New Model Army:
10th Album

New Model Army, the veteran "punk-folk-prog" act from Bradford in the North of England, will soon release their 10th studio album, High. The first single from the album, "Wired," will be available for download in early August.

Without ever having had a Top 20 hit in any country during their 27-year history, New Model Army has logged album sales in the millions, attracted some of the biggest producers in music (Glyn Johns, Tom Dowd, Andy Wallace), and built up an almost religious devotion amongst fans. They're a classic modern cult band, opting for the pursuit of musical and lyrical vision rather than celebrity status. By the mid-1990s, having grasped the fact that the Internet was changing the music industry, they opted for the totally independent path of owning their own label.

The current line up of New Model Army is Justin Sullivan (vocal and guitar), Nelson (bass), Michael Dean (drums), Dean White (keys), and Marshall Gill (guitar).

Ed Norton
Would Be Proud:
Telling On Trixie


New York band Telling On Trixie's self-titled debut album is making a huge dent in national music play lists. In its first few weeks, the album has entered rotations in the Top 5 add slots on stations nationwide, ranking as high as #2 on several stations as well as the College Music Journal Top 30 charts. Off to a strong start, Telling on Trixie's first show drew 112 people at The Ace of Clubs in New York; their second show will be on the main stage at Knitting Factory, a venue seasoned bands have a hard time booking.

Just Jack:
'Starz' In
Their Eyes

London’s Just Jack is tackling the U.S. music scene. With a new album, Overtones, (on TVT Records) set for release in the U.S. on August 28, mastermind Jack Allsopp has already conquered the UK with his genre-hopping jump-up album, topping the charts with the single “Starz In Your Eyes.”

Pulling together aspects of rock, dance, soul, and jazz, Just Jack isn’t a man about scenes but a man about vision. He has been hailed on each side of the Atlantic for both his “[Jarvis] Cocker-esque skill for social analysis” (Mojo) and his ability to filter “disco, house and electro ... pitched between Jools Holland and The Ministry of Sound” (Uncut).

Just Jack will be playing a showcase in New York City in July. A confirmed date and venue is forthcoming.

Workers Perish
In Tragic
Stones Accident

The El Pais newspaper in late June reported that a large structure of The Rolling Stones' stage fell approximately 10 meters while workers were dismantling the rigging at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid on June 29.

The oversized structure reportedly killed two stagehands while injuring two others, one seriously. The Stones are in the midst of a world tour that has taken them to Spain, Almeria, and Rome. Yes, the "Bigger Bang" tour continues to roll on, making the Stones the highest paid entertainers in the world.

Chart Watch:
Hot (Yet Still Cold)
Artists Reign

Recently, CNBC featured a business report on how terribly CDs are selling. Our answer, as always: Issue new albums and artists that aren't pure redundant crap – at fair prices – and the people who are stealing your music will gladly be your customers again. Are you listening, RIAA?

In the meantime, there are some shockers on the Billboard Top 200 chart for the seven or eight people that actually purchase compact discs. Rock seemed to be making a comeback – but not really – as, at press time, lightweight arena mavens Bon Jovi debuted in the #1 position with Lost Highway, an album where the band seems to be morphing into country artists. Bon Jovi's shocking hayseed hit beat out The White Stripes' critically acclaimed Icky Thump, which registered at #2

In fact, country, which continues to have little presence in the NYC metropolitan area, continually scores big nationally. Brad Paisley's 5th Gear debuted at #3, Toby Keith's Big Dog Daddy (which debuted at #1) was at #4, and even minor country acts such as Big & Rich and Rascal Flatts were enjoying top chart positions.

We eagerly await Night Ranger's C&W debut.
– Syl Nathan

What A Girl Wants?
Aguilera Pregnancy
Rumors Abound

Sexy pop star Christina Aguilera was fending off rumors that she was pregnant as this issue went to press. The happily married blond bombshell may soon be somewhat forsaking her music career – her last CD, the double-album Back To Basics, wasn't the earth-shattering hit her previous discs were – for a new role as an actress.

"I am looking forward to moving into another form of what I feel is another creative outlet for me and that would be acting," Aguilera was quoted as saying on the NDTV Music website. Actually, acting isn't completely new to Aguilera; she impressed greatly while doing a comic impression of Sex & The City's Kim Cattrall a few seasons back while hosting Saturday Night Live.

We liked her better during her rocking Stripped days, but hey: She's beautiful and she can sing.

What a concept!
Prince Raises
English Ire

Prince was causing a stir with his record label in the United Kingdom in late June. According to Billboard.com, Sony BMG UK stated it would not handle Prince's upcoming album release after a national British newspaper struck a deal to give the CD away.

The artist formerly known as a symbol will have his new album, Planet Earth, issued by Columbia in the U.S. Otherwise, the album is slated for an international release July 16 (July 24 here).
Not only was Prince's new album slated for a newspaper giveaway, it also will be distributed free at concerts – a tactic Prince previously used with his "Musicology" disc.

While the UK label rages and complains, our take is that any novel distribution of music with the artist's consent is always good for the fans – and a great way to recruit new ones. Doesn't anyone remember the free cereal box Archies and Monkees records during the 1960s?
– Syl Nathan