Rufus Wainwright returns with Out Of The Game

Rufus Wainwright returns to the pop foray with his eagerly anticipated new album, Out of the Game, to be released May 1st on Decca.  Produced by the celebrated Mark Ronson, this is the seventh studio album from one of the most accomplished, contemporary singer-songwriters today. 

 

A labor of love for both Wainwright and Ronson, Rufus calls Out of the Game, “the most pop album I’ve ever made,” while Ronson recently stated, “it’s the best work of my career.”  Recorded in New York in the fall of 2011, the twelve songs are hook-laden, memorably arranged tracks reminiscent of Rufus’ early work, following 2010’s more quietly intimate outing, Songs For Lulu. 

 

From the uptempo opening chords of the title track and first single, to the gospel tinged rock of ‘Jericho,’ through the beauty of ‘Sometimes You Need’ and the emotional pull of ‘Candles,’ this new disc ranks alongside Rufus Wainwright’s very best. 

 

Musicians on the album include the Dap-Kings who Mark used for the groundbreaking Amy Winehouse Back To Black album and his own ‘Record Collection’; Wilco’s Nels Cline; Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs; Andrew Wyatt from Miike Snow; Sean Lennon and Martha Wainwright.

 

Influences, as ever, were all encompassing. Mark says Out of the Game “has a real 70’s, Laurel Canyon spirit” while Rufus cites “all the greats- Elton, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie - basically the brash and beautiful. It’s also very Rufus.”

 

Affectionately referred to by Elton John as "the greatest songwriter on the planet" and praised by The New York Times for his “genuine originality,” Grammy nominee Rufus Wainwright has established himself as one of the great male vocalists and songwriters of his generation.  He is the son of folk singers Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, and brother of Martha Wainwright, but Rufus has achieved his success by carving out his own singular sound in the worlds of rock, opera, theater, dance and film. 

DON'T THINK: The Chemical Brothers Spill Onto The Big Screen

The Chemical Brothers perform at Denver's Fillmore Auditorium, September 2010

by Toby Click

For nearly twenty years, The Chemical Brothers have created electronic music designed for listening as much as dancing. So perhaps this makes them especially suited to being the subject of a concert film.

Don't Think is a full-length movie, directed by Adam Smith (who made a complete set of videos for all the songs on the British duo's 2010 album Further). Chronicling a performance at Japan's Fuji Rock Festival 2011, it was shown in movie theaters across the nation in a one-night-only event on February 1.

If you have not seen Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons perform live, this is arguably the next best thing. No less than twenty cameras were positioned on the stage, above the stage, in the audience, near the concession stands, all with the goal of capturing the experience from every viewpoint.

The pair performs against an enormous dazzling video backdrop, which displays imagery such as toy robots, 3-D zooms through cathedrals, wild animals, silhouetted lovers, and a giant evil clown commanding the audience to "get yourself high." Throughout, we see the reactions of the audience: some are amused, exhilarated, bewildered, disturbed. At one point, pictures of crickets are projected onto the ground, and curious fans chase after them like a cat following a laser pointer.

Songs include most of their better-known hits: "Block Rockin' Beats", "Star Guitar", "Out of Control", and the title's inspiration: "Don't Think", a bonus track from Further that figured prominently in another movie, Black Swan. A generous portion of screentime is devoted to the sprawling epic "Escape Velocity".

The mix does not simply blend each song's finish into the beginning of the next, but there is layering of elements, sometimes from three or more tracks at once. There's a lot more going on than a couple of guys on a stage pressing a spacebar on a laptop. Although there's a particular moment, when a single finger presses a single key labeled "HBHG", which sends the audience into raptures with the droning intro of "Hey Boy Hey Girl". In a post-movie commentary, the director points out how he included this moment to illustrate how something as simple as pressing one button can ignite such an emotional response among thousands of people at once. And Tom & Ed have many, many buttons at their disposal.

Although no announcements have yet been made, it stands to reason that Don't Think will soon be available for home video and/or audio. When and if it shows up, give it a listen. And maybe dance, too.

SafetySuit - These Times

Amazing video for new SafetySuit single, “These Times,” featuring real people sharing their story…just debuted on Vevo!

Robin Thicke - Love After War

Robin Thicke is set to release his fifth studio album 'Love After War' on December 6. Written and produced by Robin Thicke with producing partner Pro Jay. 'Love After War is Thicke' in his most raw and honest condition yet. Thicke says the album was born out of a desire to be the uncompromising, idealistic artist he was as a boy, married with the weight of being a man with responsibilities and the scars of the past. The video for the first single, the title track “Love After War” premiered recently on VEVO and BET’s '106 & Park'.

David Guetta goes to #1 with 'Without You'

 
“Without You,” the current single from David Guetta, has ascended to No. 1 on the Top 40 Airplay chart, where it reigns for the second consecutive week. This achievement marks the global superstar DJ and producer’s highest U.S. chart placement yet. 

