David Cook - "All I Really Need Is You"

David Cook gets my AI vote for this week, on the strength of his second performance. Very cool modern rock arrangement.

Like A Diamond...

It’s Neil Diamond night on American Idol, baby! Now vote off Jason Castro already!

MP3: Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Threefer

COLD: If you didn’t already know, you can download the new Coldplay track, “Violet Hill,” from their website here for one week only – and I think I’m liking it so far

PORK: Find out what kind of person you are by the type of pig you draw – check it out here. You can check out my piggie and the analysis of it here.

BUTCHIE: Butch Walker’s side project, 1969, is composed of Butch, one of the guys from the Let’s Go Out Tonites, and one of the guys from The Academy Is… - and they’ve got a new album out – you can stream tracks and/or order the album at their myspace site here – it’s got a bit of a U2 vibe to it

KNIVES OUT: Think you have what it takes to be a top chef? Bravo’s Top Chef is casting for season five here

Coldplay - "The Scientist"

The new Coldplay track "Violet Hill" will be released tomorrow. In the meantime, here's one of my favorite videos of all time, and my favorite Coldplay track, "The Scientist."

Hello Tokyo/The Frustrations/Five Four @ R&R Hotel

Three female-fronted groups will be having their respective CD release parties this Saturday night (4/26) at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Power poppers Hello Tokyo (above) will be dropping in from Brooklyn to play with local horn-laced rockers The Frustrations and ethereal-voiced indie poppers Five Four.

I’m really digging The Frustrations’ track “Everyone Loves A Winner” – it’s kind of like female-fronted 60s riffy garage rock with a horn section thrown in for good measure. I’ve been waiting for Hello Tokyo’s new CD Sell the Stars to finally drop, and we’ve got the track “Steady the Gun” from it below, along with one of my favorite classics of theirs, “Radio.” And Five Four has got a danceable 80s pop vibe going on their track “Creepy Cool Ways,” mixing in flourishes of electronic beats.

MP3: Steady the Gun – Hello Tokyo
MP3: Everyone Loves A Winner – The Frustrations
MP3: Creepy Cool Ways - Five Four
MP3: Radio – Hello Tokyo

Threefer

HAWKS: And continuing with my recent Jayhawks theme, My Old Kentucky Blog has got an interview with lead vocalist and guitarist Gary Louris (plus an mp3) here

LAB MEAT: Yeah, it’s pretty much what it says. Instead of killing animals and eating ‘em, in the future, we may be growing meat/flesh in labs for consumption

FAILER: Continuing my recent Kathleen Edwards theme, Aquarium Drunkard has got a cool interview with her, along with several mp3s from her new album here

Photo by Darren Ankenman

Idol Thoughts

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber actually offered some quality advice to the kids on Idol tonight and was pretty cool, as opposed to just standing around next to the “Do not touch the diva!” sign and doing nothing.

SYESHA: I’m not sure which song she did, but she nailed it pretty good, with confidence and personality, in that “Chicago”-style, starting out on top of the piano, and then parading around the stage

CASTRO: He warbled his way through Webber’s most famous tune (“Memory”) – you think the girlies are sick of voting for him yet? Or will they just think he’s cute and fragile?

BROOKE: How about a penalty for the false start? She was pretty solid, with some good emotional connection on “You Must Love Me” - that's about it...

LIL DAVID: He gets the David Cook Arrangement Award of the Week, turning “Think of Me” into an almost cool, acoustic guitar-driven, vibing, bossa nova sort of thing. That was a bunch of adjectives too many. And he sung it very well.

DAVID COOK: David Cook didn’t come through this week, singing “Music of the Night” pretty much straight, and his thin low-range was exposed during the verses. He made up for it a bit on the higher runs, but it was nothing special. Randy’s calling his performance “molten hot” made me doubt Mr. Jackson’s sanity.

CARLY: She belted out “Jesus Christ Superstar” that walked that thin line between rocking and shouty hot mess. I’d say it was too much of the latter, and I agree with Paula that it was too high for her, even though she had her moments.

