New Kids on the Block
"The Block"
Interscope
****
On their first album since 1994, the thirtysomething members of New Kids on the Block make unusually little try to conceal their ages. There's one song called "Grown Man," for model, and there's another in which the hook goes, "I'm a big boy / You're a big girl now."
"The Block" even ends with a snatch of in-the-studio chatter between Donnie Wahlberg and one of his children -- not the most efficient way of distracting us from the fact that these backstreet boys ar well on their way to becoming middle-aged workforce. (On the other bridge player, the record album does include a track called "Sexify My Love," which is certainly a mistake cipher over the age of 16 should make.)
Perhaps the surest signal of the New Kids' maturity here is the surprising forcefulness of most of the material. They've been roughly long enough to experience what a hit sounds like, and they're wise enough to know that they don't have evermore to reconstruct a undermentioned. So "The Block" comes loaded with sure-thing collaborations with radio-pop rainmakers such as Timbaland, Akon, Ne-Yo and Polow da Don, each of whom treat the propose with deference, not condescension.
The best cuts exude an understated confidence the old New Kids never had: In "Click Click Click" they layer sleek blue-eyed soul vocals over a hushed computer-music groove, piece "Twisted," the Timbaland cut, sets angelic harmonies against a ominous synth riff. "Grown Man," produced by new jack swing maestro Teddy Riley, even makes clever manipulation of a sample of "Chain of Fools."
Considering Top 40's predilection for seamless young faces, "The Block's" unexpected caliber is no guarantee of a commercial rebirth for NKOTB, world Health Organization play the Staples Center on Oct. 8. Believe it or not, though, they've got the right stuff.
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Mikael Wood
A country soul in a strange world
Rodney Crowell
"Sex and Gasoline"
Yep Roc
*** 1/2
Affairs of the heart have tenacious been the domain of esteemed nation singer and songwriter Rodney Crowell, and he hasn't abandoned that territory in his up-to-the-minute effort, in stores today. But the real fire ignites in the title track and several other songs in which Crowell tries to sort out a culture where "it don't make much sense that usual sense don't make no sense no more," as his peer John Prine once assign it.
"Sex and Gasoline" decries the destructive messages about the female body that pummel women and girls by the minute. With Dylanesque bite, he boils the problem down succinctly: "Pop faith, bullwhip thin / Say you ain't nothin simply the soma you're in." Then in "The Rise and Fall of Intelligent Design," he questions long-held assumptions about the ever-forward march of progress. Joe Hen- ry's edgy production amplifies the muscle of Crowell's lyrics and the immediacy of his vocals.
Along with peers such as Emmylou Harris and John Hiatt, world Health Organization also launched their careers in the '70s, Crowell seems to have establish the fire to just keep acquiring better.
--
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Friday 5 September 2008
Tuesday 26 August 2008
Shilpa Shetty - Shilpa Wishes Former Big Brother Rival Jade Well
Shilpa Shetty has offered her condolences to Jade Goody after the latter was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
The Big Brother star topology had been appearing on the Indian version of the world show - known as Bigg Boss - when she was informed of the diagnosis and has flown home to the UK.
And Bollywood actress Shetty, who was the object of supposed racism from Goody when they both appeared on Celebrity Big Brother has offered her support to her former housemate.
"I'd like to suppose on behalf of the people of India that we wish her well and our prayers ar with her," she told GMTV.
"It's so sad for somebody so whitney Moore Young Jr. to be diagnosed with such a dreadful malady - it's horrible," Shetty added.
Goody's appearing on Bigg Boss had been billed as an attempt to rehabilitate her image after being accused of racism towards Shetty.
And the Indian star aforesaid she believed Goody had begun to "work her way into people's hearts".
"People had started to see a different side to Jade, it was unbelievable to see the change in her," she explained.
"It was interesting to watch she had put in the elbow grease to curb her aggressive streak, she was much calmer."
Goody had been a member of the Bigg Boss house for only deuce days when she was informed of her diagnosing and arrived back in the UK on Wednesday to undergo further tests.
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Saturday 16 August 2008
Joss Stone to record Barack Obama campaign song
Joss Stone is gear up to spell and record a campaign song for US Democrat presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
According to The Sun, Stone was asked personally by Obama to write and record the song, which will be the topic song for his election campaign.
Obama is said to favour Stone, a immense star in the USA, because she has appeal to both black and white US citizens.
The paper quotes an anonymous source as saying: "She [Stone] believes he (Obama) is going to be the first black president and she is honoured to be a part of that."
More info
According to The Sun, Stone was asked personally by Obama to write and record the song, which will be the topic song for his election campaign.
Obama is said to favour Stone, a immense star in the USA, because she has appeal to both black and white US citizens.
The paper quotes an anonymous source as saying: "She [Stone] believes he (Obama) is going to be the first black president and she is honoured to be a part of that."
More info
Thursday 7 August 2008
Friday 27 June 2008
Monday 23 June 2008
Asterius
Artist: Asterius
Genre(s):
Other
Discography:
As Descendants Of Stars
Year: 1999
Tracks: 11
Patrizio Buanne
Wednesday 18 June 2008
Marlee Matlin is working on her memoir
NEW YORK —
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Academy Award-winning actress and "Dancing With the Stars" sensation Marlee Matlin is working on a memoir, scheduled to come out in 2009 and tentatively titled "I'll Scream Later."
