Let's Get This Thing

The University of Plymouth, which is located in the British county of Devonshire had granted an Honorary Doctorate of Arts to all three members of the band Muse, said New Musical Express. Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard (all three were born in Devonshire) have received this honour for their impact on music.  During a ceremony Bellamy has told everyone that his band is most likely not deserving this kind of thing, but of course they’re extremely happy. “It’s nice to be part of something down here in the West Country. We never went to university so it really means a lot to us,” he noted. Lots of musicians these days are getting similar things for their activities, and some of them are really working in the academic field. The best example is Brian May. This guy is heading the Liverpool John Moores University.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Robert Plant Was Not Going For It

Robert Plant had officially denied any information about his reunion with Led Zeppelin, said BBC News.  During the last week the British press was constantly saying that once Plant had heard about the band’s plan to hire a new vocalist in order to move on, he suddenly agreed to sing with them. However, it turns to be false, and Robert Plant is not doing anything of this sort. “It’s both frustrating and ridiculous for this story to continue to rear its head when all the musicians that surround the story are keen to get on with their individual projects and move forward,” he said.  Led Zeppelin is planning to go for the world tour during the following year, and it is very sad that these rumours turned to be untrue. Even after Plant finishes his touring with Alison Krauss, he shall not take any part in Led Zeppelin’s career anymore. Nevetheless, anything is still possible, and let’s just believe that he will change his mind.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Robert Plant Wants To Reunite!

Robert Plant had agreed to perform together with his former bandmates, said The Telegraph. Right now reunited Led Zeppelin is planning on touring around Europe and North America. Shall they get to other countries is not known yet, but most likely they may do it. Rumours about their world tour began to leak sometime in December last year when Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Johns and John Bonham (a son of Jason Bonham) have performed at O2 Arena in London. However, Plant had decided not to continue and went on touring with a country singer Alison Krauss. Previously they’ve recorded and released the successful album “Raising Sand”. Recently, some journalists have acquired an information about the fact that the other band members are seeking for another vocalist to replace Plant. After he realized that their plans are quite serious a musician had agreed to reunite with the rest of the band.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

T-Mobile G1

It became officially known that T-Mobile G1 (Goodle Android – also known as the Googlepne) lacks the standard 3,5mm headphone jack, said Engadget. Definitely engineers from T-Mobile or Google were rushing as fast as possible to make this product going, but right now it will create some unexpected difficulties. The technical side of G1 was produced by HTC (High Tech Computer Corporation). After that inconvenience came out producers began to recommend using ExtUSB turning this smartphone into a “laptop”. Those who are planning to get this phone will either change their headphones or use the adaptor. Besides that, such adaptors shall not appear in stores by the date of G1’s release (October 22). T-Mobile G1 was already presented on September 23. It contains a sensor screen, keyboard and many software programs produced by Google. This model also allows it’s possessors to buy and download music from the Amazon MP3 service.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

slotMusic

SanDisk Corporation is now promoting an alternative to the traditional compact disc, said NME. This new sound carrier is called slotMusic and soon it may replace something what people used for decades. SlotMusic is the memory card which can contain up do 1Gb of music written in MP3/320klbs format. This device should be able to work with the cell phones, all kinds of mp3/video players and so on. Practically, it’s not going to create any revolution in the music listening process because the mp3 player revolution is already on the way and there is nothing more convenient than iPod. However, the idea behind the slotMusic card was (of course!) widely supported by the major record labels like EMI Muisc, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group, Universal Group and so on. It means that they’re going to try fighting mp3’s with this new hardware device on the basis of ‘once we cannot stop the process, we shall try leading it’. It’s already known which artists will be presented on the slotMusic format – Oasis, Amy Winehouse and Coldplay.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Mogwai Shall Return Soon

The Scottish post-rock band Mogwai had cancelled it’s American and Canadian tour due to their drummer’s heart problems, said Pitchfork. On September 21 Martin Bulloch was rapidly hospitalized to one of the New York’s clinics right after the band’s performance at the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival. The reason for hospitalization was Bulloch’s continuous heart sickness because of which he is suppose to use an electronic cardiostimulator. Doctors asked him to go back to Scotland in order to take care of this painful situation. This guy needs better and more serious treatment right now. After this incident musicians have decided not to continue their North American tour promising to catch up in the beginning of the next year. European tour dates (October/November) are still not changed. On September 22 the band had released their sixth studio album, “The Hawk is Howling”.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Spice Girls Took The First Place

