Tuesday, October 15, 2002
Album Chart: Bon Jovi can’t overthrow the King
Despite brisk first-week sales, “Bounce,” the latest from Bon Jovi, wasn’t able to outsell the Elvis Presley compilation “Elvis: 30 #1 Hits.”
Despite brisk first-week sales, “Bounce,” the latest from Bon Jovi, wasn’t able to outsell the Elvis Presley compilation “Elvis: 30 #1 Hits.”
Presley’s posthumous best-of collection, which will top the forthcoming Billboard 200 album chart for the third consecutive week, sold about 205,000 copies during its latest week in stores, pushing its total sales past the 1 million mark.
That leaves “Bounce” with a No. 2 debut thanks to sales of about 160,000 copies, according to industry sources. The veteran New Jersey rock act continues to score hits, and propelled sales of its latest album with the single “Everyday.”
Rounding out a chart-topping rock triumvirate is “Forty Licks,” the Rolling Stones’ two-disc hits collection, which slips to No. 3 after debuting at No. 2 last week.
“The Last DJ,” the latest offering from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is the only other newcomer to the Top 10, and makes its debut at No. 9 after selling about 74,000 copies.
Avril Lavigne’s “Let Go,” Nelly’s “Nellyville,” the Dixie Chicks’ “Home” and Eminem’s “The Eminem Show” all continue to knock around in the Top 10; “Let Go” is up two places to No. 4, “Nellyville” is up three rungs to No. 5, “Home” slips a notch to No. 6, and “The Eminem Show” rebounds two spots to No. 7.
Xzibit’s “Man vs. Machine,” which debuted at No. 3 last week, lands at No. 8 this time around, and the “American Idol Greatest Moments” soundtrack falls six places to No. 10.
Keith Urban’s “Golden Road” comes up just short of a Top 10 debut, and lands instead at No. 11. Not far behind, Chevelle’s “Wonder What’s Next” and Jurassic 5’s “Power in Numbers” debut at Nos. 14 and 15, respectively.
“Bare Naked,” the latest from actor-singer Jennifer Love Hewitt, enters the chart at No. 37, and is followed by Heather Headley’s “This Is Who I Am” at No. 38.
Debuting further down the chart are Kottonmouth Kings’ “Rollin’ Stoned” at No. 51, Ben Folds’ “Ben Folds Live” at No. 60, John Michael Montgomery’s “Pictures” at No. 110, Tela’s “Double Dose” at No. 116, Gov’t Mule’s “The Deep End Vol. 2” at No. 117, Pinmonkey’s self-titled album at No. 126, Sinead O’Connor’s “Sean-Nos Nua” at No. 139, Point of Grace’s “Girls of Grace” at No. 175 and Sammy Hagar and the Waboritas’ “Not 4 Sale” at No. 181.
New System of a Down release due for the holidays
"Steal This Album,” a collection of previously unreleased tracks from System of a Down, is scheduled to hit stores in time for the holiday season, according to the band’s publicist.
"Steal This Album,” a collection of previously unreleased tracks from System of a Down, is scheduled to hit stores in time for the holiday season, according to the band’s publicist.
The album will feature from 12 to 17 tracks. Some of the album’s songs have roots that date to before the group signed its 1995 contract with American Recordings, and the most recent were recorded during sessions for the band’s 2001 release “Toxicity.”
The album was produced by Rick Rubin with System’s guitarist Daron Malakian, and is being mixed in Los Angeles by Andy Wallace (who mixed the band’s 2001 release, “Toxicity").
“We don’t consider any of these songs B-sides or outtakes,” System vocalist Serj Tankian said in a statement. “The songs that didn’t make it onto ‘Toxicity’ are as good as, if not better than the songs that did--they weren’t originally included because they didn’t fit the overall continuity of the album, and we’re happy that our fans will be able to hear them in their completed form.”
Neither the album’s final track listing nor its exact release date has been determined.
“This record is like a bridge between ‘Toxicity’ and our next studio record,” Malakian said. “It may give our fans a clue at the direction we’re headed in musically.”
The album’s packaging will resemble a homemade CD: a clear jewel case with “no cover art, no booklet and no standard J-card,” according to a statement issued by the band’s publicist. “The title will be scrawled across the face of the CD, and complete credits and other information can be accessed by inserting the CD into a computer and logging onto a special Internet site.”
