01.31.06 (MusicPortal.com) "Morph The Cat," the eagerly anticipated new solo album from STEELY DAN co-founder DONALD FAGEN, has been set for release during the second week of March via Reprise Records. Featuring nine new songs written and arranged by Fagen, "Morph The Cat" is the multi-Grammy winning artist's first solo album since 1993's "Kamakiriad," and the final installment in a musical trilogy that originally began with the release of "The Nightfly" in 1982. Written and arranged by DONALD FAGEN with engineering assistance courtesy of Elliot Scheiner, a regular STEELY DAN collaborator who has also worked with bands as varied at THE EAGLES and FOO FIGHTERS. "'The Nightfly' is sort of looking from the standpoint of youth," Fagen explains. "'Kamakiriad' would be more about midlife. This new one is about endings, really." "Morph The Cat" selections include the title track and the debut single, 'H Gang.' Also featured are the songs 'What I Do,' 'Brite Nightgown,' 'The Great Pagoda Of Funn,' 'Security Joan,' 'The Night Belongs To Mona,' 'Mary Shut The Garden Door, and a reprise of 'Morph The Cat.' The album will be made available as both a CD and a CD/DVD in high-resolution audio and 5.1 Surround Sound. Blending Jazz, Soul and a plethora of other musical influences with extended grooves and ever changing musical textures, 'Morph The Cat' has already been compared to the STEELY DAN classic 'Aja,' set in contemporary Manhattan. "I like it when songs develop in some way and four minutes usually isn't enough time for something to develop musically", says Fagen. "I'm still plugged into the Duke Ellington model, something akin to classical music, where you start with something; you develop a little bit and stick with it. And when you get a groove going, time flies." Built around extended, richly textured Jazz, Soul and Rock grooves, the themes of "Morph The Cat" range from impending mortality and assorted apocalyptic scenarios to homeland security and the ghost of Ray Charles. "I don't think you can escape the environment we live in now," Fagen remarks on his songwriting strategy. "If Steely Dan has survived -- and I have survived as a solo artist -- it's partly because we've reflected what's going on around us." DONALD FAGEN's renowned lyrical darkness once more comes to the fore throughout "Morph The Cat." The hint of alien attack in 'Mary Shut The Gate' was written after the Republican convention hit Manhattan. "I'd much rather being fighting aliens, although there are some similarities," he says. "Morph The Cat" was recorded in New York City and Kauai, Hawaii. The album features an extraordinary lineup of backing musicians, many of who have previously worked with DONALD FAGEN and STEELY DAN partner Walter Becker on stage and in the studio. Included are drummer Keith Carlock, bassist Freddie Washington, and guitarists Hugh McCracken, Jon Herington, and Wayne Krantz. Fagen performs lead and backing vocals, and plays keyboards. STEELY DAN's most recent studio album, "Everything Must Go," was released in 2003 on Reprise Records.

01.30.06 (MusicPortal.com) After 15 years of great music from BEVERLEY KNIGHT, fans will soon be able to get their hands on all 11 of her Top 40 hits on March 20th, from the 1995 club classic debut, 'Flava Of The Old Skool,' to her latest Top 20 hit, 'Keep This Fire Burning.' As well as a new single in 'Piece Of My Heart,' "Voice: The Best Of Beverley Knight" also contains previously unreleased bonus tracks, including her stunning live version of Robbie Williams' 'Angels' recorded for Radio 2 with the song's co-writer Guy Chambers earlier this year. There is also a previously unheard song in the haunting 'Who's Gonna Save Your Soul.' BEVERLEY KNIGHT's awesome voice has featured on a catalog of hits spanning the years since 'Flava Of The Old Skool' burst onto the burgeoning UK Urban scene of 1995. In fact, the songs contained on "Voice: The Best Of Beverley Knight" neatly chart the development of her talents as a vocalist and songwriter over a decade that has seen many styles, and many of her contemporaries, come and go. In 2006, Knight stands proud: vocally stronger than ever and still continuing to push the boundaries that have too often contained black British female artists of the last 30 years. A new single is the perfect showcase for the powerhouse Soul/Gospel voice for which BEVERLEY KNIGHT is best known - her interpretation of Janis Joplin's classic 'Piece of My Heart.' So why that song? "Well, I was first invited to sing it on stage with Ronnie Wood early last year, and that gave me the idea to do it on the tour. On every tour I've done in the last few years I always like to do one interpretation of a song I love by another artist." says Knight. There's been many but my favorites are probably 'I Feel For You,' the Prince song that was a hit for one of my all time heroes, Chaka Kahn, the Gwen Guthrie original 'soulgirlpower' anthem, 'Ain't Nothin' Going On But The Rent', and latterly, 'Piece Of My Heart.' I work hard live -- very much in the spirit of someone like James Brown -- and this song just captures that energy. It went down a storm on tour so it fits here, and the organic approach points stylistically towards my next studio album too." BEVERLEY KNIGHT has never wanted to be penned in to one tight genre of R&B, as many of the songs on this collection suggest. "I'm not a soul purist." says Knight, "My roots are in gospel and in R&B also, but in the old sense of the term - rhythm and blues. Just because I'm a black female singer don't expect me to do just one thing. I have a different edge to my voice and my songs at times. The tracks I love best are just great songs really, not just one genre - and they're often ones like 'Piece of My Heart,' where rock and soul meet." "Voice: The Best Of Beverley Knight" Track Listing: 1. Shoulda Woulda Coulda • 2. Keep This Fire Burning • 3. Come As You Are • 4. Piece Of My Heart • 5. Gold • 6. Made It Back (Good Times 7'' Mix) • 7. Get Up! • 8. Flava Of The Old Skool • 9. Sista Sista • 10. Not Too Late For Love • 11. Greatest Day • 12. Made It Back (Original Version Featuring Redman) • 13. Sweet Thing (Live For Radio 2) (Bonus Track) • 14. Angels (Live For Radio 2) (Bonus Track) • 15. Who's Gonna Save Your Soul (Bonus Track)
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01.27.06 (MusicPortal.com) Proud Galleries has announced confirmed locations and dates for the 2006 exhibition tour of a unique photographic show that faithfully captures former BEATLES member PAUL McCARTNEY's life on the road. Based upon the book "Each One Believing: Onstage, Off Stage And Backstage," published by Chronicle Books, the show is comprised of over 40 pictures taken by photographer Bill Bernstein over the course of the most successful tour of McCartney's post-BEATLES career. The tour is set to visit cities across the United States throughout 2006, beginning with the March 4th opening of "Paul McCartney's Each One Believing: The Tour," at San Diego's Morrison Gallery. Each exhibit is slated to run from three weeks to two months in order to give fans the opportunity to view the show first-hand. Other locations include San Francisco's San Francisco Art Exchange (April/May), Photographic Image in Portland, Oregon (June 1st-June 25th), Seattle's Benham Gallery (July), Stephen Cohen Gallery in Los Angeles (August), Denver's Walnut Street Gallery (September 7th-November 2nd), and Inspire Fine Art in Chicago (November 17th-December 31st). The original exhibition opened to both public and critical acclaim last Fall at Proud Galleries in London. "Each One Believing: The Tour" illustrates PAUL McCARTNEY's first solo tour in nearly a decade, and includes images taken onstage and backstage during a journey which saw sold-out concert performances in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Rome, Moscow and more. Poignant and candid, funny and illuminating, the tour is a road trip with PAUL McCARTNEY like no other. Bernstein's lens captures the excitement evoked by the grand lighting of stage sets; the heightened energy of the band in mid-song; and the intimate shots of McCartney alone playing at his "Magic Piano" or onstage with his beloved Hofner bass guitar. "The response that 'Each One Believing' has received has been overwhelming," says McCartney. "Everywhere we go, people tell us how much they enjoy the unique balance between the engaging photographs and first-hand written accounts and events from the tour. It seemed a natural when we were approached to put the exhibit on the road and so we did." Photographer Bill Bernstein had unprecedented on-stage, off-stage, and backstage access, providing dynamic images both of PAUL McCARTNEY's public appearances and the quiet one-on-one moments. Exhibition and sale prints will be signed by both McCartney and Bernstein. "Each One Believing: Onstage, Off Stage And Backstage" exclusive prints are currently available for purchase in the PAUL McCARTNEY online shop at www.paulmccartney.com.
