Sara Bareilles is a 28-year-old singer songwriter whose career trajectory has been carefully nurtured following the signing of a major label deal three years ago. Before this she'd already recorded a self-produced album, Careful Confessions (2003). Already doing sterling business in the US, it's taken a year for this album to be finally released in the UK, possibly for fear that her album would be lost in the flood of female singer songwriters currently filling up the AOR airwaves. But Epic needn't have worried. Little Voice displays a more than competent grasp of pop dynamics, and Bareilles' voice balances sultry with strident impressively. While it'll leave the youth market cold, Bareilles' tough-but-tender confessionals and jaunty, multi-layered beatle-esque pop for grown ups (a la Jellyfish or Aimee Mann) should easily find a home in the hearts of more seasoned ears.
It's this aspect of Sara Bareilles' work - especially on Fairytale, Bottle It Up or Love Song - that will draw older listeners. The lush backing vocals, upbeat cynicism and clever, slightly psychedelic, loping arrangements hit the mark with ease. There are other odious comparisons to make of course - someone this new on the scene can't escape them - Fiona Apple for downers maybe, or Tori Amos without the irritating quirkiness? But the latter reference is probably more down to the fact that Little Voice is produced by Eric Rosse who helmed several of Amos' albums. The fact is that Bareilles is still finding her true vocabulary; the sonic pallette on display here is wiggling its behind and getting comfortable in one place. So apart from the worryingly mainstream fare like Between The Lines which has seen her matched in a support role to acts like Ben Folds, Maroon 5 or even Counting Crows there's the far more interesting r 'n' b twist that surfaces on tracks like Come Round Soon or the Benny And The Jets-meets-Hall and Oates blue-eyed confection, Love On The Rocks. Elsewhere Many The Miles demonstrates that she's best when being upfront about her own experiences with a slinky beat to coax her more distinctive vocal side.
There is a slight caveat emptor clause for faithful followers, as several of the tracks on offer here are re-recorded tracks that were on Careful Confessions (albeit vastly improved), plus the piano ballads like City or Gravity simply drag the pace too much, even though they never lapse into excessively maudlin introspection. Whether this kind of very American music will find an audience beyond the parameters of a Radio 2 audience remains to be seen. But for lovers of quality pop with a brain this is no little achievement.
Thursday 19 June 2008
Wednesday 11 June 2008
Corrie star to split with husband
Coronation Street actress Kym Ryder and her husband Jack have announced that they are to separate after six years of marriage.
The couple, who were married in 2002, said the split was "amicable" and that no-one else was involved in the break-up.
A statement released by ITV said: "With great sadness, Kym and Jack Ryder have decided to separate after seven years together. Their separation is amicable and they remain friends, with Jack continuing to see Kym's children, David and Emily.
"There is no-one else involved in the break up of their marriage. Neither Jack nor Kym will be commenting further to the press, and in consideration of the children's emotional welfare they have requested the media respect their privacy on this occasion."
It was with the band Hear'Say on the TV show Popstars in 2001, that 31-year-old Kym first came to public attention.
During her time with Hear'Say, the band sold 1.2m copies of their debut album, however Kym quit the band a year later amid reports of clashes with Myleene Klass.
Despite embarking on a brief solo career, which saw her reach Number Two in the UK charts, she was later dropped from her record label.
Twenty-six-year-old Jack Ryder shot to fame as Jamie Mitchell in 'EastEnders' from 1998 to 2002 and first met Kym in a BBC canteen while Hear'Say were on 'Top of the Pops' in 2001.
The couple were then married in 2002, with Jack quitting 'EastEnders' shortly after.
Since then Jack has for the most part remained off screen, while Kym has carved out a new career as Michelle Connor in 'Coronation Street'.
The couple, who were married in 2002, said the split was "amicable" and that no-one else was involved in the break-up.
A statement released by ITV said: "With great sadness, Kym and Jack Ryder have decided to separate after seven years together. Their separation is amicable and they remain friends, with Jack continuing to see Kym's children, David and Emily.
