<![CDATA[Ani DiFranco]]> http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/difranco_ani/artist.jhtml (c) 2007 MTV Networks. (c) and TM MTV Networks. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See http://www.mtv.com/sitewide/mtvinfo/terms.jhtml for terms and conditions. http://www.mtv.com/sitewide/images/u/mtv-logo.gif MTV http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/difranco_ani/artist.jhtml 65 44 Music en-us 15 <![CDATA[Dave Matthews, Maroon 5, 58 Other Acts To Play Bonnaroo]]> Bob Dylan, Wilco, the Dead also confirmed for Tennessee event.
By Joe D'Angelo


Dave Matthews (file)
Photo: RCA

Dave Matthews, Maroon 5, Kings of Leon and former Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson are among the dozens of artists slated for the three-day Bonnaroo festival.

Part of one of the most eclectic lineups of the summer concert season, they join Bob Dylan, the Dead, Wilco, Damien Rice, Grandaddy, Cut Chemist, David Byrne, the Black Keys, Willie Nelson, moe., Ani DiFranco, Yo La Tengo, My Morning Jacket and String Cheese Incident at the third annual festival, which will again be held on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, 60 miles south of Nashville, on June 11-13.

Thirty other artists are confirmed thus far, according to a tour spokesperson. Additions are expected to be announced in the coming weeks to bring the total number of acts to more than 60.

Matthews is being billed as "with friends," a crop of pals that will include Trey Anastasio, who's also on board as a solo act. The Phish guitarist played with Matthews on his most recent outing.

More than 80,000 fans came out for last year's festival, 2003's second-highest-grossing concert at a single venue. Its more than $11.5 million was second only to the $38.6 million that Bruce Springsteen raked in from his sold-out 10-show run at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

As in previous years, the show will be filmed for a "Live From Bonnaroo" DVD, expected to drop this fall.

Tickets for the event go on sale February 21.

Related Artists ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485057/20040213/matthews_dave.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485057/20040213/matthews_dave.jhtml 13 Feb 2004 01:00:00 EST <![CDATA[New Releases: <I>Grammy Nominees 2004,</I> Ani DiFranco, Dizzee Rascal, The Thrills, Amel Larrieux & More]]>

The music industry is just coming out of its winter slumber and the timing couldn't be better: Grammy ramp-up is upon us. Getting in on the act is Grammy Nominees 2004, a disc whose track list reads like a Now That's What I Call Music! compilation. But, because of the sole inclusion of a Michael McDonald song, isn't. On the album you'll find Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love," Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River," 50 Cent's "In Da Club," Avril Lavigne's "I'm With You," Fountains of Wayne's "Stacy's Mom" and Sean Paul's "Gimme the Light."

One-girl revolution Ani DiFranco returns to her roots on Educated Guess, where she performs (and writes and records and produces) every song herself. Meanwhile, songbird Amel Larrieux becomes a Bravebird this week alongside the "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!" soundtrack, featuring Liz Phair, John Mayer and Five for Fighting; new Wu-Tang protégés Northstar and their debut album, Bobby Digital Presents ... Northstar; and King Cobra's self-titled EP.

Also out this week are two notable DVDs: Belle and Sebastian's Fans Only and "The Complete First Season" of "Punk'd."

Out Tuesday, January 20:

