Bill Callahan - Woke On A Whaleheart

Bill Callahan, foi conhecido durante toda a sua carreira pelo projecto Smog, mais concretamente desde 1990 altura em que lançou o primeiro disco, de um total de onze sobe essa designação. Em 2006, Bill Callahan resolveu então assinar o primeiro disco com o seu nome, o que na prática não muda nada, visto todos os álbuns lançados sobe a designação anterior serem basicamente Callahan a solo, apenas com algumas participações esporádicas. A sua sonoridade foi inicialmente catalogada de alt-country experimental, de características lo-fi e de estruturas minimalistas. É habitualmente comparado a Will Oldam, sendo por isso incluído no espectro sonoro da country mais negra. Este álbum mostra-nos no entanto em algumas canções, um lado mais positivo e alegre na escrita de Callahan (talvez aí esteja a justificação do abandono do nome Smog), como comprovam temas como por exemplo " Diamond Dancer". Recomendado.

Able Baker Fox - Voices (2008)

Banda Americana de rock em estilo pós-grunge, lança álbum de estreia. Disco que traz alguns temas bastante interessantes e uma sonoridade algo original dentro do estilo, combinando momentos mais densos e pesados com outros mais calmos e bastante melódicos, que em minha opinião os demarca de outras bandas do género.

Black Mountain-In The Future-2008

Parece que 2008 vai ser tal como este, um ano de grandes álbuns, se continuar ao nível desta primeira amostra. Mais uma excelente banda que nos chega do Canadá, mais concretamente de Vancouver, que iniciou actividades em 2004, e lança agora o seu segundo trabalho. Meus amigos, o que lhes posso dizer depois de ouvir este disco, é que estamos perante uma das maiores surpresas dos últimos tempos, e se a minha intuição não falhar, estes senhores ainda vão dar muito que falar.

Só para terem uma ideia quanto à sonoridade dos Black Mountain, vai desde Neil Young a Black Sabbath, com algumas doses de psicadelismo a fazer lembrar Jimi Hendrix. O tema "Stay Free", já está na minha lista das melhores canções dos últimos tempos. Recomendo vivamente, aos apreciadores de rock sem fronteiras.

Merry Christmas Everybody

Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon

Devendra Banhart, é um músico de folk-rock já bastante conhecido (pelo menos de nome), para quem acompanha o movimento da chamada música alternativa. No entanto para quem não tem estado tão atento, aproveito para revelar de forma resumida alguns detalhes da sua biografia. Devendra, nasceu em Huston, Texas no ano de 1981, mas cresceu na Venezuela. Mais tarde regressou aos Estados Unidos, onde começou a ter sucesso na área de São Francisco quando aí ingressou no San Francisco Art Institute. Mudou-se para Nova York em 2002 altura em que gravou o seu primeiro álbum através da sua própria editora Young God Records. Actualmente vive em Los Angeles, e é já considerado como um dos melhores songwriters da actualidade sendo muitas vezes classificado de Naturalista, devido às suas letras de teor naturalista e algo surrealistas. O álbum que aqui partilho é já o quinto da carreira de Devendra Banhart, e à semelhança dos anteriores, já está eleito como um dos melhores discos do ano pela maioria das revistas da especialidade por esse mundo fora.

London After Midnight - Violent Acts Of Beauty

Banda de Los Angeles liderada pelo vocalista Sean Brennan, lança o seu quarto trabalho. A banda rejeita classificações, mas já foi considerada de gótica e industrial.

Ian Brown - The World Is Yours [2007]

Apesar de estar a ser um tanto ou quanto ignorado pela crítica e pelos media, nós não deixámos passar em claro esse facto, e destacamos aqui o quinto disco a solo do ex-Stone Roses, Ian Brown.

