Supernova Provides a True Expansion for This Star

Ryan Star has revealed on his myspace blog that he was FINALLY signed!

Atlantic Records is the lucky label. So it's not the ideal, since Atlantic is housed by Warner Music Group, which is also home to Maverick, which let his absolutely amazing talent go to waste when he was still with Stage. Just thank goodness that Koch deal is done. The indie days were great, but we all knew there wasn't a chance of him going back to that after Rockstar: Supernova. (Personally, I would have thought him a douche if I didn't know him before reading that bio...For shame, reality tv writers!)

He also says that Matt Chamberlain will be doing some of the drum tracks on the new album. Very fitting, seeing as I labeled him as a male Tori Amos when I first heard him. (Matt has tracked on every Tori album since "From the Choirgirl Hotel", and has toured with her.)

Big label. Big name contributor. Now all we need is the big date!

In the meantime, here's one of the songs that will be making the cut:

stellastarr* @ North Star Bar 2/15/07

I arrived at North Star in time to see both of the openers, but saw neither. Bad me, not supporting the local bands: RunRunner and Illinois. (Monsters Are Waiting did not appear at the Philly show...Probably best for them, as there was a huge snowstorm just the night before.)

One of the first people I ran into inside was Mike. He mentioned that the band always wants to tour this time of year, because noone else is touring. He tries to be a voice of reason, but always gets out-voted. I, for one, am very happy for that.

After I finally made my way into the room where the music was, I perused the merch table, which just happened to be manned by Art! It was as if noone knew who he was, but they certainly would before the night was over. I decided to try to drum up a little business by buying the girl's tee and panties. I promptly went around letting everyone feel the quality of each, but especially the panties. Who could resist touching some strange woman's underwear, really? I know at least one person made the purchase, and that made it quite worthwhile.

I made my way up front for stellastarr*'s set, and nabbed a prime spot right in front of Mike. Watching them set up, I noticed that Art has a vintage McDonald's Eyeore purse hanging from his high hat, and I have the very same one...As if I didn't have enough reasons to love these guys...

stellastarr* took the stage, and came out with two new songs right away: indicated on the setlist as "Sonja" and "People". Shawn's songwriting skills are still in top shape. The vocal harmonies between he and Amanda are more shining than ever. Both songs were amazing, mouth-watering goodies that make one wish they didn't have to wait for the new album. Then, "Sweet Troubled Soul" got the crowd singing along. They followed with another Harmonies for the Haunted track, "The Diver". Shawn announced they were bringing the set back to their first album, and the crowd was treated to "No Weather" and "A Million Reasons". "Warchild" was next, and the sound was so much bigger than the preview on the band's myspace page lets on! Art's drumming especially stood out. Next up were 2 more songs from the first album, both with big guitar openings by Mike: "In the Walls" & "Jenny". "On My Own" was much more subdued than performances I had previously seen, but it was nice to see it standing on it's own as a song rather than a dramatic performance. Finally, the crowd went nuts for "Somewhere Across Forever". After a few minutes of screaming and clapping, stellastarr* came back out for a big encore: "Winter Song" & everyone's favorite chant-along, anthemic tune "My Coco".

It was a strong set, and all of the new songs stood up well in it. It was also the most crowded stellastarr* shows I've been to, which is a good sign that they are gaining momentum as their talent continues to grow.

At the end of the show, I was spent. I had danced, sang, gotten emotional, laughed, and felt that I had given of myself as much as they gave to us. stellastarr* is a band that makes you feel like you are experiencing the music, rather than just watching it being played.

"Let's go...Come on shall we?"

With his project Cosmicity, Mark Nicholas was like an electronic Burt Bacharach: sweet melodies with lyrics to match.

Now, he's completely shattering that image, reinventing himself with a form of music he calls "Dirty Electronic". DE is pretty much a mash-up of old school industrial, hip-hop, and dance on top of his synth-pop background. Add to those sexy groves some saucy lyrics, and you've got "Duchess 33".

