A Taste:

Marilyn Manson, Slayer

Sitting in traffic, working out and touring with Marilyn Manson all seem to have the same effect.

They make you want to crank Antichrist Superstar, Manson’s classic sophomore full-length. That’s held very true for Mr. Kerry King. The Slayer guitarist has toured with Manson twice in the U.S. now, and right after he got off the road from Mayhem 2009, Antichrist was lighting up King’s iPod.

Slayer’s Kerry King sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino to discuss what’s on his iPod in this exclusive interview.

Check out Kerry’s playlist below and be sure to grab Slayer’s latest, World Painted Blood!

Kerry King’s Playlist:

1. Slayer — World Painted Blood

2. Marilyn Manson — Antichrist Superstar

I’ve just been listening to our record actually. Before that, I went through another Manson phase because we just got done touring with him last summer. He’s like a fucking virus, every time you hang out with him you just play his shit all the time [Laughs]. I go back to Superstar. I haven’t been really listening to music, once our touring got postponed, I went into being-at-home mode. My wife’s more of a person that needs to have music when she drives, whereas I’m just zoning out.

—Rick Florino
01.18.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Lou Reed, Television, Patti Smith, Eagles of Death Metal

Michael Imperioli is a man of many talents.

Not only is he an engaging and thought provoking screen presence, but he’s also a bona fide rock n’ roller. Fronting New York City rock group, La Dolce Vita, Imperioli cranks out his own brand of rock n’ roll. So in addition to talents in front of the camera and behind the mic, he’s also branched out further into filmmaking with The Hungry Ghosts.

He wrote and directed this drama about five New Yorkers whose lives crisscross in crisis during a 36-hour period. Plus, he also is currently lighting up the screen in Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones.

Michael Imperioli sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive interview to talk about what’s on his playlist and more. Check out his playlist below and don’t miss The Lovely Bones!

Michael Imperioli’s Playlist:

1. Lou Reed

2. Television

3. Patti Smith

I like a lot of New York music from the ’70s, the CBGB scene and stuff like that—Lou Reed, Television and Patti Smith. That’s my favorite period of rock music.

4. The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs

I like The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs a lot.

5. Franz Ferdinand

6. Eagles of Death Metal

7. Brian Eno

I love Brian Eno’s stuff. I’m actually a big fan. I thought he did a great job on the score. It’s really cool.

—Rick Florino
01.12.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Bon Iver, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris

In The Lovely Bones, Rose McIver gets to cycle through a whole spectrum of emotions in order to play the grief-stricken Lindsey Salmon. She explores and each and every character nuance masterfully with a distinct and direct acting rhythm.

Given that rhythm on-screen, we were very curious about what Rose has on her iPod. She sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino about what’s on her playlist.

Check out Rose McIver’s playlist below and don’t miss her in The Lovely Bones.

Rose McIver’s Playlist:

1. Bon Iver

2. Joni Mitchell

My taste is very diverse! I’m into Bon Iver and Joni Mitchell.

3. Emmylou Harris

I’ve been enjoying some country stuff like Emmylou Harris. I really like her!

—Rick Florino
01.11.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Wolfmother

“What am I listening to right now?” laughs Slash with a big grin.

Given how open-minded the legendary Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver axe-slinger is, it could be anything. However, right now Slash has sights set on a couple current records that he’s been cranking. Slash shared his playlist at the moment with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive feature

Check out Slash’s playlist below and be on the lookout for his solo record due out this Spring!

Slash’s Playlist:

1. Wolfmother — Cosmic Egg

As of today I just got Wolfmother’s new record, so I’m listening to that! It’s really great! At this second, as we speak, that’s what I’m listening to [Laughs]

2. Slash

I’m listening to mixes of my record too [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
01.11.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Beethoven, Bob Schneider, Al Green

What do ghosts listen to?

Chances are it’s a combination of Slayer and Elvis…since we can’t know for sure what the paranormal are cranking, we figured we’d chat with “the haunted” themselves about music. It was a lot easier than having a séance to find out a playlist, and technology just hasn’t reached that point, unfortunately. Hopefully someday though…

Paranormal Activity’s Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat were both excited to share their respective playlists with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive feature.

Check out Micah and Katie’s playlists below and don’t miss Paranormal Activity out on DVD everywhere now!

Micah Sloat’s Playlist

1. Beethoven

Honestly, this is really funny. Last night, I turned on NPR and I heard Beethoven’s “8th Symphony.” I thought, “Damn, if that’s not an awesome piece of music….”

2. Revell

3. Brams

4. Mozart

Recently, I’ve been getting back into the classical era and listening to a lot of old school stuff—Revell, Brams and Mozart. That wasn’t the answer you were expecting [Laughs]

Acting and music are both performance arts, so there’s a lot of crossover with what you’re doing. I’ll just say that whatever I’ve learned in music, I find myself taking with me on set, and whatever I use in acting classes, I always find that helps me out when I’m on stage. There’s a huge crossover. What really connects them ultimately is the sense of sharing. When you’re really sharing your experience with the audience, no matter what movie you’re communicating in, that’s going to be good work. No matter what I’m doing creatively in my life, I knew as long as I was relating to people I’d be happy. It’s a real blessing and a real opportunity to do this on such a high level. I want to say thank you to everyone all of the fans that have been so awesome and allowed all of us to share our work. If anyone out there is a struggling artist, stick with it because it does happen.

Katie Featherston’s Playlist:

1. Bob Schneider

My favorite artist is Bob Schneider. He’s a Texas musician based out of Austin, but he plays everywhere. He does everything from Texas rockabilly country to trip hop, real sweet love songs to real raunchy get-the-party-going kinds of songs. He’s got everything. He’s amazing!

2. Matt Nathanson

3. Jason Mraz

I listen to a lot of Texas country—Matt Nathanson and Jason Mraz too.

4. Al Green

Al Green is very cool [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
01.11.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Michael Jackson, Fleet Foxes, Feist, Grizzly Bear

Maxwell has had a hell of year.

His latest album, BLACKsummers’ Night, proved why he’s one of the most important “soul men” of the 21st century, skyrocketing up the charts and leading to all kinds of crazy acclaim from the press and biz. His voice, style and swagger are undeniable and unmatched in the R&B game right now. He’s just plain cool…

Why is Maxwell so cool? Well, he’s really got his finger on the pulse of what’s happening, and his musical palette knows no bounds.

He laughs, “I’m always listening to a lot of music.”

Maxwell sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino to discuss what he’s spinning. He shared his playlist with us, check it out below…

Maxwell’s Playlist:

1. Michael Jackson

Oh my goodness, I can say Michael Jackson is overwhelming me right now. Every and any chance I get to listen to him, I’m listening to him. I look at what he’s done, and I’m blown away.

2. Fleet Foxes

I love Fleet Foxes!

3. Grizzly Bear

I’m checking out Grizzly Bear. They have a really good song that I’m getting into.

4. Ryan Leslie

I like Ryan Leslie a lot.

5. Johnny Guitar Watson

6. Mad Lovers

I love all the old greats. Johnny Guitar Watson, Mad Lovers—I put that on before I go on stage. If you can hit certain notes, then you’re good for the night.

7. Heat Wave

8. Quincy Jones

9. Feist

—Rick Florino
01.05.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Sade, Willie Hutch, Linkin Park

Three 6 Mafia are always ready to attack.

However, lately they’ve been gearing up for the latest assault on hip hop—Laws of Power, set to hit stores this March. In the midst of that though, they cranked out a sick guest appearance on “Demons” with Tech N9ne that’s definitely some of the darkest fire they’ve dropped. Three 6 Mafia’s forthcoming album promises to be just as fiery as Last 2 Walk but with even more genre-mashing—stirring in a little more rock n’ roll and electro this time around. It’s no surprise that Juicy J’s musical taste runs a wide gamut.

His iPod is all over the map, and he sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino to discuss what’s rockin’ his world right now in this exclusive feature.

Check out Juicy J’s playlist below and be on the look out for Three 6 Mafia’s next rap epic….

Juicy J’s Playlist:

1. Sade

I’m listening to Sade. She’s hot. I saw her perform live and she ripped the show up. She did a great performance. She’s been around for years, and she still gigs! I actually grew up on her music.

2. Willie Hutch

I listen to all kinds of music. I dig Willie Hutch!

3. Linkin Park

I’m into rock n’ roll too. I listen to Linkin Park.

4. Johnny Cash

I’m into pretty much everything, man [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
01.05.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

The Beatles, Bob Marley, Leadbelly, Howlin’ Wolf

So what makes someone country?

Just ask acclaimed artist Ryan Bingham—”It’s not the hat and the boots. It’s about your story and where you come from.”

Crazy Heart is quite the story. Jeff Bridges gives the performance of a lifetime as hard drinkin’ down-n-out country singer Bad Blake. Bingham pops up in his backing band adding some real country cred to the flick. The real life country artist definitely had quite the experience with Crazy Heart.

Ryan Bingham sat down in this exclusive interview with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino about what’s on his playlist. Check out Ryan’s playlist below and don’t miss Crazy Heart.

Ryan Bingham’s Playlist:

1. The Beatles

2. Bob Marley

3. Leadbelly

4. Howlin’ Wolf

5. The Rolling Stones

6. Kris Kristofferson

I listen to a lot of old blues—Lead Belly, Howlin Wolf—as well as The Rolling Stones, Kris Kristofferson. I mix it up quite a bit.

—Rick Florino
01.04.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Gillian Welch, Iris Dement, Arcade Fire, Bruce Springsteen

“I’ve always liked country music,” says Maggie Gyllenhaal with a big smile.

Maggie’s love for the genre definitely comes through in her performance in Crazy Heart. In order to play small-town reporter, Jean Craddock, Maggie drew upon that natural love for country. By channeling her own tastes, she was able to create a character that’s both passionately believable and honest.

About Jean, she continues, “She’s a feeler…She’s the most vulnerable emotional personal I’ve ever played.”

Maggie plays her quite well too…Maggie sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino to discuss Crazy Heart and what’s on her playlist. She definitely loves her country, but there’s a whole lot more on there as well…

Check out Maggie’s playlist below and don’t miss her in Crazy Heart out now!

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Playlist:

1. Gillian Welch

2. Iris Dement

I do listen to country music. I really love Gillian Welch. I always listen to her and Iris Dement. They’re both country!

3. The Dirty Projectors

I’m kind of into The Dirty Projectors. I don’t know them that well, I’m just starting to get into them.

4. Arcade Fire

I love Arcade Fire!

5. Bruce Springsteen

I’ve been into Bruce Springsteen since I saw him play at this Obama Benefit a while ago. He just totally blew my mind again.

6. Patti Smith

I was listening to this Patti Smith album the whole time I was making SherryBaby.

7. Waylon Jennings

8. Hank Williams

When I was making Crazy Heart, I was listening to Iris Dement and Dixie Chicks kind of girls. Waylon Jennings. I was really into Hank Williams.

—Rick Florino
01.04.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Greg Brown, John Hammond, Michael McDonald

Jeff Bridges went country for Crazy Heart.

It wasn’t that hard for the ever-amazing actor though and playing Crazy Heart’s Bad Blake shows just how good Bridges really is. The hard-drinking redemption-seeking country star stands out—an unforgettable and thought-provoking character that’ll summon audiences back along his tattered road again and again.

Jeff spends a lot of time listening to his favorite music, and he sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive interview to discuss what’s on his playlist.

Check out Jeff Bridges’ playlist below and don’t miss him in Crazy Heart!

Jeff Bridges’ Playlist:

1. Hank Williams

Hank Williams’ traditional country is right in the pocket. You can’t get much more country than Hank. Outside of that bullseye, you get strings and more lush things. It’s all music basically.

2. Greg Brown

I’m digging Greg Brown a lot! He wrote a song for our movie.

3. John Hammond

One of my favorite albums from a couple years ago was Wicked Grin, a John Hammond album of all Tom Waits tunes. Tom produced the album. I love that record.

4. Michael McDonald

Michael McDonald produced an album of mine called Be Here Soon. I’m a big fan of Michael’s. He’s nailing that Motown stuff. Gosh!

—Rick Florino
12.17.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Merle Haggard, Hank Williams

Robert Duvall knows what truly makes a person “country.”

“It’s something in the blood,” the legendary actor says with a smile. “It usually comes from the rural areas, although people in the city can do it. Hank Snow was one of the great country singers, and he’s from Nova Scotia [Laughs].”

It doesn’t really matter where you’re from, but rather what you’ve got inside you. That’s the message of Crazy Heart. In the film, Jeff Bridges plays Bad Blake a country performer reaching the end of his career’s road. From battling alcoholism to finding love, the film examines Bad’s redemption in a poignant and powerful fashion—Duvall plays Bad’s bartendin’ best buddy like only he can.

Since music is such a crucial part of the film, and Duvall knows country, he shared some favorites with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive interview.

Check them out below and don’t miss Crazy Heart! It’s one of the year’s best films!

Robert Duvall’s Playlist:

1. Charley Pride

2. Johnny Rodriguez

3. Freddy Fender

4. Hank Williams

“Country is white man’s soul music [Laughs]. But you have guys like Charley Pride and a few other African American guys that sing country music. Johnny Rodriguez is Latin—Freddy Fender as well. Hank Williams used to sing years ago on the street corners in Alabama with a black guy singing country music. There’s a kinship there too—a little fusion.”

5. Merle Haggard

“Merle Haggard’s inspired me a lot. Merle was very much influenced by Lefty Frizzell who was great! There are some very good singers! I like the old guys.”

—Rick Florino
12.17.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Daniel Johnston, Tina Turner, Creedence Clearwater Revival

Juliette Lewis is like a more badass Madonna.

If the material girl had a rock n’ roll edge and an undeniable spark for life, she’d be Miss Lewis. Juliette isn’t afraid to think outside the box—especially with her music. On her latest album, Terra Incognita, she sonically ventures into the deepest regions of space and the psyche to create a theatrical and infectious rock n’ roll record—one of the year’s best and most adventurous.

So what’s Juliette cranking these days?

Juliette Lewis sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what’s on her playlist. Check out Juliette’s playlist below and be sure to pick up Terra Incognita now! Don’t miss Juliette on tour either!

Juliette Lewis’s Playlist:

1. Daniel Johnston — “True Love Will Find You in the End”

2. Tina Turner

3. Creedence Clearwater Revival

4. Solid Gold

That’s funny because I just made a mix CD. It’s in my car. Daniel Johnston is on there. Tina Turner’s on there and a little Creedence—that cover of “I Put A Spell On You.” My new band that I love is electronic music. It’s called Solid Gold. This song “Who You Gonna Run to” is so meditative and it all hinges on this bass line and the synths. It puts you in this fuzzy lust zone. I’m all over the map!

—Rick Florino
12.14.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Adele, Amy Winehouse, Beyonce, Notorious B.I.G., Jason Mraz

There are two personalities to every great artist.

The first is that of the introspective and thoughtful artisan, crafting songs alone and truly conveying feelings. Then there’s the charismatic, outspoken performer—delivering said songs every night on stage for the world to hear.

Colbie Caillat’s iPod reflects that sentiment.

She laughs, “I have an upbeat playlist, and then I have a chill-out playlist. However, some songs are on both mixes because the have the same vibe!”

Colbie sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what’s currently rocking her world.

She filled ARTISTdirect.com in on the songs that currently make up both of her playlists. Check out Colbie’s selections below!

Colbie Caillat’s Playlist:

1. Adele

2. Amy Winehouse

3. Kings of Leon

4. Beyonce

5. Notorious B.I.G.

6. Jason Mraz

7. John Mayer

8. Bob Marley

Bob Marley, Adele and Amy Winehouse are on the chill mix, while the upbeat mix has Kings of Leon, Notorious B.I.G. and Jason Mraz. Right before I recorded this new Christmas song, I was in Paris on my balcony practicing it. It was at night and I was looking at the Eiffel Tower playing the song. It felt like I was in Paris at Christmas time. It was really amazing. Being back in Cali, it’s sunny outside, and I’m in the studio singing a Christmas song. It’s funny [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
12.10.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

The Beach Boys, Arctic Monkeys, Julian Casablancas

Every sly fox needs a fully loaded iPod.

That’s just a fact of forest life. So what was The Fantastic Mr. Fox star Jason Schwartzman listening to in order to get into the character of Ash the fox?

“The first thing that I ever do when I get to work on a character is make his playlist. It helps me a lot to know what my character would listen to. I’ll only listen to that music the whole time I’m working. For Ash, I was listening to The Beach Boys,” says Schwartzman with a big smile.

There’s definitely a classic vibe to the film balancing humor and whimsy perfectly. So The Beach Boys definitely serves as the perfect soundtrack!

Schwartzman continues, “I’d compare this movie to Smile by The Beach Boys because it’s a combination of beauty and a little bit of spookiness.”

Jason’s musical palette extends beyond The Beach Boys as well. He sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what’s on his personal playlist. Check out Jason’s playlist below and don’t miss The Fantastic Mr. Fox in theaters everywhere November 25, 2009!

Jason Schwartzman’s Playlist:

1. The Beach Boys — Smile

2. Arctic Monkeys — Humbug

3. Julian Casablancas — Phrazes for the Young

4. Animal Collective

5. The Dirty Projectors

6. Roxy Music

I’m listening to the new Arctic Monkeys album, the new Julian Casablancas album, Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors and then like Roxy Music [Laughs]. I’ve always dreamt of being part of a kids movie. It just makes me excited. I hope kids go to see this movie and remember it. I remember a movie I saw when I was a kid more in detail than a movie that I saw two weeks ago [Laughs]. It’s exciting to me that we made something that could make an impression on a young person and maybe make them happy.

—Rick Florino
11.24.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Wu-Tang Clan, Rain

“He makes a good ninja,” James McTeigue exclaims about Ninja Assassin star Rain.

Rain became the film’s titular character fully. His performance is killer in more ways than one—becoming a full on action god in most scenes. Rain also put himself through hell to prepare for and play through those bombastic action sequences. “It was hard,” he laughs with a smile.

It was worth all it though, as Ninja Assassin is one of the year’s best action flicks. There’s a distinctly kinetic musical style fueling the bloodlust. Rain showed ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino what he was listening to on set to get ready in this exclusive feature.

Check out the playlist below and don’t miss Ninja Assassin in theaters this Wednesday November 25!

Rain’s Playlist:

1. Wu-Tang Clan

Gangsta rap is the best music to chop someone up to. Before I was fighting, I heard Wu-Tang Clan—just everything [Laughs].

2. Rain

I’m also listening to my own music.

—Rick Florino
11.23.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Nick Cave, MC Rock Star

James McTeigue knows what it takes to be a good ninja.

About maintaining the kinetic energy on the set of his phenomenal new action flick Ninja Assassin, the director explains, “Obviously doing complicated martial arts takes a lot of time and a lot of energy. I think if the people at the core are really into it and want to do great martial arts, they keep the energy up. It was great in this case!”

Ninja Assassin is everything that a ninja movie should be—artful, nonstop and brilliantly bloody. There’s also an underlying sense of perpetual rhythm that fuels each and every action sequence. The film flows more like a record than a movie with each choptastic moment screeching like a guitar.

McTeigue laughs, “If Ninja Assassin were an album it would be some sort of rap crossed with Nevermind the Bollocks by The Sex Pistols—that kind of crazy energy [Laughs].”

In order to go deeper into the musical nature of the film, McTeigue sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about the music in Ninja Assassin and what he’s listening to.

Check out the playlist below and don’t miss Ninja Assassin in theaters this Wednesday November 25!

Ninja Assassin Director James McTeigue’s Playlist:

1. MC Rockstar

We were listening to a bit of Asian rap that starts the film. There’s a cool thing by MC Rockstar at the beginning.

2. Raekwon, Murs & Xzibit — “Legacy”

There’s a good viral out there of Raekwon, Murs and Xzibit that gets the feel of the film.

3. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis — The Assassination of Jesse James Soundtrack

I’ve been listening to a bit of soundtrack stuff lately—The Assassination of Jesse James is a pretty cool one. Nick Cave’s great.

—Rick Florino
11.23.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

The Dirty Projectors, Chet Baker

Phoenix has taken the indie rock world by storm. However, most importantly, they have the validation of the cast of The Hangover [Check out our exclusive video interview to see that…].

Right now, they continue to dazzle audiences across the U.S. and beyond in support of their phenomenal new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. It’s a swirling melodic masterwork worthy of your time. What went into Wolfgang? Well, we talked to vocalist Thomas Mars in this exclusive interview about what’s on his playlist.

Thomas shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino. Check it out below and don’t miss Phoenix!