"There is no-one else involved in the break up of their marriage. Neither Jack nor Kym will be commenting further to the press, and in consideration of the children's emotional welfare they have requested the media respect their privacy on this occasion."
It was with the band Hear'Say on the TV show Popstars in 2001, that 31-year-old Kym first came to public attention.
During her time with Hear'Say, the band sold 1.2m copies of their debut album, however Kym quit the band a year later amid reports of clashes with Myleene Klass.
Despite embarking on a brief solo career, which saw her reach Number Two in the UK charts, she was later dropped from her record label.
Twenty-six-year-old Jack Ryder shot to fame as Jamie Mitchell in 'EastEnders' from 1998 to 2002 and first met Kym in a BBC canteen while Hear'Say were on 'Top of the Pops' in 2001.
The couple were then married in 2002, with Jack quitting 'EastEnders' shortly after.
Since then Jack has for the most part remained off screen, while Kym has carved out a new career as Michelle Connor in 'Coronation Street'.
Thursday 5 June 2008
Monday 2 June 2008
Tony Romo dumped Jessica Simpson because of media attention, her dad
Jessica Simpson’s relationship with Tony Romo reportedly came to an end because the Dallas Cowboys quarterback was fed-up with the intense media scrutiny that comes from being in Simpson’s life and the problems he has with her overbearing father, Joe Simpson.
Rumors that the couple split have been rife all week, but representatives for both Tony and Jessica continue to insist they are still together. And sources say it’s likely Romo will keep his promise to escort Jessica to her sister Ashlee Simpson’s wedding this weekend to Fall Out Boy rocker Pete Wentz.
See Also
Uma's Stalker Released on Probation
Jack Jordan, the man convicted of stalking Uma Thurman and harassing her and her family for two years was released from jail on Monday and ordered to get psychiatric care as part of his probation.
"It's important that you understand that your conduct is unacceptable, is criminal," said New York Criminal Court Judge Gregory Carro, who rejected a prosecution recommendation that Jordan return to jail, where he was held for four months.
Jordan,37, who was previously committed to a mental institution, was convicted of stalking and one count of aggravated harassment. He was cleared of two other counts and could have faced up to a year in prision.
Jordan told a judge that he would have left Thurman alone had he realized that his behavior was causing her great pain or fear.
"I heard things like, 'Would you leave?' instead of, 'Sir, you're making Ms. Thurman nervous. Please leave," Jordan said. "My greatest wish is that I had known sooner that I was putting fear into the heart of a woman I cared very much for."
Thurman, whose film credits include the Kill Bill movies and Pulp Fiction, testified at the trial that she was "completely freaked out" by Jordan's actions and feared for her life and the safety of her two children.
See Also
Arctic Monkeys dominate NME shortlist
Arctic Monkeys lead this year's NME Music Awards shortlist with nominations in seven categories.
The group has been nominated in the Best British Band, Best Live Band, Best Album, Best Track, Best Video and Best Video Album Artwork categories.
Lead singer Alex Turner has also been shortlisted for the Best Dressed award.
NME music magazine said the nominations, which are selected by public vote, made the group the most voted-for band of the decade.
Arctic Monkeys guitarist Jamie Cook said: "It's sound the readers keep voting for us."
"Live would be good - it's good to have been picked up in that because we put a lot of effort into our live work last year, I thought we got a lot better."
Klaxons have been nominated in four NME categories, contesting Best British Band, Best Album, Best Video and Best Dance Floor Filler.
Contesting the Best British Band category alongside the Arctic Monkeys and Klaxons are Babyshambles, The Cribs and Muse.
Troubled singer Amy Winehouse has also been nominated for four awards - Villain of the Year, Worst Dressed, Best Music DVD and Best Solo Artist.
Winehouse faces competition from Kate Nash, Jamie T, Jack Penate and Patrick Wolf in the Best Solo Artist category.
Nominated in the Best International Band category are Arcade Fire, Foo Fighters, the Killers, Kings of Leon and My Chemical Romance.
The nominations for Best Album are 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' by Arctic Monkeys, 'Shotters Nation' by Babyshambles, 'We'll Live and Die in These Towns' by The Enemy, 'Myths of the Near Future' by Klaxons and 'In Rainbows' by Radiohead.
