83 posts tagged “cover”

Taking a break from the usual live reviews of late, I will be doing some much-ignored reviews this week. Today's theme is all from the same record label.

Suburban Noize Records have been around since the mid-90s, catering to a very certain market of young hip hop, herb culture, and punk fans. We have a few items from them for review.

For starter, SubNoize Souljaz (myspace) is like the all-star supergroup, consisting of 15 or so Suburban Noize artists, including members of Kottonmouth King, Big B, and Jared Gomes (singer of Hed PE).

Their third album, Blast From The Past, just dropped late last August. While I am unfamiliar with some of these titles, I almost knew all the cover songs from hearing them on the radio. Except this album are all done in the style of that only Subnoize can deliver. With the variety of rappers and lead singers - the music is somewhat uneven, but at least the vocals stands out from each other. Particularly, I was impressed with Judge D's cover of LL's "Mama Said Knock You Out" and a funky The Dirtball's cover of RATM's "Microphone Fiend" (the bass is really good on this song) and Slick Rick's "Children's Story" by Daddy X.

It's evident that these guys owe a lot to influential bands that came before them (NWA, 2Pac, Snoop, Dre), so this album is a tribute to them. If you like old-school rap, particularly Death Row Records, as much as anyone that grew up in the 90s, you will definitely do yourself a favor and check out Blast From The Past.

Tour Dates 11/15/09 El Corazon Seattle, WA 11/16/09 Satyricon Portland, OR 11/17/09 DNA Lounge SF, CA 11/18/09 Boardwalk Orangevale, CA 11/20/09 Starline Fresno, CA 11/21/09 Modesto Virtual Modesto, CA 11/22/09 Chain Reaction Anahiem, CA 11/23/09 Karma Victorville, CA 11/24/09 Roxy Los Angeles, CA

Brokencyde, or seemingly nonsense caplock problem, brokeNCYDE (myspace), is also under Subnoize's screamo/punk label, BreakSilence Recordings. This sub-label also houses Eyes Set To Kill and Kill Paradise.

Anyway, Brokencyde is a "crunk"-core band (apparently this genre is a fusion of hip hop and electro, and possibly other genres like punk and rock). The band embrace the brand, and even have a song called "Get Crunk!".

The album actually did chart on the Billboard 200 at #86, which kind of impressed me, considering that many of the artists I hear about, they never chart. I think the high debut might possibly be due to their presence on this year's US Warped Tour. However, despite the success, the album was critically condemned. My favorite is (name redacted) review from NME: "even if I caught Prince Harry and Gary Glitter adorned in Nazi regalia defecating through my grandmother’s letterbox I would still consider making them listen to this album too severe a punishment." Critics who hates them, I don't think they understand that the album was meant for them... certainly the album is not meant for me. I am curious what the band will sound like when they've matured a bit. Although, I will have to confess that I did smile a bit when I heard "pee pee" sung on "Sex Toys" and "let's get retarded" on "Rockstar".

They look and sound very young (hey, FYI, their singer is called Se7en), which makes their debut album I'm Not a Fan... But the Kids Like It even more-so ironic. I did feel that despite their youngness, that some ALL of their songs with messages of drinking and sex, might not appeal to everyone. Then again, perhaps that's why "the kids like it". The real irony is that with all the cursing, you may have to be over 18 to purchase it.

Stronger songs on the album are: "Freaxxx" (with the catchy "let's get freaky" lyrics), and "Yellow Bus" (boasting about sex with groupies like Miley Cyrus??? WTF!).

If you don't mind the naughty messages, some autotune, some screamo, some electronica, check out I'm Not a Fan... But the Kids Like It at amazon.

Tour Dates 11/13/09 Budweiser Event Center* CO 11/14/09 Mid America Center*, IA 11/15/09 Uptown Theater* Kansas City, MO 11/17/09 Val Air Ballroom Des Moines, IA 11/18/09 Aragon Ballroom* Chicago, IL 11/19/09 The Fillmore* Detroit, MI 11/26/09 Grove of Anaheim, CA * with 311

Kottonmouth King (official / myspace) should need no introduction for any fans of Hightimes. The group found success in that "green" niche market, and is the flagship band on Suburban Noize label - possibly due to the record company being started by member Daddy X, and their manager, Kevin Zinger.

Their latest release is Hidden Stash 420, an epic 2-disc album. This is basically a collection of unreleased tracks, b-sides, remixes, demos. The packaging is also nice, it's a fold-out digipak. Hardcore fans will want to purchase the album directly from Subnoize Store or Best Buy stores, as that comes with a bonus DVD called The Lost Adventures of the Kottonmouth Kings.

