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Saturday 25 August 2012

Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters
 Download brought their greatest hits to Leeds Festival tonight (August 24) as they headlined the Main Stage.

The band, who last topped the bill at the festival in 2005, played a mammoth two-and-a-half-hour set in front of a huge crowd, which saw Queen drummer Roger Taylor’s son Rufus make a surprise appearance onstage for a cover of Queen classic ‘Tie Your Mother Down’. Scroll down below to watch footage.

Arriving onstage, frontman Dave Grohl shouted to the crowd: "Are you ready? Are you ready? We’re going to have some fun tonight. It’s going to be a long fucking night." The band then kicked off with ‘White Limo’ before racing through ‘Rope’, ‘The Pretender’ and ‘My Hero’. NME

Introducing, ‘Cold Day In The Sun’ Grohl said: “Ladies and gentlemen I've fucking seen you, I've met you before. Some of you I've never met. How many haven't ever seen a Foo Fighters show?” He was then greeted with huge cheers before adding: “What the fuck? Not one show? Actually that's OK because we've got pretty good over the years and you’ve picked a great night.” 

Thursday 23 August 2012

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys 
Download reveals that her fifth studio album, "Girl On Fire," will be released on November 27 on RCA Records.

"'Girl On Fire' is about finding your voice, about being unleashed and about trusting your instincts and trusting yourself," Keys says via press release. "I can't wait to share it with the world."Billboard
Keys' upcoming album is set to feature collaborations with Krucial, Babyface, Jeff Bhasaker, Gary Clark Jr., Emeli Sande, Jamie XX and more. Recorded mostly in London and Jamiaca, "Girl On Fire" will be layered with different soundscapes, including "heavy drums, electric sounds, reggae and future soul" and Keys' signature vocal



Rita Ora

The How We Do (Party) singer, who is signed to Queen B's hubby Jay-Z's Roc Nation record label, also told Grazia magazine that she is thankful for the support the superstar couple have given her.Speaking of her relationship with Bey and Jigga, Ora revealed to the publication: "Jay-Z made me feel really relaxed but at the same time, he made me realise I had loads of work to do.
"He's been doing this for years and I've just started. I just hope my career can be as successful as his. He's my musical idol."MTV
She added: "Beyoncé told me, 'Be yourself because we like being around you'. I guess I'm like the little sister."

Lucy Rose

Lucy Rose
Download Rampaging across the endless desert roads of California, those leather clad leviathans are about as far away from Lucy Rose as its possible to get.
Which is what makes her new video so charming. Opening with the young songwriter in a rough 'n' tough saloon, Lucy Rose goes to the bar and orders milk. After facing down the local desperadoes, she jumps on her bike and hits the road.

Delilah’s

Delilah’s 
distinctive vocals amongst the pop world caught our attention with the release of her debut album ‘From the Roots Up’ earlier this year through Atlantic Records. Shades of Grey is the upcoming fifth single to be released from the LP and showcases just what Delilah is capable of, with voice to melt hearts into the depths of a warm summer evening. The delightful video has bright scenes of a festival nature in contrast to the track title; it focuses on offering hope in the darkness as Delilah sings the lyrics ‘Through the darker shades of grey, I see beauty in the rain’. Also in this video are some of the biggest hoop earrings I have ever seen, proving that Delilah not only has a talent for creating beautiful music but also for being the owner of some incredibly powerful ears.

Cheryl Cole

Cheryl Cole 
Download during a magazine interview. It's something that we've never doubted after seeing her hold her own against Simon Cowell on The X Factor and battling through a high-profile divorce. What's more, it's these sentiments that make her latest single 'Under The Sun' even more intriguing.

"But I won't give you my heart, cause it don't break twice/ Just to let you know," she warns over sprightly piano taps and sun-kissed breakbeats that come courtesy of hitmaker Alex da Kid. Cheryl may refuse to admit that her tracks are autobiographical, but when the credits list her as the primary songwriter, it's hard to ignore the song's potential to be a two-fingered salute to those who have attempted to sway her - and more power to her for it.

