Oktober Promotion

All That Remains-"Overcome"
VÖ: 26.09.2008
Label/Vertrieb: Prosthetic Records/Soulfood Music

After three years of aggressive touring that saw the band conquer every major hard rock/metal festival both domestically (Ozzfest, Warped, Sounds of the Underground) and abroad (Germany's Wacken Open Air, Japan's Loud Park), All That Remains has returned with OVERCOME. Produced by Jason Suecof (Trivium, Sevendust, Chimaira), the group's fourth album sees the Massachusetts quintet continuing to refine the trademark mixture of musical excellence, captivating melodies and aggressive, yet memorable riffs that has earned the act international acclaim.

“We just wrote what we wanted to hear – a solid record with strong songs,” vocalist Phil Labonte says. “We appreciate the art of the great song, and that's what we aspired to – writing the best songs we could.” Lead guitarist Oli Herbert agrees. “We wanted to make a CD that had all the good points of our previous work, but with further refinements in song development and dynamics,” he says. OVERCOME is an accurate portrayal of who we are as a band – concise yet diverse metal with memorable vocal melodies, crushing drums, purposeful guitar solos and songs that tackle various subjects with a wide scope of composition.”

Mastered by Ryan Smith (Lamb of God, Mudvayne) at New York's legendary Sterling Sound, OVERCOME sees All That Remains firing on all cylinders, from the blistering "Relinquish" and "Before The Damned," to the defiant mission statement "Do Not Obey," to self-empowerment anthem "Chiron," to the poignant (though still musically powerful) "Two Weeks" and "Forever In Your Hands." Additionally, the album acknowledges the band's metal roots through ATR's first-ever cover song – a stirring rendition of the power ballad "Believe In Nothing" by underground legends Nevermore.

Herbert, who writes the majority of the band's music, believes OVERCOME finds a compelling middle ground between aggression and memorable hooks – or, as Outburn magazine described the album, “heavy as hell, yet irresistibly melodic.” Says Herbert, “The balance we achieve is a result of wide tastes within in the band. Composing for All That Remains is an arduous process that ultimately makes me work harder to create better material. It's important to know and highlight the strengths of the band, and I believe we've highlighted the things that work and discarded the rest.”

Labonte prefers to avoid commenting on specific lyrics, as he believes fans will forge a more personal connection with the band's songs without being told what inspired them. “I don't want to take anything away from the listener,” he says. “Once we write a song and release it, it's not ours anymore. It means whatever you think it means when you hear it, and it means something different to each individual fan. I won't take that away.”

It's clear, though, that OVERCOME is the culmination of the original ideals, ideas, and elements upon which All That Remains was initially founded. Blending sharp riffs, unrelenting rhythms, virtuosic soloing and memorable melodies with Labonte's strongest and most diverse vocal performance yet, the album combines the band's desire to continually evolve with their trademark sound.

OVERCOME is All That Remains' follow-up to 2006's THE FALL OF IDEALS which saw the band break out of the metal underground and position itself for a mainstream breakthrough. In addition to the high-profile festival appearances, the group supported the album – which debuted at #75 on the Billboard Top 200 – with a series of impressive tours alongside fellow genre leaders Killswitch Engage, DragonForce and As I Lay Dying.

Further recognition was garnered through inclusion in the soundtrack for the third installment of horror film franchise Saw, which included the band's single, "This Calling," as its lead track. Another Fall of Ideals song, "Six," was featured in the popular video game Guitar Hero II, its technical riffs challenging untold numbers of gamers. Soon, fans will have additional chances to play along with All That Remains, as two OVERCOME tracks will follow in the footsteps of "Six" and be featured as downloadable content for the sequel to one of last year's most popular and acclaimed video games, Rock Band.

These achievements were not accomplished overnight, but instead through years of hard work. Founded by Labonte and Herbert in the late '90s, All That Remains released their debut album, BEHIND SILENCE AND SOLITUDE, in 2002. THIS DARKENED HEART, which saw the addition of guitarist Mike Martin, followed two years later and earned the band extensive acclaim. Bassist Jeanne Sagan joined the fold shortly before the group tracked THE FALL OF IDEALS, while drummer Jason Costa – who makes his recording debut with ATR on OVERCOME – toured with the band throughout 2007 and 2008. Although the album title might be interpreted by some as "mission: accomplished," one listen to OVERCOME proves that All That Remains has only just begun to fight, and that its most compelling battles are still ahead.

