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Friday Fun Time with Mick "Simply" Hucknall

Mick Hucknall - Tribute to Bobby is due out on Monday, 19th May. The album is a collection of songs taken from the back catalogue of the enormously influential singer Bobby 'Blue' Bland.
Bobby Bland's version of Soul, Blues and R'n'B helped set the standard for his era. Hucknall's distinctive voice manages to maintain the power of the original recordings but at the same time make the songs his own. The album features classic Bobby Bland tracks such as Ain't That Lovin' You, Stormy Monday Blues, and Cry, Cry, Cry, and is a must buy for fans of Simply Red, as well as Bobby Bland.

Anyway, to the point my friends... while reading about this I came across this fantastic clip of Mick appearing on the Tony Ferrino Show (AKA Steve Coogan) which I thought might bring a smile to all of your faces on a lovely, sunny Friday!

Friday's are all great aren't they? The weekend is upon us: Laugh, Drink (sensibly of course) and be Happy!!

DVD Of The Week: Alien Vs Predator: Requiem

Alien Vs Predator: Requiem is this weeks DVD of the week!
I can't believe that there is anyone out there that does not know the history of these two races, but let me fill you in just in case....

The Aliens were created by the Predators as an enemy worthy of battle in their rite to passage. 2004's Alien Vs Predator was set in remote Antarctica and therefore left most of the Human race unaware of what was happening, and was criticised by many as being too mild for a film of such epic battle proportions.

The sequel, does not suffer in the same way, and the DVD has seven minutes of extra footage that was deemed too extreme for the cinema, nice!
Set immediately after the end of the first film, the Predator ship is leaving earth when a chest burster erupts from the dead Predators body, in the ensuing fight a Predator fires at the hybrid PredAlian and the ship is holed and crashes to Earth in the Colorado Woods, the PredAlian and some facehuggers escape. In the meantime the ship has sent a distress signal which is responded too, as is there want, by a single Predator... mayhem ensues!

This, special edition, is chock full of Special Features:

• Commentary with Directors Colin and Greg Strause and Producer John Davis
• Commentary by Special Effects Designers Tom Woodruff and Alec Gillis
• Prepare for war and Fight to the finish Featurette
• The making of AVP2
• AVP2: The nightmare returns: Creating the Aliens Featurette
• Primitive designs: Creating the Predator Featurette
• Crossbreed: The PredAlien Featurette
• Building the Predator home world Featurette
• AVP2: Science of the Xenomorph Featurette
• AVP2: Science of the Hunter Featurette
• Still galleries

Album Of The Week - Neil Diamond: Home Before Dark

Neil Diamond - Home Before Dark is his 29th studio album in a career that goes back some 42 years to his first album, released in 1966.
In 2002 he was ranked third most successful adult contemporary artist behind only Elton John and Barbara Streisand in the history of the Billboard chart.

For this release Neil has once again teamed up with producer Rick Rubin who he first worked with on his critically acclaimed 2005 release ‘12 songs’. For that album Rubin stripped down the by then massive production on Neil’s previous albums, to the bare bones of Voice, Guitar and a very subtle backing band. The album was intimately recorded and lovingly produced, and a showcase for his song writing talents, this album was full of all new songs, and was regarded by many critics as Diamond’s best album ever.

It is no surprise then to see this new release follow the same formula as 12 Songs. Once again Neil has written a whole bunch of new songs and they have been recorded in the same stripped down way, of course the surprise element is missing this time but that by no means detracts from the quiet strength of this work.
The first track 'If I don’t see you again' is clearly supposed to pick up where 12 Songs left off and is an ode to a loved one showcasing Neil’s fret board techniques.
'Don’t Go There' has that special Neil Diamond swagger, Act Like A Man, first written in 1984 but never recorded before this album shows why he was on the stage with The Band at The Last Waltz and Power Of Two has the full hearted conviction that Neil always brings to the best of his Pop tunes.
Outstanding tracks for me are the title song, Home Before Dark’s lament to marital bliss and Pretty Amazing Grace, a hymn to the soul healing power of love.

