Mblog: Deep tune mining

The Warm Jets are back!

2009-06-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

In the
70s and 80s
The Warm Jets played alongside notorious and illustrious artists and bands such as The Sex Pistols, Ian Dury, The Members and many other famous artists. The Jets music will soon be available in a new album History of Rock N Roll Part 2. Above are these preview sample tracks from the album.
The band mysteriously disappeared on a trip through the Himalayas via Katmandu, Goa, Finland's Forrests and Lakes and Siberia. Their diverse style of music derived from half of the early Cockney Rebel which was augmented by the enigmatic theatrically charged songs and lyrics of Paul Ballance. Paul Jeffreys the bass player sadly was a victim of the Lockerbie terrorist air bomb, dying in mid air with his new wife bound for New York.

The Warm jets records were released RSO and Rocket Rec ords. There has been a rumor of a renaissance in the return to life of Paul Ballance to live performance where he excels as well as a series of albums. The music is a convergence of styles including Rock, Electro, Pop, Reggae, Disco, Dance, Electronica and Experimental Pop. Priding itself into continuing its commitment to both original and fresh music. The new album's blending of both old and new influences derives a cutting edge and fresh sound, with reference to the rich inheritance of the original band.

You can preview the The Original Warm jets at their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thewarmjetsuk

Mbop Featured Artist Singles Available to Download Now!!

2009-05-19T10:14:00.000-07:00

Check out the Mbop myspace homepage for Featured artist information, including the new official Manchester United Single by the World Red Army Feat Jenny Bae. We also have a wide selection of new releases that we recommended you to check out.

To find out more visit

www.myspace.com/mbopglobal

Listen to legendary Sam Cooke

2009-05-18T05:05:00.000-07:00

Sam Cooke was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. Cooke had 29 Top 40 hits in the U.S. between 1957 and 1965. Major hits like "You Send Me", "A change is gonna come ", "Chain Gang", "Wonderful world ", and "Bring It on Home to Me" are some of his most popular songs. Cooke was also among the first modern black performers and composers to attend to the business side of his musical career. He founded both a record label and a publishing company as an extension of his careers as a singer and composer. He also took an active part in the American Civil Rights Movement.

The song "A Change Is Gonna Come" was played upon the death of Malcolm X, and was memorably featured in Spike Lee's film Malcolm X. Barack Obama's presidential victory speech paraphrased the song: "It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America."

Sam Cooke

The Horrors ' Who can say'

2009-05-18T05:01:00.000-07:00

The Horrors are an English garage rock band who formed in mid-2005. They released their debut album Strange House, which reached #37 on the UK Albums Chart, on 5 March 2007. Their sophomore album Primary Colours was released on 4 May 2009 and reached #25 in the UK.

The Horrors EP ‘Who can say 'review: ‘After rooting a little deeper in their daddies' '60s record collections, the band has returned with a shimmying, brighter sound, which retains just enough of their old sinister guitar slashes to prevent the change from seeming cynical. Badwan's bleak vocals about failed romance are played out over haunting fairground organs, Ronettes-esque drums and a fuzzy scuzz of Jesus & The Mary Chain-style effects that will have Glasvegas seething with jealousy. It might pain certain people to say it, but The Horrors are actually starting to sound pretty amazing.’

Buy The Horrors here

Becks re-release their 'One foot in the grave'

2009-05-18T04:56:00.000-07:00

Becks re-released their re-mastered album ‘One foot in the grave 'which was originally released in 1994. The album now features 13 previously unreleased tracks. His third official album, One Foot in the Grave shows a strong folk influence that is more pronounced than on his more eclectic-style albums of the time, ‘Mellow Gold’ and ‘Odelay’. ‘One Foot in the Grave’ was recorded prior to the release of his debut album ‘Mellow Gold’, but was not released until after that album met with critical and commercial success.

Much of the album is about mood as much as song, a situation not uncommon to Beck, which is hardly a problem because the ramshackle sound is charming and the songwriting is often excellent, channeling Beck's skewed sensibilities into a traditional setting, particularly on the excellent "Asshole," which is hardly as smirking as its title. It's that delicate, almost accidental, balance of exposed nerves and cutting with that sets One foot in the grave apart from Beck's other albums; he'd revisit this sound and sensibility, but never again was he so beguilingly ragged.

Click here to buy

Jarvis Cocker comes back with a rock album!

2009-05-18T04:51:00.000-07:00

Jarvis Cocker comes back with a rock album ‘Further Complications'. He was a boy with the weird nose and the big glasses back in High School but he believed in his individuality. Jarvis Cocker wrote songs about short skirts, dance moves, sexual espionage and the abject glamour of drug consumption. “Common People,” the song about a rich Greek student, who could learn about the real life in England, became an international hit. Cocker sang about all types of creepies and crawlies, applying himself to songs about the trees that make our oxygen, species, natural selection and genetics, and the little bird singing in the garden.

Before Jarvis Cocker came back, he moved to Paris, got married, became a father, and grew a beard. In his new album, between the noise-pieces, he sings wonderful tearjerkers such as , “I Never Said I Was Deep". In other sections, scratchy wind sections and contorted guitars account for an overall atmosphere similar to that of the sort of smoky club where you would never hear a Pulp (previous Jarvis band) album played. He is still interested more than anything in lonely mothers and disco dancing. The fact that he is now married only serves to make his songs of seduction more delicate – if not the stuff itself. In “Fuckingsong ,” he lewdly suggests listening to his songs, because in real life he is never so punctual, dependable and persevering.

Buy Jarvis Cocker

Excellent Debut Album: Kristin Schweain "Days of Eden"

2009-05-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

Kristin Schweain kicks off her solo career with her excellent debut album “Days of Eden”. The former member of ‘ZOEgirl’ the award winning Christian pop/rock trio delivers an inspirational 10-track album. Download it from MBOP megastore today!

Since 2000 Kristin has been recording and touring internationally with ‘ZOEgirl’. They were immediately awarded the title as the fastest-selling debut artist in Sparrow Records' history (1,000,000 albums) and were appropriately awarded the Dove Award for Gospel Music Association's New Artist of the Year in 2002. With this already highly regarded reputation, no wonder Kirstin Schweain is now forging a solo career.

Ranging from songs that were written years ago, to material that was written specifically for this album, you won’t be surprised to feel a connection with Kristin as you walk with her through her own personal journey of faith and hear the stories of loved ones that surround her.

“Days of Eden” has given Kristin an opportunity to delve into herself intrinsically. She confronts, questions and reflects on her life experiences, beliefs and insecurities.

Charming ambient piano melodies swathed in classical vocals tenderly illuminates Kristin to the listener. From ‘This Is Life’, an up-tempo piano-driven song about the highs and lows of life, to ‘Emma Prayed’, a raw and sentimental ballad about a young woman whose life takes a dramatic turn as she prays for the very first time, there is sure to be a song for everyone on this project.

Kristen’s goal for the album is “to be personal and candid, sharing my thoughts, the insecurities, the questions, the joy and pain, my love of life and God, all of it. Some days I'm a mess and some days I'm only slightly a mess, but that's part of my own story; the freedom and opportunity to express it all with my music is what drives me.

No matter where you are in your journey of faith, allow 'Days Of Eden' to bless your heart, refresh your mind, and captivate your soul.

Kristin Schweain can be checked out on MySpace where her site has already received over 70,000 hits.You can buy the album HERE.

CLICK HERE TO BUY

Rock Album Review: The Horrors "Primary Colours"

2009-04-30T07:23:00.000-07:00

The Horrors new album 'Primary Colours' is out on the 4th May, we here at MBOP have had a listen and have a few things to say about it. You can download 'Primary Colours' from the MBOP megastore and have a listen for yourself!

The Horrors… Their previous releases have, in my view, failed in every sense; ‘Sheena Is A Parasite’ is quite possibly the worst song I have ever listened to, a confused amalgamation of terrible lyrics and melancholic shouting, a minute and a half of pure dross.

As you can imagine writing a review for their critically acclaimed new album ‘Primary Colours’ was difficult. However I gave them the benefit of the doubt and approached this with an open mind, trying desperately to suppress urges to snap the CD in half and bury it in Farringdon cemetery.

The Horrors are a British garage rock band; they’ve been performing together since 2005 and released their debut album ‘Strange House’ in 2007. Two years have passed since this quintet donned their skinny jeans and morose haircuts. Their ridiculous hype has died down a little, oh and Faris Badwan’s girl Peaches Geldof got married… to some American for a few months.

‘Primary Colours’ is their second album, bringing with it another wave of hype. Despite my predetermined judgement of the album, it’s actually quite good. Rather than ripping my headphones and ranting endless profanities, I sat calmly and thought, what on earth has happened to this band, have they had a few music lessons, did they discover the meaning of life, or have they had a little burst of inspiration? It seems to me that two years is not enough time for such a young band to totally reinvent their sound, its almost too good to be true.