  • Charles Afton - Lost Sunset Lounge (Kriztal)
  • Aluminum Group - More Happyness (Wishing Tree)
  • The Beaton Family - Cape Breton Fiddle & Piano Music of Mabou (Smithsonian Folkways)
  • Bevel - Down the Puppet String, Marionettes (Jagjaguwar)
  • Books Lie - Hall of Fame of Fire (Level Plane)
  • Boyskout - School of Etiquette (Alive)
  • Califone - Heron King Blues (Thrill Jockey)
  • Ray Charles - Rockin' Chair Blues (Delta)
  • Bobby Conn - Homeland (Thrill Jockey)
  • Camera Obscura - Underachievers Please Try Harder (Merge)
  • Candy Butchers - Hang on Mike (Sony)
  • Clones - Need a Wave (Punk Rock Dirtnap)
  • The Dexateens - The Dexateens (Touch and Go)
  • Dexter Freedish - Tripped Into Divine (Sixthman)
  • Ani DiFranco - Educated Guess (Righteous Babe)
  • Dios - Arboles (Dim Mak)
  • Dizzee Rascal - Boy in Da Corner (Matador/XL)
  • Dub Narcotic Sound System - Degenerate Introduction (K)
  • Don Edwards - Last of the Troubadours - Saddle Songs Vol. 2 (Shanachie)
  • Espers -Espers (Locust)
  • The Evaporators - Ripple Rock (Alternative Tentacles)
  • Sally Fingerett - A Woman's Gotta Do Her Thing (Shanachie)
  • Lisa Gerrard and Patrick Cassidy - Immortal Memory (4AD)
  • Hella - The Devil Isn't Red (5 Rue Christine)
  • Hello Dave - Perfect Day (Fresh Tracks)
  • The Hollow Points - Annihilation (Punk Rock Dirtnap)
  • IIIrd Tyme Out - Erase the Miles (Rebel)
  • The Impressions - Tribute to Curtis Mayfield (Delta)
  • The Intelligence - Boredom and Terror (Omnibus)
  • Rodd Keith - Ecstasy to Frenzy (Tzadik)
  • Kronow - Deserve Damnation (Hapi Skratch)
  • Kylesa - No Ending 110 Degree Heat Index (Prank)
  • Joe Jackson - Live (Koch)
  • King Cobra - King Cobra (Troubleman Unlimited)
  • Kohn - Bruce Willis (Western Vinyl)
  • Amel Larrieux - Bravebird (Blisslife)
  • John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band (Koch)
  • The Lost Patrol - Songs About Running Away (Burning Heart)
  • Hannah Marcus - Desert Farmers (Bar/None)
  • Al McKibbon - Black Orchid (Nine Yards)
  • The Mekons - Punk Rock (Quarterstick)
  • Miss Derringer - King James, Crown Royal & a Colt 45 (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
  • Jason Molina - Pyramid Electric Co. (Secretly Canadian)
  • Lorrie Morgan - Show Me How (Image Entertainment)
  • Mother Superior - 13 Violets (Topbeat)
  • Necronomitron - Necronomitron (Load)
  • Neva Dinova/ Bright Eyes - Neva Dinova/ Bright Eyes (split disc, Crank!)
  • New End Original - Lukewarm (Jade Tree)
  • Northstar - Bobby Digital Presents ... Northstar (Koch/ In the Paint)
  • Oneida - Secret Wars (Jagjaguwar)
  • Greg Palast - Weapons of Mass Destruction (Alternative Tentacles)
  • Raising the Fawn - By the Warmth of Your Flame (Sonic Unyon)
  • Ramiyah - Ramiyah (Music World/Columbia)
  • Rapider Than Horsepower - This Is My Big Night (Essay)
  • Red Tyger Church - Free Energy (Alive)
  • Seabound - Beyond Flatline (Metropolis)
  • Sigmatropic - Sixteen Haiku & Other Stories (Thirsty Ear)
  • Sister Hazel - Live*LIVE (Sixthman)
  • Special Goodness - Land Air Sea (Epitaph)
  • Statistics - Leave Your Name (Jade Tree)
  • Casey Stratton - Standing at the Edge (Sony Classical)
  • The Thrills - N.A.F.I.T.C. (Bacchus)
  • Toys That Kill - Flys (Asian Man)
  • Transistor Transistor/Wolves - Split (Level-Plane)
  • Tussle - Don't Stop (Troubleman Unlimited)
  • John Vanderslice - Cellar Door (Barsuk)
  • Volcano, I'm Still Excited!! - Volcano, I'm Still Excited!! (Polyvinyl)
  • The Willowz - The Willowz (Dionysus)
  • The WPP - Baam! Jaam! (Substandard)
  • Various artists - Acoustic Disc: 100% Handmade Bluegrass (Acoustic Disc)
  • Various artists - Grammy Nominees 2004 (BMG)
  • Various artists - Rhythm, Love and Soul (Sony)
  • Various artists - "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!" soundtrack (Aware/Columbia/Sony Music Soundtrax)
  • DVD: Charly Antolini - Jazz Power: Hot Jazz Festival (Music Video Distributors/Inakustik)
  • DVD: The Battle for L.A. (Redline)
  • DVD: Belle & Sebastian - Fans Only (Matador)
  • DVD: Friend 'n Fellow - Live (Music Video Distributors)
  • DVD: Meat Beat Manifesto - In Dub 5.1 Surround (Music Video Distributors/Lakeshore)
  • DVD: MTV Punk'd - "The Complete First Season" (Paramount)
  • DVD: Sir Mix-A-Lot - Shhhh ... Don't Tell 'Em That (Image Entertainment)
  • DVD: Sister Hazel - A Life in the Day (Sixthman)

January 27:

  • Air - Talkie Walkie (Astralwerks)
  • Twista - Kamikaze (Atlantic)

February 3:

February 10:

  • Norah Jones - Feels Like Home (Blue Note) Read:"Norah Jones Returns Home With New Album"
  • Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart (Virgin)
  • Kylie Minogue - Body Language (Capitol)
  • Various artists - "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" soundtrack (Capitol)

For a look back at previous big Grammy winners, red carpet photos and much more, visit our Grammy News Archive.

Related Artists ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484449/20040120/knowles_beyonce.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484449/20040120/knowles_beyonce.jhtml 20 Jan 2004 04:18:00 EST <![CDATA[For The Record: Quick News On Jay-Z, Beyonce, Flavor Flav, Alanis Morissette, Justin Timberlake, Ani DiFranco & More]]>
Jay-Z
Photo: MTV News

As a warm-up for Tuesday's (November 25) Madison Square Garden headlining concert in New York, Jay-Z played the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Massachusetts, on Sunday. Jay was backed by a live band, directed by the Roots' ?uestlove, for large portions of the set, which included a string of songs from his debut LP, Reasonable Doubt. ...

Beyoncé, Clay Aiken, Evanescence, Foo Fighters and Shania Twain will join No Doubt and Sting as performers at the 2003 Billboard Music Awards, taking place December 10. The show will air live from Las Vegas on FOX. ... Justin Timberlake plans to share the love on his upcoming NBC special — by inviting the Black Eyed Peas to join him on a performance of their song "Where Is the Love?" The one-hour show, "Justin Timberlake: Down Home in Memphis," will feature a personal tour of his hometown, highlighting Memphis' musical legacy. The show airs Friday at 8 p.m. ET. ...

