The View

Not the talking head show, but the Scottish band.


I was already predispositioned to like them, but then I read this interview and saw the magic words. Oasis and Primal Scream. More specifically, Noel for the former, and Mani for the latter. As my girl Bridget Jones would say (yes, I know she's not a real person), "DING DONG!"

As if to prove they're not just your average fly-by-night buzz band, the View have already amassed a catalogue of famous friends that most fledgling indie bands would castrate their drummers for; Noel Gallagher loves them, they count Primal Scream among their closest compadres (care of one debauched tour together), and it was a leg-up from one Prince Doherty of Tabloidland that started everything in the first place.

Also see the MEN

They've supported the likes of The Kooks and Primal Scream ("the best band in Britain. We went to Mani's house!"), as well as earning plaudits from Oasis.

EP

"Noel Gallagher came and listened to us when we were mastering the EP at the studios," beams Kyle in his munching-gravel voice. "He thought it was cool."

Quite an accolade for the group that originally converged at their local Catholic school as a covers band, blitzing through a repertoire that included "The Beatles, The Stone Roses and Oasis".

This I'd like to hear

He may be a trainwreck, but let us not forget, Pete is very talented.

Pete Doherty played a cover of an Oasis song at a solo show in London this morning, just hours after his latest court appearance.

The Babyshambles star took to the stage at the Rhythm Factory at around midnight, performing a two-hour set from across his career.

Emerging to a chant of "QPR, QPR, QPR", Doherty was backed by friend The General throughout, with Mick Whitnall from Babyshambles also contributing.

Amongst the material played was Noel Gallagher's "Don't Look Back In Anger", plus tracks from the recent "Blinding" EP, "Killamangiro" and "What Katy Did Next".

Libertines favourites "What A Waster", "Can't Stand Me Now" and "Time For Heroes" also got an airing in the lengthy set, according to the NME.

The Hanson Brothers

From Slap Shot. What, did you think I meant the little boys from Oklahoma?

Nasty

For those of us that read the progressive blogs, the creepy-ass 'Purity Balls' are old news. They were also featured in this month's Glamour. But now, they have a boy-mommy equivalent. And, you guessed it, they're still fucking creepy and sexist as hell.

That's right. There's now an event, sorta like a Purity Ball, only for boys and their mothers: the Integrity Ball. Why is this glamorous evening not called a Purity Ball, too? Because it's not up to young men to stay "pure." They just have to seek out a wife who is:

Baker told the young men that the women they had come with, their mothers, were somebody’s daughters, and they meant the world to those parents. He further told them that when they date a girl, she is somebody’s daughter, and they care deeply for her.

Baker also told them that while they might not believe it at the time, the girl they may date in high school is probably not going to be the one they will marry. “So you’re dating someone else’s future wife,” he told them. He also told them that someone else may be dating their future wife.

“If you knew somebody was with your future wife,” Baker asked them, “touching her in ways you wouldn’t like, pressuring her, how would that make you feel?”

Even though it's a program for boys, it's still all about how young women need to be pure! Notice how they're taught that women always, at every stage of their lives, "belong" to a man. First daddy, then some "future husband" they haven't met, then a husband. The Integrity Ball speakers don't say that men will stand at the altar symbolically accompanied by all of their previous sexual partners. Nope, that burden is the woman's alone, if she hasn't maintained her purity.

Speaking of self-control and the meaning of sex, Baker told the young men, “Having sex doesn’t make you a man. Dogs have sex, but it doesn’t make them a man. Guys, separate yourselves from the animal kingdom.”

Sure, it's good to tell young men that they shouldn't pressure their partners into having sex. But of course it's never acknowledged that their girlfriends might have "animal urges" as well. All of the language echoes the same old abstinence-only stereotypes: "women are passive receptacles who don't enjoy sex" and "men are horny animals who can't control themselves."

I have a confession to make

I dearly love romance novels. My cynical heart adores them, especially those by Lisa Kleypas, Celeste Bradley and Laura Kinsale. But this website, Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Novels, cracks me up. Seriously, they're on par with the Go Fug girls. Yes, THAT good.

Case in point:

Those Fish are in the Barrel Again

Submissions from The Bitchery, Part I

You find. You email. You attach. You send. We rub our eyes, and take one for the team. The Smart Bitches present a two-part series of reader-submitted cover madness.

Sarah: You’d think there’s only one obvious joke to be made here, but no. Yes, you cut a hole in the box. Then, put the junk in the box.

But then you go buy a different box because clearly that one is way, way too big. And her g-string? Too, too small. I bet it snaps off and flies across the room like an overextended rubber band.

Ewan as Kurt?

Oh for the love of Mike, some of the writers from Rolling Stone online couldn't find their asses with both hands. What is wrong with this blurb?

The endless speculation about who may or may not be in line to play Kurt Cobain in the Courtney Love-approved film about his life may be over. The already rockstar-like Scott Ewan McGregor is rumored to be Love’s first choice.

Yes, someone from Scotland is generally referred to as a 'Scot.' Not a 'Scott,' unless they're actually named 'Scott.'

If I recall correctly, this is by the same writer that said that Glastonbury Festival was in Scotland. Not fucking England.

That being said, I do love me some Ewan as a rock star. See "Velvet Goldmine" for details.

