New CD Releases, March 6th: Arcade Fire, The Stooges, Ry Cooder
Arcade Fire "Neon Bible"
Montreal's acclaimed indie-rock ensemble, led by vocalist Win Butler, returns with another batch of New Wave-inspired tunes. "Neon Bible," the band's second full-length album, follows 2004's popular "Funeral."
The group will support "Neon Bible" with a spring North American tour that kicks off April 26 in San Diego. The trek will include stops at the Coachella Valley Music Festival in Indio, CA (April 28) and the Sasquatch! Festival in George, WA. (May 26).
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The Stooges "The Weirdness"
The legendary rock band, featuring punk-rock godfather Iggy Pop on vocals, will release its first studio album in more than 35 years. The group's previous set was 1973's David Bowie-produced "Raw Power."
Besides Pop, the band also features two other original members--Ron Asheton on guitar and his brother, Scott Asheton, on drums--as well as former Minutemen/fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt. The group will share "The Weirdness" with fans during a spring North American tour that includes a March 17 date at the South By Southwest music festival in Austin, TX.
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Ry Cooder "My Name is Buddy"
In a move that harkens back to such early albums as 1971's "In the Purple Valley," the six-time Grammy winner digs into his roots and revisits Dust-Bowl music with this new set of original compositions.
On this album/musical travelogue, Cooder is joined by such collaborators as Van Dyke Parks, Paddy Moloney and Jim Keltner.
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Mary-Chapin Carpenter "The Calling"
The New Jersey-born folk/country artist is back with the follow-up to 2004's "Between Here and Gone." Like her previous album, "The Calling" is said to be another topical record that addresses social concerns such as the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
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Air "Pocket Symphony"
The Parisian pop stars return with another collection of atmospheric, ambient, electronic numbers. Known for such albums as 1998's "Moon Safari" and 2004's "Talkie Walkie," Air will support its latest with a spring tour that includes an April 29 appearance at the Coachella Valley Music Festival.
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Bryan Ferry "Dylanesque"
The former Roxy Music frontman, having covered several Dylan tracks on previous outings, returns with a full-fledged tribute to the great songwriter. "Dylanesque" includes such selections as "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues," "Simple Twist of Fate," "Make You Feel My Love" and "Positively 4th Street."
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Other new releases:
Alabama Thunderpussy, "Open Fire" (Relapse)
Gary Allan, "Greatest Hits" (MCA)
Antibalas, "Security" (Anti/Epitaph)
Patti Austin, "Avant Gershwin" (Rendezvous)
Johnny Cash, "Cash: Ultimate Gospel" (Sony)
Chimaira, "Resurrection" (Ferret Music)
Joey DeFrancesco, "Live: The Authorized Bootleg" (Concord)
Finger Eleven, "Them vs. You vs. Me" (Wind-up)
Half Past Forever, "Take a Chance on Something Beautiful" (Beat Down)
Albert Hammond Jr., "Yours to Keep" (New Line)
Korn, "MTV Unplugged" (Virgin)
Wynton Marsalis, "From the Plantation to the Penitentiary" (Blue Note)
Willy Mason, "If the Ocean Gets Rough" (Astralwerks)
Neal Morse, "Sola Scriptura" (Metal Blade)
The Notorious B.I.G., "Greatest Hits" (Bad Boy)
Rjd2, "Third Hand" (Third Hand)
Relient K, "Five Score and Seven Years Ago" (Capitol)
Sevendust, "Alpha" (Asylum)
Shaw Blades, "Influence" (VH1 Classics)
Son Volt, "Search" (Red Int.)
Amon Tobin, "Foley Room" (Ninja Tune)
!!!, "Myth Takes" (Warp)
Various Artists, "Wow Hymns" (Word)
Soundtracks and scores:
"300: The Battle of Thermopylae" (Warner Bros.)
Bardem says he's joined new Allen movie
MADRID, Spain - Spanish film stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem will work together in Woody Allen's next movie, Bardem told reporters Monday.
Bardem, who was in Barcelona to present the movie "Invisibles," which he produced, confirmed that he and Cruz would be filming with Allen in that city in July and August, the private news agency Europa Press said.
