Our White Chicks On Rap columnist caught up with buzz-worth hip-hop artist, 88 Keys.

Buy 88 Keys' "The Death Of Adam" on:


WCR: How does it feel to get such a positive vibe from the industry?

It's been amazing to get so much people seeing this project that I’ve labored on over the past 2 years…I tried to make something that would be fun, light hearted but still have you get down with the funkiness.

WCR: Kanye West begged to produce your debut album…how does that feel?
Kanye has been my best friend for about 8 years or so, I’ve always been doing my thing and he’s always been doing mine. Initially I didn’t want him to go near it because it was my baby for so long and I didn’t want to jeopardize our friendship but after a long talk it actually ended up being a cool thing to work together on.

WCR: How did you come up with the concept of "The Death Of Adam?"

It’s a really long story but I’ll tell you the condensed version….In different spurts I believe God always talks to you and tells you how to live and the album was one of those moments when I just had to listen. It started out as a collection of instrumentals I was making for an album that I was putting together, I ended up making one beat called “ There’s Pleasure In It” where the sample was so annoying but hot that I had to figure out a way to make sense out of it…and it kept repeating “pleasure” and after a while I thought about what gave me pleasure…money, cars & bling was too played out and family would’ve been cool but a little corny…so i zeroed in on the “va jay-jay” which made total sense, but at that point was just one song.

Meanwhile Dj Homicide of Sugar Ray and I would always hit each other online to keep in touch, and one day he hit me with a riddle saying “how many names do you know for ‘the punai’.”…I could only come up with the obvious 4 or 5…then he slapped me with 360 different names, one of the “the death of adam” which just looked pretty to me…I put 2 and 2 together and from then God spoke to me again and said…

“88-Keys you’re album should be about this…” and form then on I went about constructing the story.

WCR: How much of your life is injected to this album?

Adam is me, Adam is your brother , your father, the postman that always gives you the wrong mail…he’s every guy.

WCR: You list Q-Tip has an influence, what is it about Q-Tip that inspires you?

Q-Tip as well has been a major friend in my life since the beginning when I was starting out I gotta say his attention to detail, always being creative and never losing he is as an artist has inspired me to hold that at number one.

I’m really into people putting a lot of effort and taking time for the art work for their album. I wouldn’t say half, but that makes up a third of the album for me. I loved everything they came with. I loved the photos, Q-Tip’s rap style and his voice…He has so many rap styles on that one album that have been copied and duped by so many people, his flows and his patterns.

I started buying the singles on vinyl and singles back then had real remixes on there and b-sides and stuff like. I was listening to “When The Papes Come” and getting my mind blown away.

WCR: You released a mixtape called "Adam’s Case Files," which is a prequel to "The Death Of Adam," and now you have The Death Of Adam, in what direction do you think your second album is going to go?

Actually The Death of Adam came before Adam’s Case Files which was really more to get people hyped about the project I was working on at the time…it got so much buzz from online and underground fans that it actually pushed up the release for the death of adam. I have about 7 more conceptual albums that I have planned to release, but its all a secret! A magician never reveals his secrets right?

WCR: You have worked and produced for many hip-hop artists, what is it like now to be the artist? What made you want to go from a producer to a performer?

It’s amazing, to be creative and have no limits is what I’ve always wanted to strive for. Many times I would make something that I know was hot, but the artist couldn’t execute or couldn’t get my vision so we’d have to “compromise” or scrap it. Now the only person I have to “compromise” with is me…and we usually tend to get along, (laughs).

Only problem is that if it doesn’t come out hot, I can’t blame anyone...

WCR: Your sound separates you from a lot of hip-hop artists, what goes into your music to create a fresh, futuristic sound?

Really its cuz I’m just so fresh! Ha! (Laughs)

Actually its because I just try to listen to everything and have no bounds, from Lykee li to Portishead to Tribe Called Quest, I’m all about good music. So when I produce it I try to go left of what people expect…

Label: Universal/Motown
Rating: 4 Guns

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Written By: White Chicks On Rap

I don’t care if you agree with me on this statement, but I believe that Q-Tip is one of the best rappers in the game. As a member of A Tribe Called Quest and as a guest and solo artist, Q-Tip has been on some of the greatest songs in hip-hop, electronica and pop since 1989.

Q-Tip has spent the last six years in label hell. In 2002, he tried to release Kamaal The Abstract (a follow up to his 1999 debut Amplified), but his label refused to it release it because it was seen as an non-commercial album.

With a new label, Q-Tip is back in full force. Q-Tip has always been a renaissance artist, so it is fitting that his return to the music scene is called The Renaissance.


