From Mariah to the new Dylan...

UNTIL I started this blog, I didn't realise quite how many review CDs that music PR companies pump out. I don't know if there's any sales uplift that comes with a good write-up in the EADT or Evening Star, but there's nearly always a bulging postbag of...

Introducing four of Suffolk's finest

HAS Suffolk got talent? What better place to look than last night's BBC Suffolk's Introducing gig? This is no ramped-up popularity contest though. It's a gig to promote the launch of Radio Suffolk's new weekly Introducing show, which gets...

Editors create a monster

GUITARS? Pfff. It's time to meet the new electronic Editors. But are their computers OK, or have they killed the gooden goose? The band's third album, In This Light and On This Evening, is out on October 12 and it comes with a warning from frontman Tom...

Why isn't Spotify in Lily's sights?

IT's brain-ache time for our pop stars as they wrestle with the big question: file-sharing - a justifiable way of promoting new talent or the death knell for the music business? The battle lines have been drawn this week, with the Featured...

The Temper Trap work up a storm

SMALL venue, big noise. That's going to be the story of The Temper Trap's UK tour, which began in frenetic fashion in Norwich last night. The Melbourne rockers have been getting nods and winks all summer on a trawl around the festival circuit; add to...

Bon Jovi adds final insult to Kurt Cobain

KURT Cobain had his demons, that's obvious. But his Guitar Hero character? That guy has got serious problems. It hasn't been a good week for the former Nirvana frontman. First he's prancing all over Guitar Hero 5 singing pop-rock hits, and now Jon...

Is Jay-Z the new Sinatra?

IT might sound ridiculous - but bear with me. Of course, the man himself thinks he is, so start spreading the news. In fact, he's set his sights higher than that. "Who better than me?" Jay-Z asks on Reminder, a track from his new album...

KT makes a pig's ear of it - but you have to love her

OH dear. Just one song into Harvest at Jimmy's headliner KT Tunstall's only gig of the year and she's already broken a guitar and her sideman's axe is making as much noise as a stuffed pig. And worse is to follow. Much worse. I'm still...

Harvest at Jimmy's is a sunny success

I'VE just spent the afternoon at a music festival with characters called Iggle Piggle and Makka Pakka in a pink and green tent. And, no, I haven't been taking LSD. The family Barnes have just got back from Harvest at Jimmy's, the festival that...

Jay-Z, me and the Blueprint 3

I GOT 99 problems - and trying to review Jay-Z's new album has made it 100. Not that I'm complaining. It's a privelege to be asked to review the Blueprint 3 by the lovely people at Atlantic Records. A coup for the Blog Party. I'd enjoyed the updates...

Music for a mountaintop - Noah and the Whale

NEVER mind a disc for a desert island, if I ever go to live on a mountaintop, I'm taking my Noah and the Whale CD. There was I, expecting the jingle-jangle of another floppy-fringed indie mob. Maybe it was the name, I don't know. But this is band aiming...

Strange tale of the 'missing' rock star

THEY might not have won the Mercury Prize, but Glasvegas have made all the headlines today over what has turned out to be something of a non-story. Frontman James Allan had apparently been missing for five days, causing the band to pull out of playing...

Mercury rising for Speech Debelle

SO let's start throwing our cash at Speech Debelle, the winner of tonight's Mercury Prize. And remember to pay by Barclaycard (they really should mention the sponsors more, don't you think?) It's hip-hop's turn this year then. With a sprinkling of jazz. "A...

Box office or Rudebox? Robbie's return

ROBBIE Williams unveiled his big comeback single today. So, is he box office again, rather than the bloke who did Rudebox? Firstly, cards on the table, I'm not a big Robbie fan. I like a big bold pop single as next as the next man, and...

Why Ash are playing gig in Ipswich

I THOUGHT it was a bit strange when indie-rockers Ash announced a gig at Ipswich Corn Exchange. They did play there some years ago, I remember, but it's never been an over-used venue for rock gigs and I thought the council was cutting back...

Prego to headline our very special gig

DON'T know if you've visited our local music site - www.lovemusic24.co.uk - yet? Things on that front are about to get very exciting. If you haven't heard of the site (and if you'll excuse the League of Gentlemen parallels) it's a local site for local...