Universal Music Group

10 Years' Brian Vodinh: "We're a Little Darker at Times"

This weekend, on the heels of the release of their fifth full-length album, Minus the Machine, 10 Years visits Houston (...well, The Woodlands) for Buzzfest XXIX, performing alongside Silversun Pickups, Three Days Grace, The Toadies, Dead Sara, Hollywood Undead, Lit and our city's very own thelastpl ... More >>

Still Treating Em Right

After 50 years as one of Texas's top powerhouse entertainers, Roy Head calls son Sundance the real star in the family.

After American Idol And Bad Record Deal, Sundance Head Starts Over

Rocks Off hadn't thought much about Sundance Head since his 13th-place American Idol finish in 2007 and the momentary ballyhoo that followed. Head, the son of legendary Houston blue-eyed soul man Roy Head, remains the only artist who didn't finish in the Top 5 on Idol to sign a major-label deal. Bu ... More >>

In Memoriam: Megaupload (2005 - 2012)

Yesterday, one of our favorite file sharing sites was struck by a government takedown around the early portions of the morning. It was swift, it was brutal and it could have been blamed on Kim Kardashian. Losing MegaUpload was a giant blow to musicians who love uploading zip or rar files of thei ... More >>

Swizz Beatz is the CEO of Shuttered Megaupload...Wait, What?

We've all failed as music journalists. Swizz Beatz is the CEO of Megaupload.com and no one seemed to notice? No one, except Wikipedia (yes, that bastion of factual information on the web), which lists Swizzy's government handle, Kaseem Dean, as the head honcho of Megaupload. Megaupload's "About Us" ... More >>

Rap Boom Reload

In 2005, rappers put Houston on the map. Then the spotlight moved on. Some musicians are working hard to turn it back this way.

What's The Leading Cause Of Poor Record Sales?

​Last week, the music world laughed up a hiccup as Lil Wayne pranced around the VMA stage in nut-suffocating, Le Tigre-inspired jeggings. While that performance affirmed that Wayne is no fashion guru, his chart performance a week later reminded us that he's very good at something else-selling ... More >>

Chamillionaire Comes Aboard BestFest Lineup

Marco TorresChamillionaire at House of Blues, April 2010​Remember that announcement Rocks Off promised you about another addition to next month's Best of Houston® BestFest lineup lo those many years months days hours ago? Like, yesterday? Here it is: Chamillionaire. Sorry it took so long, ... More >>

Kelly Rowland

A-Blake Records Joins Cadre Of Local Labels

​Houston has a multitude of music within - and bleeding across - its borders. By our own quick estimate, there are about 500 active musical acts in the metropolitan area, and that's probably still a lowball speculation. With all these acts, it's only natural that yet another label would sprin ... More >>

Exclusive: Chamillionaire's New Major Pain Is Not Universal

​Earlier this week, Chamillionaire, still glowing from being free from the tyrannical grip of Universal Records, released Major Pain 1.5. Thursday afternoon, he was polite (or politic) enough to take a few minutes to talk about the tape. The notes from the conversation and the tape are kind ... More >>

Eminem's Victory Over Label Could Have Far-Reaching Effects

Now a Recovery in more ways than one.​Eminem quietly scored a major victory in a case involving download royalties this week. The U.S. Supreme Court threw out an appeal filed by Universal Music Group, the world's largest music empire, against Eminem's former production company F.B.T. Productio ... More >>

Pickin' on Nashville

Vince Gill centers himself through bluegrass and digs Miranda Lambert.

Chamillionaire, Universal Records Part Ways

​Chamillionaire has severed ties with Universal Records, his label of the past six years. The melodically gifted Houston rapper released his major-label debut, The Sound of Revenge, in 2005 through a partnership between his Chamillitary Entertainment imprint and Universal Music Group. Revenge ... More >>

Ally ASL Keeps Fighting Corporate Ignorance

Courtesy of Allyson Townshend​One of the most delightful acquaintances Rocks Off has made this year is Allyson Townsend also known as Ally ASL. A Baylor graduate of now teaching deaf children in Dallas, Townsend carved quite a bit of fame for herself after she began her quest to translate mode ... More >>

YouTube Reinstates Ally ASL's Account

​Allyson Townsend, better known to her fans as Ally ASL, made headlines earlier this month when YouTube shut down her account after Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group complained that her videos, which featured Ally translating pop songs by Kesha, Owl City and others into American Sig ... More >>

Five Onstage Meltdowns Funnier Than Courtney Love In D.C.