As if the synth line that starts it off wasn't enough, the first lyric on the album says it all. Mark acknowledges the past, and lets you know this time it's going to be different. ("Hey look, I know it's crazy/But I'm just way too clean/I need to fuck this up/I need to turn it green") "Green", as a whole, is an invitation to join him on this nasty new voyage into a land of hedonistic pleasure.

"Backlash" is further separation from the past. It's Mark's nod to his former label, A Different Drum (a primarily Christian imprint). For those of you who don't know, ADD did not release "Definitive" due to an issue they had with "offensive language" on the DVD portion. That move lead Mark to question his future as an artist, and to take a hiatus from the business in general. Thank God Mark didn't let God keep him down!

The next two tracks are amazing dance songs in different ways. "Perverse" is a heavy dance track, where "Trying to Impress You" is a slow bump-and-grind. The frenzied make-out leading to the striptease, if you will.

"Two Sandwiches" is GENIUS! The whole concept of it is original, and the mixing is beyond compare. It's essentially a highlight of what kids these days are hearing while they are fighting imaginary evils in video games and their parents are fighting the imaginary evils of Marilyn Manson and such.

Mark's ode to Goth chicks is adorable. I foresee "Little Goth Girl" being played at weddings one day...Weddings where people are wearing far too much makeup and dancing all creepy-like.

The next 4 songs on the album are about self-assessment. "Coming Clean" is a total guy's guy song, all about sex despite issues in a relationship. Making small shortcomings a cover for a larger hidden truth that one doesn't want to come out is the theme of "I Wish". In "The Measure of Pleasure", Mark explores the gravity of life, adding a soothing refrain of "So, how are you now?". Finally, "Selective Memory Loss" is the full cocooning introspection of an emotional soul; afraid to face what's outside just yet, but knowing they'll have to face it, eventually.

Bonus track "Eine Kleine Booty Musik" is exactly what it says it is. The track is really short, because it was written for and used in a Dodge Ram commercial. It does exactly what it is meant to do: pick up your spirits after the melancholy introspection. Plus, it always makes me want to start the whole thing over again!

Just click here for a list of the different retailers offering "Duchess 33".

There are plenty of reasons you SHOULD buy this album, so I'll just leave you with Mark's list of who SHOULD NOT purchace a copy:

The new Mark Nicholas album "Duchess 33" is COMPLETELY FUCKING RECKLESS.

We're not kidding. As a public service, we'd like to offer the following partial list of people who should avoid buying it:

- The elderly
- Young children
- Women who are pregnant or might be pregnant (you know who you are, Slutty Lisa)
- Republicans
- Your mom
- The emotionally frail
- Those who cry at the end of "The Breakfast Club"
- James Van Der Beek
- People with light blue eyes
- Bald men
- Chihuahuas
- Owners of ANY Dave Matthews Band album
- People who use the "word" LOL in oral conversation
- Anyone who didn't just snicker a little when they read the word "oral"
- Hyundai drivers
- People who wear Dockers. Yes, ever.
- Your really sweaty friend from work
- Nose breathers (Mouth breathers UNITE!)
- Birkenstock owners
- Baseball fans
- Non-believers
- DJs who have more than 2 categories of "house" music for their CD collection
- Healthy eaters
- Tori Spelling

Those of you who can not find themselves on this list may be among the elite... the few who will not mentally breakdown when they hear how carelessly the standards of decency and the understood conventions of electronic music have been tossed by the wayside. No, friends... "Duchess 33" is not an album for people who are afraid of radical change. This is Electronic music gone Dirty. Electronic music with both vocal melodies and grit. Electronic music influenced by hip hop and industrial. Electronic music for people who weren't even sure if they liked Electronic music. Wait... you're still here? Have we really found you?

Excellent. Can't wait for you to hear this album.

-m