You can help as well! Details on the protest below the accompanying story.
Dozens of top British bands and musicians today joined forces to oppose the multi-billion pound replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system. A statement was issued on their behalf, warning that ordering a new generation of nuclear weapons would make the world a more dangerous place. Signatories included Thom Yorke, Damon Albarn, Razorlight, Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, Super Furry Animals and Supergrass. The statement said: “If Britain says it needs nuclear weapons for its security, other countries are likely to follow suit. To replace Trident, when we face no nuclear threat, could start a nuclear arms race.
“The cost to replace and maintain Trident would be better spent on healthcare, education, alleviating global poverty or tackling the problems of climate change. Let’s choose peace and justice, not nuclear weapons and war.” An anti-Trident demonstration will be held in London on Saturday organised by CND, the Stop The War Coalition and the British Muslim Initiative.The groups said the protest was expected to be the biggest anti-nuclear demonstration in Britain in decades. MPs are expected to vote next month on whether to order a Trident replacement. (via At Ease Web)
The demonstration is this Saturday, the 24th, more info can be found here.
MP3s: Franz Ferdinand – Fade Together (Avalanches remix) + Supergrass – Caught By The Fuzz
Matt’s post about Damon Albarn’s apparent lack of interest in the next Blur album sent me away to relisten to a couple of blur records this week; and sent me back to the Starshaped film which received some pretty heavy promotion last year.
It’s amazing to watch: they’re all so young. Especially Alex. Who’s not just young. But also thin. No Fat Les there, anyway. Chronicling 1992, Blur’s year of Hell (Damon: “the question was what do you think about 1992. Note the silence” – and the track from 13). These were the lean years: when people refused to buy (in my opinion, still Blur’s best record) Modern Life is Rubbish in droves, and Popscene only made it to 32 in the charts. Madness!
“I mean, the whole thing about pop music is that you’re, you know, you’re ripping off as many people as you possibly can, you know, and the trick is just to listen to the right people”.
To be honest, Blur don’t come off very well at all in Starshaped; but it’s a refreshingly honest look at a band (and a major pop figure such as Damon) who’ve matured into something special. And lots of special moments, such as Damon throwing up, Damon riding (again and again) in Postman Pat’s little red van, and the band’s visit to Stonehenge.
There is at least one sweet irony – the late, great John Peel claiming that Blur are
too melodic for his taste, just after Popscene had come out; the definitive version of Popscene, of course, being that recorded at Peel Acres and released on the Bustin’ & Dronin’ album in ’97.
Blur – Popscene (Live at Peel Acres)
Modern life, well it’s rubbish: I’m holding on for tomorrow.
Matt’s post about Damon Albarn’s apparent lack of interest in the next Blur album sent me away to relisten to a couple of blur records this week; and sent me back to the Starshaped film which received some pretty heavy promotion last year.
It’s amazing to watch: they’re all so young. Especially Alex. Who’s not just young. But also thin. No Fat Les there, anyway. Chronicling 1992, Blur’s year of Hell (Damon: “the question was what do you think about 1992. Note the silence” – and the track from 13). These were the lean years: when people refused to buy (in my opinion, still Blur’s best record) Modern Life is Rubbish in droves, and Popscene only made it to 32 in the charts. Madness!
“I mean, the whole thing about pop music is that you’re, you know, you’re ripping off as many people as you possibly can, you know, and the trick is just to listen to the right people”.
To be honest, Blur don’t come off very well at all in Starshaped; but it’s a refreshingly honest look at a band (and a major pop figure such as Damon) who’ve matured into something special. And lots of special moments, such as Damon throwing up, Damon riding (again and again) in Postman Pat’s little red van, and the band’s visit to Stonehenge.
There is at least one sweet irony – the late, great John Peel claiming that Blur are
too melodic for his taste, just after Popscene had come out; the definitive version of Popscene, of course, being that recorded at Peel Acres and released on the Bustin’ & Dronin’ album in ’97.
Blur – Popscene (Live at Peel Acres)
Modern life, well it’s rubbish: I’m holding on for tomorrow.
Matt’s post about Damon Albarn’s apparent lack of interest in the next Blur album sent me away to relisten to a couple of blur records this week; and sent me back to the Starshaped film which received some pretty heavy promotion last year.
It’s amazing to watch: they’re all so young. Especially Alex. Who’s not just young. But also thin. No Fat Les there, anyway. Chronicling 1992, Blur’s year of Hell (Damon: “the question was what do you think about 1992. Note the silence” – and the track from 13). These were the lean years: when people refused to buy (in my opinion, still Blur’s best record) Modern Life is Rubbish in droves, and Popscene only made it to 32 in the charts. Madness!
