December 8th, 2011

It’s here, it’s here, the most wonderful time of the year. No, not the January sales, you’ve had those. In January. We’re talking about Christmas, of course, that popular chocolate-based winter festival.

“So what does Christmas have to do with music?” you ask. “I just slammed the door on those goddam carol singers,” you unnecessarily add. Well, this: She & Him have a Christmas album out.

Yes, She of the sparkly doe eyes and melodious contralto voice, and Him with the sunglasses and the jazzy, understated guitar sounds. Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward are back, not with Volume Three of their musical exploits, but a sweet, subtle sort of festive interlude.

Leeds’ Kaiser Chiefs surprised the industry and fans this past summer when, without warning, they released their fourth studio album The Future Is Medieval via an innovative and original digital platform, allowing fans to create and sell their own versions of the album and choose from album art designed by lead singer Ricky Wilson. Wall Street Journal called the idea the “fan plan,” allowing fans to “rock out- on a sales commission.”

US rock heavyweights Pearl Jam have been unveiled as the third and final headliners for the 2012 Isle Of Wight festival.

Eddie Vedder and co will join the previously announced Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty at the three-day event, and complete organiser John Giddings’ so-called ‘American Trilogy’ of acts.

The Cribs guitarist Ryan Jarman joined The Vaccines onstage in London last night during the penultimate show of the band’s UK tour.

Coldplay have unveiled details of a lengthy North American tour which will carry the band right into the summer of 2012.

Foster The People have been included on a new rundown of the most listened to songs on Facebook this year.

Blur will receive the Outstanding Contribution To Music prize at next year’s Brit Awards, reports the BBC.

The band, whose original line-up released their last album to date in 1999, reunited for a series of acclaimed gigs in 2009, but have not yet been confirmed to perform live at the O2 Arena ceremony.