Random Ten

1. Ready To Run- Dixie Chicks
2. Lucky Star- Basement Jaxx feat. Dizzee Rascal
3. Love Hurts- Gram Parsons
4. Sex Bomb- Tom Jones
5. Living For the Weekend- Hard-Fi
6. Me & Mr. Jones (Fuckery)- Amy Winehouse
7. Living For the City- Stevie Wonder
8. Down By the River- Neil Young and Crazy Horse
9. Portions For Foxes- Rilo Kiley
10. Bittersweet Symphony- The Verve

Bonus-
11. Wild Night- Van Morrison
12. Twenty Four Hours- Joy Division

Oh Holy Jesus

The potential for the Brit Awards turning into a giant trainwreck with nearly all my favorite pop and rock stars on that train? HUGE.

The organisers of the Brits are banking on the combustible combination of Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse and the Gallagher brothers, as much prized for their catty wit and alcohol-fuelled antics as their prodigious talents, to enliven this year's show. After some bleak years in which they struggled to even fill the nominations list for best British female solo artist, they last night hailed the emergence of a new breed of talented females with attitude as Allen, Corinne Bailey Rae and Winehouse racked up seven nominations between them.

.......

Allen, whose ska-inflected pop attracted thousands to her MySpace page even before her debut single was released, and Winehouse, who has been described as mixing "reverentially classicist musical backdrops with potty-mouthed explorations of the modern mating game", were both nominated in the best album category. Both have become regulars in gossip columns, with Winehouse appearing drunk on the Charlotte Church Show and heckling Bono during the Q Awards, and Allen sparking tabloid outrage when she said she would celebrate her debut No 1 with "gak", a slang word for cocaine. The 21-year-old, daughter of the actor Keith Allen, later said she was joking.

......

The awards will be shown live for the first time since the debacle when co-hosts Mick Fleetwood and Sam Fox fluffed their way through the show in 1989.

The shakeup, which also involved boosting the number of British acts at the expense of US stars, will see Russell Brand replacing Chris Evans as host.

He said he was "looking forward to being the ringleader of a carnival of mayhem" and recreating the chaotic scenes of previous years when Chumbawamba accosted John Prescott and Jarvis Cocker invaded the stage during a set by Michael Jackson.

Let me direct your attention to the bolded section. Drunk on Char's show, and heckled Saint BONO. Celebrating with Columbian Marching Powder. How could this not be awesome?

And there's always the possibility that Our Kid and My Beloved Noel will take after each other with cricket bats or leave the stage and heckle the other from the audience. Again.

Glasto headliner rumors

Like the first blossom of spring or the January sales, the Glastonbury rumours start earlier each year. We're barely the third week into the 2007 and already there are reports suggesting organisers already know the full line-up for the festival, due to take place in Pilton in June.

The website declares that Friday's top billing will be given to The Killers, Saturday's to the Arctic Monkeys (with Kasabian just below them) and Sunday's traditional veteran slot to The Who, with Kaiser Chiefs set to act as their limberer-uppers.

They're not the only bands who are rumoured to be playing Mr Eavis's shindig. Festival favourites the Chemical Brothers are rumoured to be closing the Other Stage on Sunday, while Eric Clapton, Madness, The Kooks and the Scissor Sisters have, like a well-fed cow, also been heavily-tipped.

The festival itself, as is its wont, declined to comment on the line-up speculation, saying it would not do so until the official line-up is announced. Tickets don't go on sale for a while, but the controversial pre-registration process is set to start at the beginning of next month.

Oh, Lil

Lord, I really hope someone uploads or whatevs the Brit Awards to YouTube ASAP upon broadcast!

You Know I'm No Good

a little ditty by La Winehouse, is the free download of the week on iTunes. Go get it. Now. Seriously, she's fantastic. How could you not love a chick that writes a song with an opening bit like this?

Meet you downstairs in the bar and heard,
Your rolled up sleeves, in your skull t-shirt.
You say why did you do it with him today?
And sniff me out like I was Tanqueray.

Cause you're my fella, my guy,
Hand me your Stella and fly.
By the time I'm out the door,
You tear me down like Roger Moore .

I cheated myself,
Like I knew I would.
I told ya, I was trouble,
You know that I'm no good.

Brit Award nominations

Amy and Lily and Arctics, oh my! With added Kasabian, Corinne and Scissors action! And my favorite Mancunians, Oasis! My, doesn't my CD collection fare well? Hot damn, I DO have great taste!

British Male Solo Artist



James Morrison Polydor/Universal Music

Jarvis Cocker Rough Trade/Sanctuary

Lemar Columbia/Sony BMG

Paolo Nutini Atlantic/Warner Music

Thom Yorke XL Recordings/Beggars Group

British Female Solo Artist



Amy Winehouse Island/Universal Music

Corinne Bailey Rae EMI/EMI Music

Jamelia Parlophone/EMI Music

Lily Allen Regal Recordings/EMI Music

Nerina Pallot 14th Floor/Warner Music

British Group



Arctic Monkeys Domino Recordings/Domino Recordings

Kasabian Columbia/Sony BMG

Muse Helium 3/Warner Bros/Warner Music

Razorlight Vertigo/Universal Music

Snow Patrol Fiction/Universal Music

MasterCard British Album



Amy Winehouse Back to Black Island/Universal Music

Arctic Monkeys Whatever people say I am, that’s what I’m not Domino Recordings/Domino Recordings