Beirut - The Flying Club Cup

Depois do sucesso do álbum de estreia "Gulag Orkestar" em 2006, na altura unanimemente considerado pela crítica mundial como um dos melhores discos do ano, Beirut, o projecto de Zach Condon, acaba de lançar o seu segundo disco e embora não tenha recolhido críticas tão favoráveis como o anterior, a mim pelo menos agrada-me mais. Neste segundo trabalho Zach Condon deixou os arranjos de cordas a cargo de Owen Pallett da banda Final Fantasy, (que talvez um dia aqui traga ao Bar), fazendo deste disco um objecto tão especial, que merece ser ouvido só pela quantidade de instrumentos que não estamos habituados a ouvir, a não ser em discos de música clássica. Um disco ideal para quem gosta de variar e descobrir novas sonoridades, porque a música não são só guitarras...

Radiohead - In Rainbows (CD2)

Mais uma prenda no sapatinho aqui do Bar. Para aqueles que desejarem completar o álbum, aqui fica o segundo CD do último dos Radiohead, que acompanhará a edição física do disco que será posto à venda dia 31 de Dezembro.

Chris Garneau - Music For Tourists

Chris Garneau, é mais uma das grandes revelações de 2007, e o seu álbum de estreia a figurar na minha lista dos melhores discos do ano. Natural de Boston e actualmente a viver em Nova York, Garneau tem percorrido os Estados Unidos América, Canada e a Europa na promoção deste seu álbum de estreia que tem chamado a atenção da crítica através dos singles "We Don't Try" e "Relief". Excelente disco para escutar naquelas noites frias e chuvosas de Inverno.

Sandra Nasic - The Signal [2007]

Disco a solo da potente vocalista dos Guano Apes.

Led Zeppelin - Reunião (London Arena 2007 )

John Doe - A Year in the Wilderness

John Doe já aqui passou pelo Bar quando o nosso companheiro Cmarg divulgou o álbum "Dim Stars, Bright Sky", de 2002. Agora trago-lhes o último, editado este ano que agora termina, juntando-se à vasta lista de excelentes álbuns produzidos este ano .

John Vanderslice - Emerald City (2007)

Mais uma vez aproveito para partilhar e divulgar um artista, que apesar de já ter seis discos de originais editados desde 2000, era para mim um perfeito desconhecido até descobrir recentemente o seu último trabalho, um disco que revela músicas de rara beleza e um compositor que tenta inovar na sua forma de compor. Para resumir, posso adiantar que estamos perante um disco bastante interessante para quem gosta de descobrir e apreciar coisas novas na área do indie -rock.

Ryan Adams - Follow The Lights [EP]

Esta semana está-me a dar para os EPs, talvez por serem mais raros, menos divulgados e por vezes até considerados obras menores na carreira dos artistas. No entanto são precisamente nestes EPs, que encontramos verdadeiras pérolas de certos artistas ou bandas, é o que tem acontecido com Ryan Adams em particular, que tem uma colecção de EPs considerável, que têm superado qualitativamente alguns dos seus álbuns. É o caso deste EP composto por dois novos temas ("Follow The Lights" e "My Love For You Is Real") e cinco versões com destaque para "Down in a Hole", dos Alice in Chains e "Dear John", de Norah Jones.

Bonie 'Prince' Billy - Ask Forgiveness (EP) 2007

Will Oldam lança mais um trabalho sobe a designação do seu alter-ego Bonie 'Prince' Billy, desta vez o motivo que o levou a estúdio foram oito versões de artistas como Danzig ou Bjork, e que podemos agora escutar neste EP "Ask Forgiveness". Para apreciadores.

The Twilight Singers - A Stitch In Time (EP) (2007)

Já aqui tinha trazido o último álbum dos The Twilight Singers, desta feita aproveito para partilhar o último trabalho editado pela banda de Greg Dulli, este EP que contem cinco temas e conta com as participações de Mark Lanegan em duas versões (a do tema "Live with Me" dos Massive Attack é simplesmente espectacular) e também de Joseph Arthur. Para coleccionadores.

Neil Young - On the Beach (Remastered)

Coloco este post para partilhar convosco esta pérola de Neil Young originalmente gravada em 1974, mas que só em 2003 foi lançado em CD, permitindo assim aos fans e não só, conhecer finalmente este disco fundamental na carreira do mestre Young. Obrigatório.

