12 posts tagged “music news”

In the end, Nas dropped the controversial title slated for his new album. According to the hip-hop icon, his original choice (call it "the N word") for the now-untitled disc was getting the wrong kind of attention. And the focus really should be on the music, considering how consistently Nas has maintained critical acclaim, lyrical consciousness, and commercial appeal (his last full-length, "Hip Hop Is Dead," entered at No. 1).

His ninth full-length -- featuring productions by Stargate, Cool & Dre and DJ Green Lantern, and cameos from Chris Brown and the almighty Last Poets -- continues the winning streak. Killer single "Hero" boasts vocals by Keri Hilson and an insistent synth riff, but the standout is "Fried Chicken," a crackling cut infused with Southern soul and a hint of reggae, with a guest spot by Busta Rhymes, and knob-twiddling courtesy of recent Producer of the Year winner Mark Ronson. No prizes for guessing who Nas supports in the November election, though; Barack Obama looms large over the crisp beats of "Black President."

David Banner, on the other hand, downplays politics on "The Greatest Story Ever Told." The Mississippi rapper and producer serves up party jams, including "Shawty Say" featuring Lil Wayne, plus a side of GLOCK talk on "9mm." Still, Banner hasn't completely vanished into hip-hop fantasyland on his fifth full-length: On "Cadillac on 22's Part 2," he takes time to praise the Lord and pray for those less fortunate. With productions on Wayne's chart-topping Tha Carter III and RZA's new Bobby Digital release, he shows no signs of letting his productivity drop off. In a recent interview with Billboard, Banner said he has two more albums in the pipeline, including a companion disc for his Adult Swim series "That Crook'd 'Sipp."

Politics are rarely far from John Mellencamp's mind. Not only did he perform for both Clinton and Obama during the primaries, he also pointedly asked John McCain to stop playing "Pink Houses" and "Our Country" at rallies. Principled to the end, Mellencamp returns with one of the best records of his career: "Life Death Love and Freedom." Produced by another man who has come to define American music -- T Bone Burnett -- the disc leans heavily on blues and old-time country timbres, featuring stripped-down settings that showcase the Hoosier State favorite's weathered voice and blunt lyrics. Unlike a lot of modern albums, which come front-loaded with strong material then taper off, this one stays strong; don't skip Track 12, the disturbing vignette "County Fair."

In 1986, Randy Travis probably could have made a serious run for the White House. That was when his breakthrough "Storms of Life" made him the first country act to achieve multiplatinum sales status. And Travis remains one of the top 10 best-selling solo country acts of all time. After almost a decade spent making gospel discs, Travis returns to the genre he helped redefine with "Around the Bend," an 11-track traditional country set that includes his current radio staples "Dig Two Graves" and "Faith in You."

O.A.R. might be an acronym for Of a Revolution, but the popular jam band tends to be more closely associated with parties in the celebratory sense. Reflecting the breadth of their appeal, and disparate musical influences, their first studio album in three years is called "All Sides." Recorded in Los Angeles, and produced by Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Blues Traveler), a few of the 13 selections will already be familiar to fans: A couple were included on their "Live From Madison Square Garden" album, while "This Town" and "What Is Mine" have been floating around official O.A.R. sites for a spell. Diehards will no doubt check out the rest of the new material at one (or more) of the 36 dates on their summerlong All Sides Tour.

Florida is always a hot spot, especially at election time. Luckily, right now, the fuss among music fans has nothing to do with polling places. Instead, it centers on young Jacksonville quintet Black Kids. After blowing up the blogosphere with their demos, the album "Partie Traumatic" lives up to the hype, doling out generous helpings of danceable rock. Freshness and enthusiasm abound on these 10 infectious tunes, even if singer Reggie Youngblood does sound suspiciously like the kid brother of Robert Smith from the Cure. Considering their almost maniacal glee, Black Kids don't necessarily sound like a group you'd want to trust with your car keys -- let alone running the country -- but they can be in charge of music all night long.

Putting Rihanna and Maroon 5 together singing such hot song as “If I Never See Your Face” was the real move. Love singers Maroon 5 couldn’t get any better in choosing the right girl to sing with them. Rihanna told MTV news that Maroon 5 is one of her favorite bands and she was honored when they approached her with the opportunity.
The track will be in both singer’s and band’s albums. Ri’s album will be released on June, 17th.
Why wait? Click below to see the actual video. One of my fav’s now!

NEW YORK (AP) -- Soprano Leontyne Price, conductor James Levine, composer Carlisle Floyd and administrator Richard Gaddes will be the initial recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts Opera Honors.
The awards, patterned after the NEA Jazz Masters honors that were established in 1982, will be handed out during a ceremony Oct. 31 at the Harman Center for the Arts in Washington.
Speaking at a news conference to announce the prizes, tenor Placido Domingo said he hopes it's a step toward establishing "the Oscars of the opera."
What would they be called?
"The Mozarts," he suggested. "The Verdis?"
NEA Chairman Dana Gioia said only living Americans will be eligible for the NEA honors. While Domingo was born in Spain, he helped launch the awards because he is general director of the Washington National Opera and the Los Angeles Opera.
Price was among the top American sopranos and a breakthrough African-American singer, starring at the Metropolitan Opera from 1961 to '85. Levine has been the leading force at the Met as chief conductor and then music director since 1973, and in 2004 he became music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Floyd is best known for composing "Susannah," "Of Mice and Men" and "Cold Sassy Tree." Gaddes is general director of the Santa Fe Opera and in 1976 founded the Opera Theater of St. Louis.
Gioia said authorization for the honors was given by Congress in legislation that was signed by President Bush. Gioia said the United States had always been shy about national honors for living artists, and that the country should be more active in celebrating its artistic heritage.

