The latest Viva Radio broadcast featured psych-folk freak outs, mixtape mash-ups marrying the L.E.S. to the Dirty South, and a danceable take on Swedish domestic life. Culling our favorite cuts from the show, Viva la Mix is back again to hook you up with 11 of the best new tracks you’ll find online. Click through for downloads from our last Viva Radio playlist, and be sure to check back and listen to the show itself — we update every week. Read More »

Cruisin’ for a bruisin’: While it’s managed to survive the current crunch, don’t be fooled; the Louvre could be in serious trouble come 2010. [via NYT]
Have mercy: John Stamos is working a Full House movie; he sees James Franco in his old role and Tracy Morgan playing Uncle Joey. [via NYDN]
Stop the presses: Chris Martin went to see Anvil play. And he really, really liked it. And the “nubile babes” in the audience. [via NYDN]
Two wrongs: Miley Cyrus is teaming up with BCBG Max Azaria to bring a new line of clothes to Wal-Mart; the company is sponsoring her summer tour. [via NYP]
Cease and desist: Santigold’s label, Downtown Records, was not happy about this dude’s awesome-sounding mixtape, Southerngold. [via Nah Right]

Like most of the snowbirds, I was at Miami’s annual Winter Music Conference for some sun, beach, dancing, and schmoozing. As often happens, my first night descended into a series of mix-ups: was Gui Boratto playing or not? Was I “sorted” at Danny Tenaglia‘s marathon? Fortunately, I’d caught both of them last year, so calling it a night (especially after a two-hour flight delay) came easy. Read More »

Music opinions are like assholes: up close, they all sort of stink. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a difference between records, people, and events that are only sort of awful, and ones that are actually evil. After the jump, musical cribbage master The Beard separates the wheat from the chaff, explaining why Sant(i/o)gold should have stuck it out, why the media ought to lay off Chris Brown, how the Grammys aren’t just the industry’s golden shower, and what this week has in common with the one where Diana AND Mother Teresa died. It involves Fred Durst.

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From the publicist’s email: “Change the graffiti on the bathroom wall, get your tattoo fixed, get your t-shirt airbrushed and change the name on your year end list — Santogold is now Santigold. She’s not telling you why, that’s just how it is. No unpronounceable symbol, no numbers where they shouldn’t be, no random capitalization, just plain ass Santigold so remember that.”

The list of other musicians who have “changed” their names after making a name for themselves: Prince. Sean “Diddy” Combs. John Cougar Mellencamp. Miley Ray Cyrus. Oy. Translation: This could really go either way.