Whitestarr - Luv Machine & Fillith Tillith

Whitestarr was formed in 2000. They were signed by Atlantic Records, but later dropped. The band was virtually unknown until they became featured on the cable television show The Rock Life on VH1 network. The premise of the show is a "rockumentary" style format, where cameramen follow the band inside the shows and studio and outside in their personal lives.

In 2007 Whitestarr recorded a song for actress Eliska Amor entitled 'Eliska Amor, you're a beautiful thing' later released to their MySpace Music page. Lyrically, the song referenced both Amor's aesthetics and fashion but was never intended for professional release.

* Cisco Adler- Lead Vocals (son of music producer, Lou Adler)
* Alex "Orbi" Orbison- Drums (Son of musician Roy Orbison).
* Damon Webb- Bass Guitar
* "Rainbow" Jeramy Gritter- Guitar from Allentown, Pennsylvania.
* Tony Potato (nee David Shein)- Dancer from San Diego
* Johnny Zambetti- Guitar

Woodface - Comet

In 2005, after more than 10 years of recording and touring with k’s Choice — still one of the most successful Belgian bands ever — Gert Bettens and his new band Woodface recorded their critically acclaimed debut “Good Morning Hope”. Two years later, he returns with his brand new album “Comet”.

The new album represents a marked departure from the previous one thanks to a completely different approach to the writing and recording process. Inspired by their stage energy, the band decided to trade the wide arrangements of their debut album for a much simpler and more raw sound. As Gert says, “I still wrote every single song as if it was my last, and then rehearsed it with the five of us. Only this time, the guitars were louder, and we had the tendency to push the record button much sooner.”

“Comet” in a nutshell?
Thirty-five minutes of solid rock and a single ballad for old time’s sake. Nothing more, nothing less.

This time the band camped at “De Studio” in Asse, Belgium. It took them, with the experienced Dirk Miers behind the desk, only seven days to record the entire album live. The Grammy Award winning Darcy Proper then mastered the 11 songs.

While “Good Morning Hope” blended power-driven rock songs with more intimate singer-songwriter compositions, “Comet” is more like one big primal scream, combining the rocking vibe of the ’70s with the love of all band members for what’s becoming rare in contemporary rock: a soul.
A highly original album with a slight retro feel to it.

In 2007, Gert Bettens once again proves to be one of Belgium’s finest songwriters,
and Woodface a rock band with a heart of flesh and blood.

The Blakes - The Blakes

Pitchfork has praised the band's "swampy guitars, twitchy rhythms, and power-pop vocal harmonies" of their self-titled debut album. Mixed and mastered by Martin Feveyear (Kings of Leon, Crooked Fingers), The Blakes recall the stinging catchiness of early Who, Kinks, and other spitfire rock bands.

The early influences of Garnet Keim (guitar, vocals) and Snow Keim (bass, vocals) were Hank Williams and Brian Wilson. The brothers busked all around North America, writing songs in hostels and motel bathrooms, finally ending up in Seattle. There they met animalistic, mesmerizing drummer Bob Husak and asked him to join the band. The trio hit the road and have been touring ever since. The band's debut album has finally arrived! Thirteen tracks full of chaotic and sensuous rock and roll like the regional hits "Don't Bother Me," "Two Times," and "Streets."

The Panics - Cruel Guards

Sometimes you know an album is going to be great as soon as you hear the beginning of the first song. Think back to favourite albums and how they stood bold and proud from the first note, inviting you to fall in love with and daring you to not recognise its brilliance.

Get Us Home, the lead track from The Panics' first album on Dew Process is one such song. It kicks off with a big drum roll and a soaring string section,invoking the spirit of The Beatles and classic Motown. Deliriously catchy, not quite dance, not quite pop, and totally infectious. Get Us Home is followed by nine other songs, including first single Don't Fight It, that keep up the quality to the last note.

