INXS UNLEASH NEW ALBUM "ORIGINAL SIN" WITH GUEST VOCALISTS GALORE

INXS - Original Sin Collaborators

They're back. Australian Rock Band INXS are still without an official Lead Singer since parting ways with Mississauga-born Rockstar INXS winner J.D. Fortune in 2009. That however, isn't stopping them from making the best of what they have still.  On their new album Original Sin due at the end of the month, they have invited Guest Vocalists aboard to re-invent classics from their Catalogue, which has seen over 30 million albums sold worldwide.

It appears that whatever issues the Band had with hard-partying Fortune, they have worked through them as Fortune is featured on their new Double A-Side Single on track The Stairs, released originally in 1991 with vocals by the late Michael Hutchence. They performed together also earlier in the year at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Rob Thomas who continues to be a staple act on Adult Contemporary Radio, does vocals on title track Original Sin.

Other featured Vocalists on the disc include Tricky, Nikka Costa, Ben Harper and Mylene Farmer; the latter two who appear on one of my favourite tracks of all time Never Tear Us Apart. John Mayer appears also on Mystify with some Guitar Work.

Watch an Teaser Video for INXS' new album below:

TAYLOR SWIFT - SPEAK NOW REVIEW

Country sensation Taylor Swift returns with her third studio effort Speak Now and there are no real surprises to be found on the 14-track Collection. And that could be a good thing considering how well she's done with her established formula.

Swift's songwriting ability continues to grow by leaps and bounds in terms of maturity and musical complexity with the help of Mentor/Producer Nathan Chapman, who has guided much of the 20 year-old Superstar's career. Overall, the tracks go deeper and this results in longer tracks which get caught in  moments like Dear John, rumoured to have been inspired by a failed relationship with John Mayer, some years her senior. Although there are no instantly accessible smashes on the set like 2008's Love Story or 2009's You Belong With Me, there are some gems like big-chorused Enchanted, Back to December (both tracks punctuated with Strings) and album closer Long Live.

Recurring themes in Swift's music are her habit of transferring blame on her ex-Boyfriends, which proves entertaining as it gives her songs that reading-out-of-a-Diary charm. Never Grow Up encourages the young the enjoy the simplicity of their youth, while she reflects also upon the sad realities and disappointments of Adulthood.  The track musically takes a cue from The Best Day off of her sophomore effort. The Story of Us with its Pop Rock leanings, rides off the success of her singles' Pop Versions and actually is radio-ready. Mean strikes back gently at her bitter Detractors who criticize things like her singing ability, for example. She couldn't possibly be referencing a certain  Rapper who is just coming out of hiding, now could she?

JOHN MAYER, PLAYER.... OF GUITARS

John Mayer is the kind of guy you want to have a one night stand with.  As you lie in his bed in post-coital reflection, you get him to break out his guitar and play a song for you.  And then after the song's done, you yawn as soon as he starts talking about himself and you say, "listen I have some...erran...I mean work to do.  Thanks for the fun.  Take care.  All the best."  You exchange hugs and delete his number from your phone right away.  And then you go home and update your Facebook status about it, garnering mixed reactions from your friends of encouragement and disgust; mostly disgust.

In the current issue of Rolling Stone magazine, the singer/songwriter/guitar player (emphasis on the player part) reveals that he is still not over Jennifer Aniston, that he masturbates his problems away, doesn't think his new album Battle Studies is his best work and that he eludes to being a Butt Man.  Interestingly, he reveals that he gets turned down for sex by girls more often than one might think when he goes bar-hopping.  That's class right there.

At least there's some pretty pictures by photographer Mark Seliger to look at.  Whore-ific.