MDNA cover

NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL AN ALBUM COVER. THANKYOU MDNA.

The return of Saint Etienne

Well i have to thank my friend Peter Dixon for this post. Actually i am only doing it for him as his favourite band Saint Etienne release new music for the first time in 7 years. TONIGHT is their new single to be released on 5 March 2012 and it can be previewed on the Pitchfork for FREE. I also am a fan of Saint Etienne but not of the super epic fandom proportions that Peter is.

Saint Etienne's Bob Stanley says of TONIGHT:

"The track is about the anticipation of going to see your favourite artist. For some reason, I imagine this show is at the Forum in Kentish Town (London). The whole album is about the power of pop, how it affects and shapes your life. People talk about the problem of landfill indie, but there's so much landfill pop around at the moment - we're trying to do something about it."

Saint Etienne make the most dreamy pop there is, inspired by the 60's but always cool and relevant. I am really looking forward to the album later this year but not as much as Mr Dixon is. Here is one of my fave Saint Etienne song's - SIDE STREETS from their 'Tales from Turnpike House' album.

Visit the Saint Etienne website.
They're also on Facebook

Lana del Bore?

Lana del Ray releases her debut album 'Born to Die' on 3 February 2012. The poor lass has been on the receiving end of some criticism of late after her wooden performance on SNL earlier this month. See it below.

Her image and the fact that she has re-incarnated herself from Lizzy Grant has also come under fire. So she may end up being Lana del Bore live but she will no doubt sell a shit load of records in 2012. There is much anticipation for her album.
Billboard have done a blow by blow description of each track.
The New Yorker has critiqued the Lana.
The Guardian have also done a review.

Lana is visiting our friendly shores in February. 2 dates in 2 coolish small venues in Melbourne and Sydney sold out in 2 minutes. VIDEO GAMES has now had 22 million views on the Utube. You decide!

Lana's website

Lana on the Twitter

I take it back - Sugababes (Version 1.0) to REFORM

Emeli Sande has confirmed to MTV News that she has penned a song for the original Sugababes. I recently posted that the Sugababes were not reforming which was confirmed by some of the members (and is now obviously cobblers). Emeli said when asked of the rumours of the Sugababes reforming:

 

"Yes, that is true. I’ve written for the original line-up of the Sugababes, which I’m very happy about because I just loved them when they first came out."

"I loved their sound, it was so cool. It was very different, so I’m happy to kind of be involved in what started the whole Sugababes journey. It sounds amazing."

Gird you loins pop lovers as we get ready for the return of the original anti-girl band band! They haven't even released a tune and there's drama. Great to have you back girls and can't wait to hear your new tunes.

Australia Day and Hottest 100

Today is Australia Day, a day when this country was founded in 1788. As i type this post I have just finished listening to Triple J (national radio station) as they played the Hottest 100 songs from 2011 as voted by the Australian public. The song SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW by Gotye featuring Kimbra was voted the hottest song of 2011 which is no great surprise. The song was everywhere in 2011 and has won every award possible (and deservedly so).

There are some great NEW Australian acts coming up like Alpine and Strange Talk who I have posted about before. I am posting videos by two other HOT NOO AUSSIE bands who made the top ten in the Hottest 100, San Cisco and The Jezabels.  Both are great songs and well worth their place in the top ten.  Enjoy!

I celebrated Australia Day this year by watching a very funny Australian movie from the 90's - Muriel's Wedding, eating Barbecue Shapes (famous aussie savoury biscuits) and listening to the Hottest 100 on Triple J. What did you do?

Kylie is coming

Aussie Pop Princess Kylie Minogue will be coming to Sydney in March 2012 for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival as part of her 25th anniversary celebrations #K25. WOW! Watch the announcement made today on Australia Day as well as one her gayest tunes EVER! My #K25 post is coming soon!

Talking to girls about duran duran

I have just finished reading a funny book titled 'Talking to girls about duran duran" written by Rolling Stone writer Robert Sheffield. OMG this book is like an 80's wet dream come to life. Each chapter is devoted to a song as Rob lives through the 80's from High School to University and tries to find love. There are alot of laughs to be had in this book. From all the new waves bands you could wish for, to advising Debbie Gibson to go down the punk rock route, the brilliance of John Hughes and Cassingles to the Banana Splits, his love for the Smiths (not the 2nd album) and Madonna, this is an 80's must read. The last chapter is devoted to Duran Duran - why girls like them so much, why Rob loves Duran so much and why Duran love Duran so much! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Duran Duran, the 80's, music or anyone who was a teenager between the years 1980 to 1989 (particularly if you lived those years in Boston). This book was published in 2010 and I hate to admit it but I did buy this in a bargain bookshop in Sydney but it was worth every cent! He has also written another book "Love is a Mix Tape" which i now must read!

