William Shatner announces new spoken word album 'Bill' set for release on Sept. 24, 2021

I am a big fan of William Shatner and this forthcoming title sounds as it is very personal (Read my review of Shatner's riveting live performance at the Coach House in October 2013 HERE). Listen to the two compelling advance tracks from "Bill" released today and learn more about the album via the media release below...Robert Kinsler 

 
RELEASES TWO SINGLES “CLOUDS OF GUILT” FEAT. JOE JONAS 
AND “SO FAR FROM THE MOON” FEAT. BRAD PAISLEY TODAY

PRE-ORDER BILL HERE

LISTEN TO “CLOUDS OF GUILT” FEAT. JOE JONAS HERE
LISTEN TO “SO FAR FROM THE MOON” FEAT. BRAD PAISLEY HERE

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 27^TH – Today, award-winning actor, director, producer, writer, and chart-topping recording artist William Shatner announces his forthcoming new album, BILL, set for release on September 24^th via Joe Jonas’ new label Let’s Get It! Records/Republic Records. To celebrate the announcement, William Shatner teams up with Joe Jonas and Brad Paisley to release the first two singles from the album, “Clouds of Guilt” feat. Joe Jonas and “So Far From the Moon” feat. Brad Paisley, out now.
 

LISTEN TO “CLOUDS OF GUILT” FEAT. JOE JONAS HERE
LISTEN TO “SO FAR FROM THE MOON” FEAT. BRAD PAISLEY HERE

 

William Shatner performing at The Coach House
on Oct. 25, 2013. Photo: Kelly A. Swift

Through spoken word and genre-bending music, the songs on BILL chronicle significant autobiographical moments in William Shatner’s life and the ideas, challenges, and questions he’s confronted along the way. The tracks were co-written and produced by Grammy Award-winner Dan Miller [They Might Be Giants], while the lyrics were a collaboration between Shatner and his friend and writer Robert Sharenow. In addition to Joe Jonas and Brad Paisley, BILL features guitarist Joe Walsh [James Gang, Eagles, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band], pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph [Robert Randolph and the Family Band], musician John Lurie, saxophonist Dave Koz, and more. See the full tracklist below.
 
On creating the album remotely during the pandemic, William Shatner says, “Through a series of phone calls, texts, and emails, music and words flew back and forth across the country. The [Covid-19] crisis created an urgency and quickly unleashed a candor between us that allowed us to peel back layers that sat on the surface of a subject to reveal the depth of truth buried underneath. What better time to contemplate life’s biggest questions than during a global pandemic? Some songs touched on painful or beautiful moments, while others turned into elliptical philosophical explorations about the very nature of existence and death.”
 
He continues, “BILL blends long-form autobiographical poetry and prose, music, spoken word performance art, and philosophical exploration. Toggling between passion and despair, reflection and yearning, this collection explores my life journey during a pivotal and chilling moment of history.”
 
On “Clouds of Guilt,” William Shatner explores the strangely powerful role guilt has played throughout his life, with equal measures of wit, irony, and self-awareness.
 
Joe Jonas states, “I’ve been a fan of Bill’s for as long as I can remember. He’s iconic. To not only be featured on one of his songs that mean so much to him but to also get to be a label partner on the entire project, it’s an honor.”
 
While on “So Far From the Moon,” William Shatner revisits a pivotal moment in his life after the cancelation of Star Trek and his divorce, when he was doing dinner theater and living out of the back of his pickup truck. One the night of July 20th, 1969, as he lay out in a sleeping bag in the back of the truck, staring at the sky, he listened to the live broadcast of the moon landing. Despite being at a low point in his career, Shatner found inspiration and a connection to the astronauts in the sky above, who he had met years before while they were training for their mission.
 
Brad Paisley comments, “It’s so interesting to hear what effect the moon landing had on Bill, because every generation of astronauts since those days credit him with inspiration. I’m so proud to be on this track.”
 
The other songs on BILL dive into various stories and topics, including the nature of relationships, the struggle with fame and identity, the meaning of life, and more. Like epic song cycles of the past from Homer to Kendrick Lamar, William Shatner’s journey is both extremely personal and universal, extraordinary and relatable. His unique insights and delivery, beloved by millions worldwide, give voice to the joys and struggles we all face.
 
Stay tuned for more music to come from William Shatner soon!
 
BILL TRACKLIST:

1. “I Ride”
2. “Made In The Shade” feat. Joe Walsh
3. “Clouds of Guilt” feat. Joe Jonas
4. “So Far From the Moon” feat. Brad Paisley
5. “Love, Death, and Horses”
6. “Just Forgive” feat. Robert Randolph
7. “Loneliness” feat. John Lurie
8. “Thunder and Fire” feat. Joan as Police Woman
9. “The Bridge” feat. Daniel Miller
10. “Black Horse”
11. “Masks” feat. Dave Koz
12. “Monday Night in London”
13. “Toughie” feat. Robert Randolph
14. “What Do We Know”

 

