Month: April 2011

MOKE & TONE DEBUT LP OUT APRIL 12

Moke and Tone are the two man hip-hop consortium consisting of the Cali-born, Bronx-bred Mokeout of Hardtimes Records and the Massachusetts-based Tone of The Problemaddicts (Mystika Music, LLC); ranked in 2009 as URB.com http://URB.com ‘s “Next 1000”. Set for an April 12th release date, Shot Heard Round The World is Moke and Tone’s debut LP…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6th, 2011

GAGA RELEASES COUNTRY SINGLE FOR CHARITY Lady Gaga has decided to officially release the country version of her hit song, “Born This Way,” with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit the charity, GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.   According to a press release, the tune is available for download right…

BEN GIBBARD & MARK RONSON CONTRIBUTE TO “ARTHUR” SOUNDTRACK

WaterTower Music is thrilled to announce the release of Arthur: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, a 10-song collection for Russell Brand’s upcoming film. Out today, Tuesday April 5th, at all digital retailers, this soundtrack features two new songs by Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) and four songs produced and co-written by Mark Ronson, including…

MICHAEL FRANTI NEW VIDEO PREMIERE

Michael Franti just premiered the touching video for his new single, “I’ll Be Waiting.” In the video, Franti takes us on an emotional rollercoaster telling the story of the song through a number of perspectives, including a tearful homecoming for a soldier. Be sure to also check out this video of Franti talking about the…

XIMENA SARINANA NEW ENGLISH ALBUM

Mexican singer, songwriter and keyboardist Ximena Sariñana (hi-MEN-a sa-rin-YAH-na) has announced the release of her English-language debut on Warner Bros Records.   The self-titled album is set to hit stores August 2, 2011.   Recorded in Los Angeles with Greg Kurstin (Lily Allen, Bird and the Bee), Dave Sitek (TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah…

KILLINGER SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM DUE OUT JULY 19TH

With a contemporary sound that incorporates the best elements of classic 80s hard rock and metal, Killinger are here to rock you!   Hailing from the Western Canadian frontier that is Edmonton, Killinger is the raucous quartet comprised of frontman Dave Williams, lead guitarist Kevin Morin, bassist R. J. Killinger (whose last name serves the…

Neil Thomas, A Century of Lullabies

Over the years we’ve seen punk, rock & even alternative rock bands slowly erode into a dumbing down process of overly commercialized, corporate puppet shows. Unfortunately this form of entertainment not only exists in music but is slowly infiltrating TV Stets & Movie Theatres as well. Talking to many music fans out there, the response…

MEHRAN SHOWS STOLI THE POWER OF THE FLAMENCO GUITAR

I know I need to stick to music but I am freaking out that Japan is dumping radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean. I know they have no other options but jeez! Sometimes I just want to lock myself in my basement with cans of food, water, and the soothing & relaxing CD by Mehran.…

Jay Aura, iParty

Jay Aura is ready to get the party started with his new EP ‘iParty’.   The four-track recording has a dance club atmosphere for a reason and that is because Jay had all the strobes, lasers, girls and drinks in place.   Jay Aura didn’t just sing about being in the clubs but actually lived…

WHISKEY MYERS NEW ALBUM APRIL 26

Outlaw Country and Southern Rock outfit Whiskey Myers is releasing their raw but righteous sophomore album, titled Firewater, on April 26. Led by vocalist Cody Cannon and the twin guitars of John Jeffers and Cody Tate, Whiskey Myers has emerged as one of the Lone Star State’s hottest musical exports with their 2011 effort.  …

THE JOLLY BOYS OFFER MP3 OFF NEW ALBUM

For nearly sixty years, the Jolly Boys have been integral to the fabric of Jamaica’s musical landscape and culture heritage.   Yes, you read that correctly, sixty years!! Masters of mento, one of Jamaica’s original musics, this band has rocked innumerable private soirees, charmed the traveling elite and toured the world, leaving an indelible mark…

