| CMU Daily - on the inside Thursday 7th December |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Gowers says no to copyright extension
- BPI respond to Gowers Report
- IFPI respond to Gowers Report
- PPL respond to Gowers Report
- British Music Rights respond to Gowers Report
- AIM respond to Gowers Report
- 4500 artists respond to Gowers Report
- National Consumer Council responds to Gowers Report
- My mum responds to Gowers Report
- Actor dies following Doherty fracas
- Newton-John sues over Grease royalties
- Bands cleared after travelling on radioactive plane
- Flaming Lips get alley named in their honour
- Garland recordings expected to fetch $40k
- Miles Davis biopic planned
- Artist cites Napalm Death as influence
- OMD are back
- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah album
- Assembly Now tour
- Good Shoes Christmas gigs
- Campbell & Lanegan move show
- Wolfmother tour
- Album Review: The Cooper Temple Clause - Make This Your Own
- Press Gazette rescued
- Virgin revamp daytime schedule
- Harry McFly drops out of Tiscali session
- Fed-Ex is doing great, okay?
- Pipettes lend support to Lily
- Lily Allen not good at drug dealing
- Girls Aloud's outgoings exceed incomings
- Ronnie Wood says Rod Stewart is rubbish
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VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE TRACK OF THE YEAR
Email in song title, artist and a sentence on why it's your favourite to
[email protected]
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TOP BIT>>
Oh, what a lot of copyright news we have for you today, oh yes. But lets stick with the track of the year thing here in the Top Bit, so we don't put you straight to sleep. Here are some more votes.
James Pegrum, Intermedia: Ali Love - Video Dream Girl
It has to be Ali Love - 'Video Dream Girl'. This was the b-side to the wonderfully sleazy 'K-Hole' and is such a perfect piece of pop it makes me want to cry... Live he's fantastic and I really hope that he breaks through in 2007.
David Laurie, Something In Construction: Amy Winehouse - Rehab
I pick this. There are in truth other tunes I liked more but this disproves so many theories and is a total turn up for the books. Amy Winehouse's first album was pretty insipid dog piss for all its edgy winebar stylings. The label made twats of themselves ramming it down people's throats and while it did not bomb it was a failure for them. The follow up, which really should never have happened at all, ought to have been over-produced, under-written toss but instead it was amazing. Retro but fresh with it (y'all). Killer tunes, great attitude and really badass production. I played it start to finish and fell in love instantly, and put it back on again. And she is ACE on TV. How wrong can you be? (Very).
Nick Luscombe, Flo-motion: My My - Butterflies And Zebras
My favourite track this year is by My My - 'Butterflies and Zebras'. The album it is taken from, 'Songs For The Gentle', is superb also. If you like your electronica warm and your techno deep, then don't miss it!
Martin Tibbetts, 1917: Bob Dylan - Workingman's Blues #2
Despite all the stuff about advertising iTunes and cries of sell out, the master came back with his best album in decades, and this was the standout track. Perfect example of how music can provide a soundtrack to your life, great storytelling and a fantastic melody. One of his greatest ever songs, and you don't need me to tell you that's saying something...
Rob Hunt, Playmusic: Arctic Monkeys - When The Sun Goes Down
I heard 'Fake Tales Of San Francisco' very early and loved its randomness - how many other tunes refer to Hunters Bar? - but this track confirmed that the band were going to be huge with a combination of a ballad, an anthem and a downright good mosher. I've seen it live twice this year and when the guitars kick in with Alex's 'he's just a scumbag doencha know!' it seemed to make the crowd jump even higher than they had been. It's definitely got longevity as they're still playing it on Radio 1 and yet I don't have to switch over, unlike other classics from this year that could have made it, if they hadn't turned into earbleeders through over exposure - 'In The Morning', 'When You Were Young' anyone? Rock on you crazy northern monkeys.
Now time is running out to get your vote in. You can vote for any song that first surfaced this year - including single releases, b-sides, remixes, album tracks and bootleg mixes. To vote, just email the name of the track, the artist and (if you can be bothered) a two sentence reason why it's your favourite. Email it in to [email protected] right about now - closing date for votes is tomorrow.