Alison 's Yellow HALO

The Goldfrapp will release their Greatest Hits on 6 February 2012. The album also features 2 new songs YELLOW HALO and MELANCHOLY SKY written especially for the Greatest Hits. Alison and Will make some of the best dreamy pop there is. Do yourself a favour peoples.

I want this record

There are some records that take you back to a certain time. The Time Bandits had some success in Australia in late 1984 and throughout 1985. This was a pivotal time for me as i started high school in 1985. I clearly remember ENDLESS ROAD and I'M ONLY SHOOTING LOVE and for some reason these two songs have stuck with me. I managed to find 'Endless Road' on 12 inch at a record fair in Melbourne a few years ago. Now i need to complete my Time Bandits puzzle by finding 'I'm Only Shooting Love'. In the meantime you can see some 80's pop brilliance below.

ALPINE ALPINE ALPINE

I am off to see ALPINE tonight at the Oxford Art Factory. These guys are amazing. They have released one EP, the Zurich EP and really looking forward to hearing more of their Scandinavian influenced pop. They remind me a little of Scottish band Camera Obscura and maybe a touch of Cardigans. I love the voices of Phoebe and Lou. Absolutely Delightful. An album is on the way in 2012, it couldn't come soon enough! Below is one of the tracks from the Zurich EP - VILLAGES. Please see my earlier I LIKE ALPINE post for their HANDS clip.

Check them out here:

https://www.facebook.com/alpineband

http://www.alpineband.com/

Happy 66th Birthday Dolly Parton

I love Dolly Parton and today is her 66th Birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOLLY! Dolly has a new film out called 'Joyful Noise' with Queen Latifah! Here's one of my favourite Dolly tracks.

7 Facts about MDNA and me

1. I first heard of Madonna in 1984 when my older brother had borrowed her debut album 'Madonna' from the library. This was around the time of BORDERLINE. That album is still a pop masterpiece.

2. I bought every Madonna single on 7inch from 1985 to 1990 (then they stopped making records in Australia).

3. I bought Madonna on the cover of Time and Rolling Stone with my birthday money in 1985. I was 13 years old.

4. I camped out to buy tickets in Adelaide for the Girlie Show tour. I saw her in Adelaide and Melbourne on that tour. Whilst in Melbourne, me and a friend went to her hotel to stalk her and obviously try to meet her. We also went to a chemist close to her hotel where we saw 'Mama Makeup', her makeup artist from 'In Bed with Madonna'. It was a moment.

5. I didn't go to Madonna's Confessions tour in London as I was outraged at the ticket prices. It was another momentary lapse of reason. Its Madonna. JUST GO! I did see her live in London in 2001 and 2004 though.
6. My favourite Madonna album is Confessions on a Dancefloor.

7. I didn't buy the Madonna Sex book.

To finish this post here is Madonna backstage after her recent Golden Globes win for 'Best Song' MASTERPIECE with lots of random questions from the Foreign Press.

MDNA Part 2

Madonna has appeared on the Graham Norton Show to promote her film W.E. and its a great interview. Madonna is funny, Graham is funny and she reveals that her album will be called MDNA. Enjoy!

MDNA

Madonna will unleash her 12th studio album titled - MDNA this March. She revealed this on the Graham Norton show recently. Billboard readers voted this most anticipated album of 2012. The First single 'Gimme All Your Luvin' to be released on 7 February 2012 (which leaked last year), will also feature Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.Madge has re-united with William Orbit who has produced a number of tracks. Her film W.E. will be released in the States on 3 February. Madge will also appear at Superbowl on 5 February. Get ready for the return of the Queen of Pop. She is BACK BACK BACK! She was recently interviewed for the US TV show Nightline.

BRIT Awards 2012

One of the best things about a New Year is that you know the BRIT Awards are not that far away.The event will be held on 21 February 2012 in London and voting has now opened on Best British Single, Best British Group and Best British Breakthrough Act. GET VOTING NOW!!! Watch one of the best/worst Brits when Mic Fleetwood and Sam Fox hosted in 1989 and Gloria Estefan opened the show. Those were the days. GOLD!

