Music news

Hollywood's Most Overexposed Celebrities

2008-11-19T02:39:00.000-08:00

All press is good press, the old adage goes. This does not apply to Paris Hilton.

The celebutante's every move, from her club-hopping to her jail stint to her search for a new best friend has proved fodder for the flashbulbs and celebrity press. But what has the incessant coverage garnered her? Eye rolls--and worse, audience disinterest.

Success Party of GOLMAAL RETURNS!

2008-11-19T01:46:00.001-08:00

Dhilin Mehta of Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd. recently hosted the success party of GOLMAAL RETURNS which saw a lot of fun and frolic where friends, well–wishers, compatriots from the film industry descended to celebrate the stupendous success of this roller coaster laugh riot!

The cast of the film turned out in full force. Director Rohit Shetty was one of the earliest to arrive. Ajay Devgan was followed a little later by wife Kajol and Tanishaa. Tusshar Kapoor flew in from South Africa especially for the party while Celina Jaitley who came in directly from the airport, received a lot of compliments for her lovely pink dress. Shreyas Talpade was seen mingling with everyone while Anjana Sukhani. Tulip Joshi, Aushima Sahani, Sonal Chauhan all made a statement in black!

The guests included Jeetendra, Manish Malhotra, Anna Singh, Bhushan Kumar, Music Dir. Pritam, celebrity stylist Aalim, Murli Sharma and Ashwini Kalsekar, Vrajesh Hirjee, Mukesh Tiwari, Vatsal Seth, Kunal Khemu, Rakhi Tandon, Manoj joshi, Sajid and Farhad (writers of Golmaal Returns), Riddhima Tiwari, Robin Bhat, Ajay Acharya and many more while the directors brigade comprised Prakash Jha, Shivam Nair, Anthony D'Souza along with wife, Imtiaz Ali, Vipul Shah, Anil Devgan, Neeraj Vora, Milan Lutharia, Inder Kumar who all came in to show their support. Telly Queen Ekta Kapoor dropped in for a short while towards the end.

Ajay Devgan and the cast cut the cake and uncorked the champagne amidst a lot of cheers after which they gave bytes to the media and posed for the shutterbugs.

Kareena Kapoor and Amrita Arora who were also a part of the successful film GOLMAAL RETURNS were busy shooting for KAMBAKHT ISHQ while Arshad Warsi was in Wahi hence couldn't make it for the party.

Salman Khan promotes ‘Yuvraaj’ on Children’s Day

2008-11-19T01:27:00.000-08:00

This time Salman Khan is making an exception to his long time policy of not promoting his films. Taking active part in the promotion of his forthcoming ‘Yuvraaj’, Salman was first seen on the sets of ‘Sa Re Ga Ma’ with her lady love Katrina Kaif and now, he does it again on the Children’s Day.

The veteran actor made their day on 14th Nov 2008 at Globus, Bandra as he arrived to meet and greet the children at the promotional event of his forthcoming film “Yuvvraaj”. Chatting, laughing and performing for them, Salman looked every inch the true superstar.

‘Fashion’ movie success bash

2008-11-19T01:25:00.000-08:00

Madhur Bhandarkar’s ambitious project ‘Fashion’ did pretty well at the box-office. The cast and crew of the movie along with many other sizzling Bollywood personalities celebrated the success of the film at the bash held at Vie Lounge, Juhu, Mumbai, last Friday Nite.

Madhur Bhandarkar along with Priyanka Chopra, Kangna Ranaut, Mugdha Godse, Arbaaz Khan, Arjan Bajwa etc were present at the party.

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Chitrangada shoots for the promotional video of ‘Sorry Bhai’

2008-11-19T01:21:00.000-08:00

Chitrangada Singh made her start in Bollywood through serious cinema like ‘Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi and ‘Kal – Yesterday and Tomorrow’ but the gal is all set to change her image with her first commercial venture ‘Sorry Bhai’.

The film has been directed by Onir and is all set to release on 28th November. Chitrangda has recently shot for a promotional music video which comes with the title ‘Sorry Bhai’. The video has just been unveiled on the music channels. The number has soft dance moves associated with it, the number is a feel good light hearted banter between Sanjay, Sharman and Chitrangda. The film revolves around them with the storyline as Chitrangda all set to get married to Sanjay before she falls in love with his younger brother Sharman. In the song Sharman questions them and the duo tries to make peace with him and explain their point of view.

Though Gaurav Dayal has composed the entire soundtrack of SORRY BHAI, the title song sees Vivek Phillip chipping in as the guest composer. He also writes the lyrics along with Amitabh Varma for this song which is sung by K.K., Sunidhi Chauhan and Abhishek Nailwal.

Onir is all praises for Chitrangda and says, “This is a gift that we all have given to each other. The promotional music video has been shot in all white color and would feature in the movie during the end credits roll. The video features Chitrangda along with the entire principal cast of the movie comprising of Sanjay Suri, Sharman Joshi, Boman Irani and Shabana Azmi.”

Bollywood coming up with all merry n gay attitudes!

2008-11-19T01:16:00.000-08:00

The latest movies like Dostana and Fashion have again tickled the long subdued topic of homosexuality to the forefront and into the mainstream cinema.

Although every producer- director teams up to bring a ‘hat ke’ project, for long homosexuals have largely been supposed to be out of the orbit of the various formulas and incarnations that control the Bollywood box office.

Movies like Deepa Mehta’s Fire and Onir’s My Brother Nikhil that have made stirring efforts to break the orthodox depiction, but have been labelled as ‘parallel’ cinema. However, the current wave of films, like Fashion and Dostana, may be able to bring the much awaited acceptance to homosexuality.

Mahesh Dattani made a bold effort “Mango Souffle” to look at the gay community without prejudice and to de-marginalize homosexuality in our cinema. But the efforts went in vain as the film hardly got an audience worth citing.

With the release of Karan Johar’s Dostana where the Bollywood hunks and lead actors, Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham, pretend to be a couple in a bid to rent an apartment in Miami. Madhur Bhandarkar’s recent release, Fashion, in one of its sub-plots, has Harsh Chayya and Samir Soni play a homosexual fashion designer-couple thus indicating of the acceptance of the odd among the audience.

For many years, homosexual were essentially comic characters meant to lampoon men who, in every day jargon, aren’t “normal”. Like in- Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan in Kal Ho Naa Ho where Shah Rukh and Saif’s characters were mistaken to be gay by the latter’s housekeeper; Anupam Kher subsequently played in Rahul Rawail’s “Mast Kalander” and David Dhawan’s “Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge” and not to forget Sanjeev Kumar playing an effeminate character in A. Bhim Singh’s “Naya Din Nayee Raat”.

Now in Madhur Bhandarkar’s “Page 3″ for the first time a gay character is looked at without chauvinism and comes closest in Indian cinema to portraying a gay character with some air of sensitivity.

The director Madhur Bhandarkar comments: “All the characters you see in ‘Page 3′ is based on people I know. In our films, gay characters are used as props and gimmicks. In my film, Rehaan plays an identifiable character. We cannot reduce any community of people to tokens and emblems. We’ve to treat them as real.”

Homosexuality is still in the pothole of ‘minorityism’ and Hindi cinema has a long way off from pulling it out. The filmmakers can get honest about the matter on sc

Acoustic Guitar by Jeff Williams

2008-11-19T00:15:00.000-08:00

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ACDA Junior High National Honor Choir selects Emily McGurk of Roselle Park

2008-11-18T08:23:00.000-08:00

ROSELLE PARK - After rigorous auditions among thousands of students nationwide in early September, Emily McGurk of Roselle Park was accepted into the ACDA (American Choral Directors Association's Junior High National Honor Choir).

Emily, who is a freshman at The Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison, auditioned through Celebration Singers, a Cranford-based organization that has performed in the tri-state area for over 70 years. Emily is a member of Celebration's Children's Choir, which was founded in 1996 and is led by Tom Pedas.

From March 4 to 7, Emily will attend the 2009 National ACDA Convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she will rehearse music memorized for the event, attend concert sessions with international choirs and conductors, as well as programs on "Music in Worship," jazz and other demonstration choirs.

Last year, Emily was selected to join the ACDA's Eastern Junior Honor Choir and performed at the organization's 2008 Eastern Division Convention in Hartford, Connecticut in February.

Founded in 1959, the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) is a nonprofit music-education organization whose central purpose is to promote excellence in choral music through performance, composition, publication, research, and teaching. In addition, ACDA strives through arts advocacy to elevate choral music's position in American society.

Emily is the daughter of Dr. James F. McGurk and Christine R. Cardi of Roselle Park.

Top award for a music man of many talents

2008-11-18T08:16:00.000-08:00

A MUSIC man of many talents has been awarded a prestigious prize for his innovative compositions and success in promoting his pieces world-wide.

