R. Kelly

New Order at Coachella, 4/13/13

NEW ORDER @ COACHELLA | 4/13/13 While over at the main stage the bulk of the Coachella crowd was enduring Phoenix with the hope that Daft Punk would come out -- they instead got R. Kelly -- a smaller but perhaps-more-enthusiastic crowd got a first-rate greatest hits set from New Order last night. ... More >>

The questionable fashion of Coachella artists

We all know Coachella is a textbook study on the desire to wear things that no human should. That typically applies to the crowd, which comes decked out in ill-fitting, barely-there outfits, wearing spirit hoodies and every piece of tight neon attire imaginable. But artists on stage can commit some ... More >>

Bonnaroo lineup includes trio of Colorado acts

If you missed the hour-long live-stream a bit ago in which "Weird Al" Yankovic announced the headliners for this year's edition of Bonnaroo, rest easy. We've got you covered. We took notes on all the acts announced thus far. Prepare to be overwhelmed. There's roughly ten billion on the bill, includi ... More >>

Ten things R. Kelly taught us about love

With Valentine's Day just a few day away, we can all use all the help we can get in the love department. So what better time than now to delve into the R. Kelly cannon and pull out some valuable lessons on love? Is there anyone who knows the ways of love better than the R&B Thug? Exactly. He's been ... More >>

Ten things Taylor Swift taught us about love

If ever there was somebody who knows about love, it's got to be Taylor Swift. After all, she's pretty much written the 21st century book of love. Sure, she's only 23, but even so, she seems to know a thing or two about relationships -- god knows, the girl's certainly been in enough of them. Alas, th ... More >>

Ten best (and strangest) arts and culture experiences in 2012

Denver, you've got it going on. This year, I was lucky enough to be a part of many incredibly cool events involving local and national artists, musicians and performers. Combing through the past year of Westword stories, I compiled this list of the best (and strangest) arts- and culture-related expe ... More >>

Sing Along With R. Kelly

The five best concerts this week: December 3-7

Good morning, y'all! And oh what a joyously good morning it is, eh? Is it just us, or is the sun shining a little brighter today? With the Broncos clinching the AFC West division yesterday here at home on an unseasonably agreeable day at Invesco, well, it just feels like one of those green-lights-al ... More >>

Mega Gem

Colors of the West
Self-Released

More fun with animated GIFS: Rusko's Dubstep Workout Routine from Red Rocks

See Also: - 25 ass-shaking GIFs from Lollapalooza 2012 - Welcome to the Dubstep Parking Lot - Dubstep for Dummies, a primer for newly-minted dubstep fans - Rusko Q&A: "I, of course, support medical marijuana, and I am clearly a patient." - Review: Justice at Red Rocks, 8/7/12 Earlier this week, Rus ... More >>

Five acts with more taxing problems than you

See Also: • Tax Evasion: How to live like a rock star -- and pay taxes like one, too. As the saying goes: There are only two things that are certain and unavoidable in this life -- death and taxes. And while both might be causing folks to lose sleep these days (you didn't forget tax time is upon ... More >>

Video: The Fray freestyles national anthem at the Kansas vs Kentucky NCAA Championship

The Fray performed the national anthem at the NCAA championship last night, and like most songs the boys cover, they made it their own. There was nothing inherently wrong with their performance, except that, well, if you're a purist, there was everything wrong with their performance. Really, is it t ... More >>

Slim Cessna, A. Tom Collins, Serious Moonlight and DJ MU$A top our weekly playlists

​As people who think about, talk about, listen to and make music, the most common question we encounter is, "What are you listening to right now?" Whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, or are just curious, we've compiled a list of al ... More >>

Will Oldham narrating an audiobook? Here's 10 more musicians we'd like to see narrate classic books

​Audio books are all about finding the perfect actor with the perfect voice to read to you while you drive across the country. So, when we heard Will Oldham had taken on the narration of Rudolph Wurlitzer's Slow Fade, we started thinking about what other artists should venture into the same bu ... More >>

Christina Aguilera's Super Bowl National Anthem gaffe: Five worse renditions

By now you've heard about Christina Aguilera's vocal malfunction at the Super Bowl last night. Midway through her a cappella rendering of our hallowed national anthem, she completely flubbed the lines, "O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming." Evidently she was caught up in the m ... More >>

