| CMU Daily - on the inside Monday 22nd May |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Lordi win Eurovision
- Apple counter sue in MP3 player patent dispute
- MIA banned from US
- Single review: Jynxt - The Name
- Killers to come back to London?
- Green Day working on new stuff
- Hilton album put back
- Dixie Chick is unrepentant
- Jacko accuser's mother charged for welfare fraud
- Freddie Garrity dies
- Van Zant has appendix out
- Supreme to undergo heart bypass
- CMU at the Great Escape
- Bertelsmann family may be close to BMG sale
- OfCom participate in Europe wide review of iTrip
- Album review: Champion Kickboxer - Perforations
- Ibiza Rocks the UK
- Smear to join Foo Fighters tour
- Chart update
- Could webcast girl topple bootleg guy?
- This week's Student Radio Chart
- Subshot playlist
- CMU radio show
- Album review: Bernard - Trail Of Tears
- Kooks take swipe at Razorlight
- Katie Melua unsure of herself
- Has Robbie got a girl?
- Britney criticised over parenting skills again
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TOP BIT >>
Welcome to Monday. Not that it's my job to welcome you to Monday, I'm sure Monday has all sorts of personnel to do that. But it is my job to remind you that a new edition of the CMU radio show will go live later today on the CMU Beats website - so, here goes. A new edition of the CMU radio show will go live later today on the CMU Beats website. There, done. As well as all the fab tunes that you will find listed later on in today's Daily (including a second helping of CMU's Kings Of Mash Up), you will also find Chris and Caro talking about MTV Urge, Apple v Creative, the V2 sale, chart stats, the Docklands Arena, The Paddingtons, Guns n Roses, Gnarls Barkley, Borrell, Doherty and lots of blood. To listen to all of this, simply surf on over to http://www.thebeatsbar.co.uk/cmuradio later today, click the play button and listen away. Sorted.
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EVENTS N STUFF>>
*** BRANDS, BANDS & AUDIENCES 7th June 2006, The Waldorf, London
Do you want to secure global brand partnerships? Are you looking at new media as an extra revenue driver? Do you want to meet leading brands, music labels, new media giants, and those with the knowledge to help drive the profile of your music? Emap's one day event - Brands, Bands & Audiences - in association with Kerrang, Audience, Smash Hits, Media & Marketing Europe, In the City, Record Of The Day, Kiss, Magic, Q, and Mojo IS THE ONE PLACE to gain expert advice from all sectors of the industry. Can you afford to miss out? http://www.mandmeurope.com/brandsandbands
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ON AIR>>
TODAY ON TOTALROCK
Lisa is joined tonight by Arch Enemy/Spiritual Beggars bassist Sharlee D'Angelo ('Metal Meltdown', 8-10pm) - she'll also be talking to the people behind the metal documentary 'Louder Than Life' and giving away copies on DVD. Listen live at http://www.totalrock.com.
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RIGHT NOW IN THE CMU BEATS BAR>>
Beats in Brighton
The Brighton Festival is under way, and you can check out CMU's preview of the Carousel singer songwriter festival, plus reviews of other music events taking place at the Festival this year courtesy of our sister title ThreeWeeks in Brighton, all online at http://www.thebeatsbar.co.uk
MySpace Of The Day: The Mexicolas
The main reason I'm nominating The Mexicolas for the honour of being MySpace Of The Day is because I like their name. Actually, that's not quite true. What is quite true is that I did seek out The Mexicolas on the basis of their name. I just liked the way it sounded. Their sound, interestingly, was not quite what I expected. It's mostly what I have a tendency to call 'rocky-rock-rock-rock', a term that will, of course, shortly become an official sub-genre. Some people mistake this relatively specific genre for being heavy stuff, metal or punk, or whatever, but it's not, it's really just my term for things that sound somewhere in the region of 'bonjovidom'. Just go and have a listen, anyway. If you like 'em, these guys have got lots of tour dates coming up, and they're all listed here.
http://www.myspace.com/mexicolas
Read more about our MySpace of the Day right now at http://www.thebeatsbar.co.uk
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LORDI WIN EUROVISION
Monster metal band Lordi have been hailed as heroes in their home country of Finland after winning the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night. The country's president Tarja Halonen sent the band a congratulatory telegram, whilst hundreds of Fins celebrated by taking to the streets of Helskinki to sing, wave flags and honk their horns.