Janek Shaefer, from Walton, was among three gifted performers to receive a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Com-posers Award on Thursday.

The award consists of £45,000, spread in equal instalments over three years, and exists to give artists the freedom to develop their creative ideas.

Shaefer was chosen for the award following a highly-acclaimed tri-instrumental piece, in which he cut a cello solo recording, a piano solo recording and a violin solo recording and played them simultaneously.

He said: “I’m many things but I mainly call myself a sound artist.

“I often use microphone recordings and change the music and use old records and take textures from them to make new soundscapes

‘Guitar Hero’ Wii Not Getting Jimi Hendrix DLC Due To Wii Limitations

2008-11-18T08:15:00.001-08:00

Wii owners will not be receiving additional Jimi Hendrix tracks for “Guitar Hero: World Tour,” an Activision Blizzard representative has confirmed to MTV Multiplayer.

“Due to technical or licensing restrictions, the DLC offerings will not be the same for every console platform,” explained the representative. “For example, certain artists prefer to keep the integrity of the track pack rather than releasing singles and the Wii’s infrastructure only allows us the ability to release single songs as DLC.”

We learned about this technical limitation a few weeks back from Harmonix. The Wii version of “Rock Band 2″ will not feature price-reduced bundle packs because Nintendo does not allow “duplicate” content on the Wii Store.

In this case, licensing restrictions from Jimi Hendrix’s people mean Activision Blizzard must offer the music as a “track pack” and not singles. The restriction, combined with Nintendo’s rules, mean Wii players won’t see the music.

This isn’t a new trend. It’s just new to music games. Similar licensing restrictions have stopped some artists from joining iTunes.

“The development team is committed to offering Wii fans worldwide as much variety of DLC as possible on a regular basis,” continued the spokesperson.

This could be a problem for “Rock Band 2,” too. We’ll keep watching.

Bands spread Air Force message through music

2008-11-18T08:03:00.000-08:00

"It's our job to get out there," said Master Sgt. Scott McPherson of the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest from Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Calif.

"The group is like that," he said. "They put the audience before themselves quite a bit."

Ash fell from the sky and smoke wafted through the Knott's Berry Farm amusement park in Buena Park, Calif., during two sets by Shockwave, a 10-member popular music group made of members of the 562nd Air Force Band, the organizational name of the Channel Islands' band. A plume of smoke blocked the sunlight, making it appear like dusk in mid-afternoon.

"The smoke restricts the breathing for the vocalists and the horn players," said Sergeant McPherson, the unit's first sergeant and drummer for Shockwave and other groups that spin off from the larger band to play Dixieland jazz, rhythm and blues and other popular styles. "It's not very comfortable and they woke up the next morning with headaches and some respiratory problems."

Shockwave performed rock, county and rhythm and blues music from the 1950s to the present on a stage decorated with red, white and blue bunting in front of a mock courthouse in the western-themed amusement park.

They played an earlier concert that morning at the Air Force Week Expo in Hollywood, Calif., and returned there the day after the amusement park show. Trumpet player Tech Sgt. Jerry Lockwood sang the Willie Nelson hit "On the Road Again" with a military twist: he changed the lyrics to "I'm Deployed Again" and described what life is like for modern Airmen.

Kenny Chesney wins country music entertainer award

2008-11-18T07:52:00.000-08:00

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Kenny Chesney captured country music's top prize -- entertainer of the year -- for the fourth time in five years on Wednesday in an awards show that also saw big wins for Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley and traditionalist George Strait.

"It's very wonderful to stand up here and hold this trophy for the fourth time. I love what I'm doing," said the black-clad Chesney, who tied Garth Brooks for most wins of the Country Music Association's top award.

The show's two co-hosts also walked away with honors. "American Idol" champ Underwood won her third consecutive female vocalist of the year award, and Paisley won male vocalist for the second year in a row.

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2008-11-18T07:23:00.000-08:00

The Maharaja of modern Indian music, A R Rahman, has talent and vision the stuff of legend, a unanimously recognized musical genius that comes around once-a-generation.

So it was only a matter of time before Hollywood scooped him up and sampled his skills; and that's exactly what happened, first in Elizabeth: The Golden Age, the musical Bombay Dreams and now in Danny Boyle's mega-hyped, Mumbai-based Slumdog Millionaire.

Also Read: Slumdog Millionaire sold out!

As evidence of his rising celebrity, and to give you insight into the creative process behind the beats of Boyle's masterpiece, we point you to this interview from the prestigious pages of New York Magazine -- a lifestyle mag known especially for its fashion/celebrity/arts/gossip coverage, which always seems to be on the cutting edge of what's in, what's cool and what's happening.

So, given the elite-ness of the publication, this brief QnA session undoubtedly portends great things for Rahman's Hollywood future. And it appears a more comprehensive future is indeed likely.

In the interview, an effusive Rahman has nothing but kind words for director, calling him not only a fast worker and humorous, but also a 'good human being.'

Also Read: Making Slumdog Millionaire truly Indian

Explaining the differences between working for Hollywood and Bollywood, Rahman says, 'There's not many cues in the film. Usually a big film has 130 cues. This had just seventeen or eighteen: the end credits, beginning credits, that stuff.'

He went on to say that, 'It took two months of planning, two weeks of completing. Usually it takes six months with the musical films I'm doing in India.'

But does the film's music, which is earning near-universal praise from critics, paint an accurate aural portrait of Mumbai? Rahman believes that, 'The soundtrack isn't about India or Indian culture. The story could happen anywhere: China, Brazil [Images], anywhere. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is on in every damn country.'

Yes, really and truly, it appears that the West has woken up to India. We have a feeling Hollywood isn't quite finished with the uber-talented Rahman. So stay tuned!

Photograph: Rajesh Karkera

The Case of the Missing Michael Jackson Music

2008-11-18T07:06:00.000-08:00

On the down side, Michael Jackson has been sued yet again. On the plus side, the suit has absolutely nothing to do with underage children.

The son of the king of Bahrain, or as his closest friends refer to him, Sheik Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, has filed a $7 million breach-of-contract suit against the pop star, claiming Jackson reneged on an exclusive recording contract.

In his lawsuit, which will be heard in London court later today, the sheik claims he paid Jackson more than $7 million as an advance on two albums, a stage show and a planned autobiography, built him a recording studio and gave him a Rolls-Royce worth roughly $275,000.

However, while Jackson was more than willing to accept the funds, the royal said that when the time came to actually record the promised music, Jackson, well, beat it.

Te erstwhile King of Pop has claimed all payments he received were "gifts" and that no project or contract was ever finalized. He voiced similar sentiments back in September 2006, when he announced he had split from Two Seas Records, the Bahrain-based record label he cofounded with Al-Khalifa, after just five months (and, for those keeping count, zero records).

Meanwhile, the sheik says the money was simply an advance that was to be repaid out of the proceeds of their planned entertainment endeavors and that he was simply doing his buddy a solid to help him out of his financial funk.

The unlikely business partners were onetime close friends: Back in 2005, Jackson, along with his children and entourage of advisers, stayed at the sheik's Bahrain residence for roughly six months during the singer's self-imposed exile in the wake of his acquittal on child-molestation charges.

Though the case is expected to go to trial at London's Royal Courts of Justice this afternoon, and indeed the British press was gathering en masse to await Jackson's possible arrival in court, it's believed the high-profile duo will likely settle the matter outside of court.

KCRW names Jason Bentley music director, 'Morning Becomes Eclectic' host

2008-11-18T07:02:00.000-08:00

The new voice of “Morning Becomes Eclectic" will be familiar to fans of KCRW-FM (89.9), if they like their evenings eclectic, also.

Jason Bentley, host of the public station's nighttime music show, will take over as music director at KCRW and as host of its signature music program when Nic Harcourt leaves both posts Nov. 30.

"I'm excited by this opportunity to grow personally and help grow the station," Bentley said. "It's a place where I've grown upBentley volunteered at the station while in high school and copied the style of former "Morning Becomes Eclectic" host Tom Schnabel when he was a DJ at his college station at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. For the last 16 years, Bentley has hosted his own KCRW show, formerly called "Metropolis," which he described as "the urban pulse at night -- that's a particular mood. Obviously, in the morning, I need to embrace a brighter sound."

"Morning Becomes Eclectic," which airs weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon, is not only the station's highest-profile show, it also has a reach far beyond its morning audience, mainly because among those listeners are Hollywood and music executives with the power to offer contracts to unsigned bands or give artists unheard on other radio stations wide exposure on television and film soundtracks. For example, Harcourt has been credited with bringing notice to Coldplay, Norah Jones, Dido and Damien Rice.
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Pop & Hiss The L.A. Times music blog

2008-11-17T21:32:00.000-08:00

Jason Bentley, host of the public station's nighttime music show, will take over as music director at KCRW and as host of its signature music program when Nic Harcourt leaves both posts Nov. 30.