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01.27.06 (MusicPortal.com) On March 7th, Milking Bull Records will release the self-titled debut from Norah Jones side project THE LITTLE WILLIES, an album that perfectly distills the fun, down-to-earth spirit of this New York quartet's club shows. The group -- Lee Alexander (bass), Jim Campilongo (electric guitar), Jones (piano, vocals), Richard Julian (guitar, vocals) and Dan Rieser (drums) --tears through a mix of covers and originals on the album, from the revved-up Western Swing of Fred Rose's 'Roly Poly' and Willie Nelson's 'I Gotta Get Drunk' to the cutting wit of Kris Kristofferson's 'Best Of All Possible Worlds'; from the poignancy of Townes Van Zandt's 'No Place To Fall' to the cosmic absurdity of their very own 'Lou Reed.' THE LITTLE WILLIES formed for purely practical reasons. In 2003, the group of five friends, who were all individually involved in other projects, booked a gig at The Living Room on New York's Lower East Side as an excuse to spend an evening playing music together. They soon discovered that they shared a deep musical vernacular. Although they hailed from the far corners of the country -- California, Massachusetts, Texas, and Delaware -- the members of THE LITTLE WILLIES all grew up listening to a certain breed of classic Americana music: the songs of Hank Williams, Nelson, Townes Van Zandt and Kristofferson, just to name a few. As one band member notes: "Something about living in a big city like New York makes you miss the stuff you grew up with, and in our case it was some of these songs. The original idea was to just be a cover band and play all these great songs we knew. It became really fun to have that outlet, and also a great excuse to seek out other songs we didn't know." Over the next couple years, THE LITTLE WILLIES continued to play at The Living Room whenever all five members were in town. They added a few originals to their setlist along the way. The group initially contemplated a live album, but when Jones and Alexander completed work on their home studio, they decided to christen the space with a LITTLE WILLIES recording session. The resulting album showcases the group's core strengths, from Jones and Julian's sublime vocals, to Campilongo's stinging guitar licks, while maintaining the loose, spirited, bar-band feel of THE LITTLE WILLIES' live experience. "The Little Willies" Track Listing: 1. Roly Poly (Fred Rose) • 2. I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (Fred Rose/Hank Williams) • 3. Love Me (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller) • 4. It's Not You It's Me (Richard Julian/Ashley Moore) • 5. Best Of All Possible Worlds (Kris Kristofferson) • 6. No Place To Fall (Townes Van Zandt) • 7. Roll On (Lee Alexander) • 8. I Gotta Get Drunk (Willie Nelson) • 9. Streets Of Baltimore (Tompall Glaser/Harland Howard) • 10. Easy As The Rain (Richard Julian/Jim Campilongo) • 11. Tennessee Stud (Jimmy Driftwood) • 12. Night Life (Walter M. Freeland/Paul F. Buskirk/Willie Nelson) • 13. Lou Reed (Lee Alexander/Richard Julian/Norah Jones)
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01.25.06 (AP) Rapper CASSIDY was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault Tuesday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in what prosecutors called the planned ambush of a man who had argued with the musician's friends. The 23-year-old vocalist, whose real name is Barry Reese, was found grossly negligent for supplying the guns that killed Desmond Hawkins and wounded two of his companions, Common Pleas Judge Jane Cutler Greenspan said at the end of the two-day, non-jury trial. Greenspan sentenced CASSIDY to 11 1/2 to 23 months in prison. He has been in custody since his arrest in June, meaning he could be out of jail within a few months. "You could be a leader in the community," Greenspan said. "All those guns - that's why Desmond is gone now, because of all those guns." Police said that four different guns, including an assault rifle, were involved in the April 15th ambush in an alley behind the singer's house. CASSIDY and his associates had stashed the guns around the alley in expectation of a shootout, prosecutors said. Investigators also found ammunition for an AK-47 and other weapons inside CASSIDY's rowhouse, which he shared with his girlfriend and 2-year-old son. Witnesses testified that Hawkins, 22, had gone to the singer's home to act as a peacemaker after Hawkins and his friends got in an argument with CASSIDY and his friends. "It's a tragic situation for me too," CASSIDY told the judge. "I didn't set up for this to happen. Desmond Hawkins was my friend ... one of my closest friends." CASSIDY's debut album, "Split Personality," peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart, and featured the top 10 single 'Hotel' featuring R. Kelly. Full Surface/J Records released a follow-up album, "I'm A Hustla," on June 28th. CASSIDY's managers, who attended the trial, want him back to work soon on a third album. "He's a natural performer. Very charismatic. We think he could be multi-platinum," Emio Zizza of J Records said. CASSIDY was convicted of one count of involuntary manslaughter, a misdemeanor; two counts of aggravated assault, both felonies; and possession of an instrument of crime. Hawkins' companions, Bobby Hoyle and Daniel Irvin, were wounded in the shootout. Police have arrest warrants for two others in CASSIDY's camp, but have not found them, defense lawyer Fortunato Perri Jr. said. Evidently, both Perri and the prosecutor said they were satisfied with the verdict. Prosecutors had sought a first-degree murder conviction, but were hampered by witnesses who recanted or recast their initial police statements.
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01.23.06 (AP) EASON CHAN was crowned the king of Hong Kong's 2005 Pop music awards season with a strong showing at Monday's Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards, in a ceremony that mixed Classical and Contemporary performances. Chan won the "Four Electronic Media Syndicated Award," having won the most awards at the four Pop music prize ceremonies organized by local broadcasters. His song, 'Sunset Is Infinitely Good,' was picked as the "Global Chinese Gold Song" by a listeners' vote and input from Chinese-language radio stations around the world. 'Sunset' was also picked as the second-most popular song in mainland China. EASON CHAN, who was also picked "Best Male Pop Singer," urged his colleagues to slow down and improve the quality of their work. The Hong Kong entertainment industry is known for its high productivity in both movies and music albums. "I hope Hong Kong isn't always so rushed. A lot of things should take a slower pace ... That way there can be more exchange of ideas (among recording artists)," he said. Joey Yung was the big winner on the female side, bagging a top sales award and racking up honors as "Best Female Pop Singer" and "Most Popular Female Singer In China." Andy Lau continued to prove his evergreen status. He was named "Most Popular Male Singer In China" and his 'Say I Love You Again' was voted the "Most Popular Song In China." The 44-year-old veteran has managed to juggle successful singing and acting careers while contemporary stars have faded. One of the presenters Monday night, Chinese Olympic gold-medal gymnast Liu Xuan, praised Lau as the "chief executive of the Hong Kong music industry." Indeed, Lau was statesmanlike Monday. After one of his awards was announced, Lau, dressed in a black suit jacket and black pants, rose, raised one of his arms and circled to acknowledge the crowd like a presidential candidate. He performed while shaking hands with fans. Taiwan's Jay Chou was cited as the "Best Selling Male Artist," but didn't show up for the ceremony. In an unusual move, organizers didn't give the "Golden Needle" lifetime achievement award to an individual, but gave it instead to a group - the nearly 30-year-old Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. In a tribute to traditional Chinese music, singer Hacken Lee performed to the accompaniment of the Chinese stringed instrument, er hu. Overall, the night's performances fused Pop and Classical music, East and West. Classical pianist Li Yundi played Mozart, while Coco Lee sang the theme song to the hit martial-arts movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Veteran singer Sandy Lam, who's currently launching a comeback, performed a series of upbeat numbers that had fellow stars on their feet. Monday's awards were organized by Hong Kong's government-owned radio RTHK. The prizes were determined by a mix of voting, polling, professional judging, and input from radio stations.

