The Beautiful South Call It A Day

Alt-pop group The Beautiful South have released a brief and characteristically humorous statement announcing their break-up:

"The Beautiful South have split up due to musical similarities. The band would like to thank everyone for their 19 wonderful years in music."

A lot of bands tend to break up in the spring, so if the pattern holds, we should expect several more splits. This may be the inevitable flipside to all these reunited bands. A sort of musical version of the even Steven principle... there's only room for so many bands at once.

The Beautiful South - Have Fun (available on Blue Is The Colour)

The Beautiful South - Ciao! (Lush/Jarvis Cocker cover, available on the covers album Golddiggas, Headnodders & Pholk Songs, which also includes the group's take on "You're The One That I Want" from the Grease soundtrack.)

American Idol Has No Love For Courtney

So Courtney Love was not actually invited to guest judge on American Idol. Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe said in a statement that he didn't call her. Why didn't he add, "But of course we'd love to have her on the show"?

Love had called the invite "kind of weird but brilliant." That's not a "no" and she probably wouldn't be boring. Idol's ratings don't need much help, but how could the watercooler effect of a Love appearance not help?

Grease: You're the One that I Want, call Courtney now!

Guitarapalooza at Harrods

On February 1st, Harrods department store in London will open Born To Rock: The Life And Times of the Electric Guitar (1931-2007) an exhibit of over 100 vintage and rare guitars, including, in its first appearance outside the U.S., "Frying Pan", the first electric guitar. The exhibit will be open through March 3rd. Before then, the U.K. may set a new Guinness World Record at Harrods with the help of a whole lot of guitarists, and a lot of people will wrestle with how much to bid on their favorite celebrity-painted-and-donated guitar (Joseph Arthur's Teenage Dreams is pictured above).

Loads of custom guitars will be on display, as well as those owned by musicians such as Carlos Santana, Keith Richards, The Edge, and Noel Gallagher. These are not up for auction and presumably are legitimately on loan. If not Noel Gallagher would probably be very reluctant to speak up about it. Born to Rock also promises "live music from some of the hottest young bands in the UK."

Over 50 guitars were customized by "some of the biggest names in music, fashion, photography, design and the visual arts" to be auctioned off for charity. All will be on display at Harrods, and also at Galeries Lafayette and the National Museum of Ireland

The money raised will be divvied up among all the charities selected by the big names.

Those big names who customized (and named) guitars for the auction include Anton Corbijn (his guitar is Offender®) and Fred Deakin (his creation was dubbed Jelly Guitar), in addition to the aforementioned Joseph Arthur, who said he wanted to paint his guitar Teenage Dreams "like I would one of my own. Like a teenager hiding in his bedroom giving his most prized possession mythical tattoos. I wanted it to look like I lived with it. Like I wrote some classics on it. I wanted to give it a soul."

Pictures of all the guitars are online and those interested can register to bid on a particular guitar (those not interested can also to register to bid, but that would be wrong.)

Lemon Jelly - Stay With You (available on Chillout Sessions, Vol. 7)

Joseph Arthur - Let's Embrace (available on Redemption's Son)

Harrods is seeking 2,000 guitarists who are "proficient musicians" and can bring their own guitar - acoustic or electric - February 18th at 8 AM to help set a Guinness World Record. They want 2,000 guitarists to play Deep Purple's "Smoke On the Water". The current record for the most guitarists to simultaneously play a song is a comparatively measly 1,322 set way back in 1994 in Vancouver. All guitarists will get earplugs (!), a plectrum, T-shirt, and a chance at assorted prizes.

Naturally, registration can be done online.

Shockwaves NME Award Nominations

It's a five-way tie for "most Shockwaves NME Award nominations" this year. Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, The Killers, Muse, and My Chemical Romance have four nominations apiece.

All the groups were nominated for Best Album. My Chemical Romance was also nominated for Worst Album, but apparently that doesn't count when it comes to tallying up nominations. If it did, My Chemical Romance would have five. If the Worst Album nom. deducted one from their total, they'd have three... hmm...

Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Muse, and My Chemical Romance were nominated for Best Live Band (along with Babyshambles).

Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, and Muse were also nominated for Best UK Band (along with Babyshambles and Oasis).

The Killers and My Chemical Romance were nominated for Best International Band. (The other nominees: CSS, The Strokes, and We Are Scientists.)

Arctic Monkeys and My Chemical Romance also received nominations for Best Music DVD (for Scummy Man and Life On The Murder Scene)

Kasabian and The Killers picked up nominations for Best Video (for "Empire" and "Bones"). None of the other big five were nominated, but it's tough when you're competing with the likes of OK Go and their damn treadmills.

Two of the five bands also received a nod in the Best Track category: Muse (for "Supermassive Black Hole") and The Killers (for "When You Were Young").

The Shockwaves NME Awards will be given March 1 at the Hammersmith Palais in London. Registered members of NME's website can vote online and help decide whether The Kooks are the Worst Band, the Best New Band, both, or neither.

The Nominations:

Best New Band:

The Fratellis
The Horrors
Klaxons
The Kooks
The View

Best UK Band:

Arctic Monkeys
Babyshambles
Kasabian
Muse
Oasis

Best International Band:

CSS
The Killers
My Chemical Romance
The Strokes
We Are Scientists

Best Live Band:

Arctic Monkeys
Babyshambles
Kasabian
Muse
My Chemical Romance

Best Solo Artist

Lily Allen
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
Jamie T
Jarvis Cocker
Thom Yorke

Best Album:

Arctic Monkeys - Whatever You Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Kasabian - Empire
The Killers - Sam's Town
Muse - Black Holes And Revelations
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade

Best Track

Dirty Pretty Things - "Bang Bang You're Dead"
The Killers - "When You Were Young"
Klaxons - "Atlantis To Interzone'
Muse - "Supermassive Black Hole"
The View - "Wasted Little DJs"

Best Video

The Horrors - "Sheena Is A Parasite"
Kasabian - "Empire"
The Killers - "Bones"
OK Go - "Here It Goes Again"
Panic! At The Disco - "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"

Best Music DVD

Arctic Monkeys - Scummy Man
Dirty Pretty Things - Puffing On A Coffin Nail
Foo Fighters - Skin And Bones
Maximo Park - Found On Film
My Chemical Romance - Life On The Murder Scene

Best Live Event

Carling Weekend: Reading And Leeds Festivals
Download 2006
Oxegen
T In The Park
V2006

Best Film

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Casino Royale
The Departed
Little Miss Sunshine
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Best TV Show

Extras
Gonzo
Lost
The Mighty Boosh
Never Mind The Buzzcocks

Best Radio Show

Lauren Laverne (Xfm)
Zane Lowe (Radio 1)
Chris Moyles (Radio 1)
Colin Murray (Radio 1)
Jo Whiley (Radio 1)

Hero Of The Year

Carl Barat
Pete Doherty
Faris Rotter
Alex Turner
Gerard Way

Villain Of The Year

Tony Blair
Johnny Borrell
George Bush
Pete Doherty
Gerard Way

Sexiest Man

Carl Barat
Matt Bellamy
Pete Doherty
Brandon Flowers
Gerard Way

Sexiest Woman

Lily Allen
Beth Ditto
Kate Jackson
Kate Moss
Karen O

Best Dressed

Carl Barat
Russell Brand
Pete Doherty
Brandon Flowers
Faris Rotter

Worst Dressed

Lily Allen
Johnny Borrell
Russell Brand
Pete Doherty
Faris Rotter

Worst Album

Lily Allen - 'Alright, Still'
The Feeling - 'Twelve Stops And Home'
My Chemical Romance - 'The Black Parade'
Razorlight - 'Razorlight'
Robbie Williams - 'Rudebox'

Worst Band

The Feeling
The Horrors
The Kooks
Panic! At The Disco
Razorlight

Best Venue

Brixton Academy
Glasgow Barrowlands
London KOKO
London Astoria
Manchester Apollo

Best Website

DrownedinSound
Last.FM
MySpace
Pitchfork
YouTube

Triptych On The Way

Although some continue to lament the loss of the mix tape, mix CDs at least, are thriving.

