Something truly timeless is in the air, and it is the imminent return of the ever-gorgeous (and immensely talented) Grace Jones!

Last week on Friday, June 20, Jones performed a full set of her songs as part of the annual Meltdown Festival held at London's historic Southbank Centre in London, England. For those of you who don't know, Meltdown is a yearly event combining art, music, performance and film. The festival is usually helmed by a guest director – or curator – who is given the singular opportunity to oversee his/her own festival, revealing many of their influences in the process. Notable past curators have included Elvis Costello, Morrissey and David Bowie. This year's festival was helmed by none other than Bristol's own, Massive Attack!

But, back to Grace!

Jones' set spanned the girth of her groundbreaking career – from her über-brilliant Studio 54 disco days – to her highly innovative 1980s years, which saw her appealingly combine the then-emergent aesthetic of the New Wave with the brilliant reggae stylings of Sly and Robbie Dunbar. Grace also offered up some choice moments from her forthcoming album, Corporate Cannibal, which she stated will be out in September. By all accounts, the show was thrilling from start to finish!

This constitutes Grace Jones second appearance at Meltdown; the singer performed at the 2007 edition at the request of that year's curator, Jarvis Cocker. Interestingly, this was at an event concert paying homage to the songs of Walt Disney; Jones performed "Trust In Me" from The Jungle Book

Yes, children – Grace is PERFECT, and she's BACK!

Categories: Grace Jones; Massive Attack; Meltdown festival; David Bowie; Elvis Costello; Trevor Horn; Morrissey

George Carlin – cherished comic legend and counterculture hero – passed away Sunday, June 22 of heart failure. He was 71.

Carlin had a history of pushing the boundaries of verbal comedy in his long and brilliant career and is revered alongside the late Lenny Bruce and the late Richard Pryor as an unequaled master of so-called "blue humor". Indeed, much of George's mid-2000s routines focused on various topical issues in contemporary American culture, among them: consumerism, obsession with fame and/or celebrity, parenting, Christianity (and organized religion in general), patriotism and sexual taboos. George Carlin's passing is made all the more tragic by the fact that all of these issues have since become all the more pressing.

George Carlin appeared on 14 HBO specials, released 23 comedy albums and won four Grammys for Best Spoken Word Comedy Album. He also had the singular distinction of being the first-ever host of NBC's Saturday Night Live, which debuted in October of 1975.

Aria mourns the passing of this brilliant man. George Carlin – via his art and the uncompromising style with which he exercised it – made us think. More – he made us QUESTION! The man will be sorely missed....

Categories: George Carlin; Richard Pryor; Lenny Bruce; blue humor