Lily Allen Alright Still Regal Recordings/EMI Music

Muse Black Holes & Revelations Helium 3/Warner Bros/Warner Music

Snow Patrol Eyes Open Fiction/Universal Music

British Single
Winner chosen by UK Commercial Radio listeners



Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On EMI/EMI Music

The Feeling - Fill My Little World Island/Universal Music

James Morrison - You Give Me Something Polydor/Universal Music

Kooks - She Moves In Her Own Way Virgin/EMI Music

Leona Lewis - A Moment Like This Sony BMG

Lily Allen - Smile Regal Recordings/EMI Music

Razorlight - America Vertigo/Universal Music

Sandi Thom - I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker Sony BMG

Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars Fiction/Universal Music

Take That - Patience Polydor/Universal Music

Will Young - All Time Love 19

British Breakthrough Act
Winner chosen by Radio 1 listeners



Corinne Bailey Rae EMI/EMI Music

Fratellis Island/Universal Music

James Morrison Polydor/Universal Music

Kooks Virgin/EMI Music

Lily Allen Regal Recordings/EMI Music

British Live Act
Nominees chosen by a panel of experts in association with The Live Music Forum. Winner chosen by Radio 2 listeners



George Michael Sony BMG

Guillemots Polydor/Universal Music

Kasabian Columbia/Sony BMG

Muse Helium 3/Warner Bros/Warner Music

Robbie Williams Chrysalis/EMI Music

International Male Solo Artist



Beck Interscope/Universal Music

Bob Dylan Columbia/Sony BMG

Damien Rice 14th Floor/Warner Music

Jack Johnson Brushfire/Island/Universal Music

Justin Timberlake Jive/Sony BMG

International Female Solo Artist



Beyoncé Columbia/Sony BMG

Cat Power Matador/Beggars Group

Christina Aguilera RCA/Sony BMG

Nelly Furtado Geffen/Universal Music

P!nk LaFace/Sony BMG

International Group



Flaming Lips Warner Bros/Warner Music

Gnarls Barkley Warner Bros/Warner Music

Killers Mercury/Universal Music

Red Hot Chili Peppers Warner Bros/Warner Music

Scissor Sisters Polydor/Universal Music

International Album



Bob Dylan Modern Times Columbia/Sony BMG

Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere Warner Bros/Warner Music

Justin Timberlake FutureSex/LoveSounds Jive/Sony BMG

Killers Sam’s Town Mercury/Universal Music

Scissor Sisters Ta Dah Polydor/Universal Music

International Breakthrough Act



Gnarls Barkley Warner Bros/Warner Music

Orson Mercury/Universal Music

Raconteurs XL Recordings/Beggars Group

Ray Lamontagne 14th Floor/Warner Music

Wolfmother Island/Modular/Universal Music

Outstanding Contribution to music



Oasis Big Brother

• 
  

Fools Gold

This isn't all footage from the seminal Spike Island concert, but some is spliced in with studio and concert film. From this clip, it should be obvious why Mr. Ian Brown is referred to as "King Monkey," and why I'm in unrequited love with Reni, John and Mani. Jesus, the brilliance. It HURTS!

God, I love this chick

In a total straight girl sort of way, of course. I swear, if I wasn't already Separated At Birth from my beloved Joy, I'd definitely be S.A.B. from La Winehouse.

You know how 'soul mates' were discussed on 'Sex and the City'- in the episode that Char said that (paraphrasing) that maybe guys were just to have fun with, and our friends were our actually our true partners?

I feel that way about my friends. I've been truly blessed with my girls, Stacy, Casey, Traci, Carrie, J.Mel and Joy, and my guy, Jimmy. Cursed at love, but compensated with truly unbelievable friends. The Goddess has a way of evening things out.

That being said, I think Amy and I could hang. Seriously, the bitch is fantastic. And so is her eyeliner!

Amy Winehouse, 23, was brought up in north London. She was expelled from the Sylvia Young Theatre School and later quit the Brit School where she was studying musical theatre. At 17 she landed a contract with Island Records and her debut album, Frank, turned platinum and was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. In 2004, she was nominated for two Brit Awards and won the Ivor Novello Best Contemporary Song Award for her debut single. She has just released a single, You Know I'm No Good, from her new album, Back To Black.

When were you happiest?

Last night on stage.

What is your greatest fear?

Dying old or never meeting Tony Bennett; if I never get to meet him, I might as well be dead.

Which living person do you most admire?

No one. You're all bastards.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

My fickleness and aggression.

Aside from a property, what's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?

My heart back from someone who may or may not have deserved it. I paid a lot.

What is your most treasured possession?

My loyalty.

What is your favourite word?

Fuckery.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Falling in love itself.

What does love feel like?

A disease that consumes you eternally.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

'Pssssshhh' - or, when drunk, 'whatever' and 'dickhead'.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

To the 60s and I'd go out with the Ronettes.

What keeps you awake at night?

Being sober.

How would you like to be remembered?

As genuine.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

That you learn things every day and life is short.

Strange Town

My favorite Jam song. Mmmm, young Weller.

Blazing Saddles

Dear God, I love this movie. "It's Headley!"

