Kasabian New Album
SonyBMG/Columbia
Album Artwork TBC
Originally scheduled for early 2008, Kasabian finally release their third studio album on 8th June. The Leicester indie-rockers have often been compared to Primal Scream, Oasis and The Stone Roses and their success has given them two top 5 albums, including number one for the 2006 “Empire” which went double platinum selling over 895,000 copies.
When asked about the direction of the album, frontman Tom Meighan explained, “It all joins together which is beautiful, there’s no gaps in it, it’s very psychedelic, there’s very much elements of the first but it’s a more distant sounding Kasabian than we have been with the last two albums.” He also talks about the title, “It’s a loony title, but we …picked one that has lots of words, it’s a tongue twister!”
Kasabian recently announced a 20-date UK summer tour to coincide with the release of their new album beginning on 29th May in Leicester and continuing until 17th July where it finishes at London’s Brixton O2 Academy.
“West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum” is released on Ltd Edition CD/DVD and standard CD on 8th June.
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Manic Street Preachers - New Album
SonyBMG/Columbia
Manic Street Preachers - Journal for Plague Lovers Release Date
Bassist from the Manics, Nicky Wire says that the band are ‘excited, nervous, proud and fearful’ about releasing their perhaps because it features lyrics previously written by former guitarist and friend Richey Edwards, who 14 years ago went missing and last November was officially declared dead by the authorities and his family.
The cover features artwork from Jenny Saville whose work was used for the 1994 album “The Holy Bible”.
Topics for the songs include The Grande Odalisque by Ingres, Marlon Brando, Giant Haystacks, celebrities, consumerism and dysmorphia, all reiterating the depth of feeling and intelligence that their former band member, Ritchie, brought to the Manic’s music.
The full track listing is as follows:
Peeled Apples
Jackie Collins Existential Question Time
Me and Stephen Hawking
This Joke Sport Severed
Journal For Plague Lovers
She Bathed Herself In A Bath Of Bleach
Facing Page: Top Left
Marlon J.D.
Doors Closing Slowly
All Is Vanity
Pretension/Repulsion
Virginia State Epileptic Colony
William’s Last Words
The record is released on 18th May on CD, deluxe 2CD, download and LP.
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Samsung D391 Mini DV Camcorder Release Date
On the 5/4/09 we see the release of the ‘Samsung D391’ Mini DV Camcorder. The casing of the camcorder is finished in matt black.
The D391 comes with a very able 34x optical zoom lens which makes close ups of far away images easy to achieve. It has an image stabilisation feature that is very handy to reduce the image shake that often occurs during filming by hand. The image quality is very detailed and clear as is the audio quality. Voice+ will help to reduce annoying background noise.
The ‘Samsung D391’ Mini DV Camcorder has ample recording time thanks to a battery that is capable of 90 minutes recording. The camcorder has many other useful features and will be released on 5/4/09.
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Rhino
Queensryche - American Soldier Release Date
Seattle-based metal band Queensryche release their latest album, “American Soldier,” on Monday 6th April. Billed as a concept album it opens with squad leaders yelling, “On your feet!”. Voices of real war veterans appear in and out of the songs and the album deals with themes of war outside of combat. For example, “Remember Me” deals with couples getting married right before partners are shipping out to war and “Home Again” is about the problems family relations of soldiers face holding it together in times of struggle.
The album is a tribute to the American Soldier. In track 8, “If I Were King”, lead singer Geoff Tate explains the meaning behind the song:
“There’s a story I was told, a solider came back from the Vietname era / conflict. He described being really unconfortable with staying in one place. So he packed up everything he had in a car, and spent several years just driving… drove, 12 hours a day, until he ran out of gas ….”
“American Soldier” is released on 6th April on CD.
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Nextbase SDV47AM 7" Twin Screen Portable DVD Player Release Date
Due for release on 26/4/09 is the ‘Nextbase SDV47AM’ 7″ Twin Screen Portable DVD Player. Everybody can get involved with watching movies on this shareable twin screened model.
The Nextbase is a compact model that will allow playback in just about any disc format invented. Not only does it play back film but audio is not forgotten in that it can be used as a music player for MP3 and CD listening. One of the most popular uses for this technology is on car journeys with the children! Pop the player on the headrest when you need to travel and the “are we there yet” comments are guaranteed to be reduced.
The ‘Nextbase SDV47AM’ is a high quality twin screen DVD player that is due to be released on 26/4/09.
