GAME GROUP - GROUP UK PR MANAGER Basingstoke, Attractive salary "Video games are the new rock n roll" - even the Daily Telegraph thinks so! GAME Group plc is Europe's leading video games retailer. The popularity of our GAME and Gamestation brands has helped us grow rapidly to become one of the UK's largest retail groups. We are on the hunt for a Group UK PR Manager to create and deliver our PR strategy in the UK. It's a brand new position, so we need someone who can deliver outstanding campaigns in a creative, fast-paced environment. You'll need to use and grow your relationships with key UK media to manage day-to-day press enquires and implement proactive campaigns. You will also have to deal with senior management and manage a PR Exec, so strong interpersonal skills are required. You must be a PR practitioner with consumer and trade experience in either the retail or entertainment industries and have an eye for a good story. You should be calm under pressure and be self-motivated as well as having excellent attention to detail and a sense of humour. To apply, send your CV and a covering letter stating your current salary and why you are the right person for this role to [email protected] quoting reference SS27
Advertise your jobs in CMU Daily for just £100 a week (five editons) - more info at www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/advertising, or email [email protected] to book.

COHL LEAVES LIVE NATION
So, as expected, legendary tour promoter Michael Cohl has resigned as chairman of live music conglom Live Nation, and as CEO of Live Nation Artists, the newish division of the firm set up to manage their multi-million multi-dimensional deals with artists like Madonna and Jay-Z.

Cohl's departure was confirmed on Friday, after much speculation that growing tension between Cohl and Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino was making the former's position at the company untenable. In a bid to combat the rumors of a big falling out between the two top Live Nation execs both men took part in a conference call with US trade mag Billboard in which Cohl's resignation was confirmed. He will continue to advise the company on a consultancy basis.

Rapino positioned Cohl's new consultancy role as being more suited to his skills, telling Billboard: "One of the strengths of Michael Cohl is he's a big thinker, strategic, great with relationships, artists and big deals. That's what we want him to do, we don't actually want him to get caught up in the day-to-day of running of our division and all the bureaucracy around the operational part. We want him to go out and do what he does best for us and that's what we're back to doing".

Saying that "the moon and the stars" were behind the move away from a full time Live Nation role, Cohl seemed to agree that the Chairman and Live Nation Artists roles he has been undertaking of late just weren't right for him. He told the mag: "I've been giving people grief and making things difficult, and it was really all about I wasn't doing what I'm really good at. From my perspective it's much more about that than any of this nitty-gritty detail that anybody wants to talk about that's not relevant".

Cohl's predecessor in the Live Nation Chairman job, Randall Mays, is expected to return to the position, while the current boss of Live Nation Global, Arthur Fogel, will head up Live Nation Artists. Cohl's consultancy deal will run to 2012. As previously reported, he is already tied to a non-compete agreement stemming from Live Nation's purchase of his company CPI, a deal which gave Cohl his shareholding in the firm, and which first catapulted him into an executive role within the conglom. That is understood to run until 2016.

Most speculation regarding Cohl's departure centres on what it means for Live Nation Artists. Rumour has it that it was over the firm's 360 degree deal division that the two execs particularly clashed - Cohl reporting to Rapino in that relationship. Rapino claims that it is business as usual regarding Live Nation's plans to move into areas other than its traditional stomping ground of live music, though he added that it was always the intent to only sign four Madonna style deals at the outset - seemingly an attempt to counter rumours the firm is in negotiations with every legendary artist under the sun, and perhaps a bid to preempt assumptions that when only two more deals are done that that is somehow a slowdown of original plans caused by Cohl's departure.

Rapino confirmed they were close to adding a third major artist to the Live Nation Artists list, to join Madonna and Jay-Z. As previously reported, recent rumour has suggested that will be Shakira.

Specifically asked by Billboard about the rumoured tensions between him and Cohl, Rapino concluded: "Michael and I have had fights since the day I met him ... and he's always challenged me to make bigger and better decisions. We don't always agree, but that was never relevant to whether we would be having dinner together for the rest of our lives and having great respect and working together".

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THE ORCHARD CONFIRM TVT PURCHASE
As briefly mentioned on Friday, independent digital rights aggregator The Orchard has bought US independent TVT Records which, as much previously reported, went into bankruptcy earlier this year. Reports suggest The Orchard bid $6.5 million to buy the indie's assets, $1.5 million more than finance outfit Zwirn, a creditor of TVT who was known to be bidding, reportedly with the support of TVT founder Steve Gottlieb.