(Which is not to say that I don't miss mix tapes, or am not looking forward to reading Love Is A Mix Tape, which looks really good.)

Lemon Jelly's Fred Deakin has compiled, essentially a very long - 90 track - "mix CD" - so long it takes up three CDs. It's called The Triptych. It too is "a work of art... divided into three sections". Perhaps, like with a traditional triptych, the central part (disc 2) is the most important part of the piece.

NME posted a version of the track listing, as well as a release date, but the accurate track listing and release date (February 13) are most likely those in the label's press release, first posted at Lemon Jelly's official forum. A capella renditions, remixes, and live songs are included in this track listing, and not in NME's. Also, NME's version includes a song called "The Gifted One" by "Jemini". The label's version replaces that with "Funk Soul Sensation" by "Jemini The Gifted One", which seems more likely.


The Likelier Track Listing:

Disc 1:

1. Badmarsh & Shri - Appa
2. Impossible Dreamers - Spin
3. Flying Fish - Mr Matawe
4. The Selecter - The Selecter
5. Bobby Nunn - Private Party
6. Mr Flash - Disco Dynamite
7. BBC Radiophonic Workshop - Amor Dei
8. Penguin Café Orchestra - Perpetuum Mobile
9. Pete Seeger - Ode To Joy
10. Sharon Phillips - Want 2 Need 2 (Trentemoller Remix)
11. Gaspar Lawal - Kita Kita
12. Dave Angel - Funk Music (Tonka Remix)
13. Japan - Adolescent Sex
14. Nick Straker - A Touch Of Jazz
15. Billy Swan - Don't Be Cruel
16. Mama Cass - One Way Ticket
17. Native Force - Music Box
18. Thin Lizzy - The Rocker
19. Jemini The Gifted One - Funk Soul Sensation
20. Siouxsie & The Banshees - Supernatural Thing
21. N.O.R.E. - Nothin'
22. Graffiti - Come Together
23. Tomahawk - Straw Dogs
24. Billy Hawks - Oooh Baby (I Believe I'm Losing You)
25. Supergrass - Coffee In The Pot
26. Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys - St Louis Blues
27. Don Covay - It's Better To Have (And Don't Need)
28. Saint Etienne - He's On The Phone
29. Jesus & Mary Chain - Sometimes Always
30. Bernard Cribbins - My Resistance Is Low

Disc 2:

1. Andy Statman - Flatbush Waltz
2. Etienne De Crecy - Grokster
3. Technotronic - Get Up (Before The Night Is Over) - A cappella
4. Kaori - Good Life
5. Mezzoforte - Garden Party
6. Leo Kottke - Cripple Creek
7. The Toes - Chrome Radio Rocks
8. Kurtis Blow - Xmas Rapping
9. Bananarama - Movin' On (Tony Humphries Remix)
10. Ege Bam Yasi - I Want More
11. John Foxx - Mr No
12. Todd Rundgren - Torch Song
13. XTC - A Dictionary Of Modern Marriage
14. Das EFX - Real Hip Hop - A cappella
15. Living Colour - Love Rears Its Ugly Head (Soul Power Hip Hop Remix)
16. Dudley Moore - Amalgam
17. Theo Parrish - Falling Up (Carl Craig Remix)
18. Jesse Johnson - Crazy
19. Man Parrish - Boogie Down Bronx
20. Michael Nesmith - Calico Girlfriend
21. Ramsey Lewis - Blue Bongo
22. Ray Bryant - Madison Time
23. Wally Whyton - Don't You Push Me Down
24. P Funk Allstars - Hydraulic Pump
25. George Michael - Cars And Trains
26. The Seeds - Can't Seem To Make You Mine
27. Sounds Orchestral - Moonshot
28. Pentangle - Night Flight
29. Anita Kerr Quartet - Wayfaring Stranger
30. Drilla - Mama Says
31. The Rutles - Let's Be Natural

Disc 3:

1. Steve Miller - Threshold
2. Grand Funk Railroad - Words Of Wisedam
3. James Last - Feeling Alright
4. The Chords - Maybe Tomorrow
5. Roni Size - Scrambled Eggs
6. Gianfranco Plenzio - Musica Per Anna
7. Grand Puba - I Like It
8. The Durutti Column - Madeleine
9. Kenny Rankin - Minuet
1. Bugz In The Attic - Happy Dayz
11. Acen - Dirty Raver
12. Wuf Ticket - The Key
13. Michel Houellebecq - Celibataires
14. Peak - Get Carter
15. Shades Of Rhythm - Homicide
16. Freq Nasty - That's My Style
17. Miriam Makeba - Ring Bell
18. Rick James - Pass The Joint
19. Madness - The Bed And Breakfast Man
20. Maxwell - Get To Know You
21. D Train - Trying To Get Over
22. Cornershop featuring MIA - Topknot
23. Wendy & Lisa - Are You My Baby
24. The Five Stairsteps - Oooh Child
25. Spirit - America The Beautiful/The Times They Are A Changin'
26. Ian O'Brien - Midday Sun
27. The Isley Brothers - Brown Eyed Girl
28. Tim Hardin - Misty Roses (Live)
29. Bob Wallis - Three Live Wires

Hooverphonic, World Bang

Hooverphonic - Mad About You (Llorca's Radio Shot)

World Bang - When Doves Cry

Blogger toasted my post, as it is wont to do sometimes. I usually save posts-in-progress, but didn't this time, and I can't recreate it now. So instead, a couple songs lying around ye olde SendSpace library...

Air Announces European Tour, Plans U.S. Trek

Air has scheduled a dozen European concerts this March, starting in Glasgow on the 14th and ending in their native country with a concert in Paris on the 29th.

Following the duo's Glasgow-to-Paris jaunt, an American tour is planned. One date is already lined up: Coachella, on April 29th.

Air says they expect to play "major festivals" in Europe and Japan this summer, and keep touring for the rest of the year.

This exhaustive schedule is ostensibly in support of their album Pocket Symphony, which Air says will be available digitally everywhere except North America on February 19th and available in physical form everywhere (even in lowly North America!) on March 5th.

Air would perhaps thank you for your cooperation in maintaining the fiction that the album is not already available in digital form. You're the best! Or as Air might say - en Français - aw, screw it, three years of French and I can barely remember how to ask where the swimming pool is. Er, that wasn't what I imagined Air might say to you, although they might if the three of you were in a wacky play together. If you find yourself suddenly inspired to write such a play, I suggest it involve a will and mistaken identities. You could give it a title along the lines of Air Apparent, or possibly Air Présomptif for shows in France.

Air's Announced Concert Dates:

March:

14 - Glasgow ABC
15 - Manchester Academy
16 - London Forum
19 - Berlin Gleishalle
20 - Hamburg Docks
21 - Cologne E Werk
22 - Munich George Elser Halle
24 - Fribourg Frison
25 - Milan Alcatraz
27 - Amsterdam Meklweg Max
28 - Brussels Ancienne Belgique
29 - Paris La Cigale

April:

29 - Indio, CA - Coachella

Yes, these tracks have something in common...