Artist

• All That Remains

Kategorie

• Aktuelle Projekte

Heart- "Heart-Live"
VÖ: 10.10.2008
Label/Vertireb: Soundstage/Soulfood Music

Heart – ‘Live’ captures sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson’s complete uncut performance on the acclaimed PBS concert series Soundstage. Smash hits like “Barracuda” and “Even It Up” share equal billing with the ‘80s ballad-tinged “These Dreams” along with songs off their latest album, “Jupiter’s Darling”.
From the band often hailed as “the female Led Zeppelin”, this incredible 23 song set also features rare covers of “The Battle Of Evermore”, “Black Dog” and “Misty Mountain Hop” as well as Elton John’s “Love Song”
Heart – Official Biography:
Ann Wilson and her younger sister, Nancy Wilson first showed the world that women can rock when their band Heart stormed the charts in the '70s with hits like "Crazy on You," "Magic Man," "Barracuda," ‘Straight On,” “Even It Up,” “Kick It Out” and so many more. They continued topping the charts through the ‘80s and into the ‘90s with huge hits like “These Dreams,” “Alone,” “What About Love,” “If Looks Could Kill,” “Never,” and a string of other hits that showcased the sisters’ enormous talents as both musicians and singers. Along the way, Heart sold more than 30 million records, had 21 top 40 hits, sold out arenas worldwide, and had a profound influence on rock music.
In the mid-'90s, Ann and Nancy returned to Seattle and formed The Lovemongers, with long-time collaborator Sue Ennis and performer Frank Cox. After playing a number of sold-out shows in Seattle, Lovemongers cut Led Zeppelin's "Battle of Evermore" for the triple platinum soundtrack from the movie Singles, which was one of Nancy Wilson’s first musical collaborations with her husband, filmmaker (and Singles writer/director) Cameron Crowe. This was followed by their work together on Jerry Maguire, the Grammy and Oscar winning Almost Famous, Vanilla Sky, and Elizabethtown. In late 2006, Nancy lent her songwriting and production talents to “P.S. I Love You,” directed by Richard LeGravenais and starring Hillary Swank
The sisters reunited as Heart in early 2002, during which time they released a critically acclaimed live concert film on DVD and CD, Heart Alive In Seattle, followed in 2004 by Jupiters Darling, the first new Heart studio album in a decade, produced by Nancy and featuring 15 original songs. Classic Rock magazine hailed Jupiters Darling as a career a tour de force, calling it “the only record you need to buy this year.” In December 2005, PBS aired a two-hour SoundStage special, showcasing songs from Jupiters Darling as well as many classic Heart hits.

In 2006, Heart kicked off the touring year with a VH1 Tribute special (Heart & Friends) featuring performances by Alice In Chains (joined by GNR’s & Velvet Revolver’s Duff McKagan and Pantera’s Phil Anselmo), Dave Navarro, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson and Rufus Wainwright.
VH1 honored Heart again at VH1 2007 Rock Honors. DirecTV broadcast a 30th anniversary concert special of Dreamboat Annie, debuting May 11 (a DVD and CD were released in October). And on September 11th, the first-ever solo project by Ann Wilson (Hope & Glory) was released by Rounder Records. Many special guest artists participated in this landmark project, including Elton John, k d lang, Gretchen Wilson, Wynonna Judd, Alison Krauss, Rufus Wainwright, Deana Carter, Shawn Colvin and Nancy Wilson.

This year, Ann & Nancy joined Fergie for a special performance of “Barracuda” on American Idol Gives Back and they are currently touring the US with Journey & Cheap Trick.

BACKGROUND TO SOUNDSTAGE
Long before music television filled the airwaves, the PBS series Soundstage sparked the nation. In an impressive run from 1974-1985, this innovative and prestigious program achieved widespread critical acclaim and featured the artists that defined the era, including such luminaries as Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, Al Green, the Doobie Brothers, Harry Chapin, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Loggins, and the Temptations.
Soundstage was reborn in 2001 thanks to Joe Thomas, director and founder of HD Ready. HD Ready specializes in combining high-definition television and cutting-edge surround sound. Thomas’ vision was to combine the one-hour musical performances of the original show with state-of-the-art high definition video equipment and innovative Dolby 5.1 audio.
Whether it is an American treasure like Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers or newer superstar like Dashboard Confessional, Soundstage provides every viewer with the best seat in the house. “What I envisioned was bringing the entire audience to the 10th row and building a stage commensurate with what you would see at an arena show instead of asking the artist to alter their performance for a smaller venue,” states Thomas. “We are so fortunate to have attracted such a diverse group of artists for Soundstage. I think more and more musicians are realizing that coming on our show gives them the rare opportunity to solely perform their best work in an intimate setting, for TV.”
The majority of the concerts are filmed before studio audiences at WTTW’s Grainger Studio in Chicago, equipped with 12 cameras, including a jib and Steadicam. Soundstage also occasionally hits the road, taping at venues like Red Rocks, Meyerson Symphony Center, Rialto Square Theatre Genessee Theater, Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Rosemont Theatre, Tsongas Arena, Fleet Center, Germain Amphitheater and Madison Square Garden.
Since Soundstage has been reintroduced, performers have included the Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Joss Stone, Robert Plant, Wilco, Sonic Youth, the All-American Rejects, KT Tunstall, Train, Alison Krauss, Alanis Morissette, Daughtry, John Fogerty, and countless more of today’s premiere artists.

Artist

• Heart

Kategorie

• Aktuelle Projekte

REO Speedwagon - "Live In The Heartland"
VÖ: 10.10.2008
Label/Vertrieb: Soundstage/Soulfood Music

REO Speedwagon – ‘Live In The Heartland’ captures the band’s current line-up of Kevin Cronin (lead vocals, guitar), Bruce Hall (bass), Neal Doughty (keyboards), Dave Amato (lead guitar) and Bryan Hitt (drums) performing in front of adoring fans on their home turf in 2007.
The spectacular 16-song set, recorded in awe inspiring High-Definition and mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound for the hit PBS concert series Soundstage, spans REO’s celebrated 35 year career. REO Speedwagon have sold over 40 million records worldwide and ‘Live In The Heartland’ takes you on a journey from their 1980 UK top 10 hit “Keep On Loving You” to 1985’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and then on to tracks from their 2007 album release “Find Your Own Way Home”.