STRANGE talk strange TALK

Strange Talk are one of my noo favourite bands. CLIMBING WALLS was one of the best songs last year. It made my Top 10 songs of 2011. Looking forward to more love and adventure from them in 2012.

Fan clubs I have been a member of

I have been a member of a number of FAN CLUBS over the years. I'll save the fanzine list for another post as that list is LONG!

The 4 fan clubs i have been a member of are:

1. BOY GEORGE (1988-1990). George closed it down in 1990 saying it wasn't financially viable to keep the fan club running. The best thing about the club were the flexi discs that came with the newsletter, with George telling jokes and communicating with his fans directly (take that Twitter)! The letter advising the closure of the club said "Remember look at the negative and that is all you will see".

2. KYLIE MINOGUE -Australian Fanclub (1989-1991 and KylieKonnect 2011). I remember I got home from school when the introductory fan club pack had arrived and my sister had already opened it. Nice! I was seething when i read in a future newsletter that a fellow fan club member from Adelaide got to meet Kylie after he had travelled to see her first tour in Melbourne. Hello, what am I chopped liver? I did the same thing but no meet and greet from Kyles for moi! It may have something to do with the fact that i didn't inform her i was going. I am member of Kylie Konnect (Kylies online thing and its quite good).

3. KATE CEBRANO - Australian Fanclub (1990-1991). I was deffo going through a fan club phase. I still have the autographed photo that came with the initial fan club pack.

4. PET SHOP BOYS (2002 and 2008 to current). Well what is there to say about the finest band in pop.They are a band who truly care about their fans. I joined in 2002 as New Years Resolution. Then i re-joined in 2008 when I was London sick and had just moved to Sydney. It is all class. They publish 2/3 newsletters every year with interviews, behind the scenes stuff, detailed news and they send a Christmas card every year (see PSB Christmas Card post). Thats devotion for you!

Its a shame not many bands run traditional fan clubs anymore. Darren Hayes is the only other current popstar who still does. If anyone else knows of any other artists who still run a fan club I'd love to know. Hot suggestions on a post card to Vinylluver headquarters!

Original Sugababes NOT to reform

I LOVE the Sugababes. Let me re-phrase that, I loved the Sugababes circa 2000 to 2006 (thats version 1.0 and 2.0).

Siobhan left in 2001 and that was forgivable. Once Mutya left in 2006, it really wasn't the same band anymore. When Keisha left, it was like 'isn't it time to call it a day girls'? Apparently the pop juggernaut website that is Popjustice announced a re-union was in the works last Friday but this was refuted yesterday on the Guardian website with all three girls focussing on their "solo careers". Siobhan's 2 solo album's, 'Revolution in Me' and 'Ghosts' are both amazing records. Mutya on the other hand has not been so fortunate on the solo front. Her debut album didn't set the charts on fire but her collaboration with Groove Armada SONG FOR MUTYA was a POP Classic and my TOP SONG of 2007. I didn't realise she still had a solo career? Apparently Keisha is working on her debut album.

I am not sure who to believe or whats going on in the Sugababes world. If they did re-unite it would be one of the best POP Re-unions in recent years. Being in one of the bitchiest bands cannot be easy and if we think about it, that has been the main reason for all the changes in the band's lineup over the years. 

I managed to see Sugababes live in London in April 2007 at the Hammersmith Apollo. Armelle was very new and very nervous from what I remember. She was focussing on her dance steps and staying out of Keisha's harms way. Keisha owned the stage and had STAR POWER and I was scared of her, just watching her sing in concert. I clearly remember going to front of the stage with my friend Fran and grabbing a random child and pretending I was a parent so I didn't have to go back to our crappy seats! Good times.

Here is one of the best Sugababes songs of all time - 'Run for Cover'.

NEW Killers in 2012

The Killers will release a new album in 2012 which is great news. Brandon Flowers announced it on Radio One in the UK. Apparently the biggest issue is whether to bring it out "in the summertime or the wintertime". Anytime works for me Brandon. The Killers are another favourite of vinylluver. I seem to be posting alot about bands that started in noughties and are still going strong in the teens. I guess my next post will be about Coldplay? Not likely. The Killers last album was 2008's 'Day and Age' and Brandon is obviously over his solo phase. Time to post a gratuitous hot shot of Brandon!

Shady Love by Scissor Sisters

The Scissor Sisters new video SHADY LOVE is a bit of number and features Azealia Banks on guest vocals. Hopefully this will be a return to form for Jake and co. Night Work didn't really hit the spot for me.

