The phrase “ESPN reporter covers track from ‘London Calling”‘ is not necessarily one that elicits great faith, but the longtime baseball guru proves he knows his stuff on this surprisingly enjoyable detour. Gammons sounds like the network’s answer to John Hiatt on heartland rock covers of Warren Zevon’s “Model Citizen,” the Clash’s “Death or […]
Despite the most unsubtle title, Peaches’ new album does not abandon raunch for politics. Replete with references to her “pleasure dome,” “the shocker” and “slippery d***,” the album finds Peaches still safely inside the realm of horny electro. it also offers a handful of rock tunes featuring folks like Joan Jett (”You Love It”) […]
The best singer/songwriters are often the ones who deserve wider recognition, and that includes John Gorka. His latest effort, “Writing in the Margins,” is a pleasure, a deftly mixed bag of a dozen tunes, including a pair of finely wrought covers: Townes Van Zandt’s “Snow Don’t Fall” and Stan Rogers’ “The Lockkeeper.” The remaining […]
Godsmack gives its sound a unique perk by whipping out a bluesy harmonica for “Shine Down.” The instrument conjures images of fervent revivals in the heat of the Deep South, playing into the single’s messages of hard-won sobriety and spiritual renewal, themes songwriter/singer Sully Erna has been praising after a harrowing 2005. The words “And […]
John Mayer is already off to a blockbuster start on adult top 40 radio — No. 27 — with “Waiting On the World to Change,” marking his highest debut ever on that radio format. Unlike his Grammy Award-lauded softie signature “Daughters,” “World” lobs a controversial lyric that questions right-wing politics and the war in
Iraq: “When […]
Last week, “American Idol” Season 5 victor Taylor Hicks became the fourth series champ to top the Billboard Hot 100, with his “Do I Make You Proud” ruling retail. Cross-format radio response for the formulaic song has been tepid, with even his Soul Patrol die-hards admitting that the song is hardly hitworthy. Runner-up Katharine McPhee’s […]
Pitbull’s latest Lil Jon-generated club effort, “Bojangles” (the first from his upcoming sophomore album “El Mariel”), doesn’t stray much from previous singles “Toma” and “Shake.” But no matter, because buoyant basslines and heavy synths are in vogue (check DJ Khaled’s “Holla at Me” or Lil Jon’s “Snap Yo Fingers”). Like the latter cut, “Bojangles” relies […]
Alien Ant Farm made some noise in 2001 with debut album “ANThology,” which struck platinum at least in part thanks to its amphetamine-charged cover of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal.” Five years later, the California act has weathered heavy-duty changes (injuries sustained in a bus accident, lineup shifts, its label folding) but is still plugging away, […]
The thinking metal fan’s band, System of a Down simultaneously slices and slams into its songs — a double-edged assault. It’s no different on “Kill Rock ‘n Roll.” A tight, clean guitar churns into mounting drums and moans until it booms into a fast, tough track. Guitarist/singer Daron Malakian and singer Serj Tankian share duties, […]
Ending Gnarls Barkley’s brow-raising seven-week run, Scottish folk-pop newcomer Sandi Thom already has scored a No. 1 U.K. single with this naked a cappella anthem that relies on her strikingly potent pipes, sparse percussion and a lyric that commands immediate attention. “I was born too late/To a world that doesn’t care,” she sings with an […]
Annie Lennox, who found fame as the voice of the Eurythmics and later as a solo act, said Tuesday she felt like a fraud accepting an honorary degree.
Lennox, 51, said it was “exciting” to receive an honorary degree from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
“What I have done with my life has all […]
Despite having a digital-music service that competes directly with iTunes, MTV Networks has decided to offer several more of its TV shows through Apple’s music store. The MTV programming includes shows from Spike TV, Nick at Nite, TV Land, and The N.
Spicing up the menu of choices available on iTunes are programs that include MTV’s […]