‘Primary Colours’ is not entirely the work of this quintet. Geoff Barrow founder & pioneer of ‘Portishead’ has taken on production duties, alongside visual pioneer Chris Cunningham. This confused me more, Chris Cunningham is a visual pioneer… what’s he doing meddling with audio?

Cunningham directed the video ‘Sheena Is A Parasite’ and hats off to him, visually it’s great, typically Cunningham, dark, twisted, mutated, brilliant…Did he play with the sound though… no. However Cunningham’s most recent work for Gucci, gives us an insight into Cunningham’s remixing capabilities. In the film he remixes Gucci’s trademark song Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’, beatless, shimmering, ephemeral, not dark in the slightest. So why has he been incorporated into The Horrors new album ‘Primary Colours’?

In an interview with XFM, Farris Rotter explained, “He (Cunningham) hasn't done music production before but I think it'll be really special. The results so far are really encouraging." He also commented on Cunningham’s inexperience “That's what so brilliant about it - he won't approach things in the way that so many people will. He's really into the music we like: y' know – My Bloody Valentine, Dead Can Dance and Squarepusher and I think he's gonna bring something to the new album that no one else will."

‘Primary Colours’ was an intense experience for ‘The Horrors’; it was made in isolation in a windowless studio in east London. In an interview with NME, Rhys ‘Spider’ Webb (Keyboard/Bassist) said “the experience sometime drove them to the edge…we’d begun to question our sanity…we were just lost in this world, in this place for months that didn’t have any windows. We didn't have any involvement with (record label) XL – there was no A&R man telling us what to do – and we didn't play the music we were making to anyone, not even to our friends. So it got to the point where we'd start to question what we were doing.”

Despite many hours spent in the fittingly gloomy recording studio, Webb insisted it was worth every minute “We wouldn't want to just be a conventional guitar group. We felt like we could and did try most things on this record. We're all really interested in psychedelic sounds and mind-bending sounds and pushing things in a different way.” This I can defiantly identify, even the album's seven and eight-minute epics “I Only Think of You” and “Sea Within a Sea” are completely new ventures for the band and they pull them off effortlessly.

‘Primary Colours’ is very different to their predecessor ‘Strange House’. On the whole this sophomore feels a lot more complete, Bristolian Geoff Barrow has done a brilliant job in producing the album, adding that psychedelic experience to the album, and giving it that finely polished warmth to it. Remnants of Portishead’s latest album ‘Third’ pop up throughout, most noticeably within the final track to the album ‘Sea Within A Sea’, reverberations of Portishead’s dazzling tune ‘The Rip’ are clearly used to finish the album in style.

There’s just one last thing that I can’t get away from. ‘Primary Colours’ sounds just like Joy Division; ‘The Horrors’ have developed their sound, but only into an almost carbon copy of the ‘Joy Division’ & ‘The Cure’. ‘Primary Colours’ is not an independent or original album; it’s got elements from many different influences, without Geoff Barrow this album wouldn’t be anywhere near its acclaimed status.

They’ve just grown up a bit, realised that their previous stuff was utter dross, and have pulled this one out of the bag for now, what will really confirm their development is their next release, will they turn to others for inspiration or will they resort to their own sound?

Ultimately you have to look through the hype surrounding this album, yes it is good, but it’s not a masterpiece, it’s not original and ‘The Horrors’ still have a lot of work to do to distinguish their sound.

The Horrors are set to tour the US for a month with ‘The Kills’ they will be returning to the UK and will play in Leeds, Manchester, Aberdeen, Brighton and the Electric Ballrooms in London.

Worth to listen - Frank Sinatra

2009-04-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

Frak Sinatra was an American singer and actor. Sinatra became a successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, being the idol of the teenage girls. His career declines in 50s but reborn in 1954 after he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He signed with Capitol Records and released several critically lauded albums such as’In the wee small hours', ‘Songs for swingin’, ‘Come fly with me'and others.

Sinatra attempted to weather the changing tastes in popular music, but with sales of his music dwindling, and after appearing in several poorly received films, he retired in 1971. Coming out of retirement in 1973, he recorded several albums, scored a hit with "(Theme From) New York, New York" in 1980, and toured both within the United States and internationally until a few years before his death in 1998. He is also a winner of the eleven Grammy awards.

Download Frank Sinatra's music here

Jazz legend - Duke Ellington!

2009-04-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

Duke Ellington was an American composer, bandleader and pianist. He was of the most influential musicians in 20th century, especially in a jazz scene. He wrote many jazz songs that later became jazz standards and were sang by many jazz musicians, including Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and others.

Some critics’ comments about Duke Ellington:

Gunther Schuller : "Ellington composed incessantly to the very last days of his life. Music was indeed his mistress; it was his total life and his commitment to it was incomparable and unalterable. In jazz he was a giant among giants. And in twentieth century music, he may yet one day be recognized as one of the half-dozen greatest masters of our time."

Martin Williams: "Duke Ellington lived long enough to hear himself named among our best composers. And since his death in 1974, it has become not at all uncommon to see him named, along with Charles Ives, as the greatest composer we have produced, regardless of category."

Buy Duke Ellington's music here

Elbow is finally enjoying the success!

2009-04-28T05:42:00.000-07:00

Elbow is a Brit Award and Mercury Prize winning English alternative rock band formed in 1990s. Elbow have received vast critical acclaim and been endorsed by major artists Radiohead, Coldplay, Blur, R.E.M. and U2.

BBC about the album ‘The Seldom seen kid’ (2008): ‘For everyone who likes to be moved, relaxed, and cheered by superior, soulful Mancunian lullabies, The Seldom Seen Kid is essential.’

NME: ‘Elbow remains one of the more interesting outfits to originate from Manchester in recent years.’

Elbow is also nominated for Ivor Novello Awards that takes place at Grosvenor House, on 21st of May.

Buy Elbow music here

Coldplay - one of the biggest British bands!

2009-04-28T05:39:00.000-07:00

Coldplay is British alternative rock band formed in London, in 1998. The band sold 50 million records worldwide and are best know for their hits like “Yellow”, "The scientist", "Clocks", "Speed of sound", "Fix you" and "Viva la Vida".

Coldplay achieved worldwide fame with the release of their single "Yellow", followed by their debut album, ‘Parachutes’ (2000), which was nominated for the Mercury Prize. Its follow-up, ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’ (2002), won multiple awards such as NME's Album of the Year.

Coldplay's musical style has been defined as alternative rock, being compared to Jeff Buckley and Oasis. Lead singer/songwriter Chris Martin once labeled the band's music as "limestone rock". The band's music has been called "meditative" and "blue romantic"; it "[reflects] on their emotions" and Martin "endlessly examines his feelings". Martin's lyrical wordplay has been called feminist, similar to Andrew Montgomery of Geneva.

Buy Coldplay music here

54th Ivor Novello Awards

2009-04-28T03:09:00.000-07:00

The Ivor Novello Awards celebrate the outstanding writing achievements of songwriters, composers and their music publishers. The awards either celebrate artistic excellence in a specific work, exceptional sales or performance figures in the award year or recognise the outstanding achievements of a particular songwriter or composer throughout their career.

Nominees:
BEST SONG MUSICALLY & LYRICALLY

Song: My Mistakes Were Made For You
Performed By: The Last Shadow Puppets

Song: One Day Like This
Performed By: Elbow

Song: The Last Of The Melting Snow
Performed By: The Leisure Society

BEST CONTEMPORARY SONG

Song: Dance Wiv Me
Performed By: Dizzee Rascal

Song: Grounds For Divorce
Performed By: Elbow

Song: That’s Not My Name
Performed By: The Ting Tings

PRS FOR MUSIC MOST PERFORMED WORK

Song: Mercy
Performed By: Duffy

Song: Sweet About Me
Performed By: Gabriella Cilmi

Song: Viva La Vida
Performed By: Coldplay

BEST SELLING BRITISH SONG

Song: Mercy
Performed By: Duffy

Song: Paper Planes
Performed By: M.I.A

Song: Viva La Vida
Performed By: Coldplay

ALBUM AWARD

Album: Rockferry
Performed By: Duffy

Album: Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends
Performed By: Coldplay

Album: We Started Nothing
Performed By: The Ting Tings

One of the biggest surprises this year is Nick Hemming and his band The Leisure Society which is nominated for the ‘Best song musically & lyrically’ award. Nick is a warehouse worker who has been trying to break into the music industry for 15 years. The band has no record deal and their self-published debut single, The Last of The Melting Snow, failed to trouble the top 40 on its release in December. However, now, if Hemming's song were to win, he would join a select roster of songwriters including Sir Paul McCartney, David Bowie and John Barry.

54th Ivor Novello Awards will be held on 21st of May at the Grosvenor House.

Music from Camden Crawl!

2009-04-27T04:21:00.000-07:00

Camden Crawl 2009, which marks the beginning of festivals’ season, included bands like Hockey, The Fall,Art Brut and others.

