Pop Buzz UK

Birmingham’s art rockers The Editors are back after a two year break with a new album and new single. This is the first release from second album ‘An End Has A Start’ which is out this week in the UK and on July 17th in America. The album has been criticised for being a very depressing look at life, and the journey towards death. This is understandable as it was written and recorded in light of a spate of death and illness in lead singer Tom Smith’s personal life. ‘Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors’ gives a good taster of the album, with lines such as “Say goodbye to everyone you’ve ever known, you are never going to see them ever again“. These sort of feel good, uplifting lines are coupled with a deep bassline and thumping drum beat as we’ve come to expect from the band.
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Carrying on the attempt at educating anyone who thinks British music ended with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, here is another selection of great music from the UK. It’s all handpicked by me, and whether you think it’s great, OK, or downright unlistenable, just let me know by using ye olde comment box down there!
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The Kaiser Chiefs made a triumphant return earlier this year with a Number One hit single and album. After ‘Ruby’ comes their 2nd single from ‘Yours Truly, Angry Mob’ called ‘Everything Is Average Nowadays’…
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Debating: Gordon Brown becoming the new Prime Minister

Reading: ‘Wicked!’ by Jilly Cooper

Playing: ‘Cooking Mama’ on the Wii

Viewing: The finale of Lost Season 3

Watching: ‘28 Weeks Later’ starring Robert Carlyle

Listening: Rihanna Ft. Jay-Z with ‘Umbrella’

Buying: The album ‘Awake’ by Josh Groban

Searching: Dominic Monaghan of Lost and LOTR fame

Anticipating: Big Brother UK 8 starting Wednesday

Learning: A swarm of bees can ground a Boeing 737

Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Prime Minister, UK, British, Wicked!, Jilly Cooper, Cooking Mama, Nintendo Wii, Lost, Lost Season 3, 28 Weeks Later, Robert Carlyle, Rihanna, Jay Z, Umbrella, YouTube, Josh Groban, Awake, Dominic Monaghan, Lost, Lord Of The Rings, Big Brother 8, Boeing 737, Bees

Carrying on the attempt at educating anyone who thinks British music ended with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, here is another selection of great music from the UK. It’s all handpicked by me, and whether you think it’s great, OK, or downright unlistenable, just let me know by using ye olde comment box down there!
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The Cribs are back with a new single, the first from forthcoming album ‘Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever’. This first single called ‘Men’s Needs’ carries on from where ‘Mirror Kissers’, and ‘Martell’ left off, with a very similar sound from the Leeds based band.

The video from YouTube features some nudity, except actually it doesn’t as it’s all been blacked out. It does contain a bit of comedy blood and guts though so watch it now…

The first thing I noticed from the video was the fact the guys haven’t smartened up at all, with their grungy, almost dirty look carrying on in to this third album. They’ve never been ones to worry about looks, with meaning and content much more important. The video still looks cheap, even with the amateur special effects, but I enjoyed watching it, and it gave me a few laughs. It’s a bizarre but strangely fitting video for this song, I just which it hadn’t been censored, as the girl is a great gothy almost emo looking girl who isn’t bad looking.
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The Arctic Monkeys are back, and what a song to come back with! This is their new single ‘Brianstorm’, the first off the forthcoming 2nd album ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare’.
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This is the new single from new rave indie rockers The Klaxons, which came out on Monday (9th April). It’s a re-release of ‘Gravity’s Rainbow’, a song which first came out in March of 2006, but was limited to only 500 copies on 7″ vinyl. Now, with the Klaxons much more well known and at the forefront of the indie revoultion, it’s available again, with remixes from Soulwax and Electrickery and a live version of the song.
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Picture Of The Week: Riots break out in a rush for bargains at the new flagship Primark clothes store on Oxford Street in London…

Debating: Whether the freed British soldiers should have been given permission to sell their stories to the media for a small fortune

Reading: ‘Break No Bones’ by Kathy Reichs

Playing: Brian Lara International Cricket on the Ps2, xbox 360 and others.

Watching On TV: Tracey Barlow being found guilty of murder on soap ‘Coronation Street’.

Watching At The Cinema: Unfortunately ‘Mr Bean’s Holiday’ is at number one

Searching For: Minnie Driver who is starring in ‘The Riches’ on the FX channel

Looking Forward To: The release of long lost JRR Tolkien book ‘The Children Of Hurin’ on April 17th

Learning: “Lunatics, idiots, deaf and dumb” people are barred from standing for election under laws dating from 1766 which still apply.

