* The always photogenic Ashton Kutcher is a spokesperson for Nikon digital cameras.

* Rapper DMX has been arrested due to animal cruelty. Why is everyone getting arrested?!

* Hugh Hefner wants Miley Cyrus. Creeeeeeeeeepy.

* Paris Hilton is now hocking clip-on hair. Also creeeeeeeepy.

* Madonna speaks up for Britney Spears. Does Britney still need 'speaking up' for?

* And finally, a Donnie Darko sequel? It could be great, but I'm guessing it'll be shiteous.

My obsession and opinion of Rolling Stone Magazine has changed over the years, but let's face it, it still remains a staple of music fans everywhere.

Dragging my feet around a book store recently resulted in my finding perhaps one of the most amazing and instantly attractive books I've ever come across: The Rolling Stone Interviews!!

The book features interviews with The Beatles, Jack Nicholson, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Courtney Love, Johnny Cash and tons more, all packaged in a solid paperback neatly and perfectly for your adoration. I just finished the Truman Capote interview that was done in 1972 by Andy Warhol after Rolling Stone asked Capote to write a piece on The Stones' Exile on Main Street World Tour for the magazine. As it turned out he was very uninspired after the journey and the cover story read instead as: "an audio documentary."

There's just enough grit, tears, and rock-star bravado to promise a steamier read than any Harlequin novel.

Check it out yo!

For the past week or so I've been listening to an indie playlist and while listening I've come across a number of good bands. Black Kids are one of those bands. A lot of the bands on the playlist are your typical indie rock bands, which are great, but not Black Kids. Their sound caught my attention and I kept going back thinking 'who sings this again' until I remembered who they were.

Black Kids have a dancey rock sound to them similar to Brighton's The Go! Team but less hip-hop and more rock. You can hear how Black Kids have more rock in them in their first single I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You. It has a few guitar solos and has a natural sound to it. Not only is this tune catchy but it makes for a great sing-a-long song live! Their other single Hurricane Jane is just as catchy and a little less dancey but still awesome!

Back in August Black Kids released their first EP on their MySpace as a free download and are scheduled to release their first album Partie Traumatic in late July! Check them out and let me know what you think of them!

They are currently on tour and are playing a sold out show tonight at The Phoenix.

Links:
MySpace: Black Kids
Official Site: Black Kids

He started way back in a group called Leaders of the New School. After leaving that group he became the Busta Rhymes we know today, who, interestingly enough, is actually the same Busta as before. A little while ago he got about 15% more serious. There were news stories of him beating up his fans and he was strangling people in his videos, but he was still pretty fun. (Busta golfing? Laugh out loud?)

So anyway, back to my point: Busta has been consistently consistent for close to 20 years now, and I really can't think of anyone in hip-hop who has pulled that off as well. (Comment challengers? Bring it!) And all the while no one seems to notice.

Anyway, Busta seems more fun again and his new video is good, but I'm not linking to it. If you want to see the latest Busta you'll have to check out RapCity this weekend, Saturday night at 11pm. (Don't even think about checking youtube, I rickrolled all of them.)

Coldplay is going on an extensive world tour! The tour will support their upcoming Viva La Vida album and they are predicting they'll play at least 90 SHOWS in total! NINETY!!!

The confirmed Canadian dates are as follows:

July 30 @ Pengrowth Saddledome, Calgary, AB
October 20 @ Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
October 21 @ Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, ON
October 29 @ Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
October 30 @ Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON

This will definitely be a show that is not-to-be-missed. The album doesn't come out until June 12th, but if the first two songs (the officially-released Violet Hill and the recently-leaked Viva La Vida) are any indication, the album will be great which should translate into a killer show.

Tickets for all these Canadian dates go on sale June 14th.

Photograph Courtesy Getty Images

I've got the giggles today thanks to this amazing site that my friend John A. sent my way. You see, John A. is in staunch opposition to any behaviour or style that's even remotely hipster/scenester. In fact, I wonder if he created this site. It's too perfect. Your Scene Sucks declares: "You are just like everybody else". Choose a scenester from the dropdown and read on about his/her clothing, hair, favourite music and essential bookmarks.

My favourites are the Brootal Kid, #1 Pete Wentz Fan and Williamsburg Hipster. From what I've seen at shows and clubs, that represents like 80% of the Toronto scene. What about in your town?

Ahhh! I'm such a procrastinator! I've seen Leeds, UK band Hadouken! mentioned on the pages (and cover once, I think) of NME heaps of times but had put off actually checking out their sound for the longest time. For some reason I associated the exclamation point at the end of their name (which, as you'd suspect, is from a special move in Street Fighter) with Kerrang! magazine, which I don't read because I'm not interested in any of the music it features.

