Kylie Minogue's New "2 Hearts" Video Clip!

omigod kylie etc.

KYLIE MINOGUE 2 HEARTS gmtv
Uploaded by RAQUELLE

That chorus is phenomenal and the track is quite surprising. It's nowhere near as electro as I had imagined, given the single sleeve being like some glamrock circus act. The video isn't that great, but it's certainly better than videos like "Gimme More", "Song 4 Mutya" and "About You Now". I do love the bit at about 2:11 where she struts out in the catsuit and the mic stand swings up. Teehee. All we need now is for Kylie to release her album X and we'll be right.

Lindsay Watch

Teehee. I took the following screengrab from my Facebook profile. It's of a feature called "Lindsay Watch" with updates on where everyone's favourite coked out Utah-residing stripper wannabe is. I found it on the page of supreme earth being Adem (of I'm Always Right - read it, he's a hoot) and promptly added it to my profile even though I'm sort of over Linday.


Also, if there are any readers from Geelong on here then you should definitely listen to 94.7 the Pulse on Friday nights between 8 and 10 as Adem hosts the Inside Splinters show dedicated to extending his love to pop music onto unsuspecting tourists and university crammers. With Adem doing the Inside Splinters show on air and the equivilent columb in Forte alongside my obviously pop-favoured music reviews in the same mag it's like we're a rag tag team of pop obsessives slowly trying to convert this lowly town over to the throws of popdome.

So, Adem, when am I gonna be able to come in and rock out with you?

Touchdown!!

Okay, it's sort of sad that us Australian Idol watchers ever got sucked into judge Mark Holdon's ridiculous "TOUCHDOWN!" flimajimjamwoozoowazzleboobedeeboop that he started in season one of the show, but it has gotten to the stage where every touchdown is met with, mostly, curious bewilderment. I mean, two touchdowns for Jennifer Connolly in three episodes? And one for the Pirate (my guess is eventually he'll wear an eye patch and the illusion will be complete) for what amountd to nothing more than "I Was Made For Loving You" slowed down to within an inch of it's life.

BUT last night - the same night that Jennifer Connolly got possibly the worst and least deserving touchdown in the show's history for a vague performance of "Bittersweet Symphony" - there was a performance that tore the house (er, the studio) down and that thankfully received one of Holdon's touchdowns. As Scott over at Scott To Be Certain makes us aware (if you even casually watch Idol read that blog, it's freakin' hilarious honey dahling girlfriend) it was the only touchdown this year that could compare with the best (Cosima's "When the War is Over", Anthony's "The Prayer") and is one of the most blatantly emotional performances since Guy Sebastian's "Climb Every Mountain" or Casey Donovan's "Here's Where I Stand".

We all know Tarisai Vushe Williams Shaggy Dog Jackson Effie Hudson Honey Dahling Sister Girlfriend is basically channeling God whenever she performs at the worst of times (so much so that when she goes to speak normally she seems positively exhausted) but last night she was, quite frankly, eating the soul of Jesus on stage. If that's offensive or blasphemous to you then just watch the performance below.



To quote Mark Holdon (that's a rare thing, indeed), who last night outdid himself by wearing a diagonal zip-down martian funeral outfit: Yowza! Yowza! Yowza!

Also, Question of the Week: How many anal sex, blowjob, semen and penis jokes can the hosts James and Andrew get into their banter when it relates to ProActive Ben Mackenzie? Because, honey sister dahling girlfriend preacher baby love sweetiepie, the kid is 17 and it's icky and incredibly uncomfortable. Give it a rest and start picking on Jennifer Connolly and her beehive of a hairdo.

Glenn Liveblogs The New Bruce Springsteen Album

I had to tear of two laters of plastic to get to the case. And what a very shiny case it is. Open it up and it's one of those paper cases that encloses the CD in a flap on one side and the booklet in another flap on the other side. The image you see upon opening the case though is one of Bruce with the E Street band. It's a wonderful photo and, of course, I scanned it in.


Flipping through the booklet I actually cried out "It's so glossy!" And I love that Bruce includes lyrics. He knows his fans want to be able to not only sing along but to be able to read and digest the lyrics and get an understanding of what the album is about. There are some pictures of bruce throughout and they all follow the cover design's theme of Bruce in a white tee looking momentarily confused - although in two he is wearing a black shirt. The diversity is insane.

