Mus World

Miley Cyrus is not the first young celebrity to run for cover and apologize to fans after some nude or nearly nude pictures popped up on the Internet. But in her case, the pictures in question were professionally shot by one of the world’s most respected celebrity photographers, Annie Leibovitz, for a high-brow magazine, Vanity Fair.

Still, the scandal ensnaring the “Hannah Montana” star, who has ridden to fame and fortune via a squeaky-clean TV alter ego, begs the question: Will her young fans (or, more important, their parents) abandon Cyrus over the controversy?

(Full article in Will Miley Cyrus’ Career Be Hurt By Provocative Pics? Parents, Fans, Media Say Probably Not…)

I had been warned that an onslaught of new stuff is coming my way and boy was that spot on. Add to that new releases from Whitesnake and Def Leppard and you can colour me one happy reviewer. It wouldn't be a good line-up without some gothy misery as well.

CD Reviews

Def Leppard: Songs from the Sparkle Lounge

This is a bit of a preview review as, baring "Nine Lives", I have only heard partial tracks from the new one from Def Lep. However, I rather like what I hear. If you thought X was a return to form, then this one will truly please you. Def Lep are back to doing what they do best and have stopped trying to update their sound.

(Full article in Music Review: Def Leppard, Diamond Head, NFD, Fish, P.O.D., and Whitesnake…)

In 1990, an old song appeared in a couple of memorable movies, in the process introducing itself to a new generation. On the soundtrack of Goodfellas it was performed by Vito and The Salutations, but it made a much bigger impression in another film — Ghost, starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. That movie appearance helped make a big hit of the Righteous Brothers' version of "Unchained Melody." (Video below.) But the song had actually been around for a long time, and had appeared on the charts with versions by everybody from rockabilly's Gene Vincent to Les Baxter's big band.
(Full article in Retro Redux: Swayze’s Ghost Revived An Old Song…)

An accordion lay beneath a lone spotlight. Meanwhile, nine musicians stood onstage in solemn tribute, their backs turned from the audience as they looked up at a giant screen. To the soundtrack of “Blood Brothers” playing over the PA system, a video montage memorialized Danny Federici – founding member of the E Street Band – who’d died from cancer only six days earlier and whose funeral took place the day before.

With the late musician’s usual station at the organ riser left vacant, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band commenced with “Backstreets,” its signature prelude – on this night – sounding ever like an elegy.

(Full article in Concert Review: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - 4/21/08 at St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL…)

Last years Snakes & Arrows album saw Rush hitting a belated creative high, something reflected both in journalistic appraisal and in the shape of a Grammy nomination. Why, even I said of the record that "this is the sound of a veteran band finding a way to charge the batteries and finding a way to move forward without leaving the past behind".

In fact, it was so good I even managed to drag myself along to a butt numbing three hour live show which saw the band perform nine of the Snakes & Arrows tracks across the 2 sets.

(Full article in Music Review: Rush - Snakes & Arrows Live…)