Steve Northeast, Another Day

In true “make it here, make it anywhere” fashion, Aussie singer/songwriter Steve Northeast relocated to New York City in 2002. Honing his craft and pursuing musical stardom in NYC venues, he first gained prominence with the release of his debut album Inside. Recently, Northeast and company released their anticipated follow-up Another Day, a 10-track dynamo…

THE JAPANESE POPSTARS SET TO RELEASE ASTRALWERKS DEBUT

The Japanese Popstars are ravenous. Since they first tasted success in 2006 with their first two releases on a small indie dance label, their career has been one smooth upward curve, but now that line is about to take a sharp rise vertically. Comprised of three lads from Northern Ireland, The Japanese Popstars have spent…

DAVE ALVIN TO RELEASE NEW STUDIO ALBUM

Yep Roc Records has announced the upcoming release of Dave Alvin’s new studio album titled Eleven Eleven on June 21st. Eleven Eleven, described as the “King of California’s” most driving, electric blues and rock oriented album since 2004’s critically acclaimed Ashgrove, includes 11-tracks, for the first time in his career, written and recorded on the…

ANTIGONE RISING PREVIEW “EVERYWHERE IS HOME”

Antigone Rising, the all female rock band from Long Island have paired with Rock Ridge Music for their upcoming release of their newest album, 23 Red.   The album is a Kickstarter success story and is to be released in mid-May.   A preview of the album is the first release track “Home is Everywhere.”

RANDOM STABBINGS & ARTLESS CRITIQUE, APRIL 2011

Lumerians, Transmalinnia (Partisan Records) Even the most pointless and unusable departments of music have bands that do enough right that you have to sort of hand it to them.   San Fran’s Lumerians are peddlers of drone, which metal band SunnO))) squeezed for every last ounce of cred it could produce several years ago, so…

ULTRA MUSIC HIRES MYVIDEORIGHTS

myvideorights (MVR), the expert in actively managing and monetizing professionally produced video online, today announced a deal with Ultra Music, an independent electronic dance music label. Through its Active Rights Management, MVR will manage Ultra Music’s digital rights and distribute the label’s content online via branded channels across video sharing and social media sites as…

JIMMY RAE GETS IN TUNE AS JAMES EVANS SETS THE TONE

Get ready to learn more about a musician who lives, breathes and thrives for the guitar.   James Evans is a Canadian artist who writes his own music and even works with other local acts in Canada.   His new group instrumental album ‘ZepOcean’ has some excellent guitar riffs and solos you just have to…

SKOPE TV PHONER FEAT TONY ROYSTER JR

Last Friday night we had the chance to talk with the only drummer that Jay-Z calls on when he has a live show. Jay-Z even called Tony Royster JR when he performed in front of President Obama for the inauguration. Tony was more than gracious to open up to Skope about everything from learning to…

DOUG RATNER & THE WATCHMEN LAUNCH NEW SINGLE “I STILL FALL”

Doug Ratner & The Watchmen have been described as one of the most promising and exciting rock bands to emerge on the New England music scene. According to The Noise, Boston’s oldest independent music magazine, their music is “a bold array of garage/power pop/classic rock with loads of harmonies, psychedelic mind twists and dirty bar…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR MONDAY, APRIL 4th, 2011

LAMBERT KICKED OUT OF GAGA’S B-DAY PARTY? Adam Lambert did not make a good impression at Lady Gaga’s 25th birthday party recently.   According to UsMagazine.com, gossip blogger Perez Hilton said that the former American Idol contestant showed up at the function in Los Angeles, “beyond drunk.   Super sloppy embarrassingly drunk,” and also that…

Jon McKiel, Confidence Lodge

A good number of singer-songwriters face the pressure of trying to prove their worth through their craft. Very often, these artists go overboard in their efforts to be heard. What listeners are left with is a jumbled effort that only scratches the surface of the songwriter’s true gift. Jon McKiel didn’t make these mistakes. Instead,…