In This Issue:

• "Mezmerize" Now Available For Pre-Order

• The Rocky Fortune "Sway" CD Review

• Hot Hot Heat "Elevator" CD Review

• Lanegan Off Again

• Starbuck's Delves Into The Unknown

• Guilty Pleasure Of The Week

• This Week's Sign of the Apocalypse

• 'Head' Wants To Be Responsible For 50 Cent's 10th Shot

• New White Stripes To Arrive In June

• Hitting The Stage

• MONSTER CONCERT REVIEW ISSUE NEXT WEEK!!!

• In Stores Next Week

• This Week's Releases Reviewed

• Upcoming Shows

Thanks to Show and Viktor Tanyi for providing research assistance with some of this weeks stories!

"Mezmerize" Pre-Order and Video Shoot // April Fool Apology and Inspiration

If you had a near heart attack last week as a result of my April Fool, I bring you a peace offering, care of System of a Down.  The first disc of the double-album, "Mezmerize" is due in stores on May 17^th, but you can now pre-order the CD and a t-shirt portraying the cover art.   The price for the 'fan pack' is $15.98 US and orders will be shipped to be received on or around the May 17^th release date.

www.systemofadown.com

Concurrently, the boys have finished shooting the video for the lead single, "B.Y.O.B." (which stands for "Bring Your Own Bombs").   The filming wrapped up last week in Los Angeles, and they employed the talents of director Jake Nava (who's done work for Destiny's Child, Beyonce and Usher).

http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2005/apr05/20050405_soad.html

As far as the April Fool went last week, I did manage to make some of you sad and/or upset at the idea that SOAD had broken up.  It wasn't as big an impact as the inspirational Kabir Akhtar from toolshed.down.net who for a second time, fooled not only his readers but even managed to get mentioned on MTV.com for his efforts this year.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1499613/20050405/tool.jhtml?headlines=true

The Rocky Fortune "Sway" - CD (and Release Party) Review

At long last, The Rocky Fortune have delivered to us a disc of the material they have been performing for quite some time.  Last Wednesday, the band (originally from Olds, AB) celebrated their CD release at the Ship and Anchor by performing most of the songs off of their first full length release "Sway".  They drank, they tossed out copies of the disc to the crowd, the masses had a good time.

Although the band weren't completely satisfied with their performance, it was still a successful evening.  Despite singer/bassist Todd Gesshe proclaiming that they should have practiced more, this reviewer feels they made up for their sloppiness with sheer energy and aggressive playing.  Their attempt at covering The Beatles' "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" floundered, but it was more comical than painful.

As far as the CD goes, it does a good job capturing the songs fans have come to know and love.  The quality is excellent, and even provides us with some small new twists on old favourites.  The album is highlighted by lead track "Glass in the Gravel", "Scripts and Stories", "Pack A Day" (which is a previously unreleased and rarely played song, which is a shame considering how good it is), "Art Is A Dying Art" and "Hotter Than Heaven".

As you listen to the album, you get a real feel for the broad range these guys have.  It's not varied in a way that leaves you wondering if the band is trying to find out what they're all about.  Instead, it gives you a fair indication of the flexibility of their musical talents.  Gesshe gets to display his vocal talents in a much more crisp fashion, while it's impossible to ignore Craig Florence's drumming, which is impeccable.  As far as Tyler Toews goes, the boy rips it up with some impressive guitar solos, especially at the end of "Art Is A Dying Art", and lest we forget his harmonica work on the country-ish "Drop Me In The Well".

Overall, the album is fantastic.  If I have to pick one complaint, it's that the album closer "Three Sheets" fails to capture it's live presence.  When I saw that it was chosen as the final track, I immediately felt it was appropriate, considering that when the boys close a show with said song, it can easily turn into an epic, extended finale which whips the fans into a frenzy.  I would've also liked to have heard more back-up and harmonizing vocals from Florence and Toews, although that's more of an added bonus rather than a critical omission.

"Sway" will be available for purchase in Calgary at Sloth Records and Megatunes (if it isn't already on those store shelves), and the band's next gig is opening for another great Calgary band, Hot Little Rocket at Broken City on April 22nd.

www.therockyfortune.com

Can HHH Elevate Themselves After The Breakdown?

Two and a half years after releasing "Make Up The Breakdown", Victoria, BC punk-rock-synth-pop artists Hot Hot Heat are back with "Elevator".  Although I leave it up to you, the listener, to decide whether they have followed-up successfully, I feel they certainly haven't disappointed.