This release also comes as Neil Diamond - Home Before Dark CD/DVD Edition with film of Neil, in the studio, performing the songs:

• Pretty Amazing Grace
• If I Don’t See You Again
• Forgotten
• The Boxer (a bonus track that does not appear on the album).

U.S. Internet Album Chart

A weekly feature highlighting the Billboard Internet Album chart... the chart that measures all on-line sales minus those silly digital downloads!

WOW! What a week for the Internet albums chart, with only three of last weeks top 10 managing to hang on to a place there are no less than seven new entries, and believe it or not they are the top seven!!

The full chart is below but a couple that are worthy of mention are;
#'2 Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch the first full album release from a band that were formed 30 odd years ago Mudcrutch were, of course, Tom Petty's first band before the Heartbreakers, a classic rock album that will become a rock classic!
#3 Portishead - Third Portishead's triumphant return with their third album, difficult to guess that one eh? shows the band from Portishead, near Bristol in the U.K. are in fine drum and bass form.
#5 Steve Winwood - Nine Lives is a collection of fine songs that will further enhance the many faces and turns in Steve's illustrious career to date. Bit of a Dilemma as to buy Steve or Mudcrutch, I had to go for them both!
And finally #6 Def Leppard - Songs From The Sparkle Lounge the stalwart rockers hitting the chart four places higher than the #10 achieved back at home in the U.K.

So here is the top ten run down for you!!

1. Madonna - Hard Candy
2. Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch
3. Portishead - Third
4. Mindless Self Indulgence - If
5. Steve Winwood - Nine Lives
6. Def Leppard - Songs From The Sparkle Lounge
7. Brian Culbertson - Bringing Back The Funk
8. Leona Lewis - Spirit
9. Mariah Carey - E=MC2
10. R.E.M. - Accelerate

New Release DVDs - Monday May 12th

Here we go with this weeks selection of new release DVDs;

P.S. I Love You
The movie adaptation of the book by Cecilia Ahern and stars Hilary Swank as Holly Kennedy, married and devoted to the love of her life, Gerry (Gerard Butler). Gerry's life is taken by a sudden illness and this sucks the life from Holly too. End of story you might think, but no!!

Gerry has planned ahead and, before he died, written many letters to Holly that will guide her, not only through her grief, but also in rediscovering herself. These are delivered by different means and at times that are least expected, the first arrives, with a cake, on her 30th birthday and a message to go out and celebrate. Each is signed off with P.S. I Love You!
A touchingly told story and some great acting make this a chick flick to watch!
Official trailer for 'P.S. I Love You' shown here courtesy of our friends at YouTube.

American Dad: Season Three
This is of course the DVD release of the third series of TV animated series American Dad, created by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.
The show centres on Stan Smith, the head of the Smith household and diligent employee of the CIA... they live in Langley Falls, Langley being where the real life headquarters of the CIA are located.
Stan will go to any extreme to protect his beloved America from harm, as witnessed by the terror alert code on his fridge, and his regular shooting of the family toaster whenever it pops up! The show is both topical, as seen in the opening sequence of each episode which features a Newspaper Headline of a current affair, and satirical. A typical headline being: 'Israel pulls out of Gaza, Gaza not pregnant'.
For fans of Family Guy, The Simpsons and King Of The Hill!! Here is a great post from UnderGroundOnline.

Also look out for new entries in next weeks chart for:

• Indiana Jones - The Complete Trilogy
• Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
• Alien Vs Predator: Requiem

Can't see anything here that appeals to you? It's hard to believe, but if not why don't you check out all the Pre Release DVDs at CD WOW!

New Release CDs - Monday, May 12th

I know that at this time of the year in the good old UK we go through a roller coaster ride expecting the warmer weather to actually start, but I think it is finally upon us, two nice sunny days in a row and some nice sunny albums to review, what could be better?

Pendulum - In Silico (meaning Born From Machines)
This is the bands 2nd release coming after the phenomenal success of their first independent release Hold Your Colour which sold over 200,000 copies in the UK alone. The band, originally formed in Perth, Australia.
Producers Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen teamed up with acclaimed local DJ 'Elhornet' Harding and with roots ranging from producing Drum and Bass, Breakbeat and Hardcore, to playing in Metal and Punk bands they managed to conquer the world of Drum'n'Bass in their first 12 months.
Having a show described as "having the face of dance, but the passion and soul of Motorhead" the future looks bright. 

