Music releases

[Dogwatcher]

I get regular information on releases through work.
I'll post them here when I can.
There's no accounting for taste with some of these releases....

BRIAN McFADDEN
RELEASES DOUBLE A SIDE SINGLE
COME PARTY / THAT’S HOW LIFE GOES – OUT FRIDAY 3RD JUNE

Singer, songwriter, producer and television star, Brian McFadden, releases two new singles to radio this Friday 3rd June. The party track ‘Come Party’ and the reflective ballad ‘That’s How Life Goes’ will be released as a double A side. On choosing to release a double A side, McFadden says “to be honest we couldn’t decide which song to go with. I feel that both songs show the different sides of me so perfectly, it just felt right to release them”.
Both songs were co-written by McFadden in Los Angeles in December last year, with ‘Come Party’ featuring Los Angeles born-rapper Lavay Cole. Raised in the heart of south central LA, Lavay turned to rapping and dancing at a young age to escape from the drugs, poverty and violence that surrounded him. Having worked with Black Eyed Peas and more recently commissioned by the Weinstein Company to write and perform on the soundtrack to Disney movie Hoodwinked Two, Lavay dreams of one day opening up a dance studio for underprivileged children and says he is "proud of this song and working with McFadden".
On the flip side, ‘That’s How Life Goes’ takes McFadden back into ballad territory but as he states, “I never intentionally wanted to release a ballad but this song flowed out so organically that it felt almost therapeutic to write and I like to think everyone can relate to the lyrics”.
Filmed in Queensland, the video is a continual story which runs over five minutes. Part one features Lavay who arrived on his virgin flight out of Central LA for ‘Come Party’. Part two features the stunning Australian top model Avril Alexander in ‘That’s How Life Goes’.
“I have to say I’m in a really great space musically and I’m enjoying music more than I ever have at the moment, and I look forward to nothing better than getting the songs out there and hearing them on radio and having people relate to them ”.

[Dogwatcher]

MONSTERS RULE! LADY GAGA’S BORN THIS WAY ALBUM FASTEST SELLING ALBUM OF THE YEAR AROUND THE WORLD WITH GLOBAL SALES MARK OF OVER 2,000,000 COPIES IN THE FIRST WEEK


Lady Gaga’s Born This Way has become the fastest-selling album of the year around the world.

With 288,000 copies sold on its first day (May 23) Born This Way (Streamline/Interscope/KonLive) debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart, the first Lady Gaga album to debut at the top spot. Selling 1,108,000 its first week in the U.S. the album has also sold more than 1,000,000 copies outside the U.S. The album debuted #1 in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and Taiwan. In the U.K., the first-week sales were greater than the rest of the Top 10 combined and the best debut week by a solo American female artist since 2005. In Australia, Born This way has shipped over 100, 000 copies; and at the time of release, Lady Gaga had four singles impacting the Top 20 charts.

Earlier this year, the title track became the fastest single in history to reach sales of 1,000,000 copies worldwide by breaking that mark in only five days. “Born This Way” became the first song to debut at #1 on the Hot 100 and remain at the top for more than a month since Elton John’s 1997 version of “Candle In The Wind.” A five-time Grammy winner, Lady Gaga has also won prestigious awards in the U.K., Mexico, Canada, Japan, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Thailand and elsewhere in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Lady Gaga announced earlier this week that she will be heading to Australia in July for a whirlwind promotional tour. In an ‘All-Time’ exclusive, Mother Monster will be in Sydney to celebrate the release of her new album Born This Way. On July 13, in an unprecedented move, Sydney Town Hall will be transformed into the Sydney Monster Hall when Lady Gaga takes the stage to perform her smash hits including tracks from her latest album that have made her the most influential artist in the world today.

From 8th June aspiring Monsters can enter via Facebook posting one single image that personifies just how monster they are. No tickets will be sold. Vodafone is also singing out to customers who are little monsters, to come forward and be part of this 'All-Time' event. Tune in to Today Network (2DAY FM, FOX FM, B105, SAFM, 92.9), Take 40 and associate partner Channel [V] for details on how to enter.

The third official single from Born This Way is ’The Edge Of Glory’ written about her late grandfather, Gaga comments: “The song is about your last moment on Earth, the moment of truth, the edge of glory is that moment right before you leave the Earth. So that song can be played on the piano, but it's actually set to this giant, huge, techno rock, Springsteen-esque dance beat. I actually had Clarence Clemons from the E Street Band come in and play saxophone on it. It's beautiful."

