Mindy Smith Jumps on the Yuletide CD Bandwagon

PR reports: Widely acclaimed singer-songwriter Mindy Smith adds her warm, graceful touch to the Yuletide season with her new CD My Holiday, released October 9th on Vanguard Records.

Recorded in Nashville and produced by Mindy Smith and Steve Buckingham, My Holiday is an eleven song collection that features six original tunes written or co-written by Mindy including "Come Around," "Santa Will Find You," "Follow The Shepherd Home" and the title track.

My Holiday also features such classic Christmas recordings as "Away In A Manger" with Alison Krauss on harmony vocals, "The Christmas Song," "Silver Bells," and "I'll Be Home For Christmas." - Myspace page

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Guitar Center Fold

antiMusic reports: We get a lot of press releases, most we toss in the ol' trash can especially ones not promoting an actual music CD or event but sometime we get an email that tells us about something rather unusual that we feel we should pass it along to you. Would a folding guitar qualify?

Here is a little bit about followed by a link to check it out: Ever wondered what it would be like to be able to carry your favourite guitar without worrying about how to transport it? Worry no more. Devillain has introduced the world's first folding electric guitar. The Centerfold guitar can be played directly after it's been unfolded and it's just as tuned as when it was folded away.

Behind the development of the folding guitar, patent applied for in Europe, Japan and USA, is SAS airline pilot Fredrik Johansson. He is a devoted guitarist but couldn't take his instrument with him on flights around the world. During the last ten years, Fredrik has been working on the development of a folding guitar that could easily be taken on a plane. The resulting product not only solves the problem he was experiencing but also that of all the other guitarists who are fed up carrying their cumbersome guitar cases on buses, subways, bikes. - more on it here

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In Woody Guthrie's Words

PR reports: Forty years after his untimely passing, "original folk hero" Woody Guthrie will help write another significant chapter in American folk music when his previously unheard lyrics will be revealed to new melodies in an historic world premiere event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Philadelphia Folksong Society.

"IN WOODY'S WORDS" will showcase these new "songs" performed by the artists who've brought them to life, when Chris Smither, John Gorka, Jonatha Brooke, Tom Paxton, Sara Lee Guthrie & Johnnie Irion and Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer present their new interpretations of Guthrie's lyrics at a gala luncheon Sunday, December 16 at World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia. - more on this story

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More Bacon Than The Pan Can Handle

antiMusic reports: Now it's time to see how many names we can drop (case) in one paragraph of a press release! Of course we altered the annoying word Grammy a few times but here it is for your reading pleasure: On February 19, 2008, ATO Records will release Golden Delicious, the new album from singer/songwriter Mike Doughty.

Doughty and SHAMMY-winning producer Dan Wilson worked with Doughty's touring band to craft a driven, organic sound around his savvy, agile lyrical escapades on Golden Delicious, which was mixed by Jacquire King (Kings Of Leon, Modest Mouse, No Doubt) and mastered by Richard Dodd (Dixie Chicks, Tom Petty, Green Day) -- both also SHAMMY winners. Golden Delicious is the follow-up to Doughty's AAA radio top five album Haughty Melodic (2005), which included the hit "Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well." - More Bacon Than The Pan Can Handle and other taste song names are here

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What the F--k was I thinking

PR reports: Jenny Owen Youngs has just completed a video for her potty-mouthed, yet astonishingly effective ode called "F*** Was I".

The song has already had a long life thanks to a featured spot on Showtime's "Weeds", and is now poised to become stuck in your head just in time for the holidays.

Your family will love it when you hum the chorus: "What the f*** was I thinking" during the dessert course.

- click here so you can ask what the f was I thinking!

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Drum-Off Grand Finals Set

PR reports: Guitar Center is excited to announce the Drum-Off Grand Finals will take place on January 5, 2008 at the Music Box @ Fonda in Hollywood, CA. Now in it's 19th year, Drum-Off continues to bring together thousands of the nation's top undiscovered drummers for the chance to compete for incredible prizes, national recognition and the bragging rights of being crowned Drum-Off Champion.

This incredible night, hosted by Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction, will feature performances by the four Drum-Off finalists as well as Angels & Airwaves, "Go Get A Late Pass!!!" featuring ?uestlove of The Roots, Street Drum Corps with special guests Adrian Young of No Doubt, Brooks Wackerman of Bad Religion, Shannon Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars, John Sawicki of Stomp and Byron McMackin of Pennywise. - more on this story

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Finger Eleven Playing Free Games

PR reports: For the first time since Xbox 360 launched their Xbox LIVE Marketplace, a full HD concert download will be made available to users in the United States for free. Finger Eleven's set from the Berkeley Church in Toronto, Ontario will be available to all users gratis. The content will be placed on the servers on November 6, 2007 where it will be for sixty days.

The 58-minute set features the gold chart-topping hit "Paralyzer" from the quintet's Wind-up Records album THEM VS. YOU VS. ME, in addition to tracks which include "So So Suicide," "Falling On," "I'll Keep Your Memory Vague," "Talking To The Walls," and "Lost My Way."

