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| >> Madonna wows the crowd at free Kent festival |
| Published: 2008-05-12 |
 Madonna wowed a 12,000-strong crowd with tracks from her new album, Hard Candy, at her only UK festival appearance of the summer – at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Maidstone, Kent.The veteran star, at number one in the charts with the single "Four Minutes", featuring Justin Timberlake, topped the bill on the event's main stage last night.The event was opened by American R'n'B heavyweight Usher, who got off to a bad start when he told the crowd how delighted he was to be playing in Manchester.Speaking to DJ Jo Whiley about her set at the two-day free festival, Madonna said: "I want to do new stuff – that's what people come to hear – but I also want to do my oldies but goodies."More than 500,000 people applied for 30,000 tickets, the biggest response yet generated by the Big Weekend, which is in its third year. Also playing were Duffy, The Feeling, and the Fratellis.source: independent.co.uk |
| >> Tricky comeback makes for trip-hop trilogy |
| Published: 2008-05-11 |
 Tricky has released details of his new album, Knowle West Boy. It's the 40-year-old's first LP in five years, his eighth ever, and one that the MC says is inspired by the rough area of Bristol where he grew up.Ordinarily, such news wouldn't excite us. Tricky's finest work is more than 10 years behind him and his last two albums, Blowback (2001) and Vulnerable (2003), only showed touches of the ingenuity that made his earlier work, such as Maxinquaye, so captivating. But isn't it strange that he should make a comeback after five years in hiatus, less than a month after Portishead return with their album Third and Massive Attack announce they're not only curating festivals, they're headlining them too? Did all the (DON'T CALL ME) trip-hop bands of Bristol sit down together over tea and biscuits and decide that it was time for a comeback? A life of organic farming and Tesco clubcards can get rather dull after all. And what do you know, Portishead only went and surprised us cynics by making one of the best albums of the year. We look forward to seeing whether a bit of time off has had a similar effect on Tricky. Album's out July 9th. Source: guardian.co.uk |
| >> Is LED ZEPPELIN Ready To Rock Again? |
| Published: 2008-05-11 |
 Mirror.co.uk reports that LED ZEPPELIN is ready rock again to mark its 40th anniversary this year.Fans have been calling for ZEPPELIN to tour after their successful gig at London's 02 Arena last December, which saw Jason Bonham on drums in place of late dad John.Singer Robert Plant, 59, was originally opposed to the idea but has been talked round by bandmates Jimmy Page, 64, and John Paul Jones, 62.A longtime pal, WHITESNAKE's frontman David Coverdale, said yesterday the tour was "very likely" and he was expecting to be the support act.David said: "I'm expecting a call from Jimmy any day asking my band WHITESNAKE to support them on their world tour. Am I on board? You bet. Probably worth billions! "Unlike rolling out the wheelchairs with the umpteenth ROLLING STONES world tour, a LED ZEPPELIN tour will be incredible.Read more at Mirror.co.uk. Source:roadrunnerrecords.com |
| >> Echo And The Bunnymen Rain Down On Radio City Music Hall |
| Published: 2008-05-09 |
 To celebrate their 30th Anniversary as a group (which apparently includes the seven year period when the band broke up in 1990 before reforming in '97), post-punk gods Echo And The Bunnymen will perform their fourth (and widely hailed as their classic) album Ocean Rain October 1 at New York City's Radio City Music Hall.While it would be awesome enough to hear the group perform classic Rain cuts like "Seven Seas" and "The Killing Moon," the group will be joined at this show by a 10-piece orchestra, which will be conducted by Rupert Christie, who recently helped guide a similar orchestral production of Lou Reed's Berlin. Rain, while highly regarded, is only nine songs long, so don't be too surprised if the group pulls a few more songs out of the catalog for the show.But don't think the Bunnymen are only about the past these days, as Ian McCulloch and Co. are currently working on a new album titled The Fountain for release later this year, with a UK single, "I Think I Need It Too," to be released in August. www.bunnymen.com Source: cmj.com |
| >> Primal Scream reveal all about new album |
| Published: 2008-05-09 |
