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Post by Paul on Apr 3, 2006 11:45:05 GMT -5
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Post by Paul on Apr 4, 2006 9:40:51 GMT -5
NEW YORK -- April 2, 2006 -- SNL returns with back-to-back live shows on April 8 and April 15 with a diverse and stellar lineup.
Headlining the April 8 episode is international star Antonio Banderas. From his early work with Academy Award winning Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar to his award nominated work in the big-screen adaptation of the musical "Evita," Banderas is one of the leading international actors of his generation. Currently starring in ballroom dancing drama "Take The Lead," Banderas has shown a wide range in his many films ranging from action in hits like "The Mask of Zorro," "Desperado" and "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" to his dramatic work in "Philadelphia," "Interview With The Vampire" and his American debut "The Mambo Kings" and his work in the comedic "Spy Kids" films and scene stealing work in "Shrek 2" as "Puss in Boots." He has been nominated for multiple Golden Globes for his film work as well as an Emmy for his starring role in "...And Starring Pancho Villa As Himself" and received a Tony-nomination for his turn on Broadway in the musical "Nine."
Joining Banderas on April 8 is Mary J. Blige. Blige will perform from her critically acclaimed and #1 debuting record "The Breakthrough" which prompted Vanity Fair to extol "she's still the Queen, 13 years and five studio albums later." With a voice that is rough and ready and a raw emotional honesty in her lyrics, Blige has wowed fans for years with her multi-platinum records -- earning three Grammy Awards along the way. The current record features notable collaborations with U2 and Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas. The record debuted at #1 on the Billboard album charts and has remained in the Top 20 since. Its first single "Be Without You" has been the Number One R&B song on Billboard's Singles Charts for 13 weeks and counting.
The following week, on April 15, actress Lindsay Lohan returns to SNL for her third hosting stint. Lohan will soon be seen in the romantic comedy "Just My Luck" and the star-studded Robert Altman film "A Prairie Home Companion" opposite Meryl Streep. She's also starred in Disney's "Herbie: Fully Loaded" and co-starred with Tina Fey in the comedy smash "Mean Girls," which won two MTV Movie Awards. Lohan has also pursued her musical ambitions; releasing two records "Speak" in 2004 and "A Little More Personal (Raw) in 2005 -- and directing a video for the record. Other credits include the hit comedy "Freaky Friday" with Jamie Lee Curtis and Disney's well-regarded remake of "The Parent Trap" with Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson.
Also returning to SNL is -- according to a recent USA Today.com poll "the greatest American rock band ever" and according to Esquire's recent Esky Music Awards the Best Live Act -- Pearl Jam. The Seattle based band returns to SNL, making a rare television appearance, performing songs from their eagerly anticipated self-titled eighth album, their first studio record in four years. Its first single -- the blistering "Worldwide Suicide" -- has already received a four-star review in Rolling Stone and is currently the #1 Rock Track on the Billboard singles chart. Since their inception in 1991, Pearl Jam has sold nearly 60 million albums worldwide including millions of live bootlegs and sells out arenas all over the world. Their next world tour begins in May.
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Post by JesusLooksLikeMe on Apr 4, 2006 15:01:32 GMT -5
The new single could slot comfortably into the middle of Riot Act, or the murkier, denser parts of Binaural.
The first time I heard WWS on Kerrang! radio they played it back to back with "Alive" and, even though Ten isn't PJ at their best, I realised how much they've lost in the last 5 or 6 years. I'm not exactly surprised I don't rate the single, but I'm still disappointed deep down.
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Post by Paul on Apr 5, 2006 8:24:10 GMT -5
Personally, I think Binaural is a pretty good album, and better than 10, and about on par w/ Vs..
I don't think WWS is bad, just a little flat, kinda like how Riot Act came off. I have a feeling the new album Pearl Jam will be better than both the last two albums, but not be instantly gratifying either. Did you listen to the live clip of WWS I posted a few days ago? It is slightly more up temp, and I think sounds better. I'm sure the new album won't be for everyone, and those who abandoned Pearl Jam after Vitalogy hoping for a return to the early 90's sound will be disappointed. I like the way Pearl Jam has grown, and hopefully this album will be more consistent than Riot Act; that's all I'm really hoping for.
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Post by Galactus on Apr 5, 2006 8:31:42 GMT -5
I'm not sure why everyone's so down on Ten. The production's alittle dated but if you listen to the live albums that stuff stands up just as well as anything they've done. Not a bad album by any stretch.
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Post by Paul on Apr 5, 2006 8:47:33 GMT -5
I'm not sure why everyone's so down on Ten. The production's alittle dated but if you listen to the live albums that stuff stands up just as well as anything they've done. Not a bad album by any stretch. I don't mind 10, I just never really fully embraced it. When PJ were the kings of rock in the early 90's, I never really got into that album. Fast forward 15 years, and I'm still not that into it. I do however love hearing "Even Flow" live! I look forward to seeing them turn it into a 10 minute jam song; it's fucking great. I hope they play it when I see them at the Verizon Center in DC on May 30th. I'm also a big fan of "Oceans"; that's one of my favorite openers that PJ uses. I was lucky to get it in Greenville, SC 9/4/1998 as the opener....Got "Fuckin' Up" and "Indifference" as the closers! Best PJ show I've ever been to. Oh, one thing I'm not a huge fan of on 10 is Vedder's voice. Personally, I think he sounds his best on No Code. |
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Post by Galactus on Apr 5, 2006 8:53:44 GMT -5
I agree, I think No Code's the best album...I've just seen others here talk about how they don't like Ten and granted I haven't pulled it out in a while either, I usually listen to the offcial bootlegs. I have, out of my own nerdyness, created a live version of each album and I honestly think they're better then the studio versions.
