Video: Depeche Mode - Wrong

Everybody of an '80s ilk is either reforming (Spandau Ballet) or bringing out best-of compilations (Erasure, Annie Lennox) or announcing comebacks (Michael Jackson). Meanwhile everybody from the '00s wants to be from the '80s (Frankmusik, La Roux).

Well. Also FROM THE '80s, but like Pet Shop Boys still going at it hammer and tongs, Basildon boys Depeche Mode are prepping our lugs for a new album, Sounds Of The Universe, and tour dates at arenas up and down the land. And Messrs Gahan and Gore still sound as filthy as ever.

The video for the new album's lead single, Wrong, is below. Maybe you're one of the million or so viewers who've already caught it. All we can say is, if Patrick Wolf reckons he's into S&M, he should get a look at this...

 

Video: Lily Allen - Not Fair

Lily Allen's second single from her second album is the countrified Not Fair.  It follows her chart-topping exploits with The Fear earlier this year.

Sporting a glossy mane and Barbra Stanwick heels, we reckon Lilz'd fit right in amongst those line-dancin' midwestern folks. Kooky, no?

Check out the video...

A Spotify playlist - the year so far

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few months, you'll have heard all about Spotify. Indeed, you can even read S-Express' Mark Moore's views about it on this very website.

While Mark makes a persuasive argument of the inherent dangers of Spotify, particularly regarding the potential dangers for the struggling artist, there seems no doubt that it's here to stay. It's free (if you don't mind the 30 second adverts), it's convenient and you can - almost - find any track of your choice on there to listen to. All perfectly legally. It's like God's very own jukebox.

With this in mind, we thought we'd utilise Spotify to show you first hand some of the tracks we've been raving about this year. It's 3 months into 2009 and there's already been over 200 albums released so far. So, we've picked 50 of our favourite tracks from January, February and March, collected them on Spotify and arranged them into a handy playlist for your listening pleasure.

You'll obviously need to have Spotify installed (and so, apologies to our readers in North America where it's not yet available) and, if you're in the UK, you don't even need an invite to get started.

So, once you're up and running, click here to open up our playlist. And don't forget to tell us what you think below, and feel free to share your own Spotify playlists with us.

Video: PJ Harvey & John Parish - Black Hearted Love

PEEJ IS BACK. 

PJ Harvey & John Parish release their new album A Woman A Man Walked By on 30th March and this first video from the collaborative project, Black Hearted Love, gives a little taster of what to expect.

Harvey and Parish play the Shepherd's Bush Empire on 20th and 21st April as part of a European tour.  More at Polly Jean's MySpace. 

SXSW 2009: Metallica, DJ Shadow, Kanye West and more gossip!

With only one full day of music left at SXSW, festivities are well underway.

Yesterday's main talking point was the worst kept secret of the festival - that Metallica would be performing at Stubb's, to promote the release of their Guitar Hero game. The secret leaked out on the first day of the festival's interactive conference, and a non-denial was issued by organizers.

When the music part of the conference began, Guitar Hero posters appeared confirming an 'appearance' from 'members of Metallica' Would they actually be peforming, or just in town to promote the game?

But fans needn't have worried as Metallica treated the audience to an hour and a half long set, of both old and new material.

The night was opened by LA based band The Silversun Pickups (London folk, catch them at one of their 4 London dates from April 3rd - they're very good) and closed by DJ Shadow who was doing an exclusive set, his first of 2009, prior to heading to into the studio to record his new album.

Tonight, the chatter seems firmly focused on a little known artist called Kanye West, who is reportedly performing at Levi's Fader Fort at 7pm.

Perez Hilton brings the glamour tonight at his invitation only Diva's themed party. Doors open at 7pm and those lucky enough to have grabbed a pink ticket will be treated to sets from Margaret Cho, a surprise special guest, Ladyhawke, along with Solange Knowles, Little Boots, Ida Maria and french fancy Yelle. Top stuff!

Who will you be seeing tonight?