 Primal Scream have gone back to basics their eighth studio album.Recalling the -influenced sounds of their mid-90s efforts, singer Bobby Gillespie and his band have turned their back on the sonic experimentations of recent albums, and instead rely on a gonzo live sound approach.“I think we’re one of the best live bands in the world and I wanted to capture that,” Gillespie told NME.COM of the shift in styles. “The last two albums we’ve been loops and drum machines, for this record we wrote euphoric rock n roll songs and I wanted to capture that euphoria and I think we did it. It was a great time making it, fucking great!” The raw approach has triggered speculation the band have fallen out with My Bloody Valentine mainman and recent collaborator Kevin Shields – and even Primal Scream themselves are currently unsure of the situation.“What people need to understand is that Kevin only played with us live,” explained Gillespie. “He mixed a lot of songs but he never played guitar on the albums, people think he was playing on records but he was playing live. Is Shields still involved? I don’t know, he didn’t play at the last gig in Glasgow three weeks ago. He never made that gig because he was working on a Sophia Coppola movie, so I don’t really know.”Tracks set to appear on the album include 'Nitty Gritty’, ‘Boogie Disease’ and forthcoming single 'Country Girl' (due out May 22). With the album mixed by Oasis producer Dave Sardy in Los Angeles – bringing the album in at a cool 20 days – guests include Alison Mosshart from The Kills who sings backing vocals, Echo And The Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant and Nick Cave collaborator Warren Ellis who “plays fiddle” on ‘Hell’s Coming Down’.Currently the untitled album is due out on June 5, with Primal Scream due to play several festivals this summer. Source: nme.com |
| >> Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd Team For 'Rebels' Tour |
| Published: 2008-05-07 |
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The Rock and Roll Revival Tour will resume on the West Coast in September with guests still to be announced. Here are Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Rock and Rebels" tour dates: Aug. 8: Oklahoma City (Zoo Amphitheater) |
| >> Madonna tops Mariah with Candy |
| Published: 2008-05-07 |
 In a week full of strong debuts, from Lyfe Jennings and Def Leppard to the Roots and Portishead, Madge is No. 1.It's a busy week at the top of the The Billboard 200, with Madonna's Hard Candy leading the action at No. 1. It is the artist's seventh chart-topper, the second-most among all female artists--only Barbra Streisand, with eight, has more. The Warner Bros. set moved 280,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. After racing 68-3 last month, the diva's single "4 Minutes" featuring Justin Timberlake gave Madonna her 37th top 10 hit--the most of any artist in the rock era. Until now, she and Elvis Presley were tied with 36 apiece. As a consequence, Mariah Carey's E=MC2 (Island Def Jam) is dethroned to No. 2 after two weeks on top; the album moved 95,000 units, a 48 percent sales drop-off. Leona Lewis' Spirit (Syco/J) slips 2-3 with 84,000 (-12 percent).Lyfe Jennings' Columbia album Lyfe Change starts with 80,000 at No. 4. His last set trumps this start though, as The Phoenix began at No. 2 with 136,000 in 2006.Def Leppard scores its 11th consecutive top 20 album with the bow of Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (Island/UMe) at No. 5 with 55,000 units. The band started its top 20 streak on The Billboard 200 back with 1983's Pyromania when it peaked at No. 2. Since Pyromania, every Def Leppard album has reached the top 20. The Roots' ninth album, Def Jam set Rising Down, enters at No. 6 off of a 54,000 start. The hip-hop act's last release, 2006's Game Theory, started at No. 9 with 61,000. Portishead returns with its first studio album in more than 10 years as Third bows with 53,000 at No. 7, a new charting high-water mark for the U.K. act. Its last studio effort, 1997's Portishead, debuted and peaked at No. 21.Tom Petty side project Mudcrutch--which was actually the precursor to Petty's career as a solo artist--has a No. 8 start with its self-titled Reprise set with 38,000. Petty's last release, 2006's Highway Companion, started at No. 4 with 112,000.The multi-label Now 27 continues its decline 6-9 with 31,000 and a 4 percent decrease. The Wal-Mart exclusive set Greatest Hits Vol. 1 and 2 from Tim McGraw bows at No. 10 with 29,000. The 2-CD set combines the singer's 2000 Greatest Hits with his 2006 Greatest Hits Vol. 2: Reflected. Aside from those seven releases, 24 other albums debut inside The Billboard 200, including Steve Winwood's Nine Lives (Columbia, No. 12, 26,000), Carly Simon's This Kind of Love (Hear Music, No. 15, 23,000), Augustana's Can't Love, Can't Hurt (Epic, No. 21, 21,000), Lil Mama's VYP: Voice of the Young People (Jive, No. 25, 19,000), Mindless Self Indulgence's If (The End Records, No. 27, 18,000) and Mana's Arde El Cielo (Warner Music Latina, No. 30, 17,000). Album sales this week are up 10 percent from last week's sum with 7.55 million units and down 10.4 percent from the same week last year. Source:mp3.com |
| >> NINE INCH NAILS: New Album 'The Slip' Available For Free Download |
| Published: 2008-05-05 |
