New CD Releases, Oct. 23: Carrie Underwood, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Gary Allan
Carrie Underwood "Carnival Ride"
Country star Carrie Underwood is ready to take fans on a "Carnival Ride." This set follows her 2005 debut, "Some Hearts," an award-winning, multi-platinum offering that spawned the crossover hits "Jesus Take the Wheel," "Before He Cheats," "Wasted" and "Don't Forget to Remember Me."
"Carnival Ride" was produced by Mark Bright, who helmed seven tracks on "Some Hearts," and includes Underwood in the songwriting credits.
It's already been a big year for the fourth-season "American Idol" winner. She scored two Grammys--Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance--and is the reigning Female Vocalist of the Year for both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
Underwood is also up for three trophies at the 41st Annual Country Music Association Awards, which will be held Nov. 7 at the Sommet Center in Nashville, TN, and aired live on ABC-TV.
* * *
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss "Raising Sand"
Talk about an unlikely pairing--Robert Plant and Alison Krauss recording a studio effort together? Yet, that's exactly what fans will get with "Raising Sand."
The story of this project began when former Led Zeppelin frontman Plant phoned contemporary bluegrass star Krauss about seven years ago to tell her he admired her work and wanted to work with her someday. The duo first sang together at a Leadbelly tribute during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, and eventually enlisted producer T-Bone Burnett to help them record together.
The resulting 13-track "Raising Sand" covers a wide spectrum of musical territory, according to the project's publicist, including R&B, blues, country and folk.
* * *
Gary Allan "Living Hard"
Country singer Gary Allan is looking for a three-peat with "Living Hard." His last two releases--this year's "Greatest Hits" and 2005's "Tough All Over"--both hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Allan is supporting "Living Hard" by living on the road. He's doing some solo dates, but mostly spending his time as the opening act on Keith Urban's big road show. The Urban run lasts throughout November and well into December.
* * *
Dwight Yoakam "Dwight Sings Buck"
The country crooner tips his tall cowboy hat to one of his musical idols (and close friends) on "Dwight Sings Buck." Yoakam collaborated with Buck Owens on numerous occasions over the years, most famously on the hit "Streets of Bakersfield," so this is a tribute record that really makes sense. On "Dwight Sings Buck," Yoakam handles such tunes as "Foolin' Around," "Act Naturally" and "Above and Beyond."
* * *
Serj Tankian "Elect the Dead"
System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian walks the solo road with the grimly titled "Elect the Dead." Tankian produced the album himself and played most of the instruments on the set, though he was joined by guest drummers John Dolmayan (System of a Down) and Brian "Brain" Mantia (Primus). The album's first single is "Empty Walls." The singer is supporting the record during a North American tour, currently set to wind up Oct. 28 in San Francisco.
* * *
More new releases:
Coheed & Cambria, "No World For Tomorrow" (Sony)
David Gahan, "Hourglass" (Mute)
Exodus, "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A" (Nuclear Blast)
Heart, "Dreamboat Annie Live" (Shout)
Helloween, "Gambling With the Devil" (Steamhammer)
Juanes, "La Vida... Es un Ratico" (Universal)
Scum of the Earth, "Sleaze Freak" (Eclipse)
Seether, "Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces" (Wind-Up)
Soilwork, "Sworn to a Great Divide" (Nuclear Blast)
Nick Swardson, "Party" (Comedy Central)
Ween, "La Cucaracha" (Rounder)
Rob Zombie, "Zombie Live" (Geffen)
Soundtracks and scores:
"Battlestar Galactica Season 3" (La-La Land)
"Twin Peaks: All New Season Two Music" (Absurda)
Larry David's divorce mirrored on 'Curb'
NEW YORK - In the exaggerated mirror to Larry David's life that is "Curb Your Enthusiasm," even the comedian's own divorce is fodder for comedy.
Sunday night's episode of the HBO show was a classic case of art imitating life with the announcement by David's fictional spouse, played by Cheryl Hines, that she was leaving. It was just in June that David and his real-life wife, Laurie David, separated after 14 years of marriage.
The real-life divorce was filed by Laurie David, citing "irreconcilable differences." Their spokesman has called the split "very amicable." On "Curb," the breakup was set off when Cheryl called hysterically from a potentially crashing airplane. Larry told her to "call back in 10 minutes" because he was having their Tivo fixed by a cable guy.
Safe but still rattled, Cheryl returned to declare: "I'm leaving, Larry. I can't do this anymore."
