2010 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalists Announced

FICTION

Jennifer Egan, A Visit From the Goon Squad

Jonathan Franzen, Freedom

David Grossman, To the End of the Land

Hans Keilson, Comedy in a Minor Key

Paul Murray, Skippy Dies

NON FICTION

S.C. Gwynne, Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History

Jennifer Homans, Apollo’s Angels: A History of Ballet

Barbara Demick, Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea

Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

Isabel Wilkerson, The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration

CRITICISM

Elif Batuman, The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them

Terry Castle, The Professor and Other Writings

Clare Cavanagh, Lyric Poetry and Modern Politics: Russia, Poland, and the West

Susie Linfield, The Cruel Radiance

Ander Monson, Vanishing Point: Not a Memoir

Wanda Jackson is BACK!!!

Fifty years after her original moment in the spotlight, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Wanda Jackson is connecting with a new generation courtesy of Jack White.

The White Stripes star and Third Man Records founder approached Jackson about recording an album together, and the result is The Party Ain’t Over — a record that sees the undisputed Queen of Rockabilly tackling tracks by everyone from Elvis and Bob Dylan to Amy Winehouse.

In addition to fronting the tracks performed by the assembled Third Man House Band (featuring White himself on guitar), Jackson chose three of the songs for the record, including the closing “Blue Yodel #6.” Among White’s choices, meanwhile, were Dylan’s “Thunder on the Mountain” and Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good.”

Following the guitarist’s impact on Loretta Lynn’s career with his production of 2004′s Van Lear Rose, White’s work on Jackson’s album shows his dedication to keeping not only classic sounds, but also those responsible for them, in the current zeitgeist. It also shows that the living legend herself hasn’t lost a bit of what made her so well-loved to begin with.

Many thanks to Doug Levy for this article.

CHECK OUT :: Peninsula Arts - Contemporary Music Festival 2011

http://www.pacmf.co.uk/

Album Review::White Lies - Ritual (Geffen)

Ritual is the second instalment by the British post punk indie trio. The sound is heavily influenced by the likes of Joy Division and Interpol but has a distinctly dark 80's synth feel that leaves the taste of The Human League in my mouth. For an album that has received the media hype that it has, I have found it a little bland and lacking in the experimentation that makes this genre so exciting.

That being said, the overall production on the album is very good, mostly to the credit of Alan Moulder (Depeche Mode, Smashing Pumpkins and Jesus and Mary Chain). Aesthetically the sounds blend well and the album is very listenable and would be out of place at your friends dinner party.

Formerly known as Fear of Flying, the band consists primarily of Harry McVeigh (lead vocals, guitar), Charles Cave (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Jack Lawrence-Brown (drums).

Cake - Showroom of Compassion (Upbeat Records)

When I heard that Cake were finally releasing a new album I got all excited and with tunes like "The Distance" and "Short Skirt Long Jacket" never going too far form my ipod, it can be safely said that I'm a fan.

It's been 6 years since the Californian hipsters released Pressure Chief and the first thing you'll notice is that it sounds like Cake. This band has a very distinct sound, bright bass, twangy guitars and John McCrea's immediately recognisable bass voice. Initially I was a little disappointed by this. After such a long wait I was expecting something... momentous.

After a few tracks had past however I began to settle. Cake really is a band's band. McMrea's great song writing and story telling, combined with strong hooks, great melodies and some very ambitious instrumentals make this an album that I will probably keep going back for over the next few weeks.

Highlights include "Italian Guy" and the single "Sick of You". Showroom of compassion was release on 11 Jan 2011.

Things to look forward to in 2011

2011 is promising to be a pretty interesting year - now I realise that that may seem a little cliche but just take a look at what I've sniffed out of the gossip columns.

WE've got new albums coming out from alternative queen PJ Harvey, post grunge kings Foo Fighters, everyone's favorite troubadour Frank Turner, rock supernova Queens of the Stone Age, retro dance-hall star Amy Winehouse, yes yes yes - it's the Beastie Boys, The Strokes and alternative folk's Iron & Wine.

There's also some old favorites that are reunited - the legendary Soundgarden, Britpop pioneers The Kinks and one of my childhood favorites The Stone Roses. Everybody said it would never happen but apparently we're also going to be getting shows and a potential album by legends The Smiths and Suede already has done a few select shows.

Of all the festivals and events going down this year. I'm looking forward to Sonosphere the most - Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth & Anthrax - YES YES YES!!! The Big daddys of thrash are coming to the UK!!! Other gig's I'm planning on getting to include an awesome double bill of Portishead & PJ Harvey, and The Flaming Lips - an act that I've been wanting to see for YEARS!!!

2011 also has some awesome movies coming out. Tin Tin, the Belgian adventurer, directed by Spielburg and produced by LOTR's Peter Jackson, True Grit, the latest installation by the Coen Brothers, Kenneth Branagh's take on the comicbook Thor and a rather interesting looking movie called Cowboys and Aliens starring Harrison Ford.

Apart from that theres a lot of brand new stuff going on so keep tuned and I'll let you know what I'm looking at, but for the mean time here are a few names to keep your ears open for soft and subtle James Blake, beautiful and scary Anna Calvi, sweet and sour Gemma Ray and just downright poetic Ed Harcourt.

Motörhead - The World is Yours Review

Motörhead is back with their 20th studio album and it’s exactly what you would expect of the British rock legends – simple, fast and hard rock n roll. Now they’re not exactly the average persons Christmas stocking filler but “The World is Yours” is some pretty accessible stuff, producing some of the catchiest driving tunes that they have released to date. Stand out moments include the double bass stomping “Born to Lose” and single “Get Back in Line", who’s video features the band beating the stuffing out of some corrupt London bankers.

“The World is Yours” was released via an exclusive publishing deal with Classic Rock magazine on December 13 2010 and the standard CD release will be distributed by their own label, Motörhead Music and distributed by EMI.