Volta

I was in HMV the other day, just walking around and taking in the sights and what should attract my attention but a little canary yellow card informing me that Bjork's new album "Volta" will be released on May 7th. I know....I was as excited as you are now. Since then I have been watching her concert/video DVDs and imagining what the new music will sound like.

From what I've read, the album has been entirely produced by Bjork herself and will feature 10 new tracks featuring input from the likes of Timbaland (ya, I thought it was strange too), Antony Hegarty (Antony and The Johnsons), and Mark Bell (who had a big hand in creating Bjork's album Homogenic).

The first single which was supposed to be released on April 9th (I haven't heard it yet) is called "Earth Intruders". She will be promoting the album with an 18 month world tour that should be announced in the next week or so. Bjork's record label "One Little Indian" has been describing her new tunes as the most commercial sounding work she's ever done. That kind of sentence kinda makes me worry, but Bjork has never let me down before so why would she now? Just look at the album cover.....she looks like a huge gum drop with feet.

I hope I don't have to share the concert hall with people who have only heard one album of material by her. I was kind of pissed off that people started loving her after the whole swan dress thing, but they still didn't really listen to her music. Tour details state that she will be doing a month-on, month-off schedule (I'm assuming because she has a little girl to raise too), and she will be joined on stage by 30 musicians.

Children Running Through

The sublime Miss Patty Griffin is releasing her fifth studio album tomorrow. I am so excited about hearing new music from her and hopefully getting to see her on tour this time around, that I just had to make an announcement about it. You should all pick it up, she has one of the smoothest country/pop/folk/gospel voices ever, and her songwriting is extraordinary. I guarantee you won't be sorry. The album is called Children Running Through, and the track listing is as follows.

1) You'll Remember

2) Stay On The Ride

3) Trapeze

4) Getting Ready

5) Burgundy Shoes

6) Heavenly Day

7) No Bad News

8) Railroad Wings

9) Up To The Mountains

10) I Don't Ever Give Up

11) Someone Else's Tomorrow

12) Crying Over

Heavenly Day is the only track I have heard from the album, I'm not sure if it's the first single or not, but if it's any indication of the rest of the album, it will be sweet

The Holidays Are Officially Upon Us

As some of my friends know, the Christmas season doesn't start for me until after I have watched the Santa Claus Parade on television. Up until that point I am unable to listen to Christmas music, think about Christmas shopping, or even fathom that the holiday is even approaching. Well, today is the day that the holiday season begins. Now, I know that watching it on TV with the cheesy jokes from the meteorologist and the news broadcaster from Global News, can be sort of annoying for some (I even find myself saying shut up to the TV every once in awhile), but it sets up my mood for the entire season (ie. brings back a little of that childhood wonderment and fun), and so it has become a tradition of mine to watch the entire parade and then start listening to some of my Christmas Cd's.

Always first on my list is Star Bright by Vanessa Williams, I just find that to be one of the finest albums in my collection, and this year I have Bette Midler's Christmas album to look forward to. Truth be told, I will be taping the Parade this year and watching it later tonight due to a busy rehearsal schedule for my musical theatre class and my play I am preparing for, but even if I have to stay up until midnight I will be watching today. Tradition is a tricky thing, isn't it?

The Sweet Escape: Album Cover

I'm loving the album cover for Gwen Stefani's new album The Sweet Escape. It looks very Jem and the Holograms (meaning girly and cartoony). The sad thing is, I hate, Hate, HATE the first single "Wind It Up". I'm really getting sick of these stupid white women rap attempts, it was annoying enough on Hollaback Girl from her last album, she even inspired the once Taylor Dayne voiced Stacey Ferguson (Fergie), to make a living out of singing like this. It just sounds like Mickey Mouse Club acting placed over music. Plus, the fucking sample of the Sound Of Music song "Lonely Goatherd", is as stupid an idea as putting a knife in a toaster.

Sidenote: Fergie Ferg. Stop acting like a raunchy thug bitch, you were on Kids Inc. and you were in a cheesy 90's girl group for God sake. (Nothing against Wild Orchid, I did buy two of their albums lol).

Gwen's album comes out December 5th. Just in time for Christmas, I'm sure that wasn't planned ;)

Beautiful Awkward Pictures

After being let down when I heard that Toni Collette was not chosen for the Sweeney Todd movie to play Mrs. Lovett, I was gorgeously pleased when about a week later my brother handed me a downloaded copy of Toni's debut album entitled "Beautiful Awkward Pictures".

The eleven track album released under the name Toni Collette & The Finish (her band, including husband David Galafassi), was completely written by the Aussie actress, and is a beautiful serving of downplayed evocative folk music. Standout tracks include the optimistic opener This Moment Is Golden, country tinged Johnny's Lips, and the romantic piano ballad first single Beautiful Awkward Pictures.

It's not a musical, but I can watch Connie & Carla if I need that kind of fix. Beautiful album. Give it a listen. 4 out of 5 stars.

Studio 1

The new All Saints album, Studio 1 comes out November 16th. The official tracklisting has been listed on Amazon.com as follows.

