Month: December 2009

LET’S ALL “NUKE THE SOUP”

Let’s face it–these days, it’s scary just to pick up the morning paper or turn on the news. Who wants to read yet another gloom and doom story about declining home values, jobs disappearing left and right, corporate bailouts, terrorism, political extremism, you name it. The big question is, are you “filled with dread”? Maryland…

RAZOR & HUSTLELINE ENT SHOW STOLI HOW THEY HUSTLE IN MIA

These days it seems that a new emcee appears on the scene via Myspace or Facebook everyday. But of these Internet emcees only a few really have what it takes to hustle themselves and their craft to the top. My next guest is an emcee, a CEO, and an all around hustler. Coming out of…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 7th, 2009

MILEY CYRUS TATTOO? Us Weekly has posted a photo of Miley Cyrus poolside with what looks like a tattoo under her left breast.   The 17-year-old was in Miami Beach last week when a photographer caught a shot of the words “Just Breathe” stamped on her chest.     Miley’s older brother Trace recently revealed…

Down to earth Chairlift make sounds from outer space

I met the members of Chairlift at Howley’s, a local diner on South Dixie Hwy, and a popular destination for the cool kids that make up the small hipster contingent of West Palm Beach, FL. The band was sitting in the corner table in the front section of the restaurant with a small group of…

JOE FIRSTMAN TO RELEASE ‘EL PORTO’ JANUARY 26, 2010 / AUDIO

Coming off a four year stint as the bandleader on Last Call With Carson Daly earlier this year, Joe Firstman is getting back to his roots and releasing El Porto on January 26th via Rock Ridge Music. The songs are sparse and comfortable, with a rough-hewn relaxed tone that sounds an awful lot like an…

KELLEY RYAN TO RELEASE SOLO DEBUT ALBUM ‘TWIST’ / AUDIO

In a Twist, Kelley Ryan will release a new album under her own name for the first time and not the critically-adored astroPuppees moniker she’s been working under for the past decade. Ryan is joined by Don Dixon on bass (who also produced), Marti Jones on backing vocals and Jim Brock on percussion, with Van…

MATT HIRES TO CROSS “STATE LINES” ON FIRST-EVER FULL-BAND TOUR

F-Stop Music/Atlantic recording artist Matt Hires has announced details of his upcoming headline tour — his first-ever to feature a full backing band.   The “State Lines Tour 2010” will kick off on January 20th at Jacksonville, Florida’s Jack Rabbits and then traverse the U.S. through late February (see attached itinerary).   Additional dates will…

RALPH COVERT AND HIS RALPH’S WORLD INK WITH BAR/NONE RECORDS

Bar/None Records is proud to announce the signing of family music star Ralph Covert and his Ralph’s World to an exclusive worldwide multi-album recording contract.   With seven full-length albums (including the Grammy-nominated GREEN GORILLA, MONSTER & ME), a CD/DVD anthology, an award-winning DVD and four books geared towards children already under his belt, Ralph…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4th, 2009

JUSTIN BIEBER JOINS CHRISTMAS IN WASHINGTON Justin Bieber is scheduled to perform on TNT’s holiday celebration Christmas In Washington, which airs Sunday, December 20th at 8 PM Eastern.   He will join Mary J. Blige, Neil Diamond, Sugarland, Rob Thomas and Usher.   George Lopez will host the one-hour event.   The 15-year-old Beiber has…

GREENLAND IS MELTING GIVING AWAY UPCOMING ALBUM FOR FREE

PAPER + PLASTICK is proud to announce the addition of Gainesville’s folk/bluegrass trio GREENLAND IS MELTING to its growing roster. With the band’s P+P debut set for release on vinyl early next year, the label is giving away the new album Our Hearts are Gold, Our Grass is Blue for free here: SKOPE IT HERE!…

A WEATHER TO RELEASE SOPHOMORE ALBUM

Portland, OR’s A Weather will release their sophomore album Everyday Balloons March 2, 2010 on Team Love Records.     Everyday Balloons both builds upon and maintains the intimate, understated beauty and depth of the band’s 2008 debut, Cove. Opener “Third of Life” immediately introduces A Weather’s more electric guitar-driven side and newly broadened dynamics,…

