Label: Interscope/Polydor Release: November 2006 Tracks: 12 Rating: 5 Well, it’s official. The band called “blink 182” are no more. The three members have ultimately fragmented into two new bands. Tom DeLonge joined Boxcar Racer and Angels and Airways. Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker went to +44. It’s just like the situation of a couple… Read more »
Pope Benedict XVI has landed in the Ankara airport and been greeted by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan despite prolonged mutterings that the Catholic leader may just be left to take care of himself once he touched down. The Prime Minister did turn up, as it happened, and rumour has it that 3,000 police… Read more »
After spending nearly three years in Great Britain, I realise that I have definitely not been travelling around Europe as much as I should. I’ve done the London scene a few times, driven down to Cornwall and spent some time at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, but, when it comes to getting off the island, I’ve… Read more »
Label: Island Records Release: September 2006 Tracks: 12 Rating: 9 I seem to have been lost in a time warp these past couple of months, because I could have sworn that Sam’s Town was released much earlier in the year and that I, in fact, had already reviewed it! In this case, I am happy… Read more »
The controversial news network Al Jazeera, with Arabic base in Quatar, has this week launched its English-language sister network to great reviews. That is, great reviews by those who managed to tune in. It turns out that, although I am receiving the transmission via my beautiful new satellite television system in the United Kingdom, no… Read more »
According to The Wall Street Journal Europe (November 7, 2006), Irish company Ryanair has reported unusually high net earnings in its second quarter. This jump in profits is particularly unusual since fuel prices have been rising of late. However, ticket prices have gone up to combat the trend. British consumers make up a massive part… Read more »
Label: TVT Released: September 2006 Tracks: 14 Rating: 8 Great album! Le Futur Noir has a really pleasing sound, not a million miles away from Nirvana or Rise Against with its brand of mellow hardcore. A Greek, a Brit and an American, who now all now reside in California, populate the band. The bunch is… Read more »
Sometimes, no news is, in fact, news. It’s been five years since we marched in Calgary and demanded that Canada and every other G8 nation adopted the Kyoto Protocol. Its been five years since Bad Religion toured with “Kyoto Now” on their lips and a mere four years since our nation actually ratified the bill…. Read more »
Label: Universal Tracks: 12 Release: September 2006 Rating: 9 This band has what I like to think of as a “Café” sound — the sort of thing you are always surprised to find yourself enjoying at the local café or pub. The album has a very relaxed feel, like something you would put on to… Read more »
Jack Straw, the former British Foreign Secretary for the Labour government, has opened a line of debate that has been steadily gaining supporters and detractors this month. The MP stated at a conference that the veil was a “visible statement of separation and of difference”, and he urged Muslim women to get rid of it…. Read more »