July 2009

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July 2009 

Return to Table of Contents July 2009

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Music Makers

Billy Talent is stupid. Plus, RZA jams with Rogen, improv style


By Ingrid Randoja

Layers of Talent

Getting called stupid was the best thing to happen to Billy Talent.

 

The Canadian rock band was busy making its third CD, Billy Talent III (available July 14th), with legendary producer Brendan O’Brien (who had previously worked with Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam) when he suggested the hard-playing band add more layers to their music. They scoffed. “At first we were like, ‘We don’t want to do any additional overdubs,’” says guitarist Ian D’Sa, “and Brendan said, ‘Really, well that’s stupid.’ He actually came flat out and said that, and slowly, over the course of the recording, he opened up our minds to different instruments and instrumentations.”

 

“It was hard for us to cross that line, but when we did we were really excited,” adds bassist Jon Gallant. D’Sa and Gallant are in Toronto to talk up their third CD, which is bursting with the band’s thrash-and-bash tunes, but thanks to O’Brien has a rich, epic sound and a smattering of various musical genres.

 

“We certainly didn’t hold back exploring other avenues,” says D’Sa. “For example, the song ‘Devil On My Shoulder’ is a blues-based track that has a real throwback, ’70s classic rock sound. We weren’t afraid to go explore those areas. We just did what felt right.”

 

“I don’t think we made a conscious effort to change,” adds Gallant. “I think we’ve just grown as a band.”

 

RZA

Singers On Screen

Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA plays Seth Rogen’s pal in this month’s comedy Funny People. The rapper, who had bit parts in American Gangster and Derailed, says going for laughs was a challenge, especially keeping up with Rogen’s improvising. RZA told Paste magazine, “It was like a freestyle battle and he won. If he was rapping, I would have had him all day.”

 

Dude Looks Like a Winner

Aerosmith breaks new marketing ground this summer when it becomes the first rock band to launch its very own scratch lottery tickets in the U.S. The supergroup signed a deal with a company that manufactures lottery tickets, and the Aerosmith tickets, which use the group’s hit song “Dream On” as a marketing tool, offer cash prizes, concert tickets and the chance to win a private gig with the band.

 


Out this month

July 7

Kiss Kiss - The Meek Shall Inherit What’s Left
Son Volt - American Central Dust 

 

July 14

DevilDriver - Pray for Villains

Daughtry - Leave This Town

Sick Puppies - Tripolar

 

July 21

Bad Veins - Bad Veins

Sugar Ray - Music for Cougars


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