Music news, reviews, albums, concerts, and downloads | The Music Mix

The Music Mix Music news, reviews, albums, concerts, and downloads

Archive: September 2009 (111-120 of 170)

Sep 10 2009 01:20 PM ET

Guilty Pleasures, Round Three: Britney Spears (1) vs. Backstreet Boys (4)

Categories: Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Guilty Pleasures, Let's Argue!

EW’s Music Mix is searching for the Greatest Guilty Pleasure Musical Act of All Time. With eight seeded contestants remaining (see all the matchups), this tournament is continuing to change hearts, minds, and lives, as well as make some people remarkably agitated! Read/listen to the following, and then cast your vote in the poll after the jump; intelligent reader comments will be used from here on out, so we encourage you to also post a comment explaining why you chose the way you did. Note: In case of a tie, please select the artist you feel more ashamed to adore.

READ FULL STORY »

Sep 10 2009 12:16 PM ET

Chris Brown leaks a track called 'Twitter,' but I don't want to hear it

by Michael Slezak

Categories: Chris Brown, Leaks

And now for today’s Deeply Disturbing Pop-Cultural Timeline: Around seven months ago, pop star Chris Brown violently assaulted his then girlfriend, pop star Rihanna. Late last month, he was sentenced to five years probation and six months community service after pleading guilty to the felony attack. And just last week he gave a weird, rambling interview with Larry King in which he seemed to suggest said crime was something that happened, as opposed to something he did. Now, today, he has leaked a brand new track via his official Twitter account, with a monotonous refrain of “follow me like Twitter.”

Setting aside the fact that the song is a complete piece of crap (take my word for it, or if you must, press “play” on the embedded track below — clip via Idolator), I’ve got to ask my Judgy McJudgenstein question: Should Chris Brown really be focusing on reviving his music career right now? Is our collective societal memory so short these days that after committing a heinous act, you no longer need to take the requisite time away from the spotlight before your rehabilitation campaign of tearful talk-show interviews and “meaningful” product-shilling begins? Based on his Larry King interview, it should have been pretty clear to everyone in the Chris Brown camp, if not to the young man himself, that he is in need of a major time-out, maybe a one-year banishment to the naughty step, where he can reflect on his actions, come to understand why there was so much anger and misogyny in his system, figure out what it was that caused him to risk the promising career he had built for himself, and construct a plan to make sure he’ll never again succumb to the demons that caused him to do it in the first place.

But nope, instead, Chris Brown is singing the lyrics “follow me like Twitter” and asking us all to take a listen. I don’t think I’m ready for this jelly. Nor will I be anytime during the remainder of this calendar year. You? (Also, even if you don’t like the song “Twitter,” you may still follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak!)

Sep 10 2009 12:00 PM ET

Jay-Z live in NYC: The secret MySpace show

by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: About Last Night, Concert Reviews, Jay-Z

JAY-Z_l How hot was Jay-Z’s last-minute MySpace gig at New York City’s 600-capacity Blender Theater on Wednesday night? The FDNY charged in to break the party up — and stayed to watch the show.

A piercing fire alarm seemed to signal the end of the hip-hop superstar’s surprise appearance, but soon enough, New York’s bravest stood nodding their heads in full gear (axes, oxygen tanks, fire-retardant suits) as the Hova retook the stage to finish an incendiary greatest-hits set.

The show, of course, was to promote his cameo-jammed new album, The Blueprint 3, and the new DJ Hero game, laid out in full demo mode in the theater’s basement. And though a rumored Rihanna guest-spot never materialized, Jay-Z offered an ecstatic, sweaty crowd something much better: A 25-song run, accompanied by his 10-piece live band and running the gamut of his decade-plus career.

Amidst the requisite TB3 tracks — “D.O.A. (Death of Autotune),” “Run This Town,” “Venus vs. Mars” — he dropped block-party classics “Big Pimpin’,” “Show Me What You Got,” “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me),” “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love),” “Excuse Me Miss,” “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” “Can I Get A…” and “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” and led crowd sing-alongs on a gloriously messy, chaotic “99 Problems” and nearly a cappella “Hard Knock Life.”

Jay, clad sunglasses to sneakers in black, stopped the show at one point to clown an audience member: “Yo, homeboy sitting on the steps — this ain’t a poetry reading. You f—in’ up my vibe. These great people here came to party.” But later, he turned it around, telling the crowd: “There’s a lotta love in here tonight, I appreciate that.”

In the end, he went a half hour over his allotted 45-minute set-time before admitting, “We really gotta get out of here now, enough is enough.” And dozens of giddy show-goers — firemen included — finally streamed out into the cool September night, looking like they just won the lottery.

What about you, Music Mixers, were you there — or wish you were?