Reunited Spice Girls were declared to be the best out of all other groups which have made the act of reunion during the last two/three years. Their 2007/2008 tour was included as the indicator of their “superiority” over the others. This fact became known to the world during the last Vodafone Live Music Awards ceremony that took place in London on September 28. BBC News is noting that the “reunion” category was also planned to be taken by Led Zeppelin, The Verve and James. The last two bands are good and quite respected, but how Spice Girls could overtake Led Zeppelin is quite unknown. Led Zeppelin’s reunion was possibly the biggest event of all times, which cannot be even compared to the ‘Girls’. At least out of respect to the age and history Led Zeppelin had to get beyond everyone.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

"Death Magnetic" Goes Up

The new studio album produced by Metallica called “Death Magnetic” began to dominate American and British music charts. This was quite expected due to the great thing Metallica has done with this new and definitely heavy album. They are not trying to make another “St. Angler”, by moving towards their more traditional style, which is somewhat similar to “And Justice For All” (1988). Only in the states the new album sold 490,000 copies so far, said Reuters. It is getting closer to 1996 when the innovative work “Load” sold 680,000 copies during the first six days. It is not very well known how many copies were sold in Britain right now, but Metallica was able to move Glasvegas from the first place, and put Rihanna away from the second, says NME. The official release of “Death Magnetic” began on September 12, but ten days prior to that it became available online. At least tens of thousands could download it and see the greatness of this new album as early as the beginning of September.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

The Who Is About To Release Their Best Concert On DVD

The Who is planning to release their best live performance on DVD. A disc under the name “The Who”: At Kilburn 1977” (this legendary concert took place in London) will appear in music stores on November 18 this year, said NME. This performance is considered to be the most artistic and self sacrificing in the band’s history. Simply nothing can match this record in value. During that concert The Who were playing in their classic line-up, Roger Daltrey (vocals), Pete Townshend (guitar), John Entwistle (bass), and Keith Moon (drums). The upcoming double DVD will also include another concert played in London back in 1969, and their first live performance of the rock opera “Tommy”. The Who was formed in 1964 in London. Today the original line-up includes only Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. A drummer Keith Moon has died in 1978, and John Entwistle had passed out in 2002.  

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Richard Wright Is Gone To The Better World

One of the Pink Floyd co-founders (keyboards) Richard Wright had died of cancer on September 15, said BBC. Less than three months ago Wright was celebrating his sixty fifth birthday. As his family’s representative has told the press, Wright’s sickness didn’t last long. Also, his relatives asked journalists to respect their tragedy by not bothering them with interviews. Wright made music for such infamous Pink Floyd albums as “Dark Side of the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here”. He took part in every concert were this legendary band was performing, including 2005’s show Live 8. His solo career consists of two albums, “Wet Dream” (1978) and “Broken China” (1996), plus various joint works with David Gilmour and Syd Barrett (the first Pink Floyd’s vocalist).

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Glastonbury - 2009

Organizers of the Glastonbury music festival, the biggest in the UK and Europe have announced their wish to invite Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, Coldplay and Stevie Wonder as headliners for the next year’s event, said Gigwise. Radiohead and Coldplay have already performed at this festival. Radiohead decided not to perform during this year’s gathering because they’ve accused it’s managers of the ‘negative relationship’ with nature and ecology which surrounds Glastonbury. Coldplay’s leader Chris Martin has told the press (back in 2007) that his band is not going to visit Glastonbury at least in the following fifteen years because everybody just got very tired of their presence. On the other hand, Led Zeppelin is still not decided wheather they will perform ever again at all. In 2007 Led Zeppelin had suddenly reunited to perform at the O2 Arena in London. In other words nothing is known for sure, everybody seems to sneak away from Glastonbury, at least those who are well known. New musicians would like to get there and should be invited by the lazy organizers who are interested only in the old ones.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Billboard's 50th Anniversary

