Oh...I....can....hardly.....wait
Paris Hilton has said her debut album is going to be a mix of reggae and hip-hop.
Oh....I...can...hardly....wait....
::yawn::
Seriously. Are people lining up with baited breath, eagerly anticipating the release of this album?
I'm sure it will rank up there right next to Kevin Federline's debut in the category of "people who should have never released a music CD."
Other people in that category include Eddie Murphy and Don Johnson.
Heck, we can throw Lindsay Lohan in there, too.
And these bands.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 11:25 AM
May 30, 2006This week's new releases (5/31)
It's a holiday week, so there isn't much...but here's a look at some of this week's new releases:
Les Claypool "Of Whales and Woe" - The bass virtuoso and singer from Primus releases another solo album. I'm sure it's funky and a little odd.
Kris Kristofferson "Live from Austin, Texas" - The "What year is this?" of the week.
George Thorogood "The Hard Stuff" - Thorogood not only plays covers on the new album, but also throws in some of his own.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:19 AM
May 27, 2006CD Review: Hoobastank "Every Man for Himself"
Release date: May 16, 2006
13 tracks; 51:07
Here's the situation: Your heavy rock songs aren't making waves on the radio, but the slow one is...what would you do for your next album?
If you said, "Abandon that heavy image and make an album full of slow song clones," you'd be Hoobastank.
While Hoobastank was often compared to Incubus - though Incubus has even changed their tone - the band has felt the success of "The Reason" and made an album with 13 tracks that hope to be radio friendly.
The sad thing is, "The Reason" became so overplayed, it's almost as if you've already heard all of their third studio album, "Every Man for Himself."
Sure there are a couple of good songs, "Born to Lead" included, but it's sad to think that the band probably sold out to record executives and made an album that radio wanted, instead of fans.
I remember going to see Hoobastank at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem a few years ago, and the show wasn't even sold out.
Shortly after that, "The Reason" blew up on the radio and the band was playing Greensboro's Coliseum with Linkin Park.
The band could have made an album like the last one - some songs for the original fans and some for radio - instead of making a radio-friendly album. Reminds me of the Chili Peppers...
Sometimes, however, when it comes to money, "Rock is dead."
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:27 AM
May 26, 2006More Idol thoughts
Some more random comments on the Idol finale:
- Chris Daughtry and Live sounded good, but did anyone know that song? I still think Daughtry's vibrato sounds a little shaky and doesn't go with rock music, but I think he can tone it down and have a bright future.
- Kellie Pickler and Wolfgang Puck skits were pretty funny. That girl needs to get out more and see the world.
- Katherine McPhee and Meatloaf. Wow. He looked scary. Hey, Mr. Loaf, when you sing vibrato, your whole body isn't supposed to shake.
- The Golden Idol awards were pretty pointless. Did we need to see Dave Hoover jump around? It was nice to give Elliott's mom an award, and the Clay Aiken moment was scary and funny.
- The boys and girls medley were obviously promotions for the upcoming tour.
- Elliott Yamin and Mary J. Blige was almost painful. I just didn't link their voices went well or complimented each other. At least her vibrato and runs were more skilled.
- Taylor Hicks and Toni Braxton sang "In the Ghetto" and I thought Braxton was weak. You couldn't hear half of what she sang. I think she just wanted to rub up on Taylor, cause that's about all she did.
- Katherine sang part of a Shania Twain song and sounded great - why didn't she do that in the competition?!? I asked that for weeks.
- The Burt Bacharach section was basically something for the older crowd, I'd say. Note - Kevin Covais is not Tom Jones.
- Brokenote Mountain was pretty funny, though I don't think they needed to have them singing live.
- Prince? Where did he come from? I laughed when he walked away from Ryan Seacrest.
- OK, 63.4 million people voted, but you need to stop saying, "That's more than the number of votes for president." Please, stop making that pointless comparison. No one calls in 150 times in a night to vote for president. You get just one vote each for president.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 12:37 PM
May 25, 2006Notes on Honky, Idol
Well, I went out to the Flying Anvil last night to check out Honky - the band of former Butthole Surfers bassist JD Pinkus.