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NINE INCH NAILS has made its new ten-song, 44-minute minute album entitled "The Slip" available for free download at www.nin.com (free signup required). The new set includes the songs "Echoplex" and "Discipline" which were both posted online during the last couple of weeks ahead of the new album release. "The Slip" track listing: 01. 999,999 All songs were performed by Trent Reznor, Josh Freese, Robin Finck and Allesandro Cortini.NINE INCH NAILS mainman Trent Reznor released the instrumental "Ghosts I-IV" album online on March 2. The two-hour collection of 36 untitled instrumental tracks was made available in various high-quality DRM-free formats at different price levels. According to a press statement, a total of 781,917 copies of the project were transacted at NIN.com in the first week of release, including paid and free downloads, plus pre-orders for physical editions of the set. The total gross earned was reported as $1,619,420. The expensive "ultra-deluxe" limited edition of "Ghosts I - IV" sold out almost instantly despite a steep $300 price tag. A digital version is available for five dollars, along with a $75 limited edition "deluxe" package. Source:roadrunnerrecords.com |
| >> Alicia Keys lets the music guide her |
| Published: 2008-05-05 |
 The 2007 chart-topping album "As I Am" is still a fresh concern for Alicia Keys, but the singer says she's already actively mulling her next record."I've been thinking about the next album, since we kind of wrapped up this album," says Keys, who's in the middle of the North American tour promoting "As I Am" that comes to the HP Pavilion on Saturday. The set, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in November, still remains in the top 30 of the chart."Part of what I've been thinking about is, 'What are the ways that I want to express myself this time?' " she says "When I was just finishing recording 'As I Am,' I said to myself that I want to do something that's totally stripped-down, stripped-back, totally piano-based, singer-songwriter; a Joni Mitchell-Carole King type of vibe."I might do that, but you never know where life takes you, where the music's going to take you." Keys says her greatest obstacle to creating new music now is finding a chance to do it amid a worldwide tour schedule that has dates booked into 2009."At this point I'm trying to find the space to continue to record as I'm on tour," explains Keys, who recently canceled some performances because of voice health issues. "That's always a bit of a challenge for me 'cause it takes so much out of me to tour."But there's always that urge to stay creative and write on that more personal side. So the main goal now is to continue to find that quiet space somewhere in the madness." source: mercurynews.com |
| >> Rappers Lil Wayne, DFB Among Celebrities Attending At Static Major Tribute |
| Published: 2008-05-04 |
 More than two months after his death, Static Major’s presence on the music scene continues to be felt, as the producer's fellow entertainers gather to pay tribute to his memory and influence.The event, organized by Static Major’s wife Avonti, will take place Sunday (May 4) at the City Block venue in Static Major's hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.Invited celebrity guests include rappers Lil Wayne, Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Dem Franchize Boyz and Pretty Ricky.Static Major died Feb. 25 from complications from a medical procedure.Prior to his passing, the 33-year-old beatmaker was credited for writing a string of hit songs for numerous artists such as Ginuwine ("Pony," "So Anxious," "Same Ol G"), Aaliyah ("Are U That Somebody," "Rock The Boat," "Try Again," "We Need A Resolution," "Back In One Piece" feat. DMX), Pretty Ricky ("On The Hotline," "Your Body," "Call Me"), Jay-Z ("Don't Change The Game"), Jamie Foxx ("Can I Take You Home") Diddy ( "Tell Me" feat. Christina Aguilera) 50 Cent ("Fire" feat. the Pussycat Dolls), Timbaland & Magoo ("Luv 2 Luv U"), Truth Hurts ("Addictive") and Nas ("You Owe Me" feat. Ginuwine) and Playa ("Cheers 2 U").The tribute event comes amid the success of Static Major’s latest collaboration on the Lil’ Wayne single "Lollipop."The song, which the singer wrote, currently sits at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Tracks charts and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.Despite "Lollipop" ending up with Lil’ Wayne, the track was originally penned for Dem Franchize Boyz.After the group missed the chance to acquire the song, Kadife Sylvester, a close friend of Static Major, shopped a demo of "Lollipop" to Lil’ Wayne, who took a liking to the track after hearing it.Sources tell AllHipHop.com that Static Major’s death will not prevent the singer’s forthcoming album from hitting stores this year.The OG music/Blackground Records/Universal release, titled Suppertime, will feature the lead single "I Got My" feat. Lil Wayne. Other artists slated to appear on Suppertime include Dem franchize Boyz, Project Pat and Missy Elliott.In addition to the album, a DJ Khaled mixtape featuring all of Static Major's hits will be released. Source:allhiphop.com |
Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd will team up for a run of co-headlining dates in August, beginning Aug. 8 in Oklahoma City. The shed tour, under the "Rock and Rebels" banner, will feature an opening act still to be announced.