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U2 Mania!!!

Next week is a big week for my favorite living band. U2 are set to release their 12th studio album, No Line on the Horizon and invade New York City (as they normally do when their records come out). While making special appearances on Late Show with David Letterman and Good Morning America, the band will be rocking and rolling the charts as the record is released. I have been able to listen to No Line on the Horizon and I must say, it is a hell of an album. It takes a few spins to really sink into, but once you do, its a delight.

As being such a big fan, and constantly getting the same questions; "What is your favorite U2 album?" or "favorite U2 song?" I have decided to show my love and admiration and answer the questions all at once. Here are my a list of my 10 favorite U2 songs, top five favorite albums and top five favorite videos. Enjoy!

Top 10 Favorite U2 Songs:
1- "Where the Streets Have No Name"
2- "Beautiful Day"
3- "God Part II"
4- "Bad"
5- "City of Blinding Lights"
6- "Whoes Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses"
7- "Gloria"
8- "Last Night on Earth"
9- "So Cruel"
10 "40"

Top 5 Favorite U2 Albums:
1- Achtung Baby
2- Joshua Tree
3- How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
4- Rattle and Hum
5 - Pop

Top 5 Favorite U2 Videos:

"Where the Streets Have No Name"



"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me"



"Mysterious Ways"



"Even Better Than The Real Thing"



"Discotheque"

Playlist

Here is a playlist of songs to spin! Check them out!

- BJork - "Nattura"
- UNKLE feat. Richard Ashcroft - "Lonely Soul"
- Bob Dylan - "Make You Feel My Love"
- Snow Patrol - "Crack the Shutters"
- Kings of Leon - "The Bucket"
- Bruce Springsteen - "Outlaw Pete"
- Late of the Pier - "The Bears are Coming"
- The Sugarcubes - "Birthday"
- Adele - "Chasing Pavements"
- Elbow - "An Audience with the Pope"

Quick News

Punkers Patent Pending are officially readying their new album. The untitled album will finally be released after a few legal issues here and there, the band seems super pumped for the new record. The band's last album 2006's Save Each Other, The Whales Are Doing Fine received much acclaim as one of the best punk albums of that year.

Dave Matthews Band have pushed the release of their untitled upcoming album. The album, which was supposed to come in April has been pushed to June.

Nine Inch Nails and the newly reunited Jane's Addiction are set to tour this summer. The bigger news seems to be that this maybe Trent Reznor's final bow to his fans. As he mentions on the band's website "In NIN world, 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of our first releases. I've been thinking for some time now it's time to make NIN disappear for a while. Last year's 'Lights In The Sky' tour was something I'm quite proud of, and seems like the culmination of what I could pull off in terms of an elaborate production. It was also quite difficult to pull off technically and physically night after night, and left us all a bit dazed. After some thought, we decided to book a last run of shows across the globe this year." The dates should be arriving soon, yet in the mean time it is rumored that Reznor is producing the new Jane's album, the band's first since 2003's Strays.

Depeche Mode have issued the cover to their latest, Sounds of the Universe. Check out the cover below:

Yeah Yeah Yeah's have also issued the cover to their new album It's Blitz! Check out the cover below, both Depeche Mode and It's Blitz! arrive in stores in April.

(D) It Was Written.....

If you are a faithful follower of this blog you will know my love and admiration for Director Danny Boyle. Boyle ranks in the top five of my favorite Directors of all time; his vision is all his own, his style is just telling a great story, it is his passion that makes him succeed. Last night after a long hard road in the business that is film making, Boyles dedication and perseverance paid off as he was crowned Best Director for his work on this years Best Picture Slumdog Millionaire. Slumdog taking home eight out of the ten awards it was up for proved to Hollywood and fans around the world you do not need a name cast, big budget, and special effects to tell a great story. You just simply need a director with a vision, solid talent and of course a great story. This is the formula Boyle has used his entire career, always backed by an amazing soundtrack, everything Boyle has ever done was laying the ground work for his success in Slumdog Millionaire.

Aside from being extremely delighted to see my favorite film of last year win, it was a bittersweet night as Heath Ledger would win for the role he will be most remembered. Heath has now transformed the idea that a comic book / action film can be just as artistic as anything else in the Hollywood system. I miss him dearly and only would have loved to have seen what more he would have done.

Big wins of the night also went to a much deserving Kate Winslet for The Reader, Penelope Cruz in her scene stealing performance in Vicky Christina Barcelona and Sean Penn for his brilliant acting in Milk. I would have loved to have seen Mickey Rourke take the statue, but this certainly was the hardest category of the night.

Congratulations to all the winners! Now we press on for next year!