Monday, October 14, 2002
Street Date Oct. 15: Faith Hill, LL Cool J
Also: Tracy Chapman, Taproot, “Jackass the Soundtrack,” The Blasters.
Also: Tracy Chapman, Taproot, “Jackass the Soundtrack,” The Blasters.
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Faith Hill - “Cry” (Warner Bros.)
The title track of Hill’s fifth studio recording is riding numerous country and mainstream singles charts, and is also featured in commercials for the NBC sitcom “Will & Grace.” The new disc gives purchasers access to behind-the-scenes footage of the making of the album, according to Hill’s official website. The singer launches the album with a performance on “The Late Show with David Letterman” on Tuesday (10/15), and on “The View” on Wednesday (10/16).
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LL Cool J - “X” (Def Jam)
LL Cool J has paved the way for his aptly named 10th album with his current hit-single, “Luv U Better.” The song’s music video is posted at Def Jam’s official website. LL’s new album features several producers, including the Neptunes and Trackmasters.
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Tracy Chapman - “Let It Rain” (Elektra)
Best known for her 1988 hit “Fast Car,” Chapman returns with the follow-up to 2000’s “Telling Stories.” Elektra is streaming the new album at its “Let It Rain” listening-party website. The Grammy award-winning folk singer appears on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on Tuesday (10/15).
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Taproot - “Welcome” (Atlantic)
Two years after the release of its major-label debut, Taproot returns with 12 new tracks produced by Toby Wright (Alice In Chains, Korn, Metallica) and mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Foo Fighters). In a press release, singer/guitarist Stephen Richards gives Wright credit for the new album’s sense of experimentation. The record would not be the same if he hadn’t pushed us the way he did,” Richards said. “He deserves props for making us search for the best music we had inside us.”
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Various Artists - “Jackass the Soundtrack” (American)
This soundtrack includes new songs from Andrew W.K. ("We Want Fun"), CKY ("Flesh Into Gear") and Sahara Hot Nights ("Alright, Alright (Here’s My Fist, Where’s The Fight)"), as well as 10 previously released tracks, including the Minutemen’s “Corona” (which is the “Jackass” theme song), the Ramones’ “California Sun” and Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back.” The soundtrack is packaged with a free DVD containing exclusive “Jackass” footage, according to the soundtrack’s website.
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The Blasters - “Trouble Bound” (HighTone)
The original Blasters--Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin, John Bazz, Bill Bateman, and Gene Taylor--reunited for a series of shows at Hollywood’s House of Blues in March and June. Tape was rolling, and this album resulted. Among the tracks are covers of Johnny “Guitar” Watson’s “Too Tired,” Jr. Parker’s “Crying for My Baby,” and Sonny Burgess’ “Sadie’s Back in Town,” as well as many favorites dating back to the band’s early-’80s heyday.
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Other new releases:
Abscess - “Through the Cracks of Death” (Peaceville)
The All-American Rejects - “The All-American Rejects” (Doghouse)
Arkestra One - “Arkestra One” (ESL)
Bad Astronaut - “Houston: We Have a Drinking Problem” (Honest Don’s)
Bond - “Shine” (Decca)
Brian Bromberg - “Jaco” (A440)
Sarah Brightman - “Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection / Encore”
Terri Lynne Carrington - “Jazz Is a Spirit” (ACT)
Cave In - “Tides of Tomorrow (EP)” (Hydra Head/RCA)
Tammy Cochran - “Life Happened” (Epic)
Deborah Coleman - “Soul Be It!” (Blind Pig)
Coolio - “El Cool Magnifico” (D3)
Cordero - “Lamb Lost in the City” (Daemon)
Cowboy Nation - “Cowgirl a Go-Go"” (Paras)