With Bizzy Bone back in the fold, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are at full strength and hoping to drop their next album in the summer — once they've secured a record deal. In the meantime, Bizzy and Layzie are pressing on with a duo LP called Forever Young, which they plan to release in the spring. ... Who wouldn't want to wake to the soothing sounds of Public Enemy's mouthpiece Flavor Flav shouting, "Yeahh boyee!," "Get up and get, get down," and "Rock that Sh--, homie!"? For $85, you can drift through dreamland under Flavor's watchful eye with the Legends Flavor Flav Talking Alarm Clock. Only 500 limited-edition versions of the miniature rapper holding his trademark clock necklace are available at www.ecko.com and at selected retailers. ...

Kate Pierson of the B-52's has opened a hotel in the Catskills area in upstate New York called Kate's Lazy Meadow Motel. The eight-unit house features rooms and suites in "mind-blowing mid-century modern/space age/rocket-your-socks-off decor," according to the motel's Web site. ... Alanis Morissette's follow-up to 2002's Under Rug Swept is expected to drop in February. Titled So Called Chaos, the LP promises to include everything from soft ballads to dance music to pure rock. Before then, the singer will do a quick turn in the off-Broadway play "The Exonerated," from December 2-7 in New York. She'll portray Sunny Jacobs, a woman freed from death row after her murder conviction is overturned. ...

Feliz Navidad from Carlos Santana. On December 16, a collection of unreleased and remixed tracks from the Supernatural and Shaman recording sessions will be available on Ceremony - Remixes and Rarities. The disc, limited to 100,000 copies, will include the new songs "Curacion (Sunlight on Water)," "Truth Don Die" and "Manana." ... The members of Matchbox Twenty, who just released the EP titled EP, are taking off with other projects. Singer Rob Thomas, drummer Paul Doucette and rhythm guitarist Adam Gaynor have each been working on solo projects, while lead guitarist Kyle Cook is laboring away on an album with his band the New Left. The projects are expected to surface next year. ...

The organizers behind the Milwaukee Metalfest are planning on taking their show on the road and migrating south. Jack Koshick and Rob Grohl are working on a Florida Metalfest, to be held in the St. Petersburg area, March 6 and 7. No bands have been confirmed as of yet. ... Iron Maiden will play just eight shows in North America next year to support their latest album, Dance of Death. The group will perform two dates in Canada, starting January 20 in Montreal, before playing four gigs in New York (January 23-27), and finishing up with two shows in Los Angeles (January 30 and 31). ...

"Jambands," a new book written by Jambands.com founder Dean Budnick, is all the schooling you need to firmly grasp the musical inspirations of the noodle-dance, the closed-eye headshake, and the "I'm catching butterflies that aren't really there" boogie. Due January 6, the book, packaged with an accompanying live album, documents the rise of the scene from the days of the Grateful Dead to their successors, including Moe, the Disco Biscuits and Robert Randolph & the Family Band. ... On her new album, Educated Guess, Ani DiFranco ups the ante of her "do it yourself" aesthetic to "do everything yourself." For the first time in her 14-year career, the folksy punk balladeer performed all the production duties — from recording and to the final mixes — herself. Educated Guess, the follow-up to Evolve, is due January 20. ...

CNET Networks has purchased online music outlet MP3.com from Vivendi Universal for an undisclosed amount of money. On December 2, the site, which hosts music from over 250,000 largely unsigned acts, will shut down completely. It will be relaunched next year as a music-information site, and will no longer provide downloads. ...

11.24.03

Like the ride Britney has in her video for "Me Against the Music"? The sports car — autographed on the hood and the steering wheel by the singer — is being auctioned off to benefit the Britney Spears Foundation. The auction, happening on ebay.com, starts December 1 and ends December 11. Also being auctioned is Brit's sporty outfit from her NFL Kickoff concert. Her Reebok boots, black football pants, black NFL shorts and black-and-white referee halter top are to be auctioned off between now and Sunday to benefit the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. For more information, go to marybirdauction.com. ...

50 Cent knows what's up. With the high anticipation of his in-store releases, he's already prophesizing that he will have to push up the release date of his next solo album. "Probably Fourth of July weekend," he said about when he wants to put the LP out. "But it will probably come out in June due to the bootleggers." ... Whether it snows or not, White Stripes fans can expect a "White Christmas" from their favorite red-suited character. Stripes frontman Jack White has contributed two new songs, "Never Far Away" and "Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over," as well as three covers to the soundtrack to his film debut, "Cold Mountain." The soundtrack drops December 16, and the flick opens on Christmas Day. ...

Beck, fidgeting with a keyboard and twiddling knobs on a drum machine, tugged on his sweater and said, "It's getting hot in here," at KCRW's A Sounds Eclectic Evening concert Saturday in Universal City, California, before launching into Nelly's song of the same name, different spelling. He later revisited the "Hot in Herre" chorus during "Where It's At," a highlight of the solo set that also included Mutations' "Nobody's Fault But My Own," an oldie from One Foot in the Grave, a couple of tracks from Sea Change and a pair of songs by his late friend Elliott Smith. An acoustic set from Shelby Lynne was the surprise performance at the Universal Amphitheatre event, which also featured Liz Phair (also acoustic), Jurassic 5, Damien Rice, the Polyphonic Spree, Jem and Gary Jules. ...