While it's easy to just dismiss the band as pot smokers, that all their songs about weed, and although it's true, I believe they also deceptively paint a vivid picture of what their lifestyle is like. Check out tracks like "Take a Ride", as it describes California and family, all under a catchy chorus of "west coast is the place for me, never know what you'll see". But it's not all serious, there's a goofy song called "Late Night Call" with cultural reference of "me so horny", "facebook" and "myspace".

The collection is mostly older songs, and it's interesting to see some of their experiments. One song, "Tangerine Sky", seems like it's paying tribute to the Beatles LSD song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". "Tangerine Sky" comes off as being more melodic and slower than most of their songs. The other non-conventional KMK is a poppy song "Let the Music Play". I wish I knew the story behind this song, but what I can tell you that it sounds very happy and 60s love. Perhaps Jackson Five?

Anyway, my favorites are usually the faster-constantly rapping songs with a loopy DJ backback, like "Evolution" and "Got It Get It". The later is a new Kingspade (a division of Kottonmouth King's rap duo, Johnny Richter and D-Loc) venture, which may be important for fans, as they haven't released anything under Kingspade in the last two years.

The Lost Adventures of the Kottonmouth Kings

The DVD portion is a Best Buy exclusive. The two hour DVD featuring the band on tour, music videos and various miscellaneous. The audio and video quality can sometime be quite poor (night-time shooting is always an issue) to quite good (see image capture of a great quality), and I think sometime the director overuses the fisheye lens. Still, can't complain too much since it's added value.

Hidden Stash 420 is out now. A perfect Christmas gift for any stoner in your family.

Happy Halloween! I don't actually have a whole lot of time to devote to this article, unlike last year's Halloween Spooktacular. As I was looking around for inspiration and scary ideas to write about, I was sent "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" by Chico Fellini (official / myspace).

I was a teenage werewolf, braces on my fangs!

The song is a cover of the classic Cramps (myspace) 1980 song from their album, Songs The Lord Taught Us. As with the original and the cover, they both feature that distinctive guitar riff and, er, campy and moody vocals. I'm not sure what the deal is with the Chico Fellini cover, but there's about 45 seconds of "extra" jewelery box music at the end. I only ask because I had to boost up my volume to catch it.

If you love the Cramps, it might be worth your while to try and track download the bootleg called Songs The Lord Might Have Taught Us, which features an alternate mix of "I Was a Teenage Werewolf". I believe it might actually be the "Original Mix" found as bonus CD tracks on reissues, minus the Lux Interior's blowup at the false start.

Anyway, what the song is ultimately about is "growing pains" of a teenage werewolf, and I'm assuming describes the 50s film (having never seen it myself). The 50s horror film of the same name, starring a young Michael Landon, of Little House on the Prairie fame was so successful that it inspired other films such as "I Was a Teenage Frankenstein", "I was a Teenage Mummy", "I Was a Teenage Serial Killer", and "I Was a Teenage Intellectual", etc.

The Remus Lupins - I Was a Teenage Werewolf

What's not a cover song is "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" by The Remus Lupins (myspace). Fans of Harry Potter should have already known about this Wizard Rock group, and if you've never heard of Wizard Rock, then my friend, you are not a Potter fan. I'm not a fan, but I think I've mentioned before that I've come to the conclusion that the teacher Remus Lupin is a werewolf in the book series. The band's name is taken from the teacher's name.

As a bonus, here's also the most famous Wizard Rock band, Harry and the Potters (official / myspace) with their song "My Teacher is a Werewolf". In fact, here's even more Werewolfy songs from previous year's entries.

Harry and the Potters - My Teacher is a Werewolf 1 comment	The Browns - American Werewolf in Calgary	Cocorosie - Werewolf	Scary Bitches - Werewolf	Southern Culture On The Skids - Werewolf
Michael Shields - Ginger Snaps Theme	Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London 3 comments	Running Wild - Prowling Werewolf 1 comment	London - Werewolves In London	Cat Power - Werewolf 7 comments
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - She Said 2 comments	La Union - Lobo Hombre En Paris 1 comment	the Dillinger Escape Plan - Sunshine the Werewolf	The Born Losers - Werewolves on Wheels	Metallica - Of Wolf and Man

The band was deafening. Yuki was adorable. The crowd swooned. All in all, it was a very successful night and an emotional victory for anyone below the 5’2” mark.

Clearly being the founder and producer for Groove Gravy Records, Roy Shakked, or better known as Holmes, knows a thing about writing music and reworking classics.

He was employed by Delta Records, then after the label fold, he started Groove Gravy. He was also responsible as music supervisor for such shows and movies as CSI Miami, Sex and The City, The OC, Poseidon, and The Devil Wears Prada - so you can thank him for all the good music you hear on these shows.

The Holmes name came from his previously band's name... although long dis-banded, but he kept the nickname and continued to release his own original music, first with Stop Go in 2007. Now a self-titled album, recorded earlier in 2009 and released last Tuesday, August 11^th.

