So, what do you think of the new Coldplay single?

We’ve been paying so much attention to Gwyneth Paltrow’s amazing style transformation that we’d forgotten she had a husband who’s been quite a busy too. The new Coldplay single, Violet Hill (which is available as a free download) got its first airing on ye olde radio-set today – and it sounds like classic Coldplay to us. But are you a fan of it? And Chris Martin and his merry band in general for that matter?

Published: 2008-09-23 Provider: Heat

Chiwoniso: Her music, her father's legacy

Music & nightlifeZimbabwean singer Chiwoniso — who was partially raised in the Northwest — returns to the area with her band, which blends African and American sounds.

Published: 2008-09-28 Provider: Seattle Times

ROCK THE BEE GEES-US OUT

IF the notion of a band playing heavy metal versions of Bee Gees tunes sounds a bit too deep for your love, rest assured that it could have been worse. The band Tragedy, who'll play just that at Irving Plaza tonight, initially considered some even...

Published: 2008-08-10 Provider: New York Post Keywords: metal, heavy, band, Gees, Night, Szufnarowski, Tragedy, even, music

Gwyneth: “Apple makes Moses cross-dress!”

It’s amazing what a few pairs of expensive high heels can do for a woman – we remember a time when Gwyneth Paltrow only used to talk about mung beans, charity work and her “art” in interviews, so we love the fact that she’s suddenly developed a bit of charisma and sparkle. Gwynnie’s latest revelation is that her daughter Apple likes making little Moses dress up as a lady. “She makes Moses cross-dress,” giggled Gwyneth at a perfume in launch in New York. “But she doesn’t put make-up on him! My daughter plays with anything that's girly. She loves make-up. She puts on the eyeshadow and my high heels. She likes to take my tank tops and make them a dress. And then she asks me to tie a rubber band on the back so they stay up. I don't like her to spray perfume on herself because she's so little, but she likes to spray it on me.” Aww, bless – Apple sounds like fun. Now Chris Martin needs to become a bit more friendly, and they’ll be the perfect family!

Published: 2008-09-23 Provider: Heat

Pussycat Dolls - Pussycat Dolls We Sound Like Coldplay

Glitzy girlgroup the PUSSYCAT DOLLS have undergone a radical change of direction - their new album sounds like rock band COLDPLAY. The R+B five-piece are as well-known ...

Published: 2008-09-12 Provider: Contact Music

Balkan Beat Box: an international infusion of sounds

Music & nightlifeNew York band Balkan Beat Box combines hip-hop with musical influences from the Balkans, the Middle East and Eastern Europe; they perform Saturday, Sept. 13 at Neumo's.

Published: 2008-09-12 Provider: Seattle Times

Metallica Face Criticism Over Sound Quality of “Death Magnetic”

An odd complaint has cropped up around the release of Metallica’s much-anticipated chart-topping album Death Magnetic: fans think it’s too loud. A number of online message boards have been bombarded by fans who think the group kept sound levels so high that the quality was compromised. Though the band and management stand by Death Magnetic, that hasn’t stopped fans from signing petitions and sharing the less-loud mixes made available for Guitar Hero. Click below for more on the latest battle in the “loudness wars,” including the criticisms levied by the mastering engineer on Death Magnetic. • Fans Complain Metallica Disc Is Too Loud Related Stories: • Louder, Faster, Stronger: How Metallica Made Their Heaviest Album Yet • Fans Complain That Death Magnetic Sounds Better on Guitar Hero Than on CD • The Death of High Fidelity: Falling Sound Quality in the MP3 Age

Published: 2008-10-01 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Metallica

Mick Slipknot answers your questions!

YOU put your questions to Mick Thomson of Slipknot, and he has replied! Check out his responses below. QUESTIONS Hey, I am like, the UK's number 1 Slipknot fan, and have always wanted to know, what inspired your mask design? Matthew Fulton- 14 MICK: Nothing. I had my original latex hockey mask way back and then my leather one and I was using those designs and it morphed into what it is now. There isn’t something crazy creative about it. Hey Mick! I just want to let you know that you are a huge inspiration to me. You were one of the reasons I picked up a guitar, B.C Rich 7 string Warlock as my own first purchase, and got serious about it. My question is, how do you get new ideas for riffs and solos. I've made a couple of my own songs, but I always get stuck trying to make cool catchy riffs or solos. Got any advice? Jim- 16 MICK: Yes. Don’t over-think it. Just let it happen. Things come out. If you try and plan or force it will sound forced or dishonest. I never try and over-think a direction whatever comes out 1st time I play it comes out. I never spend a ton of time thinking because it sounds forced. If you spend too much time thinking about it, it won’t sound like you. Don’t try and sound like someone else. How does it feel to be getting back to work with the rest of Slipknot after a 3 year hiatus? Did it feel great knowing you were going to be back behind the mask and in a recording studio once again or was it just the same as it was 3 years ago? Matt Haynes- 16 MICK: Things are always different when doing a new record. You are a different person than you were years ago. I don’t think in those terms. I just do what I do! But yes it felt good getting back to work. What has been your scariest nightmare? Paul Hawkins- 16 MICK: I wouldn’t say I have had a scariest nightmare but it would probably be something that deals with me not having genitals anymore… If you could play any other role except Rythym/Lead guitarist in the band which would it be? Bryan Lares MICK:

Published: 2008-09-26 Provider: Kerrang!

