In today’s Soundbites – our look back at the past week’s news, reviews, and tabloid gossip – Rihanna makes a welcome return to the tabloids’ front pages, Jack White plans to take his record player into space, a truly filthy chart rundown is pondered, the latest Wind-up Birds track is reviewed and our pick of the week’s new videos is selected.
One story causing a stir this week was Against Me! singer Tom Gabel‘s decision to boldly tell Rolling Stone of his plans to live as a woman and begin a trans-gender process. “For me, the most terrifying thing about this was how she would accept the news,” he told the publication. “But she’s been super-amazing and understanding.” Read the full story here.
Jack White‘s Third Man Records is a thing of beauty; forward thinking and innovative in its pursuit of success while other labels fall by the wayside in bemoaning the modern world. White’s label has forged a growing reputation as one of the very best and now, White is apparently hoping to take his label even beyond this planet, and plans to “…launch a balloon that carries a vinyl record player. And figure out a way to drop the needle with all that turbulence up there and ensure that it will still play.” Read more on his interview – with astronaut Buzz Aldrin no less – here.
Live4ever’s Presents series returned this week with an exciting new band from one of our home cities. Leeds-based Arthur Rigby and the Baskervylles are a multi-instrumental troupe whose debut EP ‘Tales From Pegasus Wood’ has us hooked already. Don’t miss the full feature to find out more.
Amongst the new videos published on Live4ever this week was Maximo Park‘s promo for the single ‘Hips and Lips‘. The video features British actor Thomas Turgoose – best known for his acclaimed role in Shane Meadows’ This is England film – mercilessly sending up the often weirdly extreme online fan videos. Visit our Videos section to sort through all of the week’s new and classic videos.
Rihanna was an unusual fixture on the front pages of the tabloids this week after posting a picture of her apparently hooked up to a hospital drip on her Twitter page. According to The Sun, one helpful fan wrote: “Rihanna loves to party, but in the past month she has gotten out of control.”
Jimi Hendrix? Guns n Roses? R.E.M? My how completely idiotic are we for not including them on our 25 Essential Debut Albums list? Have a look through the rundown which caused one reader to question our socialist tenancies for yourself here and let us know your own favourite maiden efforts.
There’s been a lot of discussion about the decline of the UK singles market over recent years. Is it down to the rise of digital markets? Due to illegal downloading? Uncompetitive prices? Who knows, but in releasing a list of the biggest selling singles of the 21st century in the UK this week, the Official Charts Company might have just resolved the mystery all by themselves. Take a look through the disease-ridden, limping haggered mess of a rundown, and see if you can work it out.
When CBGB closed its doors for the last time in 2006, one of the most iconic and influential music venues ever had been seemingly confined to history forever. But now, a group of investors are hoping to resurrect the venue in a new location. “We’re never going to recreate that moment in time,” they said. “We’re trying to continue the idea of supporting live music, making a lot of noise and being a part of New York City. The festival is one way we can do it. Eventually the club will be another way we can do it.” Full story is right here.
According to the blurb, Leeds-based The Wind-up Birds are a tale of two cities – more ‘David Peace, Alan Bennett, The Wedding Present and Gang of Four‘ than ‘United, Harvey Nics and Moyles’. A bit of a stuffy start, but the high brow leanings don’t appear to have registered with their video director yet, who’s chosen to plant the boys on the edge of a dreaded football field for a decidedly glamourless affair. Fortunately, the whole thing is saved with a pacey, regional-heavy indie single of the kind we don’t hear enough of anymore. If there’s still anyone left who remembers feeling a touch melancholic when Little Man Tate split up, tuck in. ‘Cross Country’ is featured in today’s New Tunes Guide. Look, listen, discover.