Cee-Lo, Lowe, Apple Pay Homage to Buddy Holly

July 24, 2011

Cee-Lo, Lowe, Apple Pay Homage to Buddy Holly
Rave On, Buddy Holly is the title of a new tribute album put together to pay musical homage to one of America’s rock legends, and it’s available right now. Among the covers on the eclectic and worthy set are Paul McCartney’s authentic take on “It’s So Easy,” Cee-Lo’s version of “(You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care,” Nick Lowe’s “Changing All Those Changes,” Modest Mouse’s “That’ll Be the Day,” The Black Keys’ “Dearest,” and Fiona Apple and Jon Brion’s collaboration on “Every Day”…
Neverending White Lights frontman Daniel Victor has announced that, after four years of writing, rewriting, and going through a few medical issues, he’s finally ready to release his much-anticipated new album, Act III: Love Will Ruin. Victor has collaborated with an eclectic range of fellow musicians on the new set, including LIGHTS, Pilot Speed, and Hot Hot Heat, among others, although he points out that it’s pretty much “all Canadians” working together. Act III… will serve as the follow-up to Victor’s 2007 set, Act II: The Blood and the Life Eternal, and is expected to hit stores in July…
A number of modern indie-rockers have teamed up with The Mental Health Foundation and the Mental Health Arts and Film Festival to craft a special album of songs with the purpose of raising awareness about mental health. Two songs are currently available for download at www.fruittreefoundation.com, with a full album on the way shortly; the collaborative group, who are calling themselves Fruit Tree Foundation, include James Yorkston, Jenny Reeve, Idlewild’s Rod Jones, and Twilight Sad’s James Graham, among others…

Michigan’s own Madonna is apparently ready to get back into the recording studio, according to her manager, Guy Oseary’s, recent postings online. Rumors now have it that Maddie will be returning to studio sessions this month, although she’s yet to decide on a musical direction for her next album, which will serve as the follow-up to her 2008 effort, Hard Candy; she’s been keeping busy in the meantime with her co-created clothing line (with her daughter, Lourdes), her chain of workout gyms (also called Hard Candy), and her upcoming movie, W.E.…

MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK:
Evanescence’s new album has gone through a restart, with the band shelving a well-underway set with producer Steve Lillywhite in favor of a more “band-focused” set - replacement producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Deftones) is newly at the helm. The latest Evanescence album is now set to hit stores on October 4th. For all the latest updates as the band goes back into the studio, check out Evanescence’s official site at www.evanescence.com…

MINI MODERN BUZZ:
The 2012 edition of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is now set to expand into a two weekend event from its prior one weekend show, in order to try and accommodate the large numbers of people who try to buy tix to the event…
More Lindsey Buckingham news this week - after Buckingham’s new album, Seeds We Sow, hits stores in September, he’ll hit the road for a few live shows, including stops Minneapolis (9/16), Chicago (9/18 at The Vic), NYC (9/27), and Seattle (10/23)…
Danish band Volbeat are kicking off a U.S. tour on July 24 in Toronto; the tour will include stops in Allentown PA, Flint MI, and Anaheim, CA at the House of Blues…
The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson has announced via London’s Evening Standard newspaper that after he plays a set of Royal Festival Hall concerts in London this year, he may completely retire from touring…
James Blake is wrapping up a series of U.S. live dates, and will now be making his way to Europe and then back to America for a second round, including stops in Los Angeles (9/16), Seattle (9/24), Minneapolis (9/28), and Toronto (9/30)…
Mates of State will be returning to make another advance on the indie charts in September with their new Barsuk Records album, Mountaintops…

And advancing on your wallet with their new albums are this week’s new releases… The Killers’ Ronnie Vannucci’s side project band, Big Talk’s Big Talk… They Might Be Giants’ Join Us… 3 Doors Down’s Time of My Life… and actor/musician Tim Robbins and his Rogues Gallery Band’s eponymously-titled new set… and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock…

Questions, comments, rants, raves, suggestions on this column? Send ‘em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com