On the opener “Johnny Is Dead”, Q lets you know what his purpose is…”it is up to me to bring back the hope” and he does not fail. Q still has his rapid fire deliver over jazzy and soul beats.

Guests on the album include Amanda Diva on ManWomanBoogie, D’Angelo on Believe, Norah Jones on Life Is Better and Raphael Saadiq on WeLove/WeFight.

On Dance On Glass, Q is rapping with no music for at least one minute. That is what hip-hop was. Standing on a corner with no music, freestyling.

It might have taken ten years for Q-Tip to return, but it was worth the wait.

Like Q-Tip? You may also like: A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Talib Kweli.

Written By: Mario R. Martin

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This month’s column is a bit different. I’m not going into a history lesson and I’m not going to tell you the band’s names. “Private Idaho” is one of those great 1980s songs that deserve to win an award for standing the test of time.


The frantic guitar in the opening of the track is intriguing, yet fun. The B-52s were a fun band and continued to exude joy in their following records. Nowhere has a song like “Private Idaho” been duplicated. Maybe the 80s were the best musical time period ever. Maybe the return of spandex, leg warmers and fluorescent colors isn’t so bad. I mean, the country was in a good place. So what if off the shoulder shirts are back. So what if skinny jeans or rolled jeans are making a comeback. So what is wrestling shoes are back. Who cares?! Fortunately we have a band like the B-52s to ring in that 1980s New Year over and over, wherever we are, just by pressing play.

“Private Idaho” might not be as readily available as “Love Shack” or “Roam” but it embodies that which the B-52s set out to do, and that’s party. “Underground like a wild potato,” might not be poetry, but it sure if fun to say and even more fun to listen to. Dig up a potato and rock out to some B-52s!

“Private Idaho” – B-52s – Wild Planet (1980)

Written By: White Chicks On Rap

Is Lupe Fiasco Retiring?

There are rumors that rapper Lupe Fiasco will retire from hip-hop after he releases his third album “LupEND”.

Atlantic Records will not comment on the rumors, but some are citing a comment made by Lupe last December when he was asked about his future plans. “LupEND' -- that's going to be my last album's title. When you play a videogame, you can only put in three letters for your name and when the game's over, those three letters and 'END' pop up. My next record might be my last one."

Lupe told fans at a Halloween Chicago show that the “END” stands for “Everywhere, Nowhere & Down Here”.

No release date has been set for the album.

Early Release Dates For Ludacris, Kanye and The Killers

To capitalize on the Thanksgiving shopping weekend, Island Def Jam is moving up the album release dates for Ludacris, Kanye and The Killers.

Ludacris’ “Theater Of The Mind”, Kanye’s “808s & Heartbreak” and The Killers’ “Day & Age” will now be released on Monday, November 24th. All the albums will be available in physical and digital formats.


Kanye Arrested In The UK

Kanye West was arrested in London, England after hitting a paparazzo who was trying to get his picture coming out of a club. Kanye was leaving the Tup Tup club with 4 girls when a paparazzo started taking pictures. The paparazzo said that Kanye shoved him and tried to take the camera. The paparazzo was left a cut above his nose.

Fourth Anniversary Of Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Death

On the fourth anniversary of Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s death, his mother wrote a letter criticizing those who have wrongly profited off and spoke ill of the rapper. In the letter, the rapper’s mother accused Ol’ Dirty’s widow of taking loans and denying the rapper’s children the funds.

The mother also said that the widow is blocking the release of the Ol’ Dirty’s final album. Ol’ Dirty’s mother also said that she is angry about an unauthorized bio written by the rapper’s one time lawyer Robert Shapiro. She said the book is full of lies and that she will spend the rest of her life making sure that the public image of her son is upheld in a positive light.

Label: Sony/BMG
Rating: 3 Guns

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Written By: White Chicks On Rap

John Legend’s third album opens with what I think is pretty much every guy’s vision of the perfect morning…birds chirping, a sunny day breaking, the sweet cooing of the words good morning and a girl in your bed. I think John is onto something, but I would substitute the girl for Keanu Reeves. Oh, if life was really like this…but I digress.

Love is definitely on John’s mind and in the lyrics. From meeting the right girl, taking the next step with a good friend or just hooking up with a girl you just met…John has a song to match your mood.

Evolver has some great guests like Andre 3000 on Green Light, Brandy on "Quickly" and Estelle on "No Other Love."

The production from Kanye, Will.I.Am, Trevor Horn and Devo Springsteen add diversity to the album. You will still find the traditional piano ballads (like "Everyone Knows" and "This Time"), but you will also find reggae ("No Other Love" and "Green Light") and funk ("Satisfaction").

Evolver is a true evolution for John as he continues to experiment with his sound and lyrics. His voice still resonates pure and warm as ever.

