Ben Wicks cartoons find home at York University
The archives of Canadian cartoonist Ben Wicks have found a home.
The Clara Thomas Archives & Special Collections at York University will house almost 2,500 cartoons drawn by Wicks in the late 1960s and early '70s.
Wicks's cartoons, once carried in more than 200 newspapers, featured his irreverent take on world events, including the Vietnam War and famine in Africa, and political figures including Pierre Trudeau, Joe Clark and Richard Nixon.
Wicks was born in London in 1926 and immigrated to Canada with his wife, Doreen, in 1957. He worked as a milkman and musician, and served in the Canadian Army before finding fame for his drawings. He died in 2000.
The collection of his cartoons had been mistakenly left behind when a Wicks family member moved homes in the 1990s. The collection became the subject of a legal battle between the family and the home's buyers.
The Wicks family was awarded ownership of the cartoons and donated them to York.
"It was my parents' hope that the cartoons could be shared with as many people as possible, so we are thrilled that an institution such as York University was able to take on this collection for us," daughter Susan Wicks said in a release. "York just felt right, like the type of place where my dad would want his work preserved."
New CD Releases, April 7th: Rascal Flatts, Neil Young, James Taylor, Jason Aldean, The Grateful Dead, The Tragically Hip and more
Rascal Flatts "Unstoppable" (Lyric Street)
The multi-platinum country trio returns with "Unstoppable," the group's first batch of new tunes since 2007's "Still Feels Good." It also follows last year's best-of package, "Greatest Hits Volume 1."
The first single from "Unstoppable" is the track "Here Comes Goodbye," which was co-written by "American Idol" Season 6 finalist Chris Sligh. The song turned out to be a sizable radio hit, spending several weeks in the Top 10 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
Rascal Flatts, which won for Favorite Group at the 2009 People's Choice Awards, will support "Unstoppable" with a summer tour of amphitheaters and pavilions throughout the US. The trek will begin June 5 in the St. Louis area and is currently slated for an Oct. 18 wrap-up in Kelseyville, CA.
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Neil Young "Fork in the Road" (Reprise)
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is set to sing the praises of eco-friendly transportation on his latest release. The themes on "Fork in the Road" are drawn from the musician's dedication to build a commercially viable electric power system for automobiles, according to a Billboard report.
Whether one agrees with Young's views on transportation issues or not, most will be happy to learn that the singer/songwriter is doing more than just talking the talk--he's riding the ride as well. He's retooled his 1959 Lincoln Continental as part of the Lincvolt Project, a joint effort with biodiesel pioneer Johnathan Goodwin. The project and Young's prototype Lincvolt vehicle are reflected in such "Fork in the Road" songs such as "Fuel Line," "Johnny Magic," "Off the Road" and "Get Behind the Wheel."
Young will spend this month supporting the new album, mainly in Canada; the sole US date in April is on the 27th in Denver, CO. He will, however, make time for an appearance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on May 3.
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James Taylor "Other Covers" (Hear Music)
The acclaimed vocalist is set to release a sequel to his popular "Covers" album, which was released last September and debuted at No. 4 on The Billboard 200 album chart.
That previous outing found Taylor trying out songs originally made famous by such artists as Buddy Holly, the Temptations, George Jones and Leonard Cohen. On "Other Covers," Taylor handles the likes of Eddie Floyd's "Knock on Wood," Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour" and "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," from the "Oklahoma!" songbook.
Taylor will support both "Covers" releases with tour dates scheduled for this month and next. Of note, he'll perform April 25 at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Jason Aldean "Wide Open" (Broken Bow)
The country star, who has sold more than 2 million copies of his first two albums, gets back in the saddle with his third release. "Wide Open" follows 2007's "Relentless," a work that produced the Top 10 country hits "Johnny Cash" and "Laughed Until We Cried."
The lead-off single from "Wide Open" is the cut "She's Country," which was released to radio in November and quickly rose to become Aldean's latest Top 10 smash.