The deal will require court approval before being finalised, but assuming it goes ahead will give the digital rights company ownership of all of TVT's recordings catalogue, and its current artist contracts and distribution infrastructure. The indie label's stake in its sister publishing company, which Gottlieb has held onto, is not part of the deal.

Confirming the purchase, The Orchard chief Greg Scholl said in a statement on Friday: "Along with a great catalogue of chart-topping music, TVT has a formidable artist roster, with major hip-hop talents and a phenomenal pipeline of developing artists. We look forward to working with these artists, and where it makes sense, in conjunction with other Orchard clients and partners, to support their artistic vision and maximize their commercial potential".

Despite reports of his involvement in a rival bid, Gottlieb said he welcomed The Orchard's purchase, telling reporters: "After 23 years and 25 plus gold and platinum releases, I am delighted to see TVT's catalogue and roster move to a company so deeply engaged in developing the digital future of the music business. My energies will now focus on the continued growth of TVT Music as a premier music publisher, as well as following on with my consulting and co-investing with VC's in early stage internet ventures".

TVT's roster includes Pitbull and Lil Jon, though some artists were trying to get out of their deals with the indie as it went into financial meltdown. Whether any such artist back tracking will continue now the new owners have been confirmed remains to be seen.

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FRENCH GOVERNMENT GREEN LIGHT THREE STRIKE LEGISLATION
The French government has given the green light to that controversial 'internet and creation' legislation which contains that thing about cutting off internet access for people who consistently share unlicensed content online despite being warned about their copyright violation.

As previously reported, French politicians were the first to consider the idea of sending warning letters to web users who illegally share music online, and to ultimately force their ISPs to cut them off if they continue to infringe copyright online after receiving said warnings, after proposals to that effect were put forward by the former boss of French retailer Fnac, Denis Olivennes.

British politicians have since said they will also consider similar new laws if the ISPs cannot agree a voluntary code of practice regarding policing online piracy with content owners, like the record companies, by early 2009. And Aussie politicians have also indicated they will watch with interest moves in France and the UK to force ISPs to act on illegal file sharing, with perhaps a view to adopting such moves themselves.

The French proposals, which will now have to get through both of France's houses of parliament, would see the creation of an independent authority who would send out the warning letters and order persistent infringers to be cut off. They would adopt the previously touted three strike system - file sharers would get two warnings before being cut off.

The new body would rely on content owners to alert it of possible infringers. It would then have the authority to force ISPs to reveal the identities of alleged file sharers - confidential information that content owners currently have to go to court to secure. The new body will also be able to order persistent infringers be cut off for anything from three to twelve months, though shorter suspensions of service may be given to those who commit to stop file sharing.

Launching the new proposals, French culture minister Christine Albanel told reporters: "This is an innovative framework to solve a problem that is particularly important in France". However, the ISPs and some consumer rights groups are expected to oppose the legislation, and will get very busy lobbying French MPs as the proposals are debated in parliament later this year.

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50 CENT TOLD TO HAND OVER GUNS
50 Cent has been told to not even try to contact the mother of his ten year old son, and to surrender any guns he may have lying around the place, in a restraining order issued against the rapper at the request of his ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins.

The court order relates to the long running dispute between Tompkins and Fiddy, real name Curtis Jackson of course. Tompkins claims that while Jackson pays maintenance for the upbringing of their son he has reneged on a past financial commitment he made to her. Meanwhile, when the house where she and her son live - a property owned by Jackson - burned down last month, she told reporters: "He said that he's gonna have someone come kill me and watch what he does, and this is what he did".

Jackson's lawyer said he would contest the injunction, adding that "to my knowledge, [Jackson] has no guns". He also confirmed that the rapper intended to sue his ex for defamation, presumably in relation to those implications made by Tompkins that Jackson was in someway involved in the fire at her home.

Commenting on the defamation lawsuit, Tompkins' lawyer said the action was "completely baseless" and "retaliatory", adding: "It's nothing more than an attempt to rehabilitate his image".

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MORE WINEHOUSE HEALTH SPECULATION
There was much speculation regarding Amy Winehouse's health this weekend after the singer underwent more medical tests following that fainting incident early last week.

On Friday there were reports she was being tested for TB, but fortunately those tests proved negative. A spokesman told People.com on Friday: "She has a chest infection and she had a routine test for TB, which came back negative".

