Costello Heads 'North' On New Album
Elvis Costello has dubbed his upcoming album "North." Due Sept. 23 via Deutsche Grammophon, the album is comprised solely of ballads.
"The record begins with a song called 'You Left Me In the Dark' and ends with a track called 'I'm In the Mood Again,'" Costello explains in a statement. "You have to listen to what goes on in between to find out why."
As previously reported, the collection will feature instrumentation ranging from a solo piano to an enormous ensemble.
Along with frequent collaborator and Attractions/Imposters keyboardist Steve Nieve, "North" features drummer Peter Erskine and double-bassist Mike Formanek, as well as Costello's own piano work on the songs "Let Me Tell You About Her" and "I'm In the Mood Again."
Written over the final months of 2002 and recorded in New York in April and May, the album reunites Costello with the Brodksy Quartet. He last worked with the string ensemble on 1993's "Juliet Letters" (Warner Bros.). On "North," the group performs parts co-written by Nieve on the track "Still."
As previously reported, Costello and the Imposters begin a summer North American tour July 2 in Toronto. It comes in support of the group's 2002 Island album "When I Was Cruel," which debuted at No. 20 on The Billboard 200.
Yet Another Title for EPISODE III
Moviehole is reporting that the new title for STAR WARS EPISODE III is AN EMPIRE DIVIDED. Lucasfilm hasn't had time to deny this one yet.
LEGAL EAGLES
ABC officially announcing that James Spader and Rhona Mitra are joining the cast of The Practice.
'Sesame Street' Video Tackles Kids' Fears
NEW YORK - The Muppets have more to offer than lessons on numbers, letters and shapes — now they're teaching children about fear, violence and war.
The nonprofit group behind "Sesame Street" announced plans Wednesday to distribute 75,000 copies of a video called "You Can Ask!" that encourages children to ask their parents when they are confused about feelings.
The video, paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is aimed at helping children cope with repeated media images of the Sept. 11 terror attacks and other violence in the world.
"Too often, children in America are witnessing too much, too soon," said Gary Knell, president and chief executive officer of Sesame Workshop.
At a press conference Wednesday, Emilio Delgado, who plays Luis on "Sesame Street," led 25 New York City kindergartners in a rendition of the alphabet song. Then he explained to a furry, teal Muppet named Rosita that "children can ask their parents questions when they're scared, when they're very confused and worried."
The videos will be distributed this summer and fall to schools, mental health offices, crisis counselors and child-care programs in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The producers hope to take the program nationwide.
Producers said it could be used to help kids handle everyday trauma, too.
In a segment on fear, a New York City firefighter helps Elmo — the bright-eyed, high-pitched red Muppet adored by children — grow comfortable with returning to Hooper's Store after a fire there.
In a segment on loss, an adult helps Big Bird feel better after a stray turtle he had cared for suddenly leaves his nest. Two other scenes deal with bullying and accepting others' differences.
The videos are in English, but instructional material for parents is also being offered in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. Producers said they wanted to make sure children living in Chinatown, just blocks from ground zero, could benefit.
Chris Rock Will Return to Host MTV Awards
NEW YORK - Chris Rock will be back as host of the MTV Video Music Awards, the cable channel announced Wednesday.
But he acknowledges that his stand-up skills are a little rusty.
So the comedian is going on a cross-country club tour to prepare for the 20th annual awards show Aug. 28 at Radio City Music Hall.
"I haven't performed in a lo-o-o-o-ng time," Rock told The Associated Press in a phone interview Wednesday.
After starring in the Emmy-winning "Chris Rock Show" on HBO in the late '90s, he's been focusing on films the past few years, including "Down to Earth," a remake of "Heaven Can Wait"; "Bad Company" with Anthony Hopkins; and this year's "Head of State," his directorial debut, in which he starred as a presidential candidate.
Rock won't announce his comedy show dates ahead of time — he wouldn't even say where the tour will begin next week. Tickets will go on sale in each city just 24 hours in advance.
But after having hosted the irreverent awards show in 1997 and 1999, Rock knows that much of the comedy springs organically as the evening progresses. Jimmy Fallon from "Saturday Night Live" — of which Rock is an alum — was the host last year.
"You watch people host these shows who change outfits eight times in the show. No — watch the show. That's the most important thing," Rock said.
"Half the time the presenters don't read what's on the cue cards and you never know when Diana Ross is going to grab Lil' Kim's (breast), and you'd hate to miss that because you're putting on something from Banana Republic."
Rock was referring to one of the more outrageous moments in Video Music Award history in 1999, when Ross fondled rapper Lil' Kim's left breast, which was covered only in a lavender pasty.
Over the past year, though, the 37-year-old has been keeping busy with more wholesome activities — his daughter with wife Malaak Compton-Rock, Lola Simone, who's turning 1 on Saturday.
"You just want to protect your kid from stuff. It makes you want to work harder as an artist. Now you need the money — what's college going to cost in 18 years?" he asked.
