Archive: October 2009 (41-50 of 164)

Oct 23 2009 02:05 PM ET

Battle over Sublime name: Brad Nowell’s estate dismayed by ‘reunion’

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Categories: Legal Troubles, Let's Argue!

SoCal ska-punk trio Sublime, who went multi-platinum in the ’90s with hits like “What I Got,” “Santeria,” and “Wrong Way,” didn’t break through to mainstream success until the passing of frontman Brad Nowell, who died of a heroin overdose in 1996 two months before their seminal self-titled third album was released.

Surviving members Eric Wilson and Floyd “Bud” Gaugh subsequently formed the Long Beach Dub All Stars, which often included performing (with Nowell’s estate’s permission) songs from the Sublime catalog live.

But when the pair recently announced an October 24 date at California’s Smokeout Festival under the Sublime name, and promised to perform the band’s hits with a new frontman, Rome Ramirez, Nowell’s surviving family members sent out a media statement, saying, in part:

“It was Brad’s expressed intention that no one use the name Sublime in any group that did not include him, and Brad even registered the trademark ‘Sublime’ under his own name. As Brad’s heirs, and with the support of his entire family, we only want to respect his wishes and therefore have not consented to Bud and Eric calling their new project ‘Sublime.’

“We have always supported Bud and Eric’s musical endeavors and their desire to continue to play Sublime’s music,” it continues, “but, now with great reluctance [we] feel compelled to take the appropriate legal action to protect Brad’s legacy. Our hope is that Brad’s ex-bandmates will respect his wishes and find a new name to perform under, so as to enhance the ‘Sublime’ legacy without the confusion and disappointment that many fans have expressed upon seeing the announcement.”

Watch Rome in action with Sublime’s surviving members, below:

Ramirez joins, of course, a long line of latter-stage frontmen filling a spot left empty by death (see Queen, Blind Melon, Alice in Chains), and a struggle over ownership of band names as well (just this year, Ozzy sued for the rights to Black Sabbath’s title). Who do you think is in the right here, readers?

UPDATE: Gaugh and Wilson have just released a statement of their own:
“On behalf of the band Sublime, founding members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson are thrilled by the opportunity to reconnect with their fans around the world. While we all mourn the passing of our brother and bandmate Bradley Nowell some thirteen years ago, Sublime still has a strong message of hope and love to share — a message that is especially important in these difficult times.

Brad’s heirs apparently do not share this vision and do not want the band Sublime to continue and tried — unsuccessfully — to file a temporary restraining order to prevent the band from carrying on. Despite those objections, we are pleased that the United States District Court has allowed us to perform as Sublime for all of our fans.”

We urge everyone to join us in our message of peace and love, and we look forward to sharing the music we created — the music that defines us.”

More from EW’s Music Mix:
Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Pretty Hate Machine’ turns 20; goth, how time flies
Lil Wayne pleads guilty to gun possession
Lady Gaga reveals new tour details: “beautiful, expensive-looking, delicious”
Glee exclusive: Madonna is on board! Is Adam Lambert next?

Oct 23 2009 12:15 PM ET

Public Enemy raises $50,000 from fans to fund next album: Believe the hype!

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Categories: Public Enemy

Pre-emptive fundraising is all the rage in the music world lately, with many indie artists using websites like Kickstarter and Sellaband to hit their fans up for money to help pay for upcoming projects. Public Enemy became one of the biggest acts yet to get in on this trend earlier this month, signing with Sellaband in search of $250,000, $25 at a time. Fans are promised copies of the album and various other swag in return for their contributions. Apparently the scheme is working: Great Britain’s NME reports that the rap revolutionaries have already raked in $50,000.

I’m impressed by how much cash PE has been able to raise in such a short period of time. Now I’m curious to see whether they’ll hit that $250,000 mark, and how long it will take them. Seems like this could be a cool new option for artists who, for whatever, reason, can’t or won’t get financial backing for their music from a corporate label. So what do you say: Would you pay $25 to help Public Enemy make its next record? Who else do you think would be smart to try this approach?