"People ask me all the time, `How do you stay with him?'" she explained. "I always tell them, `There's another side to Larry that you don't see.' And then I just realized today, there's no other side."
Larry argued to no avail that the phone reception was bad and, besides, he was able to save her Tivoed shows like "Top Chef" and "Project Runway." The rest of the episode finds the couple's friends (some of whom are the REAL couple's friends), choosing sides between either Larry or Cheryl.
David has always pursued a realistic brand of comedy that pulls directly from life. He and Jerry Seinfeld created the NBC classic "Seinfeld" one night at a New York grocery, where they decided that their casual banter should be the show — famously referred to as "a show about nothing."
Even that moment was eventually portrayed on "Seinfeld" when Jerry and George (the character based on David, played by Jason Alexander) decide to create a sitcom for NBC.
The origins of "Curb" were similar. While preparing for a comedy special on HBO, David's friend and comedian Jeff Garlin suggested that David have the entire process filmed.
A loosely scripted, naturalistic approach is now the "Curb" signature. Though his character bears his name and much of his life, David has always said it's an exaggeration — who he might be if he had no manners or restraint.
Whether David's divorce would be reflected on "Curb" had been a matter of speculation. In an interview with The Associated Press in early September (after the season wrapped but before it hit the air), David played cagy when asked if his marital woes would seep into the show.
"Can't fire Cheryl," he replied.
Asked if perhaps the fictional couple might feel increased discord, if not collapse, David said: "There's something there, obviously. I wouldn't shy away from dealing with it, if I do another year."
Now David's divorce has made its presence felt, and the following episodes will help determine whether his on-screen marriage still has any chance. A spokesman for HBO said the split would indeed constitute a full arc.
Both Larry and Laurie David, in real life, declined to comment.
CBS cancels Jackman's 'Viva Laughlin'
LOS ANGELES - The music has stopped for "Viva Laughlin," an offbeat song-and-dance drama that drew such low ratings it was canceled by CBS after two airings.
Even having film star Hugh Jackman ("X-Men") aboard as executive producer and cast member couldn't save the series. It was the second cancellation of the young season, after CW's "Online Nation," and the first scripted show to be yanked.
"Viva Laughlin," based on the hit British series "Viva Blackpool," debuted last Thursday with 8.4 million viewers — a pittance compared to the 21.2 million viewers that watched the CBS show preceding it, top-rated "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."
Moving to what was intended as its regular time slot, 8 p.m. EST Sunday, "Viva Laughlin" dropped to an estimated 6.8 million viewers. The show starring Lloyd Owen as a small-time gambler caught up in a murder investigation drew mostly drew largely poor reviews.
It will be replaced next Sunday by a "CSI" rerun, with reality series "The Amazing Race" then taking over the time period, CBS (part of CBS Corp.) said Monday.
Singer May Be Done With Superman
It’s happening again. Bryan Singer may have just handed Brett Ratner, or his cinematic equivalent another superhero franchise to ruin. Variety is reporting that Superman Returns writers Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris have opted not to return to write the film’s sequel.
That in itself isn’t a major blow for the project, after all Singer could be going on without them. What’s worrying is that Variety article seems to be hinting that the WB may be looking to start completely over with Superman (though Warners denies it), and pretend the other movie never existed, as they’re doing with Hulk. If that’s really what’s happening, then forget about Bryan Singer being involved.
The baffling thing here is that despite all the panic surrounding its box office totals, Superman Returns was a hit. It made just as much money as Batman Begins, which has now spawned another film helmed by Chris Nolan and backed entirely by the studio. Superman Returns cost more to make, but a large portion of that cost had nothing to do with the actual movie and was carried over by previous, failed efforts to make the movie happen. Superman Returns is not Hulk, and starting over with it seems not just ridiculous, but sot of insulting to the huge audiences who showed up to see it.
You have to wonder if this has something to do with Singer’s slowness to get started on making the sequel. Warner Brothers was all for it, then Singer took a bunch of other projects instead of getting his ass in gear to make the blue boy fly again. Right now he’s working on Tom Cruise’s Nazi movie Valkyrie for United Artsits when Warners would almost certainly like to have him doing pre-production for Supes with them. Assuming Singer was actually serious about wanting to do it. Lately it hasn’t seemed like it.
