Rolling Stone recently published a book called "Schools That Rock: The Rolling Stone College Guide" in which author Jenny Eliscu details college towns that have thriving rock scenes.
The music business is cutthroat. It's difficult to get started and even harder to make it big.
Stellastarr* is a band out of New York City that is often overlooked. Maybe the band will get more attention with today's release of its sophomore album called "Harmonies for the Haunted." Their 2003 self-titled album had plenty of memorable hits like "Jenny," "My Coco" and "Pulp Song." Their new album has just as much potential, if not more.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, thousands of people are donating money to help victims. A number of local bands have organized benefits at The Temple Club and The Creole Gallery to get involved. Joel Kuiper, a member of two Lansing-area bands, decided something needed to be done and put up a message board post on the Web site of MSU's student radio station, the Impact (WDBM 88.9-FM), last week.
Move over Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan: 17-year-old R&B singer Kaci Brown will most likely become the next big thing among the 13-17 age group.
Kanye West has done the impossible: He has created an album even better than "College Dropout." He strays from the norm of hip-hop yet again with "Late Registration", a 21-track album full of collaborations with everyone from Adam Levine of Maroon 5 to Jamie Foxx, as well as Brandy. "I'm sky high," West says in "Touch the Sky," and he's right.
Death Cab for Cutie has become a comfort band for some. It can be counted on to produce catchy indie rock tunes.
Chicago native Mike Lust, lead singer of the Tight Phantomz, talks with The State News about rocking hard, defying genres and drinking.
Tight Phantomz is one of those easily forgettable rock bands: They're not bad at what they do, which is generic hard rock, but they could be replaced by any one of the dozen or so other bands just like them.
Music is something everyone likes. No one ever says "I hate music." But there are those of us who live, breathe and eat music.
Friday M.A.C. Ave. • 6:00 p.m. Bob Seeley and "Boogie" Bob Baldori Dance Tent • 6:45 p.m.
Although it's called a folk festival, East Lansing's Great Lakes Folk Festival isn't just about the traditional idea of the genre - simply a singer and a guitar for instance - it encompasses all types of music, from Cuban to polka.
Fine China produces mellow pop rock with a sound that's not innovative, experimental or extremely unique - maybe even generic. Perhaps the members of Fine China aren't looking to stand out; they're content with producing radio friendly tunes.
Atlanta rockers Dropsonic can't resist linking themselves to classic rock greats. Reviewers of the group's previous efforts, and even the band's official Web site, repeatedly mention the trio in the same breath as legendary groups such as Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones.
The All-American Rejects are just that in their new release "Move Along." This is the group's second album, following its self-titled debut in October 2002.
Six albums in, five-time Grammy winner and master chef Missy Elliott finally unlocks the door to her kitchen, revealing her secret recipe for baking up hits.
There's a growing problem in hard rock that's been evident for some time now; namely, there isn't much in the way of interesting or original sounds making it to a widespread audience. Stutterfly's major-label debut, "And We Are Bled Of Color," is the perfect case study for this epidemic.
Right in the middle of its summer tour, Flipsyde has released its new album "We the People." The band has four members and brings a combination of rock, rap and even a little Spanish guitar to the studio.
Dark New Day has embarked on a summer tour to support its album, "Twelve Year Silence." The tour is the group members' first, as the longtime friends came together after splitting with bands such as Creed and Sevendust. After arriving in Lansing on Friday to play at the Common Ground Festival, guitarist and vocalist Clint Lowery, formerly of Sevendust, talked to The State News via phone from his tour bus. State News: How do you like Lansing so far? Clint Lowery: It's great.
After 10 years and more than 2,000 shows, Goldfinger has released a compilation of its favorite songs in "The Best of Goldfinger." The ska/punk act from Los Angeles has produced six albums, but is more well known for their rockin' shows they've played across the world. Inside the album cover, lead singer/guitarist John Feldmann confesses that he believes the only reason the band is still having success making music is "our live show" because he said the fans keep coming out to see them. There are no surprises on this record, as Goldfinger fans get everything they could've asked for in 17 songs - from "Here in your Bedroom" to "Open Your Eyes," as well as "Mable" and "Superman." Feldmann, guitarist Charlie Paulson, bassist/backup vocalist Kelly LeMieux and drummer Darrin Pfeiffer aren't done making music, but the "Best of" is a great look at what this band has done over the last decade. The best suggestion for listening to this album is to read the inside cover before diving into the songs, being careful to read each blurb that Feldmann wrote about each of the first 14 songs.