Have you ever met anyone who walks into a room and simply commands attention?  They haven't even said a word, yet everyone simply focuses on them.  They aren't particularly showy, they don't have to be beautiful, or charming or anything outstanding.  It is simply their "Presence".  People naturally gravitate towards this person.  

When in a group, this person is ALWAYS chosen for leadership.  They don't seek it, they just are chosen by others.  They don't even have to know the other people.  Other people simply "know" them.  In any job they always rise to the top.  Not because they are smarter than anyone else, or that they work harder, its just the fact that they exude confidence and therefore everyone else always just assumes that they can get the job done and pushes them into positions of responsibility.

When this person speaks, others simply listen. It doesn't matter the age or experience of this person, or the age or experience of the listener.  There is something compelling in their manner that simply makes them be heard.  It makes them special, it makes them stand out from the rest.

My entire life, I have been blessed/cursed with this natural charisma.  It makes people both love me to the extreme, and hate me to the other.  There is no middle ground in my world.  An old boyfriend of mine commented on this once in my life and said "I find it absolutely amazing.  People either want to throw you a party or they want to throw you on the bonfire.  There is never any middle ground.  No one is ever ambivalent about you."  Another thing that was said to me when I was around 18.  Another thing that is true today.

I have always thought it interesting/strange that people always just assume I can do whatever.  When I was 18 years old, I went for a job as a concierge in a hotel (I didn't even know what that was).  Within 6 weeks, with ZERO experience I was the assistant manager of that hotel.  18 years old!  I mean is that bizarre or what?  People just throw me in at the deep end and know I will swim.  And I guess thank God I do.  It helped big time in my career and gave me many opportunities.

Personal charisma isn't always the easiest of things to have.  As much as one tries to just be "part of the group" they never really can.  It always ends up about them.  Their energy ends up being the force with which things happen.  And after a while, other people feel cheated of their chance to join in and envy that person's specialness and power.

Used correctly, it can be a wonderful asset in life.  It can really give you such advantages.  Especially if you have a good brain, and a nice physical package to add to it.  It isn't needed though.   Just sweetens the pot a bit.

I have learned to dampen my personal charisma and energy.  In various situations I simply try to "turn it off".  It works some times, others, well, I still am working on perfecting it.  There have been times where that charisma has created negative situations for me.  There are people who feel threatened by it.  There are those who feel the need to compete.  I have no need to compete at all.  Thankfully jealousy and spiteful competition are not parts of my personality, and they are replaced with compassion and empathy in these situations.  But it is still a challenge and struggle to overcome.

People look to me even here on my blog for "the answers".  I don't have them all.  The few I do have, were gained the honest way, and I "earned them".  I am willing to share what I have with you all.  But this isn't the first time.  When I had a chat channel, people would log on every single day from all over the world just to "speak" to me.  We aren't talking about a handful of people here either.  We are talking about hundreds if not thousands.  When I would leave the channel for any reason, to take a break, the channel would go silent.  

Before you all think Im boasting, I am really not.  This is often a difficult thing for me to deal with in life.  Sometimes you just want to fit in and be like everyone else.  Its hard though when God made you to "stick out". (And no, Im not talking about my 36DD's here either).  

It isn't easy.  People EXPECT things from you.  They NEED things from you.  It doesn't matter that you are tired, or sick or whatever.  You are who you are.  You demand it of yourself every bit as much as it is demanded of you.  Sometimes, you actually hate that about yourself.  

What would it be like I wonder to be able to just "coast" in life?  To be able to just be part of the crowd?  To not shoulder the responsibility, step up to the plate, and to be ordinary?  I can't imagine.  I have never ever been that way.....

Maybe this song will make it make sense..

Her face is a map of the world
Is a map of the world
You can see she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
And everything around her is a silver pool of light
The people who surround her feel the benefit of it
It makes you calm
She holds you captivated in her palm

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

I feel like walking the world
Like walking the world
You can hear she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
She fills up every corner like she's born in black and white
Makes you feel warmer when you're trying to remember
What you heard
She likes to leave you hanging on her word

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

And she's taller than most
And she's looking at me
I can see her eyes looking from a page in a magazine
Oh she makes me feel like I could be a tower
A big strong tower
She got the power to be
The power to give
The power to see

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

Lá fora a escocesa desponta no mainstream desde 2005. Já teve rixa com a cantora Dido, viu sua música ser cantada no American Idol, tem o site com mais opções de tradução que vi até hoje na música (18, incluindo o nosso português) e talento de sobra. 

A música "Suddenly I See" também foi utilizada no filme O Diabo Veste Prada e nas novelas Belíssima e Malhação do folhetim global.

