REM, Stone Temple Pilots and Nine Inch Nails have been announced to headline this year�s Voodoo Experience in October.
Panic At The Disco, Death Cab For Cutie, Tokyo Police Club, Cold War Kids and Dashboard Confessional are also set to play the festival which takes place October 24-26 in New Orleans.
Erykah Badu, Wyclef Jean, Joss Stone, Lupe Fiasco, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Cold War Kids, Ghostland Observatory, Joseph Arthur, The Gutter Twins, Thievery Corporation and Man Man, are also among the acts set to play the festival, which will be held at City Park.
A weekend pass for the event will cost $115, going on sale Monday (June 23). VIP passes will also be on sale and will cost $450.
--By our New York staff.
Find out more about NME.
Aug 24, 2008 at Lancashire County Cricket Club, Manchester -
Aug 25, 2008 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff -
Aug 27, 2008 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton -
More REM tickets
Friday 27 June 2008
Thursday 19 June 2008
A spring in their step
PUNK chart toppers The Offspring have sold millions of albums and had hits with Come Out and Play and Self Esteem. Now for something different: the power ballad.
TWO words you don't expect to be associated with punk chart toppers the Offspring: power ballad. But right there in the middle of their new album Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace is an old-fashioned radio-friendly slowie, Kristy, Are You Doing Okay? Guitarist Kevin ‘‘Noodles'' Wasserman says frontman and main songwriter Dexter Holland brought Kristy to the band as a finished tune. ‘‘It is a little different. We've messed around with those types of (slower) songs over the years but they've never made it on to a record. It doesn't seem like a big surprise to me because I've heard all those songs, but Offspring fans might go ‘What?' But not everything has to be hardcore.'' The song is about an abused child -- one of the Offspring's most sensitive moments. ‘‘I think it fits on this record,'' Noodles says. ‘‘This is one of the most varied records we've done. We've been moving in that direction more and more in increments throughout our career.'' That career has seen the Californian band sell more than 38 million albums since forming in 1984, breaking into the mainstream 10 years later with hits Come Out and Play and Self Esteem. Rise and Fall marks the longest the band have spent on a record -- more than two years. ‘‘Too f---ing long,'' Noodles jokes. ‘‘I think it was a curse from trying to call our last album Chinese Democracy.'' The band received a ‘‘cease and desist'' letter from Axl Rose when they threatened to name 2003's Splinter after Guns N' Roses' 10-years-in-the-making Chinese Democracy. The irony is they've beaten Rose to the punch again. ‘‘We didn't want to f--- with the guy that bad,'' Noodles says. ‘‘I don't know what demons he's dealing with on that record. We just spent a lot more time trying to make this record something extra special.'' The band recruited A-list producer Bob Rock for their eighth studio album. ‘‘We were a little sceptical because of his pedigree with Motley Crue and Metallica,'' Noodles says. ‘‘I mean, The Black Album is a great album, but it's a huge heavy, big album, and not the way we'd want to sound. But once we got to know him it was fine. He's one of the bros. Plus he used to do lots of little punk bands back in the day.'' Rock also adapted to a punk band working at a not-so-punk pace. ‘‘He's so patient,'' Noodles says. ‘‘This record took a long f---ing time. We've never taken so long making a record and I don't think he has either.'' So long did the album take that the Offspring booked an Australian tour for February as part of the Soundwave festival. They thought they'd have the new album in the can. They were wrong. ‘‘There was some tension with deadlines, but you can't push it when you want it to be right,'' Noodles says. ‘‘Deadlines are arbitrary. The songs have to come first and be the best they can be. But you can do that for 10 years -- ask Axl Rose. At some point you have to go ‘OK, I've done all I can do to this song'. Dexter always quotes Paul Stanley -- ‘Records are never finished, they're abandoned'.'' Playing two new songs live -- Hammerhead and Half Truism -- gave fans the chance to provide instant feedback. It also meant bootlegged copies hit YouTube hours after the band hit the stage. ‘‘We had a look at a few of them,'' Noodles admits. ‘‘We first did Hammerhead last August in Japan. You'd think the Japanese dudes with all their technology would get a decent recording of it, but it was horrible. People were going ‘The song's good, but what a shitty recording'.'' The Offspring have adapted well to the new digital frontier. They were one of the first bands to offer an entire album online for free legal download, and had cameras in the studio to let fans watch them at work. ‘‘It's the way the world's going, there's no point swimming against the tide,'' Noodles says. ‘‘The internet is a neat thing. It's making people return to the grassroots. You've got to be creative, see what works.'' Though last album Splinter saw the band's sales dip, Noodles isn't worried. ‘‘In this day and age if that's your obsession you're f---ed. All bands are shifting from trying to make money on records to trying to make it playing live. ‘‘We've always spent s---loads on touring and not done it very smartly from a financial point of view.'' Indeed, the Offspring are in the process of workshopping a new touring regime that will see them out on the road for long stretches at a time ‘‘for financial reasons''. But they have to balance that with family life: Noodles has spent the past year fishing, shopping and singing choir with his kids. ‘‘I've got a five-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter,'' he explains. ‘‘I've got two different baby mommas -- I'm trying to keep current!'' Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace (Sony BMG) out now.
