Mary J. Blige

American Idol recap: Phillip Phillips will sail through to the final, but who will join him?

It's down to the wire now. Last night's performances will determine which of the three remaining Idol contestants will make it through to the final and ultimately win the entire competition, which, with the elimination of Hollie Cavanagh last week, is anyone's game at this point. The contestants eac ... More >>

Mike Doughty's The Book of Drugs reading and concert at the Fox Theatre, 4/1/12

No matter how many ways he said no, Mike Doughty was still bombarded with requests for Soul Coughing songs at the Fox Theatre last night. Currently on tour in support of his autobiography, The Book of Drugs, and the recently released album Yes And Also Yes (one of close to a dozen records Doughty ... More >>

American Idol: Jeremy Rosado goes home, Top 12 move on

So there you have it. As of last night's elimination round, American Idol is now down to the Top 12, and the person sent home quite frankly deserved to go. Good job, America. The top thirteen opened the show with Stevie Wonder's "As." For a group number, it was nothing special, but the inspired, ye ... More >>

American Idol Top 12: Jessica Sanchez makes Whitney Houston proud

Last night's episode of American Idol wasn't nearly as awkward as we had anticipated. With the ladies required to perform songs from the late Whitney Houston's catalog (and the men required to do Stevie Wonder), we expected there to be more sensitivity surrounding the singer and her recent passing. ... More >>

As Black History Month comes to a close, we reflect on the influential Sounds of Blackness

Black History Month 2012 has been a doozy. Beginning with the tragic and shocking death of Don Cornelius to dealing with equally troubling news of Whitney Houston's passing as the month wore on. Most interesting about this time is the ways in which the music healed us. When Whitney died, DJs played ... More >>

Mary J. Blige only gets better with time

Mary J. Blige has the same pain and grit in her voice of having lived a very full life as artists like Billie Holliday, Etta James and others. For a burgeoning hip-hop generation, Blige's voice and signature style of taking a hip-hop beat and adding her soulful vibe to it so changed the sound of mus ... More >>

Chaka Khan remains one of the most prominent figures in funk and R&B music

Born Yvette Marie Stevens in March 1953, Chaka Khan sang songs written by Stevie Wonder and Prince as though they were crafted from her own pen. The Queen of Funk has a fiery soul about her and an undeniable rhythm that oozes from her pores. With hits from her collaborative years with Rufus and solo ... More >>

Aretha Franklin is the greatest vocalist of all time

Aretha Franklin is the greatest soul singer to ever live. She's the reason we have Mary J. Blige, Cee-Lo Green, Adele, you name it. The singer, born Aretha Louise Franklin in March 1942, paved the way for all of the artists who followed. The Queen of Soul sang on a slew of hits such as "Natural Woma ... More >>

Mile Highlights: Denver/Boulder area concert news, local radio playlists and top album sales

Here's what's hot this week in music on the Front Range: On the concert front, new shows featuring the Shins, James Taylor and Explosions in the Sky were announced; In the Whale, Tennis and FaceMan got spins on local radio; and recent albums from Leonard Cohen, Matador, Young Jeezy and Lana Del Rey ... More >>

Review: Atmosphere and Common at Icelantic's Winter on the Rocks, 1/27/12

ICELANTIC'S WINTER ON THE ROCKS @ RED ROCKS | 1/27/12 Under a star-speckled sky and with freezing temperatures, Atmosphere delivered a greatest hits compilation at Red Rocks Amphitheatre for the inaugural Icelantic's Winter on the Rocks. Nostalgia aside, when he greeted everyone at the venue and op ... More >>

Mile Highlights: Denver/Boulder area concert news, local radio playlists and top album sales

Here's what's happening in music on the Front Range this week: On the concert front, shows from Phil Lesh, Trey Anastasio, Rusko (Snowball Fest), NEEDTOBREATHE and Dr. Dog were announced; Ian Cooke, Bare Bones and Slim Cessna got spins on local radio; and new releases from Drake, the Rolling Stones ... More >>

How to unsuccessfully give yourself an Internet makeover

That's me, sporting a chestnut-brown Tori Spelling.​This past Monday was, as far as I could tell, the last official day of summer. I decided to take advantage of this sad occasion by going for one final swim in my Aunt's apartment complex pool, a pool I had been dipping in like it was my own a ... More >>

The 10 worst smelling rock star-branded perfumes or colognes

Now you can smell like a teen girl in love with Justin Bieber.​Smelling like a rock star wasn't always considered a good thing. But now that The Strokes' Julian Casablancas is the face and inspiration of Azzaro's new perfume, Decibel, and Prince has to pay $4 million to a company over his fail ... More >>