Kung Fu, the label operated by the Vandals' Joe Escalante that launched the Ataris' career, is tentatively eyeing a May release for a Warped Tour DVD that will include performances from the Ataris, Poison the Well, Tsunami Bomb, Simple Plan and other artists to be announced. ... Defunct Swedish post-hardcore rockers Refused will see their legacy chronicled via the Refused Are F---ing Dead collection, which will be comprised of never-before-seen material and videos. Meanwhile, Refused's landmark 1998 album, The Shape of Punk to Come, has been remixed and remastered in 5.1 surround DVD audio format, with the re-release (as well as remastered editions of Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent and The EP Compilation) set for early next year. ...

Pioneering English punk band the Buzzcocks will perform a series of club shows before heading back to their homeland. Eight shows are scheduled from November 28 through December 6, including stops in New York, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The trek promotes the band's latest, self-titled album, which dropped in September. ...

Related Artists ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480812/20031125/jay_z.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480812/20031125/jay_z.jhtml 25 Nov 2003 05:19:00 EST <![CDATA[In Stores Now And Coming Soon: LPs By Ani DiFranco, BT, The Pattern, Run-DMC, Sahara Hotnights, Ivy & More]]>
Ani DiFranco
Photo: Albert Sanchez

Except for the inclusion of "Self Evident," a post-9/11 poem on Ani DiFranco's live double CD, So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter, this week's releases are steering clear from addressing the first anniversary of September 11, 2001 (see "Artists Debate Releasing Discs Near 9/11 Anniversary" ).

Aside from DiFranco, more girls with guitars who are issuing new albums are the Bangs (Call & Response) and anti-Ace of Base Swedes the Sahara Hotnights, whose Jennie Bomb is their first U.S. effort. Meanwhile, Lynda Stipe (sister of R.E.M.'s Michael) and her '80s band Oh-OK are rediscovered with The Complete Oh-OK, which features the early, early work of Matthew Sweet.

Former Arrested Development member Speech and former Pharcyde member Tre Hardson both try thei hands at solo efforts this week with Spiritual People and Liberation, respectively. And the Yohimbe Brothers, a duo made up of Vernon Reid of Living Colour and DJ Logic from Eye & I, release Front End Lifter, which reunites Reid with all of the original members of Living Colour and includes guest spots by Prince Paul and Slick Rick.

Out Tuesday, September 10:

  • Audio Soul Project - Community Remixed (Studio K7)
  • Authority Zero - A Passage in Time (Lava/ Atlantic)
  • Baby D - Lil' Chopper Toy (Big Oomph)
  • The Bachelors - The Very Best of the Bachelors (Varèse Sarabande)
  • The Bangs - Call & Response (EP, Kill Rock Stars)
  • Before Braille - The Rumor (Liquid 8)
  • Boas - Mansion (Overcoat/ Touch & Go)
  • Boy Sets Fire - Live for Today (EP, Wind-Up)
  • Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - Ultimate Collection (Hip-O)
  • Broken Spindles - Broken Spindles (Tiger Style)
  • The Brooklyn Cowboys - Dodgin' Bullets (Leaps)
  • BT - 10 Years in the Life (WEA Labels)
  • Richard Buckner - Born Into (Overcoat/ Touch & Go)
  • Tom Burris - For Sale (Tomato)
  • Cross Canadian Ragweed - Cross Canadian Ragweed (Universal South)
  • Cynthia Dall - Sound Restores Young Men (Drag City)
  • Coco de Mer - Coco de Mer (Rasa/ Tommy Boy)
  • Dead to Fall - Everything I Touch Falls to Pieces (Victory)
  • Delaney & Bonnie - Accept No Substitute (Collector's Choice)
  • The Detachment Kit - They Raging Quiet Army (SpinART)
  • Diesel - Watts in a Tank (One Way)
  • Ani DiFranco - So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter (Righteous Babe)
     
