The Grammys were handed out last night. Out of the over 100 awards that are issued each year, 10 were shown during the 3 hour broadcast. Allison Krause and Robert Plant made out well taking Record and Album of the year. Coldplay took Song of the Year. Jennifer Hudson took home Best R&B Album for which she thanked her family (those here and those not). May I just ask who the heck this Adele is that won Best New Artist. I freely admit to not being totally current on new music because I knew (by name) only two of the people/acts in that category.

Finally, Chuck spoilers abound thanks to reporting from New York Comic Con and the Chuck panel. Views will be going behind the scenes at Fulcrum. We might get to see Chuck’s first kill (!). Creator Josh Schwartz joked that President Obama’s first order as president was to destroy the show (Obama will be making a televised speech this week, pre-empting  the regularly scheduled showing of Chuck). Jill will be coming back and someone may die! Overall it looks like an exciting second half of Chuck.

It’s a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I’m more than happy to announce that’s exactly what I must say about this one. There simply is NOT a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it’s own.

Yes Album has a pleasantly varied, mix of 9 tracks that are very well written and brilliantly performed songs by these clearly superb musicians. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are their own personal experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions of love, and the pain of failed relationships can certainly be heard.

I’m of the opinion that Yes Album is certainly some of this groups best work in a few years. A totally enjoyable CD and an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up because it’s a collection that even the casual Rock fan can appreciate and enjoy.

While this entire album is really very good the truly standout tunes are track 3 – Starship Trooper: Life Seeker, track 4 – I’ve Seen All Good People: Your Move / All Good People, and track 9 – Clap.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – Yours Is No Disgrace. This is a great track!

Yes Album Release Notes:

Yes originally released Yes Album on January 14, 2003 on the Elektra Entertainment label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Yours Is No Disgrace

2. Clap

3. Starship Trooper: Life Seeker / Disillusion / Wurm

4. I’ve Seen All Good People: Your Move / All Good People

5. Venture, A

6. Perpetual Change

7. Your Move – (single version)

8. Starship Trooper: Life Seeker – (single version)

9. Clap – (previously unreleased, studio version)

Yes: Jon Anderson (vocals, percussion); Steve Howe (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals); Tony Kaye (piano, organ, Moog synthesizer); Chris Squire (bass instrument, background vocals); Bill Bruford (drums, percussion).

Additional personnel: Colin Goldring (recorder).

Recording information: Advision Studios, London, England (1970).

Author: Tom Milson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: US Dollar credit card

Alexis Grace is in the audience, I bet she’s wishing the judges had used their save for her. David Cook is coming up later, even though I know it’s a pre-taped performance, I can’t wait. I am certainly an unabashed Cook fan. I don’t think my Idol experience will ever measure up to last season’s win.

We get the Ford video early this results show. I really hate these things and I understand the contestants don’t like them either. I don’t blame them, the filming of them take away from rehearsals. And now, the group sing. Honoring Randy’s former band, Journey with “Don’t Stop Believing”. Scott is ‘playing’ the keyboards on stage. There has been debate about over the “pre-recording” of the group songs. This certainly was because when Scott did his solo his mouth was no where near the damn mic. I kinda feel sorry for him.

Now, we get to the results. No, wait, behind the scenes film first. Damn filler. Matt as impersonater. Danny does Matt, Anoop does Kris, Allison does Danny. Good to know they can laugh at each other.

Results. Megan is first up. Megan, Matt and Kris all stand up. Ryan send them all over to the other side of the stage. Adam, Lil and Allison all stand now. Ryan send them to the center of the stage. Danny, Anoop and Scott are left on the couches. One of these groups is probably the bottom three. My guess is the first group but if so, I’m surprised to see Kris there.

Back from commercial and we have Cook’s performance of “Come Back To Me”. Cookie is looking awesome. Of course his mom is in the audience. Awwwww. I will fully confess here that I am singing along. I may have the entire David Cook album memorized. He just said he’s extended his tour. I must check his website to see if he’s added stops in my state. I WANT TO SEE DAVID COOK!

Back to the results. Kris, is safe. Lemme guess, one from each group is in the bottom three. Matt, is safe, after a bad joke from Ryan. Megan, is in the bottom three. Lil, is safe. Allison, is in the bottom three again, boo! Adam, is safe. I so called it, one from each group. Danny, is safe. Scott and Anoop now. Anoop is in the bottom three, Scott is safe. BOOOOO!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! *FLAIL* There was just a commercial for a local college that is going to be hosting David Cook on May 27th!!! I know what I want for my birthday now!

