Archive: May 2009 (81-90 of 150)

May 14 2009 04:09 PM ET

Jordin Sparks' love is a 'Battlefield': Hear her new single here

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Jordin Sparks debuted a new song on American Idol last night (the episode that will henceforth be known as the one that finally and emphatically put the ‘go’ in Gokey). She follows in the footsteps of Chris Daughtry, whose band debuted "No Surprises" the week before. (Quick fact: the Daughtry song is already #15 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Be prepared to hear that song ad nauseam in the weeks to come.)

Sparks’ new song is the Ryan Tedder-penned mid-tempo jam "Battlefield," off her sophomore album, which is due July 14. "Battlefield" definitely sounds familiar (and not just because of the Pat Benatar connection), but on the scale of barf-tastic ("One Step At a Time") to the hey-I-kinda-like-it ("No Air"), the tune comfortably falls in the middle. To quote the most eloquent Idol judge: For me, it was just alright. For me. But how about for you? And I could just have bad hearing, but I seriously thought Sparks was saying "bitch-er-ama" at the end. But then I realized a) that doesn’t even make sense, b) the squeaky-clean daughter of Phillipe would never say such things, and c) she’s actually saying "get your armor." My bad. Share your thoughts, Mixers: What do you think of Sparks’ new song?

More from EW’s Music Mix:
Adam Lambert + Susan Boyle = this dude
Adam Lambert: Should he be Queen’s new lead singer?
The Jonas Brothers’ new song: Like, OMG, you guys, it kind of rocks?!

May 13 2009 10:38 PM ET

Parachute: No. 1 album on iTunes, no. 6789 on list of things I learned today

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I try to keep up with the kids. I have mastered the seemingly random punctuation required to both speak and spell 3OH!3. I can give you the name of each individual Jonas brother on sight, unless one of them has recently changed his bangs. And when people talk about the Kanye, I can always ask knowingly, "Oh, you mean, that homosexual animated fish?"

But good lord, people, why did no one tell me about Parachute? I received a press release this morning telling me that the band’s new album Losing Sleep was, in fact, no. 1 overall on iTunes, even though it is not officially released into stores until next Tuesday. They are not liars! It’s right there on the homepage!

Perplexed, I headed to the internet (another tip from the kids, bless them), and learned the following: They are young and cute like puppies. They are seemingly unconnected to both the Coldplay album that has "Yellow" on it and the Christian band of the same name that makes "worship music." They are currently touring with gentle-rock giants O.A.R. (O, R they?).

I’ve embedded an acoustic version of the album’s most downloaded track, "She Is Love"; to me, it sounds like an entirely decent entry in the Dave Matthews/Jack Johnson/Jason Mraz school of heartfelt male songdom — the kind girls adore, but guys can still manfully enjoy, in part because it helps to seduce said girls:

But tell me, Mixers, am I months behind? Do you love these young ‘Chutes, or is my ignorance bliss?

More from EW’s Music Mix:
Tuesday video roundup: Rob Thomas, Maxwell, Gavin Rossdale, and Mos Def
Regina Spektor: Stream her new single, then read her thoughts on her adventurous new album
New Lily Allen song: "Why"

May 13 2009 08:55 PM ET

Bonus Round: Aerosmith, Mike McCready, Modest Mouse

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Not as good as the end of last night’s Fringe finale, but still…

• Win a spot opening for Aerosmith, just by pushing color-coded buttons! [Aerosmith]
• Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready to perform National Anthem at Mariners game in support of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America; expected to be better than Denise Richards [Mariners]
• Modest Mouse streaming new track. One EW critic reacts: “Meh.” [MySpace]
• Help save Paste magazine [Black Book]

May 13 2009 06:46 PM ET

Adam Lambert + Susan Boyle = this dude

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Simon Cowell: “It’s like a dog meowing. You know? It just… shouldn’t do that. Would I like a dog to meow? I guess I would, yeah.”

Let the international eargasm begin.

May 13 2009 05:04 PM ET

'Wilco (The Album)' is streaming on Wilco (the website)

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Wilco_lWilco are currently streaming their new album, the archly titled Wilco (The Album), on their website after it was apparently leaked to the internet at some point overnight (the official release date is June 30). You can also check out the cover art on this hump day, which would be an appropriate thing to do as it features a camel. On first listen, the collection sounds to me like an improvement on 2006′s fine yet ultimately unmemorable Sky Blue Sky. But check it out for yourselves and tell us what you think.

More from EW’s Music Mix:
John Lennon’s bloody clothes on display: to see or not to see?
The Strokes’ drummer’s side project, Little Joy: An EW video exclusive
Amy Winehouse’s ‘comeback’ gig: Trainwreck alert!
Even MORE heartbreaking songs: Moby weighs in!

May 13 2009 04:25 PM ET

Adam Lambert: Should he be Queen's new lead singer?