Flight Of The Conchords - Flight Of The Conchords
This is the first release from the band that bill themselves as "New Zealand's fourth most popular digi-folk parodists".
The popularity of the band exploded when they became the subject of a BBC Radio 2 programme which followed the duo's struggle to make the big time in London. Later followed by an HBO television series following roughly the same plot but based in New York City, the comedy band are depicted in the series as taking their music seriously.
The album is chock full of tracks from the series, and two of my favourites are 'Hiphop-opotamus vs Rhyme-noceros' and 'Business Time'. If you have not seen or heard them before check out this great performance of 'Business Time' from our friends at YouTube!!

Also look out for new entries next week from:

• Neil Diamond - Home Before Dark
• Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
• Martha Wainwright - I know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too
• Various - Eurovision Song Contest 2008

So there you have it, can't see what you are looking for here? Then check out the full list of New Release CDs and Pre-Release CDs at CD WOW!

Bluffers Guide To.... Jimi Hendrix

Well here we go, the third in my short 'Bluffers Guides to…' series.
Here in a few short paragraphs is everything you need to know to bluff your way through that awkward conversation on Jimi Hendrix, as long as you steer away pretty quickly...

Jimi Hendrix was a rock guitarist from America, although his early success was all in London. Originally he appeared with many of the Blues Greats, The Isley Brothers, Sam Cooke and Little Richard to name a few. He moved to London in early 1966 and formed his first successful band 'The Jimi Hendrix Experience'.

The original line up was Jimi Hendrix, Guitar and vocals (deceased 1970 – Overdose), Noel Redding - Bass (deceased 2003) and Mitch Mitchell – Drums, although this changed several times during the short period that Jimi performed.With the reputation of his virtuoso guitar performances spreading, he soon made fans of heroes of the day like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, The Beatles and The Who, which ultimately resulted in their first three singles, Hey Joe, Purple Haze and The Wind Cries Mary all being top 10 hits in the UK.

The band released just three studio and one live album before Jimi’s untimely death, their second album 'Axis: Bold As Love' was one of the very first rock albums to feature Stereophonic recording and phasing effects, by the time 'Band Of Gypsies' was released just before his death in 1970 Jimi was playing with Billy Cox (Bass) and Buddy Miles (Drums), the since re-released (with extra tracks) Live album has surely one of the greatest guitar solos ever recorded on 'Machine Gun', this original recording courtesy of YouTube.

However, posthumously there have been countless releases, a few re-hashed studio albums, The Cry Of Love, Rainbow Bridge and War Heroes for example, some of which are now very rare, but you can still find the best of these tracks on the 'First Rays Of The New Rising Sun' album, and literally hundreds of “Live” recordings, and studio outtakes, in fact there are so many recordings it is nigh on impossible to catalogue them all! Jimi was fanatical about recording everything, rehearsals included.

Their big break in America came when, in 1967, Pete Townshend of The Who recommended them and they appeared at the 'Monterey Pop Festival', his opening song was 'Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band', a cover of the title track from the Beatles album that had been released the day before!! At the end of the performance Jimi set fire to his guitar, and then finally smashed it up! The gathered press were amazed and it was reported all across America. After seeing the performance The Who did not want to follow them!

Jimi Hendrix was one of the very few artists who not only appeared at the three most famous festivals in festival going history, Monterey, Woodstock and the Isle Of Wight but also to have professional audio and visual recordings made of all three appearances.

He is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential guitarists in rock history, helping develop amongst other effects phasing, feedback and the Wah Wah, some of today’s greatest guitarist's cite him as being one of their influences.

If you are interested in hearing more, and would like a definitive album that covers the short period you could do far worse than buying a copy of  'Smash Hits' which contains all of their hit singles, including the first three, for just £6.75!!

