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On The Download: The White Tie Affair

November 19, 2009

By Ivan Aldersen

LOS ANGELES, Calif.

The crowd was jumping and singing along (and so was I) as The White Tie Affair hit the stage at Hollywood’s club Avalon last weekend.

These guys from Chicago have been touring the country ever since their debut album was released in 2008. They spent part of the year opening for Lady Gaga and she certainly has taught them a few things about performance.

On The Download: Kris Allen Is An ‘Idol’ Who Delivers

November 18, 2009

By Ivan Aldersen

LOS ANGELES, Calif.

I am very happy with “American Idol’s” latest winner, Kris Allen.

The self-titled debut album from this year’s “American Idol” is finally here and it is among the best first efforts ever of any of the “Idol” winners.

On The Download: Solange Goes Indie With ‘Stillness Is The Move’

November 16, 2009

LOS ANGELES, Calif.

After dragging her sister Beyonce and brother-in-law Jay-Z to catch indie-folk buzz band Grizzly Bear play a show at Brooklyn’s Williamsburg Waterfront in August, it’s no surprise that Solange Knowles has a soft spot for some lesser-known acts.

In an MP3 that leaked last week, the R&B star showed off her under-the-radar taste with her new cover of a stand-out track by another group of Brooklyn rockers, Dirty Projectors.

On The Download: The Temper Trap’s ‘Conditions’

November 12, 2009

By Jolie Lash

LOS ANGELES, Calif.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel made fans swoon over the summer with their independent romantic film, “(500) Days of Summer.”

The film, which followed the imaginative romance of Tom Hansen (JGL) and Summer Finn (ZD), was accentuated by a sparkling soundtrack of spine-tingly indie rock numbers – most memorably, The Temper Trap’s “Sweet Disposition.”

On The Download: Catching Up With Cobra Starship’s Gabe Saporta

November 06, 2009

By Anthony Ramos

BURBANK, Calif.

Cobra Starship invaded pop radio waves this summer with the catchy tune, “Good Girls Go Bad,” from their recently released third album “Hot Mess.” I recently checked in with front man Gabe Saporta about collaborating with a “Gossip Girl,” Pete Wentz’s latest tattoo and found out what exactly a “hot mess” is.

As for collaborating with Leighton Meester, Saporta isn’t afraid to admit that he’s a huge fan of hers and calls “Gossip Girl” a guilty pleasure.

On The Download: Amazon.com’s Best Of 2009 List Arrives Early

November 05, 2009

By David Greenwald

LOS ANGELES, Calif.

It’s still weeks before Thanksgiving, and already Christmas decorations are lining the streets of Los Angeles – and they’re not the only things that have arrived early this year.

With almost two full months of releases left in 2009, Amazon.com has released its list of the best albums of 2009, the first major musical best-of list of the year.

So how do the popular Web site’s picks stack up?

On The Download: ‘Glee: The Music, Vol. 1’

November 03, 2009

By Jeremy Blacklow

BURBANK, Calif.

It’s hard to go anywhere nowadays and escape the “Glee” hype. And why would you want to? It’s arguably the most refreshing new scripted series on television since “30 Rock” debuted three years ago.

In today’s multi-media platform society though, one track of income a successful business venture does not make. Today, the first volume of songs is available for purchase as well, courtesy of Columbia Records.

And nothing could be more fun for reliving the moments associated with the songs in the show.

On The Download: Dolly Parton’s ‘Dolly’ Box Set

October 30, 2009

By Bryant Huddleston

BURBANK, Calif.

When I opened the lid of Dolly Parton’s new box set, perfectly titled “Dolly,” I knew I was going to be in for a surprise. It’s a known fact around the office at Access Hollywood that I love me some Dolly — my office is peppered with Dolly memories — but I admit I have not listened to a lot of her oldies but goodies in quite a while.

Sue me! I have my favorites, but now I have many more!

On The Download: Mika Live In Los Angeles

October 29, 2009

By Anthony Ramos

LOS ANGELES, Calif.

Proving that he’s still the flashy showman that charmed crowds across the globe, Mika made his return to Los Angeles last Friday. Fresh off the heels of his second album, the Beirut-born performer brought a whimsical stage show to the Palladium Theatre in Hollywood.