Here’s our first look at Guy Sebastian’s new album Like it Like That. The cover shows Guy embracing his current New York City base, with the Empire State Building standing proudly in the background.
This sneak peek does come with some bad news though. The album, featuring the number one single of the same name, has been pushed back to an October 23 release. I’m sure it’ll all be worth the wait though!
Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia
Jet are currently Stateside spruiking their new album Shaka Kula, but the band hasn’t forgotten about their fans back home.
Since Homebake sold out, the band will also perform sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne in December. They’ll play The Metro on December 4, the day before Homebake, before hitting Melbourne’s The Palace on December 9.
While visiting the US of A the band recently performed “She’s a Genius” on Late Night with David Letterman. Here’s the performance for those of you who were sleeping soundly when it aired!
Tonight the Australian Idol top 10 sang top 10 hits. But first of all we had to get to just 10 by eliminating one of our contestants. I was honestly shocked to see Kim Cooper and Sabrina Batshon sharing the bottom three spots with serial offender Casey Barnes. While I love Casey, when compared with those two girls he really deserved to go.
Sabrina Batshon kicked it off with “When Love Takes Over.” I really liked her enthusiasm, and the different approach she took on this song compared to the serious numbers we’ve had in the past. But I don’t think this was her best vocal performance. It was a little pitchy, and shrieky in places. It’s a shame, because I liked seeing this different side of her.
Toby Moulton stripped back and slowed down the ‘80s classic “Take On Me.” I love love love this song, and while it was a very different version, I loved it too. It felt very intimate, and to get that across to a television audience is very special indeed. This was just beautiful.
Kim Cooper embraced her pop roots with Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance.” This has never been one of my favourite songs, but I think she brought a new depth and edge to this track. I also appreciated that her vocals didn’t suffer with her dancing. Achieving that balance is a tricky one, and I think Kim managed it.
The hits of recent ARIA Hall of Fame inductee John Paul Young come together in a new greatest hits album cheekily titled I Hate the Music.
The album features many of JPY’s top 40 hits, including the title track, “Yesterday’s Hero,” “The Love Game,” “Standing in the Rain” and the always popular “Love Is In the Air.”
I Hate the Music hits record store shelves around the country this weekend.
Kiwi expat Gin Wigmore teased us with the release of her EP Extended Play. Now with her debut album Holy Smoke, Gin shows us why she’s one of the most intriguing musicians on the local scene.
The album toes that fine and difficult musical line, remaining accessible while never sacrificing its emotional heart. Recorded in America’s famed Capitol Studios with The Cardinals, it’s no surprise that it sounds incredibly slick. But Gin’s distinctively rasping vocals ensure it never feels superficially polished.
Holy Smoke was written after an intense relationship break-down. While those emotions colour the tracks, they never become too bogged down in the drama. The first single “Oh My” shows the way Gin can defiantly deliver lyrics about being beaten in the game of love against energetic hand-clapping melodies. Gin allows herself to be vulnerable in the fragile closing tracks “Golden Ship” and “Dying Day,” but for the most part this recording is all about strength and bluesy grit.
The brassy soul sounds remind me a little of Duffy, Amy Winehouse, and other British singers of that ilk, but that’s just the start of it. There are more colours in there: blues, jazz, pop, rock, and even a little reggae in the laidback “I Do.” Holy Smoke is an excellent album from one of our brightest new stars.
Holy Smoke hits stores on September 25.
Image source: JB Hi-Fi; The White Agency
80s icons Duran Duran and our own political rockers Midnight Oil seem like chalk and cheese, so it’s surprising to hear that Duran Duran plan to record a cover of the Oils hit “Beds are Burning.”
Duran Duran will join more than 55 other artists and celebrities including Sir Bob Geldof, The Scorpions, Marion Cotillard, and Youssou N’Dour for the track. More artists are expected to join the project before its release on October 1 at Paris Fashion Week.
The song will spearhead a climate change awareness campaign headed by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
The track will be available for free download on its release. It remains to be seen whether it’s got the power of a “We Are The World” or “Do They Know it’s Christmas,” but it’s sounding promising so far! It’s hoped the recording will pressure world leaders to reach an agreement on tackling climate change at December’s United Nations conference in Denmark.
Photo credit: Brian Aris @ Wikimedia Commons
Rapper Lil Jon is heading to Melbourne as part of Megarampage, Melbourne’s extreme skating, BMX, and live music show. His visit coincides with the release of his new album Crunk Rock.
Other acts on the bill include The Offspring, Good Charlotte, Wu Tang Clan, Kelley James, and local bands Cog, Mammal, and Shaman.
The bands are a drawcard, but the real highlight of the day is going to be the Megarampage megaramp, a nine-storey high ramp that’s the length of a football field. It will take an entire week to build, but it’ll be worth it when 14 pro-skaters and six BMX riders tear it up! Australia’s Jake Brown will take it on, as will Americans Bob Burnquist and Danny Way to name a few.
Megarampage will hit Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium on October 31. Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster from $99.
