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Artist:
Snow Patrol
The Snow Patrol we meet on A Hundred Million Suns is a band facing the same dilemma that Coldplay met on 2008's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends; having conquered the world with a rousing, melancholy brand of MOR indie, where now? On the surface, A Hundred Million Suns seems to suggest, nowhere especially new: producer Jacknife Lee, who first worked with the band on 2003's Final Straw and went on to work with the likes of U2 and REM returns to the fold; and an opening brace of songs suggest that a successful formula--chiming guitars, gentle builds, and Gary Lightbody's quavering, tremulous vocal--persists. Still, "Take Back The City", a windswept, electronic-tinged rocker, rather does for this band what "Dakota" did for Stereophonics, proving that a spot of sleek, synthetic motorik is not beyond their grasp, and there's a new, bright optimism to Lightbody's lyrics that sets the likes of "The Planets Bend Between Us" in light relief to some of Snow Patrol's earlier work. If you want experiment, though, you'll have to wait until the closing "The Lightning Strike", a 16-minute track in three parts that investigates Phillip Glass-style minimalism and electronic beats with some aptitude. --Louis Pattison
 here's how to get the latest iPod for next to nothing,, 2008-12-04
YouriPod.co.cc
So everyone wants one!!!! Stylish ,compact , everything you need and best of all here's how you can get it for next to nothing!!
To get one go to YouriPod.co.cc sign up and complete ONE offer - you choose which offer best suits you maybe a dvd rental trial , bingo , a football bet , even aa cover there are loads to choose from and a lot of them are free ! recently featured in T3 magazine as a great way to get a cheap/free gadget and also the 8BC showed how this works on the newsnight
You can choose from a range of items from any Apple product to custom orders and its sent direct to you
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £7.59
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Artist:
Girls Aloud
The album title, Out of Control, is of course a misnomer-- if there is a more in control, empowered, dominant and disciplined pop tour-de-force out there, then Girls Aloud must still be sassier and brassier and a whole lot noisier, because we're not noticing anyone else. And this is also possibly the most restrained, or at least sleek and refined, collection of songs from the Girls yet. There are a couple of deeply pulsating off-the-peg club floor-fillers in "Turn to Stone" and "The Loving Kind" that embody an out-of-body hedonism, poised retro pastiches like the gliding and punchy "The Promise" and sassy rhythmic "Love Is the Key", then up-tempo 80s-flavoured ballad "Rolling Back the Rivers in Time", direct steamy pop of "Fix Me Up" and brilliantly on the button infectiousness of "Miss You Bow Wow". The fluency is palpable across such a range of subtle twists and turns, their confidence such a given they don't ever need to force the point. This is album number five and although it's impossible to fight the feeling of it being the next tidy package from a well oiled production line it's about as hard not to gawp at the electrifying consistency that sneaks and smashes through its twelve tracks--and in that sense maybe you could say it is a little Out of Control, compared to the competition. --James Berry
here's how to get the latest iPod for next to nothing,, 2008-12-04
YouriPod.co.cc
So everyone wants one!!!! Stylish ,compact , everything you need and best of all here's how you can get it for next to nothing!!
To get one go to YouriPod.co.cc sign up and complete ONE offer - you choose which offer best suits you maybe a dvd rental trial , bingo , a football bet , even aa cover there are loads to choose from and a lot of them are free ! recently featured in T3 magazine as a great way to get a cheap/free gadget and also the 8BC showed how this works on the newsnight
You can choose from a range of items from any Apple product to custom orders and its sent direct to you
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £8.49
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Artist:
Seal
Soul is a confusing beast. We know Seal has a great voice and can easily imagine him being covering golden oldies with aplomb. Yet this collection of soul favourites is frustratingly patchy. Opener "A Change Is Gonna Come" is impassioned and beautifully-arranged (the album is helmed by David Foster of Celebrity Duets fame, who has made sure it sounds fresh and compelling), and even though it could never compare to Sam Cooke's original, it's ultimately a successful reworking. Seal applies his sandpapery tones to James Brown's "It's a Man's Man's Man's World", Al Green's "Here I Am" and "I'm Still in Love With You", and Ben E King's "Stand By Me"--all of them with decent results. Decent, yet hardly overwhelming. And here's where the confusion kicks in: why cover a bunch of songs that have already been done to death? Christmas being right around the corner is perhaps one good reason in commercial terms. But when you listen to the singer transform less well-trodden territory like Deniece Williams' "Free" or Ann Peeble's "I Can't Stand the Rain", its hard not to feel this play-it-safe option--while undoubtedly a wonderful Xmas gift--is also a lost creative opportunity. --Danny McKenna
Fantastic production, great songs and a great singer - what more could you wish for?, 2008-11-16
Seal has a great voice, very soulful and lovely to listen to, so to produce an album of soul classics seems a natural progression. The choice of songs is great - most are very well known with a few not so well known to tempt you to listen to the original artists.