 
ABOUT WILLIAM SHATNER:
William Shatner has cultivated a career spanning over 60 years as an award-winning actor, director, producer, writer, recording artist, and horseman. He is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures and a major philanthropist. In 1966, Shatner originated the role of “Captain James T. Kirk” in the television series Star Trek. The series spawned a feature film franchise where Shatner returned as Captain Kirk in seven of the Star Trek movies, one of which he directed. Shatner played the title role in the hit television series T.J. Hooker before hosting television’s first reality-based series Rescue 911. He won Emmys and his first Golden Globe for his portrayal of eccentric lawyer “Denny Crane” on both The Practice and Boston Legal. He received four more Emmy nominations as well as other Golden Globe and SAG Award nods. Mr. Shatner currently is the host and executive producer of The UnXplained on The History Channel. His love of music inspired him to record the critically acclaimed album Has Been. The Milwaukee Ballet performed “Common People,” a dance presentation set to several numbers from the record; the event and its preparations are featured in the documentary Gonzo Ballet, which played to sold out houses at film festivals worldwide. In October 2020, Shatner released an album titled The Blues, which quickly reached number one on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums chart. Shatner previously released the country music album, What About Me, in August 2018 with Jeff Cook and Heartland Records. Quickly following that, Shatner experienced much success with Shatner Clause: The Christmas Album, a holiday album released in October 2018 which peaked in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 Chart. Off the screen and broadcast waves, Shatner has authored nearly 30 best-sellers in both the fiction and non-fiction genres. His autobiography, Up Till Now, was a New York Times best-seller and was followed by Shatner Rules, which was released in October 2011. William Shatner’s book, Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man, was released in February 2016 appearing on the New York Times best-seller list. William Shatner’s newest book, Live Long And...What I Might Have Learned Along the Way, was released in September 2018. In April 2011, Shatner launched his hugely popular one-man show Shatner’s World on Broadway. He toured in Australia and New Zealand, followed by tours in Canada and over 50 cities in the United States. Shatner has been successful in another area—horse breeding. His passions for horses and philanthropy were united when he started the Hollywood Charity Horse Show, which benefits Los Angeles-based children’s charities. Shatner continues to act, write, produce, direct, and write and record music, while still making time to work with charities and further his passion in equestrian sports. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.

WILLIAM SHATNER: INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | WEBSITE

Sights and Sounds: Jim White's 'Misfit's Jubilee', Barenaked Ladies live stream, Star Trek Day Marathon

A few noteworthy items worth sharing today...

The Ever-Elusive Americana Maverick Jim White returns with his most upbeat, hallucinogenic record to date

New album, 'Misfit's Jubilee,' out October 23 on Fluff & Gravy Records

List to a new track from the album via Americana Highways here

WINTERVILLE, Ga. — Jim White is known for his catalog of dark ruminations on all things Southern. His latest outing, Misfit’s Jubilee, out October 30, 2020 on Fluff & Gravy Records, features a nonstop parade of manic, blue-collar conflagrations exploring realms dark and light, mystic and mundane, cynical and heartfelt; all presented within a buoyant, hook-laden sonic framework. 

 

The album’s raucous opener, “Monkey in a Silo,” provides a delirious peek into the drug-addled psyche of a teenage dope smuggler. From that ignominious jumping off point down the rabbit hole we go, pin-balling through a maze of quirky, marginalized characters jubilantly embracing various stages of existential undoing—who knew falling to pieces could be so much fun?

 

And yet nestled comfortably amidst the high-octane sturm und drang of Misfit’s Jubilee lie several sanguine jewels: the ebullient ’80s indie folk-rockesque “The Sum of What We’ve Been” and the moody, piano-driven “Mystery of You” come breezing in as bona fide crowd pleasers, dispelling any thought of relegating White to some narrow, fringe-artist category.  

 

White is widely known for his intricately layered, highly cinematic production values (his songs appear in numerous film and TV scores — Breaking Bad and last year’s feature film El Camino among them), and his novelistic eye for detail is fully on display here in the darkly comedic “Highway of Lost Hats.” Featuring a lovelorn loser on the run from the law, White juxtaposes samples from actual U.S. police chases against a steady stream of Southern rock clichés. “Highway of Lost Hats” is a sonic carjacking veering recklessly across several major genre lanes, rendering it more a short noir film than a song — something to be watched, but with one’s ears, not eyes.

 

Plunging headlong into Misfit’s Jubilee one central truth emerges — the further White dives into the material, the deeper said material gets, culminating with the closing couplet of epic showstoppers. First comes the sprawling kitsch of “My Life’s a Stolen Picture” (replete with stadium anthem chants and shout-outs to Bigfoot), but the ribald mood is quickly displaced by the most overtly political song on the record, “The Divided States of America.” A scathing indictment of the sorry state of affairs in his homeland, White’s deadpan delivery brilliantly underscores the banal evil at play presently in the U.S.

 

“Yeah, it’s time to call bullshit on all that nonsense,” White says from his home in rural Georgia. “Us freaks, we gotta take up musical arms and start speaking truth to power here.  If we don’t, who exactly will?”

 

Recorded primarily at Studio Caporal in Antwerp, Belgium, this record marks a departure from White’s usual hopscotch approach to collaboration — no bevy of celebrated guest artists and studios scattered across the globe this go-round. No, it’s just multi-instrumentalist White, his longtime drummer Marlon Patton, plus trusted Belgian sidemen Geert Hellings (guitar/banjo) and Nicolas Rombouts (electric and stand-up bass/keys.) The pared-down chemistry on display here lends Misfit’s Jubilee a sonic integrity that far exceeds any of White’s previous efforts.

 

Misfit’s Jubilee draws from an array of original songs penned by White over the span of several decades — scattered among the recent compositions are songs back-burnered in previous epochs by White’s major label handlers, who’d deemed them too extreme for his “brand.” With no such middleman constraints this go-round, in Misfit’s Jubilee White has found the perfect vehicle to unleash his twisted take on Southern folk rock.  As White’s protagonist in the song “Wonders Never Cease” defiantly declares, “A motel’s as good a place as any to let your demons fly!”  

