34 signature tracks totaling over 2 1/2 hours of music, includes classics from Eric Burdon & War plus all-time War hits 'Low Rider', 'The Cisco Kid', 'The World Is A Ghetto', 'Summer' and more. Slipcase. Rhino. 2003.

Angie Stone has soul to burn, as hordes of breathless fans who stand by the excellence of 2004's Stone Love know, and despite a change in record labels and hairdos, her mighty reserves haven't dwindled--The Art of Love and War, on the re-launched Stax label, is as full-bodied an affair as this old-school-leaning, incessantly self-exploring diva has delivered. The comparisons to Jill Scott should dead-end here: Songs like "Baby," with the gospel great Betty Wright, and "Sometimes," with backing singers who strut right through the beat and into the part of the brain that makes swaying happen, are all Angie. Which is to say their edges are never going to need sharpening, but they're also porous enough to let in softness and a sense of hard-won maturity. A couple of late-disc numbers pull off the excellent feat of also letting the funk in--"Play Wit It" captures a Lauryn Hill kind of cool, groovy but substantial, and "Pop Pop" goes for (and achieves) full-on fizziness with an undercurrent of sophistication. --Tammy La Gorce More from Angie Stone Mahogany Soul Black Diamond Life Goes On Stone Hits: The Very Best of Angie Stone Stone Love Wish I Didn't Love You

Five Finger Death Punch's forthcoming sophomore album, War Is the Answer, is locked and loaded with twelve tracks of raw epic heavy metal. The record's deafening battle cry will undoubtedly rattle the genre to its very core and pull you deep into this War. 5FDP have embarked on quite the journey to reach this point. The Los Angeles quintet's assault on heavy music began in 2007 with the release of their hit debut The Way of the Fist. After forming a "dream team" of metal musicians, the band self-funded the album- producing it entirely themselves. Death Punch eventually signed with The Firm/ Prospect Park. After months of relentless touring--including a show-stealing set at 2008's Mayhem Festival--Five Finger Death Punch became the hottest new band in metal. Five Finger Death Punch has fine-tuned their songs more than ever, and their sound has progressed immensely on their latest offering. Guitarist Zoltan Bathory puts it best: "We've matured but we're still the same band. Maybe we've gotten closer to traditional metal on War Is the Answer." Looking to surpass their DIY debut record, 5FDP decided to enlist some big guns for War. The band produced the album alongside world renowned producer Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne), and attracted legendary mixer Randy Staub (Metallica) to the project as well. Also, the band had grown together as people, performers and songwriters. Singer Ivan Moody relates, "We tried to keep the basic ingredients but expand the sound at the same time. We spent two and a half years on the road together, and these guys have become closer to me than my biological family." The result on War is an expansive collection of unbridled melodic metal. Tracks like "Bulletproof" illustrate Five Finger Death Punch's diversity, switching from spellbinding chorus to neck-snapping solo in a flash. "Burn It Down" is a nihilistic exploration in pure rage--a new storyline with the same popular characters from The Way of the Fist. Meanwhile, "No One Gets Left Behind" is an up-tempo crusher that leaves room for lyrical interpretation. "You can take it literally, or as an underlying theme we often talk about," relates Zoltan. "We are all soldiers in this human tribe. We used to fight together against the elements of nature to survive, but today that tribal bond is completely forgotten because there are six billion of us now. Indeed, Five Finger Death Punch are poised to take over the landscape. When it comes to how, there is no question--War is the Answer.