Great show, though they only played for 45 minutes and about 15 people.
High-energy, good rock music. I was impressed with the music. I was disappointed with the crowd.
I'll also say that while the club has great sound, the volume is unbelieveably high. I recommend ear plugs...
Idol thoughts
I'll have to say more about this tomorrow, after I have a chance to watch the entire show.
First - no surprise with Taylor winning. Let's hope he can keep his style intact.
Next - that whole Clay Aiken and his lookalike song. Creepy is about the only word to describe the scene, as well as Clay's hair. Did you miss it? Here it is.
Prince? At Idol? Wow... stay tuned. I'll write more tonight or tomorrow morning.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 11:08 AM
May 24, 2006American Idol Finale
Last night was the final performance night of the competition. Here are my thoughts:
Katherine McPhee started off the show by singing KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree." Not a bad start. It was a good choice to show off her fun side. I would have put this in the middle - a ballad sandwich, if you will. I liked it though. Too bad she didn't have more fun this season.
Taylor Hicks sang "Just Enough" next. It wasn't the best song choice, and I wasn't digging the purple velvet jacket, either. He should have blown it away with something by Joe Cocker or the Doobie Brothers.
I'd give the first round to Taylor.
Katherine sang "Somewhere over the Rainbow" for her second song. I would have closed with this one, but I'm sure the "single" is what they want her to sing last. It was her best ballad of the season. It's no surprise that she sang this one tonight. She sings it beautifully.
Taylor sang "Levon" next. It wasn't a bad song choice. It showed some versatility. You could feel the song slowly building, but it never quite hit its peak.
I'd give round two to Katherine.
Katherine's single, "My Destiny," sounded pretty weak. She has a good voice, but it's not a good song. I'd also say it's weak when compared to past Idol winners' songs. I hope Taylor's is more exciting, cause this one did nothing for me. I mean, the song is always cheesy, but this just wasn't very good.
Taylor's single, "Do I make you Proud," was interesting. Taylor's not a ballad singer, but he added a little of his own flair to the song. It was better than Kat's and should push him to the victory.
Katherine should have done her single second and finshed with "Rainbow."
Taylor was pretty solid throughout, though I don't think either one was "amazing."
Winner prediction: Taylor
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:25 AM
May 23, 2006News and notes
Tonight's the night. The final singing and vote casting as America gets ready to pick their idol.
The polls all have Taylor Hicks ahead, but anything can happen.
People thought Clay Aiken would win over Ruben Studdard. They thought Bo Bice would beat out Carrie Underwood. So, don't count out Katherine McPhee just yet...
Other finalists will be on the show tomorrow night. Rumor has it, Chris Daughtry will be performing with the band Live.
Surfing...
Speaking of tomorrow night, former Butthole Surfers bassist JD Pinkus is playing at The Flying Anvil in Greensboro on Wednesday night.
Look for a Texas-based rock with a sense of humor. It should be fun.
Supergroup
Have you seen the latest reality show to hit VH1?
It's called, "Supergroup," and features singer Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, the Motor City Madman Ted Nugent, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Led Zepplin offspring Jason Bonham and Biohazard's Evan Seinfeld.
Their goal is a concert after two weeks... It should be entertaining to watch. The show airs Sunday nights at 10 p.m. on VH1.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 12:53 PM
May 22, 2006This week's new releases (5/23)
OK, I found another source for CD release information, so we'll try it again.
Here's a look at some of the new releases for Tuesday, May 23:
Angels and Airwaves "We Don't Need To Whisper" - Blink 182 fans are excited because this is the closest they'll get to a new Blink album...this week.
Def Leppard "Yeah!" - My "What year is this?" pick of the week. Seriously, I had no idea the band was still together, let alone recording new music.