All of the songs on this album was written and arranged by Holmes (with the exception of one Bowie song, but we'll get to that later), and through each song you hear a master working his craft. I feel you can hear all of his collective influences on each song. From protest folk, with the anti-protest "Not A Political Song", to Beatlesque pop "Let Go", to classic pop song "So Many Of You".

The best original song on the album is the, what I would like to call, "party rock song" "Go Computer". The repetitive short guitar riffs, combined with the constant drums, gives the song an instant head-bopping rhythm.

Now, I don't normally pick a the cover song to represent the band/musician, but in this case, I think it's really what Holmes does best here. His creative version of "Let's Dance" by David Bowie, basically deconstruct the song to an anti-dance song. Although that doesn't sound too appealing, it's hard to ignore how amazing the song is heard this way, especially with the slow piano and cello.

I am assuming that his work with the label's Masterworks Reworked (the album taking classic composers such as Bach and Beethoven and makes modern grooves out of it) is the same style by taking the well-worn original into something brand new. I'll definitely be buying the album used on amazon for $1 and will let you know about it later.

Holmes is out now on Groove Gravy Records, he can be found all over the web, including facebook and youtube. Keep an eye on the youtube page because apparently he's just finished touring and will be spending his time producing videos for promotion.

Update: Help Holmes climb the Hypem's Twitter chart by re-tweeting: "@weheartmusic Bowie cover "Let's Dance" by @HOLMESMusic : http://hypem.com/track/884130" - song is currently #70 with 91 points.

Speaking of Asians... See where this is going? You following me, Camera Guy?

*The title courtesy of Kate & Lara.

JAPAN
Hikaru Utada, or better known simply as Utada (official/myspace), is a massive Jpop singer from Japan. I'm not sure how popular she is in the US, but she seems popular with the anime crowd (her music's been used in Square Enix's games).

Her second album, This Is The One, released May 12^th, on Island Def Jam, sounds like more or less R&B.

The lead single, is "Come Back to Me", which I caught the music video for it during their promotional push in May (you could've also gotten the album for $5 too!). I was actually impressed with her English, it actually sounds like it was written and sung by a native English speaker (most Jpop songs seems to me like they throw in English words that sounds good, even if it doesn't make much sense in the song. Like South Park's interpretation.).

As far as the album is concern, it's very slick and, maybe just a little over produced? Take a listen to my favorite song, "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence - FYI" to see what I mean. I liked the lyrics, "FYI, we're gonna be up all night". You can interpret that how you like, but I can't see this cute/big-eyed girl being naughty.

HMONG
I don't think there is a country anymore, but the Hmong culture and language lives on. They descended from Southern China, and you can hear that influence in their language.

I was given a few albums by popular Hmong singers, Maiv Xyooj (myspace) and Tou Ly Vangkhue (myspace).

Since all their songs are all sung in Hmong (and I don't speak a word), I'll admit to not spending too much time listening and analyzing the music.

From listening to Xyooj's greatest hits album Best of Maiv Xyooj Collection, it sounds to me like pop music with traditional singing (the flutes and chimes help create that authentic sound). However, some of the recording sounds like it was recorded with 80s technology.... but it doesn't sound very new wave.

As for Vangkhue, his music is basically what you would call "soft rock". I was surprise to hear his Hmong version of the Bobby Vee classic song, "More Than I Can Say" (how come nobody ever covers Vee's "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes"?). Anyway, this version sounds like Hmong Karaoke: not quite as passionate with mellow guitar melodies.

VIETNAM
If you're Vietnamese or hang out with Vietnameses, you're probably familiar with the very popular music program called Paris By Night (official). They celebrated their 25^th anniversary last year, but the DVD version wasn't made available until earlier this year - in two parts.

Of course, I have a copy, as do all Vietnamese families across the world (although ironically the program is banned in Vietnam).

The same crew and staff have been doing this annual program for years that it seems flawless, but because 2008 marked such a special year for them, everyone seems under a lot of stress and pressure. There are moments on the DVD where one of the hosts goes backstage and talk to the crew handling the program (everything from makeup, to lights, to camera works, etc).

As for the performances, it's not live... but the performers do some great lip syncing. Some of the speech are hard for me to understand, especially if they're using a northern dialect (they like the "zz" sound vs the south with the "yy" sound).

If you don't speak Vietnamese, don't bother tracking down a copy, there are no subtitled version as far as I know. But if you're just into the culture and performances, then Paris By Night #94 and Paris By Night #95 have a lot to offer. There's a bit of everything, from comedy sketches, insane dresses, film (The Vertical Ray of the Sun), interviews, traditional Vietnamese music, modern dance/techno, to even cover of popular American tunes ("Bang Bang I Shot My Baby Down").

As you can see from the follow epic intro to #94: it's pretty ridiculous. Especially when they started lowering this woman sitting on the 25th logo, holding a globe. As if the girls in white dresses balancing candles weren't crazy enough!