Five Finger Death Punch's forthcoming sophomore album, War Is the Answer, is locked and loaded with twelve tracks of raw epic heavy metal. The record's deafening battle cry will undoubtedly rattle the genre to its very core and pull you deep into this War. 5FDP have embarked on quite the journey to reach this point. The Los Angeles quintet's assault on heavy music began in 2007 with the release of their hit debut The Way of the Fist. After forming a "dream team" of metal musicians, the band self-funded the album- producing it entirely themselves. Death Punch eventually signed with The Firm/ Prospect Park. After months of relentless touring--including a show-stealing set at 2008's Mayhem Festival--Five Finger Death Punch became the hottest new band in metal. Five Finger Death Punch has fine-tuned their songs more than ever, and their sound has progressed immensely on their latest offering. Guitarist Zoltan Bathory puts it best: "We've matured but we're still the same band. Maybe we've gotten closer to traditional metal on War Is the Answer." Looking to surpass their DIY debut record, 5FDP decided to enlist some big guns for War. The band produced the album alongside world renowned producer Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne), and attracted legendary mixer Randy Staub (Metallica) to the project as well. Also, the band had grown together as people, performers and songwriters. Singer Ivan Moody relates, "We tried to keep the basic ingredients but expand the sound at the same time. We spent two and a half years on the road together, and these guys have become closer to me than my biological family." The result on War is an expansive collection of unbridled melodic metal. Tracks like "Bulletproof" illustrate Five Finger Death Punch's diversity, switching from spellbinding chorus to neck-snapping solo in a flash. "Burn It Down" is a nihilistic exploration in pure rage--a new storyline with the same popular characters from The Way of the Fist. Meanwhile, "No One Gets Left Behind" is an up-tempo crusher that leaves room for lyrical interpretation. "You can take it literally, or as an underlying theme we often talk about," relates Zoltan. "We are all soldiers in this human tribe. We used to fight together against the elements of nature to survive, but today that tribal bond is completely forgotten because there are six billion of us now. Indeed, Five Finger Death Punch are poised to take over the landscape. When it comes to how, there is no question--War is the Answer.

Five Finger Death Punch's forthcoming sophomore album, War Is the Answer, is locked and loaded with twelve tracks of raw epic heavy metal. The record's deafening battle cry will undoubtedly rattle the genre to its very core and pull you deep into this War. 5FDP have embarked on quite the journey to reach this point. The Los Angeles quintet's assault on heavy music began in 2007 with the release of their hit debut The Way of the Fist. After forming a "dream team" of metal musicians, the band self-funded the album- producing it entirely themselves. Death Punch eventually signed with The Firm/ Prospect Park. After months of relentless touring--including a show-stealing set at 2008's Mayhem Festival--Five Finger Death Punch became the hottest new band in metal. Five Finger Death Punch has fine-tuned their songs more than ever, and their sound has progressed immensely on their latest offering. Guitarist Zoltan Bathory puts it best: "We've matured but we're still the same band. Maybe we've gotten closer to traditional metal on War Is the Answer." Looking to surpass their DIY debut record, 5FDP decided to enlist some big guns for War. The band produced the album alongside world renowned producer Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne), and attracted legendary mixer Randy Staub (Metallica) to the project as well. Also, the band had grown together as people, performers and songwriters. Singer Ivan Moody relates, "We tried to keep the basic ingredients but expand the sound at the same time. We spent two and a half years on the road together, and these guys have become closer to me than my biological family." The result on War is an expansive collection of unbridled melodic metal. Tracks like "Bulletproof" illustrate Five Finger Death Punch's diversity, switching from spellbinding chorus to neck-snapping solo in a flash. "Burn It Down" is a nihilistic exploration in pure rage--a new storyline with the same popular characters from The Way of the Fist. Meanwhile, "No One Gets Left Behind" is an up-tempo crusher that leaves room for lyrical interpretation. "You can take it literally, or as an underlying theme we often talk about," relates Zoltan. "We are all soldiers in this human tribe. We used to fight together against the elements of nature to survive, but today that tribal bond is completely forgotten because there are six billion of us now. Indeed, Five Finger Death Punch are poised to take over the landscape. When it comes to how, there is no question--War is the Answer.

Five Finger Death Punch's forthcoming sophomore album, War Is the Answer, is locked and loaded with twelve tracks of raw epic heavy metal. The record's deafening battle cry will undoubtedly rattle the genre to its very core and pull you deep into this War. 5FDP have embarked on quite the journey to reach this point. The Los Angeles quintet's assault on heavy music began in 2007 with the release of their hit debut The Way of the Fist. After forming a "dream team" of metal musicians, the band self-funded the album- producing it entirely themselves. Death Punch eventually signed with The Firm/ Prospect Park. After months of relentless touring--including a show-stealing set at 2008's Mayhem Festival--Five Finger Death Punch became the hottest new band in metal. Five Finger Death Punch has fine-tuned their songs more than ever, and their sound has progressed immensely on their latest offering. Guitarist Zoltan Bathory puts it best: "We've matured but we're still the same band. Maybe we've gotten closer to traditional metal on War Is the Answer." Looking to surpass their DIY debut record, 5FDP decided to enlist some big guns for War. The band produced the album alongside world renowned producer Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne), and attracted legendary mixer Randy Staub (Metallica) to the project as well. Also, the band had grown together as people, performers and songwriters. Singer Ivan Moody relates, "We tried to keep the basic ingredients but expand the sound at the same time. We spent two and a half years on the road together, and these guys have become closer to me than my biological family." The result on War is an expansive collection of unbridled melodic metal. Tracks like "Bulletproof" illustrate Five Finger Death Punch's diversity, switching from spellbinding chorus to neck-snapping solo in a flash. "Burn It Down" is a nihilistic exploration in pure rage--a new storyline with the same popular characters from The Way of the Fist. Meanwhile, "No One Gets Left Behind" is an up-tempo crusher that leaves room for lyrical interpretation. "You can take it literally, or as an underlying theme we often talk about," relates Zoltan. "We are all soldiers in this human tribe. We used to fight together against the elements of nature to survive, but today that tribal bond is completely forgotten because there are six billion of us now. Indeed, Five Finger Death Punch are poised to take over the landscape. When it comes to how, there is no question--War is the Answer.