After listening through the album a few times, I find that it doesn't really lack the elements that make HHH unique, but there seems to be a toned-down feeling to most of the songs compared to it's predecessor.  The quirky beats, melodies and lyrics (such as "Running with scissors wasn't smart; I tripped and cut open your heart" on the song "Shame On You") still exist, as does the rhythm that makes you want to jump up and down and dance.  There just seems to be a sometimes slowed-down, and often toned down, feel to the record as a whole.  Despite all this, I can see how easily it will be for this quartet (front-man Steve Bays, drummer Paul Hawley, bassist Dustin Hawthorn and new guitarist Luke Paquin) to inflict some serious energy into these songs on stage. Bays recently said, "We wanted it to sound like we walked into a studio, played a set and left immediately."  Well, if you're like me and don't think they accomplished that task they at least put together songs that can easily blow you over when performed live.

I don't want it to sound like this album falls short, because it doesn't.  It is definitely a solid effort, especially with songs like "Island of the Honest Man".  Almost every song contains that HHH hook that makes you want to rewind the song and hear that part once again.  The album starts with a short intro that runs into "Running Out Of Time" which is a typically fun HHH song, more so because of the music rather than the lyrics.  "You Owe Me An IOU" contains the lyrical and vocal draw that will certainly prompt fans to join in and sing.

Once you reach "Pickin It Up", the album does just that.  The song is consistently quick and upbeat and leads into the aforementioned "Island of the Honest Man", which is my personal favourite simply because it reminds me most of their older work.  So does "Soldier in a Box", with it's build-up to typical HHH fashion, it's false ending near the end and it's final seconds fading into track 13, so as to purposefully not have a song on track 13 for superstitious reasons.  The album winds down with it's namesake "Elevator", wrapping things up in less than 38 minutes.

Whether or not this new material will live up to their old stuff live remains to be seen.  The boys hit Calgary next Thursday April 14, 2005 at MacEwan Hall Ballroom (where I first saw them last).  The Ballroom is personally one of the best places to see a live show in Calgary, and tickets are still available.  They play at the World Ski & Snowboard Festival in Whistler on April 10^th which is sandwiched by two shows in Vancouver on the 9^th and 11^th.  They hit Edmonton before Calgary on the 13^th, and continue East with stops in Saskatoon (April 15^th), Winnipeg (16^th), Guelph, ON (19^th), London, ON (20^th), Ottawa (21^st), Montreal (22^nd), wrapping up in Toronto on April 23^rd before heading to the UK and Europe for the rest of April and May.

www.hothotheat.com

Mark Lanegan Off Again

The Queens of the Stone Age line-up appears to have a seemingly endless revolving door in which players come and go.  The latest to exit stage left is singer Mark Lanegan.  Again.

After extensive touring in support of their hugely successful "Songs For The Deaf" album, Lanegan announced that he was relinquishing his permanent member status with the band.  He went on to focus on his solo album ("Bubblegum") and tour, only to come back as a guest on the new QOTSA release, "Lullabies to Paralyze".  Next thing we know, he's touring with them in Europe and across Canada, as if he never really left.

Now, on Monday April 4^th, a posting on www.qotsa.com states that Lanegan is taking a break from touring with the band due to exhaustion.  More important is a comment in the same posting proclaiming that Lanegan and front-man Josh Homme are already discussing when the singer can return.  Less important is the rumour that the real reason Lanegan left was because of a fight between him and Homme.  This notion that is dispelled at the end of the posting, reading "...the band stresses that all other rumours regarding this subject should be written down, burned & the ashes pushed in to your eyes so that you are unable to find your watercooler/sewing circle."

http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/04/0635.cfm (with thanks to Born To Hula: a QOTSA & Family Fansite)

Starbucks Delves Into The Unknown

For some time now, the plague-like chain of coffee shops has been selling CDs.  The discs available at their stores as customers flock to consume their coffee has largely been of well-known artists (Ray Charles, Alanis Morissette).  That is, until now.

The chain has "listened to what our customers are looking for", says President Ken Lombard and they will begin to market and sell a new release from the all-female rock group Antigone Rising.  The disc, titled "From The Ground Up" will sell for $12.95 (US) and will be exclusively available at Starbucks for an undisclosed period of time before becoming widely available.

Starbucks has made quite the foray into the music world recently, as they also have their own XM Satellite Radio station, which is featuring Antigone Rising.  They announced last year that would like to allow customers at some locations to burn custom CDs while consuming their coffee at their shops.  "From The Ground Up" is apparently the first in a series of new artist releases the chain intends to bring to it's customers.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=769&e=1&u=/nm/20050405/music_nm/leisure_starbucks_music_dc

Guilty Pleasure Of The Week

"Tiny Dancer" by Elton John.  Even guiltier is Dave Grohl's attempt at the song on a Late Late Show With Craig Kilbourne appearance a couple of years back.