Stick around until 70% into this "thank life and parents" song, and it becomes a techno/dance song!

Yep, this week's theme is country music.

Whenever I meet people and I ask what type of music they're into, I can tell you 90% of them will answer vaguely: "I am into all kind of music... well except for rap and country music." It saddens me to hear that. (Incidentally, whenever someone tells me they're into all genre of music, I think the opposite: they only like one kind of genre).

Trust me, we get "all kind of music" and shopping around for reviewers is tough because, let's face it: we like what we like. No one is going to go out of their way to devote one or two hours listening to music genres they're not familiar with.

So basically, country music is a very popular genre that no one seems to like! I grew up on country music, so I've always had a soft spot for it. What I like about country is that they often teach us a lesson, like a story within the song. And often the story is about RL (real life) and you can relate to their flawed characters.

Below are some albums we've received that's by real singers, singing about life.

GLEN CAMPBELL glencampbellshow.com ♥ myspace.com Glen Campbell - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) 1 comment The Rhinestone Cowboy is back with a Greatest Hits album, released earlier in February. While he is known for writing original songs (his legacy expands over 50 years in the music industry!), his 2008 album, Meet Glen Campbell, is an all-covers album. What's surprisingly is his choice in covers are strangely modern contemporary, including U2 ("All I Want Is You"), Foo Fighters ("Times Like These"), Green Day ("Good Riddance") and best of all Travis ("Sing"). Just as his title suggest: meet Glen Campbell for the first time, forget his roots in country pop music. Some of the best cover, at least to me, is his version of "Sing" (you can hear it on myspace) and "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)". While Green Day's version is all-acoustic and somber, Campbell brought a bit of a jingle, jangle and banjo to the song. It's like a going away party, and you wouldn't think this was a Green Day song. As a cover-lover, I wholly recommend these "re-imagined" songs to fans of the bands he covers. Find out more details over at meetglencampbell.com for the cover album (available on CD, Limited Edition Vinyl, and of course digitally). Glen Campbell - Rhinestone Cowboy 2 comments Bonus: "Rhinestone Cowboy" is a favorite among such acts as Radiohead and Belle & Sebastian.		NATASHA JAMES natashajames.com ♥ myspace.com Natasha James - Modern Life 1 comment Natasha James is a country singer from Sonoma, California, which is close to both Sacramento and San Francisco. I get the impression that James knows and loves her liquor. Take a look at the evidence: tequila in "Tequila Time", beer on "Modern Life", and whiskey on "Boy Do We Drink". The later song is all about drinking and fighting, but I don't take it too seriously as the tone seems pretty tongue-in-cheek. My favorite song is "Modern Life". It does a great job in painting you the picture of: lonliness, our busyness, divorces, cellphones, internet games, etc. The song is bundled in what sounds like a steel guitar and violins. While the song has a sad tone to it, it's not as sad as the weepy "The Wind". She's also doing a few dates throughout California: 08/08/09 Sonoma County Fair Santa Rosa, California 08/21/09 Iron Door Saloon Groveland, California 08/22/09 Iron Door Saloon Groveland, California Tequila Time is available at most online shops, including eMusic and Amazon. Bonus: As I have previously mentioned, we don't get too many DVD submissions, so here is the video for "Tequila Time". Natasha James - Tequila Time
RUSTED ROOTS rustedroot.com ♥ myspace.com Rusted Root - Driving One 1 comment Rusted Root is a toe-tapping, bluegrass/jam fusion band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They have been around since the late 80s, and have survived to this day with their recent release of Stereo Rodeo (released May 5, 2009 on Touchy Pegg/Adrenaline/DKE). I lassoed the band on this article because I thought they look country, I mean look at this pyschedelic cover artwork: a cowboy ropping a japanese geisha over flames and skulls. The album cover is basically an interpretation of the song "Stereo Rodeo", a slower song that tells the story of a man going to Japan to find a girl. One thing is certain, I feel the shock of the insane cover artwork never quite live up in the song, because the song sounds a bit... normal. As far as the rest of their songs, they're full of funk and percussions and background vocals, I get the sense that the band wants the audience to be involved with them. Their songs were designed to get you to dance with the band, perhaps contributing to hand claps or singalong. Like most jam bands, they're meant to be seen live. I felt "Driving One" would best sum up the band: check out that funky percussion beat! It sounds like something out of Africa, yet feels like it belong in this American bluegrass band. Stereo Rodeo is available now, at amazon ($8!) or eMusic.		AMY LENNARD amylennard.com ♥ myspace.com Amy Lennard - Forever Tonight 3 comments I actually really love Amy Lennard's I Need To Love the first time I heard it last year, I think mostly because her voice reminds me of Bonnie Raitt. Music's always been part of Lennard's life, playing guitar since nine, then moving on to composing original songs. She moved from New York to live out in California for a while, playing festivals and jamming campfire songs with friends. Ten years later, she moved back to New York, and started working on I Need To Love. Half of the album was, from what I've gathered, written and recorded in 2006 with the help of Ben Wisch. The other half is with engineerer Jon Gordon (who's previously worked with Suzanne Vega). You might think that two different producers working on the album might result in an uneven sounding album, it's actually not. Most of the songs feels like pop radio, with strong modern country music influences. There is one very pop-sounding song, it's a love song called "Forever Tonight". It's my favorite song and the easy-to-follow lyrics will cause you to sing along. You can find I Need to Love from amazon, CD Baby, and, of course, iTunes.
MIKE KOTULKA mikekotulka.com ♥ myspace.com/nycmk Mike Kotulka - Dumb Mike Kotulka is another Philadelphian, if that's a word, his sophomore album Hi-Lows will be available July 7th. Everything tells me he's a cowboy, from hat to the harmonica that starts off his intro song, "Born To Try". While not entirely country, Koulka is more like from the Bob Dylan school, which is not a bad association. The title of the album comes from the same titled song, "Hi-Lows". The song is about standing tall, standing for what you believe in, despite the "shit" trying to keep you down. It's a bit inspirational, especially in this economic time. The songs that I did enjoy are the louder ones, "Dumb" and "Gimme Love". "Dumb", with its hand-claps, and "Gimme Love" with its catchy "gimme love gimme love" chorus, will both make excellent live songs. However, as of this writing, there are no tour dates. The nine-track album, feels really short. I decided to track down more music from Kotulka, and the good news is his album The Good, The Bad and the Ugly was available for free via the official website or empty-k.com. Hi-Lows will be available in early July at amazon.		SWAY swaymusic.com ♥ myspace.com Sway - Cowgirl Scene 1 comment Perry Martin and Gina Quartaro are basically the country band Sway, based out of California. The two musician met at a doctor's office, and I suppose while waiting in the waiting room (as one do), the two started talking about music. As the turned out, both Quartaro and Martin have a lifetime of music in them. Quartaro's written and co-produced over 200 songs to day and was even called the "Female Elton John" by Russ Regan (record executive of UNI records, 20th Century Records, and Motown Records). And Martin's biography lists him as band member on "The Donny James Show". They took the show to South Vietnam from 1968-69, and did a show for radio & television called "Nashville Vietnam". I'm not going to list the other two band members' (Laurens Vernot, Trevor Hands) biography, but let's just say that each member bring a rich history of music with them. Sway's music, with its honky-talk and lyrics tells me "good times are all we need" (from "Cowgirl Scene"). Like "baseball and Chevrolet", these songs are pretty standard country love song ("When Love Finds Its Way", "I'm Over You"). Where love is the power that transcend reality. Sure, "the banks are callin' and bills are late", but we've got love, from "In The Hands Of Love". Gina Quartaro sings on all the songs on the album, minus two songs sung by Martin. Quartaro is currently doing some dates: 07/05/09 The Art A Fair Laguna Beach, CA 07/16/09 OC Fair (Mainstage) Costa Mesa, CA 07/25/09 Art A Fair Laguna Beach, CA Sway's debut album, Let It Roll, was released last year, and you can get it via CD Baby.

