Merry Christmas from the Pet Shop Boys 2012

Sunday Song by Alpine

One of my NEW favourite Australian bands - ALPINE has unleashed  the video for GASOLINE. Check it out below. This single is being released in the leadup to the release of their debut LP A is for Alpine on 10 August 2012 (mark the date in your diaries peoples). I have done a few posts about this fabulous band and I totally adore the sublime voices of lead singers Phoebe and Lou. Their sound is totally orgasmic euro-inspired POP. The band are touring in August and September so be sure to check them out. Tour Dates here.

Alpine on Twitter

Alpine on Facebook

Alpine on SoundCloud

I LOVE YOU!

Thankyou Sydney Mardi Gras and Thankyou Kylie Minogue!

I LOVE EUROVISION

My name is Phillip and I am a Eurovision tragic! The Eurovision Song Contest is on the 26 May 2012 (Australian time) and I for one cannot wait. I LOVE EUROVISION! It's like the best song contest in the world and its an event. I became a big fan during my London years. Its hard to keep up the love when you're living in Oceania but I still make an effort to watch the FINAL and BAR any form of news, websites or social media that might leak the winner.I haven't had a Eurovision soiree since 2008 so I think it maybe time to have a Eurovision do. I have yet to listen to any of the songs for 2012 as I've been pre-occupied with a certain birthday. I do know that Engelbert Humperdink is the UK entrant with a big ballad. Lets be honest folks, they are SO not going to win with Engelbert! 

Here are some of my favourite recent Eurovision moments!

Iceland were ROBBED in 2010 when Hera Bjork didn't win with this fab Euro number JE NE SAIS QUOIS. I was singing this for days afterwards!

Who remembers SAKIS - the Greek entrant from 2009. The man embodies everything that is Eurovision. He should've won just for wearing WHITE! He only managed 7th place.

Azerbaijan WON in 2011 with this great ballad RUNNING SCARED by Ell and Nikki.

Watch the Eurovision Final on SBS in Australia
Eurovision SBS on Facebook
Eurovision Website
Eurovision on Facebook
Eurovision on Twitter

This is what I bought on Record Store Day 2012

Official Record Store Day Releases

• Bat For Lashes - STRANGELOVE - One Sided Single, cover of Depeche Mode with B-Side etched
• M83 - MIRROR - "Hidden" song from 2011 album 'Hurry Up, We're Dreaming' with B-Side etched

BEST 2012 Record Store Day Purchase

• Pet Shop Boys - OPPORTUNITIES (LET'S MAKE LOTS OF MONEY) - 12inch vinyl SILVER VINYL

Other Records/CDS Bought on 2012 Record Store Day

• Taylor Dayne - CAN'T FIGHT FATE - vinyl LP 
• Cyndi Lauper - I DROVE ALL NIGHT - 7inch vinyl
• Aretha Franklin/George Michael - I KNEW YOU WERE WAITING FOR ME - 7inch vinyl (purchased for my niece)
• Eurythmics -SHAME - 12inch vinyl
• Eurythmics/Aretha Franklin - SISTERS ARE DOIN' IT FOR THEMSELVES - 12inch vinyl (Canadian)
• ABC - BE NEAR ME - 12inch vinyl (Canadian)
• Tears for Fears - MOTHERS TALK - 12inch vinyl (Canadian
• The Bravery - THE BRAVERY - CD LP

RECORD STORES VISITED

• Red  Eye Records, 143 York St, Sydney and 370 Pitt St, Sydney (store closing on 6th May 2012 - 20% OFF all stock!)
• Lawson's Records, 380 Pitt St, Sydney 

MDNA cover

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

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

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!

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.

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/

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!

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!