ROCK-IT-MAN

The remarkable Elton John celebrated his 60th birthday on March 25 with his 60th concert at Madison Square Garden. Two days later, Elton celebrated a first--his first full-length, over 75 minutes-long U.S. single-disc greatest hits album to be originally issued on CD. Newly compiled and digitally mastered, Rocket Man – Number Ones (Island/UMe), released March 27, 2007, spans the first three decades of the singer-songwriter’s career and in a CD+DVD version brings it up-to-date into the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s fourth decade.
Rocket Man – Number Ones features 12 classics that hit #1 on various charts plus five other Elton signature songs. A limited edition CD+DVD package adds a bonus DVD with five live performances from Elton’s “The Red Piano” concert and five music videos, including that for his latest single, “Tinderbox,” presented exclusively.

And to celebrate Elton's funtime celebration, please check out the weirdest performance ever caught on tape, William Shatner's take on Sir Elt's "Rocket Man". ENJOY!

So This Is The Way It Feels to Watch the New Soular Video

Soular’s new video for the 1st single “So, This Is The Way It Feels,” off their Love, Crash, Heal CD on Astonish Records is now available for your viewing pleasure here.

For “So, This Is The Way It Feels,” Soular intentionally put the main riff in the bass instead of lead guitar. They also incorporated a dance groove and played off of the major/minor mode tension while they talk about happiness. There’s imagery about all the pseudo-celebrities they know, and a life that promises so much more than it can ever deliver.
Soular was formed in 2002 when longtime friends Marsh Shamburger (keys, guitar, tambourine, vocals) and Jared Ashcraft (bass, vocals) began a musical collaboration. Adding versatile drummer Ian Byrd in 2003 and releasing their first album, Time and Space, the band reached a new level of creativity and exposure. Around this time, guitarist Brian Lee joined the band.
Love Crash Heal, which was released on April 10th, is brimming with pushing, driving songs that will keep you in awe of Soular’s skills, as well as make you want to move your feet. One minute you’ll be hearing powerhouse rock, then a beautiful love serenade. Whether you are listening to their albums or rocking out at a live show, Soular is not to be missed.

Run, Straylight, Run!

On June 19th, Straylight Run with release their sophomore effort, The Needles The Space on Universal Republic Records.

Do John and Michelle Nolan think too much? Straylight Run’s sibling frontpeople – both sing, write, and play guitar and piano, ably enabled in their musical ruminations by bassist Shaun Cooper and drummer Will Noon – don’t seem like eggheads; but there’s no doubting the intelligent design of their gloriously adventurous off-kilter pop and the existential underpinnings of their lyrics.
Asked about “Soon We’ll Be Living in the Future,” the emotionally charged first single off Straylight Run’s forthcoming album, The Needles The Space (Universal Republic Records), John confides: “I’m really happy with how that song turned out because I was finally able to put a finger on a feeling I have about living and dying. It’s a frustrating and terrifying experience living with the full knowledge that at any point in any day you could die, and what would your life have meant? Everything you’re doing – what does it actually mean in the context of your life as a whole? It’s something I probably think about too much. It’s not a good idea to be too thoughtful about such things.”
The Needles The Space (produced by Straylight Run and engineered by longtime SR associates Bryan Russell and Mike Sapone) reveals SR as a more cohesive unit, with the technical grasp to match its creative reach. “I’ve become a better musician so I’m not as limited in my songwriting,” Michelle confirms.
Says John of Straylight Run’s evolving sound, which he concedes is difficult to pigeonhole: “I love pop music; I love hearing a well-written pop song. And I like a lot of music that’s experimental and weird. I’m always looking for ways to take a pop song and rearrange it into something interesting and fresh and original.” Michelle remarks: “We’re very lucky because our fans seem to be open to whatever we do. That gives us the freedom to explore any idea we have.”

Duh (AKA "Soon We'll Be Living in the Future")

What Kind of F*ckery is This?

If you can't tell from the title, I much prefer Amy Winehouse's take on "Me & Mrs. Jones" (though, if we're going to be truthful here, her version is called "Me & Mr. Jones" and aside from title, has zero to very little to do with Billy Paul's classic).

However, I am a fan of Emily Blunt, and if she sees something in this dude enough to make him include "Me & Mrs. Jones", then I'm all for it. Unfortunately I don't have a sample of that track, but I do have Buble's "Everything", which you can find here.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Rock Honors TONIGHT!

Thanks goodness for VH1 for upholding what's real and true in the world, unlike Fox (who hawks limited talent and packages it as the next great thing, retch - that is, except for Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, who are indeed the real deal. They just got dumb lucky over those two).

Anywho...check out VH1's Rock Honors TONIGHT, May 24 @ 9/8 central. Why bother putting central, though? No one worth knowing lives in central time.

This year's VH1 Rock Honors will pay tribute to Genesis. Make sure you tune into VH1 Rock Honors, which will pay tribute not only to Genesis, but to Heart, Ozzy Osbourne and ZZ Top as well. VH1 Rock Honors premieres Thursday, May 24 at 9/8C on VH1!

This year has proven to be a great one for the members of Genesis. Not only are they set to embark on a world-wide tour, but also released the 6-CD/6-DVD Genesis box set, Genesis 1976-1982, as well as the release of all 5 individual remastered and expanded albums included in the boxed set, Trick of the Tail, Wind & Wuthering, And Then There Were Three, Duke and Abacab on May 15th.

I always thought I hated Genesis until I heard this. They're no Anne & Nancy Wilson (YEAH!!!!!!), but they'll do since I've no Heart streams hanging 'round.