Air - Kelly Watch The Stars (American Girls remix by Phoenix) (available on the "All I Need" single)

Air (Feat. Thomas Mars) - Easy Going Woman (available on the Surfing on a Rocket EP, also a bonus track on the Japanese edition of Talkie Walkie)

Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp Goes to London

Wish you could jam with Radiohead or The White Stripes? Can't help you.

But if you've a hankering for jam sessions, daily meals, and transportation spent with Spencer Davis, Jack Bruce of Cream, Paul Carrack, or Spike Edney, London Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp may be for you!

The camp runs this May 24-28 in London, with an optional sixth night in Liverpool. Expect a "MAJOR rockstar guest TBD!" The mystery musician may take the place of Carrack if he discovers the website refers to him as "Paul carrack of Sqeeze and Mike & the Mechanics".

The misspellings were likely the result of a webpage written very quickly and not proofread rather than an intentional slight against Carrack.

A bit of evidence:

"Record with expert recording engineers including Will Schillinger (attach Bio)!!"

Poor Will Schillinger. His bio wasn't attached, they didn't notice that embarrassing notation, he only got two exclamation points after mentioning recording with him as a selling point, and above that -- considered more of a selling point -- is "Be shuttled on the Gibson tour bus!" At least it only got one exclamation point.

So there are still a few kinks in the system (though not in the camp). Maybe it's an adjustment period. After all, it's the first time they're taking the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp to London (Hollywood is their usual stomping - er, rocking - ground).

Typos are surely worth overlooking for the opportunity to get an autograph from Procol Harum's Gary Brooker and compete in the Battle of the Bands at Abbey Road's Studios.

And if you can't make it to Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, but would like to be frequently asked whether you went, perhaps you'd like to purchase a Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp tour jacket. They're currently on sale for $249.99 - that's $50.00 off (that's U.S. dollars, guv'nor).

For the record, the site's "Virtual Shopping" designation is probably not but could be an ominous disclaimer. If you give them your credit card number, in your mind you could be placing an order, and actually shopping. Maybe the site is subtly warning people that all transactions really consist of people pretending to buy various items such as Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp hats and shirts. That would be a terrible scam. I think anyone ever affiliated with Mike & the Mechanics and/or Squeeze would be appalled by it. Anyone in Bad Company? All bets are off.

Procol Harum - Shine On Brightly (available on The Best of Procol Harum)

Cream - Doing That Scrapyard Thing (available on The Best of Cream)

Gene Summers - School Of Rock & Roll (available on The Ultimate School of Rock & Roll)

Squeeze - Tempted (available on Squeeze - Greatest Hits)

CMJ New Music Monthly CD Vol. 144

Yesterday the December 2006 issue of CMJ New Music Monthly arrived in my mailbox. Oboy, year-end coverage! And - yikes - Christmas music. Oh, CMJ... In today's go-go music market, the kids are already bored of the most "chill", "radical" music a month before it's released. Alas, the magazine's 2006 emphasis and the touch of Christmas music on the compilation make the issue age with little grace.

Granted there's not a lot of Christmas music, but I can't listen to any of it. And as for the 2006 coverage... man, I'm already trying to come up with catchy names that sum up 2007. Don't try to make me live in the past, CMJ.

CMJ Vol. 144 Track Listing:

1. Brand New - Sowing Season (Yeah)
2. Malajube - Montréal -40ºC
3. The Vincent Black Shadow - Metro (available on Fears In The Water)
4. Bob Egan - Virginia
5. Annuals - Brother
6. +44 - 155 (available on When Your Heart Stops Beating)
7. Dead Celebrity Status - We Fall, We Fall
8. Joemca - Strangers
9. A Bad Think - Catch 22 (available on A Bad Think)
10. embrionic - Superfantastic
11. The April Skies - X
12. Sparkydog - Little Bit Of Love (LoFi Mix) (available on Radiowaves )
13. Wonderful Broken Thing - Roam Around
14. The TriBattery Pops (Tom Goodkind Conductor) - Residents' Waltz
15. These United States - The Business
16. Brian, Kenny, Linda, Lee, and Butch - Grandpa's Revenge

James Reuniting, "Still Fresh As A Daisy"

Manchester's James, who had over two dozen hit singles in the U.K. from the mid 80s until 2001, have posted a message on their website announcing a reunion tour.

Not only is James "back, still fresh as a daisy", they also have a "bunch of new songs". Curiously, the band makes a point of referring to themselves as "the 'laid' six" and noting that they "will be playing live for the first time in 6 years", but they've only announced five concerts. Could a sixth show be in the offing? A festival perhaps?

As for what prompted the reunion, singer Tim Booth told Xfm it can be chalked up to chalked up to to "kind of a load of synchronistic events". Why, last summer he "would have said absolutely not, not a chance" would the band have reunited. Guitarist Larry Gott, one of the other founders of the band, had been calling him. Booth says, they got together and "jammed for a few days and found that it was really fantastic." And that's what led to the band's reunion... from jamming to James.

The Jesus And Mary Chain and Rage Against The Machine are also reuniting; both bands are playing at Coachella. Crowded House is reforming for a world tour. Reunions are trendy.

James Concerts:

April 21 - Glasgow - Carling Academy

April 23 - Newcastle - Carling Academy

April 24 - Birmingham - Carling Academy

April 27 - London Brixton - Carling Academy

April 28 - Manchester - MEN Arena

James - Laid (Live At GLR) (a bonus track on the 2001 reissue of Laid)

James - Tomorrow (available on The Best of James)

The Most Depressing Day of the Year...

Hope everyone is coping alright with "Blue Monday", the most depressing day of the year, at least according to one British psychologist. The publicity surrounding his formula and conclusion that January 22nd is the saddest day of the year contributed to nonstop calls at the Bradford Samaritans phone line today. The Samaritans also say more people have called because they've just learned of the help available to them.

Depressing days aside, 85% of respondents in a U.K. poll say they are optimists. Scots ranked themselves the cheeriest, and the Irish came in second. Hmm... did the poll include a disproportionate number of people from those regions, and a smaller number of people from comparatively-gloomy England?

Why are people from Scotland and Ireland happier? Do they purchase more of those charming "Hang in there baby" posters with a kitten on them? Are they just glad they don't live in England so no one will call them "Guv'nor" or in Los Angeles so Britney Spears won't throw up on them? Ah, well, past January 22nd things can only get better, so do hang in there, baby. And talk to a Scot or someone from Ireland if you know one.

Gregorian - Blue Monday (available on Masters of Chant Chapter III)

The Fleetwoods - Mr Blue (available on Teenage Crush, Vol. 4)

Billie Holiday - Am I Blue (available on Lady Day - The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia (1933-1944))

Reg's Coffee House 10th Anniversary Concert

My Morning Jacket's Jim James and Patty Griffin are among the artists playing full sets at a 10th Anniversary Concert for Reg's Coffee House on February 17th. Stoll Vaughan and Matthew Perryman Jones are also scheduled to play full sets at the show in Birmingham, Alabama, at the Alabama Theatre. Tickets are $22.50 and available through Ticketmaster or by calling the Alabama Theatre. Funds raised by the concert will be given to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society.

My Morning Jacket - One Big Holiday (Xfm Session) (from X-Ray CD #10)

The Church's Acoustic Album Available At This Momento

El Momento Siguiente, the new acoustic album from The Church, is now available from the band's online store. The album, part of the Liberation Blue acoustic series, won't be available in Australian stores until February 3rd. According to the band's website, it "is not available anywhere else in the world" although it presumably will be as a (possibly-pricey) import.

El Momento Siguiente includes three new songs, "Song In The Afternoon" (described as "sunbathed"), "Bordello" ("strange, surreal fragmentation"), and "Comeuppance" ("filmic), and a duet with Inga Liljeström on "Pure Chance", from last year's Uninvited, Like The Clouds.

