OBSESSED WITH MUSIC

Music News: Capitol/EMI is launching a “From the Capitol Vaults” vinyl campaign on August 19 with eight classic albums. These will be remastered titles with original artwork and packaging. Six of the newly remastered, limited edition albums are presented on 180-gram LPs, while two albums initially released as double 10” 140-gram LPs will be reissued in their original configuration. Included in the vinyl launch are A Perfect Circle’s Mer de Noms, Coldplay’s Parachutes and A Rush Of Blood To The Head, Radiohead’s OK Computer, Kid A (two 10” 140-gram LPs), Amnesiac (two 10” 140-gram LPs), and Hail To The Thief, and Steve Miller Band’s Greatest Hits 1974-78. U.S. vinyl sales have increased by more than 80% in the past year alone, and the format is still on the rise, appealing to fans of all ages now discovering or rediscovering its appeal.

James Brown - I Got The Feelin’: James Brown in the ‘60s 3-DVD box set

Watch: Trailer Video | Video Clip
This set features the director’s cut of "The Night James Brown Saved Boston" and the full-length concert performances "James Brown Live at The Boston Garden" from April 1968 and "Man to Man - James Brown Live at The Apollo Theater 1968". This definitive 3-DVD collector’s box set is brimming with a special deluxe booklet and extensive bonus content such as James Brown’s legendary performance of “Out of Sight” from The T.A.M.I. Show, interviews with James Brown’s band members, friends and colleagues, additional audio from the radio simulcast of his Boston Garden Live performance 1968, rare performance footage culled from the archives and much more!
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Little Richard - The Very Best Of