Currently positioned at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Without You,” featuring Usher, has been certified platinum, making it the second million-selling single off Guetta’s new album Nothing But the Beat following the summer sensation “Where Them Girls At” featuring Nicki Minaj and Flo rida. Released by Capitol Records/Astralwerks on August 29^th, Nothing But The Beat debuted Top 5 in 12 countries and has sold 1.5 million copies world-wide.

To celebrate the success of “Without You” Guetta has partnered with VEVO for the official David Guetta “I Can’t Live WITHOUT YOU” VEVO Sweepstakes which launched this week and runs through December 26.  Entrants can win prizes including an all-inclusive trip for two to the Grammys, a trip for a family of four to Disney World, an iPad2, Beats headphones, or an official WITHOUT YOU RIAA platinum plaque from David Guetta.    

For more details on how to enter, please see the David Guetta tab at www.facebook.com/VEVO!

Holiday Music Extravaganza - Annie Lennox, Shelby Lynne, The Puppini Sisters

It's that time again ... time for the relentless onslaught of holiday music. Get ready to enjoy new stuff as well as the classics we all know and love from a variety of artists including:

Annie Lennox - one of the most successful, iconic and talented artists of the late 20th century -- is back like you’ve never heard her before with 'A Christmas Cornucopia'. A stunning collection of new and inspired interpretations of eleven traditional festive songs, the disc is rounded out by her new composition and first single, “Universal Child.” The CD will be released on Decca in the U.S. and everywhere else November 15th on Island Records.

“I’ve known these songs and carols all my life, and I’ve sung them since I was little,” says the songwriter and singer of such beautiful tracks as “The Holly And The Ivy,” “Silent Night,” “The First Noel,” and other, more unconventional songs such as “Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant,” and “Lullay Lullay.” “They’re just in me. They’re a huge part of my life. So it’s not an arbitrary selection. Those relationships with those pieces of music were there intrinsically before I approached the recording.”

The music on the album was mostly played by Lennox, in collaboration with co-producer Mike Stevens, and recorded in his southwest London studio – at the bottom of his garden. But to achieve the resonance and vibrancy that were integral to Lennox’s ideas, the pair also worked with a 30-piece orchestra at Pinewood Studios. They also traveled to South Africa and recorded with the African Children’s Choir, a remarkable organization with whom impassioned campaigner and activist Lennox has long had a relationship.

The Annie Lennox Foundation, the star’s own charity, raises money for charitable projects supporting and educating women and children in Africa with HIV/AIDS. “All the income that I earn from ‘Universal Child’ will be paid to the Annie Lennox Foundation,” commented the singer of her first single.Shelby Lynne offers up 'Merry Christmas' – the Grammy winner’s first holiday collection, coming out on her own Everso Records.

Swingin’ and rockin’, sexy and eccentric have never before described a Christmas album--until now. Then again, there has never before been an artist who claims both The Andrews Sisters and The Smiths as influences. Holiday music finally puts on red lipstick, slips into a silky cleavage-celebrating ballgown, and goes gorgeous and glamorous with 'Christmas With The Puppini Sisters' (below left).

A female vocal trio featuring ‘40s-style close harmony, backed by a fearless jazz threesome, the retro-futuristic Puppini Sisters put their signature sequined stamp on timeless songs of the season for the sensational group’s third album.

From a scorching cover of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas,” hyperspeed “Step Into Christmas,” oh-so-sexy “Santa Baby,” cabaret “Here Comes Santa Claus” and lilting “Last Christmas” to a weirdly wonderful “White Christmas,” scat-filled “Let It Snow,” ukulele oozing “Mele Kalilimaka,” uber-trad “Winter Wonderland” and divine “O Holy Night,” the Puppini Sisters deliver original twists rather than nostalgic flashbacks.

Summer Music: Deluka, Lucy Woodward, Alexis Jordan, Robyn, Cyndi Lauper, Lady Gaga

Deluka are an indie electronic band from England, whose sound has been likened to nearly every genre from punk to disco and is a perfect storm of fluid electronic beats and hailing rock riffs. Check out the video for their single 'Cascade.'


"I wanted to make a modern-day torch record, but I didn't want to do a record of all standards because I had stuff I wanted to say," says Lucy Woodward of 'Hooked!', her third album. "At first I was resistant to the idea of doing covers, but then I fell in love with the process of taking a song and trying to make it my own."


Alexis Jordan got her start in 2008 on 'America's Got Talent' and made it all the way to the semi-finals. Now, after working with multi-platinum, award-winning production and writing team Stargate, she offers up her first single 'Happiness.'


Robyn says'Dancing On My Own' was inspired by her "love of inherently sad, gay disco anthems.' 'Nuff said!

Cyndi Lauper's newest, 'Memphis Blues,' is a gritty collection of blues covers songs.

"This is the album I've wanted to make for years," she says. "All of these beautiful songs, and all of the great players on the album, were carefully chosen because I've admired them my entire life."

Above she performs 'Just Your Fool' live on 'Celebrity Apprentice.'