Like John Legend? You may also like: Robin Thicke, Anthony Hamilton.

More details emerged about the meeting between President-elect Barack Obama and former opponent John McCain. “Barack kept him sitting there for a three-and-a-half hour, seemingly cordial conversation,” chucked a staff member. “By the end of hour two, McCain was shifting and squirming, and during the third hour you could see the dark stain growing on the front of his pants.”

In other news, concern mounted about the growing epidemic of hijacking in which huge oil tankers and other merchandise are being seized by pirates who then sell the shipments back, accumulating obscene wealth and building huge mansions. “Something must be done about the international corporations, traders and CEOs, before they drain away the world’s entire wealth into their own coffers,” warned an independent economist. Alarmed and outraged congressional leaders summoned the CEOs of Detroit’s Once Big Three automakers for a hearing yesterday. The three CEOs testified for nearly an hour before breaking for lunch and eating the identical lunch as CEOs from the nation’s largest banks at last week’s hearing. They walked into the visitors’ gallery and sunk their teeth into the necks of onlookers.

As the economic picture darkened, Obama’s transition team announced that the President-elect planned to roll out his new economic plan on day one of his presidency. “We’ve been looking at the economy that Obama’s going to inherit from President Bush, and we’re studying what we can do,” said a leader of the economic transition team. At yesterday’s meeting, the team watched the scene from Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush five times in a row where Chaplain eats a lavish meal consisting of an old boot. “We think there’s something there we can use,” the spokesperson said.

Written By: Nichole Wagner

The live concert video is an art form, to capture a performance on tape without losing the energy and atmosphere of a show is next to impossible. Yet, once in awhile the stars align just so and the outstanding concert recording is born. Here are some favorites.

The Band - Last Waltz
Maybe the gold standard in concert videos, directed by Martin Scorsese, it was the last performance of The Band. The guest list alone makes it worth watching with names like Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Ringo Starr, Van Morrison, Ronnie Wood, and Muddy Waters. Emmylou Harris and The Staples Singers are in segments that were filmed separately from the main concert.

Nanci Griffith - One Fair Summer Evening
With Nanci at the peak of her onstage rambling, she shares stories about blue moons, Woolworth’s stores and anonymous tall blonde dictators who swipe red bricks from the streets of Houston.

Anderson Fair, where it was filmed is small enough to make the viewer feel like perhaps they could be sitting in the audience. The delightful lack of audience “reaction” shots adds to the effect.

Pretenders - Isle of View
While it is a little strange to see Chrissie Hynde and company sitting down in a more or less acoustic show, it also makes the songs more interesting and gives a new layer to seeing the Pretenders. And of course, she’s in top vocal form and the strings section on songs like “Criminal” and the cover of “Creep” are fun to listen to.

Tom Petty - Live at the Olympic
It’s a bit bouncy, in order to represent all of the Heartbreakers, but it still decently portrays the Tom concert experience. The songs are nearly entirely from The Last DJ, with the exception of a few hits at the end, like Mary Jane’s Last Dance, You Wreck Me, and I Need To Know. On the special features, catch “Fun in the Desert” which is essentially Tom being goofy and riding a motorcycle around the set of the Last DJ commercials.

Fleetwood Mac - In Concert (1982)
Yes, The Dance is a much more accessible film, but it lacks a certain amount of spontaneity. Yes, there are a few moments of true emotion but the overall feel is scripted. Not this concert from the Mirage tour, (though technically it was two shows spliced together, a fact that is glaringly obvious in Sisters of the Moon.) Some of the best moments include Mick Fleetwood’s facial expressions during his drum solos, the version of the often overlooked Blue Letter and the vocals from Stevie Nicks on Rhiannon.

Cyndi Lauper - At Last Live!
It’s almost disturbing how much energy this woman can put forth in a concert. She’s jumping all over the place and going into the audience and practically hanging from the rafters -- all while hitting all the notes in the songs. It’s not nearly as much fun as seeing her in person, but only because there’s a lot less storytelling on the DVD than at a live show. Luckily, those stories can all be found on the “Driving with Cyndi” extras.

Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense
Of course, any movie with David Byrne involved is going to be a little unusual. This one has some neat elements, including the first few moments of the show with Byrne bringing out his boombox, the lack of audience shots and performer close-ups and the appearance of the “big suit” during Girlfriend is Better. It’s also a great reminder of all the songs you loved to hear but sometimes forget about.

Written By: Nichole Wagner

There is a plague afflicting the music industry...

The symptoms include:

* An overwhelming need to release an album in as many different variations as possible.

* He with the most adjectives at the end of the title apparently wins some sort of prize.