Kings Of Leon,

Kings Of Leon,
( Download)stating: "Even doing the side project got my creative juices flowing again and just doing something completely different, I feel like it can bring more creativity to our band."

He added that frontman Caleb Followill has been writing "a lot" for the new album, saying: "Caleb has been writing a lot, and yeah, I think it's going to go really well."NME

Hopefully this means all is well in camp Followill after a fractious 2011, in which the band were forced to cancel their entire US tour after Caleb stormed offstage in Dallas and was deemed too ill and exhausted to tour.

John Lennon

John Lennon's
 killer Mark Chapman has been denied parole for a seventh time.

Download The 57-year-old, who shot Lennon in New York in December 1980, had applied for parole again this year, but was denied following a meeting of the New York State Board of Parole, reports BBC News.

Sally Thompson, the New York State Board of Parole's 'deciding board member', wrote to Chapman to tell him of their decision and said that they had decided not to release him as they believed it would "undermine respect for the law and tend to trivialise the tragic loss of life".NME

The New York State Board of Parole said in its decision: "Despite your positive efforts while incarcerated, your release at this time would greatly undermine respect for the law and tend to trivialise the tragic loss of life which you caused as a result of this heinous, unprovoked, violent, cold and calculated crime."

Monday 20 August 2012

Tulisa

 premiered her second solo single, 'Live It Up' 
 
The singer, who performed the new, mid-tempo R&B track at Radio City
, reveals a change in change in tempo from her chart topping debut hit, 'Young' on the track, which also features US rapper Tyga.
"So we should live it up / put something in your cup / too much is not enough / put your glasses up / toast your crew," she sings in the chorus of the new single.

Dear Prudence

Dear Prudence
Download Formed in late 2011, the soul of the band originated in the form of acoustic songs written by vocalist Madi Poncia, whose work in previous local bands had left her unfulfilled. “This band is how I always wanted to present my music,” Madi states plainly. “My main inspiration comes from Siouxsie and The Banshees – whose version of The Beatles’ “Dear Prudence” gave the band its name – The Cure, and Depeche Mode, and it’s my way of channeling those influences while using music as a creative outlet that allows me to truly express myself. Ultimately I just want to be able to make music that matters to us as a band, and that people can relate to – and hopefully fall in love with.” Recruiting friend Paul Egan on bass, the rest of the line up was soon fleshed out with guitarist Rick Ahir, keyboardist Andy Highmore, and drummer Alexis Nunez, the five members quickly gelling and forming a unified vision for the band that everyone contributes to.

The sound that results from this union is one that is both tightly constructed while organic and natural, comprised of rich textures that enhance the mood of the songs without drowning them in unnecessary theatrics. With beds of keyboards layered up over the driving rhythmic backbone of the band, Rick’s riffs and leads add depth and flavour to the songs without dominating them, and the interplay between the instrumentalists is fluid and instinctive, never sounding forced.



A charismatic unit, the focal point undeniably falls on Madi, whose diminutive stature is belied by her towering, soulful voice and commanding presence. “People tell me all the time they can’t believe that this massive voice comes out of me because I’m so tiny, and I really like that, I like that it’s unexpected and it’s all me,” she laughs. With integrity important to them, the band do not pretend to be anything they are not, and Madi eschews the Americanized nasal whine affected by far too many British vocalists of late. “To be honest I wasn’t even aware that I was doing that,” she smiles. “It’s just the way it comes out, and that’s grown and developed over the years. But when I think of those kind of vocals I think of pop-punk bands, and I don’t know exactly where you would say Dear Prudence fits in, but I’d say that we’re actually closer to ‘punk-pop’ in our influences and in the melodies and hooks that we write.”

Perhaps the most potent and alluring contradiction inherent in the band is that which exists in the juxtaposition of Madi’s aching, frequently sad lyrics and the upbeat, lively bounce of their music. This is perhaps most plainly apparent in “Coming Apart Again”, which surges on a throbbing rhythm and layers of warm synth sounds that New Order would be proud of as she frankly laments the collapse of a relationship in heartbreaking terms. “I’m a happy person, but in everyone there’s that darkness that just comes with experience. We don’t necessarily approach a song looking for that juxtaposition, it just comes out that way, but I think the two balance out each other quite nicely.”

