Caroline The DJ

RELOCATION RELOCATION RELOCATION

carolinebeavon — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 11:37:36 +0000

We’re moving up in the world:

CarolineTheDj.wordpress.com is upping sticks and relocating to http://www.carolinethedj.com

Same stuff, different address … see you there folks!

Akon and MJ??!!

carolinebeavon — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:00:16 +0000

Just heard the new Michael Jackson single on Radio 1. Or rather, Akon featuring Michael Jackson, which is a bit rich considering it was a Michael Jackson song that he started writing before he died. Then someone decided to allow Akon to get his hands on it and finish it.

I have a few problems with this generally. How can Akon even begin to know what Jackson intended for the song? Normally it’s a spouse or relative or former band mate who is allowed to finish a song off, not some random performer. At least they may have had an insight into the writing process and had some idea about what the artist wanted. For all Akon knows, Jackson may have been about to abort the song (as he should have done) and never allow it to see the light of day.

Secondly, Akon has made the song his own, literally. The song start with what I find the quite egotistical phrase “Akon and MJ” as if Jackson was just on backing vocals. If Akon didn’t have that much to work with, don’t do it. The universe is clearly trying to tell you something!

Thirdly the song is dire and should have been left alone. It’s a blatant cash in and is yet another slight on Jackson’s musical legacy.

I am not a Michael Jackson fan, I just think there is enough bad music around without self-centred rappers jacking up a weak song in the name of tribute.

View This Poll

Michael Jackson & Akon: ‘Hold My Hand’ Premiere! (justjared.buzznet.com)
“Check Out: Michael Jackson feat. Akon â€” â€œHold My Handâ€” and related posts (consequenceofsound.net)
Michael Jackson duet with Akon released online (cnn.com)
Michael Jackson song with Akon to be released (ctv.ca)
Joe Vogel: Review: “Hold My Hand” (Michael Jackson and Akon) (huffingtonpost.com)

Cast announce plans for new album

carolinebeavon — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:32:26 +0000

Britpop fans listen up … Cast are back with plans to record a brand new album!!

It’s 15 years since they released their all Change album but with announcing their reformation earlier this year, it’s no great surprise!!

They’re off on tour this month, dates below, then it’s into the studio with the album pencilled in for an early-2011 release! The band have decided to use the PledgeMusix system which cuts out the need for a record label. www.pledgemusic.com

WED 24 NOV NEWCASTLE O2 ACADEMY 0844 477 2000
THU 25 NOV BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY 0844 477 2000
FRI 26 NOV MANCHESTER ACADEMY SOLD OUT
SAT 27 NOV GLASGOW O2 ABC SOLD OUT
MON 29 NOV LIVERPOOL O2 ACADEMY SOLD OUT
TUES 30 NOV LIVERPOOL O2 ACADEMY SOLD OUT
WED 01 DEC LEEDS O2 ACADEMY 0844 477 2000
FRI 03 DEC LONDON O2 SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE SOLD OUT
SAT 04 DEC LONDON O2 SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE 0844 477 2000
SUN 05 DEC OXFORD O2 ACADEMY 0844 477 2000
TUE 07 DEC LEAMINGTON SPA ASSEMBLEY 0844 811 0051
WED 08 DEC BRISTOL O2 ACADEMY 0844 477 2000
THU 09 DEC LIVERPOOL O2 ACADEMY 0844 477 2000

Buy online: www.gigsandtours.com 24hr CC Hotline: 0844 811 0051

Iron Maiden UK Arena Tour

carolinebeavon — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:49:21 +0000

Iron Maiden have announced a UK Arena tour: here are the dates!