TWO words you don't expect to be associated with punk chart toppers the Offspring: power ballad. But right there in the middle of their new album Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace is an old-fashioned radio-friendly slowie, Kristy, Are You Doing Okay? Guitarist Kevin ‘‘Noodles'' Wasserman says frontman and main songwriter Dexter Holland brought Kristy to the band as a finished tune. ‘‘It is a little different. We've messed around with those types of (slower) songs over the years but they've never made it on to a record. It doesn't seem like a big surprise to me because I've heard all those songs, but Offspring fans might go ‘What?' But not everything has to be hardcore.'' The song is about an abused child -- one of the Offspring's most sensitive moments. ‘‘I think it fits on this record,'' Noodles says. ‘‘This is one of the most varied records we've done. We've been moving in that direction more and more in increments throughout our career.'' That career has seen the Californian band sell more than 38 million albums since forming in 1984, breaking into the mainstream 10 years later with hits Come Out and Play and Self Esteem. Rise and Fall marks the longest the band have spent on a record -- more than two years. ‘‘Too f---ing long,'' Noodles jokes. ‘‘I think it was a curse from trying to call our last album Chinese Democracy.'' The band received a ‘‘cease and desist'' letter from Axl Rose when they threatened to name 2003's Splinter after Guns N' Roses' 10-years-in-the-making Chinese Democracy. The irony is they've beaten Rose to the punch again. ‘‘We didn't want to f--- with the guy that bad,'' Noodles says. ‘‘I don't know what demons he's dealing with on that record. We just spent a lot more time trying to make this record something extra special.'' The band recruited A-list producer Bob Rock for their eighth studio album. ‘‘We were a little sceptical because of his pedigree with Motley Crue and Metallica,'' Noodles says. ‘‘I mean, The Black Album is a great album, but it's a huge heavy, big album, and not the way we'd want to sound. But once we got to know him it was fine. He's one of the bros. Plus he used to do lots of little punk bands back in the day.'' Rock also adapted to a punk band working at a not-so-punk pace. ‘‘He's so patient,'' Noodles says. ‘‘This record took a long f---ing time. We've never taken so long making a record and I don't think he has either.'' So long did the album take that the Offspring booked an Australian tour for February as part of the Soundwave festival. They thought they'd have the new album in the can. They were wrong. ‘‘There was some tension with deadlines, but you can't push it when you want it to be right,'' Noodles says. ‘‘Deadlines are arbitrary. The songs have to come first and be the best they can be. But you can do that for 10 years -- ask Axl Rose. At some point you have to go ‘OK, I've done all I can do to this song'. Dexter always quotes Paul Stanley -- ‘Records are never finished, they're abandoned'.'' Playing two new songs live -- Hammerhead and Half Truism -- gave fans the chance to provide instant feedback. It also meant bootlegged copies hit YouTube hours after the band hit the stage. ‘‘We had a look at a few of them,'' Noodles admits. ‘‘We first did Hammerhead last August in Japan. You'd think the Japanese dudes with all their technology would get a decent recording of it, but it was horrible. People were going ‘The song's good, but what a shitty recording'.'' The Offspring have adapted well to the new digital frontier. They were one of the first bands to offer an entire album online for free legal download, and had cameras in the studio to let fans watch them at work. ‘‘It's the way the world's going, there's no point swimming against the tide,'' Noodles says. ‘‘The internet is a neat thing. It's making people return to the grassroots. You've got to be creative, see what works.'' Though last album Splinter saw the band's sales dip, Noodles isn't worried. ‘‘In this day and age if that's your obsession you're f---ed. All bands are shifting from trying to make money on records to trying to make it playing live. ‘‘We've always spent s---loads on touring and not done it very smartly from a financial point of view.'' Indeed, the Offspring are in the process of workshopping a new touring regime that will see them out on the road for long stretches at a time ‘‘for financial reasons''. But they have to balance that with family life: Noodles has spent the past year fishing, shopping and singing choir with his kids. ‘‘I've got a five-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter,'' he explains. ‘‘I've got two different baby mommas -- I'm trying to keep current!'' Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace (Sony BMG) out now.
