Where Is George? And What Happened To Sick Boy?

I thought that the whole thing about Eli Stone was that George Michael appears in all of his visions/ hallucinations.
Now I’m curious to know where George is. We he is not so good in hiding. A permanent role for the singer, will improve the show greatly.
Just to think of the long way Sick Boy had to go, from a drug addict to Eli Stone….

Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life… But why would I want to do a thing like that?

Trainspotting 1996

St. Michael

That’s how it goes, from public enemy No. 1, to a saint. That’s what is happening to Michael Jackson these days. As we approach the 25th anniversary of Thriller, the album who broke any record in the record book, Jacko is back in business with an exclusive interview after 10 years to “Ebony” magazine. Harriette Cole, editor of “Ebony” magazine said on The Today Show that: “The thing that was most impressive to me about him (M.J.) is that he is so loving and generous to everyone, we photographed in the Brooklyn Museum. It was the guard he made sure he spoke to, the elevator operator, everybody who was there was someone he wanted to treat with kindness.” Rumors about a new album were also thrown in the air.
In 1982, as a little kid, in the land of far far away, I had a small cassette player with Thriller on it. Michael Jackson just before going nuts was my hero. I can’t believe it’s been 25 years.
If he can make a comeback, everyone can.

The Postal Service Is The Best Cover Band That Ever Was

I recently heard a cover of Iron & Wine’s “Such Great Heights” on the radio and loved it more than the original. (Ben Folds’ cover is the version usually attributed as the original version of the song, but it’s not.) Nonetheless, it got me thinking that most often, we squirm at the thought of song covers (similar to the reaction to a movie sequel) and for good reason. Have you listened to Kelly Clarkson try and replicate the brilliance of Ray LaMontagne’s “Shelter”? If you haven’t, don’t. You’re better off listening to this guy on YouTube. He does a pretty good rendition. Of course, “Shelter” is a tough song to sing as my husband and I (and our neighbors who’ve listened to us) can both attest to.

But back to my new-found obsession with pop-techno, 80s retro band The Postal Service. They first broke onto the mainstream scene with their cover of Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds” for the Wicker Park soundtrack. That caught my attention a few years back, but listen to “Such Great Heights” below and enjoy them a bit. If you like, give “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” a try.

PS- Off to see Regina Spektor tonight (finally!) at the Orpheum. To give a synopsis in days to come…

Amy & Jack Daniels: A Couple Made In Wino-Heaven?

Ok, so we’re all a little tired of the cult of the female pop-rock starlet on self-destruct (w/debris oozing out of their minute coke-clogged pores) but kudos go again this week to Amy Winehouse, who, rather than go the route of most of her predecessors and launch her own perfume line, had her road manager launch a line of whiskey as an homage to Winehouse.

The story goes something like this (some licenses taken with the paraphrasing): Amy gets crabby while on the road and is itching for a hit (either in the form of coke or her husband’s face). She calls her road manager into her van and says, “Yos, whaszup. Where’s me blow.” [insert Ali G-style curses and affectations] Whereupon her manager informs her not only is she out of the powder, but every form of alcohol known to man, woman, and superfreak. Amy, not happy, throws her empty bottle of JD at her manager. Fortunately, it hit the part of his head that’s responsible for extorting more money from his boss. He comes up with a brilliant idea: Market more witch brew, er, um in layman’s terms: Shut up the whiny, overly demanding diva.

To celebrate the launch of this new bourbon, Airborne, Amy was on hand to show her support. Namely do her trademark drunk man’s saunter on and off the stage, mutter profanities and aim some more whiskey bottles into the crowd, all in the name of self-promotion, not to mention brilliant marketing strategy, if I do say so myself…