"As a young girl, I imagined myself as Marcia Brady who just happened to be deaf, skating down the street saying hi to everyone I knew," Matlin, an Oscar winner in 1987 for "Children of a Lesser God," said in a statement issued Tuesday by Simon Spotlight Entertainment, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.
"But today, as a mom of four, I'm no longer Marcia. I've morphed into Alice, the Maid. Goodbye, Marcia, Marcia, Marcia."
According to Simon Spotlight, the 42-year-old Matlin will confide about her "unresolved issues and battles with addiction and abuse, many of which she kept hidden from the public and her family." She also will "delve into her loves and life in Hollywood," including such television shows as "Picket Fences," "The Practice" and "The West Wing."
Her previous books include a novel, "Deaf Child Crossing," and the young people's stories "Leading Ladies" and "Nobody's Perfect."
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Friday 13 June 2008
The Tossers
Artist: The Tossers
Genre(s):
Other
Rock
Pop
Discography:
Communication and Conviction
Year: 2007
Tracks: 21
Agony
Year: 2007
Tracks: 17
Valley of the Shadow of Death
Year: 2005
Tracks: 12
The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death
Year: 2005
Tracks: 12
First League Out From Land
Year: 2001
Tracks: 5
Long Dim Road
Year: 2000
Tracks: 11
We'll Never Be Sober Again
Year: 1996
Tracks: 14
Uncle Love: I Was R. Kelly's Dance Whiz
A guy who calls himself "Uncle Henry Love" says that he taught R. Kelly everything he knows -- well, almost everything.Henry Vaughn sued Kelly yesterday in Cook County for jacking his "steppin'" dance moves, which Vaughn says he gave to Kelly to make him seem more mature and less pervy.
Given that a jury is about to decide his fate in a kiddie-porn trial, like, today, we're guessing -- it didn't work so well. R.'s rep calls the suit "ridiculous."
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McCartney classical work to get NZ debut
A classical work which Sir Paul McCartney composed as a tribute to his late wife Linda McCartney is to have its New Zealand debut in Wellington.
Ecce Cor Meum, or Behold My Heart, will be performed by the Orpheus Choir, the choristers of the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, the Vector Wellington Orchestra and soprano Madeleine Pierard at Wellington Town Hall on November 29.
Sir Paul began the work in 1998 when he was invited to compose music to mark a new concert hall. Later that year his wife died of breast cancer.
The first version of what would become a five-movement work was performed in 2001. When a recorded version was released two years ago Sir Paul said he hoped the choral piece "could be sung by young people the world over in the same way that Handel's Messiah is".
Michael Fulcher, Cathedral of St Paul director of music, who will conduct the concert, said though it was a classical work, it still had the trademarks of Sir Paul's best-known music.
"It's got the most incredible melodies in it. And what a melodist he was - he came out with one amazing melody after the other. This piece has got that as well: everything is tuneful."
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Billy Bragg puts words on a page and suspends them in the air
ALTHOUGH it's been nearly six years since Billy Bragg has released an album, his hiatus can hardly be characterized as quiet.
In fact, the English guitarist-songwriter, who has spent more than two decades belting out politically charged, punk-tinged folk songs, continued to speak out on those same themes of politics and identity in 2006, only in book form: "The Progressive Patriot: A Search for Belonging."
Now, though, Bragg says he's ready to get back to basics. Moving on from what he calls his "author phase," he returns to music, taking to the road to promote his just-released album, "Mr. Love & Justice," and hitting the El Rey Theatre on Tuesday.
"Being an author's great fun, and it gives you a platform to talk about lots of things that I think are really important," he explains. "But the audiences at book fairs are not the same as the audience at the El Rey."
Bragg, 50, says the process of writing a book informed his current album.
"As soon as I delivered the manuscript, I went off to do some dates. And as soon as I strapped on a guitar at the sound check, I started having ideas for songs," Bragg says. "The book was a polemic, and the songs that came through [for 'Mr. Love & Justice'] tended to be more like love songs. It says something about my creative processes."
Politics play as large a part as love in Bragg's overall repertoire, so in some ways, the book and new album appear to represent two sides of the same musician. Take, for instance, the album title, which came from a 1960 novel by British author Colin MacInnis.
"MacInnis is, I think, the hip Orwell," the musician says. "Although MacInnis never came up with anything as prescient as 'Animal Farm' or '1984,' he was a great observer of the way that national identity changes, but also at the same time retains some very important elements of its original core."
Bragg points to the Beatles as the perfect example of Mac- Innis' theories of how rebelling against a national identity often simply reinforces it. "Everybody knows they were inspired by the music of black Americans, but conversely that led to some of the most intensely British music of the 20th century," he explains.
Bragg has built his career on asking questions and demanding answers, and the El Rey show, no doubt, will incorporate some discussion of the American race for the presidency.
