This fall, Reprise Records will release a limited edition vinyl Box Set from hard-rock icons DEFTONES. Deftones: The Vinyl Collection, 1995 – 2011, will be available Oct. 25th, 2011, exclusively via www.deftones.com and www.becausesoundmatters.com. The collection is a seven-album (8 LP) retrospective containing the band’s six studio albums – 1995’s Adrenaline, 1997’s Around the…
2011 LIFE IS GOOD FESTIVAL RAISES $1 MILLION FOR KIDS
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On a beautiful weekend in Canton, MA, more than 20,000 optimists gathered for a two-day music and fundraising festival hosted by Life is good ®, a Boston-based company that spreads the power of optimism through its colorful collection of apparel and accessories and through its social mission to help kids overcome life-threatening challenges. Drawing…
FREE ALBUM FROM SIR MICHAEL ROCKS
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Sir Michael Rocks aka Mikey Rocks of The Cool Kids dropped his solo debut last week for free. Premier Politics features guests Alchemist, Casey Veggies, Jeremih, Cardo, Boldy James, Shorty K, Chuck Inglish and plenty others. Grab it here, feel free to share this link: http://www.mediafire.com/?a29f1r1b08c2p9c
100 Mile House, Hollow Ponds
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Have you ever had the urge to grab a Rand McNalley throw it in the passenger seat of your car and see what you can find? Total spontaneity, no plan, the highway is your destination. That is what “Hollow Ponds” is like by 100 Mile House. The band is taking western Canada by storm…
STOLI & PAULO LARA BELIEVE IN A BETTER WORLD THRU MUSIC
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There is no doubt that these are tough times. I could run a whole column just on the problems of today. But when I get down I always get so excited to work for Skope where I can use music as my escape. Music is the safest anti-depressant out there, you just need the right…
Cutting Edge, Your Love Is My Oxygen
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For the first time EVER I am doing a Review + on one song with six different versions and that’s no joke! I give to you one of the most intriguing, entertaining and ECLECTIC groups I have ever come across–Cutting Edge. Perfect title for the band because the style is insanely Cutting Edge…
Eightfold, Eightfold
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If “imitation is the highest form of flattery” then the likes of Scott Weiland, Chris Cornell and Lane Staley (were he still with us) owe a “thank you” to alt rock outfit, Eightfold. Drummer and lead singer Michael Davis-Penta is quite adept at channeling all of the aforementioned singers. Meanwhile, the second half of the…
ASHPARK LIVE INTERVIEW & PERFORMANCE AT SKOPE TV HQ
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It was an amazing Friday night at the Skope HQ. We received the new three song EP from Ashpark a few weeks ago. We were so excited to hear their new sound that we had to have them over. The guys were gracious enough to come by being that they live in the Boston area.…
RANDOM STABBINGS & ARTLESS CRITIQUE, OCTOBER 2011
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Mambo Legends Orchestra, Ten Cuidao! Watch Out! (Zoho Music) Being the remaining contingent of Tito Puente’s band, Mambo Legends Orchestra is essentially the Latin reply to today’s Count Basie Orchestra, aiming to preserve the vibrancy of 40s/50s core mambo and salsa — there’s no better band to do the job, obviously, than the one on…
EXCITING RELEASES IN MUSIC
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These days, one of the best ways to keep up with your favorite music and entertainment releases is actually on television, where cable packages and special programs offer a number of different sources of music, as well as artist interviews and performances. If you have not yet experienced this sort of programming on television, you…
KID SISTER’S NEW VIDEO
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Check out our girl Kid Sister on a new track with Riff Raff ‘Hide & Seek’ produced by Sinden and 5kinandbone5. She’s got a new EP coming soon on Fool’s Gold Records that we’ll be announcing shortly. [youtube HOZMWC87oig nolink]
BEEN AROUND THE WORLD
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South Africa was under the spotlight last year for its hosting duties when it came to the 2010 World Cup. Now it is preparing to be center-stage again, this time for the music put forward by one of its aspiring stars. Bonani Phaweni AKA Zin, started out rapping, then converted to film and having…
GINGER HEBERT REPORTS FROM MUSICFESTNW
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Being from Austin Texas, a city who plays host to over 10 huge music festivals each year, I didn’t know what to expect my first year here in the Northwest. Portland’s largest music festival, MusicfestNW, has come and gone, and I am pleasantly surprised. Supposedly, the third largest indoor music festival in the country,…
CHAIN SWANGAZ RELEASE NEW VIDEO & EP
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After releasing three hysterical videos (with guest appearances from Charlie Sheen, Andy Milonakis, 2 Live Crew, Andre Legacy & a few porn stars), the Chain Swangaz unveil their latest sonic & visual acid trip today called “Futuristic Luv Patrol”. The video stars Dirt Nasty as some sort of drugged out hot-dog-wielding David Bowie robot freak…
LOVES IT! OFFERS MP3 “MY SO CALLED LIFE”
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With raw vocals, meaningful lyrics, and bubbly 50’s R&B progressions, it’s easy to fall in love with Loves It!’s new single “My So Called Life.” Jenny Parrotts’ spunky vocal is supported by Vaughn Walters supplying “Oooos” that recall many familiar AM radio hits.
TROMBONE SHORTY VIDEO “DO TO ME”
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Trombone Shorty took to his hometown streets of New Orleans to film his new video for ‘Do To Me,’ off the recently released and critically acclaimed album For True. Watch it below and please feel free to share with your readers and let me know if you’d like a copy of the record Trombone Shorty…
NEW VIDEO FROM ELECTRO POP STAR NOVI
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Listeners have already agreed, the electro-pop galaxy has a bright new star, and her name is Novi. Her first EP, Now I’m Here, will be released October 24, 2011. The video for her first single, “Blackbirds” premiered to rave reviews on Pop Matters just days ago, and will be featured on the AOL…
BIOHAZARD ANNOUNCE RELEASE DATE FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ORIGINAL LINEUP ALBUM
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“The laws of the universe only allowed Biohazard to get back together with the original four of us for a small window in time. In that time, we managed to come together and create something we are all truly proud of. This record comes straight from the heart.” — Bobby Hambel, Biohazard Reborn In…
DOCTOR P TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM ON BIG BEAT/ ATLANTIC
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Doctor P, the prolific DJ, Producer, Musician that has spawned super groups, dance hits, and an influential record label, has agreed a partnership with Atlantic Records / Big Beat Records. The man also known as Shaun Brockhurst was behind “Sweet Shop”, one of the biggest Dubstep tracks of the year and the latest in…
SNOOP DOGG LAUNCHES PRODUCT ON VIDDY
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In celebration of his online initiative #PuffPuffPassTuesdays, Music legend and social media trendsetter Snoop Dogg today announces the launch of his Snoop Pack TM on Viddy, the leading mobile social video application. A production tool, the Snoop Pack TM was created to provide Viddy users with a one-click effects layer and soundtrack to add to…
BEN KNIGHTEN RELEASES NEW ALBUM ‘ALL I WANT’
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Ben Knighten is an acoustic folk songwriter from Colorado Springs. His music has been described as “addictive, & upbeat, complete with passionate & powerful subject matter” and “a nice wedding of restraint on the part of the instruments and intensity in the singing that never fails to please the ears and bring out the meaning…
The Pack A.D., Unpersons
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After their previous three full-lengths, the Pack A.D. have gotten serious. It’s evident from the smooth blend of steel and coy romance on “Sirens,” the lead track on Unpersons. The Vancouver guitar and drums duo has always sounded rather relentless, both live and on record. But on “Sirens,” and the rest of Unpersons their sound…
GOLDEN BLOOM RELEASES “RHYME THE REASON” VIDEO
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Blow-hard politicians and deceitful talking heads got you down? Never fear, the Guitarbiter of Truth is here! In Golden Bloom’s latest, and most delightfully elaborate music video yet, “Rhyme the Reason,” Shawn Fogel plays a frustrated folk musician who transforms into a silver-panted super hero wielding the Guitarbiter of Truth, which reveals the truth about…
DANIELA BROOKER-UNITES WITH HARD ROCK CAFÉ TO TOUR THE US
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Following a wildly successful trip to the States this past summer, pop’s newest darling, DANIELA BROOKER, crosses the pond to partner with Hard Rock International’s PINKTOBER. The tour will follow the recent release of her debut single, “Summer Love,” sold out shows at New York City’s revered Rockwood Music Hall and Rivington Hotel, and zealous…
LONDON’S THE GOOD NATURED TO DEBUT STATESIDE
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Already a buzzed-about name in their native U.K., London-based synth-noir pop trio The Good Natured will make its debut Stateside with the release of an exclusive seven-song mini-album, Skeleton, on October 25th, 2011, on Astralwerks. The collection features three tracks from The Good Natured’s 2010 EP Be My Animal (“Be My Animal,” “Prisoner,” and “Your…
ELIZAVETA NEW VIDEO “DREAMER”
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“I love pop music and how it gives me an opportunity to tell a story in four minutes or less. However, my true passion lies in being able to combine elements and eras you wouldn’t normally expect to hear together, like jazz-pop verses and unapologetically operatic choruses, for example. When I succeed, it is not…
Rhythm of Mars, Romancing The Snake
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Toeing the line between demure instrumental and Sci-Fi inspired prog rock, Rhythm of Mars, in simplest terms, is the culmination of musical interplay between effects-laden guitar and synth, sans lyrics. The album waxes and wanes between down tempo tracks driven by melody to overt guitar string-ripping anthems in the vein of Joe Satriani and Steve…
OLYA OFFERS MP3 “INDEPEND-A-NT” OFF ‘CAREFULLY’ EP & NYC SHOW!