Robin Sparkles - "Sandcastles In The Sand," Full Version

If you didn't catch How I Met Your Mother Last Night, here's Robin Sparkles' video to "Sandcastles In The Sand," the full version. You gotta love Alan Thicke's cameo.

Justin Currie @ Jammin Java 4/24

Justin Currie has come a long way from his days of fronting poppers Del Amitri back in the 90s. He’s gone solo, and he’s a bit more serious these days. But his songwriting and vocal (and mutton) chops are still there, even though he’s got more freedom to roam. He’ll be at Jammin Java Thursday, April 24th.

VIDEO: Be My Downfall – Justin Currie, solo
MP3: The Last To Know – Del Amitri

Four-Banger

F&F: Looks like all the principles (including Vin Diesel) are back for a fourth The Fast and the Furious installment (titled Fast and Furious) – I just can’t resist watching the original whenever I catch it on TV

MOOKIE BLAYLOCK: Captain’s Dead has got some nice live Pearl Jam from a ’92 show in Chi-town here…with ‘shrooms included

BACK: Looks like my favorite new show, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, has been renewed for a second season – cool!

SMILE: This dude is taking some pretty cool (or creepy) pictures of DC, depending on how you feel about certain circus characters (thanks Mr. T in DC)

The Jayhawks

I finally listened to The Jayhawks for the first time ever, and wow, I’m really digging them. Their sound isn’t groundbreaking, by any means, but it’s very well-done alt-country on the Byrds/CSN tip, and I really love those fragile vocals and beautiful harmonies. Plus, they’re ultra-melodic - kind of like Fountains of Wayne doing alt-country. It’s just too bad they’re apparently on hiatus, though former and founding member Mark Olson will be at Jammin Java Sunday, May 4th. Anyway, now I just have to decide which Jayhawks CDs to pick up from Amazon – any suggestions?

MP3: Save It For A Rainy Day – The Jayhawks
MP3: Stumbling Through The Dark – The Jayhawks

Weezer - "Perfect Situation"

I was going post Weezer's leaked track "Pork and Beans," but I'm not that overly fond of it. But you can just find it on Hype Machine if you must. For now, here's "Perfect Situation" to chew on...

Threefer

NEW DIAMOND: Neil Diamond’s got a new Rick Rubin-produced album dropping May 6th, and you can check out one of the new tracks (“Pretty Amazing Grace”) over on Mr. Diamond’s MySpace site here

IDOL HANDS: Was it me, or did Mariah Carey seem a bit robotic last night on Idol? Anyway, David Cook did a nice prog-rock twist on Mariah’s formerly sunshiny “Always Be My Baby” here

INSIDE: Ryan Adams reveals quite a bit about himself, like his dating life, thoughts on Bryan Adams, and substance use, on his blog here

Kathleen Edwards - Six O'Clock News

By the way, the Kathleen Edwards show was excellent - her band was as tight as a drum, and her voice was even better than last time we saw her. Here she is performing "Six O'Clock News" back in 2004.

Four-Banger

FAST CALL: Tired of the typical Motorola cell phone? Then get yourself a nice Ferrari F430…cell phone

#34: Herschel Walker talks about his struggles with dissociative identity disorder (formerly referred to as multiple personality disorder) in his new book “Breaking Free” – here’s an excerpt

THORNY: Wondering what’s really under Bret Michael’s bandana? Says Michaels here, “My hair is combined of my hair and the finest extensions Europe has to offer. I do the show without it on all the time and they won’t film me. They are like, "Put your bandanna back on. It is your image." It is my signature thing.”

JERK: Tired of being too nice? Pick up a copy of Martin Kihn’s new book, “A$$hole: How I Got Rich and Happy by Not Giving a Damn About Anyone and How You Can Too” – I’m guessing Denis Leary doesn’t need a copy

What the F*ck?

A couple of songs for the day, and there’s kind of a theme, if you didn’t already notice. I just couldn’t help myself - I finally had to do it. And I’m kinda digging that instrumental jammy techno-y “Royal Gregory” track.