Dixie Chicks "Taking the Long Way" - There is speculation that fans won't want to get the new album because of the controversy. I say, if they are fans, they'll pick it up, regardless.
Huey Lewis and the News "Greatest Hits" - Did it really take them this long to put out a greatest hits album?
The Wreckers "Stand Still, Look Pretty" - Michelle Branch gets a friend, and they put out an album. I've heard one or two tracks off the album, and I was impressed. Sounded better than Branch alone.
The bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week: Def Leppard
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 6:39 AM
May 21, 2006Concert review: Maxwell/Mosher
Maxwell/Mosher; 5/20/06
The Flying Anvil, Greensboro, N.C.
Squirrel Nut Zipper alums Tom Maxwell and Ken Mosher have hit the stage again, playing some of the music that put them on the map.
They played some originals as well as a heaping handful of SNZ tunes from "The Inevitable" and "Hot!" albums.
Don't think of them as a cover band though. They're doing the Zippers songs their way, and it sounds as good as ever.
I talked with the duo before the show, and they said their original fear was that it would be like a cover band. However, they said that feeling was short-lived and they're having a great time.
Their performance at the Flying Anvil was only their 12th show.
"Danny Diamond," "Wash Jones," "Put a Lid on It," and my favorite SNZ song "The Interlocutor" were all part of the set.
The duo was backed by two of the members of Smnmnmnm - the drummer and tuba player.
Yes, this was the first time I had seen a tuba play with a band, but it worked.
I'd seen the Zippers a few times over the years - with Maxwell and Mosher and after their departure from the group - and the music sounded just as good on Saturday as it had back in the 1990s.
On a side note - this was my first trip to the newly-opened Flying Anvil and I was impressed with the sound and atmosphere. The turnout was small, but there's potential in this club. It's a mix of Carrboro's Cat's Cradle and the split layout of Charlotte's Tremont Music Hall.
With Mosher and Maxwell both in it for the fun, they should be around for a while. Or at least until the excitement wears off.
It's sad that the Zippers fell apart over the years, but Maxwell/Mosher are offering an opportunity for the music to live on.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:47 AM
May 18, 2006Quick notes
Finally! Elliott Yamin was voted off of Idol last night. I wish him luck. I think he can sing pretty well when he loses those goofy runs and all the vibrato.
'Surfing' in Greensboro
So, I went on to The Flying Anvil's site and was shocked when I saw the performer for May 24.
Who knew Jeff Pinkus, former bassist of the Butthole Surfers had a new band. Not me? I know Gibby Haynes, former singer for the Surfers, has a band called "His Problem."
I caught a quick glimps of "Honky" at their Web site, and I like it. It's straight forward rock.
Wow... I'm impressed that the Anvil wrangled him in for a show.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 2:04 PM
May 17, 2006Idol Thoughts - Final 3
While most people are still shocked over the exit of Chris Daughtry, I'm beginning to think it's probably the best thing that could have happened to him.
It bumped up the level of attention he's getting, he got an offer to be the lead singer of Fuel and he has many more doors open to him than if he had won.
Here are my thoughts on last night's performances by the Final Three:
Elliott Yamin - Elliot's first song was "Open Arms" by Journey, as picked by record label legend Clive Davis. At first, it sounds like the "Yodeling Gnome" has toned down the vibrato. And he's not wearing a tie this week. Whoops. I spoke too soon. The Gnome came back in full force on the chorus. The verse wasn't too bad vocally, but his timing seemed to be off a little. The chorus was not good, to put it mildly. He didn't show a lot of emotion or personality. Not a good start for him, however, it's a great start for someone like me who wants to see him booted off the show.
Katharine McPhee - Katherine's first song was "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly, as picked by Davis. Wow. Another ballad from Katherine. 'Who'd have thunk it?' Big....surprise.... Let me say for the record, that while Katherine too has a lot of vibrato in her voice like Elliott, she doesn't have a pronounced "I sound like a CD that's skipping" distinction. It's not as jumpy, so it works. With Elliott, it sounds like someone's hitting him in the throat - try it. You, too, can sound like him. So, her version wasn't bad. She oversang a few notes at the end. She just needs to take it down a notch and let her voice shine. Again, she also needs to have more fun.
