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Archive: July 2010 (111-116 of 116)

Jul 1 2010 07:49 PM ET

Lilith Fair cancels 10 dates: Why is this tour struggling?

Categories: Lilith Tour, Things That Are Frustrating, Tours

The organizers of the 2010 Lilith Fair — initially one of the most-anticipated tours of the summer — have just announced the cancellation of 10 dates: Salt Lake City, Montreal, Raleigh, Charlotte, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Birmingham, Austin, Houston, and Dallas.

These cancellations come on the back of previously-announced pulled shows in Nashville and Phoenix, and in the wake of artists like Norah Jones and Kelly Clarkson bailing from one or more scheduled dates on the tour. Meanwhile, the shows that are going on — tonight is the tour’s third night, in Vancouver — are suffering from embarrassingly low attendance, and being moved to venues half the size of the original stops.

In the just-released cancellation announcement, Lilith co-founder Terry McBride says, “We are in the midst of one of the most challenging summer concert seasons with many tours being cancelled outright. Everyone involved with the tour would like to apologize to the fans and artists scheduled to play in these markets, and express appreciation for all the support for the festival’s return. Lilith remains the only tour of its kind, and we are confident that fans will be amazed by what each date has to offer.”

Refunds are of course being offered, and fans are encouraged to check the website to find out how the cancelled shows may affect the artist lineups in their towns. But meanwhile, it’s time to put on your fantasy management caps, Mixers: Why is this tour struggling? Head Lilith lady Sarah McLachlan recently told EW she thought this summer’s Fair was less of a “need” and more of a “want” — so do you people not want it? Or do you really not have the money to make it out to the show? Discuss.

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

Jul 1 2010 04:40 PM ET

James Cameron directing 3-D Black Eyed Peas movie: Would you buy a ticket?

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: Black Eyed Peas, Music

Image Credit: John Medina/WireImage.com; Mark FellmanCould James Cameron be turning from tall blue aliens to Black Eyed Peas? In to a recent interview with Vibe (via MTV), Pea-in-chief will.i.am says the Avatar auteur has signed on to direct a 3-D film based on their worldwide touring. “We have the biggest director, because we are the biggest group on the planet,” he’s quoted as saying.

As self-congratulatory as Will’s logic might sound, this pairing actually makes a lot of sense. Anyone who’s seen the Peas in concert recently knows that their live show is already an immersive sci-fi spectacle. And really, James Cameron and the Black Eyed Peas are doing similar things in two different media. Both of them make huge, expensive, insanely popular entertainment for the masses — and they both use their shiny popcorn as a vehicle for some well-meant if simplistic messaging about peace and tolerance and stuff.

Neither Cameron’s nor the Peas’ reps have gotten back to me with further details on this project, but ’til then: Would you go see this movie if it ever comes out? I would!

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

Jul 1 2010 02:55 PM ET

NPR listeners pick the top 50 best albums of 2010's first half. Discuss!

by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: Indie Rock, Let's Argue!, Listmania!, Things That Are Not Totally Original

Image Credit: Jamie Hewlett/EMI MusicAs we head into the holiday weekend, what better way to honor the spirit of our great nation than with a highly subjective list guaranteed to elicit disdain, incredulity, and comments-section flame wars the likes of which our great forefathers and their pearly muskets could only dream?

AMERICA! Land of the free, home of the relentlessly opinionated, we celebrate you!

So let’s put on our fightin’ pants, shall we? NPR has released its listeners’ top 50 albums of the year to date, and honestly, it’s pretty solid—though by its nature, not nearly definitive. This is not the endzone for Kylies and Drakes and Lady Antebellums; the 50 albums contained here are comprised almost entirely of music for the KEXP-loving, Etsy-crafting, farmer’s-market-radish-buying members of the metaphysical nation state known as IndieSchmindieLand.

There are, of course, a few sad omissions amongst these largely excellent picks (I will leave it to you, dear Music Mixers, to supply the names, though cases could be made for, among others, Cocorosie, Titus Andronicus, Gil Scott Heron, Ariel Pink, Robyn, Marina and the Diamonds and Tame Impala to replace some underwhelmers like Jakob Dylan, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Band of Horses).