Apenas pelo visual de HQ dos anos 50 já vale a visita a página oficial

http://www.kttunstall.com/

SERVIÇO

VIA FUNCHAL

SÃO PAULO - SP

Abertura: Alexandre Grooves

Horário: 21:30h

Ingressos abaixo:

A parte ruim disso tudo é que não há bolso que agüente tantos shows acontecendo. Entre a filha da Elis e o Marcelo Camelo, tive que optar. Sem falar na vontade de ver KT Tunstall e Offspring (embora eu tenha medo sim de ser pisoteada no show)!

Mas, tem um que eu espero não perder de jeito maneira. Todo dia busco novas informações na web sobre o show do R.E.M. Sim, aqueles caras da música Loosing My Religion e Shinny Happy People (que quase foi a minha música de formatura...)! Ainda é meio surreal, mas eles vêm tocar em Porto Alegre e no Zequinha!

Passei minha adolescência vendo clipes deles na MTV e ouvindo suas músicas. Tinha até um CD do tipo "the best of" sabe? Mas emprestei pra alguém que nunca devolveu. Pois é! Ainda bem que hoje não se empresta MP3... (Aline, vou devolver teus cd's com MP3 viu? não te preocupa!). Então, será realmente muito bom assistir um show desse porte. Estou na expectativa para saber quanto será o ingresso...

Como não dá pra ir a todos, é preciso escolher. Se você amigo leitor é uma pessoa abonada, tira este popô da cadeira e vai a todos estes shows!!! ou a qualquer um que gostares. Mas vá.

Sobre a Maria Rita, só posso dizer que quem quiser sambar muito com as maravilhosas músicas dela, tem a minha companhia garantida!

By Alexander Lawrie
 
NEWLYWEDS KT Tunstall and her drummer husband Luke Bullen shunned a celebrity-style honeymoon – by renting a small, secluded cottage on Skye for the week.
 
The Scots-born pop star chose to stay in one of four private cottages in the tiny crofting and fishing village of Elgol.
 
The rock star couple were recently married at Skye’s Flodigarry Country House Hotel on the north east of the island, and their banns were posted in the island’s capital, Portree.
 
Owned by locals Andrew and Mary Sim, the four cottages have been in their family for six generations, and are based on the traditional island ‘black house’ or thatched cottage.
 
KT and Luke hired ‘Tigh Lachie’, the newest of the four cottages, and went totally unnoticed by the other guests during their stay.
 
The cosy cottage features underfloor heating and oil burning stoves, while a traditional veiled box bed added a further touch of romance to the already beautiful surroundings.
 
The view from the jetty at the bottom of the village, looking across Loch Scavaig into Loch Coruisk and the magnificent Cuillin Hills mountain range, is arguably one of the finest in the country.
 
After a wonderful week’s stay, kind-hearted KT left a thank you note for owners Andrew and Mary.

 
She wrote: “Skye is my favourite place in the world, and Elgol is my favourite place on Skye. Staying at Mary’s Cottages and meeting Mary & Drew enriched the experience all the more. All the best, KT.”
 
Mary and Andrew decided to keep the couple’s location secret throughout the course of their stay, but couldn’t wait to share the news once they said their goodbyes to the couple.
 
Mary said: “We feel very privileged that KT and Luke chose Mary’s Cottages as the place they wanted to spend the beginning of their honeymoon.
 
“We also very much appreciate the support they have shown to the island, as by choosing Skye as their wedding venue they will encourage many more visitors to come and enjoy the island’s unrivalled scenery, attractions and hospitality.”
 
“The cottages really are the perfect romantic getaway, and we very much enjoyed having them with us.”
 
The 33-year-old singer-songwriter has also just announced she is to take part in an expedition to the world’s biggest glacier as part of an initiative to highlight climate change.
 
Also aboard the research vessel Grogory Mikhev will be Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker and comedian Marcus Brigstocke.
 
The ship will travel along the west coast of Greenland to Disko Bay, then sail on to the Jakobshavn Glacier which is estimated to be losing 20 million tonnes of ice each day.

Quant aux anglo-saxonnes, les Kate et Katie pullulent depuis quelques années.
Je vous en ai trouvé 4. Rien que ça, et je vous ai fait une mixtape thématique "tronches de Kate".

Katy Perry, Kate White (Ting Tings), KT Tunstall et Kate Nash.

Du beau monde, et de la belle musique...

[mixwit_mixtape wid="b931672a6587af7b3498dcfc10e53985" pid="a2a0ed19daa457185ca8b1670ebb860f" un="misterjukebox" width="426" height="327" center="true"]

Ah, ontem me disseram que a Beth Ditto mostra a periquita e faz mosh na platéia.