 

Amen, Brother White. The Americana maverick has let his sonic demons fly herein, setting the skies fully ablaze, like some LSD fueled 4th of July fireworks spectacular. Get ready to be dazzled.

ANNOUNCE PAY-PER-VIEW LIVE STREAM SHOW SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 at 7:00pm ET Exclusive opportunity to catch BNL’s 2015 Last Summer on Earth performances “It’s a Red Rocks Re- Do!”- Ed Robertson

TICKET LINK: https://2nu.gs/BNL

Toronto, ON (August 31, 2020) – Barenaked Ladies announce a very special pay-per-view live stream event featuring the multi-platinum band’s 2015 Red Rocks performance to take place on Saturday, September 12 at 7 p.m. Eastern time.

Recorded at the fabled Morrison, CO amphitheater in June 2015 during the Ladies’ Last Summer on Earth tour, the footage captures the rock icons’ incredible live energy, camaraderie, and musicianship that stand as a testament to the band’s remarkable longevity in an ever-changing musical landscape. The live stream features a new exclusive interview where the band will discuss their most fun and memorable stories from performing at Red Rocks over the years, as well as commentary from Ed and Tyler throughout the show. 

The show’s opening will be shown on the band’s Facebook and YouTube. From there you will be able to purchase a ticket for the rest of the show at Nugs.net.

Purchase tickets now at: https://2nu.gs/BNL

 

Barenaked Ladies released a special live album from this show. BNL Rocks Red Rocks features some of the band’s biggest hits and fan favorites and is available here: https://lnk.to/BNLRocksRedRocks.

 

Be sure to watch BNL’s TikTok video HERE, in which Ed takes you ‘Behind The Song’ on how he wrote the Big Bang Theory theme song. To date, the video has been viewed over 2.4 million times.

BNL have been staying busy during quarantine with Facebook Livestreams along with their #SelfieCamJams, performing deep cuts and fan favorites from their homes, even bringing in surprise guests. In April, they did a family-fun "Snacktime" #SelfieCamJam for kids of all ages. Many familiar faces made a special appearance to share their favorite snack, like Sarah McLachlan, Tom Greene, KT Tunstall, The Count, and Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish, who Barenaked Ladies toured with in 2019. The band also teamed up with Michael Bublé and Sofia Reyes for a timely single “Gotta Be Patient,” with all proceeds to be donated to charity.

To date, the band has created 23 SelfieCamJams, the latest being “Narrow Streets” which is in support of Global Citizen and their Global Aid For Lebanon campaign. The full SelfieCamJam series is featured on BNL’s playlist here: YouTube

 

BNL’s extensive 2020 touring plans are postponed until 2021. This includes a headline tour of the UK and their Last Summer On Earth tour of North America with Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket. This will be the 6th edition of their Last Summer On Earth tour, following last summer’s critically-acclaimed shows with Hootie & the Blowfish. Some of their previous guests have included Cracker, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Blues Traveler, Guster, Ben Folds Five, Violent Femmes, Colin Hay, OMD, Howard Jones, Better Than Ezra, and KT Tunstall.

Tickets purchased for 2020 remain valid for 2021. See below for full tour routings:

2021 LAST SUMMER ON EARTH TOUR DATES – NORTH AMERICA

Fri June 4 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park

Sat June 5 – St Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre

Tues June 8 – Irving, TX – Toyota Music Factory

Thurs June 10 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre

Fri June 11 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre

Sat June 12 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre

Thurs June 17 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Park Amphitheatre

Fri June 18 – Troutdale, OR – Edgefield 

Sat June 19 – Airway Heights, WA – Northern Quest Resort & Casino 

Tues June 22 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Fri June 25 – Council Bluffs, IA – Stir Cove at Hurrah’s Council Bluffs

Sat June 26 –  Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino

Mon Jun 28 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre

Wed Jun 30 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre

Fri July 2 – Indianapolis, IN – Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park 

Sat July 3 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica

Sun July 4 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre

Tues July 6 – Lewiston, NY – Artpark

Wed July 7 – New York, NY *Venue to be announced soon

Fri July 9 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion

Sat July 10 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena

Sun July 11 – Boston, MA – Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion

Tues July 13 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met

Wed July 14 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap

Fri July 16 – Charleston, SC – North Charleston Coliseum *Venue change

Sat July 17 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheatre

Sun July 18 – Baltimore, MD – MECU Pavilion

Tues July 20 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Music Pavilion 

Wed July 21 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage *Kim Mitchell will be joining this show

2021 UK Tour

Boothby Graffoe to support

*KT Tunstall & Boothby Graffoe to support

Tues Oct 19 - Newcastle - Newcastle Uni              

Wed Oct 20 - Aberdeen - Beach Ballroom                     

Thurs Oct 21 - Glasgow - Royal Concert Hall

Sat Oct 23 - Bath - Forum

Sun Oct 24 - Manchester- O2 Ritz

Tues Oct 26 - Cambridge - Corn Exchange

Wed Oct 27 - Birmingham - O2 Institute

Fri Oct 29 - Leeds - Beckett Uni

Sat Oct 30 - Portsmouth - Pyramids

Sun Oct 31 - London - Royal Albert Hall*

 

CONNECT WITH BARENAKED LADIES:OFFICIAL SITE    INSTAGRAM    TWITTER    FACEBOOK    TOUR PAGE

 

ABOUT BARENAKED LADIES:

Over the course of their remarkable career, Barenaked Ladies have written a variety of top 20 hits (including radio staples "One Week," "Pinch Me," "If I Had $1,000,000"), garnered two GRAMMY nominations, won eight JUNO Awards, had Ben & Jerry's name an ice cream after them, wrote and recorded the theme song to the TV series The Big Bang Theory, and participated in the first-ever "space-to-earth musical collaboration" with astronaut Chris Hadfield. The band has also been inducted to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and received a proclamation from Toronto Mayor John Tory declaring October 1st "Barenaked Ladies Day."