Portions For Foxes

Jenny Lewis is so cool, and so is this song.

Good Lord

My fav Brit punks of a certain age, Buzzcocks, have one of their tunes, "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" featured in a commercial.

For AARP. Yes, THAT AARP.

I literally fell off my chair laughing. I don't blame them, most punks didn't make a hell of a lot of money, and you have to pay the rent. But AARP? Hee hee.

Masochism

Whenever I'm feeling self-loathing, well, more than usual, I go on iTunes U.K. and look at all the songs that I covet, that aren't available here in the colonies. Q magazines 'essential downloads for the month' works, too.

For instance, I torture myself with listening to clips from La Winehouse, Oasis (Noel!) b-sides or partial tracks from Little Barrie, Primal Scream's baby Marr guitar player.

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Oh, oh dearie me.....

My little brother's in his bedroom smoking weed.

Lily Allen is set to release 'Alfie' as the next single
from her debut LP 'Alright, Still'.

Although no release date has been announced, Allen has been discussing the video for the track on her Myspace site.

Posting about the video, she wrote: "That was quite a lot of fun, Alfie was played by a puppet and the whole thing looks like an episode of...'Tom And Jerry' and 'Roger Rabbit', you'll understand when you see it."

Random

I received this in an email, and am going to attempt honesty. Key word, attempt.

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?

So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc.)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool

Opening Credits: Elizabeth, My Dear- The Stone Roses

First Day at School: 20th Century Boy- T-Rex

Falling in Love: You Know I'm No Good- Amy Winehouse

Breaking Up: Fidelity- Regina Specktor

Prom: Respect Yourself- The Staple Singers

Life's OK: My Way- Aretha Franklin

Mental Breakdown: I Wanna Be Sedated- The Ramones (no, seriously- it really was that song- still trying the honesty thing)

Driving: Human- Goldfrapp

Getting Back Together: Mersey Paradise- The Stone Roses

Wedding Scene: La Tortura- Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz

Birth of Child: Rise- Doves

Final Battle: Portions For Foxes- Rilo Kiley

End Credits: Cigarettes and Alcohol- Oasis

What a guy!

Sticking to his working-class roots, that's my Wellah.

PUSHING 50, Paul Weller shows no sign of mellowing - we hear the singer refused a CBE in last summer's Birthday Honours.

A source close to Weller, 48, says he received a letter asking if he was interested in receiving one but replied with a firm "thanks but no thanks". The Modfather's spokeswoman confirms: "Paul was surprised and flattered, but it wasn't really for him."

High Fidelity

There are certain books, movies, et al, that hit a bit too close to home for me. That is, they describe my personality perfectly. One of those is High Fidelity. (Both book by Nick Hornby and movie featuring John Cusack).

My fav quotes from High Fidelity.

Rob: What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?

But then, there is:

Rob: It would be nice to think that since I was 14, times have changed. Relationships have become more sophisticated. Females less cruel. Skins thicker. Instincts more developed. But there seems to be an element of that afternoon in everything that's happened to me since. All my romantic stories are a scrambled version of that first one.

Or:

Dick: I guess it looks as if you're reorganizing your records. What is this though? Chronological?
Rob: No...
Dick: Not alphabetical...
Rob: Nope...
Dick: What?
Rob: Autobiographical.
Dick: No fucking way.

Hip-Hop is Dead

Heard this on BBC Radio 1 today. Any song that samples "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" is cool by me.

Kate, Kate, Kate

Girl. Girl. GIRL. You have got to get rid of the junkie. You're a supermodel. And a style icon. LOTS of guys would write crappy poetry for you. That being said, fabulous jacket. And the boots? So cool.

Kate must love putting up with a bunch of crap. How else could you explain the reason she stays with Pete? He was recently snapped in Germany sneaking around with one of his groupies and during their holiday he was supposedly out trolling for drugs again. Kate, of course had a miserable time on their vacation in Thailand. Oh, and remember that song he was writing for her? It or something like it evidently ended up on a bathroom floor. Boo!

Harper!

This story is freaking awesome. And rather uplifting.

A high school play based on Harper Lee's classic "To Kill a Mockingbird" brought together black and white high school students to tell the classic story of racial injustice — and even drew out the novel's reclusive author.

Wednesday night's invitation-only performance was organized to celebrate diversity and arts education in Alabama, the home state of the novel's author, whose book and the movie made from it won immediate acclaim at a time when Alabama was still rigidly segregated.

This is truly great.

The two public schools near Birmingham are only about 16 miles apart. But Mountain Brook is one of the state's wealthiest communities, with a median home price of about $300,000, while the same figure in Fairfield is about $68,000.

Mountain Brook High draws from an overwhelmingly white suburb, while Fairfield students are from a mostly black district.

The performance has helped the students transcend not only the 30-minute distance between their communities, but a cultural divide as well. Teens who were strangers this time last year are spending hours on the phone, sending each other multiple text messages per day and chatting on the Internet networking site Facebook.

The Montgomery performance was in Troy University's Davis Theater, directly across the street from the bus stop where civil-rights icon Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man 51 years ago.

The symbolism of the location was not lost on Regan Stevens, a 17-year-old Mountain Brook senior who plays Scout, the book's main character in the fictional Southern town of Maycomb during the Depression.

