Robbie Williams - OMG!!! :0)

Robbie news!!!! His new album is called Intensive Care is released in Australia on October 24th. The first single is Trippin’, apparently a reggae infused number??? Should be interesting! I took a little convincing when Radio came out, but as all his songs do., it grew on me eventually (which was a change from the usual instant adoration)! I loved Misunderstood, but you can’t go wrong with a heartfelt ballad as far as I am concerned! It will be very interesting to see the direction that this album takes, as it is his first without Guy Chambers.

In other exciting news Live are rumoured to have another album out by Christmas…and it’s a new one! Yeah!

Aussies Jet have previewed some tracks from their forthcoming second album in the UK…when do we get to hear? Boy it better be good (the second album that is). How much would the media/industry/detractors love it if the album was crap? Come on boys, proove them wrong, make soemthing original and bloody fantastic!!!

Speaking of Aussies, Bernard Fanning's (Powederinger's front man) debut solo effort is entitled Tea and Sympathy...no, I don't think he will be needing any of the latter.

You should also check out Darren Middleton's (Powderfinger's guitarist) side project, Drag. Their album The Way Out is fantastic!

And Coldplay are supposedly about to announce an Australian tour for early next year. Let it be true! Although I don’t think they could ever better their gig in Australia at Festival Hall, it’s just not the same at Rod Laver...

I need to comment on the fact that the brainy promoters have scheduled the Foo Fighters and Motley Crue gigs on the same nights in Melbourne. Why would they do this? Why have a gig on at Vodafone and one at Rod Laver the same night too? It is hard enough to get parking or a spot on the train when only one gig is on!!!

Good news that Kylie is likely to be well enough to complete her Show Girl tour next year. You go girl!

Oh, and I have to mention The Editors, what a band! Sound a bit like The Killers, but not in a "let's rip them off and jump on the whole 80's revival bandwagon" sort of way. Anyway, their album The Back Room is magic!

Outta here

Pop Princess

Big Brother over...Australian Idol begins!

Big Brother…it is an interesting phenomenon. Each year I promise myself that I will not watch it or become hooked, yet every year without fail it sucks me in! This year was no exception. Thank goodness the Logan’s won, I couldn’t stand Tim. He was so condescending and superior…and can we say stalker!!!

Anyway with BB gone for another year it is time to focus on Australian Idol! I already have my favourites and would like it on the record that I believe that Chris and Millie will make the grand final. Should be an interesting one. Group 2 in all were pretty woeful, will be interesting to see what group 3 are like.

Speaking of Idol’s, the word on the street is that Shannon Noll’s new album will be out by Christmas. I can’t wait. There are rumours that Bryan Adams has been working closely with Shannon on the project and there may ever be a duet. Fingers crossed…does it get any better than that!?!

Albums that I am loving at the moment include:
Kisschasey – Untitled Paper People: Go the Aussies!!!
End of Fashion – End of Fashion: Again, go the Aussies! How good are these guys, I can’t get enough of ‘O Yeah’.
Black Eyed Peas – Monkey Business: Bring on the tour. Let’s hope it is as impressive as the last one.

Gigs that need to be mentioned:
The Bravery – Prince of Wales: Got to love a band that only has one album, comes and plays a majority of it and are off stage within an hour. There was no crap, just great songs, a couple of awesome covers. They left the crowd wanting more…makes for a nice change from these self indulgent artists that play on for hours!!! Especially on a week night!

Rob Thomas – Mercury Lounge: Yes, it was a while ago now…but needs an honourable mention. I was a little unsure about his solo album until I heard the tracks live; now I get it! He can do no wrong.

Peace out!

Pop Princess xo

Splendour In The Grass - Yeah Baby!

Hey there fellow Poppets!

Now whilst I am a Pop fan at heart, and this is my favourite genre of music I do, depite common beliefs, have quite a broad range of music taste. I like anything that makes me feel good, and whilst pop tops the list, I enjoy other things too so here we go....

Ah yes, not only had I never been to Byron Bay...but I had never expereienced the festival legend that is 'Splendour In The Grass'. And I was not disappointed!

The Stand Out Performances: For me were without a doubt Queens Of The Stone Age and the Finn Brothers.

Honourable Mentions: The Living End and Sarah Blasko.

Embarassment of the Festival...Ryan Adams.

I don't get it. Yeah his songs are OK (at best, that is probably being generous), but waht is with the tantrum throwing? From what I hear this is quite a regular occurance. Who does this guy think he is? He is not Elvis or anything, there are surely only so many times you can be rude and chuck a mood before people are going to get fed up. Sorry I should explain...for anyone that was not there, or who has not heard.

He was not happy with the sound at the festival (which is fair enought, festival sound is usually far from perfect, but that is no secret). He commented a few times before stopping mid song and asking if was a joke and then left the stage without finishing his set. The following week in Sydney at his gig he refused to continue to play after someone shouted out something along the lines of 'Play Summer of 69'.

Does this guy have a sense of humour? Did he not consider these sort of comments before he put out an album? After all, the fantastic and very talented BRYAN Adams has been around for a very long time, the joke was always going to be there to be made.

As for his sound issues, I fail to see how this is the audiences fault and how storming off is fair to the people that may have paid to come to the festival to see him (as unbelieveable as this concept is to me, apparently this moron is quite popular).

Enough of this. Back to the positive stuff...I could bitch about this idiot for hours!

Bands like The Living End never fail to impress me. They have so much energy live and the crowds just love them. They play with so much enthusiasm and you can tell they are enjoying themselves...makes a nice change from the snivelling whinger mentioned above.

The Finn Brothers almost seemed surprised by their response from the crowd. It is nice to see people being humble in an industry full of such egos. I heard on the grape vine that organiseres were hesitant to include the Finn Brothers on the bill...I'll bet they are glad they decided to give them a go!!!

Ah, my good mate Josh and fellow Queens of the Stone Age-ers. I must admit that I was a little unconvinced after my first few listens to 'Lullabies To Paralise' but I get it now after seeing some of the songs live. The band is deffinitely different without Nick Oliveri, but I don't think they are necessarily better or worse without him. The new albumis less edgey and rough sounding, but there are still some classic Queen's stuff in their. They still have a very distinct sound, and blow you away with their live sound.

I also experienced The Hilltop Hoods for the first time at Splendour. I am not sure that I would necessarily buy their album, but I will see them live again for sure. Certified! Hell yeah!

Thats about all my ramblings for today, I've kept you long enough!

Pop on!

Pop Princess xo