Friday 13 June 2008
Coldplay World Tour Dates Postponed By Production Problems
Coldplay have been forced to postpone the opening two weeks of their world tour because of production problems.
A statement from the band said that the unspecified delays mean “that the show simply won't be ready" to begin on June 29th in Philadelphia.
Instead the tour will now begin with two dates in Los Angeles on July 14th and 15th.
Tickets for the postponed dates will remain valid for the new ones, although people can claim a refund from the point of purchase.
The production problems will not harm the band's free shows this month – in Barcelona, New York and London – which will go ahead as planned.
Tickets for the band's winter UK tour are on sale now and available through Gigwise here.
Alternatively, you can call our ticekt hotline on 0871 230 1098 for more information.
See Also
Sunday 8 June 2008
Chris Cagle, girlfriend arrested after fight
Country music singer Chris Cagle has been arrested on suspicion of domestic assault in Nashville after police said he and his girlfriend got into a drunken fight.
Corrections officials say Cagle and his girlfriend, Jennifer Tant, have been jailed on misdemeanor domestic assault charges. A police affidavit says both were intoxicated and an argument turned physical early this morning.
The Davidson County Sheriff's Department says there is a mandatory 12-hour stay in jail before Cagle and Tant can post $1,500 bonds.
Corrections officials say Cagle and his girlfriend, Jennifer Tant, have been jailed on misdemeanor domestic assault charges. A police affidavit says both were intoxicated and an argument turned physical early this morning.
The Davidson County Sheriff's Department says there is a mandatory 12-hour stay in jail before Cagle and Tant can post $1,500 bonds.
Saturday 7 June 2008
John Kerr and Ron Boots
Artist: John Kerr and Ron Boots
Genre(s):
Electronic
Discography:
Offshore Islands
Year: 1998
Tracks: 9
Moribund Oblivion
Australian Tv Star Dies
Teen Australian actress JESSICA JACOBS has been killed in a tragic accident at a Melbourne, Australia train station. She was 17.
Jacobs, a well known TV star in Australia, was involved in an accident at the Cheltenham railway station in Melbourne on Saturday (10May08).
Local authorities believe the tragic death happened after Jacobs fell off the platform into the path of an oncoming train.
The teen star was well known for her starring roles in Australian TV family favourites Saddle Club, Worst Best Friends, Fergus MCPhail and Holly's Heroes.
Jacobs also appeared several times in live productions, including The Sound of Music with Australian veteran TV personalities Bert Newton and Lisa MCCune.
Jacobs' brother, who was with the star at the time of her death, says, "Everybody loved her. I know it's a cliche, but it's really true. She was an inspiration for so many people, always there for everybody."
A service for the star will be held on Friday (16May08) in Melbourne's St Kilda district where more than 400 people are expected to attend.
