Author: Scott Finley
Madonna is taking jabs at Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ yet again. In a recent interview with a Brazilian TV network, Madonna commented about ‘Born This Way,’ snidely joking, "I'm a really big fan of ['Born This Way']. I'm glad that I helped Gaga write it." Ok Madonna, we get the point.
2012
is shaping up to be an amazing year for Grammy Award winning guitarist
Slash. He closed out 2011 riding high on the success of his landmark,
self-titled debut album which managed to take the Billboard top spot for
Rock Album, Hard Rock Album and Independent Album as well as the #3
spot in the Top 200. He also joined Ozzie Osbourne on the Scream tour
(Read the Technorati Scream Tour Review).
On April 14th Slash will be joined by the other original members of Guns N' Roses for a live performance during their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Full list of 2012 Hall of Fame Inductees). With several successful projects under his belt, including Velvet Revolver, Slash's Snakepit and his widely acclaimed debut release, Slash recently released the album cover art for his forth-coming follow-up release, Apocalyptic Love.
Apocalyptic Love, which will feature Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, is set to hit the streets on May 22, 2012. The band will be hitting the tour circuit as well as several major music festivals in support of the new album.Along with the up-coming Apocalyptic Love tour Slash will be performing at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards at Club Nokia in L.A. on April 11, 2012 as well as Carolina Rebellion, May 5, 2012 at Rockingham Speedway, NC, Rock on the Range, May 19, 2012 at Columbus Crew Stadium, OH, Rocklahoma, May 25, 2012 in Pryor, OK and Download Festival, June 8, 2012 in Donnington Park, UK.
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For
the latest collaboration in the "Three Artists. One Song." campaign
Converse has teamed Gorillaz with OutKast's Andre 3000 and LCD
Soundsystem's James Murphy on Gorillaz latest single, "DoYaThing," which
is available for listening or free download at Converse.com/doyathing.
"DoYaThing," is an absolutely amazing song. Undeniable proof that after 10 years of making music, Gorillaz is still packing heat and their ability to lay down ass-spanking, funky, hip hop/pop music has only grown over the years.
In conjunction with the release of "DoYaThing," Gorillaz' Jamie Hewlett has also designed a kickin' new shoe line for Converse.
As
my profile says, I have a shoe/ boot fetish--one look at the limited
edition Chuck Taylor Gorillaz Collection and it was done. Seriously.
Stick a fork in it. These shoes will be mine.
Gorillaz' Damon Albarn has been working on an extended version of "DoYaThing" for a later release (that 13 minute -->explicit<-- version was leaked and hit Youtube today) while Hewlett has been focusing his creative juices on a new video that will capture the funky, wild spirit expressed in both the shoe line and the new song.
Gorillaz celebrated their 10th anniversary with the release of a new compilation album, The Singles Collection: 2001 - 2011, and on February 21st they were honored at the Brit Awards in their native UK with the Outstanding Music Contribution Award. Most important of all, Damon Albarn has also been working in collaboration with his other highly successful Britpop band, Blur, on new material and--in what is sure to become a megaton explosion of pop/punk/funk fusion--Gorillaz are looking at a return to the studio for a new album as well.
So pop over to the Converse website, check out the cool shoes and download the new hot tune, the download button is below the embedded player and it is red. You can't miss it. Gorillaz have also left a message that should make you feel right at home.
"Take a listen and, while you’re at it, get your mucky paws on a Chuck Taylor Gorillaz sneaker, part of the new limited edition collection featuring artwork by Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett. Enjoy the tasty bits, kiddie-winkles."
At
the dinner party, one of my guests—referring to the “mood” music—turns
from dessert and asks, “Is that ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?” I smile
and nod. Seven tracks later, a guest asks, “Why are we listening to
‘Brahms’ Lullaby’?,” to which I sweetly reply, “Because it’s time for
you to go home.”
The “Truth in Reviewing Act,” to which all reviewers subscribe, forces me to admit that the conversation above never took place. Nor did the dinner party—since relocating to the mountains, there have been no dinner parties. I can fantasize, can’t I? The truth is that I've got a new album that makes wonderful background music for whatever.
February 28, 2012, marks the release of Putumayo Kids Presents Instrumental Dreamland, a collection of soothing-not-boring music designed “for relaxation and bedtime.” While the lovely acoustic instrumentals on the album are relaxing, I hesitate to recommend the album for children only. It provides an enjoyable listening experience to people of all ages. However, the inclusion of the two earlier-mentioned tracks does brand it as KidTunes.
The opening track on Instrumental Dreamland is a delightfully simple rendition of “What a Wonderful World,” performed by American musician Damien Erwin. This collection of world music includes selections from Brazil (“O Filho Que Eu Quero Ter,” Reginaldo Frazatto, Jr.), Japan (“Lullaby,” Masahiro Nitta), Mali (“Kouyate,” Balla Tounkara), and Ireland (“The Lark,” Seamus Egan), as well as several others from the United States: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” Michael Allen Harrison; “Bressay Lullaby/Don Oiche,” Sue Richards and Maggie Sansone; “Pupu Hinuhinu (Shiny Shell Lullaby),” Keola Beamer; “Hand in Hand,” Tony Ellis, “Honu’s Dream,” Kohala and Jake Shimabukuro; and “Brahms’ Lullaby,” Victor Johnson
Instrumental Dreamland is an excellent choice for naptime and bedtime, providing a calming soundtrack to gently lull little ones to sleep, but is also appropriate for mealtime, quiet time, and all the times when our kids (or we) don’t need to be stimulated or overstimulated. As much as we enjoy rockin’ KidTunes, there are times when they just aren’t appropriate.
Instrumental Dreamland is the sixth album in the Dreamland series, and the first all-instrumental collection. The music selected, according to Putumayo founder Dan Storper, was “chosen for [its] calming effect and appeal to children and adults alike.” Do you think Mr. Storper would be surprised to learn it also works for overly-anxious canines, too?
If you’re lucky enough to catch the B-52’s
in concert, you probably won’t see them in outrageous costumes and
hairstyles.
The B-52’s with the Wild Crowd! Live in Athens, GA will be seen in March (beginning March 3) on PBS
stations as part of March’s special programming. Athens is the band’s
hometown and this performance was filmed in February 2011 to commemorate
the 34th anniversary of their first-ever live show. Three decades have
not diminished the iconic group's eccentric, unique style which Fred
Schneider describes: “We just did our own thing, which was a combination
of rock ‘n roll, funk, and Fellini, and game show host, and corn, and
mysticism.”
