4:44 Frontman Anthony "Free" Friedlander Further Details NJ-based Indie Rock Band's "SHAMELESSLY MARKETED" JAY-Z EP

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it," as 1980's silver screen teen Ferris Bueller would say. Anthony Friedlander, frontman of New Jersey-based Indie/Alternative/Prog-Rock band 4:44, gets it and really seized the day on July 9th when on a whim, around 3AM, he uploaded 4-track JAY-Z EP to their Bandcamp page. Friedlander and his 4:44 bandmates—bassist Greg Mele, Jr. and drummer Zach Gormley—readily admit that "THIS IS A SHAMELESS MARKETING TECHNIQUE," as JAY-Z's latest album was seemingly "named after" their band; just imagine a stylistic mix between alt-j, Indie Rock innovators Radiohead, and the frantic, frenzied vocal delivery of Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock. "We're actually huge fans of JAY-Z. Before this whole thing even happened, I had "we are the Mike Jordans of recording" in our Bandcamp Bio; that is one of his lyrics and this was before he released his album, 4:44," Anthony Friedland told me via Twitter DM, referencing JAY-Z's "Show Me What You Got." "We know 4:44 is a very deep and personal statement, but when you're a band with zero visibility, you can't pass on an opportunity, like we had. When one of your favorite Hip-Hop artists releases a critically-acclaimed album with your band's name in it, you have to do something," Friedlander further explained.

JAY-Z EP is more or less, a 4:44 "sampler," consisting of an assortment of compositions from their three previously released albums: "Blood Red Moon" from June 2017's CARDINAL, "Hallelujah" and "Derf" from March 2017's GREENWAVE, and "Child of God" plucked from their 2015 album of the same name. While JAY-Z EP was only available on 4:44's Bandcamp page for "$444," at the time of this publication, Anthony Friedlander tells me they've rather boldly attempted to upload it to JAY-Z's own TIDAL, as well as Apple Music, Spotify, etc. but it generally takes around 2+ weeks to be fully cleared and uploaded for streaming. 4:44 are fully aware, if and when their JAY-Z EP goes live on TIDAL and like-minded digital platforms, they'll likely receive a Cease & Desist letter urging them to take it down. Noting that in all actuality, "the worst thing that could happen is that it gets taken down and then, that breeds more articles!" Friedlander added, in closing, that "we do not mean any disrespect to JAY-Z. This was just too strange of an occurrence not to try to get some people to hear our music." 4:44's albums CARDINAL, GREENWAVE, Child of God, and (for now) JAY-Z EP are currently available from their Bandcamp on a Name-Your-Price basis. Anthony Friedlander, Greg Mele Jr. & Zach Gormley are currently finishing up not one, but two 4:44 records expected to be released before year's end. An assortment of releases from frontman Anthony Friedlander's solo endeavors are additionally available from his personal Bandcamp page in the form of various stand-alone singles, EP's and his In Context (mixtape) although, a more fully-formed solo album is "on the way."

"Let Me Shine for You:" Lindsay Lohan for Playboy (Winter 2011-12 Leak)

Lindsay Lohan essentially embodies exactly "What NOT to Do In Hollywood :" Fame, fortune, success... sex, drugs & Rock "N" Roll . Within a fairly short period of time, Lohan somehow managed to obtain a plentiful helping of POWER @ a very young age. This gradual rise-downfall was captured on film; Between 1998-2010, she portrayed a wide array of roles across the silver screen in movies including: Mean Girls, Bobby , Herbie Fully Loaded , Georgia Rule, Machete , and Freaky Friday . Between rapid-paced film shoots, Lindsay Lohan also found time to record 2 Pop Rock albums for Casablanca , Speak (2004) and A Litter More Personal-Raw (2005). Needless to say, Lindsay Lohan has gotten roped up in a lot of troubles and woes with the law over the last 3-5 years... a vicious cycle of drugs, arrest, court, rehab, "daddy issues," jail time [Repeat]. That's the pure basics of it - But Google that shit for additional info, if necessary. Towards the end of

[W]reckless, Topless American Youth: Lana del Rey - "Born 2 Die" (Britney Spears Birthday 30)

Lana del Rey [Lizzy Grant] effectively became 2011's "It Girl" with the release of her phenomenal debut single, "Video Games" (Stranger) . Like many struggling singer-songwriters, Grant has been signed, dropped, and significantly changed her public image since bursting onto the scene (2009). With that said, it can be assumed that Lana del Rey has collected just as many "haters" as she has avid supporters. To be perfectly honest, the only other artist I can think of that made this much commotion... garnered so much wide-spread buzz/hate and critical acclaim -- right out of the gates -- with just one track is Britney Spears . And maybe in this post- Mike musical era, that's the true synthesis of Pop Culture: Britney Lynn Spears . After months of repeated teasing and speculation, Lana del Rey 's major label debut, Born 2 Die will [finally] be released this coming Jan. 30-31, 2012. Pitchfork reports that it will feature "Off to The Ra

Liberty Bell Cracked In 1/2: Ween - "Freedom of '76" (Gene Ween's Final Send-Off)

Chocolate & Cheese (1994) was one of the first albums I bought with my own money. I was in some sort of BMG Music Club , where you'd buy 5 CD's and then get 10 for "FREE." It was all sent through mail order and you picked the titles from some special booklet. I'm almost positive that Chocolate & Cheese's side boob-baring album cover was what initially drew me in... mind you, I was 12-15 and the zany Ween logo/middle finger CD graphic really didn't hurt either. Honestly, I forget how I really felt about it @ the time, but a few years later, my older cousin Josh told me that Ween were this BIG college "jam band." CKY did some sort pf 93.3 radio takeover to promote their new album and played "Freedom of '76" late that night on air. Needless to say, I re-visited Chocolate & Cheese @ about 20-something this go 'round and I fucking loved it! Ween were really weird, yet talented... almost too talented. I can vaguel

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