A very musical Christmas!

Sooo, the final ARIA Chart of the year. How crap am I with my predictions!!!

1. Damien Leith – 'The Winners Journey'
I am ashamed that I did not see this coming. When I heard they were holding off and letting the Idol winner take their time and write some of their own material to record, I should have realised that they would have something up their sleeve for Christmas!

2. 12th Man – 'Boned'
I was spot on here! Personally, I don't find it funny. But then, I don't like cricket either...

3. U2 – '18 Singles'
I got this too.

4. Human Nature – 'Dancin’ In the Street: The Songs of Motown 2'
Wow, got this one too! 3 out of 20…not bad! People better stop buying this soon, or we will be inflicted with a 'Songs of Motown 3' next Christmas!

5. Pink – 'I’m Not Dead'
I underestimated Pink at #8…good on her! 4 Melbourne shows for her tour…again, good on her. No international acts bother to do that many shows here anymore.

6. Snow Patrol – 'Eyes Open'
Thought this would be #9…underestimated the band…or Grey’s Anatomy? Snow Patrol are touring here again in early 2007, on the back of the renewed album success.

7. Il Divo – 'Siempri'
Hmmmm – again, should have seen this coming…cereal Christmas release!

8. The Beatles – 'Love'
Not #5, but still, not a bad effort for an album that Noel Gallagher finds revolting!

9. Robbie Williams – 'Rudebox'
OK, I may have got a little excited with my #1 prediction – mind you, if the ‘And Through it All’ DVD sales were added to the ‘Rudebox’ sales - he would have gone close!

10. Young Divas – 'Young Divas'
OK – I didn’t think the public was this lame. I was wrong.

11. Eskimo Joe – 'Black Fingernails, Red Wine'
This is much better than my anticipated #18. A fantastic effort for the Aussies this Christmas chart!

12. Wolfmother – 'Wolfmother'
This was in my “may make it, but can’t fit it in” list…HUGE considering the album has been in the charts for 60 weeks!

13. Kylie – 'Ultimate Kylie'
#6 was my expectation, but I suppose, how many previous Greatest Hits has she had?

14. David Campbell – 'The Swing Sessions'
Picked it for #16, that’s only 2 spots off. Again,pleasestop buying this -there is no need for a 'Swing Sessions Part 2'!

15. Chris Isaak – 'The Best Of'
This was in my “may make it, but can’t fit it in” list...Am I the only one who fins his music severely depressing???

16. Gwen Stefani – 'The Sweet Escape'
My #7 prediction was before hearing the album. Having heard it, the #16 spot is a gift – it doesn’t deserve to be in the Top 40.

17. Il Divo – 'The Christmas Collection'
Please see above “Divo” comments….

18. The Killers – 'Sam’s Town'
#12 was ambitious – but watch it fly back into the Top 10 when they get here for the BDO. I have to say that I am loving the new single 'Bones'.

19. Justin Timberlake – 'Future Sex/Love Sounds'
Overestimated Justin (#14), but ‘My Love’ is getting plenty of air play and clip play!

20. Pussycat Dolls - 'PCD'
Had the chicks at number 19…just one off!

Albums I thought would make it – but didn’t!

10. Keith Urban – 'Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing'
Came in at #36. Not too bad for an album with no Promo and the artist in rehab. I thought that Keith-y may come and meet Nic here for Christmas…thus pushing it up the charts. That was not to be. But keep an eye on this album, with a new single, him out of rehab, not to mention in the country.

11. Jet – 'Shine On'
I cannot understand how this came in at # 41. If anyone can tell me why this amazing Australian album is not selling can you let me know please??? Are people just over it, and on to Wolfmother or what?

15. My Chemical Romance – 'The Black Parade'
This came in at # 28. After a strong couple of weeks, they are probably happy with holding Top 30 in a difficult Christmas chart.

17. Evanescence – 'Open the Door'
Evanescence grabbed the #23 spot, again, not bad at this time of year.

20. Guy Sebastian – 'Closer to the Sun'
I wonder how Guy feels, sitting at #29, with Damien sitting pretty at #1???

No Kylie - but what a show!

So you have probably read quite a wide range of Robbie Williams reviews from his 'Close Encounters' tour of Australia, which concluded with two shows in Melbourne. I have read everything from glowing to quite scathing reports from journalists who went to this show. So...here is mine.