Then yesterday a report in the Sunday Mirror quoted her father Mitch Winehouse as saying his daughter was suffering from early stage emphysema and an irregular heartbeat, and that continued drug use could make the condition dangerous. The tabloid quote Winehouse senior thus: "The doctors have told her if she goes back to smoking drugs, it won't just ruin her voice, it will kill her. There are nodules around the chest and dark marks. She has 70 per cent lung capacity".

As previously reported, Winehouse's ill health may effect her planned appearance at the Nelson Mandela concert in London this week and her Glastonbury set next weekend. Her spokesman said on that last week: "She would really love to do the show - she always wants to do these things. But she will listen to her doctors".

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QOTSA HOMME NOT ANTI-GAY, OK?
Queens Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme would like it to be known he is not homophobic and he has written a rather long rant on the issue. The rant followed accusations the singer was anti-gay after another rant of his - that time during a gig in Norway - when he called a fan who had thrown a shoe at him all sorts of things. You can see what sorts of things at this YouTube link - the homophobia claims presumably come from him calling the kid a "faggot".

Anyway, here is what Homme writes. Enjoy.

"Some journalists & citizens on the internet are wondering: Q? Am I a homophobe because I included a slang for gay in with other "acceptable" curse words during a verbal lashing I gave a young concertgoer, after being hit by his shoe, during a show the other day? A= Nope. My gay family & friends, as well as myself, KNOW I am not a homophobe. For years now I've known gay is not a choice; one's skin color doesn't determine one's intelligence level; & red hair doesn't mean you're someone's stepchild. You see, it's not the words, it's their intent. I never said, nor suggested, that being gay is wrong, but apparently, based on your outrage to my flu-infused rant, you do! By that logic... I also told that young whipper snapper I'd have anal sex with him... how can I possibly reconcile these opposing viewpoints? I called him a pussy too. Does it mean I hate our one worlds' collective vagina? I never have been nor intend to be politically correct. That's your cross to bear. To me, that PC world would suck more shit than the porta-potty truck at Glastonbury".

"Homophobic? I'm in Queens Of The Stone Age for crissake... You say, "So. Your band name doesn't prove anything". Maybe not. But it's a helluv a lot more definitive than the logic of some watchdog... (sorry canine-American, canine-European, canine-African, canine-Australian & canine-Asian) moralist, keeping score from pure perfectionville? If your glass house is squeegeed that clean & you need to do something, do what the great philosopher Bill Hick's once suggested: forgive me. Or don't. I'm not asking for either, OK? I think you should let both of your cheeks go loose so the stick will drop out. Either way I expect that you'll soon find another injustice from your chair, then roll to your bullhorn & point it out to the rest of us... Because you're so above it all. Or If you'll allow me to translate a wish of mine into your PC lingo: Will you please go have, consensual, sex with yourself. Pretty please with all natural, carbon offset sugar on top".

So, that's that cleared up. You read it all right?

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SINGLE REVIEW: Weezer - Pork and Beans (Universal/Polydor)
It seems to me Weezer are generally thought of as a band who could be the best if only they tried a little harder. However, I think this is unfair, and luckily 'Pork And Beans' goes some way towards dispelling this myth. Like most Weezer songs, 'Pork And Beans' has a certain je ne sais quoi; a grandiose, anthem-like feel that immediately uplifts. You can't help but tap your feet and the song, without resorting to overused themes and lyrics, sticks in your head. The only unsettling bit is the way it ends: the abrupt cut-off doesn't seem in keeping with the rest of the song. Yet even this minor distraction isn't enough to mar what is essentially another classic Weezer track. EO
Release Date: 23 Jun
Press Contact: Polydor IH [all]

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DOVES WORKING ON NEW ALBUM
Doves are set to complete work on their new album by the end of the summer according to a post on their website. Material from it may feature at a couple of UK gigs in September - details tbc.

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THE SHINS TO SELF-RELEASE NEXT ALBUM
The Shins frontman James Mercer has told Billboard he plans to release his band's next album through his own label Aural Apothecary, albeit with a distribution partnership with another company, possibly US indie Sub Pop who have released the three previous The Shins albums.

He told the trade mag: "[Any new] deal will be more of a [distribution] deal than a traditional record deal. That partner could very well remain Sub Pop, who have done a remarkable job with the band and have a great staff of people who really love music. It could be a digital partner with respect to other rights. All of this is being determined. The first goal is to make the record and see where that takes us".

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NEW DAVID HOLMES UPCOMING
David Holmes will release his long awaited fourth album 'The Holy Pictures' on 8 Sep via Universal's Mercury Records.

