We needed to transfer digital photos without carrying card readersor USB cables everywhere. We’ve found it & now we’ll tell you about it - just because we’re nice like that. iConcepts’ new iAlbum is a tiny card reader that connects to your iPod. Connect the iAlbum to your iPod, load up your camera’s SD card and you’re done. Preview, store and transfer your pictures through your iPod - it doesn’t get much easier. Especially since you probably have an iPod already — now you can do something with its unused memory. (Admit it, you never managed to fill up the whole thing.)

 

The Xbox 360 Black was officially announced — so we can have an Xbox 360 that matches our furniture. More importantly, we’ll have an excuse to buy the following kick-ass Xbox 360 games. If you don’t have these ten games, you’re missing out on the latest & greatest in gaming.

1.Guitar Hero II. Test your rhythm and feel like a rock star, with new songs. We’ve all wanted to feel like that: On stage performing for a cheering crowd, feeling the love and the excitement of knowing you are their king. Here, you play along with 50 songs from Led Zep to Nirvana. Master ‘em all and show off a little flair and creativity. Who needs American Idol when you have this?

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This Friday, J&R will host a new jazz great, Somi. Born in the US from East African parents, Somi has shaken the jazz world with her moving voice and African influences. Her album, Red Soil In My Eyes, mixes classic jazz with the songs of her Rwandese and Ugandan roots. The music is earthy and uplifting, celebrating the concept of coming home - and doing it with joy and soul. Somi’s been compared to Cassandra Wilson and the sound on Red Soil has been called “world-jazz,” but she’s too eclectic & groundbreaking for us to pin a label on her. She’s also a magnificent performer, but don’t take our word for it. Somi will honor us with a personal appearance tomorrow, Friday, 13th at 12:30pm, at J&R Music World, 23 Park Row, NYC. It’s on your lunch break and it’s going to be cold anyway, so come down and let Somi’s voice warm your soul.

Technorati Tags:  Somi   Africa   Red Soil In My Eyes   Rwandese   Ugandan   music   jazz  Live@J&R   J&R

 

We had the opportunity to talk with The Feeling after their performance at J&R while they were signing CDs. Here’s some of what we learned:

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Have you noticed that every cause has a benefit concert now? Mother Nature’s getting a worldwide concert all to herself this July, when big names perform around the world simultaneously for Live Earth. This massive, worldwide event is an attempt to raise awareness and funds for the Alliance for Climate Protection. They hope to convince individuals, corporations and governments to work together and find solutions for the environmental problems the world is facing. Tickets go on sale next week, on the 16th; the Live Earth event happens July 7th.

There’s no Live Earth concert happening in New York - it’s going on across the river at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. Here are the acts:

Kanye West AFI Kelly Clarkson Akon KT Tunstall Fall Out Boy Dave Matthews Band John Mayer Ludacris Melissa Etheridge Roger Waters Smashing Pumpkins Bon Jovi Alicia Keys Rihanna The Police

The other concerts will be happening at the same time, and broadcast online by MSN. The shows will be broadcast in the US by NBC. No word on ticket prices yet, but tickets for the London concert are 55 pounds — that’s about 110 US dollars. Expect the Giants Stadium tix to be in that range.

Speaking of London, their show is a lot better. They got the Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bloc Party, even Black Eyed Peas. It sucks the Beasties are skipping a hometown show (well, OK, Jersey) for London, but we figure it’s the one to catch and we’ll be seeing it on the Live Earth stream.

Technorati Tags:  Live Earth   Alliance for Climate Protection   Kanye West   AFI   Kelly Clarkson   Akon   KT Tunstall   Fall Out Boy   Dave Matthews Band   John Mayer   Ludacris   Melissa Etheridge   Roger Waters   Smashing Pumpkins   Bon Jovi   Alicia Keys   Rihanna   The Police   Beastie Boys   Foo Fighters   Red Hot Chili Peppers   Bloc Party   Black Eyed Peas

 

New York underground favorites Blonde Redhead released their latest today. 23 turns away from the dreamy pop on Misery is a Butterfly for a more wispy, trembling sound. The ghostly vocals and warped guitars that made their names return.

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The Feeling has made an impressive trip from the small bars and clubs of London to selling out arenas all over the UK. After getting the nod for several different awards, they’re trying to cross over to the American market. They’ve got the talent to make it big over here - all they need is a bit luck and some help with getting the word out. That’s where RNYK comes in. We requested a quick Q&A session with them, before they perform at J&R Music and Computer World. Dan Sells (guitarist & singer) and Kevin Jeremiah (guitarist) were kind enough to respond.

RNYK: How is Twelve Stops And Home being received in other countries? Dan: The response to the album has been great. Even fans from countries that don’t have English as a first language get into the album. People in different countries respond in different ways, but especially abroad it seems that people are enjoying all the tracks on the album equally. They sing along to the whole gig!

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Music firsts seem to happen a lot nowadays. I’d never have though I could see The Stooges play, but they’ll be performing this Monday at the United Palace Theatre. The Stooges are one of those bands that influenced a lot of musicians, but few people heard about. The pummeling rhythm section, driving guitars, freaky jazz-style breaks made it punk before there was such a thing. Then there’s Iggy Pop - his psychotic stage antics and creepy, nihilistic vocal delivery was unlike anything else. In the past couple of years, music critics and writers have been giving them their due in fashionable magazines. Better late than never, I suppose.

The Stooges are at the United Palace this coming Monday night; doors open at 8. The address is 4140 Broadway (near 175th St, just before the Cross-Bronx Expressway). They’re touring in support of their new album, The Weirdness.

 

Spider-Man is being honored by the city of New York. The week prior to Spider-Man 3’s release has been officially declared Spider-Man Week by City Hall. His hometown has been the setting for four decades of classic adventures, including two hit movies and games on everything from the DS to the Xbox 360. His popularity has made him an unofficial goodwill ambassador & mascot for New York. The city’s going to pay back the nerdy kid from Forest Hills who taught generations that “with great power comes great responsibility” with these events.
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Spring is almost here. That’s when everything unique to New York gets rolling. There’s too much to do, in too little time - so much goes on in this town, which is why it’s so special. This is why you need to start recording it. Why should the tourists get all the fun? It’s time for the natives to start going crazy with the camcorders. Record your good time in the city, from the afternoon walks in Central Park to the nights you spend drinking and laughing in your favorite LES dive.

J&R will make it easy for you. They’re cutting prices on some of their most popular high-end camcorder models — and RNYK readers are the first to know. The Sony HDR-SR1 High Definition Hard Drive Camcorder is only $999.99 - a $300 drop. Sony’s DCR-SR200 High Definition Handycam is $100 off, at $699.99; same with the DCR-SR42, down to $499.99. If you want a real steal, the Panasonic PV-GS29 MiniDV Camcorder is down to $199.99.

The trick is you have to actually go to the store - no online or phone orders. The sale’s only happening for four days, from Thursday to Sunday. It’s one camcorder per customer, so get there before they’re gone.

Technorati Tags:  camcorder   sale