Taylor Hicks - Taylor sang "Dancing in the Dark" by Bruce Springsteen, chosen by Davis. My initial thought was that Springsteen's voice and Taylor's would be a good fit - and it was. It was the best performance of the first three. It was a perfect fit for his tone, style and personality. Some people think he's annoying, but he's a true performer that loves what he's doing, entertains and has fun. However, I'm getting tired of the whole "Soul Patrol" thing. OK, Taylor, we get it. Give it a rest.
Elliott Yamin - Elliott's second song was "What You Won't Do For Love" by Bobby Caldwell as chosen by Paula. Good job, Paula. Pick a nice, obscure song that no one recognizes or will remember. That's the way to get the Gnome kicked out. I appreciate your efforts. Again, he lacked emotion and it was almost boring. I really don't understand how he's made it this far.
Katharine McPhee - Simon chose "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for Katherine and she sang her best in the competition so far. She has an effortless power. It was a good song choice, though I'm still tired of all of the ballads. Why can't she sing Dido, Norah Jones or even Shania Twain? Something fun. Her performance on this song should be her ticket to the final two.
Taylor Hicks - Randy chose "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker. Of course, Taylor could do a great job with any Joe Cocker song. I would have preferred one of the more upbeat songs, but this one wasn't bad. It was a good contrast to his first song. He didn't have the goofy dancing. It was good and soulful and there should be little doubt that he's been the best male singer this season.
Elliott Yamin - For his final song of the night, Elliott picked an obscure Ray Charles number, "I Believe To My Soul," that should ensure his demise. Suit jacket, untucked shirt and jeans. Nice outfit there, Mr. Sloppy. His voice isn't deep enough to pull off Ray Charles. The runs are awful in his singing. Overall it was a non-memorable, bad song choice. Hasta la vista, Gnomey.
Katharine McPhee - She chose "I Ain't Got Nothing But the Blues" which was a good choice. Sure, it was obscure, but it had an old-timey feel to it that worked with her voice. She needed to do more like this during the competition. It was a little more fun. She had a couple shaky moments and it was tough to follow "Rainbow" but she did well.
Taylor Hicks - Taylor picked Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness." Great song choice. He had a slow, soulful intro, slowly built up the power and tore through the chorus. Taylor's voice as the right tone and energy to carry a song like this along. He dominated the competition tonight and should be a shoe-in for the final two, if not the win.
Bottom two: Katherine and Elliott, with The Gnome making his long-awaited exit.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 8:38 AM | Comments (1)
May 16, 2006CD Review: Wolfmother "Wolfmother"
Release date: May 2, 2006
13 tracks; 54:32
From the opening scream and riff of "Dimension," you can instantly tell Wolfmother is something unique.
Well, I should say unique for today. They bring a straight-forward rock that could easily fit in next to Led Zepplin, Deep Purple or Black Sabbath.
It's classic rock. If someone told you this album was recorded in the 70s, you wouldn't doubt it.
The Australian trio's debut album even conjures up some Queens of the Stone Age on "Mind's Eye" and White Stripes on "Apple Tree."
Maybe it's fitting that the chorus of "Dimension" includes the lyrics "Purple hazes in the sky."
It's not Jimi Hendrix, but the music reeks of that generation. Heavy bass riffs, thumping drums, distored rock.
They do, however, find some psychedlia on "Joker & The Thief."
It's not complicated music, but it's good solid rock.
The band is playing at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on June 7.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 7:41 AM | Comments (1)
May 15, 2006This week's new releases (5/16)
Here's a look at some of this week's new releases:
Hoobastank "Every Man for Himself" - They sound less like Incubus and more like their own band. However, I hope they keep doing the harder songs as well as the ballads.