01.23.06 (MusicPortal.com) The following message was sent out recently to LINKIN PARK fans by drummer Rob Bourdon: What's up, Linkin Park fans? I know it's been a long time since we've had a chance to see you guys face-to-face. I miss playing shows, and look forward to seeing all of you in mid-late '06. We have been writing new songs for the next LP album for the last three months or so. We have been working in pairs out of our home studios and trading ideas with each other every few weeks. Now that we have a bunch of material, we are going to head into a pre-production studio where we will all be working together. We have three separate rooms to work out of at the studio, which is really cool because we can still work individually if we need to. I personally like taking song ideas and working on the drums for a while on my own before letting the other guys hear what I have come up with. Songs can be passed around from room to room so each of us can add in our part. Since we are all there together, we can help each other to develop each of our parts and create the best songs possible. It is the ultimate creative environment for how we write music, since we write by recording into a computer, not by jamming together. We currently have around 50 rough ideas for songs, which will be narrowed down to about 15 when we enter the recording studio. We are very excited about the work we have done so far, and are working hard to get it done so you guys can hear it. As I'm sure you already know, Mike (Shinoda) is doing his own solo project, Fort Minor. It's different than Linkin Park's music as it is a hip-hop album. Called 'The Rising Tied,' it is an incredible album. I think it's one of the best of the year, and I'm not just saying that because Mike is my friend. Mike's been incredibly busy because not only has he been promoting his Fort Minor album and writing with us for the upcoming LP album, but he's about to go out on the road for a North American tour, as well as international touring in Taiwan and Thailand (with 50 Cent) and headlining shows in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. Our own Machine Shop Recordings artist Holly Brook, who sings on the Fort Minor track 'Where'd You Go,' will be joining him to perform that song live on the road for all the U.S./Canada dates. Not only will the Fort Minor Militia fan club get chances to meet them out on tour at meet-and-greets, we're also inviting the LPU members of Linkin Park's fan club to participate in meet-and-greets and pre-sales for all the shows. Fort Minor Tour Dates: 01/28 St Paul, MN [Station 4] • 01/29 Chicago, IL [House Of Blues] • 01/31 Detroit, MI [St. Andrew's Hall] • 02/01 Toronto, ON [Phoenix Concert Theater] • 02/03 Boston, MA [Avalon Ballroom] • 02/04 Providence, RI [Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel] • 02/06 New York, NY [Nokia Theatre - Times Square] • 02/09 Atlanta, GA [Roxy Theatre] • 02/10 Washington, DC [Nation] • 02/21 San Francisco, CA [The Fillmore] • 02/24 Taipei, Taiwan, China [Taipei Soccer Stadium] • 02/26 Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Thailand [Aktive Square] • 02/28 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia [Bukit Kiara Indoor Venue] • 03/01 Singapore, Singapore [Singapore Indoor Stadium] • 03/03 Brisbane, QLD, Australia [The Arena, Fortitude Valley] • 03/04 Newtown, Sydney, NSW [Australia Enmore Theatre] • 03/05 Melbourne, VIC, Australia [The Palace, St. Kilda] • 03/07 Auckland, New Zealand [The St. James Theatre]

01.20.06 (AP) WILSON PICKETT, the Soul pioneer best known for the fiery hits 'Mustang Sally' and 'In The Midnight Hour,' died of a heart attack Thursday in a Reston, Virginia hospital, according to his management company. He was 64. Chris Tuthill of the management company Talent Source said Pickett had been suffering from health problems for the past year. "He did his part. It was a great ride, a great trip, I loved him and I'm sure he was well-loved, and I just hope that he's given his props," Michael Wilson Pickett, the singer's son, told WRC-TV in Washington after his death. Pickett - known as the "Wicked Pickett" - became a star with his soulful hits in the 1960s. 'In The Midnight Hour' made the top 25 on the Billboard pop charts in 1965 and 'Mustang Sally' did the same the following year. "A fellow Detroiter, singer Aretha Franklin said in a statement: "Wilson Pickett was one of the greatest soul singers of all time. He will absolutely be missed. I am thankful that I got the chance to speak to him not too long ago." WILSON PICKETT was defined by his raspy voice and passionate delivery. But the Alabama-born Pickett got his start singing Gospel music in church. After moving to Detroit as a teen, he joined the group THE FALCONS, which scored the hit 'I Found A Love' with Pickett on lead vocals in 1962. He went solo a year later, and would soon find his greatest success. In 1965, he linked with legendary Soul producer Jerry Wexler at the equally legendary Soul label Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, and recorded 'In The Midnight Hour' for Atlantic Records. A string of hits followed, including '634-5789,' 'Funky Broadway' and 'Mustang Sally.' His sensuous soul was in sharp contrast to the genteel soul songs of his Detroit counterparts at Motown Records. Roger Friedman, a journalist and friend who featured Pickett in his 2002 documentary on Soul greats, "Only The Strong Survive," said Pickett was "really Atlantic's answer to James Brown. He wrote his own song, he was very, very musically adept, and look at his contribution - look how many songs of his songs have been covered," Friedman told The Associated Press on Thursday. As WILSON PICKETT entered a new decade, he had less success on the charts, but still had a few more hits, including the song 'Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You.' "Like all these great legends of R&B, when disco came in, it really impacted their careers," Friedman said. "(But) what Americans don't realize is they have all continued to be incredibly popular in Europe - every summer, touring Europe to incredible crowds." Besides his induction into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1991, WILSON PICKETT was also given the Pioneer Award by the Rhythm And Blues Foundation two years later. He also cast a long shadow and served as a role model in "The Commitments" in 1991, without appearing in the film. "If I wasn't in show business I don't know what I would have been - a wanderer or something, you know?" he said in a 2001 interview. "But God blessed me with the talent and the chance. I knocked on enough doors, and this is what I can give myself credit for." Friedman said he had just spoken to WILSON PICKETT last week, and that he seemed optimistic he would be able to put recent health troubles aside and perform again. "We had just a great talk," he said. "He really wanted to get back to business."
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01.20.06 (MusicPortal.com) Brando/Universal recording artists BLUE OCTOBER are set to release "Foiled," their first studio effort since "History For Sale," on March 14th. Formed in Houston, Texas in the late '90s by vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Justin Furstenfeld, his brother, drummer Jeremy, and devil-horned, multi-instrumentalist Ryan Delahoussaye, the group's epic live shows and exploration of subjects like mental depression, drug use, love, betrayal, forgiveness and cathartic transcendence have helped them amass a strong, loyal following through four albums. 2003's "History For Sale," which was initially released independently by the band, sold more than 17,000 copies before being picked up by Universal. And when the song 'Calling You,' which was also included on the "American Wedding" movie soundtrack, began picking up airplay in cities like Dallas and other markets, BLUE OCTOBER was resigned to Universal. A double-live CD/DVD, "Argue With A Tree," which captured the amazingly symbiotic live relationship between the band and its fans, came out last February. That BLUE OCTOBER haven't followed the ordinary path to success is clear on the first single from "Foiled," 'Hate Me,' a song that recalls such aching Rock anthems as JOY DIVISION's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' or JANE'S ADDICTION's 'Jane Says' for frontman Justin Furstenfeld's unflinching look at his own illness, which caused him to be committed to a mental hospital back on a fateful "blue October" day back in 1997. "It's a song about a relationship gone badly," he explains calmly. "It's about being a selfish little prick in a rock band, and just being demolished by that realization." "I have to block out thoughts of you/So I don't lose my head/They crawl in like a cockroach/Leaving babies in my bed," he sings, the images underlined by the matter-of-fact sing-song way in which they're delivered. "It's like, let me just kind of clue you in on what it feels like in my own brain," he offers. That brand of intensity is welded to wide screen sound that evokes an array of eclectic influences such as fellow Texas Psychedelic bands TRIPPING DAISY and 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS, as well as rockers such as Peter Gabriel, PINK FLOYD, FLAMING LIPS, U2 and COLDPLAY - attracting a hardcore group of fans who not only relate to, but ardently sing along with BLUE OCTOBER's songs. 