Scout recounts how her father, the lawyer Atticus Finch, fought in vain to save a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman.

"I hate to say life's not fair," Stevens said backstage after lamenting the play's sad, but realistic ending. "But it's just that things are not always where they need to be. The great thing about Harper Lee's novel is that it helps us address that because it shows us the problem areas that we need to work on and that's what the civil rights movement thankfully did."

Girls and the 'Babes

Because of my weakness for U.K. pre-fab girl groups, I'm entirely too excited about this collaboration. However, I'm wondering if they're going to change some of the lyrics a tad.

Girls Aloud and Sugababes have recorded a version of Aerosmith 'Walk This Way' as this year's Comic Relief charity single.

Although neither group has yet commented on the collaboration, it is understood the track is due to be released ahead of this year's Red Nose Day, which is expected to take place on March 16.

The track was produced by TLC producer Dallas Austin. Austin also worked on Sugababes' 2005 album 'Taller In More Ways'.

Random 10

1. Comfortably Numb- Scissor Sisters
2. Cheryl Tweedy- Lily Allen
3. 80's Life- The Good, The Bad And The Queen
4. Human- Goldfrapp
5. Philadelphia Freedom- Elton John
6. What Ever Happened To?- The Buzzcocks
7. I Was Made To Love Her- Stevie Wonder
8. Out Of The Sinking- Paul Weller
9. Made Of Stone- The Stone Roses
10. The Importance Of Being Idle- Oasis

Bonus-
11. She Comes In the Fall- Inspiral Carpets
12. Walk Away- Kelly Clarkson

Good, Bad, Queen

"80's Life?" Is a great song!

First came Blur, then Gorillaz. Now, Damon Albarn has another supergroup up his sleeve, dubbed The Good, The Bad, and The Queen and featuring Paul Simonon of The Clash, Simon Tong of The Verve, and Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen.

HOT DIGGITY DOG

David Beckham is coming to America.

The 31-year-old English midfielder, weary of the politics and the lack of playing time in Spain with Real Madrid, today agreed to a five-year deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer and will join the team when his contract with Real expires on June 30. According to reports in the British news media, the deal includes salary and commercial opportunities worth $250 million.



You know what this means?

1. Many lovely pictures of David in American sports magazines. Hopefully in shorts. Or in a suit. Or shirtless.

2. Many lovely pictures of Posh's batshit crazy self in batshit crazy outfits in American gossip rags. Hopefully the outfits will contain some of the following elements: feathers, ruffles, weird pockets, inappropriate cleavage, or hats.

EVERYONE WINS!

Versus Cancer gig

I have the sudden desire to check the prices of plane tickets from Chicago to the U.K. for the end of March.....

THE Charlatans are the latest act confirmed for the Versus Cancer charity gig.

The Manchester band will join Echo And The Bunnymen and Ian Brown at the M.E.N. Arena on March 30.

Rave and pet peeve

One of my absolute favorite things are the Celebrity Playlists on iTunes. I love them, and have been known to start liking a band if they have a particularly stunning one- i.e. My Chemical Romance, who had Doves, Blur, Massive Attack, The Stone Roses and THE LA'S!!!

Also, Liv Tyler had a good playlist. Well, she should. Her mom is Bebe Buell and her dad is that woman from Aerosmith, er, Steven Tyler. (I've always been a Joe Perry girl)

Pet peeve? Artists that pick themselves. Kayne West and Mariah Carey, I'm talking to you! If I didn't get to vote for myself for cheerleading captain in 1992 and 1993, you don't get to pick your own song. It's not cool.

Jerry Lee Lewis gets a bye in the latter category. Why? Because he's The Killer. And more than a little bit scary.

OMG

Mrs. Urban, you lucky bitch. I'm so very glad I have a subscription to W. I'm thinking Mr. Bond's, er, CRAIG's, picture will be on the flower shop's fridge sometime in the near future. Guh. GUH!

I'm getting old

Signs you're getting on a bit:

You eat something that you shouldn't have, and instead of bemoaning the pain in your lower GI system, you think, "Good Lord, that's interesting. What went wrong?"

Much like what I think people who practice Tantric sex must feel like after a romp in the old hay. Okay, maybe not. Like I'd know. (the Tantric sex, obviously not the hay. I'm from IOWA).

David Bowie - Rebel Rebel

Happy birthday, you hot tramp.

King Monkey, a Smith and a Ryder walk into a bar...

Ian Brown has put together a Manchester super-group featuring Happy Mondays and The Smiths members for his new album.

Entitled ‘The World Is Yours’, the former Stone Roses singer is currently recording the new LP with bassist Andy Rourke and guitarist Paul Ryder.

via Rolling Stone



Hold on, Elroy. Paul Ryder plays BASS, not GUITAR. Jesus, can't anyone use the Google?

Sweet Baby Jesus

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the cover of Italian Vanity Fair.

Bello indeed. Fwaaah, Mr. Bond.














via Pink Is the New Blog

Austin Powers IS Keith Moon

'Austin Powers' star Mike Myers has been chosen to play The Who's Keith Moon in a film adaptation of his life.

Myers is set to play the drummer, who died in 1978, in the film 'See Me, Feel Me: Keith Moon Naked For Your Pleasure'.

The film is set to be released in 2009.