White Stripes on Final Conan

"That meant the world to me, Thank You.." A few words from legendary late night talk show host Conan O'Brien whispering to the ear of Jack White after a tearful and heartfelt version of "We Are Going to be Friends." The White Stripes played on stage together for the first time since summer of 2007 to bid farewell to Late Night with Conan O'Brien in New York. Conan is en route to LA to take over the Tonight Show this summer, while Jimmy Fallon will take Conan's spot next week.

Live Review - Paper and Sand @ Crash Mansion

An open bar in these tough times is very hard to come by, especially in New York City. Yet, when you couple an open bar with a solid band's album release, it becomes a full out party of thirsty 20-somethings and curious ears. New York based Paper and Sand, a band I featured last April in my Rising Artist's section (Click Here To Read The Article!), officially released their sophomore album Thick as Thieves. Last night at the Crash Mansion, the band debuted new songs to a packed audience and left them in awe. Wil Farr, former Fireflies guitarist and now Paper and Sand front man, has emerged from the shadows of his last band in being a backing vocalist and guitarist for an art rock band, now rip roars center stage as the leader of a post grunge act. Farr, displayed what he can do in the lime light and showed this was more than just a side project before the split of the Fireflies, this is his new passion. His playing and singing backed by his band mates just created a audio punch to the crowd with how loud and tight they were playing. The bands new songs sound like a cross between an aggressive Kings of Leon meets The Raconteurs. Good old fashion loud rock and roll. As the band preps to hit the road in support of their latest endeavour, I suggest you check them out. It is a party you do not want to miss!

Road to the Oscars 09

With this Sunday's telecast of the Oscars just around the corner, I am really excited. It is just a great time to honor a year in art, performance, film and above all else creativity. This year, unlike years past, has been the closest race of any Oscar's I can think of. After viewing all the films nominated, and others from the year, here are my picks for the 10 Best Films of 2008 as well as my picks in the top 10 categories. The Hugh Jackman hosted Academy Awards will be this Sunday at 7 on ABC.

10 BEST FILMS OF 2008:

1- Slumdog Millionaire
2- Miracle At Saint Anna
3- The Dark Knight
4- The Wrestler
5- Frost / Nixon
6-Milk
7- In Bruges
8-Revolutionary Road
9-The Duchess
10-Ironman

My Oscar Picks for 10 Catergories:
Best Picture-
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actor-
Mickey Rourke (Though this really could go to Sean Penn or Frank Langella)

Best Actress-
Kate Winslet (Though this could go to Meryl Streep)

Best Supporting Actor-
Heath Ledger

Best Supporting Actress-
Penelope Cruz

Best Director-
Danny Boyle

Best Screenplay (Original)-
Milk (Though this really should go to In Bruges, unfortunatly it wont win)

Best Screenplay (Adapted)-
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Cinematography-
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Original Song-
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN! Ok, I know he was not nominated, but honestly he had the best original song from any film this year. Being serious, the winner should be...
AR Rahman for "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire

So those are just a taste of my picks, we have to wait till Sunday to see who takes home what!

Quick News

Add Santogold to the list of artists changing their name during the high point of their career. Unfortunately, the breakout artist of 2008 is not doing it to be creative, she is doing it because she has to. Santogold will now forever be known at Santigold, similar, but no cigar. Santi comes from her actual name, Santi White. So why the change? Apparently there is another Santogold in the universe who does not like the artist using his name, because he too is in the entertainment industry and has filed a law suit against the Brooklyn singer.

The White Stripes will be the band to close out Conan O'Brien's last night on Late Night with Conan O'Brien before he makes the big move to LA to replace Jay Leno on the Tonight Show. Jimmy Fallon is taking over for Conan in the spring. Conan's last night with the White Stripes is Feb 20.

As mentioned a few months back that Australian mega-trio Wolfmother had split up. Well front man and main member Andrew Stockdale has regrouped the band with an additional guitarist, a new bassist and drummer. No word yet on whether Rick Rubin, who was supposed to produce Wolfmother's new record will helm this project. Wolfmother have select dates all spring and summer in Australia.

Just a few days ago I reported Green Day have announced some details about their new album. They have officially released the album cover to 21st Century Breakdown, take a look below:

Gallows Tracklisting!

UK's metal militia Gallows have unleashed the track listing for their forthcoming album, Grey Britain. Take a look below, the album comes out in the spring.

1. The Riverbank
2. London Is The Reason
3. Leeches
4. Black Eyes
5. I Dread The Night
6. Death Voices
7. The Vulture (Acts I & II)
8. The Riverbed
9. The Great Forgiver
10. Graves
11. Queensberry Rules
12. Misery
13. Crucifucks