  • John Doe - Dim Stars, Bright Sky (iMusic)
     Read: "Punk Pioneers John Doe, Gordon Gano Pull A P. Diddy On Star-Studded Solo LPs"
  • Dropkick Murphys - Live on St. Patrick's Day from Boston, MA (Hellcat)
  • Drums & Tuba - Mostly Ape (Righteous Babe)
  • Earl Slick Band - Slick Trax (Metal Blade)
  • Echo - Echo (New Line)
  • Excommunion - Superion (World War III)
  • Faultline - Your Love Means Everything (Elektra)
  • Radney Foster - Another Way to Go (DualTone)
  • Sue Garner - Shadyside (Touch & Go)
  • Gloria Gaynor - I Wish You Love (Logic)
  • Goapele - Even Closer (Hiero Imperium/ Sky Blaze)
  • Chico Hamilton - Thoughts of... (Koch Jazz)
  • Tre Hardson - Liberation (iMusic)
  • Gordon Haskell - Harry's Bar (Compass)
  • Richard X. Heyman - Basic Glee (Turn-Up)
  • Hocico - Signos de Aberración (Metropolis)
  • Holiday Express - Live (Oglio)
  • Rebecca Lynn Howard - Forgive (MCA Nashville)
  • Ferlin Husky - Country Music Is Here to Stay (Collector's Choice)
  • Peter Huttlinger - Naked Pop (Favored Nations Acoustic)
  • Ill Lit - Wacmusic (Badman)
  • In Strict Confidence - Mistrust the Angels (Metropolis)
  • Mike Ireland & Holler - Learning how to Live (Sub Pop)
  • Ming & FS - Subway Series (Om)
  • Ivy - Guestroom (Minty Fresh)
  • Jackpot - Shiny Things (Surfdog)
  • Sonny James - The Complete Columbia and Monument Hits (Collector's Choice)
  • Doug Kershaw - Easy (spinART/Cooking Vinyl)
  • Layo & Bushwacka! - Night Works (XL)
  • Magellan - Hundred Year Flood (Magna Carta)
  • John McCutcheon - The Greatest Story Never Told (Red House)
  • Megadeth - Alive ... and Well? (Sanctuary)
  • Mercury Program - Data Learn the Language (Tiger Style)
  • Roger Miret & the Disasters - Roger Miret & the Disasters (Hellcat)
  • The Mission UK - Aura (Metropolis)
  • moe. - Warts & All Vol. 2 (Red Ink)
  • Gary Moore - Scars (Sanctuary)
  • Carrie Newcomer - The Gathering of Spirits (Philo/ Rounder)
  • No Good - Game Day PBB (ArtistDirect)
  • Novembers Doom - To Welcome the Fade (The End)
  • Oh-OK - The Complete Oh-OK (Collector's Choice)
  • Anders Osborne - Bury the Hatchet (Shanachie)
  • John Parish - How Animals Move (Touch & Go)
  • The Pattern - Real Feelness (Lookout!)
  • Ellis Paul - The Speed of Trees (Philo/ Rounder)
  • Peter Rauhofer - Live @ Roxy (Star 69)
  • Jordan Rudess - 4NYC (Magna Carta)
  • Run-DMC - Greatest Hits (Arista)
  • The Sahara Hotnights - Jennie Bomb (Jetset)
  • Shade Sheist - Informal Introduction (MCA)
  • The Sheila Divine - Secret Society (EP, Arena Rock)
  • The Smokey River Boys - Sing O Brother (Universal Special Products)
  • Snowboy & Latin Section - Para Puente (Cubop)
  • Sodom - Code Red (Crash)
  • Speech - Spiritual People (iMusic)
  • Stick Men With Ray Guns - Some People Deserve to Suffer (Emperor Jones)
  • Supreme Beings of Leisure - Divine Operating System (Palm Pictures)
  • T-Model Ford - Bad Man (Fat Possum)
  • Tin Hat Trio - The Rodeo Eroded (Ropeadope/ Atlantic)

  • Aaron Tippin - Stars & Stripes (Lyric Street)
  • Trans Am - Extremixxx (Touch & Go)
  • Tracey Ullman - Tracey Ullman Takes on the Hits (Varése Sarabande)
  • Vandermark 5 - Free Jazz Classics Vol. 1 & 2 (Atavistic)
  • Various artists ? "The Banger Sisters" soundtrack (Sanctuary)
  • Various artists - Best of Buddha (Buddha Lounge)
  • Various artists - Best of Gothic Radio Vol. 1 (Dark Future)
  • Various artists - British Are Coming Vol. 2 (Sanctuary)
  • Various artists - "City by the Sea" soundtrack (Varèse Sarabande)
  • Various artists - Essential Underground Hip Hop (Landspeed)
  • Various artists - Going Driftless - An Artist's Tribute to Greg Brown (Red House)
  • Various artists - "Invincible" soundtrack (Milan)
  • Various artists ? "The Lathe of Heaven" soundtrack (Milan)
  • Various artists - Party Time 2003: Part 1 (Groovilicious)
  • Various artists - Perpetuous Sounds of European Dance (Nervous)
  • Various artists - Pure Slow Jams (Universal TV)
  • Various artists ? "Rebecca" soundtrack (Varése Sarabande)
  • Various artists ? "The Transporter" soundtrack (Elektra)
  • Vile - Depopulate (Unique Leader)
  • Peter Wagoner - Unplugged (Shellpoint)
  • Peter Wolf - Sleepless (Artemis)
  • The Wondermints - Mind If We Make Love to You (Smile/ Image Entertainment)
  • Xmarsx - Xmarsx (Atavistic)
  • Yohimbe Brothers - Front End Lifter (Ropeadope/ Atlantic)
September 17:

September 24:

October 1:

October 8:

October 15:

October 22:

October 29:
  • Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk (Epic/ Sony)


November 5:
  • Björk - Björk's Greatest Hits (Elektra)

    Related Artists ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457377/20020909/difranco_ani.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457377/20020909/difranco_ani.jhtml 10 Sep 2002 08:03:00 EDT <![CDATA[Artists Debate Releasing Discs Near 9/11 Anniversary]]> Some ask why, while others ask, 'Why not?'
    By Teri vanHorn


    Speech
    Photo: iMusic

    Terrorism struck the United States on a Tuesday, the day labels release albums, and that day had its share of potential blockbusters: Jay-Z, Bob Dylan and Mariah Carey were among the artists who released records on September 11, 2001.