ずいぶん前に良く流れてましたよね、１年半くらい前？

でも彼女のハスキーボイスが聞きやすいです、元気になりそうな曲だし、さびも覚えやすくってキャッチーな曲です。

絶対どっかで聴いたことあるはず。

（この曲はプラダを着た悪魔の中で流れていたようです。）

ＰＶも可愛いです。

Suddenly I see

アイ・トゥ・ザ・テレスコープ　Eye To The Telescope (US Version) 　￥1,490
タワーレコード

1. "Other Side of the World" – 3:34 (KT Tunstall, Martin Terefe)
2. "Another Place to Fall" – 4:11 (Tunstall)
3. "Under the Weather" – 3:37 (Tunstall, Tommy D)
4. "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" – 2:51 (Tunstall)
5. "Miniature Disasters" – 3:32 (Tunstall)
6. "Silent Sea" – 3:48 (Tunstall, Jimmy Hogarth)
7. "Universe & U" – 4:01 (Tunstall, Pleasure)
8. "False Alarm" – 3:50 (Tunstall, Terefe)
9. "Suddenly I See" – 3:22 (Tunstall)
10. "Stoppin' the Love" – 4:02 (Tunstall, Tommy D)
11. "Heal Over" – 4:27 (Tunstall)
12. "Through the Dark" – 3:48 (Tunstall, Terefe)

Where are you girls? Were awaiting the next album :)

in today's trouser press:

- new Ane Brun video, Alphaville cover and CD release for Sketches
- inside scoop on the new Peaches album
- Goldfrapp to reissue Seventh Tree with a host of extras
- Nouvelle Vague founder gets all-woman cast to reinterpret '80s film themes
- Low announce new single and festive shows
- White Hinterland go retro French for new EP
- more details about the new Pretenders album
- Amiina and others cover 'Nightmare Before Christmas' songs
- KT Tunstall and others on new charity compilation
- Lioness announce debut EP
- fifth album on the way from Priya Thomas
- Amy Winehouse and Madonna immortalised in LEGO 

* * *

Following huge demand from her fans, Ane Brun will release a CD version of her new demos album Sketches, released as a digital-only treat a couple of weeks ago. You'll only be able to buy it from her website, mind you. Get a copy from October 1st onwards.

In other Ane Brun news, the Norwegian singer-songwriter has released a cover of Alphaville's ‘Big In Japan', recorded for the soundtrack of Swedish TV documentary ‘Stor I Japan'. She says it's on iTunes. We can't find it. But it is on her website, as is her latest video collaboration with Magnus Renfors, this time for the sad, stunning ‘Don't Leave', the third single to be taken from the brilliant Changing Of The Seasons. Watch it here:

* * *

The next Peaches album will unveil a new Italo disco-influenced direction for the raunchy Canadian, with production from Simian Mobile Disco, Chilly Gonzales and others we don't know about yet. Voodoo-faced electro person Drums Of Death told The Lipster: "Peaches is singing, like, proper vocals. It's beautiful, just great...this album should blow away her old fans and bring her 10 times more, I really hope it does that for her."

The as-yet-untitled album is currently penciled in for March 2009.

* * *

Goldfrapp have announced plans to release a special edition of latest album Seventh Tree, with new album artwork, new photos and an expanded bonus DVD featuring videos for the three singles (‘A&E', ‘Happiness' and ‘Caravan Girl') and various live performances. The package hits the shops on October 27th.

Read the full announcement here. And listen to the clips of the new live takes of ‘Happiness' and ‘Monster Love', y'know, if you want to and all.

* * *

Nouvelle Vague mastermind Marc Collin has put together a new covers project, this time with the ambition "to change the way we feel about 1980s film soundtracks." Hollywood, Mon Amour is its name - the project and the album, out October 6th - and it even features famous Tinseltown veteran turned rock star Juliette Lewis, who sings on a cover of Davie Bowie's ‘This Is Not America' from the 1985 film ‘The Falcon & The Snowman'.

Other famous names include ex-Morcheeba vocalist Skye Edwards (Blondie's ‘Call Me', Duran Duran's ‘A View To A Kill'), Yael Naïm (Irene Cara's ‘Flashdance...What A Feeling'), Cibelle (Kenny Loggins' ‘Footloose'), with up-and-coming artists Katrine Ottosen, Nadeah, Dea Li, Nancy Danino and Leelou providing the rest of the nostalgia kicks. The premise that these songs now sound dated and unfashionable is a little shaky - the ‘80s have been back for how long now? - but otherwise we approve.

