DJ Willis - Top 25 - November 17th 2008

The Top 25 is finally back, hoping to update it much more frequently.

So here it is!

1 - Nickelback - Gotta Be Somebody
2 - Craig David - Insomnia
3 - Kevin Rudolf feat Nas - N.Y.C.
4 - Matt Nathanson - Come On, Get Higher
5 - Taylor Swift - Fearless
6 - DJ Khaled feat Kanye West, T-Pain & Twista - Go Hard Remix
7 - The Killers - Day and Age (Human)
8 - T.I. feat Rihanna & Rick Ross - Live Your Life Remix
9 - OneRepublic - Mercy
10 - Beyonce - Diva
11 - Jesse McCartney - It’s Over
12 - Keith Urban - Sweet Thing
13 - The Pussycat Dolls - I Hate This Part
14 - T.I. feat Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne & MIA - Swagga Like Us
15 - Hoobastank - My Turn
16 - Sara Evans - Low
17 - Hinder - Without You
18 - David Cook - Light On
19 - Hilary Duff - Reach Out
20 - Britney Spears - Womanizer
21 - Gym Class Heroes feat The Dream - Cookie Jar
22 - Metro Station - Seventeen Forever
23 - Natasha Komis - Party of the Year
24 - Theory of a Deadman - Hate My Life
25 - Jamie Foxx feat T.I. - Just Like Me

As always, check out http://newmusicreviews.net/williss-current-top-20/

Keep Bangin,

Willis

Butch Walker - Sycamore Meadows

Product Information, Audio Previews, Reviews and More On:
Butch Walker - Sycamore Meadows

“When we last heard Butch Walker the artist, he was banging out gleeful glam-rock with his Let’s Go Out Tonites. The mood is considerably weightier and more poignant on his fourth solo album, written in the wake of losing his Malibu home, including his studio and all his master recordings, in last year’s California wildfires. The anthemic “The Weight of Her” gets things off on a deceptively buoyant note—although its spirit of resilience echoes throughout the 12-song set —but mostly Walker becomes the latest in a long line of songwriters to rescue compelling art from personal tragedy. Some smirking sentimentality makes “Going Back/ Going Home” that much more profound, and “ATL” is a heartfelt and affecting paean to his hometown. A new high point for the already accomplished Walker. —Gary Graff”

Randy Owen - One on One

Product Information, Audio Previews, Reviews and More On:
Randy Owen - One on One

“Former Alabama lead singer Randy Owen’s solo debut walks a fine line that will please both Alabama faithful and new fans. Owen, who wrote or co-wrote seven of the album’s 11 cuts, and producer John Rich have found a way to create an album that is familiar and refreshing. The Dolly Parton-penned “Holding Everything” with Megan Mullins is a powerful country duet in the tradition of Crystal Gayle and Gary Morris and easily the album’s best cut. “Pray Me Back Home Again,” written in the wake of 9/11, and “Braid My Hair,” about a young cancer victim, provide the album’s most poignant moments. The I-done-her-wrong “Like I Never Broke Her Heart” is solid and radio-friendly, and the sexually charged “Slow and Steady” finds Owen channeling Conway Twitty’s “I’d Love to Lay You Down.” —Ken Tucker”

Bruce Springsteen ‘Dreams’ Big On New Album

As expected, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s new album, “Working on a Dream,” will arrive Jan. 27 via Columbia. Excerpts from the title track debuted during NBC’s NFL halftime show last night (Nov. 16).

The album includes 12 new songs plus the bonus tracks “The Wrestler” (from the Mickey Rourke-starring film of the same name) and “A Night With the Jersey Devil” (which Springsteen gave away free online on Halloween).

As with 2007’s “Magic,” Springsteen worked with producer Brendan O’Brien on basic tracks and brought in the E Street Band as needed during tour breaks. “All the songs were written quickly — we usually used one of our first few takes,” he says.

Springsteen and company will return to live duty Feb. 1 as part of the Super Bowl XLIII halftime show in Tampa, Fla.

Here is the track list for “Working on a Dream”:

“Outlaw Pete”
“My Lucky Day”
“Working on a Dream”
“Queen of the Supermarket”
“What Love Can Do”
“This Life”
“Good Eye”
“Tomorrow Never Knows”
“Life Itself”
“Kingdom of Days”
“Surprise, Surprise”
“The Last Carnival”

Bonus tracks:
“The Wrestler”
“A Night With the Jersey Devil”

Michael Jackson Sued Over Album Advance

The son of an Arab monarch took the King of Pop to court today (Nov. 17) in London, charging that Michael Jackson took $7 million as an advance on an album and an autobiography that he never produced.