"I'm excited by this opportunity to grow personally and help grow the station," Bentley said. "It's a place where I've grown up."

Bentley volunteered at the station while in high school and copied the style of former "Morning Becomes Eclectic" host Tom Schnabel when he was a DJ at his college station at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. For the last 16 years, Bentley has hosted his own KCRW show, formerly called "Metropolis," which he described as "the urban pulse at night -- that's a particular mood. Obviously, in the morning, I need to embrace a brighter sound."

"Morning Becomes Eclectic," which airs weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon, is not only the station's highest-profile show, it also has a reach far beyond its morning audience, mainly because among those listeners are Hollywood and music executives with the power to offer contracts to unsigned bands or give artists unheard on other radio stations wide exposure on television and film soundtracks. For example, Harcourt has been credited with bringing notice to Coldplay, Norah Jones, Dido and Damien Rice.

The show celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, and former hosts Schnabel and Chris Douridas still host weekend shows on KCRW. Likewise, Harcourt will host his own program Sundays from 6 to 9 p.m.

Swift loves life in fast lane

2008-11-16T07:10:00.000-08:00

At 18, Taylor Swift plays by her own rules. After selling a remarkable 3 million copies of her self-titled debut, she has been setting up her second album the new-fashioned way: showcasing a new song at the Summer Olympics, another on "Grey's Anatomy," two singles on country radio and two others on iTunes.

She comes off as the girl next door -- preoccupied with boys, beauty and her blog. But Swift is also one of the shrewdest operators and boldest talents in Nashville.

She writes or cowrites her own don't-mess-with-me love songs, which have attracted a new generation of teen girls to country music. She's poised, polished and popular enough to appear this fall on the MTV Video Music Awards, "Good Morning America," David Letterman, Ellen DeGeneres, the American Music Awards and CMT's "Crossroads" to trumpet her new CD, the aptly titled "Fearless."

Greeting reporters, she exclaims, "Guess what I just did?"

It was the morning after her Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series -- she sang the national anthem at the first game in Philadelphia -- so some baseball talk was expected.

"I voted!" she says instead. "I waited in line for two hours and then I voted. It was like the most amazing feeling when I got to push the red button that says 'cast your vote.' When I pushed that button, I felt so completely 18 and American."

Because she says the songs on "Fearless" are mostly about boys, love and relationships, she's questioned about how many dates she's been on in 2008 -- and with how many guys?

An interview with Alabama Symphony music director Justin Brown

2008-11-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
When: Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $12-$65; go to www.alabamasymphony.org.
Where: Alys Stephens Center. 1200 10th Ave. South.
On the program: Messiaen, "Un Sourire"; Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488; Strauss, "Ein Heldenleben."
Concert comments: 7 p.m., Reynolds-Kirschbaum Recital Hall.

Justin Brown is the rare musician who has built a reputation both as a pianist and a conductor. In a previous incarnation, the Alabama Symphony music director was a violinist, and although his violin playing has fallen into the shadows, he regularly solos in piano concertos and performs chamber music at ASO events and throughout Europe. On Nov. 21 and 22, he descends from the podium to conduct from the keyboard in one of Mozart's most melodious and masterful piano concertos -- No. 23 in A major, K. 488.

A tireless advocate of 20th century music, Brown will honor Olivier Messiaen's birth centennial with the atmospheric and reflective "Un Sourire" (A Smile), a work composed in 1991 for Mozart's bicentennial. The concert closes with Richard Strauss' epic autobiographical tone poem, "Ein Heldenleben."

We asked Brown about his increasing multi-tasking, and how ASO musicians are responding.

Three stabbed at music awards night

2008-11-16T06:59:00.000-08:00

Hundreds of people at a major music awards show have been quizzed after a triple stabbing left one guest seriously injured and two others wounded.

There were chaotic scenes at the 6th Annual Urban Music Awards at the O2 Arena in London, forcing organisers to abandon the ceremony after an hour and a half.

Eyewitnesses spoke of seeing "blood all over the floor" after a huge brawl broke, sending champagne bottles and chairs flying and causing general "hysteria". Guns were also said to have been spotted inside the auditorium.

Quantum of Solace Wormy, arrogant villains, naked agents – latest film has it all

2008-11-16T06:50:00.000-08:00

James Bond is back, and this time it’s mighty personal. Daniel Craig’s craggy agent picks up exactly where he left off in another bruising thriller that leaves you feeling both drained and exhilarated.

There are hand-to-hand fights that make your eyes water and old-school stunts involving motorbikes, speedboats, jet fighters and expensive cars that give you whiplash just looking at them. Really, nobody does it better than the new 007.

What makes Marc Forster’s film such an intriguing watch is that this is the first of the 22 Bond movies where the plot flows organically from the last instalment, and Quantum of Solace looks a far stronger picture for this rare continuity.

Needless to say the plot is as forbidding as the title. After the death of his girlfriend, Vesper Lynd, at the end of Casino Royale, Bond mixes revenge and duty dangerously as he hunts down the shadowy group that blackmailed Lynd to betray him.

A link to a bank account in Haiti puts Bond on the scent of Mathieu Amalric’s chief creep and ruthless businessman, Dominic Greene. All great Bond adversaries are generously blessed with kinks and quirks and Greene is no different. Amalric has a wonderfully wormy arrogance.

Live review: The Walkmen

2008-11-15T04:06:00.000-08:00

Venue: Manchester Academy 3
Gig played: 29 October 2008

Eight hours of motorway hell isn't the best preparation for a show, but that was The Walkmen's pre-gig build-up tonight. Indeed, they were so late to the venue that there wasn't even time for a soundcheck before they found themselves thrust into the spotlight half an hour later than planned.

Understandably, they appear as a dishevelled and shell-shocked bunch. "Give us a minute," mumbles the fantastically monikered Hamilton Leithauser in response to one wit's cry of "You're late!" If ever a gig was on the knife edge of disaster, it's now.

Had it all collapsed into fatigue-fuelled tantrums, you'd have forgiven The Walkmen, so hats off to the five-piece for delivering maybe not the finest show of their careers, but an unexpectedly sturdy and enjoyable one.

The credit for that success has to be split between the leadership of Hamilton - whose stretching, yowling, craning performance could act as a lesson in professionalism for any wannabe star - and the rich depth that the New Yorkers bring to their live sound.

Live, their occasionally thin recorded sound is filled in as the band reveal themselves as an intriguing prospect, a fine halfway-point between the dark brood of Interpol and the psych expanse of Mercury Rev.
Highlights come from their recent You & Me album, with a freewheeling 'Donde Esta La Playa', the echo and splendour of 'On The Water' and a thrilling 'In The New Year', delivered with both stretched hands and vocal chords from Hamilton.

By the time they depart, weary but smiling, what could have been a disaster has turned into a minor victory. It seems the old adage is true: when the pressure is on, that's when you see a person's true worth. For all their tiredness and irritation, The Walkmen showed themselves to be real gems.

Chris Long

S Club reunion ends in chaos

2008-11-15T04:00:00.000-08:00

An S Club reunion gig ended abruptly on Wedensday (12 November) when lead singer Jo O?Meara was hit on the head with a glass bottle.

The vocalist dropped to her knees, clutching a two-inch wound on her head, and had to be assisted off the stage at Tokyo nightclub in Bradford.

Bandmate Bradley McIntosh told the crowd: "It takes just one idiot to ruin everybody's night.

"If you are going to throw a glass, throw it at me. You had to spoil it."

Jo, Bradley and Paul Cattermole reunited as S Club 3 earlier this month for a handful of appearances across Britain.

Now recovering at home in London, Jo told Contact Music: "We were all having a great time until the incident and would like to apologise to fans that our set was cut short."

A 20-year-old male is reportedly being questioned by police about the attack.

Britney Spears previews new material

2008-11-15T03:48:00.000-08:00

Britney Spears has provided fans with a taste of her new material.

Six songs from her forthcoming album, Circus, have been woven together to form an exclusive 'Beat The Leak' mixtape.

The mash-up, which includes the album's lead single 'Womanizer', can be heard on New York radio station KTU's website.

Thirty-second samples of all 15 album tracks have also been uploaded to Amazon, giving fans a preview of what they can expect when Circus is released on 1 December.

Britney made a return to the live stage last week, performing alongside Madonna during the Los Angeles leg of the veteran star's Sticky & Sweet tour. The pair dueted on 'Human Nature'.

