Icon vs. Icon

This year’s Madden NFL 11 soundtrack features 23 tracks that recreate the ultimate live gameday experience via a collection of crowd favorites, stadium classics, and official NFL team fight songs.

After 10+ years of being a foremost showcase for introducing new artists – including Franz Ferdinand, Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine, Yellowcard, Wolfmother, Jet, The Bravery, B.o.B., Good Charlotte, OK GO, Fallout Boy and 30 Seconds To Mars – the Madden NFL 11 soundtrack focuses on stadium authenticity with classic fan-favorites by AC/DC, Queen, KISS, Ozzy Osbourne (including his new hit “Let Me Hear You Scream”), Guns N’ Roses, The Hives, Gary Glitter, Blur, Ying Yang Twins and Todd Rundgren.  Adding to the unprecedented authenticity are official team fight songs of the Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and more.

“The term ‘Madden Music’ has come to mean music that matches the intensity of the video game,” says said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing for EA. “This year, we wanted the music to not only define the game, but also the stadium experience. These are the classics that consistently bring NFL crowds to their feet. It’s an exciting new audio direction for Madden NFL, one that we know all fans will respond to. There is nothing like the experience of live football in a packed stadium, and the Madden NFL 11 soundtrack absolutely brings that excitement home.”

The complete in-game soundtrack for Madden NFL 11 includes:

Original Recordings:

• AC/DC – Thunderstruck
• Archie Eversole – We Ready
• Blur – Song 2
• Bush – Machinehead
• Guns N’ Roses – Welcome to the Jungle
• Kevin Rudolf featuring Lil’ Wayne – Let It Rock
• Kiss – Rock and Roll All Nite
• Ozzy Osbourne – Let Me Hear You Scream
• Ozzy Osbourne – Crazy Train
• The Hives – Tick Tick Boom
• Todd Rundgren – Bang the Drum
• Ying Yang Twins featuring Homebwoi – Halftime

Cover Versions:

• Rock N Roll Part 2 - as made famous by Gary Glitter
• We Will Rock You - as made famous by Queen
• Crowd Chant - as made famous by Joe Satriani
• Kernkraft 400 - as made famous by Zombie Nation

Team Fight Songs:

• Chicago Bears – Bear Down Chicago Bears
• Detroit Lions – Gridiron Heroes
• Green Bay Packers – Go Packers Go!
• Miami Dolphins – Miami Dolphins #1
• Minnesota Vikings – Skol Vikings
• Philadelphia Eagles – Fly Eagles Fly
• Washington Redskins – Hail to the Redskins

Madden NFL 11 will be available on August 10^th, 2010 for the Xbox 360® video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation®2 and PlayStation computer entertainment systems, Wii^TM, and PSP®  (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system.  Madden NFL 11 will also be available for download globally on mobile platforms including iPod® touch and feature phones.

The 2010 Grammy Awards were held last night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Grammy for Album of the Year went to Taylor Swift’s Fearless and Beyoncé walked away with the most awards: six, including Song of the Year, for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).” Kings of Leon won the night’s top award, record of the year, with “Use Somebody”.

Check out the full winners list below.

Album of the Year – Taylor Swift, Fearless

Record of the Year – Use Somebody, Kings of Leon

New Artist – Zac Brown Band

Song of the Year – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), written by Thaddis Harrell, Beyonce Knowles, Terius Nash and Christopher Stewart

Female Pop Vocal Performance – Halo, Beyonce

Male Pop Vocal Performance - Make it Mine, Jason Mraz

Pop Performance, Duo Or Group – I Gotta Feeling, The Black Eyed Peas

Pop Collaboration – Lucky, Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat

Pop Instrumental Performance – Throw Down Your Heart, Bela Fleck

Pop Instrumental Album – Potato Hole, Booker T. Jones

Pop Vocal Album – The E.N.D., The Black Eyed Peas

Dance Recording – Poker Face, Lady Gaga

Electronic/Dance Album – The Fame, Lady Gaga

Traditional Pop Vocal Album – Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden, Michael Bublé

