Brace yourself before reading this one. Making music about offensive things for shock value can come off as cheap and lazy, but these songwriters — cheeky, serious, and in between — know exactly what they’re doing. Whether it’s murder, oppression, or abuse that really turns your stomach, here are ten fantastic songs that make moral bankruptcy a little more listenable. You won’t like the people in any of them, but we suspect you’ll be singing along in no time.
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1. Yoko Ono says that Andy Warhol predicted the rise of someone like Lady Gaga and advised her to dress in a similar over-the-top fashion. [via NYP]
2. Watch the Throne — the Kanye–Jay-Z collaboration album — is actually happening, and the first single will be dropping January 1, 2011. [via Vulture]
3. In other Kanye West news, President George W. Bush told Matt Lauer that when he heard Kanye say, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” that “it was one of the most disgusting moments in my Presidency.” [via EW]
4. Controversial Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei — whose Sunflower Seeds is currently being shown at the Tate Modern — talks about the government order to tear down his new studio. [via Telegraph]
5. Rapper Gucci Mane has been arrested again in Atlanta. This time it was for “driving on the wrong side of the road, running a red light or stop sign, damage to government property, obstruction, no license, no proof of insurance, and other traffic charges.” [via accessAtlanta]

Bonus link: Harry Potter Inspires Owl Kidnapping Wave

September is always a big month for album releases, but frankly, the back-to-school class of 2010 is just ridiculous. The onslaught of great, new music began last week with Robyn and Interpol and will carry through the end of the month, when indie favorites (Deerhunter, No Age) and platinum-selling rappers (T.I., Young Jeezy) alike will put out much-anticipated records. And don’t even get us started on September 14 – when no fewer than 16 exciting new full-lengths and EPs will hit the street. Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry – we’ve compiled this handy week-by-week list of which releases deserve your attention and why, along with downloads, videos, and streams so you can try before you buy.

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1. Weezer’s new album Hurley, which includes guest appearances by Ryan Adams and Michael Cera, is now streaming on MySpace.
2. The Man Booker Prize shortlist has been announced, with Tom McCarthy’s novel C as bookies’ favorite to win. [via Independent]
3. Terry Gilliam’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote has run out of funding, but he refuses to give up the project: “Robert Duvall is Quixote, Ewan McGregor is also there, and we are looking for new financing right now.” [via Variety]
4. Pavement is looking for someone to play guitar with them on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on September 23, and it could be you. [via Pitchfork]
5. The first cast photo from the US version of Skins leaves us feeling underwhelmed about the remake. How about you? [via Digital Spy]

Bonus link: DragonCon Parade 2010

Today at Flavorpill, we wished that we had the endurance (and money!) to party like Iron Maiden. We crossed our fingers for a possible Pinkerton tour from Weezer to help promote the reissue. We wondered if eating a sandwich containing five layers of fried chicken skin could make you drop dead with only one bite. It would definitely make you thirsty. While we understood their objection to Ugly Betty, we thought it was super lame that Kings of Leon think that they’re too cool for Glee. We realized how little we have in common — at least cultural reference-wise — with the typical college freshman. We drooled over these newly-released images of Marilyn Monroe from the set of The Misfits. We found out what several Nickelodeon game show hosts are up to these days, including Double Dare‘s Marc Summers. We got chills over the amazing people-watching potential inherent in a Backstreet Boys/New Kids on the Block tour. And finally, we flipped out over these Golden Girls nesting dolls. Must. Have. Now.

1. Despite Brian Wilson and Mike Love‘s professed admiration for Katy Perry‘s “California Gurls,” Beach Boys reps are threatening to sue the pop star for including the line, “I wish they all could be California girls” in the song. [via NY Post]
2. Not only will Mad Men costume guru Janie Bryant be publishing a book and releasing a clothing line this year — she’s also at work on her own nail polish and lingerie. [via UnBeige]
3. Weezer have gone indie: The band is releasing its next album, Hurley, via punk stalwart Epitaph. [via Vulture]
4. Mouthy singer Lily Allen is pregnant. [via People]
5. Director Shane Salerno is co-writing an 800-page biography of J.D. Salinger and will release a documentary on the author in September. [via GalleyCat]

Bonus link: A house made entirely of books

The good people of Bonnaroo have decided to heighten the suspense of the list of bands playing this year’s festival by releasing the names one by one today via Twitter from noon to 9 p.m. The fest will take place from June 10-13 in Manchester, Tennessee, and thus far, it looks even more promising than last year’s lineup, which was helmed by Phish and Bruce Springsteen.

Just don’t forget to travel light before you get too psyched.

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“Mine was delivered yesterday by the post office, and is, indeed, a copy of Rebirth.” Oops? Lil Wayne is no stranger to leaks, but this seems like a bad omen for an already troublesome album. After a year’s worth of false starts, push backs and leaked singles, the rapper’s foray into rock and roll, Rebirth, has been leaked, RapRadar reported yesterday. By Amazon. Via snail mail.

That’s right. Hip-hop’s presence on the internet is a strong one, and one Lil Wayne has battled in the past. When a number of singles intended for The Carter III hit the net early, he crossed them off the track list, threw them onto The Leak mix tape, and began anew. But this? Even if the mailman is a top-tier Weezy fan, it just seems different.

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Raditude, Weezer’s questionably-titled seventh album, hit stores yesterday — and it is silly pop music. But that’s okay, because Leighton Meester is on board. Come on, Blair! Don’t you know it’s so not cool to like a band’s recent work? You have to roll your eyes and talk about how only their old stuff is good. And like any group of self-respecting elitists, the Pitchfork reviewers (primarily Rob Mitchum, but the two other dudes who have reviewed Weezer albums in the last ten years too) hate hate hate every Weezer album after Pinkerton. Hate them.

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The Weezer Raditude hoopla continues with the release of the band’s Spinner session moment with Kenny G. If that earlier stunt with Leighton Meester was all about appealing to a younger demo, perhaps this is about making sure that our parents know who the band is? We’re not entirely sure. All we do know is that we’re creeped out by how much we dig Kenny G’s sax solo. Does that mean we’re getting old? Or is it just some ’90s nostalgia thing?

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