Deride - “First Round Knockout” (The Music Cartel)
Hilary Duff - “A Wonderful Christmas” (Walt Disney)
Fleetwood Mac - “The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac"Garageland - “Scorpio Righting” (Food Chain)
Dana Glover - “Testimony” (Dreamworks)
Dave Hollister - “Things in the Game Done Changed” (Motown)
Keith Jarrett Trio - “Always Let Me Go” (two CDs) (ECM)
Jets To Brazil - “Perfecting Loneliness” (Jade Tree)
Cledus T. Judd - “Cledus Navidad” (Monument)
Kane & Abel - “The Last Ones Left” (Entertainment Solutions/D3)
Kenoly Brothers - “No Distance” (Acts 26)
James Lavelle - “Barcelona” (Global Underground)
Gerald Levert - “The G Spot” (Elektra)
Charles Lloyd - “Lift Every Voice” (two CDs) (ECM)
Madrid de los Austrias - “Amor” (Lakeshore)
Meat Beat Manifesto - “R.U.O.K.?” (Lakeshore)
David Meece - “There I Go Again” (Aluminum)
Mighty Mighty Bosstones/Madcap - “Mighty Mighty Bosstones/Madcap (EP)” (Chunksaah)
Buddy Miller - “Midnight and Lonesome” (Lee Ann Womack and Emmylou Harris guest) (HighTone)
Jason Mraz - “Waiting for My Rocket to Come” (Elektra)
One Man Army - “Rumors and Headlines” (BYO)
Pele - “Enemies” (Polyvinyl)
Pentagram - “Turn to Stone” (Peaceville)
Bill Perry - “Crazy Kind of Life” (Blind Pig)
Plus One - “Christmas” (Atlantic)
Mark Rae - “Rae Road” (Grand Central)
The Ramones - “Loud Fast Ramones: Their Toughest Hits” (Rhino)
Ronnie Reno - “Portfolio” (Shell Point)
Ship of Fools - “Let’s Get This Mother Outta Here” (Peaceville)
Slow Gherkin - “Run Screaming” (Asian Man)
Sugarman 3 - “Pure Cane Sugar” (Daptone)
Swedish Egil - “Presents Telica” (Thump)
Thine - “In Therapy” (Peaceville)
Amon Tobin - “Out from Out Where” (Ninja Tune/NTone/Big Dada)
The Ukrainians - “Respublika” (Omnium)
Yakuza - “Way of the Dead” (Century Media)
Rachel Z - “Moon at the Window” (Tone Center)
Various artists - “666: A Double Dose of Maiden” (two CDs) (Big Eye)
Various artists - “Chillout Tribute to Pink Floyd” (Big Eye)
Various artists - “Christmas on the Mountain: A Bluegrass Christmas” (Universal South)
Various artists - “The Ethereal Tribute to U2” (Vitamin)
Various artists - “A Punk Tribute to the Clash” (w/999’s Nick Cash, Alarm’s Mike Peters and others) (Cleopatra)
Various artists - “Radio Disney Holiday Jams, Vol. 2” (Walt Disney)
Various artists - “Red Hot Riot!” (w/D’Angelo, Blackalicious, Macy Gray and others) (MCA)
“Jacked Up” (w/Bone Thugs N’ Harmony, DJ Quik, Fieldy and others) (Penalty)
“Swept Away” (score by Michael Colombier w/Della Reese and others) (Varèse Sarabande)
“The Truth About Charlie” (new Mark Wahlberg film) (Epic)
‘Angry American’ Toby Keith continues busy tour schedule
Oklahoma native Toby Keith, still riding the success of his post-Sept. 11 hit “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” remains on the road through November.
Oklahoma native Toby Keith, still riding the success of his post-Sept. 11 hit “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” remains on the road through November.
Keith’s profile has been further raised of late by his starring role in a new advertising campaign for Ford trucks.
“Unleashed," Keith’s latest album, was released in July and has sold nearly 1.2 million copies to date, according to industry sources. Keith co-produced “Unleashed” with his longtime producer James Stroud, who also heads Nashville’s DreamWorks Records.
In the midst of his road work, Keith will take time out to perform at the 36th Annual CMA Awards, which are set to be handed out on Nov. 6. Keith won the 2001 CMA Award for Male Vocalist of the Year.
Keith is also scheduled to host Nashville’s portion of the CBS Thanksgiving Day morning parade special. The special will include parades from Detroit, Honolulu, New York and Nashville.
Thursday, October 10, 2002
Steve Earle backs ‘Jerusalem’ with November dates
Country maverick Steve Earle and singer-songwriter Garrison Starr spend November on a tour that focuses on the eastern U.S.