As previously reported, the band had sparked controversy in the run up to Eurovision, with many people in Finland accusing Lordi of being devil worshippers, and fearing that the group would damage the country's reputation in Europe if allowed to appear at Eurovision. It would seem those fears were unfounded, given the ease with which they appear to have captured the imagination of the European voters on Saturday with their rendition of 'Hard Rock Hallelujah'. The band appeared dressed in horror costumes, as is usual, accompanied by a pyrotechnical display.
Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat ran with the headline: "It's official: Hell has frozen over. Finland has won." In the article that followed, the publication wrote: "Years of humiliation, frustration, and 'zero points' were wiped away as the Finnish entry blew everyone off the stage in Athens. When the United Kingdom voters gave Finland 12 points, one knew somehow that nothing would ever be quite the same again."
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen has said that the government will help finance the production of Eurovision when the country hosts it next year. "There are quite a few of us listeners of heavy and rock music, and for once there was the possibility to vote for a piece that differed from the general Eurovision line," he said.
Elsewhere, UK entrant Daz Sampson only made it to nineteenth place, which is not unexpected, given the UK's recent record at the event. He told the BBC: "There were some very good songs in it this year. I thought mine was one of them - obviously Europe didn't agree."
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APPLE COUNTER SUE IN MP3 PLAYER PATENT DISPUTE
Well, we said Apple Computers were unlikely to be looking to settle on this one, and I think we were right because the iPod maker has just countersued Creative Technology in the growing dispute over MP3 player patents.
As previously reported, Singapore based Creative last week launched litigation against Apple claiming that the company's market leader iPod uses an interface that violates their US patent, which they were awarded last year based on a 2001 filing. Based on that patent claim, Creative are looking for the US courts to stop the sale of iPods, and for US customs officials to stop the import of iPods from China, where the music players are currently completed.
Apple have now responded with a lawsuit that claims Creative's MP3 players violate four of their iPod based patents. Creative have responded by telling reporters that they are not aware that their products violate any Apple patents, adding that Apple themselves have never raised such violations in past negotiations between the two companies. Creative spokesman Phil O'Shaughnessy told Bloomberg: "Creative proactively held discussions with Apple in our efforts to explore amicable solutions. At no time during these discussions or at any other time did Apple mention to us the patents it raised in its lawsuit".
As soon as Creative filed their initial lawsuit Apple was expected to fight fire with fire. The consensus is that this dispute will now be fought in the courts, which will be lovely. Well, lovely if you're the kind of person with a music business e-newsletter to fill up each day. Here's to a long drawn out legal battle.
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MIA BANNED FROM US
MIA has been barred by immigration officials from entering the US. The Mercury nominated urban star revealed that she was refused a US visa on her MySpace site, explaining that she was supposed to have been working with Timbaland on her second album, but that she couldn't get in to the US to do so. She writes: "I was mennu work with timber startin' this week... I'm locked out! They won't let me in! Now I'm strictly making my album outside the borders"
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SINGLE REVIEW: Jynxt - The Name (Halo UK Records)
'The Name' is the third single from family orientated rock-hoppers Jynxt. After the usual series of line-up switching came the apparently happy ending: three siblings, spawn of Fleetwood Mac co-founder, Jeremy Spencer, plus mates. 'The Name' is exactly how Jynxt claim to sound: heavy choral riffs, intertwined with electronic beats and instrumental drum and bass, adding epic guitar solos for full effect. Although the result is full and varied, the eclectic use of era specific sounds in such an overly produced clean cut of the track is cringe worthy. Jynxt are probably much more interesting live without a mass of studio-based technologies.
Release Date: 29 May
Press Contact: Hudson PR [all]
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KILLERS TO COME BACK TO LONDON?
The Killers have left a cryptic message on their website hinting that they might move operations to London to continue work on their much-anticipated (by we here at CMU) second album. The band began sessions in their hometown of Las Vegas.
The post read: "We've dripped this town dry. But if destiny's kind there will be other doorbells to ring. London sounds nice. So from stars and stripes to union jacks the freight train keeps on burning. That's the ticket. Godspeed the boys!!!"
Referencing frontman Brandon Flowers' previously reported claim that the new work will be "one of the best albums of the past 20 years", they added: "This very well could be the best website post in 20 years."
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GREEN DAY WORKING ON NEW STUFF
Talking of CMU favourites working on new stuff, Green Day are back to work after a two month holiday, and are starting work on post 'American Idiot' projects. In a statement on their website, the band confirmed as much, saying: "We have started to get together and work on a bunch of cool projects. It is a very creative time for us and we look forward to working on them for the next year or so."
