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India's
ramp rush obituary In the picture starbytes instep
profile Tremors Musical Notes Vibes
India's ramp rush The Spring/Summer 2007 edition of Wills India Fashion Week was held in Delhi from
30th August to 3rd September and the focus of the event shifted from being outrageously glitzy in April (thanks to Bollywood stars being the centre of attraction)
to quietly efficient. With designers creating two
coherent collections a year and with
obituary "If I'm going to
die," the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin said in a 2002 interview,
"at least I want it filmed." And now, days after his death while
filming in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the most important question that
surfaces is: should Irwin's death be considered an unfortunate, untimely
tragedy or should there be a lesson in it to respect wildlife and keep that
respectable distance from the dangers of getting too close. Irwin died after he was struck in the chest by a sting ray's poisonous barb. He was in the area to film pieces for a show called The Ocean's Deadliest but weather had prevented the crew from doing work for that program. Instead, "the wildlife warrior" (as remembered by Aussie friend Russell Crowe) decided to do some softer features for a new children's TV show he was doing with his daughter, Bindi. Reportedly Irwin had accidentally boxed the stingray in when it stopped and twisted and threw up its tail with the spike, and it caught him in the chest. It was as if he had been stabbed with a dagger. Experts have suggested that the serrated barb may have caused more damage to the heart tissue than the poison, itself – something Irwin should have been aware of - and he may have lived had he not pulled it out suddenly, causing further damage and loss of blood. Perhaps his wildlife expertise ended with the crocs. Nevertheless his death, at the age of 44, has caused massive hysteria in Australia. Sentiments of his fans have been compared to those felt at the death of Princess Diana. But eulogies to Steve Irwin
do not all ponder on a grieving note. Australian feminist Germaine Greer
commented to The Guardian that she "had not much sympathy" for
Irwin whose behaviour she found "bizarre" especially after he In 2002, Steve Irwin's adventure of taking his baby out to feed the crocs in Australia Zoo made headlines internationally and prompted comparisons with Michael Jackson's notorious dangling of his baby over a balcony. Mr Irwin also earned a reprimand from Queensland's Department of Family Services but he defended his actions, saying it was important to teach kids about danger. Right Wing News published a spoof of how they thought it probably happened… Staff Member: I don't know if it's a good idea to take your baby out to feed that croc... Steve Irwin: Nonsense, mate. You're always such a worrywart! Remember that time you told me not to take a flying leap into that rattlesnake nest? Staff Member: Steve, you were bitten 8 times. If we didn't have the antidote on hand, you would have died right there! Steve Irwin: See? It worked out fine! Roll cameras, I'm off... Staff Member: Wait, wait...Steve... Steve Irwin: (takes the baby out to feed the croc, filming starts) "Crikey mate! These crocs have a great sense of smell and this little sheila here knows this is my baby. That's why she'd like nothing better than to snatch this sweet, succulent, baby out of my arms and eat him like an hors d'oeuvres to make up for all the times I've taunted her on camera. Woah, she almost took a nip out of my baby that time! Boy, I would have looked pretty silly if that had happened, huh mate? Ok, now let's try something a little different...I'm going to dangle this baby right over the croc's mouth. She's not going for him yet! Let's see what happens when I rub the baby across this angry crocodile's nose...ohhhh wow! She came this close to biting him right in half...that was scary! She's thrashing left and right, she's really kill crazy now! Boy, these crocs sure are beautiful when they're trying to rip a baby out of your arms and eat it alive in front of you! (Hops out of the croc pen) Well, that was a real adventure wasn't it? Make sure to come back next week when I place my baby in between an enraged mother hippo and her baby! They really hate that, more than anything! See you next week everybody! In the picture Omkara***** *ing Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vivek Oberoi, Bipasha Basu and Naseeruddin Shah Directed by Vishal Bharadwaj Who would've thought that an Indian director would make
it his mission to Indianise the Bard? Who could've guessed that Saif Ali Khan
would portray one of the most deliciously evil villains in cinema history?