Okay, so I'm putting in the CD now. Let's see how this goes.

1/0.12 - "Radio Nowhere". We all know this by now surely. I hope it's a good setting off point for the entire album. Has a Born in the USA vibe, which is a-okay with me.

1/2.10 - I love this guitar solo moment.

1/2.48 - "I just wanna feel some rhythm" this chant at the end is probably my favourite part of the song. Reminds me of the "It's alright" chant at the end of The Rising's "Lonesome Day"

2/0.02 - "You'll be Coming Down". Reminds me of "Lucky Town", from the album Lucky Town, right off the bat.

2/0.58 - Okay, it really reminds me of of "Lucky Town" now that it's at the chorus.

2/2.10 - Clarence Clemons! I've mentioned before how he is my favourite E Street member. Whenever he starts up that saxophone I just get all tingly (...)

2/3.00 - I think it's the bridge that really reminds me of "Lucky Town". It's got the exact same structure and progression.

3/0.01 - "Livin' in the Future" starts with more of Clarence's brilliant sax playing.

3/0.35 - Wow. This is a good one.

3/0.47 - Okay, new favourite!

3/1.22 - The chorus is amazing. And considering it's Bruce we're talking about here I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that he's singing about George W Bush, which is what I suspect.

3/1.40 - Okay, I just realised what song this reminds me of - "Cover Me" from Born in the USA, with a little bit of "Glory Days" thrown in. Musically, I mean. It's got the almost exact same guiter structure as "Cover Me" though. Perhaps he hadn't performed that song in quite a while and forgot about it? It's almost chord for chord.

3/3.38 - I always love a good "na na na na" fade out, don't you?

4/0.09 - Violins! "Your Own Worst Enemy" has a violins! I love violins.

4/0.30 - Lyrics like "yesterday the people were at ease" and "your own worst enemy has come to town" placed right next to each other? Is this another W Bush inspired song?

4/2.24 - No. I don't think so.

4/2.51 - Oh my, I just melted over the way Bruce sang those last two lines. "That flag it flew so high/It drifted into the sky" with a prolonged sort of semi-falsetto voice. Dreamy.

5/0.12 - "Gypsy Rider" starts off with Springsteens famous harmonica. The only artist who a) I can stand playing the harmonica and b) makes me wish harmonicas were used more in music. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't, really.

5/1.19 - This song is about Bruce's favourite topics. Misplaced men in America. It's not exactly anything off of The Rising or Born to Run, but I'm liking it. Probably my least favourite so far. But Bruce's "least" is most artists "career defining amazing best", so...

5/4.22 - Yeah... not the best, huh?

6/0.04 - And it's redeemed almost immediately by "Girls in Their Summer Clothes". Has a similar opening progression to "Lonesome Day", which is perhaps my fourth favourite Bruce song just by the way.

6/0.20 - Bruce's vocals have something different to them in this song. It sounds sort of amazing.

6/0.55 - This song doesn't remind me of anything except AMAZING!

6/1.19 - I am loving "Girls in Their Summer Clothes"!

6/2.09 - This bit is gonna be awesome live.

6/2.28 - This moment. This very second. Well, this and 2.29-2.33 is the highlight so far. Weird how five seconds can just be so magical. They sound like some 1950s motown group at this moment.

6/3.33 - New favourite!

6/3.43 - I always love a good "la la la la" fade out, don't you?

7/0.02 - "I'll Work For Your Love" starts with piano.

7/0.08 - For a moment there Bruce sounded exactly like he did in the '70s.

7/1.40 - Hmm. The lyrics on this one are a bit naff, don't you reckon?

7/2.35 - I think he was going for a romantic angle on this one, I'm thinking of "Tunnel of Love" with more guitars, but it's not working for me.

8/0.08 - "Magic" initially sounds like something from Devils & Dust.

8/1.13 - It's a minimalist song, which I'm liking. At this moment they introduced what sounds like the theme music to some spaghetti western or a movie set in a small Mexican town filled with drug lords and violence. ...?

8/2.17 - This is slowly working it's way into my brain, I can feel it. Like how the similar-sounding (but completely different themed) "Reno" did ("Reno" is now one of my all time favourites).

9/0.50 - "Last to Die" has a great up-tempo build up to the pace it's seems to be sticking with.

