She's a Survior: Aimee Allen Releases New Music

Aimee Allen has slowly been preparing her fans for a new listening experience. Songs like "I'm Here' and "Little Happiness" played on her MySpace page alongside more aggressive tracks like "Revolution" and "Miss America." Now, it's out with the old (though we'll still play them constantly) and in with three new revitalizing tracks.



"Change in Weather," "On Vacation" and "God Talks" show Allen took the positive road after her public breakup with Unwritten Law frontman and one-time musical collaborator, Scott Russo. Through the new tunes, she breathes light into her life and embarks on an exciting journey. Listeners will surely be able to relate. There's a feeling of freedom that just takes you away with her.

On Scott & Aimee tunes, Allen's lyrics suggested she was a "beautiful trainwreck." It's great to see she's survived the pain and binges and her train has taken the high road. We can't wait to see what comes next.



Listen now at www.myspace.com/aimeeallen

Catch her at SXSW:

Mar 18 2009 2:30P Darwin’s Pub @ the Red Gorilla

Mar 19 2009 4:30P The Thirsty Nickel @ the Red Gorilla



* By Joelle, who couldn't choose just one photo to post, so she used them all.

This Girl Rocks- Nicole Atkins

There's a voice in my head and it keeps singing sweet songs. I hear it when I wake up and sometimes it comes to me throughout the course of the day. When this happens I must put on "Neptune City" by Nicole Atkins. Afterall, it's her beautiful, powercharged vocals that welcomely haunt me, and probably everyone else who has become addicted to her music.



Like most of the Planet Verge staff, Atkins is a Jersey girl. The one regret I have about this is that I never really gave her a second thought while she was up-an-coming in the Asbury Park scene. It's weird because I always knew her name, and being a publicist for so many of the NJ locals (Val Emmich, Hero Pattern, The Parlor Mob, Perfuma, Readymade Breakup, etc.) and running a NJ-based fanzine for six years, you'd think I'd be at a show with Nicole Atkins on the bill. But I swear, it never happened. So even though I may be a little late on the bandwagon, I still take pride in our shared roots. When my fiance happened to catch her at Maxwells and came home raving, I knew it was time to take the initiative and get my hands on a CD.

Lately, I've taken a keen interest in female vocalists. In particular, songs like "Bad News" by Aimee Allen and "I'm Not Cool" by Sohodolls became instant favorites. The jazzy, retro appeal of those songs really got me hooked. And what do you know, Nicole Atkins is a glorius package of jazzy alt. folk rock. Exactly the "more" for which I've been searching. The exact opposite of the songs which I usually listen.

Check her out on www.myspace.com/nicoleatkins, but be warned, the tracks alone don't do her justice. "Neptune City" is an ALBUM. The total package. Something that should be listened to from begining to end. It's only then, that you'll get the full reward.

Tracks to try: "The Way It Is," "Brooklyn's On Fire," & "Love Surreal"

*By Joelle, who is listening to track 6, "Love Surreal," right now.

The Anti-Valentine's video

Valentine's Day is a Hallmark Holiday. Invented for candy, card, flower and jewerly companies to rake in profits from people who feel like they have to prove their love to their significant other.

Real love thrives every day. Between two people privately. I'm in a relationship and we are not going to an expensive dinner tonight, or wasting money on gifts we don't need. We're gonna do what we always do at night- curl up in bed with the dog and watch General Hospital. I'm way more interested in finding out who the "text-message killer" is than I am being seen in public holding someone's hand.

Anyway, today Aimee Allen released her anti-Valentine's video. It's sad to see that Scott and Aimee are no more. But if I've learned anything through life, it's that you have to go through a LOT of pain, heartbreak, tears and drama to get to the person you're meant to be with.

Watch the emotional video below. Her dog is adorable. I think most people are better off with dogs than with a boyfriend or girlfriend. You get unconditional, faithful love and your freedom.....



www.myspace.com/aimeeallen

*by joelle, who wants a to start at farm with rescued dogs

Bad News Is So Good

Just had to drop a quick note and urge you all to go listen to my favorite new song, "Bad News," by Aimee Allen. I'm really digging the 1920's vibe, sorta like "I'm Not Cool," by Sohodolls. Wouldn't be fun if more artists were more adventurous in their sound and jumped outside the box to explore a musical style other than the one that's expected from them?



Aimee wrote this one for the ladies. We can all relate to this one. Well,
actually she wrote it for a TV show pilot, but still. She's got a lot on the horizon, including recording another solo album and writing songs for the film "Pretty Ugly People."



In a few weeks, we'll know if Scott and Aimee's "Miss America" wins the best PUNK song in the Independent Music Awards. Fingers crossed. Go vote here http://www.musiciansatlas.com/pages/imafinalist/ and don't forget to vote for Val Emmich's video while you're there!

Links: www.myspace.com/aimeeallen
www.myspace.com/scottaimee


*Joelle

Got the urge to splurge?

Admit it, it's happened to you. It's happened to the best of us. You're out holiday shopping for friends and family and end up spending half your paycheck on yourself. After all, it was on sale/cheap/there was only one left/you had a bad week and deserve it, etc. And that's just shopping retail. Now onto the Internet and an album you need to buy off it.

You suffered all year long listening to disapointing releases and the same 'ol boring songs on the radio. You owe it to yourself to hear something invigorating. Something that hasn't been done so well since Sonny and Cher. The most romantic unromantic, inspiring and sexy sounds to come from, well, anyone.



Meet Scott and Aimee. Fall in love. They did. You deserve it.

The story goes like a little like this: Scott Russo gained major musical cred fronting the legendary punk-turned-rock band, Unwritten Law. He's known as the "bad boy," with a rep for doing naughty things like lighting up midset while performing onstage at the smoke-free CBGBs (RIP) and pissing off the soundman to the point where he shut the lights off on the band. Meanwhile, Aimee Allen is making a name for herself as a solo artist and scores a gig opening up for Unwritten Law on tour. Aimee met Scott and soon her name was etched into his guitar as "Scott Loves Aimee." Sparks flew and a beautiful side project was born soon after. And boy does it have attitude!

"Scott and Aimee Sitting in a Tree," is their debut album. But don't expect lovely dovey songs here. We'll leave the puke indusing tunes to Jessica Simpson and whoeverher father cons into marrying her next.

Scott and Aimee have lived life on the edge and survived to write about it. Their personalities shine through and capture listeners. With the chorus "I don't want to be your Miss America, I won't be your queen for just one day," the song "Miss America" is an anthem for young women everywhere. Not since Alanis back in '95 has a women singer taken such a powerful stand for womenkind as Aimee Allen. Girls, take notes. Songs like "I'm Not Your Girlfriend," suggest fucking for the fun of it (Sex and The City anyone?) and "Girl With Issues" should help all those little emo girls from slicing their wrists once they see what real pain is.

With various musical styles, from hard rockin' "Good Times" and "Kiss the Gun" to reggae infused "Southern California Kind of Love" and the acoustic "Too Fucked Up (To Be in Love)," the pair are packing in venues, drawing 500 Cali kids (and Mr. Kid Rock and Pamela to shows, but that's another media frenzy). Those of us out East are deprived for now, but at least we have the CD and some really cool merch to get by.

Listen to them here: www.myspace.com/scottandaimee


*By Joelle, who doesn't really like female singers but has a non-lesbian crush on Aimee and has loved Unwritten Law ever since she heard "Teenage Suicide" on a surfing video and listens to "Sitting in a Tree" nonstop.