Thomas Mars’ Playlist:

1. Minnie Riperton

Last night, we played Minnie Riperton.

2. The Dirty Projectors — Bitte Orca

I like the new Dirty Projectors record!

3. Chet Baker — Chet Baker Sings

Chet Baker is nice in the summer. I love Chet Baker Sings.

—Rick Florino
11.17.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Justice, Daft Punk, Peaches

You can’t properly go to outer space without a good chunk of electronica on your iPod. Just ask Powerman 5000’s Spider One.

In order to get into that galactic mindset that makes Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere so damn epic, he spent a lot of time cranking the best and brightest names in modern electronic music. Spider one shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and be sure to pick up Powerman 5000’s latest album, Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere available everywhere now!

Spider One’s Playlist:

1. Justice

2. Daft Punk

3. Peaches

I’m not listening to much. After a show when I’m on the bus, I’ll put a movie in. When we were making the record, the last music I dove into was stuff like Justice, Daft Punk, Peaches, trying to get a handle on that world and bring a little bit of that vibe into what we were doing.

4. Powerman 50000 — Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere

Unfortunately, with the reality of the world, we can’t have a 50-foot spaceship land on stage. We can’t quite get there yet [Laughs]. We’ve definitely stepped it up a little bit production-wise on this tour. We touch a little bit on each album, but we really lean towards the new stuff because the new material has been getting the biggest response.

—Rick Florino
11.16.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

2pac, Pantera, Stone Temple Pilots, Z-Ro, Michael Jackson

Rock n’ roll needed a gangsta.

For a long time, there’s been a void for a badass with real attitude, swagger and talent to step in and take over. Houston-born, L.A.-based MC Hyro da Hero seized the moment, and he’s ready for both hip hop and rock supremacy.

Hyro is armed with a fiery flow and a rock n’ roll intensity that makes his “gangsta rock” simply explosive. Looking at his playlist, it’s clear that Hyro knows his shit when it comes to both rock and rap. He opened up his iTunes for ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive feature. Check out Hyro’s playlist below and be sure to keep your eyes on him…see his video for “Dirty South Rock” below!

Hyro da Hero’s Playlist:

1. Hyro da Hero — “Dirty South Rock”

One must always listen to something amazing to start the day!

See the video here!

2. 2pac — “Nothin’ to Lose”

I love this track! I can’t find it in good quality so I always listen to it on Youtube.

3. At the Drive-In — “One Armed Scissor”

Amazing song, amazing CD, awesome band…and they rep Texas like I do!

4. Pantera — “Cemetery Gates”

I sit back and close my eyes and vibe to this all the way through. The Dimebag strings at the beginning make a brother lose it. I repeat it over and over—Texas reppin’.

5. 50 Cent — “Baby By Me”

Both versions—the song is catchy!

6. Flight of the Conchords — “The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room”When I first heard this I laughed so hard. Some girls are the most wonderful human beings, depending on the street.

7. Michael Jackson — “PYT”

An iPod is not complete without this!

8. The Bravery — “Believe”

The song had me hooked right at the beginning, I bump this when I’m skatin’ in LA!

9. Stone Temple Pilots — “Plush”

I loved the song already, but then I saw them in concert and loved it even more.

10. Z-Ro — “Too Many N*****”

If you are like me and come from where I’m from, you’ll dig this.

—Rick Florino
11.12.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

Check out Hyro’s video for “Dirty South Rock” below!

A Taste:

Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Black Eyed Peas

David Guetta’s something of a dance music wizard.

Not only is he lighting up the clubs with his undeniably infectious collaboration with Akon, “Sexy Chick,” but he also produced The Black Eyed Peas‘ mega-hit, “I Gotta Feeling.” Anything he touches is bound to magically get asses shaking worldwide! He’s continuing to rise to prominence as well with his brand new album One Love and enough remixes to stock any DJ’s record crate. “Sexy Chick” is just one of many surefire club bangers in Guetta’s varied arsenal!

In order to get inside his decks, David Guetta shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive interview. Check out David Guetta’s playlist below and be sure to pick up One Love now!

David Guetta’s Playlist:

1. Marvin Gaye — “Inner City Blues”

Marvin Gaye is a genius; it’s as simple as that.

2. Stevie Wonder — “Living for the City”

Stevie Wonder is the second genius [Laughs]…

3. Black Eyed Peas — “Boom Boom Pow”

I produced the new single, “I Gotta Feeling,” but I’ve gotta say, this track is the most innovative and exciting track I’ve heard in a long time!

4. N.E.R.D. — “Rock Star”

Pharrell Williams is one of my favorite producers and I love it when he does rock.

5. Lenny Kravitz — “I Belong to You”

The album that this track is on, 5, is one of my favorite albums ever.

6. Michael Jackson — “Dirty Diana”

Thriller is my favorite album, ever!

7. Kanye West — 808s & Heartbreaks

The whole album is really inspiring to me and is probably one of the main reasons why my new album is a bridge between electronic music and urban culture.

—Rick Florino
11.10.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Queens of the Stone Age, AC/DC, Perish

Hollywood Undead have a whole arsenal of influences. That’s precisely why their sound is so enigmatic and edgy.

On Desperate Measures, Hollywood Undead further carve out a style that’s all their own. Industrial gnashing gives way to massive rock n’ roll choruses and some of the most raucous raps to ever be committed to tape. “Explosive” doesn’t even begin to describe just how fiery Hollywood Undead’s latest musical time bomb is…

In order to get closer to their music, Hollywood Undead’s J-Dog and Funny Man shared their playlists with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive interview.

Check out their playlists below and pick up Desperate Measures now!

J- Dog’s Playlist:

1. The Sleeping

J-Dog: I’m listening to this band called The Sleeping that we toured with. They sound like a mix between At the Drive-in and Murder City Devils. They’re really good. Funny Man’s been into Bring Me The Horizon. We played some shows with them in England, so he’s been listening to them nonstop. I was into them, now he started listening to them. The Sleeping’s one of the only new bands I’ve been listening to recently though.

2. AC/DC

J-Dog: I put my shit on shuffle and let it go. I’ve been listening to a lot of AC/DC lately for some reason. You know how you go through phases with bands? I always do that. It’s usually one band at a time with me. Right now it’s AC/DC because I watched their Behind the Music again. It’s such a good one. All the shit they’ve been through is crazy.

3. Perish

J-Dog: I’m listening to a band called Perish. They’re a metal band but they’ve got melodic choruses. I’ve always liked metal that has melodic choruses that get ingrained in your brain. They’re from Orange County—the dirty OC [Laughs].

Funny Man’s Playlist:

1. Queens of the Stone Age — Songs for The Deaf

Funny Man: That’s my all-time favorite album by them. The first song is awesome!

2. The Talking Heads — Best Of

Funny Man: I’m always listening to them! I like his style and the storytelling. It’s great shit!

3. Dub-C

Funny Man: I’m always listening to the Dub-C album. I picked that up in Vegas when we were last there, and I don’t think I’ve stopped listening to it. I heard that album when I was a kid, and I still love it!

—Rick Florino
11.09.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Muse, Led Zeppelin, Blondie, Black Eyed Peas

Tina Parol likes to rock.

She makes delightfully catchy pop with a serious dose of rock n’ roll swagger on her debut EP, Bite My Tongue. It’s that edge that makes Tina’s music so sharp and unique. Looking at her playlist though, the rock and roll leanings are not a surprise!

Tina’s got a real appreciation for classic rock and modern alt rock, and it shows on her iTunes. She shared her playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive interview. Check it out below and get Bite My Tongue now!

1. Aerosmith

2. Led Zeppelin

3. Blondie

4. The Clash

5. The Police

I grew up on everything from Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin to Blondie and The Clash to the Police. I’m a big, big classic rock fan. That’s my shit.

6. Green Day

7. Garbage

8. Foo Fighters

My taste in rock spans all the way to Green Day, Garbage, Foo Fighters and all of that stuff. I definitely listen to a lot of rock, but I have a big love of reggae. I think that’s where my rhythmic edge comes into play. My music definitely has a big pop rock sound with a little reggae sprinkled on top—sometimes it’s just the way I pronounce something or a lyric. I try to incorporate that because it makes me happy.

9. Muse

I like the new Muse record a lot. I think they’re really cool.

10. Black Eyed Peas

I’ve been listening to a lot of Black Eyed Peas because they’re just so fun. It makes me feel very L.A. I’m so New York, and in New York, I listen to dark shit—back in my element. Will.i.am’s the shit though!

—Rick Florino
11.09.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Black Sabbath, Whitesnake, Journey

“I’m never going to stop rocking,” laughs Mike White.

The Gentlemen Broncos star has no reason to ever stop, especially now that he’s played the film’s wild-maned Dusty. With long flowing locks and a skill with oversized spitball straws, Dusty is quite “rock n’ roll.” He’s the kind of guy you’d see outside of an Iron Maiden show double-fisting two Pabst Blue Ribbons and throwing up the horns, yet Mike imbues a strange calm into the character. It’s that zen which allows for the biggest laughs.

However, Mike wasn’t the only rocker on set. Filmmaker Jared Hess [Napoleon Dynamite] also has a soft spot for some good ole fashion distortion. Mike and Jared sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what’s on their playlists. It gets you closer to Gentlemen Broncos, and it gets loud!

Check out their playlists below and in the video, and don’t miss Gentlemen Broncos in theaters now!

Mike White’s Playlist:

1. Genesis

Mike White: The ’80s hair band music that Jared has peppered throughout this soundtrack has now become my iPod playlist. I’m having a Genesis season [Laughs].

2. Journey

3. Whitesnake

Mike White: There are so many good ones! I was in L.A. during the ’80s, and it was never better than that. That was the heyday on the sunset strip.Jared Hess’s Playlist:

1. Scorpions

2. Black Sabbath

3. Ozzy Osbourne

Jared Hess: I like old stuff—Scorpions, Black Sabbath, and all the goodies. You’ve got to get a little Ozzy in there, man. The film is an eclectic hot mess of lots of stuff. The characters are so different it warrants a lot of different genres of music.

Watch video here!

—Rick Florino
10.30.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Queens of the Stone Age, The Beatles, Steely Dan

Kristinia DeBarge has spent the past year turning pop music upside down with her undeniable R&B sensibility and a whole lot of soul. From “Goodbye” to “Sabotage,” Kristinia’s got the kind of arsenal of hits that could unseat Lady GaGa and Britney Spears at the top of the heap. Kristinia’s well on her way to supremacy on the charts too…watch out…

In order to accompany that journey to the pop palace, Kristinia’s got quite a stacked playlist—running the gamut from psychedelic rock to dance music. She sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what’s on her iTunes playlist.

Check out Kristinia DeBarge’s playlist below!

Kristinia DeBarge’s Playlist:

1. Queens of the Stone Age — “Tangled up in Plaid”

The last song I downloaded was “Tangled Up in Plaid” by Queens of the Stone Age.

2. Armin van Buuren

3. Steely Dan

Before that I was downloading Armin Van Buren’s Imagine album and Steely Dan’s Aja.

4. Guns N’ Roses

5. Eric Clapton

I’ve also got a couple Guns N’ Roses and Eric Clapton tracks on my playlist.

6. The Beatles

My mom and step dad just got me this really cool DVD of The Beatles. It’s their anthology, and it has volumes 1-8 with special features. I’m really looking forward to checking it out when I get some down time in the hotel in San Diego and Vegas!

—Rick Florino
10.28.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

David Crowder, Rise Against, Sleeping at Last

Flyleaf’s new album Memento Mori is everything that a great rock record should be.

From unforgettable guitar riffs and raucous rhythms to massive melodies and hypnotic lyrics, Memento Mori is one of the best rock n’ roll albums this year. Singer Lacey bares her soul on each and every track, and she gives with every line that she belts out. Just take one listen to the first single, “Again,” for proof. However, “Missing” and “This Close” will close the deal for you…

Lacey sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what tunes she’s rocking these days!

Check out Lacey’s playlist below and pick up Memento Mori when it drops on November 10 everywhere!

Lacey’s Playlist:

1. Rise Against

I love Rise Against!

2. David Crowder

We’re going to buy the new David Crowder CD. He covered “All Around Me” on piano, and it’s really cool! I sang on “The Nearness” I went into that studio and screamed my head off and I can’t hear one scream on the final song though [Laughs].

3. Skillet

4. Muse

I really want their new record!

5. Sleeping at Last

I like a lot of Sleeping At Last’s stuff. I like a lot of Christian music. I don’t have to always listen to Christian music, but there are seasons in my life where that’s what I want to hear. I just want to hear something that’s going to speak to me.

—Rick Florino
10.26.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

AC/DC, KISS, Pink Floyd

Staind have the pop power and the heavy metal heart to solidify them as a legendary band. It’ll only be a little while…

They’ve got a whole host of modern classics in their catalog—from the massive melodies in “Right Here” and “It’s Been Awhile” to the cathartic chaos of “Mudshovel” and “Suffocate.” The multi-platinum Massachusetts quartet knows how to write hard rock anthems better than anyone, but when it’s time to get heartfelt few are better than frontman Aaron Lewis. Ever since the moment he busted out an acoustic guitar on the 1999 installment of the Family Values tour for “Outside,” Aaron’s songwriting prowess and undeniably incredible voice have captivated listeners. Given his penchant for a potent tune, we were curious about where it all began.

In this exclusive interview. ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino spoke to Aaron Lewis about the first three albums to ever inspire him. Aaron went way back in the catalog and gave us three classics for this exclusive playlist feature. Check it out below and pick up Staind’s most recent masterpiece, The Illusion of Progress if you haven’t yet.

Aaron Lewis’s Playlist:

1. AC/DC — Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

2. KISS — Alive II

3. Pink Floyd — The Wall

The first three records ever given to me as a kid were AC/DC’s Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, KISS’s Alive II and Pink Floyd’s The Wall. It was the first music I was ever really able to listen to, rewind and listen to again at my leisure.

Now on my playlist is Andrew Wilkow and Mark Levin [Laughs]. If I’m not listening to that, it’s usually country music.

—Rick Florino
10.27.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac, The Doobie Brothers

Wolfmother are ready to bark at the moon again.

On their brand new album, Cosmic Egg, vocalist/guitarist Andrew Stockdale and co. tear through rock n’ roll with some seriously sharpened teeth. Riffs rip through airtight grooves, while Stockdale’s inimitable wail carries hooks to the heavens and back. Stockdale’s got a howl that few can match, and it’s only gotten fiercer on the new material! Cosmic Egg most definitely sizzles!

Stockdale’s personal taste covers quite the spectrum though. He sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about his playlist. Be sure to check out Andrew Stockdale’s playlist below and don’t miss Wolfmother’s Cosmic Egg in stores everywhere now!

Andrew Stockdale’s Playlist:

1. Kate Bush

At the moment I’m listening to Kate Bush. Do you know who Kate Bush is? I’m in love with her!

2. Fleetwood Mac

3. Steve Miller Band

I’m listening to a lot of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac—also Steve Miller Band [Laughs]. What else is there?

4. Bonnie Tyler — “Total Eclipse of the Heart”

5. The Doobie Brothers

6. Patti Smith — “Because of the Night”

7. Gary Wright — “Dreamweaver”

—Rick Florino
10.27.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Coldplay, KISS, Citizen Cope, Van Morrison

Saw VI plays out like a symphony of destruction.

It’s the most twisted entry into the franchise yet and, as with all of the previous installments, there’s a malevolently musical undercurrent to the film’s madness.
B However, the stars themselves have quite different iPod selections. Though Satanic death metal and dark industrial would fit the film’s vibe best, you’re more likely to find Tobin Bell [Jigsaw] cranking some Coldplay than Slipknot.

I’ve always thought Chris Martin was way more evil than Corey Taylor anyway, so it’s all good…

Saw VI stars Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor and Tanedra Howard sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what’s on their playlists!

Tobin Bell’s Playlist:

1. Coldplay

2. Van Morrison

3. Eric Clapton

I’ve been listening to Coldplay a lot lately. I listen to Van Morrison. I really like Eric Clapton.

4. Bob Dylan

I’ve always been a big Bob Dylan fan!

5. Hydrovibe

I really recommend Hydrovibe; they’re amazing. I think Jigsaw’s probably a classical music guy—maybe some jazz too. I’m not altogether sure that he wouldn’t have a marching band—maybe John Philip Sousa—or something like that going on during a wild night in the lair [Laughs].

Tanedra Howard’s Playlist:

1. Barbra Streisand

2. The Three Tenors

3. The Backyardigans

4. Citizen Cope

You’re going to laugh at me! I listen to a lot of stuff. I have R&B and hip hop. I listen to classical. I have the Three Tenors on my iPod. I’ve got Barbra Streisand. I have The Backyardigans. That’s a cartoon, and I’m not ashamed [Laughs]. If it makes me snap my fingers, I’m going to listen to it!

5. Evanescence

I did play a few songs to get myself in the horror mood and get me amped up. One was by Evanescence. Even though it wasn’t a bad song, it was “My Immortal.” It put me in the state.

Costas Mandylor’s Playlist:

1. Thin Lizzy

2. Muse

I put my head phones on once in awhile to keep my energy up on set. I’m still listening to Thin Lizzy. They’re one of my favorite bands of all time. Someone gave me one of those iPod Nanos, and I’ve been listening to Muse. I like stuff that’s heavy. I’m a bit of a rock n’ roll guy.

3. Led Zeppelin

I love all the classics like Led Zeppelin.

4. KISS

I was part of the KISS army for years. Anything that’s good and heavy I’ll take.

—Rick Florino
10.26.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Empire of the Sun, Tom Petty, Jay-Z

Leighton Meester wants to make you sweat, and that’s just what her music is going to do.

“Somebody to Love,” the first single from her forthcoming debut album, is a bona fide club anthem that’ll be lighting up dance floors for a long time to come. It’s sexy and sassy just like the young starlet. Even though Leighton definitely loves her fair share of dance music, she’s got quite an eclectic playlist overall. The fact that she’s all-over-the-map makes her tunes that much more interesting.

Leighton’s in the studio finishing up the album right now, but she found the time to sit down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive playlist feature.

Check out Leighton’s playlist below and be sure to keep an eye out for her debut album!

Leighton Meester’s Playlist:

1. Empire of the Sun

I’ve been listening to Empire of the Sun a lot. They’re amazing! They have a lot of really good songs, but “Walking on a Dream” is one of the most-played on my iTunes. They’re very electro. It’s beautiful music, but it’s a little disco-sounding too. This song holds a lot of memories for me. I started listening to it about a year ago, and it reminds me of dancing all night in my hotel room in Paris drunk on champagne [Laughs].

2. Tom Petty

I love Tom Petty. I’m a huge Tom Petty fan. I really like a lot of his songs. I think “Refugee” is a really good song. I feel like the song has got so much soul and personality. I really like singing it. If I ever do karaoke, that’s my song!

3. Jay-Z

Lately, I’ve been listening to “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z. A collaboration between Jay-Z and Empire of the Sun would be amazing. I love this song though; it’s gorgeous. It’s an instant classic, and it’s like an anthem. I live in New York so I really love the song.

4. Lykke Li

I really like “Little Bit” by Lykke Li. Her voice is so beautiful. It’s very honest and simple, and it captures the feeling of young love.

5. Peter, Bjorn and John

I really like Peter, Bjorn and John. I love that song “Paris 2004.” It’s such a happy song. It reminds me of a sunny day.

6. Jori Hulkkonen

I really like this song called “Lo Fiction” by Jori Hulkkonen. A friend of mine introduced that song to me over two years ago, and I’m still not tired of it. It’s the kind of music that I love to make. There’s a good electronic beat, but the vocals are melodic and the lyrics are very personal but simple. It reminds me a little bit of “Somebody to Love” because it feels like a nighttime song.

7. Neil Young

8. Leighton Meester

I’ll say my own song, since it’s out now [Laughs].

9. Outkast

10. Gnarls Barkley

I love Gnarls Barkley. I have such a huge variety because good music is good music!

—Rick Florino
10.22.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Phoenix, Metric, Muse, Cage the Elephant

“I’ve got some pretty interesting stuff going on in my world right now,” says Dead By Sunrise and Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington with a smile.

Not only did he just release one of the best rock albums of the year, Dead By Sunrise’s Out of Ashes, Chester has spent a fair amount of time spinning his favorite acts for inspiration.

Dead By Sunrise mixes the ethereal whimsy of Depeche Mode with Alice In Chains‘ raw vitality for a sound that’s undeniably badass. It’s definitely an amalgam of many different styles, but, most importantly, it’s personal, real and refreshing.

