Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Bon Jovi, Vanessa Carlton to anchor Thanksgiving Halftime Show
Bon Jovi and Vanessa Carlton provide the entertainment during the 5th Annual Thanksgiving Halftime Show, which takes place during the NFL’s Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots game on Thursday (11/28).
Bon Jovi and Vanessa Carlton provide the entertainment during the 5th Annual Thanksgiving Halftime Show, which takes place during the NFL’s Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots game on Thursday (11/28).
Bon Jovi is scheduled to perform its hit songs “Everyday” and “It’s My Life.” The New Jersey rockers recently released a new album titled “Bounce,” which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
Carlton will perform “A Thousand Miles” from her debut album “Be Not Nobody,” which has been on the Billboard charts for more than 30 weeks.
The game and halftime show will be broadcast live on CBS-TV at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time from the new Ford Field in downtown Detroit. According to the NFL, an audience of 40 million is expected to tune in.
Album Chart: Shania Twain leads charge of Top 10 debuts
Those with a penchant for getting their holiday shopping done early launched a slew of new albums into the Top 10 this week.
Those with a penchant for getting their holiday shopping done early launched a slew of new albums into the Top 10 this week.
Leading the charge were releases from Shania Twain, Audioslave, Ja Rule, Matchbox Twenty and the latest installment in the “Now That’s What I Call Music!” series.
Twain’s “Up!” had by far the strongest first-week showing, with sales of over 874,000 copies, according to industry sources. The total easily secures the album a No. 1 debut on the forthcoming Billboard 200 album chart.
Coming in at a distant second with sales of about 316,000 is “Now! 11,” a hits compilation that features previously released tracks from Nelly, Creed, Shakira, Kylie Minogue, Eve featuring Alicia Keys, Bon Jovi, Norah Jones, Vanessa Carlton and others.
Dropping one spot to No. 3 is the “8 Mile” soundtrack, managing to stay ahead of Ja Rule’s “The Last Temptation,” which debuts at No. 4 with sales of just under 238,000 copies.
Jay-Z’s “Blueprint 2,” which last week debuted at No. 1, drops to No. 5 thanks to second-week sales of roughly 187,000 copies, about 65 percent less than its first-week total.
Two more debuts follow, with Matchbox Twenty’s “More Than You Think You Are” in at No. 6, and the self-titled debut from Audioslave--featuring former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell and the power-trio behind the now-defunct Rage Against the Machine--in at No. 7 with sales of about 162,000 copies.
Losing ground this week are Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott’s “Under Construction” and Justin Timberlake’s “Justified,” which drop to Nos. 8 and 10, respectively. Between the pair at No. 9 is Avril Lavigne’s “Let Go,” which returns to the Top 10 after dipping down to No. 11 for the past two weeks.
The debut-heavy chart also features Toni Braxton’s “More Than a Woman” at No. 13, Mudvayne’s “The End of All Things to Come” at No. 17, George Harrison’s “Brainwashed” at No. 18, Talib Kweli’s “Quality” at No. 21, David Craig’s “Slicker Than Your Average” at No. 32.
Not faring so well during their second week out are TLC’s “3D,” down from No. 6 to No. 24; 3 Doors Down’s “Away from the Sun,” down from No. 8 to No. 30; and Pearl Jam’s “Riot Act,” down from No. 5 to No. 36.
Monday, November 25, 2002
Audioslave, “Audioslave” (Epic / Interscope)
For those of you who’ve been wondering: the combination of former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell and former Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello (guitar), Tim Commerford (bass) and Brad Wilk (drums) kicks complete and total ass.
For those of you who’ve been wondering: the combination of former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell and former Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello (guitar), Tim Commerford (bass) and Brad Wilk (drums) kicks complete and total ass.
When former Rage frontman Zack de la Rocha was at the mic, his angst-filled, politically charged raps were the focal point of the band’s music. With the addition of Cornell, the group’s music now seems to give equal shares of the spotlight to all four members.
Cornell’s otherworldly vocals--which range from a lush baritone to a banshee-like howl--inspired Morello, Commerford and Wilk to try their hands at several slower, more-melodic numbers, all of which are highly listenable, but will likely cause some Rage diehards to cringe. Salvation can be found in the majority of the album’s tracks, though--such as first single “Cochise"--which feature the thunderous grooves Rage was known for paired with Cornell’s fire-breathing delivery.
Harry Connick Jr.’s new tour directed at kids
Pianist, singer and composer Harry Connick Jr. has designed a concert production specifically for children, and will take it on the road in December.
Pianist, singer and composer Harry Connick Jr. has designed a concert production specifically for children, and will take it on the road in December.