Solo Rock Vocal Performance – Working on a Dream, Bruce Springsteen

Rock Performance, Duo or Group With Vocals – Use Somebody, Kings of Leon

Hard Rock Performance – War Machine, AC/DC

Metal Performance – Dissident Aggressor, Judas Priest

Rock Instrumental Performance – A Day in the Life, Jeff Beck

Rock Song – Use Somebody, written by Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill and Nathan Followill

Rock Album – 21st Century Breakdown, Green Day

Alternative Music Album - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix

Female R&B Vocal Performance – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), Beyoncé

Male R&B Vocal Performance – Pretty Wings, Maxwell

R&B Performance, Duo Or Group With Vocals - Blame It, Jamie Foxx and T-Pain

Traditional R&B Vocal Performance - At Last, Beyonce

Urban/Alternative Performance - Pearls, India.Arie and Dobet Gnahore

R&B Song – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), written by Thaddis Harrell, Beyonce Knowles, Terius Nash and Christopher Stewart

R&B Album – BLACKsummers’ Night, Maxwell

Contemporary R&B Album – I Am … Sasha Fierce, Beyonce

Rap Solo Performance -D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune), Jay-Z

Rap Song – Run This Town, written by Jeff Bhasker, Shawn Carter, Robyn Fenty, Kanye West, Ernest Wilson and Athanasios Alatas

Rap Album – Relapse, Eminem

Female Country Vocal Performance – White Horse, Taylor Swift

Male Country Vocal Performance – Sweet Thing, Keith Urban

Country Performance, Duo Or Group With Vocals – I Run to You, Lady Antebellum

Country Song - White Horse, Liz Rose and Taylor Swift

Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media – Up

Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media - Jai Ho, written by Gulzar, A. R. Rahman and Tanvi Shah, from “Slumdog Millionaire”

Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package - Neil Young Archives Vol. I (1963-1972), Gary Burden, Jenice Heo and Neil Young

Short-Form Music Video – Boom Boom Pow, the Black Eyed Peas

Long-Form Music Video - The Beatles Love — All Together Now

Melissa Auf der Maur

Melissa Auf der Maur has premiered the first music video from her current multimedia project of the same name, “Out of Our Minds”, which you can watch below. Directed by Tony Stone, the stylishly noir video features MAdM on a mysterious journey into the woods after her car crashes.

Out of Our Minds (OOOM), also includes a solo record that will be released on March 23rd 2010. Consisting of 12 powerful tracks produced and mixed by top-flight collaborators including Jordon Zadorozny (Sam Roberts), Chris Goss (QOTSA, UNKLE), Alan Molder (Depeche Mode, Smashing Pumpkins), and Mike Frazer (Franz Ferdinand, ACDC), the album also features a special duet with legendary Goth rocker, Glenn Danzig.

Out of Our Minds is MAdM’s long awaited second solo album, which also extends into a 28-minute, HD film starring and conceived by MAdM, as well as a limited edition comic book and matching Picture Disc Vinyl illustrated by Jack Forbes from Brooklyn, NY.

Certainly one of the most feel-good rock n’ roll comeback stories of recent times is that of Canadian heavy metal band Anvil. The band, considered a major influence for a generation of hard rockers including Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Guns N’ Roses, was the subject of a critically acclaimed, must-see rock-doc, ‘Anvil! The Story of Anvil,’ directed by Sacha Gervasi. And in the process, the film has made the group (led by singer/guitarist Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner – both founding members) a household name. But the group’s story will certainly not end with the film.

First up for Anvil are U.S. shows opening for Aussie rock legends AC/DC – in football stadiums. We’re really excited about these shows, we’ve only heard awesome things about playing in football stadiums. I was with the Green Day guys last night, and they were telling me, ‘Man, it’s probably going to be the gig of your life’!”

And then on September 15, This is Thirteen will finally see proper national distribution on CD and vinyl via VH1 Classic Records. The CD will feature the newly recorded, never-before released bonus track “Thumb Hang.” The collectible double vinyl LP boasts newly re-recorded versions of Anvil classics “Metal on Metal” and “666.” The album, originally recorded in 2007 and produced by Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy), was primarily available directly from the band via their website and at their concerts.

