BuzzSugar

What to Download: New Music on iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:31:44 PDT

Tuesdays are big in entertainment-ville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores, including iTunes. So I take a spin through each week's iTunes music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download.

Today, Alanis Morissette has a new album out, and I'll be giving it a full review later on, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, here are the rest of today's selections:

Weird, but in a good way: I've been anticipating the fifth album release from My Morning Jacket for awhile now, and it's finally here! From what I've heard so far, the band has taken some huge experimental risks and I think it paid off. There are as many typical MMJ down-home tracks like "Librarian" on Evil Urges as there are, as Rolling Stone put it, "wtf moments" (check out "Highly Suspicious" for one example). I just downloaded the entire thing.

The country queen: Emmylou Harris' new album is sad and heartbreaking and beautiful - everything you want and expect from this singing legend. The songs I can't get enough of right now include "Gold", a lovely duet with Dolly Parton, and her quiet cover of Tracy Chapman's "All That You Have is Your Soul". Also, can someone tell me what this lady is drinking that makes her the woman that time forgot? She looks and sounds amazing at age 61!

Two more to sample so

A little hip-hop with your Summer?: N.E.R.D.'s third album is pretty fun - but it's not for the faint of heart. There is a lot going on here, and tracks like "Spaz" make me feel like I just slipped and fell down the rabbit hole. It's kind of hilarious (in a good way) when the guys slow it down, like on "Love Bomb" when they sing, "We don't need another love song, we need a love bomb." Who doesn't love love bombs?

No longer a Wallflower: Jakob Dylan, son of Bob, strikes out on his own again and sounds more like his pops than ever. His voice sounds great in the earthy "Will It Grow" and on "Something Good This Way Comes". He's no longer in top 20 radio hits territory (i.e. "One Headlight") and he's not breaking new folk ground, but it's lovely nonetheless.

Song of the Day: Ida, "The Pain of Loving You"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:40:56 PDT

The indie band Ida recently premiered their cover version of Dolly Parton's "The Pain of Loving You," and it's lovely. The New York City band, which formed in 1992, has a sound that is evocative of Iron and Wine, or a calmer, more pared down Belle and Sebastian. It's a sound that works well for the Dolly cover which will be a part of their forthcoming EP, My Fair, My Dark. We've all heard Dolly Parton remakes before (most notably Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" and The White Stripes' "Jolene") and often the artist tends to do something dramatically different. What's refreshing about the Ida cover is that it stays true to Dolly's bluegrass-y, folk sound. You can listen to both versions below, and If you like what you hear, check out Ida's latest CD titled Lovers Prayers.

To listen to the Ida version, just press play below.

The Pain of Loving You - Ida

To hear the Dolly Parton version (with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris),

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Announcing the 2012 Grammy Award Nominations

Rose Curiel — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:51:21 PST

For the second year in a row, the Recording Academy has given a hip-hop artist the most Grammy nominations. Last year, it was rapper Eminem with eight, and this year, Kanye West leads the nominees with seven chances at the golden gramophone, including a song of the year nod for "All of the Lights." West is also nominated twice in the rap album of the year category for his collaboration with Jay-Z on Watch the Throne and his own album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Brit crooner Adele wasn't far behind Kanye, picking up six nominations for her album 21, as well as a shot at song of the year with "Rolling in the Deep."

Bruno Mars also did well, racking up six nominations (that's down one from last year for those keeping track), while newcomers like Nicki Minaj and dubstep artist Skrillex are up for the best new artist category. See what other artists have a chance of walking away with a Grammy during the February 12 award show when you read more