Listen: Tutti Frutti | Jenny Jenny | The Girl Can't Help It
This is a comprehensive 25-track compilation, and the first in 20 years to showcase all the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer’s Specialty hits. The collection features an original pre-rock ‘n’ roll demo, 1955’s “Baby,” plus a rousing live medley of “Ain’t That a Shame/I Got a Woman”/”Tutti Frutti” recorded in Paris in 1964, and a rehearsal take of “Hound Dog” (1956). Billy Vera wrote the liner notes.
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John Mellencamp - Life, Death, Love and Freedom
Listen: My Sweet Love
Contest coming soon!
The new album is produced by T Bone Burnett. Mellencamp has characterized the album as a collection of “modern electric folk songs.” With backing from his legendary touring band, the album’s 14 tracks were recorded at his studio in Bloomington, Indiana and mixed in Los Angeles with Burnett behind the boards for all of the sessions. Mellencamp cites Burnett’s production as key to “finding the soul of each song.” Mellencamp was inducted earlier this year into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and this past December received the ASCAP Foundation's Champion Award in recognition of the his outstanding use of music in the service of humanity.
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Rehab - Graffiti The World
Listen: Bartender Song
This is the band's bid to cover the world with special sounds, seeking the dark and light within, asking questions and perhaps, sometimes, finding the right answers. Hmm. It's a unique blend of funk, hip-hop, rock and country.
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Amelia - A Long Lovely List Of Repairs
Listen: The Great Escape | After You
Watch: The End
Win it here!
Not a person but a band, Amelia has become a staple in the Northwest from San Francisco to Seattle and especially Portland where Amelia’s albums have garnered not only support and rave reviews among the press but have also enjoyed radio support at KINK/Portland, KEXP/Seattle, KMTN/Seattle, KFOG/San Francisco among other stations. Look for Amelia to tour regionally for April, May and June with additional summer touring plans to be announced.
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One Flew South - Last of the Good Guys
Listen: Last Of The Good Guys | My Kind Of Beautiful | Life
“With beautiful echoes of the great harmony groups like Poco, Eagles, even The Beach Boys; One Flew South are the new kids in town,” says legendary songwriter J.D. Souther who contributed his collaborative songwriting talents. J.D.’s notable lyrical ability is prominent on the album.
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The Offspring - Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
Listen: Hammerhead
Win it here!
In anticipation of this release, the band is having a video contest in which you can create your own video for the new single “Hammerhead” and win yourself the Grand Prize of $10,000. You can click here to download a FREE MP3 of the new single and enter the contest. Be creative. Be current. Be literal. Be abstract. Use your own self-shot/documentary footage. Find the right footage for your voice. Share your experiences. Use this as another way to tell your own story. Whatever makes sense to you to make the best video you can.
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Robin Trower - Day Of The Eagle - The Best Of
Read: Full Press Release And Track Listing
Contest coming soon
While Trower's style is inspired in part by Hendrix's distinct and revolutionary approach, the most direct comparison to be made is not in technical style, but rather in the bared emotion and power of both guitarists' playing, as well as in their shared affinity for the Fender Stratocaster. This release is a new CD and digital collection of his best material from 1973 to 1980, including album tracks and live recordings.
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Delta Goodrem - Delta
Watch: Music Video | EPK
Listen: Full Listening Party
Win it here!
At just 23, is already one of Australia's most successful and highest-selling female artists. She says “Hard times are universal. Good times are universal. I’ve learned how powerful music can be to people, how you just want to get lost in music. That’s a really special connection with people that isn’t disposable. I like the idea of starting in America with a clean slate. I’m looking forward to singing my heart out.” “Possessionless” may be the album's most personal track. Goodrem wrote the song shortly after winning her battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer that derailed Delta at the height of her Australian and UK success in 2003.
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David Bowie - Live Santa Monica '72
Read: Full Press Release
Available on limited edition CD and numbered 180-gram double vinyl LP packages and also digitally. Previously out-of-print and long a fan favorite, the October 20, 1972 concert at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium was Bowie’s first live U.S. radio appearance, broadcasted by the now-defunct Los Angeles station KMET. The CD and double vinyl packages include photos taken at the show and a reprint of Robert Hilburn’s original Los Angeles Times concert review. This powerful, galvanizing show allows a more than 70 minute glimpse into the earliest nationwide live radio exposure granted David and the Spiders. The set list is compiled primarily from the 'Hunky Dory' and 'Ziggy Stardust' albums and features two covers, Jacques Brel's "My Death" and the Velvet Underground's "Waiting for the Man," alongside the awesome power of 'The Man Who Sold The World' centrepiece "The Width Of A Circle" (this version is a ten and a half minute sonic assault) and an 'Aladdin Sane' previewing "The Jean Genie."
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The Beach Boys - U.S. Singles Collection – The Capitol Years (1962-1965) - Limited Edition
Listen: Listening Party | Fun Fun Fun | Surfer Girl | Warmth Of The Sun
Contest winners will be announced soon
This is available in a highly-collectible, limited edition boxed set of 16 CDs and also as a digital collection. Each of the deluxe boxed set’s CDs includes an original single’s A and B-sides, plus other versions of most tracks, from additional mono and stereo mixes to live recordings. Eight previously unreleased mixes are among the new collection’s 66 tracks. The CD boxed set’s lavish packaging includes 16 individual CDs in digipaks with faithfully reproduced original single artwork, plus a 48-page hardbound photo book with faux sand finish, housed in a striking ‘60s hotrod and surfboard-inspired red and yellow box with wood inlay.
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Michael McDonald - Soul Speak
Regarding his new album: "You just try to pick the songs that are most meaningful to you," says five time Grammy-winner Michael McDonald about the inspiration for this album. "These songs span my life - they're the ones where I can remember where I was when I first heard them, the ones that made me interested in becoming a recording artist, the songs I'd always imagined myself singing."
Read: Press Release / Notes
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Ism - Urgency
Listen: Sacred Cows
MP3: Sacred Cows
Contest winners will be announced soon
The band with the strange name is back. Urgency, ism’s sophomore album on STM Records, poses unflinching questions about the human condition in songs equally as bold in construction. Smart, melodic and hypnotic, Urgency builds on the solid foundation of 2006’s critically acclaimed Monkey Underneath with 14 tracks produced by Joe Blaney (The Clash, Tom Waits, Prince). Along with Mistier on guitar, ism’s other members are the passionate Mike Higgins on drums, fret master Gerard Toriello on lead guitar, and effects wizard Leigh Battle on bass. Behind the scenes, legendary A&R guru Michael Caplan served as patriarch of the project, assembling an impressive production team that shaped the final recording.
MySpace | YouTube | Discuss It