# # #

LADY GAGA
NEW ALBUM - BORN THIS WAY – OUT NOW
www.ladygaga.com.au

[Dogwatcher]

Eddie Vedder will release a solo album, Ukulele Songs, on 3 June through Island/Universal Records. Ukulele Songs is a collection of original songs and covers performed by Vedder on ukulele. The beautiful first single from the album, "Longing to Belong" is at Australian media now. Alongside 12 originals, Vedder covers the Everly Brothers' ‘Sleepless Nights’, the Mamas and the Papas' ‘Dream a Little Dream’, uke classic ‘Tonight You Belong To Me’, and Pearl Jam's own ‘Can't Keep’.

www.pearljam.com

Seeker Lover Keeper ‘Seeker Lover Keeper’

Individually, they’re three of Australia’s most innovative songwriters. Sally Seltmann specialises in narcotic, dreamy, sweeping pop, aided by layers of cotton-soft vocals, pianos and synths. Holly Throsby is known for summoning melodies that sound beautifully crumpled, worn and decades-old, and matching them with hushed, cutting lyrics that read like a Carver short story. Sarah Blasko writes haunting songs that veer from intimate ballads to orchestral showstoppers, and sings with what’s now one of the most recognisable voices in Australian music.

Bring them together in the studio or on stage, and you’ve got an entirely new band: Seeker Lover Keeper. The finished result is a self-titled album that’s reminiscent of all three of the artists’ back catalogues, but also unlike anything any of them have recorded.

www.seekerloverkeeper.com

Various Artists ‘The Flowerpot Sessions’

Recording an album in seven days is hard enough. When you add into the mix a huge cast – including an affable tortoise called Lionel, a film crew, hundreds of fans and tens upon tens of artists and performers, including North London squat-pop ‘icon’ Beans on Toast and various members of one of the most successful home grown, accordion-toting acts of recent times; Mumford & Sons - things get even more difficult. Thankfully they also get a whole lot more fun.

Over the course of a week in July 2010, the Communion club night and record label collective set about making an extraordinary compilation album release. Recorded in one week straight, not in a recording studio but in a Kentish Town pub called The Flowerpot (sadly now defunct but relocated round the corner in Camden), acoustic sessions were laid down during the hangover flecked daytimes after brief bouts of practise and maybe some off-the-hoof song writing. Over that week a group of musicians who’d never met each other before – and a fair few who had – attempted to create a fresh perspective to a small selection of their songs.

www.flowerpot.communionmusic.co.uk

Various Artists ‘Just The Hits Vol. 3’

The third instalment in this hot pop franchise, Just The Hits Vol. 3 is packed with all the chart toppers including Rihanna, Black Eyed Peas, Lonely Island, Short Stack, Neon Trees, Far East Movement, Nelly, Taio Cruz, Jessie J & so much more! Nothing but Hits!

10 JUNE

All Time Low ‘Dirty Work’

Since forming in the Baltimore suburbs in 2003, All Time Low have become one of the biggest pop-punk bands to emerge on the scene, building a grassroots following of die-hard fans with very little radio airplay and a touring ethic that would rival road-weary vets like Green Day. Their profile is only going to rise with the release of their stellar debut Dirty Work – a 12 track mix of hard-charging anthems and sugar-shot rockers that are poised to dominate house parties and joyrides this summer.

www.alltimelowband.com

Tom Vek ‘Leisure Seizure’

It's been a long time between drinks for Tom Vek, but five years after delivering his acclaimed debut the man is back…Vek spontaneously released his first album just as the digital age was dawning, guest starred on The O.C. and then disappeared. British-born, his references are rooted in American culture, ranging from mid 90s alt-rock, cable access TV shows and post-war fiction.

The self-taught recording artist's process and musical output is loaded with cryptic contradictions; his scrappy, chopped-up, beat rock sounds are housed in contrasting clean and precise artwork; this new era's trademark, the obsessively refined pair of British made Anglo American glasses, sit unworn on the cover of the focused new 12-track album.

www.tomvek.tv

Hayley Westenra ‘Paridiso’

New Zealand born soprano Hayley Westenra celebrates ten incredible years in the music industry with the release of her fifth studio album, 'Paradiso' -- a collaboration with master Italian composer Ennio Morricone. Well known for his iconic film scores including 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' and 'Once Upon a Time in the West', Morricone received an honorary Academy Award for his contribution to the art of film music in 2007 and is regarded as one of the most prolific and influential composers of his era.