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CLASSIFIEDS>>
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independent label. Self contained with all amenities, 2 minutes from tube, 20 seconds from bus, 1 minute from overground. Please contact [email protected]
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HOT OFF THE PRESS>>
NEW ROCKSOUND - OUT NOW
Their rise to the top has been sensational and Las Vegas quartet Panic! At The Disco grace the cover of this month's issue of Rock Sound magazine - we hear their incredible story in their own words. Also this month, check out Rock Sound's Top 75 albums of 2006 - Who's in? Who's not? Who's at number 1? Plus, we bring you the ultimate list of 100 bands you need to know in 2007 - featuring Enter Shikari, Baroness, Silversun Pickups, Pull Tiger Tail, Brand New, Shiny Toy Guns and many, many more. Plus, there's interviews with Slipknot, Claudio Sanchez, Killswitch Engage, Good Charlotte, Cradle Of Filth and more. And don't forget to check out this month's FREE CD for a preview of some of the hottest new bands for the New Year. FREE with this month's issue - a fantastic 32 page 2007 Calendar - featuring MCR, Aiden, AFI, BMTH, Brand New and more... Rock Sound issue 92, on sale now, priced £3.60 from all good news stockists.
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CMU RECOMMENDS>>
KILL ALL HIPPIES DECEMBER
The next edition of Kill All Hippies, the last one of the year, is this week, and it is all set to be a real stormer, not least because of its huge and really rather good live line up. On the bill are Robots In Disguise who, I am told, "pack a full-on left-field funk punk electro shock that's set to spark something of a revolution", which sounds mighty good to me. Next you'll get the anthemic and defining sounds of Roland Shanks and then the indie electro madness of Deaf Stereo. Then there's South East London's Bolt Action Five, perhaps best known for their own No Pain In Pop club night, but also a really rather good band themselves. And finally there'll be Mr Hudson & The Library, a recent CMU My Space Of The Day artist who have just finished what is sure to be one of the best albums of early 2007. Add to all that DJ sets from The Cooper Temple Clause, Gavin Nugent, The Young Knives, Lois & Pearl and the Scruffy Bird DJs and wow what a night. It all takes place this Friday, 8 Dec, at the Carling Academy Islington, from 9pm to 3am. It's £6 before 11pm then £8 after. Tickets in advance from http://www.ticketweb.co.uk, press info from Leyline.
More info>> http://www.leylinepromotions.com/killallhippies
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MYSPACE OF THE DAY: ASHOK
It's not often I fall for a music act as quickly and passionately as I did for Ashok. Within ten seconds of putting their EP, 'Lean From The Middle', out 18 Dec, on the player (or more specifically, in the CD drive of my PC, as that's how I frequently play these things), I was absolutely hooked. In fact, it was one of those EP experiences that is almost depressing, because I got to the end of the fourth track and was gagging for more. I'm not entirely sure what genre the genre-experts (I hate them, by the way. Pigeonholers) would put this band in, but I can tell you that their end product is jazzy, soulful, funky, delicious. My only sadness is that you can't right now listen to that whole EP - because the tracks on the MySpace site are great, but there are only two of them, and I want you to hear more. More, I say. More. Look out for a forthcoming glowing review of the EP. Fabulous.
http://www.myspace.com/ashokmusic
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GOWERS SAYS NO TO COPYRIGHT EXTENSION
So, extended copyright coverage for you this morning, which is slightly ironic. As expected, former Financial Times editor Andrew Gowers yesterday formally recommended to the government that the recording copyright here in our United Kingdom (and, by association, across Europe, this is all tied to our intellectual property commitments to the European Union) should remain at 50 years, and should not be extended to 95 years to bring it in line with the US, as the record companies had been campaigning for. Gower recommends that "the European Commission does not change the status quo and retains the 50 year term of copyright protection for sound recordings and related performers' rights".
Gowers reached the conclusion in his much previously reported government commissioned review of the UK's intellectual property laws. Of course government ministers are not obligated to follow all (or any) of Gowers' recommendations, so a proactive and public lobbying campaign by the music industry, already launched last week when rumours of Gowers' conclusions first circulated, continued yesterday with key industry organisations calling on politicians to extend the recorded copyright anyway. Of course, even if they do go with Gowers' recommendations (which early indications suggest they will), the industry will continue to lobby for the extension at both a UK and European level, but record companies had hoped to secure the extension in the latest IP law review because the fifty year copyright is about to expire on a raft of lucrative UK rock n roll recordings.