Sep 10 2009 01:01 AM ET

The Best Beatles Songs, 50-26

by EW staff

Categories: The Beatles

50. ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE (1967, Magical Mystery Tour)

Everything the Beatles stood for, summed up in those five simple words…

49-26 after the jump…

READ FULL STORY »

Sep 9 2009 05:54 PM ET

New 'Glee' songs: Will Rihanna's 'Take a Bow' be the next 'Don't Stop Believin'?

by Tim Stack

Categories: Glee, Kanye West, Rihanna

Attention Gleeks (or people who are planning to watch tonight’s premiere): Fox has already released three tunes that you will be hearing on this evening’s episode. The network and iTunes have debuted the cast’s covers of Salt n Pepa’s Push It,” Kanye West’s “Gold Digger,” and Rihanna’s “Take a Bow.” Personally, my fave is Lea Michele’s take on “Bow,” which is especially poignant once you see it in the context of the episode. Last May, the Glee kids’ version of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” blew up on the iTunes download charts. Will one of these tunes be the next to hit it big? And which one is your favorite? Listen to Glee‘s rousing take on the Journey song below, then let us know what you think of the new tunes.

Sep 9 2009 05:01 PM ET

Polvo, 'The Pedlar': A Music Mix exclusive stream

by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Indie Rock, New Stuff

After a decade-long break (and twelve years since their last album, 1997′s Shapes), Chapel Hill’s math-rock heroes Polvo have returned with a new album, and EW has an exclusive stream of the track “The Pedlar,” from In Prism, out today:

Sep 9 2009 04:38 PM ET

No Beatles, but Norah Jones plays new song 'Young Blood' at Apple event

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: Norah Jones, The Beatles

Well, that long-rumored Beatles/iTunes announcement failed to materialize at today’s big Apple extravaganza, yet again. At least the event wasn’t a total bust for any music fans in attendance, who got the treat of a surprise performance by Norah Jones. “This is the earliest I’ve ever played,” Jones told the assembled crowd in San Francisco, “but it’s okay!”

Jones performed two songs: 2002′s “Come Away With Me” and an upbeat, poppy new one called “Young Blood,” which will appear on her upcoming album The Fall. Backed by a three-piece combo, she traded her usual piano for a bright red guitar on both tunes. Reaction from the crowd seemed positive — though most of the tech journalists present were busy staring at their respective notebooks, laptops and phones.

The singer also made reference to Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ improved health: “Thanks to Steve Jobs for having us. We’re really glad he’s doing well.” Jobs thanked her with a kiss on the cheek after she performed.

Were any of you at the Apple event today? What did you think of Jones’ new music? Even if you weren’t there, Jones fans, are you excited for the rock direction that seems to be emerging for The Fall?

—Reporting by Elizabeth Livengood

Photo credit: Robert Galbraith/Landov

Sep 9 2009 04:14 PM ET

Guilty Pleasures, Round Three: Follow all the matchups here!

by Whitney Pastorek

Categories: Guilty Pleasures, Let's Argue!

click to enlarge

Above, please find the official bracket for EW.com’s Music Mix Search for the Greatest Guilty Pleasure Act of All Time Tournament Poll Challenge Thing, now updated for Round Three, which will commence here shortly. We certainly hope your favorite advanced to the Elite 8. Feeling disappointed? You have only yourself to blame. Some of the previous round’s winners were determined by less than 100 votes. What if you could have made the difference, Mixers? Are you prepared to live with that?

Check out the matchups, print out the bracket so you can play at home, tweeter your friends to get on board, leave your comments after the beep. And please: no wagering.

Round Three
Britney Spears (1) vs. Backstreet Boys (4)
Phish (16) vs. Ace of Base (4)
George Michael/Wham! (6) vs. ABBA (2)
Journey (3) vs. Barry Manilow (2)

READ FULL STORY »

Sep 9 2009 03:23 PM ET

'True Blood"s Alexander Skarsgard: TV vampire, sexy Swede... guest DJ?

by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: Indie Rock, Vampires 'n Things

True Blood‘s Alexander Skarsgard — he of the vampiric Nordic smolder, well-known actor dad, and Lady Gaga video beat-downs — has added another piece of flare to his resume: Guest DJ on L.A. indie station KCRW (perhaps because True Blood music supervisor Gary Calamar also has an on-air show there).

Among the self-dubbed “punk rocker”‘s picks, each accompanied by a personal anecdote? A dedication of the Rolling Stones’ “Mother’s Little Helper,” pegged to months spent at his father’s Swedish summer house; the Buzzcocks’ “Ever Fallen in Love,” for an ex-girlfriend (“I hope she found happiness, wherever she is” he says); and, for mom, Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.”

The entire segment is available for streaming here; is it just us, or does Skarsgard, who says he didn’t learn English until he was much older, have kind of a Tommy Lee Jones/Lyle Lovett lockjaw twang happening here? Intriguing!

Sep 9 2009 02:22 PM ET

'The Beatles: Rock Band' is out today: Harmonix boss Alex Rigopulos gives us the scoop on working with Sir Paul and NOT being given hell by Yoko

by Clark Collis

Categories: Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Rolling Stones, The Beatles

beatles-rock-band-Rigopulos_l It was 30 years ago today that Alex Rigopulos, co-founder of the video game company Harmonix, first heard the Beatles play. Well, roughly. “I think I was around 7 or 8 when I discovered my first Beatles album, which was Sgt. Pepper,” says Rigopulos, 39. “It was really the first rock album that meant anything to me. For as long as we’ve been making music games, the prospect of working in some capacity with the Beatles material has been looming out there on the horizon as a dream project.” That dream is now a reality. As observant EW readers will be aware, the MTV-owned Harmonix is today releasing The Beatles: Rock Band, the latest in its line of hugely successfully Rock Band games.