In Jimi Hendix’s short but hugely prolific career he jammed with many of today’s most famous musicians but none were as important as Pete Townshend from The Who, but they are the subject of my next 'Bluffers Guide To…'
Now that should get you through those awkward silences....

Eurovision 2008

Eurovision 2008, one of my favourite weekends of the year is nearly upon us! This year, the 53rd contest takes place in Belgrade and features a staggering 43 countries!
So many in fact that it has, for the first time ever, had to be split into two semi finals, 20th and 22nd May and then the final, 24th May. The United Kingdom are one of five countries with automatic final places, goodness knows why, we haven't come anywhere near the top for a long time!

The fine people of Belgrade have certainly pulled out all of the stops, how about ordering a copy of the Eurovision Fan Book 2008, you can even purchase the first ever Official Eurovision Song Contest Proof Coin!!
Who can forget some of the truly comic moments, dear old Terry Wogan announcing the wrong winners from the UK's selection contest last year was a classic!

Here is what I do, get a few friends around, fill the fridge up with beer, and switch the sub titles on, this is very important, trust me!! And laugh the evening away....

Want to catch up on some of those all time classic songs? Or maybe thinking of having a Eurovision Party? Then why not pick up a copy of Eurovision vol 1 or Eurovision vol 2 both at just £9.99 with free delivery from CD WOW!

And here for you all is a message from Celine Dion who of course won the competition in 1988 with her entry, the power ballad 'Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi' representing Switzerland.

See what I mean, the best laugh you will have this side of Benidorm!!

DVD Of The Week - Skins: Complete Series 2

Skins: Complete Series 2 does exactly what it says on the tin, well, it's a DVD box actually.
Fans of the cult TV series who will no doubt already own series 1, have a pre-order in for series 2 and be avidly waiting for series 3 due to screen in 2009.

However for the uninitiated here is a brief view of what you will be getting: Skins is a BAFTA award nominated British teen drama. However, although based on teenage characters and aimed at a teenage audience the content of the show is strictly adult in nature. And although freely available to view on national television the DVD set has attracted an 18 certificate.

The show is fast paced and full of angst ridden fun. Series 2 follows the lives of the eleven teens from fictitious Roundview Sixth Form College in Bristol introduced to us in series 1, as they struggle with such highly charged issues as race, religion, sexuality, drugs and food disorders, much as in real life itself.

Where most of the episodes in series 1 concentrated on a single character, series 2 is more in soap opera format with the stories revolving around many of the central characters and looping through several episodes.
Expect plenty of bitching, backstabbing and general bad behaviour in this raunchy and all too realistic portrayal of teenage life in what could be any major city in the UK.
Here is the first part of episode 1 to give you an idea of what you are letting yourselves in for, from our friends at YouTube, but beware, it's very addictive!!

Album Of The Week - Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Sunday At Devil Dirt is the second offering from the collaboration between Isobel of Belle & Sebastian fame, and Mark of Screaming Trees and collaborator with Queens Of The Stone Age.

It is the follow up to the critically-acclaimed ‘Ballad of the Broken Seas’ which received a Mercury nomination in 2006.
Although a second offering, this however is not really a follow up, let me explain: As with the first album, Isobel has written, produced and arranged all of the songs, with Lanegan providing his trade mark growling and dusky vocals.

But where the first album could have been seen as a Lee Hazelwood / Nancy Sinatra sound, Isobel’s rare visits to the microphone on this second offering make it different and not so easy to categorise.
Recorded between studios in the Catskills Mountains and Isobel’s native Glasgow this time the pair actually spent some time together in the same studios and did not make the album mailing each other contributions across the Atlantic and back again.

Isobel’s writing skills seem to have gone from strength to strength and these string laden songs, heavy with Lanegan's dark and brooding vocals are among the best she has ever written. The album has cemented the relationship that the two spawned on ‘Ballad Of The Broken Seas’ and sees the two in a musical union as comfortable soul mates. Hard to categorise it may be, is it Nu Folk? Alt Country? Jazzy-Blues? or Southern Gothic? but whatever it is, it’s a great album and a must add to your collection.