For the record, Bragg says he's heartened by the primaries. "The most encouraging thing for us over here," he said by phone from Britain, "is that the choices you have seem to suggest that the electorate will be a lot more engaged come the fall," he says. "A [voter] turnout of over 50% would make us feel that the Americans do have a commitment to democracy in their own country, never mind anyone else's."
Above all, Bragg says his six-year detour proved that he's more of a politically minded minstrel -- rather than author -- at heart. "I wouldn't [go onstage] if I didn't get that buzz," he says. "I don't feel 50 when I'm out there; I feel 25 again."
BILLY BRAGG WHERE: El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Tue.
PRICE: $31
INFO: (323) 936-6400
In fact, the English guitarist-songwriter, who has spent more than two decades belting out politically charged, punk-tinged folk songs, continued to speak out on those same themes of politics and identity in 2006, only in book form: "The Progressive Patriot: A Search for Belonging."
Now, though, Bragg says he's ready to get back to basics. Moving on from what he calls his "author phase," he returns to music, taking to the road to promote his just-released album, "Mr. Love & Justice," and hitting the El Rey Theatre on Tuesday.
"Being an author's great fun, and it gives you a platform to talk about lots of things that I think are really important," he explains. "But the audiences at book fairs are not the same as the audience at the El Rey."
Bragg, 50, says the process of writing a book informed his current album.
"As soon as I delivered the manuscript, I went off to do some dates. And as soon as I strapped on a guitar at the sound check, I started having ideas for songs," Bragg says. "The book was a polemic, and the songs that came through [for 'Mr. Love & Justice'] tended to be more like love songs. It says something about my creative processes."
Politics play as large a part as love in Bragg's overall repertoire, so in some ways, the book and new album appear to represent two sides of the same musician. Take, for instance, the album title, which came from a 1960 novel by British author Colin MacInnis.
"MacInnis is, I think, the hip Orwell," the musician says. "Although MacInnis never came up with anything as prescient as 'Animal Farm' or '1984,' he was a great observer of the way that national identity changes, but also at the same time retains some very important elements of its original core."
Bragg points to the Beatles as the perfect example of Mac- Innis' theories of how rebelling against a national identity often simply reinforces it. "Everybody knows they were inspired by the music of black Americans, but conversely that led to some of the most intensely British music of the 20th century," he explains.
Bragg has built his career on asking questions and demanding answers, and the El Rey show, no doubt, will incorporate some discussion of the American race for the presidency.
For the record, Bragg says he's heartened by the primaries. "The most encouraging thing for us over here," he said by phone from Britain, "is that the choices you have seem to suggest that the electorate will be a lot more engaged come the fall," he says. "A [voter] turnout of over 50% would make us feel that the Americans do have a commitment to democracy in their own country, never mind anyone else's."
Above all, Bragg says his six-year detour proved that he's more of a politically minded minstrel -- rather than author -- at heart. "I wouldn't [go onstage] if I didn't get that buzz," he says. "I don't feel 50 when I'm out there; I feel 25 again."
BILLY BRAGG WHERE: El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Tue.
PRICE: $31
INFO: (323) 936-6400
Gaurangi devi dasi
Artist: Gaurangi devi dasi
Genre(s):
Other
Discography:
Magical Eclipse
Year: 2000
Tracks: 8
Nitai Prana
Year: 1994
Tracks: 9
DJ Simmonds
Artist: DJ Simmonds
Genre(s):
Trance
Discography:
Sets
Year:
Tracks: 6
Ashlee Simpson 'not engaged' yet
Bob Geldof - Geldof Has Long History Of Drug Use Says Friend
BOB GELDOF's daughter PEACHES has been branded a "hypocrite" for trying to create a drug-free image of herself in the press - because she allegedly has a long history of illegal substance abuse, according to a new report.
Earlier this month (May08), the 19-year-old hit the headlines after she was caught on tape reportedly buying drugs. She escaped police charges because of a lack of evidence.
But now one of her former friends has come forward to refute Geldof's previous claim that she "would never use" drugs - revealing that she has earned herself the nickname 'Dyson', after the brand of vacuums, for her reputation as an alleged drug user.
Rock drummer Snell - real name Neal Eldridge - claims he first witnessed the teenager's drug-taking in October 2006 while backstage at London's Kentish Town Forum, where his former band Towers Of London was performing.
Eldridge, 30, tells British newspaper News Of The World, "Peaches is the biggest hypocrite I know. She would go out on a drink and drug bender with us, then days later publicly claim to have a squeaky-clean, drug-free image. Every time the cocaine came out, she was there first to hoover (vacuum) it up.
"Lines of cocaine were cut up and laid out on a mirror. It was passed between everyone. When the coke got round to Peaches, she tried to hide what she was doing, turning away. She seemed to know what she was doing as the coke disappeared quickly enough. That was the first time she took drugs in front of us and it clearly played on her mind not to be spotted."
And Eldridge warns Peaches could end up like her late mother, Paula Yates, if she's not careful.
He adds, "She certainly can take her drugs. Perhaps she inherited that from her mother. She'll think this drug scandal is cool. If she is not careful she will head the same way as her mum."
Yates died of a heroin overdose in 2000 at the age of 41.
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