Tickets for the UK shows go on sale 10am on Saturday 20^th November 2010 and are available from www.livenation.co.uk

Tickets for the Belfast show available from www.ticketmaster.ie

JULY

Wed 20 Scotland, Glasgow SECC

Thu 21 Scotland, Aberdeen AECC P&J Arena

Sat 23 England, Newcastle Metro Radio Arena

Sun 24 England, Sheffield Motorpoint Arena

Wed 27 England, Nottingham Trent FM Arena

Thu 28 England, Manchester MEN Arena

Sun 31 England, Birmingham NIA

AUGUST

Mon 1 Wales, Cardiff CIA Arena

Wed 3 Northern Ireland, Belfast Odyssey

Fri 5 England, London 02 Arena

Iron Maiden to Board Ed Force One for World Tour (noisecreep.com)
Ed Force One refuels for IRON MAIDEN’s 2011 tour (metalinjection.net)
DREAM THEATER And IRON MAIDEN Together – First Photo Surfaces (bravewords.com)
Iron Maiden vs. Bollywood Mashup by Wax Audio (laughingsquid.com)
10 reviews of Bruce Dickinson (vocals for Iron Maiden) (rateitall.com)
IRON MAIDEN Announce New Radio Single; ‘Coming Home’ (bravewords.com)

So, right now I’m …

carolinebeavon — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:42:54 +0000

Thinking that in a week I start presenting a show on Q Radio. 1pm – 3pm Mondays and Wed-Fri! Excited? You should be. That station plays some good stuff … I’ll let you know what’s coming up on my show as soon as possible ..
Getting very excited about seeing The Levellers performing Levelling the Land in FULL in Birmingham (and as if that isn’t exciting enough, The Wonder Stuff are supporting) – more here
Basking in the glory of my time DJing at the Actress and Bishop in Birmingham on Saturday night (my first weekend shift). Kinda a different crowd than I’m used to (someone asked for Cheryl Cole). The night mainly consisted of 90s indie anthems and a nice Kings of Leon/Killers medley. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Watch this space …
Laughing at the terrible reviews coming in from Guns N Roses last night. So glad I didn’t go along… sounds like it was awful – as they tend to be nowadays. I’d be very glad to see Axl back with the original GnR guys (well, maybe not the Appetite for Destruction drummer but hey, beggars can’t be choosers right). Apparently Velvet Revolver are now looking for a new lead singer. Apparently Axl is looking for some popularity. I’m just saying
Getting into some good bluesy rock right now. First, Sons of White (who sound a pretty raw right now, but imaging with some decent production) Here’s my Band of the Week column for GotSeeN.com. Then there’s Mona … this band are SO exciting http://www.myspace.com/monatheband (More from The Guardian here First Sight: Mona (guardian.co.uk)

Mona – Listen To Your Love
- Watch more Music Videos at Vodpod.

Levellers: Levelling The Land Live + The Wonder Stuff

carolinebeavon — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 10:44:35 +0000

Levellers will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their legendary album Levelling the Land with a UK tour, which will see them play the album IN FULL.

Support for the tour will be fellow 90s indie outfit The Wonder Stuff.

Levelling the Land was a crucial album for an entire generation, and inspired many a middle class kid to grow dreadlocks, wear patchwork trousers and head off to Glastonbury in a transit van.

Politics aside (which is tough with an album as potent as this) this band produced some truly wonderful folk-rock anthems. Do not miss the chance to see them perform these songs.

March 2011
Wednesday 9 BRISTOL O2 Academy
Thursday 10 LEEDS O2 Academy
Friday 11 GLASGOW Barrowland
Saturday 12 NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Sunday 13 NEWCASTLE O2 Academy
Tuesday 15 SOUTHAMPTON Guildhall
Wednesday 16 NORWICH UEA
Thursday 17 BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy
Friday 18 MANCHESTER Academy
Saturday 19 LONDON O2 Brixton Academy

Pink Floyd: just DO it already …

carolinebeavon — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 10:02:27 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Ok, so after literally YEARS of will-they-won’t they rumours and stories about Pink Floyd, it seems they WOULD be prepared to get back together for a charity performance. Of some kind.

BBC article

Remember, the last time they played together was Live 8.

Now, it’s great that they’d be happy to put their pretty considerable differences aside for the greater good, but seriously, is anyone else just a little bit bored of all this now ??

