Sunday, 7 September 2008

MTV s Video Music Awards aim to recover from Britney fiasco

Los Angeles - Watch at your own peril. Britney Spears is lay out to receptive MTV's Video Music Awards Sunday night, a class after her overhyped, corpulence and undercoordinated comeback operation became one of the entertainment debacles of the year.


This year it's undecipherable what Spears will do to open the designate. But thankfully she appears to be in a better genial state than she did a year ago, and has even been nominative for trey awards for the clip to her single Piece of Me for Best Female Video, Best Pop Video and Video of the Year. The latter category is considered the most esteemed and will pit Spears against the Jonas Brothers' Burnin Up, Chris Brown's Forever, The Pussycat Dolls' When I Grow Up and Shut Up and Let Me Go by the Ting Tings.


The 25th anniversary of the awards show comes as music videos have become something of a rarity on the station founded to showcase them. MTV now screens a staple dieting of world TV shows, while music videos ar largely relegated, if that's the right word, to internet sites like YouTube and MySpace.


But producers design to use the usher to lionise the fine art of the music video with acts of the Apostles like the Jonas Brothers, Pink and rapper T.I. acting out "live music videos" in and around the Paramount lot where the event takes post. For model Pink will perform her hit single accompanied by a gang of despised women, shimmying down a fire escape and scene off a huge brawl.


The elaborate arrangements are intentional primarily to overcome the disappointment caused by last year's Britney bomb, which ironically helped reverse a 5-year refuse in the show's ratings. But according to MTV executives, the show is meant to represent's MTV's continued loyalty to the music video art mannequin, which still appear on MTV formats like Total Request Live.


"We are there. We are in the music video recording business,", MTV executive Dave Sirulnick told the Los Angeles Times. He pointed to a new summer series FNMTV, which is hosted by Fall Out Boy frontman Pete Wentz, who debuts fresh music videos every week before viewers talk about them on the show's website.


"The musicians we exercise with are really excited that we've elevated the status of music videos once once again, and that's led directly into this year's VMAs theme," Sirulnick said.


Helping stoke the overstrung nature of the indicate is the wacky British comedian Russell Brand, world Health Organization will host the ceremonial occasion. Presenters will include a wide cross section of today's hot and sometimes controversial young stars like Lindsay Lohan, Kanye West, Miley Cyrus and even Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps.





More info

Friday, 8 August 2008

Ancient Wisdom

Ancient Wisdom   
Artist: Ancient Wisdom

   Genre(s): 
Metal: Death,Black
   Metal: Doom
   



Discography:


Cometh Doom, Cometh Death   
 Cometh Doom, Cometh Death

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 8


...And The Physical Shape Of Light Bled   
 ...And The Physical Shape Of Light Bled

   Year: 2000   
Tracks: 8


The Calling   
 The Calling

   Year: 1997   
Tracks: 9




A side project for Bewitched vocalist/guitarist Marcus E. Norman, Sweden's Ancient Wisdom (originally simply plain Ancient, but that name was already interpreted by a Norwegian lot) bucked the usual trends of Scandinavian death/black metallic element with their very melodic, comparatively slow and haunting compositions. Formed in 1992, the band likewise featured guitar player Andreas Nilsson, bassist Frederik Jacobson keyboard player Jens Ryden and drummer Ulf and issued their number one demos "In the Eye of the Serpent" and "Through Rivers of the Eternal Blackness" in short thereafter. Obsessed with aspects of Viking history and mythology, Ancient Wisdom's atmospherical debut For Snow Covered the Northland eventually adage the idle of day in 1996 (though it had been recorded iI age in the beginning). By so, Norman was the only unexpended original mate member, and decided to retain full control of the set from that point frontwards, starting with 1997's The Calling and onward with 2000's รข€¦And the Physical Shape of Light Bled. A followup, tentatively entitled Universal Annihilation is presently in the workings and scheduled for release in later 2002.





Amy Winehouse's mundane new album

Tuesday, 1 July 2008

Agaric

Agaric   
Artist: Agaric

   Genre(s): 
House
   



Discography:


Half of this and None of that  Vinyl   
 Half of this and None of that Vinyl

   Year:    
Tracks: 3




 





Zhang Wei-Liang

Thursday, 19 June 2008

Checking In With ‘30 Rock’ Star Judah Friedlander, the World’s Greatest Athlete

Photo: Getty Images
30 Rock's third season ended a month ago, and we're still going through withdrawal. But how's the cast holding up? And what do they do to stay in shape during the off-season? Last night, at the Cinema Society's premiere of Trumbo, Vulture's Darrell Hartman caught up with the uphill skiing champion Judah Friedlander, the show's Frank Rossitano, and, in real life, the greatest athlete on earth.