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HILTON ALBUM PUT BACK
A couple of weeks back we started "the countdown to the release of the year" in the CMU Daily. We meant to carry that countdown on throughout May, but to be honest we got a bit sidetracked (what, with the Brighton Festival and all) and forgot. But that's probably just as well, because the "release of the year" has just been put back.
By "release of the year", we were referring, of course, to the "most pointless release of the year", the not at all anticipated debut album from Paris Hilton. Of course that's a little unfair of us, because we've not heard the album, and we never approve of having pre-conceptions here at CMU. And after all, Ms Hilton's debut long player might prove to be a piece of musical genius. Stranger things have happened. I can't think of anything stranger just at the moment, but there must be something.
Anyway, the Paris Hilton album was originally due in early June, put it now looks like it won't be out until September because Paris has decided she wants to include a cover of current chart topper 'Crazy' - possibly the most pointless cover of the year, oops, there I go again.
A 'source' told the Daily Star: "It's just Paris's latest idea and because she shares a label with Gnarls, she thinks that it will all be a piece of cake. The chances of it happening are minute, but everything has to go on pause again while it's all discussed. That means the album won't now be out until about September. It keeps nearly getting finished and then something else happens."
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DIXIE CHICK IS UNREPENTANT
Dixie Chick Natalie Maines, who at one stage apologized for the not-that-controversial anti-Bush comments she made at that London gig back in 2003, now says that she takes the apology back. She told Time Magazine: "I don't feel that way anymore. I don't feel he is owed any respect whatsoever."
As you may remember, Maines told her London audience: "Just so you know, we're ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas," a remark which led to a huge amount of controversy across the pond, with the band receiving death threats, as well as being ostracised by a number of other country stars.
In the same interview, bandmate Emily Robinson said she was worried as soon as she heard what Maines had said that night, and got "hot from my head to my toes." She added: "It wasn't that I didn't agree with her 100 per cent; it was just, 'Oh, this is going to stir something up.'"
The third member of the band, Martie Maguire, added that the controversy had had its benefits: "I'd rather have a small following of really cool people who get it, who will grow with us as we grow and are fans for life, than people that have us in their five-disc changer with Reba McEntire and Toby Keith. We don't want those kinds of fans. They limit what you can do."
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JACKO ACCUSER'S MOTHER CHARGED FOR WELFARE FRAUD
Only music news by tenuous association, but given how much coverage we gave the Michael Jackson trial we might as well run this sort of follow up story. The mother of Jacko's most recent child abuse accuser, Janet Arvizo, has been ordered to stand trial on felony charges of welfare fraud.
The charges relate to evidence of fraudulent welfare applications which were revealed during the high profile court case against the singer. When giving evidence in that case, Arvizo used the Fifth Amendment to avoid questioning about the welfare claims in a bid to not incriminate herself. Following subsequent investigations, she has now been charged on one count of welfare fraud and four counts of perjury by falsely applying for welfare. She was released without bail, having waived her right to a preliminary hearing, and will now appear in court on 21 Jun.
The Associated Press in the US hasn't released Arvizo's name in connection to this story to protect her son - though given that both mother and child gave evidence at one of the most high profile celebrity court cases in recent years, I'm not sure anonymity now is going to help much. Although that said, despite covering the Jacko trial every day for the best part of three months last year, it did take us 5 minutes to remember what his accuser was called!
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FREDDIE GARRITY DIES
Freddie Garrity, the former frontman of Freddie And The Dreamers, has died in hospital at the age of 69. The singer, who had been receiving treatment for circulation problems, passed away on Friday at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor. A resident of Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, Garrity was taken ill whilst on holiday in Wales with his wife Christine.
Freddie And The Dreamers were hugely successful in both the UK and the US back in the sixties with hits such as 'I'm Telling You Now' and 'You Were Made For Me'. Garrity, a former milkman born in Collyhurst in Manchester, started the band in 1959, breaking the group up ten years later to concentrate on solo work. The band reformed again in 1976 and toured for the following twenty five years.
Danny Betesh, his agent for more than forty years, said: "He was so full of life, and full of jokes. Even off stage he was a bundle of fun. He was part of a bunch of lads that really wanted to try and make it. Freddie was a very determined man. They were very, very popular, in the 60s - it was The Beatles, Gerry And The Pacemakers then Freddie And The Dreamers. They were household names."
Garitty was married three times and is survived by four children.
