The Hooters dance again

The Hooters dance again

By Giannis Tsagarakis | Published 03/3/2008 | Music News | Unrated

The first studio album in 14 years from the Hooters is called "Time Stand Still." For a moment, it sounds like time has done just that as the opening track, "I'm Alive," jolts listeners back to the group's heyday in 1985 when they had a multi-platinum album, top 40 hits like "And We Danced," songwriting success on the smash debut of Cyndi Lauper and the world at their feet."The way we play and sing, we call it 'Hooterization,'" says Rob Hyman, the band's driving force alongside Eric Bazilian. They co-wrote nine of the album's 11 songs, which also include an elegant cover of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer" and a track they wrote with band member John Lilley. Unlike some artists who think staying relevant means running from what makes you unique, the Hooters weren't afraid to make use of what they do best. Within reason. "There are times when we'll do something and say, 'That sounds too much like us. It sounds like us in 1986,'" laughs Bazilian. "It has to sound like us, but not sound like something we've done already." To a casual observer, the Philadelphia-based band might seem a classic one-hit wonder. They had just one top 20 hit and one breakthrough album that sold 2 million copies in the U.S. They cut several more albums, without charting big. Yet in fact, Hyman and Bazilian have cut a wide swath in pop music, and their group (which still contains the original five members save for a bassist who joined in 1989) had respect from their peers far greater than their chart success. That's why the Hooters can list a string of accomplishments like playing Live Aid, performing Pink Floyd's "The Wall" in Berlin with fan Roger Waters, and doing an Amnesty International tour. And then there's the collaboration with other artists. Together and on their own, Hyman and Bazilian have worked on music for Lauper (including her standard "Time After Time"), Joan Osborne ("One of Us"), Mick Jagger, Ricky Martin, Journey, the Scorpions, Patty Smyth, Bon Jovi, LeAnn Rimes and many others. But, for a while, the one collaboration that didn't work was with each other: After a break, the group began touring again in 2003 in Europe to enthusiastic crowds. Eventually, after some stops and starts on a new release, something clicked. "When Rob and I got together in June of '06 to take stock of songs we had done separately and together, it was pretty obvious whatever creative blocks the two of us had we had gotten over," says Bazilian, who, like Hyman, is married and the father of three."We have our - I wouldn't even call them battles, we have our struggles. But it's so clear now we have the same goal, the same vision."The first step in reaching that vision? Turning off the cell phones."We literally had to take the phone off the hook and commit to each other," says Hyman, because of the demand from other artists for their skills. "We wanted to get it right."

Bossa nova's 50th birthday free concert in Brazil

Bossa nova's 50th birthday free concert in Brazil

By Giannis Tsagarakis | Published 03/3/2008 | Music News | Unrated

A free concert was organized in Rio de Janeiro to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bossa nova, the unique Brazilian music that seduces the world.The concert held on its iconic Ipanema beach Saturday was attended by bossa nova pioneers and musicians influenced by the genre, which was first heard in small clubs and cafes in the beachfront districts of Rio de Janeiro around 1958.Despite rain, organizers said the show would go on with performers including veterans Roberto Menescal, Carlos Lyra and Oscar Castro Neves as well as modernists such as the group Bossacucanova, which mixes bossa nova with electronica. "Bossa has its eternal audience and there is also a new one," said show organizer Solange Kafuri.Bossa nova, which can be translated as "the new beat," was born out of the melodies strummed by legendary guitarist Joao Gilberto, although Antonio Carlos Jobim is credited as naming it. In 1969, Gilberto's new musical style reached a worldwide audience with the release of "Girl from Ipanema," one of the greatest hits of bossa nova.But different from samba, a music genre popular among the working class in Brazil, bossa nova often speaks of love, the beach and beautiful women and is described by many as the music of the Brazilian middle and upper classes. source: xinhuanet.com

Nine Inch Nails Uploads New Album to BitTorrent Sites

Nine Inch Nails Uploads New Album to BitTorrent Sites

By Giannis Tsagarakis | Published 03/4/2008 | Music News | Unrated

Nine Inch Nails has released its new album, Ghosts I-IV, online and in a somewhat Radiohead-eque way. You'll recall Radiohead released its In Rainbows album with "you" naming the price. Nine Inch Nails doesn't go quite that far, but its still the sort of experimentation more bands should be trying with digital distribution becoming more popular. source: hiphop-elements.com