While on the set for Dead By Sunrise’s next video, “Let Down,” Chester sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about his playlist. Check it out below and be sure to pick up Dead By Sunrise’s Out of Ashes, available everywhere now!

Don’t miss them when they play your town either!

Chester Bennington’s Playlist:

1. Phoenix — Wolgang Amadeus Phoenix

I really like the new Phoenix album!

2. Metric — Fantasies

I like the new Metric record a lot. It’s really, really good.

3. The Dead Weather — Horehound

This really grew on me!

4. Cage the Elephant

They made an amazing record as well.

5. Manchester Orchestra

There is a lot of really great music out right now.

6. The Airborne Toxic Event

Airborne Toxic Event made one of the best records of the year. Talk about a storyteller, that guy can write lyrics! I feel the same way about Rise Against. Those guys are always making great records. The lyrics are amazing. That’s what’s going on in my world right now.

7. Rise Against

8. Muse

Muse is one of my favorite bands, and they keep getting higher on my list. They may now be my favorite band of all time. Hearing their records is amazing, but when you go see them live you’re like, “I had no idea that it was this badass. I didn’t realize I was going to walk out of here with a broken face.” They’re a band that can play with anybody, and I really enjoy that.

—Rick Florino
10.20.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Miley Cyrus, The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, The Postal Service

Kristen Bell is a classy girl.

By glancing at the Astro Boy star’s playlist, a cornucopia of MoTown favorites, it’s easy to recognize that she’s got really good taste in music. However, there is a dark side to her iPod—a VERY dark side.

“I will turn up some Miley Cyrus if it’s on in the car,” she laughs with a stunning smile. “I’m not ashamed of that either; I’m really not [Laughs].”

Cranking a little Miley Cyrus is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, little miss Montana even encouraged Eli Roth to go apeshit for Inglourious Basterds. Even though Bell’s Astro Boy character, Cora, doesn’t bash in Nazi brains with a baseball bat, she’s still a touch cookie.

Bell continues, “I like that Cora is a little bit mysterious. She acts like a tough girl, but she has all of these young maternal instincts to keep this group of runaways together. She’s kind of like their Peter Pan!”

Bell’s a big part of Astro Boy’s modern fairy tale. In order to get into the mood to voice act, she spent a lot of time listening to some of her favorite artists—even beyond Motown and Miley.

Kristen Bell shared her playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive feature. Check out what she’s spinning below and in the video, and don’t miss Astro Boy in theaters everywhere this Friday October 23.

Kristen Bell’s Playlist:

1. Clarence Carter

2. The Spinners

3. The Four Tops

4. Frankie Valli

5. Aretha Franklin

I grew up in MoTown, so I listen to a lot of Clarence Carter, The Spinners, The Four Tops, Frankie Valle or Aretha Franklin.

6. The Postal Service

I really like the Postal Service!

7. Miley Cyrus

She’s got a lot of power over us. She’s got to be respected [Laughs].

8. Jason Mraz

Most of the music I listen to is older, but I also like Jason Mraz and a lot of the easy Jack Johnson beats and coffee house music.

9. Jamiroquai

The Postal Service is good to cruise outer space to because they’ve got that intergalactic beat mixed in. However, I’m going to go High School for you—Jamiroquai. Go with the original Jamiroquia CD because that will rock you!

—Rick Florino
10.20.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Django Reinhardt, Louie Armstrong, The Smiths

What’s the best way to get really wild?

Well, you can always start by kicking out your favorite jams and going from there!

The cast of Where the Wild Things Are is extremely eclectic and unique, but their respective playlists may be just as wild as they are! Forest Whitaker and Lauren Ambrose both have a devout appreciation for classic jazz, while Catherine O’Hara spends her time enjoying Indian music and Catherine Keener is jamming Karen O. The biggest sonic surprise though comes from the film’s 12-year-old star, Max Records—he loves The Smiths! Well, there’s really no one wilder than Morrissey so it all somewhat makes sense!

Forest, Lauren, Catherine, Max and Catherine talked to ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino about their playlists for this exclusive feature. Check out what they’re all spinning below and don’t miss Where the Wild Things Are this weekend!

Video is also available below! Get wild!

Forest Whitaker’s Playlist:

1. Louis Armstrong

Forest Whitaker: I’ve been listening to some old school jazz from the ’30s—a lot of Louie Armstrong!

Catherine O’Hara’s Playlist:

1. U2

Catherine O’Hara: I’m listening to U2 and Indian music.

Lauren Ambrose’s Playlist:

1. Django Reinhardt

Lauren Ambrose: I’ve been listening to a lot of jazz like Django Reinhardt. That’s what I’m really into. Forest and I should put together a jazz band [Laughs].

Catherine Keener’s Playlist:

1. Karen O — Where the Wild Things Are Soundtrack

Catherine Keener: Karen O is on my playlist! The music for this film is just so appropriate and beautiful.

Max Records’ Playlist:

1. The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs

2. The White Stripes

Max Records: I mostly listen to The Yeah Yeah, Yeah’s and the White Stripes.

Catherine Keener: Weren’t you into The Smiths for a long time?

Max Records: Yup, I was!

Catherine Keener: When I met him, he was a Smiths aficionado!

—Rick Florino
10.16.09

A Taste:

Kings of Leon, Passion Pit, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

Drake is undeniably the hottest new rapper in the game.

So we had to know…what the hell is he listening to?

“Indie rock,” Drake laughs with a big smile. “I feel like that that music is the best that it’s been in years. There are so many bands that are simply phenomenal.”

Even though he’s rolling with Lil Wayne and trading verses with Slim Shady, Drake prefers to kick back and turn up some fuzzed out artsy bands. That’s probably why he’s got such a unique style and melodic sensibility. You can’t mess with Drake and his shoegazin’ playlist!

Drake opened up his iTunes for ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive playlist feature. Check out what Drake is spinning below and pick up his brand new EP, So Far Gone, available now!

Drake’s Playlist:

1. Passion Pit

2. Frances and the Lights

3. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

4. Kings of Leon

I listen to a lot of Passion Pit, Frances and the Lights, Edward Sharpe and Kings of Leon.

5. Grizzly Bear

I love Grizzly Bear. There are almost too many great indie bands. They’ve got their own sounds going on. From the lyrics to the melodies, everything is great. I feel like indie rock is at a real strong place right now.

—Rick Florino
10.13.09

A Taste:

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens

Vince Vaughn knows good tunes.

In fact, he’s a veritable music encyclopedia, spouting off the historical origins of everyone from Led Zeppelin to Merle Haggard at the drop of a hat. Vaughn’s love for music manifests in a different fashion in Couples Retreat though.

In one key scene, he lays it all on the line during an incendiary Guitar Hero showdown during Billy Squier’s “Lonely is the Night.” There’s nothing more epic, or hilarious, than that.

Vaughn shared some playlist selections with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive feature.

Check out Vince’s playlist below and don’t miss Couples Retreat in theaters everywhere now!

Vince Vaughn’s Playlist:

1. Led Zeppelin

2. The Rolling Stones

I think a lot of people’s musical history starts with Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones.

3. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

What I liked about the tour that Robert Plant did with Alison Krauss was Plant really went out of his way to talk about American Roots music. They were trying to sound like the old Appalachian singers and a lot of the blues singers. That’s really who their idols are. That show was wonderful because they played a lot of those Led Zeppelin songs Appalachian-style. It was really, really beautiful.

4. Merle Haggard

5. Buck Owens

I can’t listen to a lot of modern stuff because I’m so in love with the older storytellers. I’ve always said that I think music is the highest art form. Music can take you the farthest the fastest emotionally. There’s sculpture, painting and acting, but sound and song are something else. You can be driving your car and that song comes on, and you’re in tears depending on what it is. Buck Owens and Johnny Cash really had some difficult life experiences, and they were telling the stories of their lives through music. There was no endgame necessarily. It’s like the murals in Belfast. They were based on conflicts. Buck was from Sherman Texas. Like in The Grapes of Wrath, he migrated for work, and he ended up in Bakersfield. Merle Haggard is the only person in the Country Music Hall of Fame who was born in California—Bakersfield. I heard a rumor George Jones asked Merle to move next to him. That’d be interesting. I love George, he’s great. Their songs came out of their life experiences. There’s such depth to them. It’s unbelievable.

—Rick Florino
10.13.09

A Taste:

Led Zeppelin, Kings of Leon, Metallica

“I play kazoo! It’s a really great rock instrument,” laughs Malin Akerman.

Malin has quite the musical sensibility, and it’s one of the reasons that she steals the show more than a few times in Couples Retreat. Her sense of rhythm makes for some impeccable comedic moments. That style probably has something to do with her other gig, fronting The Petalstones. Despite a deep love for music, she doesn’t always have her iPod blaring on set though.

“I don’t really listen to music to get into character,” she continues. “The only time I did was during Watchmen before fight scenes. All I listened to was heavy metal like Primus and the hardest stuff you can think of.”

Typically, Malin dabbles in almost every genre though. She shared her playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and don’t miss her in Couples Retreat in theaters everywhere now!

Malin Akerman’s Playlist:

1. The Rolling Stones

2. Led Zeppelin

3. Metallica

“I’m listening to everything, really. I’m a big fan of old rock n’ roll. I love The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Metallica.

4. Rilo Kiley

“I love Rilo Kiley right now; I’m hooked on them.”

5. Kings of Leon

“I have to say I’m insanely in love with Kings of Leon. I think women can agree! The singer has got a sexy voice [Laughs]. They’re just sexy!”

—Rick Florino
10.12.09

A Taste:

Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Queens of the Stone Age

Being a badass rock star is a full-time job.

Corey Taylor should give seminars on it because, these days, he’s flawlessly fronting not one or two, but three bands.

The Slipknot and Stone Sour singer has added the Junk Beer Kidnap Band to his ever-growing list of mindblowing musical projects. In the Junk Beer Kidnap Band, Taylor’s love for the likes of Foo Fighters and Alice In Chains shines bright, as he churns out some of the catchiest hard rock we’ve heard in recent memory.

Right now, Taylor is about to finish up the cycle behind Slipknot’s fourth masterpiece All Hope Is Gone, with a U.S. tour alongside the Deftones and what are bound to be legendary headlining sets at Cypress Hill’s Smokeout on Saturday October 24 in San Bernardino, CA and Fangoria’s “Trinity of Terrors” in Las Vegas on Halloween night.

In the meantime, Taylor opened up his iTunes for this exclusive interview with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino. Check out Corey’s playlist below and don’t miss Slipknot at the Smokeout and “Trinity of Terrors.”

Corey Taylor’s Playlist:

1. Alice In Chains — Black Gives Way to Blue

I am listening to the new Alice In Chains—constantly! It is so good, man! I am not kidding. Let me just say, “If you buy one album, buy my album!” [Laughs] “But if you buy two albums, buy the new Alice In Chains.” I cannot back that album enough, and this is coming from a sick, sick fan. I’ve been an Alice In Chains fan for years. In a lot of ways, Alice In Chains is responsible for the way I write. “Would?” is one of my all-time favorite songs ever written. When I heard that song, it showed me that anything was possible with music because everything was real—even with the alternative movement going on. I was heavily into that because I was a punk kid growing up. Even within the alternative style, there was this sentiment that you had to write a certain way. “Would?” came out, and it just punched me in the face. I was like, “This could be one of the greatest songs ever written!” That’s what this whole new album reminds me of—feeling like, “God, I’ve missed this band!” It’s their best work since Dirt. I’ll be straight-up honest. People are going to love it.

2. Pearl Jam — Backspacer

The new Pearl Jam album, Backspacer, is actually really good as well. It’s weird because I’m usually the guy who says, “I don’t listen to anything new.” It’s been a really good year though!

3. Green Day — 21st Century Breakdown

The new Green Day is amazing. There’s a lot of good stuff out there!

4. Them Crooked Vultures

I’ve never wanted to sleep with men before, but that trio—Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones—are you kidding me? My buddy heard it, and said it’s even better than you could ever imagine.

5. Queens of the Stone Age

Songs for the Deaf is a great album. You know what? I loved Lullabies to Paralyze. Lullabies is so sickeningly dark! Seriously!

—Rick Florino
10.12.09

A Taste:

Slipknot, Pantera, Slayer, Deftones

Paranormal Activity is the scariest film of the past decade and one of the year’s best movies.

Like a demon, it takes up residency inside your conscience and rips and tears at every last shard of sanity—until you’re thoroughly, completely and utterly terrified beyond belief. Since it’s the best movie about possession to ever come out, ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino compiled the perfect playlist for the film.

This is the ideal soundtrack for Paranormal Activity, featuring the best anthems of the devil, drugs and bad dreams ever recorded. The only thing scarier would be the licensing cost for all of these KILLER songs…

Check out Rick Florino’s Paranormal Activity playlist below and demand the film NOW! After one-million demands it will infect theaters everywhere, and you too won’t be able to sleep.

Also, speaking of scary, check out Rick Florino’s first illustrated horror novel Dolor: Lila now!

Rick Florino’s Paranormal Activity Playlist:

1. Slipknot — “Purity”

A “love song” about a dead girl in a box…only Slipknot could write a song this entrancing and hypnotic about a subject so sickening and evil. Corey Taylor’s voice engages during the chorus, while ripping a hole right through your soul during the bridge. The paranoia, sense of lost love and connection to good ole Lucifer make this best song for Paranormal Activity’s most emotionally charged freak-out scenes.

2. Deftones — “Rikets”

Chino Moreno questions sanity, himself and basically everything else over a twisted and gnashing guttural riff. As he screams in demonic fashion over a wall of distortion, any apparition would smirk at his unbridled pain. It fits the film’s scenes where characters end up running from the unknown.

3. Korn — “Helmet In the Bush”

As James “Munky” Shaffer cuts through a woozy detuned riff, Jonathan Davis pleads to God for the chance to sleep this one night away without more torment. That’s half the premise of Paranormal Activity right there!

4. Metallica — “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)”

The song’s slow build-up into a thrash massacre mirror’s Paranormal Activity’s catatonic to chaotic flow all too perfectly. Plus, this is just one of the greatest metal songs—EVER.

5. Slayer — “Bloodline”

It’s Slayer. It talks about killing people and dreams. Need I say more. Again, it’s Slayer…all you need to know…

6. Pantera — “By Demons Be Driven”

Phil Anselmo never sounded more possessed as he tears through a refrain given to him by Satan and fueled by Dimebag Darrell’s inimitable fretwork.

7. Acid Bath — “Venus Blue”

Dax Riggs asks, “How much more must we bleed her?” As Paranormal Activity’s Katie Featherstone inches further away from sanity, the question resounds like a demon’s voice in the wind.

—Rick Florino
10.08.09

For more on this incredible film visit the below sites…

Twitter – “Tweet Your Scream”

Facebook

Official Site

Also, be sure to DEMAND the film now to ensure nightmares!

A Taste:

U2

You need a good soundtrack to kill Zombies.

Zombieland is fueled by the perfect mix of heavy metal and classic tunes, making it the most rock n’ roll zombie flick to ever conquer cineplexes. In the film, Woody Harrelson’s Tallahassee is the perfect badass.

He caps zombies first, and doesn’t even bother to ask questions. Every detail of Tallahassee was crucial to Harrelson. He specifically chose for the character to brandish the sawed-off rifle that Steve McQueen had in The Rifleman, and the health conscious Harrelson even managed to play Tallahassee’s Twinkie fixation like a pro.

However, the music proved most important. Harrelson shared his pump-up playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino for this exclusive feature.

Check out Woody Harrelson’s playlist below and catch Zombieland, in theaters now.

Woody Harrelson’s Playlist:

1. U2 — Pop

To get fired up for something, I think there’s no better album than U2’s Pop, which is probably their least popular album but, to me, it’s their best album and their most underrated. Man, it just rocks! That’s a good one!

—Rick Florino
10.02.09

A Taste:

Metallica, Korn, Alice In Chains, Krishna Das

Johann Urb just wants to rock!

The Eastwick and 2012 star has his fair share of heavy metal on his playlist, and it’s been quite a big part of his life since growing up in Finland. There’s something about hard rock that’s always spoken to Johann, and he talked to ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino about its importance in this exclusive playlist feature.

Check out Johann’s playlist below and don’t miss him on Eastwick on ABC every Wednesday at 10pm!

Johann Urb’s Playlist:

1. Metallica

Growing up in Finland, it was always dark and cold so heavy music spoke to me as a teenager. I still listen to Metallica—they’re possibly my favorite band of all time. They’re fucking brilliant. I love Death Magnetic. I always felt like, even in the early days, they spoke about important issues. For me, nature and taking care of this planet are crucial so we don’t destroy it. In “Blackened,” James Hetfield touches on that lyrically. Even though they’re a metal band, they talk about how fucked up the government is and they address real issues. When they played Russia for the first time, it was incredible. They were connected to it because they were writing about the man. They’re a metal band with a message and deeper meaning. I love that, and it always moves me and rocks me out! As a kid, I would bang my head to the point of neck injury, and there’s no better band to do that to than Metallica. I still listen to them when I want to get fired up, work out or punch somebody—or get sentimental and howl at the moon.

2. Korn

I think nobody does heavy metal better than Korn does. Mixing the DJ factor in and tuning their instruments down, their music is so rad! They can do wrong. It’s great Krav Maga music too!

3. Krishna Das

I’ve got Krishna Das on my playlist. It’s spiritual chanting music, and I love that as well as heavy metal. I could listen to that all day long. When I was living in New York, I went to a lot of Kirtan. It’s awesome. Krishna is mindblowing! The man has made my heart open with his chants. I’ve seen him live more than any other artist. If I had one artist’s music to take to a deserted island with me, this would be it. I would be chanting and chanting until I die.

4. Tool

I love Tool. Those guys are just true artists! Every time I listen to Tool, I find new nuances. Their videos are amazing. They dare to be different and brutally honest. They sing songs that are really morose and crazy, but a lot of the time, I feel the same way they do. Every song is a journey. It’s artistic and meaningful metal that’s innovative, interesting and moving.

5. Wah!

It’s amazing melodies, chants, dance and vocals! I could listen to them all day long. It makes me smile, and it makes me happy.

6. The Black Eyed Peas

They make me want to move and groove. It’s innovative, positive and fun!

7. The Matrix — Soundtrack

The Matrix soundtrack with Deftones and Rage Against the Machine is so badass.

8. Slipknot

When I listen to some of their songs like “Duality,” I just get crazy chills. I like the Stone Sour records too.

9. Alice In Chains

They’re one of my favorite bands ever. Their dark and moody metal is classic and eternal, but rocks your socks off.

10. Breaking Benjamin

11. Disturbed

12. Faith No More

They’re amazing!

13. Godsmack

14. Helmet

15. Ministry

16. Pantera

I’ve got a lot of Pantera on my playlist.

18. Queens of the Stone Age

I love Queens of the Stone Age. I feel like everything’s been done, but they’re still original. Every song is different and cool. I’m so thankful for those guys. Songs for the Deaf is awesome.

19. Prong

20. Sepultura

“Refuse-Resist!”

21. Sevendust

22. Stone Temple Pilots

23. Reket

My cousin’s Estonian rap is super awesome, especially if you can understand Estonian. I dare you to learn it—double, triple dare [Laughs]!

24. Brothers Urb

The songs by my dad and uncle are always touching and close to the heart. My favorite is “Ipanema Speaking.”

—Rick Florino
10.02.09

A Taste:

White Zombie, Slayer, Slipknot, Pantera, Alice In Chains, Devildriver

Surviving Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is not going to be easy this year.

Chucky’s crazy ass will be on the loose, Michael Myers will be only a few steps behind you and Jigsaw will be behind the curtain manipulating every little detail in an attempt to inflict pure punishment on you. Universal has put together what’s bound to be their scariest and most fright-tastic Halloween Horror Nights yet, and it all kicks off tomorrow, October 2, after their Chiller Eyegore awards!

ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino compiled the perfect playlist of songs for you to listen to in order to get pumped up to out run these iconic screen demons. Crank these tunes and you’re guaranteed to have enough adrenaline to escape…as long as Jigsaw doesn’t plant anything in your car, that is.

Go to Halloween Horror Nights this month!

Halloween Horror Nights Survival Music Mix:

1. White Zombie — “More Human than Human”

This is the best song for any narrow escape! It’s been in more horror movie trailers than we can count including, My Bloody Valentine 3-D, which also has a maze dedicated to it at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. Plus, Mr. Rob Zombie will be present at the Eyegore awards earlier in the evening.

