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GUEST EDITOR

From The Desk Of James Iha: Truman Capote

jamesihaoe3f“I don’t think we’re going to threaten the Jonas Brothers,” says James Iha of Tinted Windows‘ self-titled debut, recently released on S-Curve Records. But the power pop generated by the multigenerational band—which also includes Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne), Taylor Hanson (Hanson) and Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick)—is a teenage dream of catchy choruses and withering walls of guitars befitting the former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist. Iha is guest editing magnetmagazine.com all this week; read our Q&A with him to get a glimpse into the formation of Tinted Windows.

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Iha: I like all the Southern-gothic writers, but my favorite is Truman Capote. The first book I read by him was (1980 anthology) Music For Chameleons, and I was initially struck by the precise language, the exotic imagery and the way he used seemingly normal characters who had hidden, sometimes grotesque flaws. (1966’s) In Cold Blood, his groundbreaking “non-fiction novel,” presents it all but doesn’t overtly moralize or become too literal. Watch a YouTube video of Capote discussing In Cold Blood after the jump.

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FREE MP3s

MP3 At 3PM: Sunset Rubdown

sr390Sunset Rubdown’s new press photos may show the band relaxing at a spa, but don’t be fooled: Spencer Krug and Co. haven’t gone mellow. Six-minute epic “Idiot Heart,” the first single off the Montreal band’s upcoming album Dragonslayer (due June 23 on Jagjaguwar), has lots of intense, needling guitar, stinging, Bowiesque vocals and biting lyrics: “I hope that you die in a decent pair of shoes/You’ve got a lot more walking to do where you’re going to.” Currently touring Europe, Sunset Rubdown will be stateside by June, just in time for Dragonslayer’s release and a slew of U.S. tour dates.

“Idiot Heart” (download):

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PUT UP YOUR DUKES

Put Up Your Dukes: Pearl Jam’s “Ten”

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Two of MAGNET’s Matts—editor Matthew Fritch and writer Matt Ryan—go to the mat to see whose opinion is more correct. Today’s topic: Ten, Pearl Jam‘s 1991 grunge touchstone. Put up your dukes!

From: Matthew Fritch
To: Matt Ryan

Can 10 million Americans be wrong? That’s not a serious question. This debate would already be over if that were my opening argument. But 10 million is the number of copies of Pearl Jam’s Ten that have been sold since its release in 1991 (they just reissued it in a deluxe edition, by the way), not to mention the canonization of the album by, well, everyone. After going back and listening to Ten, we should really reconsider this. It’s essentially a cartoonish blues-rock ponytail cheesefest masquerading as then-popular grunge. Listen to those Edgar Winter hot-lick guitar fills! What about Eddie Vedder‘s grandpappy routine, the “c’mere son, sit on my lap and I’ll tell you ’bout your daddy” lyrics? Even Pearl Jam themselves outgrew this charade. For various reasons, Ten had to be made and became very popular. But why can’t we all admit it was a passing mistake and move on?

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GUEST EDITOR

From The Desk Of James Iha: Brick Lane Curry House

jamesihaoe3f“I don’t think we’re going to threaten the Jonas Brothers,” says James Iha of Tinted Windows‘ self-titled debut, recently released on S-Curve Records. But the power pop generated by the multigenerational band—which also includes Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne), Taylor Hanson (Hanson) and Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick)—is a teenage dream of catchy choruses and withering walls of guitars befitting the former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist. Iha is guest editing magnetmagazine.com all this week; read our Q&A with him to get a glimpse into the formation of Tinted Windows.

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Iha: Brick Lane Curry House is a great Indian restaurant on Sixth Street in New York City. It serves one of the most challenging hot currys ever produced (the phaal curry) and also serves quirky (yet still delicious) tofu tikka masala for the vegetarians, like myself. Watch a Brick Lane Phaal Challenge after the jump.

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NEWS

What May Album Are You Most Looking Forward To?

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