See Also
DJ Mitsu the Beats
Artist: DJ Mitsu the Beats
Genre(s):
Rap: Hip-Hop
Dance
Discography:
New Awakening
Year: 2003
Tracks: 16
The excellence (selected works)
Year:
Tracks: 11
Blue Impressions
Year:
Tracks: 1
Matrix
Superstar Rapper Lil Wayne to Write and Record Song for Upcoming Film 'Hurricane Season'
Dimension Films announced today that acclaimed rapper Lil Wayne, one of the stars of the inspirational sports drama "Hurricane Season (formerly entitled, "Patriots") will write and record a song for the film. Entitled, "Tie My Hands," the song will be a duet with acclaimed R&B star Robin Thicke and will be on Lil Wayne's new album which is being released on June 10th. The digital edition of his album will include an exclusive film version of the song featuring an ad lib about the basketball team depicted in the film.
As a veteran rap star, budding entrepreneur, and young scholar studying psychology at the University of Houston, Lil Wayne's experience in the rap game, coupled with his amazing growth as an individual has placed him in a position only a handful of people in this industry reach. As a child, Wayne met brothers and Cash Money CEOs Ronald "Slim" and Bryan "Baby" Williams (Birdman) who would take him under their wings and help mold him into a prolific and profound artist. In 1995 at the age of 12, Wayne made his debut on Cash Money recording artist B.G.'s album, True Story. In 1997, the rap prodigy, along with Juvenile, Young Turk, and B.G. formed the New Orleans' super-group the Hot Boys and dropped their seminal debut CD Get It How You Live. At age sixteen, Lil Wayne launched his solo career with the release of the platinum selling Tha Block Is Hot (1999), where he earned a 1999 Source Award nomination for "Best New Artist." The young prodigy's subsequent albums, Lights Out (2000), 500 Degreez (2002) and 2004's Tha Carter further solidified Lil Wayne's reputation as one of the South's finest lyricists, but it was Tha Carter that finally forced rap fans beyond the South to recognize what die-hard "Weezy" fans knew all along: Lil Wayne was a hip hop force to be reckoned with.
Bob Weinstein, co-chair of The Weinstein Company stated, "We are very excited about "Hurricane Season" and thrilled that the film has now inspired Lil Wayne's powerful song. Today's announcement is a huge addition to this highly anticipated film and will only help broaden the audience appeal. We look forward to continuing to work with Tim Story, Forest Whitaker, Lil Wayne, Raymond Brothers and the rest of the team as we get closer to the Christmas Day release date."
Lil Wayne said: "With all the tragedy that my home has suffered these last few years since Katrina, I was glad to see that someone wanted to show that through everything New Orleans also has some positive things going on. I am also very happy that Hurricane Season is not only my first major part in a motion picture movie, but a movie about where I grew up."
"Hurricane Season" recently began production on location in New Orleans and also stars Forest Whitaker ("The Great Debaters," "The Last King of Scotland"), Isaiah Washington ("Grey's Anatomy," "Bionic Woman"), Taraji Henson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Talk to Me"), Bow Wow ("Like Mike," "Johnson Family Vacation," "Roll Bounce"), JB Smoove ("Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Everybody Hates Chris")Robbie Jones ("One Tree Hill"), Eric Hill ("Law and Order"), Jackie Long ("Soul Men," "The Comebacks," "Idlewild") , Irma Hall ("The Ladykillers," "Collateral," "Soul Food"), Jared Einsohn ("Law and Order") and Chyna McClain ("Daddy's Little Girls"). The film is directed by Tim Story ("Fantastic Four") from a script by Robert Eisele("The Great Debaters") and Greg Howard. Producers are Raymond Brothers and Scott Glassgold of IAM Entertainment and Michael Beugg ("Little Miss Sunshine," "Thank You For Smoking") and Stephanie Allain Bray ("Hustle & Flow," "Black Snake Moan"). The film takes place a year after Hurricane Katrina when Al Collins, a high school basketball coach in Marrero, Louisiana, assembles a team of players who had previously attended five different schools before the disaster and leads them on the path to the state championships. Lil Wayne has been actively involved in the relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. The rapper hails from the now-devastated 17th ward and shot the music video for "Fireman" in both New Orleans and Houston, where many of the displaced survivors of Katrina have relocated.