Breaking News - Police Announce Last Show Ever... probably

The Police announced details of what will be their last show ever in New York on May 6th.
The performance will come at the end of the final leg of their reunion tour which started May 1st in Ottawa in which some 50 shows will have taken place primarily in North America and Europe. This last show will happen after the currently slated final date of August 5th at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre.

The show, which will be a fund-raiser, was announced by the band and the Mayor of NYC Michael Bloomberg in Times Square, however when asked if the final show would be in Central Park Bloomberg responded "The show will probably be indoors...".
At the ceremony each member of the Police was given a key to NYC and Sting presented the Mayor with an 'Access All Areas' backstage pass which he said could be used at any Police show, although he would probably get in to the last one anyway, and after that it wouldn't be much good really!

The show will benefit the production of arts programming for public television stations Thirteen/WNET www.thirteen.org and WLIW New York www.wliw.org where the tickets will be available shortly.
The show will also benefit the milliontreesNYC initiative which aims to plant 1 million trees across all five of NYC's boroughs by 2017. The Police contributed $1million which will plant 10,000 trees.
The tour by the way is expected to gross in excess of $340 million and be one of the top five highest grossing tours of all time, so they can probably afford it!

This Weeks UK Chart and New Entries

The only surprise at the top of the charts this week is the The Platters - Very Best Of at #9!
Formed in 1953 their distinctive sound was a bridge between the Tin Pan Alley sound of the time and the exploding new Rock 'n' Roll genre.
With 38 US and 10 UK chart entry singles and countless of their songs being covered it was probably a difficult task to pick the 20 tracks that make up this album. Songs like Only You, The Great Pretender, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes and others are all timeless top tunes.
Well worth a trip down memory lane.

The fight between Madonna - Hard Candy and Portishead - Third was comfortably won by Madonna giving her a 4th double header at the top of the UK charts.
And my recent tip, Sam Sparro - Sam Sparro came in at a very creditable 5th position, not bad for a newbie, and this one will have legs my friends, mark my words, full of summer style hit tracks this will be in the charts for many a long week.

Here is this weeks official UK Albums Chart, mostly at £7.99 with world-wide free shipping from CD WOW!

1. Madonna - Hard Candy
2. Portishead - Third
3. Duffy - Rockferry
4. The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement
5. Sam Sparro - Sam Sparro
6. The Kooks - Konk
7. Scouting For Girls - Scouting For Girls
8. Leona Lewis - Spirit
9. The Platters - The Very Best Of (£9.99)
10. Gabriella Cilmi - Lessons To Be Learned (£8.99)

New Release DVDs - Monday May 5th

I watched Casino Royale last night. Now it may seem a bit odd but I just never got round to it before now, the point is, we went out for a walk after tea to the local pub, had a pint and when we got home, nothing of note to watch on the telly, so we broke out a few unwatched DVDs and plumped for the above. Have to say it's a great film, not your average Bond movie but a darker and deeper portrayal. A great watch, and a great buy at just £7.99 with free delivery. So, on to this weeks selection for your comments:

Charlie Wilson's War
Perhaps one of the most extraordinary stories ever told, and my friends it is all true!
Based on the Playboy US Congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) who conspired with CIA operative Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and the beautiful Houston socialite Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) in one of the biggest covert operations that has ever been uncovered (I am sure there are many others that we will one day find out about, but that is a post for another day!).
Among other things they managed to increase the CIA's anti-communism budget from just $5million to over $500million. This is a great portrayal of their efforts which ultimately contributed to the fall of the Soviet Union as it was then, and the end of the cold war, with consequences that still reverberate around the world today.
Here is the official Charlie Wilson's War movie trailer from the good ol' guys at YouTube.
Hey, it's got Jimi Hendrix on the soundtrack as well so got to be worth a look just for that!

Ashes To Ashes (Complete BBC Series 1)
This is the sequel to the second series of Life On Mars, and sees erstwhile DCI Gene Hunt swap his Ford Cortina for an Audi Quatro, roll up his sleeves and take on the 80s.
No longer the self styled sheriff of Manchester, Gene turns his attention to taking on the Southern nancy-boy criminals of good old London Town. He does not however expect to be thrown together with the sexy intelligent DCI Alex Drake.
Her rise through the ranks of the Met is only thwarted when, in 2008, during a brave attempt at escape from her daughters kidnappers a terrible accident occurs. Alex wakes to find herself in 1981 interacting with familiar characters and opposite the arrogant Hunt, but her in depth knowledge of the case he is on must surely be of an advantage.
Great twist on the good old TV cops and robbers series that we have come to love so much. Here is an Ashes To Ashes trailer posted by the BBC on YouTube.