Elsewhere in his report, Gower also recommended that new copyright laws should allow consumers the 'private copying rights' enjoyed by consumers in many other countries, which allow people to legally make copies of music they have bought for personal use (eg transferring music from CD to MP3 player, or making a second CD copy for use in the car). Such rights would be "strictly limited", but would remove a copyright restriction which has been criticised by many as a foolish law given that nearly every consumer disobeys it and no copyright owners would ever try to enforce it. The BPI itself has admitted that record labels would never try to protect their right to stop consumers making limited private copies, though some in the industry advocate a system whereby labels licence purchasers of music the right to make private copies, rather than the actual change in the law that Gowers is proposing. Others in the industry will also be disappointed that Gowers does not suggest a private copying levy system like that which operates in some other countries where private copying rights exist, a levy that is charged on devices used for making private copies - tapes, CDRs and, sometimes, MP3 players - which is then passed back to the music community.
Where the record labels will agree with Gowers, however, is in his tough talking regarding piracy, and especially online piracy. The report says that piracy and counterfeiting are probably the biggest challenge facing the "intellectual property system", estimating that 20% of the entertainments industry's potential turnover was lost to illegal copying. It also suggests that online piracy should be taken as seriously as that involving physical product and therefore piracy penalities for people who sell pirated versions of music and film over the net should be on par with those for people who sell bootleg CDs and DVDs. Currently the maximum sentence in the UK for the former is two years, while for the latter it is ten. Gowers also suggests that Trading Standards Officers who currently only deal with physical piracy should also have a remit to investigate online pirates.
While it will take some time for the government to now assess Gowers' recommendations and to translate them into legislation proposals for parliament, that Gordon Brown chap, who commissioned the report, said in his budget statement yesterday that he would immediately back a greater role for Trading Standards Officers in the fight against content piracy, pledging an extra £5 million in government money to fund extra work in the area.
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BPI RESPOND TO GOWERS REPORT
Needless to say, everyone but my mother had something to say about the Gowers Report yesterday. Given I tend to hang around with recorded copyright owners quite a bit, most of the emails pinging in my in box were mightily pissed off about the report's rejection of a recorded copyright extension, though they did welcome some of Gowers' other recommendations.
Record industry trade body the BPI said in a statement: "The BPI believes that extending the copyright term from 50 to 95 years would have sent an unequivocal sign to the international community that the UK values copyright and end the competitive disadvantage that British record companies face in comparison with their US counterparts. Copyright extension would also benefit lesser known artists who have helped establish the British music industry as one of the most creative and dynamic in the world, and also enable the British consumer to benefit from continued investment in new music and artists. Nevertheless, the BPI is pleased that Gowers has recognised the importance of the British music industry by choosing to recommend stronger enforcement measures against illegal downloads of music".
BPI boss Peter Jamieson added: "Overall we are encouraged by Mr Gowers' support for raising the profile and enforcement of intellectual property and we look forward to working closely with the government on this. Stealing music is effectively stealing the future of British musicians and the people who invest in them".
On the extension issue he added: "We will continue to make the case to the UK government for term extension. As Mr Gowers says, the decision on extension is ultimately for the European Commission and we will be putting our case vigorously when it reviews the relevant directive next year. Gowers commissioned Cambridge economic research to argue the case against term extension; but this analysis completely fails to address the central argument of discrimination against sound recording copyright inherent in the current system."
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IFPI RESPOND TO GOWERS REPORT
The International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry said, well, pretty much the same.
Their top guy John Kennedy told reporters: "On the key issue on which Andrew Gowers might have steered the British Government to promote one of its most successful industries, his recommendation has missed a golden opportunity. Equalisation of copyright term is the issue which goes to the heart of the government's claim to value the British music industry. It is illogical and discriminatory that British artists and producers should enjoy less copyright protection than their counterparts internationally as well as British composers and songwriters. We believe that the government should firmly reject Gowers' recommendation and we will carry on pressing for parity and fairness in advance of the European Union's legislative review. Granting copyright parity would be a simple and cost-free way to improve the investment climate for British music, maintain Britain's creative edge and end discrimination against British artists and producers".
On the rest of the report, the Federation says: "Recommendations that penalties for online copyright infringement should match those for physical piracy are welcomed, as are proposals to give new stepped-up anti-piracy powers to UK trading standards officers and to review the levels of damages to make sure they are 'effective and dissuasive'".
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PPL RESPOND TO GOWERS REPORT
Recording royalties collection society PPL were also critical of the extension rejection, and in a bid to demonstrate that it is the artist community who will suffer most they have organised a joint advert supporting extension undersigned by 4500 of their artist members, more on which in a minute.