'Into The Ocean,' with Delahoussaye's seductive violin siren call and plucked mandolin, openly contemplates a death wish with so much honesty, fans write to the band, claiming tracks like this have prevented their own suicidal impulses. "If I have saved other people, I don't know what to say," admits Furstenfeld. "But if I can do that for them, why the fuck can't I do that for myself?" It's a reasonable question to ask for Furstenfeld, whose first musical memory as a child was hearing fellow Texan Roy Orbison's plaintive 'Crying.' That led to an interest in other melancholy groups like THE SMITHS, THE CURE, RED HOUSE PAINTERS and IDAHO. Having been in therapy since he was 14, Justin Furstenfeld turned to music to get away from his problems. Songs like 'What If We Could,' about regret for a failed relationship, the apocalyptic 'Sound Of Pulling Heaven Down' and 'Let It Go,' with its mournful Neil Young-like harmonica line halfway through, deal with that self-doubt in no uncertain terms, as Furstenfeld asks in the latter: "Why do I feel this way?/Why do I kneel?/How could I let it go?/Why do I feel?" ""I don't remember writing these songs," he says. "They just come out when it's getting too much for me. It's like getting closure..." [full story]
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01.18.06 (MusicPortal.com) TRAIN, the Grammy Award-winning band that has produced several anthemic Pop/Rock hits including 'Drops Of Jupiter' and 'Calling All Angels,' will be releasing their highly anticipated new album "For Me, It's You" on January 31st via Columbia Records. The upcoming release showcases a revamped and revitalized lineup: founding core members Pat Monahan (vocals), Jimmy Stafford (guitars) and Scott Underwood (drums) are joined by bassist Johnny Colt (originally from THE BLACK CROWES), and Atlanta keyboardist Brandon Bush (John Mayer, Shawn Mullins). Colt and Bush have both been on-board since TRAIN's 2003 "My Private Nation" tour. With the band's new line-up gelling as a unified musical ensemble working and playing as one on "For Me, It's You," the group's new album emerges as possibly the most fully realized and keenly focused collection of the band's career. "It doesn't sound like we're trying too hard," says TRAIN vocalist/songwriter Pat Monahan about the album's relaxed and intimate vibe. "I do think this record is more personal and more genuine. It's definitely an appropriate record for me personally." This time around, Monahan has brought a lot of his personal experience -- including the pain of divorce, parenthood, and falling into a love that's both real and mature -- to the table for the 13 tracks featured on "For Me, It's You." "The 'you' changes in every song," says Monahan, regarding the sources of inspiration on the album. The new album features the single 'Cab,' which is, according to Monahan, "the metaphoric song on the album. Everything else seems to the point and literal. This whole album is about where I've been lyrically for the last couple of years, experiencing what I've had to experience. You don't choose your experiences, they choose you." "For Me, It's You" was recorded over the course of an intensive seven week period in Atlanta, Georgia with producer Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Rage Against The Machine, Trey Anastasio) at the dials. O'Brien first worked with TRAIN in 2001 on the double-platinum watershed album, "Drops Of Jupiter," which yielded the group two Grammy awards for "Best Rock Song" and "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists" for the title track 'Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me),' and later for 2003's masterful follow-up, "My Private Nation," which earned the band two Grammy nominations for the song 'Calling All Angels.' TRAIN began in 1994 when Pat Monahan, an Erie, Pennsylvania native living in Los Angeles, met Rob Hotchkiss (who left the band in 2003). After moving to San Francisco and appearing in coffeehouses as an acoustic duo, they added Colin (bass) and Stafford (guitar), who, like Hotchkiss, were veterans of THE APOSTLES, an L.A. band. Scott Underwood came on board as drummer shortly afterward. In 1996, the band went to New York City to play a showcase date for Columbia Records, who originally turned them down. "We decided maybe they were right," Monahan said years later. "We made a lot of changes with the band, and I changed in my life, by asking myself how I could be a better bandmate, friend, husband, and father." TRAIN's self-released, self-titled debut album was finally picked up by Aware/Columbia in February of 1998. That Fall, Fox Television series "Party Of Five" began to feature TRAIN's first single, 'Free,' which had already received steady radio play. By August, a second single, 'Meet Virginia,' helped that album go platinum in March of 2000.
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01.17.06 (MusicPortal.com) Demon Vision has announced the April 17th release of "T. Rex On TV - A T. Rex Compendium," the first official archive DVD to compile a collection of Marc Bolan and T. REX's quintessential appearances on several French, German and UK television shows through the 1970's. This fascinating, must-have three-and-a-half-hour release showcases five different sections that can be easily accessed in any running order. The first is the definitive 56-minute documentary "Dandy In The Underworld," produced in 1997 by Granada TV for Channel 4 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Marc Bolan's untimely death. Using archive footage of performance and interviews, the documentary recalls his early career, his period in the Experimental band JOHN'S CHILDREN, the Folk-based TYRANNOSAURUS REX, and T. REX, showing Bolan's progression from obscurity to superstar and subsequent decline. The film looks at influences on his music including the hippie movement, underground, and Soul music, his innovative Glam Rock style, as well as his influence on the early Punk scene. The film features contributions from all the major players in Bolan's career, including partner Gloria Jones, producer Tony Visconti, publicist Keith Altham, childhood friend Eric Hall, former JOHN'S CHILDREN manager Simon Napier Bell, former NME journalist Charles Shaar Murray, DJ and former "Old Grey Whistle Test" presenter Bob Harris, T. REX drummer Bill Legend, and many more. The second section of "T. Rex On TV - A T. Rex Compendium" is entitled "It's About Me Really...," containing interviews and music from the 25-minute "Music In The Round" program recorded in late 1971. In between four live performances of the classics 'Jeepster,' 'Cadilac,' 'Spaceball Ricochet' and 'Telegram Sam,' Marc Bolan is interviewed here by legendary European arts programmer Humphrey Burton, who at 41 is apparently already "too old to rock 'n' roll." Also included is a nine-minute interview by Russell Harty from 1972. Next, "Ten Greatest Hits" features rarely-seen performances of T. REX's most successful singles from 1971-1974 on various French, German and British television shows. Song performances include 'Ride A White Swan,' 'Hot Love,' 'Get It On,' 'Jeepster,' 'Telegram Sam,' 'Metal Guru,' 'Children Of The Revolution,' 'Solid Gold Easy Action,' '20th Century Boy' and 'Teenage Dream.' The DVD's next section is dubbed "Supersonic," featuring over 50 minutes worth of ultra-rare clips from that fondly-remembered mid-seventies music show, containing some seventeen performances, most of which have not been seen since their original airing. Song performances include 'The Soul Of My Suit,' 'New York City,' 'I Love To Boogie,' 'Funky London Childhood,' 'Crimson Moon,' 'Laser Love,' 'Ride A White Swan,' 'Telegram Sam,' 'Dreamy Lady,' plus a rare duet with girlfriend Gloria Jones (also the original singer of 'Tainted Love') performing THE TEDDY BEARS' reworked 'To Know You Is To Love You.' Lastly, "Bolan '77" rounds up seven songs from the Granada series "Marc" that Marc Bolan had just finished recording when he passed away, along with two live performances from the kids' pop quiz show "Get It Together." Song performances here include 'Dandy In The Underworld,' 'Groove A Little,' 'Celebrate Summer,' 'Let's Dance,' 'Sing Me A Song,' 'Endless Sleep,' and 'Debora.'
