What?! LeAnn Rimes Still Sings?!

Who knew Ms. Rimes was still a singer? All most of us have known her for the past few years was the Bitch who took Eddie Cibrian from Brandi Glanville...not my words, Brandi's, paraphrasing and artistic license apply.

And boy did Brandi never let us forget it, it was her claim to fame and made her one of the "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills".

Rimes other claim to fame of late has been about her weight. "Is She or Isn't She Anorectic" - when she is seen out in her bikini.

OK, well LeAnn it's time you reminded peeps why you are famous in the first place, you are a gifted singer and songwriter, looking forward to "Spitfire" putting you in the press for something other than malicious gossip!

LeAnn Rimes announces release of new album SPITFIRE

Physical CD Available Only at Walmart

14 song collection available June 4th, 2013 featuring Special Appearances
by Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, Rob Thomas and Jeff Beck

Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter LeAnn Rimes is releasing her new album, SPITFIRE, on June 4, 2013. Rimes, who co-wrote nine of the songs on her newest offering, says “This album is a peek into my world; who I am, what I’ve gone through, what my emotions are.  It’s an intimate conversation between me and whoever’s listening.  I hope I’m saying things that are hard for others to express.  It certainly took me a lot of work to get to this point. And it’s still easier to sing these thoughts than it is to say them out loud.  The intimacy in my music is just beginning.” “Curb Records is receiving global reviews for LeAnn’s brilliant album, Spitfire.  Her performances with Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20), Jeff Beck, Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski are amazing and a great representation of LeAnn’s ability as an artist and songwriter, says Curb Records Chairman, Mike Curb.  “LeAnn and producer Darrell Brown have created a very special musical adventure that is delivered straight from LeAnn’s heart.  We’ve always known she is a great singer.  This album simply proves outright that LeAnn is a great, multi-faceted artist.” SPITFIRE is co-produced by Darrell Brown, LeAnn’s longtime friend, whom she calls her “writing soul mate”. Rimes speaks of this album as a “journey” and says there were several memorable moments along the way from having multi-Grammy award-winning engineer, Al Schmitt (Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Norah Jones) mix several songs to having Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminsky sing background vocals on “What Have I Done?”.  After ten years of trying to write or record with Rob Thomas, the planets aligned as Rob added an undeniable groove to “Gasoline and Matches”, which also features the legendary signature guitar styling's of Jeff Beck, whom LeAnn previously worked with on a Barbra Streisand tribute at the Grammys to benefit MusiCares. “SPITFIRE covers a range of emotions that I’ve experienced in my lifetime, from anger to love, from frustrations to letting go”, says Rimes.  “Darrell and I talked about telling that story in chronological order, but that didn’t work sonically, so he said, ‘It’s the truth…in no particular order.’ And isn’t that what life is about?” The physical CD will launch exclusively at Walmart and is currently available for pre-order at:  http://bit.ly/Spitfire1 For more information on LeAnn Rimes, visit www.leannrimesworld.com

Emii - "Freakier Freak"

Emii: "To Freak Or Not to Freak"?

"I have a sense of humor about a lot of things. It might be terribly inappropriate, but I have no qualms about joking around. It's all good" - Emii "Chorus & Verse" to Yours Truly, Michael Shinafelt.

This is an excerpt from my interview with the one and only Emii when I chatted her up about her then latest single "Mr. Romeo" featuring Snoop Dogg.

Since then she has got her Fuck Me Pumps on in the song "Stilettos" and now she is getting down with her inner  freak, and freaking hard in "Freakier Freak"- she is double dipping in the freak pond and letting that flag fly loud & proud!

The title says it all, Emii is a Sex Fiend and she wants it anyway she can get it, oh my!

With her tongue placed firmly in cheek (and other orifices) Emii hits deep space and comes up with a nine (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

Our intergalactic guide, Emii, will navigate us on how to find a Black Hole, Uranus and the Milky Way....cosmic travel never was so enticing. 

So let's hop aboard with Emii and take a ride, shall we... Yahooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Space Invaders!

                                                           Emii "Freakier Freak" 

"Freak" out with Emii at: http://emii.net/

T.G.I.F. - Naama Kates Plays Room 5, Los Angeles CA

If you live in the Los Angeles, CA area and are planning on hanging out this evening, why not do it with indie darling Naama Kates at Room 5.

This critically acclaimed chanteuse will be hitting the Room 5 stage at 10 pm sharp...!

She is currently promoting her sophomore CD "King For The Day" the follow-up to her hit freshman debut "The Unexamined Life".

So, if your Friday Calendar is free, and you have no plans get your ass to Room 5 at 10 pm and check out Naama.

Oh, I will be there too, so if you come to the show, say "Hello".

                                            Naama Kates "King For The Day"
Get your "King" on at: http://www.naamakates.com/

Room 5 info: http://www.room5lounge.com/

The Return Of Lee DeWyze

Yep, he's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack....!

April 22, 2013 – Singer/songwriter Lee DeWyze, will return to the American Idol stage on Thursday, April 25^th to perform his new song “Silver Lining” - the first single from his upcoming summer release on Vanguard Records.   Thursday’s appearance will mark DeWyze’s first  performance on American Idol since he was crowned winner of Season Nine in 2010. American Idol airs on Fox TV Wednesday and Thursdays at 8:00pm Eastern/7:00pm Central.