The Track Listing:

1. Wide Open Road
2. It's No Reason
3. Reptile
4. Tantalized
5. Electric Lash
6. After Everything
7. Song In The Afternoon (new)
8. Two Places At Once
9. Appalatia
10. Bordello (new)
11. Pure Chance
12. Grind
13. NSEW
14. Comeuppance (new)

The Church are opening for The Pretenders on their Australian tour starting today, with dates as follows:

January:

20th - Clare Valley - Clare Valley SA - A Day On The Green, Annie's Lane Estate - 3:00 PM - The Pretenders + Paul Kelly & the Boon Companions + The Church + Josh Pyke

21st - Mornington Peninsula VIC - Harvest Festival, Red Hill - 7:00 PM - The Church headlining, other acts TBA

22nd - Tweed Heads NSW - Twin Towns - The Pretenders + The Church

26th - Hobart TAS - A Day On The Green, Moorilla Estate - 1:00 PM - The Pretenders + The Church

27th - Yarra Valley VIC - A Day On The Green, Rochford Wines - 3:00 PM - The Pretenders + Paul Kelly & the Boon Companions + The Church + Josh Pyke

28th - Caversham, Swan Valley WA - An Evening On The Green, Sandalford Wines - The Pretenders + Paul Kelly & the Boon Companions + The Church + Kill Devil Hills

30th - Sydney NSW - State Theatre - 7:30 PM - The Pretenders + The Church

February:

1st - Penrith Sydney NSW - Evan Theatre - The Pretenders + The Church

2nd - Sydney NSW - State Theatre - 7:30 PM - The Pretenders + The Church (Sold Out)

3rd - Hunter Valley NSW - Bimbadgen Estate - A Day On The Green - 3:00 PM - The Pretenders + Paul Kelly & the Boon Companions + The Church + Angus & Julia Stone

Two Places At Once (studio version, available on Under the Milky Way: The Best of The Church)

"It's No Reason" video:

Robyn Hitchcock Documentary Coincides With March Tour

Toward the end of Robyn Hitchcock's March tour with The Venus 3 (Peter Buck, Bill Rieflin, and Scott McCaughey), the Sundance Channel will air an original documentary on Hitchcock and The Venus 3's recording of Olé Tarantula, which was released in October. Robyn Hitchcock: Sex, Food, Death... and Insects airs March 27 at 10 PM EST/PT in the States. It also includes live footage of December concerts from Seattle and Hoboken, NJ.

Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 U.S. Tour:


March:

16 - Austin TX - SXSW (solo)
18 - Nashville, TN - Belcourt Theater ("Robyn & Country Style, featuring Peter Buck & some Nashville pals")
19 - Birmingham, AL - The Nick
20 - Atlanta, GA - Smith's Olde Bar
21 - Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
22 - Greenville, SC - Handlebar
23 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
25 - Annapolis, MD - Ramshead (matinee)
26 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
27 & 28 - NYC, NY - Knitting Factory
29 - Northampton, MA - Iron Horse
30 - Boston, MA - TT The Bear's

Robyn Hitchcock - Agony Of Pleasure (from Eye)

Robyn Hitchcock - Flavour Of Night (from I Often Dream Of Trains)

5 Sweet Covers

An assortment of covers tonight, including a pair of cool lounge versions of 80s songs from Jazz And 80s, "Like A Virgin" by The Cooltrane Cuartet and "In The Air Tonight" by James Farrelli.

Momus - So Hard (available on Very Introspective, Actually - A Tribute to the Pet Shop Boys)

In his LiveJournal, Momus writes on topics such as what Sherlock Holmes would say about his trash, grafitti he agrees with, and calculating the value of what he's wearing.

The Cooltrane Cuartet - Like A Virgin (available on Jazz And 80s)

James Farrelli - In The Air Tonight (available on Jazz And 80s)

Ian McCulloch - Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye (available on I'm Your Fan: the Songs of Leonard Cohen)

Ian McCulloch has an interview in the current issue of Hot Press.

Bring this flyer to get in free to hear fellow Bunnyman Will Sergeant DJ March 8th at the Korova Bar in Liverpool. "Live Electronica Band Baltic" will also play.

The Get Up Kids - Regret (available on Eudora)

The New Amsterdams, the current band of Matthew Pryor, one of The Get Up Kids' guitarists/vocalists (before their 2005 breakup), is playing Whole Music Club in Minneapolis February 9th and The Subterranean in Chicago the next night.

Blackpool Lights, a band including Jim Suptic, The Get Up Kids' other guitarist/vocalist, plays The Hurricane in Kansas City January 19th with The Life And Times and The Bottleneck in Lawrence, Kansas the next night, also with The Life And Times.

* The picture of a flower sundae is from the WisH flower shop in Osaka, Japan, which also arranges bouquets that resemble ice cream cones, whole cakes, and slices of cake.

If you want to make your own flower sundae (or even if you don't), HGTV offers instructions.

Why Put Off A "Songs Of Procrastination" Post Now, When I Can Do It Later?

Andy said a lot of things, I stored them all away in my head
Sometimes when I can't decide what I should do
I think what would Andy have said
He'd probably say you think too much
That's 'cause there's work that you don't want to do
- "Work", Lou Reed and John Cale

Who could delay reading an article with a sexy title like "The Nature of Procrastination: A Meta-Analytic and Theoretical Review of Quintessential Self-Regulatory Failure"? Possibly those who want to ponder whether the article is likely worth the whopping $11.95 the American Psychological Association charges non-members to "access" it.

If you take an afternoon to research the article, make a list of the pros and cons of the purchase, and decide to think about it next weekend, you may be one of the alleged estimated 15-20% of people who procrastinate.

And tough luck, Lucy (or whatever your name is). According to Dr. Piers Steel, the Haskayne School of Business professor whose expensive research was published in the APA's Psychological Bulletin, procrastinators do not tend to be perfectionists. Steel says, "perfectionists actually procrastinate less, but they worry about it more." They may be impulsive people who are easily distracted though. Steel ponders a connection to addiction.

But here's a question... to meet Steel's definition of procrastination, "a person must believe it would be better to start working on given tasks immediately, but still not start." In my scenario, you did research, but put off the decision. Did you procrastinate, by his definition?

At least in press release form, the theories could perhaps have benefited from more perfectionism and procrastination - but wait, there's math! Steel devised the Temporal Motivational Theory. Use it to predict the likelihood of procrastination. Dazzle your family, friends, and officemates!

E - the expectancy a person has of succeeding with a given task
V - the value of completing the task
U - the desirability of the task
* - its immediacy or availability
D - and the person's sensitivity to delay.

*: Utility = E x V/*D

Some of his conclusions seem just right, though possibly obvious:

- The saying "Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you're probably right" is true!

- Most people fail at their New Year's Resolutions. (Doesn't everyone know that? That's why I never make them.)

While I'd like to delay this post long enough to add at least Bent's "Thinking Of You (While I Should Be Working)"... this'll have to for "songs of procrastination":

Lou Reed & John Cale - Work (available on Songs for Drella)

Ani DiFranco - School Night (available on Revelling/Reckoning. Brilliant lyrics.)

The Like - Too Late (available on Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?)

Brand New - Failure By Design (available on Your Favorite Weapon)

Chairmen of the Board - Give Me Just A Little More Time (available on Have A Nice Decade: The '70s Pop Culture Box)

Saint Etienne - Last Orders For Gary Stead (available on Tales From Turnpike House)

Sloan - Waiting For Slow Songs (available on Between The Bridges)

The Ditty Bops - Get Up 'N' Go (available on Moon Over The Freeway)

The Killers Covering Joy Division For "Control"

NME reports the first news of a band other than New Order on the soundtrack to Control, the upcoming Ian Curtis biopic. The Killers will cover "Shadowplay" for the movie.

