2008 NME Awards

Muse -2nd time Best Live Band

The NME (New Musical Express) Awards 2008 saw Arctic Monkeys steal the show for a third year running. This year, the Monkeys bagged the Best Track, Best Video and Best British Band. NME Awards is one of those music award shows that give away awards for just about any reason...

Here are the list of winners (and losers in red):

BRITISH BAND Arctic Monkeys
INTERNATIONAL BAND The Killers
NEW BAND The Enemy
LIVE BAND Muse
SOLO ARTIST Kate Nash
ALBUM Klaxons - Myths Of The Near Future
TRACK Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent
VIDEO Arctic Monkeys - Teddy Picker
DANCEFLOOR FILLER The Wombats - Let’s Dance To Joy Division
MUSIC DVD Nirvana - Unplugged In New York
LIVE EVENT Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festival
HERO OF THE YEAR Pete Doherty
VILLAIN OF THE YEAR George W Bush
BEST DRESSED Noel Fielding
WORST DRESSED Amy Winehouse
ALBUM ARTWORK The Good, The Bad & The Queen – The Good, The Bad & The Queen
RADIO SHOW Zane Lowe (Radio 1)
WORST ALBUM Britney Spears - Blackout
WORST BAND The Hoosiers
TV SHOW The Mighty Boosh
FILM Control
SEXIEST MAN Noel Fielding
SEXIEST WOMAN Kylie Minogue
VENUE Wembley Stadium
WEBSITE Facebook
BAND BLOG Radiohead - www.radiohead.com/deadairspace

March Eleventh is 3-11 day

Come 11th March, ska-rock band 311 celebrates its fans as fans celebrate the band. They're all set for a hyped up Spring Tour from coast to coast including Canada. Fans right here in Malaysia, sorry-lah! But......maybe we can take advantage of a 24-hour sale at the 311 online store. That's right, in honor of 3-11 day, www.The311Store.com are holding a one-day, 24 hour sale. Nice!

As for other stuff 'bout the band, they're working hard in their Hive Studio in Los Angeles writing new material for their next album. Can't wait!

Today in Rock

• In 1932 today, Johnny Cash was born.
• In 1996, MTV premieres "Fashionably Loud," the first ever fashion show with live musical performance.

Brit Awards 2008 - "Take That Monkey Fighters"

2008's Brit Awards saw Arctic Monkeys, Take That, and Foo Fighters shine through the night. It was a big night in London (thanks MasterCard for making it happen) where stars gathered, won, lost, dressed up, dressed down, performed and collaborated. Speaking of which, here's a video of Rihanna performing Umbrella with The Klaxons (nice beat...but it would be great if they added more "klax" to it).



Anyhooo... here are the night's winners:

Outstanding Contribution to Music: Paul McCartney
Critics' Choice Award: Adele
Best British Album: Arctic Monkeys for Favourite Worse Nightmare
Best British Single: Take That for Shine
Best British Group: Arctic Monkeys
Best British Male: Mark Ronson
Best British Female Solo Artist: Kate Nash
Best British Breakthrough Act: Mika
Best British Live Act: Take That
Best International Album: Foo Fighters for Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Best International Group: Foo Fighters
International Male Solo Artist: Kanye West
International Female Solo Artist: Kylie Minogue

Guitar Hero : Aerosmith

Yup, yup! It's been conformed by Activision that Aerosmith will be featured full-out in the console game, Guitar Hero:Aerosmith come June 2008. The game will feature about 30 Aerosmith tracks as well as others from various acts that have opened for the band before. The game should be available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PlayStation 2 as things develop.

So fellas, get your axes ready for this one! I know I am...

Fergie for Calvin Klein

Fergie is now the new spokesperson for Calvin Klein. That's right...despite her "leak" incident not too long ago, the 32-year old singer is set to front their new advertising campaign. Makes me wonder...are CKs going for the 'nappy' proposition?