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Grateful Dead "To Terrapin: May 28, 1977 Hartford, CT" (Rhino)
Recorded just prior to the release of one of the Grateful Dead's more-popular studio offerings, 1977's "Terrapin Station," this three-disc live set finds Jerry Garcia and company performing such fan favorites as "Sugaree," "Candyman" and "Jack Straw." Tapers have long cherished recordings from this night, and now everyone else can enjoy the party as well.
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More new releases:
Bat for Lashes, "Two Suns" (Astralwerks)
Doves, "Kingdom of Rust" (Astralwerks)
Erasure, "Total Pop! Deluxe Box" (Rhino)
The Hold Steady, "A Positive Rage" (Vagrant)
Jadakiss, "The Last Kiss" (Ruff Ryders)
Lady Sovereign, "Jigsaw" (Midget)
Libera, "Eternal: The Best of Libera" (EMI)
Jesse McCartney, "Departure: Recharged" (Hollywood)
Moby Grape, "The Place and the Time" (Sundazed)
Bob Mould, "Life and Times" (Anti)
Oceano, "Depths" (Earache)
Vienna Teng, "Inland Territory" (Zoe)
Tower of Power, "Great American Soulbook" (TOP)
The Tragically Hip, "We Are the Same" (Zoe)
AC/DC Adds Summer Stadium Shows
Following a successful run of North American arenas earlier this year, AC/DC will bring its Black Ice tour back to the United States this summer. New dates begin July 28 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., and are currently scheduled through Sept. 8 in Anaheim, Calif.
Nine new U.S. dates were confirmed at deadline, and more will be announced shortly. AC/DC is currently touring in Europe through late June.
Tickets for summer concerts in Foxborough; East Rutherford, N.J.; Detroit; Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Tacoma, Wash.; go on sale Saturday (April 11) through ticketmaster.com and the band's Web site, acdc.com. Tickets for the San Diego show go on sale April 18, and the Los Angeles concert goes on sale April 25.
Since starting its tour in late October, most of AC/DC’s North America dates sold out. From October 2008 through March 2009, the band grossed $49.1 million from 36 concerts that drew nearly 561,000 fans, according to Billboard Boxscore.
AC/DC's ongoing Black Ice world tour -- its first outing since 2001, when it grossed $28.5 million from 52 shows, according to Boxscore -- is in support of the rock act's latest album release "Black Ice." The Columbia set, released exclusively through Wal-mart, Sam's Club and AC/DC's Web site last October, has moved 2 million copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Here are AC/DC's new U.S. tour dates:
July 28: Foxborough, Mass. (Gillette Stadium)
July 31: East Rutherford, N.J. (Giants Stadium)
Aug. 16: Detroit (Palace of Auburn Hills)
Aug. 18: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Van Andel Arena)
Aug. 30: Tacoma, Wash. (Tacoma Dome)
Sept. 2: San Jose, Calif. (HP Pavillion)
Sept. 4: Los Angeles (Staples Center)
Sept. 6: San Diego, Calif. (Sports Arena)
Sept. 8: Anaheim, Calif. (Honda Center)
Spring CD preview
April showers bring May flowers — but they also bring a flood of new spring albums. There are dozens of major releases due in the next few months. Here’s our quick guide to the toppermost of the poppermost. Mark your calendars — but do it in pencil; everything here is subject to change.
April 7
The Hold Steady | A Positive Rage
The world’s greatest bar band serve up their first live CD/DVD. Drinking game: Take a swig every time Craig Finn mentions a location in Minneapolis.
Neil Young | Fork in the Road
Shakey’s latest cut-on-the-fly concept album was inspired by his hybrid LincVolt car. No, seriously. For this he delayed the Archives box yet again.
April 21
Booker T | Potato Hole
The MGs organist and legendary soul man releases his first album in more than a decade — with The Drive-By Truckers and Neil Young as his band.
Depeche Mode | Sounds of the Universe
As is the way nowadays, the British synth-pop trio’s dozenth disc comes in various editions, from a bare-bones CD to a deluxe box set with bonus cuts, demos and a DVD.
Jane's Addiction | A Cabinet of Curiosities
Timed to coincide with Perry Farrell and co.’s new cash-in ... sorry, reunion tour, this box set has three CDs of demos, outtakes and live cuts from the L.A. rockers’ early years, plus a DVD.
