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Woot! Amazing news on the Tori Amos front this week … her official website has been updated with a new press release that announces that she has partnered with Universal Republic Records in a new deal to release her 10th studio album. The as-yet-untitled disc is scheduled for a Spring/Summer ’09 release and will be accompanied with a song-by-song “visual component” (which sound like individual music videos for each song on the album). This is *VERY* exciting news :) Here is a pic of Tori with her new record label partners and portions of the press release:

NEW ALBUM ACCOMPANIED BY GROUNDBREAKING NEW VISUAL COMPONENT DUE IN SPRING/SUMMER OF ‘09

(New York, NY) Innovative; influential; poetic; bombastic – indefinable multiple Grammy nominee, Tori Amos, has teamed up with Universal Republic Records, it was announced today by Monte Lipman, Co-President and COO of Universal Republic Records. “We’re honored to welcome Tori Amos into the Universal Republic family,” stated Mr. Lipman. “It was Doug Morris (Chairman & CEO, Universal Music) who originally signed Ms. Amos to her first recording deal, and we’re excited that they will be able to continue their association via Universal Republic. Tori has always exemplified the truest spirit of the independent artist, blazing a path for nearly two decades with a legacy of incomparable conceptual breakthroughs; as singer/songwriter; as social commentator; and as one of our most thought provoking visual performers. We’re thrilled to be in a position to help facilitate the next chapter of her amazing career.” In a unique venture in keeping with Ms. Amos’ and Universal Republic’s unconventional approach to the artist/record company relationship, the two powerhouses have joined forces to jointly navigate Ms. Amos next release, as well as correlate other ventures in tandem with Ms. Amos’ prolific creative output. Her upcoming Universal Republic debut (her tenth studio album), is currently scheduled for a late spring/early summer 2009 unveiling. Every track on the album will be accompanied by a corresponding ‘visualette,’ featuring footage that has been captured over the past year. Shot in HD and Super 8, the visualettes will incorporate a documentary style. “Tori is very much looking forward to a fulfilling creative relationship with Monte Lipman and the great team he has assembled at Universal Republic,” stated John Witherspoon, Amos’ manager, “The intricate development of this unique Audio Visual component to Tori’s musical presentation, which she has been crafting through her own Galactic Media company, is indicative of the outlier creative and strategic opportunities both Tori and Universal Republic hope to build upon in this extraordinary relationship” … Nominated for multiple awards, including ten Grammy’s, Ms. Amos has been working on a musical for London’s British National Theatre called The Light Princess tentatively scheduled to debut in 2010.

It feels like ages since we got some new music from Tori Amos … this is really amazing news for fans. American Doll Posse came out in Spring of 2007 (around the time that Nine Inch Nails released Year Zero … and they have since released Ghosts I-IV and The Slip) so it’s high time for some new tunes. I am intrigued by this talk of a “visual component” that will accompany the album … but I was really hoping we’d get word that Tori would be releasing new music online all by herself (like NIN is doing). Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy that a new album is on the way but I would really love a scenario where Tori would be able to just release songs whenever she likes rather than on the usual record release schedule (ie. every two years or so). In any event, I will now be counting down the days until we get to hear this new Tori Amos material (I also love the blurb about Tori‘s work on The Light Princess musical — something else to look forward to) … as I said, it’s been far too long already.

[Source]

David Beckham, who recently spent some alone time with his sons in SoCal while their mother was working in the UK, has made his way down to New Zealand this week in order to participate in a LA Galaxy friendly soccer match in Aukland this coming Saturday. You may recall that Becks and the rest of the Galaxy played a similar friendly match in New Zealand last December as well. Here are pics of Becks‘s arrival in New Zealand earlier today:

[David Beckham] pressed noses with a number of locals, a traditional greeting known as a ‘hongi’, as he arrived at the city’s airport. Hundreds of fans turned out to see the Los Angeles Galaxy star, who is in town for an Oceania selection in a friendly in Auckland on Saturday. He touched down in New Zealand at 5.30am local time looking travel weary, standing quietly among teammates as a group of indigenous Maori performed a traditional welcoming ceremony. Beckham and the Galaxy played in New Zealand last December, drawing a crowd of more than 32,000 to their match against the Wellington Phoenix A-League side in Wellington. The hype surrounding that visit drew more than 15,000 fans to watch a Galaxy training session, and Beckham’s every move and utterance was reported in detail by local media, or by fans in internet chatrooms. Beckham mania reached such a pitch that one fan offered the remnants of a meal consumed by the football superstar – including a single french fry – on an auction Web site and attracted enthusiastic bidders. Anticipation of Beckham’s second visit has been more subdued and ticket sales for Saturday’s match have been sluggish. Local media recently reported around 15,000 tickets were sold at a stadium which holds 32,000. Organizers said ticket sales were expected to gain pace in coming days. The Oceania team will include former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich and former France international Christian Karembeu.