JT heading up the Open Road

Justin Timberlake is set to star in the baseball flick, The Open Road and will be working alongside Jeff Bridges(Seabiscuit), Kate Mara(Brokeback Mountain), and Mary Steenburgen(The Brave One) as a young man trying to reconnect with his father, who is a legendary athlete, as he struggles to get him home to his ailing mother.

The film is said to be shot later this month.

Will Jakob see Flowers with this one?

Wallflowers frontman, Jakob Dylan is due to launch his first solo record come May 13, 2008.

Seeing Things is produced alongside Rick Rubin, the man responsible for producing Johnny Cash's comeback back in the day. Let's see if he can bring out the "legend" in this Dylan.

Track Listing:
1. Evil Is Alive And Well
2. Valley Of The Low Sun
3. All Day And All Night
4. Everybody Pays As They Go
5. Will It Grow
6. I Told You I Couldn't Stop
7. War Is Kind
8. Something Good This Way Comes
9. On Up The Mountain
10. This End Of The Telescope

Bands of Sunburst KL 08 - Reza Salleh (Part 4)

Those who frequent Laundry Bar should be familiar with the name Reza Salleh. He's the man behind the Moonshine music show here. For those of you who have no idea about this homegrown talent, Reza's got tunes that are somewhat (to me) similar to Matchbox 20/Rob Thomas and Ryan Cabrera.

Bands of Sunburst KL 08 - Estranged (Part 3)

One of the bands that I have a gut feel would definitely rock it out at Sunburst KL is Estranged. Oh yeah, before I forget... kudos to them for taking home both the Song of the Year award and Best Pop-Rock song with "Itu Kamu" in the Anugerah Juara Lagu just last month.

Anyways... you may need this for a definite sing-along when they perform "Itu Kamu"

Lyrics to Itu Kamu
Segala yang ku pasti akan aku capai tuk mengambil hati mu
Melepasi angkasa cinta ku
Sesudah aku melafazkan kesemua yang diperlu
Ianya seperti suluhan yang terang

Segala yang kau ragui akan ku padam habis dari hati mu
Mengingkari dalaman akal mu
Takkan puasku, mengiringi semua tawa dan tangisanmu,
Anggun jiwamu, pelita yg terang

Hatiku mahumu
Rupamu
Masih masih masih masih…

(Chorus)
Kau terindah
Masih ada
Yang tercantik
Itu Kamu

Tiada mengapa taupun sampai bila kerna cinta enggan kenal mengalah
Memanah masuk hatiku yang reti
Setelah kau nampak tetap ku masih menunjukkan erti hidupku
Yang mahu bersama kau buat selamanya…

Bands of Sunburst KL 08 - The Roots (Part 2)

Under the Def Jam entourage, The Roots (sometimes called The Legendary Roots Crew) will be set to entertain the crowd with some hip-hop/funk music come Sunburst KL 08. I wonder however, if they'd be performing "You Got Me" that features Erykah Badu (that may mean she's coming?). The video to that track has been put on this blog for a peek of what they sound like.

They were nominated for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance by a Duo/Group in last year's Grammy's.

Bands of Sunburst KL 08 - Incognito (Part 1)

I've decided to include some postings on the acts that will be performing at the Sunburst Music Festival this March. Hopefully this would help you out in deciding which 1 out of the 4 stages you would be rocking it out at.

The last time I saw Incognito was at the Panasonic Jazz Festival in Malaysia, years ago. And I gotta tell you, they've got some real groovy pieces (explains why Roger Sanchez, and David Morales have remixed some of Incognito's work)

They are a jazz/funk/soul outfit hailing from Britain that have been around for 20 years. Now, that's more years than most British acts I know of. There's probably a reason to it...we gotta watch them to know then i guess...

Sunburst KL 08 - The Fun Starts Here!

Well, well.....already claimed to be the largest outdoor multi-genre music festival, the Sunburst KL 2008 is getting much hype all over - by fellow bloggers, music fans, roadies, facebook, and just about everyone else involved with the local music scene.

How it would be nice to have a real music festival for once in Malaysia with an ala Woodstock or Big Day Out...with camping, tattoos, and whatever have you. But I guess this is the best we can do in Malaysia.