Throughout their careers, the Weinsteins have worked with a variety of critically acclaimed and commercially successful musicians to create songs for their films including "Never Gonna Break My Faith" performed by Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige for "Bobby," Bono's "The Hands That Built America" for "Gangs of New York" and Elton John's "Peter's Song" for "Finding Neverland."
Since its launch in 1995, Dimension has released more films that debuted at #1 (ten) and more films that grossed over $90 million (nine) than any other independent studio. "Patriots" joins Dimension's diverse upcoming slate which features cutting-edge comedies like "Soul Men" directed by award-winning filmmaker Malcolm Lee ("The Best Man," "Undercover Brother," "Roll Bounce") and starring Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac; groundbreaking adaptations like "Youth in Revolt" starring Michael Cera; horror films like the spine-tingling thriller "Clive Barker Presents: Hellraiser," a remake of Barkers most celebrated and terrifying story.
"Hurricane Season" will be theatrically distributed on Christmas Day by MGM.
As a veteran rap star, budding entrepreneur, and young scholar studying psychology at the University of Houston, Lil Wayne's experience in the rap game, coupled with his amazing growth as an individual has placed him in a position only a handful of people in this industry reach. As a child, Wayne met brothers and Cash Money CEOs Ronald "Slim" and Bryan "Baby" Williams (Birdman) who would take him under their wings and help mold him into a prolific and profound artist. In 1995 at the age of 12, Wayne made his debut on Cash Money recording artist B.G.'s album, True Story. In 1997, the rap prodigy, along with Juvenile, Young Turk, and B.G. formed the New Orleans' super-group the Hot Boys and dropped their seminal debut CD Get It How You Live. At age sixteen, Lil Wayne launched his solo career with the release of the platinum selling Tha Block Is Hot (1999), where he earned a 1999 Source Award nomination for "Best New Artist." The young prodigy's subsequent albums, Lights Out (2000), 500 Degreez (2002) and 2004's Tha Carter further solidified Lil Wayne's reputation as one of the South's finest lyricists, but it was Tha Carter that finally forced rap fans beyond the South to recognize what die-hard "Weezy" fans knew all along: Lil Wayne was a hip hop force to be reckoned with.
Bob Weinstein, co-chair of The Weinstein Company stated, "We are very excited about "Hurricane Season" and thrilled that the film has now inspired Lil Wayne's powerful song. Today's announcement is a huge addition to this highly anticipated film and will only help broaden the audience appeal. We look forward to continuing to work with Tim Story, Forest Whitaker, Lil Wayne, Raymond Brothers and the rest of the team as we get closer to the Christmas Day release date."
Lil Wayne said: "With all the tragedy that my home has suffered these last few years since Katrina, I was glad to see that someone wanted to show that through everything New Orleans also has some positive things going on. I am also very happy that Hurricane Season is not only my first major part in a motion picture movie, but a movie about where I grew up."
"Hurricane Season" recently began production on location in New Orleans and also stars Forest Whitaker ("The Great Debaters," "The Last King of Scotland"), Isaiah Washington ("Grey's Anatomy," "Bionic Woman"), Taraji Henson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Talk to Me"), Bow Wow ("Like Mike," "Johnson Family Vacation," "Roll Bounce"), JB Smoove ("Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Everybody Hates Chris")Robbie Jones ("One Tree Hill"), Eric Hill ("Law and Order"), Jackie Long ("Soul Men," "The Comebacks," "Idlewild") , Irma Hall ("The Ladykillers," "Collateral," "Soul Food"), Jared Einsohn ("Law and Order") and Chyna McClain ("Daddy's Little Girls"). The film is directed by Tim Story ("Fantastic Four") from a script by Robert Eisele("The Great Debaters") and Greg Howard. Producers are Raymond Brothers and Scott Glassgold of IAM Entertainment and Michael Beugg ("Little Miss Sunshine," "Thank You For Smoking") and Stephanie Allain Bray ("Hustle & Flow," "Black Snake Moan"). The film takes place a year after Hurricane Katrina when Al Collins, a high school basketball coach in Marrero, Louisiana, assembles a team of players who had previously attended five different schools before the disaster and leads them on the path to the state championships. Lil Wayne has been actively involved in the relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. The rapper hails from the now-devastated 17th ward and shot the music video for "Fireman" in both New Orleans and Houston, where many of the displaced survivors of Katrina have relocated.