The album features new compositions written by Morricone for Hayley, as well as some of his best-known film compositions of the last 50 years. With Ennio making new bespoke arrangements for every track, he produced all of Hayley's vocal performances, as well as conducting each session with his own 120-piece orchestra -- Sinfonietta di Roma.

www.hayleywestenra.com

Madeleine Peyroux ‘Standing On The Rooftop’

Madeleine Peyroux is in the midst of her journey. Renowned for her interpretive song skills, the vocalist followed her creative muse on 2009’s “Bare Bones” by challenging herself to write a full album of her own compositions.

Now with “Standing On the Rooftop” (Emarcy/Decca), she delves deeper into her reinvention, not only writing the bulk of the songs, but pushing past any preconceived notions about her music and daring herself to expand her sonic template.

“I wanted to explore some new sounds,” says Peyroux, “That would be the most exciting thing that I could think of as a musician. I’ve been recording my voice and my guitar together long enough to know this was not the limit.”

www.madeleinepeyroux.com

Various Artists ‘The Weather Channel Presents – Sounds Of Winter’

In collaboration with The Weather Channel, this 2 CD set includes a selection of music played on The Weather Channel, along with a careful choice of tracks perfectly suited for the sound of winter. The Weather Channel Presents: Sounds Of Winter is a beautiful soundtrack to suit a wide age group, with artists like Feist, Melody Gardot, Jamie Cullum, Colbie Callait, John Legend, Sia, Owl City, Duffy and so much more. The Weather Channel Presents: Sounds Of Winter is the perfect album for that cold day in.

17 JUNE

Bad Meets Evil ‘Hell The Sequel’

The Bad Meets Evil teaming in the late ‘90s of underground Detroit MC’s Eminem and Royce da 5’9” became a rap legend of unfulfilled promise. Now, a decade after they last recorded together, Eminem and Royce da 5’9” have revived their Bad Meets Evil project.

The two first met in 1997 at a concert in Detroit and soon formed Bad Meets Evil (Royce as Bad and Eminem as Evil). But they released just a few recordings, including the song ‘Bad Meets Evil’ on Eminem’s major label debut, The Slim Shady LP and a heralded independent Bad Meets Evil 12” featuring the now underground classic, ‘Scary Movies.’

The bulk of the release’s production was helmed by longtime collaborator and D12 member, Mr. Porter (a/k/a Kon Artis) and also features contributions from Mobb Deep’s Havoc, DJ Khalil and Bangladesh among others.


www.shadyrecords.com

The Grates ‘Secret Rituals’


Having captured hearts with their critically-lauded, internationally-received albums “Gravity Won’t Get You High” and “Teeth Lost, Hearts Won”, The Grates have a slew of accolades under their belts. Now they return to Australia with a fresh new sound, line up and attitude.

Having spent the better part of two years immersing themselves in Brooklyn culture and taking a bite of the Big Apple, it’s fitting that The Grates new album “Secret Rituals” should take on a few traits of the city that never sleeps. Tough in its intent and infectious in its delivery, their third album holds the promise of drawing an army of new fans to their beck and call.

www.thegrates.com

Owl City ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’

Adam Young is living proof that dreams do come true…of course, with the help of the Internet. The Minnesota- born artist suffered from insomnia and spent his days living in a dream world away from his hometown and mundane job. Adam utilized his free time to write beautiful poems that emulated his optimistic nature and idealistic world. He jumpstarted his music career mixing tapes in his mom’s basement and streaming them onto the MySpace; the songs quickly went viral.

In 2009 Owl City’s Debut LP, “Ocean Eyes” reached either gold or platinum sales in nine countries: US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Singapore. Following that huge success, Owl City’s highly anticipated new album, “All Things Bright and Beautiful” showcases a new side of his musical talent and instrumental abilities.

www.owlcitymusic.com

Take That ‘Progressed’

Take that are back with the Progressed Re-pack featuring 8 brand new tracks! The biggest selling UK album of the century has at last been repackaged with a whopping 8 brand new tracks, including the brand new single ‘Love Love’, which has just premiered on UK and AU radio (and stormed into the #3 spot in the UK on debut!). The new single is featured in the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster X-MEN – which premieres in Australia this June

www.takethat.com

Various Artists ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark’ OST

With 14 new songs co-written by Bono and The Edge for the Broadway production, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark, the album is produced by Steve Lillywhite. Songs are performed by the cast including Reeve Carney in the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Jennifer Damiano in the role of Mary Jane, T.V. Carpio as Arachne and Patrick Page as the Green Goblin, with contributions from Bono and The Edge and music performed by the production’s twenty member strong orchestra.