1. Find Your Own Way Home
2. Take It On The Run
3. Keep Pushin’
4. I Need To Fall
5. Tough Guys
6. Can’t Fight This Feeling
7. Dangerous Combination
8. Back On The Road Again
9. Smilin’ In The End
10. Time For Me To Fly
11. Don’t Let Him Go
12. Keep On Loving You
13. Roll With The Changes
14. Ridin’ The Storm Out
15. Golden Country
16. 157 Riverside Avenue

BACKGROUND TO SOUNDSTAGE
Long before music television filled the airwaves, the PBS series Soundstage sparked the nation. In an impressive run from 1974-1985, this innovative and prestigious program achieved widespread critical acclaim and featured the artists that defined the era, including such luminaries as Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, Al Green, the Doobie Brothers, Harry Chapin, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Loggins, and the Temptations.
Soundstage was reborn in 2001 thanks to Joe Thomas, director and founder of HD Ready. HD Ready specializes in combining high-definition television and cutting-edge surround sound. Thomas’ vision was to combine the one-hour musical performances of the original show with state-of-the-art high definition video equipment and innovative Dolby 5.1 audio.
Whether it is an American treasure like Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers or newer superstar like Dashboard Confessional, Soundstage provides every viewer with the best seat in the house. “What I envisioned was bringing the entire audience to the 10th row and building a stage commensurate with what you would see at an arena show instead of asking the artist to alter their performance for a smaller venue,” states Thomas. “We are so fortunate to have attracted such a diverse group of artists for Soundstage. I think more and more musicians are realizing that coming on our show gives them the rare opportunity to solely perform their best work in an intimate setting, for TV.”
The majority of the concerts are filmed before studio audiences at WTTW’s Grainger Studio in Chicago, equipped with 12 cameras, including a jib and Steadicam. Soundstage also occasionally hits the road, taping at venues like Red Rocks, Meyerson Symphony Center, Rialto Square Theatre Genessee Theater, Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Rosemont Theatre, Tsongas Arena, Fleet Center, Germain Amphitheater and Madison Square Garden.
Since Soundstage has been reintroduced, performers have included the Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Joss Stone, Robert Plant, Wilco, Sonic Youth, the All-American Rejects, KT Tunstall, Train, Alison Krauss, Alanis Morissette, Daughtry, John Fogerty, and countless more of today’s premiere artists.

Artist

• REO Speedwagon

Kategorie

• Aktuelle Projekte

P.O.D. - "When Angels And Serpents Dance"
VÖ: 17.10.2008
Label/Vertrieb: DBR Records/Cooking Vinyl/Indigo

P.O.D., the multi-plantinum, Grammy nominated rock band, have announced that they will be releasing a new album, When Angels & Serpents Dance on Friday 17th October. The album will be released on the bands own label, DBR Records, which is distributed by Cooking Vinyl.

With guitarist Marcos Curiel returning to the fold after a 4 year absence, P.O.D are back to reclaim their place atop the rock scene with the line-up that took them to multiple platinum successes with 1999’s The Fundamental Elements of Southtown and 2001’s triple-platinum Satellite, which featured the hit singles “Youth of a Nation”, “Alive” and “Boom”.

The quartet’s renewed vigor is evident throughout When Angels and Serpents Dance, from the searing guitar line that kicks off the in your face hard rocker “Addicted” to the monumental, “End Of The World” complete with gospel choir, to the album’s most ferocious track, the savage “Like Old Times”, the first song written by the reunited incarnation of the quartet.

The band also display a softer side on the bluesy hard rock feel at the start of “Rain Everyday”, a song with clever vignettes in the bridges, the almost poppy chorus in the infectious “Shine With Me”, and on the poignant, politically charged ballad “Tell Me Why,” in which Sonny asks in the chorus, “Why must we fight, why must we kill in the name of what we think is right?”

Produced by Jay Baumgardner, the album features a number of guest appearances - legendary punk rock singer, Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies guests on the track “Kaliforn-Eye-A”, The Marley Sisters, who lend their vocal prowess to what Sonny calls “Our reggae track (I’ll Be Ready),” and Helmet’s Page Hamilton on “God Forbid,” which Sonny calls “probably our heaviest song.”

Artist

• P.O.D.

Kategorie

• Aktuelle Projekte

SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY - "Grapefruit Moon- The Songs Of Tom Waits"
VÖ: 19.09.2008
Label/Vertrieb: Evangeline/Soulfood

When Southside Johnny sings these lines from Tom Waits’ classic “New Coat of Paint,” it’s with the weathered, street-smart, houserockin’ swagger that made him and his band the Asbury Jukes legendary. He also injects something new: the noir-ish, indigo mood of a city at night. And though the Jukes are the official house band of the wee hours, only a big—nay, bigger—band can really soundtrack the night. And while scores of songwriters nail the nuances of nocturne, nobody does it quite like Waits. “The first time I heard a Tom Waits song,” says Southside, “was probably the Eagles doin’ “Old ’55.” I loved the lyrics. They were so evocative. I went to the record store and got one of [Waits’] early albums and it just knocked me out. His approach, his voice, the romanticism, and yet there’s that gritty realism that he captures, too.”

In a business where success is defined as getting a second single and longevity measured in nanoseconds, surviving for three decades is a rare accomplishment. But Southside Johnny and the Jukes have not just survived… they have flourished. Twenty-eight albums; thousands of live performances around the globe; a legion of dedicated and enthusiastic fans; dozens of classic songs; and a record—1982’s Hearts of Stone—that Rolling Stone called one of the “top 100 albums of the 70s and 80s.” As with the Jukes (and before them, Bob Dylan and The Band), Waits deals in what Southside calls “real American themes. We were dealin’ with what we knew,” he says. “Not so much just playing romantic stories and things like that—not that I don’t like those songs; I love those songs—but you know, about the people we knew and the life we knew.”