Who would've Omkara succeeds where Baz Luhrmann's ambitious Romeo and
Juliet failed on many counts. Whereas the modernized Romeo and Juliet was
somewhat flippant, I mean, how innocent can adolescent love be in the Big
Apple, Omkara, despite not borrowing the blank verse of the Bard retains the
intensity of Othello. Setting Shakespeare's great tragedy in a little Indian
village where medieval values continue to rule give Omkara a solid spine on
around which director Vishal Bharadwaj weaves the intricate plot of decit and
betrayal that stems from Iago's, (in this case Langda Tyagi's) mind. Othello was the Moor of Venice, Omkara is the leader of gang of thugs in a village Uttar Pradesh. Iago was his right hand man as is Langa Tyagi here. Cassius was the man Othello chose as his Lieutenant, so Kesu (Vivek Oberoi) is here. Fair Desdemona becomes lovely Dolly (Kareena Kapoor), Bianca is essayed by Bipasha Basu and Emilia by Konkona Sen Sharma, while Naseeruddin Shah takes on the role of Bhaisaab the all powerful headman of the village and Omkara's mentor. His Indianised interpretation of the Duke of Venice is bang on target. The incredible thing about Omkara is that it is by far
one of the tightest Langda Tyagi is easily one of the most memorable baddies in film history. A man who manipulates a people around him in his quest for power and vengeance, the character is a dream role and Saif makes the most of it. Once the film is over, it is his Langda Tyagi who stays with you. It is a departure from what Saif usually does. If anything, this role builds on his bad ass character in Ek Haseena Thi and he takes villainy to a whole new level. This is one performance that has to be seen to be believed. The music is mediocre at best, but one will hardly notice it. This film is so not about the songs. The most pertinent one in there is 'Jag Ja',that makes Omkara and Dolly's tragic love story even more poignant. What is more at display here is Bharadwaj's mastery over story telling. Whereas I found Maqbool a bit too adventurous as far as shots were concerned (they were too MTV for a retelling of Macbeth), Omkara is shot as a classic. This is not Vishal Bharadwaj proving what an experimental filmmaker he is. Omkara is a story filmed with a quiet confidence and an insight into Othello that is disquieting with its attention to detail. And for anyone out who finds Shakespeare boring, Omkara has one up on Ram Gopal Varma's Company and Sarkar. It is a cinematic masterpiece without being slow moving art house cinema. It is a multi starrer that doesn't aim for box office gold. It is an adaptation of Shakespeare that is a contemporary story very well told. Omkara rocks. If you don't see it, you obviously don't. – Muniba Kamal
Ratings: *YUCK **WHATEVER ***GOOD ****SUPER *****AWESOME
Aishwarya sizzles on Aishwarya Rai's popularity in Bollywood soars as her much
awaited releases Umrao Jan and Dhoom 2 are around the corner. She's also
ready to sizzle in Hollywood as The Last Legion is slated for release on
January 19th 2007. The period drama produced by Dino De Laurentiis
Productions stars Colin Firth, Amitabh branches out further Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan will be co-writing the
script of Johnny Walker with Renzil D'Souza, storywriter of Rang De Basanti.
This will be Omkara survives the courts It's a relief to know the Mumbai's sessions court has
cleared Omkara after refusing to put a ban on it for vulgar language and bad
taste. Bollywood actor Naeem Khan had moved a city civil court seeking a ban
on the film Suri and her bronzed poop go on display Born on the 18th of July, Baby Suri Cruise has finally
made a public Ellen DeGeneres to host next year's Oscars It has been announced that Ellen DeGeneres, host of The
Ellen DeGeneres Show and the sitcom, Ellen, will be hosting the 79th annual
Oscars ceremony
Touching base with Strings Instep catches up with Strings to find out why they've been missing from the local music scene… Making a mark Out of the local pop musicians, if there is one band that has consistently proven itself over the last few years, it is Strings. If Duur established their comeback (after an 8-year break), Dhaani re-affirmed them as one of the pop pioneers of the local music world, once and for all. Last time one saw Strings, they were happily singing 'Zinda' with Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham in a video... Where are they? Since late last year,
Strings have been rigorously touring India and USA. So But what about an album?