He wanted the honors to be specific to opera, not to classical music in general.

"You don't want to lose focus," he said

http://hosted.ap.org

After all the ruckus — the false allegations, the apologies, the hemming and hawing, and finally the retraction – Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times journalist Chuck Phillips will be keeping his job. Hmm.

So after a story accuses Diddy and Biggie of abetting Tupac’s murder — basically hanging one of hip-hop’s most infamous slayings on two of its biggest stars — the journalist responsible is still in business. Never mind that he took his cues from known forger James Sabatino, who’s currently in prison.

Then again, these old-school publications are known for firing people the old-fashioned way: moving you to the grandpa beat. Like when they gave McNulty boat duty on “The Wire.” Maybe Phillips is headed for the water?

Actually, speaking of “The Wire,” doesn’t this remind you a bit of the final season — that kid at The Baltimore Sun…?

While Phillips defended his methods to MTV News, it seems as if further investigation is called for. After all, as Smoking Gun editor William Bastone pointed out, “In the recent history of journalism, when stories go really bad, the publication often does an explanation of how it happened…I’d like to know: How did [Sabatino] pull this off from behind bars?”

Newsroom.Mtv

Anyone who's written off P.O.D. as a hard rock also-ran in recent years will have to bring a new set of ears to this disc. The return of original guitarist Marcos Curiel after a four-year absence is momentous enough, but the 13-song set is also the San Diego quartet's most mature and ambitious outing to date. P.O.D. still brings the noise on such tracks as the opening "Addicted," the fierce "End of the World" and "God Forbid," which incorporates Helmet's Page Hamilton and swings like a sledgehammer. Those are made all the more effective by the cuts that chart a different course, including the slinky funk of "Kaliforn-Eye-A" (with Suicidal Tendencies' Mike Muir), the roots reggae-flavored "I'll Be Ready" (with the Marley Sisters) and the Spanish guitar-driven instrumental "Roman Empire."—Gary Graff

www.billboard.com

Heidi Montag has debuted her new single, "No More, reported US Weekly.
The pop ballad centers around a love gone bad. "I wish that I never loved you," she sings. "I should have never let you have my heart/You made me not want to feel again/Made me scared to open up/Now I'm better off/No more bad days/Don't need you to validate me."
It is Montag's second single following "Higher," which received negative responses from fans. Fans didn’t like the video on the song either.

    

Mariah Carey loves being called a diva.
The 'Hero' singer - who is renowned for her outrageous demands - says it's a compliment to have that reputation because it means she's successful. She said: "They throw that word around like it's a friggin' Frisbee!
"I grew up hearing it, because my mother is an opera singer. The actual definition is 'a talented female singer.' Definition two is 'a difficult woman who is successful,' I believe. So I take it as a compliment."
Despite her reputation, Mariah insists she doesn't make enough demands.
The 38-year-old star told Parade magazine: "You know what? I guess I am a diva in many ways! When it comes to certain things, yes, I can be difficult and a little bit rigid about what I want. Am I demanding? I don't think I'm demanding enough. I think if I were more demanding, I would have felt that I had some sort of power, as opposed to feeling like a pawn, which is something I had to grow out of." 

Country star and Dancing with the Stars alum Sara Evanshas found love again with beau Jay Barker, a former quarterback at the University of Alabama – and the two now plan to marry, Evans's rep, Lori Genes, according to People.

"The couple are enjoying their engagement and look forward to their upcoming nuptials," Ms. Evans’ rep says. The couple have yet to set a wedding date.
Evans, 37, who has three children with ex Craig Schelske, and Barker, who has four children from his previous marriage, began dating last fall. Evans's divorce was finalized in September.

Madonna still enjoys a steamy sex life with husband Guy Ritchie, according to the source.

The '4 Minutes' singer, 49, says despite being married for over seven years, she and husband Guy Ritchie still make time to be alone together.
The mother-of-three told Britain's OK! magazine: "I don't know who told you that having children and getting married means there is no erotica in your life."
Earlier this month, Madonna vehemently denied reports her marriage to Guy is on the rocks.
Liz Rosenberg, Madonna's US spokeswoman, said: "I am delighted to confirm that Mr. and Mrs. Guy Ritchie remain happily married.
"Though they were in different countries recently - Madonna in the US promoting her upcoming album 'Hard Candy' and Guy finishing up post-production on his new film 'RocknRolla' as well as completing a Nike commercial and working on several scripts in England - the family are joyfully back together at home in London. All is well and wonderful in the Ritchie household."

The Sun is reporting that Amy Winehouse is going back to rehab.
She is set to return to treatment and get help abroad.
A source tells the paper: "Amy has admitted she needs to check into rehab again. There are too many temptations for her in the UK — people around her in London are making it impossible for her to stay clean for any length of time. Her management had considered flying her to a clinic in Israel. They are also assessing a clinic in Cape Town in South Africa, according to the source.