Mostly, though, it’s the number-one pick that’s kind of a Wha Happen? The complete list is posted after the jump; but suffice it to say, those cartoon simians at the pinnacle did not exactly blow my mind back in March:

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Jul 1 2010 02:06 PM ET

Maroon 5's 'Misery' video: Watch Adam Levine get pummelled here

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: Maroon 5, Music Videos

In the video for Maroon 5′s catchy new single “Misery,” frontman Adam Levine gets dropped from the sky; hit by a car (repeatedly); beaten soundly in a bathroom stall; thrown through a plate-glass window; hurled from a great height; and shot at with a bazooka. He suffers these indignities at the hands of a heavily eyelinered woman, with whom he canoodles during her brief breaks from trying to murder him.

I think there might be a metaphor in there somewhere. MTV thinks it’s “a pretty sly comment on the nature of the good-looking frontman, the rock god, the one who gets the lion’s share of the attention.” Sure! Either that, or Maroon 5 are just really into models and violence. Check out their “Misery” clip after the jump and let us know what you make of it.

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Jul 1 2010 12:25 PM ET

Katy Perry tops Billboard hot 100 chart for fourth week, Eminem and Rihanna collab debuts big

by Brad Wete

Categories: B.O.B., Charts, Eminem, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, Usher

Image Credit: Ari Michelson; Nigel ParryFor it’s fourth week, Katy Perry‘s “California Gurls” tops the Billboard hot 100 chart. Eminem’s second single from his Recovery effort makes a huge debut this week. His collaboration with pop starlet Rihanna, “Love the Way You Lie,” opens at No. 2. Usher‘s “OMG,” slides back a spot to No. 3. B.o.B’s “Airplanes” does the same, moving to No. 4. Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire,” backs into No. 5. And Drake’s “Find Your Love” also falls a slot to No. 6.

Mike Posner’s debut smash “Cooler Than Me” moves up one spot to No. 7. Ke$ha‘s “Your Love Is My Drug” falls two to No. 8. Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro” also slides back two places to No. 9. Jason Derulo gets his third hot 100 top 10 from his self-titled debut album. His “Ridin’ Solo” jumps up six places to No. 10.

Again, Eminem has a strangle hold of the chart. How long do you think it’ll be before he pushes Katy Perry to No. 2?

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

Jul 1 2010 11:31 AM ET

Kanye West's bizarre severed-head 'Power' artwork: Huh?

by Brad Wete

Categories: About Last Night, Buzzworthy, Hip-Hop/Rap, Kanye West, Things That Are Awesome, Things That Are Odd, What the...?

Image Credit: George CondoFor years now Kanye West has been telling us how he’s the hottest rapper out there. Granted, with Grammys-galore, several No. 1 hits, and cosigns from his peers, he has the stats to back his claims. It really doesn’t matter if you believe it. He does. After taking a break from rapping with his auto-tuned 2008 808s & Heartbreak effort and a vacation of sorts, he’s back at it. Last month he released his defiant first single “Power,” from his forthcoming fifth album. And last Sunday (June 27) he dominantly performed the track for the first time at the BET Awards from the top of an erupting volcano. So when Kanye released the single’s artwork last night (June 30), I was thrown for loop.

In the poignant George Condo painting a decapitated crown-wearing head, presumably West’s, sits bloodied with a sword punched in it’s side. Towards the end of West’s “Power,” he asks, “Do you have the power to let power go?” With this picture I think he’s suggesting that he does, whether it’s easy or not. Or maybe that’s the ugly ego people think he’s cursed with being put to rest. Hey, I’m just guessing here. What do I know? Maybe it’s just a cool image he liked.

What do you guys make of Kanye’s “Power” artwork? Let us know.

More on Fantasia and from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Fantasia’s ‘Bittersweet’ video: Best of her career? (Yes!)
Eminem debuts at the top of the Billboard 200 chart
Jennifer Hudson breaks long silence, discusses family’s murder on Behind the Music
Maxwell and Jill Scott double the loving at New York’s Madison Square Garden
Never-released Lady Gaga song, “You and I”: Listen here