Skope

GOO GOO DOLLS BREAK OWN RECORD

Best-selling rock band GOO GOO DOLLS have bested their own record for the most Top 10 singles in the history of Billboard’s Nielsen BDS-based Adult Top 40 chart, which launched in March 1996. The band, singer-guitarist Johnny Rzeznik, bassist Robby Takac, and drummer Mike Malinin, has notched its 14th Top 10 hit with “Home,” the…

FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY CANCEL US TOUR

Metropolis recording artists FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY (FLA) regretfully are being forced to cancel their planned U.S. tour this Fall. “We have had too many problems putting the tour together, and the bottom line is if we can’t put on a good show for you the fans, then it’s just not worth it. We apologise to…

TYLER HILTON ON THE ROAD IN THE U.S. THIS FALL

Singer and songwriter Tyler Hilton has launched a U.S. fall tour during which he will perform shows at high schools across the country during the day and club shows at night with his Warner Bros. Records labelmate Josiah Leming. The tour criss-crosses the country through November 17th.   This week, Hilton will also perform for…

BOSTON BALLET LAUNCHES OFFSTAGE

Boston Ballet launches a fresh, new event series, OFFSTAGE, this fall. OFFSTAGE events will take place following every second Thursday performance of Boston Ballet’s 2010-2011 season productions. The launch of OFFSTAGE comes on the heels of Boston Ballet’s 2009 company rebranding and website redesign, both of which were initiatives aimed at broadening Boston Ballet’s reach…

OCTOBER 2010 SONICBIDS “ARTISTS 2 WATCH”

Welcome to another amazing month of music from the incredible musicians that make up the Sonicbids.com community. We have chose a select group of amazing musicians that will be speaking directly to the Skope readers. As always we encourage readers to dig deeper and check out their EPK’s.

ANNA GARROTT KICKS ASS WITH CLASS

Anna Garrott grew up in the small town of Troy, Alabama.   A sweet southern girl who considered herself a tomboy.   Her Grandmother introduced her to country music early on playing the music of Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette and Kitty Wells.   “There was something so pure and original in each of…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6th, 2010

BIEBER TO HOST PUNK’D? According to Deadline.com, Justin Bieber could be the next host of MTV’s Punk’d.   The website reports that the 16-year-old pop sensation is close to signing a deal to revive the show, which went off the air back in 2007.   The prank series’ original host, Ashton Kutcher, will reportedly stay…

THE WAILERS RELEASE “A STEP FOR MANKIND” VIDEO

“A Step for Mankind,” written by Wailers’ vocalist Duane Stephenson, is a call for world unity and strength to support the ongoing struggle against world hunger. The band is joined on the track by new lead singer Koolant, a fresh talent from the heart of St. Thomas known for blazing a positive future for reggae…

STARDEATH AND WHITE DWARFS CONFIRM TOUR WITH TAME IMPALA

Oklahoma City psych/prog/experimental pop quartet STARDEATH AND WHITE DWARFS will hit the road in support of the debut album, THE BIRTH for the months of November and December with New Zealand psychedelic-pop rockers, Tame Impala.   Over the past couple years STARDEATH AND WHITE DWARFS have recorded and toured with OKC brethren and label mates,…

THE BEST OF NELLY FURTADO

Multi-platinum-selling, Grammy-winning global superstar, actress, philanthropist and recent Canadian “Walk of Fame” inductee, Nelly Furtado, will celebrate her first 10 years of recording with her first greatest hits compilation, The Best Of Nelly Furtado (Geffen Records).   The album, to be released November 16th, features #1 Pop smashes, collaborations and three previously unreleased recordings and…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 4th, 2010

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE TALKS NEW MUSIC Justin Timberlake made the rounds over the past few weeks to promote his film, The Social Network.   The singer and actor was on Saturday Night Live, ESPN, The View and even made a memorable appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.   Justin was asked about when he plans…

ZAKK WYLDE FORCED TO CANCEL TWO SHOWS DUE TO HEALTH CONCERNS

Black Label Society was forced to cancel a scheduled tour stop on the Black Label Berzerkus tour last night at the Anchor Inn in Omaha, Nebraska due to frontman Zakk Wylde’s health.   Tonight’s appearance in Clive, Iowa at the 7 Flags Event Center has also been cancelled.   Wylde was admitted to a hospital…

LIZ PHAIR TO RELEASE ‘FUNSTYLE’

Liz Phair will be releasing her first album in five years, Funstyle packaged with Girlysound — the collection of demos and rarities that predated 1993’s Exile In Guyville.   The double CD package will be released October 19th via Rocket Science Ventures. LIZ PHAIR LIVE: Oct 5 Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern Oct…