Can't see anything here that appeals to you? Hard to believe, but if not why don't you check out all the Pre Release DVDs at CD WOW!

New Release CDs - Monday May 5th

Def Leppard - Songs From The Sparkle Lounge is the 10th studio album from the English Rock band, one of the few bands to have become as popular in the US than their own country.
The title comes from a room 'The Sparkle Lounge' set up by the road crew at every gig when they are on tour, with three tiny guitar amps and a similar sized bass amp, and complete with a miniature drum kit all decorated with fairy lamps the band work out new ideas!
Their first release of new material since 2002's 'X' this has been slated by Joe Elliott as sounding more like early 1970's AC/DC and a touch of Led Zeppelin from the Rock and Roll era. I am pretty sure that you will get exactly what it says on the tin!
You can listen to, and download, some song clips on the official Def Leppard web site. The band are undertaking another massive European and US tour all through the summer in support.

The album is also available as a 'Special Edition CD/DVD' version, with the extra DVD including:

• Behind The Curtain
• The Sparkle Lounge Commentary
• Nine Lives 'Video'

Delays - Everything's The Rush is their 3rd studio album.
Hot on the heels of two top 25 album releases this follows the trademark jangle pop sound already established, heavily featuring the falsetto style vocals of lead singer Greg Gilbert, and harmonies with his brother Aaron.
Since the release of 'You See Colours' the band have had a roller coaster ride, massive sell out shows and mega singles lead to nervous exhaustion and personal upheaval when they departed their record company. Leaving all this behind they have recorded, with producer Youth in sunny Spain, over just 20 days an album brim full of potential hit singles.
This is an album of upbeat summer sounding songs, almost reminiscent of the Beach Boys. They have been compared to Cocteau Twins, Teenage Fanclub and even Stone Roses! I love the video to new single 'Hooray', check it out! Courtesy of our friends at You Tube.

Also available from Delays:

• Faded Seaside Glamour
• You See Colours

So there you have it, can't see what you are looking for here? Then check out the full list of New Release CDs and Pre-Release CDs at CD WOW!

Bluffers Guide to... The Beatles

So, I'm sure you may have have heard some older boys mention them? Or talk about them in the pub? Maybe your mum or Dad was a fan, but you haven't got a clue?
Just for you here is the second in my short series of "Bluffers guides to... The Beatles".
Everything you need to know in 30 seconds that will give you enough info to bluff your way through that awkward conversation, as long as you steer away pretty quickly...

The Beatles were a Pop and Rock band from Liverpool, comprising four members, John Lennon - founder, now deceased, shot in New York in 1980... Paul McCartney - recently in the news with his lovely his ex wife Heather Mills... George Harrison, died of cancer in 1981... and the last to join the group Ringo Star, who is still going strong and is amongst other things the voice of Thomas The Tank Engine!

Initially a rock n roll band the Beatles were however seen as the "nice clean cut boys" of British Rock and Pop. "Please Please Me" the first of their twelve studio albums was responded to by thousands of adoring female fans spawning the tag Beatlemania.
Experimentation with drugs, mainly LSD, led them into musical directions not heard before, "Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band". And in 1969 their last appearance as a band was on the rooftop of the Abbey Road studio playing "Let It Be", from the album of the same name.

The final recording made by all four was for the "Abbey Road" album.They were the most successful recording band in the history of Pop music, having recorded over 40 number 1 hits with albums, singles and EP's in the UK alone and reputably selling in excess of 1 billion albums. Their first US single "I Want To Hold Your Hand" sold 1 million copies in 10 days! They also had four cinematic film releases including "Help", the animated film "Yellow Submarine".