However, when asked for a comment by Billboard, PPL CEO Fran Nevrkla was diplomatic, saying: "I would hate to get either suicidal about the review, nor is it appropriate to be positive and upbeat, because it is neither. What one should welcome is that the government actually commissioned someone to have an impartial, arms-length view of copyright and intellectual property rights in the 21st century."
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BRITISH MUSIC RIGHTS RESPOND TO GOWERS REPORT
Elsewhere in 'chatting to Billboard about the Gowers Report' news, Emma Pike of slightly secretive music rights lobbying body British Music Rights, which exists mainly to support songwriters and publishers more so than recording artists (I think - I've always struggled to work out what BMR do), said: "We will be wanting to work with the various government departments that will be looking at this review, and responding to this review. We'll be wanting to work with them to build on it because the review doesn't go far enough [in supporting rights holders]".
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AIM RESPOND TO GOWERS REPORT
The Association Of Independent Music said Gowers' report was a "noteworthy contribution to the continuing debate about the role and future of the creative industries in Great Britain" but added that "AIM and its members are very disappointed by the two key recommendations relating to issues vital to the UK music industry, and can only reject these firmly".
The two issues of contention are the private copyright and the lack of a copyright extension. On the former, the Association said that while Gower's private copyright proposals appeared "to satisfy AIM's urge to be pragmatic" that "such an exception applied without any reciprocal benefit to the creator and copyright owner is taking pragmatism to the point of capitulation, and falls drastically short of creating the progressive copyright framework needed in the digital age".
They continued: "By tidying up a small part of the copyright law, we believe Gowers may well be opening the floodgates to uncontrolled and unstoppable private copying and sharing from person to person, as well as format to format. Once owned, however acquired, music will be passed on freely. It ignores the principle of granting a concession to an exclusive right in return for some kind of remuneration - a principle long served in much of Europe by levies on blank recording hardware and software. The fact that these levies, across the board, may be judged to be working imperfectly and arguably may require some reform (possibly even replacement by some system which fulfils the objective more efficiently or imaginatively), rationalization does not detract from the essential justice of their existence".
Of course this is an area of much interest to AIM who advocate a brand new copyright system that obligates any commercial enterprises profiting on the back of music distribution, directly or indirectly, to pay a share of its revenues as a copyright levy. These proposals, which would arguably affect internet service providers and mobile companies in the main, could be extended to include a levy for private copying rights. Though personally I find this kind of proposed copyright system (referred to by AIM as the 'Value Recognition' system) mind numbingly complicated, so I don't blame Gowers for not including it in his review.
Back to the more straightforward issue of copyright extension, or not, AIM continued: "Copyright extension is a complex issue. There are pros and cons to extension, but after much debate, AIM's view is that parity between the USA and writers and composers is only just, fair and reasonable, and any other arrangement represents discrimination against the performers who bring the music to life".
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4500 ARTISTS RESPOND TO GOWERS REPORT
More than 4500 recording artists have put their name to a newspaper advert in today's Financial Times opposing Gowers' recommendation that the recorded copyright should stay at fifty years. This is the previously reported PPL initiative to show that the artist community do back the more corporate end of the industry on this issue (as well they would, given individual artists probably have more to lose when their copyrights expire). Among the signatories are Cliff Richard, Katie Melua, Paul McCartney and U2.
Explaining the rationale for the ad, PPL Director Of Performer Affairs Keith Harris told CMU: "These [Gowers' proposals] are just recommendations. Performers are angry that their very real concerns about copyright term are not being taken seriously and that is why they have taken this unprecedented step with this advertisement. Extending copyright term is not just about superstars demanding special treatment as it is sometimes portrayed, it is about performers at all levels - many of them barely earning a living wage - being treated fairly under the law. It is simply not acceptable that within his or her own lifetime a musician can have their work taken off them and exploited without them receiving anything in return. The Gowers Review is just one input into this debate. Musicians are determined to take their fight all the way".
Presumably the artist community picked the FT because they hope politicians, especially in the Treasury, will take notice, though to be honest, if they wanted to get to reach the average minister I can't help thinking an ad in The Sun or Daily Mail might have had a bigger impact.
