 |
|
| Friday, November 12, 1999 | |
Oasis Selects New Bassist - by Gazoo | 11:41 PST
The members of Oasis have decided to ring their Bell. Andy Bell, that is. NME reports that the former Ride guitarist -- not to be confused with the same-named Erasure vocalist -- was just offered, and has accepted, a slot as bassist for the newly reconstituted band.
This means that Oasis will now be able to properly tour in support of their forthcoming album, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants. They'll be doing some U.S. radio dates in December before kicking off their tour in February in Japan. We'll be sure to let you know how the new material sounds, right here at MP3Spy!
Spinning The Web - by Gazoo | 11:19 PST
The folks at Spin magazine have entered the wide, wide world of webcasting. They've got two webcasts coming up next week which may make for some interesting entertainment.
First on the plate is a November 17 show from Our Lady Peace, who are touring to promote their new album, Happiness... Is Not a Fish That You Can Catch. The album has received warm reviews, as have their live shows; you can find out for yourself next Wednesday at 9pm EST, 6pm PST.
Following that is a visit from Satan. Or something similar. Veteran hardcore metaller Danzig, best known for 1993's surprise hit "Mother," has returned to the rock fray with a new album, 6:66 Satan's Child. Danzig's show can be heard live at Spin on November 21 at 10pm EST, 7pm PST. While you wait for this show from the most occult of personality, you can check out his new material, downloadable and all, at his Tucows promotion. Tucows describes the new album as
Danzig's soul crusher of a calling card, his coal-fired ebony heart made metal, the siren song soundtrack of two ages in collision. Confront it now and feel your lifeblood drain and subsequently replenish truer than ever. So check it out, after you finish giggling at that bloated prose.
Backstreet Boys' New Contract Larger Than Life - by Gazoo | 10:54 PST
Well, at least one boy band has settled its grievances with Jive Records. Billboard Online reports that the Backstreet Boys have inked a five-album deal with the label valued at $60 million, giving the band a better than 20% royalty rate, one of the best rates we've yet heard (save for artists who act as their own distributors, of course).
Also as part of the deal, the Boys get "increased creative control" -- we of course imagined them demanding, in classic Monkees fashion, to play their own instruments. No word as to if, or how, this new contract affects Jive's attempted signing of rival boy band 'N Sync.
And we hope you all have a good weekend, knowing that the future holds at least five more Backstreet Boys albums for you all!
MTV Europe Awards: Britney Romps - by Gazoo | 10:29 PST
Teen upstart Britney Spears thoroughly trampled the competition last night in the 1999 MTV Europe Music Awards. Her debut album ...Baby One More Time and the lead single of the same name won her awards for Best Female Artist, Best Pop Act, Best Breakthrough Artist, Best Song, and Best Growth Spurt.
Okay, we made up that last one. But the world's first living Barbie doll wasn't the only big winner last night. Billboard Online provides a brief recap of the proceedings, noting that U.K. boy-band Boyzone won for best album (By Request) and best U.K./Ireland act. Backstreet Boys took "Best Group," Fatboy Slim was named "Best Dance Act," and Will Smith continued his run of success with the "Best Male Artist" nod.
In addition to these awards, U2 lead vocalist and lead activist Bono was given the Free Your Mind Award for his humanitarian efforts, the most notable of which has been his work with NetAid toward forgiveness of Third World debts. Performances included a Britney Spears "medley of her hits," Puff Daddy performing "My Best Friend" with a full gospel choir, and Marilyn Manson stripping down to nuthin-but-a-G-string-baby to perform "Rock Is Dead."
Those of us in the States who didn't get to catch the action: All is not lost. MTV will broadcast the show in the U.S. on November 20 at 7pm. Yeah, we've spoiled some of the suspense for ya... but at least we haven't told you how the "Windowlicker" video fared!
Tribute To Tupac - by Gazoo | 09:58 PST
Fans of slain rapper Tupac Shakur, take heed: SonicNet Music News reports that a conference and concert are being staged to celebrate his life and legacy.
Titled "The Tupac Amaru Shakur One Nation Conference," the goal is to provide an all-star concert and a series of seminars, and to make it a yearly event. This year's seminar topics include "Black Child Education," "The Plight of Political Prisoners of War," and "Tupac 101," as well as conferences on environmental racism and the history of the Black Panther party, of which Tupac's parents were members. These conferences, if you wish to attend, will take place December 4 from 10am to 6pm PST at McClymonds High School in 2Pac's old stomping ground, Oakland, CA.