Hollywood, Mon Amour
01 Skye - Call Me [from ‘American Gigolo']
02 Katrine Ottosen - Eye Of The Tiger [from ‘Rocky III']
03 Nadeah - When Doves Cry [from ‘Purple Rain']
04 Dea Li - Cat People (Putting On Fire) [from ‘Cat People']
05 Skye - A View To A Kill [from ‘A View To A Kill']
06 Yael Naïm - Flashdance...What A Feeling [from ‘Flashdance']
07 Cibelle - Footloose [from ‘Footloose']
08 Juliette Lewis - This Is Not America [from ‘The Falcon & The Snowman']
09 Nadeah - Arthur's Theme [from ‘Arthur']
10 Dea Li - Reality [from ‘La Boum']
11 Nadeah - Forbidden Colours [from ‘Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence']
12 Dea Li - For Your Eyes Only [from ‘For Your Eyes Only']
13 Leelou - Don't You (Forget About Me) [from ‘The Breakfast Club']

An expanded version of the album with three bonus tracks will be available as a limited edition digipak (1000 copies only) and a double LP.

Rumours continue to swirl around about a new Nouvelle Vague album (tentatively titled NV3), but there's been no official word about it yet. The band is on tour in November and December, with Nadeah and Marianne Elise providing the vocals. Katrine Ottosen releases her debut solo album, Fall Down, on November 10th under the name of CallmeKAT, following the lovely I'm In A Polaroid, Where Are You? EP, issued in June.

* * *

Famous for their festive offerings, if not their cheer, Low will release a new Christmas-themed single on November 3rd. ‘Santa's Coming Over' will be available on 7" vinyl and as a download, backed by a cover of reggae track ‘The Coming Of Jah'. The band play three ‘holiday concerts' in the UK a couple of weeks later, supported by the brilliant and all-too-rarely-in-this-country Ida:

17.11.08 Òran Mór, Glasgow
18.11.08 Club Academy, Manchester
19.11.08 Koko, London

Our advice: buy tickets! But don't stand at the front, just in case there's a repeat of the band's set at End Of The Road festival last weekend which culminated in frontman Alan Sparhawk forcefully slinging his guitar into the crowd. Dangerous, yes, but thankfully no one was hurt.

* * *

If, like us, you've played White Hinterland's Phylactery Factory to death over the last 6 months and are craving something new from Casey Dienel's magical kingdom, well, today's your lucky day. Or rather October 21st is, because that's when a new White Hinterland EP descends upon retailers everywhere like manna from the heavens.

Called Luniculaire, a neologism coined from the French words "lunaire" (lunar) and "funiculaire" (railway), the five-track EP features songs from or inspired by French avant-pop of the 1960s. Dienel and co. tackle Françoise Hardy's ‘Mon Amie Le Rose', Brigitte Fontaine's ‘J'ai 26 Ans' and Serge Gainsbourg's legendary ‘Requiem Por Un Con', as well as providing two French-sung originals of their own. Download ‘Chant de Grillon', courtesy of Gorilla vs. Bear, and salivate with anticipation. Don't forget, White Hinterland play at Bush Hall on October 17th.

Luniculaire EP
01 Requiem Pour Un Con
02 Chant de Grillon
03 Mon Ami La Rose
04 J'ai 26 Ans
05 Lunirascible

* * *

More details have emerged about the new Pretenders album, Break Up The Concrete, out on October 6th. Turns out it's actually Chrissie Hynde fronting a whole new line-up for the band, which is interesting and puts the whole ‘roots album' premise into a clearer light.

As we previously wrote, Chrissie and the boys have been giving the album away, track by track, in the weeks leading up to the release, but iTunes has three exclusive tracks for their faithful shoppers. Anyone who downloads the whole album from iTunes after its release will get the bonus tracks ‘Tequila' and ‘Can't Help Falling In Love', while those who preorder the album will get both of those and the extra extra exclusive ‘977'. There's your incentives people. Choose wisely.

Break Up The Concrete
01 Boots Of Chinese Plastic
02 The Nothing Maker
03 Don't Lose Faith In Me
04 Don't Cut Your Hair
05 Love's A Mystery
06 The Last Ride
07 Almost Perfect
08 You Don't Have To
09 Rosalee
10 Break Up The Concrete
11 One Thing Never Never Changed
12 Tequila
13 Can't Help Falling In Love
14 977

* * *

Back in 2006, when the 3-D version of Tim Burton's ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas' hit selected screens across the country, a slightly extended version of the soundtrack was released with Fiona Apple, Marilyn Manson, Fall Out Boy, She Wants Revenge and Panic! At The Disco all turning in covers of some of the films much-loved musical numbers.