Shout! Factory TV Celebrates

STAR TREK DAY

With All-Day Marathon September 8, 2020

LOS ANGELES – August 31, 2020 Shout! Factory TV proudly presents a marathon of Star Trek documentaries in celebration of Star Trek Day, September 8, the anniversary of the original series’ 1966 broadcast debut. Fans can tune in to see in-depth looks at Star Trek series across the years with five acclaimed documentaries and docuseries directed by William Shatner and Ira Steven Behr (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine showrunner) and David Zappone (producer of For the Love of Spock, The Captains).

William Shatner’s incredible in-depth look at the creation, evolution and legacy of Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek comes to life in his four documentaries: The Captains, The Captains Close Up five-episode miniseries, Chaos on the Bridge: The Untold Story Behind Trek’s Next Generation and William Shatner’s Get a Life!. From directors Ira Steven Behr and David Zappone comes the critically acclaimed documentary feature What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Shout! Factory TV will also showcase Backlot: San Diego Comic-Con 2019: What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Panel to close a day full of Star Trek: in-depth presentations.

The Star Trek Day marathon begins Thursday, September 8 at 9 a.m. PT and can be viewed on ShoutFactoryTV.com; Shout! Factory TV’s Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and Android apps; and the following digital streaming platforms: Twitch, Samsung TV Plus, Comcast Xfinity, Xumo, Vizio, Redbox, IMDb TV and STIRR.

In The Captains, Shatner sits down for five insightful interviews with the franchise’s captains — Sir Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew, Scott Bakula and his own Kirk counterpart, Chris Pine. The interviews continue with The Captains Close Up, a docuseries formed from additional interview footage unable to be included in the original The Captains film. Chaos on the Bridgetells the delightful — and surprising — story of bringing Star Trek: The Next Generation to the screen! And finally, in Get A Life, Shatner presents his own, unforgettable love letter to the fans of Star Trek.

What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine presents a fascinating in-depth look at the past, present and future of a series whose dark, edgy take on Gene Roddenberry’s vision was often misunderstood when it premiered but has grown into a beloved mainstay in the Star Trek franchise. Featuring extensive interviews with the cast and crew of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as well as remastered HD footage from the television series, What We Left Behind also focuses on the original writers of the series as they craft a brand-new episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, developing what would be the eighth-season premiere if the show were to return to the air today.

Lastly, in a featured Shout! Factory TV Backlot episode, fans can see the full What We Left Behind: Looking Back At Star Trek: Deep Space Nine panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 with showrunner Ira Steven Behr, filmmaker David Zappone (The Captains) and DS9 cast members Andrew Robinson (Elim Garak), Penny Johnson Jerald (Kasidy Yates), Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko), Chase Masterson (Leeta), and the late, great Aron Eisenberg (Nog).

Shout! Factory TV’s Star Trek Day Marathon Schedule

9:00 a.m. – The Captains 

11:00 a.m. – The Captains Close Up: William Shatner 

12:00 p.m. – The Captains Close Up: Patrick Stewart

1:00 p.m. – The Captains Close Up: Avery Brooks

2:00 p.m. – The Captains Close Up: Kate Mulgrew

3:30 p.m. – The Captains Close Up: Scott Bakula

4:00 p.m. – William Shatner’s Chaos on the Bridge

5:30 p.m. – William Shatner’s Get A Life!

7:00 p.m. – What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

9:30 p.m. – Backlot: San Diego Comic-Con 2019: What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Panel

About Shout! Factory TV

Shout! Factory TV is a digital entertainment streaming service that brings timeless and contemporary cult favorites to pop culture fans. Shout! Factory TV offers an unrivaled blend of original programming and TV shows and movies curated from major studios, independent producers and its own distinctive entertainment library. The Shout! Factory TV family of channels also includes Mystery Science Theater 3000 and TokuSHOUTsu™, with more to come soon. Shout! Factory TV provides an immersive, high-quality viewing experience across a wide variety of platforms: online at ShoutFactoryTV.com, on smartphone devices, tablets and connected TV, and via apps on the Roku player, Android, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. Shout! Factory TV is also available as a branded channel on Amazon Prime Channels, Comcast Xfinity, Pluto TV, Redbox, Roku Premium Subscriptions, Samsung TV Plus, STIRR, Tubi, Twitch, Vizio and XUMO among others. For more information, please visit ShoutFactoryTV.com.

New Releases Showcase a Diversity of Styles

The last days of summer are yielding some terrific releases including a documentary revisiting one of California's most groundbreaking music festivals, several cinematic-minded masterworks and impressive new releases from power pop champion Michael Simmons and emerging artist Sevi Ettinger.

