Articles

'The Nine': More mystery, music, and montages   I watched The Nine for the second time this week on ABC.com. Definitely go there if you want to see seven of Jon Lovitz's Subway commercials!   The show's still moving slowly, but I've never been one of those people who needs answers right away, at least on TV. (Whereas I need to know what I'm eating for dinner right now!) I like that we don't know what happened between Felicia and Lucas (something sexual? maybe?) and I like that I can't put my fin

Badly Drawn Boy @ Hiro Ballroom: 13 Reasons Why You Must Love Damon Gough   1) Springsteen Influence #1: The T-Shirt ('Born To Run') 2) Springsteen Influence #2: The Album Title ('Born In The UK') 3) Springsteen Influence #3: The Cover (of 'Thunder Road') 4) The rip on James Blunt. 5) The rip on Coldplay. 6) The Madonna cover ('Like A Virgin') 7) The Journey cover ('Don't Stop Believin') 8) The affirmation that he is the best songwriter of the last 20 years. 9) Stopping the set at 100 minutes, a

1) Goldman Sachs = The Rolling Stones Because it is number 1 and deservingly arrogant.   2) Citigroup = Ozzy Osbourne because it is growing old disgracefully, just like the prince of darkness, Ozzy.   3) Deutsche Bank = Fleetwood Mac Immensely profitable? Check. Years of infighting and not communicating with one another? Check. Badly in need of a style makeover? Check. It's Fleetwood Mac.   4) JPMorgan = Radiohead Too clever and needing another big hit to remain relevant.   5) Barclays Capital =

Heat: how to stop the planet burning, supported by its accompanying website turnuptheheat.org demands to know why the very people that are committed to saving the environment are doing most to destroying it.   Guardian columnist George Monbiot identifies some of the celebrity environmentalists whose own energy consumption - specifically their jet-setting, four-wheel driving lifestyles - are among the greatest generators of greenhouse gases.   Monbiot outs Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, conc

With European markets going ga-ga over fair trade products, will those with the buying power in South Africa start doing the same? In the rush up to the silly season, here's how you can ensure that what you're buying is ethically produced.   Coldplay frontman Chris Martin writes the words 'fair trade' on his hand each time he performs. And with his DATA campaign (debt, Aids, trade, Africa), U2's Bono and his wife Ali have launched a fair trade fashion line, Edun, and are intent on hammering away

Jay-Z's comeback album, "Kingdom Come," has been confirmed for a Nov. 21 release date via Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam.   The video for the single "Show Me What You Got" debuts Oct. 16; the track's official radio add date isn't until next week but based on early airplay of a leaked version, it is poised for a major debut on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.   In the F. Gary Gray-directed clip, Jay-Z races NASCAR driver Danica Patrick through the winding roads of Monaco in a sports car piloted

Itiva Digital Media, a breakthrough rich media delivery network, has begun delivering streamed music videos over the Internet for EMI Music Canada. Using Itiva's Qmesh network, EMI Music Canada offers new music videos over the Internet through the music company's free email blast newsletter and website, EMIssion-online.com. New videos are available weekly.   "Itiva is providing EMI Music Canada with a much higher quality Internet video streaming service at a very low cost," said Michel Billard,

Boy Kill Boy are to release a new single next month and it's in aid of charity.   The popular indie band will lift Shoot Me Down from their acclaimed debut album Civilian on November 13th, with some of the royalties being donated to War Child. They join previous acts to support the cause as Coldplay, Radiohead, Blur and Oasis.   Boy Kill Boy's manager Chris Peck has had personal experience of the War Child programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Speaking about the situation, Peck has said:

Google Inc. snapped up YouTube Inc. for $1.65 billion today in deal that catapults the Internet search leader to a leading role in the online video revolution.   The all-stock acquisition unites one of the Internet's marquee companies with one of its rapidly rising stars. The price makes YouTube, a still-unprofitable startup, by far the most expensive purchase made by Google during its eight-year history. Although some cynics have questioned YouTube's staying power, Google is betting that the po

Let's pretend we're at Hollywood High, circa 2023 — and pity the poor teacher who's taking attendance. Apple? Banjo? Coco? Shiloh Nouvel? Suri? Pilot Inspektor? Kal-el? Moxie CrimeFighter?   Wait a minute. Is this a classroom or a superhero convention?   As you've no doubt noticed, for the rich and famous these days, naming babies has become an exercise in creativity. Or is it a competitive sport — a great, big "Can you top this" contest? Once upon a time, most stars gave their kids nice, down-

As Van Andel Arena celebrates its 10th anniversary this weekend, managers are well aware they must stare down plenty of competition in years ahead.   But do they also have to worry about a 15,000-seat outdoor amphitheater right in the arena's backyard? After years of kicking around the idea, the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention Arena Authority is on the verge of a campaign to build West Michigan's largest outdoor concert venue, probably in Millennium Park.   You have to admit, it would be s

Everyone OK out there?" asked Robert del Naja from the Roseland stage.   "Well, that's good, because this next one's about my homicidal ex-girlfriend's mum who's a crackhead."   Massive Attack's music isn't built for mass adulation. They're studio creatures, and their psychedelic dread symphonies work on grooves and eerie sonic details, not hooks or personality. Emaciated robo-skank guitars, mumble-coo vocals, muffled breakbeats: It's interior-space music, and it doesn't leave a lot of room for