THE DANNY ELFMAN & TIM BURTON 25TH ANNIVERSARY MUSIC BOX

This December, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ingenious collaboration between renowned composer Danny Elfman and legendary film director Tim Burton, Warner Bros. Records will release The Danny Elfman & Tim Burton 25th Anniversary Music Box, a very special limited-edition, numbered box set of 1000 that collects expansions of the 13 original scores that…

STOLI & CHAD HOLLISTER BOTH AGREE ITS TIME FOR CHANGE

It happens in life that you meet someone and you just automatically know that you like that person. That happened with my special guest by the name of Chad Hollister. Chad is a fellow New Englander by way of Vermont but we never met before now. I got a copy of Chad’s most recent CD…

RANDOM STABBINGS & ARTLESS CRITIQUE, OCTOBER 2010

Death in the Park, Death in the Park (End Sounds) Alabama rockers aiming to bridge a few gaps between emo, rock, and punk, and occasionally succeeding, if mainly on the strength of trying many (closely related) trips on for size.   For reviewing purposes it’s simply a game of drawing a line from the song…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1st, 2010

BRUNO MARS ON TOP FOR SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK Bruno Mars’ debut single “Just The Way You Are” will stay at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the second straight week.   The song also returns to the top of Digital Songs chart, selling another 188-thousand copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.   After…

SINEM SANIYE VIDEO “I’LL CONFIDE” TAKES OFF

The highly-anticipated DEBUT album, “WHEN I DON’T SLEEP..” by Sinem Saniye (“See-nem” “Sahh-nee-yeh”) may be more than what you can handle. Then again, it may just be what you’ve been looking for. It’s what can happen to one person when they are more than just tossing and turning in the night!

LUCINDA BLACK BEAR OFFERS “KNIVES” MP3

New York City band Lucinda Black Bear will release KNIVES, a second full-length CD of what NPR Music calls their “carefully written folk rock with stunning sonic arrangements” on Tuesday, November 2nd.   To mark the occasion, the band will play three New York-area shows throughout the fall: 92nd Street Y Tribeca on November 5th,…

THE NICEGUYS OFFER ‘THE SHOW’ FREE

After a string of singles, a handful of visuals, and live performances alongside the likes of Talib Kweli, Big Sean, Mickey Factz, and more, the time has come for the official release of The Niceguys’ widely anticipated debut album, The Show.

GROUP 1 CREW’S ALBUM DEBUTS AT NO. 1

Breakout Urban sensation and Fervent Records’ Group 1 Crew’s (Blanca, Manwell and Pablo) new album Outta Space Love is proving to be an out-of-this-world-hit as it launches in at No. 1 on SoundScan’s Christian/Gospel Digital Album chart, No. 2 on the Christian Adult Contemporary Album chart and No. 4 overall on the Contemporary Christian Album…

ALICE COOPER, THEATRE OF DEATH

The ageless master of rock and roll shock and awe has come up with yet another macabre live performance video, just in time for Halloween viewing.   With a career spanning some 40 years while combining magic and theatre with rock, this seventh full video (three went gold) includes a CD for added listening pleasure.…

JUKE KARTEL ‘LEVOLUTION’ LISTENING PARTY

Levolution, the US debut album from melodic rockers Juke Kartel, hits stores today.   The album, produced by rock veterans Brian Virtue (Jane’s Addiction, 30 Seconds to Mars) and Rick Parashar (Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains), was a true labor of love by the band, who have played together since 2006 and recently made a…

SADE EMBARKS ON FIRST GLOBAL TOUR IN TEN YEARS

Following the platinum selling success of SOLDIER OF LOVE, Sade announces their highly anticipated return to the world’s stage. The North American leg, produced by Live Nation, begins on June 16th in Baltimore, Maryland at the 1st Mariner’s Arena.   Tickets go on sale in select markets beginning October 16th at LiveNation.com with additional dates…

NATIVE DEEN ADRESSES ISLAMOPHOBIA IN NEW VIDEO

Native Deen, one of the most well-known and respected Muslim hip-hop groups in the international community, today released a music video in response to the rising tide of Islamophobia facing America, especially in the wake of the New York Islamic cultural center controversy. The music video, released as part of the “My Faith My Voice”…

NEIL YOUNG’S LE NOISE FILM TO PREMIERE ON YOUTUBE

Le Noise Film – a 38-minute black and white film of eight live-in-studio performances of the eight songs that appear on legendary rocker Neil Young’s brand-new album Le Noise – will be made available for viewing exclusively on YouTube   beginning September 30th. These will appear in the Spotlight section of You-Tube’s homepage as well…

BRYAN ADAMS SET TO RELEASE NEW LIVE CD

Decca is pleased to announce its first CD release by Grammy-winning superstar, singer-songwriter Bryan Adams.   Slated for release on November 16th, Bare Bones is an inspired collection of minimally arranged hits culled from Adams’ impressive body of work spanning three decades.   Recorded in spring of 2010 during his “Bare Bones Tour,” the disc…

AMEER RELEASES NEW VIDEO FOR “HONESTLY”

Ameer, the NY/ VA emcee is excited to announce the release of his sophomore mixtape, Only Built For Digital Links.   The mixtape, mainly produced by Danny G will be available through all digital retailers on October 16th via Tommy Boy Entertainment.