The tour, which will visit New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and San Francisco, will feature material from Connick’s recent album “Songs I Heard,” which includes songs from “The Sound of Music,” “Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory” and “Mary Poppins.”
Connick, the father of three children, will be accompanied on the tour by a small group of musicians from his big band.
In October of last year, Connick simultaneously released the albums “Songs I Heard” and “30.” The latter is a New Orleans-influenced collection that features guest appearances by jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and the late gospel vocalist Rev. James Moore, who died in 2000.
Sunday, November 24, 2002
Street Date Nov. 26: Tim McGraw, Paul McCartney
Also: 2Pac, System of a Down, Kelly Osbourne, Bob Dylan.
Also: 2Pac, System of a Down, Kelly Osbourne, Bob Dylan.
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Tim McGraw - “Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors” (Curb)
The Eagles’ Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit appear on this 15-track album, as does singer Kim Carnes. McGraw will launch the new album with a one-hour television special titled “Tim McGraw: Sing Me Home,” which will air on NBC on Wednesday (11/27). A 90-minute documentary on McGraw’s life will be screened in 26 AMC movie theaters located in 21 markets nationwide on Monday (11/25). Details are available in the news section of McGraw’s official website.
Sponsored Link:
Click here to buy “Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors” from Amazon.com.
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Paul McCartney - “Back in the U.S. Live 2002” (Capitol)
McCartney’s hugely successful 2002 tour spawns this two-disc collection of 36 tracks comprising an “all-hits” set list. Songs include Beatles classics, as well cuts from McCartney’s Wings and solo releases. The album’s companion DVD surfaces the same day. “We recorded the album at various shows on the first leg of the U.S. tour in the spring and I’m excited by the sound that we’ve got with this new band of mine,” McCartney said in a press release. “I wanted the album to capture the spirit of some magical nights on the road as a lifelong reminder for the great crowds who shared them with us.”
Sponsored Link:
Click here to buy “Back In The U.S. Live 2002” from Amazon.com.
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2Pac - “Better Dayz” (Interscope)
The sixth posthumous release from this hip-hop icon, who died in an unsolved 1996 shooting in Las Vegas, is a two-disc set consisting of 25 tracks recorded between 1994 and 1996. Johnny’J’, DJ Quik, BRISS and Jazze Pha composed the beats. “Thugz Mansion,” the album’s first single, was produced by 7 Aurelius (Ja Rule, Ashanti).
Sponsored Link:
Click here to buy “Better Dayz” from Amazon.com.
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System of a Down - “Steal this Album” (American/Columbia)
The new tracks on this California quartet’s latest were recorded from 1995 through the sessions for last year’s multi-platinum “Toxicity.” Among the new cuts is the group’s latest single, “Innervision.” The CD is being sold in a clear jewel case with no booklet; the lyrics and credits will be available online. A limited number of CDs will feature artwork that the band’s members created.
Sponsored Link:
Click here to buy “Steal this Album” from Amazon.com.
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Kelly Osbourne - “Shut Up” (Epic)
After scoring a hit earlier this year with her remake of Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach,” Ozzy’s youngest offspring launches her full-length debut. The video for the album’s title track recently debuted on MTV’s “Total Request Live,” and Osbourne will appear on Monday’s edition of that program, according to her official website. The site features streaming audio from the album, as well as details of Osbourne’s slew of promotional appearances.
Sponsored Link:
Click here to buy “Shut Up” from Amazon.com.
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Bob Dylan - “The Bootleg Series Vol. 5 - Bob Dylan Live 1975: The Rolling Thunder Revue” (Columbia)
This two-disc set features the Revue’s 1975 performances in Worcester, Cambridge, Boston, and Montreal. A limited-edition DVD packaged with the set includes 5.1 surround sound remixes of two songs from Dylan’s film “Renaldo and Clara.” A complete tracklisting is available at Dylan’s official website.
Sponsored Link: Click here to buy “The Bootleg Series Vol. 5” from Amazon.com.
Pseudopod singer undergoes surgery to remove brain tumor
Kevin Carlberg, frontman of California college-rockers Pseudopod, underwent surgery on Nov. 19 to remove a malignant brain tumor, according to Interscope Records.
Kevin Carlberg, frontman of California college-rockers Pseudopod, underwent surgery on Nov. 19 to remove a malignant brain tumor, according to Interscope Records.
According to the label, Carlberg began to suffer terrible headaches and nausea prior to a recent radio interview in Fort Collins, Colo., on the eve of the band’s planned tour with O.A.R.
A CAT scan at a local medical clinic revealed the tumor, and the band immediately returned to Los Angeles for treatment. Carlberg underwent a five-hour operation to remove the tumor last week.