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VAN ZANT HAS APPENDIX OUT
Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Johnny Van Zant has had an emergency operation to remove his appendix. Van Zant was treated at the Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, California, on Thursday last week after seeing a doctor earlier in the day, who discovered that the singer's appendix was inflamed. Manager Ross Schilling said the frontman "had been feeling bad the past couple of days. He had performances Tuesday and Wednesday and sucked it up last night as far as performing with some pain."
The emergency surgery forced the group to cancel three US tour dates over the weekend, and Van Zant is not expected to make the Academy Of Country Music Awards, tomorrow, where he and his brother Donnie are nominated as Duo Of The Year in their capacity as Van Zant.
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SUPREME TO UNDERGO HEART BYPASS
Mary Wilson of The Supremes is to undergo a heart bypass this week after being rushed to hospital suffering from chest pains. Her publicist, Jay Schwarz, said that the 62 year old singer has been in a Las Vegas hospital since Tuesday, and added that she suffers from hereditary high cholesterol.
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CMU AT THE GREAT ESCAPE
DAY ONE (Thursday 18 May)
The great adventure! The great entertainment! Or so the tagline for our least favourite 1963 POW camp classic tells us. In truth though, the opening night of Brighton's The Great Escape Festival provided pretty much everything for the alternative pop scenester, which deep down we know we all really are. So to the Zap venue, where Escape attempt number one was bravely initiated by the coy, yet oddly prevailing Danish fixture, Figurines, cleverly cementing the infectiously murky-pop vibe that was to be the foundation of the entire night's proceedings. Brighton third-timers the Seal Cub Clubbing Club provided the starkest surprise of an old-fashioned blustery seaside night out with their mechanistic, angular attack on familiarity which transcended both chaos and the wonderfully alluring in equal measures. Unfortunately, despite an airy sense of quirkiness, the Tenderfoot rarely succeeded in rising from the murky depths of their sub-Super Furry Animals' shit-swamp. A bit of a non-starter really. The greatest escape of the night was by far the normality displacing burlesque of the infamous as ever British Sea Power, once more showing that they provide quite simply the most wonderful threat to what we thought we all thought we knew was regularity. DS
DAY TWO (Friday 19 May)
After a brief recuperation session consisting of precisely sleep, food and paracetamol following Thursday's now rather hazy excursion into the The Great Escape, it was now upon me to journey further into Barfly's three day rock explosion. Les Incompetents provided the blast-off point for tonight's adventure (again at Zap), even though their try-hard ethic of jumping, shouting and crashing into anything that didn't get out of the way appeared both parodical and achingly cliché. Like the drunkest person at a party propped up and encouraged to perform, Les Incompetents clearly think they're the shit. There are probably a couple of decent tunes hidden in the caterwauling circus somewhere - I started to wonder where after about three of them though. After a short sojourn in Hector's House and a run to the Ocean Rooms I was to fortunate enough to find Ladyfuzz. A moody, back-burning introduction was followed by 40-minute sweeping wave of harmonics and shoegazer-esque textures, a wave that perhaps not everyone was able to catch. They will inevitably draw comparisons with the more frantic and scattered Yeah Yeah Yeahs, rather hastily, though, by my reckoning. The slight slither of stamina I had remaining for the night was spent wisely. Some major gaff by someone somewhere meant the wrangly Cooper Temple Clause seized the stage of the Zap about half an hour too early, but by this time of the night too many drinks had been drunk by too many people for it to really matter at all. Almost like a cool, not-fat Liam Gallagher, ringleader Ben Gautrey catatonically stood in statuesque awe of a volcanic crowd exploding in front of him. The parties burned on until obscene hours as they always do, and all of a sudden - it was Saturday. If only everyday was Friday. DS
DAY THREE (Saturday 20 May)
And so to Saturday which kicked off for me (and rather well, I should add) at the Freebutt, where Dirty Little Laces (who promise their name came before Carl Barat's crew) entertained joyfully on themes of ugly guys with fit girlfriends and people with love handles spilling over tight Topman jeans. Moving swiftly on to Ocean Rooms, Canadian Small Sins performed laidback dub beats to shaking maracas and bass before Dartz! arrived, refusing to go unnoticed with their drum banging and infectious choruses. Finally, a quick dash to Audio, here, everyone that was everyone came to see South Londoners The Maccabees. They gave a solid set of catchy, rhythmic tunes that never lost the ground to keep everyone foot thumping. RM
I started at Pressure Point where multi-talented synthesists Metronomy provided the closest thing to a bit of sunshine over a dreary, wet weekend with their jagged-yet-jubilant keyboard riffs masked by earth-shaking guitar overdrive. Although the songwriting may not be as accomplished as it could be, the live experience was unstoppable. Such praise could also be thrown at The Klaxons by the metaphorical truck-load; their infectious rave-influenced synthesisers coupled with a foundation in sheer Americana-style quirkiness made for a gaudy, full-mouthed episode. Unfortunately headliners the Longcut could not provide the much-needed fireworks that a show of such deluded, scientific brilliance demanded. Their airy, ethereal soundscapes rarely drifted far enough from the coffee table to prevent a sleepy ambience enveloping an enthusiastic crowd at the Pressure Point. Nevertheless, it wasn't bad enough to ruin an otherwise fine weekend. With any good luck, Barfly will return to this solemn, desolate part of the coast again next year and bring even more great music as ammunition. Hopefully we'll get some decent weather too! DS
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BERTELSMANN FAMILY MAY BE CLOSE TO BMG SALE
The Mohn family, who own the majority of German media conglomerate Bertelsmann, are expected to makes moves this week to buy back the 25.1% stake in the company owned by Belgian investment firm Groupe Bruxelles Lambert.
