Mean Everything to Nothing: New Manchester Orchestra album

Last Tuesday, April 21, Atlanta band Manchester Orchestra released they second full-length album, Mean Everything to Nothing.  I am a huge fan of the band, so my opinion of the new album is pretty biased.  It is amazing! 

However, beyond my one-sided opinion, Jason Tate, with AbsolutePunk.net, gave the album a 93 percent rating.  His opening statement in the review read, "Quick note to the rest of the albums coming out this year: The bar has just been set."  Tate focused in on the lyrics and creativity of strong points of the album.  In conclusion Tate said, "Between the crashing sounds, the subtle whispers, the vocal chants, and the emotional reaction- we have the making of a classic."  

Manchester and their new album were just featured in the Smoking Section of Rolling Stone magazine.  I actually first discovered the band in the Rolling Stone's Artists to Watch section a few years ago.  During their interview, Andy Hull, guitar and vocals, described the album and said, "The first half of the record is about the anxiety and angst of the road and traveling in a van.  The second half is kind of like where I found God on the road."  When asked where was God, he said, "He was under the backseat of the van."  

Here is a past performance from the David Letterman Show:

There are four more recent videos in the Smoking Section that are definitely worth checking out.  The first is of the first track, "The Only One" and the second is of "Tony The Tiger."  Then there is an interview with Andy Hull and Chris Freeman, keys and vocals.  Finally, a mash-up of Willie Nelson and Mountain Goats performed by Hull and Freeman of "The Party's Over." 

To listen to some of the new songs go to Manchester Orchestra's MySpace.  And for more information about their upcoming tour and music videos, which I already have tickets for, check out their official website. 

Represent: In concert and on the road

On Saturday, April 18, I hopped in the passenger seat of a van with local singer/songwriter Jared Kocka.  We headed north toward the upper peninsula of Michigan for a show in the small town of Ironwood.  Kocka is the sole member of Represent, a pop rock musical endeavor that started in Minneapolis, MN two years ago.

Represent performed live at Gogebic Community College for their "RAM Fest," which stands for "random acts of music."  It was an all day event and Represent went on at 5 pm in the gym.  However, at 5 pm there were only a handful of students at the event.  Kocka still played really well despite the not-so-good crowd.  After his set the promoter asked if Represent would perhaps play later in the evening when more people showed up.  Clearly his performance was very well accepted by the small crowd.  

Kocka got hooked up with the show through the band Cities Never Sleep, which is based out of Duluth, MN.  Represent and Cities Never Sleep will be touring together starting on April 30th.  It was my first time hearing Cities Never Sleep and I thoroughly enjoyed their music.  Following Cities Never Sleep, a local hip-hop duo performed and then Represent was back on stage, but this time with a much bigger crowd.  

If you like pop rock mixed with a little electronica and some feel good beats, you should check out Represent on Myspace.  Also, check out Cities Never Sleep as well, and you can find their tour dates on the site.   

Eminem: Performances, new album, new videos, and everything else

Rapper Eminem is back after a three-year break from the music world and according to him, the rap industry needs him back.  Eminem recently told XXL magazine that he believes the hip-hop world went downhill without him.  However, he said that with the new music that T.I. and Lil' Wayne are producing hip-hop is on its way back up.  

Eminem's three-year break had a lot to do with the death of his best friend Proof, member of D12.  Also, Eminem's battle with drug addiction became a problem.  However, these are both reasons why he is ready to make music again.  Em told XXL that he is at a point where he can talk about tragedy. 

On May 19th, Eminem's new album Relapse will be released, featuring his controversial new single "We Made You."  Just a few days after his album release, Eminem will be performing live at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards in Universal City, California.  For more information about Eminem and the MTV Movie Awards check out this article. 

 With Eminem being big in the news lately and in light of him performing at this year's MTV Award's show, MTV decided to look at his top five awards-show performances.  Here's the list:

1. The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2000
2. 2000 MTV Video Music Awards
3. 1999 Video Music Awards
4. 2002 MTV Movie Awards
5. 2005 MTV Movie Awards

To watch some of these performances and read up about them, check out this article from MTV Music News.  

Rolling Stone's Spring Music Preview

2009 is going to be a great year for music and Rolling Stone has compiled a list of 45 of the most anticipated albums.  From rapper Eminem to punk rock band Green Day to the folksy Avett Brothers, they covered the music industry's biggest and most promising artists.  

I have highlighted a few of the albums I'm looking forward to:

• Ben Harper's White Lies for Dark Times (5/5) is his first record with his new band, Rentless7, and is going to be his heaviest album yet.  
• Relapse (5/18) from Eminem already has a chart-topping single on it, "Crack A Bottle." The album will mostly be produced by Dr. Dre.  
• Green Day is setting out to top their previous album American Idiot with 21st Century Breakdown (May).  After three years to produce, this new record will be just as political as the last.   
  
• Rapper turned rocker, Lil' Wayne's new record Rebirth (May) was made with a band instead of beats.  I'm sure the album will be chart-friendly!
• Regina Spektor recruited four producers, including Jeff Lynne, for her third studio release Far (June).  

For complete coverage of Rolling Stone's spring music preview check it out here.