Seal manages to cover all the tracks with great aplomb, my personal favourite being 'People Get Ready'. The production is slick but not over the top and the music is great, a great Sunday afternoon easy listener or a dinner party conversation piece.
Well done Seal, the addition of Barrack Obama's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' is welcome (performed originally by Sam Cooke, not Obama - it was one of the songs he used for his campaign!).
All in all, a great record and one that should be applauded for all the right reasons. This is a cracking Christmas present for anyone with a taste in good music.
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List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £6.99
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Artist:
Stereophonics
the best of the best, 2008-11-26
this is a ex best of cd from start to finish it rocks this band are brillant buy this cd you will not be disappointed xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £7.72
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Artist:
Keane
Would it be outlandish to suggest that wholesome rugby-shouldered ruddy-faced English piano-pop boys Keane have spent the best part of their two-album career fanning the impression that they exist somewhere between an easy Mothers' Day gift and the album it's ok to give your girlfriend back when you split up, just in order to blow everyone out of the water like 80s neon-pop commandos with the boldness of their third? You know, utilising the element of surprise? Probably, but even though their debut (Hopes & Fears) and its follow up (Under the Iron Sea) may have been broader creative successes than many care to admit, it is true that Perfect Symmetry is a synth-brandishing Tyrannosaurus Rex next to those trundlingly melodic Trojan horses. From the moment "Spiralling", the single that made a nation choke on its Yakult, erupts like a Top of the Pops volcano with flashes of David Bowie, Talking Heads, Erasure, Prefab Sprout and James, amongst others--with the "WHOOOO!" interjections impacting like lava hitting an LA swimming pool and sending cocktails flying--the album is generally as taut, bulky and bronzed as a teen Arnold Schwarzenegger. Old habits die hard and there is still much in the way mid-paced melancholy, but they are sung with clarity and the songwriting stays tight with some deep lyrics and turns of phrase to balance out the vague and which presumably reflect Tom Chaplin's documented decent into addiction. "Playing Along", a beautifully arranged set of textures and gathering emotional bursts, is a particular high. --James Berry
Fantastically Different, 2008-11-19
It's great to hear a band bold enough to try something different with a third album rather than let it be a marker of their steady decline (e.g. Kaiser Chiefs, Razorlight). With 'Perfect Symmetry' Keane pulls off a welcome and surprisingly different return.
The 80's feel is apparent but the album avoids becoming a pastiche. The album makes you think of Queen, Bowie and other greats, but the strong vocals and melodies make it unmistakably Keane. Tempo is generally upbeat throughout, tinged with retro drum machines and synths and unashamedly pop, which is no bad thing.
Production is slick and tight as with the previous two albums. This wont be a Keane album for everyone, but for some it's an outstanding return. Recommended!
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £6.98
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Artist:
The Killers
Success came fast for The Killers, maybe too fast. The impossibly hooky “Mr Brightside” from their debut, coupled with faultless synth anthem “Somebody Told Me”, turned them into the most ubiquitous band in the world overnight and had them batting away Glastonbury headline offers before the Hot Fuss campaign was even over. Sam's Town followed all too quickly, trying to stylistically catch up with their status as stadium rock giants in waiting, but like their debut was really only carried by a couple of strong singles. Which would make this the perfect--or necessary--time to deliver the masterpiece the world expects. By shamelessly cherry-plundering the number 1 acts of the 80s not only have they managed to dramatically shunt the concept of filler from the record, but every track acts like it's performing last on Top Of The Pops circa 1987. Result. From the sparkling Pet Shop Boys obedience of “Human” to the massive Human League via Starship chorus of “Spaceman”, the Paul Simon’s Graceland as done by Talking Heads on “This Is Your Life” to the bang-on Cure desolation of “Goodnight, Travel Well” they barely put a foot wrong, though the saxophone ân’ steel drum funk of “Joy Ride” does momentarily test the patience. Their mission to become the next U2 continues apace and infiltrates most nooks on Day & Age, see especially Brandon’s very best Bono on “A Dustland Fairytale” and “This Is Your Life”. Third time lucky--they really do come very close to that masterpiece. --James Berry
A grower ..., 2008-12-04
Being honest I was horrified when I first played the latest effort from my favourite band. At times it sounds so different from Hot Fuss and Sams Town , but that wasn't the problem. It was the instruments and production they had chosen. "Is that the saxophone from some long forgotten Sade track I can hear ? Yes it is" ... "Those drums sound like they came from Club Tropicana by Wham!" ... in other words , where Hot Fuss took it's influences from the best of 80's pop ( New Order / early Duran Duran ), they are using some sounds here that remind you of the worst from that decade. The production by Stuart Price ( Madonna - Confessions On a Dancefloor ) is very clever in places but too lightweight overall.