Madi is equally candid on the bobbing and playful “Mourning After”, looking at the consequences of ignoring the mistakes about to be made in the haze of good times, and the up-tempo “Belong”. The latter’s gorgeous hooks and lively delivery immediately grab the listener as Madi searches desperately for a sense of direction, as evidenced in the chorus, in which she sings ‘When nothing feels like home/I'm tired and I am done pretending/I still believe in happy endings/But I can't find it on my own/So tell me where do I belong?’ For Madi, the roots of this lay in her late teens and early twenties as she tried to figure out what she was going to do with her life. “Everybody goes through that, and it’s such a massive thing to find out who you are and what you’re going to do, and hopefully that’s an anthem for people who are lost and asking who am I?”

Rita Ora

Rita Ora  
has cleared up any speculation regarding her private life, telling MTV News that she's "not single."
However, Ora's fans will be pleased to know that while she is currently off the market, the 21-year old does still enjoy flirting with the opposite sex.
When asked about her relationship status, the R.I.P. singer - who recently revealed she once enjoyed a romance with Bruno Mars - told us backstage at V Festival: "No, I'm not single but I'm flirting."
Rita, whose mystery man is rumoured to be Kim Kardashian's young brother Rob, went on to express her joy at scoring her third No.1 single with How We Do (Party), claiming that she's "so grateful" for the songs success.
She added: "I haven’t celebrated yet. I actually just cried a little bit."

Friday 17 August 2012

Lady Ga Ga

Lady GaGa 
Download has revealed that her new track Partynauseous was inspired by her recent problems in Indonesia.
GaGa has collaborated with rapper Kendrick Lamar on the tune, which is to be released on September 6 - and has been talking about it on Twitter.
She said: "I wrote 'PARTYNAUSEOUS' about Jakarta, and my relationship with that country. Wishing I could 'get high with the enemy' and make peace.MTV
"Once @kendricklamar + I started talking about life + his forward thinking views about love + hip hop the song became something more."
GaGa was forced to cancel her Born This Way Ball show in Indonesia after militant Islamic groups threatened violence.

Pete Doherty

Pete Doherty made his live comeback last night (August 16), his first UK show since being thrown out of rehab in Thailand.

The Libertines and Babyshambles man played Kingston Hippdrome, and surprised fans by taking to the stage five minutes earlier than his scheduled 10.45pm .

Despite being renowned for both his poor time-keeping and often shambolic live shows, Doherty powered through a 60-minute, hit-heavy set. The show came on the same night as sometime bandmate Carl Barat made a live return of his own, making his debut with new band Eyes On Film.

Arriving to a packed-out venue that saw queues snaking around the corner, Doherty – dressed in a suit and white shirt – briefly strummed a few bars before breaking into Libertines classic 'Time For Heroes' to huge cheers. He then wandered to the side of the stage to be fitted up with a harmonica holder before launching into 'Arcady', taken from 2009 solo record 'Grace/Wastelands'.NME

Doherty then moved through a succession of hits from his back catalogue including 'Music When The Lights Go Out', 'What A Waster', 'Beg, Steal Or Borrow' and 'Up The Bracket', stopping briefly to thank the crowd for coming and exclaiming that the large venue was "like the Crystal Maze in here". Mid-way through the slot, the singer led the crowd in a full, singalong cover of The Beatles' 'She Loves You', whilst Babyshambles hit 'Fuck Forever' proved one of the most popular offerings, whipping the entire crowd up and inciting a small mosh pit.

Following a softly-sung rendition of solo track 'Sheepskin Tearaway' a member of the audience managed to break onto the stage, but was quickly escorted off by security, whilst the rest of the evening carried on smoothly without any problems from either the singer or the crowd. Doherty then closed with old ballad 'Merry Go Round' before donning a trilby and exiting to huge cheers.

