Skope

Ra Ra Riot, The Orchard

If you haven’t heard of Ra Ra Riot, don’t fret: it won’t be long now before this band is the biggest thing in the indie universe. Possessing the flair for dramatic brilliance of The Hidden Cameras and the genuine, soft songwriting skills of Bright Eyes finer work, Ra Ra Riot seem to have everything going…

NEW CASSANDRA WILSON ALBUM

Silver Pony, the stunning new album from multiple Grammy Award-winning jazz-pop chanteuse Cassandra Wilson, will be released by EMI’s Blue Note Records on November 9. Wilson, whose remarkable, husky-tinged vibrato has created a trademark sound for her as an artist, will be touring worldwide in support of the release which features special guests saxophonist Ravi…

BILL COSBY GOES DIGITAL WITH MOBILE APPS

The message of Bill Cosby’s timeless rapport with children and families may not have changed, but the medium has. OBKB is his latest creation that brings to on-line media the same special qualities that made The Cosby Show and Fat Albert iconic television favorites the world over.   Through your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch,…

ELTON JOHN & LEON RUSSELL TO RELEASE FIRST SINGLE

Decca Records is pleased to announce the single release of “If It Wasn’t for Bad,” available now on iTunes and all digital retailers.   The highly anticipated single is the first to be made available from The Union, the collaborative album with Elton John and Leon Russell to be released October 19th in the U.S.…

SEPTEMBER 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.

RANDOM STABBINGS & ARTLESS CRITIQUE, SEPTEMBER 2010

Various Artists, Sounds of Rhythm & Culture (ESL Music) Washington DC-based electronica duo Thievery Corporation are the minds behind this compilation of varying degrees of chill, all of it advanced and terrific.   It’s advertised as the sound of DC, but even though that’s a utopian wet dream, it’s a worthy one.   I can’t…

THE GREEN CHILDREN “DRAGONS” VIDEO

The Green Children have just released the official music video for “Dragons,” the first single off the groups debut full-length, Encounter. The unique video features lead singer Milla who has developed a sickness due to being bitten by a dragon. Bandmate Marlow waits by her side as she tries to recover. The music video for…

BIFFY CLYRO ANNOUNCE FIRST US HEADLINING TOUR

Breakthrough UK band biffy clyro will embark on their first US headlining tour, kicking off in Allston, MA on September 13.   Their latest album, Only Revolutions, has been nominated for the 2010 Mercury Prize.   Prior shortlist nominees for the prestigious UK award include Florence and the Machine, Radiohead, and Franz Ferdinand.    …

Limes, Rhinestone River

In yet another decent, if slightly sluggish release from underground garage legends Goner Records, Limes prove that you don’t need to assemble air-tight, immediate songs to make the kind of garage rock and roll that sticks with you. Yet the title of “Garage rock and roll” is a little misleading: there is very little “Rocking”…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 31st, 2010

JUSTIN BIEBER UPDATE As we reported over the weekend, Justin Bieber was forced to cancel his concert at the New York State Fair in Syracuse due to illness. According to the fair’s website, Bieber rescheduled the show for Wednesday. Because of the switch, promoters were also forced to push Wednesday’s previously scheduled Bieber show at…

JARED EVAN “IN LOVE WITH YOU” VIDEO

Jared Evan has premiered the video for his single “In Love With You.”   The explosive track that closed last week’s episode of Entourage will appear on Jared’s Interscope Records debut, Fourth Chapter.   “In Love With You” embodies the intoxicating rock/rap/pop blend heard on the album which is executive produced by Polow Da Don…

LAUREN PRITCHARD DEBUT OCTOBER 26

Universal Republic will release Lauren Pritchard’s debut album, Wasted in Jackson, on October 26th. Pritchard, who starred in the original Broadway production of Spring Awakening, recorded the album with producer/Ivor Novello-winning songwriter Eg White (Duffy, Adele) in London, where early reviews have been phenomenal.   The Sunday Times of London praised the 22-year-old American’s “beautiful,…

KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD, LIVE! IN CHICAGO

On this CD, Kenny goes back to his blues roots.   This release was recorded at the Chicago House of Blues with his current lineup of Noah Hunt on vocals, Chris Layton on drums, Scott Nelson on bass, and Riley Osbourn on keys.   Some R&B luminaries showed up including Hubert Sumlin, Willie “Big Eyes”…

THE GRACIOUS FEW NEW VIDEO “HONEST MAN”

“Honest Man” is The Gracious Few’s first introduction to their self-titled de ­but, due out in mid-September. On top of the band’s killer lineup, the album’s got some additional star power behind it, courtesy of producer and former Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison and Grammy Award-winning mixer Tom Lord-Alge (whose long list of work extends…

SEVENDUST, COLD DAY MEMORY

Long regarded as one of the best live heavy touring bands, the guys have grown an impressive following.   The Atlanta group has released its eighth album, with some great initial results.   The release features their trademark double guitar punch by Clint Lowery and John Connolly, which singer Lajon Witherspoon effectively weaves in and…

REMY ZERO REUNITES TO PLAY FOUR ONE-OFF DATES IN OCTOBER

Remy Zero announces plans to reunite for four select dates in October to honor the memory of the band’s drummer Gregory Slay, who passed away on New Year’s Day of complications from Cystic Fibrosis. On May 22, 2010 Remy Zero played their first show together in eight years as a tribute to Gregory in New…