“I mean, the whole thing about pop music is that you’re, you know, you’re ripping off as many people as you possibly can, you know, and the trick is just to listen to the right people”.
To be honest, Blur don’t come off very well at all in Starshaped; but it’s a refreshingly honest look at a band (and a major pop figure such as Damon) who’ve matured into something special. And lots of special moments, such as Damon throwing up, Damon riding (again and again) in Postman Pat’s little red van, and the band’s visit to Stonehenge.
There is at least one sweet irony – the late, great John Peel claiming that Blur are
too melodic for his taste, just after Popscene had come out; the definitive version of Popscene, of course, being that recorded at Peel Acres and released on the Bustin’ & Dronin’ album in ’97.
Blur – Popscene (Live at Peel Acres)
Modern life, well it’s rubbish: I’m holding on for tomorrow.
A few months back, he told us it was on its way. Graham was back. Everybody was on board. Hallelujah and all that jazz. I believe he even guessed at a mid-’07 release date. Well, post solo album, post Gorillaz, post GoodBadQueen, now Damon is working with Massive Attack!
NME reports: The Good, The Bad And The Queen’s Damon Albarn has worked with Massive Attack on tracks for their new album. The band are currently working on the follow up to their first new studio album since 2003′s ’100th Window’. Albarn is one of the featured vocalists on the new tracks along with TV On The Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe and former Mazzy Star singer Hope Sandoval plus regular collaborators Horace Andy and Liz Fraser….
Will we ever see the follow-up to Think Tank (which I loved)? Anybody wanna take stabs on what’s next for Damon? God love him but I’m aching for some new Blur….. aren’t you?
MP3: Blur – Parklife
Firstly, his new band, The Good, The Bad & The Queen is getting rave reviews all across the board. Secondly, Blur will return with a new album in ’07 (yay!).
And now this (via NME):
Damon Albarn’s new band are to play the first gig to be broadcast worldwide onsite via the MySpace website. The festive fan-only event will take place at Wilton’s Music Hall in east London next Tuesday (December 12).
Only 300 fans will get in. It will be the band’s second major public performance after their BBC Electric Proms show at London’s Camden Roundhouse in October. To be in with a chance of seeing the gig, MySpace members have to become a friend of The Good, The Bad and The Queen’s MySpace profile at myspace.com/thegoodthebadandthequeen and answer a question about the band, who still don’t officially have a name.
The lucky fans will be granted a place on the list and will be sent a confirmation a few days prior to the gig. ‘The Good, The Bad and The Queen’, the band’s debut album, is out on January 22.
MP3: Blur – Parklife
Well, not exactly but sort of.
Oh, what I wouldn’t do if he would throw in his prolific towel and give me another stellar Blur album……
NME reports:
Damon Albarn is writing the music for a Chinese circus production.
The work is due to get its debut at the inaugural Manchester International Festival next June.
The Blur/Gorillaz singer recently returned from several weeks spent travelling across China, where he recorded with a variety of local musicians. He is now back in London working on the tapes and turning the raw material into a score.
The production, called ‘Monkey: Journey to the West’, is based on the traditional Chinese story ‘The Monkey King’ and the stage set is being designed by Albarn’s Gorillaz colleague, Jamie Hewlett.
After the show’s Manchester debut, it will be staged in Paris and Berlin. The show, directed by Chinese theatre director Chen Shi-Zheng, will also feature Shaolin monks and singers from the Peking Opera.
Albarn is on a deadline to finish the score before the end of the year, but will interrupt work on the project to make his live debut with his new and untitled band at London’s Roundhouse on October 26.
The band -as previously reported on NME.COM – includes ex-Clash bassist Paul Simonon, African drumming legend Tony Allen and former Verve keyboard player Simon Tong. The group’s debut album, ‘The Good, The Bad and The Queen’, will be released in the New Year.
Blur – Charmless Man
Head over to Chris’s Music Snobbery for a recap of his night out with Damon Albarn. It’s funny, adorable and amazing.
“What happens next, you’ll have to take me at my word. I wouldn’t believe it myself if I read it from someone else. I thank him for his time. He smiled and said, ‘Oh, I’ll see you around. Have a great time.’ He then kisses me … on the lips…” DAMN.
Seems like the music bloggers are getting a lot of love lately. Though I think Chris has got one up on you Amrit, he nearly got to first base with Albarn.
You can help as well! Details on the protest below the accompanying story.