The Best Track shortlist includes 'Fluorescent Adolescent' by Arctic Monkeys, 'Flux' by Bloc Party, 'Men's Needs' by The Cribs, 'Lord Don't Slow Me Down' by Oasis and 'Let's Dance to Joy Division' by The Wombats.
The group has been nominated in the Best British Band, Best Live Band, Best Album, Best Track, Best Video and Best Video Album Artwork categories.
Lead singer Alex Turner has also been shortlisted for the Best Dressed award.
NME music magazine said the nominations, which are selected by public vote, made the group the most voted-for band of the decade.
Arctic Monkeys guitarist Jamie Cook said: "It's sound the readers keep voting for us."
"Live would be good - it's good to have been picked up in that because we put a lot of effort into our live work last year, I thought we got a lot better."
Klaxons have been nominated in four NME categories, contesting Best British Band, Best Album, Best Video and Best Dance Floor Filler.
Contesting the Best British Band category alongside the Arctic Monkeys and Klaxons are Babyshambles, The Cribs and Muse.
Troubled singer Amy Winehouse has also been nominated for four awards - Villain of the Year, Worst Dressed, Best Music DVD and Best Solo Artist.
Winehouse faces competition from Kate Nash, Jamie T, Jack Penate and Patrick Wolf in the Best Solo Artist category.
Nominated in the Best International Band category are Arcade Fire, Foo Fighters, the Killers, Kings of Leon and My Chemical Romance.
The nominations for Best Album are 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' by Arctic Monkeys, 'Shotters Nation' by Babyshambles, 'We'll Live and Die in These Towns' by The Enemy, 'Myths of the Near Future' by Klaxons and 'In Rainbows' by Radiohead.
The Best Track shortlist includes 'Fluorescent Adolescent' by Arctic Monkeys, 'Flux' by Bloc Party, 'Men's Needs' by The Cribs, 'Lord Don't Slow Me Down' by Oasis and 'Let's Dance to Joy Division' by The Wombats.
Stephen Colbert takes home top Internet award
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stephen Colbert, whose U.S. presidential campaign was cut short, came out a winner on Tuesday when he walked away with a Webby award as the Internet's "Person of the Year."
Other special achievement winners in the 12th annual Webby awards, known as the "Oscars of the Internet," included Black Eyed Peas' frontman and songwriters will.i.am, recognized as "Artist of the Year," and French filmmaker Michel Gondry, who took home honors as "Video Person of the Year."
The Webby awards, which honor excellence on the Internet, are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a 550-person judging academy. Winners will be honored at ceremonies on June 9th and 10th in New York, and, as always, will be limited to just a five-word acceptance speech.
Colbert won the highest honor for "the innovative way he has used the Internet to interact with fans of The Colbert Report."
Among other Web achievements, a campaign by Colbert's fans made his show's official website the top Google search result under "Greatest Living American" and his "One Million Strong for Stephen T. Colbert" Facebook group attracted more than 78 members per minute in its first week.
Last year Colbert, who plays a pugnacious, egomaniacal talk show host on Comedy Central, cut short a playful run for the presidency after his requests to be on the South Carolina Democratic and Republic primary ballots was rejected.
The NYTimes.com, The Onion, National Geographic, Flickr and ESPN.com were among the other Webby award winners announced on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Paul Thomasch; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
Other special achievement winners in the 12th annual Webby awards, known as the "Oscars of the Internet," included Black Eyed Peas' frontman and songwriters will.i.am, recognized as "Artist of the Year," and French filmmaker Michel Gondry, who took home honors as "Video Person of the Year."
The Webby awards, which honor excellence on the Internet, are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a 550-person judging academy. Winners will be honored at ceremonies on June 9th and 10th in New York, and, as always, will be limited to just a five-word acceptance speech.
Colbert won the highest honor for "the innovative way he has used the Internet to interact with fans of The Colbert Report."
Among other Web achievements, a campaign by Colbert's fans made his show's official website the top Google search result under "Greatest Living American" and his "One Million Strong for Stephen T. Colbert" Facebook group attracted more than 78 members per minute in its first week.