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NATIONAL CONSUMER COUNCIL RESPONDS TO GOWERS REPORT
Just to stress, not everyone thinks Gowers is slightly insane for passing on the opportunity to ensure equality in artist copyrights. Jill Johnstone of the National Consumer Council, perhaps unsurprisingly, welcomed Gowers' conclusions, saying: "We are pleased to see that Gowers recommends no extension of copyright term for sound recordings and performers' rights. Evidence shows that music companies generally make returns on material in a matter of years - not decades. Current terms of protection for copyrights already over-protect right holders - and consumers are paying the price".
On the private copying right, she continued: "Plans to allow people to copy CDs for personal use from 2008 - which is illegal at the moment - is a welcome recognition of the need to improve consumers' rights. However, it is not yet clear how this will work in practice. We will work to ensure that the detailed proposals are workable and provide real benefits for consumers".
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MY MUM RESPONDS TO GOWERS REPORT
Actually, she hasn't responded. She's giving all 146 pages her full time and consideration before reaching any snap decisions. As you'd surely expect. Though the prospect of a whole load of bargain Elvis, Cliff and Beatles recordings coming on the market in the next ten years might persuade her that Mr Gowers has a good point. My mum isn't a copyright owner.
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ACTOR DIES FOLLOWING DOHERTY FRACAS
An actor who attended a party at a flat in Whitechapel also attended by Pete Doherty has died after apparently falling from the second floor of the third floor apartment's building. Police at present believe that no third party was involved in the death of thirty year old Cambridge graduate Mark Blanco, but the fact that he got involved in something of a fracas with the Babyshambles star prior to his death has caused some media speculation as to whether Doherty was involved in the incident, and that he may at some point be pulled in for questioning. Some reports suggest that Doherty left before the incident that claimed Blanco's life occurred, others imply that he was there throughout.
A source told The Sun: "Blanco arrived at Paul's a little drunk. He and Pete started to niggle each other. It turned into a full blown argument, with insults being thrown on both sides. The argument got physical and [flat resident Paul Roundhill] stepped in to break it up. He then asked Blanco to leave. A few minutes later some lads came rushing up to say there was a man lying in the street."
The Guardian quote Roundhill as saying: "There were about six of us there including Pete. When Mark arrived he was extremely excited about [a play he was set to appear in]. He couldn't stop talking about it. He had had quite a lot to drink and was aggressively excited. At one point he had Pete pinned to the wall and was waving a rolled up promotional poster for the play at him. Pete looked a bit white and Mark was getting out of order. I dragged him out because he wouldn't leave and was being aggressive."
Magician Jerry Sadowitz, apparently a close friend of Blanco's, has told the Evening Standard: "he should not have been there. He was at the party surrounded by unsavoury characters who took a dislike to him because of his background. He didn't fit in a place like that."
Scotland Yard have confirmed that Blanco died from severe head injuries consistent with a fall, and say that an inquest will be held today.
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NEWTON-JOHN SUES OVER GREASE ROYALTIES
More copyright news everybody. Olivia Newton-John is suing the Universal Music Group over allegations they have failed to pay her over $1 million in royalties relating to sales of the soundtrack to the 1978 film Grease.
Newton-John's legal papers, submitted to the LA County Superior Court last week, says that while Universal did pay some royalties on the record, it failed to make a range of other contractual payments. The singer and actress' lawyer, John Mason, says that a recent audit showed the major record company owed his client and her company ON-J Productions over a $1 million in unpaid fees and royalties.
But Universal dispute the claim, telling reporters in a statement yesterday: "The lawsuit is without merit and, at the appropriate time, we expect that the court will dismiss it".
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BANDS CLEARED AFTER TRAVELLING ON RADIOACTIVE PLANE
Given the seriousness of the recent Alexander Litvinenko poisoning, the fact that two bands happened to recently travel on one of the planes affected by the poison scare all seems a bit trivial. But hey, we love the trivial here at CMU, so let's report on it.
Razorlight and The Cooper Temple Clause both recently travelled on one of the airplanes that was later found to be contaminated with an albeit tiny trace of the polonium-210 poison which killed the former Russian spy. According to The Sun, despite three of Razorlight's members feeling a bit ill after their flight from Moscow, both bands have been tested and all members have been given the all clear. Which is a great relief. What, with our reviewer about to diss the Cooper Temple Clause's new album (and I like them too... but when a CMU reviewer speaks, he must be heard), I'm not sure I could cope with the thought of them being diagnosed radioactive too.
On Razorlight's brush with possible radiation poisoning, a source close to the band told The Sun: "They were all feeling run down when they got back from Russia, then switched on the TV and found out the plane they had been on was grounded in the radiation scare. They feared the worst and immediately called their management for advice. Luckily they have all been given the all-clear by doctors."
