Review: Does Cameron Crowe's rock documentary 'Pearl Jam Twenty' shine?
Is there an 'Evenflow' to the film?
- Critic's Rating B
- Readers' Rating A+
Eddie Vedder in "Pearl Jam 20"
At one point more than half way through “Pearl Jam Twenty,” Cameron Crowe’s very affectionate look at the Seattle band’s first two decades, founding member Stone Gossard muses, “No one can put a finger on what keeps us coming back together.”
That’s the beautiful, mystical alchemy of a great band, isn’t it? There is something elusive and indefinable that holds the members together that transcends petty arguments, creative differences or band wives, and that keeps them, as my late Billboard editor Timothy White used to say, locked in a dance they can’t get out of. It’s a hit— a fix— that they can not get through any other chemical or combination.
Pearl Jam was born on the back of a tragedy and, in some ways, that loss haunts and drives them to this day. In a very simple explanation, Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament were in Mother Love Bone with glittering star/lead singer Andrew Wood. After his death from a drug overdose in 1990, the pair found themselves in need of a new lead singer and ultimately connected with Eddie Vedder, who moved from San Diego to Seattle to join the band. Six days later (!!!), they, along with guitarist Mike McCready and original drummer Dave Krusen (the first of five drummers) were on stage playing “Alive.” The footage from that first concert shows something coalescing, some magical inchoate idea/structure evolving before our eyes. Superstardom followed. The fact that Pearl Jam existed only because someone died is a hell of an albatross.
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Watch: Britney Spears talks about new video for next single, 'Criminal'
Shot in London, the clip includes a special cameo
Britney Spears
Britney Spears is lensing her video for next single, “Criminal,” in London. That’s the big news from the Reuters interview embedded below, which was taped Friday as part of a promotional tour.
“I’ve never shot on location out of the country of America for a video so that should be really interesting,” Spears tells the reporter, veering dangerously close to sounding like Miss Teenage South Carolina, although we have no doubt that Britney can locate the United States on a map.
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Watch: Jennifer Lopez drives men wild in new video for 'Papi'
But will it make you want to buy a Fiat?
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez’s second go-round for worldwide domination continues with the funny clip for “Papi,” the third single from “Love?” and the thrust of a major Fiat 500 Cabrio campaign.
The music video, a 30-second portion of which previewed on during “Monday Night Football” last week, opens as Lopez is waiting to hear from her boyfriend, who’s MIA. Her friend/landlady/receptionist hands her a heart-shaped cookie, which, not only is super tasty, but apparently is a love potion that renders all men, especially those wielding Crown Royale bottles, utterly helpless in her wake.
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Will Lady Antebellum's 'Own The Night' own next week's Billboard 200?
How does an 11-year old Beatles album come back on the chart?
The cover of Lady Antebellum's "Own the Night"
It’s way too soon to know if Lady Antebellum’s new album, “Own The Night,” can top 2010’s “Need You Now,” which has sold more than 3 million copies, but the trio’s latest get if off to a great start: it will handily top next week’s Billboard 200 with sales of up to 340,000, according to Hits Daily Double.
Its lead is so commanding that Adele’s “21,” which bounces back up to No. 2, will sell 200,000 fewer copies than “Own The Night.” Both “21” and Lil Wayne’s “The Carter IV” are targeted to move around 115,000 units.
Music Power Rankings: Lady A, Katy Perry and Rihanna duke it out with Snoop
Bob Seger makes his first appearance on the list
Lady Antebellum
1. Lady Antebellum: The country trio’s last album, “Need You Now” sold 3.5 million copies. New set, “We Owned The Night” gets a tenth of the way there in its first week with projected sales of close to 350,000.
2. Katy Perry: What do you get the California Gurl who has everything? How about a sixth No. 1 from “Teenage Dream?” Can “The One That Got Away” go the distance and set the record for most Billboard Hot 100 chart toppers from one album? If not, she’ll never live down the song title.
3. Snoop Dogg: The rapper is developing a family sitcom through Warner Bros. TV, in which he’ll play the dad. Why doesn’t he just kill two birds with one stone(r) and combine it with the pot film he’s working on with Wiz Khalifa.
4. Calle 13: The Puerto Rican duo is a winner before the envelope is even opened, as they snare 10 Latin Grammy award nominations, soaring above Shakira, Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin.
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Watch: Frank Ocean's odd clip for 'Swim Good'
How does it compare to the video for 'Thinking of You?'
