Patti Smith Group

Review by Timothy Monger
As the '70s came to a close, an emerging crew of female rock artists and bandleaders began to populate the airwaves. From the punk attitude of the Patti Smith Group and Chrissie Hynde's Pretenders to all-female guitar bands like the Go-Go's and the Bangles, these bold artists set out to ensure that women would no longer be marginalized or under-represented in the rock industry. She Rocks: The '80s Wave of Women Rockers collects 15 cuts from some of the '80s most inspiring women. Trailblazing singers with a unique style like Cyndi Lauper and Kirsty MacColl are featured here alongside bands led by strong frontwomen like the B-52s and 'Til Tuesday. These women set the stage for both equality and the high quality of women rockers who would follow their example in the coming decades.

On the same date, a new collection celebrating decades top megahits, NOW Thats What I Call The 00s, will be released physically and digitally. Rockstar is the fifth U.S. single by the Canadian alternative rock band Nickelback from their fifth album. She Will Be Loved is a song by the American pop rock band Maroon 5. The song is recognized by its looping steelpan riff. Broken Strings is the third single by British musician James Morrison from his second studio album, Songs for You, Truths for Me. Oops!… I Did It Again is a song that lyrically speaks of a female who views love as a game, and she decides to use that to her advantage by playing with her lovers emotions.

For the last 25 years, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has honored the music's most influential figures at prestigious black-tie induction ceremonies where performers and audience alike let down their hair and rejuvenate themselves through exciting, once-in-a-lifetime performances. Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Live captures all the excitement, from the wise and witty speeches, to the most incredible combinations of talent ever assembled on a single stage.
This unprecedented collection celebrates rock's glorious history like no other video document.

Pure… Singer/Songwriter is a brave album that showcases strong song writing, sometimes by avoiding the artists most prominent work in lieu of a lesser known piece. Simon & Garfunkel, John Denver, Lou Reed, Bob Marley, Van Morrison, George Michael and Bruce Hornsby are all represented by one of their better known tracks. However, Bowie, Hall & Oates, Alicia Keys, Nillson and even Sarah Bareilles are represented but obscure tracks. As well as the well known artists this compilation also goes back to includes lesser known artists from the 60s and 70s such as Colin Blunstone, Laura Nyro and Phoebe Snow.

Five CD set bringing a comprehensive, big-tent look at the early years of punk rock in the US and Canada. Over six hours of music. Includes benchmark tracks by the scene's most influential bands plus many rare singles making their first appearance on CD. This five CD includes influential NYC bands - Patti Smith Group, The Ramones, Television, Blondie, The Voidoids, etc. - as well as the scene's other pioneers such as Pere Ubu and The Dead Boys (both Cleveland, Ohio), Dead Kennedys and Crime (San Francisco), Devo (Akron, Ohio), The Germs and The Weirdos (Los Angeles) and Mission of Burma (Boston, Massachusetts). Blank Generation offers a deliberately broad definition of punk, encompassing contributions from such outré acts as Suicide, The Cramps and The Residents through to new wave/power pop combos (Sneakers, Chris Stamey & the dB's, etc.). While the US punk scene was arguably always more diverse musically than that of the UK, the music evolved quickly, as evinced by the choices heard on Discs 4 and 5. Many of the acts here such as X, The Replacements, The Feelies, Redd Kross, The Dream Syndicate, The Gun Club and Minor Threat would make an even greater impact as the 1980s wore on. It's hard to overestimate the seismic shocks caused by the music on 'Blank Generation', not only on everything in alternative music which followed in North American, from the 80s hardcore scene and the music heard on the whole alternative college radio network through to grunge and beyond. And yet this era has never before been treated to a comprehensive retrospective of this kind.

Five CD set bringing a comprehensive, big-tent look at the early years of punk rock in the US and Canada. Over six hours of music. Includes benchmark tracks by the scene's most influential bands plus many rare singles making their first appearance on CD. This five CD includes influential NYC bands - Patti Smith Group, The Ramones, Television, Blondie, The Voidoids, etc. - as well as the scene's other pioneers such as Pere Ubu and The Dead Boys (both Cleveland, Ohio), Dead Kennedys and Crime (San Francisco), Devo (Akron, Ohio), The Germs and The Weirdos (Los Angeles) and Mission of Burma (Boston, Massachusetts). Blank Generation offers a deliberately broad definition of punk, encompassing contributions from such outré acts as Suicide, The Cramps and The Residents through to new wave/power pop combos (Sneakers, Chris Stamey & the dB's, etc.). While the US punk scene was arguably always more diverse musically than that of the UK, the music evolved quickly, as evinced by the choices heard on Discs 4 and 5. Many of the acts here such as X, The Replacements, The Feelies, Redd Kross, The Dream Syndicate, The Gun Club and Minor Threat would make an even greater impact as the 1980s wore on. It's hard to overestimate the seismic shocks caused by the music on 'Blank Generation', not only on everything in alternative music which followed in North American, from the 80s hardcore scene and the music heard on the whole alternative college radio network through to grunge and beyond. And yet this era has never before been treated to a comprehensive retrospective of this kind.