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FLAMING LIPS GET ALLEY NAMED IN THEIR HONOUR
The Oklahoma City council has named an alley in the city's Bricktown area after The Flaming Lips. The council also voted to similarly honour fellow Oklahoma natives, jazz star Charlie Christian and country singer Vince Gill.
The band seem pretty pleased with the honour. Singer Wayne Coyne explained: "So many bands despise their hometowns. I guess we're just lucky or it never felt that way to us. Oklahoma City never rejected us. It's always seemed to be a strange twist of fate that even though we want to play Los Angeles or London, we weren't doing it to say we don't like where we came from".
Coyne also approves of the fact that it's an alley, and not a busy street: "It's not just a typical, 'Give them a street, give them a statue, give them a handshake.' It's like some little secret special thing. I could see people sneaking in during the middle of the night doing graffiti art. I can see all kinds of strange things going on there".
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GARLAND RECORDINGS EXPECTED TO FETCH $40K
The earliest known recordings of Judy Garland singing are set to go on sale at auction and are expected to realise in the region of $40,000. The recordings were made in a Hollywood studio, and feature a twelve year old Garland singing accompanied by her mother on piano. The acetate discs were found during a clear out of a house once owned by Garland, but it's not clear whether they were originals pressed the day of the recording or created later for the singer's personal library.
The auctioneers, Bonhams And Butterfields in Los Angeles, say that the recordings have never been heard by the public. They'll be sold at the auction house on 17 Dec.
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MILES DAVIS BIOPIC PLANNED
According to reports, actor Don Cheadle is planning to direct and star in a biopic of jazz legend Miles Davis. The 'Hotel Rwanda' star has apparently already hired Chris Wilkinson and Steve Rivele, who put together the script for 'Ali', to work on the project. Cheadle is said to have been interested in making the film for a number of years, but until now has been unable to make the film due to music licensing issues.
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ARTIST CITES NAPALM DEATH AS INFLUENCE
Installation artist and recent Turner Prize nominee Mark Titchner says that Napalm Death have been a substantial influence on his work, saying that he thinks there is a clear resemblance between the band's sound and what he depicts in his work.
Napalm Death founder Nicholas Bullen said in an interview about Titchner: "I think in the work that I've made in the past in terms of music, we've always tried to be very dense, to distil, to compress sound into sudden bursts and forward movements, to try and move towards what we would perceive as the future, and I think Mark does that in the sense of, his work, whilst never stating a utopian vision, always hints at that and hints at a sense of joy of being alive".
A twentieth anniversary edition of Napalm Death's debut 'Scum' is to be released early next year - press info from Earache IH.
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OMD ARE BACK
OMD were one of my favourite things when I was really quite young. And so it pleases me to hear that the band are going to be active in the coming year. They're planning to tour Europe for a series of performances in which they will play seminal album 'Architecture & Morality' in its entirety, backed by a 120 piece orchestra and a choir.
In addition to that tour, band leaders Andy McClusky and Paul Humphreys are also apparently working on an audio visual installation 'The Energy Suite' with artist Peter Savile, to be premiered in Liverpool in March as part of the city's Capital Of Culture thingy.
Anyway, here are the local dates that the band - with its original line up of the aforementioned McCluskey and Humphreys, plus Martin Cooper and Malcolm Holmes, and that bloody great orchestra - will play:
13 May: Dublin, Olympia
15 May: Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
16 May: Liverpool Empire
18 May: London Hammersmith Apollo
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CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH ALBUM
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah have announced that their second album will be out in the US on 30 Jan.
In a posting on their official website, the band revealed that 'Some Loud Thunder' will be available as a download ahead of the physical release from 16 Jan through Insound, and if you buy the download, you get a hard copy of the album once it's released. The band have posted two songs from the new long player on the website, whilst a third is previewing on their MySpace page.
Following the release of the new album, the band will tour the UK and Ireland, dates as follows.