MP3: Royal Gregory – Holy Fuck
MP3: Bright Tomorrow – Fuck Buttons

Kathleen Edwards @ Birchmere

I’m looking forward to seeing the Canadian alt-country stylings of Kathleen Edwards Monday night (4/14) at the Birchmere. I saw her there about a year ago, and she put on a very good show, with a very tight backing band, and was very gracious afterwards, meeting up and talking with fans. Anyway, she’s just released a new album, Asking for Flowers, that’s been getting very strong reviews.

MP3: Asking For Flowers – Kathleen Edwards

The Dig @ The Red & The Black Thursday

Brooklynites The Dig will be in town at The Red and the Black this Thursday, April 17th touring in support of their new Good Luck and Games EP. My favorite track of theirs, “New Love” is a very satisfying psych-pop-rocker that’s got a bit of a hard-driving Beatles sound to it, both instrumentally and vocally. I’m liking “Marianne,” too – it’s full-sounding edgier pop-rock, that’s more pop than rock, with some nice harmonies. Take a listen.

MP3: New Love – The Dig
MP3: Marianne – The Dig

Whose Line Is It Anyway

Man, I miss watching Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie on Whose Line Is It Anyway. But I just thought of checking out old clips on Youtube.

Find Your Inner Keanu

Yeah, you know you want to find out which Keanu Reeves movie character you are. You don't even have to choose between a red survey or a blue survey – there's just a chosen one. Turns out I’m Ted Theodore Logan. Now that's righteous!

Threefer

W. AXL: Forget Bobby Brown – a reality show with Axl Rose? I’m all over that!

MIMI: New Mariah, kids. Pretty Much Amazing is on the case with mp3s and a review right here, never fear!

MOCKERY: Dan Banks offers up his NFL Mock Draft, Version 5.0 – bone up kids, cause the draft is coming up quick!

New Birdmonster

While in Texas last month the boys from Birdmonster stopped in at WOXY and laid down a live session. And lo and behold, you can check out a video from that day of a brand new song, "I Might Have Guessed,” right here. Their new album is due out early this summer.

The Samples, "The Streets In The Rain"

I'm a big fan of The Samples, and I just found this video of Sean Kelly and Dan Blondin doing an acoustic version of my favorite Samples song, "The Streets In The Rain."

Black Cat Benefit for National Coalition for the Homeless

This Tuesday night (4/8) at the Black Cat, The Beanstalk Library (above), Battles/Cans, and PS24 will be donating all proceeds from their show ($10 cover charge) to the National Coalition for the Homeless, so stop by if you can. Check out The Beanstalk Library’s ultra-catchy pop gem “Elephantitis” below.

MP3: Elephantitis – The Beanstalk Library

photo by Shervin Lainez

New James

One of my favorite bands, James, has announced their winter tour plans – and unfortunately, their tour dates don’t include any US venues. And frankly, this stinks. Since they’re reunited, they haven’t played any shows over on this side of the pond! At least they’ve got a new album, “Hey, Ma,” out today (which had slipped under my radar until now) – but like their tour, it’s only out in the UK - but you can spend a little extra and get it here as an import beginning on April 15th. Guess I'll just have to do that. Until then, here's one of my favorite tracks from Millionaires...

MP3: Afro Lover - James

Four-Banger

WOOF: You know Gary Busey. He’s crazy. And he’ll snort coke off of anything (thanks, LeeHead)

BOSS: I’m not a big fan of The National, but they did a pretty beautiful cover of Bruce’s “Mansion on a Hill,” (they were working with good material) and you can check it out over at I Am Fuel, You Are Friends here

WHAT: Rolling Stone gives their preview of 2008’s must-hear CDs here

SIR PAUL: This is a very touching essay written by Paul McCartney about him and Linda - It’s been 10 years since her death, and an exhibition of Linda’s photographs is opening at the James Hyman Gallery in London April 25th (for all my international readers!)