9/2.46 - This is a nice track, nothing particularly amazing, nor is it disappointing. It's what they call "quality filler".

9/3.47 - The above point is demonstrated now. I have nothing worthwhile to add, but I know it's not bad. I can deal with that.

10/0.16 - I'm not sure what it is about Bruce but he seems to have multiple voices. Like, they all sound very similar but if he puts just the tiniest bit more force or grunt behind it it becomes something else entirely. Case in point "Long Walk Home".

10/1.15 - Sounds like it belongs on The Rising, which is a good thing if I ever heard one.

10/2.20 - Oh Clarence!

10/4.07 - Great closing moments. This is the E Street, folks. "Long Walk Home" will be great live.

11/0.17 - Ooh. What an ethereal start to "Devil's Arcade"!

11/0.35 - Whoa.

11/1.20 - That low-bass guitar in the background is bliss.

11/2.13 - Oh! And it kicks in. Amazing.

11/3.22 - I can't quite pin point what it is that is so fan-fuckin-tastic about this song but it's... it's... holy jesus.

11/4.02 - It just keeps. getting. better.

11/4.49 - Now that was brilliant.

12/0.02 - Aww, "Terry's Song" is the final one! There's only four minutes and nine seconds of Magic left!

12/0.32 - Reminds me of "I Wish I Were Blind" from Human Touch. Slightly.

12/1.47 - This is a lovely little ode to (I assume) somebody called Terry who is "one of a kind". The album booklet says Terry (Terry Magovern) was Bruce's friend and working partner.

12/3.41 - I can't think of anything more appropriate to end Magic on that this wonderful song ending with some of Springsteen's great harmonica work going to fade out. I guess it ends the album on a bit of a downer (not quality wise though, thankfully).

Conclusion - Was there ever any doubt? I've only ever disliked one Bruce Springsteen album (of which I use the excuse "I'm not old enough to get it") so that I would like this one wasn't that hard to imagine. I'm actually quite glad that the album wasn't 12 tracks like "Radio Nowhere" (as amazing as it may be) and that he mixed it up. I love the stuff that Bruce comes up with when he's working with the E Street band. It all just sounds so layered and there's so much depth there.

As an artist Bruce Springsteen refuses to go away quietly. While many artists simple coast on their history (I'm looking at you Elton John) and have effectively stopped drinking (or smoking, in a lot of cases I imagine) whatever it was that made them so brilliant in the first place, Bruce continues to produce albums that you can easily slot high up in the list of personal favourites. With Magic, and I'm obviously going to be giving it plenty more spins over the next week, he has made some great songs - some incredibly fun songs to match the pulsating rock songs, which sit side-by-side with the more intimate ballads. It's a great record and one that I think will prove to be great on repeat, will be great live, and one that will satisfy the hardcore fan and casual listener alike.

:)

I have it! Right here! Right now! In my weird claw-like hands! Man, my thumb looks huge.


I should have a judgment in approximately 50 minutes.

Wake Up And Pay Attention, Y'all!

I've made many references to my undying love for Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit before. It is one of the greatest movies ever made and don't you try and deny it, okay?! So it was with delight that I came upon the following videos on YouTube of the Musical Theatre department of MichiganU performing a 15-minute abridged version of Back in the Habit using one stage, a few chairs and, wouldn't just know it, a whole lotta talent.

It, basically, destills everything that is perfect and heavensent about the movie into 15 uproariously funny minutes. Watch as Sister Mary Clarence dons her garbage bag habit, as the slightly too masculine Lauryn Hill character imparts her wise ghetto wisdom, or somebody (I'm not sure who is who) doing a spot on impersonation of Sheryl Lee Ralph's domineering mother role. Or watch in stunned wide-eyed amazement as the cast perform a particularly faithful rendition of the film's climactic (and brilliant) song "Joyful Joyful", even down to the fine details that could easily go ignored by the casual moviegoer - the sign language performer, the impromtu Janet Jackson throwback or the ace (and accurate!) choreography.

It's positively uplifting and entirely amazing, just like the movie it represents. Although it was majorly upsetting to realise that they did not include the film's finest and most jive-tastic moment - "I got the flow, you all gotta go, so pick up your bags so we can go, ho-ho!"

