In one of the closest verdicts this season, Australian Idol viewers sent home likable crooner Carl Riseley.
Just four percent separated Carl from remaining Idol hopefuls Matt Corby and Natalie Gauci. Despite coming so close to the Idol crown, Carl was gracious in defeat.
“Man, I am so thrilled for these two,” he told the studio audience. “These two are the most talented guys I have ever met.”
Next Sunday Matt and Natalie will perform three songs including the winner’s single “Here I Am.” Then they’ll head to the Sydney Opera House on November 25 to learn who will be our next Australian Idol.
Image source: Charlotte in Australia @ Flickr
It’s crunch time on Australian Idol, with only three young hopefuls remaining. Tonight we’ll see one of them leave the comp, paving the way for the final two to sing for the ultimate title at the Opera House. You’d think all of that would have inspired some outstanding performances, but did it?
Natalie Gauci was first up, singing the viewer’s choice of “Ray of Light.” I agree with Kyle – this is the worst thing I’ve seen Natalie do. Personally I’ve never liked the song, and it did Natalie no favours. If nothing else, it proved that Natalie can’t sing anything. Thankfully, this wasn’t her only song of the night. Pink’s “Nobody Knows” was a much better choice, and I really enjoyed it.
I was really excited when I heard the home viewer had picked “You Give Me Something” for Carl Riseley, but I didn’t think this worked at all. Vocally it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. I thought his version of “For Once in My Life” was better, but it still wasn’t up to the standard I’d expect at this stage of the competition. I like Carl a lot, but I’m wondering whether he peaked too early.
I was beginning to despair that the viewers’ choices would unintentionally sabotage all of the Idols, when Matt Corby appeared. Evermore’s “It’s Too Late” was the perfect song for him, forcing him to step out of the introspective space he’s inhabited for the last few weeks and really perform. In my eyes, this was the performance of the night. He closed the show with a soaring rendition of “Across the Universe.” It didn’t quite have the “Idol Moment” I think he was aiming for, but it came pretty close.
I honestly have no idea who will go tonight. If the punters vote on performance alone, Carl should be shown the door but we all know more comes into play than that. His status in the bottom two last week will only inspire more Carl fans to pick up the phone. I feel Matt and Natalie have been our most consistent performers and deserve places at the Opera House, but will it happen? You’ll have to watch tonight’s elimination show to find out!
Some say the concept album is dead, but don’t tell that to the folks behind No Man’s Woman. The album features some of Australia’s finest male artists covering songs made famous by iconic female figures.
The results are surprising. I would never have expected some of the song choices, like Josh Pyke’s Kate Bush cover, or The Vines’ reinterpretation of The Veronicas. Some of the artists are faithful to the originals, while others opt for dramatic reworkings. Despite these different approaches, all the musicians involved ultimately show a respect for the original artists.
Now I’ve had the disc for a while I find myself repeating Lior’s glorious cover of “Landslide,” Angus Stone’s poignant version of Joni Mitchell’s “River,” and Dan Kelly’s ukelele-driven interpretation of “Nothing Compares 2 U.” But I still can’t warm to Tex Perkins’ menacing “I Am Woman,” or The Vines’ dirge-like “4Ever.” Many of the tracks won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but that’s part of the joy of an album like this. There’s enough diversity here to keep everyone satisfied.
No Man’s Woman is currently available with a limited edition bonus disc, featuring nine of the original songs (or technically eight and Sinead O’Connor’s version of “Nothing Compares 2 U”). It’s a great reference, giving listeners the opportunity to see where these new interpretations came from.
The federal election is just two weekends away, and if you believe the polls change is in the air. Australian elections are largely free from the celebrity endorsements seen in the American campaigns, but some of our most influential musicians are starting to speak out about who has, or hasn’t, got their vote.
Shannon Noll’s made no secret of backing National MP for Parkes John Cobb.
“I think with this election people are concerned about issues that are going to affect them personally and musicians are no different, whether it be petrol or interest rates,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
Mark Seymour, Sarah Blasko, Tim Freedman, and Perry Keyes will show their support for Labor by playing at the party’s arts policy launch today.
“At the end of the day we all have a responsibility at some time in our lives to make our core values known, even if it’s just to our friends over a barbecue,” Mark Seymour said.
Human Nature figure that when you’re on to a good thing, stick to it. That’s why they’re releasing their third album of Motown covers, Get Ready.
But don’t think this album is more of the same. Motown legends Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Martha Reeves (Martha and the Vandellas), and Mary Wilson (The Supremes) all make guest appearances for an added dose of cred.
In fact, Smokey was so impressed by our local lads that the recorded two songs with them: the album’s title track “Get Ready” and “Tears of a Clown.”
He’ll also join Human Nature for their promo tour later this month. According to Sony BMG, Smokey will sing “Get Ready” with the boys on Dancing with the Stars on November 20. But he won’t leave the country until the 25th, so there could be a couple more appearances in store.
Will Get Ready emulate the success of their earlier Motown efforts? Reach Out and Dancing in the Street both topped the charts and achieved multi-platinum status. But this time around, Human Nature face stiff competition from Guy Sebastian’s The Memphis Album.
Only time will tell who wins this soul covers battle. Get Ready will hit stores on November 17.
The rumours about Sinead O’Connor were true. She’ll be there alongside other international big guns The Black Crowes, Wilco, Don McLean, Buddy Guy, Ron Sexsmith, and Loudon Wainwright III.