He did the same thing on X-Men 3, delaying on doing anything with it while he loaded up other projects to do first. Eventually Fox got sick of waiting for him, they never got a deal done, and the studio grabbed the first jerk they could find to direct it. The result was the awful Brett Ratner soiling of the once great X-Men franchise. Ratner has always wanted to get his hands on Superman, somewhere out there he’s smiling.
For now though, there’s nothing definitive. Hopefully this is all wrong-headed rumor and conjecture. We need more Superman, but more importantly we need more of Bryan Singer’s brilliant Superman. If he’s not involved and if it’s not a sequel to Returns, then forget it. Nobody is interested, you’re only pissing on the character. Apparently there’s a worse word in the cinematic language than “remake” or “prequel”. It’s “reboot” and it’s kryptonite for Superman. For now though, no reason to panic. The official word is that this is still a sequel and as far as anyone knows Singer will be back. Get to work Bryan!
H.I.M. to do next Bond theme?
Rumors are swirling that H.I.M are set to do the theme song for the next James Bond film.
The composers David Arnold and Don Black were allegedly impressed by the band's track "Wings Of A Butterfly."
The duo allegedly got chatting to the frontman Ville Valo at the BMI Awards.
A source told The Daily Star: "David Arnold and Don Black were in deep conversation with Ville on the night. They love the song that won him an award. They think he has just the right ear to write a classic Bond hit with them.
Lessing says Sept. 11 attacks not so bad
MADRID, Spain - Nobel laureate Doris Lessing said the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States were "not that terrible" when compared with attacks by the IRA in Britain.
"September 11 was terrible, but if one goes back over the history of the IRA, what happened to the Americans wasn't that terrible," the Nobel Literature Prize winner told the leading Spanish daily El Pais.
"Some Americans will think I'm crazy. Many people died, two prominent buildings fell, but it was neither as terrible nor as extraordinary as they think. They're a very naive people, or they pretend to be," she said in an interview published Sunday.
"Do you know what people forget? That the IRA attacked with bombs against our government; it killed several people while a Conservative congress was being held and in which the prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, was (attending). People forget," she said.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the Sept. 11 attacks. About 3,700 died and tens of thousands of people were maimed in more than 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland. The Irish Republican Army guerrilla group, which caused most of the deaths, disarmed in 2005.
Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Lessing in London for comment Monday were unsuccessful. Her agent's office said the author was unavailable because she was not feeling well.
In the El Pais interview, Lessing had sharp words for both President Bush and his ally, former British premier Tony Blair.
"I always hated Tony Blair, from the beginning," El Pais quoted Lessing as saying. "Many of us hated Tony Blair, I think he has been a disaster for Britain and we have suffered him for many years. I said it when he was elected: This man is a little showman who is going to cause us problems and he did."
"As for Bush, he's a world calamity," added Lessing. "Everyone is tired of this man. Either he is stupid or he is very clever, although you have to remember he is a member of a social class which has profited from wars."
Iran also came in for a lashing from Lessing, who was born to British parents who were living in what is now Bakhtaran, Iran.
"I hate Iran, I hate the Iranian government, it's a cruel and evil government," she was quoted as saying.
"Look what happened to its president in New York, they called him evil and cruel in Colombia University. Marvelous! They should have said more to him! Nobody criticizes him, because of oil."
The author of dozens of works from short stories to science fiction, including the classic "The Golden Notebook," Lessing won the Nobel Prize for literature earlier this month. She was praised by the judges for her "skepticism, fire and visionary power."
Manitobans sweep WCMAs
MOOSE JAW, Sask. - Music artists from Manitoba took home the most hardware at the Western Canadian Music Awards presented Sunday night in Moose Jaw, Sask., capturing eight trophies.
Among them was country band Doc Walker, who won outstanding independent album of the year and dedicated the win to leader singer Chris Thorsteinson's mother, Betty, who died last week.
"She was the backbone basically of this band I think from the beginning," said guitarist Murray Pulver.
Pulver half-joked that the band might be "a mess" without Betty Thorsteinson.
"She took care of day-to-day things that the rest of us would not be aware of and was really sort of the heart and soul of a lot of it ... the whole business part of it. She was passionate about music too."
Doc Walker also snagged the trophy for outstanding country recording and seemed surprised by the double win.
"It's always unexpected," said Doc Walker's Dave Wasyliw.
"I think after the CCMAs and things like that we realized that anything can happen and you should probably have a speech in your pocket, but you don't. You don't listen to yourself that's for sure," laughed Wasyliw.
"You never learn. You go up there and you fumble your way through it."
