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'Angels and Demons' digs into science, religion conflict
Natali Del Conte takes a look at the religious and scientific aspects of the new film "Angels and Demons."
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: "Raising Sand"
The musical collaboration of the decade, Raising Sand is the sound of two iconic figures stepping out of their respective comfort zones and letting their instincts lead them across a brave new sonic landscape. Despite hailing from distinctly different backgrounds, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant share a maverick spirit and willingness to extend the boundaries of their respective genres. This spirit, expertly honed by producer T Bone Burnett, has resulted in an album pitched three steps beyond some cosmic collision of early urban blues, spacious West Texas country, and the untapped potential of the folk-rock revolution. Supported by the unparalleled musicianship of Marc Ribot, Dennis Crouch, Mike Seeger, Jay Bellerose, Norman Blake, Greg Leisz, Patrick Warren, and Riley Baugus, Plant and Krauss - as both solo and harmony vocalists - tackle an intriguing selection of songs from such tunesmiths as Tom Waits, Gene Clark, Sam Phillips, Townes Van Zandt, The Everly Brothers, and Mel Tillis. Raising Sand finds Robert Plant and Alison Krauss exploring popular music's elemental roots while still sounding effortlessly, breath-takingly contemporary.
Prefuse 73, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Cool Kids
Crossfade TV this week checks out the latest hip-hop/funk/chop-rock smarts from Prefuse 73, new music from indie-rap duo Cool Kids, and the great new collaboration between bluegrass chanteuse Alison Krauss and Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant.
Ep. 985: Accelorometers in bed
Natali brings our discussion of the MEMS-based accelerometer technology to a screeching halt when she suggested it be used in bed. This is a clear demonstration of how much more mature Natali is than Rafe or myself. In other news, we discover the true meaning of Bing and ponder the sanity of a new Mac-clone maker.
Beth Orton is a famously good singer, as evidenced by the three albums that have so conspicuously built her worldwide reputation over the past decade. Not even that illustrious body of work, however, can properly prepare you for the extraordinarily personal, almost naked and most certainly honest emotional qualities of "Comfort of Strangers," Beth Orton's new album released in February 2006.
Its production values are deceptively uncomplicated. Deceptive, because the album's stripped-down sonics allow the emotional complexities of Beth Orton's performances - and particularly her premiership talents as a songwriter - to flourish; at times sad, funny, playful and poignant, romantic, always lyrical and on occasion even a touch sentimental. Indeed, coming after her opening trilogy of albums, "Comfort of Strangers" represents a total sense of reinvention, a fabulous alchemy resulting from a set of simple rules that Beth Orton decided for the new CD.
The 404 341: Where we like Natali a-latte
Wilson Tang is back in the house today, along with the lovely and ever-gracious Natali Del Conte. She's just come back from her vacation, and we find out how she stalked Tom Hanks from the film "Angels & Demons" (check out her Loaded piece this Thursday).
Teairra Mari: "Make A Girl Feel"
The newly crowned "Princess Of the Roc," Teairra Mar, wasn't even born when Eric B. and Rakim unleashed ?My Melody,? the hip-hop classic who's sample is featured in her debut single, "Make Her Feel Good." But when the 17-year-old Detroit native heard the bass-heavy gem recycled she immediately knew she had found the cornerstone of her signature sound. Teairra Mar recalls, When I heard that track, I was like, "This is the one, because it's simple but also huge." The enthusiasm that "Make Her Feel Good" set off at The Island Def Jam Music Group marked a defining moment in Teairra Mari's young career, which began at age 12 when she started recording rough demos in her cousin's basement. Despite scoring a local radio hit with one of those early songs, four years passed before Teairra Mari's demo landed on the desk of Island Def Jam Group Chairman, Antonio ?LA? Reid, who signed the then 16-year-old singer on the spot at a brief meeting where she performed live. "I couldn't believe it," she says. "I was crying because I was so happy. I feel like everyone's behind me, which is a great feeling to have coming from a time when it seemed that nobody believed in me or wanted to hear me." In the first creative collaboration since Shawn ?Jay-Z? Carter became President of Def Jam Music Group, he and LA Reid recruited hit-making songwriter, Sean Garrett (?Lose My Breath,? ?Goodies,? ?Yeah!?), to help translate Teairra Mar??s innermost thoughts and emotions into lyrics. The two successfully completed "Make Her Feel Good," a defining first single from forthcoming album scheduled to be released June 7, 2005 on Roc-A-Fella Records. "Make Her Feel Good" is just a peek into her full-length album, which she describes as a girl's dictionary. "When Sean started writing the lyrics for "Make Her Feel Good," it was because of stories I was telling him about my guy friends," explains Teairra Mari, whose musical influences and inspirations include Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin (her grandmother sang back-up for the Queen of Soul), Prince, Sade, Patti LaBelle and Minnie Ripperton. This is just the beginning.