View This Poll

If you’re going to get back together: do it already. Stop will all the nonsense

Ok – rant over

More charity gigs could be the future for Pink Floyd (bbc.co.uk)

Crystal Fighters …. anarchic dance-folk

carolinebeavon — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:09:11 +0000

It’s chaotic, it’s unclassifiable but it’s totally wonderful! This is Crystal Fighters, who blend folk with fast dance beats and energetic vocals!

They’re playing the Birmingham HMV Institute on Friday 8th October – think I might try to make it along, I can’t even imagine what this lot are like live … (The Fly review here)

Myspace

Guardian article

This quote says it all “”what would happen if you went back, say, 100 years and dropped a ton of modern recording equipment plus a copy of Mixmag into an obscure hamlet in the heart of the Basque region of Spain and left the villagers, steeped as you’d expect in folk music, to their own devices” The Guardian

Charlatans drummer being treated for brain tumour

carolinebeavon — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:36:35 +0000

CHARLATANS STATEMENT

REGARDING JON BROOKES
The Charlatans drummer Jon Brookes is currently undergoing treatment in the UK for a brain tumour following the postponement of the remaining dates of Charlatans North American tour.

The Charlatans touring schedule remains unaltered whilst the band arrange for a short term replacement.

The band and Jon would like to thank all well wishers for their kind messages of support.

Please check www.thecharlatans.net for upcoming shows.

Linkin’ Park: discuss

carolinebeavon — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 07:59:15 +0000

The new album from rock band Linkin Park has raised a few interesting points about the music business:

SALES

Linkin Parks new album “A Thousand Suns” sold 241,000 copies in the US it’s first week of sale – and went straight to number 1 in the Billboard charts – Their last album, back in 2007, “Minutes to Midnight” sold 623,000 This is being blamed on the download culture in music – kids expect music for free and Linkin Park have a high population of “young” fans.

MUSIC STYLE

Now this has been called aconcept album and – unless you’re Pink Floyd – that can sometimes mean a bit of a flop sales-wise.

The band have definitely entered new territory (the single The Catalyst could almost be Prodigy or Pendulum) which may have earned them a few fans – kids are a lot more crossover in tastes nowadays.

The problem is, that as it’s been flagged up as a concept album, well you have no idea what to expect. Which is where my next point comes in

STREAMING

Personally I listen to music online first (via streaming site Spotify) and if I really like it, I’ll buy it. You can’t listen to A Thousand Suns on Spotify as you need to have a premium membership. I won’t be buying a membership in order to listen to an album if I don’t know what it sounds like. Have Linkin Park shot themselves in the foot here – if people could at least listen to part of a song, or a few tracks, then they may be more inclined to buy it?

In fact, should Linkin Park have “done a Radiohead” and released it for free, allowing fans to set their own price? Or do a Nine INch Nails, and allow fans to download for free, but buy box sets, exclusive content etc? Both of these models work if the band has such a following already that enough fans will support it. I think Linkin Park fall into this category.

ALBUM FORMAT

Another interesting point, the band seem very keen to preserve the album format

Mike Shinoda – “People are used to consuming music in kind of small, bite-sized pieces, as we are, too, but yeah, we kind of made a six-course meal or a 15-course meal for you. If you decide to just, you know, check it out in little bits and pieces, that works. That’s fine, but you will be kind of foregoing an experience that is special, and we want people to know that the record is, you know, something that if you listen to it from beginning to end you’ll get something extra out of it.”

You have to wonder, in todays age, whether the concept album is a dying idea – nowadays people DO pick and choose – I love music but with so much out there, I don’t think I’ve listened to a new album all the way through, in months.

Caroline The DJ

RELOCATION RELOCATION RELOCATION

Akon and MJ??!!

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Levellers: Levelling The Land Live + The Wonder Stuff

Pink Floyd: just DO it already …

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Crystal Fighters …. anarchic dance-folk

Charlatans drummer being treated for brain tumour

Linkin’ Park: discuss