DJ: Lambert song a ‘blatant ripoff’

Wolfgang Gartner, the DJ-producer, on Monday criticized Adam Lambert's song "Never Close Our Eyes" for sounding structurally similar to DJ-producer Deadmau5's megahit "Ghosts N Stuff."

Gartner wrote on Twitter:

"wow this Adam Lambert song on the radio 'close my eyes' is a completely blatant ripoff of Ghosts n Stuff. Chords, vocal melody, everything."

Then Gartner asked Deadmau5 on Twitter, "sound familiar?" Deadmau5 (who headlines Saturday at club XS) responded, "*sigh* whatevs."

But Deadmau5 guessed Lambert didn't "produce" the song: "They just pay the kid to show up and sing." Gartner agreed.

To be fair, Deadmau5's "Ghosts N Stuff" is influential and an electronic masterwork, while Lambert's pop song is different enough to be neither.

I sent a request for comment from Lambert via Twitter, but no response came as of my deadline.

WHO'S THE BEST DJ?

DJ Times magazine Monday named Miami's Markus Schulz America's Best DJ for 2012.

The rest of the top 10 in order: Steve Aoki (who performs with Lil Jon on Saturday at Surrender); Skrillex; BT (who performs Wednesday at Surrender); Z-Trip; Porter Robinson (who DJs Sept. 30 at Encore Beach Club); Wolfgang Gartner; A-Trak; Diplo (who performs Monday at XS); and Bassnectar.

Schulz and A-Trak perform Oct. 7 at Marquee nightclub. The magazine's readers voted for their favorite artists, who must be American to qualify. That leaves out many performers, such as Deadmau5 (Canadian).

MY SHINY NEW PODCAST

I started a new audio podcast of entertainers, just for you. We're still in the stages of creating a dedicated Review-Journal page for it, plus feeds for iTunes and Androids.

For now, you can listen to interviews by clicking the audio link on the same page that an interview runs. If you find my June 5 column on Sheryl Crow, click the link that reads, "Listen to Doug's interview with Sheryl Crow."

A few other podcasts on my archived interview pages: former porn star Houston on June 19, chef Kerry Simon on Aug. 7, Chippendale Jaymes Vaughan on Aug. 23 and DJ Liv Nervo of the Nervo DJ twins on Aug. 31.

Today's podcast is a very fun chat with comedian Cort McCown. He started in Hollywood as John Stamos' photo double. He had one line in "Teen Wolf" ("I think it was 'Pass me the ball,' " he says), but it was cut. He was in "Can't Buy Me Love."

The most hackneyed jokes he hears on the comic circuit are about the TSA, along the lines of "I've been molested."

And McCown has been single during all his years in L.A. and Vegas. "I remember I was gonna get married when I was 23. I thought for sure it was 'The Girl.' You know? And I would probably just be finishing my prison term for murdering her right about now. I'd be a free man soon."

NEW YEAR'S EVE WEEKEND

The Killers perform Dec. 28-29 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, it was announced Monday. Tickets ($86-$107) go on sale 9 a.m. Friday. Tegan & Sara are apparently opening.

So far, that weekend offers: Red Hot Chili Peppers on Dec. 31 at The Cosmopolitan ($150). The Reverend Horton Heat on Dec. 28 at Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel ($22-$30). A Perfect Circle on Dec. 29 at Planet Hollywood Resort ($44-$66). And The Black Keys on Dec. 30-31 at the Hard Rock ($95-$171).

GAME OF THE YEAR NOMINEE

Look for my review soon of "Borderlands 2." It hits stores today. But know this: It's so good, it will be competing with "Mass Effect 3" for 2012 Game of the Year honors. It's crazy addictive.

Doug Elfman's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Email him at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.