“The Twist” by Chubby Checker, (the 1960’s American musician) is declared to be the best single of all times in the Billboard’s hits list. This music magazine keeps on making charts and graphs that are not always the best, but seem fare once in a while. Definitely it’s not very fare this time… The list out of one hundred best songs was set up in dedication to the 50th anniversary of the Billboard’s Hot 100, practically the official American music listing chart. It is interesting that the first five places were not taken by such artists as The Beatles and Elvis Presley. They used to occupy their hit’s parade for years and years, but now either times have changed or the Billboard is hitting on something else. For example, “Hey Jude” is standing on the 8th place! Here you may look at the first ten:

1. Chubby Checker “The Twist”

2. Santana Featuring Rob Thomas “Smooth”

3. Bobby Darin “Mack The Knife”

4. LeAnn Rimes “How Do I Live”

5. Los Del Rio “Macarena” (Bayside Boys Mix)

6. Olivia Newton-John “Physical”

7. Debby Boone “You Light Up My Life”

8. The Beatles “Hey Jude”

9. Mariah Carey “We Belong Together”

10. Toni Braxton “Un-Break My Heart”

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Elbow And The Nationwide Mercury Prize

The British rock (indie) band Elbow had received the Nationwide Mercury Prize for the album “The Seldom Seen Kid, said Sky News. Totally, it sums up twenty thousand pounds, but the reason to get it is not about money, it’s all about being talented. This is the main difference between this prize and let’s say MTV Video Music Awards. Mercury Prize is given annually for the best album of any genre released in the UK or Ireland. It all started back in 1992 by not aiming at the best selling stuff, but looking for the artistic qualities. Seems fare enough. During the last few years the Mercury Prize was given to Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys, Antony and the Johnsons, Franz Ferdinand, etc. Besides Elbow the short-list includes other musicians, and those are: Radiohead, Last Shadow Puppets, Estelle, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Franz Ferdinand Will Tour Europe

Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand are going for the European tour. Musicians will visit seven cities – Paris, Stockholm, Berlin, Warsaw, Milan, Barselona and Rotterdam, said Gigwise. Slow motion in proportion for their new album which should be released in the beginning of 2009. This tour will start on November 13 and shall last until 27. The first concert will take place in France and the last one in Netherlands. Definitely old songs are going to be mixed with the new ones, in other words everybody is waiting for surprises. Their new work is still staying without a name, but it’s known for sure that they’ve almost finished it. As the band had announced before it may contain some wild disco sounds.  The last album “You Could Have It So Much Better” was released in 2005.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Noel Gallagher Was Under Attack

Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher was hospitalized after the attack on him made by some stranger from the moshpit crowd, said the band’s official website. This incedent took place on Sunday at the V Festival in Toronto.   A young man suddenly ran on stage while Oasis played their famous hit “Morning Glory” and pushed Gallagher in the back. A musician fell on one of the stage speakers, and most likely broke one rib. Nevertheless, ignoring this trauma Gallagher kept on playing, but soon after the concert was sent to a local hospital. The attacker was immediately arrested. The upcoming Oasis concert in London, Ontario may be cancelled due to this unpleasant situation.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Jeff Ament Goes Solo

One of the Pearl Jam co-founders bassist Jeff Ament is about to release his first solo album, said Billboard. The album which is going to be called “Tone” will be released on September 16, and most likely shall be distributed by the official Pearl Jam fan club, plus some other independent music stores in the US. There will be only three thousand CD copies (real rarity is being produced in the real time!). Following Ament’s words this release is going to incorporate his best songs that he’s been writing for the last ten years. “It just got to a point where I had to clean off the shelf a little bit,” he told Billboard. All these new (or old?) songs were recorded exclusively by him. However, Ament had used some help from Richard Stuverud (Three Fish) and Doug Pinnick (King’s X). Together with Pearl Jam Jeff Ament has recorded eight studio albums and lots of other songs/compilations with Green River, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog and Three Fish.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

"iSelect:Bowie"

David Bowie had announced his favourite songs (his own songs) that will be included in the new album called “iSelect:Bowie”, said New Musical Express. This compilation is unique due to the fact that musician chose the list of songs only by himself. Bowie’s opinions on his life and art! Every disc should be added with his own commentaries on every song  – why, when, and probably who has inspired each one. Totally there will be twelve songs, and two of them were never released before – “Some Are” written in 1977 (“Low” and “Heroes” era) and “Time Will Crawl” remix from the “Never Let Me Down” album (1987). In June 2008 “iSelect:Bowie” was distributed by the British newspaper “Mail On Sunday” as a free supplement. This time it shall be released by the Virgin/EMI record label on October 14.