Lady Gag is on now and the TV is on mute. She’s kinda annoying.

Allison is safe, leaving Anoop and Megan standing there. I’m hoping for Megan joy Corkrey to go. It’s Megan!!! *sigh of relief* Ryan asks Simon if they’re going to use the save. He’s honest and says that with respect (I kinda doubt that) they’re not going to even contemplate it and that this is her swan song. She seems to be okay with this. I’m sure someone will pick her up and sign her.

It’s a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I’m more than happy to announce that’s exactly what I must say about this one. There simply isn’t a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it’s own.

Rock music fans will recognize some of the well known guests that have been assembled to play along with Stewart on several of the tracks. Artists like Roy Guest and Gordon Anderson just to name a couple.

Overall First Album is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Rock collection. Truly an outstanding Rock CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.

While the entire album is outstanding some of my favorites are track 7 – Samuel, Oh How You’ve Changed!, track 9 – A Long Way Down From Stephanie, and track 15 – My Contemporaries

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – Bed-Sitter Images. Great track!

First Album Release Notes:

Al Stewart originally released First Album on June 22, 2007 on the Collectors’ Choice label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Bed-Sitter Images 2. Swiss Cottage Manoeuvres 3. Carmichaels, The 4. Scandinavian Girl 5. Pretty Golden Hair 6. Denise At 16 7. Samuel, Oh How You’ve Changed! 8. Cleave To Me 9. Long Way Down From Stephanie, A 10. Ivich 11. Beleeka Doodle Day 12. Lover Man 13. Clifton In The Rain 14. Go Your Way – (Bonus Track) 15. My Contemporaries – (Bonus Track)

Personnel: Al Stewart (guitar).

Author: Tom Milson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Excise Tax

As a long time GnR fan I have always been saddened by how little they sound like they did back in the ’93 Stadium Tour with Metallica.  Axl still sounds great and looks stupid doing the Patience Shimmy, but the rest is too different.  Different isn’t necessarily bad, but it just isn’t the same for those of us who remember that Appetite for Destruction was an album title long before it became the motto for George W Bush’s presidency.
Dr Pepper to Make Good on Chinese Democracy Stunt | Listening Post from Wired.com

Earlier this year, soda manufacturer Dr Pepper promised a free soft drink to everyone in America if Guns N’ Roses released its long-awaited Chinese Democracy album before the end of 2008. The offer excluded former GNR members Slash and Buckethead.

Now that Axl and company have set a release date of November 23, Dr Pepper says it will make good on the offer. Those who want to claim a free soda can go to the Dr. Pepper website on November 23, enter some personal information and get a coupon for one 20-ounce drink that should arrive within the following 4 to 6 weeks. They’ll expire in February 2009.

As a long time Death Cab for Cutie fan, I was ecstatic to find out they were releasing a new album and even more excited to get my hands on a promo. Narrow Stairs is by far the best album I have heard in a while. It is not my favorite Death Cab album, as a band that threw caution to the wind when they recorded it was a calculated risk. It paid off well in my opinion.

The early MTV review of the album had me worried.

“they had seemingly gone into the studio (or, more specifically, three studios) with the intention of, a) systematically destroying the fanbase they had built up over the course of a decade, or b) infuriating their major-label handlers at Atlantic.”

After listening to Narrow Stairs, I am not sure what I was worried about really. Death Cab loves their fans and fans love Death Cab because they are not a sausage grinder conglomeration of studio over-production and marketing hype that never lives up. Death Cab brings us a new sound which I am sure some are going to call butchered, but those of us who like a little variety in our lives and bands will call it special. They fact they seemed to go out of their way to piss of the studio people in favor of their own sound makes me cheer and realize the spirit of Rock and Roll is not dead. Take that and stuff it up your ass to those who didn’t vote for Michael Johns.

Annie Zaleski over at A to Z has a pretty good Song by song of the album and for the most part I agree with her. There are a few differencing opinions of the material, the one place she really hit home for me was with the opening track Bixby Canyon Bridge. I knew the song was reminding me of something put couldn’t put my finger on it until I read, “think: Out of Time-era R.E.M”. That hit the nail on the head and was good enough for me to tell you to go check out the whole thing. http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2008/04/death_cab_for_cutie_narrow_sta.php