2. Alice In Chains — “Check My Brain”

You’re going to need to check your brain to make sure it’s still there after Michael Myers swings his butcher knife at you! Spin this incredible new Alice In Chains tune at full blast while Michael is coming after you. Jerry Cantrell’s guitar is almost as evil as Myers!

3. Slayer — “At Dawn They Sleep”

It’s Slayer. It’s about vampires. It sounds straight up evil. Need I say more?

4. Pantera — “Living Through Me (Hell’s Wrath)”

Wait until the breakdown where Phil Anselmo starts talking—it’s the most Satanic interlude you’ve ever heard, and that riff will get you running from Michael Myers too!

5. Slipknot — “The Heretic Anthem”

Slipknot crafted the ultimate anti-everything anthem. The double bass, guitar and vocal assault is so deadly it may just help you get off the Terror Tram trip alive if you play it loud enough. Keeping chanting it over and over again, “If you’re 555, then I’m 666…if you’re 555, then I’m 6-6-6…”

6. Devildriver — “Pray for Villains”

With demons all over Universal, you’d better be praying. Devildriver gives the perfect sermon.

7. Ministry — “Psalm 69″

Uncle Al feeds us the gospel of industrial metal, and it’s oh so filling.

8. KoRn — “Sean Olsen”

This eerie early KoRn gem gets really evil, really fast. It’s slow, brooding and sick. It’s also the perfect soundtrack for trying to weave through Jigsaw’s clutches.

9. Deftones — “Headup”

This song has one of the most bludgeoning riffs of all time. Vocalist Chino Moreno also bleeds all over the hook alongside Max Cavalera. Their back-and-forth makes for one of the best metal collaborations ever. It’s great for dodging the scare zones in Universal as well.

10. Nine Inch Nails — “March of the Pigs”

What would any horror playlist be without the prince of pain himself, Trent Reznor? Jigsaw definitely listens to The Downward Spiral.

11. Type O Negative — “Love You to Death”

The ultimate in vampire love ditties…

12. Five Finger Death Punch — “The Bleeding”

You’ll be bleeding inside and out from the Saw maze. Five Finger Death Punch has made the best song to bleed too.

13. Lady GaGa — “Just Dance”

The undead like to get down…Home girl will prob have her own maze one year too…

—Rick Florino
10.01.09

A Taste:

Obituary, Devildriver, Imogen Heap

“My playlist is silence,” laughs Five Finger Death Punch skinsman Jeremy Spencer, just prior to kicking off his band’s current, Shock and Raw tour.

He continues, “I’m so fried right now from doing music [Laughs]. Anytime I’m not making music, I’m shutting down.”

However, Jeremy still found the time to crank some important new records. He opened up his iTunes for ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check out his playlist below and be sure to pick up War is the Answer, in stores everywhere now!

Jeremy Spencer’s Playlist:

1. Obituary — Darkest Day

I did just get the new Obituary album.

2. Devildriver — Pray for Villains

I think the drumming on the Devildriver record is amazing! I love John and those guys. They always deliver that style well, and the talent level in that band is ridiculous. They’re awesome!

3. Imogen Heap — Ellipse

That’s a little diverse. I love everything. Metal’s amazing. I jam it a lot but I also want to get away from it occasionally and jam something that’s not quite so abrasive.

—Rick Florino
09.25.09

A Taste:

Queen, The Beatles, Flo Rida

V Factory’s Asher Book is about to become quite the pop culture presence.

From starring in Fame to singing on V Factory’s highly anticipated Warner Bros. debut, Asher does it all. He also listens to it all as well!

“I’ve got a very eclectic iPod,” he exclaims. “It’s got a lot of ’80s rock and random stuff. I try to pull from as many different places as possible.”

Asher opened up his iTunes and showed us his playlist for this exclusive feature. Check it out below and don’t miss him in Fame, in theaters today, September 25.

Asher Book’s Playlist:

1. Queen — “Bohemian Rhapsody”

2. The Beatles

3. Flo Rida

4. New Boyz

—Rick Florino
09.25.09

A Taste:

Brian Eno, E.L.O., Human League

“I don’t have anything cool or hip that I listen to,” laughs Phil Lord, co-director of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Along with filmmaking partner Chris Miller, Phil gave Cloudy a whimsical and warm ’80s feel. Part of that definitely comes from their musical sensibility—which definitely gives New Wave its due.

Phil shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and be sure to see Cloudy, in theaters now!

Phil Lord’s Playlist:

1. E.L.O.

2. Human League

3. Brian Eno

4. Escape from New York — Soundtrack

Because of this movie, I got really into ’80s electro pop. I’ve been listening to tons of E.L.O., Human League and John Carpenter soundtracks, like Escape from New York. I’ve got a lot of Brian Eno on my playlist. I think it comes from working with [composer] Mark Mothersbaugh on the film and having such an affinity for his stuff.

—Rick Florino
09.25.09

A Taste:

The Doors, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Lady GaGa

“I think playing music does help with acting,” says Dennis Quaid with a smile. “It actually helps me on talk shows too [Laughs]. They’re both basically getting up in front of a live audience and winging it!”

Quaid’s so good at what he does that it never seems like he’s just winging it though. He can tear up a stage live with his band, The Sharks, and he also manages to tear up the screen in the sci-fi horror epic, Pandorum. In the film, he wakes from a deep hyper sleep to find that he’s definitely not alone in the middle of the galaxy. What follows is truly terrifying.

However, there’s nothing to be scared of on Dennis’s playlist—other than maybe Lady GaGa.

Quaid laughs, “I really like Lady GaGa to tell you the truth—my guilty pleasure!”

Dennis shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and don’t miss him in Pandorum, in theaters today, Friday September 25.

Dennis Quaid’s Playlist:

1. The Doors

2. The Beatles

3. The Rolling Stones

4. Aerosmith

“I’m an old school dude!”

5. Lady GaGa

“I’m a junkyard of music actually. I’m a true fan. I definitely dig the classics and Lady Gaga [Laughs].”

—Rick Florino
09.25.09

A Taste:

Lupe Fiasco, Jay-Z, Phoenix

Marié Digby’s got folky croon that could serve as the perfect soundtrack for a dream.

Her sophomore album, Breathing Underwater, is ethereal and smoky in all the right ways. She’s got a lot of heart, but at the same time, she knows how to carry a big pop hook.

Marié opened up her iTunes and gave ARTISTdirect.com an exclusive look at what she’s spinning. Check out her playlist below!

Marié Digby’s Playlist:

1. Lupe Fiasco — “Shining Down”

Right now I’m really into Lupe Fiasco. He’s got this new song called “Shining Down.” He’s such a smart lyricist and he’s very fresh. I really appreciate everything he does.

2. Jay-Z — “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)”

I’ve been listening to “Death of Auto-Tune” by Jay-Z. He and Lupe have been in constant rotation. I love Jay-Z too. I admire rap artists who are unique and fresh and they don’t rap about the things that everyone else raps about. I like those two rappers a lot!

3. Phoenix — Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

I’m listening to the new Phoenix album. The song “Fences” is great. They’re able to take these chords that shouldn’t normally work in a pop song and put the perfect melody on top of them. I love the vocalist. I’ve been a fan for a long time, and they’re fantastic. I’m upset because I was doing a TV show in this little tiny building in Japan a few weeks ago and they were next door literally 20 feet away doing a show on the same side of this building. I really wanted to introduce myself, but I didn’t have the courage to do it [Laughs].

4. Imogen Heap

I’m obsessed Imogen Heap’s new album Ellipse. I’m obsessed with it. I think it’s epic. I look up to her a lot. She does almost everything by herself. She’s independent. She mixes, writes, produces and plays just about everything on her albums. No one can do what she does.

—Rick Florino
09.20.09

A Taste:

Phoenix, Keane, M83

“This is the best job in the world,” exclaims LIGHTS.

The singer’s elation about her career path is extremely palpable. LIGHTS is music. She lives it, breathes it and loves it. She also happens to be damn good at it. The Canadian songstress crafts theatrical and hypnotic. Her Warner debut, The Listening hits shelves on October 6th, and it’s bound to illuminate everyone that hears it. LIGHTS also comes to life on stage, and you can catch her on tour all fall.

She gave us a gander at her playlist in this exclusive interview with ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino. Check it out below!

LIGHTS’ Playlist:

1. M83

2. Friendly Fires

3. Phoenix

4. Keane

Lately, I’ve been listening to M83, Friendly Fires, Phoenix and the new Keane. I love Keane. They’re amazing. I’m over the moon that I’m getting to tour with them.

—Rick Florino
09.20.09

A Taste:

Black Light Burns, Cannibal Corpse, Lil Wayne

“Right now the main focus is on the record,” says Korn frontman Jonathan Davis with a big smile.

Korn’s in the middle of crafting what’s bound to be their most brutal record yet. So in between all of that thrashing in the studio, Davis has been spinning his fare share of, get this, club hip hop and death metal. Brutality abounds in both, and it’s getting Davis in the perfect mindset to get ready to lay down vocals.

Jonathan shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and keep your eyes on Korn. They’ll be releasing another landmark album within the next year.

Jonathan Davis’s Playlist:

1. Black Light Burns

I like Wes Borland’s project, Black Light Burns. That’s pretty much all I’m listening to other than hip hop. I’ve been DJing a lot, and I’m listening to all the top rap songs. Because I’m in the middle of writing a record, I don’t usually listen to music. That’s how I live all day, so when I get home, silence is kind of nice [Laughs].

2. Lil Wayne

It was really cool that Lil Wayne asked us to come be his band for the “Prom Queen” video. It was fun. I did a cover of “Got Money” that he really liked, and I think that’s how we got the gig. I love that song. I think it’s cool he’s doing some rock shit. It always seems like rappers want to be rock stars and rock stars want to be rappers [Laughs]. I think it was done well, and I love the video. I think he’s a badass artist. A tour with us and Lil Wayne would be sick.

3. Suicide Silence

I like Suicide Silence. I saw them first at the Golden God Awards. I was blown away. They’re a mixture of grindcore and I-don’t-know-what. It’s just different. I grab on to bands that have their own thing going on. They’re huge Korn fans, and I got to meet them all and they were freaking out. So I decided to start sporting their shirts because they’re really cool kids and they’re doing it. They’re coming up, and it’s hard right now in this business. I think they’ve got a shot.

4. Cannibal Corpse

I like the new Cannibal Corpse record. I love everything they do. They’re the kings—the godfathers of all that Florida death metal, grindcore shit.

—Rick Florino
09.20.09

A Taste:

MGMT, RATATAT, Lykke Li, Animal Collective

Kid Cudi just wants to rock.

Cleveland’s “lonely stoner” loves a good rock song—indie or otherwise. His playlist is practically a who’s who of popular and up-and-coming bands. It’s way more Pitchfork than Vibe, but it’s just another Kid Cudi curveball. He’s one of the best new rappers on the scene, and he’s constantly rocking out. It’s all part of this space man’s legend though.

Kid Cudi shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino in this exclusive feature. Check it out below!

Kid Cudi’s Playlist:

1. Kid Cudi — Man On the Moon: The End of Day

Damn, I really can’t stop listening to my own album to be honest [Laughs]. I really made this album for me first, and I hope that other people like it.

2. MGMT

I’m always into MGMT.

3. Lykke Li

I’m always listening to Lykke Li.

4. RATATAT

RATATAT is still on my playlist of course.

5. Animal Collective

I’m very selective about what I get into. Animal Collective, I just got familiar with them a couple months ago, and I’ve been jamming to them. I’ve got my ear to the streets.

6. Kings of Leon

I like Kings of Leon. They’re awesome! Their album is dope because I like the single but there are other songs that are just as good on the album, than just the single. I love constantly discovering new artists, getting their album and realizing they have more shit to offer.

—Rick Florino
09.20.09

A Taste:

Jeremih, Drake, Jay-Z, John Mayer

On Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory, Chris “Drama” Pfaff spends a lot of time making mischief with his cousin Rob, but he devotes even more of his time to making music.

Drama has logged time in the studio with Snoop Dogg, The Game, Chris Brown and Keri Hilson, becoming quite the production force in his own right.

However, if causing trouble were an Olympic sport he and his cousin would definitely be gold medalists.

When he’s not on some crazy suburban Los Angeles mission or in the studio, Drama is cranking his favorite tunes. He opened up his iTunes for ARTISTdirect.com and gave us an exclusive look at what he’s spinning. Check out Drama’s playlist below and catch him on Fantasy Factory on Thursdays at 9pm!

Chris “Drama” Pfaff’s Playlist:

1. Jeremih — Jeremih

Right now, I just hit “pause” on the new Jeremih album. He’s the guy who’s famous for “Birthday Sex,” which was actually charting before he had a deal. That’s why they signed him and knocked his shit out right away. I’m actually pretty impressed with the whole record. It’s really growing on me. His follow-up single, “I’m a Star,” is a banger. I’m backing it!

2. 50 Cent — “Baby By Me (Feat. Ne-Yo)

I’m all over the map, man. I just downloaded the new 50 Cent and Ne-Yo song—”Baby By Me.” I feel like 50 might have another hit with this one. I think that Ne-Yo-mainstream power might’ve done it for him. I like it! I’m looking forward to hearing the whole record.

3. Jay-Z — The Blueprint 3

I’m a fan of the new Jay-Z album. It’s really good!

4. Drake — “Forever”

The new Drake song, “Forever,” has been on heavy “repeat” for me. Drake was able to have hit singles, be in videos and establish a name before he even had a deal, which is absolutely insane. To get as far as he did without a label is crazy! My entire existence revolves around having new music to listen to. If I can’t find any new music, I’m bored out of my mind. Everywhere I go I hear the same things. I’ll get three or four new songs and listen to those for like a week straight until I can get three or four more new tracks. I repeat that cycle over and over [Laughs].

5. Trey Songz —Ready

I just bought the new Trey Songz. I’m not mad at it. I feel like that one has to grow on me. You have to listen to it in the right circumstances—with a girl and a bottle of wine or something [Laughs]. It’s pretty serious and love-inspired [Laughs]. It’s good! I’m a Trey fan for sure.

6. John Mayer

7. Jack Johnson

Every morning when I’m driving down to the Fantasy Factory and I’m annoyed at life waiting for my coffee to kick in, I’ll put on either John Mayer or Jack Johnson. I can’t start my day out with Jeremih’s “I’m a Star.” I have to relate to how I’m feeling at the time.

8. Young Jeezy

There are always the Young Jeezy days too!

9. Jay-Z — Kingdom Come

This is kind of random, but my favorite Jay-Z album is Kingdom Come. I was having a debate with Rob about it the other day. To be completely honest, when it comes down to Jay-Z as a whole, I’m not an extreme Jay-Z fan. I don’t go back and listen to old Jay-Z albums because they’re slightly before my time. For some reason, I love the entire Kingdom Come album. It’s so strange. It might be because he went with Dr. Dre on a lot of the songs. There’s an edge to it that I really like. I said that to Rob, and he said, “Man, he doesn’t even have an album called Kingdom Come!” I was like, “Yes, he does!” He responded, “No he doesn’t. You’re completely mistaken!” It just snuck through though. It has “Lost Ones.” The production on the Swizz Beatz song is crazy. Usually his stuff is that sample-heavy Kanye production, but Kingdom Come is all Dre and Swizz Beatz, newer younger producers. It’s just a different sound.

10. Kid Cudi

I’m really curious about the Kid Cudi record. I like stuff that’s left-of-center.

11. Ini Kamoze — “Here Comes the Hot Stepper”

I’ve been DJing lately, and I’ve been going back to old songs that were funny at the time like Ini Kamoze’s “Here Comes the Hot Stepper.” I remember having that in my tape player on a vacation to Myrtle Beach [Laughs].

12. Skee-Lo — “I Wish”

I love that song by Skee-Lo “I Wish.”

13. John Mayer & Rob Dyrdek — “Rob’s Mom”

We did a song for the show with John Mayer that’s going to be on this Thursday’s episode. It came out really funny, as you can imagine. It’s called “Rob’s Mom.” It’s a song apologizing to Rob’s mom. Rob and John were on TMZ about a month ago because there were a bunch of Paparazzi outside of a club. Rob and John decided it’d be funny for Rob to act like he was passed out drunk and for John to carry him out of the club. John is just brilliant at that stuff! John was inside the club Twittering that Rob was wasted and he bit into a glowstick [Laughs]. The paparazzi read his Twitter to see what’s going on, so they all gathered outside of the club. Rob acted like he couldn’t even walk, so it was all over the news and TMZ. It made it all the way back to the Dayton Ohio news—where Rob’s mom lives. It said, “Local celebrity almost dies from drinking too much.” It was all a complete joke though! Needless to say, his mom got upset. She’s real diehard no drinking and no cursing. Rob and John called her, and she yelled at the both of them. So they decided the best way to make up for it was to write a song [Laughs]. It’s pretty ridiculous. John is so crazy musically! We were just in there joking around. John can say whatever he wants, and it sounds amazing. From working with him, I saw him do delays and fade outs on his own with his voice not with Pro Tools. He just really understands how it works all the way through. Working with John taught me a lot.

—Rick Florino
09.15.09

A Taste:

Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Master and Commander Soundtrack

In order to keep a rhythm, Whiteout creator Greg Rucka spends a lot of time listening to music when putting pen to paper.

“I’m working on a novel right now, and I’ve been listening to the Master and Commander soundtrack over and over again,” Greg says smiling. “I’m in love with that soundtrack! I’ve seen the movie three times. The first time, I didn’t like it. The second time, I loved it and, the third time, I loved it even more [Laughs].”

What was he listening to during the creation of Whiteout though?

He laughs, “Vangelis has an album called Antarctica, and I had that on infinite repeat when I was writing Whiteout.”

Warner Brothers’ big screen adaptation of Greg’s icy masterpiece hits theaters on September 11, and it’s the perfect frost-bitten thrill ride. In order to get us closer to his creative process, Greg shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature.

Check out Greg’s playlist below and be sure to catch Whiteout in theaters!

Greg Rucka’s Playlist:

1. Master and Commander — Soundtrack

2. Vangelis — Antarctica

3. Warren Zevon

When I was younger and wilder, I used to be able to write to Warren Zevon really well, but I can’t do that anymore [Laughs].

4. Miles Davis

5. Stan Getz

6. Charlie Parker

7. Lester Boone

I tend to do jazz. I like my standards—Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz and when I’m feeling more adventures Lester Boone and guys like that. I actually find that the older I get the less I can work to lyrics. I have to work to music.

—Rick Florino
09.11.09

A Taste:

RATATAT, Ghostface Killah, Nina B

New York’s DJ Lexey has assembled a playlist of some of the hottest free tracks on ARTISTdirect.com.

You can download any of the tracks and start mixing them with our free trial of the Cimio DJ software. The list of tracks runs the gamut from electronic to pop to hip hop, and it’s bound to yield some killer mixes.

Download the below tracks from DJ Lexey’s playlist and download Cimio now to start DJing!

DJ Lexey’s Playlist:

1. RATATAT — “Mirando”

2. POS — “Goodbye”

3. Nina B — “In My Own Lane”

4. Air France — “Collapsing At Your Doorstep”

5. Ghostface Killah — “Charlie Brown (DJ Mehdi Remix)”

6. Lykke Li — “Little Bit (Aether Remix)”

7. Islands — “Creeper”

8. Autumns — “Killer In Drag (Le Petit Mort Mix)”

9. Hot Chip — “One Pure Thought (Supermayer Remix)”

10. Metric — “Help I’m Alive (The Twelves Remix)”

11. Lady Sovereign — “I Got You Dancing”

12. Pnau — “Embrace (Feat. Lady Hawke) (Fred Falke & Miami Horror Remix)”

13. Brazilian Girls — “Good Time (Diplo Remix)”

14. Ursula 1000 — “Zombies (DJ Ayres Remix)”

15. MSTRKRFT — “Bounce (Feat. Nore) (Felix Cartal Remix)”

—Rick Florino
09.08.09

A Taste:

The Beatles, Janis Joplin, David Bowie

For Whiteout, Kate Beckinsale got cold—really cold.

Delving into her icy heroine Marshall Carrie Stetko, Kate smiles and says, “The ice is a metaphor for Carrie’s emotional wall. I thought she made a really interesting journey in the movie. There was a lot going on—snow, ice, etc—but I wanted to make sure her situation was really rooted and that she didn’t come across as someone who could definitely handle that situation that came up. I needed to make sure she was vulnerable.”

Kate definitely gives the character a sense of vulnerability as she attempts to solve a grisly murder at the South Pole. Even though the actress had to go to some deep and dark places to make Carrie so complex, it was all worth it.