Still , I persevered as I love the band so much and there were a clutch of songs I loved right away. 'Human' is gorgeous. The best song the Pet Shop Boys never wrote , sung by a much better singer than Neil Tennant. 'Losing Touch' is classic Killers. 'Spaceman' is a fantastic rollercoaster of fun rock and should be a huge hit when released as a single. It took about eight listens and eventually I came to love every track except for the final one 'Goodnight , Travel Well' , which has well meaning lyrics but it's a case of "spot the tune" ( don't try too hard , there isn't one .. ). When you get over the change in style , the strength of the songwriting here really shines through. I suspect this album will get mixed reviews from many people as there are so many songs that grow on you and not so many that hit you right away. Give it a chance though and I suspect you'll end up loving it as much as I do , there are not many bands in the world as big as this one willing to take as many musical risks by changing styles so frequently. Against the odds , they've pulled it off again.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £7.25
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Artist:
Kings Of Leon
Already on course to be one of the year's biggest sellers, Only By the Night has sealed Kings of Leon's unlikely position as Britain's favourite American rock band. The Followill brothers (and cousin) have always been tagged as part of a southern rock tradition of family bands such as the Allmans and Lynyrd Skynyrd, a label they vehemently refuted. But the skinny lads certainly looked like a classic rock act, even as they took musical inspiration from indie contemporaries The Strokes and eighties new wave acts such as The Cure and New Order. Only By the Night is effectively a sequel to 2006's terrific Because of the Times, their third record and the first where they nailed their own sound, a striking amalgam of bluesy vocals and post-punk primitivism. In comparison Only By the Night consolidates rather than advances their style. The appropriately incoherent "Sex on Fire", already a chart topping single, is catchy but sounds lightweight next to songs like the fierce "Crawl" and the stadia-ready "Cold Desert" and "Manhattan". The dissonant, almost amateurish "17" is most out of place, though Caleb Followill still bawls it with the same passion he brings to even the clumsiest couplet. More notable are several sparse romantic pleas that often borrow licks from classic Southern soul. The yearning "I Want You" is little more than its title, but it certainly convinces, while "Revelry" and the vulnerable "Use Somebody" show signs of impending maturity. Only By the Night's simplicity certainly has a wide appeal. --Steve Jelbert
Kings Of Modern American Rock, 2008-11-29
Like a lot of people I bought based on "Sex On Fire" and quite liked "Use Somebody" too. Thing is, when I listened to this in my car after buying, I realised right from the opening "Closer" that there is quite a lot more to it that those songs. I am a music lover and buy a lot of cds based on a whim but this is one of those albums that stands out and I know I will never grow tired of this. The lead singers voice is just outstanding and sounds just as good live from when Ive seen them on TV, they are also all fantastic musicians. Rarely do bass players stand out in bands but here along with the drums and lead guitar it affords the band the credibility few of todays bands have.
Far from being a sell-out pop album which some people have said, it is one of the best rock albums ive bought all year, and a lot of people seem to agree with that. Bands do have to evolve and you can be sure that this was a genuine band progression, after all that whole new wave sound ala "The Strokes" is on the way out. Reason they are more popular now is simply because they are better. There are one or two fillers and I do agree that "Use Somebody" is a tad poppy at first listen(still great), but all in all a solid album from a rock solid band. Glad now I bought this instead of the new Razorlight album.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £8.85
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Artist:
P!nk
Whilst easily one of the most distinctive female pop vocalists of the last ten years, with her hot-headed persona and torching rock vocals barrelling through empowered songs both infectious and tender, P!nk did step back into line somewhat for more one-size-fits-all last album I'm Not Dead. Her voice aside, there was little pull her apart from her peers or to suggest she'd ever again go on to release anything as definitive as her breakthrough album M!ssundaztood. But whether driven by young pretenders like Katy Perry making a grab for her crown or by that perennial emotional motivator--break-up (she was divorced between albums)--Funhouse utterly redeems P!nk. From the front cover through most tracks on the record she stokes the wild-child inside herself that made her famous in the first place, but in most examples there is also evidence of a fostering maturity, whether in the crystal beauty and depth of ballads "Glitter In the Air" or "I Don't Believe You" or the firm-handed command of more built-up tunes like the Red Hot Chili Peppers vs. Joan Jett coarseness of "Sober" or sassy rocker "Boring" that somewhat improbably combines The Dandy Warhols' "Horse Pills" and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' "Get Ready For Love" as though delivered by the Pussycat Dolls. And maturity aside, bold first single "So What" and future-funk swing dance "Bad Influence" are about the catchiest, and indeed gutsiest, things she's delivered in years. --James Berry
P!NK: THE BEST SO FAR, 2008-11-15
I am not going to lie. I am a massive p!nk fan. I love her. So i may be a little biased. But after a love hate relationship with the last two albums I must say this is worth your pennies. Its a beautifully crafted c.d with such ecclectic styles it fits any mood you maybe in.