As for the all-star concert... The One Nation concert takes place December 3 and 4 at the Berkeley Community Theater, in good ol' Berzerkeley. Featured acts include Digital Undergound, with whom 2Pac rapped for a while before his successful solo career; veteran rap act the Geto Boys; 2Pac's former backing band, the Outlawz; and many other hip-hop acts.
Let's hope that the conference and concert succeed in bringing forth the intended message of unity. While 2Pac is no doubt not the martyr many have made him out to be, he has left a strong legacy of work behind, a legacy which can be made stronger through events such as this. Our best wishes go to the event organizers!
|
| Thursday, November 11, 1999 | |
Willennium Celebration In Times Square - by Gazoo | 13:27 PST
To herald the forthcoming Will Smith album, Willennium, the Virgin Megastore at Times Square in New York is throwing Big Willie a little party on Tuesday, November 16. The Willennium Extravaganza (and oh, how we love that word) will feature Mr. Smith interacting with fans live at Times Square, and virtually via the Virgin Megastores in L.A., Orlando, Miami, and San Francisco. As the press release states:
At 6:30pm on Tuesday, fans gathered in Times Square will watch a specially-designed "Willennium" ball begin its descent, finally touching ground at exactly 7pm, officially announcing the dawning of the new Willennium. For those fans who can't attend one of the Willennium parties, the Times Square event will be webcast live in RealVideo at http://www.willsmith.net and http://www.virginmega.com. Fans watching the event will be able to submit a question for Will to answer in real time.
So be sure to tune in and watch Will's ball sink slowly to the ground. In the meantime, his new "Will 2K" single rises to #32 on this week's
Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart.
#1 This Week On Billboard - by Gazoo | 12:09 PST
#1 album on Hot 200 Albums: Rage Against The Machine, The Battle of Los Angeles
#1 single on Hot 100 Singles: Santana featuring Rob Thomas, "Smooth"
#1 R&B Single: Donell Jones, "U Know What's Up"
#1 Rap Single: Sole featuring JT Money and Kandi, "4, 5, 6"
#1 Dance/Club Single: Bob Marley Vs. Funkstar De Luxe, "Sun Is Shining"
#1 Adult Top 40 Single: Santana featuring Rob Thomas, "Smooth"
#1 Country Single: Martina McBride, "I Love You"
#1 Modern Rock Single: Bush, "The Chemicals Between Us"
Dipping Into The Mailbag - by Gazoo | 11:05 PST
We've gotten some great response lately to things we've reported on and asked you fine people about. At this time we just want to take a moment to reply to a few choice comments.
First, with regards to the recent story about Marcy Playground using an album cover originally earmarked for the Butthole Surfers: we asked "What is the moral of this story?
(A) Hold your tongue until you know who's truly to blame for a situation.
(B) Artists should make sure to take ownership for their own album artwork.
(C) Never, ever, EVER trust a major record label." "Nicole" responded:
The correct answer here is, as on any multiple choice question where it is impossible to judge which answer is most right, ALL OF THE ABOVE! I feel bad for the Butthole Surfers, as they were robbed, but you must admit, Marcy Playground got an awesome CD cover!
Nicole, Buffy's Keepers Site Maintainer
http://www.geocities.com/buffyskeeper
Agreed on all counts. Multiple choice questions tend to be tricks that way. But yeah, Mark Ryden's artwork was fantastic, whoever ended up using it. :-)
Next out of the e-mailbag is an insightful response to our recent news about CMU's recent action against students with MP3 files on public directories. Most student responses so far have expressed concern over the seeming breach of privacy. But here's a counterpoint from "DJ 19":
As a Shoutcast server I was surprised to see the story about the CMU
incident. As a proud student at a university, it is well known that the
school networks are often flooded with MP3s. Although I do not agree
with the impromptu search of the CMU students, I also understand where
the University is coming from. Students shouldn't post their mp3s on the
networks of the school because they belong to the school. I have a
collection of over 1,000 mp3s but they are on my hard drive or CDs. I
believe that in the future college students should be warned of the
possible searches. Due to the fact that most of the people posting these
mp3s do not understand the technical parts of the copyrighting issue.