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Post by Kensterberg on Apr 5, 2006 8:54:47 GMT -5
Ten is just meh to me. The production is awful, but more than that I just don't like most of the songs on it. Some of the tunes are redeemed by great live versions (Even Flow, Black, Jeremy [probably the best cut on the album], Oceans [though I'm not that big a fan of that track]), but the record on a whole just bores me. Jeremy is about the only tune here that I'd ever cue up in studio form.
But I've got to also admit that I like the live versions of everything from Vs. better as well. Vs. is a better record than Ten, but if these two were the entire Pearl Jam catalog, I wouldn't be a fan.
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Post by Kensterberg on Apr 5, 2006 8:57:15 GMT -5
I agree, I think No Code's the best album...I've just seen others here talk about how they don't like Ten and granted I haven't pulled it out in a while either, I usually listen to the offcial bootlegs. I have, out of my own nerdyness, created a live version of each album and I honestly think they're better then the studio versions. Got to agree with you here DED. Like the Boss, PJ really are best on-stage, and the live versions of almost any track trump the studio recordings. Or at least the better live versions ... I've heard a couple of takes of tunes like Alive (and Love Boat Captain) that sounded perfunctory at best. |
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Post by Paul on Apr 5, 2006 8:57:48 GMT -5
I agree, I think No Code's the best album...I've just seen others here talk about how they don't like Ten and granted I haven't pulled it out in a while either, I usually listen to the offcial bootlegs. I have, out of my own nerdyness, created a live version of each album and I honestly think they're better then the studio versions. Interesting, never thought of doing that...I've thought of making my own greatest hits live, but never each album...Plus I don't have live versions of all their songs... In some ways, I think Binaural sounds better in the studio....That album was made to listen w/ headphones, live I think many of the subtleties that make it great are missing.... |
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Post by Galactus on Apr 5, 2006 9:00:51 GMT -5
Jeremy is probably my least favorite song on Ten. I love Oceans, Black, Even Flow, Deep Porch... I just really like most of it, especially the live versions. I think it's held up, songwritting wise, better then Vs. Again though I hardly ever listen to any of studio albums anymore.
...maybe of have some extra time tonight I'll zip up and YSI my live versions of each album.
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Post by Paul on Apr 5, 2006 9:01:40 GMT -5
I agree, I think No Code's the best album...I've just seen others here talk about how they don't like Ten and granted I haven't pulled it out in a while either, I usually listen to the offcial bootlegs. I have, out of my own nerdyness, created a live version of each album and I honestly think they're better then the studio versions. Got to agree with you here DED. Like the Boss, PJ really are best on-stage, and the live versions of almost any track trump the studio recordings. Or at least the better live versions ... I've heard a couple of takes of tunes like Alive (and Love Boat Captain) that sounded perfunctory at best. Perfunctory; nice word there Mr. Holzman. I'm not a fan of LBC at all; always found that song a bit cheesy. I know it is a sentimental song dedicated to the 9 fans that died at one of their shows, but I still don't like it. My favorite from Riot Act is "Green Disease"; I think that song is top notch. |
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Post by Galactus on Apr 5, 2006 9:04:04 GMT -5
There's a couple songs they've never played and best of all you skip most of the crap side of Vitalogy, I've tacked on some B-sides and covers from each as well.
It's criminal that State Of Love Trust isn't on an album.
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Post by Paul on Apr 5, 2006 9:05:47 GMT -5
Jeremy is probably my least favorite song on Ten. I love Oceans, Black, Even Flow, Deep Porch... I just really like most of it, especially the live versions. I think it's held up, songwritting wise, better then Vs. Again though I hardly ever listen to any of studio albums anymore. ...maybe of have some extra time tonight I'll zip up and YSI my live versions of each album. "Jeremy" is one of those songs like AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" that I'd be happy to never hear again. I used to think both were OK, but I don't even know how to describe how utterly sick of both songs I am. "Deep" is another cool one from Ten. I disagree w/ you though that the songs have held up better than the Vs. songs....IMO "Go", "Animal", "Blood", and "RVM" all sound more alive (no pun intended), and better today than the songs from Ten. |
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Post by Kensterberg on Apr 5, 2006 9:05:48 GMT -5
One of the reasons I like No Code and Binaural so much is because, for the first time in their career, PJ sounded at home in the studio. Unlike every other record in their catalog (including Vitalogy, Yield, and Riot Act), those albums sound complete and finished -- the tracks on those discs don't sound like they need an audience to be make them whole. No Code, in particular, sounds like a piece which really needed no further refinement. Where Yield was an excellent set of songs that needed to be played live to really work, No Code sounds done, just right.
The more I talk about Binaural, and listen to it again, the more I like it. Maybe it had to do with where I was in my life when it came out, but Binaural is probably my favorite PJ studio album (not their best, that's No Code, but my favorite). And maybe that's part of why Riot Act was such a disapointment for me. I was really hoping that they'd keep that streak going, and instead they sort of dropped the ball.
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