The 38-year-old actor said he had talked with Allen by phone but hadn't yet read the script. Details of Allen's movie, including its title, have not been released.
Bardem, an Oscar nominee for 2000's "Before Night Falls," starred with Cruz in 1992's "Jamon Jamon," directed by Bigas Luna.
Cruz, 32, received a best-actress nomination for Pedro Almodovar's "Volver" at this year's Oscars.
Coldplay Working on New Album
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin said Sunday his band is working on a new album featuring what he called a quintessential song that everybody should hear "before we die."
Martin and his band spoke hours before the final concert of a Latin American tour that took them to Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.
The band said it plans to return to the studio after a two-year hiatus to record an album that will have a different sound from "X&Y," which has sold more than 2 million copies since it was released in 2005.
"I think for a long time people felt like we were a band in black-and-white, and now we feel like because we have this incredible job, now we can do whatever we like and try all kinds of new things," Martin said.
He added that the record will include what could be Coldplay's best song yet.
"In order for us to get excited about a new album, we have to have one song that we feel like everybody has to hear ... before we die, otherwise we'll be terribly depressed," Martin said. "So luckily with this new record we're going to make, we have that one song."
"I can't tell you about it, but it's basically genius," he joked.
Martin, who celebrated his 30th birthday on a Mexican beach last week, also said he is proud of Coldplay's activism to raise awareness about free trade practices around the globe and support poor farmers in developing countries.
Martin is a spokesman for the British aid group Oxfam's "Make Trade Fair" campaign, and Oxfam volunteers provide information on free trade and distribute petitions at Coldplay's concerts.
The singer said he has hope for the future with less than two years left in President Bush's term. "I think we're all excited, everyone in the world is excited about the American elections next year," he said. "Sometimes it's easy to give up all hope."
Beastie Boys Eyeing Summer For New Album
An uncharacteristically short three years after their last disc, 2004's "To the 5 Boroughs," the Beastie Boys are putting the finishing touches on a new record. "Hopefully that'll be out this summer, too," group member Adam Yauch tells Billboard.
Though he remained characteristically tight-lipped about details, Yauch says the Beasties plan to air out some of the new material in a series of dates this summer, including a headlining slot at the Sasquatch Festival, to be held May 26-27 at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Wash.
From there, the Beastie Boys head to Europe for a series of festival dates. The band also plays a headlining set in Paris on June 26.
As first reported here Friday, Yauch has also produced a new record by the original lineup of Bad Brains, "Build a Nation," due in late May or early June via Megaforce.
Here are the Beastie Boys' tour dates:
May 27: George, Washington (Sasquatch Festival)
June 10: Lisbon (Alive! Festival)
June 17: Istanbul (Efes Pilsen One Love Festival)
June 22: Scheessel, Germany (Hurricane Festival)
June 24: Neuhasen, Germany (Southside Festival)
June 26: Paris (Le Zenith)
June 28: Werchter, Belgium (Rock Werchter Festival)
June 30: Gdynia, Poland (Heineken Festival)
ACMs Ain't Whistlin' Dixie (Chicks)
Sure they swept the Grammy Awards, but apparently the Dixie Chicks don't fly with the Academy of Country Music.
Nominations were announced Monday for the annual ACM Awards and there was nary a Chick to be found despite the Texas trio's five Grammys for Taking the Long Way. The Chicks have won 10 ACMs in their career, including Entertainer of the Year in 2000, but have been shunned by the Nashville establishment since their President Bush-bashing comments in 2003.
While the Academy of Country Music isn't ready to make nice with the Chicks, the organization made sure the usual Nasville-pleasing subjects were accounted for, led by George Straight, Brooks & Dunn and Rascal Flatts.
Strait, who has collected 15 ACM trophies over the course of his career, notched a leading six awards this year, including the top prize, Entertainer of the Year. Strait will also compete for Male Vocalist, Album of the Year for It Just Comes Natural, Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year, both for "Give It Away," and Video of the Year for "Seashores of Old Mexico."
Brooks & Dunn and Rascal Flatts will face off with Strait in the Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year categories. Brooks & Dunn are also contending for Top Vocal Duo, Video of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year, while Rascal Flatts is gunning for Top Vocal Group and Single Record of the Year. Brooks & Dunn will also receive the Humanitarian Award.
Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill and Tim McGraw round out the race for Entertainer of the Year.
While she didn't make the cut for the usually testosterone heavy Entertainer of the Year race, Grammy-certified Best New Artist Carrie Underwood is vying for five ACMs: Top Female Vocalist, Album of the Year for Some Hearts and Song of the Year, Single Record of the Year and Video of the Year for “Before He Cheats.” Underwood was named Top New Female Vocalist at the 2006 ACMs.
(It was a good day for American Idol alums as Kellie Pickler picked up a nod for Top New Female Vocalist.)
Other top nominees include the duo Big & Rich, who received four nominations, and Gill, Josh Turner and Gretchen Wilson, who each scored three noms.
The nominations were announced at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville by 2006’s Entertainer of the Year, Chesney, and the duo Sugarland, who won for Top New Duo or Vocal Group in 2006.
"Whenever you get nominated, it's a reflection of a lot of people's hard work," Chesney said.
The 42nd Annual Awards will be given out May 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will air live on CBS.
The complete list of nominees:
Entertainer of the Year:
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Tim McGraw
Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Album of the Year:
Brooks & Dunn, Hillbilly Deluxe
George Strait, It Just Comes Natural
Rascal Flatts, Me and My Gang
Carrie Underwood, Some Hearts
Vince Gill, These Days
Single Record of the Year:
Carrie Underwood, "Before He Cheats"
George Strait, "Give It Away"
Heartland, "I Loved Her First"
Rascal Flatts, "What Hurts the Most"
Josh Turner, "Would You Go With Me"
Song of the Year:
Jason Aldean, "Amarillo Sky"
Carrie Underwood, "Before He Cheats"
George Strait, "Give It Away"
Rodney Atkins, "If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)"
Josh Turner, "Would You Go With Me"
Top Female Vocalist:
Sara Evans
Faith Hill
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Carrie Underwood
Top Male Vocalist:
Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban
Top Vocal Group:
Diamond Rio
Emerson Drive
Little Big Town
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
Top Vocal Duo:
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers
Top New Female Vocalist:
Miranda Lambert
Kellie Pickler
Taylor Swift
Top New Male Vocalist:
Rodney Atkins
Craig Morgan
Chris Young
Top New Duo or Vocal Group:
Heartland
Little Big Town
The Wreckers
Video of Year:
Big & Rich, "8th of November"
Jason Aldean, "Amarillo Sky"
Carrie Underwood, "Before He Cheats"
Brooks & Dunn, "Hillbilly Deluxe"
George Strait, "Seashores of Old Mexico"
Vocal Event:
Brooks & Dunn with Vince Gill & Sheryl Crow, "Building Bridges"
Ashley Monroe and Ronnie Dunn, "I Don't Want To"
Josh Turner featuring Ralph Stanley and Marty Roe, Dana Williams and Gene Johnson of Diamond Rio, "Me and God"
Gretchen Wilson featuring Merle Haggard, "Politically Uncorrect"
Hank Williams Jr. with Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich and Van Zant, "That's How They Do It In Dixie"
Strait's 8 nominations lead ACM awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - George Strait led the nominees announced Monday for the Academy of Country Music Awards with eight nominations, including entertainer of the year and top male vocalist.
Vocal duo Brooks & Dunn got seven nominations and Rascal Flatts had six. The announcement was made at the Country Music Hall of Fame and aired live on CBS' "The Early Show."
The nominees were introduced by Kenny Chesney — the reigning ACM entertainer of the year — and the duo Sugarland.
"Whenever you get nominated, it's a reflection of a lot of people's hard work," Chesney said.
Carrie Underwood received five nominations and Big & Rich got four.
The 42nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be presented May 15 in Las Vegas.
Strait also was nominated as artist and producer for the album "It Just Comes Natural" and the single "Give it Away," which also was nominated for song of the year.
Brooks & Dunn were honored in the entertainer of the year and the top vocal duo categories, and their "Hillbilly Deluxe" was nominated for album of the year.
Rascal Flatts got nominations for entertainer of the year, top vocal group, best album for "Me and My Gang" and best single for "What Hurts the Most."