Spiritualized Unveils New Album Details

Spiritualized Unveils New Album Details

By Giannis Tsagarakis | Published 03/4/2008 | Music News | Unrated

Spiritualized's first album in five years, "Songs in A&E," will arrive May 19 internationally and June 3 in North America via Fontana International/Spaceman Records."Soul on Fire" will serve as the first single and will be released on CD and digitally on a date to be announced. Frontman Jason "Spaceman" Pierce worked on the project with longtime collaborator Thighpaulsandra, guitarist Doggen and drummer Kevin 'Kevlar' Bales.New material will be featured at a handful of upcoming U.S. shows, including an April 26 appearance at the Coachella festival in Indio, Calif.In related news, Pierce has penned the soundtrack to Harmony Korine's next movie, "Mr. Lonely," which is scheduled for release sometime this year. Here is the track list for "Songs in A&E": "Harmony" "Sweet Talk" "Death Take Your Fiddle" "I Gotta Fire" "Soul on Fire" "Harmony 2" "Sitting on Fire" "Yeah Yeah" "You Lie You Cheat" "Harmony 3" "Baby I'm Just a Fool" "Don't Hold Me So Close" "Harmony 4" "The Waves Crash In"

David Gray brings brightness to city

David Gray brings brightness to city

By Giannis Tsagarakis | Published 03/4/2008 | Music News | Unrated

WITH his relaxing vocals and pleasing melodies, David Gray is the last person in the world you'd expect to enrage anyone.Nevertheless, that's exactly what the Sale singer-songwriter managed to do at the Corn Exchange last night."I had tickets for this but I'm having to work," wailed a member of the venue's security staff. "I'm absolutely raging." Those not hindered by employment obligations were treated to a terrific evening of folk rock, which was kicked off by talented newcomer Beth Rowley.The Bristol singer's support slot coincided with the release of her new single, Oh My Life.Backed by a band that includes saxophonist Ben Castle, son of Record Breakers legend Roy, Rowley proved that she has a voice equal in volume to her bouncing blonde locks.Her debut album, Little Dreamer, is due out in May and, on this evidence, it should be well worth a listen.But while the audience gave Rowley an enthusiastic reception, there was only one musician they really wanted to see.Dressed in a black suit, Gray made a low-key entrance, walking on stage alone with his acoustic guitar and giving the briefest of introductions to his first song."I'm going to start at the beginning," he said, before playing Shine, a particularly mellow number from A Century Ends, his 1993 debut album. This was greeted with rapturous applause. Gray was then joined on stage by his backing group for Living Room, another of the musician's early efforts.It was perhaps telling that Gray performed Babylon, still his biggest hit, so early in the set. While he's probably morally obliged to give it an airing at every gig, he was determined not to let his fans leave with "for crying out loud" ringing in their ears – although similar sentiments were expressed by gridlocked motorists trying to leave the venue afterwards.While he's undoubtedly an extremely talented musician and lyricist, Gray may need to work a little on some of his banter. One meandering introduction, which included musngs on "the hypocrisy of society", caused one fan to mumble: "Blah, blah, blah. Stop talking and just get on with it."Thankfully, he seemed to get the message and launched into the considerably rockier, at least by Gray's standards, You're the World to Me.Along with Babylon, The One I Love is one of only two songs to have given Gray a top-ten hit. Its lyrics certainly struck a chord with the romantics in the crowd.Gray then showed his versatility as a musician by taking a seat behind the piano for Life In Slow Motion, a beautiful song that truly lives up to its name.Last year, Gray released a greatest hits album, but don't let that fool you into thinking his career is winding down.He's not had three chart-topping records for nothing and, at least as far as last night's audience and a disgruntled security guard are concerned, he's still the one they love. This report is provided by scotsman.com

