GLEE Redux - Rumors

Is all hell breaking loose on GLEE? Terri Schuester and Sue have a clandestine meeting at the mall coffee shop, and Sue announces the return of The Muckraker, the school newspaper devoted to anything but the facts. Sue continually changes her costume to stay secretive. The first edition is out, and it creates some struggles in the choir room, as Santana isn't pleased Brittany mentioned 'she plays for the other team.' And a blind item about a blond cheerleader slipping out with a big-lipped blond sets Finn off. He assumes Quinn is cheating with Sam.

April Rhodes returns to town, following the failure of her all-white production of The Wiz. She is broke, and needs to make some money. Mr. Schue talks to her about her new show, and also shares about the kids fighting. April reminds him about Fleetwood Mac and the Rumours album, written to stave off internal struggle. Mr. Schue knows he needs to devote the lesson to the album! He and April sing Dreams, the great song written by Stevie Nicks.



Brittany is chatting wit Artie, who is slowly losing his cool. She tells him she isn't cheating with Santana, cause it can't be cheating with another girl. Artie's disappointment turns to anger, and he calls her stupid. She leaves crying so Artie can sing Lindsey Buckingham's Never Going Back Again.



Finn and Rachel plan a stake out to catch Quinn. He is worried since Quinn cheated so often previously. As he and Rachel talk about loyalty and Karma, he sees Sam come out of a hotel room, and he isn't alone. Kurt follows him out.

The kids sit around the lunch table, discussing whether Sam might be gay, or if Kurt would cheat on Blaine. All based on rumour, started by Sue's newspaper. Soon we are in the choir room with Brittany and Santana, and Santana does a beautiful job with Christine McVie's Songbird.



Brittany and Santana discuss going public with their relationship, and Santana is unsure. Brittany hopes to help her out of the closet. Rachel goes to Kurt to talk about his affair, and Kurt tells her it's not true, and all the gossip is taking time away from preparing for Nationals. He's having none of it. Later, Rachel is with Finn on another stake out, and Finn still worried about Quinn. As tensions grow, we hear Fleetwood Mac's The Chain in the background.



Brittany joins the staff of the Muckraker and is interviewing Mr. Schue for the paper, asking provocative and inappropriate questions. He knows Sue is behind it. He goes to call Sue on her treachery, and she turns it on him. Finn and Quinn meet in the hallway, calling one another on reports in the paper. They start to disagree, and soon they are singing a duet of the Stevie Nicks song, I Don't Want To Know.



April and Mr. Schue sing an original song for April's return to Broadway. Miss Pillsbury watches as April asks Mr. Schue to go with her to Broadway, although Schue says no. He wants to stay around for the kids in the Glee club. Later in the faculty room, and Miss Pillsbury is eating unwashed grapes, and Mr. Schue takes notice. She is taking her medication and her therapy seriously now. She tells him it was him who inspired her, and she wants to do the same, and see him go to Broadway with April. He says no, he fears losing the kids and her, and they saved his life a year ago. Back in the Glee room, Rachel steps up to sing the amazing Lindsey Buckingham song, Go Your Own Way.



The kids cheer it on, but Quinn isn't happy Rachel sang that song to her boyfriend, Finn. Rachel isn't pleased, and she tries to call Quinn out about her cheating with Sam. All of a sudden, all the kids are involved, and Sam has to stand up and tell them he isn't cheating with Quinn nor Kurt. He was just getting some help, since his father lost his job. Kurt was lending him clothes, and Quinn helped with babysitting. They were at the hotel, cause that is where his family is living now. He storms out of the room, and the kids sit there sheepishly.

Terri and Sue have a drink with April, and they tell her about the plan to lie about Mr. Schue in the next Muckraker. Rachel and Finn go to see Sam, and hear about how his family has lost everything. He is there with his sister and brother, who look like two little Sams. They give him back his guitar, which he had sold to a pawn shop. He cries, for the first time. So do I. The next day, we see Santana in the hallway, denying Brittany's love. The kids are asking Mr. Schue about his plans for Broadway, and he says he wants to stay with them. Sam comes in with his brother and sister, and asks to do a song, Don't Stop, written by Christine McVie.