So are you doing stand-up these days?
Yeah, all the time.

Where?
All over the city and on the road some this summer, mostly in New York. I'll be at the Comedy Cellar Wednesdays and Thursdays.

What kinds of routines?
Well, I'm always working on new stuff, but I talk about how I'm a great athlete and how chicks dig me.

What sports do you excel at?
Every one. Name one, dude.



Lacrosse.
I don't consider lacrosse a sport. To me that's just a frat activity that got out of hand.

How about downhill skiing?
I do uphill skiing, I don't do downhill skiing. I think that's for nerd amateurs.

Street basketball?
I can dunk with my foot.

Softball?
I play hardball, sorry. I don't need some bloated ball to hit it.

Ice hockey?
Banned internationally.

Why?
I skated too fast, the rink melted, and the team drowned.

Swimming.
I'm banned from swimming. Every time I get in the water all the surrounding chicks jump in. It's really cool, but technically illegal in competition.

Hundred-yard dash?
I just beat a cheetah in the hundred-yard dash, by 70 yards. And I gave him a 50-yard head start.

That must have been demoralizing for the cheetah.
After the race, the cheetah tested positive for steroids. I'm really the best.

Tour de France.
Yes, I've actually won that a few times. I wasn't even in the race. I was just going from point A to point B, and I won it. I was actually coasting for a lot of it.

Are you more of a climber or sprinter?
I can do either one. I can actually coast uphill. I just have really good body control. Good question.

Yoga?
I'm actually banned from the Himalayas, because I'm too good at yoga.

You don't say. I assume it's a similar situation with martial arts?
I am the best martial artist in the world. I have a book coming out about that. I will tell you that I'm an extra-dark black belt.

What about ultimate fighting?
No, I don't consider them real athletes. They do mixed martial arts, that's because they're not good at any one particular martial art and they gotta mix it up. Those guys are all pussies. I've challenged all of them, and they've all backed down.

So basically this is the act?
This is what my act is about, how I'm the greatest athlete in the world.

And people really believe you?
They have to, or I might kill them.

Have you had hecklers before?
I get hecklers all the time!

How did you deal with it?
I'm the world champion. I'm the greatest athlete in the world. They can't hang with me, they know I'll kill them. I'm an extra-dark black belt. What are they gonna do to me? I'm the greatest athlete in the world — I fuck 40 chicks a day. What is a heckler gonna do to me? —Darrell Hartman


Tuesday, 10 June 2008

Sony promotes Michele Garra

Will oversee business in expanding markets overseas





Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has appointed Michele Garra to the newly created position of senior vp Asia Pacific, overseeing business in the expanding markets of Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India and Korea.


Garra was managing director for Australia and New Zealand at the studio's home entertainment arm. Based in Sydney, Garra will relocate to the studio's Culver City offices.


Garra, a 24-year industry veteran who has spent the past 16 years with SPHE, has played an integral role in the evolution of the home entertainment market in Australia and New Zealand, playing a key part in introducing emerging technologies to the region with the launch of DVD in 1998 and Blu-ray Disc in 2007.


The native Australian will report to Matt Brown, exec VP SPHE international.


Brown praised Garra's success running the Australian operation for more than a decade and said her new position will "bolster SPHE's strong position across the Asian-Pacific market.


"As the growing home entertainment business of the emerging economies in Asia becomes an important revenue source for our business, having an executive with the keen business sense and experience which Michele possesses, is an important strategic move to insure the success of these territories," he added.



See Also

Friday, 30 May 2008

Bono becomes honourary Doctor of Law

Bono was awarded an honourary Doctor of Law Degree by Japan's Keio University at a ceremony held at the school yesterday (May 27).

The U2 frontman received the honour "in recognition for his work in the fight against poverty and AIDS in Africa," according to a statement issued by the University.

Bono was present at yesterday's ceremony, where he delivered a lecture to the students urging Japan not to ignore Africa at the G8 summit in July. The students reportedly greeted the star with rapturous applause.

