1. Cat Power is planning to record an album of new material without her regular backing band. [via NME]
2. Kristen Wiig’s “Gilly” character will host a two-hour SNL Christmas special that will air on December 17. No word yet on if she’ll be expanding her vocab. [via WaPo]
3. ’80s heartthrob Andrew McCarthy is set to direct a 9 1/2 Weeks-inspired episode of Gossip Girl this spring. [via People]
4. John Malkovich and Anne Hathaway are in talks to play the villains in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 4. Malkovich would be playing the Vulture; Hathaway the Vulturess. [via Vulture]
5. Is social media savvy putting the Obama White House at risk of becoming a reality show? [via NYT]

Bonus link: The Biggest Disappointments of the ’00s

Back in June we told you about Elizabeth Goodman’s unauthorized Cat Power biography — a piece that stirred up some of our most heated commenter debate to date. This morning, courtesy of Pop Candy we’ve been listening to these Cat Power BBC performances non-stop; the awkward interaction between Chan Marshall and the host on a few tracks is rather priceless. She’s a divisive artist around Flavorpill HQ, but for those of you who are fans, you’ll definitely enjoy this expansive collection of downloadable songs.

Juliette Lewis is the greatest pixie-lion you will ever meet. To some, she is a quirky and versatile actress (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Natural Born Killers, Hysterical Blindness); to others, a full-fledged bad ass rocker-chick (The Licks). But Lewis doesn’t care what you think, because these labels are generalizations. Resorting to her own homegrown lexicon, Lewis admits that she is simply an “emotionalist.” On the verge of her August tour with The Pretenders and Cat Power, Juliette Lewis sat sat down with Flavorpill to chat about her new solo album, Terra Incognita (out September 1st), the “geniosity” of Omar Rodrigeuz-Lopez, and, of course, one of her promotional collaborators, Willy, a bull. Read More »

“Chan Marshall does not want you to read this book.” The opening line of A Good Woman says it all. Chan Marshall’s biography, written by Elizabeth Goodman, channels the life of one of the most elusive personalities in contemporary music. Marshall, once infamous for her on-stage breakdowns, shyness and unpredictability, was just as notorious for telling the media very selective truths about her past, which is riddled with alcohol, depression, hallucinations, and loneliness.

Goodman’s initial aim was to commemorate Marshall’s development as a musician and retell the moving story of her shaky childhood in Atlanta. Instead, she met with obstacles and traps, all set by Marshall. Read More »

1. Kris Allen. [via AP]

2. Google can’t keep up with Twitter’s speed, so Larry Page sez they might hop in bed together. [via Guardian]

3. It’s like our generation’s Lilith Fair: Cat Power will tour with Juliette Lewis and the Pretenders this summer. (Side note: I was totally kidding, but the Lilith Fair website say it’s returning in 2010.) [via Pitchfork]

4. Could Night at the Museum really hurt Terminator’s box office? [via Variety]

5. 13 canceled shows that you’ll always miss. [via TDB]

Lunch is long gone, it’s 4 p.m, Iranian nukes are back in the news, the court says high-level officials are not accountable, God was in the war room, pregnancy isn’t important enough to take time off, and work just won’t end. There’s only one way to make it out of this day alive: THE CAT POWER HAPPY HOUR, a new daily pick-me-up from your friends at Flavorpill. After the jump, a picture so cute it’ll turn your cubicle into a den of pure cuddle. (Check back tomorrow, same time, same place for more unhinged adorability).

Read More »

Yay! It’s Friday! Which means it’s time for What We’re Listening To, a weekly roundup of the tracks that have been getting the repeat treatment in our office. After the jump, ten songs that Flavorpill staffers are loving right now, along with some light commentary on why we think they’re special (we hear A LOT of music ’round here). Enjoy and feel free to leave your own recent obsessions in the comments. Read More »