#1 Melissa on the Grammys. #2-3 Sinead O'Connor. #4 George Michael. #5 Gladys. #6 Veruca Salt.
After threatening to retire from the music industry two years ago, Sinead O'Connor is in the works on getting a recording contract with Sanctuary Records and is planning not one, but three new records, including a religious album. The Irish singer wants to make inspirational music with a more modern sense, even a reggae feel. How great would it be if Sinead got nominated for the Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian album or even a Dove Award within the born-again genre?
Yet another reality show looking for a potential rockstar is in development, Search for Pearl will seek out a singer resembling Janis Joplin per advocate.com . The winner will tour with some of the bands with which Pearl once shared the stage. This program may stand out above the competition considering how well Joss Stone and Melissa Etheridge paid tribute to Janis at this year's Grammy Awards. Pink is slated to star in a piece about Joplin's life as well.
With her skyrocketing popularity as the good-hearted judge on Fox's American Idol, Paula Abdul has the itch to return to recording pop music. Abdul's last album Head Over Heels came out in 1995 with the hit single 'My Love is For Real,' but she assures us she will pursue a less bubble gum sound, however dancing will still remain a key component. The former Laker Girl co-wrote 'Spinning Around,' which ended up being Kylie Minogue's big pop comeback single overseas in 2000.
Moby returns with his anticipated record Hotel, due March 22. As a continually evolving artist, on Hotel Moby is not using samples, which were the cornerstone to many of his hits such as 'Jam for the Ladies,' 'Natural Blues' and 'Move ( You Make Me Feel So Good ) .'
Washington, D.C., DJ's the Thievery Corporation just hit the shelves with their long-awaited album Cosmic Game. The Flaming Lips, Perry Ferrell, and my namesake David Byrne are just a few of the talented contributors on this collection. Like the duo's previous disc The Richest Man in Babylon, this set is enriched with their trademark down-tempo grooves and Middle Eastern flavor, but with a slightly more rock feel.
Yes, that was Gladys Knight playing rugby and catching a forward pass in an evening gown for a recent MBNA commercial. The soul singer paired with Ray Charles on his Grammy-winning album Genius Loves Company and she is working on an album of standards after just releasing One Voice, an inspirational-gospel collection. Amongst all of this, Gladys still performs five nights a week at the Flamingo in Vegas. If you can't imagine Gladys singing dance music, check out Huff & Puff's 'Help Me Make It,' which uses Knight's 'Help Me Make It Through the Night' as a centerpiece of this funky dance masterpiece.
The Human Rights Campaign just issued a collection titled 'Love Rocks' benefiting the organization's determined quest for equality. Gems from a rainbow of artists shine on this double-disc set, including Christina Aguilera, Pink, Simply Red, Sophie B. Hawkins, Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper, Dolly Parton, and Oleta Adams. The true message of love and unity prevail on Love Rocks.
George Michael presented the documentary A Different Light this year at the Berlin International Film Festival. The media-wary singer, his former bandmate Andrew Ridgley, Sting, Geri 'Ginger Spice' Halliwell and American Idol's Simon Cowell are featured in the documentary directed by Southan Morris, as Michael's determined ascent to international fame and his public battles are dissected. A Different Story already debuted in the U.K. and is destined for stateside later this year.
Slipped Disc
Since theft and destruction of other's people's property are illegal, Veruca Salt's Louise Post achieved the next best thing with the 2000 album Resolver by hanging out her dirty laundry. Veruca Salt is best known as the grunge group fronted by two women behind the songs 'Seether' and 'Volcano Girls.' But after two albums and an EP, co-founder Nina Gordon and her brother Jim Shapiro left the band, giving Louise Post a raging sense of abandonment and betrayal. Instead of sorting her issues out on a shrink's couch, Post took to the studio with venom in her voice and a pointing finger, resurrecting Veruca Salt with a harder sound on a new label. Resolver opens with 'The Same Person' as she warns us not to expect the familiar. Heavy guitar licks introduce 'Born Entertainer,' on which Post looks forward to providing the future of the band without Nina Gordon, sounding like a hoarse Joan Jett. Revenge is not the only theme here, despite titles like 'Officially Dead' and 'Best You Can Get,' Post even sings about falling for gay guys on 'Pretty Boys.' This rocking slipped disc is ideal for an alternative to the repetitive club music at the gym. Louise Post is planning on releasing the forth Veruca Salt album later this year per the band's official website.