In the two-year span since blessthefall’s album His Last Walk was
released, the band has undergone some internal repairs that could have
sunk any other band on the rise. Not so for the Phoenix five-piece,
who’ve learned that a kink in the gears isn’t enough to stop a band this
strong for good.
Formed in 2004 by a group of higher-thinking high-schoolers who wanted
their peers to find meaning and camaraderie in their music, blessthefall
was intent on making their post-hardcore/screamo blend a different
breed that people would remember. After several gigs in the area, more
than just the locals began to notice. Later, after a 3-song EP made the
rounds at shows and landed in label hands, this buzzy and burgeoning
band were signed to Warner subsidiary Science Records and making their
first full-length.
“Everyone has their first shows that consist of just the bands, and your
parents, if you’re lucky,” reflects guitarist Eric Lambert. “Things
picked up rather quickly, though. We started selling out hometown shows,
then started touring, and, oddly enough, we had fans outside of
Arizona. It was small shows, but the fans we met are still coming to
every show and are the best people ever.”
Armed with a defiant new record and a new frontman, blessthefall have
returned to the scene a stronger entity than ever before. Witness, the
band’s sophomore album and first with singer Beau Bokan, formerly of
Take the Crown, will be released from new label Fearless Records, who
signed the band in May. Bokan says this album reflects the positive
energy that now enfolds the band. “We wrote this album to show people we
aren’t the kind of band to lay down and give up,” notes Bokan. “We’re
here and won’t be going anywhere for a long, long time.”
Witness is a forward-thinking record that boasts bigger choruses,
heavier guitars and, essentially, Bokan adds, “His Last Walk on
steroids. It has all the same elements that got us where we are today.”
Recorded earlier this summer with Elvis Baskette (Incubus, Escape The
Fate, Story Of The Year) in Virginia, blessthefall took their collective
struggles to the forefront to produce a highly personal and evolved
album – and bombastic live show – that shows the band back is with
vengeance.
“With all the bands in the scene it’s hard to stand out,” says Bokan.
“Anyone can go into a studio and make an over produced album that sounds
amazing, but if they can’t pull it off live it means nothing. We pride
ourselves on our live show, and we want people to walk away from our
live show and be blown away. We leave our hearts on the stage every
night. The greatest compliment to ever get is when someone says we sound
better live than on CD.”
The band has truly taken the world by storm, with dates in 16 countries
planned for 2010, including a slot on Cool Tour with As I Lay Dying,
Underoath and Between The Buried And Me, an Australian / New Zealand
Tour with Story Of The Year and Saosin, and South American and European
Tours with August Burns Red in support of Witness.
While trying to win over new fans while appeasing the old may be a
difficult task for some bands, blessthefall accept it eagerly as a
challenge that they’ll work toward with this record and its following
tours. “There is a lot more drive now that Beau is in the band,” Lambert
said. “We know we have a lot to prove and we are all hungry for it.”
Simultaneously charge and enjoy your iPhone or
iPod in just about any room that has a few inches of space: kitchen,
bedroom, office—even a dorm room. The Octiv Mini is a fun and functional
alternative to a standard charger. With minimal space required, you can
play your tunes with the clear powerful sound you expect from Altec
Lansing. Download the free Alarm Rock app for added functionality.
Alarm Rock App*Wake up to your favorite song with the Alarm Rock appCheck it out Charges while you listen Compact Design Fits in nearly any space Compatibility Works with all iPhone and iPod models No Interruptions Listen without interference, shielded for mobile phones
*To install the free apps on your iPhone or iPod touch, make sure you are running iPhone OS 3.1 or later.
Octiv Duo – M202
Can’t we all just get along? Introducing, the Octiv™ Duo for iPhone
& iPod. It does everything a docking speaker does, multiplied by
two! Charge up and Rock out together. All while keeping the peace!
Free AppMusic Mix App allows you to dynamically mix songs from two players Seamlessly share music without missing a beat Dual Docks Charge two iPods / iPhones simultaneously Compact Design Fits neatly in tight spaces like corners and kitchen counters Quality Audio Delivers the crisp, clear sound you’ve come to expect from Altec Lansing Functionality Built-in USB port lets you charge a third device Full-feature remote Shielded for mobile phones so you can listen without interference
Free apps!*
Music Mix My playlist or yours? The Music Mix app lets you shuffle tunes from both players Check it out
Alarm Rock Wake up to your favorite song with the Alarm Rock app Check it out
Barnes graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in
Recording Industry Management—“I’m one of the few musicians in the
world actually using my major,” he laughs—and became a performing
songwriter himself, relocating to Nashville to see what might happen.