Camden Crawlis the indie lovers’ Mecca which boasts 150 live acts and DJs squeezed into 40 venues over two-days in the North London borough. A panel of influential labels, DJs and promoters handpick bands that are set to break into the big time, while a few festival stalwarts and established names are selected as musical cherries on the Camden Crawl cake. And if that wasn't enough to make you skive work on the Friday, the daytime entertainment consists of live street arts, poetry and slam sessions, comedy, quizzes and much more.

This year's Camden Crawl has great reviews as festival goers were happy about so many great bands and sunny weather. Music lovers were queuing round the block to see Camden legend Graham Coxon in his secret gig.
Download music of the Camden Crawl acts

Music from Camden Crawl!

2009-04-27T04:11:00.000-07:00

"Lust for Live 1977" is an album that includes classic interviews with Iggy Pop and his previously unreleased live mobile studio performances in Manchester, Uk, in 1977. The album includes well-known songs such as "Lust for Life", "The passenger" and ""Fall in love with me".

Iggy Pop is an American rock singer/songwriter and is considered as innovator of punk rock and garage rock. He is one of the most dynamic performers of all time because of his energetic stage performances. In late 60s/early 70s Iggy was a part of the band Stooges which was also famous because of its scandalous performances when Iggy Pop was consuming drugs, abusing the audience and leaping off the stage.

Download "Lust for Live 1977"

'Noiret & The Flowers' Excellent New Single: “Fragile”

2009-04-23T07:25:00.000-07:00

Italian band, ‘Noiret & The Flowers’, are to release their debut single “Fragile”on the MBOP megastore. Famous for their live performances, their sound is completely organic void of any technological meddling, incorporating percussion instruments such as the vibraphone and marimba. Their approach in making music is fascinatingly fresh and original.

“Fragile” beautifully demonstrates this, an infusion of soft seductive sounds; emotive melodies and captivating lyrics enchant the listener. This is acoustic pop music at its best. The new age-feel of the vocals forms the basis of the album, which hooks the listener with its strong emotional impact.

This new musical departure may, at first seem unusual and hard to classify as belonging to any particular genre, but the more you listen, the more you will be swept away by a type of music that has its own new and very personal identity. In the words of the man himself, “life without songs is like a garden without flowers” They are ‘Noiret & the Flowers’.

CLICK HERE FOR NOIRET & THE FLOWERS WEB SITE

Review: Bat For Lashes, "Two Suns"

2009-04-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

Bat For Lashes is a band, Natasha Khan is the lead singer, and they have released a new album “Two Suns”. We music buffs at MBOP like it so much that we decided to write a special article about the band, their music, and what makes their shamanic music so exquisite. If you haven’t listened to it yet, “Two Suns” is available to download from the MBOP megastore right now, what are you waiting for?

Kahn is one of the most dynamic and intriguing singers in the country, her powerful and whimsical voice is an asset in itself, her ability to effortlessly shift between subtle and histrionic vocal styles is miraculous, but her talent lies her lyrics and song writing.

Kahn can conjure powerful emotions with vivid swathes of words ("I drove past true love once, in a dream/Like a house that caught fire, it burned and flamed"). It's all vivid imagery, almost sensual.

Her songs allure the senses, both sonically and vocally. Her lyrics give us an insight into her psyche, imagination and experiences. Her live performances amaze, entice and seduce you into her mystical world. In 2007, she transformed the stage of ‘Koko’ in Camden into enchanted woodland; she also writes all of her songs, designs the costumes that she wears on stage as well. It’s almost as if she continues to fascinate and demand your attention with music and lyrics that are as visual as watching a film.

In 2006 Kahn released her debut album “Fur and Gold”, meanwhile Razorlight and the Kooks also released new material as well, which unfortunately suffocated the British public with their dowdy sounds and tedious lyrics.

Kahn was an inspiration, offering a suitably enigmatic alternative; “Fur and Gold” appeared to be from some kind of enchanted utopia. As if the lyrics and songs were written whilst intoxicated by some Alice in Wonderland type potion. The debut album had a haunting; a celestial beauty in it, the critics accepted it and her performance at Glastonbury was confirmed. She donned a feathered headband and became a fashion icon.

Three years have passed and Kahn’s been developing her music, mind and her alter ego ‘Pearl’. Being a believer in Analytical / Jungian psychology, Kahn is influenced by her physical and mystical surroundings absorbing different elements from each place.

Kahn travelled to the US touring, inspiring, whilst visually making a mental scrapbook, putting ideas in her head, she visited Joshua Tree (US National Park) in California to absorb the desert its skies and its mystics and Brooklyn in New York to capture the electricity and grittiness of the city. Eventually returning home to start writing lyrics in her controlled environment / bedroom.

“Two Suns” is the newest addition to the Bat For Lashes legacy, and I’m glad to report it doesn’t disappoint. The album art for starters immediately presents Kahn in a surreal environment. ‘Glass’ kicks off the album beautifully, delicate vocals and synth’s slither in, heavy rolling drums begin, and shamanic instruments jingle it’s a song that burst out, unafraid, it has melody, ambition and intent. Yeah… they certainly haven’t lost their signature sound, swirling crystalline pop, haunting piano ballads, ethereal melodies swathed in shimmering keyboard.

I could compare “Two Suns” with ‘The Animal Collective’s’ “Post Merriweather Pavillion”, there's not quite as much going on here granted but the hazy, dreamlike state it induces is near identical. At its heart, this is a pop record bursting at the seams with melody and invention. “Fur and Gold” was nominated for Mercury & Brit Awards in the UK, and a Plug Award in the US. “Two Suns” will no doubt receive its highly deserved awards.

However “Fur and Gold” and “Two Suns” are completely different from one another, moving away from the debut album’s storytelling, “Two Suns” is more emotional, human, accessible, more Pop. It’s music like this that makes me think, why is the music industry drowned by over manufactured rubbish? Put simply this is a dazzling album!

Download the “Two Sun s” from MBOP megastore here!

Doyle Take On The Doors With "Crystal Ship"

2009-04-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

“Crystal Ship” is the brilliant new single from ‘Doyle’.

‘Doyle’ is a combination of talent, Mick Doyle as lead singer, Dermot McKlusky on bass, Gary Pickard on guitar, and Louie Palmer on the drums.

Originally from Manchester, Mick has had a lifelong affair with music. Growing up he soon became captivated by rock n’ roll and its greats. Inspiration stemmed from Elvis Presley’s vocals to the poetry of ‘The Doors’ and the energy, power and attitude of the Sex Pistols.

Mick has totally dedicated his life to becoming the next musical prodigy, from learning and discussing music in Bexley Heath men’s clubs to recording his first track at 18. Mick’s experiences have all helped forge ‘Doyle’ and their sound.

Doyle’s “Crystal Ship” is a rework of ‘The Doors’ 1967 eerie, dark love song. ‘Doyle’ bring with them relaxed undulating drums, sensational guitar rifts, and dynamic vocals, energising and strengthening the original to excellent heights. They enlighten the original and give it a modern almost manic street preacher type sound.

So far ‘Crystal Ship’ has received great reactions industry wise and support from BBC London, ‘6 Music’ & ‘XFM’. ‘Doyle’ can be checked out on MySpace where his site has received over a million hits and a quarter of a million plays. His life story in music has been recorded on film in a documentary all about ‘Doyle’.

‘Doyle’ will be releasing a 10-track album later this year. This will include a theme song for the London Marathon, featuring Israel’s prized musician Gillad on saxophone.

CLICK HERE FOR DOYLE WEB SITE

To create a summary mood, check out The Beach Boys!

2009-04-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

The Beach Boys is a legendary Californian rock band formed in late 60s. Among rock and roll groups of the Sixties, the California quintet place second only to the Beatles in terms of their overall impact on the Top Forty. The Boys also sold more than 65 million albums worldwide. The Beach Boys’ sunny vocal harmonies are one of the signatures sounds of the modern era. The band mainly concentrated on California’s teenhood ideology such as surfing, dating, and driving. Many changes in both musical styles and personnel have occurred during their career, notably because of Brian Wilson's mental illness and drug use and the deaths of Dennis and Carl Wilson in 1983 and 1998, respectively. The band was introduced into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as well as received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

This is “The Greatest Hits Volume 2: 20 Good Vibrations” which includes some greatest Beach Boys songs such as “California Girls”, “Help me, Rhonda” and “Kokomo”.

Buy The Beach Boys Music Here

Perfect release for Mnachester United fans!!

2009-04-21T03:44:00.000-07:00

Although Manchester United lost 2-4 to Everton on penalties on Sunday, fans can keep their spirit high by listening to the great soundtrack.

More about the failure:

But Ferguson said: “He came on and actually did quite well. He did really well. He is disappointed to miss a penalty of course and he will get criticised."

“When you pay £30million for a player then everyone thinks he should be able to score a penalty.

“But it’s not just about that. Anyone can lose a penalty shootout.”

Manchester United are the most successful Premier League Club having won the title 10times. It all began in 1993 when manager Sir Alex Ferguson ended a 26-year wait to lift Premier League crown.

iTUNES Download

MBOP Megastore Download

Phil Collins: "Serious Hits…Live!"