In other Control news, its director Anton Corbijin says he and Peter Hook (of Joy Division and New Order) get along fine . Hook had complained Corbijn interfered with New Order's work on the soundtrack's music, but the director says, "There is no argument whatsoever between New Order and myself or Hooky and me."

He calls him Hooky. He wouldn't do that if there was a problem, would he?

Joy Division - Shadowplay (Demo Version) (available on the Heart and Soul box set)

Sting Confirms Talks For Police Tour

Tuesday's edition of The Mirror provides an update on The (Possible) Police 30th Reunion Tour Saga has kept us all in suspense for 9 or 10 months now. On Monday, Sting confirmed that The Police have been discussing a 30th anniversary reunion tour.

The paper quotes Sting thusly, "We started 30 years ago, so it would be nice to do something to celebrate. We don't quite know what, but we're talking about it."

Given the uncertainty of that statement it seems the paper's headline jumps to conclusions. "STING SET FOR POLICE GIG RETURN"? It doesn't sound like he's set; it still sounds too soon to say for sure. Maybe when the guys have 31 or 32 years together (at the rate these talks are moving), maybe on Wednesday.

Further bulletins as events warrant.

Australian Music Prize Longlist Released

Perth rock group The Drones won the first Australian Music Prize last year for Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By. They could snag a second Amp, this time on the strength of Gala Mill. They've made it as far as the longlist anyway, which means there's a mere 25 artists in contention for the prize now.

Others vying for the $25,000 award are Augie March, The Grates, Howling Bells, and Sarah Blasko.

The group of 25 were chosen from almost 200 applicants. A shortlist of 8 will be revealed on January 31st. March 7th, the winner will be announced and can collect that cool $25,000 Australian dollars, at the moment the equivalent of $19,567.94 in the U.S., $22,903.30 in Canada, £9,999.41, €15,138.93, or ¥2,355,001.57.

Augie March begins a 14-stop tour of Australia on February 24th. Howling Bells have shows starting next month, in Australia, and then in the UK. The Drones and Sarah Blasko are currently touring in Australia. The Drones are scheduled to play at ATP Festival in April.

The above names are likely to appear on the shortlist; I think the "sure bets" are Augie March, Sarah Blasko, and Howling Bells, with The Drones left off only because they won last year. They'll still likely get a nomination, but not another victory. A win by Augie March or Sarah Blasko wouldn't surprise me.

The Amp Longlist:

Amanda Handel/GL Seiler - Ghosts and Angels

Augie March - Moo, You Bloody Choir (with the beautifully aching "Stranger Strange")

Black Cab - Jesus East

Bob Evans - Suburban Songbook

Brendan Gallagher - On Eve St

Dane Tucquet - Bury Me In My Headphones

Dappled Cities - Granddance

Fourth Floor Collapse - Books With Broken Spines

Gerling - 4

Gotye - Like Drawing Blood

Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road

Howling Bells - Howling Bells

Jackie Marshall - Fight n' Flight

Lisa Gerrard - The Silver Tree

Princess One Point Five - The Truth

Sarah Blasko - What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have (with the eloquently angry "Queen Of Apology")

Sodastream - Reservations

Something For Kate - Desert Lights

The Drones - Gala Mill (with the rollicking "I Don't Ever Want To Change")

The Grates - Gravity Won't Get You High

The Knives Of Neptune - Lakes

Tim Steward - How Does It End

Tobias Cummings and The Long Way Home - Join The Dots

True Live - The Shape Of It

You Am I - Convicts

Nelly Furtado Cast As Murder Suspect On CSI:NY

First the Kevin Federline casting coup for sister show CSI, and now CSI: NY has cast another big-time musician. Nelly Furtado is now filming an appearance on an episode of the drama, scheduled to air on February 7th. Furtado plays the glamorously-named Ava Grant, a shoplifter-turned-murder-suspect. Acting lessons helped prepare her for the part, her first professional acting job in the role of someone other than Nelly Furtado.

Her lack of acting experience, CSI's established willingness to cast without regard to acting skill and the character's glam-name lead me to speculate that Ava Grant may be a musician or actor. It may not be a matter of making the role less of a stretch for Furtado. CSI: NY might want their murder suspect to be endearing, and have thought the way Furtado captures the role of herself was just right for the part.

She recently portrayed herself on Floribella, a Portuguese soap opera which may be my new favorite show, largely based on their entertaining use of wacky musical sound effects (1:14 in. Gold.) It's particularly helpful since I don't understand a word anyone is saying.

If Furtado seems like a pro in her Floribella scene, maybe it's because the starstruck-fan scene/singing scene is old hat to her. Way back in 2001, she appeared as herself and performed "I'm Like A Bird" on Roswell.

Furtado In Late 2006:



Furtado In 2001:



In Furtado's Floribella appearance, dig the way she's suddenly illuminated, before lightning zips around... there are a lot of kooky effects. Was there once an American kids show that used visual effects that were somewhat reminiscent of those? Goodness knows more shows should use visual imagery like that, and a CSI show won't come through for us with cool, fun effects... ones that don't involve corpses.

Choice Music Prize Irish Album Shortlist Out

The shortlist is out for the Choice Music Prize Irish Album Of The Year 2006. The winning artist, who will be revealed February 28th at Vicar Street in Dublin, collects €10,000. At the moment that's the equivalent of $12,897.29 American dollars, $15,169.76 Canadian dollars, £,6,628.03, or ¥1,555,369.81. They also get a fancy award. Tickets to the show are €25 and go on sale January 22nd.

Early odds set by the "official bookmaker" favor Snow Patrol, 6/4, for Eyes Open. They're one of two nominated acts (the other is Duke Special, whose odds are 7/1) who have been confirmed as non-performers at the event, but odds are good many of the other eight artists will perform. Nine of the nominated acts played last year.

According to the bookmaker, The Immediate stands a 3/1 chance of taking the prize for their debut In Towers & Clouds, while Republic Of Loose is the 20/1 longshot for another debut, Aaagh!, despite its lovable title.

All new, studio, single-artist Irish albums of any genre first released in Ireland in 2006 are eligible for the Prize if they contain at least 6 tracks or exceed 33 minutes, 20 seconds. If a majority of band members were born in Ireland or have Irish passports, the album is considered Irish. There were a dozen judges from print, radio, and TV.

Is there a high-profile prize for Best EP Of The Year yet? If not, why not? Has any country tried to establish one yet? I can understand keeping EPs and albums in separate categories, but why not have a major separate prize for EPs? It would give the bookmakers a whole new category to size up, and wouldn't that be fun?

Meanwhile, this prize may be most likely to go to any artist other than the one with the best odds. As of late January 2006, the top favorites to win the first Choice Music Prize were Bell X1 at 6/4 or Hal at 3/1. Julie Feeney won for 13 Songs.

The 2006 Choice Music Nominees:

6/4 Snow Patrol - Eyes Open
3/1 The Immediate - In Towers And Clouds
6/1 Director - We Thrive On Big Cities
7/1 Duke Special - Songs From The Deep Forest
8/1 Fionn Regan - The End Of History
10/1 The Divine Comedy - Victory For The Comic Muse
14/1 Si Schroeder - Coping Mechanisms
16/1 David Kitt - Not Fade Away
16/1 Messiah J & The Expert - Now This I Have To Hear
20/1 Republic of Loose - Aaagh!