* Instead of the regular grouping of tracks, album cover and some liner notes, there’s an extended super-deluxe version somewhere or a USB-stick that gives the buyer super-exclusive access to top secret, from the bottom of the vault, we’d tell you what it is but we’d have to kill you material.

Without vinyl singles, artists need some way to get their babies that didn't make the 12 song cut out to the people. With illegal downloading (which is not a new concept, just a new method) the record companies need another way to line their pockets.

Whichever way you look at it, it's the most dedicated fans that are getting the short end of the deal as we end up buying multiple copies of the same album.

We pre-order an album from our local indie record store only to find out that if you pre-order the album from iTunes there is one more track. So you keep the first order so you can have a hard copy and order from iTunes to get the song.

But then you see that Barnes and Nobles has yet another version that has two more songs not on either the normal release or on the iTunes release.

Three weeks later, the record company decides to release a two disc extended version with video and demo tracks or another few songs or something called a "B-side" for a single that wasn't even released.

Now the dedicated fan has four copies of the same album, and has about five new songs and a music video. The record company has the profits from three more sales. Tricky.

This is how I ended up with seven copies of Patty Griffin’s “Children Running Through”, three of Fleetwood Mac’s “Say You Will” and why I’m currently mad at Lyle Lovett, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. Well, actually I’m mad at Tom for a few reasons, but releasing an expanded “Highway Companion” is one of them.

However, there are the few artists out there that really do it right: take the New Pornographers and their “Challengers” album. Everyone bought the regular old album and then offered separately for approximately three bucks was two blank CD-Rs, a blank DVD-R and a snazzy slip-box that had room for the previously purchased regular old album.

It’s not instant gratification, but we’re still downloading happy new stuff months after the release. It’s like a little present straight from the band every few weeks. It’s enough to make one feel all warm and fuzzy. No one is left out because they didn’t want to buy the album multiple times with various “extra” tracks and no one is stuck with 15 copies that they have to copy to their computer and combine into one CD to put in their car. Less work, more music, happy listeners.

Label: Minty Fresh
Rating: 3 Guns

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Written By: White Chicks On Rap

When I was given this album, I asked, "Who are The Hushpuppies?"

I was told, "All you have to know is that they are like a French version of The Hives."

While I agree that the Hushpuppies are a similar to The Hives, the reality is that the band not a copy of anyone.

The Hushpuppies are a five-piece band from France that are starting to make a name for themselves in the US thanks to their song “You’re Gonna Say Yeah” being included on “Guitar Hero: World Tour”.

“You’re Gonna Say Yeah” is one of the tracks off their album Silence Is Golden.

The album has a unique 60’s garage sound, reminiscent of early work of The Who or The Animals. Silence Is Golden has a great flow; the songs well-crafted and written.

There are pumped up songs like “You’re Gonna Say Yeah”, “Lost Organ” and “Bad Taste And Gold On The Doors” and slow songs “Love Bandit” and “Harmonium”.

Personally, my favorite track is “Harmonium” because it’s edgy, moody and reminds me of something that The Smiths would offer up.

I think The Hushpuppies are an interesting band and have a lot of promise…really the US is the last place for a band to break these days. The Hushpippies' 2005 debut album The Trap was a huge hit in France and 20 other countries; they've also toured Europe, Japan and Russia.

Like this band? You may also like: The Hives, The Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand.

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Written By: White Chicks On Rap

Last Thursday, I had a wonderful opportunity to listen to an up-and-coming band from Indonesia called The White Shoes & The Couples Company. They've been touring in the US and made their first trip to Los Angeles, playing at world-famous venue, Spaceland.

Before the band took the stage, I had the chance to meet some of the band members (vocalist Sari, keyboardist Mela and bass player Ricky) backstage to talk about coming to the US, their influences, how they got their catchy name and their goals.

I asked the band how it felt to be named by RollingStone “One of the best bands on Myspace” and “One of the most crushworthy bands of 2006” by Allmusic.com. Their response couldn't have been more humble:

"It's a a true honor," they said, "Especially since we're from Indonesia."

They said that many people are not familiar with Indonesian music and culture and the fact that people are taking the time to listen to their self-titled album is really an honor.

"We're enjoying the US and playing for our fans."

White Shoes & The Couples Company’s sound is a mix of traditional Indonesian music, jazz and pop; their lyrics mostly in the native Indonesian language.

I asked White Shoes who their influences are:

"The soundtracks of Indonesian 70’s cinema," they replied, "Because of the lush instruments and the visual stories the music creates. The lyrics are like literature and their sound helps push the stories forward. "

When I asked if the band would record more songs in English, they said that maybe they would, but that would be further down the line in their career.