THE OXFORD AMERICAN RELEASES 11th SOUTHERN MUSIC ISSUE

The Oxford American magazine’s 11th annual Southern Music edition – weighing in at 192 pages and accompanied by two CDs with 52 songs – hits bookstores and newsstands nationwide on Dec. 1. “This is another blockbuster Oxford American Southern Music issue,” said Warwick Sabin, publisher of The Oxford American.   “Its 192 pages are packed…

PIERCED ARROWS DEBUT “PARANOIA” VIDEO

The first glimpse of material from their sophomore full-length Descending Shadows, the video is a riveting exercise in “Paranoia” itself.   Directed by Jozzy Rubenski, “Paranoia” swaggers effortlessly between a lethargic swinging verse and propulsive chorus while Fred Cole’s buzzsaw guitar and trademark growl act as steadfast guides.   Splicing live footage and blurry high…

EDITORS ANNOUNCE US TOUR

After two years away, Editors are returning to the US for a long-awaited headlining North American tour this February in support of their highly anticipated new album In This Light And On This Evening. The album, which is out stateside via FADER Label January 19th 2010, debuted #1 on the charts the week of release…

MIGHTY TIGER OFFER NEW SINGLE “33 1/3”

Seattle has long been at the forefront of indie-pop music as made evident by some of the nation’s best independent record labels. Now in the midst of its most exciting growth period since its conception, Paper Garden Records has found a real diamond in the rough with Seattle’s Mighty Tiger.

SHOUT OUT LOUDS MP3 & VIDEO FOR “WALLS”

Sweden’s Shout Out Louds will be releasing their new record, entitled Work, on February 23, 2010. Work is the band’s third album and second for Merge. It was recorded in Seattle and produced by Phil Ek (The Shins, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses).

SKOPE EXCLUSIVES: Violent Soho “Son Of Sam”

We at Skopemag.com get hundreds of exclusive tracks via various vendors on a daily basis. The goal for us is to share with our readers as many tracks that come in. Please note that some of these links expire so you got to get it while it’s hot! Violent Soho “Son Of Sam”: SKOPE IT…

THE WORD REUNITE FOR THREE SHOWS

Longtime friends and collaborators Chris Chew, Cody Dickinson & Luther Dickinson (of North Mississippi Allstars), John Medeski (of Medeski Martin & Wood), and Robert Randolph (of Robert Randolph & the Family Band) will be reforming THE WORD for three very special shows this December/January. Tickets are on sale now. Dec 30 – Philadelphia, PA –…

DIPLO TO REMIX GUCCI MANE’S “COLD WAR” MIXTAPE SERIES

Legendary Philadelphia DJ Diplo has announced that he will remix Gucci Mane’s acclaimed Cold War mixtape series. The Grammy nominated producer and songwriter (M.I.A’s “Paper Planes,” 2008) signed on for the project to support the Decemburrrr 8th release of Gucci Mane’s The State Vs. Radric Davis in light of the rapper’s recent legal woes.  …

SKOPE EXCLUSIVES: Wakey!Wakey! “Clinton St. Girl”

We at Skopemag.com get hundreds of exclusive tracks via various vendors on a daily basis. The goal for us is to share with our readers as many tracks that come in. Please note that some of these links expire so you got to get it while it’s hot! Wakey!Wakey! “Clinton St. Girl”: SKOPE IT HERE!

THE BRAVERY COVER FLEET FOXES

To celebrate today’s release of their brand new album, Stir the Blood, The Bravery stopped by the Yahoo studios to record a live session of a cover of their favorite track by Fleet Foxes, “White Winter Hymnal”. White Winter Hymnal: Pepsi Music Exclusive Cover Art on Yahoo Music!

SKOPE EXCLUSIVES: Get Well Soon “5 Steps/ 7 Swords”

We at Skopemag.com get hundreds of exclusive tracks via various vendors on a daily basis. The goal for us is to share with our readers as many tracks that come in. Please note that some of these links expire so you got to get it while it’s hot! Get Well Soon “5 Steps/ 7 Swords”:…

FLY GYPSY HEAD TO JAMAICA TO FILM THE VIDEO FOR “YOU”

Fly Gypsy has been garnering excellent feedback with the recent release of their second single “You,” and to celebrate the release date of their new EP Change For A Dollar, and reward fans for all of their dedication and support, the duo has decided to release an accompanying video for the song.