And Now For Something You've Probably Already Heard!

That new Britney Spears video clip? WOW! It. Is. Terrible. I... I am almost without any words, but naturally I can still articulate an insult.

Lazy, Boring, Unsexy and Pointless come to mind as apt adjectives. Britney does nothing in the entire video except walk around a pole. I think the walking was meant to be sexy, but it wasn't. Not to mention the outfit is fug-central. Where's the dancing? Or some form of spirit. I reckon they were going for a "Slave 4 U" vibe, but missed by about forty footy fields. And if Spears was trying to be a stripper or whatever then I don't think she quite has the job requirements.

The camera work appears to be trying for a cool arty effect but comes off as blurry and distracting. Constant switches between black and white and colour and then sepia(?) just make for a discombobulating effort.

Lastly I come to the most bizarre aspect of the video. And it's the blonde Britney. There are a couple of bits, including at the very start, where Britney isn't playing the dark-haired pole dancer but is a blonde-haired gal at the bar. I have no idea why. It's like they were outtakes from a discarded original video. They don't fit into the video in any way and when they are their she's just looking vacant.

It's a very confusing and very poor effort if you ask me, much akin to the "Song 4 Mutya" video. Not at all surprising, though. Still, the song is great.

Superstar!

Reading this article at TimeOut I was shocked to see that genius Todd Haynes' genius Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story was voted the greatest music film of all time. "Music film" as in a movie about a real life musician (so, no musicals or This is Spinal Tap). Superstar really is quite amazing. Filmed entirely using Mattel barbie dolls, archival footage and the unauthorised Carpenter song catalogue - considering Haynes' unflinching portrayal of not only Carpenter's anorexia (demonstrated on the barbie dolls by simple scratching away the face) but also her brother's homosexuality and her family's cruely.


The film is banned, but many illegal bootleg copies exist both in hard copy and streamed on the net. The thing that struck me about Superstar was that, as the article also says, the musical scenes are incredibly moving and Haynes gets ample mialage out of the emotional distress that Carpenter goes through. It's a fantastic film, if only a 48-minute one, and I wish more people had the chance to see it.

Below is a very poor quality sample of the movie with Karen "performing" the song "Close to You". Haynes' next film is the equally strange-sounding Bob Dylan "supposition", which is out in America on November 21.

Bankrupt

I'm not making a big thing about this, but I am just so glad that Kanye West sold more albums than 50 Cent. Hopefully Fiddy is true to his word and retires from releasing albums because his album Curtis is worst of the year potential. I wrote my review tonight and he's a sample.

On ‘Man Down’ he raps “I told you I’d murder them” over the Scooby Doo theme (I am not joking). ‘I’ll Still Kill’ features Akon boasting “Don’t even look at me wrong when I come through the hood,” before charmingly discussing how he can still kill within the blink of an eye. How gangster of him. On ‘Amusement Park’ he reaches new and unheard of levels of filth.

But, the thing that really made me angry was the album sleeve. There are pictures of:

Fiddy standing on a dirty ghetto door stoop in his finest ghetto flash gear.

Fiddy and (who I believe to be) Akon aiming guns at the readers.

Fiddy eating a hand pistol with a knife and fork.

Fiddy wearing a plaid suit reading the newspaper (?!)

Fiddy smoking a cigar while wearing a white suit.

Fiddy with a near-naked (she's only wearing knickers!) woman wrapped around him in three different positions.

Fiddy with a woman's hand stuck down his boxer shorts, showing off his pubic hair.

I have scanned in two images (opposite each other though) to give you a vague idea of how repulsive it is. Just deplorably grotesque.


Charming, huh?

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I caught the end of Spicks and Specks tonight and one of the questions they asked was about "The Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie. I love that movie and I love that song and I also love that it was nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars.

So here, for absolutely no reason whatsoever, is Kermit performing "The Rainbow Connection" with Debbie Harry on The Muppet Show.

Gimme More Shoes!

Not the theme song to the upcoming Sex and the City film, but actually a mashup between Britney Spears' "Gimme More" and Kelly's "Shoes". It's sort of amazing.

