New Album Reviews

September.27th.2007 - Thursday

 

Chicago 40th Best Of

Press Release

Naked Beggars - Tour/Album Update

Artist Release

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

Music Related: (Links Are Subject To Change)

◊ Queensryche Take Cover PreOrder
◊ Bo Bice - New Website & Album Audio Samples
◊ Genesis balances progressive, pop-rock eras
◊ The Eagles To Perform On 'The 41st Annual CMA Awards'
◊ Great White Singer Hopes Other Bands Will Learn From Club Tragedy
◊ Rolling Stones Break World Record For Best Tour
◊ Inmate Says He Lied in B.I.G. Killing

Jagermeister Music Tour - The Cult

September.25th.2007 - Tuesday

 

The Fall 2007 installment of the hugely popular Jagermeister Music Tour will take a totally new turn with rock favorites, The Cult. The Tour kicks off on October 17th and runs through mid-December.

The tour coincides with the release of the multi-platinum band's highly anticipated forthcoming release, Born Into This, set to hit on October 2nd via Roadrunner Records in conjunction with The Cult's imprint label, New Wilderness. This is the band's first new studio album since 2001 and was recorded in London with producer Youth (Verve, Primal Scream). The Cult, one of Britain's premier rock bands, has continuously broken through genres and defied classification with hit songs like "She Sells Sanctuary," "Rain," and "Love Removal Machine." Ian Astbury's distinct vocals and Billy Duffy's soaring, riff-heavy guitar combine for a sound that has set the band off down their very own idiosyncratic path. Fresh from a series of summer festivals and European arena shows with rock legends The Who, The Cult will now reign as headliners on the 2007 Jagermeister Music Tour.

"The Cult is the perfect headlining band for the Jagermeister Tour because of their sound and image," says Rick Zeiler, Director of Marketing and Brand Development for Jagermeister. "This band continues to produce great music while sticking to their roots of nonconformity. We're big fans of The Cult and look forward to the kickoff of this fall's Jagermeister Music Tour." The band is also excited to be hitting the road with the Jagermeister tour: "Given our long history as a live act, the Cult are delighted to partner up with Jagermeister, clearly long time supporters of live music and authentic touring musicians," says Billy Duffy.

The bill will be rounded out by VietNam, The Cliks, and Action Action. Texas' VietNam is a hard-driving mix of rock and hair. Rolling Stone called their 2007 debut album " ... a freewheeling record with dashes of Sixties psychedelia and skronk-y noise -- and open-armed sing-alongs, to boot."

Meanwhile, The Cliks are celebrating the release of their album, Snakehouse. The Boston Globe exclaimed that "The Cliks, a foursome from Toronto, rock with primal, stylish ferocity reminiscent of the early Pretenders." New York's own Action Action has been compared to Interpol and The Killers. Rick Anderson of AllMusic.com wrote, " ... you'll have a hard time resisting the perfect popcraft on songs like "Photograph" and "This Year's Fashion."

Going on six years, the Jagermeister Music Tour, produced by Live Nation, is better than ever and has become THE rock show to see. This year's tour will feature a local Jagermeister band on every one of the dates through December. Fans will not only have the opportunity to experience a great show, but will also have a chance to snag some great Jagermeister prizes and giveaways like Jagermeister bands' compilation CDs, as well as plenty of Jagermeister shirts, hats, and more. Other prizes and giveaways from sponsors include custom tour prizes from Schecter Guitars, JVC Mobile Electronics, and Peavey Electronics.

The Jagermeister Music Tour will be advertised in print and on radio. For more information, check out:

www.JagermeisterMusicTour.com
www.thecult.us

Tickets on sale soon!

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

Music Related: (Links Are Subject To Change)

◊ Nickelback In No Rush To Make New Album
◊ Reba Poised For First Billboard 200 No. 1
◊ Bon Jovi Website, New Design

Duran Duran - Red Carpet Massacre

September.24th.2007 - Monday

 

Duran Duran’s RED CARPET MASSACRE marks an all time creative high in the band’s illustrious 29-year career. Like all good things, it came to those who waited.