That is the question that arises in the minds of fans and critics alike. One
factor that has historically affected the music industry is the dearth of
consistency in artists. Two years is more than enough for any band or artist
to release a studio album. On the contrary, here it seems that bands are
adamant in taking three years for a commercial release. Sometimes, even four.
Such is the case with Strings. Their last album came out in 2003 after which
they still haven't gone into studios. In a music industry like ours, good
albums are a rarity. There aren't enough musicians, even today, despite the
industry churning out bands everyday. When a band like Strings takes so much
time for one album, it is disappointing. But Strings beg to differ. "Once the album releases, first 4-5 months go by in Pakistan. Then we go to India. We're not only studio artists. We have to go out and perform these songs. Sometimes, we make songs only because we can perform them live. This year, we thought we would do a complete tour," says Faisal and Bilal (the quieter one in the duo) adds thoughtfully, "It's definitely a wrong time for someone whose been waiting for our new album. But for us, time goes by really fast. We really haven't had the time to just sit down and work on the new album. The concert circuit is increasing, so much media is happening, television shows et al. Between all of that, we face time constraints. Right now, we have about 20 new songs but we need to dedicate 3-4 months at least. After our tour is over, we'll start working on our new album." The last major hit Strings gave was 'Zinda Hoon' that came out late last year. Not only was the project high profile, it featured one of the biggest actors of Indian cinema. Strings aren't the first ones to sing for Bollywood. But unlike other local musicians, they know how to pick a project. Despite the film not doing well, Strings took a quantum leap in terms of popularity. After all, Bollywood is the biggest league to be in as far as Indian music is concerned. And how it must've felt like working with Sanjay Dutt! Sitting calmly in gray shorts and green t-shirt, Bilal Maqsood explains, "Sanjay Dutt is an extremely cool guy, very friendly. We were shooting for the video when he walked in. The shooting stopped and there was silence. He came towards us, shook our hands and he started talking to us and invited us for dinner to his place. We ended up chatting with him till 3 in the morning." If there is one thing that sets Strings apart from other bands that seem to disappear after one album and sometimes before that, it is the relationship that these two men have. Behind that stardom that surrounds them, this band has a foundation. Before musicians and stars, they are friends who share a common vision when it comes to music. Bilal openly confesses that the fact that they are two makes them more powerful. In the Indian music community, as far as pop music goes, Strings are a huge success. They have been continuously going to India for the past three years and by know, they know the 'ins' and 'outs' better than anyone else. Question is why do so many local bands end up in India, all the time? The voice of the band, Faisal answers for the duo, "We can just talk about ourselves. We went to the Indian market because when we released Duur, we didn't know anything else that was going on. Then we found out that during those 8 years, in 1992, 'Sar Kiye Ye Pahar' was a huge hit in India. We didn't know the impact of the song in India. When we released Duur, someone in India contacted us and said that you guys should release the album here. If we have fans there, it is our responsibility to release albums there. Now, after so many concerts and releasing two album there, we consider ourselves a part of that industry also." For Strings, India is a stopover that gives them the mileage they need to break in to other territories. This attitude of knowing how to play their cards right only comes with experience and knowledge. And when it comes to experience, Strings are an old hand. They have seen this music industry grow in the last few years and media expand like never before. Post-Alamgir and Nazia Hasan, it was Strings alongside Junoon and Vital Signs that gave music industry a leg to stand on. But with every success story comes a certain amount of criticism. With Strings, often times it becomes a mystery as to why they do so many videos. Two to three videos are enough for one album. One should quickly move on. From Dhaani, Strings released 8 videos. The number is shocking. "At times, a song has its own identity and a video ruins it. I do believe so but videos are an important medium of communication," says Bilal Maqsood with an air of confidence. In terms of musical achievements, Strings will certainly remember last year when they won MTV Asia Award for Best Band. Sadly, they don't share the same sentiment for local award shows. Strings don't believe in the credibility of award shows in this country. With exception to the Lux Style Awards that works on a 50/50 ratio of popular voting as well as credible jury, most award shows give out awards for their own biased reasons. " We don't care about awards. Initially we did but not anymore. Here, most award shows have a certain deal in