“‘This is Thirteen’ is more like our first three albums,” says Lips, “which represent our real identity. For many of our albums, we went on an ‘integrity hunt’ instead of on a ‘commercial/radio hunt,’ so we became extremely inaccessible to radio. This time, we stepped back and said, ‘What were we originally?’ And we rediscovered ourselves, I suppose.” Reiner adds, “There are three tracks that in my opinion, are definitely, 100% AOR/hard rock/commercial radio tracks – ‘American Refuge,’ ‘Flying Blind,’ and ‘Feed the Greed.’ Catchy melodies, incredible drum feels – they just all rock.”

The title track is about as classic Anvil as you can get – that slow, powerful, heavy backbeat with cool changes. The violent-sounding “Bombs Away” is, according to Reiner, “the almightiest metal track on the entire record,” “Ready to Fight” is pure speed rock ‘n roll – Nugent on steroids – that boasts super-heavy drumming, and “Big Business” is akin, musically-speaking, to Cream’s classic “Sunshine of Your Love.” And then there’s the true classic, Anvil near-anthem, “Shoulda’ Woulda’ Coulda’,” that’s about living life with no regrets.

Reiner points out that the input from acclaimed producer Tsangarides (who produced early Anvil albums) was a major reason for This is Thirteen turning out the way it did. “The last four or five albums, material-wise, were all similar. We had been trying to find the direction back to the classic Anvil style and sound – it’s just that the production hadn’t been up to scratch. Chris was a big missing part on our past albums.”

Despite some zany Spinal Tap-like parallels between Anvil and David St. Hubbins and company in the film, Anvil has always been taken seriously by metalheads, including some very well known rock stars, who praise the band in the film. “Anvil was one of those bands that just put on this really amazing live performance,” said Velvet Revolver/ex-Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, while Motorhead singer/bassist Lemmy added, “They were a great band – I always liked Anvil,” and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich gushed, “These guys were going to turn the music world upside down.”

So, the AC/DC dates, the release of This is Thirteen, what else can fans expect from Anvil in the future? Lips was willing to provide a hint: “Working. More recording. More gigs. More – more than ever!”

AC/DC DATES:
JULY
28 Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
31 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

AUGUST
6 Magnetic Hill, Moncton, New Brunswick CANADA

Our staff of die-hard rock n’ roll fans is ready to deliver you a heaping helping of 2008′s Biggest Moments In Rock!

Steve Johnson’s Pick: There were many moments in the past year that could easily be considered for the best moment in rock, but one moment, 15 years in the making, reigns supreme. Axl Rose finally delivered an album that for the most part had become a running joke amongst the music community. Surrounded by years of media hype and ridiculous expectations, Chinese Democracy was released on November 23. While some of you out there may not give the album a chance because of the long delay or the fact that it does not feature Slash or Duff, you should. Chinese Democracy exceeds all of the expectations placed on it and is a prime example of masterful song writing. Axl, this Dr. Pepper is for you! You are number 1 in my book.

Jason Price’s Pick: The biggest rock moment in 2008 to me was the retailer specific mega-deals that were inked for the likes of the Eagles, Journey, AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses. For some artists it payed off in spades. However, for others, like Guns N’ Roses, the jury still seems to be out on just whether this is the right way to go when marketing their product. There is little doubt that the music industry is in a state of flux and it will be interesting to see if marketing of this fashion is a trend we will see more of for established artists.

Jen X’s Pick: I don’t know if “Biggest” would be the best description, but one of the coolest moments in rock for me this year was Nine Inch Nails releasing The Slip as a free download via their website. My opinion is that this could be a huge boost to bands and solo artists in concert ticket sales, and obviously the free concept carried over to appreciative fans as many then went out and bought the hard copy that came with a 24-page booklet, a sticker pack and a DVD of live performances. Bottom line is I dig the concept, and feel that by releasing what NIN knew was awesome material for free download it could be the wave of the future for bands that are confident in their music and want to promote an upcoming tour. And, as they say, “If it’s free, it’s for me.”