Search Results for: the voice

History In Reverse (K/Sonic Unyon) The Blackouts come with all the right tools for post-garage-rock success – swampy guitars, grumbly bass rumbles and a singer whose voice wavers somewhere between a Peter Murphy howl and a pinched John Lydon warble – but there’s something decidedly unconvincing about their sub-Cramps goth-punk. History In Reverse, ostensibly a compilation of early EPs and singles, never comes close to equaling the greasy lo-fi thrills of the band’s influences. The band opts instead for a mannered impression of mayhem and sleaze that doesn’t feel the least bit dirty or dangerous. The doomy guitar intro to… Read more »

LONDON – U.S. rapper Ja Rule hit gold on Sunday as his new release “Wonderful,” featuring R&B stars R Kelly and Ashanti, soared to the top of the UK singles chart, figures from the Official UK Charts Company showed. The song from Ja Rule, famous for his gruff voice, knocked Swedish DJ Eric Prydz’s “Call On Me” down to second place. Other new entrants also made their mark, with New Zealand-born Londoner Daniel Bedingfield’s “Nothing Hurts Like Love” debuting at No. 3 and singer-rapper Jay Sean jumping into fourth place with “Stolen.” Further down the list, Robbie Williams slipped from… Read more »

With Ashlee Simpson in the news this week following a disastrous lip-synching appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” Canadian pop singer Avril Lavigne says it’s “pathetic” that some young artists don’t sing on their own record or on stage. While she can relate to the pressures of learning how to play live and work an audience for the first time, Lavigne says she takes exception to the practice of lip-synching. “You know what? There are a lot of people out there today, who have become stars or famous musicians – I wouldn’t really define them as a star – with a… Read more »

Ashlee Simpson started having difficulty with her voice during a dress rehearsal for “Saturday Night Live,” backstage footage recorded for “60 Minutes” shows. A crew from the CBS newsmagazine was on hand for a story about the late-night comedy program’s creative process, and its cameras were rolling as producers expressed concern about the Simpson, who appeared flustered during rehearsals. Simpson rushed backstage following Saturday’s rehearsal, clutching her throat and appearing to be in tears. At that point, correspondent Lesley Stahl asked “SNL” creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels what the problem was. “We’re concerned about her voice,” he told her.… Read more »

SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer and the Rugrats could all become rock stars in the next few years. Children’s television network Nickelodeon has partnered with BMG to create a record label, which means tunes from shows like “SpongeBob SquarePants” will be released as albums. “These are characters kids know and songs they sing and love,” said Joe DiMuro, executive vice president of BMG Stragetic Marketing. “It’s a great way to bring the shows to a new level.” The first album, released Tuesday, is a compilation of songs from the show “Dora the Explorer,” about a Spanish-speaking girl and her adventures. A… Read more »

The success of the Black Eyed Peas flies in the face of the conventional wisdom that the music business sacrifices long-term artist development in favor of quick hits and short-term corporate profits. Signed to Interscope Records more than six years ago by chairman Jimmy Iovine, the progressive hip-hop group’s first two albums, “Behind the Front” in 1998 and “Bridging the Gap” in 2000 earned rave reviews but failed to go gold (shipments of 500,000 copies). The first album peaked at No. 139 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 197,000 units, according Nielsen SoundScan, while the sophomore set stalled at… Read more »

Apple Computer Inc. will make a slimmed-down version of its iTunes jukebox software that No. 2 cell phone maker Motorola Inc. will install on some wireless phones it will start selling in the first half of 2005, the companies said on Monday. The world’s second-largest cell phone maker also introduced seven new wireless telephones that will be available in the second half of the year, including products aimed at helping corporate customers cut costs. Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs made the announcement via video conference at an event the night before Motorola’s annual analyst meeting in the Chicago suburb of… Read more »

So the FCC wouldn’t let him be, wouldn’t let him be he…and now Eminem is making the move to satellite radio. On Monday, the Grammy-winning rapper announced his plans to team up with Sirius Satellite Radio to “deliver an uncut hip-hop radio station like never before” beginning this fall. “Once upon a time not too long ago, the feds wanted all my music off the air,” Eminem said in a statement. “Now we’ll be on Sirius 24 hours a day, playing the best hip-hop…not just from Shady Records, but from everywhere. “I can’t wait to start dropping new material, exclusive… Read more »

Lindsay Lohan is now a Hollywood hyphenate. Lohan, the 18-year-old star of “Mean Girls,” “Freaky Friday” and “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen,” has signed a record deal with Tommy Mottola’s Casablanca Records. “It’s a long-term recording contract,” Peter LoFrumento, a representative for Casablanca’s parent company, Universal Music Group, told The Associated Press on Monday. No other details were released, but if her singing voice – heard on the “Freaky Friday” and “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen” soundtracks – is an indication, Lohan’s tunes will probably be pure pop. “Right now she needs to get into the studio and… Read more »

Seven years after singer Michael Hutchence’s death, INXS have announced that they will find their new lead singer through a new Mark Burnett reality show, Rock Star. Replacing singers is tricky business. Ian Astbury joined The Doors after an actual history in rock with The Cult, but Jim Morrison he ain’t. Oh, and what about Creedence Clearwater Revisited? Yeah, without John Fogerty’s voice, they’re just a drummer and a bassist who used to be in a good band. I know I don’t ever want to hear Scott Weiland try to be Axl Rose, but seeing Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and… Read more »