I will be honest from word go. I am biased where Robbie is concerned, but I will tell you the truth, through my eyes. Firstly, the 'Close Encounters' tour was not as good as his previous tour. But then, could it be? In my opinion, his last tour was hands down the best I have ever seen. He was clearly competing with himself, in the best concert ever stakes!
It was clear that he was tired, and glad for the tour to be ending. Having said that, it looked to me that he gave the final two shows in Melbourne all that he had to give.

I felt that Monday night's final show flowed much better than Sundays. Whether this is because it was the last show, or he was more rested or whatever, I don't know. But, as it has been mentioned to me by others, the crowd seemed more involved on Monday night, perhaps feeding him extra energy as the performer.

Robbie's set list was interesting. It is not so much the songs he chose, but more the order in which he performed them that seemed a little odd. Please see below...

Set List
Radio
Rock DJ
Trippin'
Monsoon
Sin Sin Sin
Millennium
Make Me Pure
Me and My Shadow - with Jonny Wilkes
Strong - with Jonny Wilkes
Staying Alive - Bee Gees verse - with Jonny Wilkes
Back For Good
Advertising Space
Come Undone/Walk on the Wild Side
Feel

Encore
Let Me Entertain You
Rudebox
Angels
Kids
She's The One

I respect that he didn't want to open with Let Me Entertain You - he is probably over it - it did liven up the crowd for the encore - but surely it would have worked better around Rock DJ??? The mood seemed very up and down. Kids was also an interesting choice to close with perhaps Angels and Kids should have been swapped around?

The swing track with Jonny Wilkes was cute - but that is when Jonny should have left. Two and a half songs + the whole "Aussie wave" and banter was just too much. Sorry to be harsh, but we didn't pay to see Jonny! I was very disappointed at his decision not to play Lovelight. As this is the current single! He did play it at the Perth show - but I think that was the only one.

So, having said all that. .The set and lighting was the best I have ever seen bar-none. The band and back-up singers and dancers were perfect. Robbie was his usual charismatic, cheeky, sexy and mischievous self. He won the audiences heart moment after moment. Lets face it - Robbie himself - regardless of what he is singing - is a showman and a show in his own right. I would go and watch him talk for 2 hours and leave happy.

Robbie had moments of utter brilliance. The only artists I have ever seen do better is the younger and less tired Robbie I saw two years ago. SO - Don't believe all you read. The journalists who wrote particularly scathing reviews were waiting for this tour not to live up to the last one. They did not review the show as it's own, but as a comparision to past ones...which is not fair. Had audience memebers NOT been to the last show - I am sure they would rate the 'Close Encounters' shows as oen of, if not the, best show they have ever seen. It truly was a wonderful concert!

The year that was...2006!

So, it is that time of year again when all the newspapers and music publications do their 'Best of the Year' lists...so I thoughtI should get mine in too...

For any that Robbie is the answer, I will give another answer too...or it will just be boring for you to read...

BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
Robbie Williams - 'Rudebox' / The Killers - 'Sam's Town'

MOST DISAPPOINTING ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
Can't limit it to one, I was disappointed by quite a few this year...

Fergie from BEP's (don't even know what it is called) - the 1st single washorrible- and fromt here it gets worse.

Keane - 'Under the Sea' - So disappointing after such a promising debut. It is just Blah! I was so disappointed with this album, that after the first listen I think I have only listened to it 3 or 4 times. The first album, 'Hopes & Fears', I listened to 3 or 4 times in the fist day!

Beyonce - 'B Day' - Other than the hits we've already had ('Check Up On It', 'Deja Vu' and 'Irreplaceable') it is - in a word - boring! zzzzzz

Live - 'Songs from Black Mountain' - This album is like a crappier versions of their worst/filler songs from previous albums. Mind you, on an earlier blogI said this wasbetter than what I thought it would be. Basically it would be a good, or even great, album from any other band, butI have come to expect a lot from these guys after all this time. Perhaps their last tour also jaded my views. I fear the magic may be gone.

Justin Timberlake- 'Love Future/Sex Sounds' - Controversial I know...I actually find the album quite boring. It is a very monotone. On first listen it is like one continuous, never ending track!