At the heart of the beauty of Cruel Guards is its unmistakable Australianness. There is a sense of space and scale that speaks of only one country. Musically the link may not be obvious but there is the same sense of our wide rown land that runs through the best work of The Triffids, The Go Betweens and Nick Cave.

"They were onto a good thing and were never pop stars because of it but it showed the importance of embracing where you're from and who you are," Laffer says. "There aren't obvious lyrical references to Australia in the lyrics, but we are proud to fly our flag and we'd like to carry on in the tradition of our favourite groups who went away but continued to identify with this country."

"I'm really proud of everything we've done but I'd like this album to be instantly appealing. We want to be able to continue what we are doing but expand the audience," Laffer explains.

The Panics are unique. They have been allowed to grow and blossom. And blossom they have. This bunch of songs has immediate appeal and lasting beauty.

"Hopefully it will make people raise an eyebrow. We didn't want to just give Panics fans something they are used to. I'd rather people were surprised and hopefully see that there aren't any other guitar groups in this country making records like this "

The Limited Edition includes a second CD: has covers by famous artists like Happy Mondays, The Rolling stones, Bob Dylan & Leonard Cohen.

Notícias

IRON MAIDEN em Portugal

Atenção ao pessoal do Metal, foi finalmente confirmado a presença dos Iron Maiden para o dia 9 de Julho em Lisboa, na edição de 2008 do Festival Super Bock Super Rock.

O press release da Música no Coração, promotora do SBSR, adianta que o bilhete diário para o dia em que actuam os Iron Maiden custa €40 e já se encontra à venda nos locais habituais. O concerto do grupo de heavy metal britânico insere-se na digressão mundial Somewhere Back in Time , na qual a banda liderada por Bruce Dickinson promete percorrer três décadas de carreira (dando mais ênfase aos álbuns clássicos dos anos 80).

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Quem também vem cá já no dia 11 deste mês, são os Rose Hill Drive, que já mereceram destaque aqui no nosso Bar.

Tokyo Dragons

Dragões? Só estes de Tokyo (até são Ingleses mas não interessa), porque estes além de música porreira, não ganham jogos ao meu glorioso clube. Já andaram por Portugal este ano (Coimbra) e tenho muita pena de ainda não os conhecer bem nessa altura.

Ulver - Shadows of the sun

"Dark and tragic" might be fitting adjectives for Ulver's 14-year career, but "low-key" is definitely a more recent development. For even though it might be hard to believe it when you listen to the soft-spoken new album, Ulver were once a seminal black metal band. They even have the name (Ulver translates as "Wolves") and a trilogy of folklore-inspired metal to prove it.

But even in a scene that sent shockwaves around the world, Ulver were outsiders. While other black metallers were "slaves to the one with horns", Ulver were inspired by Thomas Kingo, a 17th century composer of psalms.

As the band matured, their influences became even more eclectic. Techno auteurs Autechre rubbed shoulders with visionary mystic William Blake. Ulver have released acoustic folk albums and instrumental techno records, raw metal and industrial soundscapes, and they have composed music for films.

I'd like to say that they are equally comfortable with whatever medium they choose, but that would be a lie. Ulver never seem comfortableùthey seem restless, longing for some far-off horizon or hidden world only they can see. This makes every new release from Ulver interesting because you not only have to ask "is it good?" (with Ulver, that's a redundant question) but "what kind of music is it?"

So, what kind of music is this? The boys already told you it's "dark and tragic", but while being weighed down with the world, they have managed to produce their most accessible album to date. This might sound like a paradox, but Ulver thrive on such paradoxes. Their fears have been given a shapely form indeed, capable, perhaps, of bringing a little comfort to some.

Soothing electronics and natural percussion provide the basis for Garm's warm vocals, singing songs of loss and disillusion. While the lyrics provide little hope, the music carries a note of quiet faith. It sees Ulver abandon many of their grand concepts, to focus on music and human emotion. Contributions by world-renowned thereminist Pamelia Kurstin help make SHADOWS OF THE SUN a piece of rare beauty.