By May 2006, after a two-year tour in support of their previous album ASTRONAUT, Duran Duran had completed 14 songs for a record provisionally titled ‘Reportage.’ But according to singer Simon LeBon “When we sat down and listened to what we had done on our own, we didn’t feel we had a lead track, so we got in touch with Timbaland, who was the only producer out there that we knew we all liked.” America’s most pop savvy producer was more than happy to help and a session was duly set up at the Manhattan Center Studios in New York in September of the same year. What none of the band realized prior to taking off in this new direction, however, was that one of their biggest fans, Justin Timberlake, was also keen to get involved in the project, so when they arrived in the US he made room in the middle of his album release campaign to spend time in the studio with them.

But as if this new collaboration wasn’t enough to really change things up, in the midst of all this, guitarist Andy Taylor split with the band, and with his departure the remaining four band members opted to change tack and start over completely.
“It was a real revelation working with producers that just understood the ‘groove factor’,” enthuses keyboardist Nick Rhodes “And this really brought back the heart and the spirit of Duran Duran. They’re an extraordinary team,” he continues. “They have a fantastic chemistry in the studio.”

“With these guys on board it was as if Duran Duran had been taken and surrounded in chrome,” adds bassist John Taylor.
“In the past we always went to the big cities to work with the people that were having hit records on the dance floor,” explains drummer Roger Taylor. “When we got to New York last year we found that inspiration again.”

With three glorious tracks under their belt (Nite-Runner, Skin Divers and Zoom In), the new Duran left US shores and returned to the UK where they proceeded to make an album that sounded quite different to ‘Reportage’ with a new production team headed by Timbaland’s right hand man Nate ‘Danja’ Hills and long-time Timbaland collaborator Jimmy Douglass. According to drummer Roger Taylor; “the first time we met Timbaland we were very impressed with this guy sitting in the corner, Nate Hills. Not only was he one of the most incredible beat guys we’d ever come across, he was also a great musician – which filled the gap that might otherwise have been left with Andy gone. So after the initial sessions in New York, we basically kidnapped him and took him to London. He’s got so many ideas. Talent in bucket loads.”

Most of RED CARPET MASSACRE was recorded in three sessions: the first with Timbaland, with a guest spot from Timberlake, at the Manhattan Center Studios in New York; the second phase on the band’s home turf, Sphere Studios in Wandsworth, London over Christmas 2006, presided over by Nate Hills and Jimmy Douglass. And the final burst at Metropolis Studios in West London, produced by Hills and Douglass in early ‘07.

And that would have been that, had it not been for a chance meeting in Birmingham in the Spring when Simon LeBon hooked up again with Justin Timberlake during his UK tour. “Justin asked to hear everything we’d recorded and at the end he said, ‘I think you need an Ordinary World to round things out.’” Duran’s 1992 smash, Timberlake revealed, had been his favorite song when he was a pop crazed 14 year old. And as LeBon remarks, with powerful understatement: “What goes around, comes around.”

A few days later when Justin’s tour touched down in Manchester, England, Duran Duran and Timberlake got together in Blueprint studio and spent 36 hours writing and recording Falling Down – a tune destined to rank as one of the finest pop songs of the early 21st century and now the first single from their upcoming release. Marking one of Timberlake’s first solo productions, this ‘tempo-ballad’ as Justin describes it is “very Duran Duran. He (Simon) wrote some very melancholic/inspirational/cryptic lyrics that are beautiful,” explains Justin. “I think it’s certainly one of the best lyrics that Simon’s written for a very long time,” concurs Nick.