Wednesday 15 August 2012

The Killers

The Killers
Pre-Order is why ‘Sam’s Town’ wasn’t their best album. Neither critically nor publicly was it received quite as readily as ‘Hot Fuss’, and so if ‘Day & Age’ was the reactionary decision to transitorily tread more stylistic waters, then new single ‘Runaways’ sees them make no apologies for ‘Sam’s Town’ as they dive headlong into the swelling, stadium-sized atmosphere that held their second album together, assisted by Brandon Flowers’ typically bittersweetly romantic storytelling. It sees them recalibrate themselves from the sonic translations of ‘Day & Age’, and whilst the song would apparently easily slip onto the end of ‘Sam’s Town’ it remains distinct in that elements of Flowers’ solo LP ‘Flamingo’ have been factored in. They crank up the 80’s FM rock references, smatter it with randomised synth motifs to round off each line, and inflate it with a chorus and pre-chorus you can really drive a lonely highway to; ‘Runaways’ pines to be remembered as a powerful, storm-running stallion that possesses all of the magnitude but none of the shocking pomposity of recent Muse material, and Brandon and the gang are doing just about anything to ensure it happens. But there’s far more preventing ‘Runaways’ being the song it needs to be than having the ability to exercise restraint over it’s own ego. It’s voracious appetite for it’s own size fetishises the authenticity of it’s component parts, gobbling up every lasting component of peak-era Springsteen rock anthems and regurgitating them with a winking inauthenticity. 
It’s certainly a brazen choice for lead single seeing as it’s the weakest they’ve ever released. With none of the catchy glam-rock quirk or cross-over appeal of ‘Somebody Told Me’ and ‘When You Were Young’ or the pastel-coloured electro infusion of ‘Human’, ‘Runaways’ barely stacks up in terms of it’s commercial appeal. It sounds melodically aimless in parts and during the chorus Brandon’s found fervently hunting for a moment to make the melody stick, but even after repeated wails of the word “Runaways” he never finds it. It’s simply not as memorable as their previous lead singles and because of it’s lack of melody and definitive structure it resorts to kicking up as much dust as possible to try and cover up the fact that, whilst it would serve as a stellar addition to ‘Sam’s Town’ and no doubt to the Las Vegas foursome’s new LP, ‘Battle Born’, it’s more of a support track, rather than something that stands out as instantly recognisable for it’s musical merits. That’s not to say it’s filler - it’s way too proud and boisterous to let itself be relegated to filler rating - as the enormous, sudden surge of the song’s pre-chorus (the unchallenged ten-second highlight for sure) shows, but it’s more of a substandard ‘This River Is Wild’ than a ‘When You Were Young’.

The Script

The Script
Pre-Order Danny and will's effort is less funky and more anthemic, both track's sentiments are strikingly similar. "Standing in the hall of fame/ And the world's gonna know your name," O'Donoghue
claims over a soaring piano-led chorus, before a powerhouse electric guitar solo ensues. Much like its American equivalent, the result is an uplifting and addictive serenade of success that deserves a similar amount of recognition in the charts.

Labrinth

Labrinth‘s
Download previous releases, the one thing that has remained consistent in all the comments though is the man’s talent as a musician, producer and singer.  The good thing about Labrinth is the various styles of music he tackles.  He has dabbled in rap, singing and real music with an orchestra and complex strings.Earthquake’ and ‘Let The Sun Shine’ were different to each other and again different to ‘Express Yourself’.  Well the new single ‘Treatment’ offers something different again.  The sound on the single is much more on a RnB or pop flavour.  It contains well played music with real instruments rather than computer generated music.
Labrinth also shows off his vocal ability in the song ‘Treatment’.  As the song is stripped back to a real pop song it allows Labrinth to show some real emotion and passion in his lyrical delivery.  The video also supports the amount of effort he puts in to the song, as he really puts every ounce of effort in to the production.
For me, this is a much more mature performance from Labrinth than some of his previous efforts.  For me, it is the best example of his capability as a musician and singer.

