It’s been a while since their last release, 2004’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, but it was worth the wait.The album, with 11 tracks, contains classic U2 music.

The Irish rockers get back to basics with their strongest offering in years. It was recorded in Dublin, New York, London and Fès, Morocco.  And the good news is that Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, and Steve Lillywhite all helped to produce the album.  But I don’t think this is the best U2 album since Eno and Lanois first worked with the band on 1984’s The Unforgettable Fire.

Magnificent, with its drum crescendos, trademark guitar riffs, and a soaring Bono vocal, is easily the best song on the album and is the second single to be released.The first release, Get On Your Boots, is a good song; this is the single the band performed at the Grammys on February 8.Boots is a classic, foot-tapping song.  However, Boots only hit No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Breathe incorporates the band’s classic approach but still sounds contemporary. Cedars Of Lebanon, a song about war and violence, ends the album on a sad, thoughtful note. The band still has a sense of humour with lyrics such as “the right to appear ridiculous is something I hold dear” in the song, I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight.

But sales have not been as high as anticipated since its release on March 3.  No Line sold just 484,000 copies in its first week of sales. Not too many bands would consider 484,000 albums sold a disappointing number.However, U2 is not just any band. The Irish band’s last album, 2004’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, sold 840,000 copies in the first week.

However, I think that besides from a couple of the tracks being too long, the album is definitely worth adding to your collection.

Visit the Nostalgia Guy Music blog for more music reviews and information.

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On Sunday, June 22, 11,000 people walked at South Street Seaport in New York City for the 4th annual New York City Walk Now for Autism, representing an almost 50% growth in participation over last year’s event. The walkers, on more than 500 teams, raised over $860,000.

A number of people spoke during the opening ceremonies, including the emcee, Radio personality Joe Rosati of Z-100 served as emcee for the event and Jesse Mojica, Founding Walk Chair for the New York City Walk Now for Autism; State Senator Marty Golden (R) and Councilman David Weprin (D), Autism Speaks president Mark Roithmayr; and Pat Battle of WNBC News, all spoke during the opening ceremonies.

Walkers enjoyed performances by Audra Rox, beatboxers Kid Lucky, Elizabeth Balzano from Sprout’s “Bounce,” students with autism from the Glenholme School, and a piano solo performed by Chris Tudor, a student with autism from the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. Students from Elizabeth’s Dance School performed and also cheered on walkers at the finish line. For the third year, walkers were treated to performances by Jennifer Richman and students from PS 77 and the Latin stylings of “Las Estrellas” from PS 178 with Joel Torres; both groups feature students with autism. Geoffrey the Giraffe from Toys”R”Us and characters from Hi 4 mingled with the crowd. Participants had the opportunity to tour old sailing vessels, take a tour of New York harbor from the end of the pier or visit the maritime museum, all within a few steps of the start of the Sunday’s Walk.

The inaugural resource fair showcased 11 organizations and companies, including Divine Minds, Blink Twice, Birch Family Services, The McCarton School, the New York City Police Department with Operation Safe Child, Autos for Autism, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and CARD — Center for Autism Related Disabilities. Mt. Sinai, Columbia University and Hunter College recruited participants for research studies.

Generous sponsors that contributed to the success of the New York City Walk Now for Autism included National Walk Sponsor Toys”R”Us, top corporate fundraising team Barclays Capital, The Rebecca School, Theracare, Extended Home Care, and AMDi Thanks to Uno’s Chicago Grill, which provided wrap sandwiches for all participants. Special thanks to returning Walk Chair Steve Cibrano and first-time Walk Chair Michele Montanez for making the New York City Walk such a success.

Visit the New York City Walk page or go to the Walk Now for Autism site to find a walk in your area.

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Traffic, rent and fear make me wonder why I’m here
When a home bound train sounds like music to me
But come December I suddenly remember
That Manhattan is the only place to be…

A Santa Claus on every block, Radio City
Skyscrapers wrapped with a bow
It’s Christmas Eve around the clock In New York City
Wish you were here for the show

Thought it won’t be as merry without you tonight
I’ve still got Broadway to make Christmas bright

The neon glow of falling snow lights up the city
New York is Christmas to me
If dreams come true and here they do
Soon I’ll be seeing
New York at Christmas with you

If you long for the song of a snow crested lark
It’s just a subway to old Central Park

The neon glow of falling snow lights up the city
New York is Christmas to me
If dreams come true and here they do
Soon I’ll be seeing
New York At Christmas, New York At Christmas,
NEW YORK AT CHRISTMAS… WITH YOU!
© 2008 currier/piazza music

Paul is 25 years old and was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. His grandfather (from Tempera, Italy) first introduced him to music and to traditional Italian classics. He remembers sitting at the piano after learning some scales (in Italian of course) and then being taught God Bless America. He recalls the song as being one of the first he ever sang. Paul comes from a very close-knit family with a younger brother and an older sister as well as his loving and supportive mother Bernadette (Scirri) and father Paul Sr. (family from Zaita, Labanon). As you may have guessed, Paul is a family kind of guy.

He first got into “the crooners” when he found a tape of “Frank Sinatra’s Greatest Hits” in his fathers collection. I remember listening to “That’s Life” and “Forget Domani” over and over because I loved them so much. As he grew up, so did his musical interests, expanding to Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Motown, Country and the other hits of the 50s and 60s. So with a very diverse background in music genres by the time he entered high school at the age of 15, he fell in love all over again with the great crooners of the mid 20th Century. He bought up whatever he could get his hands on from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin and Sammy Davis Jr.

He was inspired when he first saw the film “Goodfellas”. When I heard the title track “Rags to Riches” and discovered that it was Tony Bennett who was singing, the hook was in! “I became so enthralled with his style, power, and range that I couldn’t stop listening.” Paul is a graduate of The State University of New York at Buffalo. While attending school, he recorded his debut album Introducing Paul Safy which included two Bennett songs that he really loves; “I Wanna Be Around” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”.

After winning the Fox affiliated (American Idol), Buffalo Idol in 2007, Paul was invited to sing at the Buffalo Philharmonic as a special guest star with The Duke Ellington Orchestra. He opened in Rochester, NY for the Buffalo-born singing family sensation The Scintas at the High Falls Festival. And for the second consecutive year he performed for the Buffalo Sabres Aces and Blades annual charity event. He sang for Macy’s national fund raising Shop for the Cure event. Later that year he was invited once again to perform with the Buffalo Philharmonic as their featured guest singer at The Holiday Pops concert. At the invitation of the Philharmonic conductor Robert Franz, Paul was asked to solo at the Mansfield, Ohio Symphony Holiday concert.

I first met Paul last spring through a friend who worked with The Duke Ellington Orchestra when Paul sang with them in Buffalo. We’ve written a show and we’re booking our tribute tour: “If I Were Tony Bennett” – Paul Safy, Jr.

This guys a winner. I promise you, “The Best Is Yet To Come”!
Wishing you a White & Very Merry Christmas…
“It’ll nearly be like a picture print by (Currier & Ives)”.
Ho, Ho, Ho,
Sincerely,
Richard Currier
(Producer and General Manager – If I Were, LLC.)
http://www.ifiweretonybennett.com/

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