Metallica Talk New LP US Tour at Frenzied Record Store Day
The News Review:
- Metallica Talk New LP US Tour at Frenzied Record Store Day
- Exhibit studies Hank Williams’ family legacy
- Battle of the Bands Video Game Review – Wii Playstation & X-Box…
- A couple’s ‘perfect life’ ends abruptly; a family asks why
- abc30.com: Pope Benedict celebrates mass at Yankee Stadium 4/20/08
Metallica Talk New LP US Tour at Frenzied Record Store Day
Rolling Stone – Apr 21, 2008
Same with the Scottish Parliament. It feels like the beginning of something. Rumors of the death of the independent record store have been highly exaggerated. ?Metallica play European dates this summer after a one-off show in Tuscon AZ May 16th and are expected to tour North America in the fall… I was working in a bookstore and they came in to buy a shitload of videos CD’s books and magazines. Both guys were unbelievably nice and Kirk even stuck around to talk music for a few minutes. For all the trouble they’ve brought upon themselves with their anti-piracy efforts and their goofy documentary I’ll always remember that experience over a decade ago.
Exhibit studies Hank Williams’ family legacy
Press-Enterprise – Apr 20, 2008
got a tepid response from Hank Williams Jr. on its plans for an exhibit on his family from his iconic and troubled father through his own hell-raising days to his children’s lives. The museum wanted Williams a private man to open his vault of family keepsakes. Needless to say their first meeting didn’t go well… " He was found dead in the back seat of his Cadillac in West Virginia on New Year’s Day 1953. Williams was only 29. The official cause of death was heart failure but there’s still some mystery about the circumstances. "If you look at how much Hank Williams did by 29 years old it makes you feel pretty worthless" says his 35-year-old grandson Shelton Hank Williams a musician who goes by Hank Williams III and plays rootsy country music reminiscent of his grandfather one moment then punk rock and thrash metal the next. "I’m thankful for being from that bloodline but if you compare yourself all the time you’ll lose your brain. " Williams 58 didn’t respond to requests for an interview but his daughter Holly Williams said he wanted the exhibit to be a balanced portrayal of his life and his family. "My dad said he wanted people to realize that we’re a completely regular family that has its ups and downs" she said.
Battle of the Bands Video Game Review – Wii Playstation & X-Box…
Variety (subscription) – Apr 22, 2008
$50 A creative concept is ruined by lame gameplay and graphics in “Battle of the Bands” THQ’s response to the rhythm-music gold rush set off by “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band. ” Players may be intrigued by the ability to hear familiar songs in surprising genres but they’ll be put off by a design that maximizes the Wii console’s worst traits — low-fi graphics and imprecise fatiguing motion control. Combine that with character designs that aim for edgy but land squarely on obnoxious and the result is a title that will strike a sour chord in a crowded market. The developers at Planet Moon actually came up with a clever way to differentiate their game from other music titles that focus on perfecting one’s skills. In “Battle of the Bands” it’s a competition between two genres of the same song… “Battle of the Bands” feels forced as it tries to bring the music game trend-du-jour onto the hottest selling platform proving that despite the console’s promise of universal appeal only certain types of games make solid Wii titles. This one probably would have worked better as a timed tapper on the DS along the lines of “Elite Beat Agents. “There are an array of bands to choose from including metal and goth rockers country crooners and some Latin musicians (a few of whom make up a skeleton-faced “Scaryachi” crew). Round it out with a couple of hip-hop groups and a prep school marching band and the title sets up some interesting musical genre diversity. The graphics however are terrible even for the underpowered Wii. What might have been some cleverly cartoonish character designs aiming to ape the exaggerated goofy vibe of “Guitar Hero III” are practically grating on the eyes. In addition defining characters by their musical genre leads to some questionable portrayals of redneck country singers and bling-bling black rappers.
A couple’s ‘perfect life’ ends abruptly; a family asks why
Providence Journal – Apr 20, 2008
Everything about the call was normal — her mother detected no fear or urgency in Beatrice’s voice. Roughly two hours later Beatrice was dead killed by a single shot to the back of her head. The police told Thibault that the medical examiner established the hour of death at about 7:30 p. Norman probably spent the next nine hours planning his own demise. He placed five or six propane tanks in locations inside the house… Thibault was helping her sister with the details for the June celebration. It would be at Bella Restaurant in Burrillville. There would be 150 guests and a band to play ’50s music. “He said to Bea ‘We should celebrate because we might not make it to our 50th’ ” recalls Thibault. She took it as a joke then. Now she wonders if it was something more. What Norman did like was building his collections.
abc30.com: Pope Benedict celebrates mass at Yankee Stadium 4/20/08
ABC30.com – Apr 20, 2008
Outside the stadium security was tight. Two dump trucks filled with sand blockaded 161st Street before Mass an extra level of security along with the heavy police presence. Pilgrims without tickets pushed up against metal police barricades hoping to get a glimpse of the arriving pope. Inside ad-splashed outfield walls were draped in white with purple and yellow bunting. A white altar perched over ond base and the papal seal covered the pitcher’s mound suspended by white and yellow ribbons. “I have never seen Yankee Stadium so beautiful and I have season’s tickets” said Philip Giordano 49 a tax attorney from Greenwich Conn. who won seats in the loge section behind home plate through a parish lottery… He walked the final steps knelt in silent prayer then rose to light a memorial candle. Addressing a group that included survivors clergy and public officials he acknowledged the many faiths of the victims at the “scene of incredible violence and pain. ” The pope also prayed for “those who suffered death injury and loss” in the attacks at the Pentagon and in the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville Pa. More than 2900 people were killed in the four crashes of the airliners hijacked by al-Qaida. “God of peace bring your peace to our violent world” the pope prayed. “Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred. ” Back at Yankee Stadium some worshippers filed out of the service slowly trying to soak up the atmosphere as long as they could.