McGraw To Hit Wal-Mart Shelves

His U.S. album sales have totaled 36.7 million units, according to Nielsen SoundScan. His "Greatest Hits" sold 5.9 million and "Vol. 2" tallied 2.1 million albums sold. - more info and tracklisting

P.O.D. Make Top 10 Debut

PR reports: P.O.D. are back to reclaim their place atop the rock scene with their INO/Columbia Records debut, When Angels & Serpents Dance.

The disc nabs the #9 spot on this week's Billboard Albums Chart. This marks P.O.D.'s fourth Top 10 release. "Satellite" (2001), "Payable On Death"(2003) and "Testify" (2006) also debuted in the Billboard Top 10 when released. In addition, P.O.D. have landed the coveted #1 spot on iTunes Rock album Chart this past week.

Lead vocalist Sonny Sandoval says: "After 16 years of being in P.O.D., the loyalty of The Warriors continue to make us look good. We are truly grateful and blown away to see another Top 10 debut." - more on this story

Mile High Music Festival Lineup Expands

PR reports: The first annual Mile High Music Festival is proud to announce the addition of Jason Mraz, Lupe Fiasco, Mike Gordon (of Phish), Hill Country Review, Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers, Ferras, The Whigs, and Eric Hutchinson to an already stellar line-up of artists confirmed to perform on July 19th and 20th at the Outer Fields at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will headline on Saturday, July 19th; Dave Matthews Band will top the bill on Sunday, July 20th. Colorado has never before seen a music festival of this magnitude: hosting five stages (some tented), food from many of Denver's top restaurants, an artists' village, misting tents and more.

In addition to the headliners, performance highlights include John Mayer, The Black Crowes, Mike Gordon, O.A.R., Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Steve Winwood, Spoon, Jason Mraz, Flogging Molly, Colbie Caillat, OneRepublic, The Roots, Lupe Fiasco plus local favorites Flobots, Rose Hill Drive, Meese, Born In The Flood, Railbenders and The Photo Atlas. - full lineup

Digital Tegan and Sara

Filter reports: Tegan and Sara are slowly emerging out of hiding with a confirmed date on The Tonight Show on April 23, a live digital EP.

Their EP available exclusively through iTunes April 29 features four acoustic versions of songs from their latest album The Con and one track from their breakthrough So Jealous.

They also have plotted an extensive Summer tour with stops at Coachella, Bonnaro, and a slot in the True Colors Tour. Find the dates - here

Acorn US Tour

PR reports: The Acorn are returning to the US in support of their new album, newly released in the US on Paper Bag Records

Glory Hope Mountain is a touching homage to the life story of Gloria Montoya Esperanza, as told by her son, Rolf Klausener. To keep with the theme, Rolf did a lot of research on Smithsonian recordings of 50's Honduran Folk Music and West Indian rhythms during the writing of this album.

Based on interviews recorded in 2006 and recorded over 9 months, the sometimes haunting, sometimes exuberant tones of the album follow both hope and tragedy in Montoya's native Honduras - a mother dying in childbirth, flash floods, an abusive father - and an ultimately life-affirming move to Montreal in the 1970s.
- more on this story

HD YouTube Rival Launched

PR reports: PluggedIn announced today the launch of its beta website, offering free to consumer streaming of the highest quality music videos available anywhere on the web. The new entertainment website features over 10,000 HD and broadcast quality music videos from EMI Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, and other major and independent labels.

PluggedIn is also announcing today a strategic partnership with leading entertainment and artist management company, Overbrook Entertainment. Overbrook - whose principals are world famous actor and musician Will Smith, and entertainment industry veterans James Lassiter and Ken Stovitz - is investing both its capital and resources into PluggedIn's groundbreaking product and consumer experience.

PluggedIn has initially licensed over 10,000 music videos and live concerts from major music companies such as EMI Music, the world's leading independent music company, Sony BMG, and an influential group of other major and independent music labels. The PluggedIn website features popular artists and bands such as as Radiohead, Joss Stone, Green Day, 30 Seconds to Mars, Coldplay, Gorillaz, Chemical Brothers, Norah Jones, Daft Punk, KT Tunstall, and Keith Urban, as well as talented emerging artists such as Matt Nathanson and The Kooks.
- more on this story

First Priest, Heaven and Hell, Motorhead Onsale Date

BW*BK reports: As part of the Post-Gazette Pavilion Summer Season, Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times Online report that tickets for the August 16th date at the Post-Gazette Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania featuring JUDAS PRIEST with MOTÖRHEAD and HEAVEN AND HELL will go on sale at 10 AM on April 25th. Tickets will be priced from $20 to $100.

