July 23, 2005

Herbie Hancock collaborates with some of the biggest stars and music and helps them revamp a number of classic tunes on his new album, “Possibilities.” As previously reported, the 10-track set is due Aug. 30 via a consortium of Starbucks’ Hear Music, Vector and Hancock’s own Hancock Music imprint.

Enlivened by unlikely collaborations, “Possibilities” is highlighted by a piano/guitar/percussion-backed recording of Paul Simon’s “I Do It for Your Love,” featuring Simon. While the original (from 1975’s “Still Crazy After All These Years”) was a vaguely whimsical tale of a rainy day wedding, the new rendition strengthens the undercurrent of enduring romance with a heartfelt vocal performance by Simon and a spare but sparkling arrangement.

Elsewhere, Raul Midon covers his idol Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called To Say I Love You” on a version that blends drumless, synth-heavy sections with moments of swinging piano jazz. Sting lends a hand on a new recording of his “Sister Moon” which is nearly double the length of the original on 1987’s “Nothing Like the Sun.”

Other collaborators sprinkled throughout include Carlos Santana, former Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio, John Mayer, Annie Lennox and, Christina Aguilera, the latter on a surprisingly effective cover of Leon Russell’s “A Song for You.”

Hancock is about to begin a five-night tour of Japan with Santana that kicks off July 27 in Yokohama.

Here is the track list for “Possibilities”:

“Stitched Up” featuring John Mayer
“Safiatou” featuring Carlos Santana and Angelique Kidjo
“A Song for You” featuring Christina Aguilera
“I Do It for Your Love” featuring Paul Simon
“Hush, Hush, Hush” featuring Annie Lennox
“Sister Moon” featuring Sting
“When Loves Comes to Town” featuring Joss Stone and Jonny Lang
“Don’t Explain” featuring Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan
“Gelo No Montana” featuring Trey Anastasio
“I Just Called To Say I Loved You” featuring Raul Midon

Source billboard.com.

Former Guided By Voices frontman Robert Pollard has revealed details of several upcoming projects, including a highly anticipated second volume of the “Suitcase” archival series and an accompanying vinyl “Briefcase” release with extra tracks.

First up on Sept. 27 will be the EP “Music for ‘Bubble'” via Pollard’s Fading Captain label. According to the artist’s official Web site, Pollard was approached by director Steven Soderbergh to record music for his upcoming film “Bubble,” which arrives this fall in U.S. theaters. The EP sports four full-band tracks and two instrumentals.

Due Oct. 31, the material on the four-disc, 100-track “Guided By Voices: Suitcase II — American Superdream Wow” ranges from the late ’70s through this spring, and, as on the first volume, credits each song to a different band depending on the musicians involved.

The full track listing has not been announced, but the set includes “I Am Decided,” which was later recorded by the Amps, as well as tracks from Ben Zing, Modular Dance Units (M.D.U.) and the Fake Organisms. The first 900 copies of the box set will be autographed by Pollard.

The vinyl-only “Briefcase 2 — The Return of Milko Waif” includes 16 tracks from “Suitcase 2” such as “I Am Decided,” “Mannequin’s Complaint,” “Perch Warble,” “You’re Not the Queen Anymore” and “Lonely Town.” The collection also boasts two tracks not found on the box set: “Lion W/Thorn in Paw” and “Superwhore,” the latter recorded with Steve Albini.

In related news, Pollard will be on hand for book signings the week of Nov. 14 in New York and Chicago to coincide with James Greer’s upcoming biography of the band, “Guided By Voices: A Brief History — Twenty-one Years of Hunting Accidents in the Forests of Rock and Roll.” The book will be released in late October or early November via Grove/Atlantic and includes an introduction by Soderbergh.

Source billboard.com.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club went through an uncertain past year, losing – and regaining – drummer Nick Jago, and recording a new album, appropriately titled Howl.

Without a recording contract at the outset (BRMC is now signed to RCA Records), the band dug into its own wallets to finance recording. Relentless touring during recording breaks reportedly took its toll on Jago, who quit the band and then returned.

With the album completed and the indie rock trio regrouped, BRMC is preparing to kick start another North American tour after warming up with festivals in Japan and England.

Howl, a title borrowed from beat poet Allen Ginsberg’s classic, marks BRMC’s third full-length effort, so it’s only fitting the tour in support kicks off in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall on September 12.
The 19-city tour also stops in Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Detroit, New York City, Boston, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas and Los Angeles, where the outing wraps October 8 at the Henry Fonda Theatre.

Source pollstar.com.