Theres the first single so what (which I sometimes love and sometimes hate), but the songs which are the most beautiful are the ones sprinkled through the album.
Ave mary a : an amazing rock stomp.
Glitter in the air : a beautiful raw song which made me cry the
first time I heard it
i dont believe you : the most beautifully raw song on the album. MAKE THIS A SINGLE DAMMIT!
BUY THIS ALBUM!
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £6.94
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Artist:
The Priests
Voices Of Angels, 2008-11-28
Listening to this album has been a spritual experience for me. Ave Maria and Pie Jesu are my favourites, but you don't want to skip any of the songs on the album. All songs are beautifully recorded and absolutely captivating. I will listen to this album for a very long time.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £8.11
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Artist:
Guns N Roses
17 years in the making and beholden of a level of hyperbole verging on mythology--one that couldn't even be derailed by Axl Rose staffing his ever-changing troupe with people named Buckethead, Bumblefoot and Brain--Chinese Democracy would disappoint even if it arrived in a puff of smoke and nullified the impact of The Dark Side of the Moon, Revolver and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (not to mention Appetite for Destruction). And it doesn't do that, obviously. In fact, straight off the block it's in danger of rear-ending the Guns N' Roses legend, with the title track offering little beyond big production and "Shackler's Revenge" and "Better" emulating Linkin Park's industrial block building with a guttural vocal that threatens to turn the whole thing into a parody. But a desire to progress the G N' R template finds its feet as "If The World" unfolds into an improbable eastern drum 'n' bass orchestral trip-hop odyssey with some coarse riffing and the attitude of old is run through Pro-Tools and made 21st Century-proof on "Scraped" and "Raid N' the Bedouins". But if this album is to be remembered for anything in particular it will be the sky-reaching ambition of the balladry; "Sorry" with its "Nothing Else Matters" vibe and interlaced vocal choreography is cathartic and proud, "This I Love" sees Axl's larynx stretched and twisted, literally wringing the emotion from within, and "Catcher in the Rye" is one real moment of universal appeal. Chinese Democracy tries to be a lot of things but really works where Axl is left to be Axl and "November Rain" is left sounding like "Kumbaya". --James Berry
Truly awesome, 2008-12-03
As a fan of GNR from back in the day, I was pretty skeptical about this epic. When the six or so tracks were leaked a couple of months back, I was still a little skeptical. They sounded okay, but were clearly unfinished. I got the album yesterday, and have just finished listening to it. Wow. It's quite literally the best album I've bought in years (and I buy a lot of music). Superb stuff, truly superb. How many albums do you know that feature 5 (that's 5) stand out tracks: Better, Street of Dreams, Madagascar, This I Love and Prostitute. The last three songs on the album are Madagascar, This I Love and Prostitute, building to an amazing emotional crescendo. Clearly, a lot of the material is about Stephanie Seymour. In This I Love (probably the gentlest song Axl has ever done), he sings "If she's somewhere near me, I hope to God she hears me, No one else could ever make me feel so alive". There's just so much on the album worth praising that it's difficult to sit down and write a review having only just listened to it (hence the disjointed nature of this piece). The basic facts are these however:
1. There's no other album like this around at the moment, it offers a unique sound.
2. Axl sounds amazing.
3. The production values are extraordinary. On a really good speaker system, where you can differentiate different sounds, you can really see why it took so long to put together as the music moves around from speaker to speaker. Amazing aural experience
4. Is it a GNR album? That's open to debate, some say yes, some say no. Me, I'm not really pushed, I was always a bigger fan of Axl than the band so it doesn't bother me one way or the other. But one thing is for certain, this album contains some amazing music. And that's all that really counts in the end.
Epic stuff. Believe the hype.
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List Price: £14.99
Our Price: £7.82
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