More from EW’s Music Mix:
Lil Wayne pleads guilty to gun possession
Paloma Faith: Don’t cry “Amy Winehouse rip-off!” just because she’s awesome
Janet Jackson recording “up-tempo dance album”: Can she recapture a rhythm nation?
Chris Brown: Do you appreciate his “Fan Appreciation” tour?

Photo credit: Peter Kramer/AP Images

Oct 23 2009 11:33 AM ET

'Once' more: The Swell Season's Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova on their breakup, their new record, and the future of their band

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Categories: Q&A, The Swell Season

Once stars Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (a.k.a. the Swell Season) have stayed busy since their February 2008 Oscar win, playing their songs night after night to crowds across the U.S. and overseas. Somewhere along the way, their real-life romance ended and they made a new album together, not necessarily in that order. The Dublin-based folk-rockers met with me in downtown New York one afternoon last month to talk about Strict Joy (out Oct. 27 and streaming now at NPR.org), what it’s like to make music together after their breakup, and whether or not the Swell Season will keep going past this album. Read on after the jump for our Q&A.

READ FULL STORY »

Oct 23 2009 09:51 AM ET

Paloma Faith: Don't cry 'Amy Winehouse rip-off!' just because she's awesome

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Categories: Paloma Faith, Things That Are Beautiful, Things We Love

paloma-faith_lUpon hearing smoky-voiced British import Paloma Faith, it’s a natural first reaction to want to compare her to Amy Winehouse. Much like her beehive-wearing colleague, Paloma’s got that woeful, soulful style that—unlike so many artists out there today—makes you actually feel something. But I’d urge you to ignore the whole Amy Winehouse allegory. This j’adorable chic stands on her own.

You see, thanks to a mix a friend put together (thanks again, Ru!), I recently happened upon Paloma’s haunting single “New York,” and it simply blew me away. This lady can sing, wailing through this tune that seems to chronicle a lover choosing the world’s greatest city over her. The opening and closing of the song are fairytale sweet with their childlike music-box chords. But it’s her soaring voice that made my hair stand on end. Her delivery is, in a word, intoxicating.

The first time I listened to “New York,” I was walking down bustling Seventh Avenue here in NYC, so I thought maybe the in-the-moment circumstances were altering my experience, and, thus, making me love it. But I tested the song elsewhere: “New York” stands up on the subway, in my apartment, and waiting in line at Uniqlo. Basically, everywhere.

One thing that surely sets Paloma apart from Winehouse is her delicious style, which finds her donning everything from bunny ears to the flirty get-up above. And her video for “New York,” which you can find after the jump, illustrates that even further, with her in the most gorgeous, strapless bowling-inspired dress. Her hair, too, while also an attribute comparable to Winehouse, sure is divine.

READ FULL STORY »

Oct 23 2009 09:01 AM ET

Janet Jackson recording 'up-tempo dance album'; can she recapture a rhythm nation?

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Categories: Misc.

MTV reports today that Janet Jackson’s upcoming 11th studio album, a follow-up to 2008′s Discipline, is focused on uptempo and mid-tempo dance tracks, with a sound “inspired by worldwide influences,” including Brazilian, African and Latin rhythms.

According to producer Rodney Jerkins (Britney Spears, Destiny’s Child, Pussycat Dolls), she’ll also be addressing recent personal events: “You gotta understand, she lost her brother,” he told MTV. “She was in a relationship for seven years that’s over now. There’s things that she told me that I didn’t even realize. You know, certain [things] like self-esteem … I kinda had to persuade her, ‘Let’s just go, let’s talk about that.’ And she’s been doing it, and she’s a pro about it.”

I love me some Janet; I really do. And she’s had what anyone would deem an insanely difficult year. But after the disappointment of Discipline, I’m wondering whether I should just stick with her upcoming greatest-hits collection, Number Ones, due November 17.