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01.16.06 (MusicPortal.com) Classic '80s Alternative songs go back to the future with "Future Retro," as Rhino Records updates the era's shimmering synthesized sounds with remixes by some of today's hottest club DJs and producers. "Future Retro" is available January 24 at regular physical and digital retail outlets, and at www.rhino.com for a suggested list price of $18.98. In addition, a two-LP vinyl version of "Future Retro" with extended and exclusive remixes of most tracks will be available on the same date for a suggested retail price of $19.98. On "Future Retro," music from a short list of influential Alternative artists such as DEVO, THE CURE and ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN is reimagined by renowned DJ's for today's club scene. Featuring 14 brand-new remixes, "Future Retro" includes THE CRYSTAL METHOD tweaking NEW ORDER's 'Bizarre Love Triangle,' JADED ALLIANCE roughing up ERASURE's 'A Little Respect,' and Static Revenger electrifying INXS' 'Need You Tonight.' Several remixes take the original songs to unexpected sonic territories. DJ Irene reconstructs BOOK OF LOVE's 'Boy' with menacing aggro-guitar, and SPARKS takes Morrissey's 'Suedehead' on an epic ride powered by organ swells and looping vocals. Compilation producer Craig DeGraff saw "Future Retro" as a way to combine his favorite '80s Alternative Rock and current Dance/Electronica sounds to create something fresh and inspired. A true labor of love, the disc took nearly two years to bring to completion. "Future Retro" features some of today's hottest mixers. For example, Richard X produced M.I.A. and Annie and remixed the THE BRAVERY's latest single, while Progressive House legends WAY OUT WEST have two critically acclaimed albums and a slew of remixes including FAITHLESS, LIGHTNING SEEDS, Paul Van Dyk, and BT. Montreal DJ Tiga's cover versions of PUBLIC ENEMY's 'Louder Than A Bomb' and Nelly's 'Hot In Herre' have also climbed the charts recently and had dance floors packed. "Future Retro" Track Listing: CD version: 1. The Cure - The Walk (Infusion Remix) • 2. Yaz - Situation (Richard X Remix) • 3. Echo & The Bunnymen - Lips Like Sugar (Way Out West Remix Edit) • 4. INXS - Need You Tonight (Static Revenger Mix Edit) • 5. Depeche Mode - Shake The Disease (Tiga Remix) • 6. Erasure - A Little Respect (Jaded Alliance Electrospect Remix) • 7. Howard Jones - New Song (Peter Black & Hardrock Striker Mix Edit) • 8. Alphaville - Forever Young (Hamel Album Mix) • 9. New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle (The Crystal Method Extended Mix) • 10. Grandmaster Flash And Melle Mel - White Lines (Don't Don't Do It) (Elite Force Mix) • 11. Devo - Girl U Want (Black Light Odyssey Mix) • 12. B-Movie - Nowhere Girl (Adam Freeland Remix) • 13. Book Of Love - Boy (DJ Irene Rockstar Mix) • 14. Morrissey - Suedehead (Sparks Mix) • Vinyl Version: A1. The Cure - The Walk (Infusion 12" Remix) • A2. New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle (Richard X 12" Mix) • B1. Depeche Mode - Shake The Disease (Tiga Remix) • B2. B-Movie - Nowhere Girl (Adam Freeland Mix) • B3. INXS - Need You Tonight (Static Revenger Mix) • C1. Echo & The Bunnymen - Lips Like Sugar (Way Out West Remix) • C2. Howard Jones - New Song (Peter Black & Hardrock Striker Mix) • D1. Grandmaster Flash And Melle Mel - White Lines (Don't Don't Do It) (Elite Force Mix) • D2. Yaz - Situation (Future Funk Squad Remix) • D3. Alphaville - Forever Young (Hamel Club Mix)
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01.16.06 (MusicPortal.com) New Jersey's THE EARLY NOVEMBER will hit the road in March in support of the "Sub City Take Action! Tour," which raises awareness and funds for suicide prevention. In the meantime, fans of the band can check out them out on FUSE's "Steven's Untitled Rock Show." The band recently dropped by the New York City studio to tape an interview with that show's host. In other news, THE EARLY NOVEMBER are putting the final touches on their next album with producer Chris Badami. Set for release this Spring, the triple-disc offering is a well-thought-out endeavor on behalf of THE EARLY NOVEMBER's frontman Ace Enders and bandmates Jeff Kummer (drums), Sergio Anello (bass), Joe Marro (guitar) and Bill Lugg (guitar). One disc will be dedicated to their acoustic, mellower side, while another highlights the group's heavier Rock sound. The third is a soundtrack complete with dialogue and characters - both of which intermingle among the first two CDs. The lineup for this year's "Sub City Take Action! Tour" also includes MATCHBOOK ROMANCE, SILVERSTEIN and AMBER PACIFIC. Go to www.takeactiontour.com for any additional info. Tour Dates: 03/01 Washington, DC [9:30 Club] • 03/02 Baltimore, MD [Sonar] • 03/04 Norfolk, VA [The Norva] • 03/05 Charlotte, NC [Tremont Music Hall] • 03/07 North Myrtle Beach, SC [House Of Blues] • 03/08 Orlando, FL [House Of Blues] • 03/09 Ft Lauderdale, FL [Revolution] • 03/10 Tampa, FL [Masquerade] • 03/11 Atlanta, GA [Masquerade] • 03/13 Austin, TX [Emo's] • 03/14 Houston, TX [Warehouse Live] • 03/15 Dallas, TX [Granada Theater] • 03/16 San Antonio, TX [The White Rabbit] • 03/17 McAllen, TX [LaVilla Real Event Center] • 03/19 Albuquerque, NM [Sunshine Theatre] • 03/20 Tucson, AZ [Rialto Theatre] • 03/22 Anaheim, CA [House Of Blues] • 03/23 Los Angeles, CA [House Of Blues] • 03/24 San Diego, CA [Soma] • 03/26 Tempe, AZ [Marquee Theatre] • 03/27 Las Vegas, NV [House Of Blues] • 03/28 Bakersfield, CA [Montgomery World Plaza] • 03/29 San Francisco, CA [Fillmore] • 03/31 Portland, OR [Roseland Theatre] • 04/01 Seattle, WA [The Showbox] • 04/02 Spokane, WA [The Big Easy] • 04/04 Salt Lake City, UT [In The Venue] • 04/05 Denver, CO [Ogden Theatre] • 04/06 Lawrence, KS [Granada Theatre] • 04/07 St Louis, MO [Mississippi Nights] • 04/11 Chicago, IL [House Of Blues] • 04/13 Pontiac, MI [Clutch Cargo's] • 04/14 Columbus, OH [Newport Music Hall] • 04/15 Cleveland, OH [House Of Blues] • 04/17 Pittsburgh, PA [Club Zoo] • 04/18 Poughkeepsie, NY [The Chance] • 04/21 Philadelphia, PA [The Electric Factory] • 04/22 Sayreville, NJ [Starland Ballroom] • 04/23 Hartford, CT [Webster Theatre]
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01.13.06 (AP) After conquering the world of music, ALICIA KEYS is now expanding into movie and television production. Keys, still just 24 years old, and her long-time manager, Jeff Robinson, said Thursday they have formed a company whose first project will be a UPN TV series inspired by Keys' experiences as a biracial youngster growing in New York. "A lot of times I watch TV and I watch film and there's so many things I'd love to talk about that I feel don't get the opportunity to be shown," Keys told The Associated Press. "Sometimes things become very stereotypical and one-sided, and I feel like it's such a colorful world." Their company, New York-based Big Pita, Lil' Pita, will provide "the opportunity to expose that array," Keys said in a phone call. She's also intent on developing projects that give women their due, she added. "I was mostly raised by very strong women, and I consider myself one as well. So I'd like to see things explore that and see that strength shine through," she said. ALICIA KEYS, a singer, songwriter and musician, was born to a white mother and black father. Her parents split when she was 2, and she was raised in the Hell's Kitchen area of New York by her mom, Terri Augello. The new company's eye-catching name has a special meaning for Keys and Robinson, who have worked together for more than a decade: "Pita stands for pain in the ass," Keys said. "That's what he and I both are - so watch out." The two will serve as executive producers for their untitled TV drama, which has a script commitment from UPN and which Robinson said may be on the air by next fall. The pilot, not yet cast, will be written by Felicia Henderson ("Soul Food," "Moesha"). Meanwhile, ALICIA KEYS is making her film acting debut in the upcoming "Smokin' Aces," which stars Ben Affleck and Andy Garcia. Asked about movies their company will produce, Robinson and Keys declined to provide details. "I couldn't give away all my secrets," Keys said in her trademark husky tones. But she said the films will be "the most thrilling" aspect of the company's work. The goal is to create projects she's proud of, Keys said - and some with juicy roles for her. "One of the great parts of being able to produce your own movie is to come up with a story that you find interesting. ...You don't have to wait for someone to tell you what they think you should do," she said. She labeled herself a "very independent person. People do tend to call me a control freak, and I will gladly say that I am, in a good way. I'm totally involved in what I do." ALICIA KEYS began playing piano when she was 7, with dance and voice lessons following. She studied at the Professional Performance Arts School in New York, graduating at 16 and studying at Columbia University briefly before deciding to devote herself full-time to music. Her first album, "Songs In A Minor," debuted atop the Billboard chart in 2001 when she was 20. With nine Grammy awards to her name already, Keys is nominated for five more at next month's ceremony, including "Best R&B Album" for "Unplugged." She vowed that her music won't suffer as she expands into new areas. "I'm a juggler by nature, that's how I've always been. My dream is to be part of a multitude of things. ... These activities feed back into my music, my music feeds back into these activities." Asked about her next album, she said: "It's bubbling. I'm very excited about it." Robinson, president of MBK Entertainment, attests to Keys' ability to handle a heavy load. "Alicia is a very energetic workaholic. She's always thinking. We're always feeding ideas off each other - which generates huge cell-phone bills, by the way," Robinson said. "I'm constantly telling her, 'slow down, let's not conquer the world in one day.' But she wants to do it all."