Whiteout is one of the most faithful and intriguing graphic novel adaptations to come out in the past decade, and it’s because Kate and Co. preserve the darkness inherent in the original work.

“I really did like the fact that she started the movie fairly depressed and bored,” says Kate. “She’s really in retreat, and she’s not a typical hero. She’s more interesting. Having to solve a murder is an awful way to fix your life situation, but I think it makes her get herself together. She’s taken a timeout in her life, and she’s about to get back in it.”

In order to get into characters, Kate typically listens to music. She continues, “I’m extremely sensitive to music. The more I work, the less I listen to certain things recreationally because I know that they can zip me into a certain mood.”

Kate shared her current playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature, and she’s got quite classy tastes!

Check out Kate’s playlist below and in the video and be sure to see Whiteout on September 11 when it hits theaters everywhere!

Kate Beckinsale’s Playlist:

1. The Beatles

2. James Taylor

3. Janis Joplin

4. David Bowie

“What’s on my playlist? [Laughs] I’m really kind of an old fart about this. Basically, I like anything that happened around Woodstock. I have got a daughter who’s nine now, so I know who Lady GaGa is and I know who Kanye West is [Laughs]. I can identify them. I’m all retro though. I love The Beatles, James Taylor and Janis Joplin. I’m really an old lady like that. David Bowie is another big one for me.”

—Rick Florino
09.08.09

A Taste:

The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, Sigur Ros

What’s the best way to beat the cold—especially in the South Pole?

By listening to your favorite bands of course…

Alex O’Loughlin and Gabriel Macht had the chance to get chilly with Kate Beckinsale for Whiteout [Warner Bros.]—the pulse-pounding adaptation of Greg Rucka’s highly acclaimed graphic novel. While building this dark mystery, Alex and Gabriel both spent some time with their iPod’s blasting.

So what are they listening to now?

“Right now, I’m actually listening to an audio book, so I’m totally not answering you,” laughs Gabriel.

Alex follows, “He’s the worst! I’m loving The Black Keys‘ Attack and Release at the moment. It’s just crazy. I love Dan Auerbach’s solo stuff too. The guy’s amazing. I saw them play in Sydney last Christmas, and it was incredible.”

Alex and Gabriel both shared playlist selections with ARTISTdirect.com for this exclusive feature. Check them out below and in the video!

Be sure to catch Whiteout in theaters on September 11.

Alex O’Laughlin’s Playlist:

1. The Black Keys

2. Dan Auerbach

3. Kings of Leon

4. TV On the Radio

Alex: “I just missed Kings of Leon because I had to work on my new show Three Rivers you should watch it. Antithetically to Gabriel, I have music running all the time in my life [Laughs]. I feel excited by it.”

Gabriel Macht’s Playlist:

1. Sigur Ros

Alex: What are you listening to besides audio books?

Gabriel: Sigur Ros is who I’m listening to

Alex: Sigur Ros are great!

—Rick Florino
09.07.09

A Taste:

Santogold, Devil Doll, Kings of Leon, Muse

How do you join Sorority Row’s exclusive club?

“Initiation was—Can you salsa dance?” laughs Jamie Chung.

Audrina Patridge adds, “The first night I got there we all went salsa dancing, and we bonded right away. We were very lucky to have such a great cast. It was a great balance with the humor and horror. It was an incredible experience! They made it look like I was actually stabbed. They made this incision that look so real, and I was walking around with this huge hole in my chest with blood everywhere [Laughs].”

Sorority Row has it all. It’s got its fair share of scares and laughs, and Audrina and Jamie had a hand in both. However, they weren’t just listening to salsa music on set. Audrina and Jamie shared their playlists with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature.

Check out their playlists below and in this exclusive video and catch Sorority Row in theaters on September 11!

Jamie Chung’s Playlist:

1. Santogold

2. Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs

Jamie: I’m kind of obsessed with Santogold and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Audrina Patridge’s Playlist:

1. Santogold

2. Devil Doll

3. Muse

4. Kings of Leon

Audrina: I love Santogold. Devil Doll is actually really good. It’s very jazzy and burlesque, yet rock n’ roll. Muse’s new album comes out soon, and I’m excited about that. I like Kings of Leon too!

Jamie: They’re just so hot [Laughs].

Audrina: I’ve actually seen them a couple of times!

—Rick Florino
09.07.09

A Taste:

Kings of Leon, Shwayze, Radiohead, The Beatles

Extracurricular activities are a staple of the college experience.

Intramural volleyball, community service, debate team and, of course sorority and fraternity life, remain integral to a “well-rounded” education—as any college counselor will tell you.

However, in Sorority Row, Rumer Willis, Leah Pipes, Briana Evigan and Jamie Chung redefine “extracurricular,” by adding “murder” to that list.

After a raucous house party, they accidentally kill their friend Megan [Audrina Patridge] in a prank gone awry.

That most likely wasn’t in their college’s brochure, but Greek life is all about starting new traditions…

In this smokin’ hot slasher flick, the girls try to cover up what happened but someone knows and is hell-bent on making them pay. High-octane horror ensues…

The actresses coped with all of that gore through cranking their favorite bands on set. Briana Evigan, Rumer Willis, shared their blood-splattered playlists for this exclusive feature.

Check out their playlists below and in the video and don’t miss Sorority Row when it hits theaters on September 11!

Briana Evigan’s Playlist:

1. Shwayze

2. Radiohead

3. Coldplay

4. Kings of Leon

5. After Midnight Project

Briana: I’m a dancer, so I have a lot of hip hop albums, but I like listening to totally opposite music—Radiohead, Coldplay, Kings of Leon and After Midnight Project.

6. Cat Stevens

7. The Beatles

Briana: Cat Stevens and The Beatles are some of my favorites. The new stuff’s only fun when you go out, and then you get sick of it really quickly. Not hating on them though…[Laughs]

Leah Pipes’ Playlist:

1. Shwayze

2. Creedence Clearwater Rival

Leah: For my birthday, a friend of mind gave me some Creedence Clearwater Revival CDs, and I never really gave them a chance before. I knew their songs, but now I’m like, “Sold!”

Rumer: “Run Through The Jungle” is like top 5!

Rumer Willis’s Playlist:

1. Shwayze

2. Woodstock

Rumer: For me, I’m all about Woodstock or anything old school and classic rock.

—Rick Florino
09.07.09

A Taste:

The Beatles, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, The Flaming Lips

Elijah Wood is no stranger to a good old fashioned quest.

From the Lord of the Rings series to the animated masterpiece 9, Elijah is used to embarking on emotional, enigmatic epics.

9’s unique art style instantly entranced the actor. “I just fell in love with it immediately,” he says with a smile. “The aesthetic was something I’d never seen before, and the vistas were almost like paintings.”

The end-of-the-world fable comes to life vibrantly, following Elijah’s titular character on an unforgettable quest through the wasteland.

When he’s not saving humanity on screen, Elijah spends a lot of time listening to his favorite bands. “My playlist changes a lot,” he laughs.

Elijah shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature.

Check out Elijah’s playlist below and in the video. Be sure to catch 9 when it hits theaters on 9/9/09.

Elijah Wood’s Playlist:

1. The Flaming Lips

Lately, I’ve been listening to The Flaming Lips. They’ve got a new record coming out so I’ve been listening to some of their new songs. I’m a huge fan!

2. Kitty, Daisy & Lewis

I’ve been listening to this band called Kitty, Daisy & Lewis from the UK. They do old roots music—all analog recording. It’s amazing.

3. The Beatles

I’ve been listening to The Beatles a lot. Their re-issues are coming up and all the albums are being re-mastered, so I’m on that kick of being totally amazed by that band again.

—Rick Florino
09.07.09

A Taste:

Paul Weller, Arctic Monkeys, Nick Cave

9 is quite beautiful for a tale about the end of the world.

“The film really looks like a painting,” says 9 star Jennifer Connelly. “The use of light is extraordinary. It’s simply stunning.”

The movie remains visually breathtaking, and there’s a certain pronounced rhythm to the narrative. Given that cinematic musicality, we talked to Jennifer about what’s on her playlist right now.

Check out Jennifer’s playlist below and in the video! Don’t miss 9 when it hits theaters September 9, 2009 either!

Jennifer Connelly’s Playlist:

1. Arctic Monkeys

2. Paul Weller

3. John Lennon

4. Nick Cave

“It’s a pretty eccentric list! My kids are kind of obsessed with Arctic Monkeys and Paul Weller. So there’s a lot of Arctic Monkeys, Paul Weller, John Lennon and Nick Cave on my playlist. I’m all over the place!”

—Rick Florino
09.07.09

A Taste:

Autechre, Aphex Twin, Amon Tobin

“I didn’t really set out to change the world of animation,” says 9 director Shane Acker.

However, he just may with his brand new animated epic. In 9, Shane creates a unique and hypnotic world that beckons viewers back. Music definitely plays a big part in his vision, and the filmmaker even utilizes “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” to chilling effect during on sequence.

About the scene, he tells, “That’s a moment of catharsis. We always had the characters playing with the record player, but we didn’t initially know what the music would be. ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ just seemed so right. There’s something really haunting about that single voice singing this melancholy story about longing for a new beginning. It’s such a beautiful scene.”

So what does Shane listen to? He shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature.

Check out Shane’s playlist below and in the video! Don’t miss 9 when it hits theaters on September 9th, 2009.

Shane Acker’s Playlist:

1. Aphex Twin

2. Björk

3. Autechre

4. Amon Tobin

5. Speedy J

I have really eclectic tastes. I’m a big fan of glitch pop and electronica, so I listen to anything from Aphex Twin to Bjork. I also love Autechre, Amon Tobin and Speedy J. The list goes on! I listen to music all the time. It just stimulates my mind in new ways and allows these creative ideas to flow through me. This electronica non-vocal music somehow inspires worlds for me.

—Rick Florino
09.07.09

A Taste:

Louie Vega, Santogold, Major Lazer

In order to become Gamer’s baddest villain, Terry Crews turned to his iPod.

“I was spinning all kinds of dark music while I was working out in order to go to that place,” says Terry.

While spending extra time in the gym, he kept bumping N.W.A., Marilyn Manson, Lil Jon, Ice Cube and The Cure. It worked—because Hackman is one of the most sinister and psychotic villains to tear up screens in a long time. Anyone that can go toe-to-toe with Gerard Butler deserves props…

Terry’s musical tastes are quite diverse though, and he shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino in this exclusive feature.

Check out Terry’s playlist below and don’t miss him in Gamer in theaters now!

Terry Crews’ Playlist:

1. Santogold

I’m into Santogold. She’s amazing!

2. Louie Vega

3. Mr. V

4. Juan Atkins

5. Derek Saunders

Because I came up in the Midwest, I’m a big house music fan. I love Louie Vega. He’s my number one DJ. Mr V is just awesome too. I come from the Juan Atkins- and Derek Saunders-era back in Detroit. That was the birth of techno.

6. Biz Markie

There was a time when hip hop, techno and house were all the same—they were all one thing. A lot of people don’t remember it, but I do. Biz Markie actually made one of the baddest house beats ever. It’s a song called “Follow Me,” and it was a big house jam.

7. Dimlight

I get these real crazy remixes on a web site called Tracksource. It’s really good eclectic house. There’s another guy named Dimlight who’s just insane. He reminds me of Diplo—it’s really sampled-up super music. Right now, I’m on Dimlight. It’s so insane and creative. There are crazy beats and weird sounds.

8. Flying Lotus

9. Major Lazer

Major Lazer’s hot!

10. The O’Jay’s

Then I go into the oldies. I love The O’Jay’s. I’m very eclectic with my music. As an actor, you have to be.

11. Nirvana

Kurt Cobain and all of that stuff is just as powerful as Cube is. Pain comes from the same place. That’s it.

—Rick Florino
09.05.09

A Taste:

Beach Boys, Justice, The Animals, Ratatat

Cobra Starship’s dance-y pop rock never fails to “Make them good girls go bad!”

On their latest album Hot Mess, the merchants of pop dance ecstasy light up one infectious anthem after another. They’ve got the groove to make any dance floor go off, and they’ve got enough melody to make you hum all day. It’s quite the combination, and the perfect mess of melody and mischief.

Guitarist Ryland Blackinton has a very diverse taste in tunes. He opened up his iTunes and gave ARTISTdirect.com an exclusive look at what he’s spinning. Check out Ryland’s playlist below and pick up Hot Mess now!

Ryland Blackinton’s Playlist:

1. The Creation — “Painter Man”

2. The Animals — “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”Classic Animals. This is also one of my favorite videos from the 60’s. Eric Burdon walks around so nonchalantly while he lip syncs.

3. Ratatat — “Mumtaz Khan”

Ratatat’s newest album, LP3, really blew my mind. They started using a lot of Middle Eastern percussion and this song, in particular, has one of the best baroque guitar riffs I’ve ever heard. Seeing them live is psychotic.

4. The Beach Boys — “In My Room”

Brian Wilson perfectly encapsulates the sense of security one feels in his respective bedroom. This song also has some of the most beautiful four-part harmonies they’ve ever done. The album art [for Endless Summer] is crazy too. It features strung out mountain man drawings of them hiding in the grass. Way far out.

5. Patrick Cleandenim — “Motorik”

Patrick just recently released Orange Moonbeam Floorshow in the States, and it’s the best dance album to come out in a while. He used to make this really Bacharach-y piano pop music, and I fully back his movement into electronic dance music.

6. Crystal Stilts — “Prysmatic Room”

Like hearing a song you’ve loved in the past, the Stilts have an amazing nostalgic quality. I remember the early demos had so much reverb it sounded like the music was drowning. I can’t put it on without listening to the entire record.

7. Dinosaur Jr. — “In A Jar”

8. Justice — “Planesphere Part II”

Insanely dark and classical…Even more impressive that it was madeexclusively for Dior Homme.

9. Breakbot

This guy just got signed to Ed Banger records and basically every remix he’s ever done is better than the original. Hopefully we’ll be seeing an album of his soon!

10. Talking Heads — “Naive Melody”

Perfect song. David Byrne once said, “The better the singer, the harderit is to believe them.” It’s true, though not a pitch perfect performance, you get every word of the song. I also love that weird little warbly synth sound. The live version on “Stop Making Sense” will make a Talking Heads fan out of anyone.

—Rick Florino
08.31.09

A Taste:

Pantera, Tool, Slipknot, Down

Drowning Pool axeman C.J. Pierce knows metal better than most.

He’s been slinging riffs for Drowning Pool for a long time, and his playing has only gotten more and more fiery with each and every album. Coming off a successful run on this summer’s Crüe Fest 2, C.J. remains pretty stoked right now. Not to mention that Drowning Pool will soon be heading back in the studio to record their next album.

C.J. gave us a bit of a hard rock education in this exclusive feature. Check out his playlist below and pick up Drowning Pool’s Full Circle if you haven’t already!

C.J. Pierce’s Playlist:

1. Pantera

I always go back to my all-time favorite bands every single day just to get pumped up for the shows. Pantera is always on. I don’t know if it comes from growing up in New Orleans and living in Dallas now or just the fact that they’re the most metal band ever. Even when Phil screams, you can understand all of the words and it comes across as powerful. Phil has a lot of soul and flavor when you break it down musically.

2. Tool

I love Tool! I just can’t get past it. They can play 10-minute long songs and you never lose interest. The dude can play one riff 40 different ways in 10 minutes, and it’s mindblowing. If you listen to Undertow and then Aenima, you can hear the transition. But when you listen to Lateralus, they just go off into Pink Floyd land. They evolve by leaps and bounds on each of their records. I really like A Perfect Circle too. I got right into 10,000 Days. I went to Jamaica with my wife and we listened to it then. It was the only CD we had with us for the whole week. We didn’t have a TV just a radio. We spent the whole week jumping in the ocean, going out to eat and listening to 10,000 Days. It soaked in right away.

3. A Perfect Circle

4. Slipknot

5. Stone Sour

I’m a big Corey Taylor fan. He has a great voice. For hardcore music, he’s got a great scream. A lot of that stuff sounds like Cookie Monster nonsense, but he’s got a lot of conviction in his voice. I listen to Come Whatever May every day, and I’m really looking forward to what Corey Taylor is going to bring to the table next. He has one of the greatest rock voices right now.

6. Down

The Down records are awesome! I’m a Corrosion of Conformity fan. The whole mix of Pepper Keenan’s guitar and Phil’s voice is just pretty perfect. I listen to Down all the time.

7. HELLYEAH

The HELLYEAH record is awesome! I’m looking forward to their next record as well. Hopefully we can tour together. That would be a great tour!

—Rick Florino
08.30.09

A Taste:

The Misfits, Edward Sharpe, Taking Back Sunday, Ink & Dagger

The Used main man Bert McCracken is always listening to something.

Right now, he’s got Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes turned up to 11 in his living room, and he’s rocking out to it with a big smile. However, Bert’s full playlist is extremely eclectic to say the least. What’s he listening to other than Ed Sharpe? Well, Bert fired up his iTunes and scrolled up and down for ARTISTdirect.com giving us a look at the tunes that inspire him on a daily basis.

Check out Bert’s playlist below and be sure to pick up The Used’s latest album Artwork when it drops September 1st, 2009.

Bert McCracken’s Playlist:

1. Taking Back Sunday — New Again

I love the new Taking Back Sunday record! The lyrics are really cool!

2. Gallows — Grey Britain

3. Harper Simon

I like the new Harper Simon record. He’s Paul Simon’s kid. It’s great.

4. Killing Joke — Killing Joke

I’ve been listening to the self-titled Killing Joke record over and over. That’s one of my favorite records. Dave Grohl played on it.

5. Mastodon — Crack the Skye

I’m listening to the new Mastodon record, Crack the Skye a lot.

6. Elliott Smith

I’m always listening to a lot of Elliot Smith.

7. Sunny Day Real Estate

8. Texas is the Reason

9. The Misfits

I love The Misfits!

10. Ink & Dagger

If you love The Misfits, you’d love Ink & Dagger! They’re a vampire punk rock band from Philadelphia but they’re like thrash. The singer died in ‘98, but they were awesome. They’d set up a Christmas tree on stage and throw up on it. They’d huff gas and eat acid before they went on stage. They were the raddest band—punk rock to the core. They were vampires and shit with full makeup.

—Rick Florino
08.30.09

A Taste:

Flo Rida, Hollywood Undead, Stevie Wonder, Massive Attack

Backstreet Boys are back, and they’re ready for pop supremacy once more. Most likely, girls worldwide are already rejoicing at just the thought of their new album This Is Us dropping on October 6th, 2009. However, they’ve also got a massive jaunt planned as well.

Right now, everyone’s favorite pop group is rehearsing pretty hardcore in a Los Angeles rehearsal studio for what’s bound to be their most epic and bombastic tour yet. AJ McLean took some time to talk to ARTISTdirect.com about what’s on his iPod right now though. It’s very surprising.

Check out AJ’s playlist below and catch the Backstreet Boys soon…

They’re baaaackkkk…

AJ McLean’s Playlist:

1. Hollywood Undead — “Everywhere I Go”

I just heard a song last night that I’d never heard before, but I’m obsessed with it now. The song is Hollywood Undead’s “Everywhere I Go.” Dude, check it out! It’s amazing. On the chorus it talks about Charlie Sheen’s little weenie and how he loves to show it to everyone [Laughs]. Oh my God, this song is freaking brilliant! That is my new favorite thing right now.

2. Stevie Wonder

3. Creedence Clearwater Revival

4. Lynyrd Skynyrd

I’m listening to a lot of older stuff like Stevie, Creedence Clear Water Revival, a little bit of Skynyrd here and there.

5. Flo Rida

6. Backstreet Boys — This Is Us

I’m listening to our new album, just to get familiar with it. I don’t always listen to our albums but I’m trying to get to know it for the tour’s sake.

7. Massive Attack

I am a huge fan of Massive Attack too. I’m all over the map!

—Rick Florino
08.30.09

A Taste:

Gallows, Thrice, The Beatsteaks, Metallica

Papa Roach are out on the road slaying stages across the U.S. per usual.

Their most recent offering, Metamorphosis, is one of the year’s most raucous rock n’ roll records. The band stripped down their sound to the raw necessities—cranked up distortion and passionate, powerful vocals. Singer Jacoby Shaddix spends a lot of time listening to music in order to get psyched up. He shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature.

Check out Jacoby’s playlist below and catch the band on the road now!

Jacoby Shaddix’s Playlist:

1. Thrice — Beggars

I just bought it on iTunes, and it’s a fucking stellar record. It’s really cool to see how that band has evolved.