Well, if you liked that, there's a treat in store for you as Walt Disney Records are releasing a new 20-track set of covers from the film at the end of the month. Nightmare Revisited ousts all but Manson from the 2006 release, adding in a truly baffling array of others. Fiona Apple has been supplanted by Amy Lee of Evanescence for ‘Sally's Song', which surely can't be a good sign? Fortunately there are also inclusions from amazing Icelanders Amiina and Brazilian wonders Rodrigo y Gabriela.

Listen to some of the new versions here.

Nightmare Revisited
01 DeVotchKa - Overture
02 Danny Elfman - Opening
03 Marilyn Manson - This Is Halloween
04 All-American Rejects - Jack's Lament
05 Amiina - Doctor Finkelstein / In The Forest
06 Flyleaf - What's This?
07 Polyphonic Spree - Town Meeting Song
08 The Vitamin String Quartet - Jack & Sally Montage
09 Sparklehorse - Jack's Obsession
10 KoRn - Kidnap The Sandy Claws
11 Rise Against - Making Christmas
12 Yoshida Brothers - Nabbed
13 Rodrigo y Gabriela - Oogie Boogie's Song
14 Amy Lee - Sally's Song
15 RJD2 - Christmas Eve Montage
16 Plain White T's - Poor Jack
17 Datarock - To The Rescue
18 Shiny Toy Guns - Finale / Reprise
19 Danny Elfman - Closing
20 The Album Leaf - End Title

* * *

KT Tunstall, The Go! Team and country singer Dawn Kinnard have all contributed new songs to a charity compilation featuring music inspired by BBC presenter Bruce Parry's popular BBC nature documentary series, ‘Amazon' and ‘Tribe'. Released as a 2CD set on October 6th (though available digitally now), sales of Amazon/Tribe: Songs For Survival will benefit Survival International, a human rights organisation for tribal peoples.

KT, who recently married her drummer Luke Bullen, talks about the project in this video:

Hear her song, ‘The Hidden Heart', in full here.

Amazon/Tribe: Songs For Survival
CD1
01 Apparatjik - Ferreting
02 Dawn Kinnard - Love Is My New Drug
03 will.i.am ft. the Babongo Tribe - One People
04 KT Tunstall - The Hidden Heart
05 Jason Mraz & Brett Dennen - Long Road To Forgiveness
06 Jeremy Warmsley ft. Mystery Jets & Adem - Grains Of Sand
07 Tom Baxter - Make a Stand
08 Johnny Borrell ft. the Suri Tribe - Carrikfergus
09 Skin & Robot Club ft. the Adi Tribe - Simmer Down
10 Yusuf Islam - Edge of Existence

CD2
01 Joe Goddard ft. the Babongo Tribe (Hot Chip remix) - Babongo Tribe Remix
02 Adam Freeland ft. the Suri Tribe - KIN
03 Hybrid ft. the Suri Tribe - Komuru
04 Roger Sanchez ft. the Adi Tribe - Noneya
05 The Egg ft. the Anuta & Babongo Tribes - Trails & Tribulations
06 The Go! Team ft. the Babongo Tribe - Templates From Home
07 The Ruby Suns ft. the Penan Tribe - Don't Touch The Dusty Fruit
08 Blue States ft. the Kombai Tribe - Hello Kombai
09 Way Out West ft. the Babongo Tribe - Evelina
10 Mike Oldfield ft. the Anuta Tribe - Song For Survival

* * *

Formed out of the ashes of Canadian electro-rock band Controller.Controller following the departure of singer Nirmala Basnayake, Lioness are a, er, Canadian electro-rock band featuring the impressive vocal talents of Vanessa Fischer, also of Canadian electro-rock band No Dynamics. Their debut EP, also called Lioness, is coming out on October 14th in advance of the band's tour with You Say Party! We Say Die!, both in Canada only it seems. Sorry. We just mentioned it because we quite like the song they have up on their Myspace.

Lioness EP
01 You're My Heart
02 Harder They Fall
03 Dark Matter
04 Haunted Magick
05 What You Do (Will Come Back To You)

* * *

Another Canadian doing great stuff is the often overlooked Priya Thomas, who releases her fifth album of lo-fi experimental folk-rock on October 28th (in Canada). Priya Thomas Is Blood Heron was mostly written while on tour with Broken Social Scene's Jason Collett and later recorded at her home with "broken 2 string ukeleles, pots and pans, wooden spoons, a warped parlour guitar and an ebow," according to a blog post written earlier this year. Five of the 9 new songs are up on her Myspace, in case you're wondering what kind of unearthly clamour that kind of junk might make.