]]> http://bradstinyworld.com/death-cab-for-cutie-narrow-stairs/feed/ 0 http://bradstinyworld.com/american-idol-4-1-08-dolly-parton/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=american-idol-4-1-08-dolly-parton http://bradstinyworld.com/american-idol-4-1-08-dolly-parton/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:43:16 +0000 BradHart http://bradstinyworld.com/late-breaking-new/american-idol-4-1-08-with-dolly-parton/ Continue reading →]]> [ad]It is Idol sings night again and here we go with Dolly Parton. Going into tonight I am picking Jason or Syesha to go home this week,

Brooke is doing Jolene and if anyone can pull off Dolly it will be Brooke. I am sitting here and listening and want to buy an album right now. David Cook picks Little Sparrow, which is not a song I am really familiar with, but this should be interesting. He comes off sounding a little like sting with a Police arrangement. Ramiele is looking hot. If the judges say she was way head, I think so too . She was pretty good and I want her to stay around so I hope she is better than someone else.

I think Jason is pulling out a better performance and song choice than I had given him credit for with Traveling Through. Randy thought it started rough, but worked it out. Paula thought it was one of his best performances. Simon hated it. Carly is up after Jason with Here You Come Again. She is consistently good. Randy and Paula will like it. I am pretty sure Simon will be meh, at best. I was correct. Archuleta is going to try and pull off Smokey Mountain Memories. He sounds like crap. I am waiting for the mistake that the judges will let slide. Katy says she is damned glad he didn’t kill I will Always Love You. The judges love the little fucker as expected.

Kristy Lee is going to sing to me with a Coat of Many Colors. Randy knows country is Kristy’s thing. Simon says pleasant but forgettable. I am also hot for the bare feet. Syesha is about to massacre I will alway love you and try and pull off a Bodyguard moment. Syesha is nothing more than a two bit karaoke star performing second rate songs. Hopefully this will get her sent home. Sitting on top of the piano is a cheesy and people are clapping when she hits bad notes. I have great sound out of thousands of dollars of audio equipment so I know how bad it must sound there. Maybe they are clapping to drown her out. In the end she makes constipation faces while singing. Randy says okay. Paul is liking it. Simon says meh again. Michael comes out with his typical bluesy rock feel that suits him well. I think Simon will make a bad pun of It song title It’s So Wrong, But Its Alright.  Randy and Paula love it.  Simon says it was his best yet.

I am starting with last Friday’s (4-4-08) since I somehow missed them. The Kill’s Last Day of Magic is an aggressive sound that reminds me of classic B52′s whose new album isn’t to be missed either.

Aly, Walk With Me, by the Danish duo Raveonettes, has some late sixties psychodelia mixed with grunge reverb and distortion. I will be downloading the rest of this in the very enar future and if the rest of the album is as good you can guarantee yourselves there will be a full review.

Hurricane by Britsh musician Ben Waters is Jerry Lee Lewis, meets The Stray Cats, meets We Didn’t Start the Fire, and would find itself just as at home at a political rally, piano bar, or on Dr. Demento.I feel another music purchase coming on with this one.

“Employing ethereally layered vocals and the ultimate girl-group qualifier, the tambourine, (Natasha) Khan and company describe the heartbreaking reality of extinguished love” in What’s a Girl to Do What’s a Girl to doby Bat For Lashes. They have made themselves into a modern day Shangrilas with a distinctly modern sound and if this song is anything to go by I will certainly be downloading some more tunes. I give the song a 4 out 5 with the only thing lacking is my connection to it as a guy.

Silver Moon by Blitzen Trapper is a song I have had to listent o a few times to get out of my system and is already making its way higher up on my ipod’s play list. There really isn’t anyone I can compare them too which would be accurate because every time I think I have the sound pinned down, I have to take a step back and say did I hear that right.

Am I Just Fooling Myself, by Eli “Paperboy” Reed is a great bluesy number with serious soul, that screams Wilson Picket, Percy Sledge or Brother James. Little more can be said better than Mark Silver already said whne he presented them this morning on Song of the Day. “NPR.org, April 11, 2008 – Just who does Eli “Paperboy” Reed think he is? The reincarnation of the wicked Wilson Pickett? A skillful James Brown imitator? Winner of the Austin Chronicle‘s award for “best Otis Redding impersonation by a 23-year-old Jewish boy from Massachusetts”?”

If you like this feature either my recap or NPR‘s coverage, please remember to donate to your local NPR station since programming is supported by its listeners.

Matt Giraud starts the show with Let’s Get it On.  This is in direct violation of the rules I set forth, but since Smokey said Marvin Gaye would have loved it, i will let it slide.  With my back to the screen I wouldn’t know this was a white guy singing.  Randy Jackson starts the commentary off.  He liked it.  Kara Diogaurdi can’t wait for Matt to “get it on.”  Paula thought it was a sexy cool vibe.  Simon Cowell is nodding his head.  He thinks it is a brilliant choice of song.

