Music News & Notes

[Kooperman]

Roxio’s Napster has pacted with Imation to create Napster-branded CD-Rs and DVD-Rs to sell at Target stores. The companies are hoping that will encourage consumers to buy the blank discs, sign up and buy music from Napster and burn it to the CDs using Roxio’s CD-creating software.

Courtney Love.com is offering a free 15-day downloadable trial version of "Mono," the first single from America’s Sweetheart, streamed in Real and Windows Media. A permanent, portable copy is available for 99 cents from the MusicMatch store, iTunes and Napster 2.

The Vines

The Vines are also previewing their new album, Winning Days, with the digital single "FTW," available for sale on Napster and iTunes.

Recent iTunes exclusives include the debut EP by The Bens, the trio featuring Ben Folds, Ben Kweller and Ben Lee; Guster’s 15-song Live in Knoxville 9/4/03; John Mayer’s six-song As Is, Vol. 1 (Live) EP, recorded in late November during dates in Chicago, Detroit and New York; Justin Timberlake’s I’m Lovin’ It EP, featuring the title track plus remixes of four other songs; and a four-track Frank Black & the Catholics EP.

Napster has delivered a number of new NapsterLive recordings, including tracks from Rufus Wainwright, Campfire Girls, The Raveonettes and others.

JanisIan.com is offering a look behind the making of the veteran folk singer’s new album, Billie’s Bones, complete with a timeline, budget and advance allocation details, drafts of songs and streamed work tapes (thanks to Jay Brahim, Paramaribo, Suriname).

Roots rockers The BoDeans are offering their aptly titled Leftovers, a collection of 19 previously unreleased tracks, via BoDeans.com (thanks to Barry Scotland, Ontario, Canada).

Jeff Beck is one of the latest artists to offer an authorized live bootleg via the Web: Live at BB King Blues Club & Grill, available at JeffBeck Bootlegs.com. The album was recorded on September 10 and 11, 2003 during a stand at the intimate New York club. The 16-track album spans Beck’s career, but also includes choice covers of Charles Mingus’ "Goodbye Pork Pie" and The Beatles’ "A Day in the Life." Despite the site’s "bootleg" reference in its URL, the CD is being sold by Beck’s official label, Epic Records, even though it is only available online (thanks to Dave Harrison, Madison, WI)

Veteran session guitarist Pete Carr (Bob Seger, Rod Stewart) has re-released his two ’70s solo albums, Multiple Flash and Not a Word on It, through PlayThatGuitar.com (thanks to Stephen Bragg, Huntsville, AL).

FreedyJohnston.com offers a four-song demo CD to hold the faithful over until the singer-songwriter’s new album is released (thanks to Rob Wilock, Wilton, CT).

http://www.icemagazine.com/digital/nn_203.shtm

[Shawn]

Sweet post Koop.

righteousdude