Grapefruit Moon: The Songs of Tom Waits is Southside’s tribute to one of his favorite songwriters, but also a pet sound: big band music. Partnering with longtime friend and Jukes and The Max Weinberg 7 (The Late Show with Conan O’Brien) trombonist Richie “LaBamba” Rosenberg, Southside has achieved a reverent—and at times, true to his houserockin’ ways, irreverent—homage with a dozen handpicked Waits songs. “I’ve always admired Richie’s love of big band music,” says Southside, “and of course, I like that too. That’s one of the reasons we have horns in the Jukes: I want the ability to do Stax/Volt and Count Basie-style stuff because I like the sound of horns. Much to my chagrin. It’s an expensive habit, you know?”
The idea to marry the brassy, ballsy sound of big band to Tom Waits’ cinematic, character-driven songs had been sitting in the back booth of Southside’s mind for some time. In 1984, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes covered “New Coat of Paint” on In the Heat. “We did it with five horns,” he recalls, but says it was “more of a Charlie Mingus-style blues thing than big band, but that was the nascent part of this idea.”

A full album of the stuff, however, wasn’t the immediate aim, but “it finally filtered through the crap in my brain.” Southside, in fact, had planned a standards album—Billie Holliday, Frank Sinatra. “I really wanted Richie to have a chance to shine ‘cause he’s a great arranger and he has these occasional gigs where he puts together a big band—like 15, 18 pieces—and it always sounds great. I thought if I could only figure a way to find enough songs for him to arrange, I could finance that, and be the singer.” Waits’ songs, which Southside already planned to record, were the perfect fodder. “I was casting around for an idea that would give Richie a lot of leeway, he says. “And then one day, I was listenin’ to Tom and it just clicked. “The songs can kinda get lost with Tom; he’s so eccentric and unique as a performer, but sometimes the lyrics and melody are subsumed to the performance. So I just combined the two projects.”

Southside and Rosenberg made lists of Waits favorites, then Southside called the enigmatic singer-songwriter for his blessing, which he gave them—along with three rare tunes, two of which hadn’t appeared on a Waits CD until the "Orphans" project, a collection of demos and unreleased tunes that Waits released last year. Rosenberg charted arrangements for the songs, which he and Southside recorded with a gaggle of Jukes and various other musicians in their circle. The project came together slowly, between tours and other engagements. “The process of writing charts for 16-18 musicians is so long,” says Southside. “You gotta write out every note for every instrument, so it took Richie forever to write the charts, so we’d record three or four songs at a time. It was a catch-as-catch-can situation.”
Grapefruit Moon’s vibe is as easy and cool as its genesis, rife with mellow passages and bright flares. “Yesterday is Here,” opens with a smoky piano-flute-vocal intro and builds to a smolder, ready for the swingin’ inferno of “Down, Down, Down.” The title track is lilting, moonlit romance in shades of blue; “Tango ‘Til They’re Sore” is a skronking slow blues rag. “Please Call Me Baby” conjures Jimmy Durante on a night stroll through the NYC streets; “All the Time in the World” oozes spy-flick cool.

Two other tracks are special: “Temptation” finds LaBamba stretching his arranger’s legs, commencing a slow Latin rhythm that unfolds into a flourish that would make Ricky Ricardo proud. “That was the big extravaganza Richie wanted to do,” says Southside. “When I said maybe we should try that, Richie said, ‘Ooooh. I can do something with this.’” They also revisit an old friend, once again souping up “New Coat of Paint.” At first, Southside demurred; he didn’t want to repeat himself—then he heard LaBamba’s ambitious, grand arrangement. “He won me over.”
And they both won over Waits, to whom they’d sent early demos. “He really liked it,” Southside beams. “He sent me this great email, which I saved, about “Bang! Pow! This is great!” And I thought, “Good. He likes it.” ‘Cause you worry about that stuff.”

Perhaps the biggest seal of approval is Waits’ vocal turn on “Walk Away,” a song in which he and Southside do what they do best: romanticize and mythologize the soul of ordinary average guys—without, of course, getting overly precious. “I just thought it would be funny,” he says. “We both have these voices that no one would consider beautiful. These are not Irish tenors; this is not Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo singing in harmony. These are two gravel road voices meeting at the crossroads.
“That’s why all that material works for him and why it’s fun to sing for me, because we do have those voices that are, shall we say, “lived in.” Lied and died in, sometimes. It was really easy and fun…a very good experience for me.”

WWW.SOUTHSIDEJOHNNY.COM

UNDEROATH - "Lost In The Sound Of Separation"
VÖ: 19.09.2008
Label/Vertrieb: Tooth&Nail/EMI

Sobald die letzten Töne von “LOST IN THE SOUND OF SEPARATION” verklungen sind, ist klar, dass UNDEROATH - die ihre Karriere mit Heavy und Experimental aufgebaut haben – ihr wohl bis jetzt bestes Album abgeliefert haben. Knapp und entschlossen, man kann die Power von „LOST IN THE SOUND OF SEPARATION“ nicht verleugnen. Es ist der Nachfolger des 2006 mit Gold ausgezeichneten Albums „DEFINE THE GREAT LINE“.

Momentan sind UNDEROATH auf der Mayhem Tour unterwegs, dort treten sie fast täglich neben Schwergewichten wie beispielsweise Slipknot, Disturbed, Mastodon und Dragonforce auf. Während der Off Days der Mayhem Tour haben UNDEROATH eine Reihe an eigenen Terminen, bei denen THE RED CHORD als Support spielt.
Von September bis Dezember werden sie ausgiebig auf Tour gehen, es gibt Termine in UK, Deutschland, Italien, Südafrika und Australien, anschließend Daten in Mittel- und Südamerika und auch auf Honolulu.