Director - Easy To Me (available on We Thrive On Big Cities)

Fionn Regan - Abacus (available on The End Of History)

Top Albums & Tracks Of The Year... That One That's Already Over

Coverage of the best music of 2006, in January's issue of The Word... after the year has ended... just what I ... wanted? It's logical, but not 100% welcome anymore.

Still, a lack of gratitude is hardly in keeping with the spirit of International Thank You Day. I do like that their praise isn't only heaped upon the usual suspects -- and that sometimes, the praise isn't unqualified ("For making such an irresistible racket and no sense at all", Ooioo's Taiga is a favorite album of one reviewer.)

Each of the magazine's reviewers list their five favorite albums of the year with a brief reason. Plus, the Editor, Art Director, Associate Editor, Reviews Editor, and one of the magazine's Directors each share the 20 songs their iPod played most often in 2006.

Editor Mark Ellen's #18 is The Shins' "Australia" from "Mincing The Night Away". Perhaps it's a special-edition album with alternate, camp versions of the tracks on Wincing The Night Away. I appreciate accurately-tagged songs, but I also appreciate a good laugh.

Oingo Boingo - Gratitude (available on Boingo Alive)

Minus The Bear - Thanks for the Killer Game of Crisco Twister (available on Highly Refined Pirates)

Gleaned from the piece on Favorite Albums Of The Year (which runs 4 pages):

Joanna Newsom's Ys - mentioned by five reviewers
Pet Shop Boys' Fundamental - four
Hot Chip's The Warning - three
Seth Lakeman's Freedom Fields - two
Plan B's Who Needs Action When You Got Words - one

Plan B - Everyday (available on Who Needs Action When You Got Words)

Three more albums mentioned once:

David Ford I Sincerely Apologise For All The Trouble I've Caused
Roddy Frame - Western Skies
Extra Golden - OK-Oyot System

Roddy Frame - Marble Arch (available on Western Skies)

Reviews Editor Jude Rogers' Top 5 Most-played Tracks:

1. Basement Jaxx - Intro (available on Crazy Itch Radio)
2. Pet Shop Boys - "Integral"
3. Hot Chip - "Boy From School"
4. CSS - Music Is My Hot Hot Sex (available on Cansei de Ser Sexy)
5. Amy Winehouse - "You Know I'm No Good"

Editor Mark Ellen and Art Director Keith Drummond had the same most-played track in 2006: Basement Jaxx's "Take Me Back To Your House". Nothing by The Shins on Drummond's list, though, from "Mincing The Night Away" or otherwise. Muse's "Map Of The Problematique" took that spot (#18). Proving more popular than "Map" with Drummond: the electro-tango tune in the #11 slot: Gotan Project - La Vigüela (available on Lunático)

Associate Editor Rob Fitzpatrick's iPod played Alela Diane's "Dry Grass And Shadows" most frequently, and The Feeling's "Never Be Lonely" next most often, though he dropped the "The" (speaking of which, "The The" - great band.)

The Word's Director David Hepworth listened to Dave Alvin's "Kern River" most often, with "Makedo" by Darko Rundek & Cargo Orkestar in second place, not that it's technically a contest. But if it was, "Makedo" would just be first to lose with Hepworth. Just one of the also-rans. Taking their Rice-A-Roni and going home to canned applause.

On another note, a round of non-canned applause and hearty congratulations for non-also-ran Jax, who just wrote her 500th post!

Top 10 Favorite Words You Can Write On A Calculator

Casio's production of its one billionth electronic calculator has prompted the company to create a wacky (and publicity-creating) top 10 list of favorite words you can write on a calculator and read upside down.

Casio's Top 10 Favorite Calculator Words:

1. Boobies (5318008)
2. Bellies (5317738)
3. Boobless (55378008)
4. Bogies (531608)
5. Sizzles (5372215)
6. Gobbles (5378806)
7. Google (376006)
8. Boogie (316008)
9. Shell Oil (71077345)
10. Esso (0553)

Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator (available on Computer World)

The Word: Now Hear This January CD/Neil Finn Interview

The Word's January issue contains loads of year-end coverage, including the "100 tracks of the year" - 5 staffers' 20 most-played tracks. In a feature called "How Was It For You", Neil Tennant, Jack White & Brendan Benson, Matt Bellamy, and others discuss how 2006 treated them.

Just over 10 years after Crowded House's Sydney Opera House concert, a Neil Finn interview helps promote the January 16th release of the Farewell To The World concert on CD and DVD. Finn has been pondering bringing the group together again (that sounds familiar).

Excerpted from the interview:

Has the subject of reforming Crowded House or doing something under the Crowded House Umbrella come up?

It always comes up, and every time people ask me my pat response is no, that's done and dusted, it's fine. But every time, you do think, well how would that be? There are probably a lot more reasons at the moment why that would be almost expected. The volume of rumour has gone up considerably with Nick in the band. To be honest I can't even answer definitively because we are making a record and I haven't been thinking about it, but it is a possibility. It's in the ether and it's more there than it has been for a variety of reasons. It would be very wise to consider very carefully.

Wouldn't it be easier for the audience if you went out as Crowded House, under which umbrella you could do a wide variety of stuff, material you've done on your own, Crowded House stuff, stuff you've done with Tim?

There would be a certain expectation that people would walk into the room with if you were under that banner. Beyond that issue, I have this year felt more like being in a band than previously. As long as bands are working reasonably well, there's company and comfort in the whole thing. Being solo is kind of lonely and a little too much me-me-me. Mind you us-us-us can be just as ego-gratifying. It's just more dull being solo....

So now you wouldn't rule it out?

It's tricky; it's easy for the rumour mill to go mad then suddenly it's surrounded by hype. To be honest it has been in my mind but I can't tell you definitively. I will promise you that if I decide to do it I will give you a call straightaway.

Among the tracks on this month's Now Hear This! compilation is "Distant Sun", from that Sydney Opera House concert.

Also included:

- Tanya Donelly's "New England", which brings to mind not Billy Bragg, but Rilo Kiley. It isn't just that she evokes the memory of "With Arms Outstretched" by using the phrase "outstretched arms" or sounds like Jenny Lewis; the song sounds like a specific Rilo song... I just haven't yet figured out which one yet. I don't think it's "With Arms Outstretched".

- A romantic alt-pop gem from Sean Lennon.

- Former Gus Gus singer Hafdis Huld contributes "Ski Jumper", the second single from her solo debut, Dirty Paper Cup. Her voice is sweeter than her intentions, and its a charming contrast (the handclaps are also a plus.) I prefer her biting, funny, first single, "Tomoko", but both are strong.

The "Tomoko" video:



The Word - Now Hear This! Track Listing:

1. Davitt Sigerson - It's A Big Country
2. Bole2 - Harlem
3. Tanya Donelly - New England (available on This Hungry Life)
4. The Maps - Don't Fear
5. Rachid Taha - Josephine
6. John Mayer - Waiting On The World To Change
7. Todd Snider - You Got Away With It (A Tale Of Two Fraternity Brothers)
8. Califone - Pink & Sour
9. Pernice Brothers - Zero Refills
10. Crowded House - Distant Sun (Live) (available on Farewell To The World, available January 16th)
11. Hafdis Huld - Ski Jumper (available on Dirty Paper Cup, already out some places, such as in the UK and in France. Available in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark on January 10th. Out in Spain on January 23rd.)
12. Sean Lennon - Wait For Me (available on Friendly Fire)
13. Tartit - Ansari
14. Shearwater - Red Sea, Black Sea - quite a good song. A demo version is available at Shearwater's website.
15. Solo Andata - Among The Olive Trees

Mojo Presents: Love Will Tear You Apart CD

For its February issue, Mojo selected the theme Love Will Tear You Apart for their CD. Isn't it romantic? Maybe not, but it does tie in with their cover stories about Ian Curtis.