I happened to notice that the whole band was decked out in white shoes. Naturally, I asked how they got their name.

White Shoes met at Art School near a shoe store that sold white Converse All-Stars. A lot of the students started wearing the shoes - including the band. When the band starting making music together they needed a name and a friend suggested "The White Shoes & The Couples Company." The rest is history.

When asked about their goals as a band, they said, "Ultimately, the goal is to keep doing what we're doing…recording."

White Shoes & The Couples Company are currently working on a second album and touring.

After our conversation, the band took the stage, and rocked the house for 45 minutes straight.

Sari (vocalist) has a beautiful sweet voice and her easy spirit carries out into the audience. She has a gentle presence on the stage which captivated the whole audience.

Although the lyrics weren't in English, the set was bubbly and catchy; I forgot I was listening to music in another language. The energy of the band was amazing, as the set closed with a 10 minute drum solo from John that brought the audience to roars and cheers of admiration.

The band may be heading back to Indonesia, but I know that they'll strike the U.S. again with more great music and live shows.

Written By: Dan “The Man” Sklut

“Mom? Dad? You wanted to see me?”

“Yes, son. Come on in.”

“What’s this all about?”

“Son, you’re 15. You’re almost a man now, so it’s time you knew the truth.”

“What are you talking about? Mom, what’s Dad talking about?”

“Robert, we still love you, very much.”

“I love you guys too, but seriously, what did you need to tell me?”

“Son, when you were born, there was an… accident.”

“An accident? What kind of accident?”

“Well, this is kind of hard for me to say, but… uh… I can’t do this. You tell him, Heidi.”

“What your father’s trying to say is that after you were born, we took you to get circumcised.”

“But I’m not circumcised.”

“Uh, let’s put it this way. Have you ever wondered why you have only one testicle?”

“You told me that was a birth defect!”

“It was a defect that happened after your birth, so in a way, it kind of was.”

“Your mother’s right, son. The surgeon that was supposed to slice your dingle, was so overworked that day, he mixed up your chart with one of a patient diagnosed with testicular cancer. And by the time we found out about it, the damage was done.”

“And you waited this long to tell me?”

“We didn’t know how you’d take it.”

“Total shock and anger aside, I’m having a hard time believing a doctor, a trained medical professional, could operate on a newborn baby instead of a fully grown man without realizing it.”

“He wasn’t exactly what you’d call a ‘doctor,’ per se.”

“Then what was he?”

“There’s actually a pretty funny story to that. Your mother and I brought you home from the hospital a few days after you were born. We were giving you your first bath, when we realized that you needed a circumcision. This was before my promotion, and we didn’t have that much money back then. We could barely afford the pregnancy, let alone the hospital bill. But you needed that bris badly, son. That dong of yours looked like a confused anteater.”

“Mom, is Dad telling the truth? And do I really need to know this?”

“Don’t interrupt your father, Robert. This is important. Go ahead, Mike.”

“Thank you, dear. Seriously, it was like someone took a bite out of a corndog. A tiny, tiny corndog! Ha, ha! Anyway, we were strapped for cash, and I had this friend from college, Larry, who dropped out of pre-med. He was super smart, though, and he knew a lot of medical shit. So, naturally, I called him up, and told him, ‘Larry, remember the cops and Cancun, and how I bailed you out? And you told me you owed me one? Well come on over, and bring your kit.’ He was pretty hung over that day, but that little bump of coke really perked him up. I guess we weren’t his only patients, though, and mistakes do happen, you know?”

“At any time did it occur to you that maybe you shouldn’t have left my surgery in the hands of an inexperienced drug addict?”

“What do you mean ‘drug addict?’ You do a little coke, maybe some speed, and a tiny shot of H to cool you down, and suddenly you’re a drug addict? Well, then, by your definition, your mother and I were drug addicts, too!”

“Where do you think he got the coke, anyway?”

“You can’t be serious, Mom. Did you really think it was healthy to be doing hard drugs right after giving birth?”

“I don’t know. Was it healthy to be doing hard drugs right during my pregnancy?”

“I didn’t just hear that!”

“I gotta tell ya, Robert, you’re taking this all really well. I’m almost proud of you, even. I’m not, but I’m like this close to feeling a little pride. Now would you like to know why you have no ears?”

“Was it because of the drugs?”

“No, we just cut them off.”

Written By: White Chicks On Rap

Will.I.Am Releases A New Obama Track

A new track (“It’s A Good Day” ) will be released from Will.I.Am to celebrate Obama’s victory. The track was recorded a week before Election Day. This will be Will.I.Am’s third pro-Obama track. Will.I.Am has released “Yes We Can” and “We Are The Ones.”