You want comparisons? SHADOWS OF THE SUN sees Ulver borrow some pigments from David Sylvian's palette, using it to transport their own visions onto the canvas. Incidentally, Austrian audio abstracter Christian Fennesz, an associate of Sylvian, also help make this album what it is.

Other comparions could be made. The band are avowed fans of Coil. Nick Cave, maybe. But such comparisons only cheapen, because Ulver really don't sound like anybody you already know. They are the perfect strangers.

I'd call them "lone wolves", but I've promised the band to lay off the wolf jokes.

Turisas - The Varangian Way

Finnish battle beasts TURISAS strike back with the frenetically awaited follow-up release to 2004's acclaimed debut "Battle Metal". Titled "The Varangian Way", this opulent and inspired masterpiece, which was recorded at Sound Supreme Studio and then mixed and mastered at Finnvox Studio (Nightwish, HIM, Apocalyptica), transcends all sub-styles within the heavier metal worlds and unites each and all of their different elementary nuances into an experience unlike any other in a current scene of copycat bands.

Tele - Tele

Release Notes:

Alternative/electro rock outfit Tele debuts with a self-titled release featuring 13 original tracks.
Productions duties were shared by the band, David Bottrill (Tool, Muse, Silverchair, Staind), and John Paul Peters (The Waking Eyes, Comeback Kid).
The album was recorded and engineered by Tele and Brian Moncarz of Whirlwind Sound, with some additional work by Botterill and Scott Stewart,with assistant engineers Steve Chahley, David Stephan, and Ryan McCambridge. Protools editing was dong by David Stephan. Tele was recorded at DNA Studios, Whirlwind Sound, and Mainstation Studio in Toronto, Unison Studios and Blue room Studio in Winnipeg. Mixing was done by Peters at Blue Room,and by Botterill at Phase One Studios in Toronto.
Tom Baker of Precision Mastering in Los Angeles handle mastering duties.

Steriogram - This is not the target market

Release Notes:

New Zealand's smartass retort to Sum 41, Steriogram honed its hodgepodge of heavy metal chuggery, white-boy hip-hop, and outsized funk tomfoolery around its hometown of Auckland before hitting international pay dirt in 2004 with the low-culture anthem "White Trash." The song dated from 2001, when its video clip ( featuring the exuberant rapping of Steriogram drummer Tyson Kennedy ) caused a stir in NZ. A previous single had already gained Steriogram some notice, but the response to "White Trash" spurred the band's decision to install Kennedy as full-time MC/frontman and incorporate a greater hip-hop influence into its already lively clang. Kennedy, guitarist/vocalist Brad Carter, bassist Jake Adams, and guitarist Tim Youngson asked drummer pal Jared Wrennall to join the crew, and parlayed the single's buzz into some higher-profile gigs. Capitol noticed, and signed Steriogram in late 2002. David Kahne (Sublime, Sugar Ray) was tapped to produce the resulting recording sessions, and when the Schmack! LP appeared domestically in May 2004, it boasted a huge, radio-friendly sound and loads of loopy humor.

Ryan Bingham - Mescalito

Ryan Bingham knows a thing or two about pain. He learned the emotional aspect early in life, when shuttling between small towns and family members in the hardscrabble ranching communities of West Texas and New Mexico -- and became well-acquainted with the physical facets during his years on the Southwestern rodeo circuit.

That ache is palpable in the grooves of Mescalito, Ryan Bingham’s Lost Highway records debut, but what’s even more plain is the steely strength needed to overcome it -- a tenor that’s evident in both the singer-songwriter’s preternaturally wizened voice and his remarkably poignant songs, which resonate with roadhouse wisdom and rough-and-ready border-town piquancy.

Rides Again - Into existense

Release Notes:

Nathan Peyton : Guitar and Vocals
Chad Peyton : Bass and Background Vocals
Mike McElroy : Drums

RIDES AGAIN are in a strong position to become Canada's next big rock thing.