1 Feb: Dublin Tripod
2 Feb: Manchester Academy
3 Feb: Glasgow Barrowland
4 Feb: Birmingham Carling Academy
13 Feb: London Shepherds Bush Empire
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ASSEMBLY NOW TOUR
Assembly Now have announced a series of tour dates to coincide with the release of their next single 'Leigh On Sea' on 29 Jan. The dates are as follows:
19 Jan: Manchester, Night & Day
20 Jan: Liverpool, Korova
23 Jan: Huddersfield, Tokyo
26 Jan: Hertford, The Marquee
28 Jan: Birmingham, Bar Academy
29 Jan: Coventry, Colosseum
30 Jan: Oxford, Zodiac
1 Feb: London, The Old Blue Last
3 Feb: Southampton, Unit 22
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GOOD SHOES CHRISTMAS GIGS
You may know that we like Good Shoes. You may not know that they are planning a series of invite only gigs during Christmas week to mark the release of their new single 'The Photos On My Wall' on Christmas Day. The only way fans will be able to get hold of a ticket will be by going to specific shops, as detailed with the dates, below.
27 Dec: Brighton Pressure Point (http://www.resident-music.com)
28 Dec: Kingston The Peel (http://www.banquetrecords.com/goodshoes)
29 Dec: Nottingham The Social (http://www.selectadisc.co.uk/news_display.asp?newsid=35)
30 Dec: London Pure Groove (http://www.puregroove.co.uk)
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CAMPBELL & LANEGAN MOVE SHOW
Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan have moved the location of their forthcoming London show because the original venue was too small. They will now play at Shepherd's Bush Empire on 23 Jan instead of Scala.
The full list of UK shows now looks like this:
21 Jan: Glasgow ABC
23 Jan: London Shepherds Bush Empire
24 Jan: Brighton Komedia
25 Jan: Bristol St Georges
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WOLFMOTHER TOUR
Wolfmother have announced a series of 2007 tour dates. As follows:
4 Feb: Southampton Guildhall
5 Feb: London Hammersmith Apollo
8 Feb: Nottingham Rock City
9 Feb: Manchester Apollo
10 Feb: Edinburgh Corn Exchange
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ALBUM REVIEW: The Cooper Temple Clause- Make This Your Own (Sanctuary Records)
Whoever's idea it was to start this new album with a boring track like 'Damage' should be shot. The first track reveals to anyone who listens that the album will be a tiring affair with hardly any reason for praise. The whole album sounds like every member went away and recorded their musical parts separately and then just threw what they'd done together as quickly and as cheaply as they could. For a brief moment, 'Homo Sapiens' the track that has been heard on Zane Lowe's Radio1 show recently suggests that there is still some energy left in the band and the track blisters with a recollection of their first album ('See This Through And Leave'). The bass line and heavy drums could almost be a Queens Of The Stone Age b-side but would never have made it onto any of their albums. And this is the album's biggest problem, there is nothing on it that is even remotely special. This is 'by the numbers' music making at its best. The band manage to redeem themselves slightly with 'Once More With Feeling' which is a bit of a departure from the rest of the album and sounds new (although slightly over produced). This is definitely the stand out track on the unbelievably destitute album. The best thing to do is listen to 'Once More With Feeling' on repeat 11 times and forget about the other tracks, which won't be very hard. GM
Release Date: 22 Jan
Press Contact: Incubator [all]
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PRESS GAZETTE RESCUED
Well, it seems the newspaper industry's trade mag Press Gazette is not defunct after all. As previously reported, the title was put into administration by its former owners Matthew Freud and Piers Morgan last month, and after a last minute attempt to persuade the big newspaper groups to fund a trust to buy the title failed, the magazine was closed down last week. But, after reports earlier this week that a new buyer had been found, the company's administrators have confirmed they have sold the title to the Wilmington Group, who bid against Freud and Morgan the last time the magazine was on the market. Their ownership will take immediate effect, to the extent an albeit reduced issue should be out this week.
Wilmington Group CEO Charles Brady said in a statement this week: "It has taken us a while, but we have thought for some years now that this business would fit superbly well with Wilmington. We intend to deliver to the journalist and press community publications, events and other information products that will not only enhance their professional lives but that they can identify with and be proud of".
Tony Loynes, who will be the title's new Editor-in-chief, added: "Sadly Press Gazette has missed an issue, but we will be making that up to the loyal readers of the publication. We intend to develop the print, the web presence and events side of Press Gazette. Obviously Press Gazette's British Press Awards is the high profile event that is still firmly on schedule for 26 March 2007. We have been deep in discussion with the newspaper owners to ensure we can deliver the best quality event, celebrating excellence within this dynamic and challenging industry. We also intend to put equal effort into the Regional Press Awards and the other events that Press Gazette has developed to connect with one of the most important professions in the world. We have been enormously encouraged by all those who have expressed their pleasure at the revival of Press Gazette and those who worked hard to try to save the magazine in its dying days. The British journalistic community deserves a magazine of vitality, integrity and self-sufficiency and we will make damn sure they get it".
