A Taste:

Muse, Led Zeppelin, Blondie, Black Eyed Peas

Tina Parol likes to rock.

She makes delightfully catchy pop with a serious dose of rock n’ roll swagger on her debut EP, Bite My Tongue. It’s that edge that makes Tina’s music so sharp and unique. Looking at her playlist though, the rock and roll leanings are not a surprise!

Tina’s got a real appreciation for classic rock and modern alt rock, and it shows on her iTunes. She shared her playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive interview. Check it out below and get Bite My Tongue now!

1. Aerosmith

2. Led Zeppelin

3. Blondie

4. The Clash

5. The Police

I grew up on everything from Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin to Blondie and The Clash to the Police. I’m a big, big classic rock fan. That’s my shit.

6. Green Day

7. Garbage

8. Foo Fighters

My taste in rock spans all the way to Green Day, Garbage, Foo Fighters and all of that stuff. I definitely listen to a lot of rock, but I have a big love of reggae. I think that’s where my rhythmic edge comes into play. My music definitely has a big pop rock sound with a little reggae sprinkled on top—sometimes it’s just the way I pronounce something or a lyric. I try to incorporate that because it makes me happy.

9. Muse

I like the new Muse record a lot. I think they’re really cool.

10. Black Eyed Peas

I’ve been listening to a lot of Black Eyed Peas because they’re just so fun. It makes me feel very L.A. I’m so New York, and in New York, I listen to dark shit—back in my element. Will.i.am’s the shit though!

—Rick Florino
11.09.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Phoenix, Metric, Muse, Cage the Elephant

“I’ve got some pretty interesting stuff going on in my world right now,” says Dead By Sunrise and Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington with a smile.

Not only did he just release one of the best rock albums of the year, Dead By Sunrise’s Out of Ashes, Chester has spent a fair amount of time spinning his favorite acts for inspiration.

Dead By Sunrise mixes the ethereal whimsy of Depeche Mode with Alice In Chains‘ raw vitality for a sound that’s undeniably badass. It’s definitely an amalgam of many different styles, but, most importantly, it’s personal, real and refreshing.

While on the set for Dead By Sunrise’s next video, “Let Down,” Chester sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about his playlist. Check it out below and be sure to pick up Dead By Sunrise’s Out of Ashes, available everywhere now!

Don’t miss them when they play your town either!

Chester Bennington’s Playlist:

1. Phoenix — Wolgang Amadeus Phoenix

I really like the new Phoenix album!

2. Metric — Fantasies

I like the new Metric record a lot. It’s really, really good.

3. The Dead Weather — Horehound

This really grew on me!

4. Cage the Elephant

They made an amazing record as well.

5. Manchester Orchestra

There is a lot of really great music out right now.

6. The Airborne Toxic Event

Airborne Toxic Event made one of the best records of the year. Talk about a storyteller, that guy can write lyrics! I feel the same way about Rise Against. Those guys are always making great records. The lyrics are amazing. That’s what’s going on in my world right now.

7. Rise Against

8. Muse

Muse is one of my favorite bands, and they keep getting higher on my list. They may now be my favorite band of all time. Hearing their records is amazing, but when you go see them live you’re like, “I had no idea that it was this badass. I didn’t realize I was going to walk out of here with a broken face.” They’re a band that can play with anybody, and I really enjoy that.

—Rick Florino
10.20.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Santogold, Devil Doll, Kings of Leon, Muse

How do you join Sorority Row’s exclusive club?

“Initiation was—Can you salsa dance?” laughs Jamie Chung.

Audrina Patridge adds, “The first night I got there we all went salsa dancing, and we bonded right away. We were very lucky to have such a great cast. It was a great balance with the humor and horror. It was an incredible experience! They made it look like I was actually stabbed. They made this incision that look so real, and I was walking around with this huge hole in my chest with blood everywhere [Laughs].”

Sorority Row has it all. It’s got its fair share of scares and laughs, and Audrina and Jamie had a hand in both. However, they weren’t just listening to salsa music on set. Audrina and Jamie shared their playlists with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature.

Check out their playlists below and in this exclusive video and catch Sorority Row in theaters on September 11!

Jamie Chung’s Playlist:

1. Santogold

2. Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs

Jamie: I’m kind of obsessed with Santogold and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Audrina Patridge’s Playlist:

1. Santogold

2. Devil Doll

3. Muse

4. Kings of Leon

Audrina: I love Santogold. Devil Doll is actually really good. It’s very jazzy and burlesque, yet rock n’ roll. Muse’s new album comes out soon, and I’m excited about that. I like Kings of Leon too!

Jamie: They’re just so hot [Laughs].

Audrina: I’ve actually seen them a couple of times!

—Rick Florino
09.07.09

A Taste:

Muse, Alice In Chains, Deftones, Pantera

Devildriver conjure a catchy cacophony of guttural grooves, double bass dementia and searing solos. It’s a heavy metal formula that’s impenetrable and strangely infectious. Right now, the band is finishing their hotly anticipated fourth epic, Pray for Villains, due out summer 2009 on Roadrunner Records.

However, while at Fangoria Weekend of Horrors, guitarist Jeff Kendrick talked to us about what he’s currently spinning for our playlist feature. He delved into some other inspirations too!

“Heat is one of my favorite movies ever, and I’ll always go back to that. However, my musical taste is all over the place, and that shows in my playing,” said Jeff. “We’re a band that a lot of people who don’t necessarily love metal can listen to. We’re catchy and we write songs that display technical proficiency at the same time. Our fans know we’re not going to let them down. We’ve stuck around.”

There’s no doubt they’ll be around for a long time to come too. Check out Jeff’s playlist below and get ready for Villains this summer.

Jeff Kendrick’s Playlist:

1. Muse — Absolution

“I just bought Absolution, and I’ve been listening to that a lot.”

2. Devildriver — Pray for Villains

“I’ve been cranking our new record non-stop because we’re going over mixes now. It sounds amazing.”

3. Guns ‘N Roses — Chinese Democracy

“I listen to Chinese Democracy all the time. The guitar playing is incredible!”

4. Alice In Chains

“I don’t feel like there’s anything coming out that’s going to really surpass the bands I’ve loved forever. Getting into music at a certain age, certain bands will seem more magical because you were in that moment. Alice is one of them along with Pantera.”

5. Pantera

6. Metallica — Death Magnetic

7. Deftones — White Pony

8. Lamb of God — Wrath

—Rick Florino
04.19.09