KANYE + NIETZSCHE

Back in 2010, Kanye West was sued by musician Vincent Peters over similarities between West’s single “Stronger” and a song Peters had sent one of West’s business associates in 2006. In his defense, West’s legal counsel referenced the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, whose famous “that which does not kill us makes us stronger” is referenced in the song in question. However, the defense that got this case thrown out more or less amounted to “Nietzsche’s maxim has been referenced in many songs over the years,” so undergrads, be happy that you’ll probably still pass a philosophy course or two with this juicy pop cultural “sure, I read The Birth of Tragedy” anecdote.

DOOM: IMPOSTER?

At a party called “Livin’ DOOM” that occurred last weekend in London, DOOM was scheduled to make a featured appearance with a DJ set. However, the rapper allegedly sent a masked imposter to the show instead; needless to say, people got pissed. In other masked band news, Slipknot has been trying to do the same imposter set-up in a desperate bid for attention, and nobody gives a shit.

TOM WAITS ON THE SIMPSONS

In a move to introduce a character with a voice gruffer than Patti, Selma, or Krusty, Tom Waits was recently announced as a guest star in an upcoming episode of The Simpsons. Unfortunately, Waits’ best moment on a cartoon show has already passed, with Beavis & Butthead’s commentary on Waits’ cover of the Ramones’ “I Don’t Want to Grow Up.” To quote Butthead: “It’s like he can’t write songs, but he can sing.”

QUICKSAND ON JIMMY FALLON

I don’t know about you, but it feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve seen nu-metal on television. At least that’s what it’s felt like with all of the post-hardcore reunions going on this year. The influential NY post-hardcore group Quicksand is currently going through a number of reunion shows, and while it’s entirely likely that less bros are pumping Quicksand than Refused at the gym this week, TV land experienced a healthy dollop of that ’90s jud jud chug last week. Still, at least Quicksand was never covered by Crazy Town, whose brief rendition of “New Noise” has slowly been making the rounds online and is every bit as hilarious as you might imagine.

MORE NEIL YOUNG

Dad rock with a vengeance: Neil Young and Crazy Horse just announced their second album of 2012: a triple-LP, double-CD sprawl entitled Psychedelic Pill. It’s pretty damned unlikely that you’ll be able to steal the stereo away from your dad long enough to listen to anything else when Psychedelic Pill comes out and, given the name and length of the album, I’d also wager that you should be extra careful hiding your drugs come release time later this year.