If you find yourself in any indoor public space this month, you’ll most likely be subjected to the usual barrage of Christmas and holiday music, from “Carol of the Bells” to “O Holy Night.” We admit that we love Christmas music, and aren’t at all bothered by singing about religious figures at the tops of our lungs when the mood hits, be it supermarket or sidewalk. However, it’s not just Christmas songs that are wonderful this time of year — there are tons of pagan holiday tunes to enchant and entertain. Click through to listen to a few of our favorites, and let us know your own favorite pagan holiday songs in the comments! Read More »

Before the vocals and melodies of some of our favorite tunes are ever recorded, the maestros behind the music put pen to paper and construct songs. Whether these working drafts are scribbled on legal pads, neatly spelled out in ink, or scribed alongside silly doodles, the ritual of writing out lyrics unites everyone from The Beatles to Lykke Li. We’ve rounded up a collection of hand-scrawled lyrics to beloved songs, in all their first-draft glory, after the jump. Read More »

The Cereal Project takes a beloved breakfast staple and archives it into a pop-culture encyclopedia of graphic design, advertising, and historical significance.

The website is full of random cereal trivia; for example, Quaker has released 27 versions of Cap’n Crunch that riff on the 1963 original. (Ship Shake Cap’n Crunch Liquid diet drink, anyone?) Extensive video content includes Julia Stiles acting her heart out in a 1994 Apple Jacks commercial and Michael Jordan’s classic shill for Wheaties.

Peruse the commercial library, explore cereal families, play breakfast cereal games, and search an exhaustive list of cereal companies.

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Whether you’re getting (foolishly) wasted at the office holiday party or duking it out in a department store, Christmas music is utterly inescapable this time of year — and has been for at least the last month. Running the gamut from cheesy to classic, the genre spreads more simultaneous joy and seasonal depression than any other. Still, with lows that are so low, do oldies stations really need to devote all that air time to the same fifty songs?

After the jump, our thoughts and the accompanying audio for some of the world’s most adored and apocryphal holiday tunes. Got other ideas? Leave them in the comments.

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T.I. casts first vote ever: He spends his time convincing 18-year-olds to exercise their finally-attained right to vote, but last week rapper T.I. led by example thanks to a loophole in the law. He was recently charged with felony convictions, but because he isn’t slated to go to prison till next year and isn’t currently incarcerated, all he had to do was re-register. Who knew?  [MTV]

Diplo to release remix compilation: DIPLO is set to release a compilation called DECENT WORK FOR DECENT PAY: COLLECTED WORKS: VOLUME ONE in January. The disc is rife with remixes and original tracks of a lot of indie faves: DAFT PUNK, M.I.A., BLACK LIPS, PETER BJORN AND JOHN, CSS and others. Some of the tracks are also uniquely credited to Diplo himself. [Pitchfork]

Cool Kids finally announce first album: THE COOL KIDS decided to finally get on it and release their first full-length album. WHEN FISH RIDE BICYCLES is due out by the end of the year, according to the band. They’re in for stiff competition though, because that time of the year anticipates new albums by KANYE, LUDACRIS and 50 CENT as well. All the cool kids at the same time, we guess. [Hip Hop DX]

Of Montreal covers M.I.A. on vinyl: OF MONTREAL is planning to release a new vinyl single November 25th, which will include a new version of their M.I.A. cover “JIMMY.” The 7” will also contain a new track called “MIDDLE CLASS GHETTO” and a bonus DVD. [Pitchfork]

Jackson crushes reunion rumors: Though the JACKSON 5 were rumored to be reuniting next year, MICHAEL JACKSON released a statement Friday saying he would not be participating. He did however give his siblings his blessing, and claimed that he was working on his own projects to be released soon. [Billboard]