mind. Whichever band is performing and/or attending should be awarded. In one award show, Dhaani wasn't nominated even though it was one of the biggest albums of that year. Another time, we were told that we were being awarded Best Band but that went to someone else even though we deserved to win. Sometimes, one does feel bad. One time, our lyricist Zehrah Nigah was spelled as Zehri. The name was on the jacket. Even if we weren't being awarded, there was no need to misspell the name. Now we've come to a point where we don't want to be nominated. Ask us to perform and we will. But no more," says Faisal gruffly. But things haven't always been easy for Strings. Like others, they too are criticized for playing DAT concerts. "We don't do DAT shows. If we're not confident about the sound of a particular concert, we say that we're not going to perform because we like playing live. You can't change the sound system overnight. Equipment has to be upgraded. This is Pakistan, one has to do with what's available," says Faisal retrospectively. And if there is anyone who understands the importance of AMPP (Association of Music Professionals of Pakistan), it is Strings. After all, it has been years since they've been around and so far, the concept of royalties has remained lost on pirate labels as well as music channels. Both Bilal and Faisal agree that this formation is important. But how far will AMPP actually go? It's easier said than done. How does AMPP plan to counter issues such as piracy? "You have to realize that AMPP is being formed right now. Whatever AMPP does, it'll involve everyone. They are not going to make any stupid or silly decisions. There are a lot of things that have yet to be decided. What steps to take and how? Everyone is just coming together on one platform and trying out solutions. It is too soon to say what actions will be taken because AMPP isn't active yet. We are fully on board with AMPP," explains Faisal Kapadia who believes that once the formation happens, then one will have a clear picture of how the music industry can come together to counter injustices. What's next? These days, Strings are busy touring Pakistan. Next step will be rounding up Zinda Tour by November/December this year. Then, Faisal and Bilal will go into studios later this year to record a new album. In between all this, they are also releasing a single, 'Beirut'. According to Faisal, "It is an anti-war song and its video will be out very soon." In this day and age, when local music industry is churning out more quantitative bands qualitative, Strings are one of the few, really good ones out there who show hope and promise that music will not remain stagnant. So what if they have to spend so much time out of the country to ensure our music moves on?
Kill your ustaads! Oh how this thing about "being able to play jazz"
has turned some of our leading and most talented players sounding like elitist
whiners (read navel gazing wankers!). Couple this with a recent trend of
claiming to be All this talk about being able to play jazz and getting "trained by ustads" is plain hogwash! Now more than ever. It takes out the element of surprise and spontaneity from the music, leaving aspiring acts overtly conscious about being "technically correct." Junoon were never technically correct, and mind you, never
were the Signs. However, in the pop and rock context, their music remained
largely interesting, progressive
and outstanding. In "post-modern" art forms like pop and rock, being technically correct is a big hindrance. Even when '70s progressive rock acts like Yes, ELP, Jethro Tull or King Crimson gloated about being technically correct, equally important to them were the social (and sometimes political) relevance of the concepts behind their music/albums and the lyrics. Technical correctness has nothing to do with talent or creativity. It is just about skill. After all, the
most influential and cutting edge acts have mostly been those who had more to
do with the social relevance and intelligence of their music and lyrics and
their penchant for willfully stretching the boundaries of the aesthetic
dynamics of pop and rock. Acts like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd,
Sex Pistols, The Clash, Joy Division, Public Enemy, Nirvana and Radiohead come
to mind. None of them was particularly known for their "technical
correctness," as such. Moreover, who said that a progressive and experimental act could not be commercially successful as well? Not only were/are these acts aesthetically adventurous and consciously relevant in the socio-political context, they were/are commercially successful as well. The dearth of music that is more than just a fleeting
pleaser in the current scene I believe is due to the misplaced priorities of
most present acts. They are spending more time polishing "technically
correct" (but highly formulaic) gloss. None of them gives a thought as to
what amounts to music that out lasts their makers and cuts across not just one,
but a number of generations. Instead, they are working around tons of
limitations; all dictated to them by the prevailing, dumb-down projected tastes
of the mass market, the corporations and the entertainment media. They are
stuck in the rut of mass-producing likable gloss … albeit
"correctly."