Funny Songs

I, unfortunately, had no time to write something significent for Goatdog's William Wyler blog-a-thon and whenever I tried to type something I just had no inspiration (just like the entire last week at the blog, fyi). So, instead, here are some clips from my favourite Wyler film (of the limited few that I have seen) Funny Girl, all performed by Barbra Streisand. I'm not a fan of Babs outside of film, but when she's in front (or even behind) the camera I guess the pink switch just gets flicked big time.

It does amaze me that William Wyler is, as Electronic Cerebrectomy discusses, never particularly hailed as one of the greatest directors of all time who won three Oscars, which a quick glance of his resume would suggest he most definitely is. I guess he was just one of those directors that didn't forge a career in one defining style of films (such as the likes of Hitchcock, Lean, Scorsese have) and instead ran the gamut from epics, musicals, intimate dramas and even dived into GLBT themes (without the use of subtext, ahem) in movies such as The Children's Hour.

Please enjoy these clips from Funny Girl. I know I sure do.


"I'd Rather Be Blue"


"People"


"Don't Rain on My Parade"


"My Man"

Check out the rest over at Goatdog. There's some nice entries by people who actually articulate without the use of YouTube clips.

Happy Birthday Bruce!!!

So, if my math skills are any good (which, let's face it, they are not - i didn't do poorly in the subject at maths because I felt like it) then Bruce Springsteen - aka, God - just turned 58! Of course I could be off on my time zone pedantics. Y'all know how much I love The Boss. He's everything a man should be, quite frankly, and he's one of the only male solo musicians that doesn't make me want to either a) take a nap or b) tear my ears off before stabbing their throat. His music just connects to me, whether it be his sombre efforts (albums like Nebraska or Devils & Dust), his big loud rock epics (Born in the USA, The Rising), his soundtack work ("Streets of Philadelphia" from Philadelphia, "Lift Me Up" from Limbo, etc) or albums that seem to mix his styles (Human Touch). I loved the way he was unafraid to embrace things like synths and dancing and Courteney Cox!

Next month Springsteen will release Magic his fifteenth studio album - so that's not including all his many best ofs, live albums like Boss Unplugged or his rarities collections such as Tracks - after Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ (1973), The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle (1973), Born to Run (1975), Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978), The River (1980), Nebraska (1982), Born in the USA (1985), Tunnel of Love (1987), Human Touch (1992), Lucky Town (1992), The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995), The Rising (2002), Devils & Dust (2005) and We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006).

My favourite (and all-time favourite album in general) is Born in the USA) followed by The Rising, Human Touch, Born to Run...? I dunno. Some semblence of a list is hard to create.

Below are just some of my favourite Springsteen songs. There's no way I would include every single song that I've give 5 Stars to on iTunes, so here is but a mere selection. Not all of the songs have video clips ("Lift Me Up" is a soundtrack song and didn't feature a video), but I love them too much to not include. And because this is a film blog (although lately it feels like I'm always talking about music) I've included Bruce's amazing cameo in 2000's High Fidelity. Enjoy if you will and bring on Magic - the tracks I've heard are fan-freakin-tastic. If you're wanting to get into Bruce's music then I suggest getting The Essential Bruce Springsteen (the 3-disc edition if you can) because it's pretty much, as the title says, the essential songs and then start making your way through his entire catalogue. There's an embarassment of riches to be discovered. Happy Birthday to Bruce. I love you. Please tour here soon!

Bruce Springsteen - I'm On Fire
Uploaded by Bebop_69

"I'm On Fire", Born in the USA

Bruce Springsteen-Street of Philadelphia
Uploaded by valentin73

"Streets of Philadelphia", OST Philadelpia

Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel Of Love
Uploaded by jpdc11

"Tunnel of Love", Tunnel of Love


"Lonesome Day", The Rising (Live on Letterman)


"Lift Me Up", OST Limbo

Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days
Uploaded by trashfan

"Glory Days", Born in the USA


"Reno", Devils & Dust


Bruce in High Fidelity. Precious.

Romance & DVD

Just a heads up for all your Aussie fans of musicals or Kate Winslet (or, I suppose, James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Mandy Moore, etc) that John Turturro's Romance & Cigarettes is getting a direct-to-DVD release in November. Not sure on exactly what date, but my DVD service Quickflix has it listed to hire with "Coming in November" beside it. So, this means we'll finally be able to see Turturro's gangster musical featuring a, supposed, great performance by goddess Winslet.