SOPHIE B. HAWKINS MAKES ROCK BAND DEBUT

Ozone Entertainment today announced that Grammy nominated and Platinum selling recording artist Sophie B. Hawkins will be making her music game debut through the Rock Band Network with the release of the song “Beautiful Girl.” “Beautiful Girl” is the first track off of Ms. Hawkins’ 2004 album Wilderness, which features a range of beautiful tracks…

KID ROCK NEW STUDIO ALBUM DUE NOVEMBER 16th

Kid Rock will release his 8th studio album, “Born Free,” on November 16th via Atlantic Records.   The record was produced by Rick Rubin and mixed by Greg Fidelman.   The first single from the album will be, appropriately, “Born Free” which hits radio September 14th.   “Born Free” is in many ways a transformational…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 30th, 2010

BILLBOARD BACKSTAGE AT GLEE Billboard recently got the chance to go backstage on the set of the new season of Glee. The show returns to FOX on September 21st to the delight of fans the world over. Those who want an inside look at the upcoming season and what it’s like backstage should check out…

The Grip Weeds, Strange Change Machine

The New Jersey band The Grip Weeds may have formed in the late 80s but the talented group led by brothers Kurt and Rick Reil could have just as easily been playing music a decade or two earlier. This isn’t so much of a surprise because the band’s name is actually inspired by John Lennon’s…

LIKE THEM OR NOT, HERE COMES BARDO

Get ready for this exciting rock band out of LA as they unleash their new EP You Like Me A lot.   The CD Release Party was held at the Hotel Cafe in the heart of Hollywood on Wednesday, August 18, 2010.   And remember, if you couldn’t make the Release Party, then no worries…

ISSAC DELGADO RECREATES THE SOUNDS OF NAT KING COLE IN SPANISH / VIDEO

On August 31, Sony Masterworks will release L-O-V-E by Cuban superstar Issac Delgado. On L-O-V-E, Delgado recreates 12 sultry and sexy Spanish recordings originally sung by crooner Nat King Cole. He does so with the help of a number of outstanding musicians including a special contribution by Nat King Cole’s brother, Freddy Cole. This is…

HELLSONGS COVER IRON MAIDEN “HEAVEN CAN WAIT”

The Swedish trio HELLSONGS release their subdued but exhilarating renditions of metalhead favorites on September 14 with the album MINOR MISDEMEANORS (minty fresh). With seemingly divine covers of iconic metal bands including Judas Priest, Slayer, W.A.S.P., Pantera, Alice Cooper, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, and Iron Maiden, hell has never seemed so blissful.

Rumbletone, Self-Titled

Right away from the cover art, you are seeing a tropical setting complete with palm trees, water and rocks.   On the back cover, you get a serene visual by way of the sun glaring down on the calm ocean waters.   And here’s the kicker; Rumbletone is actually from the Hawaiian island of Kauai.…

GLEN NAYLOR SAYS TO STOLI “WHO YOU CALLING GRANDMA!?”

Another weekend is here again! My guest this week shows that music is the universal language and that you are never too old to create music. We are traveling across the globe to introduce Glen Naylor from Victoria, Australia. Glen makes childrens music that is upbeat, positive, and very catchy. I must admit that my…

PAULA COLE JOURNEYS TO “ITHACA” ON NEW ALBUM

GRAMMY Award-winner Paula Cole, one of the preeminent female singer/songwriters of our generation, journeys to ITHACA on her deeply personal new album to be released on Decca Records September 21st.   On her fifth album ITHACA, Cole takes listeners on an intensely emotional, yet uplifting journey through divorce (“The Hard Way,” “P.R.E.N.U.P”) and the struggle…

MOVIE TRAILER FOR “ELEVENS”

When was the last time you sat down and enjoyed a film about the sneaker culture? A film created by and for those who understand that sneakers are much more than just footwear? Like indie film producers Major Clemens and Kimelia Weathers, your answer is probably never. Fueled by a passion for all things fresh,…

DJ HERO 2 UNCRATES 105 OF THE HOTTEST HITS

When the party starts on October 19, budding beat chemists, singing sensations and all of their friends will experience over 100 of the biggest tracks from the hottest artists, remixed exclusively for DJ Hero ® 2, including Eminem’s “Not Afraid,” Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” David Guetta’s “Memories” feat. Kid Cudi, Lil’ Wayne’s “Lollipop” feat. Static…

ARMIN VAN BUUREN ALBUM TO BE RELEASED SEPTEMBER 14TH

It’s the album the entire dance scene has been waiting for. After months of hard work and creativity, the number one DJ in the world delivers his fourth artist album. Armin van Buuren is proud to present to you: Mirage.   Initial pre-sales have already pushed Mirage into the US iTunes Top 5 Dance Albums…

SHAMAN HARVEST TRACK MAKES NEW WWE FILM

Missouri rockers Shaman’s Harvest will hit the big screen this coming fall as their popular track “Dragonfly” will be featured in WWE’s upcoming film “Legendary.” The film industry predicts this to be WWE Films’ best movie yet. The song will not only be featured once, but twice within the film. “Dragonfly” was the band’s first…

RICK SHAFFER ANNOUNCES THE FILMMAKER VIDEO COMPETITION

Tarock Music is now accepting entry’s from filmmakers, in all countries, for The Filmmaker Video Competition.   One video will be selected of each song, “Necessary Illusion” and “Gettin’ Deeper,” from Rick Shaffer’s solo album, Necessary Illusion.   The filmmaker of each selected video will receive a $500 cash award. We are looking for students,…