Your American Idol goes '90s update

As we previously reported here, American Idol winner David Cook has been working with an all-star cast of alt-rock luminaries, including members of Collective Soul, the Nixons, and Our Lady Peace. The first single, "Light On," was co-written with Chris Cornell. The album is out in two weeks, and while the complete list of songwriting credits isn't available, we do know that one track, "Avalanche," was co-written with Kevin Griffin of Better than Ezra.

Also wanting to get in on the action is AI runner-up David Archuleta; he's got a cover of Robbie Williams' "Angels" on his album, out next week. It's a little treacly.

I have managed to ignore every American Idol alum thus far (though the missus likes Carrie Underwood, and I enjoy Butch Walker's take on "Since U Been Gone"). I might have to buy this David Cook album, though.

Butthole Surfers continue return with short tour

The Butthole Surfers appear to be slowly ramping back up. After a summer tour of the Northeast and Europe, then a one-off in their hometown of Austin last month, the complete original line-up will do four shows in October:
October 22 - Granada Theater, Dallas
October 23 - Meridian, Houston
October 24 - One Eyed Jacks, New Orleans
October 26 - Voodoo Festival, New Orleans*

Back in the fold are bassist Jeff Pinkus, who played with the band from 1986 to 1994, and second drummer Teresa Taylor, who was in the band from 1983 to 1989.
The Surfers then head to Minehead, England for the annual All Tomorrow's Parties festival in December.

(*So yes, if you're counting at home, this means REM and the Butthole Surfers will share the same stage on the Sunday of the festival. The Surfers used to famously do an extremely-obscene cover of "Driver 8" live.)

(**Sidenote: do you realize Gibby Haynes is FIFTY now?)

UPDATE: Check out photos from the September reunion show in Austin here.

Alanis fat?

Occasionally I take a look at my Google analytics scores, and one of the most popular searches that people use to get here is "fat Alanis." Another popular one is "is Alanis fat?" By the way, Google doesn't answer questions, just so you know.

So I got to wondering: has Alanis Morrissette gained some weight? She hasn't been on the cover of the Enquirer Kirstie Alley-style or anything. Here's her most recent single, "Underneath."


Nope, doesn't look to be heavy. Apparently, the queries come from this article from May, where Alanis blames a record executive for eating disorders in her past. But just because somebody used to have an eating disorder, that doesn't make them fat now.

So let's settle this one now: Alanis Morrisette is not fat. But Arnel Pineda might be.