Aria Bass Guitar Package

2008-11-15T03:43:00.000-08:00

Guitar Specs Body - Alder Neck - Maple, bolt on Fretboard - Rosewood, 34" scale Hardwared - Chrome Pickups - 1*OP1 Double Coil (P style), 2*OJ1
Single Coils (J Style) Controls - 1*vol (2 on J Style), 1*tone  Amp Specs * 10w RMS output (20w peak) * 6" speaker * volume control * Bass, Middle and Treble controls * Headphone socket

Vintage 'Metal Axxe' Wraith Active Bass Guitar

2008-11-15T03:36:00.000-08:00

Body - Eastern Poplar
Neck - Maple, Bolt on
Neck Inlays - Dot, with unique Vintage
double 'V' 12th fret inlay
Fretboard - Rosewood, 24 Frets                     
Scale - 864mm
Tuners- Wilkinson WJB150
Bridge - Heavy Duty multi-adjustable, raised tail
Pickups - 1 Wilkinson split PB, 1 Wilkinson PJ
Hardware - Satin chrome
Controls - 1*vol, 1*tone, 1*treble, 1 balance      £189

Dean Dave Mustaine Signature Electric Guitar

2008-11-15T03:32:00.000-08:00

Body - Mahogany
Neck - Mahogany, set neck, 25.5" scale, Daves
'D-Shaped' Neck
Nut width - 1 11/16"
Fingerboard - Ebony, Pearl Shark Tooth inlays
Hardware - Black                                            
Bridge - Tone Pros
Tuners - Grover Tuners
Pickups - Dave Mustain Duncan Live Wires
Controls - 2*volume, 1*tone, 3-way selector                   £579

Rock of a Certain Age, Complete With Inflatable Doll

2008-11-13T21:36:00.000-08:00

All the recent talk of how AC/DC is due for critical reappraisal? Ignore it. That secret history in which this committedly lowbrow 35-year-old band is actually one of the most influential hard-rock groups ever to have graced an arena stage? Dubious at best.

At Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, AC/DC reminded a rabid crowd exactly what sort of band it is: the sort whose stage set consists of a huge phallic locomotive with devil horns on it and steam tumbling out from the top; the sort with a defiantly flamboyant aging toddler of a lead guitarist, Angus Young, who’ll gleefully moon the crowd, showing off his AC/DC boxer shorts (just $20 at the merchandise stand, thank you very much); the sort that, when playing “Whole Lotta Rosie,” about loving a woman of ample figure, inflates a gargantuan, nominally clothed doll that taps its foot in time with the beat and whose left hand works a circular motion below the waist.

It was all, of course, glorious, in the way most uncomplicated pleasures are. This astonishingly loud reaffirmation of AC/DC’s prime directive comes on the heels of the album “Black Ice” (Columbia), the band’s first collection of new material in eight years, which is being sold in an exclusive arrangement with Wal-Mart. When it was released last month it began atop the Billboard album chart, with the second-highest opening-week sales total of the year, behind Lil Wayne.

Christina Aguilera Discusses Her New New Look And Sound

2008-11-13T21:30:00.000-08:00

'It's got a very pop-art feel, visually,' singer says of her new direction.Christina Aguilera, she was masquerading as a singing, dancing Vargas girl, a 1940s pinup re-imagined as a 2000s pop princess. Since her last album, well ... let's just say things are a little bit different.

Because when Aguilera unveiled her brand new look at the 2008 Video Music Awards, it was as if that retro queen had been packed into a capsule and rocketed headlong into the future. Gone were the soft curls and pleated skirts, replaced instead with impossibly angular bangs, thigh-high boots and enough pleather to make Catwoman blush.

Kany Garcia wins best new artist at Latin Grammys

2008-11-13T21:25:00.000-08:00

HOUSTON (AP) — Kany Garcia has picked up the best new artist award at this year's Latin Grammys.

The Puerto Rican pop singer is also nominated in three other categories, including song of the year, album of the year, and best female pop vocal album.

In pre-show awards, Mexican singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas picked up two Latin Grammys for best long form video and best alternative music album, and Colombian rocker Juanes and Mexican alternative rock group Cafe Tacuba each picked up one.

Cafe Tacuba led the nominations with six, including album of the year, record of the year, best alternative song, song of the year and rock song of the year.

Juanes and Argentine musician-turned-composer Gustavo Santaolalla each had nominations in five categories.

The Latin Grammys give out awards in 49 categories.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

The best day for music this year

2008-11-11T00:12:00.000-08:00

On Nov. 24th, Def Jam breaks all kinds of traditions and will release three blockbuster albums on the same day.

New music from The Killers (Day & Age), Kanye West (808s and Heartbreak) and Ludacris (Theater of the Mind) all hit on the same day, a Monday, which is crazy because of course CDs usually come out on Tuesdays.

Will any of these get you motivated to buy music? Of these, which are you most hyped to hear?

While I am looking forward to hearing Kanye's new stuff, my vote has to go to The Killers! Can't wait...

Whatever you choose though, just buy your music in a local record store!

Rahul and Konkona: Bong bonding

2008-11-11T00:10:00.000-08:00

Konkona Sen Sharma and Rahul Bose are coming together once again after their critically-acclaimed Mr & Mrs

Konkona Sen Sharma. (TOI Photo) More Pics

Iyer.

And the movie we are talking about is Anil Sharma’s Dil Kabbadi. Both the Bongs are maha-thrilled about being paired together again.

We play husband and wife who are so bored of each other in the film,” says Konkana, “It is always fun to work with your friends, and Rahul is a buddy.” Wonder what boyfriend Ranvir Shorey thinks of Kuku ka buddy. By the way, Kuku is what Rans calls Konks ever so sweetly!

How Katrina made music with Salman...

2008-11-11T00:08:00.000-08:00

Irrespective of the cast, story or scale of the movie, if there is one thing that’s constant in a Ghai product — it’s the music.

From an off-beat movie like Iqbal to his typical entertainer like Kisna, it is song ke baad song, all along. Slam the actors and script as much as you like, but your ears can’t betray the music, na? For the Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif starrerYuvraaj, he took 87 days to record the music with AR Rahman, and about 90 days to complete shooting of the movie.

Interesting, huh? And he made sure that during the month long schedule in Austria, Katrina trained with a musician from the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra. Now you know what we mean! We can’t wait to hear more of Ghai’s 87-day symphony! And lady, the Vienna symphony? Wow! Now we know how she makes music with Sallu.

Golden hair and golden throats are feminizing the country music scene

2008-11-11T00:06:00.000-08:00

The country music sales charts have a different look these days. So do the playlists at country radio stations.

They include a rising prevalence of women. More specifically, young women. Even more specifically, young blond women, including several whose music careers got a jump-start in reality television: Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Nettles (of Sugarland), Kellie Pickler, Kristy Lee Cook, Whitney Duncan, Hillary Scott (of Lady Antebellum), Heidi Newfield (formerly of Trick Pony).

Wednesday night country music airs its most prestigious gala, the Country Music Association Awards, and you won’t have to wait long to see one of these princesses of country. Several are up for awards, and several will perform, including Swift, Lambert, Nettles, Scott and Underwood, who will co-host the show with Brad Paisley.

Before the show even starts, you can catch another rising star in the same category. Julianne Hough, best known as a professional dancer on “Dancing With the Stars,” will co-host the red-carpet gala 30 minutes before showtime outside Nashville’s Sommet Center.

This year Hough released a self-titled album and jumped aboard the Paisley arena tour as an opening act.

Is this eruption of the young, blond and pretty in country music a fad, a trend or just an odd coincidence?

“It reminds me of that period in the late 1990s when Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore and Willa Ford all broke out at once in pop music,” said Kurt Patat, country music editor at music.aol.com. “I guess now it’s country music’s turn.”

Julie Dyer S.F. Club Music Examiner

2008-11-11T00:02:00.000-08:00

Julie Dyer is an editorial assistant at 7x7 and has been a music-lover since birth. She attends shows as often as possible and travels around the world to keep things in perspective.

Music student honors

2008-11-10T23:51:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the following flute and piano students who were chosen from over 50 entries to perform on an honors recital on Sunday Nov 9, 2008. MTASN held the 24 th annual Fall Festival music auditions on Saturday, Nov 8, 2008. Each student prepared one piece of music from the Classical Era and one piece in contrasting style. Trophies were awarded to the following performers at the Sunday concert:

David Morgan, Chiyo Tanimoto, David Kolberg, Christopher Hewett, Myrisa Garcia, Samantha Daily-Malysa, Jonathan Shifren, Ashuka Xue, Emma Dunn, Rachel Jones, Zeke Anthony, and Carina Kee.

Honorable Mention was awarded to Anthony Xue, Brittany Becker, Kai'lee Miles, Julia Sidorov, Brandaon Krattenmaker, Vianes Rodriguez, Hugh Zhang and Hannah Rolfson.

Judges for the event were Sallie Johnson, Linda Sommer, Grace Asquith and Kerri Cottingham.