"I've had two callings in life: stand-up comedy and fatherhood," added Rock. "Those are the only things I embrace."
Music Labels Step Up Internet Piracy Hunt
WASHINGTON - The embattled music industry disclosed plans Wednesday for an unprecedented escalation in its fight against Internet piracy, threatening to sue hundreds of individual computer users who illegally share music files online.
The Recording Industry Association of America, citing significant sales declines, said it will begin Thursday to search Internet file-sharing networks to identify music fans who offer "substantial" collections of MP3 song files for downloading.
It expects to file at least several hundred lawsuits seeking financial damages within eight to 10 weeks.
Executives for the RIAA, the Washington-based lobbying group that represents major labels, would not say how many songs on a user's computer might qualify for a lawsuit. The new campaign comes just weeks after U.S. appeals court rulings requiring Internet providers to identify subscribers suspected of illegally sharing music and movie files.
The RIAA's president, Cary Sherman, said tens of millions of Internet users of popular file-sharing software after Thursday will expose themselves to "the real risk of having to face the music." He said the RIAA plans only to file lawsuits against Internet users in the United States.
"It's stealing. It's both wrong and illegal," Sherman said. Alluding to the court decisions, Sherman said Internet users who believe they can hide behind an alias online are mistaken. "You are not anonymous," Sherman said. "We're going to begin taking names."
Shopping at a Virgin Megastore in San Francisco, Jason Yoder was planning to delete file-sharing software he uses from his home computer because of the new lawsuit threat. He acknowledged using the Internet recently to find a copy of a rare 1970s soul recording, but he agreed that illegal downloads should be curtailed.
"It's sort of like a serial drunk driver has to have their license taken away at some point," said Yoder, 30.
Sharman Networks Ltd., which makes the popular Kazaa software and operates one of the world's largest file-sharing networks, said in a statement, "It is unfortunate that the RIAA has chosen to declare war on its customers by engaging in protracted and expensive litigation." Sharman said it was interested in a business relationship with music labels and could protect their songs from illegal downloads using technology.
Country songwriter Hugh Prestwood, who has worked with Randy Travis, Trisha Yearwood and Jimmy Buffett, likened the RIAA's effort to a roadside police officer on a busy highway.
"It doesn't take too many tickets to get everybody to obey the speed limit," Prestwood said.
Critics accused the RIAA of resorting to heavy-handed tactics likely to alienate millions of Internet file-sharers.
"This latest effort really indicates the recording industry has lost touch with reality completely," said Fred von Lohmann, a lawyer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "Does anyone think more lawsuits are going to be the answer? Today they have declared war on the American consumer."
Sherman disputed that consumers, who are gradually turning to legitimate Web sites to buy music legally, will object to the industry's latest efforts against pirates.
"You have to look at exactly who are your customers," he said. "You could say the same thing about shoplifters — are you worried about alienating them? All sorts of industries and retailers have come to the conclusion that they need to be able to protect their rights. We have come to the same conclusion."
Mike Godwin of Public Knowledge, a consumer group that has challenged broad crackdowns on file-sharing networks, said Wednesday's announcement was appropriate because it targeted users illegally sharing copyrighted files.
"I'm sure it's going to freak them out," Godwin said. "The free ride is over." He added: "I wouldn't be surprised if at least some people engaged in file-trading decide to resist and try to find ways to thwart the litigation strategy."
The entertainment industry has gradually escalated its fight against piracy. The RIAA has previously sued four college students it accused of making thousands of songs available for illegal downloading on campus networks. But Wednesday's announcement was the first effort to target users who offer music on broadly accessible, public networks.
The Motion Picture Association of America said it supported the efforts, but notably did not indicate it plans to file large numbers of civil lawsuits against Internet users who trade movies online.
MPAA Chief Jack Valenti said in a statement it was "our most sincere desire" to find technology solutions to protect digital copies of movies.
Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., who has proposed giving the entertainment industry new powers to disrupt downloads of pirated music and movies, said the RIAA's actions were overdue. "It's about time," Berman said in a statement. "For too long ... file-traffickers have robbed copyright creators with impunity."
The RIAA said its lawyers will file lawsuits initially against people with the largest collections of music files they can find online. U.S. copyright laws allow for damages of $750 to $150,000 for each song offered illegally on a person's computer, but Sherman said the RIAA will be open to settlement proposals from defendants.
Blast It You Infernal Matriarch!
September 16th will see the release of the recent box office disappointment Down with Love, followed by the surprise sleeper hit Bend it like Beckham on the 30th.
Finally, due for release on September 9th is The Family Guy: Volume Two. This three-disc set features the entire third season in 4:3 full screen with English, French and Spanish Dolby 2.0 surround tracks, plus plenty of extras including audio commentary on six episodes (including the unaired "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein"), 15 minutes of animatics, the pilot pitch and a series overview. Retail will set you back $49.95.