Its parent album RED CARPET MASSACRE is consistently bold and adventurous. “We had to let go of most of our old ideas of what it means to be a band making this,” notes bassist John Taylor, a point which is expanded by Nick Rhodes: “Most of our producers this time had never worked with a band before, and we’d never worked without a guitarist.” “We really had to put our egos aside,” adds Roger Taylor. “We’ve always been very self-contained in the past.”

All four band members agree that they have never worked so hard and fast on any album as they did on RED CARPET MASSACRE. The results, however, speak for themselves. A stellar album that is daring and contemporary and yet quintessentially Duran Duran.

“By the time we get to finish an album,” explains John. “It always feels to me like ‘wow’… there’s a book in there. This is another massive chapter in the band’s history. We’ve made a record that we all feel really good about.”

 

Celine Dion - Taking Chances

Press Release

7thdB On Fox Sports Radio

Island Report

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

Music Related: (Links Are Subject To Change)

◊ Yoakam "Sings" tribute to Owens on new album
◊ Fresh off Emmy sweep, Bennett readies fall project
◊ Plant, Krauss partner to explore American roots music
◊ Album art gets short shrift in digital marketplace
◊ Former Ramone Sues Over Song Downloads
◊ 'God Bless the USA' Singer Cancels Gig Over Money
◊ Richie Sambora Heads Back to Rehab
◊ Aerosmith Cancel Maui Show
◊ Elton John's Desperate Bid For African Aid

Island Cast - Contest?

September.22nd.2007 - Saturday
 

New Album Reviews

September.21st.2007 - Friday
 

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

Music Related: (Links Are Subject To Change)

◊ Sammy Hagar Says Van Halen Wanted Michael Anthony Out Of The Band Years Ago
◊ Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band To Perform 2 Benefit Rehearsal Shows In New Jersey
◊ Vintage Queen Concert Refurbished For CD/DVD

'Craft' Artist Interview Series

September.20th.2007 - Thursday

 

Miller Genuine Draft and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame today announced new dates for MGD's "The Craft" artist interview series, featuring some of music's most respected and engaging stars, including a rare performance from Paul Westerberg. Also joining "The Craft" roster this fall are Aimee Mann and Black Francis of the Pixies.

The program continues to build on the "Hall of Fame" interview series that the Rock Hall has produced over the past decade in Cleveland, which has featured artists such as Aretha Franklin, Robbie Robertson, Mick Jones of the Clash and Grandmaster Flash. Earlier stops on the tour have allowed music fans to hear incredible stories and see unique performances from the artists, all in intimate settings at some of live music's best performance spaces.

"From Elvis Costello to Ben Gibbard, the MGD 'Craft' interview series has already hosted some incredible interviews, and I know these upcoming dates will continue the mission we want to accomplish with this program -- to be the beer that champions great American music," said Randy Ransom, Miller's chief marketing officer. "The stories we have heard -- and the ones we have yet to hear -- illustrate the care these artists take in creating their music, just like the care we take in filtering MGD four times to achieve a smoother, fresher taste." Westerberg will share his "Craft" September 23 in Minneapolis, Black Francis October 17 in San Diego, and Aimee Mann October 23 in Chicago. "The Craft" artist interview series has already hosted Elvis Costello in Las Vegas, followed by Jim James of My Morning Jacket in San Diego, Patty Griffin in San Francisco and Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie in Denver. Additional artists and dates will be announced later this fall. Events include an intimate performance, interspersed with conversations and stories behind the creation and production of their music. Each show is moderated by Warren Zanes, education advisor for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and former member of the rock band The Del Fuegos. Video of past "Craft" shows, as well as these upcoming programs, is available for viewing at www.mgd.com/craft, as well as on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website, www.rockhall.com, and will be preserved in the Museum's library and archives in Cleveland.

"These upcoming shows feature artists who really illustrate what 'The Craft' artist series is about," said Zanes. "These are the kind of restless creative spirits who always view their next projects as their most crucial projects -- and in so doing, force their own artistic evolutions. In an age when new artists come and go, this class represents the possibilities of the long, inventive, inspired career. We're really excited about the line-up and are looking forward to getting to know each of these folks -- and their work -- on a deeper level."