Place Romance & Cigarettes next to the cinematic releases of films like Hairspray, Across the Universe, Sweeney Todd, Once, Enchanted and even Richard Kelly's Southland Tales - not to mention music biopics like Control, I'm Not There and La Vie en Rose - and fans of the musical genre are getting a neverending feast of singing and dancing.

The Annual 'Glenn Mocks the ARIA Nominations' Entry

Hahahahah. God. The ARIA nominations are non-stop hilarity frustrating beyond belief. How can an awards organisation be so amazing as to nominate a song such as Sneaky Sound System's "UFO" as single of the year and then right along side it nominate the exact same song that they have been nominating Powderfinger and John Butler Trio with for the last decade? Ugh. Their Best Album category is pretty darn insulting, come to think of it, but not at all surprising. An ARIA show that doesn't nominate Powderfinger, John Butler Trio and Silverchair for everything possible? It's just unAustralian.

I must point out that Missy Higgins, who I have been unashamed in my dismissal of, despite being the ARIA darling just two years ago, has become yet another to suffer the sophomore slump despite releasing an album that was, quite frankly, better than the first. It happened to Delta Goodrem with her Mistaken Identity album and several others. So, yes, add Missy Higgins to the list who didn't even get an album or single of the year nomination. Considering "Steer" was a load of codswallop, it's not that surprising, but her album - the name of which I can't be bothered changing browser windows to find out - wasn't anywhere near as poor as her debut The Sound of Shite White. Oh, and Jet. But, seriously, does anyone like Jet anymore? Unlikely.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Gotye, Mixed Blood
John Butler Trio, The Same Album They Released Three Years Ago
Powderfinger, Didn't We Release This Album Five Times Already
Silverchair, Young Modern
Sneaky Sound System, Sneaky Sound System

I haven't heard Gotye's album, but I have heard good things so good on them for nominating it! Silverchair's album was most definitely a worthy nominee and while I give them props for having the balls to nominate Sneaky Sound System I can't help but imagine the voters actually only listened to the singles - aka, the songs featuring the vocals of the amazing Miss Connie - and not the whole album, which - quite frankly - isn't that crash hot. JBT and Powderfinger releasing albums basically equals "ARIA Nominee for Album of the Year" no matter how many times they release the same CD with a different name.

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Architecture in Helsinki, "Heart It Races"
John Butler Trio, "Whatever Song We Released, Possibly Featuring a Didgeridoo"
Powderfinger, "Boring Powderfinger Song #193"
Silverchair, "Straight Lines"
Sneaky Sound System" "Pictures" "UFO"

So, Silverchair's song is a masterpiece. AIH's song is quite great, too. "UFO" isn't as good as "Pictures" (which I thought would be nominated) but at least it's better than the ridiculous song that JBT are nominated for, or the boring Powderfinger song.

BEST FEMALE ARTIST
Kasey Chambers
Kate Heidke-Miller
Katie Noonan
Missy Higgins
Sarah Blasko

Expected line-up. We couldn't expect them to not nominate someone like Kasey Chambers in favour of Lisa Miller or Holly Throsby.

BEST MALE ARTIST
Dan Kelly
Gotye
John Butler
Josh Pyke
Paul Kelly

Christ. I do love Josh Pyke. But I'm sure John Butler and his tired boring dreadlocks will win yet again despite, and correct me if I'm wrong, he actually being in a group...

BEST POP RELEASE
Evermore, "Light Surrounding You"
Kate Heidki-Miller, "Little Eve"
Missy Higgins, "On a Clear Night"
Operator Please, "Just Another Song About Ping Pong"
Sarah Blasko, "What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have"

"Ping Pong" is possibly the best novelty song of the year, but how did Sarah Blasko get here? Her music ain't pop.

The rest are over here at the ARIA site. Needless to say, there's more shit than gold. Apparently artists like Sarah Blasko, Josh Pyke, Darren Hayes (possibly released too late) and others aren't as good as the same old artists releasing the same old album. So, basically, they're just like the Grammys or the Emmys.

