The News Review:

- … year to sing about – New Zealand’s source for entertainme…
- Memorable performances that were music to our ears
- SignnSanDiego.com > News > Features — A star is born
- MUSIC REVIEWS: Scrooge tunes and fa la la la la songs

… year to sing about – New Zealand’s source for entertainme…
stuff.co.nz – Dec 27, 2007
Fagan says one of the positives is that major record labels are forming partnerships with the smaller boutique-style New Zealand record labels providing a platform for bands to get exposure both in local and overseas markets. n the hard rock front this year Die!Die!Die! spent a lot of the year overseas touring almost non-stop and also managed to release their impressive second album Promises Promises. West Auckland's Blinspott unleashed their aggression on the country for the last time before disbanding and 8 Foot Sativa pleased the country's heavy metal fans by releasing nine brutal tracks on their fourth album Poison of Ages. At the other end of the spectrum singer Will Martin looks on track to become the male answer to Hayley Westenra and has a bright future ahead following the release of his album A New World. Another talented young singer Rotorua's Elizabeth Marvelly has emerged as a star of the future signing with EMI Classics in London and releasing a successful self-titled debut album. Rapper Scribe flew the flag for hip hop with his album Rhyme Book which reached No 4 on the music charts and confirmed his position as one of the country's most successful musicians. Shapeshifter and Pitch Black were among those keeping the electronic music fans happy while a soundtrack of local music for acclaimed local television drama utrageous Fortune has also been hovering around the top of the charts.

Memorable performances that were music to our ears
Seattle Post Intelligencer – Dec 27, 2007
n the concert front there were hits and misses. Among the hits were concerts by The Shins Modest Mouse The Arcade Fire Neil Young Feist Iron & Wine Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings Queens of the Stone Age and Blue Scholars. The Download Festival which mixed music and commerce as never before was among the misses. f the two most hyped reunion tours — The Police and Van Halen — the latter was more flamboyant and entertaining. In chronological order here’s my list of the year’s 10 best concerts at larger venues based on those I attended or reviewed:Van Halen: Reunited with former band mates Eddie and Alex Van Halen David Lee Roth proved he hasn’t lost his knack for showmanship. Performing in December at KeyArena Van Halen trotted out such hits as “Dance the Night Away” “Jump” and “Runnin’ With the Devil” thrilling fans who had waited more than two decades for a reunion of the Van Halen brothers and the band’s original singer… The body-slamming beat-laden concert at Showbox SoDo was a globe-spanning blend of hip-hop dancehall raga and electronica. zzy sbourne: As part of his first solo tour in 15 years metal maven (and former reality TV star) zzy sbourne performed a devilishly funny yet powerfully rocking show at KeyArena in late ctober. Fans turned out in lurid Halloween garb for a concert loaded with favorites among them “Mr. Crowley” “Bark at the Moon” and “Speak of the Devil. ” Guitarist Zakk Wylde got an ovation for his fiery Jimi Hendrix-inspired version of “The Star Spangled Banner. Tony Bennett: Performing in September at the Paramount Theatre the Grammy-winning king of croon sailed through a set of nearly 30 songs from a career that began in the1950s and continues to thrive today.

SignnSanDiego.com > News > Features — A star is born
San Diego Union Tribune – Dec 27, 2007
Eleven bands split 'tween two stages and this is likely not the place you will go to find (or possibly even to successfully complete) the traditional New Year's Ball Drop Romantic Kiss. The bands are all West Coast based mostly Southern half pretty much all metal or some sort of -core; screamo-ish headlining locals Pierce the Veil are the most eh tuneful of the bunch. If you've been playing Tony Hawk's Proving Ground you may have been “skating” to their almost-dancey “I'd Rather Die Than Be Famous. ” SMA still does not serve alcohol and welcomes all ages. THE CATCH-THEM-BEFRE-THEY-BLW SHWThe Aggrolites Grand le Party Beatmo; Monday 9 p… 3 DJ Joel B and DJ Buggz. $25-$40; (619) 696-3326. Dick's Last Resort: Live music from Straight Six. 99 gets you a chair an appetizer an entree dessert a “survival kit” and champagne.

MUSIC REVIEWS: Scrooge tunes and fa la la la la songs
Modesto Bee – Dec 27, 2007
” Most of us have had holidays where things just don’t feel right when the smiles are forced and the holiday party is the last place in the world you want to be. Joni sums up that vibe on this record. “Christ Illusion” by Slayer (Sony 2006)What better way to wallow in holiday misery than with Slayer the hardest darkest death-metal band of all time? n “Christ Illusion” the original 80′s lineup takes on organized religion with a vengeance blaming it for everything wrong in the world specifically war. These guys are so angry and raw they make Metallica sound like Perry Como. Songs like “Flesh Storm” and “Jihad” remind you that the cradle of the three major world religions remains a hellish cauldron of violence and despair where it’s not just chestnuts roasting and there is no silent night. “i To The World!” by The Vandals (Kung Fu 1996)Believe it or not there are punk-rock Christmas albums and “i To The World!” is one of the best. The range County veterans run the gamut from loud and fast to melodramatic and orchestral… The range County veterans run the gamut from loud and fast to melodramatic and orchestral. Tongue-in-cheek juvenile humor is evident on tracks like “Christmas Time for my P****” and “My First Christmas (as a Woman). ” The tightly-wound music is similar to that of bands like Green Day and the ffspring but with funnier lyrics like Tenacious D. However the Vandals venture away from the punk blueprint on the ballad “Hang Myself From The Tree” and even tackle classical music with a rendition of The Nutcracker’s “verture. ” This album deals with some dark subject matter but never takes itself too seriously. “A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector” by Various Artists (Abkco 1963)”A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector” has some great songs on it by Darlene Love The Ronettes and the Crystals featuring Spector’s Wagnerian “wall of sound” production. Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” was obviously the impetus for the U2 cover in 1986 included on the first “A Very Special Christmas” compilation.