Wenn man ihre letzten drei Alben zusammenzählt, haben UNDEROATH mehr als 1 Million CDs verkauft. Sie haben fleißig daran gearbeitet, um ihren kreativen Höhepunkt zu erreichen und um vielleicht zum größten Metalcore Nachfolger der Welt zu werden.
Das neue Album startet mit “Breathing In A New Mentality”. Der Opener ist ein ausgeklügelter Start, der den Weg für einen innovative Ausbruch frei macht. „Wir wollen, dass die Leute es hören und den ersten Eindruck haben, wie ,Mann, die geben aber direkt Gas’“ sagt Gitarrist MCTAGUE. „Und dann läuft es an und dein ganzes Auto explodiert.
Wir wollen rauskommen und alles wegblasen. Einfach die Leute fassungslos machen. Und damit haben wir den Anfang des Records unvergesslich gemacht.“
Darüber hinaus ist es eine ungewöhnliche Bestätigung dafür, dass die sechs Männer aus Tampa/Florida (Aaron Gillespie - Drums/Vocals; Tim McTague - Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals; Spencer Chamberlain - Vocals/Guitar; James Smith - Rhythm Guitar; Christopher Dudley - Keyboards/Synthesizers; Grant Brandell – Bass) einen großen kreativen Schritt vorwärts gemacht haben.
Die Band hat mit Regisseur Walter Robot (aka: Bill Barminski und Christopher Louie, die u.a. bereits für ihre Arbeit mit Modest Mouse nominiert wurden, aber auch Milosh “The City”, The Pinkertones “Sexy Robot”) das Video zu „Desperate Times, Desperate Measures“ in Los Angeles abgedreht.

UNDEROATH haben auf ihre Instinkte vertraut, ihre Kompositions-Fähigkeiten bis an die Grenzen gepusht und diese gemeinsam mit Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage) und Matt Goldman (Copeland, The Chariot) akribisch perfektioniert, wodurch sie mit “LOST IN THE SOUND OF SEPARATION” neue künstlerische Höhen erklommen hat.
“The Created Void” stellt dabei eine melodische Atempause dar. “Wir empfinden uns selbstverständlich als heavy”, so MCTAUGE. „Ich liebe ‘The Created Void,’ der einer unserer melodischsten Songs überhaupt ist. Im Endeffekt klingt alles auf dem neuen Album so und nicht anders, weil wir uns alle auf diesen Sound einigen konnten, egal ob
es um melodische oder härtere Parts geht.“
„Wir mussten hart daran arbeiten, offen gegenüber unserer eigenen Kunst zu sein und alles ganz natürlich entstehen zu lassen“, fährt MCTAGUE fort. „Wir lieben Melodien, aber unser Bauchgefühl führt uns normalerweise in die andere Richtung.“

Dabei setzt sich das erhebende “Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear” über den üblichen Ansatz der Band hinweg und ist eine wunderschöne Halbballade sowie ein absehbarer Fan-Favorit. „Ursprünglich schrieb ich die Musik hierzu ohne die Absicht, einen zitierbaren, zugänglichen Song zu machen“ so MCTAGUE über die einprägsame Klangkulisse. “Es war schlicht ein langsamer, aus einem Jam heraus entstandenes Lied.“ Mit der Kopplung von solch facettenreicher Musik und sechs eigenständigen und eigenwilligen Persönlichkeiten, war die Vollendung von “LOST IN THE SOUND OF SEPARATION” – auch dank der Mixing-Qualitäten des Altmeisters David Bendeth - geradezu eine epische Errungenschaft. „Wir haben uns wirklich mit diesem Album abgemüht“, gibt GILLESPIE zu. „Ich glaube, selbst wenn wir im Studio sind, sind wir nie alle ganz glücklich. Es ist eine konstante Veränderung und ein permanenter Fluss, bis wir wirklich fertig sind. Wir pushen uns ohne Ende um die beste Musik zu kreieren, die man sich vorstellen kann.“

www.underoath777.com

Artist

• Underoath

Kategorie

• Aktuelle Projekte

SHERYL CROW - "Sheryl Crow Live"
VÖ: 05.09.2008
Label/Vertrieb: Soundstage/Soulfood

Sheryl Crow – ‘Live’ captures the 9-time Grammy winner’s uncut Soundstage performance. Sheryl and her longtime band take us through some of her biggest hits including “All I Wanna Do,” “If It Makes You Happy,” “Every Day Is A Winding Road,” & “My Favorite Mistake.”
Beautifully filmed in High-Definition and mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound, this package also includes a rare cover version of the Nick Lowe classic “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love And Understanding.” and is available for the first time on DVD.
With her passionate voice and hearty riffs, Crow’s Soundstage performance is a look back at the classics that catapulted her career from the snappy “All I Wanna Do,” to the whispery swan song “Strong Enough,” to one of her earliest releases “Leaving Las Vegas.” All three hits helped comprise her debut Tuesday Night Music Club, which garnered Grammy honors for Best New Artist, Best Female Rock Vocal, and Record of the Year in 1994. Later favorites featured in the set include “Safe and Sound,” “Steve McQueen,” and “I Shall Believe.

1. My Favorite Mistake
2. You’re An Original
3. The First Cut Is The Deepest
4. Leavin’ Las Vegas
5. Strong Enough
6. Redemption Day
7. Sweet Rosalyn
8. If It Makes You Happy
9. Home
10. All I Wanna Do
11. Soak Up The Sun
12. Everyday Is A Winding Road
13. I Shall Believe
14. (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love & Understanding
15. Let’s Get Free
16. Safe & Sound
17. Steve McQueen