As previously reported, the family have been planning the buy out for some time following reports that GBL was intending to sell its stake in the firm via a stock market flotation - something the Mohns oppose. GBL are expected to announce that intention at Bertelsmann's annual shareholder meeting later today - an announcement which will spark the Mohns' attempted buy out.
It remains to be seen how quickly the Mohns explain how they plan to fund the buy out. Although bank loans have been mooted, reports suggest the favoured way to raise the estimated $5.1 billion required to buy out GBL is for Bertelsmann to sell its 50% share of SonyBMG and/or its 100% share of BMG Music Publishing.
Either move, and especially the former, would have interesting implications for the music industry. As co-owners of SonyBMG, Sony Corp would have the first option to buy the stake in the joint venture major record company, although there is mixed opinion as the whether the Japanese conglomerate could or would do so.
If they choose not to, a consortium of banks and private investors may be the most likely buyers, although moves by either of the two smaller major record companies - EMI or Warner - to acquire the 50% stake in SonyBMG is not entirely impossible. Though if they did, there would be interesting monopolies questions to be answered - while further consolidation of the music business is probably inevitable, a combined Sony/BMG/EMI is unlikely to be popular with officials - given that such a power house would dwarf not only Warner Music, but also current market leader Universal Music.
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OFCOM PARTICIPATE IN EUROPE WIDE REVIEW OF ITRIP
That pesky media regulator OfCom says it is working with its counterparts around the EU to reach a standard policy on the use of a device which allows iPod owners to listen to their MP3 collections through a radio.
The clever little iTrip device plugs into an iPod's headphone socket and converts the audio output into an FM radio signal which can be picked up by any radio tuner within an approximate fifteen feet radius. The idea behind the device is it enables iPod users to listen to their MP3 collections through a proper sound system, in particular a car stereo.
However, use of the iTrip in the UK is technically illegal because it is against the law for individuals to make even low-power radio transmissions on the grounds that, in theory, they can interfere with legal stations using the same frequencies. OfCom currently administer those laws.
But Don Foster of the Liberal Democrats has said that OfCom must "provide compelling evidence" as to why the rules, that come from the 1949 Wireless Telegraphy Act, should continue to be enforced. He told reporters that it is "ridiculous that 1940s legislation is preventing the iPod generation from enjoying their music using the latest gadgets. iTrips can be used in the US without disturbing the airwaves, so [Ofcom] must provide compelling evidence why they can't be used here."
Responding, Clayton Hirst of OfCom told reporters last week that his organisation is "working with other European administrations to develop a common set of standards to allow some low-power devices to be sold and used in the UK". That said, while some iTrips may be authorised for use in the next year or so, not all devices currently available will necessarily adhere to the rules OfCom et al put in place, so if you buy one off some dodgy market stall somewhere, don't automatically assume that when the law catches up its use will definitely become legal.