"Inspired by the brutal honesty" of "Love Will Tear Us Apart", the disc contains fifteen songs that "celebrate the bad times" in a way that's intended to be "nothing short of uplifting."

Unsurprisingly, a rendition of "Love" is included. Unfortunately, it's rather boring, and too dreary to uplift me, except by reminding me there are many better covers of the song.

Also on the disc: an exclusive track by Jim Reid, a sweet (and not boring) Hüsker Dü cover by Jon Auer, and Jarvis Cocker singing one of the songs he originally wrote for Nancy Sinatra.

In the mag: coverage aplenty about Ian Curtis, promoted with an exploitative cover line about "the demons that drove" him. And there's more disturbing content inside. When Curtis killed himself there weren't suicide-prevention websites and the public was less educated about what to do in a crisis situation. It's still hard to read Genesis P. Orridge's account of knowing what Curtis was about to do, and placing calls to assorted friends in Manchester "to go round and try and stop Ian" instead of making one emergency phone call. Hindsight may be 20/20, and second-guessing a stranger in such a tough situation is kind of harsh, but there's an easy way for him to avoid that. Yet he feels compelled to share the intensely personal details of everything Curtis told him, how he sounded and seemed to feel. He tell us, "I know it wasn't my fault." Is he trying to convince us, or himself? How about exploiting his death and their final conversation? Whose fault is that?

Possibly less disturbing (I haven't read them, so no promises): a brief article about the forthcoming Ian Curtis biopic Control, an article by Peter Hook about Ian Curtis, and assorted remembrances by others, including Factory Records founder Tony Wilson.

No time to check out the rest of the mag. at the moment but hopefully it's a cracker. Not sure whether Mojo and The Word have raised their cover price for UK residents as of 2007, but I'll have to check. I paid the most I've ever paid for the latest issues of both Mojo and The Word, and I'm wondering whether the price bump is across-the-board or just across-the-pond (or for all foreigners). I think the higher price might interfere with that "uplifting" sensation they want the CD to achieve...

Mojo Presents: Love Will Tear You Apart Track Listing:

1. Sparklehorse - Shade And Honey
2. Jim Reid - I'm Stranded (specially recorded for Mojo)
3. Nina Simone - Little Girl Blue
4. Jarvis Cocker - Baby's Coming Back To Me (available on Jarvis)
5. Chris Farlowe - I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
6. Townes Van Zandt & Willie Nelson - Marie
7. Elbow - Scattered Black And Whites (available on Asleep In The Back)
8. Elliott Smith - Twilight (available on From A Basement On The Hill)
9. Susanna and the Magical Orchestra - Love Will Tear Us Apart
10. Jon Auer - Green Eyes (available on 6 ½)
11. Jane Weaver - Once You'd Given Me Up
12. Galaxie 500 - Sorry
13. Buffseeds - Sparkle Me
14. The Ivy League - My World Fell Down
15. Thirteen Senses - Follow Me

Happy 60th Birthday David Bowie

As I write this, from California, it's the eve of David Bowie's 60th birthday. But it's already the 8th across the pond... So, as impossible as it seems, David Bowie is now 60.

The man himself either has "no plans for a lavish celebration" for his birthday or will "mark his milestone birthday" rather lavishly, "with a massive outdoor gig in New York later this year." (He's curating the inaugural High Line Festival in May.)

Plans are afoot for fan birthday events - possibly lavish ones - for members of his message board. On TV, radio, and in print, people are already weighing in with opinions about favorite Bowie songs, albums and "moments". (My November list of top 5 Bowie songs is too recent to need updating.)

There's also special Bowie-themed TV programming on channels such as the UK's VH1 Classic and Turner Classic Movies in the States. Bowie.net offers a programming calendar, so you can check out when and where to catch David Bowie - A Reality Tour or his cameo in Yellowbeard.

The 8th is David Bowie Day at Virgin Classic Radio.

On Saturday, a one-hour BBC Radio 2 program, "Inspirational Bowie", aired. The broadcast has been archived and is now online via streaming audio. It's really excellent.

A staggering array of artists pay tribute to Bowie on the broadcast, including New Order's Peter Hook, Ian McCulloch, described as a "Bowie fanatic", Suede's Brett Anderson, Jarvis Cocker ("Somehow Bowie managed to keep that intelligence without it getting pretentious"), Richard Hawley (his favorite is still Ziggy Stardust), Boy George, Marc Almond (who talks about Bowie touching his hand during a concert), Elbow's Guy Garvey, Ricky Gervais (who thinks Aladdin Sane might be his best album, though he wondered, "Is this okay to like? Is it too arty? Is it too pretentious?"), Annie Lennox, Debbie Harry ("Bowie gave people an exit from numbing suburbia..."), and Moby (who talks about how Bowie never gets credit for his producing work.)

David Bowie, as James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause in a 1980 Tonight Show appearance, performing "Life On Mars", from YouTube:



The Divine Comedy - Life On Mars (Live) (from Uncut: Starman: A Tribute To David Bowie)

Big Country - Cracked Actor (from Uncut: Starman: A Tribute To David Bowie)

Scottish Writers and Musicians Pair Up: Presence of Bagpipes Uncertain

Idlewild closed their 2002 album, The Remote Part with a track that included a poem recited by poet Edwin Morgan, who wrote it for the song.

Idlewild singer Roddy Woomble has expanded upon that idea with his Ballads of the Book album and concert.

The concept for the album is intriguing: a variety of Scottish writers, from novelists to poets, wrote song lyrics for musicians to interpret. Woomble secured funding from the Scottish Arts Council, and attracted a stellar line-up on both the literary and musical side. (If the album sells well, maybe we'll see not only more Scottish albums, but a copycat album or two from other countries. Psst, Irish Arts Council, look what some clever Scots are doing.)

Among the tracks on Ballads: a song called "A Calvinist Narrowly Avoids Pleasure" by James Yorkston and Bill Duncan, a new song by Idlewild and Edwin Morgan, and a song by Norman Blake (of Teenage Fanclub) and John Burnside. Both Malcolm Middleton and Aidan Moffat, formerly of Arab Strap, also contributed tracks; Middleton's with Alan Bissett, and Moffat (with "The Best Ofs") had lyrics by Ian Rankin.

A Ballads of the Book concert has been, well, booked for January 30th at 8 PM during the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow. The show will include performances from the album as well as other works. Tickets cost £12.50.

There are other opportunities to catch many of the Ballads performers during the Festival in some nifty-sounding shows, such as a Karine Polwart and Seth Lakeman concert.

The Festival also includes a series of "come&try" workshops offering different sorts of musical instruction. If you've always wanted to learn how to play the mandolin, clarsach, or accordion, and you're anywhere near Glasgow, why not?

