NME’s got the full scoop on Nowhere Boy!

Tip via Sheena Beaston.

Visit Goldfrapp on MySpace.

MP3: Goldfrapp - Number One

Learn about the One Laptop Per Child initiative here. Beatles MP3 at bottom.

MP3: The Beatles - Day Tripper

Learn all about the project here at ImaginePeace.com. Yoko’s explanation, in addition to a bevy of breathtaking images, can be viewed in the YouTube clip below. MP3 at bottom.

MP3: John Lennon - Imagine (via Titclan)

Via BBC: *A pair of glasses worn by former Beatle John Lennon have sparked a bidding war after being offered for sale online. The trademark circular sunglasses were worn by Lennon during the Beatles’ 1966 tour of Japan, where the band played some of their last ever live dates.

Anonymous rival bidders have already pushed the price as high as £750,000 at online auction house 991.com. “The interest has been phenomenal,” said sales director John Warner. “Our phones have been in meltdown. It’s almost impossible to put a value on them,” he added. “They’re the rarest of the rare.”

MP3: John Lennon - Imagine

Via BBC: *A pair of glasses worn by former Beatle John Lennon have sparked a bidding war after being offered for sale online. The trademark circular sunglasses were worn by Lennon during the Beatles’ 1966 tour of Japan, where the band played some of their last ever live dates.

Anonymous rival bidders have already pushed the price as high as £750,000 at online auction house 991.com. “The interest has been phenomenal,” said sales director John Warner. “Our phones have been in meltdown. It’s almost impossible to put a value on them,” he added. “They’re the rarest of the rare.”

MP3: John Lennon - Imagine

Via BBC: *A pair of glasses worn by former Beatle John Lennon have sparked a bidding war after being offered for sale online. The trademark circular sunglasses were worn by Lennon during the Beatles’ 1966 tour of Japan, where the band played some of their last ever live dates.

Anonymous rival bidders have already pushed the price as high as £750,000 at online auction house 991.com. “The interest has been phenomenal,” said sales director John Warner. “Our phones have been in meltdown. It’s almost impossible to put a value on them,” he added. “They’re the rarest of the rare.”

MP3: John Lennon - Imagine

…apparently. Although I think that it’s a bit early to break out these kind of comparisons (I fully acknowledge that I am being a bit unfair, since no-one is actually making these claims; however I do like to be unfair. It’s fun!)

From the BBC:

Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not was released on 23 January and has sold more than 360,000 copies.

The Sheffield band’s album is currently outselling the rest of the top 20 album chart combined.

A spokesman for music retailer HMV said: “In terms of sheer impact… we haven’t seen anything quite like this since The Beatles.”

So I dunno. I mean, I quite like WPSIA, TWIN (wow! Great acronym! I’m Wpsia Twin, and I’m from Huddersfield, and tonight, Matthew, I’m going to be Ian Brown). But… it’s not actually that great. Seriously. THERE IS MUCH BETTER MUSIC OUT THERE, PEOPLE! Aside from the excellent I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, I don’t think I’ve really been struck by the record, and stuff like Red Light Indicates Doors are Secure is just risible.

What is interesting about it is what this might mean for the recording bastards industry; as Jarvo is pointing out in the BBC story this has got to be some kind of lesson for them; this is a triumph (of sorts) for the argument that downloads (as tasters, which is, of course, what we do here kids, go buy the records!) can help record sales. I know I just bought the Cat Power record because I heard bits of it online as leaks; and hey, here’s another free plug for Point Juncture, WA, whose record I just bought because I’d heard bits of it already. (Go buy it, you sluts!) And Belle & Sebastian have acknowledged the usefulness of leaks and downloads, certainly amongst their fans.

Anyway. That was off topic. I just want to know - beyond getting themselves a lot of excellent online exposure - what is it about the Arctic Monkeys that people love so much? I will acknowledge that they have some good tunes, but… not much further.* Please, enlighten me; am I missing something here?

Skye’s prediction: in 6 months conversations about the Arctic Monkeys will largely involve the word ‘meh’.

*Oh, and they suck at titles (except I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor). And cover art. Feel free to bitch about my opinion in the comments.