Lawyers for Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain say the money was given to Jackson as an advance on the book and joint recording project with the sheikh, who is an amateur songwriter. Jackson claims the money was a gift.

Jackson and Al Khalifa were not at London’s Royal Courts of Justice as the trial opened. Jackson’s lawyers said he would seek permission to testify by a videolink from the United States.

Bankim Thanki, a lawyer for Al Khalifa, said the royal first spoke to Jackson by telephone while the singer was on trial in California on charges of child molestation.

Al Khalifa wanted to work with Jackson on rebuilding his career, Thanki said. To that end, the sheikh spent millions paying Jackson’s legal feels, moving him to Bahrain and supporting Jackson, his family and entourage.

The expenses included $350,000 for a European vacation for Jackson and his associates, Thanki said. “The cost even included the expenses of bringing out Mr. Jackson’s hairdresser,” Thanki said. “It’s not a conventional commercial dispute,” said .

The lawyer said Jackson and the sheikh became close and at one time both were living in a palace in Abu Dhabi owned by Al Khalifa’s father, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of the oil-rich country. The singer stayed nearly a full year in Bahrain as a guest of the son, who serves as the governor of the country’s Southern Province.

Thanki acknowledged that Al Khalifa gave some gifts to Jackson but said that most of what Jackson received was part of a business deal. The gifts, he said, “were essentially personal effects — watches, jewelry.”

Jackson’s finances fell apart after he was arrested in 2003 over allegations he molested a 13-year-old boy at his ranch. A jury cleared him of all the charges.

Last week he was forced to give up the deed on Neverland, a 2,500-acre miniature amusement park in California named for the mythical land of Peter Pan.

Juanes Wins Big At Latin Grammy Awards

Commercial success stories triumphed over critical darlings at the 2008 Latin Grammys, with Juanes, Julieta Venegas, Wisin & Yandel, Flex and Kany Garcia emerging victorious during ninth annual awards in Houston.

Colombian pop/rock star Juanes won for Album of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal album for “La Vida Es Un Ratico.” His ‘Me Enamora” also won for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video.

Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Garcia triumphed in a Best New Artist field that included Mexican alternative singer/songwriter Ximena Sarinana, a commercial success in Mexico who has yet to break big in the U.S. Garcia also took home the award for Best Female Pop Vocal album for “Cualquier Dia.” Garcia dedicated her award to Puerto Rico and to Mexico, for being “my second home,” and from which she was able to break the continental U.S. market.

In the night’s first upset, Wisin & Yandel beat out critical favorite Tego Calderon when they won Best Urban Album for “Los Extraterrestres.” In the urban song category, Flex’s “Te Quiero,” a song that ruled the charts relentlessly in pop and regional Mexican versions, emerged the winner.

Alternative/pop singer/songwriter Julieta Venegas won earlier in the day for Best Long Form Music Video and Best Alternative Album.

Alternative rock legends Cafe Tacvba, who entered the night with the most nominations, walked away with awards for Best Rock Song (”Esta Vez”) and Best Alternative Song (3″Volver A Comenzar”).

Juanes bounded onstage to receive his first award after opening the show with “Me Enamora” and “Odio Por Amor,” plus a joint performance with R&B artist John Legend. Backed by a gospel choir, Legend dueted with Juanes in heavily accented Spanish on a translated version of Legend’s “If You’re Out There” from his new album.

Hosts Cristian de la Fuente and Patricia Manterola kicked off the Univision telecast by announcing that the night’s theme would be change — a familiar refrain in the 2008 election year. In accepting his Record of the Year award, Juanes said, “You’ve chosen the correct president.”

After an introduction by actor Andy Garcia, Person of the Year winner Gloria Estefan brought the house down with “Mi Tierra” and “Oye Mi Canto,” followed by a collaboration with Carlos Santana and Jose Feliciano on “No Lloren.”

Another standout performance came from Venegas, who won earlier in the evening for Best Long Form Music Video and Best Alternative Album. Venegas performed “El Presente2″with multinational accordion jammers Emiliano Zuleta, David Lee Garza, Michael Salgado and Fernando Otera. Jimmy Zambrano, Jorge Celadon and Mariachi Vargas also had everyone on their feet in a pan-Latin collaboration.