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Adamlambert_lWhen Billboard broke the news this morning that Queen and Paul Rodgers would be going their separate ways, it was hard not to think, "Well, what’s next?" Or rather, "Who’s next?" The late Freddie Mercury’s frontman role is ridiculously tough to fill. Might we suggest Adam Lambert? OK, so the guy will probably be pretty busy in the next few days/months/years (hey, we’re not the only ones who think so), but the American Idol front-runner has the musical chops and stage presence vital to preserving Queen’s signature sound. Can you even imagine what he could do with ‘Somebody to Love’ or ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ in concert? What do you think, Music Mixers? Could Adam Lambert do Freddie Mercury justice? Is there somebody else who could do a better job? Or should the band just call it a day?

More from EW’s Music Mix:
Chrisette Michele edges out Ciara on the albums chart
John Lennon’s bloody clothes on display: to see or not to see?
Tuesday video roundup: Rob Thomas, Maxwell, Gavin Rossdale, and Mos Def

Photo Credit: Frank Micelotta/Fox

May 13 2009 03:15 PM ET

Chrisette Michele edges out Ciara on the albums chart

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Chrisettemicheleciara_lApologies for the backhanded compliment, but I didn’t expect Chrisette Michele to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this week. Not that I don’t appreciate her R&B singer-songwriter style, which can be lovely at times — I just didn’t realize things had changed so much since her first album opened all the way down at No. 29 two years ago. Actually, on second thought, maybe they haven’t changed all that much. Michele’s new chart-topper, Epiphany, sold just 83,000 copies, which is the lowest sales total for a No. 1 debut since Nielsen SoundScan started keeping track 18 years ago. At least she outdid the 81,000 units moved by No. 3 finisher Ciara‘s Fantasy Ride, the album that I would have predicted to win this week.

Meanwhile, Ben Harper and Relentless7 came in at No. 9 with 34,000 copies sold of their White Lies for Dark Times. Metalcore bros The Devil Wears Prada, who have to deserve some sort of award for least creative band name ever, made it to No. 11 with 31,000 of their With Roots Above and Branches Below. And that was it for Top 20 debuts, crushing my half-serious dream that St. Vincent’s Actor, which hit stores the same week as all those other albums, might somehow squeak its way in there. Guess it was never meant to be…but I’ll take one more opportunity to politely suggest that you buy that album if you like indie rock, because it is awesome. Anyway: Any thoughts on this week’s albums chart?

More from EW’s Music Mix:
Ciara talks Fantasy Ride, responds to Beyonce rip-off gossip: "All I can do is laugh"
Bob Dylan tops the albums chart in a slow week
Rick Ross outperforms Asher Roth on the charts

May 13 2009 03:00 PM ET

John Lennon's bloody clothes on display: to see or not to see?

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The New York City Annex of the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame has collaborated with Yoko Ono to open an exhibit featuring the effects of the late, great John Lennon, including his piano, the “New York City” t-shirt he made famous… and a paper bag containing the bloody clothes from the night he was shot to death. “It was hard to include,” Ono told the AP. “And I thought it might be criticized as well.”

Ono says she made the decision because she wants people to see the effects of gun violence, but I dunno, Mixers: Aren’t we all pretty clear on what guns do? What do you think? Is this a legitimate opportunity for education and reflection, or just further capitalization on the tragic murder of a talented man? Is Yoko making the right decision in trotting these intimate artifacts out? Or is it time to put poor John to rest already? And will you be attending the exhibit?

May 12 2009 11:00 PM ET

Bonus Round: Matt Nathanson, Death Cab, Rancid, Wanderlust Festival

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Can you feel it coming in the air tonight?

• Matt Nathanson‘s “Come On Get Higher” scores one millionth download, largely because it is awesome [Matt Nathanson]
• Death Cab for Cutie book now available, argues group is “the most important modern band in America, if not the world.” [Lulu]
• New Rancid video, “Last One to Die” [MySpace]
• Son Volt announce new album, tour dates [Son Volt]
• Yet another festival attempts to entice you to its idyllic fields, with headliners like Michael Franti, Spoon, and Andrew Bird: Ladies and gentlemen, it’s Wanderlust! [Wanderlust]
• NASA uses 3 Doors Down’s “Kryptonite” to wake up Atlantis crew; resulting video begs for Keyboard Cat [CFNews13.com]

May 12 2009 09:59 PM ET

Tuesday video roundup: Rob Thomas, Maxwell, Gavin Rossdale, and Mos Def

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Welcome to this week’s edition of video roundup, in a very special episode we like to call Men Over 35 Who Have Feelings.

First up? The guy everyone used to chortle and call Mr. Bushy Post-Grungey, until they chortled and called him Mr. Gwen Stefani, until he had a bona fide hit last year with the moody ballad "Love Remains the Same." Now he’s Mr. Rossdale again. This one involves him escaping the droney, all-white hive of urban life, meeting his spirit animal, and jogging topless to show just what happens when a 43-year-old man plays a lot of tennis and has good genes. The label won’t let it be embedded, so watch it here.

Next! Another ’90s frontman turned solo aughtie: Rob Thomas. In March, he told our own Clark Collis he was going for a Paul Simon Rhythm of the Saints vibe here. Did he get there?

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