DeWyze’s premiere of “Silver Lining” will offer the millions of Idol fans and viewers a preview of what’s to come on his new album spotlighting his gift as a distinctive songwriter as well as an accomplished musician.  DeWyze is currently in the studio wrapping up his Vanguard debut.

Lee DeWyze will formally launch the pivotal next stage of what is already a high-profile musical career with the release of his label debut. “This past year, I hunkered down and wrote an album,” the Chicago native explains. “I wanted to take it back to what I’m really about, which is writing emotionally charged, meaningful songs. It wasn’t like I wanted to find a label and then decide what kind of album to make. I knew what kind of album I wanted to make and knew I could make. It’s going back to the kind of music I’ve always loved. The way I see it, everything that’s happened throughout my career has happened so that I can make this record.

Lee will be hitting the road this summer in support of his new album.  Tour dates listed below with more cities to be added.
06/04/13     Columbus, OH - The Basement at Promowest
06/05/13     Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
06/06/13     Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
06/08/13     Indianapolis, IN - Rathskeller
06/11/13     Nashville, TN - High Watt

There's always a "Silver Lining" at:  www.facebook.com/leedewyze

https://twitter.com/leedewyze

R.I.P: Chrissy Amphlett "Pleasure and Pain"

Chrissy Amphlett

The 53-year-old Australian singer died at her home in New York City after a battle with breast cancer and multiple sclerosis.

My first exposure so to speak to the music of The Divinyls was a kinky little ditty bearing the title "Pleasure and Pain": 

"Please don't ask me how I've been getting off, No, Please don't ask me how I've been getting off ,It's a fine line between pleasure and pain, You've done it once, you can do it again"... 

Needless to say the Divinyls had me at the title. I rushed out and bought the "What A Life" album on, time to date my oldness, cassette, and loved it!

Of course that was sort of an indie/edgy/underground type of song, their biggest hit "I Touch Myself" a blatant ode to masturbation was huge...I guess because it did not involve the "Pain" part with the "Pleasure".

Chrissy had one of the best pop rock voices ever! Her delivery cut like a knife no matter what she was singing. 

Not to be crass, but from the sounds of her death she was living the title of my favorite Divinyls song "Pleasure and Pain" let's hope there was some of the former mixed in with the later, her body is now at rest. Hey Chrissy, I hope you are still kicking vocal ass in the great beyond...!

                                                  The Divinyls: "Pleasure and Pain"
                                       

You Will Know Her Name: "Carrie" 2013

Chloe Grace Moretz & Julianne Moore "Carrie"

"I was told I was too pretty for "Carrie" - Chloe Grace Moretz

That being stated, while some may still think that Ms. Moretz has made a career out of playing outsiders, much like her attractive Academy Award Nominated co-star Julianne Moore, so let's shove that shit theory out the window.

After all Chloe has portrayed a prepubescent expletive spewing assassin named Hit Girl in "Kick Ass" uttering such zingers as "Fuck you, c#nt" and a 12 year old vampire with a thing for a 12 year old boy in the American re-make of "Let The Right One In".

So get over the "pretty" thing and get past it, now.

When I initially heard about this project, I had some hope, I mean hey two of my favorite actresses in the leads and Directed by Kimberly Pierce of  "Boys Don't Cry" fame...I was excited! "Carrie" after all is a female story and with a strong female Director would give a quite provocative and Feminine twist on it. Translation, no gratuitous lawn scenes below the female waist, and teenagers who are not 25-30 years old.

And let's not forget bullying with updated technology.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Brian DePalma film, it's a classic for sure, but...

Margaret & Carrie White, Hitting the PR Trail

There is always something new and unique that can be done with everything in the correct hands.

With the release of the present full length trailer, I am way more cautious about the prospects of this adding anything that is truly new or necessary.

My problem? With the exception of a few twists, the scenes they show in the trailer look like an almost shot for shot remake of the original.

Please don't disappoint me and millions of other fans of the horror genre and the original. Don't let this turn out to be a piece of dreck redo like pretty much all the others.

Proceeding with caution at this point, so much so, it will have to get really good reviews to compel me to pay at the box office, if the reviews are unfavorable, I will wait for video, perhaps.

Check out the trailer and see what you think...

PS - MGM and Sony have definitely come up with a great marketing campaign, kudos.

You Will Know Her Name, Maybe: http://www.carrie-movie.com/

Pentatonix: The Evolution of Music

Starting in the 1600's with "Beethoven's 5th Symphony" and ending in the 2000's with "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye. Pentatonix's "The Evolution of Music" is a departure from their usual covers and mash ups.

Taking a mere snippet of their song favorites from each decade only whets PTX fans appetites for a full length version of each and every one of these songs through the ages.

My top three I want to see PTX do full covers of? "Beethoven's 5th Symphony", Avi Kaplan front and center singing all of "Old Man River" would be amazing and Kirstie Maldonado giving her spin on the Aretha Franklin classic "Respect" would be off the hook!

Give it a listen, enjoy the vibe and imagine what the full PTX treatment of your favorites in the bunch would sound like...

Better yet, let them know, there are no guarantees, but PTX does pay attention and use fan input, so if you put it out to them and the universe to lay a whole track down Pentatonix style of your pick, the forces of music out there in the great beyond might grant your wish!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T....PTX at: http://www.ptx-official.com/