phoenix went nutty for a composer and we went nutty for Phoenix. La Roux made us feel invincible, Jay-Z officially crushed an awful trend, and Passion Pit sent us reeling.

Voting with their wallets, our customers told us they really like U2, as it was both our bestselling CD and MP3 album of 2009. Black Eyed Peas also popped up in plenty of playlists, as they locked down the top two slots on our songs chart.

Every year, great albums slip through the cracks. This year, our editors wanted to save some from that unfair fate. We shine a spotlight on excellent underheard CD and MP3 albums across all genres, and we've even made a playlist featuring a single song from each record, so you can sample 'til you find something you like.

Dig into the lists and see which lists line up most closely with your personal tastes:

Best Albums of 2009

1. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
3. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
4. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
5. the Avett Brothers - I and Love and You
6. Girls - Album
7. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
8. K'naan - Troubadour
9. Jay-Z - Blueprint 3
10. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career

> See all top 100 best albums of 2009
> See the list at Amazon MP3

Best Songs of 2009

1. Phoenix - "Lisztomania"
2. La Roux - "Bulletproof"
3. Jay-Z - "D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)"
4. Animal Collective - "My Girls"
5. Neko Case - "People Got a Lotta Nerve"
6. Passion Pit - "The Reeling"
7. Girls - "Lust for Life"
8. Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks"
9. The Avett Brothers - "I and Love and You"
10. Lily Allen - "The Fear"

> See all top 100 best songs of 2009
> Sample songs 1-50
> Sample songs 51-100

Bestselling CDs of 2009 (through October, including pre-orders)

1. U2 - No Line on the Horizon
2. Susan Boyle - I Dreamed a Dream
3. Diana Krall - Quiet Nights
4. Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream
5. Bob Dylan - Together through Life

> See all 100 bestselling CDs of 2009

Bestselling MP3 Albums of 2009 (through October)

1. U2 - No Line on the Horizon
2. Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
3. Jay-Z - Blueprint 3
4. Paramore - Brand New Eyes
5. Lily Allen - The Fear

> See all 100 bestselling MP3 albums of 2009

Bestselling Songs of 2009 (through October)

1. Black Eyed Peas - "Boom Boom Pow"
2. Black Eyed Peas - "I Gotta Feeling"
3. Flo Rida - "Right Round"
4. Miley Cyrus - "The Climb"
5. Pitbull - "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho"

> See all 100 bestselling songs of 2009
> Sample songs 1-50
> Sample songs 51-100

Outstanding 2009 Albums You Might Have Missed

1. Throw Me the Statue - Creaturesque
2. Mt. St. Helen's Vietnam Band
3. The Legends - Over and Over
4. Lushlife - Cassette City
5. Point Juncture, Wa - Heart to Elk

> See all 100 2009 albums you might have missed at Amazon MP3
> Sample songs from albums 1-50
> Sample songs from albums 51-100

Head over to our best music of 2009 store to find complete lists, plus the best in everything from Latin music to Gospel to comedy and all points between.

We're aware there's still a decent chunk of the year left. We'll be adding a latecomers and honorable mentions feature over the next few weeks. Hit the comments, let us know what we missed, and perhaps it'll make an appearance.

-- Jeff Reguilon

New Band with Thom Yorke and Flea

News from the Department of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot...

In case you haven't heard, Radiohead's Thom Yorke just launched a new band with Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Joey Waronker, Mauro Refosco, and longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. Apparently without a name, they played a few shows in LA recently. So who made it out to see this group? Please regale ChordStrike with a review of the show.

     --Jason Kirk

An Interview with Alice in Chains

I have to admit, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I got on the phone with Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez, and Sean Kinney of Alice in Chains (William DuVall was unfortunately unable to make it, but the guys had plenty of good things to say about their friend and fellow band member.) 

I wanted to ask them about Layne Staley, and reforming as a band, and adding a new member (William), and their new album (Black Gives Way to Blue), but I thought they might be tired of answering the same old interview questions.  Fortunately, however, conversation flowed freely, and the guys were a lot of fun to chat with.  They were genuine, honest, and engaging, and it shows.