BACKGROUND TO SOUNDSTAGE
Long before music television filled the airwaves, the PBS series Soundstage sparked the nation. In an impressive run from 1974-1985, this innovative and prestigious program achieved widespread critical acclaim and featured the artists that defined the era, including such luminaries as Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, Al Green, the Doobie Brothers, Harry Chapin, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Loggins, and the Temptations.
Soundstage was reborn in 2001 thanks to Joe Thomas, director and founder of HD Ready. HD Ready specializes in combining high-definition television and cutting-edge surround sound. Thomas’ vision was to combine the one-hour musical performances of the original show with state-of-the-art high definition video equipment and innovative Dolby 5.1 audio.
Whether it is an American treasure like Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers or newer superstar like Dashboard Confessional, Soundstage provides every viewer with the best seat in the house. “What I envisioned was bringing the entire audience to the 10th row and building a stage commensurate with what you would see at an arena show instead of asking the artist to alter their performance for a smaller venue,” states Thomas. “We are so fortunate to have attracted such a diverse group of artists for Soundstage. I think more and more musicians are realizing that coming on our show gives them the rare opportunity to solely perform their best work in an intimate setting, for TV.”
The majority of the concerts are filmed before studio audiences at WTTW’s Grainger Studio in Chicago, equipped with 12 cameras, including a jib and Steadicam. Soundstage also occasionally hits the road, taping at venues like Red Rocks, Meyerson Symphony Center, Rialto Square Theatre Genessee Theater, Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Rosemont Theatre, Tsongas Arena, Fleet Center, Germain Amphitheater and Madison Square Garden.
Since Soundstage has been reintroduced, performers have included the Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Joss Stone, Robert Plant, Wilco, Sonic Youth, the All-American Rejects, KT Tunstall, Train, Alison Krauss, Alanis Morissette, Daughtry, John Fogerty, and countless more of today’s premiere artists.

WWW.PBS.ORG/WTTW/SOUNDSTAGE

Artist

• Sheryl Crow

Kategorie

• Aktuelle Projekte

MAURACHER- "Loving Custodians"
VÖ: 29.08.2008
Label/Vertrieb: Universal Music Austria/Soulfood

Hubert Mauracher, der Tiroler Musiker, den es Ende der 90er-Jahre nach Wien verschlug, um von dort aus mit seiner Musik den Globus aufzufrischen, ist an einem Wendepunkt seiner musikalischen Laufbahn angekommen. Am Rücken trägt er 12 neue Songs, die unter Loving Custodians das Licht der Welt erblicken.

MUTIG, KOMPROMISSLOS & EHRLICH

Mauracher hat seine Arbeit gewissenhaft erledigt. Der Tiroler, der auf dem Wiener Elektronik-Label Fabrique Records vor ziemlich genau 5 Jahren seine ersten musikalischen Gehversuche 29 Degrees veröffentlichte, spielte sich bereits mit seinen ersten Singles Meilenstein und Noonee via nationaler und internationaler Radio-Stationen in unsere Gehörmuscheln. Anfangs wohl am ehesten als elektronische Soundzuckerl zu bezeichnen, überraschte Hubert Mauracher seine Hörer beim zweiten Album Kissing My Grandma mit einem rockigerem Werk, und bewies mit seinem Songwriting, dass sich der mittlerweile 32-jährige Künstler keinesfalls auf Soundspielereien reduzieren lässt. Der Erfolg gab ihm recht, ein Major-Label klopfte an, und es folgte eine umjubelte Europatournee, gemeinsam mit den Sofa Surfers.

DER KNACKPUNKT

Wurde Mauracher am zweiten Album Kissing My Grandma von seiner Jugend eingeholt, fühlte er sich an die Tage seiner ersten Bands zurückerinnert, so geht der Tiroler Künstler mit seiner mittlerweile durch unermüdliches Touren zu einer herausragenden Liveband herangewachsenen Truppe rund um die charismatische Sängerin Maja Racki am neuen Album einen mutigen Schritt weiter. Mit Loving Custodians präsentiert uns Hubert Mauracher ein tiefgründiges Alternative-Album, schwer aber niemals drückend. Er lädt den Zuhörer auf eine Reise ein und entführt ihn in seine Welt. „Auch wenn sich das Album für manche vielleicht erst nach mehrmaligem Hören erschließt, irgendwann packt es einen, und lässt nicht mehr los - das war mir wichtig!“ Das Album wächst mit jedem Mal hören. „Und die Wächter (Custodians) wachen darüber.“ fügt Mauracher hinzu.

Speziell im Songwriting lag für Hubert Mauracher immer die besondere Herausforderung. Musik machen ist für den Künstler ein innerer Drang, der ihn, seit er im Alter von 17 Jahren als Schlagzeuger das erste Mal mit einer Band spielte, nicht mehr losgelassen hat. Schon bald verließ er die Truppe, um selbst für sein musikalisches Schicksal die Verantwortung zu übernehmen. Maurachers Kompositionen entstehen intuitiv, manchmal geht eine Woche lang gar nichts, und plötzlich ist innerhalb von zwei Stunden ein neuer Song da, der aus dem Künstler einfach heraus muss. Alle 12 Songs am neuen Longplayer stammen aus der Feder von Hubert Mauracher. Im Studio wurden die Kompositionen dann mit seiner Band, bestehend aus Martin Weismayr (Bass), Daniel Grailach (Gitarre), Sasa Nikolic (Schlagzeug) und Maja Racki (Gesang) in optimale Form und Länge gebracht.
Bei der Produktion des dritten Mauracher-Albums Loving Custodians wurde nichts dem Zufall überlassen. Gemeinsam mit Produzent Mario Thaler (The Notwist, Console) wurde im deutschen Uphon-Studio in Weilheim das Album produziert und gemischt. Im legendären New Yorker Sterling Sound-Studio wurde dann beim Mastering der finale Schliff verpasst.

Hubert Mauracher hat seine kreativen Ausflüge auf das nächste Level katapultiert. Auf ein Level, wo er neben den großen Namen des Musikbusiness bestehen muss.

