Grateful Dead Boxsets

Chimaira Golden Ticket

PR reports: Chimaira has announced the Golden Ticket contest, which will give fans the chance to win a signature ESP guitar, a copy of Guitar Hero World Tour w/guitar, or a trip to see the annual Christmas show live in the band's hometown!

Each prize will be assigned a ticket to be randomly placed in three of the previously announced Chimaira box sets, which are available for purchase here.

The box set will be available on April 21, and there will only be 600 box sets produced, with the band signing the first 100! - more on this story

Peter Bjorn and John CD Preview

PR reports: MySpace Music is proud to announce the exclusive worldwide premiere of "Living Thing," the brand new album from Swedish indie rock band Peter Bjorn and John. Currently, fans are able to stream the album in its entirety via the band's official MySpace Music profile. The debut gives users a chance to preview the music days before the album is available for purchase in the US.

With nearly 100,000 friends, Peter Bjorn and John is no stranger to MySpace. The band participated in an intimate MySpace Secret Show in September 2007. They began playing together in Stockholm in 1999 and have since created some of the most exciting and original indie rock ever to come out of Sweden. With the release of 2007's "Writer's Block" featuring the hit single "Young Folks," the band earned a niche fan base in the US and has played with some of today's most popular artists, including Kanye West.

For more information about the band, to check out tour dates, and to stream "Living Thing," visit the band's official - MySpace page

Ben Folds A Cappella

Sony reports: Epic Records is excited to announce the release of Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella! on April 28, 2009. Amazed to discover the large amount of colleges that have very active a cappella groups on campus across the country (1,200 in the US alone), and, on top of this, how many of them love to cover his songs, Folds decided to A&R and produce a record gathering the best of these performances.

When word got out, the response was tremendous and resulted in 250 videos on YouTube. Folds would come off stage every night and spend hours pouring over these entries, ultimately choosing 15 groups to record. Ben, his wife Fleur, and his engineer Joe Costa packed up their equipment, and hopped on planes, trains and automobiles to record these groups. Over 2 months, they set up camp in dorm lounges, lecture halls and campus television studios. They even recorded in a Synagogue. Also wanting to involve students from other areas of campus life in these sessions, at each one Folds invited a student photographer and videographer to document the recording. After reviewing the footage captured, Ben then invited one of the student videographers - Jason Harper from Princeton University - to compile each school's footage into one documentary of the entire project.

No matter where the recording was to take place, the makeshift studio was simple: six area mics. It was a bold aesthetic choice for the project. In recent years, tools like Auto-Tune and overdub have become as prevalent in collegiate a cappella recording as on major label albums. But Folds wanted to capture what these groups actually sounded like in performance. The team allotted four hours for each session. Most groups nailed the recording in two. - more on this story

Satan Returns Again as Blind Fury

MMP reports: Blind Fury emerged on the metal scene soon after the release of Satan's "Court In The Act". This wasn't a mere coincidence – Blind Fury WAS in fact Satan, or to be more precise – Satan's new incarnation. Under that name the group recorded only one album – "Out of Reach" (1985) – but it was enough to make Blind Fury a true metal icon! The album was rooted in the NWOBHM tradition, but instead of purely technical playing, the band went towards a more melodic and straight-forward approach.

Songs like the brilliant opener "Do It Loud" or "Contact Rock and Roll" have a unique rock feel to them. Other highlights include "Evil Eyes", "Back Inside" and the epic "Dance of the Crimson Lady, Part 1". And even though the music on "Out of Reach" was less complex than on Satan's last release, it was still far from radio-friendly and got often compared by the critics to the likes of Liege Lord, Attacker or Omen. The LP became a cult classic from the start, bringing a truly powerful dose of prime heavy metal.

The exclusive re-release of the album brings back a true metal highlight, filled with excellent guitar work (the Ramsey-Tippins team never fails!), intense drumming and passionate vocals. This is an absolute must-have for all fans of heavy metal madness! New digipak edition is limited to numbered 1000 copies. Digitally remastered using 24-Bit process on a golden disc. Metal Mind Productions will release "Out Of Reach" on 20th April in Europe and 21st April in USA (via MVD). - more on this story

Jennifer Hudson Returning To Idol

Jam! reports: Jennifer Hudson is returning to "American Idol" for one night only, says a person close to the show who did not want his or her name used because the person was not authorized to speak to reporters.

The Grammy-and Oscar-winning actress, singer and "Idol" alum is scheduled to tape a performance in front of the studio audience on Wednesday after the live broadcast has ended, according to the anonymous source

Hudson's appearance will air on an upcoming segment, the person says. Hudson will likely sing a song from her self-titled debut CD - more on this story

Country Bar Getting Thrashed in Blood This Weekend

PR reports: The venue for this weekend's New York City date on the Masters of Disasters tour (featuring Bonded By Blood, Exmortus and Witchaven) has been switched to the Lone Star Bar and Grill at 8703 5th ave. in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

The show starts at 7pm and admission is still FREE for those aged 21 and up ($2 for those under 21).

The Lone Star Bar and Grill might bill themselves as Brooklyn's only Country/Western bar, but BONDED BY BLOOD, EXMORTUS and WITCHAVEN will be bringing nothing pure thrash all night longc - more on this story

P.O.S. Pearl Jams

PR reports: P.O.S. was among a select number of artists picked to cover Pearl Jam classics in celebration of the re-release of their debut album Ten. Here is what he had to say about it:

"I was asked if I was interested in covering a pearl jam song by mtv2. I thought it was funny that they wanted to include me, being a rapper and all, but I wanted to take a shot at it. I loved ten when it came out, rocked the tape till it popped.

"One of my favorites on it was why go, none of the bands they asked had picked it yet so I did. I though about reworking the original lyrics into a rap kind of situation, but then I was playing the melody on one of my keyboards and thought it might be more fun to just straight cover it. So I did. It was fun. I hope you likes it." - Check it out here

Wonderlick's Topless Sophomore Effort

PR reports: The California-based group Wonderlick will be releasing their sophomore full-length, "Topless At The Arco Arena," on July 7, 2009 via Missing Piece/Rock Ridge Music.

According to band member Tim Quirk, the record, "examines the intersection of art and commerce from people who have been on every side of it." "Topless At The Arco Arena" finds Quirk and bandmate Jay Blumenfield making music for music's sake. Both have very successful careers in other endeavors: Tim is VP, Programming of Rhapsody and Jay is a TV producer and video director.

Inspired by Tim's essay of the same name (originally published in the anthology "This is Pop! [Oxford University Press]), the album was recorded in Oakland and Los Angeles over the past few years. The essay will appear in its entirety as the album's liner notes. - more on this story

NPR Previewing New Leonard Cohen Release

PR reports: Leonard Cohen's Live In London will stream on NPR Online starting today, March 24, one week ahead of release.

Live In London, a musical chronicle of Cohen's 2008 concert will be available as either a DVD or 2 CD set on Tuesday, March 31, 2009. Listen to Live In London on NPR Online at http://www.npr.org/music

Leonard Cohen's first newly recorded release since 2004's gold-certified Dear Heather, the Live In London collection fully captures and recreates the extraordinary show that earned Cohen, who celebrated his 40th year as a Columbia Records artist in 2007, more than 80 five-star reviews for performances during his fall 2008 UK and European tour. - more on this story

Neal McCoy's Celebration of Freedom

PR reports: Mark your calendars and plan on attending the inaugural Celebration of Freedom: promoting patriotism and honoring those who have made freedom possible with Neal McCoy and General Tommy Franks in Hobart, Oklahoma on Saturday, May 23, 2009.

Neal McCoy did not hesitate but rather jumped at the opportunity when asked by General Tommy Franks to provide entertainment for the Grand Opening of the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum.

"General Franks is a class act! If he wants me to be involved with him in anything, I'm going to do what it takes to make that happen. I've been lucky enough to be around him a lot, not just here at home, but in the Middle East, and have seen the respect he receives, from not just the soldiers, but from anyone who has been lucky enough to cross paths with him. I love what he stands for, and I was so excited when he and Colonel Hayes asked me to join them in the opening of his Museum and Institute," boasted Neal. - more on this story

. Pearl Jam - Ten (Legacy Edition)

If youre a long-time fan, or a rabid collector of all things Pearl Jam, youll definitely want to grab one of those. If youre just a rock fan who missed the boat, go pick up a copy of the Legacy edition of Ten, theres really no reason not to have a copy. (4.5 stars) - Read the full Pearl Jam - Ten (Legacy Edition) review

. U2 Month: All That You Can't Leave Behind

The 1990s were U2s lost weekend. Like most lost weekends, it began with much anticipation, excitement and intense romance. By Sunday night, it ended very badly. Monday morning brought a new life in the form of All That You Cant Leave Behind (4 stars) - Read the full U2 Month: All That You Can't Leave Behind review

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