Christina Milian "So Amazin'" - Movie star? Actress? I'm not sure she's great in either category. Maybe she should just focus on one.
The Raconteurs "Broken Boy Soldiers" - Jack White's new band. I like what I've heard so far...
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 8:32 AM
May 11, 2006Shock and Awe
Wow. I didn't see that one coming from a mile away.
Chris Daughtry was voted off of "American Idol" last night as jaws dropped around the country.
When he was named in the bottom two with Katherine McPhee, most people assumed that McPhee - who had botched the words to one of her songs the previous night - would be going.
Instead, it was the bald-headed rocker who was sent packing.
He was on the local Fox station this morning and said when he was told "you're going home this week" that he expected Seacrest to add, "on a private jet to visit your hometown."
However, it wasn't meant to be. I'm sure Daughtry will have success ahead of him, however. He's definitely built up a large fan base around the country.
The next question, of course, is - so who will win the show?
You should know my opinion. The Yodeling Gnome has got to go! Katherine doesn't have the personality. So, I say, let the Soul Patrol roll!
Taylor Hicks should win it. He's got the best personality, attitude and vocals of the remaining three contestants.
But as last night proved, you never know what will happen.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:28 AM | Comments (1)
May 10, 2006Live Monkey
Teddy Geiger, otherwise known as "Wayne" on "Love Monkey," will be performing tonight at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem.
Check him out. It doesn't take "every ounce of confidence" you have.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 4:47 PM
American Idol - Elvis Night
Here are my thoughts on Elvis night of "American Idol":
Taylor Hicks - He opened the show with "Jailhouse Rock" which was a great choice for his style. He added a little of his own flavor to it. While it wasn't the best choice for a vocal showcase, it showed his personality and style while allowing him to be himself. It was a good way to start the show.
Chris Daughtry - Chris came out to sing "Suspicious Minds." It was a great vocal - probably one of the best of the night. I didn't like the sunglasses. I mean, unless you went to the eye doctor and were required to wear them because the light hurts your eyes - no sunglasses indoors should be a rule. The song was a good choice because he didn't have to strain his vocals.
Elliott Yamin - "The Yodeling Gnome" came out for "I Can Dream." Wow, he's in full effect on this one. Elvis must be rolling in his grave...or throwing stuff at the television if he's still alive. I'm sure impersonators are offended, too. It just wasn't good. Of course, while the judges said it was his best performance, I think it was one of his worst. Do they need batteries in their hearing aids. The vibrato doesn't sound good when it's on EVERY note and EVERY syllable.
E-e-e-e-e-e-v-e-e-e-e-e-e-r-y-y-y-y-y-y-y S-y-y-y-y-y-ll-a-a-a-a-bl-l-l-l-l-l-e. Maybe I should write all of my comments about him in that wa-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ay.
Katharine McPhee - Katherine did a kind-of medley of "Hound Dog" and "All Shook Up." I liked the combination idea. She showed more personality than she has all competition. It was a great choice, but, oops!, not good when you forget the words. Ouch. That could be her ticket home. Otherwise it was a great performance.
Taylor Hicks - Taylor's second choice was "In the Ghetto." It was a good soulful selection and it helped tone down his performance to show off his vocals. I thought it worked well. He should be in the finals.
Chris Daughtry - His second choice was "A Little Less Conversation." It wasn't the best to show off vocals, but it added a little diversity to his style. He's got a great stage presence and should easily get to the finals.
Elliott Yamin - Here we go again... Elliott's second song was "Trouble." He started out talking, not singing. Holy Vibrato! His voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Seriously, this is getting ridiculous. He does not need vibrato on every note he sings. Without the vibrato he could be a good singer, don't get me wrong, but there is such a thing as "too much vibrato" and Elliott passed that standard three notes into the song. Again the judges call it his best performance. How? He's getting worse! It almost sounds like the CD is skipping.
