Random music notes:

The Verve will make a welcome return Aug. 19 with “Forth,” its first new album after a decade hiatus.

The first single, the surprisingly upbeat “Love is Noise,” is posted at http://www.myspace.com/thevervetv. Love the driving rhythm and the sublime chorus (singer Richard Ashcroft always sounds so beautifully pained), but a little lukewarm on that background chant/effect/weird instrument sound that makes a solid frame of a song too cluttered.

And how about Blake Lewis getting the drop kick from Arista Records after only one release?

Last year’s cutie-pie “American Idol” runner-up seemed to appeal to the cougar contingent that has fallen in love/lust with David Cook, but his beat boxing apparently didn’t lure them to the record stores (either the real ones or the online versions).

His “Audio Daydream” – really not nearly as embarrassing as some other “Idol” pabulum (hiya, Taylor Hicks!), – sold about 300,000 copies, but never ignited at radio, which is still a crucial medium for a certain genre of artist. And maybe that God-awful album cover sent people fleeing.

But hey, even though Lewis massacred Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” during his run on the show, I still liked the guy with his goofy plaid pants, spiky blond hair and affinity for Doug E. Fresh.

Lewis is still attached to 19 Recordings, the entertainment company run by Simon Fuller that represents and manages many former Idols.

This is also another instance where Elliott Yamin can again be assured he made the right move by biding his time for an independent deal. His self-titled debut has sold more than Lewis’ (500,000-plus for E-Man), but is there any doubt that any of the “Idol”-related labels would have dropped him for not putting up Daughtry-like numbers?

It’s rough out there, kids.

Posted by Melissa Ruggieri in • Entertainment • Music
(0) Comments | Permalink