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Warners
Green Day 21st Century Breakdown
It’s unbelievable that’s it’s been 5 years since the last studio album from California’s finest punksters, Green Day, but at last, the long wait is over. “21st Century Breakdown” will be released on CD on 18th May.
The album is divided into three acts: ‘Heroes And Cons’; ‘Charlatans And Saints’; and ‘Horseshoes And Handgrenades’, and, says frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, “follows a young couple, Christian and Gloria, through the mess and promise of the century so far”.
There are strong themes running throughout fueled by Bille Joe’s mistrust of politicians everywhere and his dismay at the greed and corruption prevalent in the world. The punk energy is still there to delight the ardent fans and Billie Joe’s voice has excelled to a new level.
The album’s first single will be ‘Know Your Enemy’, which is set to be released in April.
“21st Century Breakdown” is released on CD on 18th May.
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Sony Cyber-Shot HX1 9.0 Megapixel Digital Camera Release Date
The ‘Sony Cyber-Shot HX1’, is a 9.0 Megapixel Digital Camera that will be released on 9/4/09. This digital camera has the look of a traditional professional SLR type camera. The features on this new ‘flagship’ camera take digital photography to a new level.
The HX1 is capable of taking extremely detailed images with reduced blur due to an image stabilisation function. Capture the smile every time with ‘Smile Shutter’, the subject smiles and the HX1 takes the picture automatically! The panoramic mode allows electronic stitching of frames together that are shot in fast succession. Sweep the camera around to take in a scene and the camera clicks away at 9 frames per second and then stitches it all together in to one picture.
Taking photographs of people who are blinking is now a thing of the past with the HX1’s Anti-blink mode. As well as having an 20x optical zoom lens the camera will record video in HD, connect to a TV for instant playback.
The ‘Sony Cyber-Shot HX1’is a full featured innovative camera that is easy to use for newcomers to digital photography or more experienced photographers, it’s due to be released on 9/4/09.
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Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special DVD Release Date
‘Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special’ will be released on DVD on 6/4/09. Gavin & Stacy has become an extremely popular comedy series on BBC TV. This one hour Christmas Special captures in humour a lot of the typical moments that can only occur at Christmas!
Everyone is gathered for Christmas with the Shipman’s, when Gavin drops the bombshell that he has a new job in Cardiff. “That’s a seven-hour round trip every day” Smithy says, and then the penny drops! Chaos kicks in and the wall-to-wall comedy that makes Gavin & Stacy the popular show it is ensues.
What Christmas Special wouldn’t be complete without a turkey soaking in a bucket, a bewildered geriatric and family fight? Gavin & Stacy is a thoroughly entertaining show, old and new fans won’t be disappointed when ‘Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special’ is released on DVD on 6/4/09.
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Doctor Who Image of the Fendahl Release Date
‘Doctor Who Image of the Fendahl’ will be released on DVD on 20/4/09. This story is from one of the older series of Dr Who starring Tom Baker as the Dr. and Louise Jamison as his faithful sidekick Leela.
The TARDIS brings the Dr and Leela to Fetch Priory on the Earth sometime in the 1970’s. A group of scientists at the Priory have found a skull which turns out to be a relic of the Fendahl. Deaths start to occur under mysterious circumstances and won’t be just limited to the Priory if the Dr can’t work his magic!
This is a tense plot that has plenty of scary moments in this Gothic Horror type storyline. Will the Time Lord and Leela save the day? Find out soon when ‘Doctor Who Image of the Fendahl’ is released on 20/4/09.
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‘Skins Series 3’ the whole series will be released on DVD on 6/4/09. Fans of Skins were initially disappointed that the cast of the first two series had been disbanded and a new set of actors used. The disappointment didn’t last as Series 3 came back better and stronger than the first two.
Skins Series 3 DVD Release Date
The characters of class 2009 are a diverse bunch! We have Effy (the only remaining original cast member) who likes to be the boss cat, twins Katie & Emily who couldn’t more different, then there is Thomas who struggles to keep his trousers on and JJ the illusionist! Plus a whole lot more assorted personalities to kick off the third series.
The storylines of Skins explores the lives of the teenagers as they come up against some of the challenges facing young people. There will be plenty of sex, bad language and emotional turmoil as the teens explore and experiment. Expect humour and serious scripting in ‘Skins Series 3’ to be released on 6/4/09.
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