Atomic Rooster & other

Saturday, 21 June 2008

Woschek

Artist: Woschek

   Genre(s):
Other
   New Age

Discography:

Shalom Shalom

Year: 1999
Tracks: 11

Karuna

Year: 1997
Tracks: 4

Friday, 20 June 2008

Blahblahblah

Artist: Blahblahblah

   Genre(s):
Rock

Discography:

Penelopa Cruz

Year: 2005
Tracks: 12

'Semi-Pro' tops DVD charts

Thursday, 19 June 2008

Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon's Wedding Gift Sham

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon may not have invited friends or family to their secret nuptials, but it hasn’t stopped them from demanding wedding gifts.

The couple got married in a shotgun union at the E=MC2 songstress’ Bahamas pad in April without any guests in attendance.

However, according to Page Six, they are still accepting gifts. A source claims: "Mariah's assistant, Gina, sent out over 100 e-mails to her wealthy friends letting them know that she's registered at Bergdorf Goodman if they want to buy her a present.

“It's odd because she's not even having a big wedding party or anything. It was assumed they'd have a big celebration when they got back, but no. They just want the gifts."

On the list are "fine china, very expensive silver stemware" and other items. What do you think would be a good gift to get Mariah and Nick? Be sure to leave your comments below.

Dave Stewart and The Spiritual Cowboys

Artist: Dave Stewart and The Spiritual Cowboys

   Genre(s):
Jazz

Discography:

Dave Stewart and The Spiritual Cowboys

Year: 1990
Tracks: 14

Damien Dempsey - The Rocky Road

It was inevitable that Damien Dempsey would one day trawl through the long list of traditional folk songs to make an album which would set tills ringing at Failte Eireann, Carroll's' gift store and Dublin Airport's Duty-Free shopping mall, as well as ex-pat stores from Brooklyn to Battersea.
That it has come so soon in his career is less surprising when one considers Sony -BMG's evident desire to make hay while the sun shines. Dempsey is enjoying immense popularity here, across all age groups, and his label have jumped on this releasing the man from Donaghmede's fifth album in as many years. That's without counting the hastily packaged 'expanded edition' of his previous album 'To Hell or Barbados'.
With this in mind it would be easy to be cynical about this quickly put-together package of traditional cover versions. When any artist embarks on such an exercise, commercial considerations normally out-weigh the creative. Dempsey however, has always been that different.
Old head on young shoulders, the Dubliner has always rallied against certain young interests - dance music, pop music and drugs - and attempted to get them interested in the nation's history as well as its music.
That seems a central impetus to 'The Rocky Road' as he's endeavoured to pull together a fine collection of ballads, some well-known ('The Rocky Road To Dublin'; The Foggy Dew') and others less-so (Schooldays Over'; 'Hot Asphalt'), whilst enrolling Dubliners' John Sheahan and Barney McKenna to ensure the musicianship demonstrates familiarity and love for the songs selected.
Dempsey, it goes without saying, adores the material and was born to sing these songs. The passion in his voice serves the lyrical content particularly well, most notably on an epic version of 'The Foggy Dew'.
A slightly faster version of 'The Hackler From Grouse Hall' nods to Christy Moore, while Dempsey again nods to another hero in Shane MacGowan. Here, he delivers a poignant version of 'A Rainy Night In Soho', which he keeps relatively low-key so as to sit with the albums back-room bar feel.
Nicely packaged with some interesting sleeve notes from Dempsey, as well as a full lyric sheet, 'The Rocky Road' is a better record than we might have expected. The quality of playing is of a high-standard and Dempsey's voice has come on immensely since his somewhat forced style of five years ago.
Fans of Dempsey will lap up 'The Rocky Road', and no doubt learn something of their hero's musical past. Those meanwhile looking for an introduction to the Irish traditional repertoire could do worse. Not as essential as some of his own work, but a fine exercise nonetheless.
Steve Cummins

Simple Plan foundation aids youth in need, hands out $100,000

MONTREAL - Pierre Bouvier knows how much it can help when someone reaches out in a time of need.

The lead singer for mega-hit rockers Simple Plan recalled Thursday how his brother Jay fought a 2 1/2-year battle with cancer before going into remission.

"It's difficult for a family to go through those things. I would know," Bouvier said in an interview with The Canadian Press after the Montreal band announced the first donations from its foundation to help youth in need.

Among those targeted for help by the Simple Plan Foundation are organizations that aid families and youth dealing with illness or handicaps.

"It's really difficult and a lot of times it helps to have someone that can help you get through it," Bouvier said. "When it happens to you, it's kind of, 'How could this happen to me? What the hell am I going to do about it?'

"When you have people that are there to support you, it's going to make it a little bit easier."

The Simple Plan Foundation was started in 2005 when the band was looking for a way to make a difference in the community.

"For us, it's a way to give back," Bouvier said.

It aims to help young people facing problems such as substance abuse and depression, illness and the effects of war. It also promotes music education as a way of finding a passion and a purpose in life.

Bouvier noted that a lot of institutions are cutting their music programs these days, deeming them unimportant.

"For me, it is one of the most important ones," he said.

"When I was in school, the music program is what kept me in line and it's what kept me inspired."

The foundation will distribute $100,000 this summer to 17 organizations chosen from about 200 applicants for funding. The grants will range from between $3,000 and $10,000.

Recipients include War Child Canada, Kids Help Phone, Children's Wish Foundation and Portage, a Quebec group involved in substance-abuse rehabilitation.

Bouvier, 29, says he isn't sure if celebrities have an obligation to put their fame to charitable uses but figures it can't hurt.

"If somewhere inside you, you feel the need to help out, why not?" he said. "It's important to inspire people and make other people realize that it's not that difficult. Everyone can make a difference."

Muriel Jaouich, director of the Quebec west division of the Children's Wish Foundation, praised the band's efforts.

"I think it's fantastic," she said. "I think it's really very impressive that young people like this have taken this initiative, and I think it's going to be a great example for young people out there in Canada."

Jaouich said the band is active with her organization and has granted some wishes for sick kids. That usually takes the form of bringing them and their family to a concert and spending some quality time with them afterward.

"It's memorable moments for the children."

The group also announced the foundation's 2008-2009 fundraising drive, which will be headed by L. Jacques Menard, president of BMO Financial Group Quebec.

"I was pleased to see this group of young people who've experienced global success get involved with the youth who are less fortunate," Menard said.

"I wanted to collaborate with them because I truly believe that it is up to the older generations to support those who will soon take their place. They deserve more than what we are preparing to leave them."

The first fundraising event - a brunch followed by an auction and an acoustic concert - will take place in Montreal on Aug. 17.

Simple Plan, which released its latest album in February, is in the midst of a worldwide tour, which will begin its Canadian leg in August in the Atlantic provinces.

Bouvier doesn't see the band heading back to the studio to work on another album for a while yet.

"We've been blessed with success internationally so it takes us a long time to tour," he said, noting there are plenty of European, U.S. and southeast Asian dates ahead. "We have a lot more to do before we get back in the studio."