What I found most eye-opening was their story of how Black Gives Way to Blue came into being (it wasn't planned!).  Listen to this story and more in the 17-minute interview, and check out song samples from the new album below. 

--Bri Nguyen

The 100 Greatest Live Albums of All Time

There are plenty of live albums issued solely as afterthoughts or contract fulfillments, but there are plenty that are as transcendent as the best in-person concert experiences, only with zero lines at the bathroom. For this particular list we came up with the following criteria:

• Only one album per artist.
• Albums were been performed live in front of an audience, but don't necessarily have to be culled from a single performance.
• No EPs or singles—this list is about albums
• We decided to limit this list to music, which means no comedy. We wanted to save those records for a separate list for laffers.

Of course, we exercise their judgment regarding quality and/or historical significance. If you disagree with our choices (and there's a good chance you will), let us know in the comments.

Here goes:

1. James Brown - Live At The Apollo, 1962
2. Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison
3. Frank Sinatra - Sinatra at the Sands
4. Bill Withers - Live at Carnegie Hall
5. Judy Garland - Judy At Carnegie Hall
6. Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series, Vol. 4: Live, 1966: The Royal Albert Hall Concert
7. Ella Fitzgerald - Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert
8. Led Zeppelin - How The West Was Won
9. MC5 - Kick Out the Jams
10. Keith Jarrett - The Koln Concert
11. Neil Young - Live Rust
12. Otis Redding - Live in Europe
13. Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense
14. Nirvana - MTV Unplugged In New York
15. Bob Marley - Live
16. The Rolling Stones - Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out
17. Roy Orbison - Black and White Night
18. The Who - Live at Leeds
19. Simon and Garfunkel - The Concert in Central Park
20. Jimi Hendrix - Live at Monterey
21. Cheap Trick - At Budokan
22. John Coltrane & Thelonious Monk - At Carnegie Hall
23. Paco de Lucia, Rodrigo, and Orchestra De Cadaques - Concierto de Aranjuez
24. Maceo Parker - Life On Planet Groove
25. Portishead - Live: Roseland NYC
26. Elvis Presley - From Elvis in Memphis
27. Leonard Cohen - Live in London
28. Kiss - Alive!
29. Eric Clapton - Unplugged
30. Queen - Live Killers
31. Nina Simone - Nina Simone at Town Hall
32. Gram Parsons - Live 1973
33. Jeff Buckley - Live at Sin-é
34. U2 - Under a Blood Red Sky
35. Lucinda Williams - Live at the Fillmore
36. Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous
37. Dead Can Dance - Toward the Within
38. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band - Live in New York City
39. BB King - Live at the Regal
40. Aretha Franklin - Live at Fillmore West
41. David Bowie - Stage
42. Miles Davis - Miles Davis at Fillmore: Live At The Fillmore East
43. Art Blakey - A Night At Birdland, Vol. 1
44. Ani Difranco - Living in Clip
45. Mavis Staples - Live: Hope at the Hideout
46. Muddy Waters - At Newport 1960
47. Depeche Mode - 101
48. Deep Purple - Made in Japan
49. Isaac Hayes - Live at Wattstax
50. Sam Cooke - At the Copa
51. Parliament - Live: P-funk Earth Tour
52. Grateful Dead - Europe '72
53. Laurie Anderson - United States Live
54. Alison Krauss and Union Station - Live
55. Velvet Underground - 1969
56. Pink Floyd - Pulse
57. The Roots - Come Alive
58. Bill Evans Trio - Sunday at the Village Vanguard
59. Sarah Vaughn - Live At The 1971 Monterey Jazz Festival
60. George Harrison - Live in Japan
61. Peter Gabriel - Plays Live
62. Erroll Garner - Concert by the Sea
63. Thelonius Monk - Thelonious in Action: Live at the Five Spot Cafe
64. Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Live at Luther College
65. Janis Joplin - Janis in Concert
66. Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive
67. Willie Nelson - Stars and Guitars
68. John Coltrane - Live at the Village Vanguard
69. The Clash - From Here To Eternity Live
70. Eartha Kitt - Live from the Café Carlyle
71. Ravi Shankar - Live: Ravi Shankar at the Monteray International Pop Festival
72. Wilco - Kicking Television: Live In Chicago
73. Neko Case - The Tigers Have Spoken
74. Judas Priest - Unleashed in the East
75. Jay-Z - Unplugged
76. The Orb - Live '93
77. The Ramones - It's Alive
78. Etta James - Rocks the House
79. Soweto Gospel Choir - Live at Nelson Mandela Theatre
80. Pearl Jam - Live on Two Legs
81. Björk - Live Box Set
82. Kraftwerk - Minimum-Maximum
83. Radiohead - I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings
84. Lou Reed - Rock 'n' Roll Animal
85. Jill Scott - Live in Paris
86. Carole King - Carole King The Carnegie Hall Concert June 18, 1971
87. Alice in Chains - Live
88. John Denver - The Wildlife Concert
89. Eva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley
90. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Live at Carnegie Hall
91. Rush - Rush in Rio
92. Police - Live!
93. Daft Punk - Alive 2007
94. James Taylor - James Taylor Live
95. Neil Diamond - Hot August Night
96. Guns N' Roses - Live Era '87-'93
97. Lyle Lovett - Lyle Lovett Live In Texas
98. Blue Oyster Cult - Extraterrestrial Live
99. Aerosmith - Live! Bootleg
100. J. Geils Band - Live: Blow Your Face Out