Priya Thomas Is Blood Heron
01 Your Guitar, My Undoing
02 Had I Known, I Would Have Declined
03 Dakota From The Hebrew
04 Vigilante
05 Gunpowder Heart Holy Texas
06 Lit Lightnint
07 Wine, Moonshine, Sugarbeams
08 Farewell Creek
09 St Lawrence Seaway, Gateway To The World

* * *

Finally, we've had the LEGO Bible. We've had the LEGO Olympics. We've had LEGO album covers. Now, the toy company themselves have created LEGO versions of pop stars Amy Winehouse, Madonna and, er, Cliff Richard to celebrate their 30th birthday. More than 4 billion LEGO figures have been ferried along the production line and into shops over the last 3 decades, and the little men and women have become increasingly sophisticated. Given the near-skeletal frames of Amy and Madonna lately, they might not be best pleased by the rather chunky renderings pictured on the Daily Mail's website today. Take a peek. Unfortunately they won't be going on sale.

* * *

Alan Pedder

A fire burns
Water comes
You cool me down
When I'm cold inside
You are warm and bright
You know you are so good for me yeah..
With your child's eyes
You are more than you seem
You see into space
I see in your face
The places you've been
The things you have learned
They sit with you so beautifully yeah...

You know there's no need to hide away
You know I tell the truth
We are just the same
I can feel everything you do
Hear everything you say
Even when you're miles away
Coz I am me, the universe & u

and Just like stars burning bright
Making holes in the night
We are building bridges

You know there's no need to hide away
You know I tell the truth
We are just the same
I can feel everything you do
Hear everything you say
Even when you're miles away
Coz I am me, the universe & u wow

Am the universe & u wow

When you're on your own
I'll send you a sign
Just so you know
I am me, the universe & u

the universe & u
the universe & u

I am the universe & u

in today's trouser press:

- Sarah McLachlan splits with husband, writes new songs about it
- Shirley Manson debuts in Terminator spinoff, records new songs
- Tori Amos writes foreword for Nemi comic anthology
- newly curated all-female Christmas album out next month 
- Nicole Atkins covers Mama Cass, The Doors and more
- former Sneaker Pimps singer Kelli Ali returns
- Beyoncé announces release date for third solo album
- Barbra Streisand and Gina Gershon take on Sarah Palin
- Gabriella Cilmi dominates ARIA nominations
- Estelle up for five MOBOs 

* * *

Sarah McLachlan has revealed that she is separating from her husband of 11 years, Ashwin Sood, with whom she has two daughters. Talking to Billboard.com she said, "I wasn't planning on saying anything, but it's gonna come out at some point. I haven't said anything about it because I've been terrified to, but I figure...there's no good time to say it, so I just said it."

She also revealed that the two new songs on her upcoming greatest hits album, Closer: The Best Of Sarah McLachlan, directly relate to the separation. New single ‘U Want Me 2' she says is "about that really uncertain, confusing place at the end of a relationship when there's no communication or closure, everything's still up in the air and there's a lot of anger and sadness. It's sort of that working through 'How do we move forward...with some dignity and grace." The other new song, ‘Don't Give Up', she describes as "pretty self-explanatory, basically just a plea to give it another chance and keep trying."

Closer is released on October 6th in single-disc and 2CD deluxe versions and Sarah hopes to have an album of new material out within the next 2 years.

‘U Want Me 2'

* * *

Fresh from her largely well-received debut in ‘The Sarah Connor Chronicles' as Catherine Weaver, high-powered CEO by day, Terminator by night, Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson is heading back into the recording studio next month to continue working on her debut solo album. "I've got a lot of material," she told Billboard.com, adding "we'll see if I manage to pull it off."

Shirley has already put one new song out there. Her cover of the traditional number ‘Samson & Delilah', as made famous by the Grateful Dead, played over the opening scenes of her first episode in her new role. Watch it here:

Talking about Garbage's indefinite hiatus, Shirley said "I wouldn't say it was boring, but it didn't frighten me any more. [On screen] I'm scared and it's a challenge and it feels good."

See what all the fuss is about with this compilation of four scenes from the episode:

Or just cut to the good bit...when she morphs out of a men's urinal! What were the lyrics to ‘Androgyny' again? "Girls in the men's room..."

* * *

Fresh from unveiling her ‘Comic Book Tattoo' Tori Amos has hooked up with cult cartoon heroine Nemi Montoya (or, more specifically, with her creator Lise Myhre) to pen the foreword for the upcoming second Nemi comic strip compilation, to be released through Titan Books. Readers of London's free, 1.35-million circulation newspaper Metro will be aware of Nemi's frank and funny ways, if not of her often declared love for Tori's music. The book is out on September 28th.

