Pop Quiz: Katharine McPhee

Pop Quiz: Katharine McPhee

Aidin Vaziri | Some reasons we're excited about this week's arrival of "American Idol" Season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee's self-titled debut album: (1) Even though she lost on the show, she won our hearts. (2) The album was supposed to come out in November and, when it didn't, our anticipation level went from 14 to 50. (3) It includes a bunch of songs that aren't "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" or "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree." Hooray!

Katharine McPhee
Q: You know you should have won, right?
A: Oh, you're so sweet! Thank you.
Q: No, really. I personally voted for you 1,834,182 times.
A: Thank you. We'll see how the record does. We're all geared up.
Q: Some people have described the photo on the album cover as "the slut next door." This isn't me. This is the Internet talking.
A: I like the photo. You would never see me on a daily basis walking around in thigh-high boots and a little short dress, but it's sort of an eye-catcher. It's like, "Wait a minute: Who's that? That's the girl we saw in the long gowns on 'Idol.' "
Q: You're putting it all out there.
A: That's as much as I want to put out there. The thing I like about the photo is that it's suggestive and racy but not really showing any skin. That's what I'm all about.

Review: Paolo Nutini

Review: Paolo Nutini

Paolo Nutini 'These Streets': Aidin Vaziri | He's got great lips. And because he's got great lips -- just like Mick Jagger and Ian McCulloch -- you want everything else about Paolo Nutini to be great. He's almost there. Not quite, but closer than most 19-year-olds, what with a rough-hewn rock 'n' roll rasp that fits his scratchy Faces-inspired soul-pop like a pair of old 517s and a cache of songs on his debut album that bustle with surprising urgency. The half-Italian, half-Scottish songwriter swaggers with as much casual confidence on the disc's rocking opener, "Jenny, Don't Be Hasty," as he does on its knockout ballads like "Last Request" and "Rewind." If he's not careful, he could easily turn into the next James Blunt. Not that that would be so awful.

On The Road: NOFX

On The Road: NOFX

Forever Punk: Aidin Vaziri | For their latest tour, which started sometime last year and continues well into the next, the members of NOFX decided to go to all the countries they've never been to before. Not necessarily countries where the long-standing San Francisco punk band sells any albums, just countries it's never been to before, such as Peru, Israel, Thailand, Argentina and Singapore. How has it been so far? "It's been amazing and it's been disastrous," says the group's singer Mike Burkett, a decidedly average-size man who is better known as Fat Mike. "We had two different shows where riot cops shut us down. I played in a hotel lobby once because our show was canceled. We played a tennis court at a country club in Ecuador. We played to 20,000 people in Brazil." Fortunately, a film crew has documented the journey, and a DVD will be released sometime next year. But local fans don't have to wait that long. They can get a live preview when NOFX plays three consecutive sold-out shows at Slim's this week, beginning Tuesday.

Pop Quiz: Grandmaster Flash

Pop Quiz: Grandmaster Flash

Aidin Vaziri | We knew Van Halen, R.E.M. and Patti Smith were sure things. But it was a bit of a shock to see that Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five made the list of this year's inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The hip-hop pioneers had been turned away twice before, despite the enduring popularity of their hits "The Message" and "White Lines." But thanks to an unexpected moment of clarity, Flash (born Joseph Saddler) and his former crew will hold court as the first rap act in the hall. We spoke to the New York DJ, 49, who hosts the weekly "Flash Mash" show on Sirius Satellite Radio, about the forthcoming ceremony, which will take place March 12 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

Grandmaster Flash
Q: Can you believe they put you in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ahead of Journey?
A: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, like, if I were to paint a mental picture, was this incredible castle way far, far away. And I picture this castle having three moats with alligators and sharks. You can see it, but you can't go in.
Q: Knowing how much the board loves Tom Petty, what other hip-hop acts do you think they're realistically going to let in?
A: Kurtis Blow is a possibility. Sugarhill Gang is a possibility. I want to see people like KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J.
Q: It's not going to happen. We'll be lucky to get MC Hammer.
A: I hear what you're saying. I'm just giving you my wish list.
Q: I'm just surprised they let you in.
A: Me, too! I thought no way that is going to happen. Everybody who went in was either a vocalist or a musician. I'm the only DJ. I'm one of a kind. Whatever else happens after this, I was the first oddball in there.

