Category: Alternative (Page 98 of 155)

American Idol: Hollywood Week Returns

February 13, 2008 / Mike Farley

Hollywood Week began last night on “American Idol,” and they are definitely changing things up this season. For one, by tonight, if someone sucked on their initial Hollywood audition, they would be given a second chance a few days later. Secondly, we went from 164 contestants down to 50 after some brutal, immediate eliminations. Thirdly, no group performances. Fourthly, they could play an instrument while performing. And finally, we will have our 24 finalists by tonight. Geez, that was fast.

Anyway, in making short work of Hollywood Week, we were asked to give Fox an extra hour of our day, as it was a 2-hour episode, and tonight we go back to one hour. I’m not complaining, only telling you that there is a lot to summarize in short space here. So I’ll do it by telling you who looked great, who looked mediocre and who sucked and went home. Here we go….

Absolute finalists:

David Hernandez—I don’t remember this guy from the initial rounds, but he sang “Love the One You’re With,” with a really cool arrangement to boot. He was really, really good and I would definitely peg him as top 24 material.

Amanda Obermeyer, the biker nurse, threw another twist Continue reading »

Alternative, American Idol, Country, Hip Hop, Lyrics, Pop, Rap, Rock

Less Talk, More Music: Paul Anka on “The Late Show with David Letterman”

February 12, 2008 / Will Harris

Sure, it reads as a novelty – Paul Anka does swing covers of mainstream and alt-rock hits – but if you’ve ever actually heard Rock Swings, you know it holds up for the long haul as an instant party in convenient CD form. Rather than take the easy way out, most of the tracks have been dramatically rearranged to work within Anka’s concept, but if you’re convinced that he couldn’t possibly accomplish it with one of the most anthemic songs of the 1990s (if not all of music history), take a listen and enjoy being proven wrong:

Alternative, Artists, Jazz, Less Talk, More Music, Pop, Rock, Songs, Videos

Chalk up another entry for future “Proof that the Grammy Awards Are Out of Touch with Reality” lists

February 11, 2008 / Will Harris

Give the Grammy Awards credit for getting a few things right this year: they gave Amy Winehouse the Curse of the Best New Artist (not that she hasn’t already put herself on the fast train to Hell), hooked her up with Best Female Pop Performance and Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Rehab,” and gave Back to Black the award for Best Vocal Pop Album. Somewhere between all those Winehouse wins, they even let Vince Gill take home the Best Country Album for the sprawling masterwork that is These Days.

Gill also got in one of the two best zingers of the night after he was presented his award by Ringo Starr. “I just got an award presented to me by a Beatle,” he said, then pointed at a specific individual in the audience and asked, “Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?”

(The other great line, by the way, was Prince throwing off the snarky comment about Alicia Keys’ virtual duet with Ol’ Blue Eyes, saying, “Frank Sinatra looked good for 150, didn’t he?”)

But, c’mon, people: whether it’s a good album or not, you’re just setting yourself up for ridicule by giving the Album of the Year award to Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters. It’s just Steely Dan’s Two Against Nature all over again…

Alternative, Artists, Country, External Music, Jazz, News, Pop, Rock, Songs

Road Warriors 51

February 8, 2008 / Mike Farley

In the last season of New York Mets’ home Shea Stadium, Billy Joel will be the last musical performer to play there, on July 16. Other acts over the years that have played the stadium include The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Police, Eric Clapton, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen.

Jack Johnson recently released his new album, Sleep Through the Static, and while there are no confirmed US tour dates aside from Bonnaroo, Johnson will be touring in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. For more information, please visit www.jackjohnsonmusic.com

Canadian songstress Feist will be touring North America again, with dates kicking off April 10 in Detroit and running through May 13 in Toronto. She will also be performing at the Grammys this Sunday.

Finger Eleven’s rescheduled dates co-headlining with Chevelle have been announced. The band’s song “Paralyzer” has been a Top 5 hit Continue reading »

Alternative, Concerts, Country, Electronica, Hip Hop, Pop, Rock

American Idol: One More Round of Freaks and Hopefuls

February 7, 2008 / Mike Farley

Last night’s “American Idol” was, thankfully, the last round of the initial auditions before we head to Hollywood. Seven cities in four weeks, and what they did last night was essentially filler–a few great auditions and a few nut jobs from each city that they saved for one episode. Whew. After about two or three of those first shows, I’m begging for them to speed things up and get to Hollywood. Thankfully, we’re there and things usually move quickly at this point.

First, the freaks from last night…

26-year-old Luke was this really large dude in an even larger white T-shirt, and he sang George Michael’s “Faith” horribly out of tune. Simon said something about the “massive T-shirt” being too much, and he pretty much said what I was thinking.

21-year-old Tiffany McCampbell was a church choir singer who just shouted through her entire audition.

Then there was Ashley, 19, along with twin brothers Chris and Corey. Ashley is this cute blond who was dating one brother and then now, the other..I’m still confused by the whole dynamic, and I’m even more confused at why the brothers still like each other. Anyway, they all auditioned. First the brothers, who did some rap (one the beatbox, the other the rapping) about why they were better than last season’s Brittanum twins. If it weren’t for the rapping dude forgetting the lyrics, it wasn’t all that bad, but not good enough for Hollywood. Then Ashley took her turn, after letting Paula and Simon hold her dog (what is she, Paris Hilton?)….Ashley thought she was talented, but as Simon correctly pointed out, it was “excruciating.” Simon added that Ashley is probably used to getting what she wants, and she even agreed. Next..

Jay Smoove, whose real name Continue reading »

Alternative, American Idol, Country, Hip Hop, Pop, Rap, Rock