Artist of the Day: The Rural Alberta Advantage

 

The Rural Alberta Advantage may seem like a long and nonsensical name for a band, but it makes perfect sense for this trio. Paul Banwatt, Amy Cole and Nils Edenloff came straight out of Alberta, Canada with their indie rock sound that's something akin to if Neutral Milk Hotel, Yo La Tengo and the Notwist met up and started playing music in a Canadian forest.

Gibson to Release New Hendrix Guitar

A brand new Jimi Hendrix guitar model is in the making from Authentic Hendrix and Gibson.

Gibson.com talked to Hendrix’s sister Jane to get the low-down on the upcoming guitar model.

“The look of the guitar will reflect his stage presence and the clothing he wore,” Jane said. “It’ll be very colorful.”

Drew Barrymore 'Whips' Up a Killer Soundtrack

Drew Barrymore has been in the spotlight her entire life.  From E.T. to Charlie’s Angels, America has seen her grow-up before their eyes.  And after a lifetime of films under her belt, Barrymore has taken on a new role, both acting in and directing Whip It, a film about a female roller derby team, starring Juno’s Ellen Page.  Along with Barrymore’s directorial debut, the seasoned Hollywood star acted as her own music supervisor for the film’s soundtrack, which is due out Tuesday, September 29.

Josh Kelley and Katherine Heigl Welcome New Baby Girl

Josh Kelley, singer-songwriter born in Augusta, Ga., married actress Katherine Heigl back in December of 2007. Recently, the talented couple adopted a 10-month old Korean, special needs girl named Nancy Leigh. Kelley told a Miami University audience the new addition was, “the bomb!”

Happy Birthday: Joan Jett Stays Young Through Kristen Stewart

Joan Jett turns 49 today and is actually sort of making a comeback. Popping back on the media scene after a long absence, Joan Jett has been a large part of creating her biopic “The Runaways,” and was photographed multiple times on the set this past summer. The movie, due out in 2010, tells the story of the band The Runaways that Jett helped form after running away from home at the age of 15.

The reason for Jett’s sudden popularity in the media, undoubtedly, has nothing to do with the anticipation of the movie but rather that Kristen Stewart is the starlet who plays Jett in the movie.

Brandon Boyd Teams Up with TOMS Shoes

Brandon Boyd is known for his imaginative lyrics and excellent vocal ability. I’m sure those qualities in their most tangible form would look a little like this:



Boyd, lead singer of the alternative rock band Incubus, has partnered with TOMS Shoes as a part of the company's Collaborative Canvas Collection.

Last.fm to Launch Terrestrial Stations

 

The internet radio/scrobble site Last.fm announced that they will launch four terrestrial HD radio stations on October 5.

The Last.fm site plays music selected by users, while tracking their preferences and suggesting new artists that they may be interested in listening to.  The terrestrial stations will play users' favorite artists and songs.

Track-list for 'New Moon' Soundtrack Released

The much hyped New Moon Soundtrack has released its track-list which includes songs by Thom Yorke, The Killers and Death Cab for Cutie.

The list was officially released today (September 21) on Twilight author, Stephanie Meyers official Web site.

Zooey Deschanel & Ben Gibbard Wed

 

Zooey Deschanel wed Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard last weekend in Seattle.  Hearts are breaking across the land.

Gibbard, 33, and Deschanel, 29, are a match made in indie heaven. Death Cab has attracted hordes of fans with its lovelorn music since its inception in 1998. In 2008, Deschanel teamed up with singer/songwriter M. Ward to create the charming folky harmonies of She & Him on the album Volume 1.  She's an actress by day, having appeared in such films as "Elf," "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and most recently "500 Days of Summer."

Amy Winehouse Signs Goddaughter to Lioness Records

Amy Winehouse hopes to thrust her 13-year old goddaughter into the spotlight on her own record label. Lioness Records will release Dionne Bromfield’s first album next month.

Winehouse achieved international fame with her song “Rehab” and has since publically dealt with drug and alcohol abuse. However, it seems the singer has found a new muse in her goddaughter.

Tori Amos to Release First Holiday Album

Tori Amos is known for her deep, emotion-triggering songs and outspoken views on feminism and religion.

In 2008, Amos left Epic records and announced she would be working independently from major labels and it seemes the cooperative venture has boded well for the singer-songwriter. Her latest album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin, debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 charts and received positive reviews.

Now, Amos is giving us her version of a little holiday cheer.

Weezer’s Got a New Raditude

The track list for Weezer’s new album, Raditude, has just been released on the band’s official website and, judging by the song titles alone, Weezer plans to live up to their flying dog album art and keep it pleasantly spunky and a little bit outside the lines. A comparison made by Rolling Stone links the new Weezer album to artists such as 30H!3 and Cobra Starship and their humorous song topics. Hopefully, Weezer won’t get caught up in this new pop-punk-head-bopping music that seems to be so popular at the moment, and will stick to what they know best.

