Van Tango

Jet's impending second album would be a lot darker and intellectual than you'd ever suspect, according to drummer Chris Cester. 'Shine On' will be released on October 2nd and Chris says that it most definitely isn't the "straight ahead, lets get wasted rock 'n' roll" of their first. "We wrote our first record about just getting the fuck out of where we're from, and we achieved that. This time round it's about having a broader understanding of the kind of dire straights everyone's in right now." Oh no! Are they heading into U2's direction? He added: "There's a lot of shit to compete with today, more so than ever before. We're talking about a paradigm shift, it's a feeling of where do you escape to, you don't get a chance." Okay.. so now they're speaking in 'Dharma' terms. Maybe the record needs a few more listens for us to 'get' it.


This is not good! London indie band Les Incompetents have called it a day. But they insists the split was not because of Billy Bell's random attack scare in North London back in June. A string of farewell gigs has been planned beforehand, which will now no longer take place due to Bell's recuperation. A statement on their official website reads: "the rumours are true...the six of us ARE no longer going to be playing together. Les Incompents as Les Incompetents will cease to exist. We want to thank you all for the good times. At the moment, although Bills getting better all the time he's still not up to gigging. But when he is, it's more than likely that our good friends at WayOutWest or White Heat will provide us with some form of goodbye gigs, and we hope you can all come." The band all have future plans - Shaun and Frederick have a new band Ox. Eagle. Lion. Man., while Billy will manage The More Assured along with solo work, and Chris' project is not yet named. They will be sorely missed. We are looking at a potential "Madness + Libs" new powerhouse. Oh well.

Some cool SIMs celebrity version:

Mod The Sims 2 [link]

Amanda Bynes on the Set Of 'Hairspray', which opens in 2007:

The first test for the top 13 girls this week was to be involved in a "press conference" with the judges plus one male guest and Janice D. When asked who wants to be the frontrunner, Danielle quickly stops Furonda from finishing her first sentence... and then Jade grabbed the mike from Furonda and cuts Danielle off. When asked who sacrificed the most to be there, Nnenna speaks about her setback in Nigeria which was applauded by the judges. Gina the joker told them she doesn't know how to represent the Asian people and baffled Jay M who asked her to repeat what she said last week about being a Korean/American contestant. And she still mumbled some crap after that. After the conference ended, they went to a waiting room and Jade (who has a black father & white mum) asked Gina why she is so insecure...And got a funny insecure answer. They judges decided that Nnenna has won the test! Gina, Jade & Sara were chosen by Nnenna to get their first pick of their rooms in the suite. After choosing the rooms, they went for dinner. Gina drank one whole glass in a quick manner..and ordered more and more...then got more drunk and embarassed herself. Next morning, Tyra came to visit and spoke to them, saying all of them looked different so it is game on. Furonda asked what advice she would give for those eliminated ones, a stupid question where no answer was given. In the afternoon, Tyra mail.. - "cut to the chase?" Makeover time! Eve Salvail was the guest model who will guide them in the photoshoot... they are going bald!! hahaha..but of course after getting them scared and shivering, Jay M said it is only with bald caps. Swarovski jewels are glued on them as well.. Pics taken with some mannequins. Kathy looked blur like a deer caught in headlights, Leslie was elegant and graceful, Kari did all safe poses and when asked to do awkward ones she did it well. Furonda didn't know her angles, Sara's one was nicely done with self-improvisation. Danielle = fantastic! Gina another deer in headlights.. Joenie showed no emotions and thus looked like one of the mannequins. Nnenna showed a lot of potential and was very good. Jade felt too confident for her own good and not that impressive. Tyra mail - Elimination day tomorrow.. Judging time - Sara was well liked / Jade was told she was arrogant at the press conference / Gina has high cheekbones where she needs to work it / Furonda not good as she doesn't know what to do with her eyes / Nnenna was deemed lovely & fabulous / Kathy's southern accent not really a plus point, was cool at conference, eyes was lifeless for photoshoot / Brooke didn't show much of her face in the picture. Miss Jay said Sara is his Scarlett Jo..cool. Jade kept saying she is good which judges pondered why.. whereas Kathy don't really have the top model look..
Judges Choice: Nnenna, Sara, Leslie, Joenie, Kari, Danielle, Jade, MollieSue, Brooke, Gina, Wendy ... Kathy or Furonda??? Furonda was the last chosen as she has more potential between the two...so Kathy the sweet Southern girl goes home.
---------------------------------------

