John Oates Announces Solo Release

Amazon.com will have an exclusive digital version of 1000 Miles of Life starting on September 9th up until the September 23rd street date, when it will become available in all digital and retail outlets.

"It was a wake-up call for me," says John about the album, his second solo effort and first since 2002's Phunk Shui. "After 30-plus years devoting myself to my art and craft, I needed to make a musical statement that someday I could look back on and realize, at that moment of time, I did exactly what I wanted to do. I've never written songs like this. I was on this inspirational roll. There was an urgency to it. I realized that I had no more time in my life for rehearsals… and I took that energy into the studio." - more on this story

VMA Presenters

MTV reports: MTV has confirmed Michael Phelps, Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, Scarlett Johansson, Ciara, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Christopher Mintz-Plasse presenter at the "2008 Video Music Awards.".

In addition, DJ AM and Travis Barker will be mixing live drum beats to scratched records throughout the show. The duo will collaborate with Katy Perry, T-Pain, Lupe Fiasco, The Ting Tings and additional special guests to perform new and past hits to celebrate the past 25 years of music.

Rihanna, Pink, T.I., Kid Rock, Paramore, Lil Wayne and the Jonas Brothers have already been added to the list of performers at this year's show. - more on this story

The Groundhogs Live CD/DVD

Kayos reports: September 30 is the street date for The Groundhogs Live At The Astoria 1998, a specially-priced two-disc CD/DVD package from Eagle Vision.

The British crowd at The Astoria goes certifiably nuts for The Groundhogs on this night in 1998, the first show ever filmed of this mythic band: Guitarist/Vocalist TS McPhee, Bassist Eric Chipulina and Drummer Pete Correa. Touring in support of their Hogs In Wolf's Clothing album (a tribute to the legendary late bluesman Howling Wolf), they open and close with some major Howling but the set traverses their entire career going as far back as their 1968 debut, Scratching The Surface.

This 81-minute 12-song DVD is the only known Groundhogs full-length concert on DVD. The CD is a full 78-minute audio of the same show. - more on this story

Promises Made: An All-Star Benefit Jazz Release Party

PR reports: On Monday, September 29, 2008, philanthropic organizations Millennium Promise and Simmons Family Foundation, along with entertainment powerhouse Koch Records will join forces to host the album release party for Promises Made, an all-star benefit jazz album. The event, being held at BB King's in New York City, will spotlight performances from renowned jazz artists such as Kirk Whalum, Takana, and Take 6, just to name a few.

The CD release party, to be held in BB King's Lucille Room, will begin at 8:00pm ET, preceded by a 6:00pm ET reception. Artists are available to the media immediately for phone and in-person interviews. Earl Cole, Whalum's manager, says, "It's an honor for Kirk along with the other stellar artists involved to be associated with such a meaningful and prestigious cause. This album is bringing people together for a wonderful cause while showcasing the art of quality jazz."

Millennium Promise has partnered with entertainment industry titan Koch Records to produce Promises Made, a full-length CD featuring Whalum, Takana, Grammy®-winning vocal ensemble Take 6, veteran music producer George Duke and guitarist Earl Klugh, among others. Whalum and company will be performing selections from the forthcoming disc at the album release party. The CD is scheduled for release in September 2008 and proceeds will be funneled to Africans in need of essential survival tools. To obtain detailed information about the project, visit - www.KochRecords.com.

White Lies EP and Tour Plans

PR reports: British trio White Lies and their post-punk sounds will echo again stateside with a headline tour and performance at the CMJ Music Festival in October. From East to West, the band's sincere tease of audiences abroad begins just days after the release of their Death EP on Fiction/Geffen Records, in stores and online October 21.

On the cusp of their largest headline performance to date at London's Koko Club in November, don't mistake their return as a warm-up. The band performed at Lollapalooza in August and have already headlined Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York as well as festivals across Europe (Leeds, Reading, Pukkelpop among others). It's too late to see WHITE LIES before they break through. They are here.

Following the release of "Unfinished Business," the sprawling ode to love and fear is "Death." Its dramatic and emotional reach is beyond a morose lament. Harry's deep vocals cry "Yes this fear's got a hold on me." It's either love or death. You will LOVE WHITE LIES. - more on this story

Municipal Waste Mini Tour

PR reports: Municipal Waste will be joining up with New Jersey punk leaders, The Casualties to play a small number of shows around the northern U.S. this October.

This tour was "over 6 months in the making" according to Municipal Waste frontman, Tony Foresta. Plans were finally cemented during the festivities for the band's very special Waste Em All performance at best friend's day in Virginia earlier this month.

Running to make a plane to Norway (where Municipal Waste will be making 2 festival appearances this weekend), Foresta said it all with a few choice words; "It's gonna kick ass." - dates

Natalie Cole Still Unforgettable

PR reports: Natalie Cole's new album, Still Unforgettable, hits stores September 9th. Still Unforgettable features Natalie joining her father, Nat King Cole, in a duet on "Walkin' My Baby Back Home," as well as Natalie's loving renditions of 13 other classics from the Great American Songbook.

More info: When Natalie Cole's seminal Unforgettable…With Love came out in 1991, the jazz collection set a new standard for reinventing the Great American Songbook. The CD, which captured six Grammys, including Album and Record Of The Year, spent five weeks at No. 1 and sold more than eight million copies in the U.S. alone.

Yet instead of exploiting the moment and rushing out a second volume, Cole thoughtfully took a step back, devoted herself to several other stellar projects including her riveting autobiography, and waited until she felt ready to return to the songs that fulfill her heart and soul. The time is now. - more on this story

Coming Up On Kimmel

PR reports: Jimmy Kimmel Live welcomes the following musical acts in September:

September 2 – Judas Priest**
September 3 – Young Jeezy**
September 4 – Metro Station**
September 5 – Black Kids
September 10 – Solange Knowles
September 12 – Terrence Howard
September 16 – Justin Nozuka
September 17 – Ne-Yo**
September 18 – Good Charlotte – performance from the Summer Krush Concert Series in San Francisco
September 19 – Cold War Kids
September 23 – Atmosphere
September 30 – Elvis Costello - more on this story

. My Ruin (Artist of the Month)

There is something more mature about the sound but yet it has lost none of its edge, or its evocative strength or most importantly its honesty and that is what makes My Ruin's music a cut above the rest. It's tough to imagine My Ruin sounding any better than this. (5 stars) - Read the full My Ruin - Throat Full of Heart review

. Passport: Vol 1 - Kasai Allstars, Skatalites, Acoustic Arabia and more

antiMusic's globe trotting scribe Kevin Wierzbicki lets his ears escape the desert heat of Arizona for a listen to some cool international music from Kasai Allstars, Skatalites, and Acoustic Arabia - Read the full Vol 1 - Kasai Allstars, Skatalites, Acoustic Arabia and more review

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