“The surgery went well and Kevin bounced back quicker than anyone they’ve seen,” guitarist Ross Grant wrote in a posting on the band’s official website. “I was joking with him about his newly shaven head less than 24 hours later. But, the fight is only beginning. We won’t have a full analysis of the tumor for a few more weeks, but he will most likely need radiation and chemotherapy. We’ve canceled all touring for the time being.”
Any get-well wishes for Carlberg can be sent to: Kevin Carlberg, c/o Janette Baxa, Interscope Records, 2220 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404.
Coldplay storms through North America
England’s Coldplay will spend much of the winter touring North America in support of its latest album, “A Rush of Blood to the Head.”
England’s Coldplay will spend much of the winter touring North America in support of its latest album, “A Rush of Blood to the Head.”
The band tackles holiday radio festivals in December, making stops in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia regions. Coldplay also guests on “The Late Show with David Letterman” on Dec. 16.
In January, the band embarks on a new round of headlining dates, visiting large halls throughout the U.S. and Canada. Plans are in the works for a second leg of North American dates in May and June, according to the band’s publicist.
“A Rush of Blood to the Head,” which hit stores in August and entered the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 5, was produced by the band with Ken Nelson (Gomez, Badly Drawn Boy). Nelson also produced Coldplay’s breakthrough 2000 album, “Parachutes.”
“Parachutes" sold 1.3 million copies in the United States and 5 million worldwide. The album earned the 2002 Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.
Thursday, November 21, 2002
George Strait unveils winter tour plans
Country crooner George Strait, who recently wrapped up a 24-date fall tour, starts the new year with more than a month of shows on the U.S. arena circuit.
Country crooner George Strait, who recently wrapped up a 24-date fall tour, starts the new year with more than a month of shows on the U.S. arena circuit.
Strait switched gears this year, opting to headline an arena tour instead of firing up his popular George Strait Country Music Festival for the fifth time. The fans still came in droves, however: he played to more than 358,000 fans this fall, and grossed nearly $19 million in ticket sales, according to his publicist.
With the exception of the winter tour’s lone amphitheater date in Phoenix, all shows will be performed “in the round,” with the stage in the center of the arena. Epic recording artist Tammy Cochran will open on all dates.
Strait, who has 27 platinum albums (more than any other country artist, according to the Recording Industry Association of America), is touring behind his current CD, “The Road Less Traveled.”
Last year, the George Strait Country Music Festival featured Strait, Alan Jackson, Lonestar, Lee Ann Womack, Brad Paisley, Sara Evans and Asleep at the Wheel. Over its four year run, the event grossed about $100 million from ticket sales alone, according to Amusement Business.
Audioslave readies for first concert appearances
With its first album now in stores, Audioslave, which pairs ex-Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell with three former members of Rage Against the Machine, is preparing for its first public performances.
With its first album now in stores, Audioslave, which pairs ex-Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell with three former members of Rage Against the Machine, is preparing for its first public performances.
The group is scheduled to appear on The Late Show with David Letterman on Monday (11/25) for a “‘unique’ performance that you won’t want to miss,” the band’s official website teases.
On Dec. 7, Audioslave is scheduled to headline KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas show at the Los Angeles area’s Universal Amphitheater. The day’s bill also includes Billy Corgan’s Zwan, P.O.D., Disturbed, Queens of the Stone Age, New Found Glory, Sum 41, Taproot, TrustCompany and The Used.
Audioslave will also headline K-Rock’s Claus Fest at the New York City area’s Nassau Coliseum. The Dec. 12 show will also feature Coldplay, The Vines, Kelly & Ozzy Osbourne, Queens of the Stone Age, Zwan, Box Car Racer, Jimmy Fallon, Stone Sour, New Found Glory and Taproot.
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
Live shows, debut album ahead for Billy Corgan’s Zwan
Zwan, the new band fronted by ex-Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan, has signed with Reprise Records and has announced several live performances.
Zwan, the new band fronted by ex-Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan, has signed with Reprise Records and has announced several live performances.
Though the label hasn’t announced an official release date for the as-yet-untitled album, it reportedly is expected to reach stores in January or February.
Zwan debuted a year ago with a short series of club dates. The band features Corgan on guitar and vocals, ex-Pumpkin Jimmy Chamberlin on drums, Matt Sweeney (formerly of Chavez) and David Pajo (Slint) on guitar, and Paz Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle) on bass.
The group is set to headline a Dec. 5 show in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel club the Joint, and will follow with a series of appearances at holiday radio festivals.
Festivals on the schedule include KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas (Los Angeles), WBCN’s XMAS Rave (Boston), K-Rock’s Claus Fest (New York), HFSmas Nutcracker (Washington, D.C.), Y100’s Feastival (Philadelphia), and The Night 89X Stole Christmas (Detroit).