I've been a Scissors fan since their breakthrough year of 2004. I bought all the singles from the 1st album on 12inch picture disc. I bought all the singles from the 2nd album on 7inch picture disc (see below). Theres alot of vinyl loving going on with me and the Scissor Sisters. I was living in London at the time (2004) and I missed the opportunity to see them at the Scala in early 04 on release of 'COMFORTABLY NUMB' (Thankyou Simon for the invitation). I was on a Gig Embargo at the time (the first of many to come) as i was on a mission to save some cash. I made up for it when i managed to seem them at their Halloween concert at  the Brixton Academy in London in October 2006. It was beyond amazing. They are currently finalising Album Number 4 which is due to be released later this year.

NEW Nicola

The Nicola Roberts unleashes the 3rd single YOYO from 'Cinderella Eyes' tomorrow in the UK. The Nicola has the potential to be an amazing popstar.I am amazed at her transformation from the quiet one in Girls Aloud to this fashiony pop vixen extraodinaire. Completely under the pop radar in Australia, so that means she's like an underground pop star here (which works for me). She also has one of those Tumblr pages which all the young kids have these days.

New Year Greeting with Madonna Song Titles

This is a New Year greeting i received from my friend Killian. How many Madonna songs can you spot?


"Are you getting back into the groove....thinking about your next holiday...on the bright side it is summer and were not frozen...the sun is shining its rays of light and there'll always be music...wondering what will be in vogue for 2012...a beautiful stranger? A celebration? Oh don't tell me, don't stop, er...don't you know...as long as you express yourself and don't get hung up in this life and keep it together we'll live to tell...well for 4 minutes at least... :-)"

Sydney Festival First Night - Washington

I am off to Sydney Festival First Night tomorrow night where the best acts (usually musical) perform for free in and around central Sydney. Acts include Manu Chao and Washington. Lets be honest here, I am only going to see Washington, even though i've seen her 3 times before and i am also going to her concert as part of the Festival (see previous post) where she'll be performing her album 'Insomnia' in full. The best thing about Washington is that there is no-one else quite like her in the Australian music scene. She has the ability to write amazing songs and look at her, she's just a doll! My friend Ellis Parrinder photographed her and here is one of his amazing photos.

My favourite Washington song is RICH KIDS, maybe because it was the first song of hers that I ever heard and instantly loved. The video is totes amazing!

GIGS booked for 2012 so far

I am presently under a GIG EMBARGO. This means absolutely NO non-essential gigs for me. The reason - I am going to Europe for 4 weeks in April/May and am saving my Australian cents for this trip. Though being a musicluver its simply not possible to live a completely gig-free existence so this is what I have booked in the next few months.

ALPINE - 20 January 2012 at Oxford Arty Factory (cheap cheap)
WASHINGTON - 25 January 2012 at Sydney Opera House (Washingtons super fan)
DURAN DURAN - 31 March 2012 Hunter Valley @ Tempus Two Winery (my early 40th birthday present - Thankyou Renita)

In the meantime here is a picture of someone I would love to see live in 2012.

Garcon Garcon

Garcon Garcon are a hot noo Sydney electro duo. They will release their debut ep on 14 February 2012! Check out their video for STAY IN TOUCH.

Format by the Pet Shop Boys

The Pet Shop Boys were in Sydney for New Years Eve a few days ago. Here are Neil's comments on the show from the Pets website. I didn't go to the gig which was a bit of a spectacular with Culture Club and Jamiroquai also on the bill. Neil also did an interview on ABC radio in the leadup to the gig.
They will also release 'Format' in February which is their 2nd album of b-sides and unreleased songs.
I have been a member of the Pet Shop Boys Fanclub for the past 4 years. I originally joined in 2002 when I wanted to join a fanclub as part of my New Year's resolution. You would be surprised how few bands still operate a fanclub? If you haven't already guessed they are one of my favourite bands of all time. Neil and Chris are so funny and witty and they have consistently made great music since they began in the eary 80's.
One of my favourite Pet Shop Boys songs is NUMB from the 'Fundamental' album penned by Dianne Warren and was originally written for Aerosmith of all people!

5 cities where I have celebrated New Years Eve

1. AdELaide
2. RoMe
3. SyDNEy
4. PARis
5. LondON
ps this list is inspired by my popart hero Nick Rhodes who likes to compile lists.