* * *

Tori's former label Epic have teamed up with the organisers of the Hotel Café live sessions to compile Hotel Café Presents Winter Songs, an all-female seasonal collection featuring classic covers and original recordings. Fiona Apple, Nicole Atkins, Brandi Carlile, Sara Bareilles, the newly-married KT Tunstall, and former Wears The Trousers interviewee Catherine Feeny are just some of the artists taking part. The album ends with an exclusive medley of the traditional New Year's anthem ‘Auld Lang Syne', from which all proceeds will go to breast cancer charity Susan G Komen For The Cure. The album is released in the US on October 14th and it doesn't look like we'll get a domestic release.

Hotel Café Winter Songs
01 Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson, ‘Winter Song'
02 Brandi Carlile, ‘The Heartache Can Wait'
03 Lenka, ‘All My Bells Are Ringing'
04 KT Tunstall, ‘Sleigh Ride'
05 Alice Smith, ‘Silver Bells'
06 Nicole Atkins, ‘Blue Christmas'
07 Fiona Apple, ‘Frosty The Snowman'
08 Meiko, ‘Maybe Next Year (X-mas Song)'
09 Holly Conlan, ‘I'll Be Home For Christmas'
10 Katy Perry, ‘White Christmas'
11 Colbie Caillat, ‘Mistletoe'
12 Priscilla Ahn, ‘Silent Night'
13 Kate Havnevik, ‘Winter Wonderland'
14 Catherine Feeny, ‘Christmas Song'
15 Hotel Café Medley, ‘Auld Lang Syne'

* * *

Speaking of Nicole Atkins, and of things you can't easily get in this country, our favourite New Jersey native released a brand new covers EP (digital-only) this week in the US. Depicted on the retro-style sleeve with a shovel, Nicole Atkins Digs Other People's Songs features four interpretations of some disparate tunes, from ‘Mama' Cass Elliot's star-making ‘Dream A Little Dream Of Me' to The Doors' ‘Crystal Ship' with tunes by Nada Surf and The Church thrown in for good measure. As Nicole herself puts it, "Basically, they're all really rockin' love songs that I enjoy and think you will too."

You can listen to The Church's ‘Under The Milky Way' ("my favourite song in high school") on her Myspace.

Nicole is in the UK next week filming an appearance on ‘Later...with Jools Holland'. Writing on her Myspace blog she wrote: "I've been watching that show forever and I couldn't be more excited. Not sure yet who else is playing the show but I guess that's part of the fun."

She also revealed that she's in the middle of putting together her second album. "I've got about 35 ideas and a few finished songs I'll be demoing with The Sea all fall. It feels like its been so long since I've done this and I'm willing and ready...I'm looking forward to taking it into a bit of a heavier territory. Riffs son!"

The album is expected to be out next year.

* * *

After four years of being as quiet as a mouse, former Sneaker Pimps singer Kelli Ali has announced that she will release a brand new album on November 24th. And what's more, that it'll be a complete departure from her trip hop and electronic past. Produced by none other than FatCat Records artist Max Richter, the man who put together Vashti Bunyan's Lookaftering, Rocking Horse promises to be a golden nugget of whimsical folk with baroque and medieval influences. Recorded this spring after Kelli returned from travelling through California and Mexico, the songs are heavily influenced by the weird and wonderful people and places she encountered along the way. One song (‘Urique'), for instance, was "written in a sacred canyon in Mexico after hitching a ride with a meth-addicted truck driver".

The singer is planning to publish journal entries written during the recording process on her new website. You can hear new song 'One Day At A Time' on her Myspace.

Kelli currently has two live dates planned, both in London, with more to be added soon.

15.09.08 The Source Below, London [with Jess Morgan]
15.10.08 The Slaughtered Lamb, London [with Chris Bathgate]

* * *

Less than a week after complaining to Marie Claire that she was "over" being a popstar and a "hot girl" and that she wants to be "iconic", Beyoncé has announced she will release her as-yet-untitled third solo album on November 17th. In the US, the as-yet-untitled album will be preceded by two singles - ‘If I Were A Boy' and ‘Single Ladies' - to be released simultaneously on October 7th. Hang on. If Beyoncé was a boy that would at least take care of not wanting to be a hot girl. Maybe that's what it's about.

Anyway, Beyoncé says that this is her "most personal, reflective and revelatory collection to date", and that she co-wrote and co-produced every song.

The singer recently confirmed that Destiny's Child would be getting back together later this year to record their 5th studio album proper, the follow-up to their 2004 'swansong' Destiny Fulfilled.

