Pepsi fires, plastic surgery disasters, and child molestation accusations aside, Michael Jackson is a genius. Some people may laugh at that statement, but those folks probably aren’t included among the more than 104 million people who bought copies of Jacko’s 1983 record, Thriller, which remains the best-selling album of all…
Operatic crossover Sarah Brightman, speaking on The Early Show about her new album, Symphony, said: “It’s got a little bit of dark and light in it. It’s quite gothy and rocky. On the other hand, it’s quite operatic as well.” The soprano left out the album’s most important detail: It’s…
This techno trio will make you want to dance, even when singer Chris Donathen isn’t shouting stuff like “Get down girl, shake it, shake it!” over bumping beats and synthesized programming on songs like “Fscene8,” which sounds like the sonic stepchild of Cher’s “Believe.” The crux of every Medic Droid…
This garage quartet from Chandler cooks up raw rock recipes with the best ingredients — solid, fuzzy guitar hooks; danceable beats, and sexy vocals with all the lusty thrust of Cramps singer Lux Interior and the sassy swagger of Jack White. Some Mean Wells songs, like “The Storm,” are built…
Ryan Breen (a.k.a. Back Ted N-Ted) creates spacey, upbeat electro-pop songs with introspective, poetic lyrics. If Moby had ever been truly “techno,” he’d have probably made a record like Back Ted N-Ted’s A Jet Made of Limos (Modern Art), which boasts everything from New Wave excursions with basic beats (“999…
Six years after “The Fragile” we were given “With Teeth” followed by “Year Zero” in less than two years and one year later we’ve received another album from the pretty hate machine: “Ghosts I-IV.”
Some people diversify their stock portfolios. Andre Benjamin, best known as Andre 3000 of hip-hop super-duo OutKast, diversified his career. Now, learning to play in different artistic mediums, even branching out into brand marketing, ain’t exactly a rare feat amongst the megastars (and, sadly, even shooting stars) of rap and…
Drum kits crash and explode; uncontrollable feedback erupts; random, screeching wraiths arrive and disappear with an equal lack of warning; relaxed fits of laughter compete with measured, stentorian cable-news reportage. Understandably, Eric Earley can’t quite hear me, and I’m having just as much trouble understanding him. “You’re breaking up. I’m…
Ravi Coltrane is many things: a producer (credits include Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour), a son (his parents were John and Alice Coltrane), and an accomplished jazz saxophonist in his own right (his latest album was 2005’s In Flux). We recently caught up with Coltrane to discuss his upcoming albums,…
My musical tastes are an audio gumbo. On any given day at the office, I bump old and new soul, mainstream hip-hop, experimental, infectious pop, yacht rock, and funk that bleeds through the walls and seeps out of the air vents. Come to think of it, I’m surprised my coworkers…
From this week’s proceedings in the Court of Public Opinion, Case #89675-B: The People vs. Dave Grohl. “The defense may now present its closing arguments.” “Thank you, your honor. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: As you know, my client, David Eric Grohl, leader of the band Foo Fighters, has…
Rose McGowan. Dita Von Teese. Evan Rachel Wood. They’re all talented, beautiful, and they’ve all been to bed with super-freak Marilyn Manson. Though this will never make sense to us, we can’t help wondering what other entertainment types might satisfy Manson’s appetite for the bizarre. Lindsay Lohan: Lohan is beautiful;…
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, South Africa’s premier vocal group, made the world aware of the power of Zulu music in 1986, when they sang on Paul Simon’s Graceland. Since then, they’ve won Grammys and toured the globe, captivating audiences with their uplifting harmonies and amazing dance routines — but they were…
Chris Walla plays guitar in Death Cab for Cutie, and in addition to producing all his band’s discs, he’s helmed albums for a litany of indie-rock heroes (Decemberists, Tegan and Sara, The Thermals, and more). Walla’s been called Ben Gibbard’s “sonic wingman,” but the perpetually cheerful multi-instrumentalist recently headed out…
Before tax specialists H&R Block admitted to overstating its earnings for 2003 and 2004 by $91.1 million, founder Henry W. Block used to appear in its TV commercials, itemizing “the 17 reasons why you should let us prepare your income tax.” Taking a subliminal cue from the Block head himself,…
“I’m basically a guy with tits.”
This is how 16-year-old Red Mountain High School student Kelly Ortiz describes herself at the beginning of her “Pageant Queen” episode for the MTV show Made, which airs Saturday, February 16.
Ask your music-loving friend, record-store clerk, or average Joe on the street which band or artist they think has a finger on the pulse of American rock ‘n’ roll more than anyone else, and you’re not likely to hear the name Los Lobos often. Surely, the likes of Dylan, Springsteen,…
Every man has made at least one. The romantic mix CD is a sure-fire way to woo a woman’s heart or, if your goals are more base, get laid. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, here’s a list of songs you should never, ever include on a mix when trying…
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of tagging along with the Phoenix Bach Choir and the Kansas City Chorale at the 50th annual Grammy Awards . At the end of the day, they took home one phonograph statuette for “Best Engineered Album, Classical” during a star-studded affair in Los Angeles. (For a full list of winners, go to http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/50th_show/list.aspx)
When we think of a classical music composer, we picture a man in a tuxedo, sipping bubbly while writing conservative-sounding scores in his study — not a guy sleeping out in the bush to get his inspirations, tackling ancient myths, and causing controversy. Mark Grey, the Phoenix Symphony composer-in-residence for…
With his unique hairdo, colorful suits, and acoustic guitar, Dan Zanes’ musicality and talent are always a pleasure to behold, regardless of your age. Though he has a more obvious appeal to children because of his songs’ themes (“Father Goose” and “The Hokey Pokey,” for example), the apparently endless energy…
Scan the celebrity support of our presidential hopefuls, and it becomes glaringly obvious that none seems to be attracting the funk endorsement. Sure, John McCain has Sly Stallone’s backing, but coaxing Sly Stone out of seclusion would be way more of a coup. Mitt Romney has Donny & Marie Mormonic…
