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Archive: October 2009 (121-130 of 164)

Oct 9 2009 04:18 PM ET

'New Moon' soundtrack clips: Get your first listen now

Categories: Indie Rock, Muse, New Stuff, The Killers

We’ve already told you it’s pretty spectacular (oh, how we tease!), but now Amazon.co.uk has 30-second clips of each track on the New Moon soundtrack, including exclusive brand-new tracks from Thom Yorke, the Killers, Bon Iver and St. Vincent, Lykke Li, OK Go, Band of Skulls, Anya Maria, and many more.

Click here to listen, and let us know what you think, in the comments section below.

Oct 9 2009 02:20 PM ET

Melissa Etheridge on writing 'Come to My Window': Exclusive 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' excerpt

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Melissa Etheridge

The Chicken Soup for the Soul line of inspirational books is branching out into the music world. In Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story behind the Song, out Nov. 10, dozens of successful songwriters and artists share the personal circumstances behind their hits. Yesterday, the Music Mix exclusively debuted Kanye West’s chapter on 2008′s “Welcome to Heartbreak.” Today, we have Melissa Etheridge’s reflection on 1994′s “Come to My Window”—a song that brings back memories of life on the road, coming out of the closet, and later battling breast cancer. Read on for the full story after the jump.

“COME TO MY WINDOW”
BY MELISSA ETHERIDGE

I wrote most of this song in a hotel room, which is where I did a lot of my writing once I started touring a lot after my first album. The first three albums did fine. I was being played on radio and had a bit of a following. The hip-hop beats were starting around 1990, the time of my third album, I experimented musically with them. So for the fourth album, I was thinking of getting back to my soul—to the roots of rock and roll where I came from.

I was in a relationship at the time that was tumultuous. In my early twenties and thirties I made some poor choices and what you choose is what you get. I was struggling with fidelity, honesty and what it is that makes a relationship.

On the road, as a “rock star,” there’s superficial attention and adulation is thrown at you for a couple of hours—then you’re alone in your room and it’s lonely. I understand why some people turn to drugs.

I started writing in my room (I remember it was nice but can’t remember where it was—Europe or America) after a show.

READ FULL STORY »

Oct 9 2009 01:40 PM ET

Susan Boyle CD track list announced: There will be Madonna (and much more)

by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: Madonna, Susan Boyle, Things That Are British

Oh, SuBo. First you took on the Rolling Stones. But you’re not stopping there, are you? You dreamed a dream of bigger things — like Madonna and the Monkees, Patty Griffith, and, well, heaps of churchy hymns. See the full song lineup for the Britian’s Got Talent sensation below:

I Dreamed A Dream Track List
1. Wild Horses
2. I Dreamed A Dream
3. Cry Me A River
4. How Great Thou Art
5. You’ll See
6. Daydream Believer
7. Up To The Mountain
8. Amazing Grace
9. Who I Was Born To Be (original)
10. Proud
11. The End of The World
12. Silent Night

What do you think, SuBots — is it all you were hoping for? Or not so much? And is that Sketter Davis’s 1967 heart-crusher at no. 11?

Oct 9 2009 01:10 PM ET

Miley Cyrus and the Notorious B.I.G. mash it up: TGIF

by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, Miley Cyrus, New Stuff, The Notorious B.I.G., Things That Are Like a Dog Meowing, YouTube Delights

It’s NSFW Friday, Music Mixers, and we’ve got one for your cubicle if you’ve got headphones (hi boss!): Biggie Smalls’ ’93 anthem “Party and Bulls—” and, from the tween who tweets no more, “Party in the U.S.A.”:

Maybe you think it desecrates Big’s memory; maybe you think it just needs more boys with beach balls. Give us your favorite/oddest/most-despised mash-ups below, in the comments section.

Oct 9 2009 09:01 AM ET

'Glee' Exclusive: Watch the cast cover Avril Lavigne's 'Keep Holding On'

by Tim Stack

Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Avril Lavigne, Glee, Television, Video Exclusive

Next week’s episode of Glee, directed by co-creator Ryan Murphy, is chock full of fantastic performances, including Mercedes covering Jill Scott’s “Hate on Me” and a Rachel/Finn version of Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown’s “No Air.” But probably the most dramatic moment is the climactic glee club performance of Avril Lavigne’s “Keep Holding On.” I don’t want to spoil the episode for you Gleeks out there, but it proves to be a pivotal song for now-pregnant Quinn. I was actually fortunate enough to be on set for this episode back in April and I’m thrilled that I can now watch (and download) the final version. Glee just keeps getting better.

What do you think of the "Keep Holding On" cover, Music Mix-ers? Is this the next big Glee hit? What songs would you like to hear in upcoming episodes?