A Cover Lover Special: Just Dropped In

Kenny Rogers - Just Dropped In Bettye LaVette - What My Condition Is In 1 comment Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - I Just Dropped In To See What Condition My Condition Is In 1 comment Supergrass - Condition

"Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" is the hit song that put Kenny Rogers (official/myspace) on the music map. His band was called The First Edition but was quickly replaced with Rogers' name in less than a year to Kenny Rogers & The First Edition.

If you have a chance to listen to their hit song, you can clearly hear a very young Rogers doing his best psychedelic vocals, singing about the dangers of LSD and looking at the state of his condition. Rogers love the song so much, that even after his group broke up in the mid-70s, he re-recorded a different studio version on his album Ten Years Of Gold. The new version finds Rogers a little more bluesier.

The song caught the attention of producer Ollie McLaughlin, who had Bettye LaVette (official/myspace), record "What Condition My Condition Is In" as a B-Side to Popcorn Wylie and Tony Hester song, Get Away. Obviously, LaVette (previously recorded under Betty La Vette on Karen Records) brought a more soulful interpretation to the song.

It is obvious to me that New York's Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (official/myspace), based their own version on LaVette's... simply based on the singing style and especially the brass section on both songs. I love their version too, as I have previously had Sharon Jones on my Top 10 List for 2008.

Willie Nelson - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) 1 comment

Mickey Newbury - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition Was In) 1 comment

Honorable mentions should include Supergrass (official/myspace) and Willie Nelson (official/myspace) . 'Grass concentrated more on the 60s psychedelic on their B-Side for Alright/Time single. Nelson loved the song so much that he included two different studio recording on his two cover albums: The Rainbow Connection and The Great Divide.