Honestly, she still had me hanging on to 1997′s The Velvet Rope (I can take a Joni Mitchell mash-up!), but sort of lost me for good in ’04 with Damita Jo‘s relentlessly same-y sex-me jams. Where is the Janet who took us on an Escapade? That fierce Black Cat in Control who taught us all about the Pleasure Principle? (Requires knee-pads and an empty warehouse, fyi.) And where the Minneapolis are Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis?

If only you would Come Back to Me, Janet! But tell me if I’m wrong, readers. Will love still never do without her?

More from EW’s Music Mix:
Lil Wayne pleads guilty to gun possession, faces one-year prison sentence
Lady Gaga reveals new tour details: “beautiful, expensive-looking, delicious”
Glee exclusive: Madonna is on board! Is Adam Lambert next?
Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine turns 20: Goth, how time flies

Oct 22 2009 06:52 PM ET

Chuck Klosterman book gets the screenplay treatment -- from Hold Steady frontman

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Categories: Indie Rock, Let's Argue!, Music, Things That Are Odd

The lead singer of literate bar-rockers The Hold Steady, Craig Finn, is teaming up with a Dave Letterman writer to bring Chuck Kloserman’s first book to the silver screen. Finn and Tom Ruprecht will co-author the screenplay adaptation of Fargo Rock City, Klosterman’s memoir about the importance of heavy metal music to him and his friends as teenagers growing up in small town North Dakota.

This match isn’t as odd as it first sounds—Klosterman and Finn are both Minnesota-born artists who turned to music as an escape from their Midwestern surroundings. Much of Fargo Rock City is about nerds trying to shuffle off their virginal coil and finally be cool—and plenty of Hold Steady songs are about young, awkward kids in love.

Of writing about 17 and 18-year-olds, Finn says its exciting because at that age “you’re still young enough that you can have a two-hour argument over whether Motley Crue would beat Guns N’ Roses in a fight.” Which is true. But not worth two hours of your time, because the obvious answer is GN’R back then, the Crue now.

What other indie scribes should start adapting books? Matisyahu adapting Philip Roth’s Goodbye, Columbus? Ryan Adams getting his hands on Holden via Catcher in the Rye?

In related Fargo Rock City news, check out this clip of Fraggle Rock (city):

More from EW’s Music Mix:
Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Pretty Hate Machine’ turns 20; goth, how time flies
Elliott Smith, 1969-2003: Gone six years today
Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ iTunes Original sessions available now
Ben Gibbard acts! Watch the Death Cab for Cutie frontman earn his SAG card

Oct 22 2009 06:10 PM ET

Hall and Oates: Can Rachael Ray get our heroes into the Hall of Fame?

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Categories: Hall & Oates, Things That Are Awesome, Zooey Deschanel

Rachel-Ray-Hall-Oates_lRegular Music Mix readers will know that we love us some Hall and Oates, whether we’re getting Daryl to nominate his five favorite H&O numbers, pitting them against Journey in our Guilty Pleasures tournament, or yakking with Zooey Deschanel about the genius of “You Make My Dreams.”

Now we learn that Rachael Ray is also a big fan of the blue-eyed soulsters. Apparently, the TV cook-and-chatterer recently recorded a show with the duo and was so outraged to discover that the they have not been inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame that she has launched a campaign to get them in. “Hall and Oates has my vote!” the Rayster declared in a blog item two days. I’m not actually sure she has a vote in this matter. But what the hey, if we send enough support her way maybe she’ll send us some food!

Will you be joining her campaign? Or can you not go for that Rachael Ray telling you who to support? (No can do?)

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW’s Music Mix:
Chris Brown: Do you appreciate his ‘Fan Appreciation’ tour?
‘Glee’: Rating the iTunes downloades from episode 8
Lil Wayne pleads guilty to gun possession
Lady Gaga reveals new tour details: “beautiful, expensive-looking, delicious”
Glee exclusive: Madonna is on board! Is Adam Lambert next?
Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine turns 20: Goth, how time flies

Oct 22 2009 04:17 PM ET

Chris Brown: Do you appreciate his 'Fan Appreciation' tour?

