Yeah, in Alicia Keys defense it didn't debut this week, it's been out for 10 weeks. It's just nothing sold more than it, so she defaulted to #1. Still a telling story on the current states of cd sales.

The Dead Milkmen - Coming from Philadelphia these guys were minor hits in the late 80's. I remember listening to the Sunday night local music show when I was about 15 to hear them in around 87. Bringing their cassette tape (Big Lizard in my Backyard) to 8th grade in my walkman. They had so many good songs besides "Punk Rock Girl", punk with talent & humor they epitimized the 80's sound. From the humorous spin on VFW to the Nu-Wave Instant Club Hit (You'll Dance to Anything) ("80 pounds of makeup on your art-schooled skin, 80 pounds of IQ located within. I met Andy Warhol at a really sheik party, blow it out your harido cause you work at Hardees.) My brother & I listened to that song a few years ago & just cracked up laughing at some of the lyrics. Oddly enough, they even reference Ecstacy, on a song recorded back in 88. Anyway, after Nirvana broke & bands like Butthole Surfers (whom they also reference by singing "There's a time for lovin, and a time for giving, but ripping off the Butthole Surfers is how we make our living)  & Flaming Lips broke the bigtime with humorous music, I thought they'd get a shot. Unfortunately, they never did. Sadly, a few years ago, one member took his own life. Check em out, I think their best album was Eat Your Paisley.

Sebadoh - Similar to Elliot Smith, from Boston (used to be in Dinosaur Jr) nearly every song was about lost love, sadness, and being lonely. They would swap instruments (play bass or guitar) had 2 singers (one folk style, one more punk) and produced damn near 1 record a year. 1 album actually had over 40 songs on it. Mostly home recorded. Best album, Bakesale.

Uncle Tupelo - Similar to Soul Asylum, sadly they split in 1993. They went on to form 2 great bands Wilco & Son Volt, because the singers couldn't get along. Great Folk rock, similar to Soul Asylum's Gravedancers Union.

Pavement - Huge indie band. Similar to Weezer, very free & unstructured arrangements, makes me feel 19. Fav album Crooked Rain Crooked Rain.

Others:
Silkworm
Quiksand - Heavy like Rage, check out Manic Compressions 'Thorn in my side' and "Landmine Spring'

Some other good one's were mentioned. For Sonic Youth check out "Teenage Riot", indie rock's "Teen Spirit"

Haha, some friends insist that movie is funny. I still refuse to watch it (knowing it will be bad). 

I saw Reno 911 Miami. I thought it was really good. I'm not big on the show but I thought the movie was really funny. Well worth watching to anyone thinking about seeing it.

I also saw Hostel, it could have been alot better. The concept of being at other peoples mercy in another (former USSR) country was good, but the execution of the story got weak. And it bit 2 scenes off Pulp Fiction.

It's possible they are trying to sell it, but to be straight, Beta doesn't say "unspecified parties" - That isn't a direct quote from her, that's the magazine's words. Which would mean it was never mentioned who Axl was negotiating with, so it very well could be Universal.

I really am not reading into this much at all, I see this as somehow a reporter saw Beta somewhere and approached her almost like paparazzi. She was caught off guard, probably not very happy (hence the abrupt, smart ass replies) and said "Yes it's done, it's been done before Christmas. Everyone knows this." As for Summer/Christmas release, that doesn't make sense, it happens every year. And like someone pointed oujt this past year (Russtcb mybe??) Rock albums usually are not released around Christmas, Hip Hop albums are, Rock albums sell better in the spring/summer. And re; a Radiohead release, I don't think people are very "willing" to give Axl money after this long wait, so I don't see that happening. Maybe an online release for about $10 but I dunno, that's been talked about for years. VR talked about possibly doing that back before Contraband came out. Don't see it happening. Maybe that is what  they are negotiating. Axl doesn't feel they need some lavish marketing campaign, just an online release, whereas the label feels they need to invest $$ to sell the cd off the shelves.