What's interesting to note is that the song was written by American songwriter Mickey Newbury for Jerry Lee Lewis, who previously recorded it for his album Soul My Way, but was not promoted as a single. I don't believe Newbury ever recorded a studio version of his now-famous song, but a live version does exist on his 1994 live album Nights When I am Sane.

Finally, I wanted to mention that fans of the cult-classic The Big Lebowski (1998), will be treated to the entire First Edition's song for The Dude's trip:


For a complete cover recording listing of "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)", head over to mickeynewbury.com, or see below:

Rosen Alex Nick Cave Children of Bodom Duck’s Breath Mystery Theatre w/ Randee of the Redwoods Tinsley Ellis Myron Floren (Lawrence Welk Presents…) Free Urbie Green Tommy Hans Die Haut Teddy Hill & The Southern Soul Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Bettye LaVette Jerry Lee Lewis Keith Miles Mojo Nixon & the Second Edition

Willie Nelson (2001 version) Willie Nelson (2002 version) Wayne Perkins John Pinamonti Reef Robosonic (samples Just Dropped In, titled, “Kaputt in Holywood”) Kenny Rogers & T. F. E. Slim Chance & The Convicts Jonmark Stone & Marie Rhines Styvar Manor Supergrass The Band That Time Forgot The Turn Ups Owen “Big Daddy-O” Tufts Jeff Walker (of Carcass) Richard Walton

As for Kenny Rogers, he's still doing tours, at mostly casinos. His last album was Water & Bridges in 2006.

I'm starting to see a trend in fast-food music lately! Fast, cheap, and easy, is always my motto.

Fireflight - Unbreakable Fireflight 1 comment Fireflight Tour Dates 05/01/09 Agape Fest, IL 05/08/09 Visalia Fox Thea - Fireflight, CA 05/09/09 Paramounts Santa Clara, CA 05/11/09 San Bernard  Fairgrounds, CA 05/15/09 Lafayette Theatre, Indiana 05/16/09 Michigan Adventure, MI 05/22/09 Birmingham Stad Van Nuys, CA 05/24/09 Del Mar Fairgrounds, CA 06/10/09 Shed Smoky Mtn, Maryville, TN 06/11/09 Ichthus Fest Wilmore, KY 06/12/09 Ichthus Fest Wilmore, KY 06/13/09 Carowinds Palad, Charlotte, NC 06/18/09 Stone Mountain Park Fest GA 06/19/09 Clay’s Park Resort , OH 06/20/09 Great Escape, New York 06/25/09 Praise Assembly of God, OK 06/26/09 Ridgeway Baptist Sapulpa, OK 06/27/09 Joplin Family Worship Center Joplin, Missouri 07/10/09 Kings Dominion at Kingswood Stage - King’s Fest Doswell, Virginia 07/11/09 Kings Island Timberwolf Amp - SpiritSong Festival ’09 Mason, Ohio 07/15/09 Kentucky Christian University Grayson, Kentucky 07/17/09 Civc Center Grounds - Sonshine Festival Willmar, MN 07/18/09 Alexian Field - Ignite Festival Schaumburg, Illinois 07/24/09 Porter County Fair Grandstand w/ Switchfoot Valparaiso, Indiana 07/25/09 Pikeville City Park - July Jam Pikeville, Kentucky 08/01/09 Gunstock Mountain Resort - SOULFEST Gilford, New Hampshire 08/03/09 Darien Lake Performing Arts Center - Kingdom Bound Darien Center, New York 08/05/09 Unity Fest - Michigan Adventure - Unity Fest w/ Family Force 5 Muskegon, Michigan 08/08/09 LeClaire Park Bandshell - Rock the River Festival Davenport, Iowa 08/15/09 Mainstage - Purple Door Festival Lewisberry, Pennsylvania 08/28/09 Canada Olympic Park - Refuel Festival Calgary, Alberta 09/05/09 Rev Gen Fest - New York Stage - Revelation Generation Festival Frenchtown, NJ 09/21/09 Toyota Stage - Oklahoma State Fair Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 10/31/09 Palmer Event Center Austin, Texas 12/04/09 Haus Ennepetal - Christmas Rock Night Ennepetal 12/05/09 Haus Ennepetal - Christmas Rock Night Ennepetal 12/30/09 Louisville Convention Center - Youth Convention Louisville, Kentucky

Taco Bell
The fast food chain unveiled their Feed the Beat "Best of the Beat" winners (as determined by votes by fans). This year's winners are: Hit the Lights (myspace.com), Thousand Foot Krutch (official/myspace), and Fireflight (official/myspace).

I downloaded and listened to all the songs and they seem to all be of that power-pop/alternative/myspace-type music. I'm over-generalizing, but it's hard to determine what genre a band is based on one song.