Review: Lee Hazlewood

Review: Lee Hazlewood

Lee Hazlewood 'Cake or Death': Aidin Vaziri | He has a way of making even dying sound like fun. Facing a losing battle with cancer, Lee Hazlewood is throwing himself a great wake on his album "Cake or Death." At 77, the gravel-voiced outlaw most famous for the hits he wrote and produced for Nancy Sinatra doesn't sound remotely gloomy. Instead, he celebrates an eventful life with a mix of wit, wisdom and weirdness. He offers barbed social commentary, sings duets with a Swedish jazz singer and a German actor, jams with his protege Duane Eddy, drops in a couple of cartoonish Western ballads and then finds time to revisit his classics. Alongside a dusty version of "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," he's got his 8-year-old granddaughter, Phaedra, singing "Some Velvet Morning." In the end, he can't resist a quick tug on the heartstrings: "Have you seen the old man?" Hazlewood growls. "He's ready to go."

Live Review: Justin Timberlake

Live Review: Justin Timberlake

With a show like this you don't need a movie-star girlfriend: Aidin Vaziri | He left nothing to chance. There was an enormous in-the-round stage with lasers shooting out of it, half-naked dancers hanging off all corners, dueling live bands on either side, burly back-up singers hovering over the crowd, even a virtual orchestra and gospel choir beamed onto the massive curtains suspended above his head. All that was missing was a unicorn pulling a golden chariot full of rose petals. Just in case that didn't cover it, Timberlake proved the law of physics that a superstar in motion stays in motion. Sprinting from one end of the floor to the other, he was a tireless showman, pausing only for impressive stints behind the piano, guitar and, yes, the wildly maligned keytar. He even sang a snippet of the Commodores' "Easy" to make all the parents checking their watches in the back jump up and down for a little bit. Dressed in a gray three-piece suit, Timberlake knocked out an extraordinary procession of hits early in the evening ("Like I Love You," "My Love," "Senorita") and seemed to have plenty more to dish out after he slipped into something a little more comfortable ("Rock Your Body," "Damn Girl," 'N Sync's "Gone"). It was kind of hard to believe he covered so much ground with just two solo albums. Then again, anyone smart enough to take what Prince, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder were doing back in the day and put a modern twist on it is bound to surprise. And sell billions.

Pop Quiz: Dionne Warwick

Pop Quiz: Dionne Warwick

Aidin Vaziri | Dionne Warwick. She's Burt Bacharach and Hal David's cool, high-cheekboned muse and the no-nonsense voice behind classics such as "What the World Needs Now Is Love" and "Walk on By." This year, the former gospel singer from New Jersey celebrates 45 years in show business with a biographical set that covers the length of her storied singing career, from the early days to later hits such as Barry Gibb's "Heartbreaker" and '80s charity single "That's What Friends Are For."

Dionne Warwick
Q: You might not realize it, but we've actually met before. I was in the third row when Boy George was on "Solid Gold" and you put your hand on my shoulder.
A: Oh, dear. Wonderful.
Q: I also called the Psychic Friends Network once, but that probably doesn't count. Do you regret doing that?
A: Not at all. If you look on TV today, it's all you see.
Q: It's the second most popular infomercial of all time.
A: Not only that, every TV show is based on it. I, again, was the first to open that door.
Q: They even have animal psychic shows.
A: I know. It's an ongoing saga. That's quite all right. My shoulders are pretty broad.

10 Pop Discoveries For 2007

10 Pop Discoveries For 2007

Paolo Nutini He's a 19-year-old Scot of Italian descent with perfect lips, gorgeously disheveled hair and a dynamic, soulful rasp that has made his sexed-up first album, "These Streets," an international hit. Yes, please.

Silversun Pickups This scruffy Los Angeles quartet has already scored a left-field radio hit with "Lazy Eye," appeared on "The Late Show With David Letterman" and picked up seven nominations for the 2007 Plug Independent Music Awards. Up next: They go on tour with Snow Patrol and, hopefully, make enough money to buy shampoo.

Lily Allen Trash-talking 21-year-old British pop sensation Allen has topped the charts back home with a ska-infused No. 1 single, "Smile," and best-selling album, "Alright, Still." After a few exploratory club dates, she's finally ready to properly do America. But is America ready to do her?

Gym Class Heroes A New York hip-hop band with a difference, Gym Class Heroes forgo samples for live instruments and they aren't afraid of being laughed off the block for writing songs such as "Cupid's Chokehold." The Warped Tour veterans are currently signed to Fall Out Boy Pete Wentz's label, Decaydance, which is a good thing. It seemed to work out pretty well for Panic! at the Disco.

The Horrors The members of this macabre London band dress like crypt-keepers, have cool names (Coffin Joe, Spider Webb) and play noisy two-minute garage-punk songs with brilliant titles like "Sheena Is a Parasite." Another reason to love them: MTV has banned their video.

