Riding In Style

Companies generate big business with upscale artist tour buses GRAMMY.com Nick Krewen August 20, 2009 Talk about a sweet ride. If you happen to see a top-level entertainer’s coach rolling down the highway, you can be certain the star hurrying to their next gig within it — be it Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift or a member of the rock band Rush — is traveling in style and comfort. “We use high-end…


Fredstocks: The Anti Festival

Alt. country singer/songwriter Fred Eaglesmith has quietly pioneered his own underground festival scene GRAMMY.com Nick Krewen Who needs Deadheads when you have Fredheads? With 16 albums and two DVDs to his credit, Canadian alternative country singer/songwriter Fred Eaglesmith has built a particularly devoted following in North America, Australia and the Netherlands. And while his notoriety and album sales may not rival that of a Bruce Springsteen or a Bob Dylan,…


All You Need Is Love Rings True

All You Need Is Love Rings True August 7, 2008 Historical UK music documentary series receives long-awaited DVD release GRAMMY.com Nick Krewen Thirty-two years after its world broadcast debut, the highly acclaimed British music documentary TV series “All You Need Is Love” has finally arrived at retail on DVD. Directed by renowned 200 Motels filmmaker Tony Palmer, the ambitious 17-episode, five-disc set traces the history of popular music from its African…


Solving the Hit Record Equation

Companies use algorithms, math and even colors to chart a song’s potential for success GRAMMY.com Nick Krewen March 20, 2008 When Gnarls Barkley‘s “Crazy” enjoyed its chart-topping run in 2006, its blockbuster stature may have sounded like a foregone conclusion to some. After all, the song had a whimsical feel, an easily digestible melody and a can’t-miss chorus that had no problem lodging itself in your memory’s instant recall. But…


Rocking Your Baby To Sleep

May 24, 2007 Soothing interpretations of rock songs provide an alternative to typical lullabies GRAMMY.com Nick Krewen Songs like Metallica‘s “Master Of Puppets,” Nirvana‘s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and Tool‘s “Opiate” don’t exactly conjure visions of cribs, prams and diapers, but one Los Angeles-based record label is working to change that perception. With such sonic pacifiers as the glockenspiel, vibraphone and harp subbing for wailing guitars and hammering drums, Baby…