Pop Cultural District

Jessica Simpson's new video

If you listen to KSCS at all (which you probably do even, if like me, you're still really angry the Twister went away), you've heard Jessica Simpson's new single, Come on Over. The video is now out for consumption, too.

A few thoughts: She still can't act, but her awkward dancing is sort of endearing her to me. Two: Is that at top worn as a dress? A slip? I'm very confused. Three: Ken Paves is earning his keep. Her hair is smoking. As, honestly, is she. Four: This is a really freaking boring video for such an upbeat song.

Watch and judge for yourself here.

- Erin White

Nas Climbs the Chart

Who said conscious hip-hop doesn't sell? It looks like Nas' fire-breathing self-titled (or, actually, untitled) album sold enough in its first week to crack the No. 1 spot. Read more about it here.

---Cary Darling

Britney Barenaked with Toadies

Off-blog work keeps pilin' up but a few tidbits I wanted to throw out into the Web:

--Britney Spears? Back in the studio and doing well, according to a statement from her label and her manager. "We're very excited about what she's accomplished so far," read the statement, in part, from Jive Records and Larry Rudolph. No release date has been set.

--Bummer about Barenaked Ladies vocalist Steven Page getting arrested for allegedly possessing quantities of cocaine and pot. Kinda crummy timing (not that it would ever be good timing) since BNL is in the midst of a Disney-sponsored tour. Makes me wanna go home and spin War on Drugs, from 2003's masterful Everything to Everyone, though ...

--Just got the advance for Toadies' new one, No Deliverance. Look for a review in the July 25 Lone Star Sounds in Go!

--Preston Jones

Random retro video

Star-Telegram designer Di Hall, referenced in the previous Jennifer Hudson post, sends along news that a new live Tesla DVD is due out next Tuesday. Which inspires me to dig up this hair-band relic. -- Robert Philpot

I'm telling you I'm not Photoshopped

That's Jennifer Hudson's debut-album cover there, folks. She looks different than she did in Dreamgirls, doesn't she? The change has people talking. But apparently the photo wasn't retouched. Thanks to Star-Telegram designer Di Hall for bringing this to my attention.

--Robert Philpot

Because it's easier than counting to 10

Us Weekly gives us the date on Jessica Simpson's upcoming country album. You can click the link if you want to, but it's Sept. 9. "It's 9-9," Papa Joe told Us. "She's into nines this year." And guess what Tony Romo's jersey number is? -- Robert Philpot

The Thriller Is Gone. . .Really, Really Gone

One guess who that masked man is being wheeled around Las Vegas. Just when you thought he couldn't get any stranger, England's Daily Mail (where this photo appeared) says, uh, yeah, he can.

---Cary Darling

Sad news from the gospel-music world

Grammy-nominated gospel artist the Rev. Timothy Wright was critically injured in a July 4 accident that killed Wright's wife, Betty, and his 14-year-old grandson, D.J. Gospel Music Channel has the details, which will make you angry when they don't make you sad.

--Robert Philpot

Rapper Who Wants to Get Socio-Political Up in This Piece Finds Life is Lonely

For all those who wonder why there's no topical music on the radio these days, what's happening to rapper The Game is illustrative. After trying to corral a group of hip-hop artists to do something about the Sean Bell incident, he had to give up because of indifference from his fellow rappers.

---Cary Darling

Nashville Star: The morning -- er, afternoon -- after

Didn't catch Nashville Star -- or as I'm starting to call it, The Melissa Lawson and Gabe Garcia Show -- till this morning, because I was at the fantastic Alison Krauss-Robert Plant show at Nokia Theatre last night. But Arlington's Lawson continues to knock out the judges, and if I heard right, she received the highest number of viewer votes after last week's episode. Fellow Texan Garcia is, to me, Lawson's only real competition on the show.

Meanwhile, how about the attempts at heightening the soap-opera drama last night? The judges were especially brutal in a couple of critiques (and it seems to be a conflict of interest to judge someone you're "mentoring"), and there was all that backstage angst about duos fighting and singers "firing" their mentors. Maybe it happened naturally, but it felt forced, as if the producers and director were trying to pump some conflict into this thing.

Here's Lawson from last night, doing Kenny Loggins' (or Anne Murray's, take your pick) Danny's Song.

--Robert Philpot