Bono is currently in Japan to attend the Tokyo International Conference on African Development.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
Find out more about NME.

Sunday, 18 May 2008

Bella Sonus

Bella Sonus   
Artist: Bella Sonus

   Genre(s): 
New Age
   



Discography:


Enamoured   
 Enamoured

   Year: 2000   
Tracks: 17




A duo featuring soundscape reckoner software engineer Henry Martyn Robert Metalworker and flamenco guitar player Angelis Suarez, Bella Sonus crafts a world-influenced trend of lavish electronica heavy on ambient tones and slow-tempo rhythms. Highly affective, the brace similarly works with background knowledge vocalists to farther their sound to more ethereal high that oftentimes drift toward simmer down tendencies. They debuted with Enamoured on Neurodisc in 2000.






Tuesday, 6 May 2008

Flight of the Conchords soar on U.S. chart

Flight of the Conchords soar on U.S. chart








LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A twin of Freshly Sjaelland comedians world Health Organization play struggling musicians on a cult run into television system evidence formally graduated to stardom on Wednesday when their debut album opened at No. 3 on the U.S. belt down chart.


The self-titled record album from Trajectory of the Conchords, wHO experience their possess present on cable channel HBO, sold 52,000 copies in the week ended April 27, according to trailing firm Carl Nielsen SoundScan.


In the process, they outsold pop god Ashlee Simpson, whose newly album opened at No. 4 with 47,000 copies. "False bittersweet World" simon Marks her showtime outlet that did non go to No. 1.


Mariah Carey outpaced everyone with gross sales of 182,000 copies for her reigning chart-topper "E=MC2."


Flight of the Conchords consists of Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, whose quirky comedy series has south Korean won a devoted followers. The show is set in Freshly York, where their bumbling bid for stardom is met with spiritlessness by club owners and the public. Along the direction, they recount their experiences in witty tribe ditties. HBO has renewed the demonstrate for a indorsement time of year.


To begin with this year, Flight of the Conchords south Korean won the comedy Grammy for their EP "The Distant Future tense," which reached No. 116 on the Hoarding 200 chart.


Both albums were released by Seattle-based Pigboat Bug out Records, which is maybe best known for its success with grunge-rock trio Nirvana. The label is owned by Warner Music Group Corp.


The newly album's chart performance easily sets a fresh record for a New Sjaelland move, surpassing the No. 12 peak for pop-rock three Crowded House's self-titled 1986 debut.


(Reporting by James Dean Goodman)


Reuters/Nielsen









Friday, 2 May 2008

Jackman films Wolverine next month

Jackman films Wolverine next month



Hugh Jackman is to begin do work next month on the eagerly-awaited 'X-Men' spinoff 'Wolverine'.
The Sydney Sunup Acclaim reports that the actor has completed work on the Baz Luhrmann film 'Australia' and will begin cinematography 'Wolverine' in January.
The film is a prequel to Wolverine's adventures in the 'X-Men' movies and will focal point on the character's origins.
'Wolverine' is due in cinemas in Crataegus laevigata 2009.





Thursday, 1 May 2008

Fu and Nij

Fu and Nij   
Artist: Fu and Nij

   Genre(s): 
Drum & Bass
   



Discography:


All The Things and The Begginn   
 All The Things and The Begginn

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 2




 






In Idol -like form, Leona Lewis wins big

In Idol -like form, Leona Lewis wins big






It's for certain a goodness month to be a diva.

Years in front Mariah Carey is expected to storm the U.S. pop charts, import Leona Carl Lewis has become the first British people solo artist to make her debut at No. 1 on the Hoarding check, having sold 205,000 copies of her debut, "Spirit," according to Carl August Nielsen SoundScan.

Both artists, non surprisingly, have a connection to television juggernaut "American Idol," the vocal music competition show that's become a consistent provider of hits to the music industry. This was Mariah Carey week on "Paragon," in which the remaining contestants tackled the songs of the pop ace, and Harry Sinclair Lewis was the 2006 protagonist of likewise minded, Herbert Alexander Simon Cowell-produced British serial publication, "The X Factor."




















"A pile of people criticise these shows and demand if we'll always find out a unfeignedly international asterisk," Cowell said. "Strangely sufficiency, I said at the rootage of that particular year that my main determination was to find an artist world Health Organization could sell altogether over the creation."