In September, Doc Walker took album of the year honours at the Canadian Country Music Awards held in nearby Regina.
Other Manitobans to win Sunday night included Romi Mayes, who won outstanding roots recording solo and songwriter of the year. The quartet Nathan - which had five nominations - won outstanding roots recording duo or group for their album "Key Principles."
"It feels great, 'cause we're just gonna continue to pump out what we do so if people are willing to put up with it ..." singer and guitarist Shelley Marshall said, adding a laugh.
"It's awesome, we're really happy."
Lead singer and guitarist Keri Latimer echoed those comments, saying it's nice to know Nathan is still resonating with the audience.
Not to be outdone by Manitoba, artists from British Columbia followed with six awards. Among them, Joel Kroeker won outstanding pop recording and Jim Byrnes won outstanding blues recording. Neither was in attendance.
Saskatchewan-born The Blood Lines made their home province proud, capturing the award for outstanding rock recording.
The awards, held at the Snowbirds Hangar 6, opened with an emotional presentation as Buffy Sainte-Marie was honoured with her induction into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
With a career spanning more than 40 years and numerous international awards, honours and platinum recordings to her credit, Sainte-Marie proudly remembered her roots.
"I'm very proud, very proud to be a working musician from Western Canada," Sainte-Marie told the crowd, which gave her a standing ovation.
"I've had a lifetime of going back-and-forth from Canada, across Canada, through Canada and I'm so very proud of the traditions that are coming to light so that all Canadians might understand and appreciate the music that comes from this area."
Regina's Queen City Kids were also honoured with an induction into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
This year's awards ceremony saw Nelly Furtado, Diana Krall and Jann Arden all receive international achievement awards. All three accepted their honours via pre-recorded video.
The Western Canadian Music Awards recognizes and celebrates the best recording artists from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C. and the Yukon in 18 categories.
Here is the list of winners from the Western Canadian Music Awards presented Sunday night in Moose Jaw, Sask.:
Outstanding Aboriginal Recording: Leela Gilday, Sedze.
Outstanding Blues Recording: Jim Byrnes, House of Refuge.
Outstanding Children's Recording: Pied Pumkin, Pumkids.
Outstanding Christian Recording: Fresh I.E., The Warren Project.
Outstanding Classical Composition: Owen Underhill., Canzone di Petra.
Outstanding Classical Recording: James Ehnes, Barber Korngold Walton.
Outstanding Country Recording: Doc Walker, Doc Walker.
Outstanding Francophone Recording:Johnny Cajun, Johnny Cajun.
Outstanding Instrumental Recording: Moses Mayes, Second Ring.
Outstanding Jazz Recording: Kent Sangster, Obsession.
Outstanding Pop Recording: Joel Kroeker, Closer To The Flame.
Outstanding Rock Recording: The Blood Lines, The Blood Lines.
Outstanding Roots Recording, Duo/Group: Nathan, Key Principles.
Outstanding Roots Recording, Solo: Romi Mayes, Sweet Somethin' Steady.
Outstanding Urban Recording: Skavenjah, El Ritmo de la Vida.
Outstanding Album/Independent Artist: Doc Walker, Doc Walker.
Songwriter of the Year: Romi Mayes, Sweet Somethin' Steady.
Video of the Year: Kris Demeanor, I Have Seen The Future.
International Achievement Awards: Jann Arden, Nelly Furtado, Diana Krall.
Hall of Fame: Buffy Sainte-Marie, Queen City Kids.
"Christmas" comes early for Jim Carrey
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter)- Jim Carrey will star in a special effects-heavy adaptation of "A Christmas Carol," which Robert Zemeckis will direct for Walt Disney Pictures.
Carrey will play Scrooge, the ghost of Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas present and the ghost of Christmas future.
Production will incorporate performance capture, and blend live action and computer-generated imagery, building on techniques used for Zemeckis' "The Polar Express" and upcoming "Beowulf," as well as "Monster House," which he executive produced with Steven Spielberg.
Zemeckis wrote the screenplay for the film, which will be made for a 3-D stereoscopic release. A release date has not been set.
Several Web sites have reported that Bob Hoskins -- who worked with Zemeckis on "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" -- might play Mr. Fezziwig in the film, but Disney said no official dealmaking has begun with the British actor.
Carrey's upcoming projects include "Ripley's Believe It or Not," and providing the voice of Horton for the animated film "Horton Hears a Who." His more recent credits include "The Number 23" and "Fun With Dick and Jane."