and produced by Rodrigo y Gabriela, with John Leckie co-producing one of the tracks. The album was mixed in Wales and London by Colin Richardson, best known for his work with Slipknot and Trivium. Comprising 11 new original compositions, 11:11 is the band s personal Gracias to 11 musicians, both past and present, who have inspired them along the way. Alex Skolnick of metal gods Testament guests on the album, as do widely respected acoustic veterans Strunz & Farah. If their self-titled debut was a successful attempt at capturing the unbridled dynamic energy of their incendiary gigs (mostly recorded live in the studio, with very few overdubs); then the new album sees them developing their core sound into something more sophisticated, intric...  (less)

in Ixtapa where we lived for a while". Tamacun -"Tamacun's message is to teach kids to respect nature." He handles crocodiles, and tourists come to photograph him. Diablo Rojo - Inspired by a wild rollercoaster called 'Red Devil' at a theme park in Copenhagen, Denmark. Three rides in a row, each. Viking Man - Another Danish inspired piece. The Viking Man was a homeless guy who encouraged Rod & Gab to tough it out on the streets, busking in minus zero conditions at Christmastime. John Leckie adds radio static. Satori - Experiencing self doubt shortly after arriving in Ireland, Rodrigo y Gabriela were at a low ebb. No money, poor English and a deep sense of uncertainty. Only an unshakeable faith in perseverance kept them goin...  (less)

with photo ogallery and lyrics page. 15 tracks in all. 2002.  (less)

Drakoulias (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Black Crowes, Jayhawks) it also features performances by Derek Trucks (who also produced 1 track), Gary Louris and Doyle Bramhall II. Tedeschi's Verve Forecast debut, Hope and Desire, focused on her amazing vocal talents as an interpreter of other's songs. This time out she turns her pen, guitar and powerful voice to her own work having written or co-written all but one song.  (less)

the gap between jazzy blue-eyed soul and and chart-topping pop rock, earning him superstardom both as lead vocalist/keyboardist for the Doobie Brothers and as a solo artist. Spanning 1976 to the present, this hit-packed new compilation spotlights his inimitable baritone on 19 timeless songs that will have you believing from the very first minute.  (less)

as coax out more of its inherent soulfulness, groove and bittersweet emotion. Two versions of 'Remember When' illustrate how the duo can swing easily from smoldering ballad to thrashing rocker. 'I’ m more pleased with the sound of this record than any one we’v e ever made,' says Carney, and Auerbach concurs: 'We never let it all go l ike we did for this one, anything was game. It was just fun to make, and that’s why I t hink it’s so successful.' V2.  (less)

of the greatest blues players of our time as well as lesser-known but historically significant bluesmen. Traveling to their hometowns to record everywhere from juke joints to front porches, from New Orleans to Kansas, Shepherd celebrates and becomes part of blues history with Ten Days Out...Blues From The Backroads.  (less)

Philly's incense-clouded, '70s-obsessed neo-soul scene, then found his way to New York and became West's right-hand man in the studio. His patron's pop smarts serve Legend well--while many contemporary R&B records rely too heavily on a singer's cadence and skill to carry underdeveloped tunes, Legend and West have composed genuine songs like the perky "Number One," which has a lovestruck West jabbering that he no longer believes that "my heart don't got nothing to do with my penis." (It's way more convincing than Snoop Dogg's pledge of love on the next track, "I Can Change.") And even when the melodies are slight, West slides some nasty bass lines underneath, hinting at just enough of a hip-hop sensibility to keep the album from drifting into retro nostalgia...  (less)

list includes such blues chestnuts as Big Bill Broonzy's "Backwater Blues," Lonnie Johnson's "Tomorrow Night," Blind Lemon Jefferson's "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" and T-Bone Walker's "I Get So Weary."  (less)

once reduced to sleeping on Detroit park benches while battling addiction. With the release of Album II, though, the sad stories need circulate no longer—all that's required to get swept up, off, and away by these tracks is a taste for solid R&B minus the hip-hop sideshow. Coaxing vocal cords more pliable than the face of Jim Carey into unexpected directions, the Chaka Khan sound-alike—who also occasionally ventures into George Benson territory—showers tenderness over each of these songs, sauntering into some notes with suave sophistication and sneaking up on others. Though "I Can't Stop Lovin' You" is the song throwing sparks amongst the quiet storm crowd, check his stretchy tenor on "Into You" and "I'm in Love," both so deeply felt they'll send the lovelorn swooni...  (less)

asked about writing number one hits for other artists, simply put, Ne-Yo said, "I feel there is always room for good music. I want to reach people's soul with my lyrics through whatever vessel God chooses." Set to release his debut album In My Own Words on Def Jam Recordings, this dynamic entertainer is ready to deliver. Infusing pop melodies to rich, soulful production the album is sure to score with fans and critics alike. Relying on mostly his own in-house crew Compound, Ne-Yo creates both a unique sound and sentiment for his records. Songs like the first single "Stay" (featuring Peedi Crack) exemplify Ne-Yo's nuanced, layered vocals and sample free production. "So Sick", a beautiful track in which he laments hearing love songs on the radio due to the f...  (less)