Katharine McPhee - Katherine went back to her comfort zone for "Can't Help Falling In Love." It was a bit of over-singing. She's got the vocal power and ability, but it's the same kind of ballad we always here from her. Doing the same thing over and over won't win the contest. Even Chris had to show more diversity. For me, every ballad of hers sounds the same.
Katherine's probably on her way out, however, I would prefer to see the "Yodeling Gnome" outta here.
Bottom two: Katherine and Elliott
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:22 AM
May 9, 2006CD Review: Tool "10,000 Days"
Release date: May 2, 2006
11 tracks; 75:50
I've been a fan of Tool's music since the early 1990s, when their first EP, "Opiate," was released.
Every few years, the band releases a new album, and it's always something I look forward to.
Maynard James Keenan's vocals are always haunting - whether with Tool or A Perfect Circle. However, with Tool he gets to show a broader range of singing, screaming and growling.
The album kicks off with the first single, "Vicarious." It's a rumbler that fits right in with the rest of the band's catalog.
While Keenan seems to have lost some of his hard-edged vocals on the album - leaning more towards the singing style he has with A Perfect Circle - "10,000 Days" is still a fine effort and better than most rock that's out there these days.
There's also a strange element to the album. I almost want to complain about "Lipan Conjuring," "Lost Keys" and "Viginti Tres" for being filler tracks of nothing but white noise or "intro," but when the album is more than 75 minutes long, I really can't complain.
The band is not an easy one to describe or critique.
If you liked the band's previous albums, you'll enjoy this one. The band has grown more experimental over the years, so don't expect something along the lines of "Opiate" or the song "Sober."
Their songs are more crafted than a simple verse-chorus-verse. Their epic songs can range from heavy to melodic to instrumental in the span of 5 minutes and take the listener on an aural journey.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 8:41 AM
May 8, 2006Finally... a GnR album?
Axl Rose claims the long-awaited Guns N' Roses album will hit stores this fall.
I'll believe it when I see it.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 2:30 PM
This week's new releases (5/9)
Well, my source hasn't updated their list of new releases. All I can tell you is:
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Stadium Arcadium" - Look for a review here soon, though my guess is that it's more "Under the Bridge" than "Freaky Styley."
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 12:16 PM
May 6, 2006CD Review: Jewel "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland"
Release date: May 2, 2006
13 tracks; 54:43
For her sixth studio album, "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland," Jewel is back to her folk roots having abandoned the dance side of her she showed on her last album, "0304."
It's the acoustic Jewel that we're familiar with - the one that we heard on her debut "Pieces of You," "Spirit" and other albums.
Her first single, "Again and Again," has been hitting the radiowaves and television shows pretty hard.
It's nice to see her back in her "comfort zone" singing about love and life in a familiar sonic realm.
From the mellow "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland" to the stronger "Good Day," from the pop "Only One Too" to the country "Stephenville, TX," Jewel shows range in her style without going overboard.
You can also add Jewel to the long list of artists - Dave Matthews, Anna Nalick, etc. - with a song titled, "Satellite."
If you enjoyed her previous acoustic efforts, chances are you'll be happy with her latest album. It's one of the better albums she's released.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:46 AM
May 4, 2006CD Review: Pearl Jam "Pearl Jam"
Release date: May 2, 2006
13 tracks; 49:42
Chances are, you've heard the first single from Pearl Jam's latest, self-titled CD.
"World Wide Suicide" is not only in heavy rotation on the radio, the band also performed the song on "Saturday Night Live" recently and on David Letterman on Thursday night.
Why so much airplay? Maybe because Pearl Jam has returned to form.
Sure, the new album isn't exactly "Ten" or "Vs." but it's a pretty solid effort from the flannel-wearing grunge rock pioneers.
The album is their eighth studio release, and first since 2002.
Sure, there's talk of its political statements against Pres. Bush and the war, but the main thing is its listenability.
Meaning, if I put this album in the CD player, I'm going to enjoy it. I'm not going to sit there and get depressed or politically charged.
