Kelly Clarkson Blames Songwriter For Beyonce Song Similarity

[If you wrote your own songs you would have this kind of problem now would you?] - more on this story

Backstreet Boys Are Back

Hype reports: Backstreet Boys are very proud to announce the release of their new album, THIS IS US. Set for an October 6th release on Jive Records,

THIS IS US is the seventh studio album from this groundbreaking and chart topping group that redefined the modern musical landscape, ushering in a chapter of pop culture that commandeered the world's radio airwaves, broke music and concert sales records, and launched a new generation of teen idols. Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and AJ McLean collaborated with a powerhouse suite of producers and songwriters on THIS IS US that included T-Pain, Max Martin, RedOne, Soulshock and Karlin, Jim Jonsin and Claude Kelly. The end result is an indelible and finely crafted R&B and pop album from four talented musicians who love what they do and who maintain the rare relevance in an industry that often disposes of pop acts.

The 11 songs that make up THIS IS US are the sounds of four skilled singers with a similar vision, who have dealt with the trials and tribulations that accompany fame at an early age and who came out as one of the most successful groups of all time. From the undeniable dance floor ready lead single, "Straight Through My Heart" (click on link to stream) to the reflective soar of "Bigger," from the hook crazy "Bye Bye Love" to the romantic yearning of "She's A Dream," THIS IS US shows remarkable growth as songwriters and continues to give us songs that has made millions smile. - more on this story

Feds Raid Michael Jackson's Doctor

Billboard reports: Federal authorities searched the Las Vegas home and medical office of Michael Jackson's personal doctor Tuesday, seeking documents as part of a manslaughter investigation into the singer's death.

Several Drug Enforcement Administration agents entered Dr. Conrad Murray's sprawling home in a gated community while others searched Murray's medical offices in Las Vegas, Global Cardiovascular Associates.

"We are looking for documents" related to the death of Michael Jackson, said Michael Flanagan, assistant special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration office in Las Vegas. He said federal agents and Los Angles police served search warrants at Murray's house and office.
- more on this story

Whitney Houston Moves Up CD Release With Hype Filled Announcement

Hype reports: Fueled by the continuous excitement from last week's much-buzzed about Whitney Houston album listening events in New York and Los Angeles, Arista Records has moved the release date of I Look To You up to August 31st.

As a gift to her fans, a free download of the album's title track, powered by Yahoo! Music, is available now at www.whitneyhouston.com until July 31st. "I Look To You," a sweeping ballad with Whitney's signature soaring vocals that fans have come to love, was written by R. Kelly.

I Look To You, Whitney's 7th studio album, boasts a who's who of A-List songwriters and producers. - more on this story

UK Teen Group FranKo Launch American Invasion

PR reports: The four South London based teens (Tommy Bastow (vocals); Richard Craker (guitars/BVs); Chris Gilbertson (bass guitar/BVs); Beau Poynts (drums/BVs) known as FranKo, already have made their mark on the London music scene and have now gone global.

Upon visiting New York City last week, where the band filmed their first-ever National TV appearance for the FOX music program- Fearless Music TV, the band also had time to showcase their double A-Side single – "Nightime" and "Today" (release date: Sept 8th) to a jam-packed room of promoters, radio stations and senior record company executives.

The group's debut "single" will include 2 tracks for the price of one. Release date will be September 8th and the tracks released in this format will be "Today" and "Nightime." Also to be announced in coming weeks is specifics on a UK tour as well as the band's involvement at CMJ in October in New York City. - more on this story

Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson Break Up

Rhino reports: In 2006, critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Pete Yorn contacted actress and Atco recording artist Scarlett Johansson with the idea to record a duets album in the spirit of Serge Gainsbourg's 1960s recordings with Brigitte Bardot. "I was having a strange week of insomnia and when I finally passed out, it came to me in a dream," says Yorn. "I woke up and the whole thing was in my head, fully formed." Johansson was intrigued by Yorn's out-of-the-blue invitation. "It sounded like an interesting little adventure," she explains. "The idea of two people vocalizing their relationship through duets."

