SGN Page 38

the Music Lounge by Albert Rodriguez - SGN A & E Writer

EndFest tickets, signed CDs and cool freebies up for grabs at Alternative Tuesdays official kickoff
Celebrate the official kickoff of Alternative Tuesdays and win cool free stuff Despite a few requests for Madonna and Black Eyed Peas, the SGN/Manray co-sponsored Alternative Tuesdays club night has been met with good crowds and positive feedback. We didnt know what to expect. All we wanted was to provide a space and time for alternative music fans to come together and watch videos by artists that they really like. Last week, we played new videos from Weezer, Green Day, Gorillaz and Hot Hot Heat. And one lucky person scored a pair of Sasquatch concert tickets. This week marks the official kickoff of Alternative Tuesdays. Weve got lots, and I do mean LOTS of good stuff to give away. So if you love alternative pop and rock music, stop by Manray (514 E. Pine Street) on Tuesday night, May 31 to check 0ut the scene (10:00 p.m. start). Bring a friend, gay or straight, and have a blast watching music videos from The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Modest Mouse, Coldplay, Beastie Boys, Beck and many more. Six pairs of EndFest tickets will be given away, plus autographed CDs from Queens of the Stone Ages Josh Homme, a signed tour book by the band Kasabian, CD-singles, posters and bumper stickers. And, weve got five specially-created artist-name drinks to introduce to you titled after Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Scissor Sisters, The Killers and Queens of the Stone Age. Come experience the alternative side of music at Manray on Tuesday night. It may not be J-Lo or Beyonce, but for one night a week it wont hurt to try out something new. Our feature artist is EndFest 14, so well play music videos by artists performing at 107.7s EndFest concert at White River Amphitheatre on June 4. To further entice you to swing by, I have some cute straight guy friends that are coming by to get drunk. And when drunk, they play.
CD recommendations for the 2005 graduate

Music makes a great, memorable gift for any occasion, especially for graduating students of all ages. Here are four new releases to consider on your trip to the record store that will likely please the music lover on your grad gift list. Arular - M.I.A. The hottest dance CD of the year, thus far, belongs to British newcomer M.I.A. The Sri Lankan-born artist fuses sultry vocals, electrifying beats, playful percussion and sizzling samples for an ultimate party mix that begs to be heard loud and with the lights down. Arular, M.I.A.s American debut, is a wildly energetic collection of dancehall cuts that picks up where Neneh Cherry left off, and keeps the listener interested throughout with a noises here, noises there approach. Bucky Done Gone, Galang and Fire Fire are instant club hits, where M.I.A. purrs with the confidence of a diva twice her age and experience. Pull Up the People and Sunshowers are also worth mentioning. For a real fun time, ring Miss M.I.A.s bell this summer. Recommended for: club hoppers, dance-reggae music listeners and fans of Neneh Cherry, Missy Elliott and Ciara. Guero - Beck. After a heartbreaking outing on 2002s Sea Change, funky-rock maestro Beck is all smiles again with the impressive and downright fun Guero, a mishmash of catchy rap, rock and Mexi-pop numbers. The multi-Grammy winner whips up his usual recipe of quirky lyrics and hip arrangements on thirteen original entries, from the Tijuana-laced Que Ondo Guero to the guitar-drilling E-Pro. Beck can be hilarious and genius at the same time, as represented on the electronic-pop track Hell Yes and the retro-sounding Black Tambourine, which features a wicked bass line. If you found Odelay and Midnite Vultures irresistible, youre in for a treat with Guero. Recommended for: party seekers, alternative music listeners and fans of The Cars, Talking Heads and Beastie Boys. In Between Dreams - Jack Johnson. Champion surfer turned recording artist, Jack Johnson returns to his winning formula, life-at-the-moment lyrics nestled in tropical pop backgrounds, on his newest release In Between Dreams. The album, Johnsons third career effort, is like a fruit smoothie for the ears - a sweet, refreshing concoction of acoustic and bass guitars, island-style percussion and songs about total simplicity, like Banana Pancakes and Sitting, Waiting, Wishing. Hawaiian-bred Johnson writes or co-writes all the music on In Between Dreams, including the cuddly Better Together, the jamming Staple It Together and the cool as beans Crying Shame. Recommended for: laid back types/beach bums, pop music listeners and fans of John Mayer, Jason Mraz and Ben Harper. Modern Day Drifter - Dierks Bentley. On the surface, Dierks Bentley appears to be another country music hunk with little to no talent beyond a good drinking tune. Thats so not the case. The Phoenix native, inescapably adorable with a baby face, puppy dog eyes and shaggy blond hair, is the twentysomething answer to George Strait, the legendary country crooner whom Bentley opened an entire tour for months ago. Much like his platinum-selling debut, Bentleys second arrival, Modern Day Drifter, is a pleasant surprise of honky tonk ditties, old school country songs and charming ballads. Lot of Leavin Left to Do, Domestic, Light and Cold and Cab of My Truck are great road trip companions, while Gonna Get There Someday, Come a Little Closer and the title track are fine slower entries perfect for a lazy porch afternoon.