At
first very little was happening, with Barnes cutting his teeth in a
50-capacity room—and drawing just seven people at one point. But just a
few years later, after crisscrossing the country and selling vanloads of
two independent albums—Brother, Bring The Sun and Chasing Mississippi,
the artist had landed songs on television and in films, and was well
known to thousands who’d discovered his soulful, supple way with a
melody, wrapping itself around a lyric that sneakily burrows under the
skin. Those fans include Vince Gill and Amy Grant (who made guest
appearances on Chasing Mississippi) and John Mayer, who said on his
blog: “Go where this guy is taking you. My man’s aim is true!”
Where
is Barnes taking listeners? Judging by a spin of his latest, Me and You
and the World, just about anywhere. The Steely Dan jazz-pop of
“Someday.” The Blind Boys of Alabama-style gospel of “Carry Me Through.”
The lighters-in-the-air sing-along chorus of “When A Heart Breaks.” The
crowd favorite and first single, “Until You.” Or, perhaps, the
delicate, cello-laced ballad of “On A Night Like This.” It’s all here.
“I
always want my songs to be served individually,” Barnes says. “As we
approach production, what I’m always the most conscious of is, ‘is this
song sounding like it needs to sound?’ I do want the record to sound
good, but I’m a lot more concerned with an individual song. That’s all
that anybody’s listening to at one point anyway.”
BIO: When the Southern-flavored party rap called crunk took over urban radio in 2004, Miami rapper Pitbull decided it was time to seek stardom. The way Pitbull sees it, “crunk ain’t nothin’ but bass music slowed down.” Miami bass music, that is, the kind Pitbull grew up on. His parents were first-generation Cuban immigrants who didn’t let their son forget about his culture. They required him to memorize the works of Cuban poet José Martí, and Pitbull understood the power of words right away. Southern acts like Poison Clan and Luther Campbell were early influences, but as he grew, the young rapper got turned on to the G-funk sound of the West Coast and the New York City point of view Nas brought to the game.
His first recorded performance was from the Lil Jon album Kings of Crunk in 2002, after which he released his debut album in 2004 titled M.I.A.M.I (short for Money Is a Major Issue) under TVT Records. Since then, he has released two other albums under the label, El Mariel in 2006 and The Boatlift in 2007. He then released Rebelution in 2009, which included singles “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” and “Krazy”. The latter peaked at #30 on the Hot 100 and #11 on the Hot Rap Tracks charts while “I Know You Want Me” peaked at #2 on the Hot 100 and peaked within the top ten spots of charts in the UK, Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands. The song reached #1 in France and the European Hot 100 on the week ending August 29, 2009 according to Billboard magazine. He later signed with Polo Grounds Music through Sony Music and created his own label Mr. 305 Inc. Other singles from Rebelution included “Blanco” featuring Pharrel Wiliiams of The Neptunes and “Hotel Room Service”, the latter of which peaked at #9 on the Hot 100.
Simultaneously charge and enjoy your iPhone or
iPod in just about any room that has a few inches of space: kitchen,
bedroom, office—even a dorm room. The Octiv Mini is a fun and functional
alternative to a standard charger. With minimal space required, you can
play your tunes with the clear powerful sound you expect from Altec
Lansing. Download the free Alarm Rock app for added functionality.
Alarm Rock App*Wake up to your favorite song with the Alarm Rock appCheck it out
Charges while you listen
Compact Design Fits in nearly any space
Compatibility Works with all iPhone and iPod models
No Interruptions Listen without interference, shielded for mobile phones
*To install the free apps on your iPhone or iPod touch, make sure you are running iPhone OS 3.1 or later.
Octiv Duo – M202
Can’t we all just get along? Introducing, the Octiv™ Duo for iPhone
& iPod. It does everything a docking speaker does, multiplied by
two! Charge up and Rock out together. All while keeping the peace!
Free AppMusic Mix App allows you to dynamically mix songs from two players
Seamlessly share music without missing a beat
Dual Docks Charge two iPods / iPhones simultaneously
Compact Design Fits neatly in tight spaces like corners and kitchen counters
Quality Audio Delivers the crisp, clear sound you’ve come to expect from Altec Lansing
Functionality Built-in USB port lets you charge a third device
Full-feature remote
Shielded for mobile phones so you can listen without interference
Free apps!*
Music Mix
My playlist or yours? The Music Mix app lets you shuffle tunes from both players Check it out
Alarm Rock
Wake up to your favorite song with the Alarm Rock app Check it out
The Syte Shirt is a hands-free, interative iPad t-shirt. When wearing a
Syte Shirt, users can carry their iPad in a safe and secure location
while expressing their creativity. Look around the website to get
inspiration for your shirt or to share your ideas.