Each of the over fifty entrants received a certificate for their participation and comments from the judges on their performance. Students participating in this event live in many communities in the Denver area. MTASN (Music Teachers Association Suburban Northwest) welcomes any music teacher to join the association. Members reside in Arvada, Lakewood, Golden, Edgewater, Wheat Ridge, Broomfield, Thornton, and Westminster. For more information on MTASN, please contact Laura Heagle, president, 303-422-8508.

Madonna annoys neighbours with music studio plans?

2008-11-10T23:49:00.001-08:00

It looks like Guy Ritchie isn’t the only one annoyed by Madonna’s pending permanent move to New York - the singer has reportedly annoyed her neighbours after turning her apartment into a music and dance studio.

Last year Madonna sued the board of the Harperley Hall apartments when they tried to block her from buying a second apartment in the building. She intended to buy the seventh floor $7million property to turn it into offices for husband Guy Ritchie to complement their 12th floor home but after their marriage began to crumble, is said to have turned it into a music and dance studio which she used for rehearsals for her current tour.

An inside source told the New York Daily News: “They asked her for a schedule of when she would practice, but she hasn’t adhered to it.

“The music is playing at all hours of the night, and the noise from the drums and the bass blares through the walls.”

A spokesperson for the star denied the “all hours of the night” claim, saying: “She needs her rest. She’s a working girl, you know.”

In related news, Madonna’s much-rumoured fling Alex Rodriguez is said to be planning to join the star as she takes the Sticky & Sweet Tour through South America next month.

A source claims the baseball star will join her in Brazil, Chile and Argentina: “Maybe she’ll teach Alex some songs from Evita…”

The source added that she has also asked him to join her on her next charity visit to Malawi.

The couple were first linked in July but have denied rumours of an affair.

State of the Country Music Union

2008-11-10T23:45:00.000-08:00

What happens when five “country music power players” get together to address the issues facing the industry? The Tennessean, Nashville’s daily newspaper, reports on last week’s meeting with Keith Anderson, Rodney Atkins and industry big shots Tammy Genovese, Randy Goodman and Clarence Spalding. Atkins talks about swallowing his pride. Anderson talks about how club owners are going crazy. Goodman says artist’s managers are now calling him asking for gas money. Spalding addressed the poor sound quality of MP3s. And then Genovese offered up one positive note — that the CMA festival attendance was up 10 percent. Let’s hope Genovese is onto something and that not all the news is bad news.

Hits and misses: 15 years of MTV Europe Music Awards

2008-11-10T23:09:00.000-08:00

The MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) have come a long way. The fifteenth anniversary event in Liverpool on Thursday kicked off with a pout perfect Beyoncé power ballad, The Killers brought the rock and The Ting Tings the pop. Grace Jones’s presence added a little rock ‘n’ roll frisson but a spectacle of this scale is carefully orchestrated so that everything goes exactly to plan.

This wasn’t the case back in 1996 when the show took place in London’s Alexandra Palace. It was executive producer Richard Godfrey’s first EMAs and he has been in charge of the subsequent 12. He has been working on the Liverpool show for two years, and is already thinking about 2009. His colleagues say the EMAs is in “his DNA”

Building the Music School of the Future

2008-11-10T23:05:00.000-08:00

Valencia, Spain will soon be home to a $145 million school of rock (and pop and jazz) from the Boston-based Berklee College of Music, which hopes to extend its successful contemporary music training program to European shores.

"ARTeria Valencia" will be a state-of-the-art, 25-story building (see artist's renderings) featuring faculty and student housing, a high-speed data network, a 1,000-seat outdoor amphitheater and several smaller performance spaces. Construction will be largely bankrolled by the SGAE Spanish performing rights organization, which is apparently eager to bring Berklee's approach to contemporary music education to Valencia -- already a popular "semester abroad" destination.

You might think the music industry's heavily-publicized woes would scare kids into more financially stable lines of work -- say, brokering stocks or managing hedge funds. Those aren't the greatest examples these days, but still, given shrinking labels and dwindling sales, the music industry seems like a hard place to get a foothold.

Nonetheless, budding musicians continue to be drawn like moths to the flame of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where applications for Fall '09 matriculation are up 40 percent according, to Larry Monroe, the school's vice president of international programs, and popular subjects include music theory, composition, performance, music management, music education and even music therapy. The Boston location turns out 800 graduates each year, while the Valencia location will produce smaller classes of 250.

Famous grads include Aimee Mann, Branford Marsalis, John Mayer, Bill Frisell, Juliana Hatfield and Quincy Jones. The guy who scored The Simpsons an Ferris Beuller's Day Off went there too -- Alf Clausen, class of '66. The school's more famous graduates, 58 of whom have won Grammys, have not been the only ones to turn a Berklee degree into gainful employment. According to the school's most recent survey, 80 percent of its graduates work in the music business, while 65 percent of graduates earn their livings solely from music -- fairly impressive statistics, all things considered.

Monroe was about to catch a flight for Spain for various meetings about the plan when we caught up with him by telephone. "It's almost inexplicable," he said. "There doesn't seem to be any slowing down, even in these tough economic times and certainly shifting music business reality, [these] youngsters [are] intent on pursuing careers in contemporary music, so we're just grateful. I'm not quite sure what's driving it. People don't give up their dreams, I think, just because the times are tough."

He said Berklee, considered by many to be the top school in the US for players of pop, rock and jazz, has had several opportunities to expand into Japan and other countries. The Spanish government played a part in the choice of the Valencia location, as did Spanish's status as one of three major languages for music in the 21st century. One quarter of the students at the Boston location come from outside the US. At the new location, students will be recruited from around the world, with a focus on Spain, Europe, Spanish-speaking countries, Africa, and the Middle East.

"We're very conscious that in this century we're going to see an increasing drift of centralization around the languages of English, Spanish, Chinese and perhaps others, but these are going to be the huge marketplace languages, " said Monroe. Aside from speaking English, Spanish or Chinese, working musicians of tomorrow also need to develop production and business skills.

"There are no more talent scouts roaming around bistros at night looking for hot players and good songwriters anymore," explained Monroe. "You've got to really generate your own music, you have to produce something, a CD or something that you can [use to] show your ability with, and in many cases, you have to show that you have an earning power already. That's a whole different level. Most of our students are adding... a better understanding of the music business, protecting their product and so on to the usual music education."

Construction has begun on Berklee's Valencia location, which will feature built-in wiring for sharing large audio and video files, floating sound stages and performance areas without the pillars and L-shaped rooms that obstruct some of the rooms in the Boston location.

This will be a private university -- somewhat of a rarity in Europe, where many secondary education costs are covered by tax dollars. And it's focused on areas that the traditional European music establishment has ignored.

"There isn't a country in Europe that doesn't have great conservatories," he explained, "but what we found from doing market research is that there are an awful lot of graduating students from, say, a classical composition school, who've learned to write for symphony, chamber orchestra, ballet and so on, who want to enter the world of film music, or want to get into writing for videogames -- all of the places in contemporary music where the electronic entertainment industry is lurking. And what you learn in a conservatory just isn't going to help if your first movie is a contemporary detective story and they want a funk background in the opening scene.

The internet won Best Act Ever at the MTV Europe Music Awards - not Rick Astley

2008-11-10T23:01:00.000-08:00

Crumbs. Rick Astley has been named Best Act Ever at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Above U2, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Green Day and Tokio Hotel.

Jejune pickings aside, when I blogged previously about Astley's nomination I didn't believe he would actually win, but win he has. Or it has - the internet that is.

Yes, Rick Astley enjoyed a cluster of hits, has a lovely voice and released the highest-selling single of 1987; 'Never Gonna Give You Up', but come on music-lovers, Best Act Ever?

It is the web phenomenon of 'Rickrolling' that hooked the 100 million votes which catapulted Astley above his competitors and ultimately won the award. It is another triumph for the internet. A democratic victory for our side of the pond perhaps. A triumph for those who guffawed as they tricked people into watching Rick dance to his major hit. But it is no victory for the 42-year-old nightingale from Newton-le-Willows.

'Rick has become a lovely joke,' said Richard Godfrey, senior vice-president at MTV and executive producer of the awards. Does Rick want to be a 'lovely joke'? When the crowds laughed as his name was read out in Liverpool, was it with him or at him?

For a man who has had therapy to deal with his issues with fame and didn't even appear to pick up his award, maybe it's time to leave the poor crooner alone

Pop Top music: 'Twilight' tunes for teens

2008-11-10T22:58:00.000-08:00

CD » The majority of the Twilight soundtrack resonates with a hard-rock/techno edge, save for one standout. The song "Never Think," sung by Rob Pattinson, the actor who plays the lusty vampire in the film, is filled with country twang and an unintelligible mush of lyrics -- it sounds as if Pattinson is singing with a mouth full of cottonballs.