Tonight: Dave Aude at Beta

​Even if Dave Aude's name isn't immediately recognizable, it is impossible to have missed his work over the past two decades. The prolific DJ and producer has worked with Katy Perry, Mary J. Blige and Lady Gaga on Billboard-charting remixes this year alone, and put his precise ear to task for ... More >>

EDX, Thursday, September 2, at Beta

Jonathan Peters at Beta

Moving Units: Spoon still strong seller at local record stores

​Although Spoon's latest effort, Transference, didn't have quite the pull it did the week it came out, it was still a strong a seller among local record stores for the week ending January 31. Magnetic Fields' Realism, released last week on Nonesuch had a decent debut, and Vampire Weekend's Contra ... More >>

Spoon top seller at local record stores, while Vampire Weekend holds steady

​While Vampire Weekend's Contra captured the top spot at a lot of local record stores the previous week, Spoon's seventh album, Transference, released last week on the Merge imprint, topped the charts for the week ending January 24. The album grabbed top spots at Albums on the Hill, Independent Re ... More >>

Young Money still on top at Independent Records

​While Vampire Weekend's Contra is dominating the charts nationally and locally, it came in second to the Lil' Wayne-produced Young Money's We Are Young Money, which has sat at the number one slot at Independent Records for a month now. Snoop Dogg's Malice N Wonderland, Gucci Mane's State vs. Radr ... More >>

Young Money tops charts at Independent for third week in a row

​Although Lil Wayne is heading to prison next month after pleading guilty to gun charges, the rapper's gotta be pretty damn happy with how well Young Money's We Are Young Money is selling. It's number twelve on Billboard's Top 200, and locally, it's on top of Independent's top sellers for the thir ... More >>

Young Money grabs top spot at Independent Records again

​Lil Wayne's hip-hop project Young Money nabbed the top spot at Independent Records for the second week in a row with We Are Young Money, which features Nicki Minaj, Drake, Jae Miltz and Lil Twist. Snoop Dogg, meanwhile, came in second with Malice 'N Wonderland and Eminem's Relapse: Refill came in ... More >>

Young Money top seller at Independent Records

​Young Money, a hip-hop collaboration lead by Lil Wayne, grabbed the top spot at Independent Records for the week ending December 27. The group's We Are Young Money features Nicki Minaj, Drake, Jae Miltz, Lil Twist, Gucci Mane and more. Eminem's Relapse checked in at number two, while Mary J. Blig ... More >>

From Akon to Usher, today's R&B is a shadow of its former self

Over the Weekend...F.O.E. and Jewell Tyme with The Pirate Signal, Makk Beez, A-Co, Julox, et. al. & The Snake Pit

Friday Rap-Up: Locals Get Radio Play, Foxy Brown, Jay-Z, Beyonce, 50 Cent, Young Buck

The Rap-Up: Apostle, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Mos Def, Beyonce

Delegating Denver #36 of 56: New York

Friday Rap-Up: DJ Bedz, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Flavor Flav

Wyclef Jean

Tuesday, January 29, Gothic Theatre, 303-788-0984.

Friday Rap-Up: D.O. The Fabulous Drifter, 50 Cent, Grandmaster Flash, Foxy Brown

Sound Bites

Brief reviews of recent releases

Ludacris

Release Therapy (Disturbing Tha Peace/Def Jam)

Mobb Deep

Monday, May 22, Gothic Theatre, 1-866-468-7621.

Jamie Foxx

Unpredictable (J-Records)

Mary J. Blige

The Breakthrough (Geffen)

The Beatdown

Taking a ride on the Melo side.

Talib Kweli

The Beautiful Struggle (Rawkus)

Pound Boys

Tales From the Boogie (Look at You Records)

The Beatdown

After ten years of house-building, the Pound Boys part ways.

Club Scout

Jazzy Jeff

Common

Electric Circus (MCA)

D'Angelo

Voodoo
(Virgin)

Judgment Day

Backbeat contributors offer up their favorite recordings of 1999.

Time of the Season

This year's holiday CDs alternately inspire joy, nausea and terror. Which would you prefer?

The Closing of the American Ear

We have more musical choices than ever before. So why are so few of us taking advantage of them?

Grade C

Craig C is taking Denver house music to the masses.

SO YOU WANT TO BE WITH THE BAND?

THEN CHECK OUT JODECI, WHOSE MEMBERS WANT TO BE WITH YOU.

THRILLS

DIAL "M" FOR MEDIOCRE

WE'VE JUST LISTENED TO EVERY RADIO STATION IN DENVER--AND BOY, DO OUR EARS HURT.

MIX AND MATCH

HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT SUMMER CONCERT FOR YOU.