Songs from the band's self-titled gold certified release are performed including the crossover smash "One Thing," "Good Times," and "Obvious Heart." Finger Eleven also deliver strong performances of earlier repertoire including "Quicksand," "Suffocate," and "First Time." The shoot was produced by Original Spin Media, Inc. and directed by Daniel Berman. - no link provided to this for some strange reason. here is the band's site

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Switches Preview

PR reports: Self proclaimed neurotic obsessive-compulsive weirdos, Switches have pulled through impressively and despite their neuroses. On March 18, 2008, This London based quartet will be releasing their debut album, Lay Down The Law, produced by Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliott Smith) on Interscope.

Front man, Matt grew up in Southend (a low-rent seaside town, something like the old Asbury Park neighborhood) and formed the band while at college: When you hear their music, you may be surprised to discover that all members have completely different tastes in music but it seems it's this very factor that has kept each member on their toes and contributed massively towards their killer sound and recent successes.

There's Ollie Thomas, guitar: the sixties throwback aspiring to psychedelic-tinged virtuosity ala Hendrix and Abbey Road. Jimmy G, drums: all sharp-dressed eighties, think Thriller, Vegas and Let's Dance-era Bowie. Max Tite, bassist: nineties indie kid who loves vitamins, cake and Sufjan Stevens with equal desire. And Matt: seventies songwriter with a love for ELO and 10cc even though he wasn't born while they reigned, and a fully-fledged Child Of Britpop. - Here’s a first look at their new video for their debut single “Lay Down The Law”.

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Lamb of God Deluxe Producer Edition

antiMusic reports: Now we've been hammering on bands that re-release their just released albums a few months down the line. They call it a special edition but really it's just the same disc with some bonus tracks, trying to capture diehard fans every last cent. (Ozzy just announced he's doing it too) Another new trend is emerging where they allow the listeners to "remix" the album. Lamb Of God just announced such an album, the "Deluxe Producer Edition (With Bonus CD) To Be Released December 4th, 2007"

Here is the PR on it: Industry pioneers LAMB OF GOD have crossed the line… literally. The Grammy-nominated metal band are breaking down the smoke and mirrors and allowing - for the first time in music history - fans and professionals alike the revolutionary opportunity to produce and/or remix the entire Sacrament audio CD. All of the studio audio tracks (guitar, vocals, drums & bass) from the entire Sacrament album have been isolated, separated and prepared for use by music fans everywhere in ANY Mac or PC, so it is very user-friendly. - more on this scam. oops story

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Sia Has EP Problems

PR reports: In celebration of her upcoming full-length release, some people have REAL problems, Sia will release a 4-song digital EP on November 6 previewing tracks from the CD, including the first single, "Day to Soon." The Song will also be available as a free download via Starbucks on November 6 as part of the company's "Song of the Day" campaign.

Originally known as the vocalist for Zero 7 (Simple Things, When It Falls and The Garden), Sia made her first splash as a solo artist when her song "Breathe Me" was featured in the final episode of "Six Feet Under" in late 2005, and which shot to #1 on Itunes the following day. Since then Sia has continued to gain critical acclaim and a growing fan base, touring this past month to sold out shows across the U.S. in anticipation of her new release.

The new music on some people have REAL problems is at once upbeat, quirky, and achingly gorgeous, featuring incredible song writing and lush arrangements. Sia also enlisted the help of a few talented friends when recording some people have REAL problems, including Beck, who sings on a track called 'Academia.' - Myspace page

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Long Road to Video Ruin for the Foo Fighters

antiMusic reports: Foo Fighters' second video off Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace for their next single, "Long Road to Ruin" is now available.

The new video again pairs them with director Jesse Peretz who also was responsible for fan favorites "Big Me" and "Learn to Fly."

Don't spend hours watching MTV waiting for them show a video and hope it's this one, you can watch the video online. All for the low price of free. Grab a watch
- right here

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Kira Fontana Goes Rock

PR reports: Composer Kira Fontana Releases Alternative Rock Debut Mixed by Montreal's Howard Bilerman. The Inner Revolution will be released Nov 11th on Spark the Fire! Records.

Exceptional in its exquisite craft and bold simplicity, intimate solo moments and massive unorthodox arrangements, The Inner Revolution has all the raw emotional impact of a rock album and the polished beauty of a classical composition. The debut of arresting new alternative artist Kira Fontana, this defiantly ecstatic music packs a fierce punch with razor precision - no doubt partially due to the fact that Fontana is a conservatory and Ivy League trained composer.

While one may hear distant echoes of Tori Amos, the anthemic post-rock of Sigur Rós or the minimalism of Steve Reich, Fontana's tour-de-force song writing and hauntingly gorgeous voice stand on territory all their own. - more on this story

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.... Review: The New Pornographers Live

If I could use one word to sum The New Pornographers up, it would be ebullient. Their live shows are equally euphoric as I witnessed most recently during the first of two sold-out shows at Chicago's Metro club - Read the full The New Pornographers Live review

.... Review: The F**king Wrath - Season Of Evil

The power and sheer drive of Season of Evil creates a sound of something from the pages of early 80s hardcore with the occasional slowdown-scream-your-fucking-mind-out old school breakdown. - Read the full The F**king Wrath - Season Of Evil review

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