Artist: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Police, The Cars, more
Title: US Festival: 1982 The US Generation (MVD Visual)
You might like if you enjoy: Santana, The Cars, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, the B-52's
Tell me more: Anyone wanting to discover the roots of the Coachella festival should check out the involving new documentary US Festival: 1982 The US Generation. The marvelous new documentary blends interview and performance footage from the 1982 US Festival, which was an extraordinary event staged in Southern California that was created by Apple visionary Steve Wozniak. The event featured a truly eclectic lineup of popular musicians ranging from classic rock greats to groundbreaking punk and '80s alternative acts. There are a myriad of unforgettable performances. While this writer's favorite performances are The Police's fiery "Can't Stand Losing You," The Cars' "Bye Bye Love" and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' blistering "Refugee," full-length performances of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" and Santana's "Black Magic Woman" also make for essential viewing of the film. There are insightful interviews with Wozniak as well as all the other key names who put on the event and many of the musicians who performed across the three-day event. The release features the documentary in a combo package that includes the special on both DVD and on Blu-ray. Information: icontvmusic.com or plummedia.com.

Artists: The Piano Guys, 2CELLOS, Lindsey Stirling, Tina Guo, more
Title: James Horner – The Classics (Sony Classical)
You might like if you enjoy: James Horner, John Williams
Tell me more: When acclaimed composer James Horner died in plane crash in the Los Padres National Forest in June 2015, he left behind an enduring legacy courtesy of a number of memorable movie soundtracks he composed across four decades. Now in honor of what would have been his 65th birthday (Horner was born Aug. 14, 1953), a number of top-tier musicians have recorded some of Horner's most beloved movie themes on the newly-released James Horner – The Classics. The Celtic-flavored "My Heart Will Go On" from his "Titanic" score is revisited via 2CELLOS, who take full advantage of the cello's emotionally-rich tones. Just as stunning is cello master Tina Guo, who reimagines the intimate theme from "Cocoon." Horner could also rise to the occasion with rousing symphonic grandeur, as evidenced in trumpeter David Elton's terrific take on "The Wrath of Khan" (the score for "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan in 1982 elevated Horner to one of Hollywood's A-list composers). Another sci-fi film, 2009's "Avatar," was one of Horner's most ambitious efforts (he reportedly worked on the score for two years) and is represented via the symphonic "I See You" (featuring Tina Guo). Other highlights on the disc include "Field of Dreams" (featuring guitarist Craig Ogden) and "The Ludlows" (with violinist Lindsey Stirling performing the evocative theme from "Legends of the Fall"). Overall, these performances capture the spirit of the original versions heard in film and will delight fans of Horner's amazing compositions. Information: SonyMusicMasterworks.com.

Artist: Michael Simmons
Title: First Days of Summer (Crab Apple Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Wilkerson, Yorktown Lads, the Beach Boys
Tell me more: The newly-released Michael Simmons album First Days of Summer captures the spirit of summertime even while creating a sweeping soundscape that means this album will sound great anytime. The lyrics are sharp while the musical chops enhance the enticing melodies; there is just a great positive vibe and freewheeling spirit across the dozen-track run. Simmons' wide-ranging explorations yield a strong crop of great originals and no two sound alike. The soulful "Do Your Best to Care" and explosive "Get Back What You Put In" kick off the full-length album. "No More Girls" is an intoxicating romp that could have been recorded by hitmakers in the '60s; the crunchy pop of "Let's Fall In Love" is one of my favorites on the disc with its mix of Matthew Sweet melodic rock and smart Ric Ocasek styling. "Rudderless Day" is a similarly winning rocker. The lush title track somehow revisits classic Beach Boys territory while sounding completely original. The wonderful baroque-meets-psychedelic "Centre of the Spiral" is a tender and mature look inside a relationship as the best moments of a couple's journey together have passed. Simmons handles most lead vocals and the majority of musical duties on the album with a masterful touch; a few notable guests crop up here and there (including guitarist Robbie Rist, cellist Matthew Carney and lead guitarist Addison Love). Not only are all the songs outstanding and produced perfectly, but the release comes in several wonderful configurations. Information: https://michaelsimmons.bandcamp.com.

Title: Into The Badlands: Season 2 (Varèse Sarabande Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Hans Zimmer, Trevor Yuile
Tell me more: "Into The Badlands: Season 2" features some incredible music composed by Trevor Yuile featured on the AMC original series. Yuile, a Canadian composer perhaps best known for creating the score for the TV series "Orphan Black," delivers a vast range of moods and sonic shades; the tense orchestrations of "Sunny Dream" and "Wedding," the gorgeous "This Is Henry Veil Dies," along with the ambitious "Sunny Vs Moon" (with its blend of Far East and Native American moodscapes) and "Tilda Widow Fight" are among this writer's favorites on the title. In addition to Yuile's powerful and wide-ranging score that is showcased across the 26-track release, there are several notable cuts offered up by other artists. The quick "Into The Badlands Theme" (performed by Warrior Blade), edgy R&B cut "Human" (performed by Rag'n'Bone Man), evocative "The Love I Have For You" (via Alberta Hunter) and festive "Jingle Bells" (courtesy of The Light Crust Doughboys) blend well with Yuile's instrumental magic. Information: VareseSarabande.com.