* * *

Barbra Streisand has dug her claws into controversial Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, accusing John McCain of choosing the Alaskan governor as his co-runner in order to win over women who were planning to vote for Hillary Clinton. A message on her website reads: "I believe John McCain chose Gov. Palin because he truly believes that women who supported Hillary - an experienced, brilliant, life-long public servant - would vote for him because his vice president has two X chromosomes...McCain's selection of Gov. Palin is a transparent and irresponsible decision all in the name of trying to win this election."

Occasional rockstar Gina Gershon is also on Palin's case, filming this sketch for FunnyorDie.com. 

* * *

With the Mercury Music Prize over for another year it's time for the rest of the award ceremonies to take their turn in the spotlight. This week the Australian equivalent of the Brits announced their shortlisted nominees. In the Female Artist of the Year are Kylie Minogue, Gabriella Cilmi, Missy Higgins, Clare Bowditch and Holly Throsby. Kylie and Gabriella are also up for Best Pop Release, alongside Operator Please and The Veronicas. Cilmi is also up for four other awards.

Sibling duo Angus & Julia Stone are up for Best Group and three other awards, while Kasey Chambers carries the flag for Album of the Year and Best Country Album for Rattlin' Bones, her duets album with husband Shane Nicholson. Other female nominees include Katie Noonan, Mia Dyson, The Waifs, The Audreys, The McClymonts, Catherine Britt, Melinda Schneider, Sara Storer, Delta Goodrem and Tina Arena. Phew.

The full list of nominees is here. The winners will be announced on October 19th. Look out for our interview with Holly Throsby, coming soon.

* * *

And, finally, to the MOBOs. Estelle leads the charge for the women, having been shortlisted for five awards - Best UK Female, Best Song, Best R&B Soul, Best Video and Best Album - followed by Leona Lewis with three nominations, including Best UK Female. The other candidates for that award are Adele, Duffy and MIA, while Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige and Rihanna battle it out with the boys for Best International Act. Alicia Keys is also up for Best Album alongside Estelle and Leona, while Lizz Wright and Yolanda Brown are in the running for Best Jazz Act.

This year's MOBOs take place at Wembley Arena on October 15th and will be co-hosted by Mel B.

* * *

Alan Pedder

Suddenly I see...

Black Horse And a Cherry Tree...

Come on you got to admit that performance rocked!!! I wish I had that talent:P

.

Pior quem ficou no maracanã desde sábado na fila. Mas isso era de se esperar e ainda vem a fila de espera do show!
Nem tudo é recalque, mas tem muita gente se fodendo meesmo pra ver a tia. Ao menos, evitei alguns transtornos. (Vendo o lado Positivo, sempre)

Mais positivo que isso será o show da KT Tusntall -tô adorando essa febre de shows internacionais- onde estarei com certeza dia 16 de outubro! Vale a pena conhecer pra quem só ouviu os singles -"Sunddenly i see"-
Grande expectativa pra esse show, e pra todos que se aproximam.

Continuando a linha de recomendação -vou fazer um post musical, to sentindo- e aproveitando a onda de shows não tem como não citar Tiago Iorc -que por acaso, também é fã da KT- extremamente talentoso mesmo com a pouca idade, e vitima do preconceito do underground -acabei de nomear assim- é incrível como o nome rende comentários como: "Tiago Iorc, aquele que toca em malhação ? blé". Já fui preconceituoso com esse tipo de coisa. Mesmo porque não se acha tanta coisa aproveitável na Mídia. O que não é o caso do Tiago, que dispensa qualquer descrição minha -meu conhecimento musical não conseguiria explicar naaada do que penso/sinto com a música- e pra mim isso de sentir a música vale muito mais. Well, melhor exemplificar:

www.myspace.com/tiagoiorc

No mais, tudo tem conspirando pra que eu acredite que os ventos de primavera vão trazer boas coisas... Vou continuar mergulhado em música e devorando livros.

Na cabeceira: O mundo de Sofia.
Ouvindo: Emilia Torrini -Wednesday Child

See you :*

Links incoming

Rock N Roll makes it on MTVu

azstarnet.com interview

Vassar still loves Eric

Javabeans writeup and streaming songs.

happyfunpants

wiredmagazine blog artile on Perez Hilton

Eric Hutchinson and KT Tunstall?

Hehe

You Don't Have to Believe Me

http://raleighgrits.blogspot.com/2008/08/ticklin-my-ears.html

What would I do to relive that awesome week~  :D

alright, gotta go screw ard with matlab before I bail from the house in a few hours' time~