Oct 8 2009 04:32 PM ET

On the scene for Pearl Jam in L.A.: What are your favorite live performances from Vedder & Co.?

by Whitney Pastorek

Categories: On the Scene, Pearl Jam

Caught the last of Pearl Jam’s four L.A. shows yesterday, and, in the wake of the two and a half gigs I witnessed during their stand at the Gibson, I wish to heartily endorse this tour for any of you who may still be on the fence. (This is an admittedly unlikely scenario.) The band is tight, energized, and finding freedom in a set list full of set pieces: We now know to expect a visit from the string section after the first encore break, but their contributions on “Just Breathe,” “The End,” and the bow-shredding fury of “Lukin” are most welcome; we know Ben Harper will emerge shortly thereafter for “Red Mosquito,” and his lap-slide will buzz perfectly throughout the song’s swing. We know “Fixer” and the other Backspacer tracks will mesh with older material like they’ve been there for years, and ”Alive” and/or “Yellow Ledbetter” will probably take us home. But amidst the expected, there’s always a flash of giddy surprise, and for those of us who’ve attended entirely too many Pearl Jam shows over the years, it’s those flashes that keep us coming back.

The guys seemed a bit antic last night — during “Porch,” Eddie Vedder bummed a drink off some dude in the front row, then climbed into the crowd on a security guard’s shoulders; Mike McCready and Jeff Ament played tag during “Spin the Back Circle”; I think Matt Cameron was using light-up drum sticks on “Why Go” — and they also delivered three absolute gems that I shall file away with the other PJ concert highlights I revisit from time to time, thanks to the band’s comprehensive bootlegging policies. First, a slow-building, hypnotic “Present Tense,” preserved here in all its YouTube glory:

The other standouts were an atomic-sized “Love Reign o’er Me” and “Crown of Thorns,” the old Mother Love Bone single made that much more resonant thanks to Tuesday’s brief Temple of the Dog reunion. By the time Jerry Cantrell showed up again on MC5′s “Kick Out the Jams,” it felt damn near anti-climactic.

What about you, Mixers? I know we’ve got some PJ loyalists out there — what are your highlights from this band’s tremendous live oeuvre, either on this tour or tours past? I’m pretty sure my all-time favorite moments have happened at the Gorge, and I’m pretty sure they’re hard to top… but maybe you can convince me otherwise in the comments!

Oct 8 2009 03:32 PM ET

Brian Wilson to complete unfinished Gershwin songs

by Joseph Brannigan Lynch

Categories: Brian Wilson, Covers, Music, Music Biz, Things That Are Awesome, Things That Are Strange

Acclaimed early-20th-century composer George Gershwin’s estate has asked onetime Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson to try his hand at finishing some rare, unfinished Gershwin compositions. The completed songs—along with covers of Gershwin classics—will appear on the scruffy pop genius’s next solo album, to be released through a Walt Disney Records imprint.

“He had a gift for melody that nobody has ever equaled,” Wilson says of Gershwin. “The earliest music I remember hearing is ‘Rhapsody in Blue.’ Along with Irving Berlin, Gershwin basically invented the popular song.” Indeed; see below:

Following on the heels of this record will be another covers project — only this time the source material isn’t America’s greatest composer, but rather America’s richest mouse. Wilson plans on doing a covers album of classic Disney songs that he intends to “Brian-ize.” That record better include a version of “Under the Sea” with Beach Boys harmonies, or we’ll be very disappointed.

What do you think the Gershwin-Wilson album might sound like—“Rhapsody in Little Deuce Coupe?” “Oh Lady, Be Good Vibrations?” “God Only Knows I Got Rhythm?” Or should he call the whole thing off?

Which Gershwin and Disney tunes would you love to hear given the Wilson treatment?

Oct 8 2009 01:58 PM ET

Kanye West on the emotional price of celebrity: Exclusive 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' excerpt

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Kanye West

The Chicken Soup for the Soul line of inspirational books is branching out into the music world. In Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story behind the Song, out Nov. 10, dozens of successful songwriters and artists share the personal circumstances behind their hits. Today the Music Mix exclusively debuts Kanye West’s chapter on 2008′s “Welcome to Heartbreak”—a song about the emotional price of being a celebrity. Read on for the full story after the jump, and check back tomorrow for another exclusive book excerpt.

“WELCOME TO HEARTBREAK”
BY KANYE WEST

One day we were shooting in a hotel and I was talking to Dave Sirulnick, a producer from MTV, discussing ideas for a performance of mine. He had a small photo album of him and his wife and kids on the beach and doing different things together. It struck me that I really want to be married and have a family, but that hasn’t worked out for me.

My friend showed me pictures of his kids
And all I could show him was pictures of my cribs.

I felt like I was in high school and jealous of what another guy had. I knew that was what I really wanted.

READ FULL STORY »

Oct 8 2009 12:29 PM ET

Death Cab for Cutie, 'Meet Me On the Equinox': Watch the new official video here

by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: Indie Rock, New Stuff, Twilight, Vampires 'n Things, YouTube Delights

Say what you will (oh, and you will!) about Northwest indie rockers Death Cab for Cutie being selected to take on the lead single for the New Moon soundtrack; it now has a video, and it’s packed with Edward-Bella footage.

Watch it below:

Oct 8 2009 12:02 PM ET

'Rock Band' iPhone app: EW exclusive details

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: Games

Rock Band is coming to the iPhone! EW’s Margaret Lyons reveals in the pages of our latest issue, on stands this Friday, that EA, MTV Games, and Harmonix will release an iPhone/iPod Touch version of the popular rhythm game next week. Much like a miniature version of regular Rock Band, the app will involve tapping four spots on the iPhone screen in time with guitar, bass, drum, and vocal parts.