The album kicks off with "Life Wasted" and slides right into "World Wide Suicide." It's a one-two punch that hits the album off right away.
"Comatose" follows it up nicely. It's a raw and high-energy rocker with singer Eddie Vedder's growling screams all over it.
Things don't slow down with "Severed Hand." And they get a little funky and slower with "Marker in the Sand."
"Parachutes" is a rolling acoustic song with a simple melody.
I could go on - song by song - but it's probably better if you just pick it up and enjoy for yourself.
I'll admit, on first listen, I wasn't quite sure what to think.
But the more I listen to it and pay attention, the more I enjoy it.
Ask me in a couple weeks - maybe I'll rank it between "Ten" and "Vs." instead of right after them.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 7:25 PM
May 3, 2006Idol thoughts for May 2
And then there were five. So, it's getting down to the end, so I'm being more honest with my comments - there's also a hint of sarcasm.
Without further ado, here are my thoughts on the May 2 "American Idol":
Elliott Yamin - The "Yodeling Gnome" was in full force for his first song. Actually, I didn't know it was possible to have vibrato on almost every note being sung. Elliott, jeans with a tie and suit jacket? And didn't I tell you last week not to have a knot as big as your head and to either button the shirt or lose the tie? Way to go, Captain Sloppy Shirt. Well the show is off to a horrible start. Fantastic.
Now, as far as Elliott's second song - It actually wasn't bad. The yodeling was held to a minimum. There were no runs and little vibrato. Randy said it showed a different side. A different side?!? It was the same as every other song he does week in and week out. He does the same sappy song with the same runs and vibrato each time. It's nothing new. It's not a different side, and Elliott should make sure his bags are packed.
Paris Bennett - She's 18? I thought she was 16. Did I do the math wrong? It wasn't a great song choice to start with, but I liked that she did it without the falsetto a la Tom Jones. She gave it some soul and it was a good first song for her.
Her deep singing voice throws me off each time. She has such a high normal speaking voice, that when she sings these deep bluesy notes, it's like two different people. My volume quit at one point during the song and I thought it was for profanity, but I think it was just a communication failure thanks to Fox. I doubt she'd use profanity on the show without the judges pointing it out. She showed strength, power and soul, but I'm not sure she'll make it in the competition much longer.
Chris Daughtry - It was a great first song choice for him. A nice rocking 70s song. Made Paris and Elliott look like amateurs...well, they are. So, it just made them look bad. I'm still not crazy about the vibrato in his voice - I think he sounds much better without it. He's got the potential for a great rock vocal if he gets the right coaching before he cuts an album.
Shinedown has a lot of good songs, but this wasn't the best to choose. It wasn't horrible, but it just wasn't the best choice. He sounded a little pitchy, but I think it was just his voice giving out. There's no question that he has vocal power, but if he keeps straining his voice, he may be in trouble soon.
Katharine McPhee - She kicked off her songs with a typical ballad. No surprise. She sang it well and showed little personality. Even the bios/montage videos are stale. She's probably the most talented singer this season, but her personality is holding her back. She needed to show more emotion for the song. People can fall in love with a person more easily than fall in love with a voice.
Her second song choice was great for her. It showed a fun side, and I really like the KT Tunstall song. It showed a different side and she did a good job with it. I'm not sure why she sang the whole song while on her knees, but it worked. She showed her range and power while having fun.
Taylor Hicks - He showed his typical vocal style and had fun. It was kind of an odd song choice, but he tore it up, as usual. When he fell at the end, it was a moment in the song and performance. When Ryan Seacrest imitated it, it ruined the fun of the moment. Seacrest out!
His second song was more soulful. It was not the best song choice though. He did a good job with it and made it his own at the end. I'm not sure how he got away with a Beatles song either. It almost felt like he was cheating. I would have rather heard him sing a song from today and show a little more diversity.