The new long player is set to be pretty personal to Holmes, who tells CMU: "The story of this album really began on the 4th of August 1996, when my mother, Sarah Holmes, passed away. I had always wanted to make a record about my life in Belfast and all the things attached to that - family, friends, loss, love and starting a family of my own. All the stuff that shapes the person you become".

The album will be preceded by a single release, 'I Heard Wonders', on 25 Aug, and Holmes will be DJing at various festivals before then, including The Big Chill, The Green Man and Electric Picnic.

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KELLY ROWLAND TO TAKE HIV TEST
Kelly Rowland will undergo an HIV test while in Africa in a bid to dissolve the stigma associated with medical test. Rowland is an ambassador for MTV's Staying Alive Foundation, which aims to reduce discrimination against HIV and AIDS victims in Africa, and has visited projects supported by the charity in Tanzania and Kenya. Commenting on her support for the project, Rowland told reporters: "Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to HIV infection, and it is important for everyone to know their HIV status. The quicker you know your status, the sooner you can receive treatment if you're HIV+, and reduce the risk of inadvertently infecting future partners".

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WILSON REMEMBERED WITH MEGA-CONVERSATION
Mark Radcliffe, Stuart Maconie, Steve Coogan, Charlatans man Tim Burgess and Irvine Welsh were among the people to take part in a 24-hour debate-a-thon held in memory of the late great Tony Wilson in Manchester this weekend. As well as former friends and colleagues of the Factory Records chief, 200 young people took part in the 'Tony Wilson Experience', which aimed to encourage young people to participate in creativity and idea sharing. Wilson, of course, was a prominent news journalist in the North West, as well as being the man behind Factory, the Hacienda and In The City.

Commenting on the venture, Welsh told reporters: "Tony was always a great evangelist for Manchester and his music. I first met him in the Hacienda and then again a few years later when I got into writing. What always struck me was the way he never talked down to people, he always made time for them, no matter who he was speaking to. Talking to other people, sharing ideas and thoughts with them about what you do and what they do is an important part of the creative process for most artists and this is what the Tony Wilson Experience is all about".

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JAY-Z ON JAY-Z AT GLASTO
Ah, at last, commentary on Jay-Z headlining Glastonbury from Mr Shawn Carter himself, whose opinion is probably worthy of some Daily time, even though this topic is officially closed.

Responding to the criticism dished out to Glasto chiefs for booking him, not least by Noel Gallagher who called a hip hop headliner "wrong", Mr Z told Radio 1's Rap Show: "It's ridiculous, if we don't embrace what is new, then how do we progress? I've never actually experienced anything like that before. It's 2008, what is that about? That's such old school thinking, that's not even how the world thinks anymore. So I was really taken aback [by the criticism]".

He added that the kids are less affected by genre barriers, so the 'should Glasto feature hip hop?' debate is irrelevant. Jay: "These barriers that they have are only put up there to separate us. They are there so people have a way of filing the music but that's not the way kids today listen to music. I listen to all types of music and that's what should happen, that's what the world should be about, mixing culture. There's only good music and bad music". Actually, that's not true. There's mediocre music, sort of alright music, and so bad its good music too. Let's not forget them.

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IFPI CHIEF PUTS PRESSURE ON SPAIN TO ACT ON P2P
The boss of the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry, John Kennedy, has called on Spain to sort out its copyright laws so that it is easier to combat online piracy. The Spanish courts have not been kind to content owners trying to litigate over file sharing - saying current laws can't be used to force ISPs to reveal the identities of web users suspected of file sharing. As ISPs tend to only hand over that information if forced to do so by the courts, that makes it pretty much impossible to sue individuals for file sharing in Spain, should you want to, which the labels generally do.

Comparing Spain to France where, as previously reported, politicians are putting in place new rules to force ISPs to be much more proactive in policing file sharing, according to Billboard Kennedy told a seminar in Madrid last week: "I cannot believe the French government cares more about French music and creativity than the Spanish government does about Spanish music and creativity. [French President Nicholas] Sarkozy said the internet must not be a high-tech Wild West, but he said it for the French music and film industries, not for John Kennedy and the IFPI. It is the home-grown emerging content industry that needs protection, not Hollywood. I call on Spain not to let India and China wake up to this fact while Spain takes no action".

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SMG SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE VIRGIN RADIO SALE
SMG's shareholders have backed the sale of Virgin Radio to that consortium led by the Times Of India Group. As previously reported, the national station will be operated by Absolute Radio on behalf of the consortium, and will have to change its name because Richard Branson's Virgin Group has a stake in a rival Indian media firm, so would not approve a transfer of the licence to use the Virgin name to the new owners. An EGM of SMG's shareholders was held last week and overwhelmingly backed the sale of the radio station, which has been on the Scottish media firm's list of things to sell for sometime (there had been talk of floating it on the London Stock Exchange).

