Good ears American NPR listeners.

http://stereogum.com/425792/npr-listeners-top-50-albums-of-2010-so-far/l...

This arrived in my email. Their credentials are immaculate. Here's the highlights of the presser.

'All trained dancers (Sophia holds a gold medal for ice skating)-
these girl's are more in the vain of the Pussycat Dolls, they have played piano and key's for Dolly Parton, and have done
duets with Boy George(Emily and Katerina's father was in Culture Club)- they are
also close friends with Keisha Buchanan(Ex Sugababes).

That sells them to me. I'll see you down the front.

Went to see them last night, first time I've been to watch some blokes playing records on stage. It was brilliant, an eclectic mix from Can to Roxy to John Paul Young to Justice via Queen and LCD Sound System. They were backed up by some simple but clever visuals - which begs the question - were they actually spinning the CD's live or just pretending to? If it is live how do they match up the visuals so tightly to the beats? I don't want to take anything away from the show, it was great, but I can't quite believe that it was all happening before my very ears. Anyone know how it all works?

This weeks episode of Glee is all that is good with Glee - Beck, Funk, Sue Sylvester and James Brown. Brilliant. I heart Glee. It is mint.

Following on from the 'How did O Superman get in the charts...' thread. The notion that a song like that would find any place on daytime radio these days is a far fetched one. Running scared of the opposition, playlisted by focus groups, most stations are happy just to rehash 'classic' tracks and safe newcomers, flogging the winehouse/take that axis of evil to death. It's no longer broadcasting, it's very narrow casting. Or am I just jaded and cynical? Do you love your radio and the music comes from it?

Paul Burch is playing two dates in the UK in July, one in Gateshead and it's free. Brilliant.

So, I've always been a little ambivalent about the Stones. My favourite album is Black and Blue - see what I mean? Anyhow, I loved the recent doco on the making of Exile On Main Street. So, should I follow the herd and buy it, or is there a better Stones album that best sums them up?

he ' ' key on my lap op is broken. his makes wri ing any hing a real pain. Wha a wa .
OMG! an yo believe i ? Now he f king ' ' and he ' ' have broken. Wha a n .

This gem arrived in my Inbox today.

"Do you have a kitten that’s always causing moments of mayhem? Perhaps you find him hiding in all sorts of places. Does he appear from nowhere to pounce on your feet? Dancing Queen, Ali Bastian, today launches a nationwide search to find Britain’s most mischievous kitten. The hunt is now on to seek out cuddly kittens up and down the country to crown the most mischievous one of all!"

Goo goo, ga ga. I ask you, grown men, some people etc. Shakes head, walks away, tutting.

Time for a tough pop quiz methinks.
I've anagramatacized some band names - all you have to do is un-pick your way through.
If it's too hard please message me and I'll send you the answers, but do try and work them out first, bit of fun, you know.
Anagrams in comments field. Good Luck

Either by accident or design the BBC have a very rude word on their website.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8635771.stm

around 30 seconds in on the video report.
It's like punk is still happening.

I queued outside RPM records in Newcastle at 10.30 to buy Pow Pow, a one sided LCD Sound System 12". The shop was buzzing and people were getting all kinds of wonderful and rare booty. Any one else been supporting their local record shop today?

...note that I found on my desk half an hour ago*

*
I work for the BBC in Newcastle, and yes, it's that Jack Charlton.

Scouting For Girls are rubbish. In my humble opinion.
Here's why:

The endless whingeing of self pity.
The crappy repetition of one line over and over again.
The shitty lyrics.
How they look.
The piano playing.

er, that's five, that's enough innit?

I'm really surprised to find no gushing tributes to Malcolm McLaren on the blog. Usually when a pop mover of a certain generation dies there are comments aplenty.
For Mclaren, just one comment.
Does no one care about a man who helped change the world?