Album previews: Sloan, The Smithereens and The Nines

Sloan
One of the greatest power pop bands to cross the Canadian border is Sloan, and the new album Double Cross is a shout-out to the band’s 20th (or XX) anniversary. Just to get you salivating here is the first single “Follow The Leader” free for a limited time. Full release due 5/10/11 –  Download Here

The Smithereens
With all the Beatle and Who tributes out of thier system, the band comes out with a new album full of originals. It has released “Sorry” as a new single from the up coming album, and it marks a return to the greatness for The Smithereens. You’ll be sorry if you don’t get this one. Itunes exclusive

The Nines
Steve Eggers from The Nines gives us a preview of a song from the new album Polarities, featuring 15 years of unreleased songs by the Nines. I’m sure over that time he’s collected plenty of untapped melodic gold. Here is a preview of “Goodbye Janine.”

A message from Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap

Join the World’s Largest Online Guitar Lesson on March 3rd!

Watch Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) of Spinal Tap discuss his friend Steve Vai’s attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Online Guitar Lesson.

Help Steve Vai and Berkleemusic make history! Steve’s free 30-minute online lesson will detail some of Steve’s techniques, and focus on how you can develop and expand your own playing.

Mimi Betinis "Love Is Just A Thin Veneer"


Mimi Betinis, founding member, lead vocalist and guitarist for Pezband, reaped the benefits of being in a pop band for several years, until it was time to move on. Betinis turned to his other talents as an artist and became an art teacher in the Chicago public school system. But now he is returning to his first love – that of music – with the release of his debut solo CD, “All That Glitters.” Nice to see this original power popper spreading his solo wings.