Review: Lady A delivers another winning collection (AP)

By MICHAEL McCALL, For The Associated Press Michael Mccall, For The Associated Press – Mon Sep 12, 1:21 pm ET

Lady Antebellum, "Own The Night" (Capitol Nashville)

At a time when young country stars typecast themselves into roles that border on caricature — men brag about how rural they are to hard rock beats, women speak of empowerment with an aggressive sneer — Lady Antebellum presents an engaging anomaly steeped in sophistication and subtlety, rather than stereotypes and superficiality.

The trio — Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood — address issues about relationships with an engaging honesty rare in any musical genre. They've been rewarded with multiplatinum, crossover success; their 2009 No. 1 smash "Need You Now" had them winning top awards at the CMAs, ACMs and the Grammys.

Their third album, "Own The Night," doesn't attain the heights of their 2009 album, also titled "Need You Now," but it's a consistently winning collection that plays to their strengths. After an across-the-board success, Lady A could have overthought their next move. Instead, they draw again on their songwriting depth and appealing vocal blend. The group mixes lively songs that don't insult anyone's intelligence with moody narratives that probe the relationship complexities of young adults, as on the album's first hit, "Just A Kiss."

Producer Paul Worley, who previously worked with the Dixie Chicks and Martina McBride, is the perfect foil for the trio. Worley's touch, with lush orchestration and rousing guitars and rhythms, serves the band's talents and themes well. Together, the team represents how country music can use its strengths — songwriting and strong-yet-earthy vocals that explore real-life situations and emotions — in a way that carries universal appeal.

CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: "Wanted You More," a simmering drama about a break up, displays how the band uses piano, strings, drums and voices that whisper and soar to express quiet heartbreak, and an explosive emotional release.

Yahoo! News

Richard Gere to sell guitar collection at auction (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Richard Gere may be best known for his acting career but he is also an accomplished musician who has amassed an extensive guitar collection that will be sold at auction in October, Christie's said on Wednesday.

The star of "Pretty Woman," "An Officer and a Gentleman" and "Chicago," has spent the last 20 years accumulating the collection.

It includes brands such as C.F. Martin, Gibson and Fender and instruments once owned by blues guitarist Albert King, Jamaican reggae musician Peter Tosh and acclaimed American guitar maker James D'Aquisto.

"What transpired over a lifetime is an almost encyclopedic representation of American guitar making," said Kerry Keane, the head of Christie's musical instruments department.

"This is an exciting opportunity for collectors and fans alike to take advantage of Mr. Gere's unrecognized talent for creating a cohesive collection."

The auction in New York on October 11 will contain 110 lots worth approximately $1 million. A 1958 solid-body Gibson Flying V electric guitar once owned by King is expected to sell for up to $90,000.

Another top item is a 1931 C.F. Martin D-28, one of the most coveted Martin designs, which has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.

Gere's collection resulted from a lifelong love of music that began with the trumpet before he taught himself the guitar and piano.

"They have been my true friends through the best and worst of times. I never planned to put together a collection. I just bought ones that I liked, the ones that sounded good and played well," Gere said in a statement.

"Some are very special. Although it's more than a little painful to let them go, each one has been played, loved and appreciated - and will be again."

Gere said proceeds of the auction will go to support humanitarian causes around the world.

(Writing by Paula Rogo; edited by Patricia Reaney)

Yahoo! News

Fearne Cotton's new High Summer collection campaign

Posted by heatworld 07 April 2011 15:02

Tags: Fearne Cotton

When Fearne Cotton launched her new High Summer collection for Very.co.uk a couple of weeks ago she gave us a taster of just how good her latest line is by rocking up in a cute peter pan-collared shift dress. The Radio One DJ has now finished shooting the campaign for the range and it is GORGEOUS! Bathed in late afternoon sunshine we see Fearne lounging around an eclectic, vintage-feel flat wearing her best designs yet.

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Christie's to Auction Elizabeth Taylor's Staggering Jewelry Collection

The late Elizabeth Taylor's great passion, her staggering collection of massive diamonds and rare vintage jewels, will be auctioned by famed auction house Christie's, sources told PEOPLE.

While Christie's is refusing to confirm the report and no date has been announced, the mag reports the auction house will disperse the collection valued at more than $150 million.

Taylor speculated before her death that one day her private collection -- said to rival that of some royal households -- would be "scattered around the four corners of the world."

The 79-year-old Academy Award winning actress, who died from congestive heart failure on March 23, had worked with the auction house in the past.

In 2002, Taylor allowed Christie's to host a public exhibition of her jewels, including the famed 33-carat Krupp diamond, the La Preregina Pearl by Cartier and the heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond. That exhibition benefited her signature charity, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
Featuring colored stones such as suites of rubies, rare pearls and diamonds as famous as the actress herself, Taylor's collection is expected to attract great interest to the auction. Interest will surely pique if the sell-off includes pieces such as the Krupp diamond, gifted by her fourth and fifth husband, the late actor Richard Burton.

The actress behind the best-selling White Diamonds fragrance line was said to still wear the Krupp to events as pedestrian as matinee movies, accessorized with jeans, diamond bracelets and an Ed Hardy baseball cap.

Taylor's friend, jeweler Lorraine Schwartz, described the actress's attachment and appreciation to her storied collection: "She

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