2. Gallows — Grey Britain

I’m really digging Gallows’ new album, Grey Britain. Gallows totally caught me by surprise. This record is a good blend of metal, punk rock and “Fuck you!” They’re definitely a UK revolutionary punk rock band.

3. Billy Talent — Billy Talent III

Billy Talent’s got a new record out that I have got to get. I know it’s going to be one of my favorites.

4. Led Zeppelin

Obviously, I’ve been listening to the classics like Led Zeppelin.

5. Red Hot Chili Peppers

I’ve been digging on early Red Hot Chili Peppers lately.

6. The Beatsteaks — Limbo Messiah

The Beatsteaks have an album called Limbo Messiah. They’re a German punk rock band, and they’re one of my favorite bands of all time. They rock. They run the gamut from The Clash to straight-up punk rock to rock n’ roll to pop music. It’s a very eclectic sound, and I really like that band a lot.

7. Snapcase — Progression Through Unlearning

Obviously, I’m listening to Snapcase. Progression Through Unlearning is a great record.

8. Mother’s Finest

Another band that I just discovered, an old school classic band, is Mother’s Finest. They have some cuts. Now I know where Rage Against the Machine got some of their grooves. Rage reminds me of a cross between Led Zeppelin riffs and Mother’s Finest’s grooves. They’ve got a song called “The Truth Will Set You Free;” it’s fucking off the chain.

9. Letter Kills

They’ve got an album called The Bridge, which is great.

10. LostProphets — Start Something

I love Start Something by LostProphets. I like that record a lot. I’m really excited to see where they’re going to take their music in the future.

11. Guns N’ Roses

12. Metallica

I’m listening to Guns N’ Roses and early Metallica—Kill ‘Em All and Ride the Lightning.

—Rick Florino
08.30.09

A Taste:

Stone Temple Pilots, Guns N’ Roses, Phil Collins

Adelitas Way make down n’ dirty rock n’ roll with heart.

On their self-titled Virgin Records debut, the Las Vegas rebels churn out one anthemic banger after another. These Sin City mavericks definitely are on their way towards to the top of hard rock. Singer Rick DeJesus sat down with ARTISTdirect.com and shared the perfect rock playlist with us in this exclusive feature.

Check out Rick’s playlist and pick up Adelitas Way now!

Rick DeJesus’s Playlist:

1. Stone Temple Pilots — “Sex Type Thing”

Scott Weiland is a rock star, and the riffs on this song are amazing.

2. Motley Crue — “Dr. Feelgood”

Who doesn’t love the Crue?!

3. Phil Collins — “In the Air Tonight”

Phil is a genius.

4. Incubus — “Make Yourself”

This is definitely a band you can play full records at a house party on repeat.

5. Minus the Bear — “Knights”

It’s our drummer, Derek’s favorite band right now!

6. Def Leppard — “Love Bites”

I’m a sucker for an 80’s love song.

7. Bon Jovi — “Living On a Prayer”

C’mon it’s Bon Jovi…ultimate party music.

8. Eddie Murphy — “Party All the Time”

We love Eddie Murphy!!

9. Guns N’ Roses — “November Rain”

One of the best videos of all time!

—Rick Florino
08.27.09

A Taste:

Rage Against the Machine, Sevendust, My Chemical Romance

Sick Puppies‘ latest offering, Tri-Polar, is an incendiary and infectious collection of hard rock tunes. The Puppies balance melody and mayhem perfectly over the course of the album’s 12 epic tracks. Pop Tri-Polar in, crank it up and be ready to be blown away by one of the finest rock trios from down under.

Bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin shared their collective playlist with ARTISTdirect.com for this exclusive feature. Check it out below and pick up Tri-Polar for the perfect ass-kickin’.

Emma Anzai and Mark Goodwin’s Playlist:

1. Foo Fighters — “Pretender”

This is a great video! They always seem to have interesting and memorable videos.

2. My Chemical Romance — “Famous Last Words”

Just a great song—we played an Australian festival called “Big Day Out” with them, and I’ll always remember how this song went off.

3. Rage Against The Machine — “Bulls On Parade”

This band has the best grooves on the planet! Also this is the song we come out on stage to.

4. Sevendust — “Face to Face”

We played a festival with them recently, and they played this song last, great song.

5. Soundgarden — “Spoonman”

This song also has a great groove, legendary song, love it. I tried to play this song when I started out playing bass, needless to say it was a workout!

—Rick Florino
08.27.09

A Taste:

Miles Davis, The Who, Captain Beefheart

Melvins mainman Buzz Osbourne likes to switch it up when it comes to his playlist.

He’s rocking everything from The Who to Captain Beefheart right now, and that eclectic side definitely bleeds over onto the Melvins’ forthcoming remix release, Chicken Switch [Ipecac Recordings]. Due out on September 29, Switch gave various remixers the chance to chop up a Melvins album and make one song out of it. The results are quite mind-bending…

ARTISTdirect.com spoke to Buzz about his playlist for this exclusive feature. Check it out below and pick up Chicken Switch when it releases on September 29.

Buzz Osbourne’s Playlist:

1. Miles Davis

The last album that I listened to was Bitches Brew by Miles Davis. That was yesterday. I haven’t had time this morning yet. I like Bitches Brew, and I like the On the Corner record. By and large, I don’t usually like most of his stuff. A lot of his best stuff is from the Bitches Brew and On The Corner sessions, they just chopped it into different records. The stuff he did before that is just like elevator music. I like the weirder stuff.

2. The Who

I was always a huge fan of The Who. I’ve been listening to a lot of their stuff. That was one of my first and favorite bands ever.

3. Captain Beefheart

I was listening to a little bit of Captain Beefheart recently. I like the two records that most people don’t like. I dig “Clear Spot” and “Spot Lake.”

—Rick Florino
08.24.09

A Taste:

Elvis

“I’ve been listening to Elvis,” laughs Slayer vocalist and bassist Tom Araya.

It’s no surprise that the mouthpiece for the kings of thrash metal cops to being a fan of the king of rock n’ roll. They’re both music royalty in their own right! What better way to unwind during the Mayhem Tour than a little Elvis?

There’s always music playing in the Araya home too. Tom explains, “My kids listen to new music all the time. They’re hip to MTV, VH1 and all that crazy stuff. They go through phases though. My daughter liked The Jonas Brothers, but I don’t think she does anymore. They liked My Chemical Romance at one time and Fall Out Boy at another time. They like one or two songs from each and that’s about it.”

He continues, “It’s sad because I always ask them, ‘Aren’t the other songs on these records any good? You should listen to the record as opposed to just one or two songs.’ They honestly admit that the other songs aren’t great. I tell them, ‘If you really enjoy music, you should enjoy the entire record instead of listening to one song and discarding the rest.’ That’s the joy of iTunes though, right? You haven’t wasted fourteen dollars; you’ve only burnt two. It’s a whole new world from trading tapes to iTunes [Laughs].”

Check out Tom’s playlist below and be sure to pick up Slayer’s next epic, World Painted Blood when it drops this fall.

Tom Araya’s Playlist:

1. Elvis — “Suspicious Minds”

I have been listening to Elvis. My wife loves Elvis. There are so many songs she likes, and I’m just fiddling with them on the acoustic guitar—trying to learn them. I love “Suspicious Minds” and “Always On My Mind.”

2. Elvis — “Always On My Mind”

3. Elvis — “Love Me Tender”

Of course, there’s always “Love Me Tender” too [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
08.24.09

A Taste:

U2, Rihanna, Blondie

Boh Runga specializes in soulful and catchy pop. Her debut album, Right Here, perfectly balances sultry and saccharine. The New Zealand sonic temptress shared her playlist with ARTISTdirect.com for this exclusive feature. Check it out below and pick up Right Here now!

1. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z — “Umbrella”

This song with was on mega-high rotate for a VERY long time. I remember walking around with a friend in the supermarket, and we were singing it to ourselves. Two little girls pushing the shopping trolley for their mom joined in on the ”Ella, ella, ella…” Made us smile.

2. The Beach Boys — “That’s Not Me”

The singing on Pet Sounds is so very special that I truly believe everyone should have the album. The life of Brian Wilson is also one of those tragic stories of passion and genius and madness. It makes the music even more unique.

3. Blondie — “I’m Always Touched By Your Presence, Dear”

I think Deborah Harry is a one of those legendary figureheads for music in the early 80’s. She was talented, sexy and wore her smile and clothes like no one else. This song is off an early Blondie album called Plastic Letters. She’s one of my heroes.

4. Justice — “Let There Be Light” A friend said I should get Justice because they were like a hard Daft Punk. I did. They were. I like the abrasive sounds that drill into your brain but do so melodically. I hope to hear them play live one day. I hope I remember my earplugs.

5. U2 — “North and South Of The River”

I’ve never heard this song before! It was on a Best Of U2—The B Sides compilation that I put into my iTunes.

—Rick Florino
08.24.09

A Taste:

Cat Stevens, Elvis, Nas

“I’m moving around a lot musically,” laughs Quentin Tarantino as he shuffles through Amoeba Music—Hollywood’s most famous record store.

Tarantino shifts and bends genres better than anyone—not just on screen either. His soundtracks perfectly bridge the gap between artists and styles that may seem a mile apart. For his chop-em-up action epic Kill Bill, he enlisted RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan for original compositions, while Pulp Fiction paired Dick Dale and Ricky Nelson on the same CD. Tarantino has created some seemingly strange but utterly memorable cinematic musical moments, and Inglourious Basterds is no exception at all.

Deploying David Bowie’s “Cat People (Putting Out the Fire)” on the soundtrack for his WWII masterpiece Basterds is the perfect example of Tarantino’s talent for always giving viewers and listeners something delightfully surprising and ultimately unforgettable.

So what does he listen to?

Of course, Tarantino’s playlist is enigmatic to say the least.

While walking around Amoeba, Tarantino shared his current playlist with ARTISTdirect.com for this exclusive feature. Check it out below, pick up the Inglourious Basterds soundtrack now and catch the film in theaters Friday August 21st!

Quentin Tarantino’s Playlist:

1. Cat Stevens — Harold and Maude

Right now, I just got the Cat Stevens’ Harold and Maude soundtrack which had never been made before. I just came out recently, and I find myself listening to that a lot.

2. Nas — “Hate Me Now”

In particularly, I like Nas’s “Hate Me Now.”

3. Elvis

4. Soundtrack — Inglourious Basterds

—Rick Florino
08.20.09

A Taste:

AC/DC, The Cars, The Police

Robert Rodriguez never has to go too far for inspiration.

The director laughs, “My son actually came to me with the initial idea for Shorts. We wanted to make shorts with a bunch of kids, and it worked out because I love doing short stories!”

Rodriguez is also really good at making them too. Shorts is the best family adventure all year because of Rodriguez’s penchant for innovative storytelling and fast-paced action. In fact, some of the more high-octane sequences could stand alongside his best action work like Desperado—minus all of the bullets, blood and four-letter words.

Rodriguez’s kids definitely inspire him, but he’s always turning them on to good music. He continues, “I grew up listening to classic rock. I play my kids the stuff I listened to as a kid. They think The Police is really cool! That was the first album I got. My kids have got Rock Band, and they’re playing all of those songs. It’s hilarious to see that they’re into stuff that I was into when I was their age.”

Right now, he’s just cranking movie tunes. “I play a whole mix of stuff—a lot of soundtracks. I’m really just listening to different scores. They’re all jumbled together.”

Check out some of the bands Robert has turned his kids on to below, make sure to watch our cast interviews and don’t miss Shorts when it hits theaters this Friday. It’s a blast!

Robert Rodriguez’s Playlist:

1. AC/DC

2. The Cars

My kids are into the early ’80s stuff I grew up with like AC/DC and The Cars.

3. The Police

—Rick Florino

08.17.09

Check out other Shorts cast playlists!

Jimmy Bennett & Jolie Vanier

Jon Cryer

A Taste:

Ozzy Osbourne, Guns N’ Roses, Paramore

Jimmy Bennett and Jolie Vanier had a blast making Shorts.

“The entire filming process was so much fun, especially when I was shoving Jimmy in a trash can,” laughs Vanier with a big smile.

For Vanier, fun wasn’t simply relegated to shoving her co-star in the garbage though. She got to play slightly evil as Helvetica Black, and she had the chance to participate in some of the movie’s most imaginative action sequences—including a high speed bicycle chase.

What more could a kid ask for?

Luckily, Jimmy didn’t spend too much time in a trashcan for the film. He had his fair share of adventures as well—wielding a wishing rock that makes all of his character’s wildest dreams come true and squaring off against a bevy of mythical creatures including The Booger Monster.

“Every boy in the entire United States is going to love the Booger Monster,” he exclaims confidently. There’s no doubt about that. It’s a pretty awesome monster.

Both of the kids spent some time listening to music on set in order to get pumped up for the big scenes. They shared their playlists with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check them out below and catch Shorts this Friday!

Jimmy Bennett’s Playlist:

1. Ozzy Osbourne — No More Tears

I like to listen to Ozzy Osbourne. Personally, I like No More Tears. That has to be my all-time, number one favorite album. I love “Mr. Tinkertrain.” I just did an independent movie with Zakk Wylde called Bones!

2. Black Sabbath

3. Guns N’ Roses

I like Black Sabbath, Guns N’ Roses and stuff like that but I don’t like to listen to all the songs that are overplayed, I like to go back into all of the old stuff that not every kid listens to. When we had to do the crazy ending scene, I tried to pump myself up with some cool music like that.

Jolie Vanier’s Playlist:

1. Paramore

I like Paramore. I think they’re a really cool band. I definitely have one favorite song— “Decode.”

—Rick Florino
08.18.09

A Taste:

Radiohead, Weezer

“I loved playing Dad Thompson because I didn’t even have a first name [Laughs]. That’s the way it should be,” laughs Jon Cryer about his part in Shorts. “It’s great to make a kid’s movie because you just have fun shooting it. You don’t have to take yourself seriously, and as an actor you can just be silly.”

Cryer definitely got into the paternal role because it was so much fun. However, the film’s intriguing narrative structure pulled him in even deeper. He continues, “It’s like the same structure as Pulp Fiction, but it’s a kid movie. I remember thinking, ‘I don’t think anyone is going to get shot in the face!’”

Luckily no one does! Cryer shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check it out in the video below and catch him in Shorts this Friday!

Jon Cryer’s Playlist:

1. Radiohead

2. Weezer

On my playlist is everything from piano orchestral music to Radiohead to Weezer. Mine goes all over the place. Generally when I’m in my trailer all I do is work on my lines because I’m terrible at remembering my lines [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
08.18.09

A Taste:

David Bowie, Damien Rice, Arcade Fire, Britney Spears

“There are so many emotions in Inglourious Basterds,” says Melanie Laurent. “[It’s] so funny, violent, cruel and dramatic!”

There’s also a lot of great music in the film, and it definitely helped set the mood for the actors. In addition to being one of the most action-packed WWII films in recent memory, Basterds is an emotional rollercoaster. The character that undergoes the biggest personal evolution is Laurent’s Shosanna Dreyfus. After losing her family at the hands of Nazi Col. Hans Landa, she gets an unexpected opportunity for revenge against the Third Reich in one of the most ways possible. You’ll have to see it though…

Certain tunes prepared Laurent for her character’s violent apotheosis—some of those selections are quite surprising.

Check out Melanie Laurent’s playlist in the video below and don’t miss her in Inglourious Basterds in theaters this Friday August 21.

Melanie Laurent’s Playlist:

1. David Bowie — “Cat People (Putting Out the Fire)”

The music in the movie, like this Bowie song, is amazing. It was just really cool!

2. Arcade Fire

3. Damien Rice

4. Craig Armstrong

5. Jack Bell

6. Britney Spears

I listened to her in Cannes when I had to motivate myself [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
08.17.09

A Taste:

The Misfits, Iron Maiden, Guns N’ Roses, Hannah Montana

Being from Boston, Eli Roth is naturally pretty good with a baseball bat. That’s why his Basterd, Sgt. Donny Donowitz, brandishes one in Quentin Tarantino’s WWII masterpiece Inglourious Basterds. Instead of cracking homeruns out of Fenway Park, Donowitz cracks skulls behind enemy lines.

The bat was Roth’s touch for the character too. Smiling, he laughs, “Everybody in Boston has a bat in the car for traffic confrontations. In that city, you really feel like you’re going to get your ass kicked every five minutes [Laughs].”

That’s why Roth’s Beantown basher in Basterds is constantly ready for war and pursuing this goal of complete violent apotheosis—in the most classical yet bloody fashion. Roth continues, “Donny was always there to become this hero. He wants fight on behalf of those that can’t fight. He just wants to kill them but he knows he’s the strongest one. Brad [Pitt] and I were in character all the time. We never broke it. The movie gave us permission to act like that all the time.”

One thing that he didn’t have to add to the character was the Boston accent though. “It drives me crazy when there are bad Boston accents in movies,” the auteur and actor laughs “To be a Jewish badass from Boston, I was like, ‘This is my chance!’ I went back there, hung out at Revere Beach, lifted weights and put on 40lbs of muscle for the part. I went crazy. I put everything I had into it.”

He also cranked a lot of music to prepare for the role, and his playlist might surprise you. Check out Roth’s playlist below in this video and don’t miss Inglourious Basterds this Friday August 21.

Eli Roth’s Playlist:

1. The Misfits

2. Iron Maiden

3. Guns N’ Roses

4. Danzig

There are different things that psych me up. I was listening to The Misfits, Iron Maiden and Guns N’ Roses—all of the ’80s heavy metal parking lot music that I grew up with.

5. Hannah Montana

Then my girlfriend put Hannah Montana on my iPod. I was like, “What is this?” I went crazy! I just started going nuts [Laughs]. Whenever I wanted to go to my psycho place, I’d put on Hannah Montana and go insane. So don’t ever let me loose at a Hannah Montana concert with a bat [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
08.16.09

A Taste:

David Bowie, Nina Simone, Coldplay, Bach

Diane Kruger gives one of the most intriguing screen performances of this year. In Inglourious Basterds, she breathes life into actress-turned-double-agent Bridget Von Hammersmark. In a character turn that’d make Hitchcock’s head spin, Kruger is playing an actress playing a spy. The stunning Kruger manages to pull it all off flawlessly too—giving every aspect of Bridget equal attention.

“It’s fun to play that kind of actress,” she explains. “The ’40s were such a fabulous time for women. When you watch movies from the ’40s, acting was different back then. Bridget’s a commanding presence. The most fun part was getting down and dirty with the boys. You get to see the real Bridget and you get to see her unravel.”

Kruger’s got quite an eclectic musical palette too.

She gave ARTISTdirect.com an exclusive look at her playlist in this feature. Check out Diane’s playlist in the video below and don’t miss her in Inglourious Basterds this Friday August 21st.

Diane Kruger’s Playlist:

1. David Bowie — “Cat People (Putting Out the Fire)”

That David Bowie song from Basterds is on my playlist. It’s fantastic. It stays with you.

2. Nina Simone

I love Nina Simone.

3. Coldplay

I really like Coldplay. I’m a big music fan. Other than heavy metal, I can deal with everything [Laughs].

4. Bach

I use classical music every time I have to do an emotional scene. There’s a sonata by Bach that I really like. It always makes me cry.

—Rick Florino
08.16.09

A Taste:

David Bowie, Grindhouse Soundtrack, LCD Soundsystem

“Hunting Nazis is a good job if you can get it,” says B.J. Novak with a big smile.

Novak had the pleasure of popping off rounds at those Nazi scumbags in Quentin Tarantino’s WWII epic Inglourious Basterds. In the film, he’s a member of the eponymous unit charged with scalping the enemy and going right for the head honcho himself, Hitler. As PFC Utivich, The Office star definitely got the rhythm of scalping and murdering Nazis down to a science.

However, he had a solid selection of music on his iPod to help him get in to the “scalpin’ mood.”

“I actually have stolen a lot of songs from Quentin Tarantino,” he says. “I got into the Grindhouse soundtrack a lot when we were filming this movie. I also really listened to some of the songs that I knew were going to be in this movie like the David Bowie song ‘Cat People (Putting Out the Fire.’ I put that on my iPod.”

Novak opened up his playlist for ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. It’s definitely influenced by Mr. Tarantino! Check out Novak’s playlist in the video below and don’t miss him in Inglourious Basterds, Friday August 21.

B.J. Novak’s Playlist:

1. Soundtrack — Grindhouse

2. David Bowie — “Cat People (Putting Out the Fire)”

3. LCD Soundsystem

I’ve been really into LCD Soundsytem recently!