'Lady Gaga - The Remix' features ten songs from 'The Fame' and 'The Fame Monster' including hits like 'Just Dance', 'Poker Face', 'Bad Romance', and 'Alejandro'. I was just in San Diego for Pride and Lady Gaga is all anybody played - these songs have some serious staying power!

Marina & The Diamonds - I Am Not A Robot

Marina & The Diamonds – the nom de musique of Marina Diamandis – has quickly become a sensation in the UK, where Diamandis was recently named the #2 artist on the BBC’s ever-prescient “Sound of 2010” ranking. Her debut album, 'The Family Jewels' made a stunning chart debut this week at #5 in the U.K. and will arrive stateside on May 25.

These New Puritans - Attack Music

Hunter Valentine - The Stalker

Check out the first video from Hunter Valentine's new album 'Lessons From The Late Night.'

A Shoreline Dream - Oudekerk

SXSW 2010 - a shoreline dream from Latenight Weeknight on Vimeo.

Check out this video the guys from A Shoreline Dream made documenting their road trip from Colorado down to Austin for this year’s SXSW.

The video features their newest track 'Oudekerk.'

Shontelle - Licky

Check out 'Licky,' the first song from Shontelle's sophomore album, 'No Gravity,' out this summer.

Ani DiFranco returns to Colorado

Ani DiFranco has established herself as one of the most influential and inspirational artists of her generation. Now, Ani returns to Colorado – bringing her electrifying live performance to select stages: at Armstrong Hall, Colorado College in Colorado Springs (presented by Maven Productions and KRCC FM) on Tuesday, April 20 and at the Ogden Theatre in Denver on Thursday, April 22 (presented by KBCO FM and Maven). 

Slam Poet World Champion, and Righteous Babe Records label-mate Buddy Wakefield (left) will open both shows.

Little Boots: Remedy

British dance-pop sensation Little Boots recently released her much- anticipated full-length album debut, 'Hands.'

'Hands,' which was released in June 2009 in the UK, features the hit songs 'Stuck on Repeat', 'New In Town' and current single, 'Remedy' which the NY Post recently praised as a “synth-pop gem” and named one of their “Top 209 songs of 2009.”

Goldfrapp - Rocket

Check out Goldfrapp's new video for "Rocket," the first single off their upcoming album 'Head First', which will be released on March 23.

Ugh, embedding is disabled so you have to click the link, but it's worth it.

Update: The video is below. Thank you, Ryan - you're a treasure, a delight.

Rocket

GOLDFRAPP | MySpace Music Videos

Estelle - Freak

Check out Estelle's new video for 'Freak'.

Kelis: Acapella

Nearly four years have passed since the release of the Top 10, Grammy-nominated 'Kelis Was Here'.

Is new single 'Acapella' worth the wait?

“The ‘Milkshake’ temptress returns with another tall glass of delicious,” says Entertainment Weekly.

“I wrote it with love and life in mind,” says Kelis, who worked with several influential producers, including David Guetta, will.i.am, Free School, Boys Noize, Burnz, DJ Ammo and Benny Benassi on her new album.

Things to do in Denver when you're gay: Ninth+Lincoln Orchestra at Dazzle

The Ninth+Lincoln Orchestra bridges the gap between jazz tradition and modern musical forms.

The band features the finest performers in Colorado's music scene including members of Future Jazz Project, The Czars, Hamster Theatre, and Jazz Faculty from all of the fine jazz college programs in the region.

Their 2007 debut CD 'Ninth+Lincoln' received 3.5 stars in Downbeat Magazine and you can see them live this Sunday, February 28 at  Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge.

The Mother Hips come to Denver

The Mother Hips - led by co-founders Tim Bluhm (vocals/guitar) and Greg Loiacono (guitar/vocals) - have been playing music for nearly 18 years, and in the process, have had the luxury of exploring and refining their craft. Hailed by critics for their "rootsy mix of 70s rock and power pop" (pitchfork.com) and for their unflinching ability to "sing it sweet and play it dirty" (New Yorker) The Mother Hips bring their "California soul" sound to the Hi-Dive in Denver on Friday, March 12 at 10 p.m.

Download two free songs from the new album 'Pacific Dust' by clicking here.

Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years

The Gambler is back with an upcoming television special worthy of his musical legacy – 'Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years'.

A rollicking celebration filled with music and guest-stars like Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Alison Krauss, Wynonna and The Oak Ridge Boys, 'Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years' will tape on April 10th at the MGM Grand At Foxwoods and tickets for the event may be purchased starting February 11 at 9 a.m. online at www.mgmatfoxwoods.com.

“When this was first proposed to me as a 50-year celebration, something about that sounded final, and I didn’t want that, so I suggested we call it ‘The First 50 Years,’” Rogers said. “I will tell you this, the first 50 years TV show is gonna be awesome – the next 50 years TV show is gonna be a bitch.”



Fun Fact: 'Islands in the Stream' is the best-selling duet ever!