Pat Benatar - Ultimate Collection
Pat Benatar’s top hits and signature album cuts have been gathered for a new 2-CD and digital release. Among the collection’s 40 tracks, totaling more than two hours of music, are 20 Top 40 chart hits, including “Heartbreaker,” “Love Is A Battlefield,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Fire And Ice,” “Invincible,” and “We Belong.”
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Blondie - Parallel Lines (30th Anniversary Collectors Edition)
The original album has sold more than 20 million copies around the world since its 1978 debut. This commemorative CD/DVD release adds four bonus audio tracks, three classic music videos and a previously unreleased TV performance from the BBC’s “Top Of The Pops” to the album’s original tracklist, as well as a booklet containing the original album photo session. Parallel Lines peaked at #6 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart and included Blondie’s first #1 hit, “Heart Of Glass,” named one of the greatest songs ever by Blender magazine. The iconic album also features the smash hit “One Way Or Another” as well as “Hanging On The Telephone” and “Sunday Girl.”
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Billy Idol - The Very Best Of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself
Win it here!
This collection gathers together the music that Billy Idol has taken to stages all around the world, as well as two brand new songs. The two songs, “John Wayne” and “New Future Weapon,” will be exclusively available on the new release, which features all seven of Idol’s Top 10 hits among its 18 tracks, including two #1s. The Deluxe Edition adds 13 music videos making their DVD release debuts, including two alternate video edits that have never before been released in any format.
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Radiohead - The Best Of
The Best Of brings together the singles, key album tracks and live favorites spanning the band’s entire Parlophone Records and Capitol Records career. It will be available in the following formats and configurations: a 1CD collection featuring 17 tracks, a Special Edition 2CD, adding 13 tracks, a 4-piece vinyl set with 29 tracks, a 30-track digital download, and a DVD featuring all the classic promo videos.
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Solomon Burke - Like A Fire
Contest winners will be announced soon
Burke has had a long illustrious career which includes a Grammy award and an induction into the Rock and Roll hall of fame. His influence as an artist has long reached across generations, as is evident here on this soulful new project featuring songs written specifically for the album by an all-star team of songwriters, including Eric Clapton, Ben Harper, Jesse Harris, and Keb’ Mo’. The songs on Like A Fire are based on Burke’s reflections on life, and his concern for the state of the world. A spare, honest and emotionally raw album, Like A Fire was produced by Grammy-winning master drummer Steve Jordan.
Listen to: Like A Fire | We Don't Need It
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John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band - Classic Albums DVD
This “Classic Albums” DVD explores the creation of a painful masterpiece via archival footage, detailed analysis and new interviews with Yoko Ono, Ringo Starr and bassist Klaus Voorman, a longtime Lennon friend and confidant. Interview sections are entitled “Remember Remember,” “Working Klaus Hero,” “Well Well Well,” “Well Well Well Hidden Praise,” “Class Divide,” “Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band,” “God Is Alive And Living In The Eiffel Tower.” Performances include “Mother” live at Madison Square Garden and “Instant Karma” from the BBC’s “Top Of The Pops.”
Watch: Promotional Clip
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Charlotte Sometimes - Waves And The Both Of Us
Charlotte’s first focus track is taken from the lyric’s of Cypress Hill’s “How I Could Just Kill A Man”. It gives a pretty good introduction to her style. Sign up for mobile updates and automatically receive daily set times for Warped Tour, personal videos and photos from Charlotte and more! Text “WAVES” to 58888 on your mobile phone to receive updates. You can also stay connected all summer long by visiting her mobile webpage at www.zannel.com/charlottesometimes where you can leave comments, download free wallpapers and get access to more exclusive content.
Listen: How I Could Just Kill A Man | Sweet Valium High
Watch: Video preview | How I Could Just Kill A Man | Buzznet Interview
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Gavin Rossdale - Wanderlust
After years spent at the top of rock’s grungy heap -- and then a couple more in a peculiar sort of high-profile musical wilderness -- Rossdale has brought it all back home on a vivid, widescreen rock album that found him working closely with famed producer Bob Rock. Guest vocals on one track by Shirley Manson of Garbage.
Watch: Album Preview | Love Remains The Same
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Mike Zito - Today
Contest winners will be announced soon
The producers captured the earthy essence and intimacy of Zito’s voice, and the driving intensity of his music, creating a recording that sounds simultaneously comfortable and familiar, and brand new and original. Zito’s original material is strong; songs like “Today”, “Holding Out For Love” and “Superman” would mesh perfectly with the playlists at any Hot AC or Triple A format radio station, while the strutting “No Big City” and “Hollywood” won’t disappoint long-time fans from his hard-rocking days. And Zito’s sensitive, acoustic cover of the Prince classic “Little Red Corvette” will have listeners who are familiar with the song hearing it in a whole new light.
Watch: Video link
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Story Of The Year - Our Time Is Now (Two Years in the Life of...) DVD
Contest winners will be announced soon
Touring for "In The Wake Of Determination" brought Story of the Year to new fans, new places, and some of the biggest, most intense crowds to date. As always, cameras rolled and captured the experiences along the way. Our Time Is Now is the story of those two years. It's a two-part feature including a never-before-seen look into the band's writing and recording process, and a home video style documentary of life on the road.
Watch: Promotional Trailer | Clip 1 | Clip 2
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Flobots - Fighting With Tools
A new group out of Denver on Universal Records, they reached the #1 most requested song in the United States at radio in just 2 weeks and are blowing up everywhere else.
Watch: E-card
Listen: Handlebars
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Jethro Tull - This Was (Collectors Edition)
As Jethro Tull celebrates 40 years of worldwide rock superstardom, Capitol/EMI is releasing a 2-CD and digital release of a remastered and expanded Collectors Edition of the British band’s 1968 debut album, This Was. The release presents, for the first time on CD, the album’s original mono mix as well as a new stereo mix of the album. Also featured are nine related 1968 recordings for John Peel’s BBC Radio program, “Top Gear,” plus four rare 1968 UK singles: “Sunshine Day,” “Song For John Gee,” “Love Story” and “Christmas Song.” The commemorative package includes 35 tracks in all, as well as package notes and anecdotes from Jethro Tull’s members.
More Info - Buy | Web Site | Discuss It