'Inspired by over 40 years of Marvel comic books, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down when he's bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. This bullied science-geek suddenly endowed with incredible powers soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains put both his physical strength and strength of character to the test.

[Leaping Lindner]

Brian McFadden - Lady Ga Ga - Eddie Vedder
It's the trifecta of tripe.

"Lady Gaga’s Born This Way has become the fastest-selling album of the year around the world. "

The Big Mac is highest selling hamburger in the world this year....

[The Sleeping Giant]

I don't get? Do you get a free Big Mac when you buy Lady Gaga's new cd?

[Bum Crack]

Brian McFadden - Lady Ga Ga - Eddie Vedder
It's the trifecta of tripe. "Lady Gaga’s Born This Way has become the fastest-selling album of the year around the world. "

The Big Mac is highest selling hamburger in the world this year....

wouldn't say Eddie Vedder is tripe. Each to their own I guess. I think a lot of the crap you like is tripe too, but we're all entitled to our opinion I suppose.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Brian McFadden - Lady Ga Ga - Eddie Vedder
It's the trifecta of tripe. "Lady Gaga’s Born This Way has become the fastest-selling album of the year around the world. "

The Big Mac is highest selling hamburger in the world this year....

wouldn't say Eddie Vedder is tripe. Each to their own I guess. I think a lot of the crap you like is tripe too, but we're all entitled to our opinion I suppose.

Don't worry. You'll keep getting Leaping Lindner's.

[Leaping Lindner]

That's the spirit guys. Let's liven this board up again. It's become bloody dull lately.

(PS - FWIW Bum Crack Eddie Vedder's solo album may well be great. I just haven't forgiven him for Pearl Jam.....yet. )

[CK]

Its been a dark two years in music. When the cast of "Glee" can now hold the all time record for most individual singles chart entries by a group, when not one is an original and none have charted longer than 2 weeks - and only two went top 10 - it shows just how bad things have gotten in some ways. To be expected with downloads being recognised as chart entries, but honestly...

[The Sleeping Giant]

It depends on what sort of music you listen too CK, just have to search/look harder. I have still found some gems in the last couple of years. Mainly from the prog genre. Music has it's ups and downs.

[Interceptor]

Its been a dark two years in music. When the cast of "Glee" can now hold the all time record for most individual singles chart entries by a group, when not one is an original and none have charted longer than 2 weeks - and only two went top 10 - it shows just how bad things have gotten in some ways. To be expected with downloads being recognised as chart entries, but honestly...

I was looking at the current top 10 chart in today's mX paper on the way home and beside it they had the top 10 of 2001 and 1991 for the same week.
The trend has been away from bands' singles making the charts and more to heavily manufactured/marketed rap/pop acts dominating the mainstream.
Generalising a lot, but most rock now has become alternative with the popularity of rap/hip hop and female pop acts with younger generations.
Worth mentioning as well that charts of course have a history of dubious integrity.

The Net makes possible to discover plenty of good stuff independently of radio or tv, you just need to put an effort in.
YouTube is fantastic for sampling tracks and you can get suggestions based on taste from other sites.

[southee]

Its been a dark two years in music. When the cast of "Glee" can now hold the all time record for most individual singles chart entries by a group, when not one is an original and none have charted longer than 2 weeks - and only two went top 10 - it shows just how bad things have gotten in some ways. To be expected with downloads being recognised as chart entries, but honestly...

Interesting to see "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac chart at No.2........probably helped by the Glee episode!!

Still, goes to show people are going back to the old school stuff (like myself) ...seriously cant remember when I bought a album from a band after maybe 2002 ????

Music today is really in a sad state of affairs......I have my vinyl collection so when my daugher (who is 7 months now) grows up I can give it to her and say...try some real music (bit like the opening scene in Almost Famous) ie. The Who's Tommy

[The Sleeping Giant]

Rumours has just been re released as a super awesome mega special remastered edition. I will be ordering the vinyl from original analog master tapes.