They were once in all sorts of trouble when John Lennon said "We are more popular than Jesus right now" resulting in fans, especially in America, burning their albums and memorabilia. Around the same time was the legendary "Wild Man" of Rock and Blues Jimi Hendrix, but he will be the subject of another "Bluffers Guide To... " post .

If you are interested in hearing more, and would like a definitive album that covers the entire period you could do far worse than buying a copy of "One" 27 number one hits and all for just £6.99.

So there you go. Consider yourself learned!

New Release Game, Friday 2nd May

'Iron Man' the video game is available on many formats including 'XBox 360' and 'Playstation 3'.
The movie was first slated way back in early 2007, and the game not long after, a simultaneous release of both the movie in cinemas, and the video game is now firm for Friday 2nd May. I guess you have already seen the TV ads for them both!

Although following the storyline and scenes of the movie, they only represent about 1/3rd of the games total play content. As you can imagine the game reflects the action packed fast paced nature of the movie.
Playing as Tony Stark, the multi billionaire wearer of the iron man suit, you make decisions which directly impact on the flow and pace of the game. If you love any of the Marvel Heroes this game is a must for you!
Check out this Iron Man trailer, posted by Sega on YouTube!

Engage scores of enemies on the ground and in the air. Take on tanks, fighter jets, massive weapon arrays and enemy superheroes with your vast arsenal. You are the world's most powerful high tech weapon.

Customise your suit, evolve your weapons and take to the battlefield.

Open-ended military battlefields create an unpredictable challenge that keeps the combat dynamic and compelling.

Split second decisions during gameplay will affect the storyline, with character reactions altering based on the decisions and choices made by the hero.

Only a third of the missions are directly from the movie. The majority of missions have original stories and draw from characters in the Iron Man universe.

This Weeks Chart and New Entries

As predicted in a recent post it was no surprise to see 'The Last Shadow Puppets' hit the top of the UK album chart this week with debut album The Age Of The Understatement'.
The band comprising of Alex Turner from the 'Arctic Monkeys' and his mate Miles Kane from The Rascals recorded the bulk of their debut album in just two weeks last August in a studio in the south of France.
Additional material was laid down between August and December and the addition of a 22 piece orchestra arranged by Owen Pallet completed the project. A must buy album!

Another new entry saw those stalwart rockers 'Whitesnake - Good To Be Bad' enter the top ten with their 11th studio album. And just outside the top ten was the Pan like 'Chris De Burgh - Now And Then', his latest offering another selection of greatest hits with a couple of new tracks added.

Here is this weeks official UK Albums Chart, all at £7.99 with free shipping from CD WOW!

1. The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement
2. The Kooks - Konk
3. Leona Lewis - Spirit
4. Duffy - Rockferry
5. Mariah Carey - E=MC2
6. Scouting For Girls - Scouting For Girls
7. Whitesnake - Good To Be Bad
8. Adele - 19
9. Nickelback - All The Right Reasons
10. Amy Winehouse - Back To Black

The Courteeners - Bierkeller, Bristol

I went along to see "The Courteeners" play a set of songs from their debut album "St Jude" last week at the sticky floor Bierkeller in Bristol.
Take my advice don't stand still for too long if you go see a band here, the floor is like super-glue and you won't be moving at all if you do!

Ever since the manic reception for the "Arctic Monkeys" back in the summer of 2005 the bench mark for new bands have been threefold; Sell Out Gigs, Manic Crowds and Audience members knowing and singing along to all the words.
It was bitter cold outside and the touts were offering cheap tickets, not a good start for my three tick boxes, but it was early as I wanted to see the one of the support bands, "The Rascals" fronted by no less than Miles Kane of "The Last Shadow Puppets" fame, on the very edge of a number one album. With their retro "Chris Isaak" sounding guitar and great songwriting I really enjoyed them, as did the crowd, and I am thoroughly looking forward to their forthcoming album "Rascalize" due out early June.

