Kevin Bronson on November 21st, 2008

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[Happy-hour nuggets as you head into your weekend …]

‣ “Chinese Democracy.” Sigh. You can compare the reviews by Chuck Klosterman and Ann Powers and draw your own conclusions. I will go listen for myself, maybe even record the stream, but I won’t set foot in a Best Buy. There’ll be a used copy at Amoeba soon enough.

‣ Speaking of the stream: MySpace is flexing its muscle. The megasite has exclusive streams on the aforementioned Guns N’ Roses tome, on the new Kanye West album, three new Radiohead videos (“Weird Fishes” today, then two more Nov. 25 and 28), the new album by the Fireman (the collaboration between Paul McCartney and Youth) and, beginning Saturday, the new album by the Killers.

‣ “I Am the Messer,” the new album by locals Killola is another (like the Vacation’s) to be released “free” on trueAnthem. By putting “free” in quotations, I mean that the downloadable version of the album has “commercials” in between songs. This album’s sponsor is Skull Candy, maker of designer headphones, and the company couldn’t have a more charming spokesperson than frontwoman Lisa Rieffel in the video promo. As for the album: Well, it falls in the realm of something I’ll call Barbie Punk. Spunky, fun, less filling. The Dollyrots do it much, much better. Download Killola’s “This Is How the World Ends” (sans commercials).

‣ Aquarium Drunkard is the latest in a line of websites to do in-studio recording sessions with artists — here’s Earlimart performing on its home turf, the Ship studio.

‣ And finally: In the mood for a little mindless destructive behavior this weekend? Here’s the new video for “Scotty Doesn’t Know,” by L.A.’s Lustra.