So anyway - last night I was listening to XFM's April playlist - it's a roundup of scads of songs that have been charting and getting massive airplay in the UK. And mostly it's songs that haven't made their way to North America yet. And I heard this GEM called Declaration Of War, and it's by Hadouken!.

It's a brash dancefloor jam with a wicked backbeat - I can't stop listening to it! If you're a fan of genre classifications, Hadouken! describe themselves as a fusion of grimecore and new rave (think Klaxons, New Younge Pony Club, CSS, SHITDISCO). There's also a little bit of Enter Shikari-style electronica thrown in, with MCing and grime breakbeats.

Their debut album, Music for an Accelerated Culture, just came out this past Tuesday (May 5). Can't wait to listen to the whole thing; what I've heard on MySpace is sickeningly danceable. Go listen!

Hadouken! hit the road hard earlier this week on a massive UK tour that includes festivals like Leeds and Reading. Hopefully they'll expand their tour to the rest of Europe, and eventually North America, soon!

Links:
MySpace Hadouken!
Official Site Hadouken!

So, in honour of this special day, we've compiled a list of the hottest musician moms. You will notice, of course, the absence of some of our more famous musician moms (cough Britney cough). This is because they (she) are (is) no longer hot.*

*Fact.

10. Madonna

Madonna's kids are lucky ones indeed. Not only can she sing them a calming lullaby at bedtime, she can read to them from one of her popular books: Mr. Peabody's Apples, The English Roses, The Girlie Show Book, Yakov and the Seven Thieves, The Adventures of Abdi, Lotsa de Casha, or Sex.

9. Geri Halliwell

When it came time to name her precious little girl, Ginger Spice immediately thought that Baby Spice would work best, but remembered that it was already taken. (Damn you, Emma Bunton!) Good thing she didn't pick something ridiculous like Cinnamon Spice, and instead went with something sensible: Bluebell Madonna.

8. Victoria Beckham

Poor Posh's kiddies. Playing hide and seek with their mom is an almost impossible task. Usually, she takes the easy route and just steps behind a lamp, and voila, she's invisible. (Well, except for two bumps sticking out, but they don't really count cause they aren't real.)

7. Sheryl Crow

As we all know, all Sheryl Crow wants to do is have some fun. Well, we hope Sheryl's version of fun includes changing gross diapers, being woken up 3-4 times a night by crying, dealing with temper tantrums and general unreasonableness, and being thrown up on. Otherwise she's in for a rude awakening.

6. Chantal Kreviazuk

Having Avril Lavigne move into your house for a period of time is bound to make Chantal Kreviazuk a great mom when her kids reach teenage-dom. After all, you can't get more bratty or annoying than Avril.

5. Shania Twain

We know that Shania Twain has the potential to be a good mom simply because she already has practice dressing like a Backyardigan. (Anyone else remember the unfortunate leopard print catsuit?) And, as an additional bonus, she can use that outfit to make Hallowe'en costumes for her kids.

4. Faith Hill

We're totally digging the effect motherhood is having on Faith Hill. Instead of that crappy country music she usually plays, she's recently been rocking it out with Led Zeppelin. We applaud the new example you're setting for your kids. Keep it up, and there's a good chance your kids will end up pretty cool.*

*Not guaranteed.

3. Jennifer Lopez

What is it with JLo? She always has to one-up everybody else. When all the other celebrities started to have babies, ol' Jenny from the Block had to beat everyone else and have twins. Here's hoping that the babies resemble her and not that greasy, greasy Marc Anthony. Genetically speaking, Ben Affleck would totally have been the better choice.

2. Gwen Stefani

Mystery solved folks. We've cracked the code on Gwen Stefani's bizarre antics with regards to her Harajuku girls. Clearly, she was just practicing for motherhood. Only, we're hoping that she doesn't insist that Kingston is only "part of her imagination" and that "we can't see him" like she did with the Harajuku girls. Weirdo.

1. Nelly Furtado

Okay, Nelly is just awesome, and she is such a hot mom, I'm sure most of you didn't even realize that she IS a mom. We're thinking that it's not just a coincidence that her ascent from merely cute to smoking hot came along at the same time as she became a mom. Promiscuous girl indeed.

Photographs Courtesy Getty Images

* Apparently pictures of Mischa Barton have been photoshopped to give her "the legs and bottom of an 80-year-old."

* Jessica Simpson is going to be Ashlee's maid of honour. Eek - those speeches are going to be insufferable.

* Beyonce and her mom have designed the tackiest outfits for 6-year-old girls.

* And finally, check out the fashion show of Robin Antin's Pussycat Doll lingerie.