The actor was hand picked by Who frontman Roger Daltrey to play the drummer.

Lord

Caveat before story-

We are doing an absolutely ginormous wedding this weekend (50+ reception pieces) and a bridal fair, too. So this story might not actually be THAT funny, I just might be mildly hysterical.

My mom and dad are going on vacation at the end of the month to the Dominican Republic. They are very excited, and as upper Midwesterners of German and Swedish descent, a bit concerned about frying up in the tropical sun like a piece of chicken. So, Mom has started tanning- yes, I know it's terrible, but so is getting 3rd degree burns because you are so very chalk-white.

We were working on the flowers for the aforementioned wedding today when Dad came into the shop. He went over to the sink where Mom was conditioning flowers, and asked her, "What are we doing about tanning?" Meaning, he decided he needed to tan.

To truly get how hysterical this is, you need to know that my dad is a tall, skinny man who drives a cement truck for a living. Tanning. Hee hee.

But, the story's not over yet. Our friend, who is a state trooper, came in shortly after hilarity ensued, and joined the discussion. Dad said, "How do you, uh, know if things are getting burned?" Our trooper buddy responded, "Well, if you smell burning hot dogs, get out of the tanning bed."

I just cried.

WOOOOOOO!

Noel Gallagher is hoping to make Oasis' most ambitious album in years when the band reconvene in the studio later this year. Though recently explaining that he had four "great" songs left over from the 'Don't Believe The Truth' sessions, the guitarist has told NME.COM that he has expanded his vision for his band's seventh studio album.

I am sincerely hoping this is a new picture of Noel. The sideburns do not appear to be venturing off into Neil Young-ish territory. Seriously, I adore him, but they were truly horrid. This is a massive improvement.

Random Ten

1. The False Husband- Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan
2. Getting Away With It- Electronic
3. What She Said- The Smiths
4. Sea Song- Doves
5. Chiquitita- ABBA
6. Bob's Yer Uncle- Happy Mondays
7. Columbia- Oasis
8. Neighborhood #3- Arcade Fire
9. Anarchy In the U.K.- Sex Pistols
10. The Gene Genie- David Bowie

Bonus-
11. Ride A White Horse- Goldfrapp
12. Movin' On Up- Primal Scream

Killers for V

The Killers have been announced as one of the headlining acts for this year's V Festival.

The Las Vegas quartet will headline nights at both the Chelmsford and Staffordshire venues in August, and will also play a set at the Princess Diana Memorial gig at Wembley in July.

The news will almost definitely mean the band are out of the running for the Glastonbury headlining slots, which are yet to be announced.

The Killers and Kasabian were rumored to be Glasto headliners. This leaves the field wide open.

I'll take Arctic Monkeys and Scissor Sisters as Headliners #2 and #3 for $5000, Alex.

I'm also betting that second, third and whatever stages will include the following-

"Diamond" Lily Allen
The Kooks
Ian Brown
Franz Ferdinand
Bloc Party
Dirty Pretty Things
Gnarls Barkley
"La" Amy Winehouse
Charlatans


*Potential wild card for headliner? Oasis.

Madge at The Hacienda

Since this is at FAC 51, maybe I'm just hallucinating (how appropriate) Manc music-type people, but I swear that's the Reverend Shaun Ryder turning to the camera and waving about 35 seconds in.

Holy crap

Oh my Gawd! At some point, my cat was apparently cloned!

Because, my friends, this kitty cat looks exactly like my little furry buddy, Holden Catfield. (I know, I know). Though Holdy has better eyebrow whisker-action.

AND look at the Killer Rabbit! Crazy world, y'all.

Heh. Euuuuuwwwwwwwww!

Seems like the pseudo-incestuous nastiness of Purity Balls is clear to everyone but the folks that throw them.

via Feministing

Uh, NO!

So, the top four are predictable. I think I'd drop Queen, and add in, take your pick, The Stone Roses, The Jam or The Smiths.

But TAKE THAT?????? Jesus, it isn't just the American public that has crap taste.

Rockers Queen have beaten The Beatles to be crowned greatest British band of all time by BBC Radio 2 listeners.

They pipped the Fab Four in a live contest, trouncing other finalists The Rolling Stones, Oasis and Take That.

Suicide Sally and Johnny Guitar get hitched?

Did they or didn't they? Has the tumultuous, on-off, up-down, controversy-laden relationship of Kate Moss and Pete Doherty finally been transformed into a union of man and wife?

According to reports emerging from Thailand, the pair took vows in a Buddhist ceremony at a villa overlooking the shores of a Phuket beach on New Year's Day.

I'm hoping that Kate has the prenup that Macca SHOULD have gotten. And on that note, here's La Winehouse with Rehab, live on Jools Holland.

Speaking of

the dance, here it is! Yay, Pepto Bismol. When I was still teaching in Houston, and having a bad day, one of my chunky monkey students- great kid, BTW- would do this dance to cheer me up. (I taught the same group of TAG kids for 2 years) Almost always worked. The effect was something like Chunk's truffle shuffle in The Goonies.

Gee, I'm thinking I wasn't cut out for teaching.

Effing Hell!

Bowie's 60?

Cats

My favorite commercial. Ever. Well, besides the Pepto Bismol dance.

