Greatest rock albums

Well, the mostly predictable Oscar nominations arrived Tuesday morning with no disasters or truly egregious missteps. Even the snubs were fairly routine: no female directors, though women won the directing award in the past two years ; James Cameron and Joseph Kosinski, both with Best Picture nominees , were left out too. Such normalcy is too bad. And I mean that in the nicest possible way. It’s a weird but undeniable fact of Hollywood life that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and its pet awards ceremony feed on their own mistakes. Let things go well or follow an expected path, and the Oscars turn into a yawn. But screw something up, and suddenly it’s the Greatest Show on Earth all over again — back on the pedestal, just waiting to be knocked off by the howling crowd. Errors are an asset. Gaffes are gold. The Academy is never so interesting as when it is just, plain, obviously wrong. This is not a casual mechanism. By and large, average … [Read more...] about The Film Academy And Its Oscars Manage To Feed On Their Own Mistakes

David Crosby , the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer who sang for The Byrds before co-founding a supergroup with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash — later adding Neil Young — has died. He was 81. His wife Jan announced the news today. “It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away,” she said in a statement. “He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django. Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music. Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly. At this time, we respectfully and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve and try to deal with our profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers.” Crosby rose to fame as a singer and guitarist for The Byrds, the influential Los Angeles-based folk-rock band that melded a groundbreaking … [Read more...] about David Crosby Dies: Legendary Singer With The Byrds And Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Was 81

In my many years of seeing live music, few sights were as dispiriting as the first time I saw David Crosby up close. In the early Eighties, he played a solo show at New York’s Town Hall. Walking onstage, looking a little overweight, unkempt and shaggy in an untucked shirt and baggy pants, he plopped down on a wooden chair. His voice was a bit raspier than we’d heard on his records, and the blissed-out smiles and stage patter he was known for were MIA. At one point, he yawned and looked at his watch, as if he were prepping for a nap. In those way-pre-Internet days, no one knew what was happening with anyone. But when it was revealed a short while later that he was a serious drug addict, the performance made a sad amount of sense. So when Crosby died last week , at 81, the news was both shocking and not. One of rock’s legendary libertines, he’d packed several lifetimes’ worth of adventure and misadventure into those eight decades — including, not long after the show I saw, … [Read more...] about There Was a Little Part of David Crosby in All of Us, Whether We Knew It or Not

As the sun set over Auckland on Saturday night, 40,000 revellers packed into Mt Smart Stadium to catch a glimpse of two of modern music’s most popular acts, and the night packed a punch that will be a lasting memory for those who made the most of it. Post Malone couldn’t have been a better fit to get the party started. Constantly joking with the crowd, he showcased an energy that matched the enthusiasm he has for his craft. Bouncing between his well-known hits, including “Stay”, “I Fall Apart”, “Rockstar” and “Circles”, he casually demanded attention, belting out his surprisingly deep lyrics with endearing ease. “Thank you guys so very f***ing much for hanging out with me tonight. This is so very fun. Cheers!” he exclaimed at one point, and everyone in the crowd had no reason not to believe him. As he punched through cigarettes while constantly being himself – this is a man renowned for his love of tobacco after all – he easily won the Auckland audience’s … [Read more...] about Age-Defying Red Hot Chili Peppers and Post Malone Impress in Auckland

Van Conner , the Screaming Trees co-founding bassist who played on the rock band’s hits including “All I Know” and “Nearly Lost You,” died Tuesday of pneumonia. He was 55. His brother and bandmate, Gary Lee Conner, posted the news on social media. “He was one of the closest friends I ever had and I loved him immensely,” the guitarist wrote on Facebook . “I will miss him forever and ever and ever… .” Screaming Trees formed in Washington State in the mid-1980s and recorded a half-dozen indie albums before signing with Epic Records in 1990 as the grunge scene was coalescing around such groups as Mudhoney, the Melvins, Soundgarden and Nirvana. The band’s major-label debut disc failed to catch fire, but the follow-up — 1992’s Sweet Oblivion — was its breakthrough. The album featured “Nearly Lost You,” which became a Top 5 hit on U.S. Modern Rock radio and sent the disc into the Billboard 200 chart. Sweet Oblivion also included two other singles that hit the Modern … [Read more...] about Van Conner Dies: Screaming Trees Founding Bassist Was 55

