Thievery CorporationWhat? America’s political sentiment may be optimistic following Barack Obama’s historic presidential win, but leave it to electronic genre-hoppers Thievery Corporation to remind folks that all is not perfect. Using lyrical diatribes, bossa nova grooves, jazz fusion, and world music, the duo speak out about the war in Iraq, social unrest in the era of George W., and more on their impassioned fifth record, Radio Retaliation. And with a North American tour planned for this coming winter (tour dates below), the Corporation will be moving minds and shaking asses way into 2009.

Who? Rob Garza and Eric Hilton formed Thievery Corporation in the summer of 1995 over drinks and jazz records in their hometown, Washington, DC. After releasing a series of singles and records, the Corporation achieved widespread recognition for their third outing, 2003’s The Richest Man in Babylon. Radio Retaliation is Garza and Hilton’s first official release since 2006’s Versions. Over the course of their career, they’ve run the Eighteenth Street Lounge, a D.C. club and recording studio, where they’ve collaborated with a wide range of artists, including David Byrne, Norah Jones, and the Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne.

Fun Fact:Thievery Corporation take a high-minded political approach to their art, but that doesn’t mean they shun capitalism; their music has been licensed for commercial use in various advertisements, movies, and video games, including The Garden State, The Sopranos, and strangely, Cricket 2005, a video game based on that wacky English spot called cricket.

Thievery Corporation Tour Dates:
1/27, Washington, DC (9:30 Club)
1/28, Washington, DC (9:30 Club)
1/29, Washington, DC (9:30 Club)
2/20, Chicago, IL (Riviera Theater)
2/21, Toronto, Ontario (Kool Haus)
2/22, Montreal, Quebec (Metropolis)
2/24, Boston, MA (House of Blues)
2/25, New York, NY (Terminal 5)
2/27, Baltimore, Maryland (Ramshead Live)
2/28, Philadelphia, PA (Electric Factory)
3/7, Miami, FL (Langerado Festival)

I’m proud to announce that my new album ‘Metamorphosis’ is finished! This is my first artist album, and producing it has been a great personal experience. Over the past two years, I have recorded songs with vocal artists such as Dallas Green, Molly Bancroft and Tiff Lacey. It has been great fun to work with such a variety of singers, and it resulted in a number of very catchy tracks.

‘Metamorphosis’ holds 13 tracks in various styles, and I hope that each and every one of you will enjoy the diversity of the album. The first single of the album is called ‘Try Again’, and features the beautiful vocals of UK singer Tiff Lacey. It will be released on Black Hole (more…)

Kevin Cogill, the man accused of leaking nine songs by Guns N’ Roses on the Internet, has pleaded guilty to copyright violation.

The 28-year-old internet blogger, who posted to songs onto his website in June, faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

The leak included six tracks that had appeared before in unfinished form and three songs - ‘Rhiad and the Bedouins’, ‘If the World’ and an unnamed track – that were all apparently new productions.

(more…)

Original album propelled band to superstardum; lots of goodies in new take. Pearl Jam has unearthed a host of unreleased tracks and special surprises from its vaults for a reissue of its 1991 debut album, “Ten.” Four different editions will be available March 24 from its former Epic Records label; pre-orders begin Wednesday at PearlJam.com. Each version includes a digitally remastered version of the original album as well as a new remix of the set by longtime producer Brendan O’Brien, who did not work on “Ten” but produced Pearl Jam’s subsequent four albums. Bassist Jeff Ament and designer Andy Fischer teamed to revamp the artwork.

(more…)

Nicole Kidman has said she is unafraid of ‘falling flat on her face’ by making riskier film choices.

The actress - now 41 - said she has worried less about her career as she has got older. “I’m much more brave, and kind of throw myself into it and try not worry if I fall flat on my face. It’s easy to become frightened of making a fool of yourself, particularly if, like mine, your nature is a bit reticent and shy to begin with. But I’m getting over it,” she told The Independent.

“The older I get, the more I feel like I’m on a rollercoaster when I do a film.”

Kidman also described the year she spent filming Australia with Baz Luhrmann and Hugh Jackman as “magical” and “amazing”.

Vanessa Hudgens better keep her eye on her bf Zac Efron because it appears that Megan Fox might have her eye on him.
Star has reported that Megan Fox and Zac Efron have been getting very touchy feely in the GQ Man of the Year party. She was with her bf Brian Austin Green, but ditched him when she saw that Zac was there without Vanessa Hudgens at his hip. As one witness reported,
“Megan put her hand on Zac’s cheek and whispered in his ear when the two of the were away from Brian. They were both laughing and touching. It was clear to everyone they have a lot of chemistry.”
Megan is a wild fox. She was infatuated with a stripper back in her day, and is known for being very bold. She and Brian are supposed to get married with an intimate ceremony, but how many Hollywood engagements have been broken off before their due? Exactly. Either way, Vanessa Hudgens needs to watch her man, because she is NO Megan Fox.