Example

Example
Download is currently adding the final touches to his fourth studio album and has promised ‘a rock album but produced electronically’, with every track featuring huge guitar riffs. Fans fervently awaiting such a sound will be sorely disappointed with ‘Say Nothing’, since it’s pretty much a by-the-numbers club hit. Catchy chorus that’s predominantly the title repeated over and over? Check. Obligatory ‘whooah-oah-ah’s? Check. And the ‘huge guitar riffs’ we were promised? Whilst there are some guitars thrown in during the middle eight, Slash needn’t be worried, since they’re neither ‘huge’, nor ‘riffs’, just notes casually plucked, with a little overdrive added for good measure.
Whilst all of this sounds like bad news, it’s actually a decent track, and it’s great to hear Example returning to his roots and laying down a rap, something that has been sorely missing from his two most recent releases. The problem is that Example had hyped up his upcoming album as a colossal change, throwing around claims that he’d been inspired by the Foo Fighters, and that vocally he was trying to emulate Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder. So when the resultant lead single is more The Wanted than Dave Grohl, it’s easy to be more than just a little disappointed.

Thursday 9 August 2012

Beck

Beck Download you won't have to wait much longer for a new album... that is, if they can play the music themselves.Billboard

The alt-rock veteran announced on Wednesday (Aug. 8) via his website that he will partner with McSweeny's to release a 20-song album in an "almost-forgotten form" -- sheet music! -- in December. The music from "Beck Hansen's Music Reader," including new songs "Do We? We Do" and "Don't Act Like Your Heart Isn't Hard," won't be performed by the man himself. Select renditions of the songs will then be featured on McSweeny's for less musically inclined fans to enjoy.

Aside from the sheet music, "Beck Hansen's Song Reader" will include 108 pages worth of material and 20 individual song booklets, with "full color, heyday-of-home-play-inspired art" for each track from artists such as Marcel Dzama (who did the artwork for Beck's "Guero"), Leanne Shapton, Josh Cochran, Jessica Hische and more. There will also be an introduction by Slate's Jody Rosen and a foreword from the mastermind himself, Beck.

Before the collection of sheet music is unveiled, however, Beck will perform a "secret" show at Bimbo's in San Francisco on Thursday night. Tickets for the show are on sale now.


Mumford & Sons

Mumford & Sons have unveiled 'I Will Wait', the first official song to be taken from their new album 'Babel'. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to listen.

The band debuted the track on Radio 1 earlier this evening. Ben Lovett of the band spoke to Huw Stephens, who is sitting in for presenter Zane Lowe. "It's the worst track on the record – we just thought we'd get it out," joked Lovett by way of an introduction. "It's only up from here!"

'Babel', which is the follow-up to the quartet's hugely successful debut 'Sigh No More', will be released on September 24. It has been produced by Arcade Fire/Coldplay collaborator Markus Dravs, who also worked with the band on their first album.

On working with Dravs again, Lovett told Stephens: "We didn't want to do anything massively new – we didn't want to push the boat out too much." When asked if he had a favourite song on the new album, Lovett said he couldn't pick as they were all "newly born children – they haven't quite grown their hair yet".NME

Lovett also said that he and the band hope to tour the UK again by the end of 2012, adding: "We just wanna play some UK
dates – we're just figuring it out."

A number of other 'Babel' tracks, including 'Lover's Eyes' and 'Ghosts That We Knew', have been debuted in the band's live shows throughout their recent tours.

The band are currently touring North America on their 'Gentlemen Of The Road' tour and played a series of large UK shows last month.

Monday 6 August 2012

Morrissey

Morrissey 
Download  has launched a scathing attack on the London Olympics, comparing Britain to Nazi Germany.
The controversy-loving singer declared on fan site True To You that the enthusiasm for Team GB's success in the games was reminiscent of the "spirit of 1939 Germany".
"I am unable to watch the Olympics due to the blustering jingoism that drenches the event," wrote the former The Smiths frontman.
"Has England ever been quite so foul with patriotism? The 'dazzling royals' have, quite naturally, hi-jacked the Olympics for their own empirical needs, and no oppositional voice is allowed in the free press. It is lethal to witness.
And while he didn't have anything nasty to say about Bradley Wiggins, Jessica Ennis or Mo Farrah - he had clearly been getting a bit het up at seeing the royal family in the stands at so many events.MTV
He continued: "As London is suddenly promoted as a super-wealth brand, the England outside London shivers beneath cutbacks, tight circumstances and economic disasters. Meanwhile the British media present 24-hour coverage of the 'dazzling royals', laughing as they lavishly spend, as if such coverage is certain to make British society feel fully whole.
"In 2012, the British public is evidently assumed to be undersized pigmies, scarcely able to formulate thought. As I recently drove through Greece I noticed repeated graffiti seemingly everywhere on every available wall. In large blue letters it said WAKE UP WAKE UP.