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Categories: Chris Brown, Rihanna

chris-brown_lYesterday, Chris Brown announced that he will embark on a month long “Fan Appreciation” tour of small venues as a way of saying thank you to his followers in the months following his attack on then-girlfriend Rihanna. The singer also appeared on Angie Martinez’s Hot 97 radio show and admitted that his behavior was “not okay in any way” and that he had “let a lot of people down,” including his fans.

Apparently, it will take more than that before he is forgiven by a lot of EW commenters. After we wrote about the tour, which starts in Houston on November 14, one reader hypothesized that the singer’s reputation was so damaged that this was really just a way of covering up the fact that he can now only play small venues. Another found the timing of the announcement to be “interesting.” given that Rihanna also previewed her new single this week. Finally there were a couple of suggestions about possible slogans Brown might feature on his tour t-shirts, which I don’t care to repeat.

Do you agree that Brown should have waited longer before trying to get his career back on track? Or is he right to go on tour as a way of thanking his fans, many of whom are indeed highly supportive?

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW’s Music Mix:
Lil Wayne pleads guilty to gun possession
Lady Gaga reveals new tour details: “beautiful, expensive-looking, delicious”
Glee exclusive: Madonna is on board! Is Adam Lambert next?
Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine turns 20: Goth, how time flies

Photo credit: Seth Browarnik/startraksphoto

Oct 22 2009 02:26 PM ET

'Glee': Rating the iTunes downloads from episode 8, 'Mash Up'

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Categories: Glee, Neil Diamond

glee-bust-a-move_lThere are advantages and disadvantages to being EW’s designated recapper for Modern Family and Cougar Town. On the down side, my duties force me to relegate Glee to my DVR, and watch it on Thursday evenings. But the good news is, I can listen to iTunes versions of the week’s musical performances on their own merits, without the overwhelming feeling of “that scene was so freakin’ awesome, I need to download the related music immédiatement!” It is in that spirit that I’m grading the three available tracks from last night’s eighth episode, “Mash Up”:

* “Bust a Move” (performed by Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester): Riddle me this: Seeing how Morrison does little more than offer a pale imitation of Young M.C.’s 1989 smash, why isn’t iTunes charging half-price for it compared to the original? From the unconvincing aggression on that opening “bust it!” to the neutered backing vocals to the sanitized lyric about our protagonist’s response to a hottie bridesmaid (Morrison spits “you’re feelin’ really fine” instead of “feelin’ really firm“), this performance has all the swagger and authority you’d expect from a high-school Spanish teacher. (And I don’t mean that in a good way.) Bottom line: No reason for this one to exist outside the Glee universe. C-

* “Thong Song” (performed by Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester): I’ll admit, I feel deeply uncomfortable every time I listen to Morrison’s spoken-word intro — “This thing right here, is lettin’ all the ladies know what guys talk about. You know, the finer things in life” — especially that lascivious little laugh at the end. READ FULL STORY »

Oct 22 2009 12:04 PM ET

Lil Wayne pleads guilty to gun possession, faces one-year prison sentence

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Categories: Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne entered a guilty plea to felony gun possession in an NYC courthouse this morning, MTV News reports. The rapper will likely be sentenced to one year in prison under the terms of his plea deal. He would have faced up to three and a half years behind bars if convicted.

The gun charges stemmed from a July 2007 incident in which police pulled over Wayne’s tour bus after a concert. (I was there in the audience earlier that night — it was an unforgettable show.) They found a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. While Wayne initially pleaded not guilty, the situation changed this month when prosecutors said they had DNA evidence linking him to the weapon.

There’s no word yet on how this will affect Lil Wayne’s music plans, but it’s hard to see this as anything but a major roadblock to promoting his next album, Rebirth, which is still awaiting release after months of delays. Share your thoughts on his legal troubles below.

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More from EW’s Music Mix:
Lil Wayne’s Rebirth: Will it ever come out?
Lady Gaga reveals new tour details: “beautiful, expensive-looking, delicious”
Glee exclusive: Madonna is on board! Is Adam Lambert next?
Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine turns 20: Goth, how time flies

Photo credit: Reuters/Lucas Jackson/Landov

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