Country maverick Steve Earle and singer-songwriter Garrison Starr spend November on a tour that focuses on the eastern U.S.
Earle’s road work supports his new album, “Jerusalem,” which entered the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 59 last week and is his highest debut ever. The album also entered Billboard’s Top Independent Albums chart at No. 1 and the Country chart at No. 7.
Even before its release, Earle’s sixth album in six years has garnered much negative attention on conservative talk-shows for its track “John Walker’s Blues,” which was written from the perspective of so-called American Taliban John Walker Lindh, and explores how Lindh may have ended up in Afghanistan.
“Fundamentalism, as practiced by the Taliban, is the enemy of real thought, and religion too,” Earle said in a statement. “But there are circumstances.”
Among the albums other tracks is a duet with Emmylou Harris titled “I Remember You.”
Wednesday, October 09, 2002
Ticket Window: Guns N’ Roses, The Other Ones
Upcoming onsales also include Aerosmith, Nelly, Peter Gabriel, Shakira, Tool and Tori Amos.
Upcoming onsales also include Aerosmith, Nelly, Peter Gabriel, Shakira, Tool and Tori Amos.
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Aerosmith
Read about the tour.
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Guns N’ Roses
Read about the tour.
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Nelly
Read about the tour.
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The Other Ones
Read about the tour.
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Peter Gabriel
Read about the tour.
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Shakira
Read about the tour.
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Tool
Read about the tour.
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Tori Amos
Read about the tour.
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All ticket on-sale times and concert dates are subject to change without notice. Confirm with your local venue and/or ticket seller.
SoundSpike’s Ticket Window feature is updated each Thursday evening.
Creed reschedules postponed shows
UPDATED 8:50 am, Oct. 11: Creed frontman Scott Stapp has taken ill, forcing the band to reschedule a number of October performances.
UPDATED 8:50 am, Oct. 11: Creed frontman Scott Stapp has taken ill, forcing the band to reschedule a number of October performances.
Stapp released a statement on Thursday (10/10) night, in which he explained that he is suffering from “acute laryngitis” due to the swelling of his vocal chords. He also said that, despite an earlier announcement to the contrary, the band would still perform its promotional Thursday-night concert on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco.
“Earlier this year we had to cancel tour dates after I was involved in a car accident where my car was rear ended on an Orlando interstate,” Stapp said. “This tour cancellation caused me to embark on the rest of the year’s tour by aggressively trying to play the already scheduled shows as well as trying to make up all of the canceled dates in a short amount of time.
The “ambitious tour schedule,” Stapp said, turned out to be too much for him, and doctors have now said that the group must deal with his condition by rescheduling numerous dates.
Stapp went on to say that the one show that the group was not able to postpone, and at which it would instead play a shortened set, was Thursday night’s performance on Alcatraz Island, which the group booked two weeks prior “as a favor to VH1,” according to Stapp.
“Despite direct orders from my ear, nose, and throat specialist Dr. Joseph Sugerman, and at the risk of possibly causing further damage to my vocal chords, the band and I have decided to do a shortened set due to the fact that are 600 winners that have already been flown in from around the country that have taken time off of work and made extensive personal arrangements to see the show,” Stapp said. “Us playing this show is only being made possible by me taking an anti-inflammatory shot known Decadron that, although it can’t be taken on a daily basis, will temporarily ease the swelling in my throat.
“Contrary to popular belief, we aren’t being paid for the show, the only reason we are doing it is that we simply feel like we must make some attempt to honor this commitment out of respect for the time, effort, and trouble that the fans must have gone through to make it to this show.
Stapp said that the Wallflowers, whom event sponsor T-Mobile had announced on Thursday would replace Creed outright, would instead perform following Creed’s abbreviated set.
“We have every intention of playing all of the shows that we are scheduled to do this year,” Stapp continued, “including a fan appreciation show in Las Vegas where the band feels that due to my vocal illness, our show wasn’t up to Creed’s standards.”
Rescheduled dates for the group’s performances in Los Angeles, Mountain View, San Diego, Bakersfield, Spokane, Sacramento and Phoenix, as well as the date for the planned fan-appreciate show in Las Vegas, appear in the itinerary below.