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ALBUM REVIEW: Champion Kickboxer - Perforations (Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation)
This is a quiet, modest piece of work and a striking antidote to the thrashing, poppy sound of their contemporaries. The Sheffield four-man band are not trying not to be like everyone else but simply aren't. The music expresses clearly how well crafted a record this is, having taken four years to hone and only arriving two years after debut single 'Like Him + Her + Her + Me' with its tinkling piano keys. 'Get On Up' features haunting vocals and title track 'Perforations' uses interesting melodies that reflect a refusal to give in to current fashions and instead turn to its own agenda. Though it is all quite pleasant in its meaningful expression of their urban setting - there is an unusual use of the background sound of Sheffield Council blowing up blocks of flats - the songs as a whole, at this low a key, do drag a bit, at such a length, and the lead vocals are slightly monotonous. 'Thinking' ponders carefully, within its sweeping orchestration of strings and melodies, and shows the record is good at what it just is. This is not the indie cup of tea for the majority who like it very obviously loud and clear but will reach out to the listeners who like a minimal, low toned quality to their sound. RM
Release Date: 5 Jun
Press Contact: Stone Immaculate [all]
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IBIZA ROCKS THE UK
Manumissions' live music venture Ibiza Rocks will return to the party Isle this summer bigger and better than ever before, and to celebrate they are staging a slightly last minute Ibiza Rocks UK tour, which kicks off with an invite only date in London this week. Line ups vary slightly from date to date, though among the bands due to appear are Boy Kill Boy, The Holloways and Vatican DC, while Eddy TM, Zane Lowe and Vic Galloway will be DJing. Dates as follows:
24 May: London Sin Club
26 May: Bristol Academy
27 May: Glasgow The Hive
2 Jun: Birmingham Academy
10 Jun: Sheffield The Plug
16 Jun: Newcastle Digital
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SMEAR TO JOIN FOO FIGHTERS TOUR
Ex Foo Fighters guitarist Pat Smear is to reunite with his former band during their upcoming acoustic tour of the US. As we may have previously reported, the band are playing a series of intimate venues across America, starting on 11 Jul in Seattle. The band are also to be joined by violinist Petra Haden keyboardist Rami Jaffee, and percussionist Drew Hester, and will be supported by Frank Black on four dates and Timmy Curran on three.
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CHART UPDATE
So, Gnarls Barkley, eight weeks, longest chart topper for ten years, since Wet Wet Wet, blah blah etc etc, you know the story already don't you?
So let's, instead, head straight down to number nine in the singles chart where you'll find this week's highest new entry, Sunblock's 'First Time'. Then it goes: Sandi Thom's 'I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker' at 15 (more on her in a minute), Angels & Airwaves' 'The Adventure' at 20, Michael Jackson's 'Jam' at 22, Primal Scream's 'Country Girl' at 23, The Feeling's 'Fill My Little World' at 28, Towers Of London's 'Air Guitar' at 32, Nerina Pallot's 'Everybody's Gone To War' at 37, Ordinary Boys/Lady Sovereign's 'Nine2five' at 38 and Eddie Thoneick & Kurd Maverick's 'Love Sensation 2006' at 39.
Albums wise, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are still at the top, just ahead of two new entries - The Raconteurs' 'Broken Boy Soldiers' at 2 and Feeder's singles collection thingy at 3. Then you've got Beautiful South's 'Superbi' at 6, Neil Young's 'Living With War' at 14, Panic At The Disco's 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out' at 21 and Nerina Pallot's 'Fires' at 27. Then there are loads of re-entries from the likes of Coldplay, Gorillaz, Green Day, James Blunt and Jack Johnson (again), which makes me think there's a sale going on somewhere.
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COULD WEBCAST GIRL TOPPLE BOOTLEG GUY?
The aforementioned Sandi Thom, of course, is the Scottish born Tooting based singer songwriter who caught the headlines when she pulled in somewhere in the region of 180,000 viewers to a live webcast she broadcast via a simple webcam from her basement in Tooting (the actual number of viewers is apparently something of debate among those who debate such things - some say it was probably a lot less than 180,000).
Now signed to SonyBMG's RCA, she knocked Gnarls Barkley off the top spot in the iTunes chart last week, and entered the singles chart at 15 on download sales alone. With the physical CD out today some reckon she'll be the one to stop Gnarls Barkley getting a ninth week at the top of the singles chart.
If she does, she will be another artist to benefit from what I've just labeled 'the Arctic effect' (just there, look) - ie doing something vaguely interesting (though, not necessarily all that original) online which in itself won't shift many records, but which captures the imagination of journalists working in the traditional media who then write/talk about it so much that loads of records are then shifted.
Of course each of these vaguely interesting things only really work the once - it will be interesting to see what the next incarnation of the Arctic effect will be.