-- Jeff Reguilon

30 Second To Mars LP Will Feature 2000 Fans on 2000 Covers

Determined to give a little back to their fans, 30 Seconds To Mars invited willing travelers to mass recording sessions in April so that fans could sing on their forthcoming release, This Is War. For those fans who couldn’t make it, or who know they can’t carry a tune, the band has created another opportunity to be on the album. Fans are invited to take mugshots of themselves and upload them to the official 30 Seconds To Mars website; the first two thousand who do so will have their picture featured on one of two thousand different album covers. In an interview with AOL Spinner, frontman Jared Leto said “I thought that the ‘Faces of Mars’ campaign would be a way to acknowledge all the people who have supported us throughout the years.”

The album itself has already caused a great deal of controversy, with their record label Virgin filing a $30m lawsuit against the band last year because the lateness of the record allowed the band to terminate their contract. The lawsuit was eventually halted, resulting in renewed expectations for an imminent release: it was initially expected in April, then September, then October; now it’s been put back to the end of November. Is that enough time to design and manufacture an album with two thousand different covers? Eager fans may have to wait quite a while before they get their fractional moments of fame.

--Hazel @ SoundUnwound

SoundUnwound's editorial team write about the latest big music news and quirky stories which catch the eye. We'll be posting a selection of these news stories on Chordstrike every week; for much, much more, visit SoundUnwound.com, the new music site from IMDb and Amazon. Follow us at twitter.com/soundunwound.

Best Black and White Album Covers

As an incidental result of listening to a lot of Brother Ali's Us, R.E.M.'s Accelerate, and the Beatles' Revolver this week, my coffee table happened to be strewn with these three great black-and-white albums covers.

There must thousands more out there, but what are the best?

I've already got a graphic artist interested in putting together a collage of these, which is where you come in. Leave comments with your suggestions for great black-and-white album covers. I'll collect them and--eventually--post the artist's finished collage.

     --Jason Kirk

Singles Report: Foo Fighters, Consequence, Melissa Laveaux

Foo Fighters - "Wheels"
Even though their last couple albums have been spotty enough to make me almost lose interest, I've always felt like the Foos had it in them to assemble a pretty stacked greatest hits collection, which they've VERY CONVENIENTLY done just in time for the holidays. Unfortunately for us, the band tacked on two new jams, of which, "Wheels" is one. Listening to the beginning, I felt like the MP3 was mislabled and I accidentally downloaded some Keith Urban. What followed was a generic smear of limp, slick, unfortunate, late-period Tom Petty impersonation. I'm not against the new stuff, but I'm pretty sure I would have been happier if they had clipped this from the tracklist in favor of "I'll Stick Around" or "Walking After You."