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01.12.06 (MusicPortal.com) Atlantic Records recording artists DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE have announced details of their upcoming "Directions," an innovative anthology of 12 short films inspired by each song on the band's acclaimed album, "Plans." Every song, including the hit single 'Soul Meets Body' and the upcoming follow-up, 'Crooked Teeth,' will be delivered by a different director. The videos will be unveiled one by one on the band's website www.deathcabforcutie.com beginning January 23rd. The unprecedented collection came about as the brainchild of Otaku House, the production company owned and run by childhood friends Nick Harmer, bassist for DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE, and video director Aaron Stewart-Ahn. They saw the opportunity to enlist a variety of talented young artists to each make a short film set to a Death Cab song, without the constraints of the traditional music video - no arbitrary performance footage, and the band themselves will not appear in the films. Though the budgets would be small, there would be no creative limits placed upon the filmmakers' imaginations. The ultimate goal was to create a series of small films that worked together as both individual pieces of art and as a unified whole. Stewart-Ahn and the band compiled a list of directors, including superstars, up-and-coming new talents, and even a graphic novelist who had never had his work animated before. "We named the project 'Directions,'" says Stewart-Ahn, "because it's a pun on 'Plans,' obviously, but ultimately because we feel this project is about unique directorial visions more than anything else. We wanted to create a situation where that would be the emphasis, and I feel the list of directors alone proves that." Among the filmmakers contributing to "Directions" are Lance Bangs, famed for his work alongside director Spike Jonze, as well as his videos for such artists as R.E.M. and GREEN DAY; P.R. Brown, who has directed videos for Billy Corgan, Matisyahu and MOTLEY CRUE; Ace Norton, a stop-frame animation maestro; acclaimed graphic novelist Jeffrey Brown ("Clumsy"); the Cincinnati-based motion design collective, LIGHTBORNE; long-time DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE photographer Autumn De Wilde; writer/director Rob Schrab, the mind behind the legendary never-aired Jack Black pilot, "Heat Vision" and "Jack," and co-founder of the Channel 101 website; acclaimed music video directors Laurent Briet and Monkmus, as well as Stewart-Ahn himself, following up his critically-hailed video debut, THE DECEMBERISTS' '16 Military Wives.' "Each interpretation is phenomenal, and our hats go off to everyone involved," says DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE vocalist/guitarist Ben Gibbard. "It's our hope that this project serves as a model to both labels and bands as a way to grant the directors the type and amount of freedom we've enjoyed in the creation of the music itself." "We have truly been blessed to have met so many creative and energetic artists over the years of being a band," says Harmer. "It just seemed so appropriate to build a project that so many artists that we admire could be a part of, and it's so inspiring to stand back and watch them work." "It's thrilling to have so many enthusiastic artists involved," comments DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE guitarist Chris Walla, "and better still that they're such a varied bunch: Some are heroes; some are exceptionally talented friends; some are brilliant people none of us had heard of. I don't know of any projects quite like this one."
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01.11.06 (MusicPortal.com) DJ CAM is set to release a new remix album in "Revisited By" via Recall Records on January 31st. With over 15 years in the music business, DJ CAM has produced and remixed an eclectic and highly acclaimed selection of Hip-Hop, chill-out, and Jazz tracks. Along his creative journey, DJ CAM's work has inspired some of the best remixers in the business to put their stamp on his music. "Revisited By" compiles those remixes for the first time, and allows the listener to take a step deeper into his best work with THIEVERY CORPORATION, Kenny Dope, Kid Loco and more. "Revisited By" has already been launched on the iTunes Music Store alongside DJ CAM's entire nine-album catalog, which is now exclusively available on the popular Apple digital platform. To support the release of "Revisited By," DJ CAM will be doing a special showcase appearance at the Apple Store in New York City sometime in February. Expect DJ CAM to be included in select lifestyle marketing projects and to hear his music synchronized, as Recall Records is constantly exploring and developing entirely new expressions of modern music and imagery, whether for film, television, advertising, video games or communications and internet technology. The Collective Agency (Sasha & Digweed, UNKLE, Junkie XL) has recently signed DJ CAM for bookings and is currently working on U.S. Spring dates, including potential performances at South By Southwest, Winter Music Conference & M3 Summit, and Coachella. DJ CAM will be performing an exclusive DJ set at the MIDEM Conference in Cannes, France on January 24th as Recall Records is hosting the "Music For Images" day-long conference along with EuropaCorp, a top European film studio lead by Luc Besson. The set will also be simulcast live over the Internet and select U.S. radio stations. Laurent Daumail, better known to music fans as DJ CAM, is one of the bedrock artists of the Electronic genre, known not only for his remix work, but also for his eclectic productions in many genres. His hit remixes include everything from Nas ('Made You Look') to CYPRESS HILL ('Highlife') to Macy Gray ('Do Something') to Michael Jackson ('Rock My World'). DJ CAM's first release, 1994's "Underground Vibes," was followed by "Underground Live" (1996), "Substances" (1996), "DJ Kicks" (1997), "The Beat Assassinated" (1998), "The Loa Project Vol. 1/Vol. 2" (2000), and "Soulshine" (2002). DJ CAM currently lives in Paris, France. "Revisited By" Track Listing: 1. Success (Kenny Dope Remix) • 2. Success (Thievery Corporation Remix) • 3. Meera (Extra Lucid Remix) • 4. He's Gone (Featuring China) (Kid Loco Remix) • 5. Voodoo Child (Featuring Afu Ra) (DJ Premier Remix) • 6. Innervisions (DJ Vadim Remix) • 7. Success (Attica Blues Remix) • 8. Espionage (Featuring Guru) (Bob Sinclar Remix) • 9. Broadcasting Live (Featuring Channel Live) (Lord Finesse Remix) • 10. DJ Cam Sound System (Demon Remix) • 11. Love Junkee (Featuring Cameo) (J Dilla Remix) • 12. Meera (Tek 9/Four Hero Remix) • 13. Innervisions (Flytronix Remix)
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01.11.06 (MusicPortal.com) New Jersey quartet ARMOR FOR SLEEP have announced the first headlining national tour in support of their new album for Equal Vision Records, "What To Do When You Are Dead." Support will be from three other bands in BOYS NIGHT OUT, CHIODOS and ACTION REACTION. ARMOR FOR SLEEP have been on the road constantly here and abroad since the album's release. In fact, the band returned from England as a headlining act this month. "What To Do When You Are Dead," which has sold over 119,000 copies to date, is the culmination of two months in the studio with noted producer Machine, combining the band's stunning ability for writing catchy, hook-laden Rock with evocative, introspective vocal melodies. The album has also gained widespread acclaim in national and international press with recent features in Thrasher, Rock Sound (UK) and Alternative Press (5 out of 5 Stars review, "Meet Your New Favorite Band"). ARMOR FOR SLEEP vocalist/guitarist Ben Jorgensen was also quoted in a recent issue of SPIN magazine. Even online giant AOL.com has taken notice of the band, covering them consistently since the release of "What To Do When You Are Dead." Not content to sit back and bask in their accomplishments, ARMOR FOR SLEEP wrapped up shooting their second video, 'The Truth About Heaven,' amidst their hectic touring schedule. Directed by Alan Ferguson (Fall Out Boy, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes) the video further develops the concept of the after-life, which is interwoven throughout the new album. The band have also already begun writing new material for their next effort, which fans will get a taste of on the upcoming national tour. Tour Dates: 01/26 Boston, MA [Axis] • 01/27 Latham, NY [Saratoga Winners] • 01/28 New York, NY [Avalon] • 01/29 New Haven, CT [Toad's Place] • 01/30 Baltimore, MD [Otto Bar] • 02/01 Raleigh, NC [The Brewery] • 02/02 Nashville, TN [Rocketown] • 02/03 Atlanta, GA [The Loft @ Earthlink Live] • 02/04 Orlando, FL [The Social] • 02/05 Ft. Lauderdale, FL [Culture Room] • 02/06 St. Petersburgh, FL [State Theatre] • 02/08 Houston, TX [Java Jazz Cafe] • 02/09 Austin, TX [Emo's] • 02/10 Dallas, TX [The Door] • 02/11 San Antonio, TX [White Rabbit] • 02/13 Tucson, AZ [The Rock] • 02/14 Tempe, AZ [The Clubhouse] • 02/15 Las Vegas, NV [Jillian's] • 02/16 Los Angeles, CA [Troubadour] • 02/17 San Diego, CA [Soma] • 02/18 Pomona, CA [Glass House] • 02/19 San Francisco, CA [Slim's] • 02/21 Sacramento, CA [The Boardwalk] • 02/22 Portland, OR [Hawthorne Theatre] • 02/23 Seattle, WA [El Corazon] • 02/24 Pullman, WA [CUB Ballroom] • 02/25 Boise, ID [The Venue] • 02/27 Salt Lake City, UT [Lo-Fi Cafe] • 02/28 Denver, CO [Rock Island] • 03/01 Lawrence, KS [Granada Theatre] • 03/02 Des Moines, IA [House Of Bricks] • 03/03 Minneapolis, MN [The Ascot Room @ The Quest] • 03/04 Chicago, IL [Metro] • 03/05 Grand Rapids, MI [The Intersection] • 03/07 Huntington, WV [Hyamp] • 03/08 Cleveland, OH [Peabody's] • 03/09 Detroit, MI [St. Andrew's Hall] • 03/10 Toronto, ON [Opera House] • 03/11 Buffalo, NY [Showplace Theatre] • 03/13 Pittsburgh, PA [Mr. Small's Theatre] • 03/14 Philadelphia, PA [Theatre Of The Living Arts] • 03/15 South Burlington, VT [Higher Ground] • 03/16 Portland, ME [The Station] • 03/17 Providence, RI [The Living Room] • 03/18 Syracuse, NY [Club Tundra]