Artist: Sevi Ettinger
Title: Salty Water (Sevillana Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Ariana Grande, Ellie Goulding
Tell me more: Only 15, Sevi Ettinger is definitely ready for the spotlight. On her newly-issued EP Salty Water, the young songstress showcases a knack for commercial songcraft while also revealing she has plenty to say. Her lead track "Salty Water," recorded via an app on her phone, is a plea for understanding and compassion for the refugee children dealing with a relentless war in Syria: "Those kids out there/ die everyday" she sings at one point, while the vivid chorus finds the songstress emphasizing "Why can't we just be the people we are? Why can't we just be the people we want to be? / It's unfair, I feel like I am falling in the ocean, tasting the salty water." Ettinger has a rich and luring soprano, and the four songs on the EP suggest she has a bona fide pulse on the contemporary music scene. The wistful "Live" and EDM-tinged pop gem "Don't Fall Behind" are also standouts on the disc (produced by Grammy Award-winning Jeff Bova along with Phillip Jarrell and Ettinger). Information: www.seviettinger.com.


Robert Kinsler

Sights and Sounds: 'Star Trek Discovery Chapter 2' soundtrack; Ziggy Marley to release new LP; Moorea Masa & The Mood debut LP

Here is a roundup on new music news to get you through your Thursday...

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY: CHAPTER 2 -- ORIGINAL SERIES SOUNDTRACK

AVAILABLE DIGITALLY ON APRIL 6 AND ON CD MAY 25

ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE TO WATCH ON CBS ALL ACCESS

Soundtrack Features Original Music by Emmy® Award-Winning Composer Jeff Russo 

Click here to go behind-the-scenes with composer, Jeff Russo

April 5, 2018 – CBS Television Studios announced today the release of the second volume of original score from the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, which premiered in 2017.

The album, featuring the score by Emmy Award-winning composer Jeff Russo and distributed by Lakeshore Records, will be available digitally on April 6 and on CD May 25, 2018. The soundtrack will be available on LP later in the year. 

Russo shared his excitement about the progression of the music for the second chapter of STAR TREK: DISCOVERY.  “As the story developed, the score needed to adapt,” said Russo. “The mirror universe storyline in episodes 10 through 13 created interesting possibilities for the score. For example, it allowed me to introduce new characters and geographical themes. Additionally, for the season one finale of STAR TREK DISCOVERY, I was able to include Alexander Courage's iconic theme into the episode, as well as include the rerecording of the STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES end credits for our finale end credits.”

            “Grand, glorious, hopeful, heartbreaking, intimate, bittersweet, tense, soaring, surprising.  Over 51 years, in its many iterations, there's been no shortage of adjectives to describe the music of Star Trek,” said co-creator Alex Kurtzman.  “On the other hand, the list of composers capable of capturing them all is short, and this is where Jeff Russo comes in.  Jeff manages to hold each note in beautiful balance, evoking the nostalgia of Alexander Courage's original theme while scoring Discovery with his own unique ear and heart.  We're lucky to have him, and we hope you'll love his music as much as we do.”

ABOUT STAR TREK: DISCOVERY:

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY follows the voyages of Starfleet on their missions to discover new worlds and new life forms, and one Starfleet officer who must learn that to truly understand all things alien, you must first understand yourself. The series features a new ship and new characters, while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation of dreamers and doers.

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY’s cast includes Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Jason Isaacs, Anthony Rapp, Michelle Yeoh, Shazad Latif, Mary Wiseman, Mary Chieffo, James Frain and more.

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY is produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Secret Hideout, Living Dead Guy Productions and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Bryan Fuller, Heather Kadin, Gretchen J. Berg & Aaron Harberts, Akiva Goldsman, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers.

ABOUT JEFF RUSSO: 

Two-time Grammy nominee and Emmy-winning composer Jeff Russo is at the top of his field, scoring varied and compelling music for television, film and video games. Russo won the Emmy and received two additional Emmy nominations for his thrilling and angst-producing score on FX’s Emmy and Golden Globe-winning series “Fargo.” Russo is currently scoring Mark Wahlberg’s action-thriller film, “Mile 22,” Starz’s “Counterpart,” starring J.K. Simmons, and season two of FX’s hit series, “Legion,” based on Marvel Comic’s “X-Men,” starring Dan Stevens and Aubrey Plaza. He recently completed the score for season one of CBS’s reimagining of the iconic cult-classic series “Star Trek: Discovery,” and also scored Starz’s “Power,” produced by Curtis Jackson “50 Cent.” In addition to film and television, Russo recently received a BAFTA nomination for Best Music for Annapurna Interactive’s video game, “What Remains of Edith Finch.”

                                                                  

Additionally, Russo scored HBO’s Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated series “The Night Of,” starring John Turturro, FX’s John Singleton series, “Snowfall,” and the Netflix original show, “Altered Carbon.” Russo also composed the music for Jon Avnet’s film “Three Christs,” starring Richard Gere, which premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, and Craig Macneill’s film, “Lizzie,” starring Chloe Sevigny and Kristen Stewart, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.

Russo began his music career in 1990, after founding his rock band TONIC. The group quickly achieved great success and in 2003, received two Grammy nominations, one for "Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" for "Take Me As I Am," and one for "Best Rock Album.” The band was a great showcase for Russo’s guitar work and songwriting that allowed him to branch out and begin his solo career in producing and composing.

Beyond his recent success in composing, Russo created the iconic musical themes for series including Spike’s “Tut,” starring Ben Kingsley, and USA Network's "Necessary Roughness," starring Callie Thorne and John Stamos. Russo collaborated with Zoe Keating on both WGN’s “Manhattan” and A&E Network's "The Returned.” 

