I’m personally hoping it’s the latter and that the Coldplay singer is having us all on. Maybe he got his dates mixed up and thought it was April. 1.

Coldplay are one of my favorite bands in the world, not just of now but of all time. Each album they have produced is different than the others, but all are almost perfect in their execution.

So the idea of a split leaves me with mouth agape and hands up in the air.

As reported by Roberta at Rumors In Music, Chris Martin told Bang Showbiz:

“I’m 31 now and I don’t think bands should keep going past 33. So we’re trying to pack in as much as possible. Up until the end of next year, we’ll just go for it in every sense. I don’t believe in time off.

“We’ve still got our own hair, we can still fit into our musical trousers and we’ve got to make the most of that.”

The bizarreness of the statement leads me to think this will prove to be untrue, or at least Martin speaking before he’s truly thought about what he was going to say. I mean, 31 is no age, especially for musicians who can go on in to their seventies.

If Chris Martin was a professional sportsman I could understand it but bands such as AC/DC and Rolling Stones prove that age is no barrier to recording new material or performing it live. But there is the possibility that Martin wants Coldplay to go out at the top of their game, which is where they seem to be right now.

The band do seem to be putting out a wealth of material at the moment, with an EP due soon, and a new album expected in 2009, less than a year after Viva La Vida. A greatest hits album could then be released towards the end of the decade and put a period to Coldplay’s career.

[Photo Source: ilkerender at Flickr]

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Unfortunately, due to falling viewer figures and the emergence of the Web, YouTube, 24 hour music television, and mp3 players, the Beeb decided to cancel the show, and nothing has yet filled the void it left behind when it departed.

That’s because despite all the things I mentioned in the last paragraph, none of them constitute a mainstream programme catering to the masses. Listening to music on the Internet, or watching videos on YouTube is a solitary affair, as are mp3 players. And while 24 hour music television stations are a definite boon, they’re all cable channels not available to the majority of us.

So maybe the BBC should bring Top Of The Pops back. The Ting Tings certainly think so, and pleaded for its return in October. Then The Sun newspaper started a campaign to bring the show back, and it was backed by the government’s culture secretary, Andy Burnham.

Simon Cowell then added his considerable weight (okay, old man paunch) to proceedings, and offered to buy the format from the BBC to do a one-off Christmas special on ITV. The BBC clearly didn’t accept his offer and it looks like there won’t be a TOTP Christmas Day Special this year.

However, thanks to the campaigning and celebrity backing of the show, with even Noel Gallagher of Oasis stating it should come back, the BBC seems to be in the process of doing a u-turn, and The Times claims Top Of The Pops is on its way back to our screens, possibly as early as 2009.

Mark Cooper, head of music entertainment for BBC TV is said to be keen to “have a weekly music show on the BBC”. And music executives are said to be increasingly confident that the show will make a return in some form, although changes will be made.

“There is only one chance for a comeback, and the programme will fail again if it returns exactly as before. It needs to be more populist and have exclusive content, new songs, that can be put up on YouTube and shared around the Internet.”

Further changes could see songs features ahead of release, the return of miming, which will allow (untalented) pop groups to appear on the show once again, and the end of the three minute rule which meant no act could play for more than three minutes.

Top Of The Pops was originally canned because of low ratings, and so the return is likely to be classified as a public service broadcast, meaning ratings aren’t really of the utmost importance. But I don’t even think that’s necessary because if the BBC get it right, the show could be huge once again.

Top Of The Pops should be brought back because there is an obvious need for a mainstream music show in the UK. But the chances are I’ll stick to MTV, the Internet, and radio anyway purely because that’s what I’m now used to.

What do you think - should TOTP be brought back? What changes should be made to the format? Air your thoughts in the comments section.

[Photo Source: timcowlishaw at Flickr]

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There was I thinking Keane were one of the most loved British bands of the moment, but it seems, at least according to the readers of Brit Music Scene, that is far from the case. In fact, most people who answered the recent poll about the band though the band sucked.

To celebrate the release of Keane’s third studio album, Perfect Symmetry, I asked my readers “What is your favorite Keane album so far? The results are as follows:-

None, Keane suck - 30 votes
Hopes and Fears - 22 votes
Under The Iron Sea - 11 votes
Perfect Symmetry - 9 votes

So, it seems as though the majority of Brit Music Scene readers (all 72 of them obviously) think Keane suck big time. Of the people who like them, most unsurprisingly picked Hopes and Fears as their favorite album. Perfect Symmetry ended up coming in last place.

By the looks of it, Keane are getting worse as time goes by, with each subsequent album rated worse than the last. That’s got to be a bit of a worry for Tom Chaplin and the boys.

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

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There I was thinking Amy Winehouse had started to settle down a little bit when she goes mad once again. I thought the spells in hospital and time out of the limelight since taking a break from touring may have calmed her down but it seems not. And that’s even before she’s reunited with her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil.

