Company of Thieves Set Release Plus TV and Tour Plans

The physical release of Ordinary Riches is due at retail on February 24, 2009. The band will join label-mates Thriving Ivory on a national tour beginning on February 2 in Orlando, FL. Confirmed dates are below.

Company of Thieves will appear on Last Call with Carson Daly the evening of January 21 (airing early a.m. January 22). - more on this story

Obi Best Tour

PR reports: Obi Best is hitting the road to share their fanciful pop with you in person. First they'll be play several west coast dates with their friends The Bird and The Bee, for whom Obi frontwoman Alex Lilly moonlights as a backup singer. Then they'll embark on their own national tour.

The band's forthcoming debut full-length "Capades" is set for a February 24th release. When she's not moonlighting as back-up singer for acclaimed retro-pop group the Bird and the Bee (Bluenote), Alex Lilly is masterminding the fanciful pop of Obi Best.

With the help of a few Los Angeles-based friends and a sensibility that's been favorably compared to bands such as Stereolab, Her Space Holiday and Au Revoir Simone, Lilly conjures music that's complex and catchy -- think geometry, double-dutch, and animated spin art. - more on this story

Eleni Mandell Sets Release

PR reports: Eleni Mandell will release her new album 'Artificial Fire' February 17, 2009 on Zedtone Records. The 15-song collection builds on Mandell's 2007 breakthrough 'Miracle of Five,' adding a more direct, full-band sound to Mandell's sharp-edged tales of romance, lust and love.

The New Yorker says "Mandell was weaned on artists like Tom Waits and X, and her dark and sexy songs have been compared to those of everyone from Chan Marshall to Patsy Cline. She has a sometimes smoky, sometimes wistful delivery, and, more often than not, her songs take on love from some new perspective." 'Miracle Of Five' ended up on a slew of critics Best of 2007 lists, including Paste, Harp, ABC News and the Los Angeles Times. LA CityBeat described Mandell's music as "a kind of pop-out-of-time, often dark yet somehow comforting, and as unforgettable as a warm winter day." In an "A-" review of 'Miracle Of Five,' Entertainment Weekly said Mandell's lyrics explore "the elusive promise of romance with wry wit and moony wistfulness." - more on this story

Gotta Give 'Em Props For A Different Idea

PR reports: Hip Hop is going back to the future in a way where classic tunes are being remade with a futuristic twist. Enter HipHawk Tones, inspired by the recreated voice of world-renown physicist Stephen Hawking. Thanks to the folks at FunMobility, a leading provider of innovative wireless community and media services, consumers can now download these Hawking-stylized remakes of classics from Hip Hop's most celebrated era. These new hip-hop songs, with the distinctive computer-generated voice of Stephen Hawking, bring mechanical audio to the music genre known for the famed robot dance.

Some of the classics hits include: Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Pappa," Dr. Dre's "G Thang," M.C. Hammer's "U Can't Touch This," 50 Cent's "In Da Club," Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby," Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight," A Tribe Called Quest's "Can I Kick It?" Sir-Mix-A-Lot's "Baby's Got Back," The Beastie Boys "Fight For Your Right," and many others.

"HipHawk ringtones are perfect for anyone who wants to add a little twist to their favorite classic tunes," said Adam Lavine, CEO of FunMobility. "That voice synthesizer affect is something that Hawking himself chose, noting that he hasn't found a voice he likes better. After a few playbacks, we think you'll agree that our new HipHawk Tones are the BOMB!" - Check em out here

Cary Brothers Sets Bicoastal Dates

PR reports: Cary Brothers is returning to the stage with two exclusive performances in March. It's been a full year since Cary toured America, as the last time was in March/April 08 to support his debut album "Who You Are", with Ingrid Michaelson, Joshua Radin, Sara Bareilles on the hugely popular Hotel Cafe Tour which he co-founded 5 years ago.

Cary has been in the studio for a latter part of 2008 and will preview a couple of tracks in the sets, like "Break Off The Bough," "Ghost Town," "After The Fall," and "Under Control" which will be on his, as of yet untitled, upcoming album. - more on this story

David Sanborn Live Solo DVD

Kayos reports: A frequent visitor to the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival, master-of-the-sax David Sanborn has wooed crowds with his smooth cool jazz, swinging bebop, wild rock fusion, and mesmerizing solos. Whether a sideman or solo artist, he knows how to keep that Swiss crowd salivating for more.

On a very special night in 1984, he headlined the festival, which is now captured on DVD for the masses, with a run time of 117 minutes of pure jazz satisfaction. Eagle Rock Entertainment is proud to present this first ever Sanborn solo DVD, Live at Montreux 1984, which hits stores February.

This performance, his second headliner at Montreux, was in support of the Grammy-winning Straight To The Heart album. Live at Montreux 1984 is a culmination of tracks from that successful release, as well as other gems from his career up until that point. The DVD features Sanborn with backing band Larry Willis (keyboards), Hiram Bullock (guitar), Tom Barney (bass), and Buddy Williams (drums). Special guest Rickie Lee Jones makes an appearance on "Autumn Leaves", as she caresses the ivories and lays a smooth layer of her sultry voice on top. Bonus material includes three tracks from Sanborn's 1981 appearance at the festival, featuring Marcus Miller on bass, Mike Mainieri on vibes, Neil Larsen on keyboard, Robben Ford on guitar, Ricky Lawson on drums, and the percussion of Lenny Castro. - more on this story

Toubab Krewe Add Dates

PR reports: Asheville, NC based Toubab Krewe continue the "Buncombe 2 Badala" tour and have added new dates in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama.

'Live At The Orange Peel' is now available from iTunes and Amazon. Fans who buy the album on iTunes will be treated to a free bonus track called "Sekou," recorded live at the band's most recent show at Asheville's Orange Peel. CDs hit stores on March 10th.

Toubab Krewe earned praise on NPR's 'All Songs Considered' in a feature called "Rock With An African Twist."

"Buncombe 2 Badala" tour dates, more dates to be added:
Jan 20 - Vienna, VA - Jammin Java
Jan 21 - Charlottesville, VA - Gravity Lounge
- more

Other Lives Debut

PR reports: Other Lives' self-titled, full-length debut will be released on April 7th by tbd records, the ATO Records imprint that launched a year ago with the physical release of Radiohead's In Rainbows.

It will be available at digital retailers beginning March 17th and lead single "Black Tables" goes to radio this month.

The album (and the EP that preceded it) was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Joey Waronker (the Eels, Lisa Germano) and engineer Darrell Thorp (Radiohead, Outkast, Beck). Released in October 2008, the EP - also self-titled - was featured for three consecutive weeks on iTunes' "Rising Stars of Indie Rock." - more on this story

. On The Record: Led Zeppelin- Lou Reed- Polysics

Didn't you hear? Vinyl is back in big time. So Kevin Wierzbicki gives us the lowdown on new vinyl releases from Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, and Polysics in this very first edition of "On The Record." - Read the full Led Zeppelin- Lou Reed- Polysics review

. Bruce Springsteen Month: Human Touch

Human Touch is much like your first girlfriend. She may not have been as pretty as future ones, but because she was the first, you'll never forget her, no matter how ugly she appears to be in retrospect. (2 stars) - Read the full Bruce Springsteen Month: Human Touch review

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