Skope

JACK’S MANNEQUIN NEW SINGLE “SWIM”

Jack’s Mannequin are back with a new single from their highly-acclaimed album, The Glass Passenger.   “Swim” features lead singer Andrew McMahon’s trademark expressive piano playing in a song about fighting for the goodness in life at all costs.   With music as his emotional release, McMahon was able to inject the songs on the…

TREVOR HALL TO RELEASE DEBUT ON JULY 28 / EPK

Trevor Hall is a breath of fresh air in today’s music scene. His self-titled Vanguard debut, produced by Marshall Altman (Matt Nathanson, Kate Voegele, Marc Broussard), embodies a soulfulness, depth and passion far beyond his 22 years. Trevor combines a unique musical mix of reggae and acoustic rock that serves as a landscape for his…

DETAILS ON NEW SPINAL TAP ALBUM

Details are out about the new Spinal Tap album.   The set, called Back from the Dead, is the group’s first in nearly two decades.   Singer “David St. Hubbins,” also known as actor Michael McKean, spoke about the effort saying, “The album title says it all.   We are back from the dead.  …

SHAKIRA AND WYCLEF COLLABORATE AGAIN

Shakira and Wyclef Jean have collaborated on a new song called “The Border.”   According to Rap-up.com, the tune was produced by Timbaland.   Shakira and Wyclef previously teamed up for the huge 2006 hit “Hips Don’t Lie.”

PARAMORE GET HEAVY

NME reports that Paramore are happy that they chose Rob Cavallo to produce their upcoming album. Singer Hayley Williams says that Cavallo, who produced for the likes of Green Day and My Chemical Romance, has taken advantage of their heavier side for the project, which boasts tentative song titles like “Ignorance,” “Playing,” “Brick By Boring…

COLDPLAY DENY PLAGIARIZING CAT STEVENS

Coldplay drummer Will Champion told HamptonRoads.com that the band did not rip off Cat Stevens with their song “Viva La Vida,” despite complaints from the famed songwriter. Champion said they have done nothing wrong and stated it’s frustrating to be accused of stealing when you know you didn’t. A defensive Champion added, “There are only…

T.I. KICKS ALFAMEGA OFF OF GRAND HUSTLE

T.I. has dropped Alfamega from the Grand Hustle Records family.   Alfamega was scandalized earlier this week when TheSmokingGun.com published a report and purported legal documents saying that he was an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration during a trial on a heroin trafficker.   The allegations obviously didn’t sit well with T.I., who himself…

CHICO HAMILTON VIDEO EPK

Check out this intimate glimpse into the creative inspiration behind the album, Twelve Tones of Love by the legendary Chico Hamilton. Twelve Tones of Love was released on Joyous Shout! Records, April 14th. [myspace 56654589 nolink]

THE TENDER BOX RETURN WITH A COLLECTION OF NEW SONGS TITLED ‘EP1’

Tremendous, incandescent British rock is probably the last thing to expect out of South Los Angeles, so it’s a revelation to hear the chiming guitars and swooning vocals of THE TENDER BOX’s collection of new songs.     The band–Joey Medina (vocals, guitar), Ric Moon (guitar), Steve Mungarro (bass, vocals) and Chuck Gil (drums)–are set…

CHILDREN OF BODOM’s ALEXI LAIHO BREAKS SHOULDER

Alexi Laiho, guitarist and front man for the award-winning Finnish metal band CHILDREN OF BODOM has sustained a serious injury while on the road as part of the “No Fear Energy Tour” alongside Lamb of God.   Laiho, who was recently named as the world’s “Best Metal Guitarist” in the 15th annual Guitar World reader’s…

THE COOL KIDS RELEASE FREE NEW MIXTAPE

Because summer’s almost here and wouldn’t be complete without the mixtape to rival all mixtapes, Chicago’s favorite duo of MCs, The Cool Kids, are releasing an album’s worth of new tracks on Gone Fishing (Cake Recordings) for free today! SKOPE IT HERE!