Musically and on the stage RIDES AGAIN combine all the best elements of Switchfoot and Foo Fighters into an energy and intensity that ChartAttack's 2007 CMW Report Card called "powerhouse rock that takes no prisoners".

Ontario natives and brothers Nathan and Chad Peyton along with drummer Mike McElroy just came off their second national high school tour where they hit almost every high school in every major city across the country. Over the course of that tour they cleared 20,000 copies in sales and found an extremely loyal following.

RIDES AGAIN newest radio release "Wonder Why" was produced by Juno Award winner Gavin Brown (Billy Talent, Three Days Grace, Thornley). The album titled "Into Existence" is set for release on October 2nd, 2007 on newly formed, Put It On Records which will be distributed by Universal Canada

The Reasoning - Awakening

The Reasoning were born out of necessity. Necessity to play and necessity to bring music to people who desired more than just rock and more than just prog. The band formed in October 2005 after Matthew Cohen left his prvious band earlier that year. He quickly established an experienced line up of musicians and set about writing songs. Within a short period of time things fell into place, the material started to flow and The Reasoning welcomed on board a truly exceptional talent in the form of multi award winning singer Rachel Jones, who had previously fronted Karnataka, and has won Best Female singer for the Classic Rock Society for an unprecedented 4 consecutive years.

The Reasoning also boasts the vocal talents of Dylan Thompson and Gareth Jones. Their incredible understanding of harmonies and dynamics makes the band’s sound one to behold. Along with Lee Wright and Vinden Wylde, this band knows how to play and entertain.

Their debut album produced and engineered by Matthew Cohen and mixed by Dave Meegan (U2, Marillion), was released in March 2007 through Comet Music and a special guest appearance by Steve Rothery (Marillion) has ensured that the buzz surrounding this band is already formidable.

The association with well-known industry names doesn’t end there, however. Liz Prendergast (Blue Horses) has also contributed to the album – and with the band’s powerful image captured by the talents of photographer Paul Harries (Nirvana, Muse, Evanescence, Marilyn Manson), this is undoubtedly a Reasoning to be reckoned with.

Via their MySpace site The Reasoning has gathered an ever growing fan base. As a result, The Reasoning are out-playing some of the more established bands who have already secured multiple album and DVD releases. This surely says it all.

Profusions - Trials to deception

Release Notes:

Profusions were born in March 2004 as guitarist Andre Afonso's solo project, featuring invited musicians. During creative experiences with lots of, (in some way) musicians, a Home-CD was eventually recorded entitled "The Place of my Angel" containing a cover and seven original songs. However, it was never released, by André Afonso's decision, since these songs would never be played live (due to the demo's musical orientation). With several original themes composed, the first live day view is set in December 2004, a concert used both as a presentation as well as a form of research on the publics' general opinion.


After several rehearsals and new songs, the dates for the studio recording were set, and two songs were recorded at HCU Studios. After finishing his sound major, and the agreed return of the band to the Profusion Studios, André Afonso recorded, produced and mastered the "Paradigma" CD (featuring four new songs besides two previously recorded). Suddenly Profusions were confronted with lots and lots of live dates and with all this "success", the two first editions from Profusions - Paradigma CD - were sold out and the band decided to release a third and a fourth edition with a new look and the pre-production from a new song that will be part of the first long-play record.

It was decided to record the first album, named Trials to Deception, and with that, a video-clip and a promotion live clip. The album is ready since July 2007, and Profusions keep looking for a record label's contract. On all this album process a keyboard-player and a new drum-player were invited to join the band giving new horizons in a future career. Profusions are Xisto (Vocals), A. Afonso (Guitars), Spiegelman (Bass), M. Oliveira (Keyboards), João F. (Drums).

Wile Profusions' keep looking for a label interest, it was decided by the band to make a CD-single, named "Away with You", containing the music single on two different versions plus three album songs with re-recorded guitars and drums and a video clip and a promotional live video.

