We like reading quotations just as much as we like quoting musicians. So we illustrated our favorite five quotations from musicians. This week's topic: BODY IMAGE.More »

There's nothing more synonymous with Metal than booze, so we've concocted some adult mixed beverages whose ingredients were inspired by some of our favorite Metal songs. Since no one on staff is a licensed bartender, we asked actor and metal aficionado Steve Sharkey, who moonlights as a bartender at the infamously rowdy karaoke bar The Gaslite in Santa Monica, to help make these drinks drinkable. Cheers Metalheads!More »

Shannon Nehls / OC Weekly

EDM fans ready for NYE

Who would have thought five years ago that super star DJ's like Above & Beyond, Ferry Corsten, Andy Moor, Sebastian Ingrosso, Laidback Luke, Calvin Harris, Avicii and Nero would be headlining separate major EDM festivals right here in California on New Years Eve? Since Insomniac Events and Go Ventures ended their partnership, the infamous Together As One NYE massive which was held in LA for 13 years has ceased to exist and major EDM events and festivals have been popping up in the surrounding cities for the past couple of years. This weekend we took a stab at attending OMFG! NYE at the San Diego Sports Arena on Sunday December 30th and then rushing back to OC for White Wonderland at the Anaheim Convention Center Monday December 31st in an attempt to compare which party was the best! Take a look at our notes and decide for yourself.

See Also:
The Top Five EDM Parties on New Year's Eve
White Wonderland 2013 @ Anaheim Convention Center (Semi-NSFW)
Go Ventures Officially Cancels Together As One, Draws Heat From Falsely Advertised Performer

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With the union of some of the world's most famed dance music talent gathering this week at Electric Daisy Carnival, we couldn't help but take a closer look at two of the largest EDM festivals in the United States and compare who has the best line-up. Is it the 16th annual EDC, returning to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for a second year in a row? Or the Electric Zoo giving EDC a run for it's money with it's fourth annual installment at Randall's Island Park in New York City? Take a look at our notes decide for yourself who wins this East vs. West battle of dance music.

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Ms Krazie: All we got?

When considering the hip-hop scene in OC, one question arises over and over again. Where are the women on the mic? Of course, there are other elements to the culture -- DJs, B-girls, etc -- but these days MCs are front and center. When women from outside OC come to do shows, the local talent that serve as opening acts are usually, if not always, male dominated. If there's a panel discussion, women artists usually make the trek from Los Angeles to balance the perspective.

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marilynmanson.com

As agent provocateur Marilyn Manson prepares for the May 1 release of his latest album Born Villain, a recently released music video "No Reflection" by the rocker is ghoulish and controversial. The scene is a dinner party and Manson plays host to women clad in white. Something goes terribly awry as everyone toasts and imbibes on a toxic drink. The women begin vomiting up blood and turning violent. The one closest to Manson throughout drinks again from a cup as he tries in vain to stop her. Once the fate is sealed, a gooey kiss is given and the rocker proceeds to drown her head in toilet water. The dinner party literally turns dead as all but Manson lie motionless.

Is the whole music video a metaphor for addiction, as some have interpreted? Or the latest in a series of releases fetishistic of violence against women? More »

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We all know what  Maura Johnston (music editor over at our sister publication The Village Voice) is talking about in this Daily Swarm piece; we deal with all these problems daily here at Heard Mentality. But I think this conversation with Eric Ducker outlines all these challenges in a concise way that we feel obliged to refer to it as an explanation/apology/qualifier for the way things in the [music] blogosphere (I.e., please understand that some things are beyond our control). After the jump, a Cliff's Notes version of the most pertinent points (although the whole interview is wonderful, read it here.)

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Sicilia Wolf

Latin Alternative Songstress Carla Morrison

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The music is great and the demographics are there for the taking, so is it only a matter of time before a Latin Alternative explosion occurs Stateside? Producer and songwriter Desmond Child weighed in with his opinion in a recent Al Borde piece. As someone who has worked with the likes of Aerosmith and helped orchestrate Ricky Martin's crossover success, he says:

Back in the late '90s with Ricky and the whole Latin explosion, we saw Latin artists transcend into a new market. Now we have a new generation of urban artist who are doing the same thing and are coming up with a new flavor of hip-hop and Latin dance hall music, such as Wisin y Yandel. So I think there could definitely be a Latin Alternative explosion as well.

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​Two years ago today, the single "This is It" by Michael Jackson was released in forward promotion of the concert documentary of the same name. The film gave audiences a glimpse into the King of Pop's comeback tour, and went on to become the highest grossing ever in its genre. Jackson's death, which til now dominates our TV sets via Dr. Conrad Murray's trial, made concert promoter AEG more of a household name than it already was. But how many people know what the "A" in the acronym stands for? More »