2009-04-17T05:31:00.001-07:00

Right here at MBOP megastore we’ve got a brilliant download for all you Phil Collins fans, no it’s not a drumming gorilla to sit on your desktop, it’s actually 15 live recordings of the legend singing his all time hits, such as “Something In The Air” and “Another Day In Paradise” all collected in “Serious Hits Live” (1990)

Phil began his musical venture at the tender age of 5 whilst growing up in Chiswick, London; he was given a toy drum kit for Christmas. Initially just hitting objects, but soon this spurred the young Collins to develop his techniques and eventually advance to a full drum kit, and the legendary drummer.

Today Collins is recognised as an internationally acclaimed artists, drummer, singer, actor, songwriter, band member and soloist; he’s done it all. Since 1981 Collins has released 13 solo albums and 40 solo singles.

Prior to Collins’s solo escapades; Phil was drummer in ‘Genesis’, an English rock band formed in 1967. With 150 million albums sold worldwide ‘Genesis’ are among the top 50 highest selling artists in the industry, as well as picking up a Grammy in 1988 for ‘Best Concept Music Video’.

Collins got involved with ‘Genesis’ in 1970, when he responded to a classified advert for “…a drummer sensitive to acoustic music, and acoustic twelve string guitarist”. Collins went to Peter Gabriel’s (Lead vocalist & Flautist) home for the audition, memorised the tracks from the album “Trespass” (1970), whilst swimming in a pool, performed the pieces and won the audition.

‘Genesis’ started by playing moody keyboard melodies in the 60’s, that latter develop into progressive rock. What really propelled Genesis to fame were their live performances, elaborate theatrical spectacles, innovative stage design, pyrotechnics, flamboyant costumes and narratives, the audiences were captivated.

In 1975 Collins replaced founder and lead singer Anthony Phillips due to stage fright. Although the drums were still played by Collins for complex instrumental passages, Bill Bruford and Chester Thompson were handed the reigns.

In 1987 Collins performed his debut solo event at the Amnesty International benefit show ‘The Secret policeman’s Other Ball’ at the Theatre Royal, London. Here he performed “In the Air Tonight” and “The Roof Is Leaking”

Collins’s personal life, especially the corrosion of his marriage with Andrea Bertorelli, was key to Collins’s sound-scape, and unquestionably had a huge influence on his work. “In The Air Tonight” and “I Don’t Care Anymore” have a dark presence to them, the pounding heavy drums and moody atmospherics creates electrifying tension.

Collins has also recorded with artists as iconoclastic as Brian Eno, Robert Fripp and John Cale, it seems genre hopping is no problem to him. As well as this, in 1996 Collins created a 20 piece live jazz band and touring Europe, playing at the Royal Albert Hall and even at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, with conductor Quincy Jones and guest vocalist Tony Bennett.

Download “Serious Hits…Live!” from MBOP megastore today, all tracks are recorded from live events, which makes this album acoustically stunning!

Ultimate Manchester United Song

2009-04-17T04:23:00.000-07:00

Glory Glory Man United is the new single which no Manchester United football fan should be without.

What a better way to celebrate their victory than by playing Glory Glory Man United in full blast, and why stop there, beat the queue and be the first to sing along the karaoke version which is also available to download at our Megastore.

Support your favourite team and get singing! Download and listen to it here

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WIN £500 OF MUSIC DOWNLOADS AND AN IPOD SHUFFLE

2009-04-16T07:52:00.000-07:00

A perfect combination.Limited storage space has always meant you had to leave a lot of your songs back on the substitutes bench. The iPod shuffle has 4GB of storage leaving you with plenty of room to store hours and hours of music. That's up to 1,000 songs with room for multiple playlists too.Mbop boasts an impressive back catalogue from a multitude of record labels ranging from Aaargh!Records through MaxJazz all the way to the Zavitson Music group! Whether its an artist currently at the summit of the charts or a refreshing blast from way back when, Mbop has the right selection.For your chance to merge these two innovative concepts by winning the iPod shuffle or £500 worth of mp3 downloads from Mbop, all you have to do is register! Signing up to Mbop is quick and easy and within minutes you can be onboard. http://www.mbopdigital.com/

Nina Simone - High Priestess of Soul

2009-04-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

Nina Simone was the sixth out of seven children of her family and was born as Eunice Kathleen Waymon on 21 of February 1933 Tryon, North Carolina. She went to study at Julliard School of Music in New York, where she studied to become a classical music pianist.

To fund her study, she started working as an accompanist. In the summer of 1954 she took a job in an Irish bar where the owner told her she had to sing as well. Without having time to realize what was happening, Eunice Waymon, who was trained to become a classical pianist, stepped into the show business. At that time she changed her name into Nina ("little one") Simone ("from the French actress Simone Signoret") because she did not want her mother, who was a strict Methodist minister, to know that she was playing "the devil's music".

Combining Bachian counterpoint, the improvisational approach of jazz and the modulations of the blues, she went on to become one of the biggest stars of Jazz music.

Some facts:

Her first album Little Girl Blue did not bring her much financial rewards. She sold the rights of the album for $3000, despite the album bringing in more than $ 1 million in royalties, especially after the successful re-release "My Baby Just Cares for Me" during the 80s.

Her autobiography, "I Put A Spell on You" which was published in 1991 was translated into 3 different languages.

Her daughter Lisa Celeste (Lisa Stroud) was born in 1962. She`s a Broadway actress, star of the Broadway musical "Elton John`s Aida".

She had a reputation in the music industry for being volatile and sometimes difficult to deal with. On one occasion she shot and wounded her neighbor's son with a pneumatic pistol after his laughter disturbed her concentration. She also fired a gun at a record company executive whom she accused of stealing royalties.

In her later life she was awarded an Honorary Doctor in Music and Humanities.

Plans for a Nina Simone biographical film were released at the end of 2005. The movie will be based on Simone's autobiography I Put A Spell On You (1992) and will also focus on her relationship in later life with her assistant, Clifton Henderson, who died in 2006. TV writer Cynthia Mort (Will & Grace, Roseanne) is working on the script, and singer Mary J. Blige will play the lead role. The movie is scheduled for release this year.

She once said that “Jazz is a white term to define Black people. My music is Black classical music."

Buy Nina Simone`s Esential

Johnny Cash: "Portrait"

2009-04-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

With a career that spanded over 6 decades Johnny Cash is regarded as an all time musical legend. He became famous as an outlaw figure, for playing in prisons and creating the myth of the ‘Man In Black’.

If you want a quick way to discover more about his life, then I suggest you watch James Mangold’s Oscar winning film “Walk The Line” (2006). A dedicated chronicle to Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix), from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins.

However if you’ve watched the film and want to listen to his all time classics, then MBOP megastore has a little treat for you, Johnny Cash’s 26 six-track album “Portrait”.

So here’s a little summary on Johnny Cash for you all. Cash was one of country music’s most enduring stars, as well as blues, folk, rock ‘n’ roll and gospel. Originally born in 1932, Arkansas, US. Cash began to write songs at the age of 12, picking up influences from the radio and through country and western music. He soon became an icon of American country music in the 50’s, with a full album release on Sun records in 57 he managed to beat Elvis Presley.

Elements that made Cash stand out from other artists was his deep bass-baritone voice, perfectly complementing his songs themes and his blacked out clothes, hence the nick name ‘The Man In Black’. In the 60’s Cash had hits with “Ring of Fire” and “A Boy Named Sue”. “Ring of Fire” was co-written with his future wife June Carter Cansas.

During his extensive career, Cash won 11 Grammy Awards and received multiple Country Music Awards. Unfortunately Cash died at the age of 71. He influenced a plethora of artists, including Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones who said, “His influence spread over many generations of different people. I loved him as a singer and a song writer.”

“Portrait” and many other of his albums and releases are all available to download off the MBOP megastore, we strongly recommend that you check these out, because lets face it, he’s a bit of a legend!

The Drifters: Greatest Hits

2009-04-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

The Drifters, Greatest Hits, is available to download in high quality mp3 format from the MBOP megastore !

The Drifters are one of the longest-lived groups in rock ‘n’ roll and R&B. Clyde McPhatter, of ‘The Dominoes & Billy Ward’, formed the original Drifters in 1953. Despite achieving hits such as “Have Mercy Baby” McPhatter quit the two groups in 1953 because of financial reasons. He then signed to Atlantic Records and formed The Drifters.

The original drifters consisted of Clyde McPhatter, Gerhart Thrasher, Andrew Thrasher, Bill Pinkney, Willie Ferbee and Walter Adams.

Since their original formation The Drifters have seen over 50 band members added to the group. Their most notable releases and hits are “Under the Boardwalk” and “This Magic Moment”. Their singing style for its time was incredibly dynamic, and even today their vocal aesthetic has a timeless quality to it, which keeps it fresh even to this day.

McPhatter’s original project was to create a band that would blend gospel and secular songs. In his first attempt in forming the band, McPhatter the lead singer, recruited 4 out of 5 members of his old church group the “Mount Lebanon Singers”. After one session in the recording studio McPhatter knew that this group would not work out.