Bottom two: Paris and Elliott
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 4:28 AM
May 2, 2006CD Review: Blind Melon "Live at the Palace"
Release date: April 4, 2006
12 tracks, 41:50
On April 4, 2006, Capitol Records decided to release "Live at the Palace" - a concert CD by Blind Melon that was recorded on Oct. 11, 1995, weeks before singer Shannon Hoon's drug overdose.
A fitting tribute album, right? Wrong. While the CD is unbelievable, the track listing is completely off.
The CD says the first song is "Toes Across the Floor." The actual first song when you listen to the CD is "Galaxie." All of the tracks are mislabled.
How can a label make such a mistake? Who knows.
Over at amazon.com, former Blind Melon guitarist Rogers Stevens posted this:
Dear friends of the Melon,
We are very disappointed with the new "Live at the Palace" release. I have not seen a hard copy of the disc yet, but I was aware several months ago that the track list was scrambled when they made an aborted attempt to put it on Itunes, but did not know that this was off on the disc as well. We've been around the bend with Capitol about this, and they pretty much did what they wanted to anyway. The band does not have a manager now, so we didn't have anyone to run interferece with the label, and were dealing with it ourselves. We hated the cover, nobody who worked on it was credited, and it was put together without any consideration for our wishes. Last year, we worked closely with Capitol to release the "best of" and "live at the metro" releases, but some new people took over and just didn't care for our input. If you go to itunes Australia or England, you'll see the cover that we picked, which fits the theme of the other releases. Brad and Christopher spent a week mixing this thing and got no credit. Lyle Eaves (our live sound engineer) facilitated the recording...and again no credit. We wanted to honor our crew members who stuck with us through some unbelievably difficult touring...again no credit. We stand by the quality of the show and recording, but cannot remain silent about what they did with it. It's a shame, too, because Capitol treated us very well to this point. As always, we appreciate your support......
Rogers Stevens
Blind Melon guitarist
I thought it was worth sharing.
As far as the album is concerned, the sound quality is fantastic.
I'm one of those people who think Blind Melon was extremely underrated as a band. Most people only know the song "No Rain," but their catalog was much more complex than that.
The CD, while offering a glimpse at the band in their final days, is as enjoyable as it is sad.
The real track listing is as follows:
Galaxie
Toes Across the Floor
Tones of Home
Soup
Soak The Sin
Change
No Rain
Wilt
Vernie
Walk
Skinned
Time
My brother saw the band's last show in Houston, Texas, the night before Shannon Hoon died.
I was able to see them live once as well.
One of my most memorable experiences was interviewing Stevens after the "Nico" album was released. It was an honor to talk with him, and I am still grateful that he was willing to do an interview with tragic memories so fresh in his mind.
Stevens was most recently in a band called The Tender Trio with Royston Langden - former singer for Spacehog and husband of Liv Tyler. That band recently announced their breakup.
Christopher Thorn and Brad Smith most recently worked with Anna Nalick on her debut album, "Wreck of the Day."
I can only hope that these talented musicians continue to make amazing music.
And if they release more live shows of Blind Melon, well, I'm ok with that, too.
Rest in peace, Shannon. Your fans miss your music.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 1:28 PM
May 1, 2006This week's new releases (May 2)
Here's a look at some of this week's new releases:
Beethoven's Wig "Many More Sing Along Symphonies" - OK, I have no idea what this album is, but it was just too silly not to mention.
Jewel "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland" - We can only hope that she abandoned the electronic side of her that she showcased on her last album and went back to the acoustic wonderland. Review coming soon.
Pearl Jam "Pearl Jam" - It's already being hailed as their best album in 10 years. Although cynics are probably asking, "They've had an album in the last 10 years?" Review coming soon.
Tool "10,000 Years" - Ahhhh. A new album from Tool is like a comet - they don't come around as often as you'd like, but when it does arrive, you're thrilled just to see it. Review coming soon.
As always, the bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week: The Lovely Feathers, Wolfmother
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 6:01 AM