Last year Colbert, who plays a pugnacious, egomaniacal talk show host on Comedy Central, cut short a playful run for the presidency after his requests to be on the South Carolina Democratic and Republic primary ballots was rejected.
The NYTimes.com, The Onion, National Geographic, Flickr and ESPN.com were among the other Webby award winners announced on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Paul Thomasch; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
Sixshot Bits: Brief News On Lil Wayne, Nas & Jay-Z
Lil Wayne is reportedly in negotiations to star in the fourth installment of The Fast and Furious series.
According to Billboard, Fast and Furious 4 is expected to hit theatres in 2009 and will star Paul Walker, Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez.
THINGS DONE CHANGED
According to Billboard, Fast and Furious 4 is expected to hit theatres in 2009 and will star Paul Walker, Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez.
THINGS DONE CHANGED
Death Cab For Cutie announce new single
Death Cab For Cutie are releasing 'Cath' as their next single on July 21 in the UK.
The band who scored a Number One in the US for their latest album 'Narrow Stairs' recently, will also play a series of UK shows.
They play:
Birmingham Academy (July 15)
Manchester Apollo (16)
London Brixton Academy (17)
To check the availability of Death Cab For Cutie tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/GIGS now, or call 0871 230 1094.
Jul 15, 2008 at Carling Academy, Birmingham -
Jul 16, 2008 at Apollo, Manchester -
Jul 17, 2008 at Carling Academy Brixton, London -
More Death Cab For Cutie tickets
The band who scored a Number One in the US for their latest album 'Narrow Stairs' recently, will also play a series of UK shows.
They play:
Birmingham Academy (July 15)
Manchester Apollo (16)
London Brixton Academy (17)
To check the availability of Death Cab For Cutie tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/GIGS now, or call 0871 230 1094.
Jul 15, 2008 at Carling Academy, Birmingham -
Jul 16, 2008 at Apollo, Manchester -
Jul 17, 2008 at Carling Academy Brixton, London -
More Death Cab For Cutie tickets
Claro Intelecto
Artist: Claro Intelecto
Genre(s):
Electronic
Discography:
Warehouse Sessions Volume 4
Year: 2007
Tracks: 2
Warehouse Sessions - Volume 1, 2 and 3
Year: 2006
Tracks: 6
One of the fundamental producers on Manchester's IDM-oriented Ai label, Mark Stewart debuted his Claro Intelecto assumed name in 2003 with the Pacification of Mind 12". Both tracks from the A-side fared considerably; the title cut wound up on several year-end DJ lists and "Touch" was included on Ricardo Villalobos' Taka Taka commix album. In early 2004, Stewart released a second 12" (Division), and a full-length -- Neurofibro, named afterward a genetic disease that he has suffered from -- followed in late April. As with most of his labelmates, Stewart gleans stirring from early electro and Detroit techno (Afrika Bambaataa, Model 500, Drexciya), along with U.K. IDM labels like Warp, Skam, and Rephlex.
Kelly Brook and Billy Zane back together
British actress and presenter Kelly Brook has reportedly got back together with Hollywood star Billy Zane.
The couple, who were reported to have split up last month, were photographed at a West London hotel earlier this week.
The Sun reports that 'Titanic' star Zane apparently persuaded Brook to give their relationship a second chance.
Zane is reported to have jetted into London from a film set in South Africa in an effort to save the relationship.
A source told the newspaper: "Kelly was giggling and looked very happy. She kept touching his arm."
Another source added: "Billy looked like the cat that got the cream. But she seemed to be teasing - it looked like she was keeping him on his toes."
The couple, who were reported to have split up last month, were photographed at a West London hotel earlier this week.
The Sun reports that 'Titanic' star Zane apparently persuaded Brook to give their relationship a second chance.
Zane is reported to have jetted into London from a film set in South Africa in an effort to save the relationship.
A source told the newspaper: "Kelly was giggling and looked very happy. She kept touching his arm."
Another source added: "Billy looked like the cat that got the cream. But she seemed to be teasing - it looked like she was keeping him on his toes."
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