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Ocean Colour Scene's seventh album, Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad, bears a title that's far busier and more unpredictable than the music contained within the 13 songs. Like every record they've recorded since their trad rock makeover on their second album, 1996's Moseley Shoals, Hyperactive is a tasteful, well-crafted, earnest collection of classicist rock. A fuzzy bass synthesizer might rear its ugly head on "God's World" and "Move Things Over" may have a vaguely jazzy vibe, but even those tentative makeovers don't change OCS's insistent straight-ahead spin on '70s classic rockers like Traffic and Humble Pie. While they offer few surprises on Hyperactive, they also offer no embarassments, and it's likely that any fan still faithfully buying records nearly a decade after Moseley Shoals will enjoy this record, but those who drifted away sometime after 1997's Marchin' Already won't find much reason to come back to the fold. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
XM Radio aiming for the fences
Satellite service is giving away free radio receiver to every attendee of first game of World Series in Chicago Saturday.
In its ongoing satellite radio battle with Sirius for both content and customers, XM Radio is hoping for a home run by giving away a free radio receiver--or at least a coupon for one--to everyone who attends the first game of the Major League Baseball 2005 World Series Saturday.
The game, pitting the host Chicago White Sox against the Houston Astros, will take place at US Cellular Field in Chicago. Every fan attending the game will receive a coupon for the new Delphi XM RoadyXT satellite radio, which has a suggested retail price of $79.99.
Fans will be able to redeem the coupons online. Those who redeem the coupons wil then have to pony up $12.95 per month for XM's service, however.
The giveaway is a tie-in to the fact that the 2005 World Series is the first time baseball's 102-year-old fall classic will be broadcast live on satellite radio.
"XM raised the bar for Major League Baseball coverage by giving fans across the country every game, all season long," said Howard Jacobs, XM's senior vice president of strategic partnership marketing, in a statement. "We want every fan at the first game of the World Series to experience XM Satellite Radio for themselves."
If the World Series goes to a fifth game, XM will do the same giveaway for that game, to be held at Houston's Minute Maid Park.
XM says its customer base has doubled in the past year to more than 5 million subscribers.
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