The second group was briefly successful, in 1953 they celebrated their first major hit “Money Honey”. Despite this the group still had a turbulent time, McPhatter demanded a large share of the group’s profits and so members of the band found themselves increasingly unprofitable, this resulted in members leaving to members dying, the Drifters were literally drifting apart. Eventually McPhatter sold his share of the group to jazz trumpeter George Treadwell.

The drifters as a group and band have seen a turbulent career, however they are still performing today. If you want to listen their timeless classics again in high quality Mp3 format, then download the album today!

Jeniferever: "Spring Tides"

2009-04-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

“Spring Tides ” is the brand spanking new album from Jeniferever and is available to download from the MBOP megastore right now! Jeniferever is a band from Uppsala, Sweeden, further proof that these Scandinavian’s still know how to make some of the most dynamic and inventive music to this day.

The band consists of four band members, Frederik Aspelin (Drums), Ollie Bilius (Bass, Keyboards), Martin Sandstrom (Guitar) and Kristofer Jonson (Vocals, Guitar). Of course an entourage of like-minded musicians and visionaries backs the band, which have helped forge this quartets spectacular sound. They are signed to the Monotreme Records and have been performing together since 1996.

My first encounter with Jeniferever was through their stunning track ‘Alvik’, I don’t know what or how, but when you listen to Jeniferever’s music it immediately calms you, makes you think straight, almost slows down time. I guess this is what’s music is all about, provoking you to remember the time when you first fell in love with a song, and relive that moment, that feeling, and that realisation that this is why we listen to music.

I suppose you could describe their music as ambient indie rock, it’s slow paced harmonies, melodic rhythms, contribute to the overall sound that evokes a Sigur Ros-esque sound. If you enjoy the sounds of ‘Sigur Ros’ and ‘The Cinematic Orchestra’ you’ll love this bands emotive and beautiful music.

“Spring Tides” is made up of 10 tracks, after listening to the album, I really can’t individually pick a favourite, it’s all brilliant, each track is like a miniature orchestral symphony, distilling Sweden, its countryside and Uppsala into 6 minute tracks, the tracks that do this for me are ‘St Gallen’, ‘Green Meadow Island’ and ‘Nangijala’.

For me, this will be one of my top recommendations for 2009, perfect for those lazy summer evenings. “Spring Tides” is available to listen to and download on the MBOP megastore. I strongly recommend you do!

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CLICK FOR JENIFEREVER MYSPACE

New albums at the Mbop Megastore!

2009-04-14T05:48:00.000-07:00

Bat For Lashes - Two Suns

Exciting album to have in your collection as it is already No.5 in the UK album charts! Bat For Lashes UK tour is also already sold out in all venues.

Bat For Lashes (real name Natasha Khan) is a British singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and visual artist. Khan was born to a Pakistani father and English mother on 25 October 1979. Her music is compared with Bjork, PJ Harvey, Tori Amos, Kate Bush an Fiona Apple. Bat For Lashes success includes the nomination for Mercury Prize 2007, ASCAP Vanguard Award, nominations for ‘Best British Breakthrough’ and ‘Best British Female’ for the Brit Awards 2008 and many others.

Buy BAT FOR LASHES music

Lady Sovereign - Jigsaw

Lady Sovereign, is an English rapper and is unique as the only white female artist in the primarily black British grime scene. She is the first female non-American artist signed to Def Jam label and her video ‘Love me or hate me’ was the first video by British artist to reach #1 in MTV’s show Total Request Live (TRL). As Lady Sovereign is already successful in UK, she is becoming established with American and British hip-hop producers and artists like Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg and Basement Jaxx all wishing to work with her. She has already been compared to hip-hop legend Eminem.

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Sinead O'Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (Special Edition)

Sinéad O'Connor is a Grammy Award-winning Irish singer/songwriter. O'Connor's first two albums (1987's The Lion and the Cobra and 1990's I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got) gained considerable attention and mostly positive reviews. She was praised for her voice and her original songs. She was also noted for her appearance: her shaved head, often-angry expression, and sometimes shapeless or unusual clothing. The first album earned her a Grammy nomination and the second contained the international breakthrough hit ’Nothing compares to U’.

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Mbop - The proud official sponsor of the Music Week Awards

2009-04-09T02:56:00.000-07:00

Last night (09/04/2009) the Music Week Awards took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel. The awards marked 50 years of Music Week magazine. Mbop were proud to be the Official Sponsors of the Music Week Awards 2009.

Mbop sponsored the Music and Brand Partnership of the Year award. Bacardi & Groove Armada were the trophy winners, leaving behind; Nokia Green Room-Whizz Kid Entertainment, Orange RockCorps-Euro RSCG KLP, RoAr (Rock Against Racism) Bauer Media, The Secret World Of Sam King-Universal Music and Bebo, Vodafone TBA & the Vodafone Live Music Awards.

In attendance for Mbop was MD Paul Ballance who reports that the evening was a great success.

Click here to view the list winners and losers of theMusic Week Awards.

Louis Armstrong: “The Best Of Louis Armstrong”

2009-04-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

Honestly does this man really need and intro? If you haven’t heard of Louis Armstrong get rid of those earmuffs and keep on reading, this man is a pioneer of Jazz, and fortunately you can download “The Best Of Louis Armstrong” right from the MBOP megastore, go on, do it, you need this!

Louis Armstrong was the greatest of all Jazz musicians. Born in 1901 New Orleans, Louisiana, Armstrong was a foundational influence on what we know as Jazz today. He shifted the focus from a collective jazz performance to solo acts. His most distinguished feature was his gravelly voice, which he magnificently demonstrated in his most celebrated song ‘What A Wonderful World’, indisputably charming in every sense, this song is a timeless classic, a song that all of humanity should have heard in their lifetime.

Armstrong had a difficult childhood, abandoned by his father William Armstrong soon after his birth; his mother Mary and his grandmother brought up Louis. He soon showed interest in music and managed to get hold of a cornet, and taught himself to play, he later studied music and played the bugle and cornet in a school band.

In November 1925 Louis moved to Chicago to join his wife’s group ‘The Dreamland Syncopators’, in which he hung up his cornet for the trumpet, which he later mastered in New York whilst playing in the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, one of the finest African-American bands of that time. Armstrong quickly fitted in with the band, in which he played the trumpet and experimented with the trombone.

The most mesmerising characteristics of Louis was his ability to improvise whilst performing. His performances were both daring and sophisticated for the times, as most music of that time was subtle and melodic; Armstrong’s was dynamic, irregular and invigorating. He honed his playing technique so that he could extend the range, tone and capabilities of the trumpet, almost single-handedly creating the role of the jazz soloist.

As his music became more popular, so did his singing, which he approached with the same style, improvising and adjusting original vocals with outbursts of chopped up vocals, scat, and sheer nonsense.

Armstrong’s list of hits is endless, “We Have All The Time In The World” was featured in Ian Flemings “On Her Majesties Secret Service” (1969), and was recently re-released in 1994 and hit No.3 in the UK charts.

Put simply this is an album not to be missed, download “The Best Of Louis Armstrong” from the MBOP megastore now, go on spoil your ears!

Frankie Laine: "Riders In The Sky"

2009-04-08T07:38:00.000-07:00

Frankie Laine the multi talented singer, composer and author is renowned as one of the greatest American singers of the twentieth Century. The son of a barber who moved to the United States from Sicily, Frankie Laine enjoyed a highly successful 75 year long career, which entitled him as one of the most popular singers of the late 1940s and 1950s before rock n roll put him in the shade.

After 17 years of ‘scruffing it’ as Frankie used to say, and being $7000 in debt, Frankie got his first break in California in 1946 where he celebrated his first hit and burst out onto the scene and picked up first royalty cheque for $36,000.

Frankie Laine was notorious for his huge voice, his physical strength and energy. He was able to fill a hall with his voice even without a microphone. This led to further nicknames such as Mr Rhythm, Old Leather Lungs and Old Man Jazz. It has even been suggested that Frankie set the pattern for Johnie Ray and Elvis Presley.

During his career Frankie Laine achieved more than 70-charted records, 21 gold records and worldwide sales of over 250 million disks. His singing style varied from genres, originally a rhythm & blues and jazzman, he also dabbled in gospel, folk, country, and rock n’ roll.

His most renowned tracks included ‘Mule Train’, ‘Cool Water’, ‘That Lucky Old Sun’, and most notably ‘Rawhide’, the theme tune to Mel Brook’s parody 1974 Western Movie “Blazing Saddles”. The album “Riders In The Sky” is available to download digitally from the MBOP megastore right now!

Fats Domino: "Aint Over Till The Fat Man Sings"

2009-04-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

Fats Domino’s aka ‘The Fat Man’ is a classic R&B and rock and roll pianist and songwriter from New Orleans Louisiana. His trademark sounds of easy-rolling boogie-woogie piano and smooth rhythm & blues vocals should not be missed.

Luckily Fats Domino’s “Aint over till the fat man sings” is available to download on the MBOP megastore right now!

