That’s just music

One of the Pink Floyd co-founders (keyboards) Richard Wright had died of cancer on September 15, said BBC. Less than three months ago Wright was celebrating his sixty fifth birthday. As his family’s representative has told the press, Wright’s sickness didn’t last long. Also, his relatives asked journalists to respect their tragedy by not bothering them with interviews. Wright made music for such infamous Pink Floyd albums as “Dark Side of the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here”. He took part in every concert were this legendary band was performing, including 2005’s show Live 8. His solo career consists of two albums, “Wet Dream” (1978) and “Broken China” (1996), plus various joint works with David Gilmour and Syd Barrett (the first Pink Floyd’s vocalist).

Organizers of the Glastonbury music festival, the biggest in the UK and Europe have announced their wish to invite Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, Coldplay and Stevie Wonder as headliners for the next year’s event, said Gigwise. Radiohead and Coldplay have already performed at this festival. Radiohead decided not to perform during this year’s gathering because they’ve accused it’s managers of the ‘negative relationship’ with nature and ecology which surrounds Glastonbury. Coldplay’s leader Chris Martin has told the press (back in 2007) that his band is not going to visit Glastonbury at least in the following fifteen years because everybody just got very tired of their presence. On the other hand, Led Zeppelin is still not decided wheather they will perform ever again at all. In 2007 Led Zeppelin had suddenly reunited to perform at the O2 Arena in London. In other words nothing is known for sure, everybody seems to sneak away from Glastonbury, at least those who are well known. New musicians would like to get there and should be invited by the lazy organizers who are interested only in the old ones.

“The Twist” by Chubby Checker, (the 1960’s American musician) is declared to be the best single of all times in the Billboard’s hits list. This music magazine keeps on making charts and graphs that are not always the best, but seem fare once in a while. Definitely it’s not very fare this time… The list out of one hundred best songs was set up in dedication to the 50th anniversary of the Billboard’s Hot 100, practically the official American music listing chart. It is interesting that the first five places were not taken by such artists as The Beatles and Elvis Presley. They used to occupy their hit’s parade for years and years, but now either times have changed or the Billboard is hitting on something else. For example, “Hey Jude” is standing on the 8th place! Here you may look at the first ten:

1. Chubby Checker “The Twist”

2. Santana Featuring Rob Thomas “Smooth”

3. Bobby Darin “Mack The Knife”

4. LeAnn Rimes “How Do I Live”

5. Los Del Rio “Macarena” (Bayside Boys Mix)

6. Olivia Newton-John “Physical”

7. Debby Boone “You Light Up My Life”

8. The Beatles “Hey Jude”

9. Mariah Carey “We Belong Together”

10. Toni Braxton “Un-Break My Heart”

The British rock (indie) band Elbow had received the Nationwide Mercury Prize for the album “The Seldom Seen Kid, said Sky News. Totally, it sums up twenty thousand pounds, but the reason to get it is not about money, it’s all about being talented. This is the main difference between this prize and let’s say MTV Video Music Awards. Mercury Prize is given annually for the best album of any genre released in the UK or Ireland. It all started back in 1992 by not aiming at the best selling stuff, but looking for the artistic qualities. Seems fare enough. During the last few years the Mercury Prize was given to Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys, Antony and the Johnsons, Franz Ferdinand, etc. Besides Elbow the short-list includes other musicians, and those are: Radiohead, Last Shadow Puppets, Estelle, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand are going for the European tour. Musicians will visit seven cities – Paris, Stockholm, Berlin, Warsaw, Milan, Barselona and Rotterdam, said Gigwise. Slow motion in proportion for their new album which should be released in the beginning of 2009. This tour will start on November 13 and shall last until 27. The first concert will take place in France and the last one in Netherlands. Definitely old songs are going to be mixed with the new ones, in other words everybody is waiting for surprises. Their new work is still staying without a name, but it’s known for sure that they’ve almost finished it. As the band had announced before it may contain some wild disco sounds.  The last album “You Could Have It So Much Better” was released in 2005.

Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher was hospitalized after the attack on him made by some stranger from the moshpit crowd, said the band’s official website. This incedent took place on Sunday at the V Festival in Toronto.   A young man suddenly ran on stage while Oasis played their famous hit “Morning Glory” and pushed Gallagher in the back. A musician fell on one of the stage speakers, and most likely broke one rib. Nevertheless, ignoring this trauma Gallagher kept on playing, but soon after the concert was sent to a local hospital. The attacker was immediately arrested. The upcoming Oasis concert in London, Ontario may be cancelled due to this unpleasant situation.

One of the Pearl Jam co-founders bassist Jeff Ament is about to release his first solo album, said Billboard. The album which is going to be called “Tone” will be released on September 16, and most likely shall be distributed by the official Pearl Jam fan club, plus some other independent music stores in the US. There will be only three thousand CD copies (real rarity is being produced in the real time!). Following Ament’s words this release is going to incorporate his best songs that he’s been writing for the last ten years. “It just got to a point where I had to clean off the shelf a little bit,” he told Billboard. All these new (or old?) songs were recorded exclusively by him. However, Ament had used some help from Richard Stuverud (Three Fish) and Doug Pinnick (King’s X). Together with Pearl Jam Jeff Ament has recorded eight studio albums and lots of other songs/compilations with Green River, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog and Three Fish.

David Bowie had announced his favourite songs (his own songs) that will be included in the new album called “iSelect:Bowie”, said New Musical Express. This compilation is unique due to the fact that musician chose the list of songs only by himself. Bowie’s opinions on his life and art! Every disc should be added with his own commentaries on every song  – why, when, and probably who has inspired each one. Totally there will be twelve songs, and two of them were never released before – “Some Are” written in 1977 (“Low” and “Heroes” era) and “Time Will Crawl” remix from the “Never Let Me Down” album (1987). In June 2008 “iSelect:Bowie” was distributed by the British newspaper “Mail On Sunday” as a free supplement. This time it shall be released by the Virgin/EMI record label on October 14.

“Life On Mars?” (”Hunky Dory” 1971)
“Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing Reprise” (”Diamond Dogs”, 1974)
“The Bewlay Brothers” (”Hunky Dory”, 1971)
“Lady Grinning Soul” (”Aladdin Sane”, 1973)
“Win” (”Young Americans”, 1975)
“Some Are” (was never released before)
“Teenage Wildlife” (”Scary Monsters”, 1980)
“Repetition” (”Lodger”, 1979)
“Fantastic Voyage” (”Lodger”, 1979)
“Loving The Alien” (”Tonight”, 1984)
“Time Will Crawl (MM Remix)” (was never released before)
“Hang On To Yourself (Live)” (”Live Santa Monica ‘72″, 2008)

The new Metallica’s album “Death Magnetic” is now available on the music sharing networks! It leaked just ten days before the official release. Practically, it’s out there now. The leak took place because some newly printed copies were mistakingly sold in one of ‘them’ music stores in Paris just a few days ago, said gigwise.com. However, musicians are quite comfortable with this situation despite their vigorous anti-file sharing position. The band’s drummer Lars Ulrich recently has noted, “Listen, we’re ten days from release. I mean, from here, we’re golden. If this thing leaks all over the world today or tomorrow, happy days. Trust me. Ten days out and it hasn’t quote-unquote fallen off the truck yet? Everybody’s happy.” They’ve finished this album in the beginning of 2008, and managed to keep it in secret for a while – not the worst result. The official release is planned on September 12.

The first country that will launch Nokia Comes with Music service is going to be the UK. Carphone Warehouse company already began accepting pr-orders on Nokia 5310 ‘Comes with Music’ phones, said the official Nokia press release. Nokia and Carphone Warehouse representatives are thinking that the biggest ‘Comes with Music’ sales will happen sometime around Christmas. The exact date of Nokia 5310 release is not known yet, and it’s also not specified what other phone types may be included. The whole idea behind Nokia ‘Comes with Music’ program is to charge more money for the cell phone and at the same time give an access to get free music (mp3 format) during the first year after the purchase. Currently, Nokia had agreed to work together with Warner Music, Universal and Sony BMG record labels.