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THIS WEEK'S STUDENT RADIO CHART
1. [1] Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California (Warner)
2. [NE] The Kooks - She Moves In Her Own Way (EMI/Virgin)
3. [5] The Raconteurs - Steady As She Goes (Beggars/XL)
4. [2] We Are Scientists - Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt (EMI/Virgin)
5. [6] The Feeling - Fill My Little World (Universal/Island)
6. [3] Snow Patrol - You're All I Have (Universal/Fiction)
7. [10] Jack Johnson - Upside Down (Universal/Brushfire)
8. [24] Boy Kill Boy - Suzie (Universal/Vertigo)
9. [19] The Zutons - Valerie (SonyBMG/Deltasonic)
10. [9] Feeder - Lost and Found (Echo)
11. [4] Fall Out Boy - Dance Dance (Chrome Dreams)
12. [8] Delays - Hideaway (Rough Trade)
13. [NE] Nelly Furtado - Man Eater (Universal/Polydor)
14. [29] Primal Scream - Country Girl (SonyBMG/Columbia)
15. [27] Dirty Pretty Things - Bang Bang You're Dead (Universal/Vertigo)
16. [7] Keane - Is It Any Wonder (Universal/Island)
17. [18] Paul Oakenfold - Faster Kill Pussycat (Warner/Maverick)
18. [23] The Spinto Band - Did I Tell You (Radiate)
19. [20] The Upper Room - Black & White (SonyBMG/Columbia)
20. [15] The Futureheads - Skip to the End (679)
21. [NE] Nerina Pallot - Everybody's Gone to War (Warner/14th Floor)
22. [21] LL Cool J - Control Myself (Ft. Jennifer Lopez) (Universal/Mercury)
23. [25] Corinne Bailey Rae - Trouble Sleeping (EMI)
24. [NE] The Automatic - Monster (B-unique)
25. [22] Richard Ashcroft - Music is Power (EMI/Parlophone)
26. [NE] The Vines - Any Sound (EMI/Heavenly)
27. [NE] Starsailor - Keep Us Together (EMI)
28. [NE] Matt Willis - Up All Night (Universal/Mercury)
29. [28] Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken (Elefant)
30. [16] Captain - Broke (EMI)
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SUBSHOT PLAYLIST
This will be the videos that those there SUBtv people are playing on their network of screens around students' unions this week. Additions marked with a *.
A LIST
Beatfreakz - Somebody's Watching Me (Data)
The Feeling - Fill My Little World (Universal/Island)
Jack Johnson - Upside Down (Universal/Brushfire)
Panic! At The Disco - But It's Better If You Do (Decadance)
Keane - Is It Any Wonder? (Universal/Island)
Loleatta Holloway - Love Sensation '06 (Gusto)
Mystery Jets - You Can't Fool Me Dennis (679)
Primal Scream - Country Girl (SonyBMG/Columbia)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California (Warners)
The Upper Room - Black & White [Live] (SonyBMG/Columbia)
B LIST
Busta Rhymes - Touch It (Remix) (Universal/Interscope)
Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken (Elefant)
Captain - Broke (EMI)
Futureheads - Skip To The End (679)
Infernal - From Paris To Berlin (Blanco Y Negro)
*Liam Frost - The Mourners Of St Pauls (LaVolta)
Little Man Tate - What? What You Got? (V2)
Louie - Dead Man (Fallout)
*Nelly Furtado - Maneater (Universal/Polydor)
Nerina Pallot - Everybody's Gone To War (Warner/14th Floor)
Ordinary Boys v Lady Sovereign - Nine2Five (Universal/Polydor/B-Unique)
PJ Harvey - Victory (Universal-Island)
*Solu Music feat. Kimbelee - Fade (Hed Kandi)
*The Streets - Never Went To Church (679)
*Vatican DC - Wow (Red Flag)
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CMU RADIO SHOW
The songs we play on this week's radio show, which you can listen to later today over there at http://www.thebeatsbar.co.uk/cmuradio
Matt Willis - Up All Night (Universal/Mercury)
The Fratellis - Creepin' Up The Backstairs (Universal/Island)
Jynxt - The Name (Halo)
You Say Party We Say Die - Cold Hands Hot Bodies (Sound)
Protokoll - Moving Forward (Illicit Recordings)
Hey Gravity - Inside Out (Unsigned)
Boy Kill Boy - On And On (Universal/Vertigo)
The Loose Cannons - Why You? (Opera House Mix) (Fat Fox)
Krafty Kuts + Tim Deluxe - Bass Phenomenon (Against The Grain)
No Bizzi - Monkey In The Arctic (Unsigned)
CMU KINGS OF MASH UP 2
Creasos - Clocks Bitch (Original Mix)
Irn Mnky - Ordinary Trousers
Pharrell V Crowded House - Weather Like That (Cheeky Boy Mix)
DJ Mike W - Funky Shack
Martinn - Don't Leave The Orinoco flow
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ALBUM REVIEW: Bernard - Trail of Tears (Spinach Records)