1) Rock Steady

2) Chick Fit

3) On And On

4) Scar

5) Not Eazy

6) Hell No

7) One Me And U

8) Headlock

9) Too Nasty

10) In It To Win It

11) Flashback

12) Fundamental

The girls were recently on the Brit chatshow Saturday Night Takeaway performing the hot lead single Rock Steady, and they looked like they are having a great time together again. The girls friendship fizzled in 2001 during promotion of their sophomore album Saints & Sinners. They attribute their falling out to a barage of small problems that built up, mixed with lack of communication and resolution. The Appleton sisters even spoke poorly of Shaznay and Melanie in their book "Together". In a recent interview they've stated "We've all spent our time as the naughty children on the stair....and we've thought about what we've done", "We've grown, and we realize that our friendship is more important than the business aspect of things".

If the first single is any indication of things to come, it should be a fantastic comeback project.

Veruca Salt New Album Cover

Here is the cover of the new album by Veruca Salt "VSIV", which is scheduled for release September 12th (Man, there are a lot of albums being released on the 12th). Still headed by singer Louise Post, the band has not released any new material since 2000's Resolver. Hopefully with Nina Gordon still doing reasonably well with her solo ventures (I will be writing a review of her new album sometime this week), Louise will find some much deserved success in this new album. The band also plans to tour upon the albums release. You can find a list of scheduled tour dates so far by clicking on this link http://www.verucasalt.com/TOURDATES/Tour.htm . I've never really been a huge fan of Veruca Salt (although I love Nina Gordon), I liked the odd song here and there and I have been listening to them a bit recently...I just thought this was a beautiful album cover.

Continuum Tracklisting

Husky voiced, ultra smooth, blues rock singer John Mayer is set to release his new album "Continuum" September 12th. Here is the tracklisting for the album (as I have heard it)...

1) Waiting On The World To Change
2) I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You)
3) Belief
4) Gravity (live version featured on John Mayer Trio album "Try!")
5) The Heart Of Life
6) Vultures (live version featured on John Mayer Trio album "Try!")
7) Slow Dancing In A Burning Room
8) Stop This Train
9) Bold As Love (Jimi Hendrix cover)
10) Dreaming With A Broken Heart
11) In Repair
12) I'm Gonna Find Another You

The album was produced by Mayer and John Mayer Trio drummer Steve Jordan. Combining his signature pop music with the feel, sound and sensibilities of the blues, John has made it clear that the record will stay in the same realm as his release with the trio. The first single "Waiting on the World To Change" was the third most downloaded song of the week following its July 11th release, and debuted at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Lord he looks good with longer hair.

Future Sex/Love Sounds Cover

I know I'm not the only one who is intrigued by the first single off of Justin Timberlake's new album (to be released September 12th), the distorted voice, the electro-beats, Timbaland encouraging us to "get our sexy on" (whatever), and the validation of my long standing theory that Justin is into Kink. However, this was not the album cover I had envisioned for an album entitled Future Sex/Love Sounds. I thought it would be Justin, half naked in a harness, holding a synthesizer while Lance Bass is about to get militant with a whip..........Anybody? Instead, I have Justin in a suit and tie, kicking the shit out of a disco ball. What the hell am I supposed to do with that? It must have been Cameron's bright idea. Give your audience what they want Justin.

Even one of these would have been better. It'll grow on me (sigh).

Sufjan / Dean

I just felt like doing a little experiment. There is a picture of Sufjan Stevens in which he is standing outside the window of a bookstore in New York City called Sufi Books. My friend Dean recently (well, a few months ago anyway) visited The Big Apple, and just happened to stumble along the same bookstore (much to his delight). Let's put them side by side and gasp at the similarities shall we? Now, Dean's was taken at night, and Sufjans was taken during the day, so we don't really get the same effect, but here goes...















Uncanny huh? Oh well, maybe they look nothing alike...but I was required to try (Dean's gonna kill me). Buy Sufjan's new album The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois album at a store near you. Is that a shameless plug I smell? Heavens....How wrong of me!

Donna De Lory: The Lover & The Beloved

Alrighty! Here was the scene. My friend Dilma and I were going to see the film X-Men 3: The Last Stand one night, however we had noticed after going out to dinner (quite a few hours before the movie was expected to begin) that we still had two hours to pass before we actually had to be at the theatre. So, naturally, we decided to go shopping (like ya do). Now while on our little excursion we stopped into a Chapters and what should catch my eye? An album by Donna De Lory. If you are a Madonna fan, you will no doubt recognize her as Madonna's long-time backup singer and dancer. I was aware of the fact that she was a recording artist in her own right (I even have her self-titled pop album from 1992, which I found while working at a CD store which happened to sell used CD's), what I did not anticipate was to find an entire rack in Chapters filled with her CD The Lover and The Beloved. Shocked and ecstatically happy I purchased said CD, went to the movie, and listened to it blissfully on the way home. It is a gorgeous combination of Sanskrit and English chants, soothing instrumentation, and Donna's silky sweet voice permeating throughout. Perfect listening material if you practice yoga, or simply want to relax. As an added bonus, Niki Harris, fellow backup singer and partner in crime on Madonna's tours from the Who's That Girl tour to The Drowned World tour, lends her vocal support to the track "Govinda Jaya Jaya". ***** out of *****. If you are a stress freak, buy this album, burn some incense, and find your bliss.

Strike A Pose : Donna, Madonna, and Niki

PS. You can also buy Donna's new album "Sky Is Open" at http://cdbaby.com/CD/donnadelory5/from/lynncdbaby.

Jordan Knight Album Cover

Here is the cover of Jordan Knight's upcoming album which features Say Goodbye, his duet with Deborah Gibson, clearly I won't be buying it (I already have the one song that I'll like from it) but just in case any visitors care for him and want said information...there you have it. He really doesn't photograph well, poor thing.