Soylent Green

R.I.P. Charlton Heston

Everyone covers "Sweet Home Alabama"

It's The Red Army Choir singing "Sweet Home Alabama" behind the Finnish rock band, The Leningrad Cowboys, of course.

Threefer

KEEF: That Keith Richards is a crafty gent – and he gives an interesting interview w/ the Washington Post here (thanks, Zachtastic)

THE HEAD: Sixeyes has a live Radiohead show from the BBC Radio Theatre on 4/1/2008 up here and Captain’s Dead has got a myriad of live recordings up here

MARAH: Because the dollar sucks, check out some footage of Marah’s European tour via YouTube here

California Love

I'm just too tired to post tonight - but here's a nice little video for y'all - the pounding bassline of "California Love."

Idol Wrap

RAMIELE: She had some good vocal moments during “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind,” yet for every strong moment, she gets lazy on sections, negating any goodwill she created. She’s got to find some consistency. - and some lower-waisted pants.

CARLY: As I predicted beforehand, she was tops for the evening – stripping down “Here I Come Again” to an acoustic arrangement that was better than the original, and digging into it, this time with feeling…and a smile

ROCKER DAVE: A David C. original arrangement this time, and Simon pretty much had it right on the money – “if you can make a song about sparrows good, then congrats.” Dolly, can’t you give us something better than sparrows?

AUSSIE: Michael Johns got in touch with his inner Michael Bolton, and it worked, nailing his second strong performance in a row with a very soulful rendition of a song I never heard before, “It’s All Wrong, But It’s All Right”

LIL DAVID: The kid melted the audience (and Dolly Parton) like a hot knife through butter with a well-sung, well-textured performance of “Smoky Mountain Memories, though it seemed a bit old-for-him (but hey, it’s Dolly Parton)

JASON: He stretched his voice a bit on “Travelin’ Through” which was a welcome change, and better than usual, but I’m tired of his schtick.

SYESHA: Oh, Syesha, why did you have to attempt to climb Mount Whitney? First half of “I Will Always Love You” was excellent, but after that signature drum beat and trucker keychange, things just went downhill. There simply wasn’t enough bigness in her voice to nail the arrangement.

THE NANNY: Brooke didn’t dig into “Jolene” with the vocal and emotional intensity that it required, since she kept it stripped down to an acoustic arrangement. Probably should have let the backup singer sing lead on this one.

KRISTY LEE: She was definitely in her wheelhouse, as Randy said, and I was surprised she didn’t bust out the “9 to 5,” but she delivered a pretty solid country vocal on “Coat of Many Colors.”

Matthew Ryan New Release

Matthew Ryan is releasing a new album Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver State, today – nofooling. And Jeff over at Popdose is all about the Ryan. He’s got an interview with Matthew here, as well as a Guide To Matthew Ryan (w/ mp3s) here. Matthew Ryan is going to be in town in about a month, hopefully with the full band in tow – he’ll be at IOTA on May 6th.

MP3: Still Part Two – Matthew Ryan

Four-Banger

TOMFOOLERY: GnR finally releases Chinese Democracy on April 1st - how appropriate

ODD COUPLE: Oasis and Ryan Adams are going to be tourmates – which would be a pretty cool concert, though I don’t know if their sounds really mesh (thanks, InfoLeafblower)

BORAT: Looks like Ben Affleck was punked by Sasha Cohen…or should I say, Bruno

RAINBOWS: Once again, Thom and the Radiohead boys are giving the patients the keys to the asylum, allowing fans and listeners to remix the track “Nude,” and then letting the public vote on their favorite version – get the nitty gritty here

Billie Jean, Etc.

Yeah, David Cook laid down a pretty mean cover of “Billie Jean” the other week on American Idol – strangely, he neglected to mention that time (like he did for Whitesnake the previous week) that it was Chris Cornell’s arrangement. But Billboard gives Mr. Cornell props. Berg Loves Pizza also has an mp3 of David Cook’s strong performance of “Billie Jean” here. Don’t forget, kids, it’s Dolly Parton night on AI tonight!