Ballads of the Book Track Listing:

1. Mike Heron (formerly of The Incredible String Band) & John Burnside - "Song For Irena"
2. De Rosa & Michel Faber - "Steam Comes Off Our House"
3. James Yorkston & Bill Duncan - "A Calvinist Narrowly Avoids Pleasure"
4. Foxface & Rody Gorman - "Dreamcatcher"
5. Lord Cut-Glass & Alasdair Gray - "A Sentimental Song"
6. Aidan Moffat And The Best Ofs & Ian Rankin - "The Sixth Stone"
7. Norman Blake & John Burnside - "Girl"
8. Karine Polwart & Edwin Morgan - "The Good Years"
9. Sons and Daughters & A L Kennedy - "The War On Love Song"
10. Alasdair Roberts & Robin Robertson - "The Leaving"
11. Strike The Colours & Rody Gorman - "Message In A Bottle"
12. Aereogramme & Hal Duncan - "If You Love Me You'd Destroy Me"
13. Malcolm Middleton & Alan Bissett - "The Rebel On His Own Tonight"
14. Trashcan Sinatras & Ali Smith - "Half An Apple"
15. Vashti Bunyan & Rodge Glass - "The Fire"
16. King Creosote & Laura Hird - "Where And When"
17. Emma Pollock (formerly of The Delgados) & Louise Welsh - "Jesus On The Cross"
18. Idlewild & Edwin Morgan - "The Weight Of Years"

The Incredible String Band - Koeeaddi There (available on The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter)

James Yorkston and The Athletes - Shipwreckers (available on Just Beyond the River)

Sons and Daughters - Start to End (available on Love the Cup)

Teenage Fanclub - Don't Look Back (available on Grand Prix)

Idlewild (feat. Edwin Morgan) - In Remote Part/Scottish Fiction (available on The Remote Part)

MP3s of De Rosa's "Mend", The Delgados' "Blackwell", and Arab Strap's "Where We've Left Our Love" at Chemikal Underground Records

Oh, Behave

Former Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley has a smashing new animated video for her infectious alt-pop song "Behave". It's a gorgeous video, with a creepy, futuristic space setting and features a guy Hatherley acknowledges "is based on Mr Bowie".

"Behave" is the first single from her second solo album, The Deep Blue, due out in the UK on March 5. A U.K. tour begins February 20 in Limerick.

Céline Dion Leaving The Building

Hold the virtual presses!

In a move likely to cause many fans sadness, if not dramatic chest-clutching, Canadian/Las Vegas entertainer Céline Dion has opted to end her Vegas extravaganza, A New Day this December 15.

Since March 2003, the show has run at Caesar's Palace, where Dion first signed a 3-year contract for $100 million. While that deal was extended, apparently the singer really wants to leave the $100 million custom-built auditorium.

This report ran in U.S.A. Today ("America's newspaper") but is from the Associated Press (America's news agency), and included quotes from Dion. So there's little hope the kids at U.S.A. Today just made it up when they got tired of making up the statistics that go into those cute little charts and graphs.

Tickets for the shows from August through December 15 go on sale March 1, so rush to mark your calendar(s) and to at least two online reminder services to ensure you don't miss your chance to snap up as many tickets as you want.

Whether or not you can make it to A New Day, there's still A New Day's T.V. special and DVD (both to be taped in late January) to look forward to, so don't worry.

If there are any wiseacres thinking the title A New Day became a misnomer after a couple years, think again! The title was adapted from her song (and album) title, "A New Day Has Come", which means it still makes a kind of sense, year after year, no matter how odd it appears on the surface. Plus, the show will get "new costumes and new numbers" this year, so it will arguably become a new show... really like A New Day.

Here's hoping she changes the cover songs and that the audience will be treated to her rendition of "You Shook Me All Night Long":

Police Reunion Tour Likely

The Police have responded to rumors of a reunion tour, essentially saying to stay tuned.

30 years ago, the group's first single, "Roxanne", was released. Through a record label spokesperson, the band released a statement on Sting's website acknowledging plans to do "something special" for the anniversary but said "the depth of the band's involvement still remains undetermined."

According to today's Billboard.com report, there are just some "final details" to be worked out. Details could prevent the concerts, but based on that language and the band's statement, it certainly sounds as though everyone wants to tour. Details could already be hammered out, and the label simply has no intention of changing its timetable for a planned tour announcement. It definitely sounds like a go.

The group has performed twice since their 1986 break-up: at Sting's wedding in 1992, and at the group's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2003.

Hopefully they'll schedule a lot of practice time ahead of the tour so they can re-familiarize themselves with their songs and they won't sound "rusty" or forget anything. Sometimes it's endearing when a singer forgets the words to a song, but sometimes it's just sad. And then, people might really hate to shell out the amount of money Police tickets will cost and hear something ridiculous like "De Da Da Da, De Do Do Do".

The Police - When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around (available on Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings)

George Michael - Roxanne (available on the deluxe edition of Twenty Five)

Greatest British Band of All Time! (For Now)

As long as a 400-vote margin qualifies as a trouncing, Queen has trounced The Beatles in a BBC Radio 2 Music Club poll. At stakes: who is the Greatest British Band of All Time?

While it might feel like the Brits vote on the Greatest British Band on a regular basis, that's only because they vote on it very frequently. This time, votes cast during a 3-hour radio program determined the winners from among a 5-finalist shortlist, whittled down from thousands of nominations. That sounds like a lot, but some people probably suggested groups like "Yo Mama" -- either so obscure (and American-sounding) as to make you wonder whether the person who nominated them really thinks they could win, or not a real nomination at all, but rather a cheeky prank.

The Rolling Stones took third place and Oasis came in fourth, leaving Take That in fifth.

More than 20,000 votes determined the outcome. It's being reported as "more than 20,000 listeners", but votes were allowed by email, text, or phone, which allows for multiple votes per person. So it's unclear how many people voted for any of the groups, but the poll might be a measure of both popularity and something related to fanbase dedication. How many hours your fanbase is willing/able to spend on mass-voting is more complex than a pure measure of dedication, but there's some relationship.

While the first response at BBC Radio 2's message board ("QUEEN!!?") echoes the feelings of some, other people spoke louder, first. Or maybe not louder, but definitely more often, and therefore Queen must remain enthroned (as it were) as The Greatest British Band Of All Time!

At least until the next poll.

Queen - Play The Game (available on Greatest Hits)

Jon Brion - Play The Game (available on Killer Queen - A Tribute To Queen)

Dancing Barefoot

I first heard "Dancing Barefoot" many years ago when a deejay played The Mission U.K.'s 1987 cover on an 80s show. The deejay said zip about the song or group and Internet research was a tad more difficult back then. I zeroed in on The Feelies as the most likely candidate and ordered Crazy Rhythms because it was their only album without a track listing on Amazon. That Song was likely on it, I figured, and it was probably worth owning either way. Wrong on the first count, right on the second.

The Feelies version doesn't appear on any of their (too)-few albums, and remains fairly obscure. Still, I tracked it down before I found The Mission's version. There was initial disappointment at the immediate realization that it was the wrong song, but it's hard to resist its perfectly-executed, jangly rock-pop joys.

As lovely as The Feelies' version is, once you're on a song quest, nothing but that song will do.

The Mission U.K. (a.k.a. The Mission) version is more deadpan but by no means bloodless. It's only natural that the song should inspire as many covers as it has. The lyrics touch on universal feelings and are poetic and appealing.

I heard Patti Smith's song, the original, last, and oddly, it took time to grow on me, but I now love it.

A solo CD is on the way this year from The Feelies' Glenn Mercer.

The Mission U.K.'s next album, God Is A Bullet, is out in early April, and will be preceded in March by the first single "Keep It In The Family". The band has posted a YouTube preview of tracks from the album:



As of December 21st, another group that covered the song, Simple Minds, was in "serious negotiations" for an early 2007 "surprise return to live concerts in Australia and New Zealand".

Tomorrow, I'm seriously considering making a surprise return to blogging. (Don't tell; it's a surprise.)

Patti Smith just celebrated her birthday on December 30th.

The Mission U.K. - Dancing Barefoot (available on The First Chapter)

The Feelies - Dancing Barefoot (available on Un Printemps 89)

Simple Minds - Dancing Barefoot (available on Neon Lights)

Patti Smith - Dancing Barefoot (available on Land 1975-2002)