At this point, it's hard to imagine what's making Kanye West sound so cranky. The fact that his mink coat is dragging on the floor, I guess? Or that a beautiful woman he summoned to his hotel room arrived wearing underpants? Maybe it's just that he has a head cold. You're all stuffed up, sore throat, sinus pressure. That'll put anybody in a rotten mood. Whatever it is, for the music's sake, here's hoping he doesn't cheer up. 'Cause this song, which debuted on Funkmaster Flex's show on Hot97 just last night, sounds great.

This story about the Allentown, Penn., woman who has spent the past four years acting as her own attorney while trying to divorce former Van Halen singer David Lee Roth — even though his publicist said the two have never been wed — is by turns fascinating and maddening. Jo Ann Fonzone, who claims that she didn't recognize her husband's true identity until the two had been married for 10 years, has had her proceedings against the flamboyant frontman paid for with Lehigh County funds because she doesn't have enough money to mount the case on her own. There's much more at the link, including allegations of identity fraud [...]

A declaration of "holy shit!" seems to be the standard response to this. And I agree. Listen to this vocals-only track of the Rolling Stones song "Gimme Shelter." Listen to the part that comes around 2 minutes and 50 seconds in, when back-up singer Merry Clayton is singing. Is the hair on your arms standing up? No? Then you don't have hair on your arms. Or arms. (In which case, sorry. This is not so funny.) The Dangerous Minds website has put up all the instrumental component tracks that went into making the song. And, again, holy shit. It's awesome.

And tempting fodder, I imagine, for some [...]

"Most recently, the band toured with founding brothers, Eddie and Alex Van Halen, its original lead singer, David Lee Roth, and Eddie's son, Wolfgang, playing bass. The group is currently in the studio recording an album with Roth that is due for release in 2011." -I saw them play in Atlantic City three years ago and it was great fun. (The pre-recorded keyboard part for "Jump" played at the correct pitch that night.) But the world needs a new album from the original Van Halen line-up like David Lee needed those white fur après-ski boots 30 years ago.