Local H - 12 Angry Months
Contest winners will be announced soon
Written after the bitter end of a long-term relationship, the album chronicles a full year of post-breakup experiences. Each track on 12 Angry Months corresponds to a month, and deals with the range of emotions one encounters after love turns sour. Those emotions range from anger (“so, baby could you do me a favor? fall off the earth and i'll see you later”), to jealousy (“this is crazy, I can’t believe that you replaced me”), to acceptance (“you knew we’d never make it anyway”). Highly regarded for their powerful sound and unique two-man lineup with Scott Lucas on vocals and guitar and Brian St. Clair on drums, Local H is known for derisive lyrics, heavy guitars and feedback, energetic live shows, and an active relationship with their fans. The band performs regularly, and will be on tour nationally in 2008.
Listen: 24 Hour Break-Up Session | BMW Man
View: E-card
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Marie Digby - Unfold
Contest winners will be announced soon
In addition to twelve original tracks penned by Marié, "Unfold" will include her wildly popular, stripped down version of Rihanna's "Umbrella." Just a few months ago, Marié's acoustic version of the Rihanna hit "Umbrella" debuted at No. 40 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 while Rihanna's original at was at No. 37, which marked the first time in the history of the Adult Top 40 list that versions by two different artists of the same song have charted simultaneously. The album showcases the singer/songwriter's upbeat acoustic pop melodies and smart, honest lyrics. Two of her original songs, "Stupid for You," and "Say It Again," also debuted nationally on the hit MTV show "The Hills," while another original, "Spell" debuted on the CW Network show "Smallville."
Watch: Marie Digby YouTube
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Madonna - Hard Candy
Pop music's queen returns with a new studio album. The first single and video, 4 Minutes, features Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.
Watch: 4 Minutes | Give It 2 Me
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Portishead - Third
Last.fm announced today that Portishead's long-awaited new album, Third, will be made exclusively available on the site, in its entirety, for free from April 21, a week before its official release. Third is the Bristol band's first studio album in 11 years, and each of its 11 tracks will be made available for free, full-length, on-demand streaming on Last.fm for 7 days leading up the official release on April 28.
Listen: Third
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Carly Simon - This Kind Of Love
Contest winners will be announced soon
Her first album of all-original songs in eight years, This Kind of Love ranks among Simon’s most personal albums as well as one of her most stylistically diverse excursions with songs ranging from gorgeous melodies to driving rhythms. The CD is co-produced by Simon, Frank Filipetti and Jimmy Webb who also wrote or co-wrote most of the arrangements.The three first teamed up for Film Noir, Simon’s album of standards that Webb produced in 1997. The musical inspiration of this CD comes from Simon’s fascination with Brazilian music, whose rhythms are subtly infused throughout.
Watch: This Kind Of Love
Listen: Island | Hold Out Your Heart | This Kind Of Love
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The Veronicas - Single: Untouched
Most young bands today can’t say they have performed together for 18 years, but sisters Lisa and Jessica of The Veronicas have done just that. The vocal chemistry that has evolved from singing together from the age of five is showcased in their latest single, “Untouched” which pairs intense strings with an electro-dance beat.
Win tickets to see them with Natasha Bedingfield. Enter here by June 12th.
Listen: Untouched
Watch: Untouched Video | Video Message
More Info - Buy the album | Web Site | Discuss It