The Mirror newspaper reports how Winehouse was on yet another bender in Camden when she started acting strangely. She screamed for Blakey, even though she knows he’s currently in rehab, and banged loudly on the door of her old flat just up the road from her new one.

Winehouse is said to have been completely out of it, which is unsurprising seeing as how she was carrying a liter bottle of vodka with her. She offered the vodka to passers-by and signed autographs on her way back to the flat she currently resides in.

Having already lost her trademark beehive in favor of a perm, she wore her usual skanky shorts and string vest combo. Despite earlier rumors that she was preparing to dump jailbird Blake, she is expected to be meeting up with him soon, which will clearly please both families immensely.

I so close to giving up on Winehouse it’s untrue. Yes, she’s a great singer but she just doesn’t seem to be able to cope with life without getting utterly wasted on a regular basis. And while I’m keen to hear her new material, we’ve already been waiting over two years and there’s still no sign of it.

The question now has to be: will she make it to her next album?

[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]

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There were strange rumors circulating in the summer that old-school rock group, The Faces, were about to reunite. I say strange because it seems a slightly pointless reunion to me. However, Rod Stewart has now confirmed the reunion is happening, and rehearsals are starting next week.

The Faces formed from the ashes of The Small Faces in 1969. The band existed until 1975 when Ronnie Wood left to join The Rolling Stones. Rod Stewart, meanwhile, had started a successful solo career. The rest of the group went on to have careers in music, some more successful than others.

And now, over 30 years after they split, The Faces are set to make a comeback, with a tour and new material expected. The four surviving members, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan, and Kenney Jones are aiming for Summer 2009 to launch their collective careers once again.

Stewart confirmed the long-rumored reunion to The Mirror newspaper, saying:

“Yes, absolutely. We have our first rehearsal on Monday. It will be next summer and I am looking forward to it. It’ll be great. Ronnie is up to it. He is full of energy and very excited.”

I must admit that The Faces are one of those bands I know little about, which could explain by bewilderment and utter lack of excitement about this comeback. It’s hardly Led Zeppelin now is it. Having said that, Rod Stewart has a fine voice and there is no doubting Wood’s guitar playing skills so maybe they’ll surprise me with their awesomeness.

[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]

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Stereophonics are without doubt one of my favorite bands of all time, with their mix of rock guitar greatness and pop lyrics continuing to entice me in. The band are preparing to release a greatest hits album, Decade In The Sun, and have released a new single to go with it.

You’re My Star sits comfortably alongside the classic Stereophonics hits such as Dakota, Maybe Tomorrow, and The Bartender and The Thief. It’s a brilliant single kind of mixing their new and old styles, making it a supremely good choice for people likely to buy the The Best Of Stereophonics.

While some people preferred the band in their Word Gets Around days, music cannot remain still and samey. Instead, it, and the bands themselves, have to move with the times, mature gracefully, and nurture their sound. Decade In The Sun shows that happening, as does You’re My Star.

Video and review after the cut.

You’re My Star features the trademark pulsing rhythm coupled with an instantly memorable chorus and some strong vocals from lead singer Kelly Jones. Stereophonics have evolved since they first burst on to the scene in 1997, and this song shows how far they’ve come.

The video is gorgeous, starting in black and white before exploding in to glorious color by showing the Hindu Festival Of Colours, or Holi, where people colored powder at each other. Even Jones and the band get covered. I don’t really know what it’s got to do with the song but it works nonetheless.

Stereophonics will continue to release brilliant singles and albums which the music press ignore or ridicule, but having been to see the band live several times, I know how huge the support is. In fact, the band have so many die-hard fans that they now charge too much for me to bother going to see them. But that’s another story.

Song: 8/10
Video: 8/10

Wiki
MySpace

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]
[Video Source: YouTube]

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Ever since Robbie Williams left Take That to strike out on his own, the relationship between him and Gary Barlow is said to have been frosty at best. In fact, it probably soured even before that, as Williams took a more lead singer role even though Barlow wrote the majority of the songs.

But that was a long time ago, with Robbie leaving in 1995. A lot has happened since then, with Williams having a fantastic solo career that has netted him a fortune, a string of beautiful girlfriends, and a house in Beverly Park, Los Angeles. Take That, meanwhile, reformed in 2005 and have since been even more successful than they were the first time around, and could be on the verge of world super stardom.

Williams and Barlow have made it up again, first meeting after almost a decade when Take That wanted Robbie to provide video for the comeback tour. They’ve since met a few times in L.A. but while the rest of the group were known to have put the past behind them, it was unclear how well Williams and Barlow got on.

But no more, as Sky Sports interviewed the pair of them together ahead of the Arsenal vs Manchester United soccer match on Saturday. The video is embedded below, and it clearly shows the lack of animosity left between the two former bitterly opposed rivals.

This is also the first time Williams has been seen in public for a while, having reportedly taken to spending huge amounts of time locked away in his L.A. mansion by himself. It’s certainly the first time he’s been seen in the UK for a while as well.

The pair of former band mates looked comfortable and pally together, and Williams has clearly lost neither his love for football, if being a Port Vale fan can be classed as a football-lover, or his sense of humor. Barlow looked happy to be there too.