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01.06.06 (AP) LOU RAWLS, who earned fame with his smooth voice and respect through his prodigious fundraising for the United Negro College Fund, died today of cancer. Rawls began as a Gospel singer ,and spent nearly five decades working his soulful, velvet-voiced magic on classic tunes including 'You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine' and 'Lady Love.' "His voice was so unique," said legendary producer Kenny Gamble, who with Leon Huff wrote 'You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.' "The other thing was that he had a sense of community. Thousands and thousands of young kids benefitted from his celebrity." With his wife Nina at his bedside, Rawls died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was hospitalized last month for treatment of lung and brain cancer, said his publicist, Paul Shefrin. Rawls' family and Shefrin said the singer was 72, although other records indicate he was 70. A long-time community activist, LOU RAWLS played a major role in United Negro College Fund telethons that raised more than $200 million. He often visited and performed at black colleges. "He's just someone who recognized, like many African-Americans of a certain generation, that education was something that our kids didn't get access to and that it was critically important for their future, and for our communities' future and for the nation," said Dr. Michael Lomax, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund. In September, LOU RAWLS performed in that organization's "An Evening of Stars," which was to be televised nationwide through the weekend. "He appeared frail, but he was in good voice, and he was in great spirit," Lomax said. "He was there with his son, newly adopted, and his wife. He was a happy and contented man." Aretha Franklin said Rawls was a "memorable musical stylist ... who made a serious impact in the interest of historically black colleges and black folks." Rawls' trademark was his smooth, four-octave voice, which Frank Sinatra once called the "silkiest chops in the singing game." Starting as a church choir boy, Rawls ultimately applied those silky tones to a variety of musical genres and more, including movies, TV shows and commercials. As a pitchman for Anheuser-Busch breweries, his was the familiar voice that said, "When you've said Budweiser, you've said it all." Rawls was raised on the South Side of Chicago by his grandmother, who shared her love of gospel with him. He also was influenced by Doo-Wop, and harmonized with his high school classmate Sam Cooke. The two friends were part of groups such as the TEENAGE KINGS OF HARMONY. When he moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s, LOU RAWLS was recruited for the CHOSEN GOSPEL SINGERS, then moved on to THE PILGRIM TRAVELERS. He enlisted in 1955 as a paratrooper in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, and rejoined THE PILGRIM TRAVELERS three years later after becoming a sergeant. While touring with the group, Rawls and Cooke were in a car crash that nearly ended Rawls' life. Cooke was slightly hurt, but another passenger was killed and Rawls was actually declared dead on the way to the hospital, according to Shefrin. Rawls was in a coma for 5 1/2 days and suffered memory loss, but was completely recovered a year later. "I really got a new life out of that," Rawls said at the time. "I saw a lot of reasons to live. I began to learn acceptance, direction, understanding and perception - all elements that had been sadly lacking in my life." LOU RAWLS performed with Dick Clark at The Hollywood Bowl in 1959. Late that year, he was singing for $10 a night plus pizza... [full story]
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01.05.06 (MusicPortal.com) Currently riding high with a new studio album released by Sanctuary Records entitled "Black & White 050505," SIMPLE MINDS will undertake a major 40-plus date European tour that will kick off in Dublin on January 30th. Understandably, many concerts on the tour are selling out quickly, and as a result, the band have now added second shows in several cities. The 12 dates in Ireland and the UK are slated for venues of different sizes, behind which SIMPLE MINDS guitarist Charlie Burchill explains: "In support of 'Black And White 050505,' we have decided to build things up from the street level. For the present, we want to prove once again that we can do great live sets in all manners of venues. We're looking forward to the challenge." Tour Dates: 01/30 Dublin, UK [Ambassador Theatre] • 01/31 Belfast, UK [Waterfront Hall Auditorium] • 02/01 Dublin, UK [Ambassador Theatre] • 02/03 Aberdeen, UK [Music Hall] • 02/05 Glasgow, UK [Academy] • 02/06 Newcastle, UK [Academy] • 02/07 Nottingham, UK [Rock City] • 02/09 Birmingham, UK [Academy] • 02/10 Manchester, UK [Academy] • 02/12 Brighton, UK [Dome] • 02/13 London, UK [Astoria] • 02/14 London, UK [Astoria] • 02/16 Brussels, Belgium [Ancienne Belgique] • 02/17Amsterdam, Holland [Hmh] • 02/19 Oslo, Norway [Rockefeller] • 02/20 Stockholm, Sweden [Cirkus] • 02/21 Copenhagen, Denmark [Vega] • 02/23 Bremen, Germany [Pier 2] • 02/24 Hannover, Germany [Capitol] • 02/26 Beilefeld, Germany [Ringlokschuppen] • 02/27 Berlin, Germany [Columbiahalle] • 03/01 Stuttgart, Germany [Theaterhaus] • 03/02 Dusseldorf, Germany [Stahlwerk] • 03/03 Mainz, Germany [Phoenixhalle] • 03/05 Munich, Germany [Tonhalle] • 03/06 Vienna, Austria Bank [Austria Halle] • 03/07 Belgrade, Yugoslavia [Sava Center] • 03/09 Zurich, Switzerland [Volkhaus] • 03/10 Winterhur, Switzerland [Eulachhalle] • 03/12 Lyon, France [Transborder] • 03/13 Barcelona, Spain [Razzmatazz] • 03/15 Paris, France [Olympia] • 03/16 Luxembourg, Luxembourg [Den Atelier] • 03/18 Perugia, Italy [Palasport] • 03/19 Rome, Italy [Auditorium] • 03/21 Verona, Italy [Palasport] • 03/22 Pordenone, Italy [Palasport] • 03/23 Milan, Italy [Alcatraz] • 03/25 Besancon, France [Micropolis Hall] • 03/27 Brussels, Belgium [Cirque Royal] • 03/28 Amsterdam, Holland [Heineken Music Hall] • 03/30 Bratislava, Slovakia [PKO] • 03/31 Warsaw, Poland [Stodola] • 04/04 Tallinn, Estonia [Saku Arena] • 04/14 Athens, Greece [Club 22] • 04/15 Athens, Greece [Club 22] • 04/16 Thessaloniki, Greece [Principal Club] • 05/03 Perth, Australia [Burswood Theatre] • 05/06 Melbourne, Australia [Palais Theatre] • 05/07 Sydney, Australia [State Theatre] • 05/10 Brisbane, Australia [Convention Centre] • 05/12 Auckland, New Zealand [Civic Theatre] • 05/13 Wellington, New Zealand [Town Hall] • 05/15 Christchurch, New Zealand [Town Hall] • 06/01 Bonn, Germany [Museumsmeile] • 06/02 Hamburg, Germany [Stadtpark Freilichtbuene] • 06/08 Gelsenkirchen, Germany [Gluckaufkampfbahn] • 07/01 Nibe, Denmark [Nibe Festival]
