Abby Dobson Rises Up With Solo Release

The husky sexiness of Abby Dobson’s voice has been a delightful fixture on the Australian musical landscape for some time. She helped make “Even When I’m Sleeping,” her massive 1998 single with Leonardo’s Bride, an instant classic. Her guest spots on Paul Mac’s first solo disc were magical.

Abby’s set to wow us again with her solo debut, Rise Up. She’s worked with some in the business for the release, including old buddy Paul Mac, Josh Pyke, and 78 Saab’s Nicholai Danko.

Rise Up is in stores from October 6, but fans in Melbourne and Sydney can get a sneak peek when Abby plays a couple of very special shows next month. She’ll appear at Melbourne’s Northcote Social on September 19 and The Basement in Sydney on September 27.

In the meantime, check out the video for her new single “Shining Star.”

More Nolls Making Music

It seems Shannon’s not the only Noll bitten by the music bug. His brothers Adam and Damian are poised to release their first single “Shining Star.”

You may have noticed The Noll Brothers performing in Shannon’s band. Adam played guitar while Damian played drums, and they helped write “The Way That I Fell.”

Now they’re striking out on their own, with some impressive country tunes. “Shining Star” hits stores on September 15, but you can see the film clip below. The single is from the album A Country Heart, which is slated for a November release.

Nude Skateboarders Stall Ben Lee Clip

Ben Lee has just finished the film clip for his brilliant new single, “Love Me Like The World Is Ending.” Ordinarily this wouldn’t be news, but there was an embarrassing glitch with the making of the video.

Ben had a typically dramatic and quirky vision for the new clip. He hoped to assemble a cast of colourful characters, including a businessman, a homeless man, a rabbi, a Muslim, and a unicorn. No problems there.

He also imagined a couple of skateboarders, wearing nude bodysuits, would then zoom around New York City. But it seems something got lost in translation, because the skateboarders took to the streets in the buff. The cops were quickly on the scene and the crew’s shooting license was revoked.

The new, fully-clothed clip features a much tamer giant water-balloon fight!

New Song Obsession: I Don’t Remember

This week’s song obsession is more correctly a video obsession. Powderfinger’s latest effort, “I Don’t Remember” isn’t a bad slice of Oz rock. However, this film clip featuring a bunch of music loving kiddies proves a lot more entertaining.

This clip is a fantastic parody of the Aussie music industry, centered around the Powderfinger-esque Little Finger. Silverchair cleverly becomes Hi Chair, while Wolfmother are more appropriately called Wolfmummy. And who needs cocaine and cigarettes when you’ve got Wizz Fizzes and Fadds? These kids really know how to party.

Shannon Noll’s Loud New Single

In the not so recent past, I couldn’t turn on the radio without Shannon Noll trying to fire me up. I quite enjoy Shannon, but the last thing I wanted to hear from my clock radio was inspirational pop rock telling me why I needed to get up and out of bed. I also didn’t need to hear that he knew how hard it could be, but encouraging me to lift anyway.

Expect more of these inescapable positive messages to dominate the airwaves in the coming weeks. Shannon’s latest single, “Loud”, has just been released to radio.

Nollsy is the most successful artist discovered through the Australian Idol talent search, selling more albums and releasing more hit singles than his reality TV peers. He believes his optimistic outlook is the key to his longevity.

“There’s way too much negativity in the music industry, songs that talk about hate and killing and anger,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“The beautiful thing about music is its ability to make people feel something positive.”

New Song Obsession: Love Me Like The World is Ending

I caught Ben Lee performing his latest single, “Love Me Like The World Is Ending,” on Sunrise this week. I must admit, although I’ve always liked Ben Lee, I’ve never been a massive fan. But after listening to this song I can’t wait to hear his new album Ripe.

It seems Ben’s mellowing, becoming less pretentious and allowing us to see more vulnerability. This performance, with just an acoustic guitar as accompaniment, showcases that perfectly.

Amazing, right? If you’re in Sydney and enjoyed the song as much as I did, I suggest you get down to Warringah Mall today. Ben will be performing and signing copies of “Love Me Like The World Is Ending” from 1 pm.

Italy In Love With Old Man River

Old Man River‘s infectious single “La” is the perfect antidote for the cold Australian winter. This catchy pop slice reminds me of warm sand between my toes and lazy summer weekends.

The irresistible ditty has become a surprise smash in Italy, racing up the national airplay charts. The song is sitting pretty at number 19 on the Italian national airplay chart, up 12 spots from two weeks ago.

Not a bad effort for a boy from Sydney. To see what all the fuss is about, be sure to watch Old Man River performing “La” on the ABC’s Sideshow below!

If you like what you see, catch Old Man River when he visits your town soon! Check his MySpace for all the tour dates.

The Beautiful Girls Release New Album in America

After impressing fans and critics in Australia, indie trio The Beautiful Girls are set to do the same in the United States. The band will release their latest album, Ziggurats, in America on September 18.

The Beautiful Girls have created a truly unique sound, through their love of jazz, reggae, rock, and country. Renowned for their mellow tones, Ziggurats introduces a heavier, electric element to their signature sound.

Rolling Stone called Ziggurats “a great leap forward” for the band, while The Daily Telegraph said it was a “stellar album, which is impossible to take off the stereo.”

See what The Beautiful Girls are about by watching the film clip for their latest single, “I Thought About You,” below.

Americans: if you’re revved by what you’ve heard, be sure to check out Ziggurats when it hits stores in September.

Sunk Loto Calls It Quits

Queensland rockers Sunk Loto have called it a day after an illustrious 10-year career.

The heavy metal band hit the big time when, as teenagers, they signed a record deal with Sony. They recorded two albums under the label, Big Picture Lies and Between Birth and Death. The band, which was working on a new album, cites creative differences for the split.

On a statement on their MySpace, Sunk Loto has thanked their “die-hard loyal fans, friends and family for sticking with them and making it all worthwhile.”

However, fans need not despair. Founding members Jason and Dane Brown are currently working on new material with their original bassist Robkaay. Guitarist Luke McDonald also plans to record music with a new project.

Here’s a clip of their song “Everything Everyway” to remember them by!