Land Rover, British Gas and Coldplay are all doing it, but experts warn that the benefits of carbon offsetting may be overstated   On the outskirts of Klobikau, some 30 miles from Leipzig and deep inside the former East Germany, wooden stairs are mounted against the side of a hill, the only feature on the flat agricultural landscape. At the top, a dirt track curls across the ragged summit to a cluster of decaying buildings and a wooden watchtower.   The hill is artificial, built of waste dug fro

Hollywood star Nicole Kidman sneaked into rapper JAY-Z's history-making gig at London's Royal Albert Hall last week.   The Girls Girls Girl hitmaker was the first hip-hop star ever to perform at the Victorian building. He was joined onstage by girlfriend Beyonce Knowles, rapper pal Nas, Chris Martin & Gwyneth Paltrow.   Oscar winning Paltrow sang backing vocals for Jay-Z's track Song Cry. Kidman admitted this week she was also among the audience, but was unrecognisable in a baggy top and bas

No doubt about it: Babies are cute. But some.are cuter than others. Get ready to count down the babies that make the whole world go gaga: The 20 cutest lil’ A-listers ever.   These days, the babies of celebs are almost as famous as their parents. Stars are popping out some of the most precious and fascinating children in the world and we just can’t get enough.   We want to know every last drooly detail about these pint-sized superstars. What are their names? What do they weigh? Who are they wear

Last year he topped the charts. Now the Crazy Frog's days look numbered. Sales of mobile phone ringtones are in terminal decline, says research out today.   The rogue practices of some companies as well as the increasing availability of tracks and videos on mobile phones signal the death knell for tinny jingles. It will come as a huge relief to those fed up with the incessant, poor quality reproductions of chart hits and TV theme tunes - not to mention the Frog's teethgrindingly omnipresent squ

Lily Allen has been warned by her managers to stop insulting other stars or she will lose fans.   The 21-year-old 'Smile' singer has publicly insulted Victoria Beckham, Robbie Williams, Coldplay star Chris Martin and Paris Hilton among others, but refuses to tone down her attitude.   She said: "When people around me get scared, saying I'm gonna lose all this if I slag off one more person, I'm like, 'Oh f**k off, it doesn't really matter!' Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy to be where I am rig

Muse and Thom Yorke were the big winners at the BT Digital Music Awards last night.   Each collected two trophies at the fifth annual ceremony dedicated to digital music entertainment. Festival favourites Muse beat Hard- Fi, Editors, Kasabian and Mystery Jets to win the coveted best rock artist title, and their fansite, www.muselive.com, was named best unofficial music site.   Lily Allen beat Sandi Thom, The Kooks, Girls Aloud and Will Young to take the best pop artist gong. And R'n'B star Lem

Music download site Wippit has substantially increased its music catalogue by adding another 2.4million songs from a number of digital music distributers.   Wippit offers music downloads in MP3 format, which has no digital rights management added to it. As a result, Wippit tends to represent indie music rather than the mainstream, although there are exceptions. The new tracks are as a result of deals struck with The Orchard, IODA, VUT, Digital Rights Agency, and CD Baby. CD Baby adds songs from

This morning is Colin Montgomerie's idea of heaven. He will load his golf clubs into his Bentley and drive from his home in Oxshott, Surrey, to St Andrews to defend his title in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. There will be music blaring all the way.   "I can't wait," the Scot said. "I'll be listening to Coldplay, and I'll have it on so loud that the car will be vibrating."   And the estimated duration of the 480-mile journey? "Shorter than it should be," he replied. All of which would su

With more than 200,000 votes cast, only 201 separated The Beatles' 1967 hit from Michael Jackson's Thriller in second place.   The nationwide survey of music fans was commissioned by BBC Radio to mark the 50th anniversary of the official UK album chart.   U2's Joshua Tree was third, with Rumours by Fleetwood Mac taking fourth place. The Fab Four managed five of the top 11 spots, with Revolver in sixth place, Abbey Road in eighth, the White Album at 10 and Rubber Soul in 11th. Mike Oldfield's hit

A row has broken out over plans to fence off parts of Crystal Palace Park for weeks at a time to stage rock gigs and show movies.   The London Development Agency (LDA) wants to attract more people to the area and has applied to Bromley council for a licence to stage an unlimited number of events including concerts,dance performances,circuses and film screenings.   Coldplay played two packed nights at the neighbouring National Sports Centre in June 2005, two years after Bruce Springsteen did the

Attention all rockers out there!   To coincide with the release of Big Rock – a compilation of 18 rock hit songs including Linkin Park’s Somewhere I Belong, Green Day (American Idiot), Simple Plan (Shut Up!), Coldplay (In My Place), Keane (Somewhere Only We Know), The Darkness (Love Is Only a Feeling), Fort Minor (Believe Me featuring Mike Shinoda), Hard-F1 (Cash Machine) and Snow Patrol (Run) – Warner Music is having a call-in contest.   There are 20 CDs up for grab. How to win it?   Easy.

The new series of Extras stars this week - and Chris Martin and David Bowie are among those who’ll be humiliating themselves in it.   For those of you who still wake up screaming at the nightmarish vision of Les Dennis, naked as the day he was cuckolded, cupping his nadgers and baring his arse, brace yourselves. Extras - the superstar-sniping sarco-series that leapt sneering from the hot brain of Ricky Gervais after The Office - is back.   And this time the weekly guest stars lining up to prove

There isn't a whole lot of Coldplay news to report tonight, but I read some things related to the upcoming Glastonbury Festival that made me want to post.   First off, one of the festival's main acts, The White Stripes, are talking about breaking up due to becoming too popular? It's amazing to think about how much of an effect popularity has on up-and-coming bands. It certainly affected Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder in the early 90s, and it looks like it is now taking its toll on one of the bands