Throughout their careers, the Weinsteins have worked with a variety of critically acclaimed and commercially successful musicians to create songs for their films including "Never Gonna Break My Faith" performed by Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige for "Bobby," Bono's "The Hands That Built America" for "Gangs of New York" and Elton John's "Peter's Song" for "Finding Neverland."
Since its launch in 1995, Dimension has released more films that debuted at #1 (ten) and more films that grossed over $90 million (nine) than any other independent studio. "Patriots" joins Dimension's diverse upcoming slate which features cutting-edge comedies like "Soul Men" directed by award-winning filmmaker Malcolm Lee ("The Best Man," "Undercover Brother," "Roll Bounce") and starring Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac; groundbreaking adaptations like "Youth in Revolt" starring Michael Cera; horror films like the spine-tingling thriller "Clive Barker Presents: Hellraiser," a remake of Barkers most celebrated and terrifying story.
"Hurricane Season" will be theatrically distributed on Christmas Day by MGM.
Coldplay - Coldplay To Stream New Album On Myspace Page Tonight
Coldplay's fourth album Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends will be streamed live on the band's MySpace page tonight (Friday June 6th).
The new album, named after an inscription frontman Chris Martin saw on a Frida Kahlo painting, is not released officially until June 12th, but fans can log on to the quartet's site from 18:00 BST tonight to hear a live stream.
To visit the Coldplay MySpace page, click here
The online preview of Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends follows Coldplay's web-based release of Violet Hill, the first single from the new album, which was made available for free download for one week on Coldplay.com.
And with more than two million downloads of the piano-led track, the song would have outsold the entire top 40 of the UK singles chart had it been given a physical release.
The four-piece announced plans last week to play ten concerts in the UK at the end of the year, with tickets snapped up within hours.
The Violet Hill stars will take to the road in December to perform arena shows in Birmingham, Glasgow, Sheffield, Liverpool and Manchester, as well as joining the ranks of bands to have played London's O2 Arena.
See below for details of the full tracklisting of Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends, which was confirmed in April:
Life In Technicolor
Cemetries of London
Lost!
42
Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love
Yes
Vida la Vida
Violet Hill
Strawberry Swing
Death And All His Friends
06/06/2008 11:54:48
See Also
Still Her Own Mann: Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann named her new release "@#%&! Smilers" as a tongue-in-cheek protest of people who constantly prod others to put on a happy face, even when they don't feel like it. But as Mann herself admits, her seventh solo album, due June 3 on her own SuperEgo Records, is one of her most "smiley" works to date.
And why shouldn't it be? The singer/songwriter has enjoyed more than two decades of ongoing success, much of it through her own toil as a pioneer of the now thriving do-it-yourself model of the music business. "Smilers" is the former 'Til Tuesday vocalist's fifth release on SuperEgo, which she founded with manager and longtime collaborator Michael Hausman in 1999 after negotiating a contract release from Geffen.
While the themes on "Smilers" aren't universally cheerful -- Mann masters wistfulness and dissatisfaction on songs like the synth-laced "Thirty One Today" -- there's a musical playfulness throughout that culminates in closer "Ballantines," a piano-bar romp with trombones. The variety is a deliberate departure from 2005's "The Forgotten Arm," a musical "novella" about a relationship headed for trouble.
"I think because the last record was a concept album and had a narrative that went through the whole record, I was in the mood to do something completely different and make every song its own thing," Mann says. "So if it needed horns, great. If the next song was just acoustic guitar and sounds like Neil Young, great." Mann praises the versatility of producer Paul Bryan, who she says "almost physically can't do certain things if they're not really good."
Mann and Hausman had an early taste of indie success with the 1999 "Magnolia" film soundtrack, as the pair experienced an early grasp of how to leverage the then-nascent power of the Internet to reach fans. "We had been collecting e-mail addresses since the mid-'90s, as soon as people started using e-mail," Hausman says. "By the time Aimee went solo, I think we had 10,000 e-mails." Mann then offered free downloads to promote 2000's "Bachelor No. 2 (Or the Last Remains of the Dodo)," "which no one else was doing then," Hausman says. That album has sold 230,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan; 2002 follow-up "Lost in Space" sold 232,000 and hit No. 35 on the Billboard 200.