Listening To: ‘Stop Me’ by Mark Ronson featuring Daniel Merriweather, in at number 6 this week…

Primark, Freed British Soldiers, Soldiers Selling Stories, Iran, UK, Britain, British, Kathy Reichs, Break No Bones, xbox 360, Ps2, Brian Lara Cricket, Coronation Street, Tracey Barlow, Mr Bean, Mr Beans Holiday, Minnie Driver, The Riches, FX Channel, JRR Tolkien, The Children Of Hurin, Stop Me, Mark Ronson, Daniel Merriweather

This is Muse with their brand spanking new single ‘Invincible’ out in the UK on Monday 9th April. It’s the fourth single to be released from the haunting yet brilliant album ‘Black Holes And Revelations‘ which itself came out last July. The song is a fantastic floaty journey through what seems to be a person’s doubts and their need to overcome obstacles and come out the other side. It has a kind of romantic feel to it, yet the almost march like drum beat moves the pace of the song on nicely. About half way through the song, the strong bassline which is one of Muse’s strengths, comes in and from there the song builds up to a crescendo. (more…)

Here’s the new video from British Indie Rock pioneers Bloc Party called ‘I Still Remember’. The 2nd single released from the 2nd album in the UK, making it’s debut next Monday April 9th, following on from where ‘The Prayer’ left off. It’s already been out in America for some time, reaching number 26 in the modern rock chart over there, a poor showing for such a quality song. (more…)

Picture Of The Week: The new alien busting duo of the Doctor and Martha Jones…

Debating: Whether the British soldiers being held in Iran will lead to all out war

Reading: ‘At Risk’ by Patricia Cornwell published by Sphere

Playing: Command And Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars on the PC and soon to be Xbox 360

Watching On TV: The first episode of the new series of Dr Who on BBC1

Watching At The Cinema: The exciting and visually stunning ‘300′

Searching For: Grand Theft Auto IV First Look Trailers

Looking Forward To: As a whole:- Easter weekend only 4 days away! Personally:- My 30th Birthday next Sat 7th April… I’m just glad to have reached it!

Learning: Having a baby can cost you up to two months sleep in the first year

Listening To: Even though ‘I’m Gonna Be 500 miles’ by The Proclaimers is still Number 1, Avril Lavigne is following closely behind with ‘Girlfriend’…

Dr Who, Doctor Who, Martha Jones, David Tennant, Freema Agyeman, British Soldiers, Iran, War, UK, At Risk, Patricia Cornwell, Command And Conquer 3, Tiberium Wars, PC, Xbox 360, BBC1, 300, Grand Theft Auto IV, Grand Theft Auto 4, Trailer, Easter, Birthday, 500 Miles, The Proclaimers, Avril Lavigne, Girlfriend

This is the great new single by 2007’s UK Indie darlings The Fratellis called ‘Baby Fratelli’. Talk about a catchy tune! If you’ve never heard of the band, then what rock have you been hiding under as their rise to the top last year has been speedy and unswerving. They’ve done what I would call a “Monkey” by emulating the Arctic Monkeys with their ascent of the UK music scene over the last twelve months. This song is the 4th proper release from album ‘Costello Music’ and carries on where ‘Chelsea Dagger’ left off. (more…)

Let’s be honest, Sony have had more than their fair share of problems and bad PR with the new Ps3. From the high price point, the three-month delay, and finally the removal of the PlayStation 2’s chipset meaning only some older games will work on the new console, they have been many and varied. But all that was put to bed last Friday night, Saturday morning at midnight when the behemoth that is the Ps3 finally reached these shores. (more…)

Picture Of The Week: England cricket captain Freddie Flintoff pissed as the proverbial newt…

Debating: 15 British Marines being seized by Iranian forces in Iraq

Reading: ‘The House’ by Danielle Steel published by Corgi

Playing: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories on the Ps2

Watching On TV: ‘The Yellow House’ starring John Simm as Vincent Van Gogh

Watching At The Cinema: Still the rubbish ‘Norbit’ starring Eddie Murphy

Searching For: Comic Relief clips including the excellent Ricky Gervais

Remembering: Englishman and Pakistan cricket captain Bob Woolmer after his murder

Looking Forward To: Warmer weather which is finally reaching the UK

Learning: Alcohol and tobacco are more “harmful” than cannabis, ecstasy and LSD according to a new ranking drawn up by the Lancet.

Listening To: The 2nd Comic Relief No.1 this year ‘I’m Gonna Be 500 miles’ by Brian Potter, Andy Pipkin and The Proclaimers…

Freddie Flintoff , Flintoff Drunk, British Marines, Iraq, Iran, The House, Danielle Steel, Grand Theft Auto, Vice City Stories, Ps2, PSP, The Yellow House, John Simm, Vincent Van Gogh, Norbit, Eddie Murphy, Comic Relief, Ricky Gervais, English, Pakistan, Cricket, Bob Woolmer, UK, Murder, Alcohol, Tobacco, LSD, Cannabis, Ecstasy, 500 Miles, Brian Potter, Andy Pipkin, The Proclaimers, YouTube