On September 15, Atco Records, an imprint of Rhino Entertainment, presents the resulting work, Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson Break Up, a deeply emotive yet hook-filled song cycle about a tempestuous relationship. The collection will be available at all retail outlets, including www.rhino.com, for $13.98 (CD), $7.99 (digital) and $13.98 (vinyl)

Break Up includes eight original compositions by Yorn, ranging in tone from the lilting opener "Relator" to the disarming, retro/futuristic "I Don't Know What to Do" to the climactic "Someday." Completing the collection is a powerful interpretation of the art-rock classic "I Am The Cosmos" by the late Chris Bell, co-founder of quintessential cult band Big Star. Produced by Sunny Levine, with Yorn and Max Goldblatt as executive producers, the album features contributions from guitarist Robert Francis; bassist Giuseppe Patane; and violinist Amir Yaghmai, with Goldblatt on banjo, synth bass and backing vocals, and Levine handling programming and mixing - more on this story

Gregory Pepper & His Problems

PR reports: Gregory Pepper's got problems – but who doesn't, right? Lucky for him (and us) these problems have persevered into an album's worth of material for every year of his lonesome existence. Out on June 16th via Fake Four Inc./Sonic Unyon Distribution, With Trumpets Flaring dares to be of Pepper's most ambitiously despondent examinations of hopeless optimism.

In his hometown of Guelph, Ontario Gregory Pepper & His Problems is a moniker used by the 26-year-old musician and visual artist who has amassed a repertoire of 500 or so anthems of confusion and ambivalence, ranging from punk influenced indie-rock to polished baroque-pop. He is currently supporting himself as a freelance illustrator, has toured alongside the likes of Islands, Born Ruffians, and The Smoking Popes, collaborated on albums with Noah23 and Awol One, and is now preparing for a tour with his recently formed four-piece band.

Armed with a handful of cheap musical instruments, pens and alcohol as well as a mobile recording studio, With Trumpets Flaring draws upon the poppy 1960's melancholy of Brian Wilson and Roy Orbison as much as he does from modern trends in electronic and hip-hop. Gregory Pepper & His Problems creates an experimental musical landscape that is instantly engrossing and "exemplifying, in it's core, the beauty of the indie aesthetic." - The Portastylistic - Now go watch a horrifying album animation teaser here

Callahan Take A Dive

ESM reports: Callahan has just released a brand new song entitled "The Dive" from its upcoming Summer Sampler EP on its Myspace page. The band's upcoming release will be on sale August 24.

The band's last release, Face the Day, was produced by Joey Sturgis (The Devil Wears Prada, Attack Attack!, Let Get It).

Founded by childhood friends, drummer Wes Comer, guitarist Brad Comer, and bassist Jake Sims, the addition of vocalist Ryan Clay proved a perfect match as the band immediately meshed together a unique blend of genres. - more on this story

Kristina Train Is Coming

PR reports: On October 20, Blue Note Records will release Spilt Milk, the debut album from singer Kristina Train. Train—who was born in New York City and raised in Savannah, Georgia—has made an urbane, soulful, and lush debut that showcases her stunning voice. As a vocalist, Train alternates between gentle balladeering and powerful belting, her bluesy vibrato revealing the breadth and elegance of a young Dusty Springfield — a little bit London, a little bit Memphis.

Train will be hitting the road in the coming weeks, giving audiences around the country an early chance to hear her perform the affecting songs from her debut in a live setting. In addition to showcase performances in New York City at Joe's Pub (July 29) and Rockwood Music Hall (August 3 & 5), and in Los Angeles at the Hotel Café (August 19), Train will also be opening for singer Chris Isaak on a month-long string of tour dates that kick-off on August 8 in Houston, Texas. See full touring schedule below.

Interestingly, Train's story is in many ways the inverse of Springfield's. In her case it's the soulful Southern girl with the awe-inspiring voice that heads to London to find inspiration and record her debut statement. Spilt Milk was recorded with Jimmy Hogarth, the sought-after British producer whose recent credits include Duffy, Corinne Bailey Rae, and James Blunt. "Kristina possesses a true classic voice — an effortless delivery with complete commitment to the emotion of the song," Hogarth says. "It was a real pleasure and an honor to have worked on this very special recording." - more on this story

Web Based Idol Knock Off

Submitted News reports: ExploreTalent.com announced today that their first ExploreTalent Idol contest has officially launched, and the music community is already buzzing. The ExploreTalent Idol contest will take place between July 23 and August 18th - the winners will be picked shortly thereafter.

All competing performers/groups must upload a music video or MP3 of one of their songs to Explore Talent's website and fit within the urban music genre (R&B, Hip-Hop or Rap). Complete rules of the challenge are listed on ExploreTalent.com.

The newly crowned ExploreTalent Idol will open the concert just before today's top urban artists pay tribute to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. The Grand Prize winner will be flown to Miami's luxurious Eden Roc Hotel for 2 nights and be announced at the press conference the night before the event. The winner will participate in the meet-and-greet with Akon, T-Pain, Ne-Yo and Flo Rida before the show starts at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Immediately following the meet-and-greet, the winner will perform up to 12 minutes to kickoff the concert. - more on this story

Wait there is more!

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

tell a friend about this article

know of a news item we should cover?

antiMUSIC News featured on RockNews.info .