WWW.MAURACHER.NET

Artist

• Mauracher

Kategorie

• Aktuelle Projekte

LIZ PHAIR - "Exile In Guyville(Anniv.Ed.)"
VÖ: 29.08.2008
Label/Vertrieb: ATO Records/Soulfood

It’s been 15 years since the release of the groundbreaking Exile in Guyville – and Liz Phair is marking the occasion by returning to her roots.

The special reissue package will include four never-before-released songs from the original recording sessions: “Ant in Alaska,” with Phair simply accompanying herself on guitar, “Wild Thing,” wherein she uses the melody and central line of The Troggs’ 1966 #1 hit as a jumping off point for an otherwise all-original song, “Say You,” which features Phair and a full band, and an untitled instrumental with Liz on guitar. Phair has also just completed a new, 60-minute DVD, “Guyville Redux,” for the reissue.

In “Guyville Redux” – which features an introduction by Dave Matthews, founder/co-owner of ATO Records – Liz and the “guys” of Guyville take us back to the making of the album, the male-dominated, Chicago independent music scene of the early 1990’s (which included Urge Overkill, Material Issue, and Smashing Pumpkins), and the Wicker Park neighborhood where it all happened. Phair interviews Gerard Cosloy and Chris Lombardi of Matador Records, which originally released the record, famed indie producer Steve Albini, Ira Glass of NPR’s “This American Life,” John Henderson of the elusive indie label Feel Good All Over, Brad Wood (producer of Exile In Guyville), John Cusack (who founded the Chicago avant-garde theater group New Crime Productions), Urge Overkill, and more.

Conceived as a song-by-song response to the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street, Exile in Guyville was released in 1993, and ranked #1 that year on both the Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll and Spin magazine’s year-end critics poll. Incredibly influential to this day, its place as a seminal rock album has been reaffirmed by its inclusion in countless historical “best of” lists over the past 15 years, including: “Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time,” Spin’s “100 Greatest Albums, 1985-2005,” Rolling Stone’s “Women in Rock (the 50 essential albums),” Blender’s “Best Indie Rock Albums of All Time,” Pitchfork’s “Top 100 Albums of the 1990’s,” and VH1’s “Greatest Albums Of All Time,” to name but a few. Exile in Guyville is, in the words of Pitchfork, “a certifiable indie roadtrip classic.”

“Exile in Guyville is miles more complex than the porn-star manifesto it was often considered,” says Alan Light (former Editor-in-Chief of Spin, Vibe and Tracks) in an essay penned especially for the reissue. “Phair spoke for the uncertainties facing a new generation of women, struggling to find a balance between sexual confidence and romance, between independence and isolation….Exile in Guyville sat at the center of a culture in transition.”

http://www.lizphair.com

Artist

• Liz Phair

Kategorie

• Aktuelle Projekte

DAVE STEWART - "The Dave Stewart Songbook Vol.1"
VÖ: 15.08.2008
Label/Vertrieb: Surfdog Records/Neo Distribution/Sony BMG

As a 30-piece orchestra digs into the opening riff of his haunting track “Sweet Dreams,” Dave Stewart, one of the most respected and accomplished artists in modern music, seems to enjoy a rare moment of looking back on his astonishing legacy. But Stewart is already onto to his next creative idea well before the second chorus begins.

Bob Dylan describes Stewart as “a fearless innovator” and it is exactly that approach to his life and his work that has led him to become one of the most sought after writers and music producers crafting numerous tracks for and with artists including Mick Jagger, U2, Gwen Stefani, Sinead O’Connor, Jon Bon Jovi, Bryan Ferry, Tom Petty, Bob Geldof and Celine Dion. It has also given Stewart the freedom to extend his talents well beyond the music studio and become a multi-media entrepreneur, leading his company, Weapons of Mass Entertainment, to the forefront of innovation where he can link creative ideas to a host of projects in film, television, books, theater and new media.

This summer Stewart will embark on a full-scale North American tour as Dave Stewart and His 30-Piece Rock Fabulous Orchestra. The show will include songs from his vast catalog of classic hits performed in one-of-a-kind arrangements. In addition to smash-hits from Eurythmics such as “Sweet Dreams” and “Here Comes the Rain Again,” the songbook includes timeless tracks penned by Stewart including Tom Petty’s “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” No Doubt’s “Underneath It All,” Mick Jagger’s “Old Habits Die Hard” (which earned Dave and Mick a Golden Globe award) and Celine Dion’s recent chart-topper “Taking Chances.”

“This isn’t so much a look back but a new beginning,” said Stewart. “When your work has been put away for a while and then you take it out and dust it off, you often see something you’ve never seen before and before you know it, you’re on the road with a 7 piece band and a 30-piece orchestra!”

In August, Weapons of Mass Entertainment and Surfdog Records will be releasing an album consisting of newly recorded versions of some of Dave’s most celebrated material .The 21 songs have been with recorded with his touring band and full orchestra. The aptly titled “Dave Stewart Songbook, Vol. 1,” will be accompanied by a large hard-cover, glossy book of the same title. The book includes a chapter dedicated to each song with the story behind the music and stunning photos of his collaborators during the recording sessions, most of which were taken by Stewart himself.

This is a mere glimpse into the eclectic life of Stewart who at the age of eighteen was given a publishing contract at Island Music by legendary impresario Chris Blackwell. A record contract followed up one year later through Sir Elton John’s Rocket Records imprint. Over the past 25 years, Stewart has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide with Eurythmics’ partner Annie Lennox. Driving ten releases to multi-platinum sales levels, the duo was behind such inventive rock as “Here Comes The Rain Again,” “Who’s That Girl,” “Would I Lie To You,” “Missionary Man,” “Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves” (with Aretha Franklin) and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).”