Don't forget to tune in to the Prom Queen episode next Tuesday, May 10.

Eric Himan Releases Supposed Unknown

Eric Himan has a new release available in all outlets, and it is well-worth purchasing now. Supposed Unknown is a 13-song offering, was recorded in Tuscon, Arizona, with the help of producer and singer/songwriter Namoli Brennet. Make no mistake about it, I am a fan of Eric's, and have been for several years. But Supposed Unknown is the grittiest, strongest and heartiest album to date. An that is saying something.



The album starts off with the reflective Is This My Life?, soft and smooth. But we are quickly thrown into the blues line with Blood On Her Lips, a soulful ode to friends lost to "that" woman... That brings us to the driving sound of Lonely No More, one of my favorites off the album. It is an amazing travel song, filled with energy and honesty. Save The Afternoon is up next, a sweet and haunting ballad, with a slight western feel. I listen and wonder how long before Reba is singing it. Absolutely dripping with charm and wit, You First, making me just a little bit happier than I thought I could be. It also inspired a very cool t-shirt, one I love to wear. Next comes the first single, the rock-edged Dust, which won a Tulsa radio station contest 4-weeks running. Check it out.



You Come Around o[pens with a bluesy feel, and it slides along, blending the Pop and Blues feel to perfection. With Theme Song of a Former Pushover, Eric returns to his Folk/Rock sweet spot, with more guitar-driven blues, feeling like a great club. The next track, Gonna Make It Work, appeared on the last album, driven by the piano. Here is it a band-song, making it even better.



A soulful ballad is on the list next, something that Himan does with such a deft hand. Somehow, he manages to feel so beautifully isolated on the track Left Out. That is followed by Always Here, which has a light, almost ephemeral feel. Eric returns to classic folk with Out in the Outer Banks, which paints a lovely picture of a weekend escape. Finally, the album ends with Gonna Make It Work (Reprise).



This album is such a winner, I just can't explain. The album captures the spirit of the gifted artist, and really reminds you of the reason you love him. It is that incredible voice of his, as well as the unique phrasing, which is always on target. The music is strong on the album, and the arrangements are in strong support. I would have to believe the addition of Namoli Brennet to the team was a great move. You can [and should] find it on iTunes here, on CD Baby here, and on Amazon.Com here. You can also find for about Eric on his official website here.

Declan Bennett Releases New Album

The amazing and gifted Declan Bennett released his latest musical offering, Record:Breakup, on Tuesday, April 25th. I, of course, had to rush to iTunes to buy it, since I could never think I would be patient enough to wait to get a physical copy delivered. My pocket review will tell you it is glorious, layered, emotional and rocking journey through a tough time. Allowing Declan's beautiful and textured voice to guide us on this psychological trip is a total bonus, a total treat for the ears and soul. One only needs to watch the video for the first single off the album, Freer, to get a feel for the album.



I know, it is great, isn't it? My scary thought? Not even my favorite song off the album. Sure, it is up there, but with songs like The Longer I Leave It, Straight In Your Face, Not Allowed or Love Wins, Bennett delivers with one track after the other. Everything More is anthemic in its desire to live life to the fullest, in a very urban, 20-something way. Part of Declan's brilliance is his ability to fuse the rock and pop sensibilities in his music, while seamlessly utilizing some jazz progressions to up the ante. His music is also a direct line to the heart, with a heightened emotional link to the music is transmitted clearly to the listener, plugging directly into the soul.



Declan Bennett has been making music since 1999, and since 2001, he was making it in his native England under the name Sumladfromcov. He came to my attention she he was cast in the National touring company of Rent, taking on the lead role of Roger. Soon he was brought to Broadway to play the role. He is also a member of the original cast of the rock music, American Idiot. For more about Declan Bennett, check out his official website here. You can also find him on Twitter here. But, most importantly, you can find his music on iTunes here, on Amazon.com here, or on MusicIsHere here. One day I hope to get a chance to hear him play live. I'd also love to interview him, for I find his music so affirming, so full of life. I couldn't recommend purchasing his music any more highly.