Thousand Foot Krutch uses too much of that vocalizing technology on their winning song "Pulse", and Hit the Lights (named after a Metallica song!) are on the cover of AP's "100 Bands You Need to Know" on their April 2009 issue (although the singer Nick Thompson looks weirdly unhappy on the cover).

I think I'll spotlight Fireflight's "Unbreakable", there's a girl on vocals. From the looks of things, they will be doing a few dates with "Christian band" Switchfoot, based on the feedback for our article on them - they are extremely popular... so expect to see Fireflight doing really well in 2009, as I think Switchfoot's audience will most likely become instant Fireflight fans. (Speaking of fans, please see update below.)

If you like what you heard, all three tracks can be downloaded at feedthebeat.com.

Incidentally, all three bands won flight arrangements and recording sessions and studio time with a rock music producer, engineer, and masters for one song - according to the rules on Taco Bell's website. Although that doesn't sound like a lot, the estimated value is $15,000 ... that's a lot of taco bell food.

McDonald's
Not to be outdone by rival-Pepsi-owned Taco Bell, McD in association with Kidz Bop, are releasing about eight CDs with their Happy Meals.

If you don't have kids, but still want the CD, you can purchase them separately for about $0.99 each. The annoying thing is if you want to collect all eight, you have to go back every week. This week (April 24^th to May 1^st) you can get CD 1 & 2 - this will continue until the end of May.

There's no details on the cardstock packaging for the CD, so these are pretty much anonymous children singers. Some sounds like they are in their late teens (what qualifies for 'kids' anyway?). All the songs are covers, by the way.

As much as I love covers, these songs doesn't really offer much. Sexual innuendos like "I can go for miles if you know what I mean" on "Get The Party Started" are pretty much lost on children singing the line.

Still, for $1, these five songs are worth it for your children. For the adults, I recommend the McRibs if it's available.

Das Racist - Combination Pizza Hut And Taco Bell (Wallpaper. RMX) Das Racist & Wallpaper. Wallpaper. Tour Dates 05/29/09 San Diego, CA @ Beauty Bar 05/30/09 Phoenix, AZ @ Rogue Bar (Shake!) 05/31/09 Las Vegas, NV @ Beatles Revolution 06/06/09 Mountain View, CA @  BFD Fest 06/19/09 Brooklyn, NY @ Studio B

Pizza Hut/Taco Bell
This is a very catchy, but dumb, that's d-u-m, song called "Combination Pizza Hut And Taco Bell" by Das Racist (myspace.com). The lyrics revolves around three lines:

I'm at the Pizza Hut
I'm at the Taco Bell
I'm at the combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell

Dumb isn't necessary bad, it's actually hilarious and funny as the two parties in the song are trying to meetup on Jamaica Avenue at the combination Pizza Hut/Taco Bell. Can you say "Harold and Kumar Goes to the combination Pizza Hut Taco Bell?"

I did check if there was a Pizza Hut/Taco Bell in New York (since the band is based out of there), and they are in fact singing about RL Pizza Hut/Taco Bell on Jamaica Ave.  Note: the band should get the restaurant to sponsor a show there.

I haven't heard the original song, but the particular song I was sent is a remix by Wallpaper. (myspace.com) (note the period, as in "feat."). Wallpaper. seems to know what he's doing, after all, he's been remixing quite a few other artists (Jamie Lidell, Passion Pit, The Submarines, Restiform Bodies, and You Say Party! We Say Die!).

Anyway, enjoy the very catchy and awesome song, while you go through drive-through. See you at the Pizza Slut/Taco Hell combo.

Update 4/25/09 8:05 pm: I received a message shortly after my article went live, that University of Pennsylvania's Off the Beat (official/myspace) have recently covered Fireflight's "Unbreakable" on their latest record, 1929. What makes their covers interesting is that all their songs are done in a cappella.

Looking at their impressive backcatalogue (they've been steadily releasing an album since 1990), I can only guess that like Menuedo, their singers staff changes every few semesters based on students.

So, listening to Off the Beat's "Unbreakable", it's definitely different without the use of music!

In a musical climate, that has made international stars of artists, and I use the term artists lightly like Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus. Its refreshing to come across someone as refreshing as Leela James. Hannah and Miley take note, if you want to know how to SING and stir people’s souls, listen to “Let’s Do It Again”.

For those of you reading this review and are unfamiliar with Leela James, this Los Angeles, California native and resident Houstonian has a voice that makes your heart take notice and makes chills run down your spine.

She may be an unknown to most of the music masses, but she has been involved in the music industry for some time. If you are a fan of hip hop, and the brilliant work of Pete Rock of Pete Rock & CL Smooth fame, you would have heard Leela’s voice as a feature vocalist on his 2004 release “Soul Survivors Part II” and she has toured as an opening act for  The Black Eyed Peas and Macy Gray.