Bombwork Records could not be more excited to give label support to Cincinnati, Ohio's hardest working band, I Am The Messenger! "The War Between" is a modern hard music assault of the highest caliber featuring guest appearances from Andy Atkins (A Plea For Purging), TD Benton (White Collar Sideshow), and Max O'Connell (Corpus Christi). Voted 2010's Best Metal/Hardcore band in hometown Cincinnati, I Am The Messenger is not your mother's metalcore monster, nor are they at all inclined to be comfortable with the status quo. "The War Between" tips the scales and pushes the limits of what modern extreme music can accomplish in the span of 14 tracks! With song titles like "Bipolar Bear," "Givin' Birth To Bald Eagles," and "Later Facebook" you realize these creative geniuses aren't afraid to take some risks - and it sure pays off on "The War Between"! Riffs seem to spiral, swirl, and sweep around the songs in beautifully simple and yet deeply intricate fashion. Effortless clean vocals resonate with swift, rythmic drum beats, enunciating the synth/keys, and haunting, orchestral background that all demonstrate the band's technical and progressive edges. Lung piercing screams and guttural vocals reveal a band that knows how to flourish in straight up brutality. This commanding debut album from such a talented band is setting the table for a very, very bright future. This is an essential purchase for fans of Underoath, For Today, and The Devil Wears Prada!

The great chanteuses of the inter-war years A darkened room, a small stage, a single spotlight, cigar smoke and the hint of absinthe: welcome to the cabaret! Classic recordings of Greta Keller, Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich and Josephine Baker, lovingly restored in The Gift of Music studios. Highlights include 'Falling in love again' and 'Speak to me of love'. We present four great singers and performers who defined the art of cabaret. What, though, is a cabaret singer? The cabaret singer is more than an artist who sings romantic songs on a stage, leaning against a piano or just sitting on a chair at one corner of the stage, dramatically positioned. The true cabaret singer is a raconteur, philosopher, confidante, poet, and a friend who sings of tragedy, truth, expectations, dreams, fantasies, adventures and visions. They perform in nightclubs or restaurants and, indeed, the venue itself can also be called a 'cabaret'. The term is a French word for the taprooms or cafes where this form of entertainment was born, as a more artistic form of café-chantant. In turn, the word derives from the Middle Dutch cabret, through Old North French camberette, and from the Late Latin camera. It essentially means 'small room'. It also refers to a Mediterranean-styled brothel - a bar with tables and women who would mingle with and entertain the clientele. Traditionally these establishments would also feature some form of stage entertainment, often with singers and dancers, the bawdiness of which varied with the quality of the establishment. It was the more sophisticated form of cabaret that created the type of locale and art form that we are familiar with today. The first cabaret opened in 1881 in Montmartre in Paris. Le Chat Noir became a spot where aspiring artists could try out their acts in front of their peers before launching them on the public. It was a great success attracting people from all walks of life. However, it closed, in 1887, due to the prevailing poor economic situation that made amusements of this kind seem vulgar. Two years later, the Moulin Rouge, with a large red, imitation windmill on its roof, opened in Pigalle, close to Montmartre. Such notable artists as Mistinguett, Jane Avril and Yvette Guilbert regularly performed there. The colour and atmosphere of the Moulin Rouge have been immortalized in the paintings of Toulouse-Lautrec. In 1901, cabaret arrived in Germany but it had to work within strict guidelines because of censorship enforced on entertainment. This censorship was removed in 1918 allowing cabaret artists to deal with contemporary social themes and political developments and for the next 15 years German cabaret blossomed and flourished. However, in 1933 and with a newly elected Nazi government, any form of intellectual criticism was repressed and most cabaret artists fled Germany to Europe and the USA. Edith Piaf began her career as a very poor and obscure cabaret singer and often sang in the unsavoury boites de nuit. Each Piaf song is an experience with an underlying force that we are drawn into. In contrast, the American-French cabaret singer and dancer, Josephine Baker had an exotic and sensual act that made her one of the best known entertainers in both the US and Europe during the 20s and 30s. Marlene Dietrich exuded class and sophistication, with a smoky and world-weary singing voice that she used to great effect in many of her films and recordings. Described as 'The Great Lady of Chanson', Viennese-born Greta Keller carried the charm of the Parisian woman but never lost the heart of the girl from Vienna.