* Fergie trips. Thankfully her GIANT BLACK SUV was there to catch her fall.

* Stereogum has posted a new Coldplay song. Me likey...

* Rihanna & Chris Brown share some smooches at a KFC. Romantic, ain't it?

* Wanna hear the 911 call that Vanilla Ice's wife made? Advance with caution.

* And finally, Speed Racer isn't getting the greatest reviews, but feel free to check out the first 7 minutes which have been posted online.

The latest trend for musical acts is for them to make their songs available for download - either for free (a la Nine Inch Nails and Coldplay) or for 'pay what you can' (a la Radiohead). Although this works well for these big, established acts, one singer has come forth and voiced his concerns.

Alexis Taylor, lead signer of Hot Chip, recently told BBC Newsbeat that giving away music for free hurts smaller bands and the music industry in general:

"It's a strange one but I think at the moment no-one knows what's really going on and the record companies are really searching for a new way to do business," he said.

"It's all kind of in turmoil and people are just trying things out. Probably in the next couple of years we'll see a new kind of business emerging."

Taylor added: "People can get music for free on the net so to give it away to people and admit that is a sensible thing. Big artists like that can make their money in other ways and they can still have a great career.

"But it only really works if you're a massive act. If we turned around and offered our single for free I don't know how many people would bother."

I have to say that I don't fully agree with Taylor. I mean, as a music-lover, I appreciate when a big band like Nine Inch Nails will give their album away for free. (Hell, who am I to turn that down...?) And although the smaller acts can't really afford to pull a stunt like that, it shouldn't matter because, again, as a music-lover, I'll always be willing to fork over the dough for a bangin' Hot Chip album.

Agreed?

And the winner is...Rihanna's Take A Bow. After watching this vid, I would never mess with Rihanna. I mean, seriously. That look she gives to the camera is so fierce, it cuts right through your soul and judges you for everything you've ever done wrong. Like the time you broke your mother's vase because you played catch in the living room and then glued it all together so nobody would notice. The thought of being on the receiving end of that look makes me squirm more than when I watched just half of Heidi Montag's video. Ohhhh snap! But seriously folks...

Rihanna's really working the new look: the edgy haircut, the red lipstick and the tattoo on the back of her neck. You think that's hot? I haven't even talked about the part where she wears a red leather jacket and gets into a hot sports car and makes her cheating boyfriend jog next to it. Or the part where she sets her boyfriend's clothes on fire? You go girl! This is the same Rihanna we know and love, but you can be sure she isn't screaming S.O.S in this video!

Some honourable mentions:
Ne-Yo Closer (watch video)
Chris Brown Forever (watch video)
Busta Rhymes We Made It (watch video)
Lady Gaga Just Dance f. Colby O'Donis (watch video)

Her Madgesty, Madonna, has finally announced her tour plans for Hard Candy, which in case you didn't already know, debuted at #1 in 27 countries last week. The tour kicks off on August 23 in Cardiff, Wales and then hits 26 other dates across the globe until late November. There are three Canadian dates in the cities you'd expect - Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal - with more dates to be announced.

Tickets for all Canadian dates go on sale Saturday, May 24 @ 10am (local time) and are quite ridiculously priced, but really, expected for a show like Madonna!

The prices range from $61.75 to $351.75 (plus fees) and there is a limit of 4 tickets per person.

Canadian dates:
October 18 @ Air Canada Centre, Toronto
October 22 @ Bell Centre, Montreal
October 30 @ BC Place Stadium, Vancouver

Photograph Courtesy Getty Images

* The rumours are true: Beck will release a 10 track, 30 minute album produced by Danger Mouse sometime this summer.

* Amy Winehouse, who was arrested in (alleged) possession of drugs, was released this morning after nine hours of questioning by police.

* Liam Gallagher's sporting a new 'do reminiscent of Ringo Starr that the British have dubbed a "pudding bowl" haircut. Personally, it brings me back to the childstar haircuts of Joey Lawrence and Brian Bonsall. He looks like a friar for god's sake!

* EW has a recap of last night's American Idol final four results show.

* If you didn't already know, My Bloody Valentine will be playing Toronto's Ricoh Coliseum on March 25. Odd choice for a venue, considering Kevin Shields' war on perfection and optimal sound quality. Stilleposters are discussing that very topic at length. Tickets are on sale Friday for $47.50 each.

* The Police announce their last show ever. (Haven't they done this before?)

* The new Justice video for Stress gives me the creeps. Not cool, guys... not cool...

* Common will appear in the new Terminator movie.

* Am I the only one or do the Olsen twins kind of creep you out as well?

* And finally, just how crappy were Jason Castro's performances on American Idol last night, yeah?