Now more than ever, Profusions affirm themselves as a band and are entirely available and able to keep playing live, work hard, look for a new sound and create music.

Padwell - Padwell

Brad Pedwell is a singer..songwriter..guitarist originally from Vancouver, BC Canada that's been making an impact on the industry since 2002. Since entering a contract with Hurricane Music Group based out of London, England, Pedwell has opted to relocate to pursue the career that awaits him. Since the jump, Pedwell has been gigging locally, tracking demos for his full-length album, and in the meanwhile, receiving rave reviews from European audiences of all ages.

Masterplan

Masterplan was formed in 2002 by Roland Grapow and Uli Kusch, after the two were fired from the Power Metal band Helloween in the Autumn of 2001. The first MCD Enlighten Me was released on November 18th, 2002.

By the time their first full-length album Masterplan was released in 2003, Janne "Warman" Wirman was replaced by Axel Mackenrott. Warman actually played almost all keyboards on the album, but could not stay on as a full time member due to his commitments to Children of Bodom.

The band received the "European Border Breakers" award in 2004 from the European Commission.

In 2005 Masterplan released their second album, Aeronautics.

During the writing of the third album the band parted ways with singer Jørn Lande, citing "musical differences" as the reason for the split. The split was amicable enough that Jørn agreed to perform four previously arranged live appearances before departing although two of these were eventually canceled by the promoters.

On Oct 5th, 2006 Uli Kusch announced his departure from the band in an interview with Darkside.ru. Although not discussing the details of what happened, he mentioned the democratic principles of making decisions in the band as one of the reasons of his leaving - according to him, it often made getting a consensus nearly impossible.

On October 7th, Masterplan announced their new line-up through their official web site: Grapow, Mackenrott, Eckert, with new members Mike DiMeo (Riot, The Lizards) and Mike Terrana (ex-Artension, ex-Rage, Metalium).

The album, suitably titled MK II, was released on 26th February 2007. Andy Sneap, who produced the two previous albums, was utilized again when the album was recorded in September and October 2006.

On August 27th 2007, the band has announced that they were going to write their 4th album. Their recording session is scheduled to start in January 2008, as the band hopefully will work with Roy Z, who was involved in the making of their first two albums.

Marc Ford - Weary and Wired

Release Notes:

This significant recording shows Marc's strength as a singer/songwriter, fueled by large doses of his phenomenal guitar work that brings to mind such masters as Clapton, Hendrix and Beck.

Guitarist Marc Ford began his career with the blues-rock outfit Burning Tree in the late 1980's.
A power trio featuring Ford on guitars and vocals, Mark Dutton on bass and Doni Gray on drums, Burning Tree released their self-titled debut album on Epic Records in 1990. A commercial failure but a critical success, Burning Tree allowed Ford and Co. to tour extensively throughout most of 1990 and 1991. Despite opening slots for such notable acts as The Black Crowes, the band failed to gain the attention Epic Records was looking for and was dropped from the media giant soon after.

In late 1991, Marc Ford sat in several times with The Black Crowes in-concert, performing The Allman Brothers Band's classic hit, "Dreams." When The Black Crowes severed their relationship with their original guitarist Jeff Cease, Ford was asked to fill the vacancy. Ford agreed and he was quickly tossed into the mix for the band's 1992 sophomore effort, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, which hit Number 1 on the Billboard charts and earned a double platinum certificate for sales. Ford would go on to perform on the next two Black Crowes releases (1994's amorica. and 1996's Three Snakes and One Charm), two unreleased albums
(1993's Tall and 1997's The Band) and a slew of concert tours. His addition to the Black Crowes
sound, which features a healthy dose of slide guitar and southern twang, helped define the band
as one of rock music's premiere acts. His fluid and soulful technique connected with Black Crowes fans worldwide, and his lead playing resonated up and down the Black Crowes song catalog. Ford's ability to adapt to core songwriter, Rich Robinson's music and crunchy rhythm guitar sound, solidified he and Robinson as the preeminent guitar duo of the 1990's.