Two More Tracks From 808s & Heartbreak Released

Two more tracks from Kanye West’s album 808s & Heartbreak have been released. “Heartless” is now on iTunes and “Anyway” (a collaboration with rapper Kid Cudi) has been leaked onto the internet. 808s & Heartbreak will be released on November 25th.

50 Cent: “Turn Shit Into Sugar”

For those struggling financially, 50 Cent has some advice…”Turn Shit Into Sugar”.

MTV and 50 Cent have partnered up for a new competition show called The Money And The Power. The show will be hosted by 50 Cent and will feature members of G-Unit. Fourteen wannabe entrepreneurs will complete for the chance to have 50 Cent invest $100,000 in their business plan. Last year, 50 Cent pulled in $150 million, making him the world’s richest rapper. The show starts on November 6th.

Written By: Nichole Wagner

One of the first concept albums in the country genre is Emmylou Harris’ “Ballad of Sally Rose,” from 1985. It is also possibly the most overlooked of her thirty-album career

With help from friends like Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Vince Gill and then-husband Paul Kennerly, Emmylou tells the sings of Sally Rose, the girl from South Dakota who leaves home to become a rock star. By the second song, Sally has made her way to Tupelo and has joined up with an unnamed male musician to “play Rhythm Guitar and sing the third.”

Despite her best intentions efforts, the third track finds Sally falling for the frontman and the gentle “Heart to Heart” cements the feelings.

The mystery musician perishes in a wreck along the highway in “Bad News” leaving Sally to pick up the pieces in “Timberline” and go on to shine with her “red-hot dynamite band” in “Long Tall Sally Rose.” Even with her success, she hasn’t forgotten the “White Line” that took her baby.

The last few tracks reiterate her longings with lines like “I stepped into the light you left behind / I stood there where all the world could see me shine / Oh I was on my way to you to make you mine / But I took the longest road that I could find.” She goes on to buy a radio station, KSOS, to carry his torch. The closing number, “Sweet Chariot” is aching with bitter acceptance of Sally’s loss.


If the entire story of girl meets rock star, joins him on tour only to have him meet his tragic and untimely end strikes you as oddly familiar, the not-so-subtle reference to Joshua Tree seems fitting. While Ms. Harris has never said that the narrative of Sally is a modification of her own history it does draw some parallels.

“The Ballad of Sally Rose” is a stand-out in Emmylou’s discography as the first album that she wrote or co-wrote (with Kennerley) all the tracks and as a great mix of upbeat tunes paired with ballads. While it is currently only available on vinyl or import CD a few tracks were included on the Songbird box set released last year.

Label: Universal/Polydor
Rating: 3 Guns

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Written By: White Chicks On Rap

You may have not heard of Snow Patrol, but I am sure if you watch “Grey’s Anatomy”, you know one of their songs (“Chasing Cars”). That song may have introduced them to American audiences, but for UK audiences, Snow Patrol is one the best bands on the Britpop scene.


If you are not familiar with Snow Patrol, their albums are very epic. The vocals are distorted, the music and lyrics are dramatic and emotional and A Hundred Million Suns continues the tradition. The space theme of the album title carries into the songs “If There Is A Rocket Tie Me To It”, “The Planets Bend Between Us”, “Engine” and “The Lightening Strike”. I was very impressed with “The Lightening Strike”. The song is 16 minutes and has everything…choirs, orchestras, guitars all describing the end of the world. Trust me when I say, that you will be entertained for the full 16 minutes.

Gary Lightbody always writes lyrics that I have to listen to again and again because I can’t figure out the meaning. In “Engine”, Gary sings "Use me forever as rocket fuel/Love me like the silence of the turning earth." I will be pondering this line for weeks.

What I have always loved about Snow Patrol is their passion. Their passion just pours over every aspect of their music and they are unapologetic for expressing their emotions. A Hundred Million Suns is a beautiful album that shows the bands continued growth.

Like Snow Patrol? You may also like: Coldplay, Oasis, Keane, British Sea Power, Doves.

Interview By: Hilary Hughes

With the last days of October closing in, politi-rock trio State Radio finds themselves on the final leg of their Take the Country Back tour.

Though the Boston-based musicians have been delivering impassioned sets to enthralled audiences at venues across the nation, State Radio’s presence offstage is what sets them apart from other acts as artists whose activism leaves an impression as lasting as the music they create.

As organizers of community service projects that coincide with cities on the Take the Country Back roster, Chad Stokes, Chuck Fay and Mike “Mad Dog” Najarian encourage their ever-expanding fan base through leading by example when it comes to inspiring change on both local and national scales.