Lady Ga Ga

Lady Gaga 
Download has announced that her third studio album will be titled 'ARTPOP'.

The singer, who is expected to release the album in early 2013, tweeted the title of her new LP over the weekend via a new tattooon her upper arm.

Writing about 'ARTPOP', the singer said that the title must all be written in capital letters and described it as an "album/project". She wrote: "Make sure when writing about my new album/project ARTPOP that you CAPITALIZE the title it's all in the details."

Gaga is currently in the middle of her 'Born This Way' ball world tour, which features 110 dates in all. The tour's European leg will begin again in Sofia, Bulgaria on August 14, before making its way to the UK for a pair of dates at Twickenham on September 8 and 9 and a third show at the Manchester Arena on September 11.NME

The singer announced last month that she will make her acting debut in a new Robert Rodriguez movie called Machete Kills.

The singer will play a character called 'La Chameleon' in the film, which is a sequel to Rodriguez's 2010 action exploitation movie Machete.

Saturday 4 August 2012

Twin Atlantic




Twin Atlantic
Album will be released on 27th August and will also include a remix of 'Yes, I Was Drunk' by Draper, a brand new remix of the hit single 'Free,' and the music video for 'Yes, I Was Drunk'. The video, directed by Michael Baldwin (Travis, Royskopp), Download

The single has already been serviced the radio and has been played on the Zane Lowe show on several occasions this week and has also been added to Kerrang! Radio upfront playlist.

Never a band to rest on their laurels - Twin Atlantic recently announced a 10 date jaunt around the UK this Autumn - already adding a second night at Glasgow Barrowland due to phenomenal demand. T

he tour follows their recently completed UK arena tour with blink-182 and a 4 week run on the Van's Warped Tour in the US. The band performed on the main stage this past weekend at T- in the Park and will also appear later this summer at Reading and Leeds Festivals.

pink

Pink
Download may begrudgingly admit to getting "happy" on her upcoming The Truth About Love album, but you wouldn't know it from sass-tastic first single, "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)," which might be the only pop single in history to discuss a former lover's "sick whiskey d---."
And yet, thanks to her marriage to Carey Hart and the couple's new daughter, Pink maintains that this is her first album to (occasionally) focus on the brighter side of life — a fact that is "kind of scaring" her.
So given all that, fans had to wonder just how the video for "Blow Me" was going to turn out. Would it be another in her series of biting, brutally funny clips (a la "So What" or "Stupid Girls"), or would she finally show off her shiny, happy side? Well, as it turns out, it's a little bit of both. Only in black and white.MTV

Friday 3 August 2012

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar
Download In his new video for "Swimming Pools (Drank)," Kendrick Lamar defies gravity, floating and tumbling in suspended space as liquor bottles fly upwards and smash into the ceiling. The rapper gets introspective on a woozy beat, considering the highs and lows of alcohol consumption and the sense of confidence it bestows the drinker. Lamar spends most of the video rapping alone, but color-filtered shots of a booze-soaked rager poke through the more contemplative scenes.Rollingstone

Scouting For Girls

Scouting For Girls 
Download are set to release their latest single Summertime In The City’ next month. This marks their first release in what feels like an eternity, but in actual fact it has only been 18 months.
The band gained mainstream chart success through previous albums Scouting For Girls’ and ‘Everybody Wants To Be On TV’ and the success was based on a mixture of their pop-rock, mixing bubblegum lyrics, rock riffs and tuneful keys. Their latest single has been spooned from the same bowl and shows off the band at the top of their game.
The track begins much like every other with Roy tinkling the beats on his keyboard and a singalong “ohhh” that will surely be a crowd participation moment to be proud of. The track is full of the band’s usual whimsical lyrics talking of “the girls [who] dress hot” and “the boys [who] go silly”. By no means are the lyrics full of depth but they mirror everything people know and love the band for.