And yes Southee, there is plenty of music to discover from the 70's and 80's.

[CK]

It depends on what sort of music you listen too CK, just have to search/look harder. I have still found some gems in the last couple of years. Mainly from the prog genre. Music has it's ups and downs.

Certainly really enjoyed The Verses album I got recently (Ella Hooper and her brother Jesse), really good acoustic based rock.

Agreed, Southee, I thought it very interesting that "Rumours" went back to number two (although the chart recording system seems a bit flawed - ARIA list it as having spent 84 weeks in the chart, which I reckon is near impossible - would surely be well past 100 weeks in total since 1977). I suppose that if a show like "Glee" can get people buying that again, then it can't be all bad . I did watch that episode to see how they went with it, and the version of "Dreams" was good, but "Go Your Own Way" was plain horrible.

Agree also Interceptor, with chart integrity. I reakon Leaping Lindner will have some good stories relating to "creative chart methods" over time.

Scanned the ARIA singles chart for this week out of interest. A few years back, it was very unusual to see an artist with three entries. Lady Gaga has four this week.

[Dogwatcher]

Edoardo Santoni is one of the most unique vocalists in Sydney! His canvas of sound is coloured between the complicated vocal rhythms of Kurt Elling and the acoustic work of Lior, according to Fani Eli Sara of the Spirit of Soul Festival

Recognised as one of Australia's leading singer-songwriters and vocalists, prolific troubadour Edoardo Santoni has been one to keep an eye on for some time, with a deep-seated history spanning the Australian songwriter scene as well as the underground Sydney Jazz scene. His soulful and sincere sounding voice, dynamic stage presence and passion crosses somewhere between the classic Folk/Pop styles of the late 60s/early 70s era, classic Motown, Modern Soul & Jazz interpretations. He has received numerous industry accolades over the years including JJJ airplay, Unearthed features and, uniquely, the only male vocalist in the Wangaratta National Jazz Award Finals. He has also performed alongside artists including Augie March, Blue King Brown, Damien Leith, Rai Thistlethwayte and Phil Stack (Thirsty Merc) Jade Macrae and Tina Harrod.

"Edoardo's moving lyrics and gorgeous arrangements never fail to move me. His effortless knack of creating something that sounds lush and polished while remaining vulnerable and raw is what I believe makes his sound so magnetic." Mama Kin.

[Dogwatcher]

I have actually listened to this one and found it boring as guano.
I was a little less strident in the review I'll publish, but....

[southee]

It depends on what sort of music you listen too CK, just have to search/look harder. I have still found some gems in the last couple of years. Mainly from the prog genre. Music has it's ups and downs.

Certainly really enjoyed The Verses album I got recently (Ella Hooper and her brother Jesse), really good acoustic based rock.

Agreed, Southee, I thought it very interesting that "Rumours" went back to number two (although the chart recording system seems a bit flawed - ARIA list it as having spent 84 weeks in the chart, which I reckon is near impossible - would surely be well past 100 weeks in total since 1977). I suppose that if a show like "Glee" can get people buying that again, then it can't be all bad . I did watch that episode to see how they went with it, and the version of "Dreams" was good, but "Go Your Own Way" was plain horrible.

Agree also Interceptor, with chart integrity. I reakon Leaping Lindner will have some good stories relating to "creative chart methods" over time.

Scanned the ARIA singles chart for this week out of interest. A few years back, it was very unusual to see an artist with three entries. Lady Gaga has four this week.

Funny , I saw Fleetwood Mac in Melbourne in 2009 and The Verses supported them. I actually did by their CD after that. Very Fleetwood Mac sounding influences on it

[zipzap]

BRIAN McFADDEN
RELEASES DOUBLE A SIDE SINGLE
COME PARTY / THAT’S HOW LIFE GOES – OUT FRIDAY 3RD JUNE

You can still buy a single?

With two sides?

[Q.]

Big year for electro-house nuts. Digitalism will release their new album I Love You Dude on June 20. Also Justice has announced they are working on a new album, hopefully due for release sometime this year.

Home-grown house heroes Aston Shuffle just released their debut album Seventeen Past Midnight - have only heard a couple of tracks, but will have to head out and finally get it today.

[RustyCage]

Loved the Grates first two albums, looking forward to the new one