The soundtrack is heavily geared toward teens, with bands such as Paramore and Linkin Park dominating the disc, and, ultimately, "Bella's Lullaby's" disappointing 2:20 run time didn't quite sate a reader's yearning to hear the song that ultimately helps woo Bella into Edward's stone-like arms.

- Sheena McFarland

Pop & Hiss The L.A. Times music blog

2008-11-10T22:55:00.000-08:00

When the Academy Awards air in February of next year, there will be debates and arguments about the nominated films. As they do nearly every year, fan and critics will scrutinize the fine print in multiple categories, wondering why a certain foreign film or documentary was barred from consideration.

But this much will be certain: The nominated films will have been released in 2008. As specified in the rules from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, recognized films will have been released between Jan. 1 2008, and Dec. 31, 2008.

This is hardly the case with music award galas. As we head into the Country Music Assn. Awards this Wednesday evening, whose eligibility period stretches from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, consider these tidbits:

Of the country records up for album of the year, only two were released in 2008, George Strait's "Troubadour" and Alan Jackson's "Good Time." Carrie Underwood's "Carnival Ride" and Brooks & Dunn's "Cowboy Town" were both released in October of last year, and Kenny Chesney's "Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates," was a September 2007 release.
Speaking of one King Chesney, he has already lapped the CMA Awards. His latest effort, "Lucky Old Sun," was released just a few weeks ago.
Sugarland's adultery tearjerker "Stay" is nominated for song of the year. The duo performed the song on last year's CMA Awards telecast and scored its first ever No. 1 album on the U.S. pop charts this summer. No song from the new effort, "Love on the Inside," is nominated. "Stay" was featured on 2006 release "Enjoy the Ride."
Jason Aldean is up for new artist of the year. But his sophomore album, "Relentless," was released in late May 2007, which fell during last year's eligibility period. And it's not like he was some country nobody; his album bowed at No. 4 on the U.S. pop charts.
Country music in 2008 is almost exactly like country music in 2007! At least that's what can be gleaned from the entertainer of the year field, which features the same exact nominations in 2008 as it did in 2007, save for one act. Swap your Rascal Flatts for your Sugarland, and everything else remains. Chesney, Brad Paisley, Strait and Keith Urban round out the field.
The single of the year field, which also features Sugarland's "Stay," features another song that was performed at last year's telecast: Miranda Lambert's "Gunpowder and Lead." She's set to perform again this year, but expect to hear the lovely bitterness that is "More Like Her."
Of the women up for female vocalist of the year, none released albums in 2008, at least not before the publishing of this blog post. Taylor Swift has a new album, "Fearless," in stores Tuesday, Nov. 11.

So don't be surprised if Wednesday night's telecast feels a bit like 2007.

--Todd Martens

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM ARTISTS IN CONCERT

2008-11-10T22:52:00.000-08:00

It is often said that chamber music is a conversation between friends. An excellent concert on Friday by the Metropolitan Museum Artists in Concert at the Met’s Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium was also a vigorous conversation among family.

The top-notch musicians included the violinist sisters Jennifer and Laura Frautschi, the cellist Edward Arron and his father, the violist Ronald Arron, and the hornist Eric Ruske, Jennifer’s husband.

Haydn is a centerpiece of the ensemble’s concerts this season, and on Friday they offered a dynamic rendition of his amiable String Quartet in G (Op. 76, No. 1). The musicians played with remarkable nuance, beginning with the gentle musical greetings of the opening measures followed by a lovely Adagio, a Menuet full of dynamic contrast and a fiery, polished Finale.

The program opened with Cherubini’s seldom-performed “Pater Noster” for Solo Violin and String Quartet, which Edward Arron, the ensemble’s artistic coordinator, described as an “interesting synthesis of a liturgical work and an instrumental work.” The violinist Colin Jacobsen played his soulful and virtuosic obbligato line with elegant flair.

The Frautschi sisters teamed up for Takemitsu’s soft-spoken “Rocking Mirror Daybreak” for Two Violins. They aptly illustrated the character of each of the four movements, like the fluttering of wings in “Passing Bird” and the gentle movement of “Rocking Mirror.”

The clarinetist Todd Palmer was the fine guest soloist for a superb performance of Beethoven’s Septet in E flat (Op. 20), played with shapely variations and poised melodies. The concert concluded with the bristling energy of the Presto finale.

The ensemble’s next performance is Dec. 19 at the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at the Met; metmuseum.org.

World Music Awards Honor

2008-11-10T22:38:00.000-08:00

Sitting in the room where they decide who will be nominated for the annual World Music Awards must be awesome.

“Michael Jackson for zee best Pop Male Artist!”

“Vy viss the Michael Jackson again? Alvays viss the Michael Jackson!”

“We shall give zee award to zee Kid Rock, not that Enrique Iglesias. Hees mole makes me sheever. And if Jovanotti does not win the award for Italy, zere is zomezing rotten in Denmark! Haw-haw!”

OK, maybe that’s not exactly how it went, but you really gotta wonder what the people behind the awards — based on international sales figures provided by the London-based IFPI — were thinking when they came up with this year’s winners. Coldplay snagged the World’s Best-Selling Recording Act honor for their album Viva la Vida at the annual awards show in Monaco over the weekend. They also snagged the Rock Group trophy, winning out over such actual rock bands as Metallica, Kings of Leon and R.E.M.

The World’s Best Pop Female Artist is apparently Ms. “Bleeding Love” herself, Leona Lewis. So take that, losers (by which we mean such nobodies as Madonna, Mariah Carey and Rihanna). Kid Rock beat out such heavy-hitters as Enrique Iglesias, James Blunt and Michael Jackson for World’s Best Pop Male Artist, an award he’s sure to put on display in his bathroom. Rock had slightly meatier competition in the Pop/Rock Male Artist race from Lenny Kravitz, Jack Johnson and Blunt, another three-on-one cage match we’d like to see, and one in which we’d bet big money on Rock.

Somehow, nobody informed the folks at the show that Amy Winehouse has spent most of the past year collapsing, fighting nasty skin infections and dealing with a horrible lung disease her father said she contracted from smoking crack and cigarettes. No bother, she still beat out such hard-working ladies as Pink, Duffy and Katy Perry for the World’s Best Pop/Rock Female Artist award.

But they got one award right, handing Lil Wayne the Best Hip-Hop/Rap Artist trophy over stiff competition that included Kanye West, T.I. and T-Pain.

And, because it’s not an awards show unless Celine Dion gets some hardware, the Canadian warbler took home a Best Canadian Artist trophy. Scroll down the first page of the awards show’s site and please tell us if you know anything about Philip Kirkorov, because all we know is that he looks awesome and he supposedly had his bodyguards rough up Russian rock band DDT’s singer after the rocker made some cracks about Kirkorov’s alleged lip-synching. We totally have to go to this show next yea

Carrie Underwood is a steady hitmaker after meteoric rise in country music

2008-11-10T22:29:00.000-08:00

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — After three years, Carrie Underwood is no longer the country newcomer on a meteoric rise.

She's become a multi-platinum, steady hitmaker with two No. 1 albums and eight Top 5 singles, seven of them chart toppers.

While she may not be a veteran, she's certainly become one of country music's seasoned stars.

"I'm a lot more comfortable with the process," she said recently. "I have two good albums under my belt, and now I can focus on what I really want to do and say."

Perhaps as a nod to her established superstar status, Underwood will join as co-host the Country Music Association Awards, which will air live Wednesday on ABC.

The 25-year-old also is nominated for album of the year and female vocalist, an honour she's won the last two years.

"It's hard to get tired of it when it still seems so new," she said of her nominations. "I've only been doing this three years. For a lot of people it takes longer to get nominated. I'm lucky."

After her "American Idol" win in 2005, Underwood was whisked into the studio to capitalize on her sudden fame.

When her debut album "Some Hearts" sold phenomenal numbers, she felt a lot of pressure to follow it up.

"I didn't want to be a one-album wonder kind of person," she recalled.

That's no longer an issue.

Her sophomore album "Carnival Ride" is approaching three million in sales at a time when very few releases reach that level, and it continues to spin off hits with her latest single, the poignant "Just a Dream," now No. 1 on Billboard's country chart.

"There's no tried and true formula for making an album or picking songs," says Underwood. "I sing songs that I'd like to hear on the radio.

"You kind of go with your gut and do things you like. Because even if it sold massively, I'd hate to sing songs that I didn't like onstage."

Before "Idol," Underwood's idea of fame was about like everyone else's - all glitz and fun.

Not anymore.

"You never think about how much work goes into it. Now I think it's like I run a company,' she said. "If I do good, everybody gets rewarded.

"So many people depend on me every night to do my job, and I depend on them. It's a business, too, and every night you go to work and if you do bad then everybody does bad.