Sign #98 The Apocalypse Is Upon Us

Former 98 Degrees puss...er, member Justin Jeffre may no longer be in the collective boy-band spotlight, but he's garnering attention yet again.  Instead of screaming teenage girls, Jeffre will encounter placards and chanting political supporters as he's running for Mayor of Cincinnati.  As long as he doesn't use the theme for WKRP in Cincinnati for his campaign, we might be OK.

"Baby, if you've ever wondered,
Wondered whatever became of me.
I'm living on the air in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati, WKRP."

"Got kind of tired packing and unpacking,
Town to town and up and down the dial.
Maybe you and me were never meant to be,
But baby think of me once in a while."

"I'm at WKRP in Cincinnati!"

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1499420/20050401/98_degrees.jhtml

'Head' Reaches Out To 'Fiddy', Again

I'm hesitant to report on this again, for fear of receiving my own "God is angry with you...convert your ways and become one of his soldiers" letter.  One thing is for sure, Brian 'Head' Welch (formerly of Korn) sure knows how to gain attention for his forth-coming religiously laced solo album.  Is it wise to provoke the nine-times-shot 50 Cent?  Who knows.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1499198/20050329/korn.jhtml

New White Stripes Set For June 14^th Release

It took just under two weeks for the White Stripes to record the new album, and only one (or so) weeks to announce the release date of June 14^th.  What remains is the album title.

Jack and Meg White will start touring next month, playing a number of shows in Mexico.  From there, they will perform at Atlanta's Midtown Music Festival on June 10^th and the Glastonbury Festival on June 24^th.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/launch/20050329/en_launch/18021418

Hitting the Stage

London is the place to be if you're a Coldplay fan.  The band will feature new material from the forthcoming album "X&Y" at an intimate show, which MTV will air globally on June 5^th.  The album drops the following day in the UK.

http://www.nme.com/newsletter/[email protected]

The Kings of Leon are everywhere.  They had an extensive article on them in Rolling Stone magazine a few weeks back.  Their sophomore release "Aha Shake Heartbreak" has gained them substantial attention, mostly good.  Now, they've been officially added as the openers to U2's US Spring tour, who apparently are big fans of this Tennessee quartet.

http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/04/0103.cfm

Canadian beauty (both vocally and visually) Sarah McLachlan is set to start her final leg of touring next week in Victoria, with stops all across Canada and the USA, but you better take full advantage of this opportunity to see her live.  "There are no more tours booked for the next couple of years...I'm going to just go home and have some time off" she stated with a laugh.  She's been on tour nearly two years in support of her last release "Afterglow", but wants to get back to being a Mom (her daughter, India, turns three this week) and expanding her family with husband (and drummer) Ashwin Sood.

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/2005/04/05/983582-cp.html

Also, keep an eye out for next week's MONSTER CONCERT REVIEW ISSUE.  With the likes of Death From Above 1979, Queens of the Stone Age, Thornley, Alexisonfire with Rise Against and Hot Hot Heat all blowing through Calgary, I'm not sure I'll have much room to report on anything else next week!

In Stores Next Week

Releases on April 12^th include the new Garbage CD "Bleed Like Me" which features Dave Grohl drumming on (at least) one track.  Also look for "Kingwood" from Swedish punks Millencolin.  It's been three years since their fairly successful release "Home From Home".  Peoria, IL heavy metal band Mudvayne comes out with "Lost And Found".

This Week's Albums Reviewed

The Chart Magazine staff are at it again, with both favourable and less-than-favourable reviews on this week's albums, including Hot Hot Heat's "Elevator", Reel Big Fish's "Open Season", the Kaiser Chiefs' debut album "Employment" and even Whacko-Jacko's ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley with her latest effort "Now What", among others:

http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/04/0501.cfm

Upcoming Shows

Calgary

JUST ANNOUNCED!  Tickets for Tsunami Bomb with Crowned King, The Loved Ones and Kane Hooder go on sale this Saturday, April 9th.  They'll be at the Warehouse on June 8th.

Also on sale Saturday:  The Crystal Method with Smalltown DJs (Mike Grimes & Pete Emes) for their show at the Whiskey on May 25th.

~~ kMNR v2005.061 ~~

If you would like to hear about or if you have any information on a particular band or artist, please email and I will do my best to cover them.

• April 01, 2005 ~ kMNR v2005.013 ~ "Plagiarized existence exist, Among the writers of the word"

• March 25, 2005 ~ kMNR v2005.012 ~ "They Have No Legs, But Chase Us Anyway"

• March 18, 2005 ~ kMNR v2005.011 ~ "...You Get It Right, You Breath No More"

• March 11, 2005 ~ kMNR v2005.010 ~ "Every Breath Is Like The One Before..."

• March 04, 2005 ~ kMNR v2005.009 ~ "talons scratch my suite"