Showbiz - CD Reviews

Ashlee - Bittersweet World

Ashlee OH BOY is squeaky clean pop princess Ashlee Simpson getting some FALL-OUT over her engagement to grunge boy Pete Wentz.

She's been getting DEATH THREATS and grimaces: "It's like I'm the most evil creature in the world."

Boyfriend Pete—songwriter and bassist with mega-selling band Fall Out Boy—proposed to the 23-year-old beauty last month.

 


Sparks, Good Morning

Sparks THE mad Mael brothers scared Top Of The Pops fans in the mid-Seventies when Ron, complete with dodgy 'tache, stood stock still behind his keyboards on This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us.

They inspired synth duos like Soft Cell and The Pet Shop Boys and, incredibly, 30 years later they're still making brilliantly barmy mini-operas like this.

So what do you think? Most annoying record ever or utter genius?


The Delays - Everything's the Rush

Delaysjpg

THE Southampton band have enjoyed cult success with minor hits Lost In A Melody and Long Time Coming, but this is their first album for Snow Patrol's label.

Songs as summery as Hooray and Touch Down are too universal to flounder.

So if you haven't heard Greg Gilbert's dreamy high-pitched voice yet, jump in now without further delay.


Pendulum - Propane Nightmares

Pendtop_2 WATCH Pendulum swing into the charts with this explosive track. If you’ve been waiting for a new Prodigy to mix crunching dance beats and hard-riffing guitars, check out this Aussie crew.

Previewing next month’s new album In Silico, it’s as exciting and demented as when The Prodigy’s Firestarter first appeared.


Madonna, Hard Candy

Madonnabox MORE of a hard centre than anything sweet as Madonna teams up with hip hop producers Timbaland and The Neptunes on this pick ’n’ mix selection which erases memories of her dodgy rapping on American Life.

4 minutes video & loads of other stuff after the jump.


Charlatans: Interview

Tim Legendary Charlatans front man Tim Burgess is in fine form as he knocks back his Red Bull in London's Hard Rock cafe.

"We've been going nearly 20 years now and we're still going strong," laughs Tim.

"Everyone in the band's still massively up for what we're doing. There's a great vibe. We're The Charlatans through and through."

WATCH VIDEO

Last Shadow Puppets - Age of Understatement

Monkeybox ARCTIC Monkeys singer Alex Turner and Miles Kane of The Rascals made their first album together in a fortnight in the French countryside.

Not that you’d ever guess from the quality of sound they have managed to produce.

Click Read On for backstage Puppets video.


Portishead - Third

Thirdbox Great albums need a great backdrop. Morcheeba’s Big Calm slips down best in a pool while watching the sun set over the Indian Ocean.

With Dummy, Portishead’s still extraordinary 1994 debut, it’s sitting by the fireside in a remote Scottish croft listening to the wind howl and sipping single malt.

The perfect place to listen to Third would be in the smoking ruins of a post-apocalyptic city. Or maybe Dagenham.


BACK TO STORY INDEX