Joan Chandos Baez : A Voice Against War!

2008-11-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

This is Joan Baez - the rewound singer and musician of 60's who felt for Bangali people, felt for our beloved motherland. Besides her successful musical career, Baez applied her "creative imagination / and artistry" (Neptune / Venus) towards the goal of "peace" (Venus) in the 1960s, she established the Institute for the Study of Nonviolence (1965) and became active in protests against the Vietnam War, giving free performances for various anti-war organizations and peace rallies. The self-acclaimed "Peace Queen" was jailed twice for participating in "anti-war" (Venus) demonstrations, and in 1964 she refused to pay her taxes. On a letter to the Internal Revenue Service, Joan Baez wrote -

Obosheshe by Habib Wahid & Ferdous Wahid

2008-11-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

Tracks:
1 - Habib Wahid and Ferdous Wahid - Keno Emon Hoy
2 - Habib Wahid and Ferdous Wahid - Cholte Cholte Dekha Holo
3 - Habib Wahid and Ferdous Wahid - Neel Jochona
4 - Habib Wahid and Ferdous Wahid - Dukkho Chuayee Dekho
5 - Habib Wahid and Ferdous Wahid - Feery Aasho Na
6 - Habib Wahid and Ferdous Wahid - Katena Mayabi Raat
7 - Habib Wahid and Ferdous Wahid - Valo Lage
8 - Habib Wahid and Ferdous Wahid - Chokhe Chokhe
9 - Habib Wahid and Ferdous Wahid - Keno Emon Hoy (Instrumantal)

Champagne Charade

2008-11-08T08:44:00.000-08:00

Modern rock with a fierce bite is precisely what The Champagne Charade deliver on their latest release Glitter City. If you are a fan of ‘80s pop metal, ‘90s nu metal, or 2000’s prog rock, you are bound to love this album. Fronted by female singer Saetia LaReoux whose command over her vocal range is nothing short of the power and feistiness that Pink executes, is thickly horned by taut guitars, steamrolling drum kicks and bronco thrusting bass pulls. The band shows that they know their stuff and work with all cylinders on full-throttle moving at a track runner’s rate. The phat crunchy chord rinds of guitarists Bobbie Venom and Kaedon Grey are worthy of Cold, and the mallet-packed whacks of drummer Chris Crypts and bassist Nicky Charade sharply intensify the music’s decibels to Evanescence’s magnitude. Ready or not, The Champagne Charade stoke the flames of hard rock to majestic heights and bear steal-plated armor in their melodic tooling.

Boyzone: Back Again... Latest Album

2008-11-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

The title sounds oddly like a threat, and anybody not enamoured of Boyzone's trademark brand of saccharine balladry could be forgiven for taking it as such, but nobody should underestimate the Irish band's remorseless efficiency. This latest Greatest Hits set means they have released as many compilations of this type as they have actual albums. You would almost think that Louis Walsh valued commerce over artistry.

So we get the familiar litany of shoulder-heaving 1990s chart-toppers, from No Matter What to Words to, you know, all the others that sounded the same, plus two new songs: the oddly Phil Spector-like Love You Anyway and the chippy electro-pop of Can't Stop Thinking About You. It's a hugely cynical cash-in, but it may work: Boyzone's Take That-style reunion tour this year saw them play to 250,000 people. There again, at least Take That had the decency also to record a new album.

Jessica Simpson forges a new path in country music

2008-11-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

It comes as no surprise that Jessica Simpson's newfound career in country music was met with skepticism in Nashville.

Her pop career had been undistinguished, save for the soaring ballad "I Wanna Love You Forever," and her 41-episode run with ex-husband Nick Lachey on an MTV reality show, "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica," left her with the image of a ditzy blonde celebrity.



	Singer/actress Jessica Simpson performs the opening concert at the new Snoqualmie Casino.

But reaction to Simpson's new album, "Do You Know," has been more positive than she anticipated. The album is currently at No. 20 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.

"There were definitely skeptics, but the reaction and response has been overwhelmingly exciting," Simpson said in a phone interview this week. "I have people coming up to me all the time saying I should have been doing this for my entire career."

Indeed, Simpson sounds like a natural on such songs as "Come on Over," "Pray Out Loud" and "You're My Sunday."

In "Sipping on History," Simpson yearns for the simple country life she lived while growing up in a musical family in Texas. She also dreams of a romance for the ages.

"I could've been your June Carter Cash/ Waltzed right along with you," she sings.

Britney Spears declines to play Virgin Mary!

2008-11-08T07:50:00.001-08:00

November 08, 2008, (Sawf News) - Britney Spears has declined to play Virgin Mary in an upcoming religious satire, Sweet Baby Jesus to be produced by French filmmaker Philippe Rebboah (The Jeweller's Shop, 1989).

Britney was offered the role of a pregnant 19-year-old who is unsure about the identity of her baby's father. She goes into labor on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, Maryland, as rumors swirl that the birth is Jesus Christ's second coming.

The comedy film will star Lily Tomlin, Tom Green and Pierce Brosnan's son, Sean, reports Daily News.

"Britney read the script and she really liked it and really wanted to play the role of Mary," Rebboah told Fox News. "She isn't as scandalous in Europe as she is in the States, and I knew she would do a good job, but [people] were so against it and she was pressured. Then she ran into all the trouble with her family so we mutually decided the timing wasn't right."

Keeping up with Britney's other French connections, the pop star has officially confirmed that she will be appearing on hit French show Star Academy on November 28th!

Britney is currently in her hometown in Kentwood, Louisiana, where she arrived on Friday, November 7, with sons Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2. This is the first time she has been allowed to travel out of California with the toddlers since loosing their custody to ex Kevin Federline earlier this year.

"This is a terrific indication of the progress she's made, and the growing trust between the two parents," a source close to Spears told People. "It was arranged cooperatively between Kevin and the lawyers."

"Britney just wanted to get some family time in and show the boys Louisiana, now that they're getting older," the source adds.

Britney appears on stage with Madonna

2008-11-08T07:09:00.000-08:00

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake made separate appearances on stage with Madonna on Thursday night in Los Angeles as part of her 'Sticky and Sweet' tour.

People.com reports that Spears took to the stage with Madonna to perform a version of the song 'Human Nature' from the singer's sixth album 'Bedtime Story'. Wearing black satin trousers and a white shirt, the singer appeared very relaxed. She has been performing the same song in a taped segment since Madonna began the tour.

After Britney's appearance Justin Timberlake then joined Madonna on stage to perform '4 Minutes'.

Spears had two reasons to celebrate on Thursday night after she won the gongs for Act of 2008 and the Album of the Year for 'Blackout' at MTV's European Music Awards.

Michael Jackson Artist Main

2008-11-08T07:02:00.000-08:00

Michael Jackson was unquestionably the biggest pop star of the '80s, and certainly one of the most popular recording artists of all time. In his prime, Jackson was an unstoppable juggernaut, possessed of all the tools to dominate ...

Madonna Finally Talks Prop. 8—but Was It Enough?

2008-11-08T06:59:00.001-08:00

No doubt Madonna has done plenty for gay rights over the years, but where has she been during this year's very heated—and very expensive—fight to try and save gay marriage in California?

Until her concert last night in Los Angeles, the outspoken politically minded Queen of Pop had been uncharacteristically silent about Prop. 8, the ballot measure that overturned the legalization of same-sex unions in California.

She didn't even speak a word of it during her concert in San Francisco—San Francisco!—on the Saturday just before Election Day.

And even when she did finally say something, it was brief—very brief.

"I'm sad to hear we didn't win," she said, according to a concertgoer. "But we will not give up the fight. No, we will not. Never! If we can have a black president, we can do anything."

While her words of support caused a thunderous roar of applause, an informal survey of Madonna fans conducted by yours truly shows most are surprised and disappointed by her lack of public support. "Too little, too late, Madge," one fan said last night at the show. "Where was your money and influence before the vote?"

Celebs who have actively opposed the measure include Ellen DeGeneres, Brad Pitt, Barbra Streisand, Melissa Etheridge, Steven Spielberg, Samuel L. Jackson and Pete Wentz. The list goes on and on.

Asked about Madonna's noninvolvement with Prop. 8, her rep emailed me, "The one thing I do not have to do is defend Madonna's very very heartfelt and extensive commitment financially, verbally and numerous other ways to gay rights in the course of her career."

Very true, but let's just hope we see some of that decades-long commitment again as the battle for gay marriage rages on. This is not the time for silence.

Use Somebody Kings Of Leon

2008-11-05T00:40:00.000-08:00

You can't stop playing KOL's new album, now check out the worldwide premiere of the "Use Somebody" video

Metallica Metallica

2008-11-05T00:33:00.000-08:00

Grandmasters of the magical art of ear damage, Metallica are the avatars of power and thrash metal. Relentless and epic song structures borrow from Beethoven as much as Black Sabbath. This revolutionary band has refused to fade to black and has evolved over decades to remain seminal and symphonic string shredders of the highest order.