Five on the 5th - Reminder for May

I received notice from Stephen Chapman about the latest edition of Five on the 5th. So I just wanted to take a moment to give a heads up with plenty of notice so everyone can take advantage of the opportunity! In case you are not aware, the site has a new look, which you can see by clicking here.

In a few days time, '5 on the fifth' will return. Take 5 photographs on the days leading up to the 5th and publish those on your own blog and then add the link to my blog so that others can see your images.

You can either take 5 random pictures or follow this months theme (of which there are 2 from which to choose): CLOTHES or HAPPY!

Osama bin Laden Dead

As I was looking at Twitter telling me the President was going to speak, and then the leaking of the subject matter, I didn't feel much at all. It was like there were words I understood, but didn't grasp. By the time the President did speak, it was catching up with me. I was remembering the day it happened, me at work in Vermont, worried and confused. I had lived and worked in New York City for 10 years, I knew people who worked in the Pentagon, and certainly knew people who served communities in Fire Companies and EMT Squads. When video of the Financial District came out, it was disconcerting. I had worked on a video shoot in that area. It was all way too close, although I was a safe distance away. As the President announced the assassination of the man behind that attack, it came back. Frankly, his death was surprisingly meaningless to me. But the flood of thoughts and memories were meaningful, and oddly brought a tear to my eye.

Rather than to give that man any more space or power, I thought it would be good to remember the victims of the 9/11 attacks, and those who gave their own lives, and the families of those people, and hope it gives them some sense of closure, of justice. For them I will play the 2001 performance by Miss Barbra Streisand at the Emmy Awards, broadcast in November. She surprised everyone by singing You'll Never Walk Alone, and dedicating it to those lost in the tragedy. The Rodgers & Hammerstein song from the musical Carousel was a perfect choice then, as it is now. It speaks to strength of spirit, of heart, and the need to come together to assist one another.

Sunday Night with Adele

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins is a British singer/songwriter who seems to be conquering the world at the moment. Her searing and heartfelt styling has grabbed the hearts of the buying public, supporting her first album, 19, and now her second, 21. Check out a live version of her second single,
Someone Like You. Adele co-wrote the song with Dan Williams.



Set Fire To The Rain is set to be the third single from the album, It was written by Adele and Fraser T. Smith. This is a performance captured by a fan at the Tabernacle in London this past January.



Adele remembers going to see The Cure in concert when a child, going with her mother. She does a great cover of their great Love Song, written by the members of The Cure; Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Roger O'Donnell, Porl Thompson, Lol Tolhurst, and Boris Williams.



Of course, the first single off 21 was the amazing Rolling In The Deep written by Adele and Paul Epworth. It is such a signature song, it just took my breathe away the first time I heard it.



For more about Adele, check out her official website here. There you can find links to purchase her music. Both albums are must-haves for anyone who loves music.

Sunday Morning with Maroon 5

With the right music, lazy Sunday mornings can be the best. When you are talking about great music, you can't leave Maroon 5 out of the discussion, as their intertwining of Pop, Rock and Jazz is both subtle and sweet, and some of it is just perfect for that Sunday morning when you are snuggling under the blanket, staying warm with someone you might just love. The third single of the Gold selling album Songs About Jane is a perfect way to start. Check out Sunday Morning.





Harder to Breathe was the first single, the one that put them on the map. The original version had a strong guitar driving it home. But I do have a fondness for this acoustic version.





Recently, frontman Adam Levine posed naked to support a group working to bring testicular cancer to the fore. Well, I think you get to see everything but his testicles in the pictures. They certainly caught my attention. He also just started his run as a coach on NBC's The Voice. I am not sure what it is about Levine, cause he isn't the best looking man, but he seems to just drip with sexiness. For a bit more of that Sunday vibe, listen to She Will Be Loved.



For more on Maroon 5, check out their official website here. You can follow Adam Levine on Twitter here. The music of Maroon 5 is available anywhere you can find music. Online, you can find them on iTunes and Amazon.com.