At an early age Domino was immersed into music, twenty years elder to him, his brother in law taught him to play the piano and sing, leading to his first performance at the age of 10. At 14 he left school to work in a factory, so that he could play at local nightclubs.

In the 40’s musician Dave Bartholomew heard Domino. Together they formed a great friendship and wrote over 40 hit records, under Imperial Records, including “Aint That A Shame” which reached No.1 on the Billboard R&B charts.

Domino first attracted national attention with "The Fat Man" in 1949. This song is an early rock and roll record, featuring a rolling piano and Domino doing his signature "wah-wah" vocalizing over a fat back beat. “The Fat Man” sold over a million copies and is widely regarded as the first rock and roll record to do so.

Fats Domino made 23 rhythm & blues records that sold each more than a million copies. In total he sold more than one hundred million records and managed to out sell almost every 50’s rock and roll pioneer, the exception being Elvis Presley.

In 1986 Fats Domino was inducted into the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2007 Domino was accepted to the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, clearly Fats Domino should not be missed, download his Mp3 from MBOP Megastore today!

Del Shannon: "Gotta Keep Searchin"

2009-04-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

Del Shannon’s ‘Gotta Keep Searchin’ is available to download on MBOP mega store now!

Del Shannon, a songwriter from Michigan, was one of the handful of American Rock 'n' Rollers of the 1960s to survive the crashing tide of the British rock n roll invasion. Among the few were Elvis, Dion, Roy Orbison, and Del Shannon.

Del Shannon was considered legendary by music buffs in the industry and his fellow contemporaries alike. His excellent guitar work was often overlooked, but ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr cited Del Shannon as a major influence on his guitar playing, especially his unusual way of playing minor to major chords.

Shannon's greatest ability was his song writing. Encapsulating torment, despair, and vulnerability in his songs.

Shannon's former manager, Irving Micahnik, was often cited for saying, "Del has a teardrop in his throat, and when he sings, that's what comes out!"

In 1961 he topped the US charts with his no.1 hit “Runaway”, Shannon followed this with one day recording “Hats Off To Larry” which hit No.5, whilst his heartbreaker “So Long Baby” hit No.1 later in 1961, all of these classic releases are available in the “Gotta Keep Searchin” Mp3 now!

Anne Murray: "A Song For David"

2009-04-07T06:39:00.000-07:00

Anne Murray’s album ‘A Song For David’ is available to download on the MBOP megastore right now.

The Canadian Grammy Award Winning singer collects her favourite 10 songs from her extensive discography, most notably from her debut release ‘What About Me’ (1968).

Anne Murray began her professional singing career in the 60’s whilst studying at the University of Brunswick in Canada. She was hired to sing at the Curling Club in Fredericton, and was fittingly paid $30 for her performance.

Since her early career, Anne Murray has sold over 50 million copies of her songs, 32 studio albums, 15 compilation albums, 15 of which, have gone multi-platinum, platinum or gold.

She is also the first Canadian female solo singer to reach number one in the US charts, and with the release of her 1984 album “A Little Good News”, she was awarded ‘Album of the Year’ at the Country Music Associaiation Awards.

Download ‘A Song For David’ from MBOP mega store right now!

Review: The Doves - Kingdom of Rust

2009-04-06T04:57:00.000-07:00

It’s been 4 years since the doves topped the charts with ‘Some Cities’, so we’re glad to say the Mancunian trio are back with a brand new 11 track album ‘Kingdom of Rust’, quite possibly one of the most anticipated albums of 2009!

‘Kingdom of Rust’ delivers a sonic landscape of the north, recapturing the sounds of The Smiths, Joy Division and the Stone Roses. Just like previous releases their sound is beautifully atmospheric and encapsulates essences of Johny Cash folk with windswept euphoria.

‘Jetstream’ eases you into the album, euphoric vocals, and Kraftwerk-esque keys; it immerses you into their sound. The opening lyrics to ‘Kingdom of Rust’ is typically Doves, broody and atmospheric “I hear a sound, a sound above my head Distant sound of thunder, moving out on the moor, black birds flew into the cooling towers…” combine the song with the official video and the outcome is brilliant, although slightly bleak.

According to ‘The Doves’ official blog, the band produced the album in a converted farmhouse barn in Cheshire. Producer John Leckie (The Stone Roses, Radiohead) was set to co-produce the entire album with the band, however he only managed to produce two tracks from the album ‘Winter Hill’ & ’10:03’. The band worked with Dan Austin (producer of Cherry Ghost’s Thirst for Romance album; programmer for Massive Attack) on the remaining nine songs.

The fans are praising this release, but why not, it’s been a long four years for them, this release is unquestionably another epic addition to ‘The Doves’ legacy. What I’m unsure about is whether ‘The Doves’ are advancing and developing their sound enough, to me they’re sticking to what they know best, and yes it does work, for now? Check it out for yourself, download the digital album from MBOP here.

CLICK HERE FOR DOVE'S MYSPACE

Fresh Goods Up For Grabs

2009-04-03T05:48:00.000-07:00

Free, free, free... Sounds good doesn`t it? Attractive news from Mbop Megastore. A music-lovers-must-get give away bundle, for you only, £500 worth of the best mp3 downloads and an extra IPod Shuffle. How cool is that... What are you waiting for? Get in the game, follow the rabbit hole...

Down the River

2009-04-03T02:00:00.000-07:00

Most of the music created from these remarkable bands has been on the spot of the musical life for decades. Now you can keep up with these thrilling compositions at Mbop megastore. Enjoy the taste of bands like Level 42, Hue and Cry, Gallagher & Lyle and George Jones, music of which will have more to convey every time you listen to it anew. There is more to music than words alone can express. Visit the store, and see for your self....

LEVEL 42

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HUE and CRY

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GALLAGHER AND LYLE

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GEORGE JONES

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Further down the River

2009-04-02T05:52:00.000-07:00

One can not go wrong with the likes of Stone the Crows, The Goons, Gene Pitney or Love and Money. These veterans of music industry have provided us with a sustainable form of beauty through their creation, by continiously emiting at us charming, rebelling, cooling sound. Taste them and get them...

Stone the Crows

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The Goons

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Gene Pitney

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Love and Money

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New albums to check!

2009-03-31T06:36:00.000-07:00

SEX PISTOLS was an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. It all began when four working-class teenagers started playing with stolen instruments in their basement. Rebellious personalities formed a rebellious band which is recognized as the most influential punk rock band which created punk movement in UK and was the biggest inspiration for future alternative musicians. Although their career lasted just two-and-a-half years, they managed to become an important part of the Rock’n’Roll history. Their single ‘God save the Queen’ was banned many times from various radio stations and pressing plants, however, even then it was a massive success.

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Scott Joplin was
an African American composer and pianist who had genuine talent for composing
music in his own unique way. He was born in the first post-slavery generation
and faced the parents’ opposition in term of studying music because that kept
him from a job that could generate any money. During his career he wrote outstanding ragtime
pieces and the one called Maple Leaf Rag became ragtime’s first and most
influential hit. He also wrote couple of operas and the second one became the
reason for his death. The opera ‘Treemonisha’ could not interest producers as
well as got negative reviews and Scott Joplin died because of his
disappointment.

Buy Scott Joplin Music

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Rick Wakeman is best
known as the former member of the progressive rock band Yes. He was keyboard
player, composer and songwriter who left prestigious Royal College of Music to
become a session musician. Rick left his band Yes not only for musical
differences but also because he was only one non-vegetarian. The personal life
was not very successful for Rick as he was a self-confessed alcoholic, had
couple of heart attacks in his twenties and divorces with his wife.

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Nick Cave is an
Australian musician, author, screenwriter, songwriter and actor. He had lots of troubles as a kid and his
mother often had to pick him up from a police station. The big influence on his
songwriting was the death of Nick’s father.
His lyrics were usually violent and challenging, influenced by jazz,
blues and punk. With his band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds he achieved critical
acclaim and the band was known for their fascination with American roots music.

Buy Nick Cave Music

Buy Nick Cave Music

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Henri Mancini was
an Academy Award winning, composer, conductor and arranger. He won a record
number of Grammy Awards and is best known of his theme to Pink Panther film series.
He wrote a lot of music for films, TV series, orchestras and operas.

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Some more tune for Pink Panther's fans!

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Some interesting facts about the film:

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Approximately 800 school children are estimated to have been
used for the scene depicting Rocky's run through Philadelphia.

Robert Balboa Jr. in the film is the real life son of Sylvester Stallone, Seargeoh Stallone.

Although Rocky is left-handed, this film clearly shows Stallone is
right-handed; when Rocky signs autographs and punches the heavybag.

While training for the film, Stallone tore his pectoral muscle requiring
over 160 stitches.

Sylvester Stallone actually bought and drove a black and gold 1979 Pontiac Trans
Am.