By the time they had finished the room was packed, so I guess the touts did all right in the end. The crowd, all resplendent in their Thursday night best, were singing along heartily to "Oasis - Definitely Maybe" and the atmosphere was electric, on they came, and as expected a set list filled with the "St Jude" album, and some singles and b-sides, well they have not got much else have they?
The crowd dutifully bounced up and down and sang along to all the songs, think "Oasis", "Libertines", "The Enemy", "Fratellis" and "The View", and you may be close. The last three songs had everybody, and I mean everybody, singing and bopping away, stood on the tables and benches it was just like the oompah nights that the 'keller is famous for.

Anyway, my verdict? Well, they certainly ticked all the three boxes and could very well be the next big thing, more accessible to a wider audience than the "Arctic Monkeys" but a wow with the students they may very well have it all. Big up and thanks to my mate Keith who acted as scribe and noted down all of the set list for you faithful:

• Aftershow (from St Jude)
• Kimberley (B-side to 2nd single Acrylic CD version)
• Acrylic (2nd Single)
• Smiths Disco (B-side to Not 19 forever)
• Slowdown (B-side to What Took You So Long single)
• Kings Of The New Road (from St Jude)
• Please Don't (from St Jude)
• Cavorting (Debut Single)
• Bide Your Time (from St Jude)
• Fallowfield Hillbilly (from St Jude)
• No You Didn't, No You Don't (from St Jude)
• An Ex Is An Ex For A Reason (B-side to 2nd Single Acrylic 7" version)
• Yesterday, Today (from St Jude)
• If It Wasn't For Me (from St Jude)
• Not Nineteen Forever (from St Jude)
• What Took You So Long? (from St Jude)

Album Of The Week: Tindersticks - The Hungry Saw

'Tindersticks - The Hungry Saw' is the album of the week this week. This is the seventh studio album from the Tindersticks and sees the now much slimmed down band. Comprising just three of the original members, Stuart Staples, Dave Boulter and Neil Fraser produce another lovely selection of sensitive and measured songs. The Nottingham based cult band have not put any new material out since 2003's 'Waiting For The Moon'.
Staples is another in the line of musicians who have built and equipped studios in France where the three of them, with some additional musical help, recorded this album in 2007.

The Hungry Saw somehow reflects the laid back almost melancholy of his French hideaway in rural Limousin. A predominantly retro feel is present reflecting the 50's and early 60's with Stuart's Bryan Ferry like Baritone, a mumbling drawl airing past regrets, loves and losses with the same aplomb as he has done for the last 17 years!!
Fans will love this album, and for those of you that have not heard them instrumental tracks "E-Type" and "The Organist Entertains" can be thoroughly enjoyed!
Check out a couple of the tracks at the Tindersticks Myspace page.

Previous albums still available from the Tindersticks:

• Tindersticks - Tindersticks (First album)
• Tindersticks - Trouble Every Day
• Tindersticks - Working For The Man

Coldplay - New free download available now!!

I noticed today that the 'Coldplay - Viva La Vida (Or Death And All His Friends)' CD, due out on 16th June, has started to receive some ramped up pre-awareness.
Starting from Tuesday, 29th April at 12:15pm you can pick up a free download of the first single 'Violet Hill' HERE from the official Coldplay web site, but my friends, if you want a copy for free do it very quickly, the download will only be available for a week and then you will have to pay for it from iTunes.
The single will also be available as a free 7" on the cover of NME's Wednesday 7th May issue, if you want one I would pre-order it from your local newsagent now! By the way, be one of the first to see the confirmed artwork here!

In another unprecedented headline grabbing move the band have also announced two free gigs. The first, on June 16th will be at London's Brixton Academy, and the second will follow four nights later on June 20th at Madison Square Gardens.
Tickets for both gigs will be distributed through a free to enter contest also on the bands official website, details will be announced very soon so keep your eye on: www.coldplay.com for the announcement. V (concert) for the UK and A (Show) for the US, and good luck, hope to see you at the show!
You can pre-order Coldplay - Viva La Vida from CD WOW! now for just £7.99 with free shipping worldwide!! Other Coldplay albums available are:

• Parachutes
• A Rush Of Blood To The Head
• X & Y

In the meantime, while looking for some suitable material for this piece I came across a great Misheard Lyrics version of 'Clocks' on You Tube, Enjoy!!