Christina Aguilera

2008-11-05T00:25:00.000-08:00

era

X-tina lets the genie back out of the bottle with "Keeps Getting Better: A Decade of Hits," and by the sound of things she certainly is better than ever--even without her trademark assless chaps. The pop star takes a cue from Madonna, overhauling her style and updating her sound, including remixing hits such as "Genie in a Bottle" and "Beautiful." Ballads take a back seat this time, but the diva in Aguilera still reigns supreme.

Filed in: Pop

Balam II (Balam 2).

2008-11-05T00:18:00.000-08:00

Track List:
01 - Balam - Premer Dhun
02 - Balam - Shongi Hobe Ki
03 - Balam - Rimjhim
04 - Balam - Oporupa
05 - Balam - Korona Baron
06 - Balam - Hridoyer Shirite
07 - Balam - Matal Mon
08 - Balam - Pichutan
09 - Balam - The Joker

About to Pop

2008-11-05T00:17:00.000-08:00

Find out which legendary band these Las Vegas hard rockers would like to swap careers with.

Best Bond Girls photo Best Bond Girls

2008-11-05T00:11:00.000-08:00

People Are Talking

Sessions Performance

2008-11-05T00:08:00.000-08:00

Who: Scarlett Johansson
What: The actress proves her singing chops.

Carrie Clears Rumors

2008-11-04T23:58:00.000-08:00

Learn the truth about Tony Romo, Michael Phelps and more!
Carrie Talks Dating History

Today's Top Music Videos

2008-11-04T23:44:00.000-08:00

"Forever"
Chris Brown
Yet another hot track from R&B hit-maker Chris Brown, and this time he's invading the dance clubs. Watch the latest synth-driven dance track from his re-released album, 'Exclusive: The Forever Edition.'
"When I Grow Up"
Pussycat Dolls
The girls from PCD reminisce about childhood fantasies becoming realities in their latest traffic-stopping single. Look for the new, sophomore album release 'Doll Domination' this fall.
"So What"
Pink
Pink is back with a vengeance! This new single is her public exclamation about her recent divorce with inked-up Motocross pro, Carey Hart. The new album, 'Funhouse,' is slated to hit the stores this October.

Gretsch Drums Catalina Maple Fusion Limited Edition Shell Pack with Free 16" Floor Tom

2008-11-04T23:37:00.000-08:00

The Gretsch Catalina Maple Fusion Shell Pack with free 16" tom features 6-ply maple shells with natural finished interiors for warm, balanced tones and clear UV gloss finishes for a stunning professional appearance. If you thought you couldn't afford an all maple drum set, this set comes at a price that will make you reconsider. Shell pack only. Cymbals not included. The 10" x 8" and 12" x 9" toms are mounted on a GTS suspension system that's designed to allow every ounce of the maple's full tones to ring free and clear. The 14" x 14" floor tom no longer stands alone; standing proudly at its side is a FREE 16" x 16" floor tom that is sure to inspire new creative fill patterns and groove inventions. The 2.5mm triple flange hoops on all drums provide full, open tones and a wide, strong and stable tuning range.The snare drum is 6" deep to give you added power and tonal depth in a wide range of tunings.Mini Gretsch Lugs add a clean design to the overall appearance of the Catalina Maple set; die-cast bass drum claw hooks and matching wood hoops give added strength and functionality to the 22" x 18" bass drum. The Gretsch Catalina Maple series is a serious choice if you're looking for an all-maple, professional sounding drum set at an affordable price. Cymbals and hardware not included. $599.99

New

2008-11-04T23:35:00.000-08:00

Latin Percussion Aspire Accents Conga Set
This great Conga set comes with all of LP's customary excellence in tone, construction, durability, and more >

Rogue STR-1 Pro Electric Sitar Guitar

2008-11-04T23:22:00.000-08:00

Fitted with 6 guitar strings, 13 sympathetic drone strings, and a buzzing Gotoh bridge, its guitar-like scale and neck couple familiar feel with the exotic tone of the traditional Indian instrument. All 3 pickups (including the sympathetic-string pickup) have independent tone and volume controls. A great axe for re-creating those psychedelic chestnuts of the 60s and for getting into modern world fusion styles.How to tune the sympathetic strings The gauge of the sympathetic strings is .010. and a harp wrench is used for the tuning process. Traditional Tuning The longest and lowest string is tuned an octave above the high E of a standard tuned guitar. From there the strings are tuned in half steps. This is just a starting point and experimentation can yield some beautiful sounds. Another great tuning is to use a "dropped D" tuning (dropping the 6th E string down a full step to D) on the guitar neck then the sympathetic strings would be tuned to a D7sus chord as follows (longest string to shortest string)D - same note as 1st string of the guitar neck fretted at the 10th fret (the 1st string is tuned to standard E)F# - ascendingG - ascendingA - ascendingC - ascendingA - ascendingG - ascendingF# - ascendingG - ascendingA - ascendingC - ascendingD - ascendingD - same as previous note

About Music123

2008-11-04T23:16:00.000-08:00

Music123 brings the deals on the hottest music gear. Shopping is a snap with our huge selection of musical instruments and music equipment. You'll find great deals on electric guitars, acoustic guitars, and bass guitars, as well as drums and percussion, music keyboards, live sound and recording software and studio equipment from all the leading brands. You'll get the guaranteed best deals on DJ equipment and stage lighting, band and orchestra needs, clothes and lifestyle items, music instruction videos and books about making music.

JUNO-STAGE:

2008-11-04T07:53:00.000-08:00

A New Synth Star for the Stage

Features

Designed from the ground up for live performers, JUNO-STAGE is a new breed of synthesizer that every gigging keyboardist will love. Decked out with an extra-large display, USB backing-track functionality, a Click output for drummers, dedicated performance knobs, hands-free patch select, instant master MIDI control functionality and much more, JUNO-STAGE sets a new standard for powerful onstage performance at a friendly price.

High-quality, versatile sound set, including 88-key stereo multi-sampled piano, plus 2 open SRX expansion slots for soundset customization
Newly-developed 76-note synth-action keyboard with first-class touch and response
Live-performance features such as an extra-large LCD, dedicated Reverb and Master EQ knobs, Click output for drummers, and hands-free patch-select capabilities
Top panel USB port enables accompaniment-track playback (MP3, .WAV, AIFF, SMF) directly from USB key
Phantom-powered mic input, plus reverb and vocoder, great for playing and singing along
MIDI Controller mode transforms JUNO-STAGE into a MIDI master keyboard with a single touch – perfect when using the JUNO-STAGE with a computer

Yamaha keyboard reviews and buying guide: Choosing Yamaha keyboards; music keyboard reviews.

2008-11-04T07:50:00.000-08:00

Yamaha keyboard (a brand of keyboard that I've been playing since I was a child), I've done years of research just for you.

I've bought books, read magazines and visited many online forums and websites about Yamaha keyboards. I've taken the time to visit musical instrument stores and play many of the music keyboards discussed here.

You can get quick and easy access to my research and experience, in a flash!

Musical keyboard

2008-11-04T07:37:00.000-08:00

A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the interval of an octave. Depressing a key on the keyboard causes the instrument to produce sounds, either by mechanically striking a string or tine (piano, electric piano, clavichord); plucking a string (harpsichord); causing air to flow through a pipe (organ); or strike a bell (carillon). On electric and electronic keyboards, depressing a key connects a circuit (Hammond organ, digital piano, synthesizer). Since the most commonly encountered keyboard instrument is the piano, the keyboard layout is often referred to as the "piano keyboard."

nice guitar

2008-11-03T04:13:00.000-08:00

Ugliest Guitars of 2008

2008-11-03T03:58:00.000-08:00

Halloween might equal Sarah Palin masks and rowdy kids for most people this year, but for us at GuitarSite it's a chance to celebrate those less fortunate. And by those less fortunate, I mean guitars less fortunate. That's right it's time to count down the The World's Ugliest Guitars, Part IV. It's going to be messy.

X Factor finalists

2008-11-03T03:50:00.000-08:00

The 12 finalists of this year's series of The X Factor have knocked Girls Aloud from the top of the UK singles chart. Their cover of Mariah Carey's...

Hard Core

2008-11-03T03:39:00.000-08:00

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry has come out in support of Republican presidential candidate John McCain. It marks the first time the guitarist has publicly endorsed a presidential candidate. "We pretty much stay out of it," Perry says. "But seeing so many people come out for Obama, I just felt like 'What the hell. I might as well raise my hand for this side.'" (h/t Spinner)