Two Door Cinema Club

Two Door Cinema Club Download have unveiled their new single 'Sleep Alone', scroll down to the bottom of the page to listen to it.

The track, which is the first to be revealed from the Northern Irish trio's second album 'Beacon', is also on there webiste.

'Sleep Alone' will be released formally on July 21 as a digital download and as a 7" single on September 3. 'Beacon' itself will also be released on September 3 - scroll down to watch a video trailer for the album.

'Beacon' is the follow up to 2010's 'Tourist History' and was recorded in Los Angeles in April with producer Jacknife Lee (Bloc Party, U2, REM) in his home studio.NME

Ke$ha


Ke$ha's
HER next album? "I think Ke$ha would answer that as 'awesomeness," Dr. Luke, who's executive producing the set, reports to Billboard.com. That, he adds, will translate into a better showcase of Ke$ha's voice, as well as a harder rocking approach than the 2010 couplet of her platinum debut album "Animal" and the subsequent gold EP "Cannibal." 

"You're going to hear her voice more," Luke (ne Lukasz Gottwald) says. "She asked for less production tricks and stuff like that this time. There are more guitars on the record now, too; on ('Animal'), Ke$ha was the one who told me, 'Under no circumstance will I have any guitars on the record.' That wasn't really my call. So we made those (songs) without guitars. This record we're allowed to use a little guitar."Billboard

Luke says the Ke$ha team has worked on about 17 songs so far, some of which she began writing while touring in 2011. Titles include "Crazy Kids," "Supernatural" and "Last Goodbye," while Ke$ha's mother Pebe Sebert returned to co-write some of the material and Iggy Pop contributed to "Dirty Love."

"I got to talk to him a little bit, and what a cool guy, super bright," Luke says.

Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney plays on the album, and other collaborators include Benny Blanco, Circuit MOM, Max Martin, Billboard and Nate Ruess of fun.


Kasabian

Kasabian Download singer Tom Meighan has revealed that he suffered a "meltdown" earlier this year following the birth of his baby daughter.
The star told The Sun newspaper that he struggled to cope while he was away from home for weeks as the band toured the US.
"I had a meltdown. Not a complete breakdown but I just lost it through the realisation of what was going on in my life," he said. "I went a bit mad for a couple of days."
"I panicked. I've never had that before. And I was at breaking point. But the band were there for me and crying helps.MTV
"I cry a lot and I'm not ashamed to say that but America was hard. It was nine weeks of non-stop touring. But we're doing all right there now, so it was worth it and we're going back there in the autumn."

Blur

Blur Download continued their comeback with a sweaty and intimate show at London’s 100 Club last night (August 2).

The day after their triumphant comeback at Margate Winter Gardens, the reformed Britpop heroes got up close and personal at the 350-capacity venue in the heart of the capital.

The show took place as part of the ongoing series of Converse Represent shows at the iconic central London venue, which has also seen performances by Plan B and Paul Weller.

After support from Swiss Lips, Savages and The Bots, the band took to the stage at 10.20pm, powering into 'Girls And Boys'. They went on to play a truncated version of their setlist from Margate, once again bringing out the 'Chemical World' B-side 'Young And Lovely'. NME

Leaning heavily on 'Modern Life Is Rubbish' material, the band played 'Advert', 'Colin Zeal', 'Oily Water' and a triumphant 'For Tomorrow'. After just an hour, the show ended with new track 'Under The Westway', and the band left the stage without playing an encore.

Speaking ahead of the show, bassist Alex James "Graham played there in December and it was a sauna, it's going to be so hot. There's a lot more people calling me than usual! But there's nothing like the feeling playing really loud music in a hot, sweaty room with people going crackers."

Referring to the choice of setlist, which omitted the band’s more epic favourites like 'This Is A Low', 'Tender' and 'The Universal', James added: "It's a good chance to