WILD LIGHT ON THE KILLERS CHRISTMAS SINGLE

Wild Light is featured on The Killers Christmas single “Happy Birthday Guadalupe” alongside Mariachi El Bronx which is available today, World AIDS Day, via (RED). All the proceeds from the song’s sales go directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. Wild Light’s debut album “Adult Nights” featuring “California On My Mind” is…

SNOOP DOGG’S “MALICE N WONDERLAND” OUT DECEMBER 8TH

Multi-platinum hip hop icon Snoop Dogg is readying the release of his tenth studio album, “Malice N Wonderland,” due out on December 8th, courtesy of EMI’s newly re-launched Priority Records, where he also serves as Creative Chairman.   Fans can log on to Snoop’s MySpace page (www.myspace.com/snoopdogg) to exclusively hear the album in its entirety.…

3 DOORS DOWN DELIVER CHRISTMAS EARLY

Bringing Christmas cheer a bit early, 3 Doors Down are set to release an 8-song EP of acoustic versions of tracks from their current release, 3 Doors Down, including two versions (full band and acoustic) of a newly penned Christmas track, “Where My Christmas Lives,” announced today.   Titled Where My Christmas Lives, the EP…

You Are Home, Phoneyhome

You Are Home is solely made up of Matthew Dake as bassist, multi-instrumentalist & songwriter and Phoneyhome is his baby.   The creation of this band though goes back to the brain work of Dake and a drummer by the name of Breighton Engeman.   Engeman eventually left the band and in return left it…

Headlights, Wildlife

According to the bio of Wildlife, the latest full-length from Headlights, the record stems from some very troubled beginnings. If that’s the case, it’s worth asking this Illinois foursome exactly what they did to find peace with these troubled beginnings, as Wildlife easily settles in as one of the most endearing records of 2009. Wildlife…

Alec Ounsworth, Mo Beauty

As the frontman of quite possibly the biggest buzz-bands of the 00’s, Alec Ounsworth has seen his career as a songwriter evolve and devolve, from a dorm room in Connecticut College, where he first shared his eclectic brand of songwriting with future Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! bandmate Lee Sargent to the self-distributed release of…

A Place To Bury Strangers, Exploding Head

Exploding Head, the second full-length from A Place To Bury Strangers isn’t so much loud as it is piercing. Sonically, it’s the equivalent of a root canal. There are moments of pain and distrust. But the end result is satisfying; imagine never having the aching pain of a pesky tooth again, or better yet, never…

FREEWAY OFFERS MP3 “KNOW WHAT I MEAN”

On February 16th of 2010, another bad brother Philadelphia Freeway, seizes the moment and sets out to stimulate the Hip Hop industry by signing into law the Hip Hop Recovery and Reinvestment Act with the release of his third official studio album The Stimulus Package.

GREEN RIVER ORDINANCE VIDEO FOR “COME ON”

It would be an understatement to say that Green River Ordinance have had a busy year. The Fort Worth, Texas quintet have toured with the likes of Gavin DeGraw, Jack’s Mannequin, The Academy Is, Kate Voegele and most recently American Idol winner David Cook in support of their major label debut Out of My Hands.…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3rd, 2009

LADY GAGA MIGHT CHANGE THE GRAMMYS Much to many people’s chagrins, Lady Gaga is not eligible to win a GRAMMY award in the category of Best New Artist because she was nominated at last year’s award show for her song “Just Dance” in the category of Best Dance Recording.   Well it seems that Gaga…

INTERSCOPE READY TO INTRODUCE TAMAR KAPRELIAN

Tamar Kaprelian was born in Scottsdale, Arizona and brought up in both Georgia and California surrounded by love and great music.   She has been writing songs as long as she can remember, influenced as a kid by classic Disney films, but her true love of music came about when she discovered Billy Joel and…