Love - Forever Changes (2CD collector's edition)
Regarded as the L.A.-based psychedelic folk-rock pioneers' finest achievement, Love's FOREVER CHANGES is sometimes compared to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Pet Sounds. The third and final album by the original Love lineup remains a timeless musical experience four decades after its Elektra release. Produced by band cofounder Arthur Lee and The Doors' engineer/producer Bruce Botnick, the visionary album weaves a rich tapestry of sound as Lee's quavering voice delivers lyrics that are both enigmatic and poetic as he is backed by the band's gorgeous melodies and evocative orchestral arrangements. This Collector's Edition of FOREVER CHANGES contains the original 11 songs along with an alternate mix of the album comprised almost entirely of unreleased tracks. The bonus material also includes a trove of unreleased gems culled from the album's recording sessions.
Listen: Listening Party
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Shannon Noll - Turn It Up
Contest winners: Mark Rootstein (Brooklyn, NY), Daniel Morrell (Weymouth, MA)
This is Shannon’s most dynamic album. From the first hit, Loud, to anthemic rockers like Way Out to heartfelt emotion in Breakdown and In Pieces to unabashed sentiments in soul stirring ballads like Sorry Is Just Too Late and Is You, every song is a showcase for Shannon’s vocal abilities and shows his growth as a songwriter. Shannon was particularly thrilled to work with one of rock music legend Richie Sambora. The two wrote the blistering power ballad, Sorry Is Just Too Late along with producer Luke Ebbin. Richie also played guitar on the track. Richie has nothing but praise for Shannon. “There are very few current artists that embody the great classic vocalists, but have a contemporary flair,” says Richie. “Shannon is that artist.”
Video: Loud | On Oprah's Big Give
MP3: Loud
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Blue Man Group - How To Be A Megastar Live!
Contest winner: Charlene Canty (Gainesville, FL)
How To Be A Megastar Tour is a live rock show that takes the audience through a satirical "workshop" on how to create "the perfect rock concert experience." In the process, they celebrate, skewer and otherwise deconstruct rock stardom in all of its narcissistic glory. The Blue Men download a new "how-to manual" that takes the audience through a uniquely clever and interactive show that guarantees to deliver hypnotic entertainment for all ages.
E-card | Listening Party
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"I am obsessed with music. It's an obsession." - Kady Malloy, American Idol contestant, season seven. Think she was talking about us? Yeah, probably...

TV Video - The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: John, Paul, Tom, Ringo
Contest winner: Dennis Kauffunger (Orlando, FL)
On April 25, 1975, John Lennon gave what was to be his last televised interview on “The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder. The 2-DVD set “The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder: John, Paul, Tom & Ringo” also includes a 1981 interview with Ringo Starr, who discusses his film and music career, as well as remembrances of his band mate and friend John Lennon, and a 1979 interview with Paul and Linda McCartney, Denny Laine & Laurence Juber, from a stage in London, who were then enjoying huge success with Wings.
Watch: Trailer
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Van Morrison - Keep It Simple
Contest winner: Jennifer Barnett (Nashville, TN)
A self-produced collection that points up Morrison’s awareness that the details are every bit as important as the big picture. That depth of feeling has characterized Morrison’s records from day one.
Listen: That's Entertainment
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Emily Saxe - Keeping You In Mind
Contest winner: Joseph Kershenbaum (Lowell, MA)
Her latest release is filled with arrangements that are jazzy morsels of contemporary Americana, with rootsy instruments and hypnotic rhythms. National Public Radio calls Keeping You In Mind, "a must addition to your CD collection." The Tucson Citizen describes Emily as having "....one of the world's most daringly intimate voices", and Oregon Weekly calls her latest CD "....nearly perfect."
Listen: Walk On By
Watch: Interview Video
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Everclear - The Vegas Years
Never shy about their influences and the music they grew up on, multi-platinum rockers EVERCLEAR have long been known for saluting the band’s roots by recording and performing a dynamic and eclectic array of covers. Now for the first time, Everclear’s best studio and concert recordings have been gathered for a new collection, The Vegas Years. The disc features 14 covers the band recorded between 1994 and this year, including versions of Hall & Oates’ “Rich Girl” and Paul Revere & The Raiders’ “Kicks,” both available exclusively on the new CD and digital album release.
More Info - Buy | Web Site | MySpace | Discuss It

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OBSESSED WITH MUSIC

...It's all about the music...