Suggested if you like: Tom Petty, an extremely competent cover band performing Tom Petty songs, "mediocre-of" material appearing on a "best-of"
Rating:  13/69 Full Moon Fevers

Consequence (feat. Kanye West and John Legend) - "Whatever U Want"
Because he has but one flow and a steadfast refusal to vary his rhyme schemes, Consequence is best taken in small doses. For a number of IMMA-LET-YOU-FINISH-related reasons, our old pal Yeezy has, as of late, also been getting his mail forwarded to an address in the best-in-small-doses zip code. As such, you'll be satisfied to know that they're each limited to four bars at a pass in this slinky Gin and Tonic of a tune. With its low-key vibe and 2:37 run time, it feels more like the suggestion of a song than an actual song. Still, I've listened to it five times in short succession, mostly because I'm left wanting more each time. When was the last time you could say that about anything involving any of these parties?

Suggested if you like: "I'm Good" by the Clipse, "Love Hangover" by Kidz in the Hall, surprise awesome
Rating: 26/30 prefunk cocktails

Melissa Laveaux - "Crazy in Love"
I have no idea who this person is and I'm generally against covers of songs I like (TWO STRIKES, LADY), but this thumpy, acoustic reinvention of the Beyonce ultrajam is-- no exaggeration-- the best new song I've heard in months. Should you decide to scoot over to her MySpace page, you can listen to, along with some of her originals, another unique cover, this time of Elliott Smith's "Needle in the Hay." Her version of "Crazy in Love," however, is so good I don't even miss the Jay-Z verse. A++++ NEW ARTIST. WOULD BUY FROM AGAIN.

Suggested if you like: Lykke Li, Emiliana Torrini, making a great thing even better
Rating: 93/100 oh-no-nos

-- Jeff Reguilon

Best of the Month: Draw the Line by David Gray

David Gray has come full circle back to his roots on his latest release, Draw the Line, which is significant given the fact that he could have easily succumb to the many distractions of success. Long-time fans of David Gray who gravitated to his earlier releases including A Century Ends, Flesh, and Sell, Sell, Sell will be happy to know he has not wandered far from the musical path he set out on nearly 20 years ago. The result is a humble album punctuated by his gritty baritone, layered acoustics, and a sobering thrush that comes across as an amped-up middle-aged confession half the time, and a sweet lullaby the rest.

After the overwhelming success he garnered from 2000’s White Ladder, followed by an introspective period that included more down tempo and ethereal albums, Gray returns with a bit of idyllic hope delivered with his own brand of cynicism and irony.

In my interview with him, David Gray was gracious with his time and quite conversational in talking about Draw The Line and the multiple journeys that inspired it. He admitted to being full of confidence following a long period where he was stuck in the “shock of success” that descended on him with the ubiquitous accolades and critical acclaim of White Ladder. Now liberated from that period that tested his personal demons, David Gray feels a new presence and sense of purpose as he reflects and bears his musical soul to us all, more content than ever with his life and his music.

Hear it all in the 14 minute interview, and enjoy.

--Lucas Hilbert

The Beatles: Yes, I Believe the Hype

It's 09/09/09, and, here in Seattle, Beatles Day is winding down.  I'm exhausted and elated, but most of all, I'm in awe. 

Working on the Beatles has been a bit of a head trip, and not in the way you might think.  I was beyond excited when I learned that the remastered catalog was going to be released, but I quickly discovered that my excitement for the remasters, not to mention my love for the Beatles, both paled in comparison with the enthusiasm, devotion, and somewhat mind-blowing level of knowledge displayed by the Beatles fans in our discussion forums. 

Everyone knows that the Beatles are iconic.  Everyone knows that the Beatles were instrumental in shaping rock music as we know it today.  But working on the Beatles remasters has shown me that I never fully understood the breadth of their appeal, nor did I grasp the extent to which we as a society have integrated the Fab Four into our collective cultural fabric. 

Normally, I tend to eschew any form of hype.  But in the case of the Beatles remasters, the "hype" (if you can even call it that) had a different quality to it.  The excitement surrounding the Beatles felt "pure," somehow, and legitimate: true fans doing what fans do best: exchanging opinions, sharing knowledge, and expressing their love and appreciation for the Fab Four and the music.

So, as Beatles Day winds to a close, I'll say what I never thought I'd say: in this case, I believe the hype.  Happy Beatles Day, everyone.  