According to Variety Magazine, “Jeff Russo understands how music can affect an audience. When music is employed, he sees it as an enhancement to character development, and is careful to create music that subtly flows with the action and visuals of the scene.”

Russo has also composed music for the New York Ballet Company Cedar Lake Ensemble.

Ziggy Marley to release seventh solo studio album 'Rebellion Rises' on May 18, 2018, via Tuff Gong worldwide

FIRST SINGLE “REBELLION RISES” AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING ON SPOTIFY, PANDORA AND APPLE MUSIC NOW;  STREAM IT HERE;  VIEW THE LYRIC VIDEO HERE

ALBUM PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE NOW AT ZIGGYMARLEY.COM; ITUNES PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE FRIDAY, APRIL 6^th 

NORTH AMERICAN SUMMER TOUR TO INCLUDE JUNE WEST COAST THEATER SHOWS; EUROPEAN DATES TO RUN THROUGH JULY; TICKETS ON-SALE NOW

Eight-time GRAMMY® award winning musician and reggae icon Ziggy Marley will release his seventh full-length solo studio album, Rebellion Rises on May 18^th through Tuff Gong Worldwide.  Fully written, recorded and produced by Marley, this passionate and indelible new collection of music encourages people to stand together in activism through love. 

“The rebellion begins in the mind, the melody, and the music,” assures Ziggy. “We are a conduit of that. The rebellion is consciousness. Now the consciousness starts spreading, we become aware and we rise.”

No track embodies this message better than the album’s title track and official first single “Rebellion Rises.”  A manifesto with a chant-like chorus, the song emboldens its listeners to use the power we all have as instruments of positive change around the world.

“The better side of humanity, cannot let the side of humanity that push negativity and hatred be more willing,” Marley explained in a recent interview.  “It cannot happen. It’s a battle of wills. We’ve got to have more will.”

Rebellion Rises marks Ziggy’s first studio release in two years, following 2016’s critically acclaimed self-titled project which took home the 2016GRAMMY® award for Best Reggae Album and marked his fourth consecutive debut at #1 on the Billboard Top Reggae Album Chart.  Pre-orders for Rebellion Rises are available at ziggymarley.com beginning today, and digital pre-orders will be available starting Friday, April 6^th.  All digital pre-orders will include an instant grat track of “Rebellion Rises,” which is also now available for streaming on Spotify, Pandora and Apple Music.  Access the stream HERE.  The single’s official lyric video also released today and can be viewed HERE.   

This June, Ziggy will embark on the first leg of his North American tour with stops in a number of west coast markets including Napa, CA, Seattle, WA, Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA.  The tour will then make its way to Europe beginning June 29^th where it opens in Legnano, Italy.  Dates are below with more to be announced shortly.  For additional concert and ticket purchase information, please visit ziggymarley.com.

UPCOMING NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:

Dates:                                   City:                                                       Venue:

4/28/18                                San Bernardino, CA                         KayaFest (Performing w. The Marley Brothers)

6/8/18                                   Napa, CA                                             Uptown Theater 

6/10/18                                Carmel, CA                                          Sunset Center

6/12/18                                Jacksonville, OR                                Britt Pavilion

6/13/18                                Seattle, WA                                        Seattle Zoo

6/14/18                                Portland, OR                                       Portland Zoo

6/16/18                                Kamas, UT                                           DeJoria Center

6/17/18                                Winter Park, CO                                Hideaway Park

6/18/18                                Aspen, CO                                           Aspen

6/19/18                                Albuquerque, NM                           Villa Hispana Outdoor Theater

6/20/18                                Phoenix, AZ                                        Van Buren Theater

6/22/18                                Santa Ynez, CA                                   Chumash

6/23/18                                Sacramento, CA                                Ace of Spades

6/24/18                                San Francisco, CA                             Sigmund Stern Grove

8/23/18                                Bellvue, CO                                         Mishawaka Amphitheatre           

9/1/18                                   Vienna, VA                                          Wolf Trap

UPCOMING EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:

Dates:                                   City:                                                       Venue:

6/29/18                                Legnano, Italy                                    Rugby Sound Festival

6/30/18                                Paris, France                                      Elysée Montmartre

7/1/18                                   Brussels, Belgium                             Couleur Café Festival

7/2/18                                   Amsterdam, Holland                       Paradiso

7/5/18                                   Trenčín, Slovakia                              Pohoda Festival

7/7/18                                   Cologne, Germany                          Summerjam Festival

7/10/18                                Vienna, Austria                                 Sunsplash Festival Austria

7/12/18                                Tolmin, Slovenia                               Overjam Int’l Reggae Festival

7/13/18                                Novi Sad, Serbia                                Exit Festival

7/16/18                                Karlsruhe, Germany                        ZELTIVAL Sommerfestival

7/17/18                                Feldkirch, Austria                             Poolbar Festival

7/18/18                                Luxembourg, Luxembourg           Den Atelier

7/20/18                                Wassertrüdingen, Germany        Afrika & Karibik Festival

7/21/18                                Ostrava, Czech Republic                Colours Of Ostrava

7/23/18                                Zürich, Switzerland                          Kaufleuten Zürich

7/25/18                                Copenhagen, Denmark                 Store VEGA

7/26/18                                Langesund, Norway                        Wrightgaarden

7/27/18                                Stockholm, Sweden                        Gröna Lund

7/28/18                                Östersund, Sweden                        Storsjöyran Festival

