Van Tango

Depeche Mode have revealed details of a new album. And the eagerly-awaited single, Precious, will be released first on October 3.

The new album, due out October 17, consists of the following tracks:
- A Pain That I'm Used To
- John The Revelator
- Suffer Well
- The Sinner In Me
- Precious
- Macrovision
- I Want It All
- Nothing's Impossible
- Introspectre
- Damaged People
- Lillian
- The Darkest Star

In August 1995 Blur and Oasis were engaged in a head-to-head chart battle which divided music fans and led to a wider argument about the soul of Britpop. This week marks the 10th anniversary of the chart battle between Blur and Oasis at the height of Britpop. Let me tell you how Britpop was born.

In the early 90s, "a new generation of British guitar pop bands", namely Blur, Pulp, Supergrass, Suede and Mansun were formed – some of whom have proved more enduring than others.

In 1995 the Britpop movement reached its zenith. The famous "Battle of Britpop" found Blur and Oasis as prime contenders for the title "Kings of Britpop". Spurred on by the media, the "Battle" was headed by two groups - Oasis' brothers representing the North of England, and from Blur, Damon Albarn and Alex James representing the South. This "Battle" was epitomised when, after some back-handed marketing, Oasis' Single "Roll With It" and Blur's "Country House" were released in the same week. The event caught the public's imagination and gained mass media attention.

In the end, Blur won, selling 274,000 copies to Oasis' 216,000 - the songs charting at number 1 and number 2 respectively. However, in the long-run, Oasis' album What's the Story Morning Glory won the popular vote over Blur’s The Great Escape outselling it by a factor of 4 or more. In the UK, What's the Story spent over three times as long on the charts (a total of three years) and outsold Blur's album over four to one, selling over eighteen million copies. Oasis' second album is widely considered to be the definitive Britpop album capturing the essence of the attitude and the Cool Britannia movement.

In early 1992, one band dominated the global alternative rock scene. Nirvana had suddenly become the voice of a restless generation. Grunge was cool, Seattle was the rock capital and other US bands like Pearl Jam, Metallica and Guns N' Roses(*yaaaaaaaawwwwn*) were also enjoying mammoth success. Bands who were not grunge were all but dismissed and Blur came to despise the disinterest and uniformity they encountered.
Suede, whose debut single The Drowners came out while Blur were on that tour, also celebrated their origins while railing against US influence.
And Pulp, who were getting noticed for wry songs about everyday life, had moved into the same London orbit as Blur & Suede. Reared on acts like David Bowie, The Jam, The Specials and The Smiths, these bands now set about reasserting their roots. In 1993, Suede's debut album went to number one, Blur signalled their new start with Modern Life Is Rubbish.
It just seemed to be a lot more powerful and potent. And it also went with a much more interesting look. Who wants to shamble round in a third-hand lumberjack shirt when you can be wearing the great Fred Perry? (simplistic & cool were in style then). Oasis merely wanted to pick up where the Stone Roses left off and be as big as The Beatles. "Oasis were a no-nonsense rock 'n' roll band who wanted to roll around on a bed of £50 notes," sources quoted. But they all became part of Britpop and helped the UK's alternative rock regain its voice. New acts like Travis, Ash, Muse and Coldplay joined the bandwagon later on. Velvet Revolver, anyone?


Jennifer Connelly finds sex with her husband Paul Bettany so uninspiring, she often kills time by reading a book.
The actress knows she could be doing so much more when being romanced by Bettany, so she ensures she uses the opportunity to catch up with pals over the phone or surf the internet. She jokes, "I don't like to multi-task, except (when) having sex. "I do like to read a book while having sex. And talk on the phone. You can get so much done. "If the room's dark enough I like to do some online shopping." It only means one thing. The husband sucks. He just doesn't have 'a beautiful mind' and thoughts about some stuff. If that old manager Ferguson were to hear about it, he would say "I'm embarrassed(scottish slang) for the guy!"

A common question that I get from people is -> Why is it that so many guys act like WUSSIES around women?
Well, there are a lot of reasons. For some guys, it's an automatic, programmed response. See cute girl = act like Wussbag. A lot of guys have learned that being "nice" to people makes them "like" you. Snap! Unfortunately, no one has ever told most of them that making a woman like you isn't very important. Making a woman feel attraction for you is. Evicting the "Inner Wussy" isn't always easy for guys. This is not something you learn overnight. It takes a lot of composure and techniques in order for them to behave normally in the presence of attractive women. Easier said than done. So many times I have seen both sexes getting a 'double-the-normal-rate' heartbeat after encountering a cute/gorgeous person. It's very funny yet interesting to see how they cope with the unexpected pressure. Of course, I will help where necessary, being the busybody and kind soul that I am.

Lindsay Lohan has confessed to smoking cannabis. The teenage actress has admitted she has tried marijuana, but claims she didn't enjoy it. She revealed: "I'm not going to deny the fact that I've tried pot". "I hated it". This little girl is trying hard to be part of the gangsta or rocker lifestyle until she has to resort to such stuff. Maybe she wants to be the 'first' among her friends to engage in that. Kids nowadays...

Kylie Minogue is reportedly engaged with her boyfriend Olivier Martinez, after accepting a $71,200 diamond ring from the French actor. A source said : "It's not clear whether it's an engagement ring, but it's certainly a sign of his commitment and feelings." Oh (she's), she's under the influence of love and I know.. that ain't no doubt about it....

Saw one malay beng sitting by the cash register in a p-i-r-a-t-e-d CD-ROM shop being questioned by two police officers the size of New Zealand All Blacks. Overheard something like "I didn't say you are in charge of the shop, what?". That joker looked like a lost kitten in a dog pound. Tough luck dude. Anyways, I was just passing by, so never really saw what happened later. The bloody shop is like 100-150m away from one neighbourhood police post. Some people ah...

Noel G has vowed to ignore Maroon 5 at Britain's V Festival this weekend because he is insulted they are on the same bill. The Californian rockers are huge Oasis fans and have been covering 'Hello' on their recent American tour. But Noel doesn't like Maroon 5's simpering brand of soft rock and refuses to hang out backstage with the band.
He says, "If we had a hand in picking the bill, Maroon 5 wouldn't be on it. The day we're on is fantastic. Apart from Maroon 5, every band that's on the bill are friends of ours. There's The Stands, Jet, The Zutons, The La's and us on the same stage, so our backstage area is going to be wicked." - They wooon't be looooved...they woooon't be looov-ooov-oooved... I hope Adam Levine stop crying his heart out over this, d'ya-know-what-i-mean?

Best quote from The Man, Neil Humphreys -> Topic : Romancing Singapore campaign.