Briefly: Tim McGraw, Franz Ferdinand, Stray Cats, Mike Keneally
"Live Like You Were Dying," the latest release from country crooner Tim McGraw , has nabbed its second straight week atop the U.S. album charts, holding off the debut of "Genius Loves Company," the late Ray Charles' final studio album.
Clocking in at No. 3 on The Billboard 200 album chart is Jill Scott's sophomore set, "Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2."
LL Cool J's "The DEFinition" debuts at No. 4 on the chart, and the hits compilation "NOW That's What I Call Music Vol. 16" holds steady at No. 5, according to Billboard.
Scotland's Franz Ferdinand took home the U.K.'s Mercury Music Prize on Tuesday (9/7) in London. An independent panel of judges, led by rock scholar Simon Frith, selected the winner of the $35,600 prize during an event that was broadcast on British television.
The Stray Cats have recorded "The Mystery Train Kept a Rollin'"--their first new song since 1992--for inclusion on their forthcoming live CD, "Rumble in Brixton," due on Nov. 9. The rockabilly revival group reunited this summer for a European tour.
Guitarist, vocalist, keyboardist and percussionist Mike Keneally --who replaced Steve Vai in the late '80s as the "stunt guitarist" for Frank Zappa's final albums and tours--has issued a new album titled "The Universe Will Provide."
The set was recorded in Holland with the Metrople Orkest, and blends Keneally-composed music with a 50-piece orchestra conducted by Jurjen Hempel.
- Artist Links:
Tim McGraw adds new dates to 'Voice' trek [January 2010]
The Big Hat Decade: country dominates the mainstream [December 2009]
Weekend Ticketing: U2, Tim McGraw, Bon Jovi, AFI, Jack's Mannequin [November 2009]
Album Chart: Michael Jackson lands posthumous No. 1 [November 2009]
Tim McGraw furthers 2010 'Voice' trek [November 2009]
Album Chart: 'New Moon' shines at No. 1 [October 2009]






