Katharine McPhee Despite some wonky song choices and seriously bad advice from the on-set stylist, everyone knows McPhee should have owned the most recent season of "American Idol." For her debut album, the accident-prone runner-up promises a combination of Streisand, Celine and the Pussycat Dolls. How could that possibly go wrong?

Shiny Toy Guns These MySpace heroes are currently riding the heavy buzz behind their electro-pop major-label debut, "We Are Pilots." Better yet, Internet conspiracy theorists believe that singer Carah Charnow is the actual voice heard on Paris Hilton's album, "Paris."

Brand New Recovering emo-rockers turn up the amps and wring out the tears on the new album "The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me." With a title like that, how could the soundtrack cause anything less than a minor furror?

Calle 13 In the hands of this frenzied Puerto Rican duo, Reggaeton sounds vital and fun. Who would have thought? The half-brothers just swept the Latin Grammys. The real ones can't be that far behind.

The Good, the Bad and the Queen Not one for a quiet holiday in Barbados with a good book, Blur/Gorillaz mastermind Damon Albarn returns with his latest project, which also includes former Clash bassist Paul Simonon, ex-Verve guitarist Simon Tong and Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen. Think it will sound insane much?

Pop Quiz: Albert Hammond Jr.

Pop Quiz: Albert Hammond Jr.

Aidin Vaziri | The member of the Strokes with the best hair has just released a solo album, "Yours to Keep." Now guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. is hitting the road with Incubus, as he incongruously supports the platinum rock act on its winter tour with his unexpectedly sweet folk-pop tunes (which are not too far removed from the 1970s hits by his father, Albert Hammond Sr., such as "It Never Rains in Southern California" and "The Free Electric Band").

Albert Hammond Jr.
Q: You're going on tour with Incubus. How? Why?
A: Well, they called and offered, and I thought that was amazing.
Q: But your music doesn't sound remotely like the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
A: I think opening bands should be different from the main band. The only way I would ever reach Incubus fans is by playing in front of their crowd.
Q: Will you get a dolphin tattoo on your belly button?
A: No.
Q: How else do you expect to win over Incubus fans?
A: I don't think copying people helps. They'll either want to like me or want to hate me. Either way, it's OK. I get to go around America for five weeks and play some great venues with a great band that's really nice. I feel pretty lucky.

Review: Ron Sexsmith, Diana Ross

Review: Ron Sexsmith, Diana Ross

Ron Sexsmith 'Time Being': Aidin Vaziri | Ron Sexsmith missed his big pop moment years ago -- when Coldplay's Chris Martin was singing on his albums, David Gray was opening his shows and Elvis Costello was dropping his name. That doesn't mean the Canadian singer-songwriter has stopped making unreasonably good music. His 10th album, "Time Being," is full of the wry observations, late-night ruminations and somber melodies fans have come to depend on. While Mitchell Froom's industrial-strength production doesn't always serve Sexsmith's warm voice best, coming-of-middle-age songs like "I Think We're Lost" and "The Grim Trucker" are full of light and shade, with thoughtful nods to the Beatles and Bob Dylan. Besides, Sexsmith is not entirely a lost cause -- Kiefer Sutherland co-owns his new label.

Diana Ross 'I Love You': Aidin Vaziri | The success of "Dreamgirls" has put Diana Ross back on the public's mind. Even though the film offers a highly fictionalized take on her storied career with the Supremes, it's better than the attention the 62-year-old singer was getting in the tabloids earlier in the decade. She's already sought out personal rehabilitation; now it's time to do the same for her career. With "I Love You," her first new studio album in more than seven years, Ross (left at Cupertino's Flint Center in 2004) is banking on the patented Rod Stewart Formula for Comeback Success: Cover every easy-listening standard under the sun and hope that one sticks. The first shock is her voice, no longer the honeyed purr that gave us classics such as "Where Did Our Love Go?" and "Love Hangover." Now it rumbles along like Marianne Faithfull's eight-packs-a-day croak. Then there is the horror of hearing Ross resign herself to karaoke versions of infernal waiting-room ballads such as "You Are So Beautiful" and "Always and Forever." And her version of Berlin's '80s prom anthem "Take My Breath Away"? No thanks. But the queen of Motown hasn't lost it entirely. She glides through Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" with expected grace and offers up a spellbinding version of Burt Bacharach's "The Look of Love" before delivering the disc's shining moment, a sun-streaked spin on Bill Withers' "Lovely Day." As with her life, a little more quality control would have gone a long way.