Ford was dismissed from the Black Crowes in the fall of 1997, following the band's successful stint on the summer-long Furthur Festival tour, leaving fans wondering what direction the Crowes might be headed. Black Crowes leaders, Chris and Rich Robinson, cited Ford's excessive drug use as the reason for his firing, but Ford himself is quick to note that he was not the only one with a drug problem. His absence from the Black Crowes was noticed with the band's 1999 release By Your Side, which lacked his guitar flourishes that defined a large part of their overall sound. Subsequent lackluster albums and tours would follow and the Black Crowes never fully recovered.

After his departure from The Black Crowes, Ford formed a solo band, Marc Ford and the Uninvited, and continued to tour the United States for the rest of the year. In 1998, Ford sat in numerous times with renown jam band Gov't Mule before joining the Chris Stills Band for a summer tour. Upon the conclusion of that tour, Ford quit the Chris Stills Band to form Federale, a joint venture between himself and Luther Russell. The band gained attention from minor label Interscope Records, and a record deal was almost immediately in the works. Federale toured briefly, opening for acts like Gov't Mule, but disbanded after Interscope Records was bought out by Universal Music Group and their commercial viability was called into question.

During 2000, Ford joined the Pink Floyd blues tribute band Blue Floyd, which originally featured Allen Woody (guitar, bass), Matt Abts (drums), Johnny Neel (keyboards) and Berry Oakley Jr. (bass). Providing their own bluesy take on Pink Floyd standards, Blue Floyd was a great success and allowed Ford to remain the public eye while he contemplated his next move.

Ford left Blue Floyd at the close of 2001, opting to again to go solo. In January of 2002, during one of his many regular appearances at the Malibu Inn in Malibu, CA, Ford welcomed Chris Robinson to the stage for a set of obscure-yet-memorable covers. This performance marked the first time Ford and Robinson had made contact with one another since Ford's dismissal from The Black Crowes nearly five years prior. Robinson again joined Ford at the Malibu Inn the next week, confirming that they had made amends. Ford even co-wrote "Sunday Sound," a track featured on Robinson's solo debut, New Earth Mud.

Following his acoustic-based stint at the Malibu Inn, Ford decided to form a full-fledged electric
band. Featuring fellow Blue Floyd member Berry Oakley Jr. (bass) and newcomers Gootch (drums) and Chris Joyner (keys), Marc Ford and The Sinners hit the road in early 2002. During the tour, Ford would often take time out (with and without The Sinners) to record tracks for his then-unnamed solo debut. In 2003, Marc Ford and The Sinners gained some helpful attention from country/rock singer Lucinda Williams, who became somewhat of an ambassador for the group. She secured the band a deal with Lost Highway Records and Ford began finalizing his material for the sessions.

The Lost Highway deal did not come to be, however, as the band's representative at the label was fired and things subsequently fell through. The Sinners still had an opening slot on Lucinda Williams' ongoing tour, a slot that was fairly open-ended. Without a label backing them up, however, it was almost financially impossible for The Sinners to hit the road. Instead, Ford accepted an invitation to join Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, relegating The Sinners to an indefinite hiatus.

Ford toured with Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals for the majority of 2003, from which
their live EP Live at the Hollywood Bowl was drawn from. Ford continued his association with Ben Harper and his band through the beginning of 2005, when he was called to rejoin The Black Crowes for their "All Join Hands" reunion run. This reunion would serve as the platform for one of the greatest rock and roll comebacks in recent years. It would be the first time Ford would take the stage again with his musical soul mates. Black Crowes fans were beyond estatic when the news broke in March 2005 that Ford would be back in the fold. It was long overdue. Ford never severed his ties with Harper, however, appearing on his 2006 album Both Sides of the Gun and performing a handful of shows in support.

Kid Rock - Rock N Roll Jesus

Este artista está de volta.
Apesar de flutuar por sonoridades diferentes do puro rock, não deixa de ser uma grande voz do rock'n'roll.