NEWS

Dream Theater have signed to Roadrunner Records. Their new album, 'Systematic Chaos', is due in June.

Jamie Rowe, Vic Rivera and Eddie Campbell - formerly of the highly-acclaimed Adriangale - have regrouped to form Crunch, their brand-new venture. Joining the trio are TNA's Doug Odell on bass (who played on AdrianGale's Reprogram) and newcomer Joe Cruz on drums.

A new Jeff Buckley album called Life Eternal: An Introduction to Jeff Buckley is to be released on May 21. 15 tracks have been gathered for the album described by the official website “as an introduction to Jeff for those who have not yet discovered his music”.
The full track list is:
1. Last Goodbye (Grace)
2. Mojo Pin (Live at Sin-e)
3. Forget Her (Grace Legacy Edition)
4. Everybody Here Wants You (Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk)
5. Dream Brother (alternate take - Grace Legacy Edition)
6. Eternal Life (Live at Sin-e)
7. The Sky Is A Landfill (Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk)
8. Je N'en Connais Pas La Fin (Live at Sin-e)
9. So Real (live in Japan - promo single)
10. Lover You Should Have Come Over (Grace)
11. New Year's Prayer (Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk)
12. Vancouver (Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk)
13. Grace (Grace)
14. Lilac Wine (Live at Sony Studios) (unreleased)
15. Hallelujah (Grace)

IRON BUTTERFLY plan to release their first new album in thirty years later this year.

Smashing Pumpkins have announced the title and release date of their new album. It is called ‘Zeitgeist’ and is out in July.

GIG NEWS

THE SCORPIONS
Mar. 02 - Moscow, RUS @ National Kremlin Palace
Apr. 06 - Riga, LAT @ Arena
Apr. 07 - Vilnius, LIT @ Siemens Arena
May 11 - Dijon, FRA @ Zénith
May 14 - Paris, FRA @ Zénith
May 19 - Rouen, FRA @ Zénith
Jun. 16 - Bratislava, SK @ Incheba Exhibition Centre
Jul. 02 - Athens, GRE @ Stadium Karaiskaki
Jul. 07 - Karlovy Vary, CZR @ Stadion AC Start
Aug. 03 - Klaksvik, Faroe Islands @ TBA
Aug. 28 - Ottawa, Ontario @ TBA
Aug. 30 - Montréal, Quebec @ Spectrum
Sep. 01 - Chicoutimi, Quebec @ TBA

STYX/FOREIGNER/ASIA
Thu 06/14/07 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Fri 06/15/07 Raleigh, NC Alltel Pavilion @ Walnut Creek
Sat 06/16/07 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amp. Charlotte
Sun 06/17/07 Bristow, VA Nissan Pavilion
Thu 06/21/07 Mansfield, MA Tweeter Center
Fri 06/22/07 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Sat 06/23/07 Wantagh, NY Nikon At Jones Beach Theater
Thu 06/28/07 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion @ Montage Mountain
Fri 06/29/07 Camden, NJ Tweeter Center At The Waterfront
Sat 06/30/07 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel Casino / Spa
Sun 07/01/07 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
Tue 07/03/07 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest

THE WHO
May
22 Birmingham National Indoor Arena
23 Sheffield Arena
25 Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
26 Hull City AFC
June
01 GB Swansea City AFC
23 Cheshire Knowsley Hall
24 Glastonbury Festival (To Be Confirmed)
26/27 London Wembley Arena

IRON BUTTERFLY
2007-02-18 Cypress Garden Adventure Park Winterhaven, Florida
2007-02-22 Capt. Hiram's Resort Sebastian, Florida
2007-02-24 Wild Adventures Theme Park Valdosta, Georgia
2007-03-15 Hippiefest Newark, NJ
2007-05-19 Psychedelic Daze Festival Lakeland, Florida
2007-06-09 Lake Chelan Bike Rally Lake Chelan, WA
2007-06-16 Brandt's Harley Davidson Wabash, Indiana
2007-06-19 Goodstock Summerville, WV
2007-06-20 Goodstock Summerville, WV
2007-09-30 Woofstock Eureka, California

REVIEWS

MIKA ‘Life In Cartoon Motion’ Universal (2007) www.universalmusic.com

Mika is one of these artists that seem to come from nowhere and suddenly be big news, with a single currently at number one here in the UK and gaining good and bad reviews in equal measure. He’s even had Brain May sticking up for him after a less than flattering review in the Guardian newspaper! The music is seriously OTT pomp and you do wonder why he’s had such success with his Queen influenced pomp when artists like Valentine and Valensia have been doing music similar to this for many years with little sales success. That aside this album is pure fun, despite a few blatant snippets of other tunes – ‘Relax’ is the Cutting Crew’s ‘I Just Died In Your Arms’. The Queen sound runs throughout many songs from the current single ‘Grace Kelly’ which name checks Freddie Mercury through to the quirky ‘Billy Brown’. Mind you ‘Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)’ is a tribute to ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’ right down to the throbbing John Deacon approved bass.
‘Lollipop’ will either have you revelling in its harmonies and child choir or running away in despair! Me I love all its pomp and swagger (as does my eight year old daughter!). ‘Stuck In The Middle’ is one for the Supertramp fans out there along with Scissor Sister fans as Mike hits the high notes and then some. The ten minute ‘Happy Ending’ almost delves into prog rock territory with a gospel choir and strings join the first half before fading out with just vocals and piano. Some very talented and experienced session musicians lend a hand including Jerry Hey, guitarist Tim Pierce and long standing REM string arranger Paul Buckmaster.
Not for everyone as it is very OOT and full on but the tunes are always instant and enjoyable. If you like Queen, the Scissor Sistors, Supertramp and pomp you will love this album. Like the mighty Queen you will either love Mika or run a mile…

****1/2
Jason Ritchie