The festival (held in Bukit Kiara) on 15th March 08 will have four stages and 26 acts, and the organisers (Pineapple Concerts and Tuborg) hope to reach some 20,000 music fans.

With this lineup? I'd say it's possible but they definitely could project a better turnout if they really did finalise the deal with Velvet Revolver and Offspring to come as well.

But I am proud to say that this country is actually putting the effort in making things happen. The Fun after all can only start with the initiative of organisers. Thank you Tuborg! and Pineapple!

Klang Valley ticketing outlets are Hard Rock Cafe KL, Planet Hollywood KL, Rock Corner outlets, Music Valley (Ampang Point), Fantasy Music (Sunway Pyramid) and Connection, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. Tickets priced at RM200 are available now at www.ticketpro.com.my or check out www.sunburstkl.com for a list of ticket outlets nationwide.

Oh...and here's the line-up:
International Acts
John Legend
The Roots
Incognito
Incubus
George Clinton+Parliament Funkadelic

Regional Acts
Gigi
Tompi

Local Acts
Joe Flizzow
Pop-Shuvit
Gerhana Ska Cinta
Estranged
Search
Love Me Butch
Tempered Metal
Reza Salleh
Meet Uncle Hussein

Real Musical Poetry by The Album Leaf

I came across The Album Leaf when I was reading some stuff about Explosions in the Sky (EITS). I was captivated by their work when I searched them on youtube - really amazing stuff.

The Album Leaf is actually a solo project by Jimmy LaValle who already has 4 albums up to date.

Fans of EITS and Mogwai would find his work to their liking - melodic, mellow, poetic, and deep. This post-rock/ambient/indie project simply sets you away to a dreamy realm. Good stuff.

Malaysian skies explode with Texas Post Rock

Texan-post-rock outfit, Explosions in the Sky have announced that Malaysia be a part of their current tour (other than neighboring Asian countries, Taiwan and Japan).

This is definitely great news to the fans of their work - commercially well known for the Cadillac commercial and theme song for TV Hit, Friday Night Lights.

See image for details.

BIG DAY OUT - BIG SUCCESS!

T'was done in the finest style possible! Australia's biggest touring music festival, Big Day Out 08 was sold out in no time. Melbourne - Sold Out! Adelaide - Sold Out! Gold Coast - Sold Out! Sydney - Sold Out! Despite weathers burning up t0 35 degrees, one can only wonder if the craze was due to the reunification of legends, Rage Against the Machine...

Future Music Festival - Australia

To the land downundah! Future Music Festival 08 hits Australia come March, with a fantastic lineup of artists which include:

• The Chemical Brothers
• John Digweed
• Roger Sanchez
• Shapeshifters
• Robbie Rivera
• DJ Yoda
• Kid Koala
• and more

Sounds awesome and like an event not to be missed. The festival kicks off:

• Sat Mar 1 – Brisbane
• Sun Mar 2 – Perth
• Sat Mar 8 – Sydney
• Sun Mar 9 – Melbourne
• Mon Mar 10 – Adelaide

More info at: http://www.futuremusicfestival.com.au/

Pure Punk by Gallows

Put punk, ska and 5 angst driven lads from Watford and you'll get a band called Gallows.

Best British Newcomer in Kerrang! Awards, No.1 in the UK charts Charts in 2007 for their hit, "Staring at the Rude Bois", and having a track of theirs in Guitar Heroes III. Maybe it's worth any punk's time to check out their album, Orchestra of Wolves.

Bristol trio Portishead back after 10 years

Trip hop makes its way back with Portishead - probably the best in this genre. After 10 years, they've crafted 11 tracks that'll hopefully compensate its absence it the music scene.

Their third album, 'tastefully' named Third is due in stores April 14, 2008.

Is Weezer back with a 6th?

There have been whispers that River Cuomo and the boys will be back in 2008...

Paste Magazine says April 2008. All we know is that it's been project named "Album Six". Anyone got any updates?