    The first anniversary of the attacks, by contrast, will pass quietly in the nation's record stores, with no big-name releases hitting shelves this week and retailers predicting that new records will be the furthest thing from fans' minds.

    "It just seems to be in bad taste," said bassist Joe Escalante of veteran punk band the Vandals, who chose a September 17 release date for their album Internet Dating Superstuds to avoid dropping the album this week. "Sometimes it's hard enough to push silly punk rock on people and say, 'Buy this,' but if you're going to do that the day before the first anniversary of September 11, it makes even less sense."

    Retailers say it's also a poor marketing move to release an album on September 10. "You're not going to want to spend this week trying to promote a pop culture product when most of the country is going to be mourning," said Dave Montes, general manager of Tower Records in New York's East Village. "There's the ethical side of it that says it's not the right time. And from a marketing standpoint, it's probably not a smart decision. No one's going to concentrate on a new album this week."

    Sales during the week of September 11 last year did not appear to drop drastically in light of the attacks. Jay-Z's The Blueprint, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, sold just under 427,000 copies, while his previous album, The Dynasty - Roc La Familia 2000, sold about 560,000 the year before (see "Jay-Z's Dynasty Continues As Blueprint Debuts At #1").

    Although this week will see an absence of major-label acts who typically score big first-week sales, some independent labels are proceeding with business as usual. Among the indie releases hitting shelves are albums by Ani DiFranco, X singer John Doe, the Bangs, "I Will Survive" singer Gloria Gaynor and former Arrested Development member Speech. DiFranco's double live CD, So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter, includes a poem reflecting on 9/11 (see "In Stores Now And Coming Soon: LPs By Ani DiFranco, BT, The Pattern, Run-DMC, Sahara Hotnights, Ivy & More").

    "It's unbelievably self-centered to think that a record would matter compared to all these grand tributes," Doe said Monday. "Records, especially on independent labels, last a lot more than one week. And you've got to get on with it. ... Some [people] are paying tribute, remembering; others are moving on and listening to music."

    Speech said he immediately fingered September 10 to release Spiritual People, feeling that the album's themes were particularly relevant considering the anniversary of the attacks. "We really wanted to go for it," he said. "My music has always been pretty message-orientated, and we felt that coming out with an album with messages of hope and freedom was a good thing. ... Music is part of reflecting, and yeah, you should buy music this week, just like you should still buy food."

    Doe, whose Dim Stars, Bright Sky features appearances by Jakob Dylan, Aimee Mann, Juliana Hatfield and Go-Go Jane Wiedlin, suggested it was mostly fear that motivated labels to refrain from releasing albums on Tuesday. "I think people find any excuse to be scared," he said. "The entertainment industry is so paranoid, and it's so difficult to even get noticed putting out a record. People are so scared that anything's going to get in the way that they'll move the day of the release. My theory is, 'Keep going.' "

    Yet some label reps said silence may be the only appropriate way for the industry to acknowledge the anniversary of the attacks. "It's about respect," said a spokesperson for Warner Bros., which is not releasing any major albums on Tuesday.

    Major labels will be back in action in the next couple of weeks. Lifehouse, Enrique Iglesias, Disturbed, Ryan Adams and a single by "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson are due on September 17, while Beck, India.Arie, Uncle Kracker, Peter Gabriel, Underworld and Steve Earle will release albums on September 24.

    Related Artists ]]>     http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457383/20020909/speech.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457383/20020909/speech.jhtml 10 Sep 2002 08:03:00 EDT     <![CDATA[Another Ani DiFranco Album Coming Soon]]> Punk folkie releasing double-disc Reveling/Reckoning on April 24, playing five North American dates in March, April.
    By Teri vanHorn


    Ani DiFranco
    Photo: MTV News

    Living up to her reputation as one prolific babe, Ani DiFranco will release a double album, Reveling/Reckoning, on April 24.

    Each disc's title broadly hints at its theme, according to a representative for the punk folkie. The project, to be issued by her own Righteous Babe Records, currently includes 28 tracks, though more may be added.

    DiFranco plays all the instruments on some tracks, while other songs on the LP feature accompaniment by her touring band — bassist Jason Mercer, drummer Daren Hahn, keyboardist Julie Wolf, trumpeter Shane Endsley and saxophonist Hans Teuber. Special guests include Maceo Parker, Jon Hassell and slide guitarist Lloyd Maines.

    The Buffalo, New York-born DiFranco has previewed a number of the album's songs in concerts over the last year, including "Subdivision," "So What" and "Garden of Simple." The singer/songwriter released three albums in 1999 — Up Up Up Up Up Up, Fellow Workers and To the Teeth. She kicks off an overseas tour January 28 in Manchester, England, and has scheduled five North American dates for late March and April.