This heavy 'rawk' band features a female vocalist with a sweeter voice than expected from this genre. However it works on the more varied tracks shown here and still growls huskily for the angsty, violent lyrics that progress through the record. There is a twist of blues undertone to the heavy rock commitment as many of the songs break unexpectedly from yearning electric guitar solos into full power screeching metal, with interesting effects. This is most noticeable on 'One Last Breath'. Overall it is a little repetitive, neither quite shockingly extreme nor soft rock. Instead it sits uncomfortably somewhere in the middle. Despite this, there are some strong stand-alone tracks. 'Punky Fido' especially, has catchy rhythms and a punk (almost pop) chorus that will do well on the dance floors. 'A Welcome Home' is the album ballad with its softer vocals and 'Spider Web' produces a SOAD-esque instrumental. Unlike the System Downers though, this is a bit too middle of the road, more Staind than shocking. The latter half of the record sees some more energetic beats which shows potential for their unusual blend of acoustic and heavier influences. Possibly OK, but not brilliant. RM
Release Date 5 Jun
Press Contact: Work Hard [all]
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KOOKS TAKE SWIPE AT RAZORLIGHT
The Kooks have taken an albeit small swipe at Johnny Borrell after the Razorlight frontman slagged them off in the NME.
On the Kooks, Borrell told NME: "I heard their single on the radio the other day and it sounds like fucking Avril Lavigne! If he can live with himself after that production, and if he feels like he has to slag people off to keep up, then I'm sure his nights are long and those moments of doubt are really painful. For a start, he models his style on me. And that record is the most horrible thing I've ever heard. It sounds like the band are literally rolling over, sticking their arse in the air and begging Radio 1 to fuck them. So fuck The Kooks. Fuck 'em!"
Presumably responding to those comments, The Kooks frontman Luke Pritchard told his audience at their London Astoria gig last week that he was dedicating his band's song 'Naïve' to Mr Borrell. The NME reckon this is the Kooks "going to war" with Razorlight, which strikes me as a bit of an exaggeration, but still, we like a good indie feud here at CMU, so let's hope Borrell sees it that way. Fight to the death I say - I mean, I'm not sure either would be that great a loss to Planet Indie.
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KATIE MELUA UNSURE OF HERSELF
Katie Melua has said that she isn't overly confident about her songwriting abilities, and will continue to work with her producer Mike Batt, because she likes to have help with writing new tracks.
She says: "It's the songs. I think I would love to go in there and make an album full of songs I've written, but the most important thing for me is that they are good songs. I know I'm not that experienced in songwriting and Mike's been doing it for so long, and is so bloody good. So for me, the priority is that the songs are great. I think he wants me to write more. So do I but I'm not going to stop recording other people's songs just to be pretentious".
That Mike Batt must be great to collaborate with. I remember Uncle Bulgaria saying the same thing when asked why he didn't write all his own songs.
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HAS ROBBIE GOT A GIRL?
This could be good news, because we won't have to worry about how rich-yet-lonely he is. According to The Sun, Robbie Williams is developing a bit of a thing for one of his backing singers, Jo Garland, or at least he is according to one of the tabloid's always trustworthy and never inaccurate sources. Of course, he was recently alleged to be having a relationship with Tara Palmer Tomkinson, but it must just have been, er, tabloid rumour.
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BRITNEY CRITICISED OVER PARENTING SKILLS AGAIN
Britney Spears has been criticised over her parenting skills again after she stumbled with her eight month old son in her arms as she left a Manhattan hotel last week. The singer apparently tripped on her trousers whilst on her way to her car, jerking son Sean Preston's head back and knocking his hat off; he was evidently prevented from actually falling by the quick reaction of one of Spears' assistants, who steadied the singer.
Spears has of course been criticised previously over parenting skills, because she sat baby on her lap whilst driving, and didn't get him to hospital quickly enough after he knocked his head recently. But all of these people calling the poor girl's parenting skills "open to question" should, on this occasion, probably just shut up. People trip. Mothers trip. Sometimes they trip with babies in their arms. Luckily for them, they're not usually international superstars so they don't get vilified for it.