As recently reported by Headbanger's Blog, putting nearly three months of rumors to rest, TESTAMENT singer Chuck Billy announced onstage on April 6th that his band will be opening for the upcoming Judas Priest, Motörhead and Heaven And Hell tour this August.

"We'll be on first, and we're only gonna have 30 minutes, so we won't be doing any talking," Billy said towards the end of the band's set at B.B. King Blues Club and Grill in Midtown, New York. "We're just gonna hit you hard - bam, bam, bam, bam - with everything we've got." - Where else will this tour hit?

Buddy Miles Changes DVD

MVD reports: Buddy Miles Changes DVD is set for release on June 10th. This DVD features two incredible concerts by Buddy Miles and company.

In the first, filmed at Switzerland's New Morning Rock Heroes Festival in 1995, he re-works in his own distinctive style a selection of rock and pop classics from the Sixties and Seventies, concluding with barnstorming version of three of Jimi Hendrix's biggest hits, 'Purple Haze', 'Voodoo Child' and 'Hey Joe'.

In the second, filmed in Paris a year later, he features Albert King's blues standard 'Born Under A Bad Sign' and a deeply soulful interpretation of The Impression's ballad hit 'For Your Precious Love'. Buddy is perhaps best known, for his association with Jimi Hendrix, playing on his 'Electric Ladyland' album and as a key member of his post Experience group The Band of Gypsys, one of the first all-black rock bands. This DVD is an excellent representation of his overwhelming skill and tremendous talent. - more on this story

Fall Out Boy Hope Beat It Video Will Be A Thriller

idolator reports: You'd think that a video full of Jacko iconography would seem a little "been there done that," but evidently Fall Out Boy is going to take that route for their video for the band's cover of "Beat It," which entered the Hot 100's top 20 last week. Not that I can remember which Michael Jackson videos feature jump-roping girls and sumo wrestlers.

With Fall Out Boy's cover of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" a top iTunes hit, and the group's Pete Wentz saying they'll make a video to go along with it, lots of people are wondering what the video will be like. Well, we get word that the group's going all out — with an homage to the former King of Pop's library of past videos.

Casting was in full swing last week for a bunch of familiar-sounding figures, including various dancers, jump-roping girls, sumo wrestlers, nerds and "a hot Puerto Rican girl." - more on this story

Marianne Keith Promises No Bubblegum on New CD

PR reports: Unison Music presents Marianne Keith's Beautiful Distraction in stores now. Beautiful Distraction is the engaging debut by 22-year-old Redlands singer-songwriter Marianne Keith. Full of introspective sentiments, pop sensibilities, Marianne's expressive emotions, and keen sense of melody, lively songs such as "Kiss Me in the Rain," give way to the composed passion found on "That's Just the Way Love Goes." Sultry numbers like "The Angry Song" easily connect with the open emotions and raw musical talent found in the piano ballad, "Sideways Rain."

"I tend to write a lot of poppy songs, but I also balance them with quirkier, more unique songs," says Keith. "Some of my songs are kind of feel-good in a way, but they're not bubblegum."

Integrating pop, folk, country and more into her musical mix, Marianne crosses musical boundaries much like the diverse female musicians who inspire her: Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, and KT Tunstall. Keith's many fans have learned not to be fooled by her small frame and young age, her vocals command the room as if she were an old pro. - Chew on this and decide if it taste bubbly

The Duke Spirit Unplug for Instore Appearances

Filter reports: Now that they are on the road with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Duke Spirit have announced plans to perform several in-store appearances promoting their newly released album Neptune.

The band will be playing an acoustic set at each location and signing records at stores in Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin.

The band will also be appearing on Late Night With Conan O'Brien on May 7th. - when and where

Book Of Black Earth Start New Chapter

Prosthetic reports: Prosthetic Records is proud to announce the addition of Seattle's death/black metallers Book Of Black Earth to the label's roster. Catching the label's eye while on a West Coast tour with future labelmates The Funeral Pyre in late 2007, BOOK OF BLACK EARTH consists of members of venerable metal underground band Teen Cthulhu, and are currently in the process of writing material for the band's second full-length, having already released a self-financed demo in 2004, a split release with underground legends Fall Of The Bastards in 2005, and 2006's 'The Feast,' which received praise from Decibel magazine, Terrorizer magazine, and the band's hometown newspaper, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

"We are all very excited to work with Prosthetic Records and the people behind it, we feel like this is a good step for us as a band and a good home," drummer Joe Axler says. "BOBE is currently finishing writing for our Prosthetic debut which will be titled 'Horoskopus,' and entering The Red Room Studios in Seattle this week to start tracking with producer / engineer Chris Common (Mouth of the Architect, These Arms Are Snakes). This is by far our most technical, heavy and challenging set of songs to date. It's definitely pushing the envelope for us, which we stand behind, and will make this record the most brutal one we have written."

"'Horoskopus' is a concept album about the hidden astrological elements of the Christian church," vocalist / guitarist T.J. Cowgill adds. "From its origins as a state sponsored religion in the fourth century to the present day, it has been guided by astrological concepts conceived centuries before Jesus Christ was mythologized as the 'Sun' of God." - To preview previous material from BOOK OF BLACK EARTH, including the latest songs from ‘The Feast,’ visit the band’s MySpace page

April Wine Live DVD Coming

MVD reports: April Wine's I Like To Rock: Live In London 1981 DVD will hit stores on June 10th. This DVD contains a complete and incredible concert performed at London's Hammersmith Odeon during the band's 1981 tour of the UK.

They formed in late 1969 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and their first hit, "Fast Train," appeared in 1971, the same year as the self-titled debut album. The next year brought the band's first Canadian number one single, "You Could Have Been a Lady," from the On Record album. - more on this story

Severe Torture Plan Special Set for Neurotic Deathfest

Earache reports: Dutch death metal band Severe Torture have announced that they will play a special set at the Neurotic Deathfest on May 30th.

The set will consist purely of songs from the brutal FEASTING ON BLOOD and MISANTHROPIC CARNAGE albums, including songs that the band haven't played live for many years.

The Neurotic Deathfest takes place on May 30-31 2008 at the 013 venue in Tilburg, the Netherlands. For more information and to purchase tickets for the Neurotic Deathfest, visit - http://www.neuroticdeathfest.com

R.E.M. Book Signings Booked

PR reports: With all the media attention towards R.E.M.'s excellent new album, Accelerate, fans are eager to get as much information as they can on the band. To coordinate with the band's tour, Chronicle Books is releasing R.E.M.:HELLO a book of photos of the band taken by David Belisle who has worked with R.E.M. since 2001. Book signing events have been scheduled in Hollywood and New York City.

While the book isn't available until June, here is some news to get your ready for it. Chronicle Books has put together a mini-site for the book, which has exclusive content, digital downloads and blog posts from the road, by photographer David Belisle. www.chroniclebooks.com/rem

The first 250 fans that pre-order the book from Chronicle Books (see link from the mini-site) will receive a limited edition poster designed by the book's designer. A HOT item for R.E.M. fans.
- more on this story

. Emo for K-Feds (a.k.a Punk Goes Crunk)

There are so many things wrong with this CD that I really don't know where to begin. Let's begin with the misleading title. I searched high and low through the album credits and could not find a real punk band, Clay Aiken is more punk then any of these groups. - Read the full Emo for K-Feds (a.k.a Punk Goes Crunk) review

. Egypt Central

In listening to this album you realize right away that this is not a new sound as several comparisons can be made to other bands but E.C. seem to do a commendable job and with their sophomore effort they will grow into their own distinct sound. They definitely have the ability. (3 stars) - Read the full Egypt Central review

. 10 Years of antiMusic: We Are All In This Together

We're looking back at 10 years of antiMusic. Today we look back at our editor's favorite article. It was published in the wake of the Great White fire and Dimebag's murder, and it deals with a topic that anyone that loves music can related to- What brings us together. - Read the full We Are All In This Together review

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