This much we know, Frank Ocean’s tune, “Swim Good” is killer. As far as the official video that came out today for the Odd Future member’s solo tune, it’s one of those esoteric things (complete with Japanese subtitles) that we’re not sure we can ever grasp, no matter how many times we view it. Plus, we’re sure there are people way more versed in “Ocean”-ography, who can decipher all of the hidden messages.
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New set from Rihanna due 'this fall,' according to singer
Superstar tweets that her sixth album is on its way
Rihanna
Looks like we’ll get new music from Rihanna before 2011’s end. She tweeted on Thursday that a new album will drop this fall as the follow-up to last November’s “Loud.”
The news comes as the sixth top 10 from “Loud” continues to climb the Billboard Hot 100. “Cheers (Drink To That)” is No. 10 on this week’s chart.
Interscope's Los Angeles offices used for narcotics ring, allege Feds
Game's manager indicted on 18 felony charges
Interscope artist Lady Gaga: NOT involved in the drug scandal. Joe Calderone on the other hand...
The Department of Justice is alleging that the Los Angeles offices of Interscope Records, home to such artists as U2, Lady Gaga, Eminem, No Doubt, and Sheryl Crow, was used by members of a narcotics ring for pick-ups and deliveries. Interscope, helmed by "American Idol" mentor/producer Jimmy Iovine, is owned by Universal Music Group.
A year-long Drug Enforcement Administration investigation, which included detailed shipping records for cases used to allegedly transport kilos of cocaine and $1 million in cash, led to the indictment of music executive James Rosemond, according to The Smoking Gun. Czar Entertainment CE) Rosemond, who also manages Interscope artist The Game, is being held without bail in a Manhattan jail. He was indicted on 18 felony charges.
The Smoking Gun reports that a number of former Rosemond associates have confessed to their role in the narcotics ring, admitting that they picked up the cases full of cash and/or cocaine at Interscope or a number of recording studios. The shipments, via a company called Rock-It Cargo, went from Los Angeles to New York, and would then be distributed from there.
According to the U.S. District Court filing, Rosemond “disguise(d) these shipments as legitimate freight that was ostensibly needed by the performance artists he managed.”
UPDATE: Universal Music Group has released the following statement: “The information being reported in the press regarding Interscope Records’ involvement with the ongoing criminal prosecution of James Rosemond is both erroneous and completely unsupported. Interscope Records has been informed by the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York that there is no evidence that any employee of UMG or Interscope Records had any involvement in the drug trafficking ring being prosecuted by that office, nor any knowledge of the contents of any of the packages that were purportedly shipped to its offices. Further, neither UMG nor Interscope Record is a subject or target of the investigation. UMG and Interscope will continue to cooperate with the United States Attorney's Office regarding this matter."
In a statement, Rock-It Cargo said: "Rock-It Cargo is neither the subject of the investigation, nor implicated in any way. The Company has provided the U.S. Attorney with all of the documentation it has requested.As a global freight forwarding and logistics company, Rock-It Cargo has always been and continues to be strongly committed to maintaining the highest levels of transportation security. With regard to the current investigation, the Company followed all of the government’s and its own required procedures and remains in compliance with all Federal and state regulations.
Listen: Radiohead's Thom Yorke shares his latest mix
The beat goes on and on and on
Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke unveiled a recent mix he put together on British radio station XFM Thursday evening. The 25-minute mix, which the Radiohead frontman dubbed Money Back Mix, includes a new Yorke cut a few minutes in called “Twist.” It’s pretty dense stuff, but if you’re into the heavy dub beats and just curious as to what he’s been up to, this is for you.
The set also includes Four Tet remixing Tinariwen (the best part, in our humble opinion), and some of the remixes from “King of Limbs,” according to www.onethirtybpm,” which has posted the stream (and download) of Yorke’s mix, which he played on the Mary Anne Hobbs’ "Music Response" show.
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Yorke will co-host Gilles Peterson's radio show on U.K.'s Radio 1 from 2-4 a.m. on Sept. 21, according to radiohead.com.
Check out the full 25-minute Money Back Mix here.
Watch: Rihanna has her way with a cigar in J. Cole's 'Can't Get Enough' clip
Cole and Trey Songz live it up even before Ri Ri arrives
Rihanna
She shows up late, but she still steals the show. Watch Rihanna, and a cigar, take over the party in the new clip for J. Cole’s “Can’t Get Enough” featuring Trey Songz.
As you recall, Cole served as the opening act when Rihanna and Drake toured together earlier this year. “Can’t Get Enough” is the second single from Cole’s “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” out Sept. 27. The official first album follows three acclaimed mix tapes.
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