Attack of the Press Release from Mars

Press releases can be good for a laugh sometimes. I was bitterly disappointed with the press release for Kanye West's new album - no hysterical boasting? for shame! Yet the press release for 50 Cent proudly asks "Can the defiant former drug dealer from killer Southside Queens..." because nothing says hardcore than a drug dealer from Queens! But, moving on, the one for the Sugababes reaches new heights of hilarity. I love the gals, but whoever's working for them really needs to stop with Microsoft Word's thesaurus function. Observe:

In these boom and bust days of pop groups launching, exploding and disappearing in the night sky like fireworks on a wet Wednesday, the SUGABABES are a rare exception. Certainly, if pop’s supposed to be suffering from lean times, someone forgot to KEISHA BUCHANAN, HEIDI RANGE and AMELLE BERRABAH, as they prepare to unveil their fifth studio album. It’s the first full set in which AMELLE, having now been a SUGABABE for over a year and a half, joins KEISHA and HEIDI on vocals, adding an exciting new slant to the band’s trademark harmonies. The new, invigorated sound coupled with some unexpected changes in musical direction to open a brand new chapter for the country’s favourite girlgroup

"exploding and disappearing in the night sky like fireworks on a wet Wednesday"? What the fuck is that? And they even left out the word "tell" in the second sentence. I did also enjoy this part:

They’re also the first girl group since the 1980s to release more than three hit albums – trouncing Destiny’s Child and the Spice Girls.

Aww. And there's plenty more where that came from! You can read the rest at the PopJustice forums. Lovely.

Vintage Bruce 4

It's Bruce's birthday in seven days. I hope he gets something special. For you we've got a performance of one of Bruce's most iconic and well-known songs, "Born to Run", done acoustically on tour in 1988. It's not quite as good as the original from the album of the same name, but not much is. At least this song sort of lends itself to being sung slow, as opposed to so many other songs that artists cover on places like Live Lounge. Also, in the clip, Bruce is majorly sexy. But, isn't he always? He rocks the wifebeater.



And for all your Bruce fans, you can pre-order his latest album Magic on iTunes. I'm going to wait and get the physical copy of it, but some people aren't as picky as me when it comes to albums.

J.Lo Goes to War

I dare you to look at the album cover for Jennifer Lopez's new album Brave and not be filled with endless glee. Is this not the campiest album cover you've seen in a good long time? She's gonna smack that ho bitch down. Hahah. Jennifer, you and your crazy ways.


Feels like it should be an alternate ad campaign for War doncha think? If, instead of Jason Statham and Jet Li War starred two oppising Lopez-bots who duke it out mano-a-mano to the death until only one can survive - Singing Lopez or Acting Lopez. WHO WILL WIN?! Find out Labor Day weekend 2008.

PS; I do quite like "Do It Well", actually. It's got a bit of a spicy-action-movie vibe actually. They could use it in the trailer!

Don't get me wrong, the cover is absolutely atrocious but my god - it's hilarious! It's the Showgirls of album art.

Hook Them Up

I like The Veronicas. They're sort of awesome, just like their new song "Hook Me Up". Below is the video. It's no "Everything I'm Not", but it is very Rogue Traders' "Way To Go". They seem to have ramped up with lesbian twin angle as well. Lastly, I don't think I approve of the blonde hair. Italians with blonde hair look weird.

It's Britney, Bitch!

I've never been a huge fan of Britney Spears. For every amazing "Toxic" or "Slave 4 U" there's a terrible "Outrageous" or "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" and her early years are too bubblegum for me (says the man who just last week was addicted to Aqua and Bardot) and am not a fan of her albums give or take the occasional great single choice ("Overprotected" and the aforementioned "Toxic" and "Slave 4 U"). Needless to say I haven't been one of the people foaming at the mouth of new Britney tracks - especially when every day there are new pictures of her abandoning her children (and when she has them she's dangling cigarettes in their faces).

But, two tracks leaked today, which you surely have already heard. If not, "Gimme More" is below. "Gimme More" is the good one. "Cold as Fire" is the other (you can find it withing a couple of clicks on the net, surely) and it is the one that's not good. If "Gimme More" is the lead single as they say then, depending on the rest of the album, I guess they could be much worse (like, for instance, "Cold As Fire").

It's interesting to see Britney go back to dancier club-oriented music when she's trying to make a comeback because while the rest of the world likes it America is shit scared of it (see how shitty Madonna's Confessions album did compared to the rest of the world). We'll see if her name can get it over the boundary and into mainstream.



I do love the "It's Britney, bitch!" part at the start. Don't you?