They’ll join a host of local big names including Keith Urban, Eskimo Joe, John Butler Trio, Clare Bowditch, Gotye, and Angus and Julia Stone.
Expect the announcement of more talent before the festival kicks off at Byron Bay’s Belongil Fields on 20-24 March 2008. Tickets are on sale now.
Old Man River will brighten up your summer with their new single “Sunshine.”
Funnily enough, they’ve opted to tour the chilly regions of Europe to celebrate its release. They’ll kick off their Italian dates at Milan’s La Casa 139 tomorrow night, before visiting Scandiano, Brescia, Rome, and Ancona. They’ll arrive in Germany on the 17th, and play Hamburg, Munich, Berlin and Koln.
But never fear Aussies. Old Man River will be back before the jetlag kicks in to play a string of shows, including Homebake, the Peats Ridge Festival, and The Falls.
You’d think they’d be tired of touring after all that, but Old Man River are just getting started. In early 2008 they’ll take their delicious blend of folk and pop to Japan, Canada, and the United States.
MySpace is behind 37 shows “Rock for Darfur” concerts across Australia, the United States, and the rest of the world this Saturday. John Butler Trio will fly the Aussie flag in New York, Megadeth with rock Perth, and Xavier Rudd will play Sydney.
“As I watch the fire around my Southern California home, I know that the devastation of losing treasured personal property, a house, or even a whole city, cannot compare to the evil atrocities that the children and parents of Darfur have had to endure under the ongoing genocide,” said Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine.
“I hope and pray you too will join in helping the people of Darfur in a small way by attending a ‘Rock for Darfur’ concert on November 10. All donations, large and small, are very necessary to help overpower this tragedy. I am doing my part, will you do yours?”
The concerts will raise funds for Oxfam and the Save Darfur Coalition. Just turn up at any of the shows below to make a difference!
Australia
Butterfingers – The Zoo, Brisbane, Qld
Clare Bowditch + The Feeding Set – Fowlers Live, Adelaide, SA
Dardanelles – James Hotel, Launceston, Tas
Megadeth – The Metro, Perth, WA
Xavier Rudd – Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia
United States
Amoeba Music: Brandi Shearer, Coby Brown, Quincy Coleman, and Meiko – Hotel Café, Los Angeles, CA
Bob Weir & RatDog – HOB, Myrtle Beach, SC
Cartel – Skate Park of Memphis, Memphis, TN
Coheed & Cambria – SOMA, San Diego, CA
Colbie Caillat – The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
Emmitt Nershi Band – Abbey Pub, Chicago, IL
Enter the Haggis – Martyr’s, Chicago, IL
Envy on the Coast – SUNY Oneonta, Syracuse, NY
Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes and Cute is What We Aim For – Harbor Yard Arena, Bridgeport, CT
Family Force 5 – Xtreme Wheels, Buffalo, NY
Gabby Glaser – The Annex, New York, NY
John Butler Trio – Terminal 5, New York, NY
Josh Kelley/Pat McGee Band – Exit/In, Nashville, TN
Maroon 5 – The Pearl, Las Vegas, NV
Mutemath and Eisley – HOB, Dallas, TX
MySpace Music Tour feat. Hellogoodbye and Say Anything – Palladium, Dallas, TX
Puddle of Mudd – Pop’s, Sauget, IL
Rogue Wave – The Bottletree, Birmingham, AL
Sick of it All – Agora, Cleveland, OH
State Radio – House of Blues, Chicago, IL
Streetlight Manifesto – Grand Ballroom, New York, NY
Suzanne Vega – Neumos Crystal Ball reading room, Seattle, WA
The Academy Is … with Armor for Sleep, the Rocket Summer & Sherwood -Evolution, Buffalo, NY
The Decemberists – 930 Club, Washington, D.C.
The Elevation Tour: Now On with Buff1 and Othello – Club 156, Denver, CO
The Heavy Pets – Mexicali Blues, Teaneck, NJ
The Minus 5 – The Towne Lounge, Portland, OR
Three Days Grace w/Seether – Bell County Expo Center, Belton, TX
An eclectic collection of international and local acts will play the 2008 Laneway Festival.
Feist, Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, Kevin Drew, Okkervil River, and Dan Deacon and The Brunettes will visit our shores for the travelling festival. They’ll join local stars Gotye, The Panics, The Devastations, Little Red, Via Tania, The Holidays and Bridezilla. More acts will be announced in the coming months.
The festival will kick off in Adelaide on February 23. This is the first time the event has played the South Australian capital. It’ll then travel to Melbourne and Brisbane, before concluding in Sydney on March 2.
Local lasses Tamara Jaber, Reigan Derry, and Hayley Aitken look set to take America by storm. The trio recently signed a multi-album deal with America’s Def Jam records, and they’re currently working on their debut release.
Tamara was one fifth of the failed pop group Scandal’us, but these days she’s better known as Kyle Sandilands main squeeze. Her solo career failed to ignite here, despite some major backing from Kyle, and she’s been trying her luck in the US ever since.
You may remember Reigan from last year’s season of Australian Idol. She definitely had the looks and the vocal chops, but some questionable song choices saw her make an early exit.
Hayley released a couple of singles in Australia about five years ago, but none of them really made an impact on the charts. She also wrote four songs on Ricki-Lee Coulter’s debut album.
So while none of these girls has made a massive impression on their own, together they may just be a force to be reckoned with. It worked for the Young Divas, right?