Image source: Gamerscore Blog @ Wikimedia Commons
Sydneysiders should get themselves to the Blender Gallery to catch the very cool Gibson Through the Lens exhibition, which opened today.
The exhibition features photographs from some of the world’s most respected rock photographers including Ross Halfin, Jim Marshall, Neal Preston, and Mick Rock. There are 70 rare and vintage images of rock legends including Bruce Springsteen, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Prince, Bono, and our own Angus Young. The show has already toured the world, including showings in Los Angeles, Shanghai, Berlin, and London.
Gibson Through the Lens will be at the Blender Gallery until October 6.
Image copyright Baron Wolman
Evermore clearly impressed Pink during her recent Australian tour. The American popstar loved their support slot so much, she’s invited the lads to tour with her around Europe.
The New Zealand expats will head to Dublin on October 12 to start the tour, which will take in several European locations over 11 weeks.
“After a leisurely stroll around beautiful Australia, meeting 10,000 friendly locals every night on the Funhouse tour, P!nk has made us an offer we couldn’t refuse to join her on tour all across UK and Europe,” said Peter Hume. “We could not have had this chance without such a good response from everyone who came to the P!nk shows in Australia, so thank YOU for being crazy and loud.”
To coincide with the tour, Warner Brothers will release a greatest hits album in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions. The disc will feature singles from Evermore’s three previous albums. UK radio will also receive “Hey Boys and Girls” next week.
“After being in this band together for ten years this is the first opportunity we have had to tour and release an album in UK/Europe and we are incredibly excited about getting over there!” Peter added. “This will be our debut album for the rest of the world, we feel all nervy and young again.”
Of course, if Europe gets a greatest hits Australia deserves one too. That will be released in November, with three new singles and a bonus disc of unreleased material adding value for diehard fans.
The opportunity to play Europe means Evermore will reschedule some upcoming dates. However, Victorian shows will go ahead as planned. Aussies and Europeans: you can see Evermore at the following venues!
7 October 2009 – Hallam Hotel
8 October 2009 – Croxton Park Hotel, Melbourne
9 October 2009 – Sandbelt Hotel, Morrabbin
10 October 2009 – Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully
14 & 15 October 2009 – O2, Dublin
17 & 18 October 2009 – Odyssey, Belfast
20 & 21 October 2009 – SECC, Glasgow
23-25 October 2009 – MEN, Manchester
27 October 2009 – Echo, Liverpool
28 October 2009 – Arena, Sheffield
30 & 31 October 2009 – NIA, Birmingham
2 November 2009 – Arena, Newcastle
3 November 2009 – Arena, Nottingham
5 November 2009 – Sport Paleis, Antwerp
7 November 2009 – Forum, Copenhagen
9 November 2009 – Spektrum, Oslo
10 November 2009 – Globe, Stockholm
12 November 2009 – Hartwell Arena, Helsinki
19 November 2009 – O2 Arena, Prague
20 November 2009 – Festhalle, Frankfurt
22 November 2009 – Olympiahalle, Munich
23 November 2009 – Messehalle, Freiburg
25 November 2009 – Schleyerhalle, Stuttgart
26 November 2009 – Messehalle, Erfurt
28 November 2009 – ISS Dome, Dusseldorf
30 November 2009 – Kopi Arena, Oberhausen
2 & 3 December 2009 – Hallenstadion, Zurich
5 December 2009 – Rockhal, Luxembourg
6 December 2009 – Ahoy, Rotterdam
8 & 10 December 2009 – O2, London
12 December 2009 – AWD Dome, Bremen
13 December 2009 – Westfallenhalle, Dortmund
15 December 2009 – Arena, Geneva
17 December 2009 – Stadthalle, Vienna
19 December 2009 – Schleyerhalle, Stuttgart
20 December 2009 – AWD Arena, Hanover
Image source: The Harbour Agency
Local singer-songwriter Paul Greene has just inked a licensing deal with Japanese label Tsunami Music. His latest album, Distance Over Time, will hit Japanese record stores on 22 November. It will feature two previously unreleased tracks: “Bumpy Ride” and “Talk To Me.”
“We have been searching for world class music to introduce to the Japanese people and the gods have not ignored our efforts. After hearing Paul’s music I feel like we have discovered a diamond and are very honoured to be working with him. We are committed to helping him soar higher and higher,” said Tsunami CEO Hironobu Arai.
Paul will visit Japan in December, seeing six cities in just 10 days, to promote the release. The promotional tour will include concerts in Tokyo and Osaka.
“The idea of playing to an entirely new audience is both inspiring and exciting,” says Greene. “Tsunami has been wonderful to deal with, their enthusiasm for the music and ambitions as a label are fantastic. I am very honoured to be involved with them.”
This isn’t the only travelling on the agenda for Paul. He’ll jet to North America in March for a series of shows including a performance at Canadian Musicfest. On returning home, Paul will unleash his highly anticipated new album. It’s scheduled for an April 2010 release.
If you want to catch Paul before he jets off, you can see him perform on his current Work Love Dance Trust tour.
Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment