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Music was not just a hobby in her family – it was a lifestyle, a way to comprehend the world… Since Olya’s early childhood, her mom would often engage her in innocent musical exercises: learning harmonies to a new song, singing songs in different keys, or improvising to her mom playing the piano.
JOSEPH KEITH RELEASES DEBUT ‘A LIGHTER SIDE’ / VIDEO
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Joseph Keith is a soft to harder rock 17 year old with a talent for instantly likable melodies and rifts. Fan base includes not only the expected teenagers but all ages. His debut album “A Lighter Side” does not have a weak song on it. It is available on iTunes.
DJ JOUNCE IS A MUSICAL JACK OF ALL TRADES
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To make it in music today you really have to work hard and then work harder. This passion has got to be something you must do and you must be in it for the long haul. My guest today is the epitome of this. DJ Jounce is a musician, songwriter, music producer, DJ, MC and…
Theendisthebeginning, Tropics
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Theendisthebeginning are on the scene again with their second EP Release, “Tropics”. It hit the stores on Sept 13th and has been invading the airwaves ever since. They are a flashback to the sound we used to get from legendary rockers like Yes, or even a touch of influence from Rush. I personally like music…
JUVILEY RELEASES VIDEO FROM HIS VIDEO GAME/ALBUM
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Juviley will be releasing his third album, Our Choices Rhyme, via video game format. As the player advances to a new level, they are able to download a new track to the record, an animated gif created by Juviley’s excellent programming team, as well as secret notes, and the album booklet.
SKOPE / FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH FLYAWAY
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Five Finger Death Punch will be headlining the Share the Welt tour this Fall with All That Remains, Hatebreed, and Rev Theory. To celebrate they are giving one lucky fan a chance to win a flyaway to a tour date of their choosing! Five Finger Death Punch’s new album American Capitalist drops on October 11th.
J.J. CROWNE DISHES OUT PLENTY TO J RAE
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Get ready to be intrigued by the man who calls himself J.J. Crowne aka The Eclectic One or “Musical Chameleon”. This one-man show from South Florida is ready to take the bull by the horns with his debut album ‘Songs Of Innocence And Experience’. From talk of his major contributions to the music…
ROCKING INTO THE 22nd CENTURY
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22nd Century is a hard rock trio. They are Zippy Pinhead, drummer, Vocalist and guitarist Tim Plommer and Duane Chaos. The band has had rapid success racking up a #1 hit single on the Somojo UK Indy Charts (“509”) as well as honorable mention in Billboard Magazines 2009 Global song writing contest and have…
Chantry, Crystal
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Chantry is back and better than ever with their new release ‘Crystal’. I first got introduced to Chantry back in 2009 when I reviewed the debut album ‘Emancipation of Elizabeth’ (http://skopemag.com/index.php?s=Chantry). Alessandro Monopoli was the mastermind behind that project and continues to stand tall on this new 10-track set. One HUGE difference…
MASSPIKE MILES & BUN B NEW VIDEO “DEVOTED”
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Maybachmusicgroup proudly presents this Exclusive video: Masspike Miles and Bun B take the grown man approch on this one. Bun B’s leading lady is none other then Mrs. Bun B Queen OG.
DEREK SHERINIAN, Oceana
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Derek is a well-traveled keyboardist who has worked with Buddy Miles, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Billy Idol, Yngwie, Al Pitrelli, Planet X, and Dream Theatre. On this release, screaming guitars take center stage, alongside the keyboards. Guest axe men include Steve Lukather, Tony MacAlpine (also a great keyboardist), Joe Bonamassa, Steve Stevens, and Doug…
Campaigning for Zeros, Premonitions
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Campaigning for Zeros consists of, Eric Taylor, Brad Ouellette and Kevin Wiseman. Three guys from Coachella CA created a 3 song EP called, “Premonitions”. All the songs are enough to leave you begging for more. You can also hit repeat on your CD player and let them run through a few times. I did and…
Bruce Cohen, Two BC
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“Forward-thinking” has always been an apt descriptor of both creative minds that make up The Reds. Rick Shaffer successfully bends two different genres into a very diggable mash-up sound that is not only rare; but arguably completely unique. The other half of The Reds equation, keyboardist Bruce Cohen also waxes and wanes through genres encompassing…