PATRICK WOLF SIGNS TO NYLON RECORDS

Patrick Wolf, the UK-based multi-instrumentalist known for his masterfully orchestrated and emotive songs will release his fourth studio album The Bachelor this summer on NYLON Records.   Patrick is the second signing to NYLON Records, the latest music extension for the influential magazine and brand that already publishes an annual Music Issue as well as…

MEMBERS OF MAROON 5, PHANTOM PLANET AND GOMEZ TEAM UP

The 14 musicians who make up OPERATION ALOHA had an amazing opportunity. With a month of free time in between tours, recording and the general chaos of their schedules, each musician flew to the beautiful island of Maui, Hawaii, to live in a strange compound of tree houses with friends whom they respect and share…

AOL SPINNER PREMIERES OWL CITY “HOT AIR BALLOON”

Hailing from the quiet town of Owatonna, MN, Owl City is already something of a phenomenon, with over 200,000 tracks and 20,000+ albums sold digitally.   Most recently, the tracks “Hello Seattle” and “Rainbow Veins,” held spots in the top 10 on iTunes Top Electronic Tracks Chart alongside M.I.A., Daft Punk, and The Postal Service.…

JEFFREE STAR TO RELEASE FULL LENGTH DEBUT

JEFFREE STAR is set to unleash his debut album, BEAUTY KILLER, late this summer. The first single, “Prisoner,” debuted on MySpace on Friday and received almost 500,000 plays over the weekend. “Prisoner” now available on iTunes here. JEFFREE STAR is confirmed for the first half of this summer’s Vans Warped Tour and will follow that…

FRANZ FERDINAND TO OPEN FOR GREEN DAY

According to GreenDay.com, Franz Ferdinand will be the second supporting act on the trio’s upcoming tour. The Scottish band will open for Green Day from August 8th through the 26th. For tour dates visit GreenDay.com now.

NEW JAMES MORRISON EP

Singer-songwriter James Morrison has just released a brand new EP on iTunes.   It’s titled Live From Air Studios London and features three songs including his latest single, “Broken Strings” with Nelly Furtado.   Head to JamesMorrisonMusic.com for more information or simply go to iTunes and download your copy right now.

CHOOSE HOOBASTANK’S NEW SINGLE

Hoobastank are close to releasing the next single off of their latest album For(n)ever, but first, they want your input.   The three options are “The Letter,” “Tears of Yesterday” and “All About You.”   To vote, just send a text with the title of the song you want to 66937.   Head to Hoobastank.com…

MAT KEARNY AND KEANE TO HIT THE ROAD

Mat Kearny and Keane will be hitting the road starting this weekend in Los Angeles.   The first show takes place tomorrow at the Hollywood Palladium.   Be sure to frequent MatKearny.com as the singer-songwriter will be posting blogs and pictures from the trek.

M.I.A. NEEDS OPRAH’S HELP

M.I.A. is looking to Oprah to help her fight a cause. The “Paper Planes” singer wrote on her MySpace page about meeting the talk show host at an event honoring Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. M.I.A., who was born in London but is of Sri Lankan descent, is asking Oprah to help draw attention…

JAY-Z READIES NEW SNEAKER

It looks like Kanye West’s Air Yeezys just might have some friendly competition this season. Hip hop mogul Jay-Z is looking to drop a new sneaker just in time for the summer. Hova is currently promoting his new shoe collection called R+ from Rocawear. The kicks are due to hit stores June 1st. SKOPE IT…

MILEY CYRUS PERFORMS ON AOL SESSIONS

Skope just got the Miley Cyrus / AOL Sessions that she did, and it is really authentic. She does a couple duets with her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, and performs “The Climb”, “Full Circle”.  

SWEET CYANIDE TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM JULY 7

New York’s post-hardcore outfit SWEET CYANIDE will kick-off the summer with the release of their self-titled debut CD, Sweet Cyanide on July 7th on Break Down Lane Music. SWEET CYANIDE has a knack for blending the energy of more abrasive bands with great pop hooks, spiked with hair-raising guitar solos. The first single aptly titled…

3OH!3 SCORES RIAA PLATINUM FOR BREAKTHROUGH FIRST SINGLE

“Don’t Trust Me,” the first single from Photo Finish recording group 3OH!3’s full-length debut, “WANT,” has been certified platinum by the RIAA for digital sales now exceeding 1.1 million.   The single has proven a top 10 sensation, currently standing at #9 on Billboard’s “Hot 100” as it bullets its way up the top 15…