Mitch Winehouse Pulls A Michael Lohan

Adding to the leak of damaging and discouraging Amy Winehouse photos/news of late, Winehouse’s dad has now entered into the paparazzi mixploitation giving an interview to the BBC earlier today, which read like a sincere enough plea for help on behalf of his daughter. Concerned father or not, Mitch is clearly in denial about a few things regarding his daughter’s history of emotional health. First off, Mitch states (in the transcript) that Amy only started using hardcore drugs in the past few mos and that prior to this, she prided herself on being “clean”. The girl has been spiraling down on a drug-frenzied journey for at least a year now. Also, given the combination of eating disorder, potential spousal abuse, and drugs, it’s quite obvious she’s self-medicating and self-destructing at the same time. That sh*t doesn’t happen overnight.
If, as Mitch Winehouse is quick to relay, the record companies are really looking out for Amy’s best interest in canceling her tour dates and ensuring a speedier and healthier recovery period for the gifted singer, then props to them. Somehow Mitch Winehouse’s careful finessing of certain high density media outlets at opportune times makes me think he might quietly be relishing all this attention. I hope time prove me wrong. Lord know we have enough celebrity whore fathers out there…

Reg’s Musical Musings: Surviving The Tundra In The Middle Of Summer-The R&R Summit

by DJ Scott Register

Where to begin, I guess with a recap of last week’s R&R Triple A Summit in Boulder, CO. It was great spending time with all of my fellow music loving radio folks, label reps and promotions guys and girls. Nothing like being around a bunch of people who share the same passion, drive and enthusiasm for music and spreading its gospel to eager ears around the globe.

I am such a big fan of this conference that I would attend even if I wasn’t in the business. It makes me believe in the power or music and shows me that real radio is alive and well. BIG THANKS to R&R Triple A Editor John Schoenberger, President/Publisher Erica Farber and everyone involved in putting on this wonderful event.

I must admit, I was a bit irked by some of the grumblings I heard about this year’s lineup. Yes, there were no “headline” names so to speak but the quality of the acts that performed spoke for itself and what the convention lacked in “big names” it more than made up for with credible acts putting on memorable performances. And after all, aren’t we the people who make the stars of tomorrow? Aren’t we the ones who give the up and comer a chance and let our listeners hear their music in its infancy? Aren’t we the ones who don’t forget the artists after the rest of the industry has thrown them on the scrap heap even if they are still making incredible music? If you were one of the ones bitching about the lineup, I think you oughta check yourself! Read More…

Amy Winehouse ODs…Well Kinda, Anyways?

NME reports that our beloved MOT equivalent of Diana Ross, aka Amy Winehouse is currently in a hotel in London recovering from what appears to have been a drug overdose.

Reports have suggested that Winehouse suffered from a drug overdose at 1am on Wednesday (August , and was treated with an adrenaline shot before her stomach was pumped.

Anyone else find it mildly perplexing that Amy is convalescing in the warm, homey environs of a hotel? Anyways, talk-of-town post OD rumors was the Amy was entering rehab, but as fate would have it, her publicist dismissed that rumor with a “no, no, no.”

Winehouse overdosed on August 10th. Only two days earlier, she was nominated for 3 MTV VMA awards including Female Artist of the Year and and Video of the Year. Precluding any potential rumor of Winehouse succumbing to the pressure, and falling prey to its folly, one can only hope she’s emotionally and mentally in better shape when Grammy nomination time comes.

Van Halen Will Jump Again

Amy Winehouse & Paolo Nutini Could Make Very Sweet Music Together

Ok, so Amy Winehouse and Scottish bloke singer Paolo Nutini are already slated to tour together (we’re always the last to know…), but who knew the duo might have such complimentary voices? The video seen below is an homage to Scottish singer Paolo Nutini and the psycho who compiled this image gallery of a video on Youtube. Right. So why do we care? Cause it also relates to Amy Winehouse and it just so happens that the Nutini video montage also features audio of the singer doing a cover of Amy Winehouse’s Rehab. And after listening to this cover, you’ll be hard-pressed to find two other white people (and one Jewish at that) who do Soul as well, at least in today’s emerging music scene. Sufficed to say, I’d love to see these two on tour together.