Leela, was signed by Ruff Nations Records shortly, that imprint had a distribution deal with Warner Brothers Records, but that label shortly folded and Leela was cast into the music industry’s black hole of artists that see their careers come to a sudden halt. Thankfully, Warner Brother’s was smart enough to realize they had a talent and in 2005 her debut album “A Change Is Gonna Come” was released. This project was executive produced by Commissioner Gordon, and featured production by Kanye West, Raphael Saadiq, Wyclef  Jean, James Poyser and Chucky Thompson.

The success and positive press of this debut album, had kept Leela and her band on the road for three consecutive years, and contributed to her second release taking so long to be completed.

It’s rare for an artist to do something to creative and daring, but Leela’s decision to record this album completely live with her backing band was brilliant. This album of cover songs by artists as far ranging, as Angela Bofill, James Brown, The Rolling Stones, Phillis Hyman and Foreigner takes on a life of its own. Upon first listen, my first impulse was to turn up the volume. I am a huge fan of Foreigner, Lou Graham’s voice was an original and it took Foreigner to great heights in the 70s and 80s, but Leela James’ version of “I Want To Know What Love Is” is taken completely to church and the live arrangement manages to take this song to places that would make Mick Jones and Lou Graham quite proud.

“You will hear a variety of range as a vocalist,” Leela James said about what the listeners will find on the CD. “I love all kinds of music, if the song is good, it's good!”

There are many highlights on this album, but a special note should be made of Leela’s backing band. This group of musicians are air tight and in the pocket and they bring a flavor to the arrangements that truly bring out the best in Leela.

Some of the tracks on the album include The Rolling Stones’ “Miss You,” Angela Bofill's “I Try” and Bootsy Collins’ “I’d Rather Be With You.”, Al Green’s “Simply Beautiful and James Browns’ “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World”.

Just when I start to lose my faith in REAL SOUL MUSIC, I stumble across a project as emotionally stimulating as “Lets Do It Again” and I am reminded as to what music can do to stir the soul.

I encourage all music fans to listen to the wonderful CD and support this artist, because she is a hidden diamond, in a sea of crystallized glass.

Scarlett Johansson - Last Goodbye Scarlett Johansson Aw, it's that most dreadful time of the year: V-Day. According to the box office numbers, the all-star rom-com (romantic comedy) He’s Just Not That Into You is the number one film last week with $27.8 Million dollars. Warner Brothers did a smart move and also released Friday the 13th yesterday - for the guys, as looking at the demographic for Into You, you can see it's an outstanding 80% women. I haven't seen either films, but I do have the soundtrack to talk about. The soundtrack has a mix of well-established alternative rock artists like The Human League, Talking Heads, R.E.M., The Cure, The Replacements, etc and modern/current bands. While I can't stress enough, the soundtrack, like the movie, has an all-star music cast - doing its best to keep the music genre in that pop/alternative area. I sometime think that the old songs are meant for the older audiences, while trying to keep fresh with the hip young kids with songs by more modern bands. For instance, young fans will probably be drawn to Lily Allen's "Smile" song (which was the first single from her acclaimed Alright, Still), with its message about about her depression over her first breakup. Or check out The Ting Tings' "Fruit Machine", with Katie White's girlish yip-yip yell. No idea what a Fruit Machine is, but I suspect it's one of those Vegas slot machine with the three cherries. I'm sure the young kids can tell you what it is. The Cure - Friday I'm in Love 1 comment As for the older crowd, I'm sure you all know The Cure's "Friday I'm in Love". You can fit this song in any romantic movie, but I have to tell you that hardcore Cure fans will never admit this was a Cure song. I mean, listen to it, it's their most happiest, poppiest song. I also dig the Maroon 5 song, "If I Never See Your Face Again". It's a little too funky and upbeat for its 'hateful' song title. A little interesting trivia about the song, it was co-written appropriately by James Valentine. It looks like the other stand-out single that Warner Brothers want people to check out is Erin McCarley's "Love, Save the Empty" with its unforgettable piano intro. You can watch the video on the official website. Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head Most people who looked over this soundtrack immediately was drawn to Scarlett Johansson's song. "When did she start singing?" they would ask. When I tried to explain to them that she actually released an all-Tom Waits cover album called Anywhere I Lay My Head last year, they couldn't believe it. This time around, she covered the Jeff Buckley song, "Last Goodbye". While I won't compare the two songs, I think Johansson's version, with the blonde beauty singing over a jazz-ish piano, definitely is in frame with the rest of the movie. Scarlett Johansson - Last Goodbye (excerpt) If you've seen the movie, you will definitely want this soundtrack as a companion to remind you of the movie. He’s Just Not That Into You is currently in theaters now, the soundtrack is available at most stores - noticeably at Deep Discount ($12), Amazon ($12), and Best Buy ($14).