When asked to describe the types of projects the band has completed throughout the course of Take the Country Back, Chad, State Radio’s frontman and guitarist, lists them off modestly: painting elementary schools in Philadelphia, protesting to raise awareness about the plea for the retrial of Troy Davis, speaking out against Joe Lieberman’s “war-hawkishness” in Hartford, and protesting alongside University of Vermont students to discourage the university’s involvement with corporations benefiting from the war in Iraq. State Radio joined several members of the music community, including ever-active Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, in playing and protesting at the Democratic National Convention back in the early days of the tour, where they marched alongside Iraqi Veterans Against the War.

“All of these soldiers came back really disenchanted with the war,” recalls Chuck, “And the idea was to get a message to the people, namely Barack Obama and all the other democrats who were there in town.”

(Video of State Radio’s performance at the DNC can be found on their Myspace page.)

Turning toward the future with Take the Country Back, State Radio, performing alongside several independent acts, including Zimbabwean quartet Bongo Love, are working tirelessly to deliver an inspiring, though solemn, message to their fans:

“Bongo Love is from Zimbabwe, where you get beat up or killed if you vote a certain way,” says Chad, “A bunch of their friends have been tortured because they voted for the wrong person. We’ve been using that to encourage people. Here in the States, we can vote without fearing for our lives, and it’s important that we take part in the democracy so that we can hold our government to a higher standard than it has been in eight years.”

For a band like State Radio, whose tireless activism calls for change on a global scale, their influence over their predominantly college-aged fan base could lead to a youth movement that’ll contribute to the election of the next president. When asked to speculate why young adults tend to gravitate towards State Radio’s sound, there’s a note of pride in Chad’s voice when he’s accounting for the crowds coming to their shows:

“I’d like to think it’s the content and that historically youth movements and protests,” he says. “It’s always the idealistic college kids who have the balls and sometimes the naïveté to push for what they feel is right, and the time.”

So, after protesting alongside impassioned rock stars and veterans working to be heard at the DNC, and after giving back to communities around the nation through their service projects and activism efforts, what’s the next project on State Radio’s agenda?

Chad, Chuck and Mad Dog are heading back to the studio to record their latest album, following 2007’s Year of the Crow and the first commercial release of the trio, Us Against the Crown. They may be recording in Boston, but the band’s eyes, like those of the rest of the nation, will be turned toward Washington on November 4th. It’s no secret that State Radio aren’t fans of the soon-to-be-former Commander in Chief: the lead-off track on Year of the Crow, Guantanamo, calls out Bush’s grandfather for robbing the grave of Geronimo as an Ivy-league secret society initiation, and the band is celebrating the close of the most disastrous double term presidency in history with an official “Bye-Bye Bush” event in D.C. come Christmastime.

As is evident with the addition of an Obama/State Radio t-shirt to the collection of official SR merchandise, Chad, Chuck and Mad Dog are all fiending for Obama, and half of the proceeds from t-shirt sales go directly to the Obama campaign. State Radio has been calling for social change since the release of their first EP, so it’s no surprise that they’re backing the candidate who’s campaign revolves around impending, necessary change:

“We want to elect someone who represents us, the people, and we feel like Barack Obama can do that.”

Written By: Nichole Wagner

From the unauthorized to the autobiography, books about musicians can be amazingly good reads while others are just a waste of trees. Of course there are several reasons for this varying degree of quality.

The artist may not want to talk to the author which often leads to a book filled with lots of rehashing of common knowledge and a few anecdotes from the kid who sat next to the kid the artist babysat when they were three. Because they know all about the artist's innermost thoughts and secrets.

THE AWFUL...

Gram Parsons - Hickory Wind (Ben Fong-Torres)
Really, they missed the point. And I hate to say that of Fong- Torres because he usually does a very good job. It's almost like the Grievous Angel DVD. It's really just a cleaned-up version of
Gram's life that reads like it's been through the PR censors more than twice while basically ignoring essential characters (Emmylou, Phil Kaufman) and skipping the juicy stories about insane wives and life on the road.

Stevie Nicks - Lady of the Stars (Edward Wincentsen)
It's not only ancient but even at the time it was written, it was inaccurate. It's predecessor, Rock's Mystical Lady is just as bad. From random speculations to stating the insanely obvious (she wears platform shoes and black chiffon AND she was a member of Fleetwood Mac... no... really?) Even the rumors are laughable. If you're going to gossip at least find something relevant... it's NOT that hard.

Linda Ronstadt - It's So Easy (Mark Bego)
Pure, unadulterated sugar-coated gossip. I doubt there's a single thing in this book that Linda hasn't freely spoken about at some point or another. For some reason it still glosses over relationships and scandals trying to make them seem like big news the author knows about but isn't at liberty to share. It's like a kid on the playground shouting "I know something you don't know!"