—Rick Florino
08.16.09

A Taste:

Strauss, Möller, Mozart

Classical music can be pretty evil.

Some of those symphonies and sonatas are so epic that they’re scary.

For Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, actor and classical music aficionado Christoph Waltz became one of the most sinister screen villains of the past decade, Nazi Col. Hans Landa. Nicknamed “The Jew Hunter,” the character’s entire life revolves around hunting his prey with no remorse, regret or regard. Waltz gives Landa a wicked sense of humor that makes him instantly unforgettable.

“I listen to music all the time,” says Waltz. “Rhythm is not just in music. It’s life. How we communicate is basically rhythm—how we throw back and forth and tune into each other’s intentions. I don’t apply specific pieces of music to specific moments in preparing a role, but maybe I should try that [Laughs].”

Christoph shared some his favorite composers with ARTISTdirect.com for this exclusive feature. Check it out below in the video and don’t miss him in Inglourious Basterds this Friday August 21!

Christoph Waltz’s Playlist:

1. Strauss

2. Mahler

3. Mozart

—Rick Florino
08.16.09

A Taste:

N.W.A., Dr. Dre, Prince, Madonna

Erika Jayne keeps it pretty “O.G.”

Though her new album, Pretty Mess, is pure pop ecstasy on tape, she likes to get down and dirty when it comes to her hip hop.

“I listen to a lot of old hip hop,” she laughs with a smile. “I do listen to everything, but right now it’s a lot of old school rap.”

Erika opened up her iTunes for ARTISTdirect.com for this exclusive feature. Check out her playlist below and pick up Pretty Mess available now!

Erika Jayne’s Playlist:

1. Eric B. & Rakim

I’m a big fan of Eric B. and Rakim, Dr. Dre, N.W.A. and Ice Cube. I like the West Coast and the East Coast stuff.

2. Dr. Dre

3. N.W.A.

4. Ice Cube

It’s nice to have young guys from the south carry that torch like Lil Wayne and T.I.

5. Madonna

6. Prince

7. Michael Jackson

I’m a huge Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson fan. Those three do it. They’re all tremendous performers in their own right. Their ability to connect and put on a show is great.

8. Beyonce

I saw Beyonce the other night, and she was amazing! I love her band and the costumes. Her show is two hours, and she was wearing me out [Laughs]. My live show is certainly not two hours, and I’m not floating from the ceiling like Beyonce does—though I would like to.

—Rick Florino
08.12.09

A Taste:

Montell Jordan, Boyz II Men, The Beatles, Jay-Z

Jeremy Piven gave ARTISTdirect.com a big treat.

In celebration of The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, his fantastically funny new Paramount comedy, Piven got us close to his character, Don Ready—real close. In fact, Piven runs down “Don Ready’s Pump-up Playlist” in this highly exclusive video. He shows us what the best songs to get psyched up for a crazy day of selling used cars are. You’re not going to believe the selections either.

You’re going to have to watch it to find out the best way to get pumped for a long day of slinging used metal…

The video is utterly uproarious! Check it out here and below!

Don’t miss The Goods when it hits theaters this Friday!

—Rick Florino
08.11.09

A Taste:

Mildred, Michelle Gonyay

In It Might Get Loud, Jack White discusses his deep blues background while getting the chance to volley licks and riffs back and forth with Jimmy Page and The Edge.

However, when it comes to actually listening to music, The White Stripes main man can only listen to artists that he’s working with. White shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and catch It Might Get Loud in theaters this Friday!

Jack White’s Playlist:

1. Mildred

“I’ve been recording a lot lately. I just opened this institution in Nashville, and I’ve been producing records and listening to a lot of artists that I’m producing. There’s this goth punk named Mildred and a girl Michelle Gonyay, who’s an accordion player. I’ve been playing drums behind her. I can only listen to music I’m working on. I can’t listen to anything else because I don’t want to copy it.”

2. Michelle Gonyay

—Rick Florino
08.10.09

A Taste:

Jonas Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley

Who says you can’t be bad to the bone and listen to The Jonas Brothers?GeorgeThorogood, one of the baddest mofos to ever destroy a stage, admits to listening to the Jo Bros—a lot. It isn’t necessarily, his choice, but he does.

Thorogood laughs, “I listen to a lot of Jonas Brothers. I’ve got an eleven-year-old daughter. I have no choice. That’s it! A few years ago, it was Hilary Duff [Laughs]. I like The Jonas Brothers because they make my daughter happy and they get her to eat her vegetables. I tell her, ‘I’ve got the Jonas tickets, but you’ve got to brush your teeth’” [Laughs].

Thorogood opened up his iTunes for ARTISTdirect.com and gave us an exclusive look at his playlist. Check it out below and be sure to pick up his latest album, The Dirty Dozen.

George Thorogood’s Playlist:

1. Jack Johnson

Actually my daughter turned me on to Jack Johnson. He’s good! For a kid that young to be hip to him is cool. She put him on and I said this is good stuff. She said, “Jack Johnson tells the truth!” [Laughs] I said, “Okay, he’s hot!” I’m on the treadmill. I’m talking to you. I don’t really have the time to find new music. If there’s something out there you’re supposed to hear, it’ll find you.

2. Elvis Presley

I grew up on being blown away by Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, Peter Wolf, Little Richard, the really great live performers.

3. Jimi Hendrix

4. The Rolling Stones

5. Peter Wolf

6. Little Richard

7. The Who

Seeing The Who was like being in a pinball machine. It was fantastic.

—Rick Florino
08.09.09

A Taste:

Rage Against the Machine, Common, Arctic Monkeys, Ben Harper

Once you get Barbara Streisand’s stamp of approval, you’ve officially made it.

Not that anyone is actively seeking it, or should be for that matter, but it’s quite an accolade nonetheless. Jeremy Piven got it because of his uproariously funny performance as Don Ready in The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard [Paramount] alongside Babs’ hubby James Brolin.

“The movie was as funny as I’d thought it be,” Piven laughs with a big smile. “Barbara Streisand liked it. I don’t know if she thought it was going to work, but guess what it worked! It worked, Babs [Laughs]!”

It works because Piven has got rhythm. He continues, “I’ve played the drums and I have my whole life. Maybe having some sort of rhythm helps with timing.” That makes it easy from him to slyly slip into Don Ready’s car salesman skin, and his performance has made for one of the funniest films of the whole year.

Music definitely helps him on set too. “Music can be so powerful for me,” continues Piven. “I remember when I was doing Smokin’ Aces, the director Joe Carnahan would actually play music. It can always get you to a place you want to get to. The Goods has more of a Sam & Dave kind of soundtrack. That’s the part where you put Sam and Dave under this entire interview [Laughs].”

Piven just plain rocks, and he spends a lot of time cranking his favorite bands. He shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature.

Check out Jeremy Piven’s playlist below and don’t miss him in The Goods this Friday!

Jeremy Piven’s Playlist:

1. Ben Harper — White Lies for Dark Times

Right now I’m listening to the new Ben Harper. I like that.

2. Arctic Monkeys

The new Artic Monkeys is good too.

3. Rage Against the Machine

I listen to a lot of Rage Against the Machine. I like almost every single Rage record. They’re pretty great! I like them live—they’re really great live.

4. Common

I’m also cranking some world beat stuff and a little Common. The last Common record [Universal Mind Control] was good.

5. Afrika Bambaataa

6. The Goods

The Goods should come out with a soundtrack because the music’s pretty cool in it. I like the retro stuff like the “Fox On The Run” song that plays on the trailer. I’m not going to tell you what to do, but you will be doing it [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
08.10.09

A Taste:

Brigitte Bardot, Pete Tex, Man Man, Whitney Houston

In Paper Heart, Charlyne Yi and true-life beau Michael Cera dissect everyone’s favorite L-word—love.

Through an innovative structure and a heartwarming story, Yi explores what love is. She’s not “Trippin’ On a Hole in a Paper Heart” as legendary Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland would say. Instead, she interviews people from all facets of life and social strata—from ministers to children—to find meaning. Yi leaves no stone unturned in her quest, and it makes for poignant and powerful cinematic experience.

In this exclusive feature, Yi opened up her iTunes and shared her playlist with ARTISTdirect.com. Check out her playlist below and see Paper Heart on August 7th!

Charlyne Yi’s Playlist:

1. Brigitte Bardot – “Laiappareil a Sous”

It makes me happy.

2. Pete Tex — “Unchained Melody” (Lounge Masters: Crazy Saxophones)

Saxophones are funny because they make things sound sexy-ish. I also happen to really love this song.

3. Santo & Johnny — “Sleepwalk”

Heartbreaking song. “Ritchiieeeee!!!”

4. Man Man — “Doo Right”

I like doo-wop. And most contemporary doo-wop is so/so. But this song is great.

5. Whitney Houston — “How Will I Know?”

I used to dance to this when I was a kid.

6. Biz Markie — “Just Friends”

I totally relate to this song; it’s like the story of my life.

7. Drakkar Sauna — “Very Much Alone (Pt. 2: The Coke Binge)”

I saw them perform over 3 years ago and never forgot them.

8. Marty Friedman — “Thunder March”

Makes me feel heroic and want to fight bad guys. It’s great.

9. Pyotr llyich Tchaikovsky — “Nutcracker: Act 2: Pas De Deux”

It’s wonderful. It tells a story without any words.

10. Beirut — “Nantes”

Beautiful music. And amazing energy live.

—Rick Florino
08.05.09

A Taste:

Artic Monkeys, Santigold, Animal Collective, Hercules and Love Affair

“The groups that I think are amazing right now happen to be at Lollapalooza this year,” laughs Perry Farrell with a big smile. “I keep pumping Lollapalooza because I’m excited!”

Perry has every reason to be thrilled. This year’s installment of the festival has an epic lineup including Tool, Kings of Leon, The Killers, Jane’s Addiction, Ben Harper, Lou Reed, Depeche Mode and many more. It goes down in Chicago’s Grant park once more from August 7th until August 9th.

For this exclusive ARTISTdirect.com feature, Perry shared his iTunes playlist. Check it out below and don’t miss Lollapalooza 2009!

Perry Farrell’s Playlist:

1. Gomez

I’ve never seen Gomez. For many years, I wanted to have Gomez perform at Lollapalooza and it never quite worked out. I’m excited about them.

2. Artic Monkeys

They’re playing Lollapalooza for the first time, and I’m excited to see them. They’re a super-cred band.

3. Santigold

She has a voice that I particularly love.

4. Animal Collective

They’re a group that, over the past year, has been the music blogs’ darling. I really love what they do. They have these great harmonies that they play with electronics live. They’re super interesting. Their videos are really fun.

5. Fleet Foxes

I’m really looking forward to seeing them for the first time.

6. MSTRKRFT

In the dance area, I’m excited about playing on a bill with MSTRKRFT and Simian Mobile Disco.

7. Simian Mobile Disco

8. Deadmau5

I’ve tried to get a track going with Deadmau5 over the past few years and I was never able to. I have been recording with Kaskade though.

9. Hercules and Love Affair

Europe is a couple years ahead of us as far as dance music goes. In fact, MTV plays dance music videos all night every weekend. I was able to see people I’ve never seen before while I was over there. I’m looking forward to seeing Hercules and Love Affair. This man has a very interesting voice.

There you go. That’s a pretty good list of people that I’ve been listening to and I’m looking forward to seeing.

—Rick Florino
08.04.09

A Taste:

Black Eyed Peas, Linkin Park, Adele

In order to tackle Cobra in G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra, Channing Tatum had to find the right tunes.

Music can be crucial on set, so Channing cranked DMX and Kanye West to get primed for his big action sequences. Watching the pulse-pounding final product, he definitely made the right choice. His Duke is always ready to kick some serious ass, and the music certainly helped.

Channing shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and catch G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra in theaters Friday!

Channing Tatum’s Playlist:

1. Black Eyed Peas — “I Gotta Feeling”

I’ve been listening to a lot of Black Eyed Peas lately. For some reason, I can’t stop playing the song “I Gotta Feeling” [Laughs]. Every time I hear it, I just feel good immediately. I think Black Eyed Peas are doing it really, really well.

2. Adele

I love Adele’s stuff! She always soothes me and calms me down.

3. IZ

I’m really into this Haiwaiian artist named IZ.

4. Lynyrd Skynyrd — “Sweet Home Alabama”

I listen to a lot of old stuff like country music. I love Lynyrd Skynrd—”Sweet Home Alabama” and stuff like that. Skynyrd is always a good go-to!

5. DMX

To get pumped up I’ll listen to DMX or Kanye West.

6. Kanye West

7. Linkin Park

I love Linkin Park as well!

—Rick Florino
08.04.09

A Taste:

Clutch, Mastodon, Metallica, Eagles of Death Metal

So what was Mudvayne main man Chad Gray doing before he left for the Pedal to the Metal Tour?

“I was working on my house and then we had to go,” laughs Chad. “I go back to that handyman root that I have—working on the floors, painting, drywalling and stuff like that. In situations such as those, I turn on the radio, find the rock station and jam out.”

Chad’s home improvement got slightly interrupted by his band’s current tour schedule, but you can catch Mudvayne destroying arenas all summer with Black Label Society. In order to keep that energy on the road, Chad cranks a lot of his favorite hard rock and metal bands. He shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature.

Check out Chad’s playlist below and catch Mudvayne on tour now!

Chad Gray’s Playlist:

1. Clutch — Blast Tyrant

I’ve been listening to a lot of Clutch, man. I’ve been listening to Blast Tyrant over and over for like a year. All of my favorite Clutch tunes are on Blast Tyrant. That record fucking touched me. Neil’s such a fucking badass.

2. Mastodon — Crack the Skye

The new Mastodon is fucking phenomenal!

3. Bury Your Dead — It’s Nothing Personal

The new Bury Your Dead is awesome. I’m not just saying that because they’re on the tour with us either [Laughs]. Those guys are great.

4. Eagles of Death Metal — Heart On

That shit is badass too!

5. Metallica

Metallica, Slayer, Clutch, Mastodon—that’s generally what I listen to.

6. Slayer

—Rick Florino
08.03.09

A Taste:

The Budos Band, Quick Silver Messenger Service, Mula Flustatke

Clutch remain one of the most unique and enigmatic hard rock bands out there.

Their brand new album, Strange Cousins From the West, only further proves that. It’s because the Maryland monsters of rock aren’t afraid to take listeners to outer space. In fact, that’s where vocalist Neil Fallon and Co. feel most at home. Constantly trucking through the far most regions of the sonic stratosphere, Clutch are masters of this odd universe. It’s a place you definitely have to go!

Neil has got quite an intriguing taste in music too. He shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com, and it was a lesson to say the least.

Check it out below and be sure to pick up Strange Cousins from the West now.

Neil Fallon’s Playlist:

1. Ofege

A friend of mine turned me on to a band called Ofege. They had a record that just got re-released. It’s from ‘73, and it’s really awesome acid rock from Nigeria.

2. The Budos Band

I’m a big fan of the Budos Band!

3. Quicksilver Messenger Service

I’m listening to a Quicksilver Messenger Service record called Who Do You Love?

4. Mula Flustatke

I’m also listening to an Ethipian fellow named Mula Flustatke. He put out a couple records in the ’70s. The music is acid jazz fusion with Ethiopian instruments.

5. Various Artists — Nigeria ‘70

I’ve been listening to a lot of Nigerian and African funk from the ’70s. I’ve got a couple great compilations. They’re amazing. You can hear the influence of some MoTown, James Brown and rock n’ roll there. That’s all combined with some amazing African rhythms and harmonies that are out of this world.

6. Various Artists — Nigeria ‘70: Lagos Jump

—Rick Florino
08.03.09

A Taste:

Madlib, Animal Collective, Yelle, LCD Soundsystem

There’s about to be a revolution on the dance floor.

It’s going to come courtesy of two Las Vegas electro rock outlaws known as Afghan Raiders. This duo stirs up a flurry of electronic ecstasy, blending massive infectious hooks with warm sonic flourishes for a sound that’s both entrancing and hypnotic. Mikey and Beans elevate electronic music to a whole new plain, and they want to take you to outer space with them. Just crank “Admiral’s Doorbell”…

In order to get closer to their enigmatic sound, we spoke to Mikey and Beans about what they’re listening to. Check out their playlists below in this exclusive ARTISTdirect.com feature.

Don’t miss Afghan Raiders!

Mikey’s Playlist:

1. Madlib — “Distant Land”

Madlib is an artist who redefined the way I listen to music. He is all about the power of the mix and exploring the endless possibilities of mixing and messing with the listener’s ears. I find Madlib to be a truly creative, visionary producer, and he is definitely an artist I look to for inspiration when mixing and producing tracks. “Distant Land” is one of many gems on the album Shades of Blue, where Madlib sampled and reworked tracks from Blue Note’s catalog. His unique choice of loops and the organic feel and groove of the track take the listener to another universe.

2. Digitalism — “Pogo (Digitalism’s Pogo Robotic Remix)”Digitalism remixed their own track here and came up with an awesome new take on an already great song. Their choice of synths, use of stripped down drums and overall production technicalities never cease to amaze me every time I hear it. These guys are experts in building the energy of a song, and I always find myself listening to them for inspiration.

3. Late of the Pier — “The Bears Are Coming”

This is one of my favorite tracks to listen to when I’m out and about, because it’s a great soundtrack to the chaotic world around us. It’s a haunting, raw, filthy and, somehow, completely harmonious journey from start to finish. It’s a beautiful trainwreck…The production is killer thanks to the genius work of Erol Alkan. You never know what to expect with each successive part, but somehow amongst the chaos they tie it all together for a fun, energetic, lovable track. I had the pleasure of seeing these young guns play live in NYC and it was cool to see it all come together on stage.

4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs — “Heads Will Roll (Passion Pit Remix)”

Here is a track that exemplifies the incredible potential of a remix. Passion Pit took what was the best track off It’s Blitz! and completely reinvented it… making a new track that was both better than anything off the new Yeah Yeah Yeah’s record and the new Passion Pit record. Their improvisation on the original chord progression is great and the energy makes me want to rage.

5. Danger Mouse & Sparkle Horse — “Revenge” (Featuring Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips)

I have been playing this song over and over and over again, and it’s so damn good. I’m a big fan of artist collaborations, and this track illustrates how three completely different brains can come together to make some magic. I’m also really feeling Wayne’s lyrics on this one… it’s like I took some crazy experimental Flaming Lips drug and Wayne has totally found his way into my head.

Beans’ Playlist:

1. Animal Collective — “Summertime Clothes”

Animal Collective consistently impress me with every album. This song really stuck out to me upon first hearing Merriweather Post Pavillion. The rhythm is very fun and upbeat, and the electronic loops are hypnotic. I also love the harmonizing between Avey Tare and Panda Bear. They have a magical way of blending their melodies.

2. Yelle — “Mon Meilleur Ami”

Yelle is hot in every sense of the word. I’ve had the good fortune of seeing her live twice and, both times, it was a sweaty sexy dance party. You can’t help but bust out into a full blown techtonic sesh while listening to her. This track always gets me moving and wishing I spoke French.

3. LCD Soundsystem — “Yeah (Crass Version)”

James Murphy is one my biggest inspirations for making dance music. At just under 10 minutes, this track starts off very stripped down and then gradually builds into an intense rager. It houses some of the dirtiest synths and percussion I’ve ever heard. If you’re not flailing your arms and shaking your booty by the six minute mark, you’re not alive.

4. No Age — “Teen Creeps”

A raw track full of energy and youth. This song always makes me want to skate.

5. Yeasayer — “2080″

I’ve loved this song since the first time I heard it. But I didn’t fully grasp the intense energy of “2080″ until I saw the song performed for La Blogotheque’s Take Away Show. The a capella live version (in an apartment in Paris, with the help of a few new friends made on a subway) completely floored me. I felt all the enthusiasm and joy that is uproariously sang post chorus. It’s now impossible for me not to sing a long when I hear it.

—Rick Florino
07.31.09

A Taste:

Transformers Soundtrack, Black Hawk Down Soundtrack, Johnny Clegg

What’s the best way to unwind after a long day of running from the law and fighting hostile aliens?

Crank some tunes!

That’s exactly what District 9’s star Sharlto Copley did after filming some of the more intense action sequences in Neill Blomkamp’s new sci-fi epic. However, what he was spinning is a bit surprising.

“I was listening to the Transformers soundtrack a lot,” laughs Copley. “I don’t listen to music to get into character, but I do listen to it to zone out of things when I’m on the way to the set or sitting in my trailer—during the few brief moments that could happen [Laughs].”