The great chanteuses of the inter-war years A darkened room, a small stage, a single spotlight, cigar smoke and the hint of absinthe: welcome to the cabaret! Classic recordings of Greta Keller, Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich and Josephine Baker, lovingly restored in The Gift of Music studios. Highlights include 'Falling in love again' and 'Speak to me of love'. We present four great singers and performers who defined the art of cabaret. What, though, is a cabaret singer? The cabaret singer is more than an artist who sings romantic songs on a stage, leaning against a piano or just sitting on a chair at one corner of the stage, dramatically positioned. The true cabaret singer is a raconteur, philosopher, confidante, poet, and a friend who sings of tragedy, truth, expectations, dreams, fantasies, adventures and visions. They perform in nightclubs or restaurants and, indeed, the venue itself can also be called a 'cabaret'. The term is a French word for the taprooms or cafes where this form of entertainment was born, as a more artistic form of café-chantant. In turn, the word derives from the Middle Dutch cabret, through Old North French camberette, and from the Late Latin camera. It essentially means 'small room'. It also refers to a Mediterranean-styled brothel - a bar with tables and women who would mingle with and entertain the clientele. Traditionally these establishments would also feature some form of stage entertainment, often with singers and dancers, the bawdiness of which varied with the quality of the establishment. It was the more sophisticated form of cabaret that created the type of locale and art form that we are familiar with today. The first cabaret opened in 1881 in Montmartre in Paris. Le Chat Noir became a spot where aspiring artists could try out their acts in front of their peers before launching them on the public. It was a great success attracting people from all walks of life. However, it closed, in 1887, due to the prevailing poor economic situation that made amusements of this kind seem vulgar. Two years later, the Moulin Rouge, with a large red, imitation windmill on its roof, opened in Pigalle, close to Montmartre. Such notable artists as Mistinguett, Jane Avril and Yvette Guilbert regularly performed there. The colour and atmosphere of the Moulin Rouge have been immortalized in the paintings of Toulouse-Lautrec. In 1901, cabaret arrived in Germany but it had to work within strict guidelines because of censorship enforced on entertainment. This censorship was removed in 1918 allowing cabaret artists to deal with contemporary social themes and political developments and for the next 15 years German cabaret blossomed and flourished. However, in 1933 and with a newly elected Nazi government, any form of intellectual criticism was repressed and most cabaret artists fled Germany to Europe and the USA. Edith Piaf began her career as a very poor and obscure cabaret singer and often sang in the unsavoury boites de nuit. Each Piaf song is an experience with an underlying force that we are drawn into. In contrast, the American-French cabaret singer and dancer, Josephine Baker had an exotic and sensual act that made her one of the best known entertainers in both the US and Europe during the 20s and 30s. Marlene Dietrich exuded class and sophistication, with a smoky and world-weary singing voice that she used to great effect in many of her films and recordings. Described as 'The Great Lady of Chanson', Viennese-born Greta Keller carried the charm of the Parisian woman but never lost the heart of the girl from Vienna.

