Brandon's Buzz

July enters with a bit of a whimper, but in the wake of the wallet-buster that was June’s stunningly stocked music slate, I’m good with taking a breather this week. Don’t fall completely asleep at the wheel, though; there are a couple of titles that require your attention today, and they are as follows:

Once upon a time, a remarkable artist by the name of Alex Band was the brains and the brawn behind a now-defunct pop band name of
The Calling. The band got their big break in the summer of 2000 with a cameo appearance in the smash film Coyote Ugly, in which they performed the song that would become their signature classic, “Wherever You Will Go.” The heart-tugging tune exploded at radio in the immediate wake of 9/11, and it seemed as though The Calling was on their way to glory, but record company troubles and a crippling case of band infighting punched holes in the ship, and they parted ways after their highly-touted 2004 sophomore disc failed wholly to launch. Band has laid low for the past few years, but he’s back at the plate this week with his hot solo debut, We’ve All Been There, and I’m thrilled to announce that I am taping a conversation with Band this week, for airing later this month on Brandon’s Buzz Radio, in which we’re going to discuss all of this and so much more.

Also noteworthy this week:

• The aforementioned Mr. Band is not the only man striking out on his own this week:

  • Former Live leader Ed Kowalczyk is flying solo with his
    debut album, the cheekily titled Alive.
  • Of late, he has become more famous for his health woes than for his hits, but Poison’s flamboyant frontman (not to mention, Donald Trump’s latest Celebrity Apprentice) Bret Michaels is back on top with his latest record, Custom Built, which includes an angst-riddled duet with teen queen Miley Cyrus, as well as a countrified take on his former band’s signature “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” this version featuring vocals from Mark Wills, Chris Cagle, and
    3 Doors Down’s electrifying Brad Arnold.
  • Antwan Patton — professionally, known simply as Big Boi — temporarily steps away from Outkast to present a concept piece entitled Sir Lucious Left Foot… The Son of Chico Dusty.
• Our favorite Aussie Kylie Minogue takes another stab at
  stateside stardom with her latest album, Aphrodite.

 

• Kelis is about to find out if her milkshake still brings all the boys
  to the yard with the release of her latest record, Flesh Tone.

 

• Latin superstar Enrique Iglesias breaks his usual pattern of releasing separate albums for English and Spanish-speaking markets this week with the arrival of Euphoria, a unique hybrid project which contains six Spanish tracks and four English ones.

names dropped with reckless abandon: 3 Doors Down, Alex Band, Antwan Patton, Big Boi, Brad Arnold, Bret Michaels, Chris Cagle, Donald Trump, Ed Kowalczyk, Enrique Iglesias, Kelis, Kylie Minogue, Live, Mark Wills, Miley Cyrus, OutKast, Poison, The Calling