ABOUT ZIGGY MARLEY

An eight-time GRAMMY® winner, EMMY® winner, humanitarian, singer, songwriter and producer, Ziggy Marley has released twelve albums to much critical acclaim. Now with his own label Tuff Gong Worldwide, and publishing company Ishti Music, Marley has complete control of his master recordings and publishing. His early immersion in music came at age ten when he sat in on recording sessions with his father, Bob Marley.  After eight records with The Melody Makers and three GRAMMY® Awards, with such chart-topping hits as "Look Who’s Dancing," "Tomorrow People" and "Tumbling Down," he kicked off a legendary solo career in 2003 with Dragonfly. He impressively garnered the GRAMMY® Award for “Best Reggae Album” in 2006 (Love Is My Religion), 2013 (In Concert), 2014 (Fly Rasta) and 2016 for the self-titled Ziggy Marley - which marked his fourth consecutive debut at #1 on the Billboard Top Reggae Album Chart.His first children’s album Family Time received the 2009 GRAMMY® for “Best Children’s Album,” and he also took home a Daytime EMMY® Award for “I Love You Too,” which shares its title with his 2012 debut children’s book, a multicultural picture collection based on the beloved song, which explores a child’s relationship with parents, nature and the unstoppable force of love. Tapping into his expansive creativity, he created the graphic novel, MARIJUANAMAN and launched Ziggy Marley Organics—an innovator in GMO-free coconut oils and hemp seed snacks. As an extension of his passion for health and sustainable living – Marley published the Ziggy Marley & Family Cookbook in 2016.

ABOUT TUFF GONG WORLDWIDE

Tuff Gong Worldwide was founded in 2006, an off shoot of the original Tuff Gong label, which was founded in 1965 by Bob Marley with the vision of producing, distributing and promoting his music free from the constraints of corporate label politics. In a time, decades before artist-owned record labels were commonplace, the legendary Bob Marley’s vision was characteristically well ahead of its time. Now, nearly a half-century later, his dream is being realized.  Today, Ziggy Marley is a completely independent artist – owning all of his master recordings since 2006 and all of his compositions with Isthi Music – his publishing company. Marley’s robust business goes far beyond music, into book publishing, film and television. For more information, visit http://www.tuffgongworldwide.com.

For more information, please visit:

ziggymarley.com

Moorea Masa & The Mood announce debut album 'Shine A Light' coming Friday, May 11, 2018

"Her voice is a charming blend of silken tonal clarity,

 luxuriant phrasing and perfectly weighted power and restraint. 

She coexes the listener an instinctive emotional response 

and she seduces with her tenderly emotional delivery"

- Next2Shine

"Irresistible and staggeringly beautiful, 

Masa displays a delicate balance of restraint and raw power"

- The Oh Es Tee

 "Though she clearly embraces R&B; to its fullest here, 

she often shows an appreciation for both folk and pop 

without ever playing to the obvious choices in any genre"

- PopMatters

April 4, 2018 - Portland, OR - Moorea Masa & The Mood have announced their debut full-length, Shine A Light, out May 11, 2018. Earlier this year, Masa released the single and music video for "I Can't Tell." Check out the premiere of the video and single onPopMatters: https://goo.gl/429bkq.

Shine A Light was co-produced by Jeremy Most and thoughtfully explores topics such as love, loss, hidden pain, and the politics of being a woman. Speaking to the new record, Masa explains, "Shine A Light comes from the depths of a sometimes-troubled childhood and expresses a belief that the unexamined life is not worth living. I'm really sharing my whole heart in this album."

"This year I've really been digging deep into my history, my own learning lessons, and the state of the world," she continues. "I feel like I took a light and shined it into all the darkness and beauty that I was previously too scared to look at."

Songs have always been there for Moorea Masa, being raised in the musical mecca of Portland, Oregon. The daughter of an Italian immigrant father and an African-American mother born abroad, this singer/songwriter/guitarist has been making music for as long as she can remember. At fifteen, she was already looking for chances to perform by sneaking into local clubs, where she was lovingly adopted into the vibrant community of Portland musicians. Masa then left to study at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in England, and spent time living in a cave and soaking in flamenco music in Granada, Spain. Returning home to the Pacific Northwest, Masa began her music career in earnest. 

Not just writing and performing her own original material, she recorded with El Vy and The Decemberists, sang with soul legend Ural Thomas (who appears on the new album), and toured with Allen Stone. As a solo artist, she's garnered major praise from Emily King, Corinne Bailey Rae, The Motet, Nick Waterhouse, and many more. Now 25 years old, she has been touring with crooner KD Lang as she preps for the release of Shine A Light.

For updates and more information, please visit:  https://www.mooreamasa.com/.

###

Shine A Light Tracklisting:

01.The Garden

02. Be Somebody 

03. Ever Moving

04. I Can't Tell

05. Nature's Song

06. Don't Let Me Run ft. Ural Thomas 

07. Wanna Be Close 

08. Conversation

09. Wake Up // Lover Be Found ft. Lo Steele 

10. Shine A Light

Upcoming Tour Dates:

w/ Raquel Rodriguez

May 17 - Bellingham, WA @ Firefly Lounge 

May 18 - Salem, OR @ The Gov Cup 

May 19 - Spokane, WA @ The Bartlett

May 20 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir (Album Release Show)

May 21 - Eugene, OR @ Hifi Lounge

May 23 - San Francisco, CA @ Lost Church 

May 25 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Mint

May 26 - San Diego, CA @ Urban Healing Center