Displays your iPad in landscape mode
Capacitive-transmitting vinyl screen allows for full iPad functionality (water and dust-resistant)
Hidden zipper for secure retention and convenient access
2 hidden port holes on the inside for headphones or charge
Internal supports distribute weight of iPad across the body to prevent shirt distortion
Full mobility whether you are sitting down or walking
On
November 16th, Blue Note Records will release …Featuring,
a star-studded collection of Norah Jones’
musical collaborations from the past decade. The 18 songs
on the album include duets with such legends as Ray
Charles, Willie Nelson, and Dolly
Parton, and with 21st Century icons from OutKast to
the Foo Fighters. The tracks on …Featuring span
her entire career, from one of her earliest recording sessions
(a version of Roxy Music’s “More Than This” with guitarist Charlie
Hunter in 2001) to her most recent performance,
a song called “Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John” that
she cut with Belle and Sebastian, which
will also appear on their new album. “It’s so exciting
and flattering and fun when I get asked to sing with somebody
that I admire,” says Jones. “It takes you a little bit
out of your comfort zone when you’re doing something with
another artist. You don’t know what to expect—it’s kind
of like being a little kid and having a playdate.” Also
included are recordings by some of Jones’s own bands and
side projects (The Little Willies and El
Madmo), and performances with artists that she’s
toured with including M. Ward, Sasha
Dobson, and Gillian Welch and David
Rawlings. Songs on …Featuring range
from classics recorded by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Joni
Mitchell, and Roy Orbison to new material by such wide-ranging
innovators as Ryan Adams and Q-Tip.
“A lot of the people on this record are people I’ve worshiped
since I was a kid, and some of them are younger and more
my contemporaries,” says Jones. “Even though the musicians
are so varied, the vibe of the songs makes sense when we
put them all together.”
TRACK LISTING:
1. Love Me – The
Little Willies
2. Virginia Moon – The Foo Fighters featuring Norah
Jones
3. Turn Them – Sean Bones featuring Norah Jones
4. Baby It’s Cold Outside – Willie Nelson featuring
Norah Jones
5. Bull Rider – Norah Jones and Sasha Dobson
6. Ruler Of My Heart – Dirty Dozen Brass Band featuring
Norah Jones
7. The Best Part – El Madmo
8. Take Off Your Cool – OutKast featuring Norah
Jones
9. Life Is Better – Q-Tip featuring Norah Jones
10. Soon The New Day – Talib Kweli featuring Norah
Jones
11. Little Lou, Prophet Jack, Ugly John – Belle & Sebastian
featuring Norah Jones
12. Here We Go Again – Ray Charles featuring Norah
Jones
13. Loretta – Norah Jones featuring Gillian Welch
and David Rawlings
14. Dear John – Ryan Adams featuring Norah Jones
15. Creepin’ In – Norah Jones featuring Dolly Parton
16. Court & Spark – Herbie Hancock featuring
Norah Jones
17. More Than This – Charlie Hunter featuring Norah
Jones
18. Blue Bayou – Norah Jones featuring M. Ward
The dazzling video for “Suspicious Minds,” the first single from ‘Viva ELVIS – The Album,’ debuts today on Elvis.com. Much like the album from which the song comes, as well as Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil , the sparkling video invokes the spirit and essence of Elvis from a contemporary perspective and re-imagines his performance style in a new setting.
The track was recently hailed by USA Today as “a cross between a gospel hymn and ‘Everlasting Love’ before transforming into something like a U2 anthem.”
‘Viva ELVIS – The Album’ out today on Legacy Recordings, in cooperation with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. and Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, is a 21st century celebration of Elvis and his music, featuring the voice of the king in a whole new context. Produced and arranged by Erich Van Tourneau, the album is a multi-faceted audio extravaganza creating a larger-than-life musical portrait of Elvis through newly re-imagined versions of classic tracks.
Michael Butler and Sam Levin show some great gift ideas. This is the KeyFolio™ Bluetooth Keyboard and Case for iPad.
The Kensington KeyFolio™ not only protects your iPad when on the road but also provides a handy wireless Bluetooth® keyboard and handsfree stand when you reach your destination. The rubberized keys were specially designed to cushion your iPad screen from bumps and scratches when the folio is closed.
Features
Durable synthetic leather cover protects your iPad in style
Provides full access to all iPad controls and 30-pin connector
Rubberized keys are spill-proof and also protect iPad screen from scratching when closed
Bluetooth keyboard delivers wireless operation and includes iPad specific keys
Adjustable stand securely holds your iPad in landscape mode
Magnet-free folio case ensures uninterrupted operation of the iPad’s digital compass
Specifications
Bluetooth: v 2.0 standard
Uninterrupted working time: 90 hours
Standby time: 100 days, Battery life: 3 years
Charging time: up to 4.5 hours
Lithium-ion battery capacity: Minimum 430 mAh
Warranty KeyFolio™ Bluetooth Keyboard and Case for iPad is backed by the Kensington 2-Year warranty.