Live sessions:
Placebo - Live at Super Bock Super Rock Festival (26/05/2006) [placebo-superbock]
Interpol - Live in Athens, Greece 2005 [interpol-athens]
Radiohead - Amsterdam (28/08/2006) [rhead-amstrdm]

V-Festival Video Interview:
- We Are Scientists (Keith Murray)
- Kasabian (Serge)


Mando Diao has been living in the shadows of their more popular Swedish counterparts, The Hives. But it would be silly to disregard them as just another normal garage rock band. They have released two albums, Bring 'Em In and Hurricane Bar. Their new album is out entitled 'Ode To Ochrasy' [amazon], which the band say has a "darker" feel. To promote the release of the album, the band are touring Germany, supported by Dirty Pretty Things. This particular track, You Don't Understand Me [audio] is quite moving in the way it invokes the listener to feel some pity for the singer. The guitar riffs are lovely as well. Best part is when the song suddenly goes down a notch and then the phrase "I will always be the one that holds you in the end" is being "whispered-->screamed" repeated till the end. These dudes really know how to capture the spirit of 'Definitely Maybe'.

Celeb Vid Sightings:
- Sandra Bullock at the 63rd Venezia Film Festival 04/09/2006 [link]
- Avril Lavigne and Deryck Whibley @ Hyde (04/09/2006) [link]
- Rose McGowan dining @ il Sole (29/08/2006) [link]

Ashlee Simpson has been getting cosy with a mystery man? Although she is currently dating her bandmate whatshisface, Ashlee was seen flirting with Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz earlier this week. I have no idea how this guy looks like but maybe he looks more like a man than her bandmate. Ashlee spent time with Wentz at her sister's roller-skating party at New York's Roxy nightspot. The party then continued on to G-Spa nightclub where the pair were seen getting even closer. Her parents looked on as Ashlee and Wentz huddled together in a corner, whispering and cuddling until they eventually left together. Looks like the elders preferred this bassist guy. Or they don't mind her multi-tasking.

Looks like cosmetic surgery is not 'so yesterday' for Hilary Duff. She would consider having cosmetic surgery in later life, because she always wants to feel good about her body. Hilary is confused by her young compatriots who go under the knife in search of physical perfection, but she can fully understand why older ladies go through it. She says, "I don't have anything against people who have surgery. If I get older and feel uncomfortable about something then maybe (I will have it). I never say never. I don't like it when it's really obvious and gets pointed out. Some people go overboard." Aah... nicely said. Next week, Hilary will probably give her views on tattoos.

Is La Lohan getting engaged to Harry Morton? Here are some recents shots of them in Hawaii:


Kylie Minogue on her trip to the KX Gym (27/08/2006)


Kate Moss managed to crash a website after thousands of people attempted to download the new Agent Provocateur videos that she has made with director Mike Figgis. Kate stars in four short film entitled The Dreams Of Miss X; one new film will be posted online every two months. She said: "The films look amazing I am thrilled with them." Check out the films - [Agent-Provoc]


Is Thom Yorke naturally miserable every day? Not so, according to Michael Stipe. He has defended his buddy Thom insisting he's not as miserable as he looks. Stipe has claimed that his media portrayal does not do him justice. He said: "Thom in person is not as cheerless as the media like to portray him. We have suffered the same thing for years, just because my band's music leans towards the darker emotions. I'm happy to report that Mr Thom Yorke is a very happy and a very well-rounded and very smart person." It would be nice if Stipe could tell him to smile every now and then..