Exclusive: The Fray Debuting Single On ABC

Two-and-a-half years after a key placement on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” helped turn the Fray into platinum stars, the band is utilizing another high-profile TV partnership to introduce its new single, “You Found Me,” Billboard can exclusively reveal.

In a commercial break from the tense elevator confrontations of the Nov. 20 episode of “Grey’s,” a one-minute promo with scenes from the upcoming season of ABC’s “Lost” will premiere the track, as well as parts of the music video.

Viewers will be directed to abc.com, where they can find a three-minute version of the clip as well as a link to iTunes; there they can buy the single, which goes to radio the next day.

The partnership between ABC and the Fray — vocalist/pianist Isaac Slade, guitarists Joe King and David Welsh and drummer Ben Wysocki — also includes an agreement for the band to appear on the American Music Awards, “Good Morning America” and the outdoor concert series on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” ABC will use “You Found Me” as the promo song for this season of “Lost,” and discussions are underway to use the band’s music on sister channel ESPN during the height of football season.

“Because this band appeals to everyone from 8 to 80, television really does play a great role in exposing the music to a wider audience,” Epic executive VP of marketing Lee Stimmel says. “And the band writes amazing songs that work with a picture.” (Asked if he watches “Grey’s Anatomy,” Slade says, “I have seen it a few times. It’s a really good show.”)

As for the sound of “The Fray” — produced like the debut by Epic VP of A&R Mike Flynn and Aaron Johnson — it’s “a little more extreme than the last record,” Slade says. “The quieter stuff is a little quieter than our last record and the rock stuff is a little rockier. It definitely spreads the spectrum a little bit.”

The Fray will preview the album during a tour of small venues in early January. It will be available for physical and digital pre-order beginning Nov. 21 at thefray.net; purchasers who buy the CD from the site will get a bonus disc of live recordings from the January tour.

That online integration reflects a sales history of more than 6 million digital tracks sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and the Fray scored iTunes’ top-downloaded album of 2006 with “How To Save a Life.

Hilary Duff Inks Development Deal With NBC

The former Lizzie McGuire has signed a talent and development deal with NBC. The network said it will come up with a new series for Duff to star in, though it offered no details on what that might be.

In addition, the network said Friday that Duff will appear as a guest in several other NBC series over the next year, but there were no details.

Duff recently co-starred in the John Cusack movie “War, Inc.” and has three feature films coming out next year.

Bon Jovi Writing New Songs For Hits Set

With the final leg of Bon Jovi’s “Lost Highway” tour completed, guitarist Richie Sambora tells Billboard.com the New Jersey rock act is looking ahead to plenty of new projects.

“We’ve been filming a documentary and are in the process of mixing a live DVD of last year’s ‘Lost Highway’ concert tour,” Sambora says. “Also, I think we’re looking at doing a greatest hits album next year. Jon and I are writing some new songs for it and to just load up for the next Bon Jovi record.”

Sambora says he expects the DVD and best-of effort to be packaged together for a fall 2009 street date. The Nashville-tinged “Lost Highway” was a critical and commercial success, but Sambora says the band won’t necessarily return to that style again.

“No, we have to change,” he says. “We have to do something different. I don’t know what that’s going to be. As we get into the writing process and continue on, we’ll see what that’s going to look like. I think it comes to stylistically what songs you’re writing. What kind of music is coming out of you, and what’s the mood of those songs. You have to color those little drawings with the right production value and the right music.”

Outside of Bon Jovi, Sambora is staying active with various extracurricular opportunities. Not only did he recently join B.B. King on stage in Chicago for the taping of a PBS special, but he will take part in a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Tribute Concert for Les Paul Saturday (Nov. 15) at the State Theatre in Cleveland.

“I’ve also been doing multiple sessions out here, some odd recordings with Kid Rock and T.I., some crazy stuff,” Sambora says. “So I’ve been busy. Also, I’m going to be scoring some movies and TV shows. One of the movies is ‘The Tournament’ with Ving Rhames.”

Sambora is also looking ahead to next year, when Bon Jovi will become eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

“I hope so,” Sambora laughs. “Time flies man, but yeah there’s talk and rumors. Boy that would be nice. It’s something certainly I’ve been shooting for all my life. I think if you have a career in the music business, you want to get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.”