April 28
Bob Dylan | Together Through Life
Zimmy’s umpteenth studio album reportedly mixes raucous, hard-driving Chicago blues with plenty of, um, accordion. Because, you know, his vocals aren’t wheezy enough already.
May 5
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band | Outer South
The good news: Barely nine months after his superbly rootsy eponymous album, Oberst is back with another disc. The bad news: He lets his bandmates write and sing some songs.
Cracker | Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey
X’s John Doe, Counting Crow’s Adam Durvitz and Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood drop in on the 10th studio set from David Lowery and his long-serving alt-rockers.
New York Dolls | ’Cause I Sez So
David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain reteamed with their original producer Todd Rundgren for their second reunion album — which also features a new version of Trash. Pick it up.
Peaches | I Feel Cream
Electroclash sleaze-mistress Merrill Nisker follows up her 2006 CD Impeach My Bush with more songs whose lyrics we won’t be able to quote in a newspaper.
May 12
Steve Earle | Townes
The hardcore troubadour’s latest studio disc is a tribute album to the late great Townes Van Zandt, his friend, mentor — and the man who gave Earle’s son Justin his middle name.
Green Day | 21st Century Breakdown
Only an American Idiot would try to fix what isn’t broke — so the Bay Area pop-punks are sticking with the ambitious concept-album program for their eighth studio album.
May 19
Eminem | Relapse
He’s baaaaack! And supposedly, Slim Shady’s first album in five long years is just one of two discs he’ll release next year. Guess he’s been cleanin’ out his closet.
June 2
Eels | Hombre Lobo
Yes, that title translates to Wolfman. But for idiosyncratic indie-rocker Mark Everett — the sole permanent member of Eels — that’s barely a blip on the weirdness radar.
Elvis Costello | Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
Apparently, Mr. Krall’s newest CD is heavy on the acoustic vibe of King of America. Not our favourite version of Elvis, but since he never lets us down, we’ll take it.
Iggy Pop | Preliminaires
The world’s forgotten boy and eternal Stooge makes a jazz album inspired by Michel Houellebecq’s controversial novel The Possibility of an Island. Which begs the question: Wha?
Rancid | Let the Dominoes Fall
We’re not sure why it took these California punks six years to follow up Indestructible. But based on all their previous albums, we fully expect this to be well worth the wait.
Neil Young | Neil Young Archives, Vol. 1 | 1963-1972
Yeah, right. At this point, we suspect even Neil doesn’t believe this is ever coming out. Besides, he’ll probably put it off to write a box set about composting.
June 9
Sonic Youth | The Eternal
The New York noise-rock gods return to the indie ranks with their first album for Matador Records. From the snippets floating around the Intertubes, sounds like they haven’t changed a bit.
June 23
Dinosaur Jr. | Farm
Here’s another album from the reunited alt-rock trio of J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph. In a couple of more years, their comeback will have outlasted the original band.
Wilco | TBA
Leslie Feist supposedly guests on Jeff Tweedy and his Chicago experimental roots outfit’s still-untitled seventh studio album — which features the tune Wilco: The Song.
50 Cent | Before I Self-Destruct
Or as we prefer to call it: Before People Realize I Have Run Out of Ideas and Stop Buying My Lousy Albums.
Underwood, Swift, Hough: Women rule the ACMs
LAS VEGAS – The women of country have taken the wheel.
Carrie Underwood captured entertainer of the year Sunday night at the Academy of Country Music Awards, winning the top honor that has eluded women for nearly a decade, while Taylor Swift won album of the year and Julianne Hough snagged top new artist.
Country music's boys' club was adjourned for the year when Underwood broke Kenny Chesney's four-year win streak and became the first woman to hold the title since the Dixie Chicks in 2000. The significance wasn't lost on the 26-year-old superstar.
"I accepted that award on behalf of myself and my fans, but also on behalf of other women who came before me that kicked butt but never got the recognition they deserved," Underwood said. "I can't wait (for) the day, which I hope is in the very near future, where having females in the category is no big deal whatsoever."