Christina Aguilera Super Bowl National Anthem gaffe: Five worse renditions

By now you've heard about Christina Aguilera's vocal malfunction at the Super Bowl last night. Midway through her a cappella rendering of our hallowed national anthem, she completely flubbed the lines, "O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming." An embarrassing gaffe to be sure. Ev ... More >>

Bree Davies attempts to Justify My Love of R. Kelly

Terry Richardson​Okay, we all have some skeletons in our closet, shit we dig -- be it music, movies or television shows -- that we'd just as soon nobody else knew about. "Guilty pleasures" is what most people term these sort of inclinations. Well, here at Backbeat, there's no shame in our game ... More >>

1/11/11: Get healed by the oneness of Braco

​There are lots of ones in today's date, and we as a culture do not miss chances to invent significance for these sorts of things. Croatian gaze-healer Braco, pictured here gazing, gets his power from oneness and can therefore heal cancer today. Or something. Video below.

Mochipet spins on December 10 at City Hall

Tonight: The Hood Internet at the Fox Theatre

​The concept behind The Hood Internet's work is pretty simple: Create unlikely combinations of current tracks by a variety of artists, and let the newly birthed song ride out. Less ADD-like than a lot of mash-up creationists, The Hood Internet DJ duo simply builds a sonic space where R. Kelly ... More >>

Cee Lo Green's inescapably charming (and shamelessly profane) kiss off tops our playlists

​As people who think about, talk about, listen to and make music, the most persistent question we encounter is: "What are you listening to right now?" So whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, or are just curious, we've compiled a lis ... More >>

The MTV Movie Awards were last night, but who cares?

While you were out enjoying the lovely weather last night, MTV aired its 19th annual Movie Award show. The broadcast featured such thought provoking awards as "Most WTF Moment" and "Best Villain." We're pretty certain the MTV Movie Awards haven't actually mattered to anyone for the better part of ... More >>

Alicia Keys top seller at Independent Records

​Alicia Keys grabbed the top spot at Independent Records with her fourth studio effort, The Element of Freedom, released last week on J Records. Gucci Mane, who was on top last week with The State vs. Radric Davis, slipped to number two, while Snoop Dogg's Malice 'N Wonderland came in third for th ... More >>

Gucci Mane top seller at Independent Records

​Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane grabbed the top spot at Independent Records with his latest effort, The State vs. Radric Davis, released last week on Asylum. Snoop Dogg claimed the second slot with Malice in Wonderland, released last week on Priority, while Lady Gaga's Fame Monster nabbed third place, ... More >>

R. Kelly top seller at Independent Records

​R. Kelly's ninth album Untitled, released last week on Jive, grabbed the top spot at Independent Records for the week ending December 6. New-Orleans-based rapper Juvenile came in second with his latest effort, Cocky and Confident, while Birdman's Priceless took the third slot. 50 Cent's Before I ... More >>

A look at the worst jobs in rock

Over the Weekend ... Bang Camaro @ Bluebird Theater

Q&A With Redline Defiance

Abracastabya's Heart of Darkness

On a scale of doom to gloom, this band is absolutely stabulous.

Roc-A-Fellas

Are today’s rappers ballin’ as hard as they claim?

Friday Rap-Up

T.I.

Wednesday, August 29, Coors Amphitheatre, 303-830-8497.

R. Kelly's Artistic Process

A look inside the mind of a crazed/brilliant R&B lothario.

Internet Wasteland—R Kelly Edition

Beatbox Thespians

Snoop Dogg

Tha Blue Carpet Treatment
Geffen

Aloe Blacc

Shine Through (Stones Throw Records)

Death Pool for Cutie

Check the Vegas odds: It's time to predict this year's rock-star deaths.

Say What?

The top WTF moments of 2005.

Our top DVD picks for the week of November 3, 2005

Overseas MP3s

For just pennies a tune, you can build a primo music library and support free enterprise in Russia.

Jamie Lidell

Multiply (Warp Records)

Fat Joe

All or Nothing (Atlantic)

R. Kelly

Happy People/U Saved Me (Jive/Zomba)

Drink of the Week

Incredible Hulk

Cassidy

Split Personality (J Records/Full Surface)

Twista

Kamikaze (Atlantic)

A Fan's Notes

Ideas that were forgotten but not gone in 2003

Aaliyah

Aaliyah (Blackground)

PLAYLIST