Into the void I will now go through some recent releases to exemplify the concerns I have aired above … Rung: Green This album is a classical case of a talented outfit
nervously chasing projected tastes of the market and related commercial
expectations only to end up Noori: Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jaani Ki Gol Dunya Noori's first album was a capable compilation of
lightweight pop-rock. It was not such an exciting indication of their early
"underground" credentials, but it had its competent commercial
moments. Of course, the way the band was marketed by IM as a bubbly, ubiquitous
and a staggeringly irritating boy band was quite a sight, and it is nice to
know that Ali Noor eventually ended up kicking himself for such a move.
Therefore, it was expected that the band's next album would finally shrug off
its uncalled for boy band image with a Call: Jilawatan What was the hype all about? I had heard so much about this band that I thought maybe the land's next Junoon, Strings or Signs were just round the corner. Jilawatan said nothing to me. Nothing more than yet another promising band letting its music be cynically manufactured to feed "mass taste" projected by the advertising hungry needs of silly 24-hour music channels. I'll Call it quits! Annie: Princess Annie is not here to save the day for Pakistani pop. She is here to rule as the Britney Spears of the East. Her music maybe tossed aside as a tasteless, disposable joke among the more tasteful among us, but she seems pretty serious about it. Because in the realms of pink-stricken kitsch pop, she truly rules. And since every frog has its day, one day one such frog shall turn into a handsome young prince and take our bouncy Princess the hell away! Please. Najam Shiraz: Yeh Moamla Koi Aur Hai Yeh Najam koi aur hai! What a crackling talent this guy used to be, until he discovered the "true meaning of Islam." Lucky him. However, not only did he discover this, he discovered another obvious aspect attached to religion: The commercial and popularity mileage that it gives to its high profile preachers, especially in a spiritually warped country like Pakistan. Therefore, like an honest, passionate Muslim he decided to invade the music market with an album full of naats that was marketed like a pop album! The message of this once very concerned quasi-Socialist? Simple. Do not look outside. Forget what is happening around you in the material world, its problems, troubles, injustices. Look inside and gloat in your own "spiritual light." Yea, right. Tell this to the poor, grandpa! Omer Inayat: Be The One The frog prince to Annie's slog princess. Both come loaded with jaali Brit-Pakistani accents but not without its entertaining values. Look towards them if harmless disposable pop pleasure is your cup of lukewarm chocolate, otherwise "new talent" such as this is certainly not the answer to the social and aesthetic lethargy Pakistani pop has fallen into.
Greenday join U2 The Irish rockers are once
again back to studios to work on their 12th studio album. And joining them is
punk rock band Greenday, who will record a song to benefit hurricane Katrina
hit victims. Buzz is that the song will be a first Cat Stevens back to music Yusuf Islam, formerly known
as Cat Stevens is all set to make a comeback to music as he announced the
release of his first pop album, after almost three An Other Cup, his latest offering will feature of a cover of the Animals hit, 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' while the debut single will be 'Heaven/Where True Love Goes'. Watch this space for more on Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam! Keane scraps tour Keane, one of Britain's
most successful piano/rock band recently postponed Pete Doherty wants to marry Kate Moss After 18 months of
'breaking up' and 'getting back together', Pete Doherty CHARTS "Success always necessitates a degree of ruthlessness." - Sting Pakistani 1. Sawal - Rushk 2. One Light Year at Snail Speed - Sajid and Zeeshan 3. Overload - Overload 4. Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jani Ki Gol Dunya - Noori 5. Social Circus - Ali Azmat Vilayti 1. Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chilli Peppers 2. X & Y - Coldplay 3. Back To Bedlam - James Blunt 4. Loose - Nelly Furtado 5. PCD - Pussy Cat Dolls Hindustani 1. Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna 2. Bas Ek Pal 3. Fanaa 4. Gangster 5. The Killer
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over 160 foreign and local buyers present to facilitate the business, India has
become the perfect prototype for Pakistan to follow. Instep takes a look...