SONG OF THE YEAR:
Robbie Williams - 'Lovelight' - Yes, he is amazing. This song is killer, one of the best he has done in years.
Richard Ashcroft - 'Break the Night with Colour' - It is criminal this wasn't a hit here. I don't get it. There is nothing NOT to love about this magnificent song.
Scissor Sisters - 'I Don't Feel Like Dancin'- Their best song yet. See, Keane?....this is how a second album is done!
The Killers- 'When You Were Young' - Addictive. Please see above reference to Keane...
Santana/Steve Tyler - 'Just Feel Better'- Great song! The oldies have still got it (at times).
Beyonce - 'Check Up On It' - Try sitting still to this song...so catchy! Shame about the rest of the album.
Justin Timberlake - 'Sexy Back' - Yeah! Took a long time to grow on me, now I LOVE it. Again, shame about the rest of the album...
Christina Aguilera - 'Ain't No Other Man' - You go girl! :o) She kills it in this song. Amazing!
Gnarls Barkley - 'Crazy' - Over played...but fantastic...my tip for Triple J's Hottest 100 # 1 spot.
Bob Sinclar- 'Love Generation' - How happy is it?!? Gotta love ahappy, uplifting track like this.
Nelly Furtado - 'Promiscuous Boy' - Again, I can't sit still when this comes on....after the shock of her image/musical direction change this song really won me over.
Eskimo Joe- 'Black Fingernails,Red Wine' - Proud to be Aussie :o) Well deserved ARIA!

ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Robbie Williams...hands down - check the Guinness book of records under concert ticket sales....(suffer to the Gallaghers...wankers!)

TOUR OF THE YEAR:
Calling it early...as it is not until Sunday & Monday...I know Robbie will be it :o)
Runners Up:-
Jet @ The Chapel
Bob Evans @ The Chapel
Sleepy Jackson @ Ormond Hall
Arctic Monkeys @The Palace
The Living End @ Festival Hall
Snow Patrol @ The Metro
Backstreet Boys @ Rod Laver...shut up - you don't know how long I had waited! :o)
Lily Allen @ St Jeromes- Despite the fact that I couldn't see!
The Vines @ The Corner

VIDEO OF THE YEAR:
Robbie Williams - 'Lovelight' - He looks so hot in this clip that it is wrong!
Sleepy Jackson - 'God Lead Your Soul'
RHCP - 'Dani California'
The Killers - 'Bones'

STORY OF THE YEAR:
Take That re-forming....so happy! I would never had dared to dream that this was possible!
Oh - and watching the saga that is Britney Spears life continue...2007 will be an interesting year for her. Please don't let her be the next Michael Jackson...

WHO SHOULD HAVE 'MADE IT,' BUT DIDN'T:
La Rocca
Faker
End of Fashion
The Kooks

MOST ANTICIPATED FOR 2007:
Angus & Julia Stone
Airbourne
New albums from Silverchair & Missy Higgins...bring it on!

FAVOURITE ALBUMS FOR THE YEAR:
Lily Allen - 'Alright Still'
Richard Ashcroft - 'Keys To The World'
Snow Patrol - 'Eyes Open'
Sleepy Jackson - 'Personality: One was a Spider, One was a Bird'
Jet- 'Shine On'
Bob Evans - 'Suburban Songbook'
Christina Aguilera - 'Back to Basics'
La Rocca- 'The Truth'
Pink - 'I'm Not Dead'
Scissor Sisters - 'Ta-Dah'

Ooops! She's doing it again!

Just when I thought that Britney had seen the light; ditching K-Fed (now dubbed Fed-Ex by the media) and stepping out, looking as though she’s decided it is time to start showering again. Next thing you know she has a new bestie and party pal…Paris Hilton.

What is she thinking? You can’t surf the net without falling across a picture of her partying with Paris – clearly smashed and knicker-less, flashing her bits for the world to see. Now family services are concerned (again) that she is not caring for her two young sons. Poor Brit. Who would have thought the fresh-faced, school uninformed, virginal, teen sex symbol would become such a car crash. I mean, Paris Hilton? Surely not your first choice of companion when you are trying to ditch you white trailer trash image…and deny you have a sex tape that is just waiting to be leaked. Even anorexic, AA go-er Lindsay Lohan or boob-flashing, cereal party girl Tara Read would have more credibility!

If you believe what you read, Britney has her sights set on getting JT back too. Hmmm who would yopu prefer to take home to the family? Cameron Diaz, or Britney Spears? It will be interesting to see what 2007 holds for Miss. Spears. How long until there is a movie???

How funny is this…