Dean Daughtry , the keyboardist and co-write r behind Atlanta Rhythm Section ’s two biggest hits, died Thursday of natural causes in Huntsville, AL. He was 76. Atlanta Rhythm Section was omnipresent on the radio in the 1970s, thanks to its Top 10 soft-rock hits “So Into You” and “Imaginary Lover.” Daughtry co-wrote both. “While ARS is known to be a guitar centric band, just listen to the recordings and you’ll realize the contribution that Dean brought to the band. From the first chord of ‘So Into You,’ and the introduction to ‘Imaginary Lover,’ he left his imprint on the band’s recordings,” the group wrote on Facebook. “For 49 years he never missed a gig, until his health forced him to retire a couple of years ago, cutting short his goal of 50 years. He was like a Bulldog, but his friends knew him as ‘OX.'” Daughtry was the sole consistent member from 1971 through 2020, when he retired. Before joining ARS, Daughtry played keyboards in The Candymen and later Classics … [Read more...] about Dean Daughtry Dies: Cofounder of Atlanta Rhythm Section, Cowriter Of Hit ‘So Into You’ Was 76

Newtown brewers and distillers Young Henrys have announced the first 2023 edition of Best Served Loud, with Queensland the sunny destination. Best Served Loud will head to Miami Marketta on Sunday, March 5th, for a day of great brew, live music, and skating. Headlining the event is North-East Arnhem Land rockers King Stingray , fresh from a hugely successful 2022. The band’s self-titled debut album was widely acclaimed last year, reaching the top 10 of the ARIA Albums Chart and earning King Stingray the ARIA Award for Best Breakthrough Artist. Joining them on the lineup is surf-rock outfit The Terrys, who always know how to play to a festival crowd. The five-piece crammed into a small bedroom last year to perform an ‘In My Room’ session for Rolling Stone AU/NZ, which you can watch here . Teenage Joans , Bella Amor and Chutney complete the stellar lineup. Named South Australia’s Best Live Act at the 2019 National Live Music Awards, Teenage Joans have gone from … [Read more...] about Young Henrys Unveil Stellar Lineup for Best Served Loud 2023

Renowned clothing brand Ben Sherman, for decades a staple of originality, self-expression and confidence, presents 6 contemporary Australian acts sure to blow your mind. Influencing the look of music since the early ‘60s, Ben Sherman is today synonymous with cool. Over the years, the brand has associated itself with iconic musicians that exemplify their eclectic and stylish aesthetics. In 2007, the brand partnered with Paul Weller, the Modfather himself, for their spring/summer collection. Together they launched a limited edition range of striped shirts called “Candy by Paul Weller.” Later in 2010, Ben Sherman did it again, pairing with seminal ska band Madness to offer a range of polo shirts, Harrington jackets and t-shirts. Ben Sherman’s association with music continues today, with the Ben Sherman Global Artist Foundry , a space where music, art, and fashion intersect. The brand intends to support a diverse range of creatives at different levels in their … [Read more...] about Ben Sherman presents 6 exciting Aussie acts you really need to check out

Getty/Sotheby's Now's your chance to cop an incredibly rare pair of Jordans -- originally created a few years back to commemorate Biggie 's birthday -- and now the kicks are hitting the auction block, but they won't come cheap! The Air Jordan 13s were designed in 2017 to honor what would've been Notorious B.I.G's 45th trip around the sun ... but the sneakers were never released. They remained locked away ... until now. Sotheby's 23 pairs of the AJs will be auctioned off at Sotheby's ... sizes 7 to 13. The auction tells us they expect each pair to sell between $2,300 to $5,200! There's no reserve price, meaning bidding starts at $1 (and goes way up from there). As for the design of the sneakers ... the 13s are black with a hint of red. The silhouette of the Brooklyn rapper is stitched on the tongue. They also feature the words ... "it was all a dream" and "if you don't know, now you know" on the inside of the tongue, which, of course, … [Read more...] about 23 Pairs Of Unreleased Notorious B.I.G. Air Jordan 13s Hit Auction

TMZ.com Jacquees is sticking to his guns, and keeping Gunna on his Instagram timeline ... unlike Lil Baby , Lil Durk , Meek Mill and several other hip hop figures. TMZ Hip Hop caught up with the self-proclaimed king of R&B Wednesday in NYC -- where he was rocking his lucky Marni fit -- and he tells us he's never been much of a follower in real life, except on the 'Gram. And, he says that's why he's leaving Gunna in the mix of his 5.5 million IG followers. Both Gunna and Young Thug collab'd with Jacquees on his 2019 single "Verify," and the singer wants Thug to be free just like the "Pushin P" rapper -- who, as you know, secured his freedom by striking a plea deal in the RICO case. Gunna's been maligned by some of his peers since coming home in December, but Jacquees says he's focused on love and not street politics these days. Waiting for your permission to load Spotify album. He recently dropped his new … [Read more...] about Jacquees Refuses to Follow Trend of Unfollowing Gunna On Instagram