KENNY CHESNEY’S NEW VIDEO “OUT LAST NIGHT”

MySpace Music, the world’s premier music portal, is excited to announce the exclusive premiere of country superstar Kenny Chesney’s new video “Out Last Night.” Beginning Friday, May 1, fans may view the music video in its entirety from Chesney’s highly anticipated Greatest Hits Vol. 2. The album is set for release May 19 on BNA…

THE FRIDAY NIGHT BOYS READY TO DIVE IN WITH DEBUT ALBUM

Fueled By Ramen/Photo Finish/The Party Scene recording group The Friday Night Boys have revealed details of their eagerly awaited full-length debut.   “OFF THE DEEP END” arrives in stores and at all online retailers on June 9th and is available for pre-order now at http://store.fueledbyramen.com. www.myspace.com/thefridaynightboys

THE WARLOCKS OFFER “RED CAMERA” MP3 OFF NEW LP

The Warlocks new LP, The Mirror Explodes, speaks and whispers from all of these places. But where the band’s last long player, Heavy Deavy Skull Lover, tweaked time in an icy-cool, white-noise swirl that evoked a decadent lysergic night, The Mirror Explodes is disorientation through a longer lens-pictures of luck, longing, losing, moods and fever…

THE DEFIBULATORS OFFER NEW MP3 “OL’ WINCHESTER”

THE DEFIBULATORS have made available a new MP3 for downloading and posting from their stellar debut, Corn Money out now through City Salvage Records.     Emerging from the thriving roots scene in New York City, this septet wields an arsenal of instruments (upright bass, banjo, fiddle, backhills harp, Telecaster, and junkyard percussion) with relentless…

MP3: MARK RONSON REMIXES NICKEL EYE

Dying Star, the most recent 7” single from Nickel Eye, includes a Mark Ronson remix of “Brandy of the Damned,” featuring a guest performance by underground rap sensation Wale.   For the “Brandy of the Damned” remix, Ronson adds a complete horn section on top of a hypnotic drum beat, while Wale’s verse ups the…

ELTON JOHN’S THE RED PIANO CONCERT SPECTACULAR ON DVD AND BLU-RAY

Universal Music is proud to present Elton John: The Red Piano on DVD.   Now available everywhere for the first time, this concert (available on DVD or high-definition Blu-ray format) contains the 14-song performance of The Red Piano show, including fan favorites such as “Candle in the Wind,” “Your Song,” “Rocket Man” and “Tiny Dancer.”…

TANYA MORGAN OFFERS NEW SINGLE “MORGAN BLU”

Pea’s production, complete with guitar loop, vocal chops, and swinging drums. Blu jumps off and Von Pea, Ilyas, and Donwill follow suit with stream-of-consciousness flows, flexing their lyrical dexterity and each displaying their unique styles. With Brooklynati Tanya Morgan takes listeners into their own world of rhymes, fun, and classic hip-hop, and “Morgan Blu” is…

FASHAWN OPENS UP FOR IHIPHOP.COM / VIDEO

5-5-9 representative Fashawn chops it up with iHipHop about his upcoming album entirely produced by the infamous Exile, “Boy Meets World,” with features from Blu, Planet Asia, Evidence, Bravo, J Mitchell, and possibly Mistah F.A.B. SKOPE IT HERE!

STEPHEN PERKINS ENDORSES HEAROS HEADPHONES

It is a given, that frequent exposure to loud music can lead to hearing loss.   For musicians who spend their entire life constantly exposed to high sound-pressure levels, this constitutes a very real and very permanent risk.   While many musicians try normal ear plugs to help protect their ears, they are often left…

HOWLING BELLS SIGN TO NETTWERK MUSIC GROUP / VIDEO

Nettwerk Music Group is proud to announce the signing of Australian rock n rollers HOWLING BELLS. The breakout group is set to release their sophomore album and N. American debut RADIO WARS on July 28th in the US and Canada, with their smoldering first single “Cities Burning Down” out June 2nd on iTunes.