Current

I feel no sorrow about the death of Saddam Hussein. He was a truly horrible person, who caused much suffering amongst his people. (Though we helped him maintain his strongman position in the 1980s).

However, I worry about the repercussions of the United States invading another country, capturing, and for all intents and purposes, executing their leader, no matter how awful said leader might be. I don't think we should be opening up that particular can of precedent.

Sorry. Will return to the 'vapid' pop culture stuff soon. But this crap pisses me off.

I Think We're Alone Now

I adore Girls Aloud, mainly because of their production team, Xenomania, who try to cram 100 hooks into every piece of pop candy that they produce. And also because the Girls could drink for England.

Easy

Fantastic, filthy song.

Ah, but this made me smile

Later civil rights leader and close friend, Reverend Al Sharpton made a special tribute to the Godfather Of Soul explaining that Brown "was the star for the common people. He looked like us and he performed for us."

He then sent out a message to St Peter asking him to "open up the gates of heaven wide because James Brown likes a lot of room to swagger".

Billy Elliot

One of my favorite movies, one of my favorite Jam songs. Besides Strange Town, Dreams of Children, Going Underground, Beat Surrender, Liza Radley, English Rose.....

Guh

Daniel. Craig. Good. God. Guuuuh. And let me say, there is no such thing as 'too Northern.' Guh. Must retire to the fainting couch.

For some fans he was too short, too blond, too Northern... yet Daniel Craig's 007 has made him the hottest film star of the year. But before you typecast him, his next role is as the gay convicted killer Perry Smith in the Capote biopic Infamous. Liz Hoggard meets Liverpool's shooting star

Oh yeah!

I'm giving a resounding "HELL, YES" to the Independent television critic's choice for best drama.

Drama Life on Mars

Proof that the dead horse of the cop show could be flogged back into life again.

Darlene? Dave. Dave? Darlene.

Ah, that break at the end where Ms. Love gets happy? Sublime. You know Dave feels it, too.

Jay Thomas on Letterman

This, my friends? Is funnier than hell....

Top Ten

Ooo, good one....

1. F*&k Me Pumps- Amy Winehouse
2. Mersey Paradise- Stone Roses
3. Age Of Consent- New Order
4. Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl- Spinners
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town- The Crystals
6. Rise- Doves
7. Love the One You're With- Aretha Franklin
8. Long Hot Summer- Style Council
9. The Payback- Mr. James Brown
10. Love Train- O'Jays

Bonus-
11. Respect Yourself- Staples Singers
12. I Wanna Be Sedated- Ramones
13. Elizabeth, My Dear- Stone Roses
14. Stagger Lee- Lloyd Price

Teach Me Tonight

La Winehouse. Lord, that girl can SING.

Big hearts

This just warms my frozen heart.

Scissor Sisters donated money from their recent sold out tour of the UK to a number of specially chosen charities, according to reports.

The New York City pop icons selected 17 different organisations to benefit from the profits made from their arena shows.

The Simon Centre in Glasgow is understood to have been one of the 17 charities that received money, receiving £1,300 from Jake Shears and co.

Huh?

Ponch, LaToya Jackson (being billed as a singer AND actor), and Jack Freaking Osbourne are taking part in CBS's new duck-out-water reality show, based in Muncie, Indiana. They're cops.

I'm assuming the term 'famous' is being used very loosely here, as well as 'police officer.'

Sex Machine

Gorillaz - Dare

Sex Pistols

Sex Pistols, originally uploaded by modena_musicrock.


Merry Christmas, from the Sex Pistols.

JB

God, I'm a weepy fucking mess about this right now. The world just ain't right without the Hardest Working Man In Show Business, Soul Brother #1, etc.....

James Brown singer and songwriter has died today (December 25) at the age of 73 after being admitted to the Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta suffering with pneumonia.

It's CHRISSSSSSSTMASSSSSS

The Jam

The Jam, originally uploaded by modena_musicrock.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Sadly, this seemed appropriate for the holiday weekend. Happy birthday, Baby Jesus. We're in Bat Country now..... I know, I know, I'm twisted.

Dirty Pretty Things feat. Tim Burgess

My favorite Charlatans song, North Country Boy, performed by Dirty Pretty Things. With added Tim Burgess goodness!

Nan, You're a Window Shopper

One of the best song titles ever. Seriously. I adore Lily.

Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (V.2)

My boys, mugging for the camera.

THIS

is case-in-point why I adore Girls Aloud.

From hipsters to housewives, they're Britain's most untouchable popstars. Teenyboppers love their sparkly style, indie bands love hanging out with the kind of girls who dissed them at school and David Cameron loves them because... well, there's an election to win, right? They're scientific proof that pop music - when done with sass, style and lots of fizzy synth bits - works . And, unlike the production line of media-tamed drones clogging up the rest of the charts, you can spot Girls Aloud a mile off, the kind of group who don't just settle at being snapped getting carried out of clubs - they get snapped being carried into them as well (as Sarah did after this year's Q awards).

