Category: Pop (Page 194 of 216)

If you’ve got to reissue an album for the umpteenth time…

June 23, 2006 / Will Harris

The Capitol/EMI 40th anniversary reissue of the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds will be preceded for no apparent reason by a CD single of “Good Vibrations,” a song which has no connection to the album aside from the fact that it came out later that year. Sure, it’s celebrating an anniversary as well…but why not reissue a single from the seminal pop album instead? Like, say, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” Or, hey, how about the song Paul McCartney described as “the greatest love song of all time,” a.k.a. “God Only Knows”…?

But I digress.

The reissue of Pet Sounds will include both mono and stereo versions of each track on the CD; the package will also include a DVD which features a 5.1 surround sound mix of the album, original promo films for “Pet Sounds,” “Sloop John B,” and “Good Vibrations” (AGAIN with the freakin’ “Good Vibrations”!!!), in addition to a photo gallery synched to audio of “God Only Knows” and three documentary films. The first documentary is called “The Making of Pet Sounds” and features interviews with all of the Beach Boys, including the now-deceased Dennis and Carl Wilson. The second documentary, “Pet Stories,” is more of a reflection piece and includes a couple of in-depth discussions of specific songs, as well as a chapter called “Competition With the Beatles”. Finally, there is an excerpt from BBC TV documentary “Rhythm of Life,” a previously unreleased Brian Wilson interview conducted by Sir George Martin.

Artists, News, Pop

What’s that? You say you need an excuse not to work…?

June 22, 2006 / Will Harris

This ought to keep you busy for awhile: the as-snarky-as-they-wanna-be PitchforkMedia.com have taken it upon themselves to scour YouTube and compile a list of 100 Awesome Music Videos, complete with the link to each one.

I’m sure we’ll all have our favorites, but I have to give rare props to the site (I generally loathe their hipper-than-thou writing style) not only for including Journey’s “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” but for calling out the guy playing air keys.

Also, someone should call David Hasselhoff’s agent; his cover of “Hooked On A Feeling” is cheesy enough to begin with, but the video – which appears to have about the same budget as those “Make Your Own Video!” booths they have at most amusement parks – is…well, if you don’t go watch it right now, you’re missing the biggest laughs you’re likely to get all day.

Alternative, Artists, Pop, Rap, Rock, Songs, Videos

After 42 years, the “Top” has popped.

June 20, 2006 / Will Harris

After 42 years on the air, during which time everyone and their brother appeared to mime their hit single, the BBC has decided to close up shop on “Top of the Pops.”

“The decision to bring the show to an end after 42 years has not been taken lightly,” said BBC director of television Jana Bennett, “and over the past few years every effort has been made to maintain the quality and distinctiveness of the show. However the BBC’s Creative Review Music Strategy has concluded that in a rapidly changing musical landscape, ‘Top of the Pops’ no longer occupies the central role it once did.”

Well, it happened to “American Bandstand.” I guess it was inevitable that it would happen to “Top of the Pops” eventually, too. But who will ever forget John Lennon’s famous question to his fellow Beatles…?

John Lennon: “Where we goin’ fellas!?”

Paul, George, and Ringo: “To the top!”

John Lennon: “What top?!”

Paul, George, and Ringo: “The toppermost of the poppermost, Johnny!”

Not anymore, lads.

News, Pop

Do They Really Want To Hurt Him?

June 19, 2006 / Will Harris

Adding insult to poor Boy George’s self-induced career injury, Culture Club are apparently looking for a new singer.

According to RememberTheEighties.com, an advertisement from Belerion Records has been circulating on the internet which states that the “original members of Culture Club are searching for a unique star vocalist” and are not interested in Boy George clones but instead want a “charismatic & unique performer in his or her own right with something truly fresh, contemporary and original to offer.” The advert also states that the singer is wanted for a world tour and TV series in 2007.

Okay, I know it worked for INXS, but, come on, if it wasn’t for Boy George, Culture Club wouldn’t have made it any bigger than, say, Roman Holliday. He WAS that band. This smacks of desperation worse than any move by any ’80s band that I can think of…and, baby, that’s saying a lot.

Alternative, Artists, News, Pop

From “Straight Edge” to “So Far From The Edge Of Straight That You Can’t Even SEE Straight”

June 15, 2006 / Will Harris

Rufus Wainwright – son of Loudon III, brother to Martha – has once again embraced his total and utter gayness (not that there’s anything wrong with that) by paying tribute to Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall…but, oh, what a tribute!

According to Playbill.com, “complete with a 40-piece orchestra, Wainwright recreates the original April 23, 1961, concert she performed at the height of her late career. ‘The greatest single night in show business,’ as it was called, featured Garland singing 26 standards, show stoppers and songs from her films. Wainwright performs his own interpretations of the songs — not mimicking Garland — over the same orchestrations.”

The number of show tunes performed by Wainwright over the course of the evening would make any straight man in the audience go gay before intermission, let alone the end of the night…and, yet, damn, as a Wainwright fan, I gotta say, I really hope they release a CD or DVD of the evening.

To counteract this post, I’m now going to go watch a John Wayne movie and embrace my heterosexuality.

Alternative, Artists, Concerts, News, Pop