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ALBUM REVIEW: The Rascals - Rascalize (Deltasonic Records)
Is it possible to like Alex Turner too much? Yes, and aside from the obviously negative crazed-fan-kidnaps-Alex-Turner-to-eat-his-brain scenario, the most prominent danger is becoming Miles Kane, member of the Turner & Kane duo The Last Shadow Puppets and The Rascals' frontman. 'Rascalize', The Rascals' debut album and a terrible affront to the rules of morphology, features Kane giving his best Turner impression through his vox and lyrics. The lyrics try to capture the twisted relationship musings of the Monkeys' 'Favourite Worse Nightmare', but they fall short, painfully so in some instances. The album has the epic, brooding (and some might say pretentious) style of The Last Shadow Puppets and features some ambitious, original ideas - the rippling, reverb laced guitars are haunting and the best trick pulled from The Rascals bag. Unfortunately, for every glimmer of serious musical aptitude ('Freakbeat Phantom' is The Rascals' idea at it's best), there is a jarring, heavy guitar thrashing bridge that wishes it was being performed by a late 70s punk band. It seems Kane has invested his best ideas into The Last Shadow Puppets, which holds the fillers for what The Rascals lack - an orchestra and Alex Turner. RL
Release Date: 23 Jun
Press Contact: Deltasonic IH [CP, RP, RR, CR, RP, NP] Nile-on [o]

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CHART UPDATE
So, no real surprises in the charts this week, what with Coldplay dominating both the singles and album chart, scoring their first number one in the former and staying top in the latter - both with 'Viva La Vida' (song and album respectively, obviously).

Elsewhere in the singles chart, Busta Rhymes goes in at 14 with 'We Made It', those Jonas Brothers go in at 16 with 'SOS', Billiam enter at 23 with 'My Generation', the re-released Nickelback track 'Photograph' goes in at 29, Cage The Elephant enter at 32 with 'Ain't No Rest For The Wicked', and Weezer at 40 with 'Pork & Beans', which has been gaining download momentum ahead of its physical release.

Albums wise, Darren Styles has the highest new entry with 'Skydivin' at 4, Feeder go in at 8 with 'Silent Cry', Sara Bareilles at 9 with 'Little Voice', Fleet Foxes at 11 with 'Fleet Foxes', the re-release of Dennis Wilson's 'Pacific Ocean Blue' goes in at 16, while there's a Petula Clark hits album at 17, The Music with 'Strength In Numbers' at 19, Weezer with their red album at 21, a Dolly Parton best of at 23, Judas Priest and 'Nostradamus' at 30, and The Offspring and 'Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace' at 39.

These here charts of which we all speak are counted, compiled and unleashed, in case you ever did wonder, by the people at the Official UK Charts Company - www.theofficialcharts.com

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TOTAL ROCK WORLD ALBUM CHART
It's the Total Rock World Album Chart, as counted down on Total Rock over the weekend - www.totalrock.com. New entries and re-entries marked with a *.

1. Disturbed - Indestructible (Warner/Reprise)*
2. Opeth - Watershed (Warner/Roadrunner)
3. Linkin Park - Minutes To Midnight (Warner Bros)
4. Nickelback - All The Right Reasons (Warner/Roadrunner)
5. Kid Rock - Rock - N' Roll Jesus (Warner/Atlantic)
6. Daughtry - Daughtry (SonyBMG)
7. Led Zeppelin - Mothership (Warner/Atlantic) *
8. Iron Maiden - Somewhere Back In Time (EMI)
9. Guns n' Roses - Greatest Hits (Universal/Geffen)*
10. Whitesnake - Good To Be Bad (SPV)
11. The Eagles - Long Road Out Of Eden (Universal)
12. Foo Fighters - Echoes Silence Patience & Grace (Roswell)
13. Journey - Revelation' (Frontiers)*
14. Bon Jovi - Lost Highway (Universal/Mercury)
15. Testament - The Formation Of Damnation (Nuclear Blast)
16. Children Of Bodom - Blooddrunk (Spinefarm)
17. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Best Of (Polytel)*
18. Story Of The Year - The Black Swan (Epitaph)
19. Journey - Greatest Hits (SonyBMG)*
20. Seether - Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces (Wind-Up)

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SUB.TV PLAYLIST
Here they are again, the videos being played on the Sub.tv video screen network in students' unions all over the UK. New entries marked with a *.