A dozen years after exploding onto the scene with "Stay (I Missed You)" from the Gen-X movie classic Reality Bites, Lisa Loeb--one of the most recognizable musical artists of the last decade--premieres not only her first "best of" collection but her own unscripted TV series. With E! Entertainment Television's #1 Single debuting in January, The Very Best of Lisa Loeb was released January 24, 2006. Heard on both is "Single Me Out," the theme song to the TV series.Featuring 18 selections, The Very Best of Lisa Loeb includes all of her hits from five albums from 1995 to 2004, from the orchestral "Furious Rose" to the rocking "Fools Like Me" to the stripped-down acoustic "Sandalwood," as well as the most memorable tracks from her career to date. The literary Loeb also penned the album's liner notes.After growing up in Dallas, this modern-day Mary Tyler Moore enrolled at Brown University and formed a duo with her roommate. After graduating, she moved to New York and began playing the New York City club circuit to sell-out crowds all over downtown, backed by her group Nine Stories. Friend/fan Ethan Hawke brought her to the attention of Ben Stiller, who was starring in and directing Reality Bites. He added "Stay (I Missed You)" to the soundtrack and the single hit #1. Loeb became the first unsigned artist to ever reach the top spot. "Stay (I Missed You)" was certified gold and earned Loeb a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group, the U.K.'s prestigious Brit Award for Best International Newcomer, and a record deal with Geffen.Her debut album, 1995's Tails, went gold and Top 30 and spun off the Top 20 hit "Do You Sleep?," "Waiting For Wednesday," "Taffy" and "Sandalwood." "Stay (I Missed You)" was also reprised. Known for her sexy-and-smart girl-next-door persona, accented by her trademark cat-eyed glasses, Loeb created music that touched a new generation. She toured America, opened for Lyle Lovett and appeared at the first-ever Lilith Fair, a celebration of female artists featuring Sarah McLachlan, Patti Smith, Aimee Mann, Emmylou Harris, Tori Amos and others.1997's Grammy-nominated Firecracker yielded the Top 20 "I Do," "Truthfully," "Let's Forget About It," "Falling In Love" and "How," which debuted on the soundtrack to the summer blockbuster Twister. That year she guested on the Counting Crows' European tour and also starred at the second Lilith Fair.From 2002's A&M album Cake and Pie, The Very Best of Lisa Loeb culls "Bring Me Up" and "Underdog." That same year a revamped indie version of the album, titled Hello Lisa, showcased "What Am I Supposed to Say." 2004's Rounder disc The Way It Really Is included "Fools Like Me."Today, with a "best of" collection, starring in #1 Single (about looking for love in the 21st century), touring, and working on a new album, Lisa Loeb proves she is here to stay.

A dozen years after exploding onto the scene with "Stay (I Missed You)" from the Gen-X movie classic Reality Bites, Lisa Loeb--one of the most recognizable musical artists of the last decade--premieres not only her first "best of" collection but her own unscripted TV series. With E! Entertainment Television's #1 Single debuting in January, The Very Best of Lisa Loeb was released January 24, 2006. Heard on both is "Single Me Out," the theme song to the TV series.Featuring 18 selections, The Very Best of Lisa Loeb includes all of her hits from five albums from 1995 to 2004, from the orchestral "Furious Rose" to the rocking "Fools Like Me" to the stripped-down acoustic "Sandalwood," as well as the most memorable tracks from her career to date. The literary Loeb also penned the album's liner notes.After growing up in Dallas, this modern-day Mary Tyler Moore enrolled at Brown University and formed a duo with her roommate. After graduating, she moved to New York and began playing the New York City club circuit to sell-out crowds all over downtown, backed by her group Nine Stories. Friend/fan Ethan Hawke brought her to the attention of Ben Stiller, who was starring in and directing Reality Bites. He added "Stay (I Missed You)" to the soundtrack and the single hit #1. Loeb became the first unsigned artist to ever reach the top spot. "Stay (I Missed You)" was certified gold and earned Loeb a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group, the U.K.'s prestigious Brit Award for Best International Newcomer, and a record deal with Geffen.Her debut album, 1995's Tails, went gold and Top 30 and spun off the Top 20 hit "Do You Sleep?," "Waiting For Wednesday," "Taffy" and "Sandalwood." "Stay (I Missed You)" was also reprised. Known for her sexy-and-smart girl-next-door persona, accented by her trademark cat-eyed glasses, Loeb created music that touched a new generation. She toured America, opened for Lyle Lovett and appeared at the first-ever Lilith Fair, a celebration of female artists featuring Sarah McLachlan, Patti Smith, Aimee Mann, Emmylou Harris, Tori Amos and others.1997's Grammy-nominated Firecracker yielded the Top 20 "I Do," "Truthfully," "Let's Forget About It," "Falling In Love" and "How," which debuted on the soundtrack to the summer blockbuster Twister. That year she guested on the Counting Crows' European tour and also starred at the second Lilith Fair.From 2002's A&M album Cake and Pie, The Very Best of Lisa Loeb culls "Bring Me Up" and "Underdog." That same year a revamped indie version of the album, titled Hello Lisa, showcased "What Am I Supposed to Say." 2004's Rounder disc The Way It Really Is included "Fools Like Me."Today, with a "best of" collection, starring in #1 Single (about looking for love in the 21st century), touring, and working on a new album, Lisa Loeb proves she is here to stay.