"Life On Mars?" ("Hunky Dory" 1971)
"Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing Reprise" ("Diamond Dogs", 1974)
"The Bewlay Brothers" ("Hunky Dory", 1971)
"Lady Grinning Soul" ("Aladdin Sane", 1973)
"Win" ("Young Americans", 1975)
"Some Are" (was never released before)
"Teenage Wildlife" ("Scary Monsters", 1980)
"Repetition" ("Lodger", 1979)
"Fantastic Voyage" ("Lodger", 1979)
"Loving The Alien" ("Tonight", 1984)
"Time Will Crawl (MM Remix)" (was never released before)
"Hang On To Yourself (Live)" ("Live Santa Monica '72", 2008)

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Death Magnetic Is Out There!

The new Metallica’s album “Death Magnetic” is now available on the music sharing networks! It leaked just ten days before the official release. Practically, it’s out there now. The leak took place because some newly printed copies were mistakingly sold in one of ‘them’ music stores in Paris just a few days ago, said gigwise.com. However, musicians are quite comfortable with this situation despite their vigorous anti-file sharing position. The band’s drummer Lars Ulrich recently has noted, “Listen, we’re ten days from release. I mean, from here, we’re golden. If this thing leaks all over the world today or tomorrow, happy days. Trust me. Ten days out and it hasn’t quote-unquote fallen off the truck yet? Everybody’s happy.” They’ve finished this album in the beginning of 2008, and managed to keep it in secret for a while – not the worst result. The official release is planned on September 12.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Nokia Comes With Music 5310

The first country that will launch Nokia Comes with Music service is going to be the UK. Carphone Warehouse company already began accepting pr-orders on Nokia 5310 ‘Comes with Music’ phones, said the official Nokia press release. Nokia and Carphone Warehouse representatives are thinking that the biggest ‘Comes with Music’ sales will happen sometime around Christmas. The exact date of Nokia 5310 release is not known yet, and it’s also not specified what other phone types may be included. The whole idea behind Nokia ‘Comes with Music’ program is to charge more money for the cell phone and at the same time give an access to get free music (mp3 format) during the first year after the purchase. Currently, Nokia had agreed to work together with Warner Music, Universal and Sony BMG record labels.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

New Order Will Be Re-Released

Record label Rhino Records is about to re-release five New Order albums that were originally made back in the 1980’s, said undercover.com.au. Particularly these albums will be “Movement” (1981), “Power, Corruption, Lies” (1983), “Low-Life” (1985), “Brotherhood” (1986), and “Technique” (1989). All of them should be officially available on September 28. Old stuff – new format it seems… The new release will contain all kinds of interviews, texts and various additional discs with the remixed versions together with previously unreleased singles. Re-releasing became popular due to the band’s and record label’s wishes to recall nostalgia or certain needs to get more money out of old sounds – both can be true.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Amy Gets Sick Again

Organizers of the Rock En Seine music festival in Paris have warned Amy Winehouse that they shall bring an action against her for cancelling her act at the show, said BBC News. Twenty four years old singer was headlining the festival together with R.E.M. and had to perform on August 29, but cancelled her performance just two hours before the show. Organizers are saying that they didn’t receive any reasons or explonations of her unavailability. However, Winehouse’s managers have announced that she couldn’t make it to Paris because of some sickness and currently goes through a therapy. They’ve didn’t say what exactly happened to her and what kind of sickness is taking place. During the last three months Amy Winehouse was hospitalized twice with many issues including the lung problem and addictions. On September 6 there will be the Bestival music festival on the White Island (UK), but her representatives did not comment on the singer’s exact plans yet.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com