    Ani DiFranco Tour Dates:

    • 3/27 - Portland, ME @ Merrill Auditorium
    • 4/01 - Ottawa, ON @ Congress Centre
    • 4/04 - Buffalo, NY @ Kleinhans Music Hall
    • 4/19 - Cedar Rapids, IA @ Paramount Theatre
    • 4/20 - Kansas, City, MO @ Uptown Theatre

    Related Artists ]]>     http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1438006/20010117/difranco_ani.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1438006/20010117/difranco_ani.jhtml 17 Jan 2001 09:59:00 EST     <![CDATA[Johnny Cash, Chrissie Hynde, Ani DiFranco Pay Tribute To Springsteen]]>
    Bruce Springsteen

    Truly nailing a cover song — bringing something new to it while remaining true to the original's vision — is always a tricky proposition.

    But when the track you're covering is a beloved creation from lyric master Bruce Springsteen, well that's an even tougher challenge, according to Mavericks guitarist Raul Malo.

    "You can think too much," said Malo, 35. He recently recorded the Boss' "Downbound Train" for Badlands: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska, due Tuesday on Sub Pop. "You can think yourself out of doing the song, and that's what was starting to happen. I just went for it."

    For rock singer/songwriter Ben Harper, Nebraska is a textbook study in emotion expressed in choice details. He covered "My Father's House," and in the song the house becomes a symbol for an unreconciled relationship between father and son.

    "'My Father's House' could be the house of God, Heaven," Harper, 31, said. "Or 'My Father's House' could be seeking this relationship with my father. Men have been struggling to know their fathers for years. My relationship is no different from that. It comes extremely close, if not nails my relationship with my father. He's singing to me about my dad as far as I'm concerned."

    Although Nebraska is not Springsteen's best-selling album, it is widely recognized as one of the Boss' best.

    Malo said it's an inspirational collection for musicians in particular, and not just for its aesthetic qualities. Coming after Springsteen's first top-10 hit in 1980 with The River's "Hungry Heart," a somber, home recording like Nebraska wasn't what most folks had in mind for Springsteen's next move.

    "It blew the doors off the [record company's] expectations," Malo said. "You know what I love about a guy like that? He really does whatever he wants, and he fights for what he wants to do. That speaks volumes about an artist, that he goes against what's expected of him, and does what he thinks in his heart is the best course of action to take. That's what Nebraska represents to me."

    Related Artists ]]>     http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426989/20001106/cash_johnny.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426989/20001106/cash_johnny.jhtml 6 Nov 2000 10:00:00 EST     <![CDATA[Vedder, DiFranco, More Play For Nader In NYC]]>
    Ani DiFranco

    Sonicnet Music News

    In what was billed as the largest political rally held for any candidate this year, Green Party presidential nominee Ralph Nader sold out New York City's Madison Square Garden on Friday night, with a little help from Eddie Vedder, Ani DiFranco, Ben Harper, and Patti Smith.

    "I've been fortunate in my life to play to places that were sold out -- even this place," Vedder told the rally's energized crowd, estimated at 15,000 people. "But tonight is totally different, and it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

    Though not even Nader himself suggested that he's likely to win on November 7, the crowd matched Vedder's ebullience, breaking into chants of "Let Ralph debate" and "Let's go Nader" throughout the evening.

    Nader, a lawyer and longtime consumer advocate, has not been allowed to participate in the recent presidential debates, which included only the Democratic and Republican nominees, Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush (see "Pearl Jam's Vedder Explains Nader Support"). Nader had the support of 5 percent of likely voters nationwide in the most recent Reuters/MSNBC poll.

    "Welcome to the politics of joy and justice," Nader told the rally, after taking the stage to a flash of lights and a shower of confetti. "We are building more than a party -- we are building a historical progressive movement in America."

    The rally's performers and speakers reassembled at the end of Nader's speech to sing along on Smith's anthem "People Have The Power."

    In his speech, Nader condemned the concentration of corporate power, advocated ending the war against drugs, suggested doubling the minimum wage, and called for increased funding of mass transit and other public-works projects.

    Several members of the audience, which was made up mostly of people in their twenties and thirties, said it was their agreement with Nader's positions, rather than the musical performances, that drew them to the rally.

    "Why am I here? Did you hear the man speak? There isn't anything he said that I'm not in agreement with," said Kara McLaughlin, a 24-year-old from Garden City, New York.

    Brian Mazzella, 25, said that he attended the rally solely to see Vedder perform, but added that Vedder's support for Nader impressed him.

    "Eddie seems to be a very smart guy, so whatever he's up for, I'm up for," he said.

    Related Artists ]]>     http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1428066/20001016/difranco_ani.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1428066/20001016/difranco_ani.jhtml 16 Oct 2000 06:00:00 EDT     <![CDATA[Vedder, DiFranco, Harper To Play NYC Nader Fundraiser]]>
    Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder

    Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Ani DiFranco, and Ben Harper have all agreed to perform at an October 13 rally in New York City for Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader.

    Vedder, who will play an acoustic set at the Madison Square Garden event, also performed at a September 23 fundraiser in Seattle (see "Pearl Jam's Vedder Rallies For Ralph Nader"), and has donated money to the candidate's campaign.

    "It mystifies me that this country will send troops to other countries in the name of preserving or achieving democracy, and yet we can't seem to find a way to give candidates like Ralph Nader a voice in our own Presidential debates," Vedder wrote in a statement.

    Pearl Jam has just launched the second leg of its North American tour in support of its newest studio LP, "Binaural," recently released 25 double live albums of concerts recorded during the band's summer tour of Europe (see "Pearl Jam Sets Release Date For Live Discs").