A-List
Black Kids - Hurricane Jane (Almost Gold)
Born Ruffians - Hummingbird (Warp)
Cage The Elephant - Ain't No Rest For The Wicked (EMI/Relentless)
Dirty Pretty Things - Tired Of England (Universal/Vertigo)
Dizzee Rascal - Dance Wiv Me (Beggars/XL)
Elliot Minor - Time After Time (Warner/Repossession)
Five O'Clock Heroes - Who feat. Agyness Deyn (Glaze)
Glasvegas - Geraldine (SonyBMG/Columbia)
Infadels - Free Things For Poor People (Wall Of Sound)
The Kooks - Shine On (EMI/Virgin)
MGMT - Electric Feel (SonyBMG/Columbia)
One Night Only - You and Me (Universal/Mercury)
Radiohead - Bodysnatchers (Live) (Beggars/XL)
The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let Me Go (SonyBMG/Columbia)*
Weezer - Pork and Beans (Universal/Polydor)
Wild Beasts - The Devil's Crayon (Domino)

B-List
Annie - I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me (Universal/Island)
Censored - Play The Game (Electric Toaster)*
Fightstar - I Am The Message (Institute)
Hadouken! - Crank It Up (Warner/sixsevennine)*
Ida Maria - I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked (SonyBMG/RCA)*
Joan As Police Woman - To Be Loved (Reveal)
Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning (Modular)
Metronomy - Holiday (Because)
Natty - July (Warner/Atlantic)*
Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time (Universal/Vertigo)*
Roots Manuva - Buff Nuff (Ninja Tune/Big Dada)
Temposhark - Blame (Paper & Glue)*
Those Dancing Days - Run Run (Wichita)*
Tokyo Police Club - In A Cave (Memphis Industries)
The Week That Was - Scratch The Surface (Memphis Industries)
XX Teens - Only You (EMI/Mute)

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CELINE DION COVER WORSE EVER
Celine Dion's cover version of the AC/DC track 'You Shook Me All Night Long' is the worst cover version ever, official. I know this because it has just topped a 'worst cover ever' list in Total Guitar magazine. They asked a bunch of "music experts" about their favourite and least favourite covers.

The Dion cover has never been released but was a regular in her six year Vegas run. The only recording of it online that I can find is from a US TV show where Dion performed the rock classic as a duet with Anastasia. It's not that bad, though Anastasia is certainly the better rock chick - Dion doesn't sound too bad, but does look rather out of place. Anyway, see what you think...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FONt47Z0KZg&feature=related

Other covers to appear in the Total Guitar worst cover list are the Sugababes/Girls Aloud charity cover of 'Walk This Way', Westlife's cover of Extreme's 'More Than Words', Will Young's version of 'Light My Fire' and the Mike Flowers Pop version of Oasis' 'Wonderwall'. I quite liked both those last two myself. And say what you like about any of them - none are even in the same league as G4's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in terms of actually being some kind of criminal offence.

The best cover list included Jimi Hendrix's legendary cover of Bob Dylan's 'All Along The Watchtower', The Beatles' version of 'Twist & Shout', Guns N Roses take on Wings' 'Live And Let Die', Nirvana's cover of Bowie's 'The Man Who Sold The World', and Muse's rather good rendition 'Feeling Good'.

Commenting on the survey, Total Guitar Editor Stephen Lawson told reporters: "Cover versions have never been bigger. Producer Mark Ronson became a household name on the back of his quirky covers album, with Amy Winehouse's version of Valerie outselling The Zutons' original. It's good to see that Hendrix still is Number One. The first time you hear 'All Along The Watchtower', with that heavy vibe, it sounds like it's from another planet. The number one worst cover song - Celine Dion covering AC/DC - is sacrilege".

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MORE WELLER ON JAM REUNION IDEA
So, has Paul Weller warmed to the idea of a full Jam reunion yet? Well, let's see. Here's what he told Spin magazine recently: "That will never happen, I can promise you. It would be totally and utterly pointless. Even if I was impoverished - and thank God I'm not - I'd go off and do something else, playing pubs and clubs instead. The Jam was a great statement at the time, and many of our records still stand up today, but it's over, it's the past, and that's where it should stay".

As previously reported, Weller's former Jam bandmates Rick Buckler and Bruce Foxton have been touring together since last year and have suggested they'd be up for a full reformation with Weller.

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