Really, I've found all of Bego's biographies (he has one on Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Billy Joel and so on) to be lacking.

THE NOT SO BAD...

Carter Family - Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone? (Charles Hirshberg and Mark Zwonitzer)
It's a little slow, but it does a great job giving insight to one of American music's royal families. All of A.P.'s little quirks are discussed in an endearing way and the scenes are set so that you
feel like you're sitting on the porch watching it all happen. Unfortunately it is a big story to tell in one book and it sort of unwinds in an awkward way. Still it's informative with lots of cute
stories and just about every country music star is represented in some way. Plus there's some great tales of the little Carters (June, Helen and Anita) growing up.

Fleetwood Mac - Storms: My Life with Lindsey Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac (Carol Ann Harris)
Really, this book only covers a short period of time, albeit a highly interesting period. Written by Lindsey's sometimes girlfriend during the Rumours sessions, there's enough details but it's
important to remember that everyone's minds were a little clouded back then. Some of it sounds dramatized and both Lindsey and Stevie get a good helping of not-so-sneaky criticisms. It's a semi-insider's view of a crazy time. Even with the slanted view it's interesting enough for a big fan to read and try to decode.

THE ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL...

Loretta Lynn - Coal Miner's Daughter and Still Woman Enough (Loretta Lynn)
Pull up a chair and enjoy some peanut butter fudge. These books literally feel like you're sitting down in the back of a bus or hanging out in the kitchen while Loretta tells you every story she
can think of about her life. From the Kentucky coal region, married at 12, a mother at 13 and a country music star at 26 she's not afraid to let down the barriers that many stars surround
themselves with. She tells of the embarrassing teenage years, of her difficult marriage to Doo, her mental breakdowns and addiction to pills and just about everything inbetween.

Dolly Parton - My Life and Other Unfinished Business (Dolly Parton)
Like Loretta, Dolly will say just about anything that pops into her head (though she does keep a lot more private than Loretta does). This book also proves that she's not the dumb blond she's
sometimes accused of being. However the absolute best thing about this book is that it's available in an audio format with Ms. Parton herself narrating.

Hard Core Troubadour: The Life and Near Death of Steve Earle (Lauren St. John)
Again, what makes this book so good is the truth, no matter how unflattering or unfortunate it may be is told. No tiptoeing or detouring around drugs, arrests and every other aspect of Steve's life. But because Steve and family contributed, it's not gossip but more in acceptance that everyone already knows that he's no Boy Scout.

Kinky Friedman - Texas Hold 'Em: How I Was Born in a Manger, Died in the Saddle, and Came Back as a Horny Toad (Kinky Friedman)
While not purely a musical biography, but it's close. Plus, it's funnier than a car full of clowns. There's a little bit of everything: music, politics, satire, religion and a good helping of Kinky's
escapades with the "Hillybilly Dali Lama," Willie Nelson.

Written By: White Chicks On Rap


Emimem’s Official Return

The rumors are true…Emimem is releasing a new album called "Relapse."

Emimem confirmed the news during a radio interview while promoting his new book, “The Way I Am.” Em also took the time to introduce a new track called “I’m Having A Relapse.”

No release date has confirmed, but 50 Cent said that the album might be released before his album (“Before I Self Destruct”) on December 9th.

Naughty By Nature To Reunite For A New Album

After being recognized by VH1 has hip hop legends, Naughty By Nature are reuniting for a new album. The album is tentatively tilted “Anthem Inc.” and plans are to release the album independently as the group is shopping for distribution.

Lil’ Kim Sued

Brookland Media filed a $2.5 million suit against Lil’ Kim saying she has breached the contract by not delivering the required recordings.

Brookland Media says they have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on advances, equipment and recording sessions.

The lawsuit says the Kim tried to change the contract with Brookland Media and refused to record until the company gave into Kim terms. The company is asking the court to declare the contract valid and bar Kim from signing and recording with another company.
Kayne’s New Album To Release On November 25th

Kayne fans now only have to wait until November 25th instead of December 16th to get “808’s & Heartbreak.” Kayne made the announcement at a show in Los Angeles before performing “Heartless” which is scheduled to be the second single off the album.

Wu-Tang Documentary Coming To BET And DVD

“Wu: The Story Of The Wu-Tang Clan” will premiere on BET on November 13th, just five days before it is released on DVD.

The documentary will air on BET multiple times between November 13th-16th and in December. Wu-Tang is also scheduled to appear on BET’s “106 & Park” to discuss the documentary.

On November 18th, a greatest hits package containing songs from Wu-Tang and solo projects will be released.