Trey Anastasio Premieres “Time Turns Elastic” in Nashville

Photo: Getty Phish fans and the symphony lot together in the Great Church of Country Music. What sounds like the perfect plot for an SNL short actually happened Saturday night at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville when Trey Anastasio headlined Orchestra Nashville’s season-opening show. Anastasio took the same 60-piece orchestra on a field trip to Bonnaroo in 2004, performing in front of a crowd of 80,000. It only seemed fair that Trey’s noodle-dancing pilgrims be invited into sacred confines more familiar to the golf-clapping elite. The result was a crowd gawker’s dream — dreadlocks and muumuus to the left, tailored suits and Coach bags to the right. The first half belonged mostly to the orchestra, though Trey opened the show up front before moving to the back and then offstage completely. The second half featured the world premiere of Trey’s ethereal opus “Time Turns Elastic,” which he wrote with his new favorite collaborator, composer Don Hart. The piece had all the elements familiar to jam-band junkies: Anastasio’s wandering, whining guitar runs and spacey, nonsensical lyrics. When paired with the crisply performed orchestration, it came off sounding more like the theme song to a Disney film on ’shrooms. It was ambitious, strange and wholly entertaining. The normally famously restless Phish fans were polite and appreciative, giving the orchestra a raucous standing ovation and breaking out into a spontaneous “Happy Birthday to You” for Trey, who turns 43 tomorrow. Trey looking vaguely uncomfortable in a suit and tie, but there was no doubt that he had won over both his hardcore fan base and the Bach aficionados who were new to the party. Related Stories: • Phish Reunite For the First Time in Four Years For Wedding • Trey Anastasio Jams With Jack Johnson For All Points West Finale • Trey Anastasio Debuts New Songs in Brooklyn

Published: 2008-09-29 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Live Shows, More News

Comment of the Week: Metallica Channel An Unlikely Association

Any time Metallica gets mentioned on Rock Daily, it’s always a catalyst for commenters, and this week’s premiere of new single “The Day That Never Comes” was no exception. Opinions varied, from people who believe it’s a phenomenal return to form to those who think the band should hang it up. Commenter Olgasm even compared Metallica to a band that no other reader brought up. “This is about 3 minutes too long and sounds like a medley of riffs from their mid-career. They’ve gone all “Collective Soul” and sprinkled good riffs among a field of cow pies.” Perhaps there’s a future in James Hetfield and Co. covering “Shine” at their upcoming shows in Europe.

Published: 2008-08-22 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Fans Complain After “Death Magnetic” Sounds Better On “Guitar Hero” Than CD

With last Friday’s release of Death Magnetic, Metallica fans knew that the band’s new album would be playable that day for Guitar Hero 3. What fans didn’t know was that the video game version of the album would actually sound better than the CD counterpart. That’s what mastering engineer Ian Shepherd discovered when, on a tip from a Metallica forum, he compared the compression rates between the CD and the GH versions. Shepherd discovered that the CD is boosted as much as compressively possible, making it ten decibels louder than the GH version while completely bleaching out the dynamic range. The subject of compression and the loudness wars was discussed in much more detail in our “The Death Of High Fidelity” piece, but Death Magnetic seems to be the biggest violator, with fans both demanding the band re-mix the album and threatening to perfectly-execute GH’s in-house version and send that to fans clamoring for a proper mix. Even Ted Jensen, who is credited with mastering DM in the liner notes, admitted on a message board, “Believe me I’m not proud to be associated with this one, and we can only hope that some good will come from this in some form of backlash against volume above all else.” Jensen said the mixers of the album are to blame for the compression problems. Metallica is usually on hand for the mixing stage, but this time around they were away in Europe. Related Stories: • Go Behind the New Cover: Metallica • The Death of High Fidelity • Alternate Takes: The MP3 Challenge • More Metalllica News at Rock Daily

Published: 2008-09-18 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Metallica

SCARS ON BROADWAY HEAL SYSTEM'S BREAKDOWN

Scars on Broadway, led by System of a Down guitarist and songwriter Daron Malakian, sounds like his other band: propulsive guitars, manic vocals and lyrics ranging from pointed to demented. With the band's self-titled debut dropping on Tuesday...

Published: 2008-07-27 Provider: New York Post Keywords: band, System, Malakian, group, Scars, back, play, music