Sharlto truly immersed himself in this world, becoming his character Wikus. He continues, “As a character actor in improvisation mode, you are the character or you’re not. There’s no in-between. There’s no thought involved in it. You really just switch it on or switch it off.”

Sharlto shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com for this exclusive feature. Check it out below and don’t miss District 9 when it hits theaters on August 14!

Sharlto Copley’s Playlist:

1. Transformers — Soundtrack

I listen to a lot of movie soundtracks. I really enjoy them. As it happens, there was quite a lot of music from Transformers going on for me during District 9.

2. Black Hawk Down — Soundtrack

I listened the Black Hawk Down soundtrack as well. I love it! That’s a great one.

3. Johnny Clegg

I listen to some South African musicians too—guys like Johnny Clegg that have got very defined South African sounds.

—Rick Florino
07.30.09

A Taste:

Radiohead, Blind Melon, Tom Waits, Neurosis

“My musical taste seems to change from day to day,” says He Is Legend’s Schuylar Croom. “Here are just a few of the jams I would pump on any given day.”

With It Hates You, He Is Legend skyrocket their cinematic southern rock into the next stratosphere. Vocalist Croom scoured his iTunes and assembled quite the playlist for ARTISTdirect.com.

Check it out below and pick up It Hates You now!

Schuylar Croom’s Setlist:

1. Radiohead — “Reckoner”

I got the opportunity to see this band twice last summer and it was the highlight by far. Radiohead’s records have always held a special place in my heart, and In Rainbows has become one of my favorites.

2. Bob Dylan — “Subterranean Homesick Blues”

This is a classic throwback that makes me stop and shake my ass whenever I hear it.

3. Neurosis — “The Eye of Every Storm”

This is one of the most powerful songs ever, if listen to in the right frame of mind…and through headphones.

4. The Presets — “Yippiyo-ay”

This Band is one of my new favorites and has the greatest videos.

5. Jeff Buckley — “Lover, You Should Have Come Over”

The greatest song ever recorded.

6. Motorhead — “Overkill”

Sleaze at its finest.

7. Queens of the Stone Age — “A Song for the Dead”

One of the best jukebox jams ever recorded. Dave Ghrol is legend.

8. The Beatles — “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”

You hear that badass stoner riff?

9. Tom Waits — “Make It Rain”

I would spin any of the songs in his catalog but this one came to mind right now.

10. Blind Melon — “Galaxie”

Soup is one of the most under-rated records of all time. This song will get you moving.

—Rick Florino
07.27.09

A Taste:

Alice in Chains, Guns N’ Roses, Stone Temple Pilots

James Hart has always had rock n’ roll pumping through his veins.

Even while fronting metalcore mavens Eighteen Visions, Hart had a whole lot of swagger that distinguished 18V from their peers. Burn Halo gives him a chance to fully realize all of those rock inclinations. On its self-titled debut, Hart’s new band hearkens back to ’80s arena bombast while nodding to grunge simultaneously. However, it’s a potent concoction all its own.

Hart shared his very rawk playlist with us in this exclusive feature. Check it out below.

James Hart’s Playlist:

1. Guns N’ Roses

This is probably the obvious choice for any fan of pure rock n’ roll. This band had danger written all over them. My favorite rock vocalist and guitarist of all time are in GNR. Their solos are timeless. Their rock songs are dirty, and their ballads are epic. The danger element finally caught up to them as they ended up imploding. Damn shame since they could’ve ruled the world for decades.

2. Stone Temple Pilots

I love the attitude and swagger that came along withthis band. They wrote great rock songs and ballads that were just as good, if not better. What I love most about this band is their musical progression from album to album. They weren’t afraid to try new things. Their fan base may have decreased because of it over the years, but it’s definitely something I can appreciate.

3. Alice In Chains

They’re my favorite early ’90s grunge-era band. I absolutely love the vibe they created and stuck with throughout their career. I can’t think of another band with two vocalists that complimented each other as well as Layne and Jerry did. Great riffs and very deep, painful lyrics..this band just felt more real to me than the others that sprouted up at the same time.

4. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Great songwriter. I love how simple his song arrangements are. Good, pure rock and to the point. I think he has a different, but very cool sounding voice. It’s super laid back, and I really like how he builds his melodies and harmonies.

5. U2

Musically and lyrically, U2 is inspiring. There is so much depth and meaning behind their songs. I think they do a better job than anyone of building a song from a tiny vocal and guitar then adding to until it becomes this wall of beautiful music.

—Rick Florino
07.27.09

A Taste:

Fiona Apple, Emily Haines, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Erin McCarley could very well be Fiona Apple’s successor for the Facebook generation.

Like Miss Apple, she crafts warm, brooding and poignant pop music that’s deeply personal and truly poetic. Just listen to “Pitter-Pat” from her debut album Love, Save the Empty for proof. She examines life and love through vibrant lyrics and undeniably catchy melodies.

After spin of Love, Save the Empty, it’s obvious that Erin is pulling from a lot of different places musically. So she shared her highly eclectic playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature.

Check out Erin’s playlist below and pick up Love, Save the Empty now.

Erin McCarley’s Playlist:

1. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss — Raising Sand

Obviously on the road you need all different kinds of moods to take you to those different places. When I want to chill out and feel good and warm, I have Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. I love the Raising Sand album. “Gone Gone Gone” is fun to get you going, and then “Killing the Blues” is great too. Those are probably two of my top songs on there.

2. Emily Haines and the Soft Skeletons — “Winning”

She’s part of Metric and Broken Social Scene. Her album is called Knives Don’t Have Your Back. There’s a song on there called “Winning.” It’s just her alone on piano and you can hear every little thing—her pedals and all. It’s totally stripped down. The way they recorded it sounds like she just put a mic in the room and you can hear everything. It’s really dark, intimate and crazy. I love the song.

3. Gnarls Barkley — The Odd Couple

The song “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul” came on when we were driving the other day. There is typically so much production these days that it’s real hissy and it almost hurts your ears. “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul” is so warm though, and it has a lot of depth. I love the samples that they use. Cee-Lo’s voice is ridiculous.

4. Fiona Apple — “Get Gone”

I always have to say Fiona Apple because if I put my iPod on “shuffle,” she always comes on. I have all of her records and all the bootlegs too. The song that always rises up for me is “Get Gone” from When the Pawn Hits…. She sings with such passion. She’s angry in that song, and I love it [Laughs].

5. Brooke Waggoner

I live in Nashville, and there are so many good musicians and artists there. There’s a girl from there named Brooke Waggoner. Her album is called Heal for the Honey. She has a song called “Beaut” that sounds like “Little House on the Prairie,” but it makes you want to cry because it makes you feel so good [Laughs]. Going along there’s a soft harmonica that starts the song out and then these massive strings come in. All of these waves of emotion happen with the song. It’s so beautifully composed. It’s pretty crazy.

6. St. Vincent

She’s a badass. She’s from Texas originally, but she lives somewhere in New York now. She went to Berklee. Her newest record has a song called “Actor Out of Work.” The composition of her songs is intricate but really interesting. She’s got all of these melodies that stem from fairy tales like Sleeping Beauty. There are these massive beats, real grungy guitars and then this really beautiful soft voice. It’s not the kind of voice we always hear today though. She doesn’t sound like other girls out there. I like it. I’m not good at listening to music [Laughs]. We do it every day and a lot of the time, I’m in complete silence and okay with it. Being on the road you’re around so many music lovers that you get exposed to a lot of new music and I do love that aspect of it. That’s how I found out about St. Vincent.

7. Bob Marley

Whenever you want to chill out, you’ve got to love Bob Marley and the Wailers. I love “No Woman, No Cry.” I have the live version on my iPod.

8. Radiohead — “15 Step”

I love the beats and the melodies. That guitar comes in, and it’s so good.

9. Def Leppard

I grew up listening to Madonna—total ’80s pop. My sister was about nine years older than me. She fed me Top 40 ’80s pop. I liked Def Leppard too! I’m probably not inspired or affected by it but I liked them! I did love Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and all that stuff too.

10. Depeche Mode

—Rick Florino
07.27.09

A Taste:

Bob Marley, Eminem, Method Man & Redman

Twista has a need for speed.

On his latest album, Category F5, the Chicago MC fires off rhymes at lightspeed, turning verses on a dime. However, he still manages to get soulful at the same time and that combination of lyrical fire and raw passion makes for one of the most epic hip hop releases on 2009. He’s about to tear through them game once more with this storm.

In order to get inside Twista’s head we conducted this exclusive playlist interview with him.

Check out Twista’s playlist below and pick up Category F5 now.

Twista’s Playlist:

1. Bob Marley — Legends

To be honest, I can’t stop listening to this.

2. Dustys

We’ve been bumping some Dustys here and there.

3. Drake

I like Drake.

4. Eminem — Relapse

We’re bumping this a lot in the car right now.

5. Method Man & Redman — Blackout! 2

I love this CD. It’s crazy!

6. Robin Thicke — The Evolution of Robin Thicke

7. Gnarls Barkley — St. Elsewhere

I’m still bumping this!

—Rick Florino
07.26.09

A Taste:

Radiohead, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson

In The Ugly Truth, Bree Turner’s Joy gets big laughs alongside Katherine Heigl’s neurotic news show producer Abby. Joy grounds Abby, while providing some hilarious perspectives on dating, sex and love. It’s a performance that shows just how talented Turner is.

Coming from the dance world, Turner’s got a very rhythmic acting style. So we sat down with her and talked about some of her favorite music. In this feature, Bree gave us a tour of her playlist.

Check it out below and catch Bree in The Ugly Truth in theaters now!

Bree Turner’s Playlist:

1. Radiohead

I was so into being “indie” about music when I was younger. I would always reject the mainstream [Laughs]. In the mid 90s, Radiohead was it for me. I saw them in a coffee shop in San Francisco in front of 100 people right before The Bends came out. This is what I was doing with my time then—searching out the coolest musical shit. Now, I find myself really wanting to listen to Kelly Clarkson and Pink [Laughs]. I’m not even afraid to admit it. I love pop now. It’s so happy and fun.

2. Kelly Clarkson

She just makes happy, feel-good songs.

3. Pink

4. Ray LaMontagne

I love Ray LaMontagne. When you see him person, he doesn’t look how you think he’s going to look. His performances are so authentic. I’m going to listen to whatever’s authentic.

5. Katy Perry

I jam to that Katy Perry song “Hot N Cold!”

6. Lady GaGa

7. Pearl Jam

Pearl jam is so good. I loved that Into the Wild soundtrack that Eddie Vedder did too.

8. Ryan Saliman

He’s my brother-in-law. It’s the perfect album. I love albums that are all the same vibe. It’s super chill sounds like vintage Tom Petty.

—Rick Florino
07.24.09

A Taste:

Taylor Swift, Kimya Dawson, Ozzy Osbourne

Orphan will give you nightmares.

Those come courtesy of Esther played by the phenomenal Isabelle Fuhrman. The Coleman family has just adopted the bright young Russian girl, but they soon realize she’s different—very different. Bad things begin happening, and true horror follows.

In Esther, Isabelle conjures pure evil, constantly shifting from nice to nefarious. It’s a performance that sticks with audiences and will no doubt establish the twelve-year-old as a true screen presence.

However, Isabelle really just wants to rock.

She shared her playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature, and it was quite surprising. She explains, “I listen to tons of different music. I don’t have a specific genre that I like. I listen to Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato. Then I’ll listen to Kimya Dawson from the Juno soundtrack or Ozzy Osbourne [Laughs].”

After seeing Orphan, Ozzy will make perfect sense. Be sure to catch it in theaters this Friday!

Isabelle Fuhrman’s Playlist:

1. Taylor Swift

2. Demi Lovato

3. Kimya Dawson

4. The Juno Soundtrack

5. Ozzy Osbourne

—Rick Florino
07.22.09

A Taste:

Bob Dylan, The Fugees, Dave Matthews Band

Hope Olaide Wilson has got the new Black Eyed Peas song, “Boom Boom Pow,” stuck in her head at the moment.

She laughs, “I can’t tell if I hate it or I love it, but I’m always singing it!”

Fergie and Co. tend to have that effect. Hope is the star of Tyler Perry’s forthcoming fall comedy, I Can Do Bad All By Myself [Lions Gate], and she happens to have quite a diverse musical palette. In this exclusive feature for ARTISTdirect.com, Hope opened up her iTunes and shared what she’s spinning.

Check out Hope’s playlist below and catch her in I Can Do Bad All By Myself this fall!

Hope Olaide Wilson’s Playlist:

1. Bob Dylan — “Ain’t Talkin’”

I’ve been listening to a lot of Bob Dylan. One song I really love is about nine minutes long, and it’s called “Ain’t Talkin’.” It’s this weird story about walking alone through this mystic garden, and then he gets attacked. It’s really cool; it’s like a weird fairy tale mystery. It’s one of my favorites. The lyrics are amazing, and he’s such a great storyteller. It’s literally like you’re reading a thriller [Laughs].

2. Dave Matthews Band — “Busted Stuff”

Dave has a song called “Busted Stuff” that I love. I play that one over and over again all the time.

3. The Fugees — “Ready or Not”

I’ve been listening to “Ready or Not” a lot. It reminds me of when I first moved to America for some reason. It was played all the time around then.

4. Nick Drake — “Time Has Told Me”

I love everything he’s done. I was introduced to his music on accident, and I was so excited when I heard it. I really wanted to see him in concert, but I found out that he died really young. His music is amazing. My favorite song is called “Time Has Told Me.” All of his songs are really haunting and beautiful. He’s really talented but not really people know about him, and his music gets passed on by word of mouth. He didn’t quite to get to taste his success or how big he’d be. After he died, he sort of became an icon.

5. Tracy Chapman — “The Promise”

I love “The Promise.” It’s really pretty and simple. I love songs that tell stories but are beautiful in their simplicity. They can take you somewhere without all of these crazy hooks and beats.

6. Imogen Heap — “Hide and Seek”

7. Black Eyed Peas — “Boom Boom Pow”

I can’t get this song out of my head! It’s constantly playing, and I listen to it at the gym a lot. I can’t stop singing it [Laughs].

8. Metric — “White Gold”

They’re this weird retro pop rock band. They’ve got a song called “White Gold” that I really like.

9. The Beatles — “Yet to Stay”

I listen to them again and again!

10. Coldplay — “Swallowed in the Sea”

Their songs are beautiful. I think I’m going through a weird haunting music phase or something, but I love listening to them [Laughs]. They have this song called “Swallowed In the Sea,” and it’s just really pretty. I love to sing it all the time.

11. Counting Crows — “Color Blind”

It’s so beautiful! I love this song!

—Rick Florino
07.21.09

A Taste:

Snoop Dogg, Pinchers, Radiohead

Right now Slightly Stoopid are causing trouble coast to coast on The Blazed and Confused Tour with the one and only Snoop Dogg.

This tour lineup is like a match made in stoner heaven, and crowds will most definitely be burning one or ten, when this caravan rolls into town. Slightly Stoopid remain a Southern California treat, seamlessly blending hip hop, alt rock, punk, funk and reggae into a tasty sonic concoction all their own.

Miles and Rymo of Slightly Stoopid shared their playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and catch them with The Doggfather all summer!

Slightly Stoopid’s Playlist:

1. Pinchers

2. Snoop Dogg

Rymo: “We were just listening to Snoop.”

3. Camille Bob

Miles: “We love this crazy old funk stuff.”

4. Radohead

Rymo: “Of course, right [Laughs].”

5. Marlon Asher

Miles: It’s always a hard question…we really listen to everything!

—Rick Florino
07.20.09

A Taste:

Motley Crue, Van Halen, Michael Jackson, Diplo

LMFAO’s Redfoo and Sky Blu know how to rock out in the club.

Underneath their smooth and funky electro hip hop, there’s a rock n’ roll lion roaring. Just crank their new album Party Rock for proof. Given how diverse the band’s sound is, we decided to grill them about their playlist.

LMFAO shared their playlist with ARTISTdirect.com. Check it out below and be sure to pick up Party Rock now.

LMFAO’s Playlist:

1. DJ Chuckie

2. Afro Jack

3. Diplo

Redfoo: We’re listening to a lot of dance stuff from Holland: DJ Chucky, Afro Jack and Diplo.

4. Michael Jackson

Redfoo: We’ve been going down memory lane with Michael Jackson.

5. LMFAO

Redfoo: Then we like to browse we’re still heavily on the blogs searching from new stuff to play and DJs as well. We like to relax and listen to the radio from time to time and see if we can hear our song pop up here and there. We run the gamut!

6. Red Hot Chili Peppers

Sky Blu: I still listen to The Red Hot Chili Peppers. I love them!

7. Van Halen

Sky Blu: We like the old school ’80s rock. We were rockin out to Van Halen the other day.

8. Motley Crue

9. Journey

10. AC/DC

11. David Bowie

12. The Knack — “My Sharona”

Redfoo: One of my favorite songs of all-time is “My Sharona!” That’s a classic to me; we might have to redo that. We could call it, “My Corona” [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
07.17.09

A Taste:

Bob Dylan, Arctic Monkeys, The French Kicks

Adam Brody’s feeling quite inspired lately.

Maybe it’s the fact that he’s in one of the most intriguing dramas of the year, Death In Love. Or maybe it’s because he’s got the dark and sexy Jennifer’s Body with Megan Fox on the horizon for September. Most likely though, his state of inspiration is because he’s going through a series re-education musically.

“Music is a big part of my life so I try to take it with me in whatever I do. I’ve been on a real classic rock kick lately though,” laughs Brody.

That “classic rock” kick has inspired him to check out all kinds of stuff that was under his nose for years but he never delved into until now. Brody turned his iPod and gave ARTISTdirect.com an exclusive look at what’s rocking his world right now.

Check out his playlist below and don’t miss his incendiary performance in Death In Love out now.

Adam Brody’s Playlist:

1. Bob Dylan

Right now, I’m all about Bob Dylan. My brother has seen him a bunch of times and is a huge fan. Obviously I’ve listened to some stuff over the years. However, it’s taken me this long to get very into him. Now that I’m into him, I feel like an idiot for taking 20 million years to do it! He’s the coolest guy who ever lived [Laughs]. I really like all of his albums from the ’70s. If you’re a Bob Dylan fan, you’d know these albums. However, I didn’t. I really like John Wesley Harding. I love Blood on the Tracks. I like Self-Portrait. He’s got such a huge catalog, and that’s what I love about him the most. What a wordsmith, man! Especially on top of good beats and music…I’m not a lyric guy first. I listen to the tune and the lyrics typically grab me after. His lyrics are so amazing that you can’t help but be sucked in anyway. He was so young when he was writing about what he was writing about. He’s so cool and manly. Poetry about being a hobo—love it.

2. The French Kicks

I love them. I can never get sick of The French Kicks! Their latest album is great.

3. Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys released an EP the other day. I totally like the new song they put out. They’re as cool as it gets too. They played Saturday Night Live on their first album, and it was so awesome. They played a five-minute song with a huge musical intro and outro. They were so confident and cocky. They just did their thing and rocked so hard! They get really heavy. Interpol is also one of my favorite bands, and I see some similarities between them and Arctic Monkeys. They have these big instrumental buildups and breakdowns but they’re all very precise. Even when they trade guitar licks, they’ll use two guitars and make one constant sound. I don’t how to describe it. I like Arctic Monkeys’ song structure among other things. I like that, like Interpol, their stuff gets so heavy and loud but they don’t really have to move a lot. They’re not playing with a lot of energy. Their music does it all.

4. Interpol

Their first album is still the best to me. I love that they haven’t put out too much—just three albums and a couple EPs. I like prolific songwriters too. They’re the opposite of Bob Dylan. I appreciate his vast song book, but I’m also a fan of economy and believe that sometimes less is more. I appreciate just a solid album a couple of years. I like whittling it down—a small compact collection. I think the same could be said about their music.

5. Neil Young

I’ve been doing Neil Young a lot, especially On the Beach.

6. Janis Joplin

I downloaded some Janis Joplin the other day, and it’s blowing my mind it’s so good. I’d never got into her before now though.

7. Wilco

The new Wilco is pretty cool.

8. My Morning Jacket

9. The Fleetwoods

I’ve been listening to a lot of Doo Wop—soda pop stuff like this band The Fleetwoods. They’re from the ’40s, and they’re amazing. I think they sang “Lollipop” but they have many more songs that are famous. I’ve been running the whole gamut musically, but I’ve been going older more recently. If a new band comes out now that I know I like, I’ll get it but I’ve given up trying to keep up with new bands. I don’t care about being a “new band guy” anymore. If it’s good enough, it’ll stand the test of time.

—Rick Florino
07.17.09