Exciting news: Your latest Flavorpill Mixtape has arrived. Your ears are salivating. Your fingers are ready to click ctrl + left click and “save as.” Ten essential downloads from this past week in music after the jump — all free for the taking! Take a listen, and then leave us a comment with what you think. Read More »

1. Tao Lin and Carles of Hipster Runoff have a new “sound project ” called Jesus Christ (the indie band); listen to their first MP3, “is this really what you want?,” now. [via GvB]
2. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski used Bruce Springsteen song titles to explain the rules of the Internet at a music policy conference. A sample: “The people who built the Internet were working on more than a computer network, they were Working on a Dream. It was a network that was Born to Run in a land of open protocols, (the Promised Land).” [via WSJ]
3. Sony Pictures TV and Mark Burnett are partnering to remake Fantasy Island as a reality show. We doubt it will be a bigger hit than MILF Island. [via Variety]
4. The Swiss Justice Ministry rejected Roman Polanski’s appeal to be released from prison because they think he’s a flight risk. [via HuffPo]
5. Critics say this year’s Turner Prize exhibition is boring. “There’s no sensation, no video, no blood, no outrage.” [via Bloomberg]

Bonus link: The Instant Art Critique Phrase Generator

Carles, the blogger behind Hipster Runoff, is a wanted man. After innocently contemplating the eternal question, “Will I kill my BFFs if I text while I am driving?,” in a post last night, Carles was eventually greeted with the following comment: “i purchased your shirt just to burn it. Your site will crumble beneath you and your followers will wander away from your site.” The post was signed by ‘Carles is Burning,’ and with it, a link to a YouTube video and the words, “I’m watching you. Down with Carles. Down With Carles. Down with Carles . . .” and so on and so on. Read More »

**INTRODUCTION**

HIPSTER RUNOFF (HRO) is ‘a blog worth blogging about’. It is written from the perspective of “Carles” (CRLS), 1 bro whose ‘mainstream to alt’ story has inspired an entire generation. No one is sure who Carles ‘is.’ He is ‘just trying 2 b authentic’ in his posts, eArt, and poetry. Carles speaks in ur voice 2 raise evry voice (via hilary duff/disney {subvia walter whitbro}). Anyone can write ‘as’ Carles. Writing ‘like Carles’ aligns ur personal brand w/the HIPSTER RUNOFF and IAMCARLES.com brands. Read More »

Carles is the unidentified blogger of the “blog worth blogging about,” Hipsterrunoff.com. He is known for his commentary/analysis of the alternative world, everything from theorizing about Animal Collective/mob mentality to coining the next music trend — GorillaVsBearCore? Chillwave? PitchforkWaveGaze? Yesterday, he started a clothing brand, I Am Carles. There’s even a coinciding merchandise website, IamCarles.com. Items for sale include the I Am Carles men’s/women’s shirt and the option to have your shirt personally delivered by Carles himself. An up and coming designer is taking the internets by storm, and so we decided to investigate via an IM interview. Read More »

Books: Guillermo Del Toro’s vampire books are so much better than Twilight — or at least that’s what he says. [via Vulture]
Dance/Opera: Clear Channel’s “Underwater Ballet” billboards are pretty, public art. See them in NYC starting May 1. [via LAT]
Design: Adding the “ethics” curve ball to the whole design vs. downturn argument really complicates things, huh? [via Fast Company]
Film: Zach And Miri Make A Porno has been banned in Thailand because it might be too inspirational. Heh. [via Cinema Blend]
Music: Is Jennifer Hudson pregnant? Probs. [via Salon]
Television: For once, the commercials during Lost might confuse you way more than the show. [via THR]
Theatre: Hugh Jackman will star in a Houdini musical on Broadway. He’s already working on the magic routines. [via Broadway World]
Visual Arts: Damien Hirst mounts a large retrospective in Kiev because the audience is “new” and museums are “for dead artists.” [via Seattle Times]
Web: The MySpace co-founder that’s not Tom will step down. [via Reuters]