Take That are gearing up for the release of their new album, The Circus, while Robbie is apparently working on new material, which will hopefully form a new album that is better than Rudebox. Still no signs of Robbie rejoining Take That but the fact they’re now best mates gives us all hope, at least.

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

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Coldplay were named as ‘Bestselling Act of 2008′ thanks to their new album, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, hit the top of the charts in countries around the world, including the UK, the US, Japan, France, and Germany. Chris Martin and chums were also named ‘Best Rock Act’ although I’m not sure I’d really class their brand of indie pop as rock necessarily.

Leona Lewis also picked up an award, winning ‘Best Pop Female’ ahead of such luminaries as Madonna and Mariah Carey. Lewis has had an astounding year since releasing her debut album, Spirit, which topped the charts in nine countries, making her one of the most successful reality television stars ever.

Amy Winehouse may have been in the news more for her personal life than her professional life over the past few months but her music was recognized at the World Music Awards as she picked up an award for ‘Female Pop/Rock’. Let’s hope she releases her third album soon and blows us all away once again.

Lastly, in terms of British winners, came The Beatles, who won a ‘Diamond Award’. Ringo Starr, he of no autographs fame, accepted the prize which is reserved for artists who have sold over 100 million albums.

[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]

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I was astonished when Rick Astley was named as a nominee for ‘Best Act Ever’ at the MTV Europe Music Awards alongside the likes of Green Day and U2. So imagine my utter shock and horror when Astley actually won the damn thing last night at the ceremony in Liverpool.

MTV itself were clearly embarrassed by the whole thing because Rick himself didn’t appear to accept the award and there wasn’t even an acceptance video in light of his non-appearance. This is because MTV had its clever voting system hoodwinked by a viral online campaign to secure Astley the award.

The thing is, Astley probably deserved the award just as much as most of the other nominees, with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Green Day, Tokio Hotel and U2 also making the list. His career may have ended years ago whilst the others are all still going but he has a whole new set of fans thanks to the Rickrolling phenomenon.

The sad thing is that even though the Awards are meant to be biased towards European acts, and were held in Liverpool, birthplace of The Beatles, only three British acts won, Rick Astley, Paul McCartney, and Leona Lewis, with the majority of the rest of the winners being American.

The full list of MTV EMAs 2008 winners:

Album Of The Year: Britney Spears – ‘Blackout’
Most Addictive Track: Pink - ‘So What’
Act of 2008: Britney Spears
Best New Act: Katy Perry
Ultimate Urban: Kanye West
Rock Out: 30 Seconds To Mars
Headliner: Tokio Hotel
Video Star: 30 Seconds To Mars - ‘A Beautiful Lie’
Best UK Act: Leona Lewis
Best Act Ever: Rick Astley
Artists’ Choice: Lil Wayne
Ultimate Legend: Sir Paul McCartney

So, not a good year for British acts. Leona Lewis deserved her award but it was a UK specific award, not Europe-wide. Rick Astley only won his thanks to a legion of fans online gaming the system, and Paul McCartney (I refuse to call him Sir) basically got given the ‘here’s an award before you die’ token prize.

Maybe it’s time to limit the MTV Europe Music Awards just to European acts? That way, the UK would absolutely clean up.

[Photo Source: michelleoshen at Flickr]

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The latest news on Blur comes from former lead singer, Damon Albarn, who has stated that a Blur reunion is very possible, but not for a while.

It was over a year ago when the first rumblings of a thawing in the relationship between the band members became apparent.

The four original band members met up for lunch, and Albarn and Coxon, the two whose relationship fallout was claimed to be the main cause for the break up of the band, were civil to each other.

But then nothing more happened, with Albarn going back to work on his various projects, including Gorillaz, The Good, The Bad, and The Queen, and his rock opera, Monkey. A year then passed with nothing much being said on either side until Albarn claimed that Blur was over. This prompted Graham Coxon to write an incredible rant about the whole thing.

That seemed to be it, with Albarn not wanting to go backwards, and Coxon seemingly annoyed about the whole thing enough to move on. There have been rumors since that Coxon is working with Pete Doherty on either a collaboration or Pete’s solo album.

And so to present day, when Albarn has again brought talk of a reunion back up.

In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, he stated:

“It’s very possible I’ll go back to Blur, it really is very possible.”

“Graham and I have been hanging out together a bit. We had lunch the other day. He’s great, it’s fantastic to get my old friend back. So it’s good, but I can’t really say any more than that.”

A Blur reunion is clearly not going to happen overnight, with Albarn currently working on a new Gorillaz album and busy promoting Monkey: A Journey To The West. Coxon too seems busy with Doherty, and if that turns out to be a collaboration rather than a solo effort then who knows how involved the two could become.

I’ve stated before that I can’t ever see Blur getting back together, and I would stand by that belief. The fans clearly want it to happen but there just seems to be too much history there and too many different issues to work out for it to become reality.

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]

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