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Wynton Marsalis was
one of the most controversial jazz musicians of the 1980s and 1990s. He was
also trumpeter and composer who developed his musical skills throughout all his
life. He went touring for 10 years to learn how to play and how to communicate
with his audience. He was also a political activist and took a part in
supporting New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

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Goldie Lookin’ Chain: ASBO 4 Life

Goldie Lookin’ Chain is a rap-pop music group from Newport. They are famous for humorous and controversial songs about today’s society, Newport’s lifestyle and hip hop. The big controversy occurred when the band played a song about Victoria Beckham during the World Cup in 2005 where David Beckham was playing.

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Experience some of James Bond classics by listening to some good tunes!

2009-03-30T03:27:00.000-07:00

Barry's love theme variation of Armstrong's song 'We have all the time in the world', however, is easily the best romantic
theme of the series, featuring beautiful strings and Barry's first consistent use of the flute.

About the film:
The most emotional adventure of his career begins for James Bond on a deserted
beach where a young woman tries to drown herself. He rescues the girl and for his trouble is attacked by two toughs - the girl's bodyguards. It soon becomes
much bigger for 007 - the girl is Teresa Draco, daughter of crime boss Marc Ange Draco, who wants James to marry his wayward daughter, and in return he can
provide 007 with information on an even more dangerous criminal leader - Ernst Stavro Bloefeld of SPECTRE. But both James and Teresa find more than they ever bargained for when their paths collide in a vicious pursuit in the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland, an enormous avalanche, and a smuggling ring for germ warfare against the West by Blofeld, who proves most difficult to kill and who exacts a revenge that James can never forget - or forgive.

music albums

Barry's love theme variation of Armstrong's song, however, is easily the best romantic theme of the series, featuring beautiful strings and Barry's first consistent use of the flute.

About teh film:
George Lazenby's sole appearance as James Bond features some of the most exciting sequences in the entire series. Bond is on the trail, once again, of SPECTRE's leader Blofeld. Blofeld's alpine headquarters is the setting of fantastic action and, ironically, where Bond is tempted by more lovely women than in any other Bond film.

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With "You Only Live Twice," John Barry takes his music in a more romantic direction. The sweeping title song, sung by Nancy Sinatra, is arranged into a beautiful orchestral piece used throughout the film.

About the film:
When an American space capsule is swallowed up by what they believe to be a Russian spaceship, World War 3 nearly breaks out. The British Government, however,
suspect that other powers are at work as the space craft went down near Japan. S.P.E.C.T.R.E. is the force behind the theft, as James Bond discovers, but its
motives are far from clear, and he must first find out where the captured space capsule is held before America and Russia initiate another world war.

music downloads

2009-03-27T10:08:00.000-07:00

Grammy nominated artist and globally acclaimed DJ and Producer Paul van Dyk continues to dominate the electronic music charts and appears at the pinnacle of every Top DJ list across the globe. His latest collaboration for the Music Discovery Project has highlighted his capabilities as musician.

Paul is renowned as one of the hardest working artists, with sold-out tours that cross each continent, headline spots at every major festival, and a hugely successful recording career.

Mbop megastore

Beastie Boys

2009-03-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

Beastie Boys are one of the longest-lived hip-hop acts and continue to enjoy commercial and critical success in 2009, almost 30 years after the release of their debut album. On September 27, 2007, they were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On February 3, 2009, the group released a digitally remastered version of their seminal album Paul's Boutique for its 20th anniversary. In 2003, they were involved in the landmark sampling decision, Newton v. Diamond. In the case, a federal judge ruled that the band was not liable for sampling James Nweton`s "Choir" in their track, "Pass the Mic."
Beastie Boys' use of a brief segment of that composition, consisting of three notes separated by a half-step over a background C note, was not sufficient to sustain a claim for copyright infringement.

Buy Beastie Boys

Erasure - the pop icons of the 80`s have sold more than 20 million albums and are still going strong.

2009-03-27T04:31:00.000-07:00

Erasure's world-conquering anthems of love, lust, and longing have made it one of the most beloved and enduring success stories in modern British pop music history. After more than two decades, Andy Bell and Vince Clarke (founding member of Depeche Mode and Yaz) have sold more than 20 million albums around the globe, proving themselves masters of every kind of song from disco symphonies to unplugged ballads.

And in Palm Springs, California, on Saturday, April 11, 2009 twenty thousand men from around the globe will gather poolside at the Wyndham Hotel as Bell spins his favorite songs as guest DJ for Jeffrey Sanker's White Party now celebrating 20 years.

music albums

Marvin Pentz Gaye, Jr. - an American singer-songwriter and instrumentalist with a three-octave vocal range.

2009-03-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

Marvin Gaye is one of the best sellers at Mbop, and he was a member of the doo-wop group `The Moonglows` in the late fifties. He ventured into a solo career after the group disbanded in 1960 signing with the Tamla subsidiary of Motown Records. It was not until 1971, when Marvin recorded his landmark album, `What's Going On`. This album changed the landscape of rhythm and blues music, by representing a full view of social ills in America including war, police brutality, racism, drug addiction, environmentalism, and urban decay.
In 2008, the American music magazine Rolling Stone ranked Gaye no6 on its list of The Greatest Singers of All Time, and ranked no18 on 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

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Johnny Cash - The Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

2009-03-26T04:27:00.000-07:00

Johnny Cash is one of the biggest selling acts at Mbop. He has been one of the most influenial artist of the 20th centuy.
Johnny Cash popularized country and western music with the mainstream audience and became the first international country star. He had a few colaborations with Dylan and one of them was portrayed on his ABC television series, debuted featuring a film of Cash and Bob Dylan recording "Girl from the North Country." The song later appeared on Dylan's Nashville Skyline, Dylan's first country album.
Johnny was of Scottish royal descent but he learned this only when he researched his ancestry. Johnny came across his ancestral roots only after a chance meeting with former Falkland laird, Major Michael Crichton-Stuart, when he traced Johnny`s family tree back to 11th century Fife, Scotland. Johnny was as well friendly with every United States President starting with Richard Nixon. He was closest with Jimmy Carter, who became a very close friend.
June Carter Cash died on May 15, 2003, at the age of seventy-three.

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Chas & Dave - the seed of punk revolution

2009-03-26T03:28:00.000-07:00

Chas & Dave is one of the best selling acts at Mbop. Here is a little story about them.
As the story goes, punk revolution started with Sex Pistols, but there was actually a duo from Edmonton, North London in 1973, who were the first band to write the first punk-rock anthem, a song titled Gertcha.
Following the trailer of punk, Chas & Dave got into trouble for swearing on television. The offending phrase was "cow son", an early 20th-century English version of the American "son of a bitch" used in Gertcha - proving that they may also have inadvertently invented gangsta rap. `That's an old-fashioned thing our mums and dads and grandads used to say,` says Chas Hodges.
`Their ploy of dressing as old men when in their 30s has certainly paid off - as the duo enter their 60s they still look much the same as they did on their early album sleeves,` writes Iain Aitch of the Guardian.
Chas & Dave are also famous for their collaborations with their beloved Tottenham Hotspur Football Club for which the duo wrote two football anthems. Libertines called on their inspirators to supprt them at the Forum and the Brixton Academy in London 2003 and 2004. On a interview for the Guardian, Chas commented; `Some in the pub the other day told me, ' W`ve always been a fan of you. W`ve got all your records. W've been a fan of you since we were kids. Which one of the two are you?'

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New releases in Mbop Megastore!

2009-03-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

POP

............
It may seem early to be name-checking the best bands of 2009 already, but it’s not often a band like ‘Hockey’ tear through the calendar to become a worthy contender.
After a feverish and ferocious bidding scramble to sign them (Virgin won), the Oregon four-piece’s sweet-Jesus of a first gem ‘Too Fake’ sounds like The Strokes covering The Killers with Arctic Monkeys excitement and all produced by James Murphy. To quote their maverick contemporaries; “Is this it?" "It’s indie rock n roll for me”, “...believe the hype”, “Hockey...are playing at my house.” They bring rock 'n' roll intensity to the dance floor.

BUY HERE

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Katy Perry Dishes On Her 'Long And Winding Road' From Singing Gospel To Kissing Girls....

It is shocking that all the attitude and moxie is coming
from a girl who, as a child, wasn't even allowed to listen to something as
benign as the New Kids on the Block and one who recorded an album full of
gospel tunes when she was 15. She has, shall we say, done a fair amount of
growing up since then.

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Great 80's hits from artists like Rachel Whitebread, David Christopher, Barbara Bush and others.

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JAZZ/EASY LISTENING

Listen to some legendary jazz tunes from Blue Note Recods!

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Tony Bennett has steadfastly remained the embodiment of heart in
popular music. He pours it into every note he sings and every phrase he
swings with a sophistication that deepens his unguarded emotional
directness. In the polluted sea of irony, bad faith and grotesque
attitudinizing that pop music has become, he is a rock of integrity.

BUY HERE

Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American
jazz singer, described by
Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th
century".She had a contralto vocal range. Sarah Vaughan was a Grammy Award
winner. The National Endowment for the Arts
bestowed upon her its highest honor in jazz, the NEA Jazz
Masters Award in 1989.