Some of the magazine's former editorial team are involved in this week's issue - though it is as yet unclear how many of that team will now join Wilmington.
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VIRGIN REVAMP DAYTIME SCHEDULE
Virgin Radio have announced that former Madness man Suggs will take over their afternoon show following the departure of current drive time host Martin Collins. Suggs' new daily show will run from 2-4pm, with current evening presenter Ben Jones expanding his show so that it runs from 4pm and 8pm, and covers the rest of Collins' former slot. Suggs, a former Xfm presenter, already presents shows on Virgin, hosting its Party Classics Show on Friday and Saturday nights.
Commenting on Suggs' new daily show, Virgin Radio PD Paul Jackson told reporters: "Party Classics has been a sensational success and listeners want to hear more of Suggs. He hadn't done much radio before but he has become part of the station. It's a natural progression."
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HARRY MCFLY DROPS OUT OF TISCALI SESSION
McFly's Harry Judd had to drop out of his band's Tiscali Session recording at ULU last night after a bad back meant he couldn't perform. With one of their crew filling in at the last minute, bandmate Dougie Poynter reported to the band's audience that their drummer was suffering from "gout", prompting a quick rewrite of their hit 'It's All About You' to "Harry's got gout, Harry's got gout baby", a timely version which is set to appear when the Tiscali Session goes online in the new year. The band's keyboard was also a bit under the weather, forcing Tom Fletcher to improvise the piano bits of upcoming single 'We Are The Young' on the guitar. Needless to say, it still rocked.
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FED-EX IS DOING GREAT, OKAY?
Despite the fact that his meal ticket, sorry, Britney Spears is divorcing him, and his album bombed, and people aren't turning up to his concerts, and his ex is saying his career is a joke, Kevin Federline says he is doing just great. The would be rapper told US cable TV programme E! News "I am good, I am great, you know ... just moving along, progressing and taking it all in stride."
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PIPETTES LEND SUPPORT TO LILY
The Pipettes have commended Lily Allen for her previously reported attack on NME over their attitude to women.
Becki Pipette, aka Rebecca Stephens, wrote on the band's MySpace blog: "Well done Lily for speaking out against crap male togetherness. It's about time women in music stop being pigeon holed for what they do and are accepted for the exciting music they make. It's difficult being an outspoken woman in today's society as unfortunately one of the hardest things to gain is respect (noticeably from men who feel threatened), people turn what you say into moaning or ranting and people stop listening to you altogether and start disregarding it with a wave of their condescending hand. If this doesn't happen then people turn what you've said around and use it out of context. This happens very often and it gets very tiring."
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LILY ALLEN NOT GOOD AT DRUG DEALING
Talking of Lily Allen, the singer has told Uncut magazine that she sold drugs in the past, but wasn't very good at it. Allen says: "I was a drug dealer in Ibiza at 15. I did not excel in drug-dealing - I was terrible at it. Golden rule with drug-dealing; don't get too enthusiastic with your own merchandise. But I haven't done drugs for a while now. Too busy. I'd like to say work and sex have replaced drugs. But there's not been enough time off work for sex. This must change."
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GIRLS ALOUD'S OUTGOINGS EXCEED INCOMINGS
Girls Aloud apparently spent more than they earned last year, which could be considered quite an achievement. The band earned £1,234,267, but spent £1,262,572. I hope they're all paying into a pension fund.
Anyway, reports suggest that this is due to the fact that they are spending too much money on partying, which is disgraceful, when you consider the starving children, etc, etc. A financial analyst told The Sun: "It's not dire straits. But when the money coming in is less than money going out, their spending has to be kept under control." Er, clearly.
The band's Nicola Roberts compounded my absolute lack of sympathy on this issue by saying: "I spend my money on shit. Stupid things I don't really need."
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RONNIE WOOD SAYS ROD STEWART IS RUBBISH
Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood has had a go at his former Faces bandmate Rod Stewart, saying that Hollywood has changed him. Stewart has recently hinted, apparently, at a Faces reunion, but it doesn't sound like Wood would have any interest in the idea.
Wood is quoted as saying: "With all the years he has been stranded away from that group thing, he's been Hollywood-ified. He's got all this attention and all these poofs around him. He's lost the earthiness I know he still has inside."