was found holding his one-month old baby boy while feeding a hungry croc in
his show at the Australia Zoo. "The whole spectacle was revolting,"
Ms Greer said. "The animal world has finally taken its revenge on Irwin,
but probably not before a whole generation of kids in shorts seven sizes too
small has learned to shout in the ears of animals with hearing ten times more
acute than theirs, determined to become millionaire animal-loving zoo owners
in their turn." Though Irwin's fans have lashed out against Greer,
accusing her of being insensitive, there are a few who agree with what she
saying silently.
thought that acting in a film would make Kareena Kapoor swear to only do
'meaningful' cinema? Who would've thought that a film would be made where
actors more than managed to hold their own against the brilliant Naseeruddin
Shah? Just for being the packet of surprises that it is, Omkara is mandatory
viewing - for every lover of Hindi cinema and for those who believe that
Bollywood is incapable of make a world class film.
Indian films ever made. There are no excessive scenes, no unnecessary songs
and no attempt to expand on the core of Othello. The film moves at such a
fast pace that it keeps one riveted. The dialogue is realistic, very abusive
but also very funny. The devil may care attitude of village hoodlums is
captured in its totally. To see Shakespearean wisdom reinterpreted as street
smart philosophy gives one a high.
Ben Kingsley, Ash, Peter Mullan, Kevin McKidd and Thomas Sangster. It is
based on Valerio Massimo Mandredi's novel of the same name and is part
history and part legend. The screenplay is set against the backdrop of the
fall of Rome in 476AD. Aishwarya plays the part of a beautiful, black-clad
Byzantine warrior called Mira. Ash's fandom seems to be gaining international
ground as her presence in Dubai last week reportedly caused massive traffic
jams in the city centre and from Shaikh Zayed Road from Dubai to Jebel Ali.
Hundreds of motorists were lined up to catch a glimpse of the star who was
visiting to shoot for a commercial, causing extreme traffic congestion.
Amitabh's first new film after recovering from intestinal surgery this year
and he will also be playing the lead.
alleging that its dialogues were vulgar and in bad taste, which he claimed
"depraved the minds of the audience and Indian culture." He added
that the obscenity began right after the national anthem which made it
unpatriotic and also that the title of the film contained the word Om which
made the film sacrilegious as well. He had sought that the film should be
pulled out from the theaters. Well most people think this was a desperate
publicity attempt for Naeem Khan who would have never made it to the news
otherwise. Proving himself a nuisance, we're just glad this pebble is out of
Omkara's shoe.
appearance, marking her debut in Vanity Fair. From having a questionable
existence – taken up as media speculation on whether the baby even existed
at all – she has become an overnight star. Pictured in the arms of her
adoring parents, the child really is beautiful. She has been kept away from
the public eye because of Tom's belief in Scientology that suggests that
babies must spend their initial time in the world in silence. Now if that
seems strange then consider this – artist Daniel Edwards – the man who
also brought us Monument to Pro-Life: The Birth of Sean Preston, a sculpture
of a nude Britney Spears giving birth – has now created Suri's Bronzed Baby
Poop a tribute to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' daughter. You read it right!
There now exists a sculpture of what is supposed to be Suri's poop. This may
be a satire on the media's obsession with the child or endorsement of it, but
either way it's crazy. The artwork will be on display until the end of
September and will then be auctioned on internet website eBay. Limited
edition plaster replicas will also be available to buy. Interested, anyone?
to be held in Los Angeles in February next year. DeGeneres hosted the Emmy
Awards in 2001 and 2005, and co-hosted the awards in 1994, the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences stated, but this will be her first time at
the Oscars. Hosting the event "requires someone who can keep the show
alive and fresh and moving, as well as someone who is a flat-out great
entertainer," show producer Laura Ziskin said in the statement.
"Ellen completely fits the bill." This should be enough
encouragement for our local Oscars – the LSAs – to rethink their strategy
of bringing round a brooding Shan every year and replace him with someone
more entertaining.
much so, that they have been missing from the local scene. While touring is
an important tool for a band to increase fan following and earn a buck, it
certainly doesn't mean drifting away from the local music scene. In faded
torn denims, a blue t-shirt, Faisal Kapadia explains, "The tour (Zinda)
is still going on. We actually wanted to get into this process that when we
release an album or when we release a special song, we will do a proper tour
with that project. 3 years back, we just did a USA tour. We didn't do a
Dhaani tour. This time, we're doing a full-fledged tour."