Westerberg is the former lead singer and songwriter of The Replacements, one of the seminal bands of the 1980s. Following the band's break-up in 1990, Westerberg began a solo career, during which his music generated success in popular film and television soundtracks. In recent years, Westerberg has taken an increasingly private approach, primarily recording his music at home in his basement.

Mann is a guitarist, bassist, singer, and songwriter, who began her career in the early '80s with the punk rock band, the Young Snakes. Seeking a different musical style, Mann developed the new wave band 'Til Tuesday, which achieved immediate success during its relatively short lifespan. In 1990, she launched her successful solo career. Preserving her familiar literary style, Mann's recent fifth solo album, The Forgotten Arm (SuperEgo), is the music equivalent of a novella, sustaining its focus on one extended narrative through the course of the recording. Black Francis is best known as the frontman for the '80s band the Pixies. Following the band's breakup in 1993, Black launched his solo career and later formed Frank Black and the Catholics. Since his early years with the Pixies, his vocal style has explored the full dynamic range, from the scream-driven to the restrained ballad, his lyrics often examining unconventional subjects. The Pixies reunited in 2004 for a sold out reunion tour and Black Francis continues to put out engaging solo records, including his latest release, Bluefinger.

"Our interview series has been a great success in Cleveland. We've seen some once-in-a-lifetime moments, talking with artists like Chuck D and Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland from the Police," said Zanes. "To be able to take the program on the road furthers our interest in popular music as the most vibrant, strange and meaningful cultural form we have around us every day. Instead of taking it for granted, we want to celebrate its depth and the invention behind it."

Tickets to these events are available through local promotions and via radio stations KTCZ in Minneapolis, WXRT in Chicago, and KBZT in San Diego. Additional tickets will be made available via artists' websites and a special auction to support the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's capital campaign.

Through a series of week-long eBay auctions (www.ebay.com/mgdcraft), music fans age 21 and older can bid on VIP experiences for the "Craft" events. MGD will provide the winning bidders with front row seats, pre- and post-show backstage access including a meet and greet with the featured "Craft" artist and moderator Zanes, complimentary food and MGD and a host of other surprises. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from all auctions will go to the Rock Hall's capital campaign to build a new library and archive.

The non-profit Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in the initial stages of its $35 million capital campaign. The new library and archives facility in downtown Cleveland will be a one-of-a-kind academic center where researchers, scholars and music fans from around the world will come to understand the roots of rock music and the impact that it has made in our society.

Randall Amp's Team With Kirk Hammett

Press Release

The Drama Club “Brand New Day” w/Ben Burnley (Breaking Benjamin)

Press Release

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

Music Related: (Links Are Subject To Change)

◊ ABC's Good Morning America - Fall Concert Series
Additional Artists Will Be Added, Keep Checking: abcnews.go.com/GMA/

September 25th - Rascal Flatts
October 2nd - Faith Hill
October 9th - Jennifer Lopez
October 10th - Sara Evans
October 23rd - Carrie Underwood
November 20th - Jordin Sparks

◊ Arena Rock With a Worldview and All the Flash Trimmings
◊ Aldemaro Romero, Composer, Dies at 79
◊ Springsteen Benefit Rehearsal Shows Set
◊ Kimmel to Host American Music Awards
◊ Prince Hits the London Catwalk
◊ VH1 marks decade of Saving the Music
◊ 'The Ultimate Ramones' Double-DVD Set Will Be Available October 2 From Rhino
◊ Rock Stars Come Out To Check Van Halen Rehearsals
◊ Lynyrd Skynyrd Song 'Sweet Home Alabama' To Become Alabama's Tourism Theme
◊ Sex Pistols to reform for one show
◊ Stars come out for Rock 'n' Roll Camp
◊ David Bowie Donates Cash To Jena Six Defense Fund
◊ 'Girlfrenzy' Postponed