Friday 10

1. Hallelujah- Rufus Wainwright
2. Santa Claus Goes Straight To the Ghetto- James Brown
3. Standing In the Way Of Control- The Gossip
4. You Know I'm No Good- Amy Winehouse
5. Satin Chic-Though the Mystic remix (Flaming Lips)- Goldfrapp
6. Hong Kong Garden- Siouxsie and the Banshees
7. Some Velvet Morning- Primal Scream Feat. Kate Moss
8. My Way- Aretha Franklin
9. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)- Darlene Love
10. Ramblin' Man- Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan

Bonus-
11. Can't Get Out Of Bed- Charlatans
12. Fool's Gold- The Stone Roses

Quote of the year

I have to agree with Alexis Petridis's (The Guardian) choice for quote of the year:

Noel Gallagher on his brother's non-appearance at an awards ceremony: "He's gone to the zoo. The monkeys are bringing their families along to have a look at him."

Party People

This is totally cool- a listing of articles on 24 Hour Party People.

What Winterbottom’s film seems to be examining among other things is the inevitable tensions between the creation of a youth culture which is dependent upon naivety combined with lashings of energy and enthusiasm and the workings of industry and business. Here, as we see, Factory Records and the Hacienda Club cannot sell out. There is quite literally nothing to sell, instead the idealism is eroded and eventually heavily compromised by the real forces of chaos and anarchy in society the ‘lumpen’ criminal classes.

There is no such thing as a utopian 24 Hour Party in which the workings of the system can somehow be ignored in some utopian space. The criminal classes eventually come to control the door and the massive drug fuelled scene in the Hacienda. The drug scene itself can be seen as a part of the reaction of young people to a ‘no future’ type’ of a culture in which the living is done for today not tomorrow.

via BBC America

You Know I'm No Good

Awesome song by Amy Winehouse.

Abbey Road

abbey road, originally uploaded by Bugsy Rocker.

Someday, when I figure out my scanner, I'll upload my ultra-cool pics from London to Flickr. Seriously.

Darlene!

Woo! Ms. Darlene Love is going to be on Letterman on Friday night! Am officially in a festive mood now!

Note- I have a huge soft spot for Dave Letterman. Anyone who would dub his music crew "The World's Most Dangerous Band," have a segment called "Will It Float," have his mom on for Olympic coverage, have Regis wrestle a bear, et al... is a man after my heart.

Also, I've been watching him since I was but a wee girl, when my parents fell asleep. Slackasses.

You learn something new every day

Things that I was not aware of:

1. It's been 6! years since Kirsty MacColl was killed
2. Shane MacGowan is writing for the Guardian

Dafydd? No longer a singleton

Congrats to Matt and Kevin.

When it comes to comedy, Matt Lucas has been inseparable from David Walliams ever since they launched the Little Britain phenomenon more than five years ago. Yesterday, however, the other man in his life emerged when Lucas wed his long-term partner, Kevin McGee.

Spoonbridge and Cherry

Spoonbridge and Cherry, originally uploaded by EmiEmerald.

One of my favorite bits of sculpture.

Random Ten

Let's key up the old iTunes, and see what happens. Okay, that was quite lame, but I really feel I need a segue for these lists.

1. The Man Who Would Be King- The Libertines
2. You Know My Name- Chris Cornell
3. Merry Xmas Everybody- Slade
4. Comfortably Numb- Scissor Sisters
5. Morning Glory- Oasis
6. Wannabe- Spice Girls OH GOD, WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
7. Breathe- The Prodigy
8. Elephant Stone- The Stone Roses
9. Easy- Sugababes
10. Both Sides Now- Joni Mitchell

Bonus-
Friday Night- Lily Allen

The Queen Of Soul

Oh, I'm going to NEED to see this.....Have listened to the music lots, and have actually read the book.

A bitch adores Aretha Franklin, so my ass was beyond excited to hear that her autobiography Aretha: From These Roots is being turned into a musical which will tour America.

Putting On the Ritz

RIP, Mr. Peter Boyle. Did you know that John Lennon (yes, THAT John Lennon) was the best man at Boyle's wedding? I sure didn't. You learn something new every day.

This scene from 'Young Frankenstein' reduces me to helpless giggles every time.

RS's Songs Of the Year

Can't say I completely agree with this list, but I'm happy to see Gnarls and two of my fav Brits, La Goldfrapp and La Allen, in the top ten.

Velvet Goldmine

Lucky bastards....

Forty years after it was made, The Velvet Underground's first recording has become a financial hit — in cyberspace. Bought for 75 cents four years ago at a Manhattan flea market, the rare recording of music that ended up on the influential New York band's first album, "The Velvet Underground & Nico," sold on eBay for a closing bid of $155,401.

I think the following would go in the "Holy Crap" category-

Warren Hill, a collector from Montreal, bought the record in September 2002 at the flea market, according to an article written by his friend, Eric Isaacson of Mississippi Records in Portland, Ore. in the current issue of Goldmine Magazine.

Isaacson helped Hill decipher the nature of the lucky find.

"We cued it up and were stunned — the first song was not 'Sunday Morning' as on the 'Velvet Underground & Nico' Verve LP, but rather it was 'European Son' — the song that is last on that LP, and it was a version neither of us had ever heard before!" Isaacson wrote.

Yeah, but no, but yeah, but no, but HELL YEAH!

It's a real challenge to find an actress to take on the role of Vicky Pollard's mother.

Who could fit the bill as having spawned the loathsome teen?

Well, there's one lady who is taking it all in her stride...

Dawn French has donned the tracksuit and trainers to play Vicky's mother Shelley in a two-part festive edition of Little Britain.