--Bri Nguyen

Remastering the Beatles: An Interview with Abbey Road Engineers Allan Rouse and Paul Hicks

Mono, stereo, or both?  Or, to put it simply: how do you want to listen to your Beatles?

If you're a Beatles fan, chances are you know what I mean.  I'm referring to the Beatles remasters, which are slated for worldwide release on 09/09/09.  Along with the individual albums, there will be two box sets released: a mono box set and a stereo box set.  Ever since this news hit the 'Net, our Beatles discussion forums have been buzzing with activity.  Most people want to know the following: how will the remasters sound, what exactly went into the remastering process, and what are the key differences between the mono and stereo versions?

We were wondering the same thing, so our resident sound expert and Beatles aficionado Hugo Munday sat down with Abbey Road engineers Allan Rouse and Paul Hicks to learn more about the remasters and how they were produced.  Check out the interview below--it's a pretty cool listen for any Beatles fan.

--Bri Nguyen and Hugo Munday

Capitol Hill Block Party '09

It's a beautiful afternoon here in Seattle, and the crowd is beginning to draw for Capitol Hill's annual music-packed Block Party. This year's big names include Built to Spill, the Jesus Lizard, and Deerhunter tonight with Sonic Youth, Gossip, and the Pains of Being Pure at Heart on Saturday, among many others, on three different stages over the next two days.

I started with a fast-paced, crowd-pleasing set from Seattle's own supergroup, Thee Sgt. Major III, featuring members of local legends Young Fresh Fellows, the Posies, and the Fastbacks, along with Chordstrike's own Leslie Beattie on vocals. What a great way to spend a Friday afternoon!

--Alan Wiley

Out This Week: Good New Music You Might Have Missed

American Steel - Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts
Suggested if you like: the Gaslight Anthem, the Killers, pumping your fist

Generationals - Con Law
Suggested if you like: the Shins, the saner side of Of Montreal, Pop Rocks

Josh Mease - Wilderness
Suggested if you like: Matt Costa, Sondre Lerche, spending the better part of your summer submerged waist-deep in a swimming pool

Joell Ortiz Covers the Classics
Suggested if you like: Ghostface Killah, Fat Joe, repurposing/defiling the canon

Mr. Hudson - "Supernova"
Suggested if you like: Kenna, the Fashion, exploding stars

Daniel Johnson - Lazrus
Suggested if you like: the Knife, Cousteau, moodiness

-- Jeff Reguilon

The Beatles: Remastered and Rock Banded

When I found out that the Beatles' original albums (all thirteen of them, plus the two Past Masters albums combined into one) were going to be digitally remastered for the first time ever, I could hardly contain my excitement.  Even though I was born after the Beatles broke up, I still can't get enough of John, Paul, George, and Ringo.  The Beatles are mythic, and yet at the same time, like trusted friends.  I feel as if I know them, somehow, through their music. 

Everyone knows their story, of course.  And everyone has their own Beatles stories.  I remember singing "Help!" at the top of my lungs while my Mom's old vinyl record played in the background (I was three) and learning the story of John Lennon's life and death for the first time (I was, perhaps, five).  "Yesterday" was the first song I ever karaoked.  My first boyfriend recorded "Norwegian Wood" on a cassette tape and gave it to me as a gift (this was before the era of CDs!)  And when I first heard the song "Eleanor Rigby"--well, my breath caught in my throat.

So the thought of being able to hear the original Beatles catalog remastered is just--wow.  The Beatles remastered catalog will be released on 09-09-09, and will coincide with another highly anticipated event: the release of The Beatles: Rock Band.  For the first time ever (another first!) fans will have the opportunity to experience being part of the band.  It's pretty awesome if you ask me.  I can hardly wait!

Luckily, we have plenty of Beatles-related fun going on in the meantime.  In honor of worldwide Beatles Day, we've tricked out our Beatles Store and we're kicking off a Beatles celebration that will last for the next two months--right up to the release of the remasters and Rock Band. 

Visit the store to check out the remastered albums, preview The Beatles: Rock Band, watch videos, and test your knowledge of the Fab Four.  And check back often--we'll soon be counting down our favorite Beatles albums of all time.

Are you as excited as I am?

(Watch the trailer for the Beatles Remastered in the Beatles Store if you can't see it above)

--Bri Nguyen