Continuously recognized and celebrated for their contribution to the music world, the Eurythmics were inducted into the UK Hall of Fame, along with Mick Jagger and Sting in 2005 by Bob Geldof. Prime Minister Tony Blair also paid tribute to the Eurythmics by noting that, "They're two remarkable people extremely talented and very original." Dave and Annie have received numerous awards including the very prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brits (the UK equivalent to the Grammy’s). Stewart has won Best Producer four times, as well as numerous Grammy’s, MTV Awards and Best British Songwriter awards.

On his experience of writing “Sweet Dreams” with partner Annie Lennox, Stewart muses, “Some things that seem to happen spontaneously and take a very short piece of time can become the lighting rod that affects the rest of your life.”

In 1999, the Eurythmics embarked on a world tour and donated the proceeds to Amnesty International and Greenpeace. Lennox and Stewart ended the millennium playing live in Greenwich, England and played their way into 2000 with the whole world watching as they sang “Sweet Dreams” at midnight on the Prime Meridian.

“Writing songs with other people is like falling in love over and over again,” says Stewart. ”It’s a fast track into someone’s soul— you can feel their heart beating against yours.”

Since 2000, Stewart has written numerous songs with several other major artists including Bono, Paul McCartney Gwen Stefani, Anastacia and Shakira. He is considered one of the pop world’s greatest guitar players and has shared the stage with everybody from B.B.King to The Edge, from Eric Clapton to Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.
“Dave Stewart is one of those special people who inspire creativity,” says Simon Fuller, founder and CEO of 19 Entertainment and creator of American Idol. “If you are a song writer and you collaborate with Dave, great songs will just flow. If you are an entrepreneur and you spend time with Dave, you will know exactly what your next business idea should be, if you are a philosopher and you get talking to Dave, your mind will suddenly have clarity like never before.”
There are no boundaries to Stewart’s creative endeavors. Stewart has written numerous film scores for directors such as Robert Altman, Paul Verhoeven and Ted Demme. He also wrote and produced the title songs for films including “1984,” “Scrooged,” “Put a Little Love in Your Heart,” sung by Al Green, “Ruthless People,” sung by Mick Jagger and Daryl Hall, “Around the World in 80 Days,” “Bird on a Wire,” sung by the Neville Brothers and “Charlotte's Web” sung by Sarah McLaughlin. The latter won the Film Critics Society Award for best song. Along with long time friend Mick Jagger, Stewart wrote and produced the score and six songs for Charles Shyer’s “Alfie” starring Jude Law, winning a Golden Globe award for Best Original Song “Old Habits Die Hard”.
In the world of publishing Stewart produced “Walk In” (2007) that is a strange Virgin Comics graphic novel about a parallel universe and in 2008 produced the Virgin Comics graphic novel, “Zombie Broadway.” “Zombie Broadway” tells the story of a zombie outbreak in New York City that can only be quelled by the song and dance of the Broadway stage. See www.virgincomics.com Songs are written and plans are already in the works for this to become a musical.

Stewart produced the award winning documentary, “Deep Blues” and has directed numerous music videos. He has also written scripts and his first feature film, “Honest,” starring Peter Facinelli premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000 and was described as a “cult classic” by the UK Times. Stewart was also the Guest of Honor at the Cannes Film Festival Opening Ceremony in 2002 at the “Why Are You Creative” Exhibition.

As a photographer, he has exhibited solo and in-group shows at The Paris Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum NYC and the Saatchi Gallery in London. Stewart’s photography has been at the center of major ad campaigns and magazine covers. Stewart has lectured on creativity for the UK Government and the D&AD, a UK- based educational charity working on behalf of the international design and advertising communities. He is an honorary fellow at the University of Sunderland and University of Westminster where he has been an external examiner in multimedia.

In 1997, Stewart founded “The Hospital” in partnership with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The Hospital, a very successful multi-media creative center in London's Covent Garden can be best described as a private social and professional network for those working in the media and other creative industries. The Hospital will be opening in Shanghai, Berlin and New York City www.thehospitalclub.com. That same year, Stewart was approached by Nelson Mandela to help fight against the AIDS epidemic and he came up with a whole Global Campaign using Mr. Mandela’s prison number 46664 for telephone donations. Featuring performances by Beyonce, Bono, Bob Geldof, Queen, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Gabriel, Anastacia and long time partner Annie Lennox, along with many of Africa’s Legendary artists, the 4 ½ hour concert was broadcast live in South Africa (SABC) and then worldwide on MTV on World AIDS Day to over two billion people.

Stewart was recently hired as a consultant for Nokia, the world’s largest mobile phone company, where he was given the unique title of “Change Agent,” charged with ensuring the artists' point of view is represented in the “new world” and creating new content business paradigms for the entertainment industry. "Innovation requires vision, intuition, courage and ability to see what others don't see. Dave has them all," says Tero Ojanpera Nokia’s Executive Vice President, Entertainment & Communities.

Stewart recently headlined Nokia’s Pangea Day, a four-hour program of films, music and visionary speakers that was held simultaneously in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro. In his new capacity as Nokia’s “Change Agent,” Stewart is charged with leading the Artists Advisory Committee which ensures the artist’s point of view is represented in the “new world”.

For all his accomplishments, Stewart’s innovations as a change agent in the field of new media may garner him his greatest recognition yet. A recent Washington Post article hailed Stewart’s innovation in this arena, calling him “a man who vows to drop a ‘neutron bomb’ on the current entertainment distribution model." In the meantime, catch Dave Stewart this summer rocking an amphitheater near you.

WWW.DAVESTEWART.COM

Artist

• Dave Stewart

Kategorie

• Aktuelle Projekte