When hip-hop began its attack on mainstream culture in the mid-80's, it found itself in some pretty strange neighborhoods. It started to influence kids that the music was never intended for. Shows like Yo! MTV Raps and national tours from Run DMC brought rap music to uncharted territories never thought of during its birth in the projects. This is when the suburbs discovered rap music. And so did Hot Karl. Hot Karl, born Jensen-Gerard Karp (23), grew up in Calabasas, CA, a secluded suburb only a few miles away from the Malibu beaches. He listened to N.W.A. and Slick Rick, never relating to their subject matter or lifestyle, but loving the artform. It wasn't long before Karl began writing his own lyrics, hiding it from his affluent neighbors who still looked down at rap music and its possibilities. Karl continued to write lyrics, enter battles and freestyle at USC (where he graduated Cum Laude 2001), creating the Hot Karl persona. This is when Karl decided to call into a Los Angeles radio show to rap on the Roll Call competition, where he lasted a record 30 days on air to become the all-time champion and create a surprising buzz in LA. As managers and labels began to call, Karl created a demo exhibiting his style of witty satire and tight rhymes with help from Limp Bizkit's DJ Lethal. Karl weighed out his options from the firestorm of interest and eventually signed with Interscope Records, where he created what was to be his debut CD. "Your Housekeeper Hates You? included guest appearances by Redman, Fabolous, DJ Quik, Mya, Sugar Ray, DJ Clue and MC Serch. Once Interscope informed Karl that his CD could not be commercially released due to ?scheduling conflicts,? he asked for his immediate release, hoping to return to his underground roots and stay away from this corporate side of the music industry that he slowly began to hate. As Karl continues his attempt to "make hip-hop fun," he never focuses on the morbid world of rap and violence that continue to prove strong sales. "I'm only going to speak about things I know," Karl explains. "My keeping it real is much different than most other MC's." Karl has recently signed with EMI Publishing and found his music (as well as likeness) in the video game, NBA Live 2003, proving that leaving a major label is hardly an ending - but rather just another beginning. It's gonna be a fun ride as Karl attempts to introduce his upbringing and signature humor to the culture of hip-hop. It's time to realize the magnitude of rap music's influence, as well as time for some unlikely voices to have their chance.
Watch the 2008 Holiday Help Desk marathon!
Join Brian, Tom, Molly, Natali, and Brian on November 28--or Black Friday--when they host the Holiday Help Desk live on CNET TV. They'll be answering all of your holiday shopping questions from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT.
THE ADORED combine elements of discopunk, new wave, and pure power pop to create an intelligent yet catchy, different yet danceable sound. Inspired by the likes of The Clash, The Jam, and Blur, scenepointblank.com calls them Garagey, catchy, and as much as I hate the word, sassy. The Adored were born when four best friends and bon vivants joined up to make spiky party music. What came out draws from the more angular elements of early punk & postpunk and the less pompous elements of fin-de-siecle Britpop. Ryan (vocals) and Nat (drums) met in the mid-90s in NorCal and both played with a locally legendary punk band before moving southward. Max (bass) and Drew (guitar) met as students in Boston, studying media, all the while dreaming of a Los Angeles pop life. The four finally came together in LA and never looked back. So far, their adventures as Hollywood golden boys have included shows with eclectic artists new and old like Supergrass, The Zombies, Ima Robot, Bow Wow Wow, The Futureheads and Les Sav Fav. The Adored have also performed at parties hosted by members of buzz bands Mount Sims, Interpol and the Moving Units. The band has also appeared in clips on the UK?s Channel Four and Southern California?s Fox 11 ---as the current LA ?it band?! With mentions in the NME, the California press, and a grassroots network of blogs and webzines have all helped build an international fan base for the Adored. Again and again, they have performed in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Californias beach counties, bringing their music to grateful, music starved suburban scenesters and leaving their mark on the West Coast. The boys finished a successful 4-night mini-tour to New York City this spring and a weekly residency at Sunset Strips KEY CLUB. Following a 4-song demo in 2003, the Adored recorded a 5-song EP for V2 Records in fall 2004, with producer Dave Trumfio and a special guest vocalist friend and mutual fan Pete Shelley [Buzzcocks]. Due in stores January 2005. These 2004 LA WEEKLY MUSIC AWARDS BEST DANCE ARTIST nominees deceptively simple lineup of guitars, drums and three vocals help the four lovely lads produce a rhythm unique to the California scene -- the first stage in their plan to induce global simultaneous Adorgasm.