ZAC BROWN BAND EARNS #1

Zac Brown Band’s ‘You Get What You Give’ (Atlantic/ Southern Ground Artists, Inc.) debuted with the band’s highest sales week ever, selling 153,042 copies its first week and earning the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Country Albums charts. Zac Brown Band also claims three spots in the top 100 on Billboard 200,…

JIVE RECORDS SIGNS MUCH SOUGHT-AFTER SINGER/SONGWRITER/PRODUCER BEI MAEJOR

Jive Records has signed highly sought-after singer/songwriter/producer Bei Maejor. The 22-year-old Michigan native has drawn attention for contributing to such tracks as Trey Songz’ “Black Roses,” Letoya’s “Not Anymore,” and is featured on Plies’ new single “She Got It Made.” Peter Thea, Executive Vice President, JIVE Label Group states “Bei Maejor is one of the…

KINGS OF LEON ANNOUNCE THREE SHOWS IN NOVEMBER

Kings of Leon have confirmed three shows in November. The performances, confirmed to take place in New York, New Jersey and Boston, will be the only stateside Kings of Leon dates of 2010 in support of their fifth album, Come Around Sundown, due out October 19. November 14              …

CircleDown, Mobius EP

CircleDown’s new project is a 4-track teaser leading up to the much anticipated release of their first full-length album Mobius.   CircleDown is made up of: founders Drew “Diode” Madore on vocals, DJ & synth and Kevin “Cansh” Cansian on bass.   Rounding out the bunch is Eric “Reebus” Wisely on drums and Dean Romanelli…

JOSH GROBAN TO RELEASE LONG-AWAITED FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM

Already one of the most acclaimed and beloved singers and songwriters around the world, Josh Groban breaks new ground of artistic and personal growth with his long-awaited fifth studio album, Illuminations, to be released on November 15th, 2010, from Reprise Records. The album is the rewardingly surprise-filled result of the unexpected but stimulating teaming with…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th, 2010

BLACK EYED PEAS PREP NEW ALBUM The Black Eyed Peas scored one of the biggest albums over the past two years with The E.N.D. The record is still selling over eight-thousand copies a week and has already sold over 2.7-million copies since its release back in June 2009.   According to Rap-Up.com, the Peas are…

THE TING TINGS ‘WE’RE NOT THE SAME’ TEASER

Catch a snippet of The Ting Tings brand new track ‘We’re Not The Same’ along with behind the scenes footage of the band filming their video, part of a very exciting and highly innovative collaboration, with whom will be announced later this week! Forthcoming sophomore release is due in Jan 2011. [youtube 1ueUpllsgyY nolink] www.thetingtings.com

KDREW & GUCCI MANE DROP “BEDROOM”

“We put Indie Music Group together like any other company; we got ourselves in the right place financially, put together a budget, and started our own label. I want to be a part of every single thing I do in music, from writing to producing to remixing to even putting out the songs,” comments KDrew.

FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI AND HUSBAND WELCOME BABY BOY

Fervent Records’ GRAMMY-nominated artist and reigning Dove Awards Female Vocalist of the Year Francesca Battistelli and husband Matt Goodwin are proud to annouce the birth of their first child, Matthew Elijah Goodwin. He entered the world on September 22 at 8:47 PM weighing in at 8 pounds, 15 ounces and 21.75 inches long.   www.francescamusic.com

BEASTIE BOYS NOMINATED FOR ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

Beastie Boys have been nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, it was announced today.   Formed 1981 in New York City, Beastie Boys are arguably the single longest lived hip-hop act to consistently enjoy commercial and critical success both on record and as an international live attraction. Beastie…

BUFF ROSHI COVERS PINK FLOYD IN NEW VIDEO

Of the eleven album tracks, “Devil You’re A Liar” includes two covers: a psycho-chill reset of Pink Floyd’s “Set The Controls for the Heart of the Sun” and “Dark”, a circa 1940’s Julie London b-side featuring vocals by singer-filmmaker Renee Wilson, who appears as one of the Raelettes in the Academy Award winning film, Ray.…

Speak, Hear, here

Upon hearing that Speak was recently named Austin’s “Best New Band” by the Austin Chronicle, this reviewer got mighty excited. Being known as a city that encourages artistic growth through its numerous live music venues, you’d have to imagine that Speak’s debut EP, <i>Hear, Here</i> would engage upon the first listen. Unfortunately, this isn’t the…