Live Show Review: Missing Cats featuring JoJo Hermann

If you’ve lived in Athens, Georgia anytime since 1986, (unless you have been living under a rock) you should be aware of the mega-fandom and praise that comes along with jam band, Widespread Panic.  These guys are Athens’ darlings.  They released their 10^th studio album in February of this year entitled Free Somehow, and they were also inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame this month.  With all of this success, you would think the men that make up WP would have no time for anything else, let alone a side project.  Enter Missing Cats, a.k.a. Widespread’s JoJo Hermann and New York City’s Sherman Ewing.

The Flaming Lips Want You Naked

There are a lot of bike riders in Athens. People ride their bikes to class or just casually to and fro, enjoying the city’s beautiful backdrop. However, (apart from my imagination) I have yet to see a NAKED cycler.

Maybe the Flaming Lips thought the same thing, and that’s why they’re recruiting a horde of confident, bare souls to be in their upcoming video.

Nelly Furtado Introduces Her First Spanish Album

Nelly Furtado’s worn many hats since her “I’m Like a Bird” days.


In 2006, she partnered with all-star producer Timbaland for her hip-hopesque album, Loose, which generated hits such as “Promiscuous” and “Say It Right.”

Now, the newly-wed is showing off her Latin flare. Mi Plan, Furtado’s debut album in Espanol, is all about love.

Julian Casablancas' Solo Track

 

Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas just leaked a track off his upcoming album Phrazes for the Young.  Fans can now hear "11th Dimension" on his Myspace page.

"Dimension" is a definite departure from the traditional Strokes sound. Instead of the loud rock 'n roll we're used to, Casablancas' new song is synthy and poppy — and good. Have a listen for yourself and see what you think.

Courtney Love Choked & Threatened in New York

Courtney Love has written consecutive Twitter posts claiming that she as attacked by a man on the street Wednesday night. Through a series of nine consecutive Tweets, Love explains, in detail, what happened to her on the streets of New York.

You can read them below (Warning – The content is a bit graphic):
(punctuation and spelling mistakes were corrected by gloriousnoise.com)

'Clash' Members Reunite for Charity

Two members of the English punk band, The Clash, are joining together for a re-recording of “Jail Guitar Doors.” 

Mick Jones, former lead guitarist, and Nicky “Topper” Headon, former drummer, will reunite to record the 1978 track for Billy Bragg’s Jail Guitar Doors Initiative.

Lavigne and Whibley Separate

 

The story goes a little something like this: two Canadian youngsters find success as pop-punk stars. Girl (the suspenders-wearing, bad-attitude-having Avril Lavigne) meets sk8r boi (Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley). Girl and boi get married and live happily ever after . . . for three years. Then they separate, leaving us all to wonder: if those two crazy kids can't make it, who can?

VH1 Divas: A Night of Duet Goodness

VH1 brought Divas back to television yesterday, September 17th, for the first time in five years. The initial advertisements for the show centered on the fresh talent of generation X divas-extraordinaire including Miley Cyrus, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, Jennifer Hudson, and Adele. All of these beloved stars on screen together are reason enough to tune into VH1 Divas.

However, the VH1 premiere branched out in its actual selection of “divas” and collected a motley crew of not-so-diva old school talent that took the stage as multiple duet numbers appearing as unintentional “mother/daughter” acts. These old-timers included Martina McBride, Sheryl Crow, and Melissa Ethridge.

Cobain/Guitar Hero Saga Seems Far From Over

More than 15 years after his death, Kurt Cobain still can't stay out of the news.

The use of Cobain's visage as an unlockable character in "Guitar Hero 5" has raised quite a stink over the last ten days - first from Cobain's ex-wife/murderer (just kidding) Courtney Love (who threated a lawsuit against Activision, the company responsible for the game), then in public statements from surviving Nirvana members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic and most recently with backing from again rocker-pal Jon Bon Jovi.

According to Activision, however, Love was instrumental in creating the deal in the first place.

Artist of the Day: The Felice Brothers

When I first heard The Felice Brothers, I went straight to my computer and double checked the members to see if Bob Dylan had taken a new direction and joined a band. The simplicity and rawness The Brothers bring to their music draws an uncanny comparison to their influential predecessor.

A Lennon Signature Lands Big Bucks

“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now. I don’t know which will go first-rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity.”
-John Lennon

Madonna’s Second Single “Revolver” Disappoints

The second single track from Madonna’s soon-to-be released Celebration greatest hits album leaves much to be desired. A new, high quality version of “Revolver” has recently surfaced on YouTube only a week or so before the set Celebration release on September 29th. The new version may sound clearer, but high quality sound doesn’t equal high quality songwriting.

Ozzy Osbourne Recieves Billboard’s Legend of Live Award

Known for his on-stage antics and insane live performances, Ozzy Osbourne is set to receive this year’s Legend of Live Award presented by Billboard. Ozzy’s career has survived four decades, millions of sold albums, and a cheeky family reality show.