In 39 years of recognizing a top entertainer, the academy has granted the honor to a woman seven times, including Underwood. The others were Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain and the Dixie Chicks. Each won once.
Chesney, who missed the chance to tie Alabama for most entertainer of the year awards, kissed Underwood as she walked up to accept the honor.
"He told me he was proud of me," said Underwood, who's enjoyed astounding success since winning "American Idol" in 2005 with eight No. 1 country hits including the signature single, "Jesus Take the Wheel."
Swift, another woman dominating not only country music but the entire industry, won album of the year for her sophomore disc "Fearless." Both of Swift's albums have topped the 3 million mark — a rare feat today. She's connected with fans both young and old for her intensely personal songs, which she writes usually on her own or with a co-writer.
Backstage, Swift told reporter that she "obsessed" over making "Fearless."
"I labored over this album for two years," she said. "The fact that you can write songs in your bedroom about your feelings and boys and can win album of the year at the ACMs. I just didn't think that was possible."
Swift, who had four nominations going into Sunday's show, also got a special honor as McEntire presented her with an ACM Crystal Milestone Award for bringing so many young people to country music.
A tearful Hough, who added country singer to her "Dancing with the Stars" credentials, thanked "everybody that has followed me from the beginning and believed in me." She bested Jake Owen and the Zac Brown Band for the honor.
Other winners included Jamey Johnson, Sugarland, Trace Adkins and Brad Paisley, but the evening's most memorable moments came during the performances.
Adkins performed "'Til the Last Shot's Fired," a somber salute to U.S. troops, with the West Point Glee Club in honor of servicemen and women. The performance was introduced by Lt. Andrew Kinard, who had been wounded. He told the crowd, "As you listen to this song, please consider that it's not about the war, it's about the warrior."
John Rich's angry anthem "Shuttin' Detroit Down" also stirred the crowd.
"I'd like to dedicate this song tonight to all the hard-working, taxpaying Americans from coast to coast who love this country as much as I do," Rich said while holding a guitar tagged with a "Made in the U.S.A." sticker.
"We wrote this song specifically for you," he said before launching into his searing song that feeds into taxpayer resentment about the bailouts on Wall Street.
Other performances included teen sensation Miley Cyrus, dancing atop a high staircase on stage; Heidi Newfield singing "Johnny and June," inspired by the late Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, around an appropriate ring of fire; and Underwood in a burgundy dress so overwhelming that it took up most of the stage.
"Can I borrow that?" host Reba McEntire quipped afterward.
Newcomer Johnson beat out veterans like George Strait and Paisley in nabbing the night's first honor, song of the year for his poignant hit about an old man looking back on his life, "In Color."
"Thanks to my band for going in on an off day and producing an off record," Johnson quipped in a brief acceptance speech.
Adkins won single of the year for his heartfelt hit "You're Gonna Miss This." The deep-voiced singer said the song, about how people want to grow up and move on with life when they should slow down and enjoy the moment more, was very personal to him, but he didn't think others would relate to it. When his label said they were going to release it as a single, he said, "Go ahead. Nobody's going play it."
"I'm glad I'm an idiot," Adkins cracked. "Thank you very much."
Sugarland broke Brooks & Dunn's lock on the vocal duo award, and lead singer Jennifer Nettles received an ACM Crystal Milestone Award for her songwriting.
Strait and Paisley led all nominees with six. Paisley was linked up by video from Nashville, where his wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley is expecting their second child, and accepted the trophy for male vocalist of the year from there.
"I wish I could be there but I didn't want to take the chance of missing the birth of our next child. I hope you understand," said Paisley, who also won video of the year for "Waitin' on a Woman" and vocal event of the year for "Start a Band," his guitar-slinging duet with Keith Urban.
Jamie Foxx introduced Strait's performance of "Troubadour," and joked that the country scene was getting more diverse.
"Things are changing," Foxx said, mentioning his repeat appearance at the ACMs and Darius Rucker's success on the country charts. "(An) African-American singing country. Things are changing. Got a black man running the country. Things are changing. ... I mean what's next, white people going to Tyler Perry movies?"