The status of the group’s postponed Boise, Idaho, concert has not yet been determined, according to Stapp’s announcement.
Tuesday, October 08, 2002
Goo Goo Dolls, Lisa Loeb set tour plans through December
The hard-touring Goo Goo Dolls open the second leg of their North American road trip in support of “Gutterflower” on Halloween, and remain on the road for more than a month.
The hard-touring Goo Goo Dolls open the second leg of their North American road trip in support of “Gutterflower” on Halloween, and remain on the road for more than a month.
Singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb, who is scheduled to release a new album titled “Hello Lisa” on Oct. 15, opens all dates.
“Gutterflower," which hit stores in April, is the Goo Goo Dolls’ first album of new material in more than four years. It followed “Dizzy Up the Girl,” which has sold nearly six million copies to date, according to Warner Bros.
The Recording Industry Association of America has certified “Gutterflower” gold, representing shipments of 500,000 copies.
“Gutterflower," which was written by guitarist John Rzeznik and bassist Robby Takac, was produced by the band with longtime collaborator Rob Cavallo.
Album Chart: Elvis, Rolling Stones trounce youngsters
A slew of newcomers surface in this week’s Top 20, but two old-time rock icons--one of whom died 25 years ago--will occupy the top slots on the forthcoming album chart.
A slew of newcomers surface in this week’s Top 20, but two old-time rock icons--one of whom died 25 years ago--will occupy the top slots on the forthcoming album chart.
“Elvis: 30 #1 Hits,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart after selling more than a half-million copies during its first week out, will stay put this week. The Presley best-of set moved nearly 337,000 copies during its second week in stores, according to industry sources.
Running a close second to the King of Rock and Roll is “Forty Licks,” a two-disc hits collection from the Rolling Stones. The album debuts at No. 2 thanks to first-week sales of about 310,000.
Well behind the chart-topping old timers are the debuts of Xzibit’s “Man Vs. Machine” and the “American Idol: Greatest Moments” compilation, which enter the chart at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively.
The aforementioned trio of debuts pushes the Dixie Chicks’ “Home” and Avril Lavigne’s “Let Go” down three spots each, leaving them Nos. 5 and 6, respectively
The fourth and final newcomer in the Top 10 is Good Charlotte’s “The Young & the Hopeless,” which checks in at No. 6, and is followed by the enduring Top 10 duo of Eminem and Nelly, whose “The Eminem Show” and “Nellyville” slip to Nos. 8 and 9, respectively.
Closing out the Top 10 is Disturbed’s “Believe,” which dips to No. 10 after debuting at No. 4 last week.
Other high-charting debuts include LeAnn Rimes’ “Twisted Angel” at No. 12, Diana Krall’s “Live in Paris” at No. 18 and Floetry’s “Floetic” at No. 19.
Entering further down the chart are the Christian-contemporary “Wow Hits 2003” compilation at No. 34, Mark Knopfler’s “The Ragpicker’s Dream” at No. 38, “The Very Best of Sting & the Police” at No. 46 and Isyss’ “The Way We Do” at No. 55.
Monday, October 07, 2002
Sammy Hagar, “Not 4 Sale” (Cabo Wabo/33rd Street)
Six years after getting bounced from Van Halen, Sammy Hagar continues to crank out his own brand of easily digestible, good-time rock.
Six years after getting bounced from Van Halen, Sammy Hagar continues to crank out his own brand of easily digestible, good-time rock.
Hagar himself best sums up the album’s overall vibe on the title track, in which he sings: “I start to hum this old melody / It sounds familiar, but that’s alright / It gets me by, it keeps me high.” It’s not a ground-breaking release but, at this point, the well-established musician clearly is making music for himself and his legion of loyal followers, and isn’t trying to win over critics or new fans.
The album’s handful of heavier numbers--particularly opening track “Stand Up"--prove that Hagar, who turns 55 this month, hasn’t mellowed with age; he’s still able to sing as forcefully and howl as loudly as he did 20 years ago.
Familiar-sounding soft rock rounds out much of the album, and is punctuated by the country-tinged “The Big Nail” and experimental Led Zeppelin tribute “Whole Lotta Zep.”