Every year the Grammy Awards come around and prove once again that I am listening to the wrong radio stations. The 2009 collection is no different. The 2009 Grammy Nominees CD includes an amazing cross-section of the radio waves, some of which I hadn't heard before listening to the CD.

2008 was a great year for pop, rock, and R&B artists across the board, and on February 8, 2009, we'll know who wins in the usual categories: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Coldplay's album and song "Viva La Vida" is up in multiple categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or group with Vocals.

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Canadian newspaper the Chronicle Herald has revealed how a crazed Tiesto fan who attacked and almost murdered his mother used violence to go and see the trance DJ performing live. John Candow, 24, who suffers from bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, had admitted himself to a closed hospital before learning that Tiesto was in town, prompting him to come up with a brutal scheme when his psychiatrist said he couldn’t go. “He’d assault the psychiatrist, get arrested, plead guilty and be released on probation in time to see his DJ idol,” the Herald revealed. “His plan worked. He punched the man at least three times, appeared in court and was out in time to see Tiesto.” Mr Candow, a keen aspiring DJ, was unrepentant. “I have no re
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During 1967 and 1968, the Bee Gees became an international phenomenon with three albums and many more singles of folky balladry, most of them smashes. That stopped when their lavish 1969 double LP, Odessa, produced zero hits; guitarist Vince Melouney left, and Robin Gibb temporarily followed suit. The stereo and mono mixes included in the three-disc reissue of this disruptive opus present the Gibb brothers’ arrangements at their most opulent: The string-laden instrumentals and soulful baroque pop evoke the splendor of the Moody Blues. And a third disc with demos suggests the unpolished sprawl of the Beatles’ White Album.
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Scottish art-rockers Franz Ferdinand have unveiled details of their upcoming third album �Tonight: Franz Ferdinand’, revealing that they’ve ditched their �big sounding stadium rock’ approach that helped them sell 5 million units of their previous albums. “I’m really bored by all the guitar music,” guitarist Nick McCarthy told the Times. “It’s gone. It’s finished. It’s all over. There has to be something new again now. All these high-sounding guitars – that can’t be it. On �Tonight’ we’re embracing synthesizers, electronics,” he revealed. However, top Guardian critic Ian Gittins promptly demolished
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There were plenty of great concert DVDs released in 2008, and many of them I just haven't had a chance to review yet. David Gilmour's Live At Gdansk is missing from my list since it is essentially the same show that I reviewed on last year's Remember That Night DVD, which made the top of my 2007 list. Wondering where the Rolling Stones' Shine A Light DVD is? Just hasn't really compelled me to buy it yet. Maybe it's because I am still making my way through all 900 hours of The Biggest Bang. Iron Maiden's Live After Death and Thin Lizzy's Live And Dangerous finally got their due transfers to DVD in 2008, but I chose to limit this list to previously unreleased material.

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Young Jeezy was on the receiving end of barbs from Bill O’Reilly and guest Dennis Miller on “The O’Reilly Factor” last week: The pair took the Snowman and Jay-Z to task for their lyrics on “My President,” characterizing their rhymes as hateful toward America.

On the show, O’Reilly casually challenged Jeezy to appear on “The O’Reilly Factor” to respond. Comedian Dennis Miller, O’Reilly’s guest during the segment, also threw in some barbs at the Atlanta rapper, calling him “Young Emphysema.”

Earlier this week, various Web sites reported Jeezy would join the fray by accepting O’Reilly’s challenge.

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Having toured non stop the last year, country music legend Willie Nelson is continuing his whirlwind tour into 2009 all the way from Jan 9 to March 9. In February, Willie Nelson is accompanied by Wynton Marsalis and Norah Jones for his two shows in New York, NY. For the rest of the month, he is accompanied by Asleep at the Wheel. In March, Willie Nelson performs in Florida at 7 different venues and at North Myrtle Beach, SC; Choctaw, MS; and Marksville, LA. Willie Nelson’s �Naked Willie’ is due to be released on March 17. It is a c

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Oasis have announced that they will play live in China for the first time in April. The Manchester legends will play a shows in Beijing and Shanghai as well as their previously-announced show in Hong Kong on April 7. Oasis will play: Beijing Capital Gym (April 3) Shangai Grand Stage (5) Hong Kong AsiaWorld Arena (7) Earlier today (January 23) Oasis revealed further details about which bands would support them at their forthcoming UK stadium dates. See the NME.COM Oasis news story for more.
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Don’t expect a Beastie Boys/ M.I.A. reunion anytime soon.

Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz and Mike “Mike D” Diamond made cameos in the video for M.I.A.’s Grammy-nominated song “Paper Planes,” but Ad-Rock shot down reports of M.I.A. performing on any tracks on their new album.

“Those are just rumors,” he told MTV News. The same goes for Snoop Dogg and Jarvis Cocker collaboration rumors — all not true.

And there’s no word on the release date for the Beasties’ new record, except that it will be sometime in May. We think …

“I don’t know if you [want to] go down to Vegas and throw down a bet just yet,” Adam “MCA” Yauch cautioned.

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“Mad Men” star Elisabeth Moss and “Saturday Night Live” castmember Fred Armisen are engaged. The actress confirmed the news to USAweekend.com.

“It happened a few days ago,” Moss told the Web site during an interview about her SAG nomination. “It’s private, so I don’t want to share the details of how it happened, but I will say it was perfect.”

During the interview, Moss had to correct herself about her new status with Armisen, saying, “… actually, now fianc$#233;.” The couple has managed to stay under the radar until last week, when they were spotted getting romantic together at Vanity Fair’s “Mad Men” party at L.A.’s Chateau Marmont, reports TVGuide.com.

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