    Vedder will be able to squeeze the Nader rally into the tour's itinerary, as Pearl Jam has an off day between its scheduled shows on October 12 in Kansas City, Missouri and on October 14 in Houston.

    DiFranco and Harper aren't slated to launch their respective fall tours until after the October 13 event.

    Related Artists ]]>     http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1428067/20001005/difranco_ani.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1428067/20001005/difranco_ani.jhtml 5 Oct 2000 06:10:00 EDT     <![CDATA[Sara Lee Collabs With Ani DiFranco On Solo LP]]>
    Sara Lee in B-52's "Love Shack"

    With an impressive list of credits spanning nearly twenty years, veteran bassist Sara Lee will make her debut as a solo artist with "Make It Beautiful," an album due from Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe Records on September 1.

    Lee, whose resume includes work with DiFranco, The B-52's, Gang Of Four, Robert Fripp, Robyn Hitchcock, Fiona Apple, and Indigo Girls, recently spoke with MTV News about her leap into life as a solo artist.

    "I'm having now to say that I'm a singer, I suppose," Lee said with a laugh, "because I'm now singing my songs on the record. This is so thrilling for me -- the fact that it's happened the way it has, after having been a bass player for so many years -- to look at myself and think, 'I think I'm a singer now, too,' 'cause I have to go out and front a band."

    According to Lee, her years of experience will be apparent on "Make It Beautiful" in a new way, as her songwriting was done with bass in hand.

    "My record is very funky -- I like to think it's very funky," Lee offered. "It's very groove, rhythm-orientated. Some of the songs came from basslines that I came up with in sound checks. I very often take my little Walkman to sound checks and record basslines while playing with artists that I work with.

    "I came up with a huge amount of one song in my head while I was driving," Lee recalled. "The feel of it, the bassline, the melody, how the drum would go. I just came home and put them all down, and there it was."

    That song turned out to be the title track, which wound up with lyrics penned by a friend (and one-time boss).

    "Ani DiFranco wrote the lyrics for me for that song, which was a very thrilling moment for me," Lee said of "Make It Beautiful." "I don't write lyrics for my songs, particularly. I sent my songs, the music, to different people to ask them if they would be interested in writing some lyrics. I sent that one to Ani, and she liked it."

    Some other well-known names contributed lyrics to Lee's songs, some of whom she had previously played bass for.

    "[Indigo Girl] Emily Saliers wrote one," Lee said. "Ani did two, actually. Pal Shazar did four songs, Barbara Gogan from The Passions wrote a song for me. Kristen Hall contributed; she wrote a big hit song worldwide called 'Let It Rain' for Amanda Marshall.

    "I was so grateful to the people who did work with me [because] I was somebody that had never written a song before in my life," Lee said, laughing. "It's not as though I had any experience to back me up."

    According to Lee, "Make It Beautiful" started as a self-financed project done mostly for the sake of creative satisfaction.

    "I knew very strongly at this point that I wanted to make a record," she explained. "But it really didn't matter to me where it went. If it hadn't come out on Righteous Babe, I was prepared to release it myself, not least of all inspired by Ani herself."

    To produce the album, Lee enlisted Peter Scherer, a musician she had long admired.

    "I was a huge fan of a band that he was a partner in, The Ambitious Lovers. I used to go to every single show," Lee recalled. "I didn't see him again for ten or more years. I was writing these songs, and I didn't know where to begin in terms of making a record. My manager suggested that I take it to Peter and see if he liked the songs, and he did. I was thrilled, because I hold him in very high regard from a musical point of view."

    Among the musicians who joined Lee in the studio are Andy Gill (Gang Of Four), Ivan Neville, Charlie Drayton (B-52's), Zack Alfred (David Bowie), Eric Schermerhorn (The The, They Might Be Giants), Eran Tabib (Spin Doctors), and James Brown sax player Pee Wee Ellis, who contributed a horn arrangement. Once "Make It Beautiful" was finished, Lee brought the record to DiFranco.

    "[Ani] had heard my music all along while I was writing it," she explained. "She had expressed the notion that she may be interested in it. I sent it to her, and Ani loved it, so she asked me -- in her own way, which was so endearing -- she asked me if I would consider being on Righteous Babe, because she would love me to. I was thrilled, of course."

    With her solo album ready for release, Lee told MTV News that she plans to begin some promotional work while completing her upcoming touring commitment with The B-52's (see "Kate Pierson Talks B-52's Tour, New Projects, More").

    "The record will be available on my Web site (www.basiclee.com) from the 7th of July," Lee revealed, "even though the official release date isn't until the 1st of September. I do want people to be able to get it, obviously, when I'm out on the road. I'm hoping to visit a few stores or radio stations while I'm out there as well."

    As for lining up a road trip of her own, the idea is still in the early stages.

    "I'm planning on just getting the band together and doing some local gigs to warm up and get used to being on stage and singing," she said. "Ani mentioned she would like me to open for her on tour. I'm not sure when [that would happen], but that would be wonderful."

    Related Artists ]]>     http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425079/20000623/b52s.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425079/20000623/b52s.jhtml 23 Jun 2000 02:30:00 EDT