People just feel they are fun. I will continue to collect mp3s but not
be foolish enough to put them on the school's network, because the last
thing I need is them revoking my T1 connection. To all fellow college
students, be on the look out for such random searches.
And now for the fun stuff... VAN HALEN! We told you of the exodus of latest vocalist Gary Cherone, and asked who should replace him. The people have spoken... and overwhelmingly, they want David Lee Roth back! By a 75% margin, no less! 25% suggested that the band simply "pack it in," while no one among our vocal MP3Spy readers wants poor Sammy Hagar to rejoin the band.
Thanks to all of you, dear readers, who have supported MP3Spy and written in with your thoughts! Now... back to the news.
MTV Europe Music Awards Tonight! - by Gazoo | 10:41 PST
More news for our European friends: Tonight is the MTV Europe Music Awards, where popsters worldwide put on their finest and shimmy it down at The Point in Dublin, Ireland. The event is being hosted by Boyzone member Ronan Keating, who had mild success in the States this year with "When You Say Nothing At All" from the Notting Hill soundtrack.
Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys lead the list with multiple nominations, which can't surprise anyone; Aphex Twin's gloriously demented "Windowlicker" is up for Best Video, which can. The major categories and nominees are as follows:
Best Female Artist: Geri Halliwell; Lauryn Hill; Whitney Houston; Madonna; Britney Spears.
Best Male Artist: Ricky Martin; George Michael; Sasha; Will Smith; Robbie Williams.
Best Group: Backstreet Boys; The Cardigans; Jamiroquai; The Offspring; TLC.
Best Pop Act: Backstreet Boys; Boyzone; 5ive; Ricky Martin; Britney Spears.
Best Hip-Hop Act: Beastie Boys; Busta Rhymes; Eminem; Sean "Puffy" Combs; Will Smith.
Best Dance Act: Basement Jaxx; Chemical Brothers; Fatboy Slim; Jamiroquai; Mr. Oizo.
Best R&B Act: Mariah Carey; Lauryn Hill; Whitney Houston; Jennifer Lopez; TLC.
Best Album: Backstreet Boys, Millennium; Boyzone, By Request; Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill; The Offspring, Americana; Red Hot Chili Peppers, Californication.
Best Song: Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way;" Madonna, "Beautiful Stranger;" George Michael with Mary J. Blige, "As;" Britney Spears, "... Baby One More Time;" TLC, "No Scrubs."
Best Video: Aphex Twin, "Windowlicker;" Bjork, "All Is Full of Love;" Blur, "Coffee and TV;" Fatboy Slim, "Praise You;" George Michael with Mary J. Blige, "As."
Best of luck to all of tonight's nominees!
'Imagine' Marked For U.K. Re-Release - by Gazoo | 09:46 PST
John Lennon's timeless ballad "Imagine" is being re-released in the U.K. just in time for Christmas, says NME. The "anti-materialist anthem" has already been a hit in the U.K. in 1975, 1981, and 1988, in addition to hitting #3 in the States in 1971.
Its December 13 reissuance coincides with the song's selection by a British poll as the nation's "lyric of all time;" "Imagine" also came in second in the "best song of all time" category in the HMV Music of the Millennium poll. As such, talk is abuzz that "Imagine" may be the coveted Christmas #1 this year across the sea.
For those of you unfamiliar, a great deal of importance is placed on being #1 on the British singles charts during the week of Christmas. Last year saw a spirited competition between the Spice Girls' "Goodbye" and Isaac Hayes' "Chocolate Salty Balls" (in his South Park "Chef" guise) for the pole position.
This year's Christmas face-off is, of course, even bigger, what with this whole millennium thing. In fact, as NME reports, bookies are placing odds on this year's Christmas/New Year's #1! Current local fave acts Westlife and Steps are the odds-on favorites so far, though also appearing on the list are former Take That member Robbie Williams, Lightning Seeds, a rumored-but-unplanned rerelease of Pulp's "Disco 2000"... and the epitome of '80s hair metal, "The Final Countdown" by Europe!
We'll be running our own poll soon to get your guesses as to what will be the first #1 of 2000. Stay tuned to MP3Spy!
|
|
Link to us!
Running a server?
Use this:
|
|