Misc News: (Links Are Subject To Change)

◊ New $5 bill to have splashes of purple, gray

New Album Reviews Available Tomorrow

The Day The Music Died

September.18th.2007 - Tuesday

 

Potion Pictures announced today pre-production of THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED, the story of The Big Bopper, who died in the infamous plane crash on February 3, 1959, with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. J.P. "Jape" Richardson, Jr. was riding high on the success of his gold record CHANTILLY LACE when he died in a frozen Iowa cornfield during the Winter Dance Party Tour.

Potion Pictures is partnering with J.P. Richardson, born 84 days after his famous father's death. "Although Dad wrote three Number #1 songs and is acknowledged as the originator of the music video, his story has never been told because my mother refused to speak about him for years, blaming the music industry for his death."

"Jape" was the only musician with children. His grandson Thomas Richardson is attached to play J.P. as a boy. John Mueller, famed for his inventive New Winter Dance Party Tour, will play Buddy Holly; Ray Anthony is slated to play Ritchie Valens, a role he has re-created on Mueller's tours and in Branson, MO.

Sohrab Mirmontazeri, winner of the Audience Choice Award at the New York International Film Festival for THE BEAUTIFUL WIND, will direct a script by J.S. Duff, who used the Bopper's music and the "second-hand" memories of J.P. as inspiration.

Filming is slated for December in Houston and Beaumont, Texas (where the Bopper and his son were both raised) and in January in Clear Lake, Iowa, site of the last performance of the musicians, during the 49th anniversary events.

Unlike the films of the other two rockers, this story begins the day of the crash. The Bopper's life unfolds as his posthumously-born son struggles to discover the truth behind the man who was both his father and a world-famous entertainer famed for "Hel...looo, Baby."

Conspiracy theories and urban legends about the crash abound. Buddy Holly carried a gun on the plane and the Bopper's body was found twice as far from the crash site as the others, leading to stories he initially survived. Waylon Jennings gave up his seat on the plane to Jape, a popular radio announcer before be-bop and rock'n'roll changed his life and music forever. Website: www.bigboppermovie.com.

Keith Varon - New Band?

Artist Release

Singer In Car Crash

Press Release

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

Music Related: (Links Are Subject To Change)

◊ The Cult Gets Back To Basics On 'Born Into This'
◊ Manilow boycotts ‘The View’ over Hasselbeck
◊ Kevin Cronin - Continued Updates
◊ Bee Gees - MSN 30 Years Of 'Fever' Interview
◊ McEntire Named Billboard's Woman Of The Year
◊ Rock Veterans Guest On New Say Anything Album

BSB - "Inconsolable"

September.17th.2007 - Monday

 

It has been a while since there's been any news on the Backstreet Boys. Their last album "Never Gone" helped push them from Boy Band status to pop/rock artists. Since 2005 however, BSB have seen one member walk away to pursue other projects. (Kevin may return one the next album) Thus the group begins a new journey as 4. On August 27th, the boys released "Inconsolable," a power ballad similar to material from their last album. Other new songs have been tested in smaller markets, but this is the only official single released at the time being. A music video has also been completed, it has been launched on Yahoo! Music.

The single can be purchased on iTunes for 99 cents. Their MySpace page also contains the online stream of this new tune. As always people can talk about BSB on www.myspace.com/officialbackstreetboys & www.thebackstreetboys.com.

Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and AJ McLean will release "Unbreakable" on October 30th.

Queensryche - Take Cover Art & Update

Island Report

Ratt - New Album?

Artist Release

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

Music Related: (Links Are Subject To Change)

◊ Ozzy To Return To Bat Bite Site
◊ Security Guard Sues Axl Rose Over 1996 Concert Incident
◊ Huey Lewis and the News Continue to Rock (Video Stream)

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