"instructed by a classical mauseeki ustad," or fusing pop with
"our rich folk music roots," and you eventually arrive at a scene
which though getting bigger and fatter, is getting equally sterile, cosmetic
and uninteresting.
plunging into the depths of mediocrity. Unfortunately, this will go down as one
of the most pointless albums of the year. The saddest part is that not a single
song on this dud is reflective of the real talent and potential this band
really holds. What on earth were they thinking!
sound that was a lot more raw and in your face. Regrettably, Peeli Patti … is
anything but. Because beyond the anarchic 'Kuttay Te Tho Uttay' the album is
neither here nor there. It does not have the likable commerciality of the first
album, but neither does it have the energy and edginess it was supposed to. In
the end, the only thing interesting is the quirky title of the album. Maybe a
bit too much is being expected from Noori? Perhaps something they just do not
have?
time collaboration between U2 and Greenday. Interestingly, this time, U2 have
dropped old producer Steve Lillywhite, who previously produced Boy, October,
War and How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb for the band. U2 have now joined
hands with Rick Rubin for the untitled new album slated for 2007 release.
Rick Rubin is a good choice. Considered one of the biggest producers in the
world, Rick has worked with names like Johnny Cash, Mick Jagger, and System
of a Down among many others. This year, he produced RHCP's Stadium Arcadium
and Justin Timberlake's Future Sex/Love Sounds. This is the first time U2
will be working with Rick. Coming back to the collaboration, confirmed news
is that the two bands will also do a track together called, 'The Saints Are
Coming'. All proceeds fro this track will go to Music Rising, a non-profit
organization founded by U2's Edge that helps in replacing musical instruments
lost in disaster.
decades this November. Speaking to the press, Yusuf said, "There were
one hundred reasons for leaving the music industry back in 1979, not least
because I had found what I was looking for spiritually. Today there are
perhaps one hundred and one good reasons why I feel right making music and
singing about life in this fragile world again. It is important for me to be
able to help bridge the cultural gaps others are sometimes frightened to
cross." Stevens changed his name in 1977, after a drowning inspired him
to convert to Islam. Steven's last album, Back To Earth was released in 1978.
That same year, he announced his retirement from music. Over the years,
Stevens has released a number of religious recordings. Last year, he recorded
one song called 'Indian Ocean' and also played guitar on Dolly Parton's album
as well record a duet with Irish singer Ronan Keating. It seems that Yusuf is
returning to his pop roots in full force.
their North American tour this fall. According to the band, it is because
vocalist Tom Chaplin has been checked into a rehabilitation facility for drug
and alcohol abuse. Speaking to fans, band mate Tim Rice said, "Obviously
it's crucial that Tom is given the time to get better properly. With the
first dates in America only a fortnight away, his doctors feel there is undue
pressure on Tom to rush through rehab and get back out on the road."
This year, Keane released their second album, Under The Iron Sea to a
critical and commercial acclaim. Their last two singles, 'Is It Any Wonder'
and 'Crystal Ball' landed straight on top in UK charts. There is also buzz
that Gwen Stefani is interested in collaborating with the band. But that'll
have to wait. For now, grab a copy of Under The Iron Sea from our friendly
pirate stores. It's a must check out!
and Kate Moss have decided to tie the knot. But theirs is a marriage that
will be far from traditional if they get their way. It has been reported that
Pete Doherty has put in a request to get married at the football club, Queens
Park Rangers in west London. However, Babyshambles' frontman Pete Doherty has
been refused. According to sources, chances of Pete getting an approval from
QPR's big bosses are unlikely. Last time, the singer visited the club, he was
caught using heroin in the toilets. QPR executives are afraid of Pete's wild
behaviour. A source close to the couple said, "Both Pete and Kate want a
quirky wedding, which is going to fit their personalities. They want a no
frills wedding, just a simple day with their friends." For Pete's sake,
we do hope that he gets his way into QPR. Watch this space to find out if the
marriage ever takes place...