Man, there really appears to be no off-season in professional soccer. The MLS soccer season has been over for months now and yet, Becks and the Galaxy still have much work to do. If you consider that once these friendly matches are finished, Becks is off to Italy to play professional soccer there for the months leading up to the new MLS soccer season. David Beckham may get paid a shizzload of money for what he does but it sounds like he’s working almost 24/7 all year long. I love how Becks always has a smile on his face … I’m sure the folks who wait hours to see him in person really appreciate that. Good luck down there, you guys! I’ll be rootin’ for ya!!

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Celebs of varying types and degrees made their way out to the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, CA last night to attend the 4th annual Road To A Cure Gala. This year, the Board of Governors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center honored TV/radio personality Ryan Seacrest (I’m not sure for what purpose he was honored but he was honored nonetheless) which resulted in last night’s celebratory gala. Newlyweds Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt were in the hiz last night for Seacrest‘s big night and, lo and behold, they showed up on the red carpet wearing interestingly-looking rings on their wedding fingers … check it out:

You may recall that yesterday we got to see photos of Speidi upon arrival back in SoCal from their Mexican holiday where the couple reportedly got married … in those photos, the happily married were NOT wearing wedding rings. It looks like one of the first things that the couple did after getting home was to rush out and get a pair of almost matching rings … with little charms on them or something. It’s an interesting look, I’ll give them that. Simple platinum bands from Tiffany’s or Zales would’ve been nice, too … but, whatevs. I do love that Spencer had time to rush out and get some rings but did not have the time to squeeze in a haircut ;) In any event, it looks like it’s full-steam ahead for Mr. & Mrs. Speidi. I wonder if it’s too late to send wedding gifts. What sort of gifts would YOU like to send to the newlyweds?

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Britney Spears was on hand last evening to help the City of New York light the Xmas tree at Rockefeller Center for a pre-taped event that will air on the live TV special featuring Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx and more on NBC tonight. As you may recall, Britney got her day off to an early start yesterday when she appeared on Good Morning America in the early AM and it looks like she just kept on going. Here are a few pics of Britney (looking absolutely gorgeous) taping a segment at the Rockefeller Center New York City Tree Lighting Ceremony event last night and some info on the NBC special that airs later on tonight:

Rockefeller Center is about to get a lot brighter. On Wednesday evening, the 76th Christmas tree-lighting ceremony will be held in midtown. The eight-ton 72-foot Norway spruce will be illuminated at 8:58 p.m. in the center’s plaza near the skating rink and the gilded statue depicting Prometheus bringing fire to mankind. The tree, which is 40 feet round, has been decorated with 30,000 energy-efficient LED lights on 5 miles of wire, topped with a massive crystal star. It was donated by the Varanyak family in Hamilton Twp., N.J. Beyonce, Tony Bennett, Harry Connick, Jr., and Jamie Foxx are among the entertainers scheduled to perform. While the first official lighting was in 1933, the first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was put up two years earlier during the Depression in the mud by workers building the Art Deco complex. Among those expected to attend the ceremony is a Pascagoula, Miss., family whose new home was built in part with lumber from last year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, an 84-foot-tall Norway spruce. Tracey Davison and her four young daughters were displaced by Hurricane Katrina. They had moved into their first apartment just two days before the storm nearly destroyed their neighborhood near the Gulf Coast. Subsequently, Davison, a 40-year-old assistant teacher, and her daughters, with a few suitcases and bags in tow, lived in a friend’s home, at her brother’s, in a docked cruise ship and a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer. Then Davison and Ashunti, 10, Nylah, 9, Majsa, 8, and Karly, 4, were chosen to receive a new Habitat for Humanity home that former President Jimmy Carter, among others, helped build, Davison said. The three-bedroom baby blue home was finished in September and the family moved in a couple of weeks ago. Davison says she pays a “very affordable” mortgage. Lumber from last year’s Rockefeller Center tree was used to build two-by-fours that were placed in the walls and floors in the home’s living room, Davison said. “It’s kinda like Christmas before Christmas,” Davison said after arriving in New York City. “It was a dream come true. We’re very very excited to be in the house.”