Janet Jackson returns to No. 1 with new album debut

Janet Jackson returns to No. 1 with new album debut

By Giannis Tsagarakis | Published 03/6/2008 | Music News | Unrated

Worldwide 100 million-selling megastar Janet Jackson returns to Soundscan’s #1 position on the Billboard 200 albums chart, as her Island Def Jam album debut ‘Discipline’ enters at the top on first week sales of 181,075 units, it was announced today by Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group. ‘Discipline’ marks Janet’s first #1 Soundscan album debut in nearly seven years, since ‘All For You’ in May 2001. “Janet delivered an amazing album and Island Def Jam is on a mission to deliver big results for her in every way,” said Mr. Reid. "Janet is musical royalty who only deserves the very best.”‘Discipline’ was launched on the morning of the album release (February 26th) with a live performance at the Nokia Theatre on New York’s Times Square, broad­cast on ABC’s Good Morning America. Another Times Square performance happened that afternoon, broadcast by MTV’s TRL. Just a few blocks away, pandemonium took over Best Buy for Janet’s in-store CD signing event, which attracted 5000 fans. Across the country two days later (Thursday), Janet stopped traffic again at her Virgin Megastore CD signing event. Later that night on CNN, she was the exclusive guest on Larry King Live. An appearance on the Ellen Show followed the next morning (Friday). Janet’s appearance on the Tyra Banks Show airs March 4, and that same night she is the lead guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live. “She a good bad girl,” screamed USA Today’s headline of its 3 album review by Steve Jones. “Sexual tension reverberates throughout Janet’s latest,” he wrote, “as she works out the kinks on the dance floor but saves some for the bedroom.” The review goes on to praise the album’s “bumping club grooves and quirky sound effects.” The week before the album’s release came news of Janet’s 2008 NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the #1 box office smash Why Did I Get Married? The comedy-drama written, produced, directed, and starring Tyler Perry, opened #1 at the box office. It is the third motion picture of Janet’s career, and her third to open at #1, following the success of Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000), and her leading title role in John Singleton’s Poetic Justice (1993). ‘Discipline’ is the 10th studio album (and overall 13th album) of Janet Jackson’s career. In addition to Rodney Jerkins, who produced “Feedback,” the new album brings together an A-list of guest producers, including Jermaine Dupri, Ne-Yo, Stargate, Tricky Stewart, and The-Dream.Prior to album release, “Feedback” was named Janet’s biggest-selling digital single ever, and the video (by British director Saam Farahmand) is currently in major video channel rotation on BET, MTV, VH1, and VH1 Soul. In a class all by herself, 5-time Grammy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated Janet Jackson – singer, composer, producer, actor, and humanitarian – celebrated two career milestones in 2007: the 30th anniversary of her beginning as a TV star in her own right on “Good Times” (in 1977), and the 25th anniversary of her debut as a solo record­ing artist on A&M Records (in 1982). source:monstersandcritics.com

My Morning Jacket Unveils New Album Track ListMy Morning

My Morning Jacket Unveils New Album Track ListMy Morning

By Giannis Tsagarakis | Published Yesterday | Music News | Unrated

Jacket throws fans another sonic curveball on its new studio album, "Evil Urges," due June 10 via ATO. The 14-track set sports the most adventurous music of the Kentucky-bred rock act's career, beginning with the title track, a falsetto-driven groove-fest that opens the disc. MMJ is uncharted territory with songs like "Highly Suspicious," whose robotic funk beats and falsetto singing wouldn't sound out of place on a Rick James or Prince album. Strident rockers like "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Part 1" boast unusual touches, from fluttering synth lines and multi-tracked vocal parts to chopped-up beats and electro effects on the bass and guitars. Appearing near the end of the disc, "Part 2" of the track is an eight-minute-plus mash-up of disco drumming and grandiose production unlike MMJ has ever attempted.Elsewhere, "Thank You Too" conjures a lost soft rock classic from the '70s, as frontman Jim James tenderly croons, "You really saw my naked heart / you really brought out the naked part."James and his acoustic guitar are also at the forefront of "Librarian," while "Remnants" and "Aluminum Park" will satisfy fans of MMJ's straight-ahead, double-guitar attack.The group is expected to unveil new material during shows next week in Houston and Austin, Texas, the latter one of the most anticipated sets at the South by Southwest festival. Here is the track list for "Evil Urges": "Evil Urges "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Part 1" "Highly Suspicious" "I'm Amazed" "Thank You Too" "Sec Walkin'" "Two Halves" "Librarian" "Look At You" "Aluminum Park" "Remnants" "Smokin From Shootin" "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Part 2" "Good Intentions"