Universal Music Group​As far as Rocks Off knows, everything is hunky-dory for Hole's show at House of Blues this evening. Courtney Love and friends are scheduled to play from 9:45 to 11:15, which Rocks Off is interpreting as they could go on anywhere from 9:45 to 11:15. As Hole's rambling, sl ... More >>

Behind "Little Boy Blue": This Interview Is Over

Universal Music Group​ The interview with Blue October's Justin Furstenfeld had long been set. After overcoming some misgivings on the part of his management over some stuff I had written in the past, it was decided that I would get to spend an hour backstage with the platinum-selling frontman bet ... More >>

Five Rap-A-Lot Albums Worth Reissuing

Welcome back to Five Spot. Every Friday, we'll examine a recent bit of music news and, albeit sometimes awkwardly, tie it to a bit of Houston rap. We'll incorporate the number five in there somewhere. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. ​You have to love Rap-A-Lot records. News leaked ... More >>

Go-Go Girl

Throw beer on Southern Culture on the Skids bassist Mary Huff at your own risk.

Solid State: Houston's SXSW Class of '10

Houston's SXSW Class of '10 is as diverse as the Bayou City.

Turning The Screw: Guerilla Foco Clan, Z-Ro, Devin, Lots Of Bun, Kid Cudi, Juvenile And More

Welcome back to Turning the Screw, Rocks Off's weekly rap post. It probably won't rhyme, at least most of the time. E-mail tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. Thanks, homies. Single of the Week: "Reflection," Guerilla Foco Clan Wire to Wire Of course, the universe spun out of control this week. De ... More >>

Turning The Screw: Chamillionaire, Bun, Trae, Mystikal, Swizz Beats, The Game, Tila Tequila, Maury Povich, Jay Electronica and More

Welcome back to Turning the Screw, Rocks Off's weekly rap post. It probably won't rhyme, at least most of the time. E-mail tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. Thanks, homies. Single of the Week: "Creepin'," Chamillionaire feat. Ludacris Wire To Wire Cham's Major Pain tape is supposed to be release ... More >>

Artist of the Week: Soundtrack-Ready Alt-Folk Quintet Red November

Each Wednesday, Rocks Off arbitrarily appoints one lucky local performer or group "Artist of the Week," bestowing upon them all the fame and grandeur such a lofty title implies. Know a band or artist that isn't awful? Email their particulars to sheaserrano@gmail.com.Photos by Barry Dolton​ For thi ... More >>

Don't Call it a Comeback. Call It a Cultural Moon Rising.

​ During the Washington, D.C. sniper hunt of 2002, you didn't want to be the person who owned a white van in that metropolitan area. That's because the alleged sniper, who randomly killed ten people and critically injured three, was supposedly driving one. Everyone was looking for that vehicle des ... More >>

Byte This

Consumers try hawking "old" digital music files through new Web sites.

Mail Call: Diagonals, Fountains of Wayne, Jason Isbell, Chess Records, Sally Crewe and More

After a hot minute, Mail Call returns in a slightly revamped format... Pick of the Litter Diagonals (Austin), Valley of the Cyclops (Monofonus Press) They Say: "A sweet-and-sour dark-pop soundtrack for the dawn of the post-Bush era." Rocks Off Says: Loose-fitting, lo-fi melodic garage ... More >>

Top Ten Latin Music Albums of 2008

Americans who still think of Latin music as mariachi bands and gyrating Ricky Martins and Shakiras might want to lend a closer ear to the genre. This country's Hispanic population isn't just growing, it's growing more diverse. More and more unique musical styles are being gobbled up, and that should ... More >>

SXSW Last Night: Houston Hijacks the Austin Music Awards

Molotov

Friday Chart Check

Houston Hip-Hop

Mike Watts and his stable of northside rappers take a southside legend's style to the masses

True Aim, Blue Flame

How Elvis Costello turned his eclectic nature into career gold

New Heights

Reach for the Stars

Astra Heights returns from L.A. with a major-label deal in hand

Girls' Night Out

Le Tigre and Electrelane bring an evening of transatlantic feminist mayhem to the Engine Room. Don't worry, boys -- you can come too.

Rotation

Handsome Boy Modeling School, Molotov and Rufus Wainwright

The Class of '03

Grab your gift certificates and trade in your white elephants -- here's what you really wanted for Christmas

Hip-hop, Tejas

Latinos take on rap music and make it their own

Hot Tunes, Summer in the City

Houston Press Music Awards Showcase 2002

South Park Monster

Fans saw Carlos Coy as the invincible rapper, the gangsta who could become an icon for outcast Hispanics everywhere. But they didn't know his weakness -- young girls did.

South Park Mexican / 8-Ball

Never Change (The Pain and Glory Album) (Dope House/Universal) / Almost Famous(JCOR)

Farewell, Fair Toadies

The departure of founding bassist Lisa Umbarger spells doom for the Metroplex band

Music Awards Winners

The votes are in! See who you picked as winners in the HPMA 2000

Blue Houston

The sweetest enigma

[S]hit

Behind current blaxploitation pulp literature is - surprise! - the music biz

Amplified

Out In Sight

MPFree.com

New way to hear music is music to consumers' ears

Fight Songs

Static