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01.05.06 (MusicPortal.com) Refined and versatile, ROBERTA FLACK's distinctive, Jazz-influenced voice could kill the world softly with its smoldering intensity or set the night to music with a joyous shout. Rhino Records explores the sophisticated singer's musical range with a new career-spanning compilation slated for release on February 7th. Featuring six #1 hits, "The Very Best Of Roberta Flack" contains 16 songs recorded by the inimitable singer between 1969 and 1991. The compilation includes music from Flack's solo records, as well as her acclaimed duets with Donny Hathaway, Peabo Bryson and Maxi Priest. Originally released on ROBERTA FLACK's 1970 debut album, "First Take," 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' did not become a hit until almost two years later, when the song popped up in the movie "Play Misty For Me," a thriller starring Clint Eastwood. The biggest hit of 1972, the song was Flack's first chart-topper, reaching #1 on Billboard's Pop chart and #4 on the R&B chart. An excellent follow-up single, 'Where Is The Love,' paired ROBERTA FLACK with Soul singer Donny Hathaway, whom she'd met in college. The song peaked at #1 on Billboard's R&B chart and #5 on its Pop chart in 1972. Flack continued her winning ways in 1973 with one of her best-loved tracks, 'Killing Me Softly With His Song.' It was Flack's second song to reach #1 on Billboard's Pop chart (#2 on Billboard's R&B chart), and cemented her reputation as a smooth singing chanteuse. A year later, in 1974, ROBERTA FLACK was back with an even bigger hit, 'Feel Like Makin' Love,' which hit #1 on both Billboard's Pop and R&B charts. In 1988, Flack hit #1 on Billboard's R&B chart once again with 'Oasis.' Other gems included on the new compilation are 'God Don't Like Ugly,' ''Til The Morning Comes,' and the rare B-side, 'Trade Winds,' which has been previously available only on a vinyl single. "The Very Best Of Roberta Flack" also spotlights some the singer's most popular duets, including three more Flack and Hathaway collaborations in 'The Closer I Get To You,' a #1 song in 1978 on Billboard's R&B chart and #2 on its Pop chart; 'Back Together Again,' which cracked the Top 10 on Billboard's R&B chart in 1980; and 1979's 'You Are My Heaven.' The collection also includes ROBERTA FLACK's enduring duet with Bryson, 'Tonight, I Celebrate My Love,' a wedding reception staple since its release in 1983. Flack teamed with Priest in 1991 for the Dianne Warren-penned hit, 'Set The Night To Music,' which reached #6 on Billboard's Pop chart. "The Very Best Of Roberta Flack" Track Listing: 1. Killing Me Softly With His Song • 2. Feel Like Makin' Love • 3. Where Is The Love (with Donny Hathaway) • 4. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face • 5. The Closer I Get To You (with Donny Hathaway) • 6. Tonight, I Celebrate My Love (with Peabo Bryson) • 7. Oasis • 8. Back Together Again (with Donny Hathaway) • 9. Only Heaven Can Wait (For Love) • 10. Making Love • 11. Set The Night To Music (with Maxi Priest) • 12. You Are My Heaven (with Donny Hathaway) • 13. Don't Make Me Wait Too Long (with Donny Hathaway) • 14. God Don't Like Ugly • 15. 'Til The Morning Comes • 16. Trade Winds
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01.04.06 (AP/MusicPortal.com) Actress and singer LINDSAY LOHAN, who was hospitalized in Miami, Florida this week for an asthma attack, tells Vanity Fair magazine in a new interview that she has dabbled in drugs and battled bulimia. The 19-year-old Lohan says that, following the success of 2004's "Mean Girls," she dabbled in drugs "a little," but quickly adds: "I've gotten that out of my system." The new issue of Vanity Fair hits newsstands Tuesday. When asked if her drug use included cocaine, LINDSAY LOHAN denies it, saying, "I don't want people to think that I've done ... you know what I mean?" She does, though, more openly discuss last year's drastic weight loss. Lohan acknowledges that she was suffering from bulimia: "I was making myself sick." Lohan says that before hosting NBC's "Saturday Night Live," cast member Tina Fey and "SNL" executive producer Lorne Michaels sat her down. "They said, 'You need to take care of yourself. We care about you too much, and we've seen too many people do this, and you're talented,' and I just started bawling," Lohan says. "I knew I had a problem, and I couldn't admit it." "I saw that episode of 'SNL' after I did it," she adds. "My arms were disgusting. I had no arms." Meanwhile, LINDSAY LOHAN says she's doing much better: "You have to learn for yourself, and you have to hit rock bottom sometimes to get yourself back to the top." Lohan co-stars in Robert Altman's "A Prairie Home Companion," due in theaters in June. She has also been filming "Bobby," directed by Emilio Estevez, which is about the 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. LINDSAY LOHAN is also set to begin shooting "Chapter 27," a film about John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, in two weeks. Lohan's mother and manager, Dina, told OK! magazine today that her daughter was getting better after being hospitalized Monday night for an asthma attack. "I don't think people understand how truly terrifying it is to have an asthma attack," Dina Lohan was quoted as saying. "I'll be taking her home to New York to recuperate." An in-demand Ford Modeling Agency model since the age of three, LINDSAY LOHAN appeared in more than sixty TV commercials before landing the part of Alexandra "Ali" Fowler on television's "Another World." Lohan made her big screen debut in 1998's "The Parent Trap," after which she filmed the TV movies "Life-Size" and "Get A Clue." She also played the part of "Rose #1" on the Bette Midler sitcom "Bette" in 2000. However, it was her roles in 2003's "Freaky Friday," 2004's "Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen," the recent "Herbie: Fully Loaded" and "Mean Girls" that pushed LINDSAY LOHAN on to acting stardom. She made her musical debut on Casablanca Records in 2004 with "Speak," which went platinum, followed by her current "A Little More Personal (Raw)" album, which was released early last month.
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01.03.06 (MusicPortal.com) URSULA 1000 is set to release "Here Comes Tomorrow" on April 4th via Eighteenth Street Lounge Music. On the upcoming release, URSULA 1000 explores a mind meld of Jazz, Electro, Latin, Swing, Ska, Bossa Nova, Hip-Hop, Funk, Psychedelia and Glam Rock to create an undeniably original album chock full of fun surprises. "Here Comes Tomorrow" marks the artist's third studio album, and features guest appearances by LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES, Federico Aubele, Dougee Dimensional, Cristina (of Ze Records fame), and members of GENTLE PEOPLE, QYPTHONE, CABARET NOIR, TOWER OF POWER and MISTY ROSES. The man behind URSULA 1000 is none other than mild mannered multi-instrumentalist Alex Gimeno. Based in New York City, his style evolved and transitioned from the sophisticated & hip background score provided by his father -- a renowned member of 50's Latin orchestra LOS CHAVALES DE ESPANA -- to the heady Rock, Punk, Disco, Funk and Electronic Dance music of his generation. Gimeno smoothly moves back and forth between musical styles from the glamorous Jet Set era to frenetic Electronica. URSULA 1000 cannot be boxed in, categorized or labeled - his music being a multi-leveled eclectic blend of styles and genres. Finding a label to house his extent of eclecticism is just too tricky. In the late '90s came the smart and highly respected Eighteenth Street Lounge Music label, operated by Washington DC's THIEVERY CORPORATION. "The Now Sound Of Ursula 1000," Gimeno debut album, drenched in its sound collage of Lounge, funky breaks, and pastiche-a-delica, was released to critical acclaim, Tower Records' Pulse magazine naming it one of the "Top Ten Dance Albums Of 1999." Joining the ranks of the international club Pop & loungecore elite, some dubbed URSULA 1000 as the U.S. ambassador to the tantalizing new sound. His second release, "All Systems Are Go Go," was compiled and mixed from a live session. It features 18 cuts that are staples in his DJ set with tracks from Japan, Germany, Italy, England and the U.S. Featuring collaborations with Dr. Luke (guitarist from the "Saturday Night Live" band) and Brother Cleve (of loungesters COMBUSTIBLE EDISON), 2002 saw "Kinda' Kinky" taking the "Now Sound" to a bigger and badder place where the leisure class meet the beatfreak upstarts on the dancefloor for a showdown. Cheeky Hammond organ breaks, spy caper intrigue, boogaloo shingalings, Samba Disco, a pinch of Electro and bongos are most definitely on the menu. That album's original artwork was done by Shag from "Supersonic Swingers & Bottomless Cocktail" fame. 2004 brought "Ursadelica," yet another mix of URSULA 1000's signature eclectic style. You can catch Alex Gimeno DJ-ing his transcontinental grooves for fashionistas at discotheques worldwide, and in New York on weekend residencies at the swank APT and the Soho Grand Lounge. URSULA 1000 has also lent his production hand to some of Dance music's finest. Over the past couple years, he's remixed the likes of Felix Da Housecat, Quincy Jones, Nicola Conte, Pierre Henry, THE FAINT, FORT KNOX FIVE, plus he's also remixed theme songs for "The Incredibles," "The Powerpuff Girls" and "Sesame Street." URSULA 1000's music has been used in hit shows like "Entourage," "Sex And The City," "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy" and Tony Hawk's ESPN specials as well.
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[ Pop News: December 2005 ]
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