Alison Krauss: Jack of All Trades
October 31, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
If you haven?t heard of Alison Krauss, well, you should.
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A singer, musician and producer, Krauss has worked with names like Sting, James Taylor, Dolly Parton and Alan Jackson. Her latest project: Robert Plant. If that name sounds familiar, Plant is the vocalist of Led Zeppelin.
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The singers have known each other for some time, despite their age: Krauss is 36, Plant is 59. The project, however, will be groundbreaking for the both of them ? Plant will be required to sing harmony ? something he doesn?t do a lot ? and Krauss will have to tackle songs that contain lyrical themes unfamiliar to her.
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Still ,it sounds like a pretty awesome project!
Elvis: Cashing In From The Grave
October 31, 2007 by Jo Minor · 1 Comment
Elvis Presley, the legendary king of rock ?n roll, is still making big bucks ? from the grave. The one-time king of hip-shaking took USD $49 million in the past 12 months and has reclaimed the top spot on Forbes.com’s list of Top-Earning Dead Celebrities.
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The King last topped the list in 2005. So dead men can still make money!
Starbucks: More Than Coffee
October 31, 2007 by Jo Minor · 1 Comment
Starbucks is planning to release an album by newcomer Hilary McRae.
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According to Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment, the singer ?has a great soulful sound.? He also stated his interest in seeing to the success of the singer, which could mean big bucks for him (as if Starbucks isn?t making enough as it is).
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For starters, Starbucks will offer 1.5 million free downloads of McRae’s song Consider Me Gone. The coffee outlet has also released albums by Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell prior to this.
Pricey Miley
October 30, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
Black market tickets with exorbitant prices have emerged for Hannah Montana (aka Miley Cyrus) concerts, and parents aren?t too happy about it.
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The teeny bopper has grown leaps and bounds into a full-fledged pop act, resulting in sold-out tickets. For instance, a Hannah Montana concert sold out in just a few minutes after official ticket sales, with tickets appearing soon after on various private websites pitched at much higher prices.
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Broken-hearted fans (pre-pubescent girls) are left down in the dumps with no apparent solution in sight. Oh, we really feel their pain.
The World?s Bravest Orchestra
October 30, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
The Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra (INSO) can be considered as the bravest musical act in history. Whenever they hold a concert in Baghdad, any form of promotion would endanger them.
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How bad is it for them? Well, for starters the INSO, established in 1959, has survived decades of war, international sanctions, government neglect and vicious sectarian violence.
Their music library and instrument store was looted after the US invasion in 2003, and one of its main concert venues was destroyed by U.S. missiles.
The 60 members of the orchestra are a mix of different racial and religious backgrounds. Some are Christians, some are Muslims, some are Arab, some are Kurd. But it?s their passion for music that keeps them going.
Duran Duran: Video Banned
October 30, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
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Pop veterans Duran Duran, who will try to stage a comeback with their to-be-released-in-November 20th album Red Carpet Massacre, have already stirred up some controversy: the video for their single Falling Down has already been banned from television in the UK.
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The band?s official spokesperson has confirmed that Duran Duran have been forced to shoot a less controversial video for the public, and has also extended the band?s disappointment over the issue, as they believe that the video is their finest one yet.
Holy Heck!
October 29, 2007 by Jo Minor · 1 Comment
Right after the news of Ace of Base (yup, that irritating Swedish pop band) reuniting, another tacky European pop act is also reuniting. Remember Aqua? The group that came out with that terrible single Barbie Girl? Well, they?re back!
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Barbie Girl is climbing again in the UK charts, thanks to a God-awful remake by Big Brother runners up, the blonde twins Sam and Amanda Marchant.
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Just when we thought things couldn?t get any worse!
Diddy Sees More $$$ In Ciroc
October 29, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
Notorious name changer, Diddy (formerly known as P Diddy, Puff Daddy and Sean ?Puffy? Combs) is set to bag about US $100 million in an endorsement deal with alcohol maker Diageo PLC to promote the company?s Ciroc vodka.
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He will take home 50 percent of the profits from his labors, which, depending on how the brand fares under his sponsorship, could be considerable.
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In addition to his fragrance and fashion lines, P Diddy is also the CEO of Bad Boy Entertainment Worldwide. I think the dude finally realises that he totally sucks at music.
Silverchair Bring Home The Gold
October 29, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
Looks like the boys from the land down under are back at it! Silverchair, Australia?s best loved rock band, were the big winners on Sunday?s ARIA (basically the Australian Grammys). The lads attained top honours for several categories, including single of the year, album of the year, highest-selling single of the year, best band and best rock album.
Britney’s Blackout: The Reviews Are Dark
October 28, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
Some people and members of the media have already had a taste of Britney’s latest baloney-filled album, and the reviews are dark indeed. This is what the Wall Street Journal had to say about the ex-pop queen’s latest effort(less) Blackout:
?A phalanx of producers and backing vocalists exert more of an influence on a disc that?s not quite a mess but only occasionally rises above a muddle? as a vocalist, Ms. Spears sounds weary, snide and at times disconnected. On some songs, her voice seems grafted to the material as if an afterthought? At the bottom register, her voice is a throaty bleat? With Blackout, Ms. Spears fails to deliver a recording that will re-establish her as a dominant pop star rather than a 25-year-old woman who seems bent on self-destruction.?
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Time to kiss your failing career goodbye, Miss Spears!