Aww … it sounds like a really great event this year. I’m glad that Britney was able to be a part of it (methinks that Brit Brit will be flying back to SoCal sometime today, which is why she won’t be on the live special tonight — I understand that she will be appearing live on The Ellen DeGeneres Show tomorrow, tho). I managed to make my way up to Rockefeller Center Monday afternoon and I got to see the massive unlit tree. The tree and the ice skating are two of the most beloved Xmas traditions that NYC has to offer … at this point, it really is beginning to look a lot like Xmas. OY!

[Photo credit: Splash News, Source]

Kevin Federline, with his two young sons Sean Preston and Jayden James, is featured on the cover of this week’s issue of People magazine wherein the former dancer/rapper/husband “breaks his silence” in order to tell “his side of the story” in response to the press that ex-wife Britney Spears has been getting lately. On the one hand, I think it was very gentlemanly for K-Fed to hold off on telling “his side of the story” until Britney was ready to talk to the press about her life but on the other hand, I can’t help but feel that this People magazine coverstory is a gentle reminder that he is out there and that we should be aware of that fact. Here is this week’s cover of People magazine with K-Fed and boys and a portion from the coverstory interview:

Kevin Federline has been called many things in the nearly five years since Britney Spears walked into his life: boy toy, gold-digger, wannabe rapper, partier. These days he answers to one name: Daddy. Since splitting with Spears in 2006 – and then watching in fear as she went through her very public breakdown – the former backup dancer, 30, has channeled all of his energy into their sons Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2. Now that Spears, 27, is getting her life back on track, they’re sharing parenting duties again – and Federline is ready to tell his side of the story exclusively to PEOPLE.

Do you remember when you first met Britney?
I met her at a club in Hollywood, Joseph’s. Our eyes met and that was it. We just hit it off right away. I learned real fast how much of a whirlwind the press and everything was.

What are your happiest memories of the marriage?
Well, getting married. I never thought that I would get married but it wound up happening. That was a really, really, happy, exciting moment. I pretty much realized that I was giving my life to her, and I was doing it without question.

What went wrong?
It’s hard enough to be in a marriage, and then have a kid, then kids, it changes everything. For me, I’d become more concerned with my children. Not that I ignored Britney, but my kids are always most important … I mean, we were having complications. I didn’t give her an ultimatum, but I was trying to work stuff out with her, and she didn’t even talk to me or anything and went behind my back and filed [for divorce]. [I was] completely blindsided.

A lot of people assumed you fought for custody of the kids because of money.
My first question to [my lawyer] was, “Am I ever going to be able to see my children?” I told him that I would spend every last dime that I had to make sure that my children are okay. That’s all that mattered. I didn’t know how much power Britney had. That really scared me.

How did you react in January when Britney locked herself in the bathroom with Jayden and was later taken to the hospital on a gurney?
That whole night is a blur. You want to talk about one of my lowest points of depression, that was probably one of them. I was very, very worried for her ’cause I care about her. That’s the mother of my children. Just because I’m not in love with her doesn’t mean that I don’t love her. I’m definitely rooting for her. There’s nothing more that I want than for her to be in the best health and doing what she loves to do.

Are things getting better?
Oh, man, it’s totally turning around. It works out that [the kids] get to see her. There’s structure over there, there’s structure at my house. We’re trying to keep the same type of schedule. It doesn’t have to be completely perfect, but the foundation is there.

Again, I still contend that K-Fed really stepped up and was there for his children, Sean P and Jayden James, when they needed him most and I have no doubt that he is an amazing father to those boys. BUT, it should be noted that K-Fed has two older children with his first babymama Shar Jackson and, when talking about how devoted a father he is, we don’t usually hear about those kids. K-Fed‘s first child Kori (who is now 6) was already a toddler when Shar got pregs with their second child Kaleb (who is now 4) … which was around the time that K-Fed left them to be with Britney. It strikes me as odd that Kevin would want to be portrayed as such a doting father but chooses to exclude his other children from this touching piece. I will say this for the man, he really seems to have grown up and matured a lot. Just like Britney has made great strides in taking control of her life, so has Kevin. For me, tho, this notion of K-Fed being a savior father would ring with more validity if he included his eldest children — the ones not born of a superfamous popstar — in the tale.

[Source]