Mann will tour through the end of the year, including her acclaimed Christmas variety show that features comedy and video in addition to music. Mann says that although it's hard to make money on the road, it may be another key to staying ahead of the curve.
"Everybody can make a record on Garage Band, everybody has a MySpace page," she says. "I think maybe people who play live well are going to raise their heads above the fray. Making a record is more smoke and mirrors, but playing live, you really have to know what you're doing."
See Also
And why shouldn't it be? The singer/songwriter has enjoyed more than two decades of ongoing success, much of it through her own toil as a pioneer of the now thriving do-it-yourself model of the music business. "Smilers" is the former 'Til Tuesday vocalist's fifth release on SuperEgo, which she founded with manager and longtime collaborator Michael Hausman in 1999 after negotiating a contract release from Geffen.
While the themes on "Smilers" aren't universally cheerful -- Mann masters wistfulness and dissatisfaction on songs like the synth-laced "Thirty One Today" -- there's a musical playfulness throughout that culminates in closer "Ballantines," a piano-bar romp with trombones. The variety is a deliberate departure from 2005's "The Forgotten Arm," a musical "novella" about a relationship headed for trouble.
"I think because the last record was a concept album and had a narrative that went through the whole record, I was in the mood to do something completely different and make every song its own thing," Mann says. "So if it needed horns, great. If the next song was just acoustic guitar and sounds like Neil Young, great." Mann praises the versatility of producer Paul Bryan, who she says "almost physically can't do certain things if they're not really good."
Mann and Hausman had an early taste of indie success with the 1999 "Magnolia" film soundtrack, as the pair experienced an early grasp of how to leverage the then-nascent power of the Internet to reach fans. "We had been collecting e-mail addresses since the mid-'90s, as soon as people started using e-mail," Hausman says. "By the time Aimee went solo, I think we had 10,000 e-mails." Mann then offered free downloads to promote 2000's "Bachelor No. 2 (Or the Last Remains of the Dodo)," "which no one else was doing then," Hausman says. That album has sold 230,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan; 2002 follow-up "Lost in Space" sold 232,000 and hit No. 35 on the Billboard 200.
Mann will tour through the end of the year, including her acclaimed Christmas variety show that features comedy and video in addition to music. Mann says that although it's hard to make money on the road, it may be another key to staying ahead of the curve.
"Everybody can make a record on Garage Band, everybody has a MySpace page," she says. "I think maybe people who play live well are going to raise their heads above the fray. Making a record is more smoke and mirrors, but playing live, you really have to know what you're doing."
See Also
Melvins get 'Nude' on summer road trip
Alt-metal veterans The Melvins [ tickets ] will hit the road this summer for a headlining tour behind their forthcoming album, "Nude With Boots."The group will kick off the tour July 16 in Santa Barbara, CA, before heading out for the remainder of the 23-city outing.Sludge-metal outfit Big Business [ tickets ]--featuring two members of The Melvins' current touring and recording lineup--will provide opening support on the trek. Dates are below."Nude With Boots," due in stores July 8, is the Melvins' 16th studio album in a career that spans more than two decades, dating back to the group's 1986 debut EP, "Six Songs."Recorded in Los Angeles over the last two years, the new album features the same lineup-- career Melvins Buzz Osborne (guitar, vocals) and Dale Crover (drums) with Jared Warren (bass, vocals) and Coady Willis (drums) of fellow Seattle indie rockers Big Business--that recorded the group's previous effort, 2006's "(A) Senile Animal."Also due for a July release is "Fantomas/Melvins Big Band: Live From London 2006," a split live DVD the band recorded with Osborne's side project, Fantomas, an outfit anchored by former Faith No More frontman Mike Patton. The disc features audio commentary from Osborne, Danny DeVito, and Greg Werckman, co-owner of The Melvins' longtime record label, Ipecac.
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