Kris Allen is pushing How Sweet It Is with his guitar.  His vocals start off really strong.  Kara starts it off with she loved him being himself.  Paula Abdul thinks it was brilliant.  Simon thinks he needs more confidence.  Randy says it is all good.

Scott MacIntyre has let the clowns dress him tonight.  Singing You Can’t Hurry Love he has not violated my rules of the week.  The piano sounds good, but I think he has already assured himself a bottom three slot.  No matter what the judges and Smokey Robinson say this sucks.  Someone is paying those people to clap and scream for Scott.  Paula loved it.  She says when he feels it the audience feels it,  lets hope no one feels the sickness his wardrobe will cause.  Simon Cowell thought the whole thing was terrible.  Randy Jackson agrees with Simon.  Kara sat in the middle again.  It appears all the people are having one over on the blind guy.  Paula makes visual jokes at Simon’s expense.  The wardrobe people only tell him he looks like a clown in a blender ten minutes prior to performance.

Megan Joy Corkery is singing Stevie Wonder’s For once In My Life.  Megan joy will try and bring some joy to the stage after the last dismal performance.  I am enjoying her interpretation.  Randy thought it was a train wreck.  Kara slams it.  Paula didn’t enjoy it either.  Simon hated it.  I really have to disagree with them.  The difference between what they heard and what I heard is originality and eccentricity.  They are looking for a commercial hit, I am looking for a real artist.  They might win and decide to cast her off the island, but she will be a consistent indie hit when their favorites are standing around wondering why being an idol winner hasn’t got them a second album deal.

Anoop Desai is singing Ooh Baby Baby, by Smokey himself.  Sitting on the stage he tries to do something, but I am not feeling it.  he is singing well, but I would rather hear Megan Joy again , it was at least interesting.  Kara says it one of the hardest songs to sing and says he only did a pretty good job.  Paula just babbles on.  Simon thinks it was a great vocal, but a little boring.  He lacked showmanship.  Randy wants to see him turn it up some for next week.

Michael Sarver will Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.  As soon as he starts out the only words that come to mind are “Karaoke after way too much beer.”  Paula asks if he was okay, because she wasn’t sure he could handle the truth.   Simon couldn’t wait for it to end.  The rest of the judges just had nothing better to say to him

Lil Rounds is breaking a rule with Heatwave.  Her skirt line works, but her hair is working her.  Randy thought she was rushing it.  Kara says she looks great which is always a bad starting comment when it is a singing contest.  She acknowledges that this was a copycat of the original breaking my rule.  Paula thought she owned the song.  Simon thinks it was a tribute, but it was the wrong song.  Simon thinks she could have had a moment tonight, I think she sounded like she was having a movement…

Adam Lambert is next and I am trying to decide if I should go have a movement before I risk shitting myself when he hits the brown note.

Adam is trying Tracks in My Tears and he is going to try and do it justice with sweet tenderness.  He is pulling an Elvis pompador but his vocals are sweet.  I am taking back what i just said about him.  This is why he belongs in this contest.  He gets a standing Ovation from Smokey Robinson.  Kara says one of the best, this was no doubt the best.  Paula thinks he is in his own league.  Simon agrees with me, it was the best performance of the night.  Randy is happy he was right that Adam could sing anything.  He smoked Danny “Jesus Boy” Gotkey before he ever performed.

Danny Gokey (Danny Gotkey) is singing Get Ready.  He is stepping it up and bringing it but every now and then he sounds out of breath like he needs a rescue inhaler. Paula loved it.  Simon calls it clumsy and amateurish.  Randy says not his best performance.  Kara loved the personality, but wasn’t great singing.

Allison Iraheta is going rock out Papa was a Rolling Stone, hopefully she will not be doomed by singing a song done by a contestant last year.  Does anyone else remember David Hernandez’s version?  The heels and esemble work for her.  The age of consent in in California may be eighteen, but it is sixteen here in Ohio and that makes my thoughts about her a okay.  Randy thought she was one of the dopest singers.  Kara thought it was amazing.  (Kara mentions god so according to my rules she loses 10 million votes according to my new rules.)  Paula thought this was geat.  Simon thought it was one of her best and has gone back to drawing on Paula.

I am in agreement with katy on this Michael Sarver or Scott MacIntyre with be going home.