The soft-spoken John L. Lewis, wHO worked odd jobs as a receptionist and waitress piece pursuing a music calling, said she was talked into auditioning for "The X-Factor."

"I had watched the evidence, simply I ne'er mentation I was passing to go and do it," she said. "But mortal said I should hardly try it, and it was an chance. At the ending of the solar day, you should take every opportunity that comes your means."

Although other winners of "The X-Factor" haven't been presumption a strong U.S. tug, Lewis' "Heart" has a coeval R&B sound that should be familiar spirit to American audiences. Crush ace "Haemorrhage Dearest" is a slow-building Eli Whitney Houston-influenced number, and to a greater extent eudaemonia num- bers such as "Forgive Me" spit in roughly hip-hop flourishes.

"I first studied classical, and and so went into wind and blues," said Carl Lewis, wHO cites American English vocalists such as Eva Cassidy and Minnie Riperton as influences and is signed to Cowell's Syco Medicine.

Lewis' "Spirit" also represents the number 1 full-on partnership 'tween Cowell and Baron Clive Davis' J Records. Stuart Davis has overseen the careers of many an "Idol" maven, including Emmett Kelly Clarkson and Daughtry, simply he said that Lewis' television connectedness was being overblown in the media.

"I've never signed anyone from 'Star Search,' " he said.

In time Davis and Cowell designated Carl Lewis as a star-to-be and lined up A-list producers such as Akon and Stargate for her "Spirit." The record album arrived on these shores afterward securing a No. 1 post in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where it became the fastest-selling debut when it was released in Nov.

Shortly later, Meriwether Lewis performed at Davis' celebrated pre-Grammy party in Feb, an event that has helped set up the careers of Alicia Keys, Mario and Maroon 5, among others.

She too received virtually constant quantity praise on the Net from chit-chat blogger Perez Hilton and benefited immensely from a Marchland show on "The Oprah Winfrey Show", in which she performed "Hemorrhage Love." Shortly after, "Haemorrhage Beloved" went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles charts.

This week, "Spirit" coasted to the top of the U.S. pop charts, easily leading the runner-up, George II Strait's "Jongleur," which sold 59,000 copies. Beyond Harry Sinclair Lewis, other luminary entries this week admit actor-turned-singer Ray J, wHO lands at No. 7 (39,000 copies), and the CD button of the straight-to-Web attempt from Baseball club Column inch Nails, "Ghosts I-IV," at No. 14 (26,000 copies).

With Carey's "E=MC2" hit next week's chart, Carl Lewis isn't expected to replicate at the top, merely her momentum shouldn't slow. Next hebdomad, she's specify to appear on "American Matinee idol."

"I feel care I'm just now acquiring started," C. S. Lewis said. "People ar just sort of hearing close to me, and I hope this is stage setting me to do more things and have a long career."

Cowell described Lewis as "real, rattling, very shy."

"I don't need to constitute names," he said, "only you run across a passel of these artists at the moment world Health Organization ar literally thawing toss off in public. This girl is the nail opposite. She's a home-loving, serenity, shy person world Health Organization loves tattle. That's the end of it."

As for the criticism that "Perfection" and its like lay technique o'er art, Cowell has heard it. "I worry about this," he said. "I'm interested in the somebody as considerably as the talent. . . . I'm not interested in telling robots."

todd.martens@latimes.com






Greg Joy

Barbara Streisand Donates Millions To Hospital

Barbara Streisand Donates Millions To Hospital



Barbara Barbra Streisand lately donated $5 1000000 to Cedars-Sinai Medical examination Center for a newly women's center center, infirmary officials announced. The Barbara Barbra Streisand Women's Cardiovascular Research and Education Program is expected to expand enquiry about female eye disease and raise awareness about it in the community, according to a statement released by Cedars-Sinai. "Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women," said Dr. Eduardo Marban in the statement. "The medical checkup system has failed to recognize female-pattern heart attack systems; stream testing and treatments ar geared toward male physiology."Barbra Streisand reportedly has donated nearly $16 meg from her recent concert tours for education, the environment, women's health and other civic concerns.





Ryoji Ikeda

PJ Harvey, John Parish

PJ Harvey, John Parish   
Artist: PJ Harvey, John Parish

   Genre(s): 
Other
   



Discography:


Dance Hall At Louse Point   
 Dance Hall At Louse Point

   Year: 1996   
Tracks: 12




 





John Ralston