The Hanson Brothers are On The Walk

We have to at least appreciate the effort. The Hanson brothers are back. Yes those three kids who MMMbopped us to the point of no return back in 97, have grown up, and just released their new album The Walk in the US. My first reaction, listening to Go, a single from the album was to make a face and complain about another kitschy song that will fill the playlists of thousands of radio stations due to a massive PR campaign. But on a second hearing i realized that although the song does have plenty of kitsch in it, it is no different then most songs sung by all those self acclaimed bands that reflect today’s music. It’s definitely not worse.
Judge for yourself:

If You Hear Something Late At Night…

Hope that it’s Suzanne Vega. At 48, the fiery chanteuse, is just as much a force as she ever was. Back with her new album Beauty & Crime, the subject matter, 9-11, focuses on the sadness and the rebuild of New York in the time since September 11. The album plays more like an ode to New York. Its single, “Frank & Ava” true to its title is a happy tune about New Jersey native and NY icon Frank Sinatra and his lover, actress Ava Gardner. The SF Gate gave the album a thumbs down, but I like to give Suzanne the benefit of the doubt. As a native New Yorker who’s spend the good part of her life there, I think that Vega’s emotional IQ and intelligence naturally lend herself to this project. In an effort to celebrate Suzanne’s legacy, listen to the song that made her a star, or a name to contend with, at the very least.

Get Thee To Rehab

Because we love Amy Winehouse at Amaldo.com, we’re disheartened to hear more bad news from London where she stormed out of a restaurant when friends confronted Amy after she ordered only vodka, champagne, and 7-Up. Unhappy with her friends’ concern/re: criticism of her choice in libation, Amy left the restaurant. The jazz-pop singer has been in the news lately after a much-publicizedcutting episode and for pulling out of concert engagements.

For more updates on Amy’s erratic behavior, click here.

Like A Stone That Doesn’t Move

The Rolling Stones are having some bad luck when it comes to random fatal accidents while on their Bigger Band world tour. Two workers in Madrid were killed yesterday while taking apart a stage post-concert and two other stage hands were injured during the incident. The BBC reports that three of the workers fell 10M from a metal beam and landed on the fourth guy.

Tragic spotlight aside, walking ticking time bomb Keith Richards haul is ass back on-stage night after night after going a few hits with coke might be enough to jar anyone’s sensibilities. Let’s hope this image wasn’t their last.

The Spice is Back(ham)

The biggest announcement in the history known to man will be given next week. The Spice Girls are coming back! Yes, Sporty, Posh, Baby, Ginger and Scary will reunite to make a new album and a tour. Now that David Beckham is coming to Los Angeles to play Soccer for the Galaxy, his wife Victoria was a bit concerned whether people would recognize her or not. Now she doesn’t need to worry about it any more, she will be Posh again. I always find these showbiz coincidences somewhat odd… Any way, if Gery Halliwell who was the first to leave the band in 98′, decides she doesn’t want to join the party, fear not, Katie Holmes would kill for a chance to be in the band, and to sing and perform alongside her idols.

Old Weekend Song

After this long and tiring week, and I’m not talking about Paris Hilton’s week, here is something old that will make the weekend much better. Mama Cass from 1968.

To Beth my motek

Notes On Some BS

If anyone was, for some reason, still thinking that the source of American Idol’s success stemmed frrom showcasing fresh talent, they got their rebuttal today when reports leaked that American Idol might be getting rid of female host Paula Abdul to hire Nobel prize winner Britney Spears as a judge for the show. There is not much one can say when hearing this crap. But for for Spears, maybe the road to redemption goes through Simon Cowell.

The Prince Of Verizon

Once upon a time, if you wanted to promote your new album, you would go on a tour, kiss the radio station’s decision maker’s ass, and maybe if you were lucky you would find yourself on stage in a late night talk show. Today, there are so many other channels of communications that artists try their best to look as up-to-date as possible and to cover all bases in an attempt to reach their crowd.

What better way for an aging rockstar to do this than thru the use of mobile technology and a cup of Jo? David Bowie operating as Nokia’s Music Godfather, and Paul McCartney releasing a new album with Starbucks are only 2 examples. And now, according to Reuters, Prince, who is trying desperately to avoid being called Alter Kaker is giving away his new single “Guitar” to Verizon users, V Cast song ID feature, which identifies songs for listeners who hold their phone next to a speaker.
Once upon a time you could get away with decent PR and great music. Today I guess you just need stellar PR, the rest will follow.