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Rock News: Music's high and low notes

By JOHN SWENSON, United Press International
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POP BALLOON BURST IN '02

The New York Times has sounded a death knell for pop music, calling 2002 "The Year That Pop Lost Popularity." In an analysis of the records that charted at the top spot on the pop charts, the Billboard Hot 200, writer Neil Strauss demonstrated rap and "country" music dominated the charts, with rock in third place, followed by R and B and pop.

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"The dominance of country and rap on the charts could be seen partly as a reaction to consumers' being spoon-fed manufactured boy bands for years," Strauss wrote. "Slightly older audiences are regaining control of music trends and are gravitating toward styles led by solo artists who seem to have some point of view and connection to everyday life."

The main fallacy of this argument, that most contemporary "country" music is just an extension of the '70s pop sound codified by the Eagles and Elton John, is openly acknowledged by Strauss, who admits "much of what passes for country is virtually indistinguishable from generic pop."

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Most of the 25 albums that hit the top spot on the Billboard charts in 2002 only lasted a week at No. 1 on the strength of a full-court press from the record company. Eminem was hands-down the Artist of the Year, holding down the No. 1 spot for six weeks with "The Eminem Show," then adding another two weeks at the top with the soundtrack to "8 Mile."


TOWNSHEND VOWS TO FINISH ALBUM

Who leader Pete Townshend has vowed to finish a new Who album that was in the works at the time of bassist John Entwistle's death last year, according to a message on Townshend's Web site. The record would be the group's first studio album in more than 20 years.

"I have never written quickly," said Townshend. "I don't know how long it will take. Expect some new music to arrive in about a year, maybe later. But if I write 15 good pieces, and 10 of them make it to a new CD, we will probably find that only two or three of them will stand comparison on stage with our old hits."

Townshend promised to integrate Roger Daltrey, the only other surviving member of The Who, into the project.

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"I am very keen too to see Roger find some creative outlet on this future Who recording," he said. "He is full of ideas, passion and energy -- he bears quite a disturbed and serious view of the world at the moment."


ROCKIN' PIAZZA

New York Mets all-star catcher Mike Piazza tried his hand as a heavy metal vocalist at a downtown New York Christmas party, the New York Post reports. Piazza, who hosted the SoHo bash at the rough and ready rock club Don Hill's, jumped onstage with rockers Nuclear Assault to belt out a couple of tunes. Piazza told the guests to pace themselves, the Post reported, adding the bash went until 3 a.m. Piazza joins the long list of jocks and actors whose real fantasy is fronting a rock band.


CHEVELLE DEBUT GOLD

Chevelle's debut album, "Wonder What's Next," (Epic) has been certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

Sales of the album were boosted by the band's headlining slot on the second stage on the Ozzfest tour and a two-month tour with Stone Sour. "Wonder What's Next" was produced by GGGarth (Rage Against The Machine, Mudvayne, Kittie). The first single and video, "The Red," currently is on the top of the Active, Alternative and Rock charts and the MTV2 playlist. A new single, "Send The Pain Below," goes to radio Jan. 21, 2003, as the video, directed by Robert Hales (The Donnas, Kid Rock, Nine Inch Nails), goes to MTV and MTV2.

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Beginning in early March, Chevelle will embark on a national tour with Disturbed. Chevelle also has a song, "Until You're Reformed," on the "Daredevil" soundtrack, scheduled for Feb. 4 release.


ELEANOR McEVOY AND BRIAN CONNOR

One of Ireland's most popular singer-songwriters, Eleanor McEvoy, together with composer, arranger and pianist Brian Connor will perform Jan. 12, 2003, at the Irish Arts Center in New York. A classically trained musician, McEvoy achieved star status in Ireland in 1992 when her song "Only A Woman's Heart" became the title track of the best-selling album in the country's history. More recently, her performance of the Bill Whelan song "The Seabird" was a highlight of the 1998 soundtrack for the film "Some Mother's Son."

McEvoy has recorded several albums; her latest, "Yola," was co-written with Lloyd Cole and Henry Priestman (The Christians). McEvoy's songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Emmylou Harris, Phil Coulter, Mary Black and Caroline Lavelle, whose version of "All I Have" features in several episodes of the television series "Six Feet Under." Connor has complemented Eleanor's songwriting throughout their three-year collaboration with his diverse range of styles.

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