Ferry-esque

On June 26th Bryan Ferry will release Dylanesque, an entire album of Bob Dylan songs. There is a racing, joyous intensity to Bryan Ferry's interpretations of the songs of Bob Dylan. Just as his legendary version of 'A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall', recorded back in 1973, exchanged apocalyptic vision for exuberant swagger, so at the heart of these new recordings lies Ferry's brilliance in both paying homage to the original track, and reinventing it as entirely and iconically his own. Back then, in 1973, he had an idea: "I just thought it would be great to make a whole album of Dylan songs. And at the end of last year, finally, it happened."

This strikes me as the Brits equivalent to the (also British delicacy) tunafish on pizza. Two combinations that just don't work. But what can I say, I'm a hater. Decide for yo'self.

Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues

Positively 4th Street

Rise!

Shout! Factory, in partnership with music legend Herb Alpert, expands the label’s historic Herb Alpert Signature Series reissue program with the fully restored and remastered release of Alpert’s disco-infused 1979 masterpiece, RISE.

Alpert’s artistic comeback started with the release of “Rise,” a down-tempo dance single departing from Alpert’s signature Tijuana Brass sound. It climbed to number one on the Billboard charts and became the biggest hit of his career. Met with such success, Alpert and his recording team created an entire album around the new, laidback disco sounds of the single and RISE – the album – was born, topping the charts and revitalizing Alpert’s already decades-long career.

Every album in the Herb Alpert Signature Series has been meticulously remastered under Alpert’s personal supervision, and the expanded CD booklets include new liner notes with reflections from Alpert himself. The 11 previous releases in the series include Whipped Cream & Other Delights, The Lonely Bull, Going Places, rarities collection Lost Treasures and many more. RISE joins the Herb Alpert Signature Series on CD May 29, 2007 with two previously unreleased tracks, for the suggested list price of $13.98.

Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, co-founders of A&M Records, will be honored with the President’s Merit Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences for their contributions to popular music. The ceremony will take place at a post-Grammy® reception on February 11, 2006 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Check it here.

Sly Reincarnated as Chris Marsol

In the absence of Sly (who I never really think will come back, or SHOULD come back), we now have Chris Marsol, who stands for much of the same tenets of racial harmony. Moreover, the sound of Sly's heyday relives in Chris Marsol's soul-tinged rock. It's funky, it's fresh, and you can hear it down below.

Chris Marsol, who has been steadily gaining popularity all over the Bay Area and throughout California at quantum speed, brings forth yet another musical masterpiece to feed the masses. He puts a much-needed spin on what is "rock", bringing the rock lover, the soul lover and the pop music lover together in one blissful Technicolor orgy, celebrating life and music outside the lines of race, creed and color. Embracing his roots and the melting pot that is the Bay Area, Marsol chimes out heartfelt, cutting edge melodies over rock guitars, along with slaps of the hi hat and pounds of the drums. Having written, arranged and produced Butterflys, Lipstick and Hand Grenades, he has meshed his dynamic vocals and edgy material. Chris Marsol and his band take us on an elemental roller coaster ride, climaxing at the peak of diversity and raw talent, then bringing us back full circle to a hard core but more enlightened reality. With innovative songwriting and memorable tunes, this album is genuine and truly a unique work of art.

Let Me Jump

She Don't Care

CeU

CéU (pronounced “cell with a light L”) is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose music is rooted in samba, the infectious rhythmic style made famous in Brazil, which she blends with hip-hop, jazz and soul to create an intoxicating and distinctive sound.
Nominated for a Latin GRAMMY® in 2006 for “Best New Artist,” CéU is a rising star. Her full name is Maria do CéU Whitaker Poças, but she goes by the simple moniker CéU. It is a name that when translated into English means “sky” or “heaven.”
CéU is the first international artist featured in the Starbucks Hear Music™ Debut series. Her music crosses boundaries – CéU is an incredibly electrifying performer with universal appeal,” said Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment.
Just when you think that Brazil must surely have exhausted its supply of irresistibly jazzy, funky, sexy, soulful electro-pop singer-songwriters, someone like CéU releases an irresistible album full of Samba, reggae, dub, electronica, love, heartbreak, chaos and sweet tunefulness.

A little weak in the beats dept. for my taste, but who doesn't love free music?

Domo Arigato Mr. Gayboto

Amacom Books will be released THE GRAND ILLUSION: Love, Lies, and My Life with Styx by Chuck Panozzo with Michele Skettino nationwide on May 15th, 2007.

A founding member of Styx and its iconic bass player, Chuck Panozzo remembers what it was like on the road to success, riding between local gigs in the back of a station wagon, and at the peak of his fame, playing before thousands of screaming female fans and torrents of panties, bras, and propositions. He also recalls the loneliness and gnawing fear of being found out and exposed as a gay man. He tells the story of his struggle to come to terms with himself while navigating a rock ‘n’ roll odyssey in THE GRAND ILLUSION: Love, Lies, and My Life with Styx.

This is no shock that a founding member of Styx is gay. Now we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief that this was not the work of straight men.

So You Can Make Me Cum That Doesn't Make You Jesus!

THE.BEST.LINE.EVER.OF.ANY.SONG.

Courtesy of Myra Ellen "Tori" Amos, circa 1991.

Album: Little Earthquakes

Song: "Precious Things"

Okay, so I haven't really been digging on Tori since record 3 (that would be the infamous pig-sucking teet album Boys for Pele), but her new work, American Girl Posse, sounds pretty good to my ears. Maybe not Under the Pink good, but hey, we can't all go back to our adolescence. Or my adolescence.

Check it out here: