Singer, poet Leonard Cohen to release new album (Reuters)

MADRID, Oct 19 – Renowned Canadian singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen said Wednesday he had recorded his first new album since 2004 and would release it next year.

Cohen told journalists in the northern Spanish town of Oviedo, where he had travelled to collect Spain's top award for authors who do not write in Spanish, that "Old Ideas" consisted of ten previously unpublished tracks.

"I've played it for a few people, and they seem to like it," the 77-year-old said in his trademark gravelly voice.

"God willing," Cohen said when asked if he planned to go on tour again. "I never quite know whether there's going to be a tour or not."

The writer and singer of "Suzanne," "Hallelujah," "Chelsea Hotel No. 2" and other hits apologized for cancelling a concert in Valencia in 2009 after he fainted, and said he would be delighted to appear in the eastern city again.

Cohen won the Principe de Asturias Prize for literature in June. Past winners include German Nobel Laureate Guenther Grass and U.S. playwright Arthur Miller.

The Montreal native also spoke of his deep admiration for Spanish culture and said he had named his daughter Lorca, after Federico Garcia Lorca, Spain's most famous 20th century poet, who was summarily shot by supporters of a military uprising in 1936 which started the Spanish Civil War.

Cohen first read Lorca when he was a teen-ager.

"He was the first poet that invited me to live in his world," Cohen said.

"His landscape was extremely familiar to me. It was a landscape that was very close to silence, a landscape that arose out of the struggle with silence, which I myself was struggling with at the time."

The writer said he still found writing hard work.

"You know, when you're writing, you're always an absolute beginner. Each time you take up your guitar or sit by a blank page, you start from scratch. It's a struggle."

The Asturias Foundation awards eight prizes every year for fields ranging from science to the arts. Winners get 50,000 euros ($69,000) and a statue by Catalan artist Joan Miro.

(Reporting by Jaime Ortiz; Writing by Martin Roberts; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

View the original article here

Toby Keith is never one to mince words in songs

Singer Toby Keith performs ''Somewhere Else'' at the 46th annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas April 3, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Steve Marcus

By Vernell Hackett

NASHVILLE | Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:52pm EDT

NASHVILLE (Reuters) - Toby Keith grew up in Oklahoma where a man's handshake is his word, family is of utmost importance and opinions are welcome.

Keith has never been shy when it comes to his music, an outspokenness that has served him well over the years and continues to do so today as he nears the release of his new album, "Clancy's Tavern," on October 24.

As a young artist, Keith asked to be let out of his contract with Mercury Records when executives didn't like his album, "How Do You Like Me Now?" because they thought women would view the title track's lyrics as disrespectful.

But "How Do You Like Me Now?" went on to attain gold status, selling more than 500,000 units, and Keith went on to sell 25 million albums for his new label, Dreamworks.

"It was the day of reckoning," Keith told Reuters about the day he told Mercury chief Luke Lewis he wanted off the label and demanded his album back.

"He said to me, 'You believe in this album that much?' and I said 'Yeah.' Two hours later my accountant cut me a check, and I went over and picked up the master and walked out."

The 50-year-old Keith has headed his own label, Show Dog/Universal, since 2004 and has several other ventures. His latest release, "Made in America," is near the top of Billboard's country singles chart.

Forbes magazine named Keith the top-earning country music artist for the past year, putting his earnings at $50 million.

"Those figures make me laugh," Keith said. "Who cares about stuff like that?"

Keith's enterprises include his "I Love This Bar and Grill" chain of restaurants and his "Wild Shot" premium mezcal liquor, imported from Mexico.

"I've not come up for air since 1993. I've not missed a tour, I've not missed putting out an album, I've not taken time off. That's why we are in Forbes, because of that work ethic."

My family knows of the sacrifices we've all made in order for me to be in this position, the time away from each other, and me being busy."

KICKING AND ROCKING

"When I decided to go out on my own in 2004 with Show Dog/Universal, people asked me 'What makes you think you can run a label?' I told them, 'Because I've seen the people who do it and I'd put a bullet in my mug if I couldn't do as good a job as they do! And here we are, six years later, still kicking and rocking."

Keith will release a new CD, "Clancy's Tavern," this coming Monday. The title song tells the story of his hard-working grandmother and her tavern where he fell in love with music.

"Her husband died and left her with three kids, 4 and under. She left them with her parents and went to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where she worked as plant manager for the Dixie Cup Factory," Keith said.

"It was unheard of for a woman to do that in the 1950's."

Clancy, a nickname bestowed by her second husband, also worked part-time at Billy Garner's Supper Club and eventually bought the club where Keith got the entertainment bug.

"The characters are real -- like there was a black dude named Elmo who cooked in the kitchen, and Clancy's best friend, Lillie, took over her old job. The song is true, right down to her taking her pistol and the money to the bank."

The song "I Won't Let You Down" from the album is about a character familiar to Keith, though not who fans think it is.

"My father had a lot of similar traits, but it is really about that generation. A lot of people come up to me and say 'That's my dad, that's my old man.'

"This guy is a kid at heart, probably around 30. He's met some girls in the past who he thought were right and it didn't work out, and he knows it was probably his fault. Now he's found someone who thinks she can change him and he's OK with that. The guy decides to be up-front with the girl, so he tells her 'Look, I love you and you love me, but I might not be capable of a relationship.'"

Another song, "Made in America," extols the virtues of American-made products. The Clinton, Oklahoma, native felt some backlash due to his business selling mezcal from Mexico and his strumming Takamine guitars from Japan. He has ready answers.

"Can you get mezcal in Milwaukee? If you find me some good Mexican moonshine here in the U.S., and it's good, I'll go for it. But until then, if somebody wants to drink mezcal, you've got to import it."

As for the Takamine, Keith said, "When we were too broke to buy guitars, Gibson and Fender wouldn't take care of us or give us anything. Takamine was right there. Now, if I've got a wounded soldier coming home, and he asks me if I can get him a guitar so he can learn to play while he's learning to walk on his new legs, I call Takamine and they send him one."

The singer heads for Europe at the end of October to promote "Clancy's Tavern,' with his first stop in Edinburgh on October 30.

(Editing by Andrew Stern and Bob Tourtellotte)

View the original article here

T-Pain sets December release for new album (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – R&B artist T-Pain announced on Thursday that his upcoming album "rEVOLVEr" will be released on December 6, in time for the holiday season.

"rEVOLVEr" will be the fourth studio album released by the rapper/singer, and will include the platinum-selling "Best Love Song" featuring Chris Brown, and T-Pain's current single "5 O'Clock", featuring Lily Allen and Wiz Khalifa.

"rEVOLVEr is drawn from seven albums' worth of material," said T-Pain in a statement released by RCA Record Co. "There are so many different things on this album. I couldn't settle on what I wanted to include, but the final result I think will really hit all of my fans and different audiences."

Grammy-winning T-Pain, known for his use of auto-tune in his previous albums, said he would be staying away from using the voice-modying effect on his new album, in an interview with Billboard Magazine earlier this year.

The Florida native first entered the charts with his debut album, "Rapper Ternt Sanga" in 2005, and followed up with "Epiphany" in 2007, which featured his U.S. chart-topping single "Buy U a Drank," and his platinum-selling third album "Thr33 Ringz" in 2008.

T-Pain is currently supporting singer Chris Brown on his "F.A.M.E." tour until November.

(Reporting and Writing by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

View the original article here

Colorado guitarist dies after fight with bandmate (AP)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A Colorado Springs rock musician has died after he was punched and knocked to the ground in a fight involving other members of his band.

Police say Terry Span died Thursday, 12 days after the fight outside a club where the band had played. The 48-year-old Aleister Wild guitarist had been in a coma.

The coroner says the cause of death was a closed head injury.

Thirty-nine-year-old Michael Sorden was arrested on assault charges after the Oct. 8 fight. Police say prosecutors will decide whether to file other charges.

Sorden is a bass player in the band.

Another Aleister Wild member, vocalist Ernie Munoz, told The Gazette of Colorado Springs (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_en_mu/storytext/us_band_brawl/43347058/SIG=10m5b6m0d/*http://bit.ly/qGeYHz) that Span was trying to calm Sorden after a dispute over loading the band members' equipment.

View the original article here

Edmundo Ros, who took Latin sound to London, dies (AP)

LONDON – He introduced wartime Britain to the percussive rhythm of the rumba, so capturing the nation's imagination that its young princess chose his songs for her public dancing debut.

Bandleader Edmundo Ros, 100, died peacefully in his sleep, his family said Saturday.

Born in Trinidad to a Venezuelan mother and a Scottish father, Ros's musical career began in the Venezuelan army but took off after he moved to London in 1937. His five-piece Rumba Band was a runaway hit, playing for high society and international royalty.

His music was so popular that then-Princess Elizabeth had her first public dance to the sound of Ros' band in the 1940s. As queen, she would award him the Order of the British Empire for his services to entertainment.

Ros was effectively London's "ambassador for Latin American music," his son Douglas told The Associated Press.

Ros was a prolific artist, making more than 800 recordings over the course of his career. His 1949 number, "The Wedding Samba," sold 3 million copies.

His band was a fixture at Regent Street's Coconut Grove club, which he bought in 1951 and which counted Britain's Princess Margaret, Monaco's Prince Rainier and Sweden's Prince Bertil among its regulars, according to the musician's website.

The club's demanding standards — ladies wearing broad-brimmed hats or trousers were denied admittance — kept the clientele exclusive through the 1950s, but the relaxation of Britain's gambling laws in the 1960s began to hit his takings.

Ros sold the club and later retired to the Spanish resort city of Alicante, where he died on Friday night, according to a family statement.

Douglas Ros said a private funeral ceremony would take place in Spain.

___

Online:

http://www.edmundoros.com/

View the original article here

Jackson doctor's defense challenges key expert (AP)

By LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch, Ap Special Correspondent – Fri Oct 21, 11:21 pm ET

LOS ANGELES – The lead attorney for the doctor charged in Michael Jackson's death challenged a key prosecution expert Friday about his contention that the physician was responsible for the death of the singer.

Attorney Ed Chernoff cross-examined Dr. Steven Shafer, who previously testified that the only plausible explanation for the death was that Jackson had been hooked up to an IV drip of the anesthetic propofol then left alone by Dr. Conrad Murray.

"That's a bold claim, isn't it," Chernoff asked.

"It's an honest statement," Shafer replied.

Chernoff also questioned the Columbia University researcher and professor about his IV demonstration for jurors on Thursday.

The defense attorney suggested Shafer had drawn conclusions that weren't necessarily supported by the evidence. Chernoff said the type of IV line that Shafer used in the demonstration was never found at Jackson's house.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter. He could face up to four years behind bars and the loss of his medical license if convicted.

Shafer was expected to be the last witness called by the prosecution. After Shafer's testimony ends, defense attorneys will begin presenting their case.

In a development outside the presence of jurors, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor set a Nov. 16 hearing to determine whether he should find defense expert Dr. Paul White in contempt for talking to a reporter on Thursday in violation of a gag order.

E! Entertainment reported Thursday on its website that White called either Shafer or Deputy District Attorney David Walgren a "scumbag."

White said in court that he didn't recall making the statement.

He told Pastor that he had talked to Walgren after the prosecutor pulled a tab from the side of a bottle of propofol that was recovered at Jackson's mansion.

He said he told Walgren it was "inappropriate to tamper with evidence found at the scene."

White and Shafer have known each other for nearly 30 years.

In a closed chambers meeting before court started on Friday, Walgren asked that White be expelled from the courtroom for the remainder of Shafer's testimony.

The judge declined, and Chernoff said he was embarrassed by the incident and he would ensure it didn't happen again. He said White had been hurt by Shafer's criticism of him during testimony.

Pastor previously ordered Chernoff's partner, Matt Alford, to appear at a contempt hearing over comments made during a network TV interview.

___

AP Entertainment Writer Anthony McCartney contributed to this report.

___

McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

View the original article here

Country singer Loretta Lynn in hospital with pneumonia (Reuters)

(Reuters) – Country music singer Loretta Lynn, who grew up poor in Kentucky's coal-mining country before rising to fame, has canceled two performances after being diagnosed with pneumonia, a statement on her website said on Saturday.

"Loretta regretfully must cancel her shows ... for this weekend, due to illness," the statement said of the 76-year-old music icon.

The Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Kentucky, said on its website the singer had been hospitalized, and that her performance would be rescheduled. A spokesman for Lynn was not immediately available for comment.

"Doctors have diagnosed her as the beginning stages pneumonia, and (she) will continue to need rest. Loretta is doing well and is disappointed but feels confident she will be ready for upcoming November dates," the statement on the singer's web site said.

Lynn had been due to perform on Saturday in Ashland followed by a performance on Sunday in Durham, North Carolina. She has upcoming performances scheduled next month in Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and North Carolina.

Lynn, who performs hits including "If You're Not Gone Too Long" and "Don't Come Home A Drinkin'", has released 70 albums and charted 16 No. 1 hits in a career spanning five decades.

She has won two Grammys and written several books, including "Coal Miner's Daughter," which was made into a movie that earned Sissy Spacek an Oscar for her performance as the singer.

(Reporting by Cynthia Johnston. Editing by Peter Bohan)

View the original article here

Neil Young launches film of storied benefit concerts

Canadian music legend Neil Young smiles while attending the Dreamforce event in San Francisco, California August 31, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Robert Galbraith

By Ros Krasny

BOSTON | Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:25pm EDT

BOSTON (Reuters) - A concert DVD featuring Neil Young and a generation of music icons will launch this month with live screenings across the United States.

The movie and related CD collection showcases rare live, acoustic performances by many of music's biggest names, all of whom have played over the past 25 years at the annual Bridge School benefit concerts organized by Young and wife Pegi.

The more than two dozen artists range from Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney to David Bowie, Patti Smith and Metallica.

The film will screen for one night only, Oct 24, in 22 cities, coinciding with the CD and DVD release by Warner Bros. Records.

The charity concert is held annually at the outdoor Shoreline Ampitheater in Mountain View, California.

It supports The Bridge School, a facility for children with severe speech and physical impairments that specializes in alternative communication methods.

The Bridge School was founded in part by the Youngs, when they were unable to find a suitable learning environment for their son Ben, who has cerebral palsy, and by Jim Forderer, another parent of a special needs child.

The first benefit concert was held in October 1986, and has been held each year apart from 1987, the year the educational program was launched.

The event has become a pilgrimage for Young's fans, nicknamed Rusties, many of whom hold their own gatherings around the time of the shows.

Young, the Canadian rocker, is heavily involved in selecting the show's lineups, which usually comprise a mixture of music legends and emerging talent.

This year's concerts will be held Oct 22 and Oct 23. Apart from Young, performers will include rockers Foo Fighters, crooner Tony Bennett, British folk rock band Mumford & Sons, and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.

(Reporting by Ros Krasny; Editing by Jill Serjeant)

View the original article here

Evanescence back on top of U.S. album charts

Amy Lee of Evanescence performs at the Rock in Rio Music Festival in Rio de Janeiro October 2, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Ricardo Moraes

LOS ANGELES | Wed Oct 19, 2011 2:21pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Grammy-winning gothic rock band Evanescence topped the Billboard 200 chart on Wednesday with their latest self-titled album, "Evanescence."

The latest album sold 127,000 copies in its first week, according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan, sending the band straight to the number 1 spot for the second time in their career.

"What You Want", the lead single off "Evanescence," climbed the Rock Songs airplay chart this week from 15 to 13, Billboard said.

Evanescence previously debuted at the top spot with their 2006 album "The Open Door," which sold 447,000 copies in its first week.

Evanescence knocked "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery's debut album "Clear As Day" from the top spot to the number 4 position.

British singer Adele held on to the number 2 spot with "21" while rockers Five Finger Death Punch entered the charts at number 3 with their new album "American Capitalist."

Evanescence, led by singer Amy Lee, first entered the Billboard charts in 2003 with their debut album "Fallen," which featured the hit singles "Bring Me To Life" and "My Immortal."

The band are currently on a 15-city tour around the U.S. which will be wrapping in New York on November1.

(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant)

View the original article here

Sellout concert raises $725,000 for fire victims (AP)

AUSTIN, Texas – A lineup of Texas legends brought a sellout crowd at this week's country music mega-concert, raising $725,000 for victims of the recent wildfires.

More than a dozen performers, including Willie Nelson, George Strait and the Dixie Chicks, helped sell out the Frank Erwin Center at the University of Texas at Austin.

A check was presented Thursday to the Austin Community Foundation to help with the long-term recovery of the Central Texas communities ravaged by fire.

A fire that started Sept. 4 in Bastrop County destroyed at least 1,500 homes and left two people dead. It was the most devastating of the numerous wildfires that have scorched some 6,000 square miles in Texas in nearly a year.

Flaco Jimenez, Asleep at the Wheel and Lyle Lovett also performed.

View the original article here

Yo Yo Ma turns to bluegrass music for new album (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – He's known as one of the world's best classical cellists, but for his latest musical effort Yo-Yo Ma has dropped Bach and picked up bluegrass.

Grammy Award-winner Ma spent a year recording songs with bluegrass titans Edgar Meyer, Stuart Duncan and Chris Thile for a project entitled "The Goat Rodeo Sessions," an 11-song set of original compositions, due out October 24.

Meyer, Duncan and Thile put some initial thoughts together for the tracks over the last year and then the four of them got together to develop and record.

"We started off with the stories, like every culture," Ma told Reuters about this project. "Every culture has its own brand of stories, its characters. There's nothing but similarities (between bluegrass and classical forms). This developed from people trusting and admiring each other. All the music I play is roots based, and it gets further along."

While it might surprise some that a proficient classical musician like Ma would transition to this version of Americana, "The Goat Rodeo Sessions" is Ma's second project with Meyer. The two recorded two albums with violinist Mark O'Connor -- 1996's "Appalachia Waltz" and 2000's "Appalachian Journey."

But these sessions are different, not only with the expansion into a quartet of instruments, but also with the addition of Thile, whose creativity on the mandolin earned him notoriety first with his band Nickel Creek and now with the Punch Brothers.

The album drifts between playful songs like "Attaboy" and "Less is Moi," that are tinged with folk elements, to softer, more poignant arrangements on "Franz and the Eagle" and "Helping Hand."

Although most of the songs are instrumentals, Thile is joined by Crooked Still's Aoife O'Donovan for vocals on "Here and Heaven" and "No One But You."

BLENDING WITH BLUEGRASS

The cello isn't thought of as a traditional bluegrass instrument the way the banjo is, but Ma said its malleable nature makes it blend-in without sounding out of place.

"The cello, as usual, can do a number of different roles," he said. "Sometimes I'm trying to match the violin, the bass, the mandolin. I shift around a little bit -- sometimes we're equal voices, sometimes we're particular roles."

The title of the record, "The Goat Rodeo Sessions," is a nod to the expression, "goat rodeo," which is often used to describe a situation in which a thousand things must go right in order for something to work.

"My worst nightmare was that (the album) would sound like worlds colliding," Thile said. "Music shouldn't sound like some new patchwork genre. The idea was to come up with a collaboration that is seamless. Like a new organism, as opposed to a Frankensteinian monster."

While the songs were written prior to hitting the recording studio, the group allowed themselves to improvise and evolve during rehearsals. Doing so gave the record a more loose and flowing sound than with classical or bluegrass standards.

"I think the music that resulted was a product of a time or place," Thile said. "People coming out of the hills and making Appalachia -- that's kind of over. It sounds to me like new music. It doesn't sound like classical music, it doesn't sound like bluegrass. It has this liquid feeling of the various times we were playing."

"When I hear the, we are not in the 'whose the author' sort of thing," added Ma. "The music would shift from one rehearsal to another where we'd get information about how the four voices interact and decide 'we should try something like this.' There was a wonderful evolution that occurred right during the recording sessions."

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

View the original article here

"Some Girls" reissue to include unreleased track (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – An upcoming reissue of the classic Rolling Stones album "Some Girls" will include a recently discovered track which will also be released as a single.

"No Spare Parts," which was recorded in Paris and was recently discovered by producer Don Was for inclusion on the new editions of "Some Girls" due out on November 21, tells the story of a trip from Los Angeles to San Antonio.

It features Mick Jagger on electric piano, Keith Richards on acoustic piano, Ron Wood on pedal steel guitar, Charlie Watts on drums and Bill Wyman on bass, Universal Republic Records said Thursday.

The label said the song, first recorded by Chris Kimsey in early 1978, features a "country guitar twang, subtle groove and soulful storytelling," describing it as "a powerful and poignant acoustic tune."

"Some Girls," a 1978 release that featured "Miss You" and "Beast of Burden," went a long way toward reestablishing

the Stones' then-flagging youthful appeal. It reached No. 1 on the U.S. charts and No. 2 in the United Kingdom.

"No Spare Parts" is slated for a world premiere on October 20 on the "Ken Bruce" show on BBC Radio 2, and will be available the same day on U.S. platforms beginning at 10 a.m.

(Reporting by Chris Michaud; editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

View the original article here

Coldplay launches fresh chart assault with fifth album

Coldplay lead vocalist Chris Martin performs at the Rock in Rio Music Festival in Rio de Janeiro October 1, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Ricardo Moraes

By Mike Collett-White

LONDON | Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:42am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - You may not understand the title of Coldplay's new album let alone be able to pronounce it, but "Mylo Xyloto" is a name music fans may have to get used to as the group launches a fresh assault on the world's charts.

The English quartet's fifth studio album hits shelves in Britain on Monday and the United States on Tuesday, and early critical response is mostly positive for a record aided and "enoxified" by Brian Eno.

Judging by comments made during a blitz of interviews to publicize the album, Coldplay could do with a little love, something that might seem strange given their success.

Their last record, "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends," was released in 2008 and went on to become that calendar year's top-selling album at 6.8 million copies.

The one before that, "X & Y," claimed the same honor in 2005, shifting 8.3 million copies globally.

They are one of the world's biggest bands, have multiple Grammys and album sales of around 50 million to their name.

Yet that has not shielded the unusually unassuming rock stars from criticism that tends to focus on their clean-cut "middle class" image and music that naysayers label as "bland" and "Radiohead-lite."

Guitarist Joe Satriani also sued the band, alleging that their chart-topping and award-winning "Viva La Vida" contained elements of his "If I Could Fly." The two sides reportedly settled out of court in late 2009.

"We got to a very low place on the last record where we felt not very popular," lead singer Chris Martin told the Sun tabloid.

"But it was refreshing as it made us start from scratch. A clean slate. So many people had made up their minds about us already that we had nothing to lose."

YOUNG COMPETITION

That sense of defiance came with a realization that, in order to rule the charts again, Coldplay are not up against "stadium bands" like, say, U2 but teen sensation Justin Bieber and English singing sensation Adele.

"Now we have Justin Bieber and Adele to compete with and they're a lot younger," 34-year-old Martin, who is married to Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, said in a recent interview.

"We have to have the energy to put as much effort into our work as they do. If it's over, it's over and I can live with that. The most important thing always is to proceed as if every album is the last and not expect anything more."

Early reviews of Mylo Xyloto have been generally positive, with critics remarking that, while offering some fresh twists, the sound is essentially the Coldplay of old.

"It's a surging, chiming, upbeat epic, almost thunderously enthusiastic," wrote Neil McCormick of the Daily Telegraph in a four-star review.

He went on to call the album "irresistible," but voiced reservations, shared by Alexis Petridis of the Guardian in a three-star review, about the lack of depth in lyrics and music.

"Questioned about the title, Martin has insisted 'it doesn't have any meaning'," said McCormick. "His defiant inarticulacy feeds the notion that Coldplay are a pop group in rock clothing."

Rolling Stone magazine's Josh Eells gave the record three-and-a-half stars, commenting: "On Mylo Xyloto, the choruses are bigger, the textures grander, the optimism more optimistic. It's a bear-hug record for a bear-market world."

Martin, along with bandmates Jonny Buckland (guitar), Guy Berryman (bass) and Will Champion (drums), have produced a concept album loosely based on a love story set in a dystopian world.

In June, Coldplay released its first single "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" followed by "Paradise" in September.

Among the highlights of the 14-track album are "Princess of China," featuring Rihanna on vocals, and "Charlie Brown," which Billboard magazine called the record's best song.

Coldplay is signed to EMI Group Ltd.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)

View the original article here

Neil Young launches film of storied benefit concerts (Reuters)

BOSTON (Reuters) – A concert DVD featuring Neil Young and a generation of music icons will launch this month with live screenings across the United States.

The movie and related CD collection showcases rare live, acoustic performances by many of music's biggest names, all of whom have played over the past 25 years at the annual Bridge School benefit concerts organized by Young and wife Pegi.

The more than two dozen artists range from Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney to David Bowie, Patti Smith and Metallica.

The film will screen for one night only, Oct 24, in 22 cities, coinciding with the CD and DVD release by Warner Bros. Records.

The charity concert is held annually at the outdoor Shoreline Ampitheater in Mountain View, California.

It supports The Bridge School, a facility for children with severe speech and physical impairments that specializes in alternative communication methods.

The Bridge School was founded in part by the Youngs, when they were unable to find a suitable learning environment for their son Ben, who has cerebral palsy, and by Jim Forderer, another parent of a special needs child.

The first benefit concert was held in October 1986, and has been held each year apart from 1987, the year the educational program was launched.

The event has become a pilgrimage for Young's fans, nicknamed Rusties, many of whom hold their own gatherings around the time of the shows.

Young, the Canadian rocker, is heavily involved in selecting the show's lineups, which usually comprise a mixture of music legends and emerging talent.

This year's concerts will be held Oct 22 and Oct 23. Apart from Young, performers will include rockers Foo Fighters, crooner Tony Bennett, British folk rock band Mumford & Sons, and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.

(Reporting by Ros Krasny; Editing by Jill Serjeant)

View the original article here

Top 20 Concert Tours from Pollstar (AP)

The Top 20 Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows in North America. The previous week's ranking is in parentheses. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.

TOP 20 CONCERT TOURS

1. (2) Kenny Chesney; $1,977,243; $72.88.

2. (3) Taylor Swift; $1,843,404; $74.41.

3. (4) Sade; $1,205,324; $95.64.

4. (5) Britney Spears; $859,434; $80.28.

5. (7) Brad Paisley; $668,053; $37.77.

6. (8) Journey; $636,963; $50.29.

7. (9) Rascal Flatts; $606,654; $36.81.

8. (New) Foo Fighters; $557,985; $48.48.

9. (11) Jason Aldean; $509,099; $32.01.

10. (10) Tim McGraw; $501,792; $36.84.

11. (12) Katy Perry; $498,286; $42.66.

12. (14) Keith Urban; $494,445; $55.32.

13. (15) "American Idols Live"; $489,071; $54.52.

14. (16) Train / Maroon 5; $467,444; $42.77.

15. (13) Mötley Crüe; $467,277; $58.67.

16. (17) Def Leppard / Heart; $454,710; $51.58.

17. (18) Steely Dan; $406,623; $69.00.

18. (19) 311 / Sublime With Rome; $284,261; $30.52.

19. (21) Bob Dylan; $248,797; $55.25.

20. (New) "So You Think You Can Dance"; $206,977; $53.97.

For free upcoming tour information, go to http://www.pollstar.com

View the original article here

Robbie Williams to release album with Universal next year (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) – British singer Robbie Williams, who signed one of the world's biggest music deals with EMI in 2002, is to release his ninth studio album with Universal Music, the world's largest music company, next year.

Williams is currently recording songs for the new album in his own studio in Los Angeles, Universal said on Friday.

"I'm really thrilled to be joining the Universal family at what I think is the most exciting time in my career," the 37-year-old said in a statement.

Williams, who has sold over 60 million albums as a solo artist, last recorded a new album in 2009 before re-joining his former bandmates from Take That for a tour.

Take That are already under the Universal umbrella, while for EMI, controlled by U.S. bank Citigroup, Williams is the latest in a growing list of stars to leave in recent years including Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones and Radiohead.

Universal will release the new Williams record around the globe next autumn.

"This great new deal puts Robbie Williams firmly in control of his own destiny, but with the most muscular of partners," said Tim Clark, director of ie:music, the management company which represents Williams.

Williams has won more Brit awards -- Britain's top pop music prizes -- than any other artist.

(Reporting by Michelle Martin, editing by Paul Casciato)

View the original article here

Demi Lovato to sing nat'l anthem at World Series (AP)

NEW YORK – Demi Lovato will perform the national anthem at Game 5 of the World Series.

Lovato will belt out the anthem on Monday.

The Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals are tied 1-1 in the seven-game series.

Lovato got a boost from her big sister Dallas, who tweeted during Game 1 that her younger sister should sing the national anthem during the Major League Baseball championship series.

Game 3 airs Saturday and all games are being broadcast on Fox.

Lovato, the former star of the Disney Channel's "Sonny With a Chance," released her third album "Unbroken" last month.

____

Online:

mlb.mlb.com

View the original article here

"Some Girls" reissue to include unreleased track

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and Ana Araujo pose for photographers as they arrive for the world premiere of the film Larry Crowne at Westfield in west London June 6, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Luke MacGregor

NEW YORK | Thu Oct 20, 2011 1:21pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An upcoming reissue of the classic Rolling Stones album "Some Girls" will include a recently discovered track which will also be released as a single.

"No Spare Parts," which was recorded in Paris and was recently discovered by producer Don Was for inclusion on the new editions of "Some Girls" due out on November 21, tells the story of a trip from Los Angeles to San Antonio.

It features Mick Jagger on electric piano, Keith Richards on acoustic piano, Ron Wood on pedal steel guitar, Charlie Watts on drums and Bill Wyman on bass, Universal Republic Records said Thursday.

The label said the song, first recorded by Chris Kimsey in early 1978, features a "country guitar twang, subtle groove and soulful storytelling," describing it as "a powerful and poignant acoustic tune."

"Some Girls," a 1978 release that featured "Miss You" and "Beast of Burden," went a long way toward reestablishing

the Stones' then-flagging youthful appeal. It reached No. 1 on the U.S. charts and No. 2 in the United Kingdom.

"No Spare Parts" is slated for a world premiere on October 20 on the "Ken Bruce" show on BBC Radio 2, and will be available the same day on U.S. platforms beginning at 10 a.m.

(Reporting by Chris Michaud; editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

View the original article here

Coldplay launches fresh chart assault with fifth album (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) – You may not understand the title of Coldplay's new album let alone be able to pronounce it, but "Mylo Xyloto" is a name music fans may have to get used to as the group launches a fresh assault on the world's charts.

The English quartet's fifth studio album hits shelves in Britain on Monday and the United States on Tuesday, and early critical response is mostly positive for a record aided and "enoxified" by Brian Eno.

Judging by comments made during a blitz of interviews to publicize the album, Coldplay could do with a little love, something that might seem strange given their success.

Their last record, "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends," was released in 2008 and went on to become that calendar year's top-selling album at 6.8 million copies.

The one before that, "X & Y," claimed the same honor in 2005, shifting 8.3 million copies globally.

They are one of the world's biggest bands, have multiple Grammys and album sales of around 50 million to their name.

Yet that has not shielded the unusually unassuming rock stars from criticism that tends to focus on their clean-cut "middle class" image and music that naysayers label as "bland" and "Radiohead-lite."

Guitarist Joe Satriani also sued the band, alleging that their chart-topping and award-winning "Viva La Vida" contained elements of his "If I Could Fly." The two sides reportedly settled out of court in late 2009.

"We got to a very low place on the last record where we felt not very popular," lead singer Chris Martin told the Sun tabloid.

"But it was refreshing as it made us start from scratch. A clean slate. So many people had made up their minds about us already that we had nothing to lose."

YOUNG COMPETITION

That sense of defiance came with a realization that, in order to rule the charts again, Coldplay are not up against "stadium bands" like, say, U2 but teen sensation Justin Bieber and English singing sensation Adele.

"Now we have Justin Bieber and Adele to compete with and they're a lot younger," 34-year-old Martin, who is married to Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, said in a recent interview.

"We have to have the energy to put as much effort into our work as they do. If it's over, it's over and I can live with that. The most important thing always is to proceed as if every album is the last and not expect anything more."

Early reviews of Mylo Xyloto have been generally positive, with critics remarking that, while offering some fresh twists, the sound is essentially the Coldplay of old.

"It's a surging, chiming, upbeat epic, almost thunderously enthusiastic," wrote Neil McCormick of the Daily Telegraph in a four-star review.

He went on to call the album "irresistible," but voiced reservations, shared by Alexis Petridis of the Guardian in a three-star review, about the lack of depth in lyrics and music.

"Questioned about the title, Martin has insisted 'it doesn't have any meaning'," said McCormick. "His defiant inarticulacy feeds the notion that Coldplay are a pop group in rock clothing."

Rolling Stone magazine's Josh Eells gave the record three-and-a-half stars, commenting: "On Mylo Xyloto, the choruses are bigger, the textures grander, the optimism more optimistic. It's a bear-hug record for a bear-market world."

Martin, along with bandmates Jonny Buckland (guitar), Guy Berryman (bass) and Will Champion (drums), have produced a concept album loosely based on a love story set in a dystopian world.

In June, Coldplay released its first single "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" followed by "Paradise" in September.

Among the highlights of the 14-track album are "Princess of China," featuring Rihanna on vocals, and "Charlie Brown," which Billboard magazine called the record's best song.

Coldplay is signed to EMI Group Ltd.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)

View the original article here

Freelancer heard on NPR stations fired for protest (AP)

WASHINGTON – A freelance radio host was fired from a documentary program that airs on NPR affiliates because she helped organize a Washington protest, the host said Thursday, while the producers of another show defended her work and said she hasn't violated their policies.

Lisa Simeone said she was fired Wednesday evening from "Soundprint," a documentary show that isn't produced by NPR but airs on about 35 affiliate stations across the country. The head of Soundprint Media Center Inc. cited NPR's code of ethics before she was fired.

"In my mind, it's fine if you want to be a leader of an organized protest movement, but you can't also be in a journalistic role," Moira Rankin, president of Soundprint, told The Associated Press a day after she fired Simeone. "You can't be the host of a journalism program and plead that you are different than the reporter who is going to come on a minute after you introduce the program."

Rankin said she was alerted to Simeone serving as a protest spokeswoman by a radio programming director who airs the show. She said her Laurel, Md.-based production company had adopted NPR's ethics code as its own in part because listeners don't know the difference between NPR and independent producers across the country.

NPR also questioned Simeone's involvement in the protest near the White House, which began as an anti-war protest but also adopted what participants call an anti-corporate greed message. But NPR said Simeone doesn't work for the radio network, and it hadn't pressured Soundprint to fire her.

Simeone also hosts "World of Opera," a show produced by North Carolina-based music and arts station WDAV. That program is distributed by NPR to 43 stations. Simeone said that station is supporting her.

"I don't cover news. In none of the shows that I do, do I cover the news," she told the AP. "What is NPR afraid I'll do? Insert a seditious comment into a synopsis of `Madame Butterfly?'"

Simeone, who lives in Baltimore, said she has been serving with about 50 people on a steering committee for an occupation protest on Pennsylvania Avenue that's known as the October 2011 Movement. She said it is not connected to the Occupy Wall Street movement, but that they share similar philosophies.

WDAV, a classical music station based in Davidson, N.C., defended Simeone's work Thursday and said she remains the host of "World of Opera." The NPR affiliate said it was working to find a solution for the show with NPR.

"Ms. Simeone's activities outside of this job are not in violation of any of WDAV's employee codes and have had no effect on her job performance," WDAV spokeswoman Lisa Gray said in an emailed statement.

On Thursday, NPR spokeswoman Anna Christopher said the network's code of ethics applies to cultural programs it distributes, such as "World of Opera," as well as to news shows it produces, acquires or distributes.

"We are not her employer, but she is a host for a show that we distribute," Christopher said. "She's a public person who represents NPR and public radio."

Though "Soundprint" airs on NPR stations, it's not distributed by the network itself.

NPR's ethics code states that "NPR journalists may not participate in marches and rallies" involving issues NPR covers. The code notes that some provisions may not apply to outside contributors. It uses a freelancer who primarily contributes arts coverage as an example.

Simeone said she is not an "NPR journalist." For the "Soundprint" show, her role involved writing introductions to the show's featured documentaries, and she was expected to give her point of view. In the past when she worked for NPR, she said she also wrote op-eds for The Baltimore Sun with no problem.

"I have never brought any of my political activities into my work for `Soundprint,' `NPR World of Opera,' or the Chicago Symphony Orchestra series," she said, adding that she doesn't cover politics or the news.

The firing came as many NPR stations are in a fall pledge drive to raise money from their listeners. Rankin said that had no bearing on her decision to fire Simeone after 15 years on the show.

Congress provides about 15 percent of public broadcast funding, primarily for individual stations.

Ongoing debate over the nation's deficit and spending, as well as "disdain" among many Republicans over any cultural funding has made public broadcasters more sensitive, said American University Professor Patricia Aufderheide, an expert on documentaries and public media.

"I'm a little baffled about why somebody who was not a news reporter would not be able to take a stand on a topical issue that wasn't in their sphere of professional activity," she said.

Still, Nikki Usher, an assistant professor at George Washington University who has studied NPR, said any news organization would have done the same thing.

"All press organizations should face this level of scrutiny," she said. "Unfortunately, the situation surrounding public broadcast funding means NPR must hold itself to additional scrutiny."

Lines have been blurred, though, in an age where opinion journalism is pervasive. On Saturday, the Rev. Al Sharpton who hosts an MSNBC show, led a jobs protest in Washington. The same network had once suspended Keith Olbermann for making political contributions.

In the past year, NPR has come under scrutiny for its firing of news analyst Juan Williams after he said on Fox News that he was uncomfortable being on a plane with someone wearing clothing that identifies them as Muslim. At the time, NPR said Williams's comments violated its code of ethics by participating in media "that encourage punditry and speculation rather than fact-based analysis."

The network has been sensitive to accusations that it carries a liberal bias. An NPR chief executive was forced to resign after a conservative activist posted a video online of NPR's chief fundraiser complaining about the tea party's influence on the Republican Party.

Earlier this month, NPR announced Gary Knell, the longtime president and CEO of "Sesame Street" producer Sesame Workshop, would become its next chief executive on Dec. 1. Knell told the AP he wanted to "depoliticize" NPR by emphasizing its commitment to journalism.

___

Associated Press writer Karen Mahabir contributed to this report.

___

Brett Zongker can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/DCArtBeat

View the original article here

Singer Loretta Lynn hospitalized with pneumonia (AP)

ASHLAND, Ky. – Country music singer Loretta Lynn was hospitalized over the weekend with the early stages of pneumonia, according to a representative of the performer.

The 76-year-old Lynn was scheduled to perform Saturday at the Performing Arts Center in Ashland, Ky. and Sunday in Durham, N.C., but the Kentucky center issued a news release saying she is in the hospital and would be unable to perform. The Kentucky theater says the show will be rescheduled.

Loretta Lynn Enterprises posted a statement on her website Saturday night that confirmed the cancellations due to illness.

"Doctors have diagnosed her as the beginning stages pneumonia, and will continue to need rest. Loretta is doing well and is disappointed but feels confident she will be ready for upcoming November dates."

Calls by The Associated Press to representatives of Lynn were not immediately returned Saturday.

In August, Lynn canceled shows because of knee surgery. Before that, she returned to live performances with a show at the Grand Ole Opry after being forced to cancel shows in Ohio and Connecticut because she was hospitalized for heat exhaustion.

The daughter of a Kentucky coal miner, Lynn had a string of hits starting in the 1960s — "Coal Miner's Daughter," "You Ain't Woman Enough," "The Pill," and "One's on the Way." Many of her songs reflected her pride in her humble background and her experiences as a wife and mother. Her 1977 autobiography was made into a movie that brought an Oscar for Sissy Spacek's portrayal of Lynn. More recently, Lynn marked 50 years in country music and won two Grammy awards in 2005 for her album "Van Lear Rose."

View the original article here

Yo Yo Ma turns to bluegrass music for new album

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma plays during ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, in New York September 11, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder

By Mike Ayers

NEW YORK | Fri Oct 21, 2011 1:45pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - He's known as one of the world's best classical cellists, but for his latest musical effort Yo-Yo Ma has dropped Bach and picked up bluegrass.

Grammy Award-winner Ma spent a year recording songs with bluegrass titans Edgar Meyer, Stuart Duncan and Chris Thile for a project entitled "The Goat Rodeo Sessions," an 11-song set of original compositions, due out October 24.

Meyer, Duncan and Thile put some initial thoughts together for the tracks over the last year and then the four of them got together to develop and record.

"We started off with the stories, like every culture," Ma told Reuters about this project. "Every culture has its own brand of stories, its characters. There's nothing but similarities (between bluegrass and classical forms). This developed from people trusting and admiring each other. All the music I play is roots based, and it gets further along."

While it might surprise some that a proficient classical musician like Ma would transition to this version of Americana, "The Goat Rodeo Sessions" is Ma's second project with Meyer. The two recorded two albums with violinist Mark O'Connor -- 1996's "Appalachia Waltz" and 2000's "Appalachian Journey."

But these sessions are different, not only with the expansion into a quartet of instruments, but also with the addition of Thile, whose creativity on the mandolin earned him notoriety first with his band Nickel Creek and now with the Punch Brothers.

The album drifts between playful songs like "Attaboy" and "Less is Moi," that are tinged with folk elements, to softer, more poignant arrangements on "Franz and the Eagle" and "Helping Hand."

Although most of the songs are instrumentals, Thile is joined by Crooked Still's Aoife O'Donovan for vocals on "Here and Heaven" and "No One But You."

BLENDING WITH BLUEGRASS

The cello isn't thought of as a traditional bluegrass instrument the way the banjo is, but Ma said its malleable nature makes it blend-in without sounding out of place.

"The cello, as usual, can do a number of different roles," he said. "Sometimes I'm trying to match the violin, the bass, the mandolin. I shift around a little bit -- sometimes we're equal voices, sometimes we're particular roles."

The title of the record, "The Goat Rodeo Sessions," is a nod to the expression, "goat rodeo," which is often used to describe a situation in which a thousand things must go right in order for something to work.

"My worst nightmare was that (the album) would sound like worlds colliding," Thile said. "Music shouldn't sound like some new patchwork genre. The idea was to come up with a collaboration that is seamless. Like a new organism, as opposed to a Frankensteinian monster."

While the songs were written prior to hitting the recording studio, the group allowed themselves to improvise and evolve during rehearsals. Doing so gave the record a more loose and flowing sound than with classical or bluegrass standards.

"I think the music that resulted was a product of a time or place," Thile said. "People coming out of the hills and making Appalachia -- that's kind of over. It sounds to me like new music. It doesn't sound like classical music, it doesn't sound like bluegrass. It has this liquid feeling of the various times we were playing."

"When I hear the, we are not in the 'whose the author' sort of thing," added Ma. "The music would shift from one rehearsal to another where we'd get information about how the four voices interact and decide 'we should try something like this.' There was a wonderful evolution that occurred right during the recording sessions."

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

View the original article here

Pete Seeger and pals attend NYC protest action (AP)

NEW YORK – Folk music legend Pete Seeger joined in the Occupy Wall Street protest Friday night, replacing his banjo with two canes as he marched with throngs of people in New York City's tony Upper West Side past banks and shiny department stores.

The 92-year-old Seeger, accompanied by musician-grandson Tao Rodriguez Seeger, composer David Amram, and bluesman Guy Davis, shouted out a verse as the crowd of about 1,000 people sang and chanted.

They marched peacefully over more than 30 blocks from Symphony Space, where the Seegers and other musicians performed, to Columbus Circle. Police watched from the sidelines.

At the circle, Seeger and friends walked to the chant of "We are the 99 percent" and "We are unstoppable, another world is possible." Seeger stopped to bang a metal statue of an elephant with his cane — to cheers from the crowd.

At the center of the circle, Seeger and Amram were joined by `60s folk singer Arlo Guthrie in a round of "We Shall Overcome," a protest anthem made popular by Seeger.

After more singing, Seeger asked for a mic check to tell the crowd: "The words are simple: I could be happy spending my days on the river that flows both way-ay-ays."

During the march, the younger Seeger, in troubadour fashion like his grandfather, walked among the protesters playing songs. Amra took up a flute and others enlivened the night protest with the sounds of the accordion, banjos, and guitars.

At the front of the throng, marchers held American flags and a large blue flag that said: "Revolution Generation ... Debt is Slavery." Along the way, the crowd sang protest songs made popular or written by Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and others of the protest era.

Occupy Wall Street began a month ago in lower Manhattan among a few young people, and has grown to thousands around the country and the world. An Associated Press-GfK poll says more than one-third of the country supports the Wall Street protesters, and even more — 58 percent — say they are furious about America's politics.

View the original article here

T-Pain sets December release for new album

LOS ANGELES | Thu Oct 20, 2011 4:13pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B artist T-Pain announced on Thursday that his upcoming album "rEVOLVEr" will be released on December 6, in time for the holiday season.

"rEVOLVEr" will be the fourth studio album released by the rapper/singer, and will include the platinum-selling "Best Love Song" featuring Chris Brown, and T-Pain's current single "5 O'Clock", featuring Lily Allen and Wiz Khalifa.

"rEVOLVEr is drawn from seven albums' worth of material," said T-Pain in a statement released by RCA Record Co. "There are so many different things on this album. I couldn't settle on what I wanted to include, but the final result I think will really hit all of my fans and different audiences."

Grammy-winning T-Pain, known for his use of auto-tune in his previous albums, said he would be staying away from using the voice-modying effect on his new album, in an interview with Billboard Magazine earlier this year.

The Florida native first entered the charts with his debut album, "Rapper Ternt Sanga" in 2005, and followed up with "Epiphany" in 2007, which featured his U.S. chart-topping single "Buy U a Drank," and his platinum-selling third album "Thr33 Ringz" in 2008.

T-Pain is currently supporting singer Chris Brown on his "F.A.M.E." tour until November.

(Reporting and Writing by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

View the original article here

Robbie Williams to release album with Universal next year

British singer Robbie Williams arrives on the red carpet for the German premiere of ''Cars 2'' in Munich July 28, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Michaela Rehle

LONDON | Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:41am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - British singer Robbie Williams, who signed one of the world's biggest music deals with EMI in 2002, is to release his ninth studio album with Universal Music, the world's largest music company, next year.

Williams is currently recording songs for the new album in his own studio in Los Angeles, Universal said on Friday.

"I'm really thrilled to be joining the Universal family at what I think is the most exciting time in my career," the 37-year-old said in a statement.

Williams, who has sold over 60 million albums as a solo artist, last recorded a new album in 2009 before re-joining his former bandmates from Take That for a tour.

Take That are already under the Universal umbrella, while for EMI, controlled by U.S. bank Citigroup, Williams is the latest in a growing list of stars to leave in recent years including Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones and Radiohead.

Universal will release the new Williams record around the globe next autumn.

"This great new deal puts Robbie Williams firmly in control of his own destiny, but with the most muscular of partners," said Tim Clark, director of ie:music, the management company which represents Williams.

Williams has won more Brit awards -- Britain's top pop music prizes -- than any other artist.

(Reporting by Michelle Martin, editing by Paul Casciato)

View the original article here

Singer, poet Leonard Cohen to release new album

1 of 2. Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen attends a news conference in Oviedo, northern Spain, October 19, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Eloy Alonso

MADRID, Oct 19 - Renowned Canadian singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen said Wednesday he had recorded his first new album since 2004 and would release it next year.

Cohen told journalists in the northern Spanish town of Oviedo, where he had travelled to collect Spain's top award for authors who do not write in Spanish, that "Old Ideas" consisted of ten previously unpublished tracks.

"I've played it for a few people, and they seem to like it," the 77-year-old said in his trademark gravelly voice.

"God willing," Cohen said when asked if he planned to go on tour again. "I never quite know whether there's going to be a tour or not."

The writer and singer of "Suzanne," "Hallelujah," "Chelsea Hotel No. 2" and other hits apologized for cancelling a concert in Valencia in 2009 after he fainted, and said he would be delighted to appear in the eastern city again.

Cohen won the Principe de Asturias Prize for literature in June. Past winners include German Nobel Laureate Guenther Grass and U.S. playwright Arthur Miller.

The Montreal native also spoke of his deep admiration for Spanish culture and said he had named his daughter Lorca, after Federico Garcia Lorca, Spain's most famous 20th century poet, who was summarily shot by supporters of a military uprising in 1936 which started the Spanish Civil War.

Cohen first read Lorca when he was a teen-ager.

"He was the first poet that invited me to live in his world," Cohen said.

"His landscape was extremely familiar to me. It was a landscape that was very close to silence, a landscape that arose out of the struggle with silence, which I myself was struggling with at the time."

The writer said he still found writing hard work.

"You know, when you're writing, you're always an absolute beginner. Each time you take up your guitar or sit by a blank page, you start from scratch. It's a struggle."

The Asturias Foundation awards eight prizes every year for fields ranging from science to the arts. Winners get 50,000 euros ($69,000) and a statue by Catalan artist Joan Miro.

(Reporting by Jaime Ortiz; Writing by Martin Roberts; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

View the original article here

Toby Keith is never one to mince words in songs (Reuters)

NASHVILLE (Reuters) – Toby Keith grew up in Oklahoma where a man's handshake is his word, family is of utmost importance and opinions are welcome.

Keith has never been shy when it comes to his music, an outspokenness that has served him well over the years and continues to do so today as he nears the release of his new album, "Clancy's Tavern," on October 24.

As a young artist, Keith asked to be let out of his contract with Mercury Records when executives didn't like his album, "How Do You Like Me Now?" because they thought women would view the title track's lyrics as disrespectful.

But "How Do You Like Me Now?" went on to attain gold status, selling more than 500,000 units, and Keith went on to sell 25 million albums for his new label, Dreamworks.

"It was the day of reckoning," Keith told Reuters about the day he told Mercury chief Luke Lewis he wanted off the label and demanded his album back.

"He said to me, 'You believe in this album that much?' and I said 'Yeah.' Two hours later my accountant cut me a check, and I went over and picked up the master and walked out."

The 50-year-old Keith has headed his own label, Show Dog/Universal, since 2004 and has several other ventures. His latest release, "Made in America," is near the top of Billboard's country singles chart.

Forbes magazine named Keith the top-earning country music artist for the past year, putting his earnings at $50 million.

"Those figures make me laugh," Keith said. "Who cares about stuff like that?"

Keith's enterprises include his "I Love This Bar and Grill" chain of restaurants and his "Wild Shot" premium mezcal liquor, imported from Mexico.

"I've not come up for air since 1993. I've not missed a tour, I've not missed putting out an album, I've not taken time off. That's why we are in Forbes, because of that work ethic."

My family knows of the sacrifices we've all made in order for me to be in this position, the time away from each other, and me being busy."

KICKING AND ROCKING

"When I decided to go out on my own in 2004 with Show Dog/Universal, people asked me 'What makes you think you can run a label?' I told them, 'Because I've seen the people who do it and I'd put a bullet in my mug if I couldn't do as good a job as they do! And here we are, six years later, still kicking and rocking."

Keith will release a new CD, "Clancy's Tavern," this coming Monday. The title song tells the story of his hard-working grandmother and her tavern where he fell in love with music.

"Her husband died and left her with three kids, 4 and under. She left them with her parents and went to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where she worked as plant manager for the Dixie Cup Factory," Keith said.

"It was unheard of for a woman to do that in the 1950's."

Clancy, a nickname bestowed by her second husband, also worked part-time at Billy Garner's Supper Club and eventually bought the club where Keith got the entertainment bug.

"The characters are real -- like there was a black dude named Elmo who cooked in the kitchen, and Clancy's best friend, Lillie, took over her old job. The song is true, right down to her taking her pistol and the money to the bank."

The song "I Won't Let You Down" from the album is about a character familiar to Keith, though not who fans think it is.

"My father had a lot of similar traits, but it is really about that generation. A lot of people come up to me and say 'That's my dad, that's my old man.'

"This guy is a kid at heart, probably around 30. He's met some girls in the past who he thought were right and it didn't work out, and he knows it was probably his fault. Now he's found someone who thinks she can change him and he's OK with that. The guy decides to be up-front with the girl, so he tells her 'Look, I love you and you love me, but I might not be capable of a relationship.'"

Another song, "Made in America," extols the virtues of American-made products. The Clinton, Oklahoma, native felt some backlash due to his business selling mezcal from Mexico and his strumming Takamine guitars from Japan. He has ready answers.

"Can you get mezcal in Milwaukee? If you find me some good Mexican moonshine here in the U.S., and it's good, I'll go for it. But until then, if somebody wants to drink mezcal, you've got to import it."

As for the Takamine, Keith said, "When we were too broke to buy guitars, Gibson and Fender wouldn't take care of us or give us anything. Takamine was right there. Now, if I've got a wounded soldier coming home, and he asks me if I can get him a guitar so he can learn to play while he's learning to walk on his new legs, I call Takamine and they send him one."

The singer heads for Europe at the end of October to promote "Clancy's Tavern,' with his first stop in Edinburgh on October 30.

(Editing by Andrew Stern and Bob Tourtellotte)

View the original article here

Dohnanyi cancels Hungary appearances in protest (AP)

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Hungary's State Opera says German conductor Cristoph von Dohnanyi has canceled a pair of appearances to protest the appointment of a theater director linked to far-right groups.

Dohnanyi said in a letter released Friday by the Hungarian State Opera that he does not want to "appear in a city whose mayor entrusted the direction of a theater to two known, extreme right-wing anti-Semites."

Mayor Istvan Tarlos' recent appointment of Gyorgy Dorner was widely criticized by Jewish organizations, as well as a large group of directors of other Budapest theaters.

Dorner has named Istvan Csurka, a playwright and former lawmaker known for anti-Semitic speeches and articles, as his deputy.

The Opera said it was considering suing Dohnanyi for compensation.

View the original article here

Evanescence back on top of U.S. album charts (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Grammy-winning gothic rock band Evanescence topped the Billboard 200 chart on Wednesday with their latest self-titled album, "Evanescence."

The latest album sold 127,000 copies in its first week, according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan, sending the band straight to the number 1 spot for the second time in their career.

"What You Want", the lead single off "Evanescence," climbed the Rock Songs airplay chart this week from 15 to 13, Billboard said.

Evanescence previously debuted at the top spot with their 2006 album "The Open Door," which sold 447,000 copies in its first week.

Evanescence knocked "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery's debut album "Clear As Day" from the top spot to the number 4 position.

British singer Adele held on to the number 2 spot with "21" while rockers Five Finger Death Punch entered the charts at number 3 with their new album "American Capitalist."

Evanescence, led by singer Amy Lee, first entered the Billboard charts in 2003 with their debut album "Fallen," which featured the hit singles "Bring Me To Life" and "My Immortal."

The band are currently on a 15-city tour around the U.S. which will be wrapping in New York on November1.

(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant)

View the original article here

Demi Lovato goes back on tour, year after breakdown

Actress and singer Demi Lovato arrives at the 2011 National Council of La Raza ALMA Awards in Santa Monica, California September 10, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Gus Ruelas

LOS ANGELES | Fri Oct 7, 2011 3:04pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Teen star Demi Lovato is going back out on the road, a year after entering treatment for bulimia and other emotional problems.

Lovato, 19, will start a 10-city U.S. tour in November to celebrate the success of her latest album "Unbroken" and its debut single "Skyscraper", her spokesman said on Friday.

Lovato, the former star of Disney Channel's "Sonny with a Chance", suffered an emotional breakdown in November 2010 when she pulled out of a concert tour with the Jonas Brothers and entered a three month treatment program.

She has since spoken openly about her 10 year battle with eating disorders and said she started cutting herself at the age of 11.

Lovato has since quit the TV series that made her one of Disney Channel's biggest international teen stars, saying she wanted to focus on her music career.

Lovato has performed recently in New York and Los Angeles to promote the September release of "Unbroken". The new mini-tour will start in Detroit on November 16 and end in Chicago on December 3.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant)

View the original article here

Signs Paul McCartney wedding may be near (AP)

LONDON – A tent is being set up and party decorations are being delivered to Paul McCartney's house amid speculation that the former Beatle will marry fiancee Nancy Shevell in central London this weekend.

Paparazzi and well-wishers gathered Saturday at the pop icon's residence in the posh St. John's Wood neighborhood. British tabloids say the couple plans to marry Sunday and have a small reception afterward.

McCartney and Shevell posted a notice of intent to marry at London's Marylebone Town Hall in September. Officials say the announcement means they can marry any time in the next year.

His spokesman Saturday declined to comment.

Shevell would be McCartney's third wife. He married his first wife, the late Linda Eastman, at Marylebone Town Hall in 1969.

View the original article here

ESPN and Hank Williams Jr. part ways on "MNF"

Singer Hank Williams Jr. points into the crowd at a campaign rally with U.S. Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in Columbus, Ohio October 31, 2008.

Credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder

LOS ANGELES | Thu Oct 6, 2011 3:02pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - ESPN and country music artist Hank Williams Jr. have parted ways, both parties announced on Thursday, following controversial comments in which Williams compared President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler on Monday.

ESPN said in a statement that Williams' song "All My Rowdy Friends," which has been the opening theme song for ESPN and ABC's "Monday Night Football" for about 20 years, will no longer used as the opener for the show.

"We have decided to part ways with Hank Williams, Jr," ESPN said. "We appreciate his contributions over the past years. The success of 'Monday Night Football' has always been about the games and that will continue."

But Grammy-winning Williams, 62, indicating that he had made the decision to end his partnership with ESPN.

"After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision. By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It's been a great run," Williams said in a statement on his official website.

The final rift came after the sports network pulled the song from the opener of "Monday Night Football" on Monday after Williams said in a Fox News Channel appearance that Obama's pairing with Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner in a June golf summit was "like Hitler playing golf with (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu."

ESPN swiftly replaced the "All My Rowdy Friends" theme with the national anthem on Monday.

Williams later acknowledged that his analogy was "extreme" and apologized if he had offended anyone, but added that the thought of opposing politicians "high fiven on a golf course while so many families are struggling to get by simply made me boil over and make a dumb statement."

There was no word on Thursday on what the replacement theme song for ESPN's "Monday Night Football" will be.

(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant)

View the original article here

Rocker and romancer Rod Stewart to publish memoir (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Rod Stewart, the raspy-voiced rocker, will publish his memoirs next year, promising to "hold nothing back" in detailing a career in which he sold more than a 100 million records, survived cancer and romanced a string of blond bombshells.

Stewart's book, which is yet to be titled but will be published worldwide by Random House, comes as he has toned down his rock and roll act, concentrating on remaking standards by everyone from Cole Porter to George Gershwin.

Due out in October 2012, the book follows renewed interest in rock autobiographies thanks to bestsellers by Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards and an upcoming release by Neil Young.

Stewart, 66, rose to superstar fame with a string of hits, including "Maggie May," "Tonight's The Night," "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy," and "Some Guys Have All The Luck." Over his 50-year music career, he has had 31 top-10 singles in Britain and 16 top-10 singles in the United States.

"It is a funny old thing telling my life story but I truly intend to hold nothing back," Stewart said in a statement. "Forget skeletons in the closet; this one's going to be socks and knickers under the bed."

Born in North London, Stewart left school at 15 and had his start with The Ray Davies Quartet, which later become The Kinks, before his first big break in 1967 when he teamed up with the Jeff Beck Group, where he joined Jeff Beck of the Yardbirds and Ronnie Wood, who went on to join The Rolling Stones.

Stewart subsequently took his spiky, rooster-style hair and working class songs to a new London supergroup, Faces, joined by Wood. He struck it big with his 1971 with his mega-hit "Maggie May" on his solo "Every Picture Tells A Story" album.

From there, his career caught fire as he alternated solo work with tours and albums with the Faces, even as his personal life began making tabloid headlines.

Moving to the United States in the mid-seventies and concentrating on his solo career, Stewart began wearing new wave suits and cemented his reputation as a playboy, dating Swedish actress Britt Ekland, model Bebe Buell and Alana Hamilton, another model whom he eventually married.

Stewart and Hamilton had two children before divorcing in 1984. He had another child with Kelly Emberg, and then married supermodel Rachel Hunter in 1990. The couple, who had two children, divorced in 2006.

He finally married Penny Lancaster, yet another blond model, and fathered two more children.

Stewart once said Brigitte Bardot was the only woman he'd ever had a sexual fantasy about. "With me, looks come first, and she's everything a woman should be. She's blond and beautiful, she's got the most incredible legs, etc. etc. And she's French as well."

An inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and recipient of the Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Stewart was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, threatening his life and his career. He underwent throat surgery in 2000, and since then has been an active fundraiser for cancer charities.

(Reporting by Paul Thomasch, editing by Mark Egan and Jill Serjeant)

View the original article here

Jackson children dance to his music at tribute gig (Reuters)

CARDIFF (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of fans rocked to the hits of Michael Jackson on Saturday at a tribute concert his brothers hoped would put the spotlight on his musical legacy after so much controversy.

The late singer's children -- Prince, 14, Paris, 13 and "Blanket," 9 -- appeared on stage briefly to address the crowd and at the end joined other family members dancing to "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough."

"We're very happy to be here on this special night to honor our father," said Paris, dressed in a red jacket similar to the one worn by Jackson in his groundbreaking "Thriller" music video.

The "Beat It" star, one of the most successful yet troubled artists of the pop era, died in 2009 aged 50 while rehearsing for a series of comeback concerts.

The "Michael Forever" tribute in Cardiff, Wales, coincides with the involuntary manslaughter trial of the singer's doctor in Los Angeles, drawing criticism from some fans and members of his family.

Brothers Jermaine and Randy boycotted the event because of the timing, while sister Janet said it would be too painful to perform in Cardiff during the trial.

But it had the blessing of his mother Katherine, who was at the gig, and Michael's older brother Marlon said it should be seen as a celebration of Jackson's music.

"They (the fans) have the right to (protest)," he said backstage. "I think they have the right to do whatever they feel, but we're celebrating the positive side of our brother's life.

"We know our brother better than anybody else and he would love that we are doing this for him and remembering him in that way."

"MICHAEL SUFFERED"

U.S. musician Ne-Yo kicked off the four-hour extravaganza at the Millennium Stadium with the tight beats of "Billie Jean" before slowing the tempo in "The Lady In My Life."

"It's not about the controversy, it's not about the trial, it's not about his death. It's about celebrating his life, it's about celebrating his music," Ne-Yo said from a stage shaped like a giant glove.

British boy band JLS sang "The Way You Make Me Feel" before being joined by three of the original Jackson 5 -- Marlon, Tito and Jackie -- in a rendition of "Blame it on the Boogie."

"Can you feel his spirit in the room tonight?" called out Marlon, and the mostly young crowd screamed "Yes!"

Jackson's sister La Toya performed live in public for the first time in nearly 20 years, while three of his nephews appeared in their band 3T.

"I had absolutely no intention of performing," La Toya told Reuters. "I was hesitant about this and at the last minute I said you have to do it for him ... and I did, so I'm happy that I did. It's worth honouring him this way."

The lineup also featured Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Beyonce on video and Jamie Foxx, and among British stars appearing were Leona Lewis and Diversity.

Toward the end, pictures of Jackson were beamed on to giant screens as "empress of soul" Gladys Knight, accompanied by a gospel choir, sang "Gone Too Soon."

Earlier, her powerful rendition of "Believe in Yourself" was a highlight, and she was joined in a duet of "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" by Motown great Smokey Robinson.

Robinson told Reuters: "There will be many mimics, but there will never be another Michael Jackson.

"He got to the point where he had no private life whatsoever," he added.

"When you are in a business that you love and you are doing what you love, however you can't go out and just get in your car or go to the store or go to the movies -- that's got to be rough. That's what he suffered."

Reaction was mixed among people streaming out of the arena after the gig, with many ecstatic but some underwhelmed by "under-rehearsed" numbers and long gaps between some songs.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

View the original article here

All Bieber wants for Christmas is...Mariah Carey

Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber greets his fans from the balcony of his hotel in Mexico City October 2, 2011. Bieber is performing two concerts in Mexico City as part of his ''My World Tour.''

Credit: Reuters/Stringer

LOS ANGELES | Wed Oct 5, 2011 4:44pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - It's official. Justin Bieber is getting under the mistletoe with Mariah Carey.

Bieber, 17, has finally revealed to his fans on Twitter that he will be collaborating with the Grammy-winning singer on his upcoming Christmas album, "Under the Mistletoe."

In a video message posted by Bieber on his Twitter page on Tuesday, Carey announced the collaboration, confirming that the pair will be doing a duet of Carey's 1994 festive hit single, "All I want for Christmas is you."

"I think a lot of you are already very surprised by this, and you're going to be even more surprised when you hear it," said Carey in the message.

Carey, 41, is the latest singer to join a high-caliber list of artists who are collaborating with Bieber on his "Under the Mistletoe" album. They include Bieber's mentor Usher, R&B group Boys II Men, rapper Busta Rhymes and country group The Band Perry.

The first single from Bieber's Christmas album, "Mistletoe," will be released on Oct 18, with the full album due for release on Nov 1.

(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant)

View the original article here

Michael Jackson's children appear at tribute show (AP)

CARDIFF, Wales – Chart-toppers, soul singers and three generations of Michael Jackson's family — including his children — celebrated the King of Pop at an energetic tribute concert Saturday, urging fans to focus on the late star's music rather than his death.

The run-up to the "Michael Forever" concert was overshadowed by the Los Angeles manslaughter trial of Jackson's doctor, and marred by fan criticism, sluggish ticket sales and dissension within the Jackson family. But once the four-hour show started, Jackson's musical genius, and the warm tributes of friends and family, carried the night.

"We're very happy to be here on this special night to honor our father," said Jackson's 13-year-old daughter Paris, who made a brief onstage appearance alongside brothers Prince, 14, and 9-year-old Michael Joseph Jr., known as Blanket.

The children wore outfits evoking their father's famous styles — Paris most strikingly, in a red and black "Thriller"-style jacket. Blanket stood stoic and shy, but the older children smiled and appeared confident in the spotlight.

On a stage shaped like a giant glove, musicians including Christina Aguilera, Gladys Knight and Cee Lo Green performed songs from across Jackson's career — from his childhood with the Jackson 5 through monster solo albums like "Thriller" and "Bad."

The Black Eyed Peas, probably the biggest act on the bill, pulled out of the lineup this week, citing "unavoidable circumstances."

Participants urged fans to ignore the criticism and controversy, and to revel in the celebration of Jackson's musical legacy.

"It's not about the controversy," said R&B star Ne-Yo, who kicked off the show with a rendition of "Billie Jean," complete with some passable moonwalking. "It's not about the trial. It's not about his death. It's about celebrating his life. It's about celebrating his music."

The 50,000-strong crowd at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium did just that, roaring with approval as Jackson's brothers Marlon, Tito and Jackie — three-fifths of the original Jackson 5 — took the stage to perform "Blame It On the Boogie" with British boyband JLS.

"Can you feel his spirit in the house tonight?" asked Marlon. Judging by the cheers, the fedora hats and the sequined gloves in the audience, many could.

Jackson died in June 2009, at age 50, as he was preparing for a string of comeback concerts in London.

His last hours are being relived in graphic detail at the manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, accused of giving Jackson a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives in the bedroom of his rented mansion on June 25, 2009.

"This is a great counter-act to that," said Motown great Smokey Robinson, who gave a soulful rendition of "She's Out of My Life." "And it gives people something happy to do, rather than thinking about what's going on in the trial."

The show mined a rich trove of Jackson hits. Leona Lewis crooned "I'll Be There," Beyonce delivered the early single "I Wanna Be Where You Are" and Jamie Foxx performed "Rock With You." Aguilera sang Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" — one of Jackson's favorite songs.

"Tonight is a history lesson," Foxx told the crowd. "We're going to cover five decades of greatness."

The show reached a climax with Knight performing the poignant "Gone Too Soon" before a rousing finale that brought most of the performers — and the Jackson children — back onstage for the exuberant "Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough."

The concert has divided the King of Pop's family and followers. The three brothers, sister La Toya and vocal group 3T — composed of three of Michael's nephews — all performed, while 81-year-old matriarch Katherine was in the audience.

But Michael's brothers Jermaine and Randy and sister Janet have stayed away, saying it is wrong to hold the show at the same time as Murray's trial.

Before the show, Marlon Jackson said he respected his siblings' decision, but said he was sure Michael would have approved.

"Each one of us grieves differently," he said. "We want to celebrate the positive side of his life, the positive things that he did."

Some fan groups around also criticized the show for ticket prices that started at about $100 and for what some regard as an out-of-the-way location in Cardiff, 150 miles (240 kilometers) west of London.

"I believe it should wait, not only because of the Murray trial," said Wesley Noorhoff, president of a Dutch Michael Jackson fan club. "If you do a tribute to Michael, it has to be the best there is, just like Michael."

But those who came to Cardiff said it was a fitting antidote to the grim courtroom spectacle in Los Angeles.

"There's a lot of negativity in that courtroom," said Ronnie Lee, a 32-year-old truck driver from Pembroke, Wales, sporting a "Thriller" T-shirt. "This is a chance to say, 'Thank you Michael' and celebrate the music."

As the crowd poured out of the stadium, opinion was divided.

"Rubbish," said Sophie Stockdale, 23. "If you wanted to watch Beyonce on video link, you could do it on YouTube."

But Sophie Morris, also 23, said she'd loved it.

"It was amazing," she said. "I actually cried three or four times."

___

Online:

http://www.michaelforevertribute.com

___

Jill Lawless can be reached at: http://twitter.com/JillLawless

View the original article here

Evanescence comes together for new, self-titled album

Evanescence is shown in the undated publicity photo released to Reuters October 6, 2011. On October 11, Evanescence releases the 12-track collection produced by Nick Raskulinecz, known for his work with Alice in Chains and Foo Fighters. Frontwoman Amy Lee told Reuters the new record is more collaborative than the band's previous two.

Credit: Reuters/Wind-up Records/Handout

By Sabrina Ford

NEW YORK | Thu Oct 6, 2011 5:06pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - On their first album in five years, the self-titled "Evanescence," Grammy-winning gothic rock band Evanescence finally sounds like the band it has always wanted to be -- tight, together and mature.

On October 11, Evanescence releases the 12-track collection produced by Nick Raskulinecz, known for his work with Alice in Chains and Foo Fighters. Frontwoman Amy Lee told Reuters the new record is more collaborative than the band's previous two.

"We know how to work together and play off each other's strengths and that is different from our other albums," Lee told Reuters. "It's cool because we do have some life experiences together and there isn't a new member. It feels like a family reunion."

Evanescence burst onto the rock scene with their 2003 smash hit "Fallen," which featured the band's breakthrough single, "Bring Me to Life," followed by the popular "My Immortal" and "Going Under," about the end of a bad relationship. The multi-platinum album earned the band a Best New Artist Grammy nomination, and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.

Shortly thereafter, the five-member band underwent major changes when co-founder, guitarist and songwriter Ben Moody abruptly left amid creative differences. John LeCompt and Rocky Gray also later went their own ways.

Terry Balsamo replaced Moody and has been the band's lead guitarist and co-songwriter with Lee. Drummer Will Hunt and guitarists Troy McLawhorn and Tim McCord now round out the group, which has had the same lineup since 2007.

Since Evanescence's last album, 2006's multi-platinum, "Open the Door," the members have all matured. The 29 year-old Lee, for one, has married, spent time decorating the New York home she shares with her husband and taken up playing the harp.

The album's name and cover art reinforce a new sense of cohesiveness. The cover, which features only a graphic of the band's name, is the first that is not a solo shot of Lee.

"I've been in a totally different place. I've not been 'the girl in the band,' "said Lee. "I've been writing and living. It was awesome."

RETURN TO SPOTLIGHT

With lyrics like, "remember who you really are" and "stand and face the unknown," the album's booming lead single, "What You Want," is Lee's self-directed pep talk upon her return to the spotlight.

"That song is me talking to myself about not being afraid and coming back to this thing and living the life I was born to live," she said. "Sometimes, it takes a lot to do this. And I do love it very much, but there is always that fear of putting yourself under the microscope."

The single and its accompanying video, guest-starring 200 real Evanescence fans, has been warmly received.

MTV.com's James Montgomery called "What You Want" "a song that's powerful enough to shake rock radio to its very foundation" and the video has been watched almost 2.5 million times on YouTube.

"It's great to know we still have so many great fans. They've been through a lot with us," said Lee.

The band has kept fans in mind even while trying out different sounds, such as the affecting "Lost in Paradise," one of Lee's favorites. "So many of our songs say, 'we're strong' 'we're a rock band' but 'Lost in Paradise' is extremely raw and real and broken -- I love that about it."

Loyalists will find familiar songs like "Oceans" and "End of the Dream" with light vocals from Lee.

And the singer is quick to reassure followers that even "with all the growth and experimentation, we didn't betray what the fans want. It's still an Evanescence record."

The band kicks off a 15-city tour The Pretty Reckless and Rival Sons in Oakland on October 10 and makes stops in Dallas and Chicago before wrapping in New York on November 1.

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

View the original article here