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Louis Armstrong was the first important soloist to emerge in jazz, and
he became the most influential musician in the music's history. As a
trumpet virtuoso, his playing, beginning with the 1920s studio
recordings made with his Hot Five and Hot Seven ensembles, charted a
future for jazz in highly imaginative, emotionally charged
improvisation. For this, he is revered by jazz fans. But Armstrong also
became an enduring figure in popular music, due to his distinctively
phrased bass singing and engaging personality, which were on display in
a series of vocal recordings and film roles.

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SOUNDTRACK

The Young Victoria: The elderly
Queen Victoria has graced the screen many times, but this period drama
takes a different approach. Here Victoria is a teenager, her natural
spirit only slightly tempered by the weight of her impending duties as
queen. We meet her as her kindly uncle King William (Jim Broadbent) is
ailing, thus ushering in a new era for the inexperienced royal...

BUY HERE

DANCE

............

Fast on the heels of the Paul’s Boutique reissue, March 30th will
find the Beastie Boys re-releasing the album that followed Paul’s,
1992’s Check Your Head. The Beasties’ Website has been updated to
celebrate the Check Your Head reissue, with the band’s performance on
the Arsenio Hall Show embedded on the site. Additionally, the Beasties
announced today that they’ll headline Los Angeles’ storied Hollywood Bowl on
September 24th in anticipation of their new album, due out later this year.....

BUY HERE

ROCK'n'ROLL

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He claims to be “the architect of rock and roll,” and history would
seem to bear out Little Richard’s boast. More than any other performer
- save, perhaps, Elvis Presley,
Little Richard blew the lid off the Fifties, laying the foundation for
rock and roll with his explosive music and charismatic persona. On
record, he made spine-tingling rock and roll. His frantically charged
piano playing and raspy, shouted vocals on such classics as “Tutti
Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally” and “Good Golly, Miss Molly” defined the
dynamic sound of rock and roll. Onstage, he’d deliver wild,
piano-pounding epistles while costumed in sequined vests, mascara,
lipstick, and a pompadour that shook with every thundering beat

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BLUES

BUY HERE

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John Lee Hooker was an influential American post-war blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter born in Coahoma County near Clarksdale, Mississippi. He developed a half-spoken style that was his trademark. Though similar to the early Delta blues, his music was rhythmically free. John Lee Hooker could be said to embody his own unique genre of the blues, often incorporating the boogie-woogie
piano style and a driving rhythm into his masterful and idiosyncratic blues
guitar and singing. His best known songs include "Boogie Chillen" (1948) and "Boom Boom" (1962).

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Exciting new album releases in Mbop Megastore!!!

2009-03-23T04:21:00.000-07:00

New release of Radiohead's debut album!

Radiohead's work has appeared in a large number of listener
polls and critics' lists. For example, in 2005, Radiohead were ranked number 73
in Rolling Stone's list of "the greatest artists of all time". While the
band's later albums brought them a wide audience, their earlier sound on The
Bends and OK Computer remained influential on British rock music.

BUY HERE

OK Computer reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and marked Radiohead's highest entry into the American market
at the time, debuting at number 21 on the Billboard 200. The album expanded the band's worldwide popularity, and has been
certified triple platinum in the UK, double platinum in the
US, and platinum in Australia.

BUY HERE

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New Pet Shop Boys album out NOW!!!

Kicking off with the wondrous lead single, Love Etc, with
its tingling electronic sheen and ravishing melody, the Xenomania-produced Yes
is as inventive and flamboyant as the strained Fundamental was falsely rumoured
to be. The Pet Shop Boys needed neither the Brit award nor this album to
cement their status as one of the finest pop acts of all time, with
their remarkable combination of thrilling pizzazz and searing
intelligence. But for us grateful fans, Yes is a wonderful vindication,
and their finest album in many, many years.

BUY HERE

High School Musical 3 to SING ALONG!!

Record breaking musical offers a nice opportunity to everyone who wants to be a part of the movie! Sing along, have fun, learn songs and enjoy!!!

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James Bond Forever!!

The “FOREVER BOND” project has assembled a stellar array of some of the UK’s finest dance divas to sing some of the most popular themes from the JAMES BOND movies. Each track has been produced by hot new production team KLUB KIDZ (James Hurr & Jason Prince) into a contemporary dancefloor smash and the release is timed to get the maximum publicity boost from the imminent arrival of the latest BOND movie “CASINO ROYALE” which is set for UK release in mid-November.

BUY HERE

2009-03-17T05:32:00.001-07:00

Happy St. Patricks day everyone! Celebrate with some great tunes by The Dubliners and some legendary songs from Giunness adds by Various Artists.

The new album of comedian Bill Hicks!

2009-03-17T03:53:00.000-07:00

The new album The Foxes is out now!

For many, Hicks was, and remains, the "angry young man" of stand-up comedy. His act included material on the Los Angeles riots of 1992 and the first Gulf War, of which he said: "A war is when two armies are fighting. So you see, right there, I think we can all agree it wasn't exactly a war."

One of the Bill’s jokes:

“If you don't think drugs have done good things for us, then take all of your records, tapes and CDs and burn them. Cause you know what? The musicians that made all that great music that's enhanced your lives throughout the years? Real fucking high on drugs. The Beatles were so fuckin' high they let Ringo sing a few songs."

BUY HERE

2009-03-16T04:21:00.001-07:00

Peter Doherty - new album out NOW!!!

Grace/Wastelands has the curious status of offering the most convincing account of Pete Doherty's talents, yet at the same time
conveying the limited parameters of his artistic reach.
It's when he's at his best that one can most clearly gauge his limitations, and they don't leave him much room to move here. Too many of these songs are slim ideas polished to an almost respectable lustre by arrangements which try to add colour to Doherty's monochrome presence without trampling over his anomie.

Peter Doherty - new album out NOW!!

2009-03-16T03:15:00.000-07:00

Grace/Wastelands has the curious status of offering the most convincing account of Pete Doherty's talents, yet at the same time

conveying the limited parameters of his artistic reach.

It's when he's at his best that one can most clearly gauge his limitations, and they don't leave him much room to move here. Too many of these songs are slim ideas polished to an almost respectable lustre by arrangements which try to add colour to Doherty's monochrome presence without trampling over his anomie.

Pete Doherty’s rehab confession:

Pete Doherty only checks into rehab to stay out of jail.

The Babyshambles singer thinks addiction programmes are "impossibly dull" and should be avoided at all costs.

He said: "When I go to rehab, it's usually because I've been given the choice of rehab or jail. When you're there, it's not even giving up drugs that's hard, it's that you have to give up everything.

"If you could sit there and read a book it would be fine, but you're not allowed to do anything other than focus on your recovery. I was only allowed to play my guitar once a week.”

He told Shortlist magazine: "Right now, I'm clean as a whistle. I think it's all about my confidence. With the new album, it's all quite mellow, and I'm a shy man.

"When you're wasted it becomes even more petrifying to go out with just an acoustic guitar. When you're in that place, it's easier to hide behind a massive wall of noise. That's not there right now."

But just a few months ago, Pete – who now prefers to be called Peter – says his drug use was frequent and horrifying.

He said: "I get very paranoid. There was the time I thought terrorists were on my roof, trying to break in. You can laugh, but it was scary. In my mind they were outside trying to get me.

"When you have the crack shakes, you think everyone you know is going to kill you."

BUY HERE

The Drifters - Drifted Together at Atlantic Records

2009-03-12T03:52:00.000-07:00

In 1953 Ahmet Ertegun, who in the 1940s had founded Atlantic Records, convinced McPhatter who at the time had just been fired as the lead singer of Dominoes, to sign a contract with Atlantic, under the stipulation that the singer form his own group. Although the inspiration for his new group's name - The Drifters - remains unclear, the usual explanation is that the members drifted from other groups. The group's second lineup, which included singers Gerhart Thrasher, Andrew Thrasher, and Willie Ferbee along with guitarist Walter Adams recorded "Money Honey" in the summer of 1953 and by the fall, the song had reached number two on the R&B charts. While lineup changes continued, McPhatter's lead vocals gave the Drifters a distinct sound which continues to encaptivate millions of fans worlwide.
In 1988, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted The Drifters; naming members Clyde McPhatter, Bill Pinkney, Gerhardt Thrasher, Johnny Moore, Ben E. King, Charlie Thomas, and Rudy Lewis. Charlie Thomas and Bill Pinkney accepted the award at the induction ceremony. In 1999, singer Johnny Moore died on his way to a London hospital after having breathing difficulties. He was 64. The Rolling Stone Magazine ranked The Drifters 81st on their list of the 100Greatest Artist of All Time.

BUY DRIFTERS HERE

2009-03-11T03:37:00.001-07:00

Big Bands sell!
The Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band was formed in 1881. It is based in Brighouse, in Calderdale in West Yorkshire.
Since January 1995, the band have practised at their purpose-built hall and music library called West Ridings at Brighouse High School on Finkil Street in the north of Brighouse near the A644. The band is not sponsored but relies on public subscriptions and fund raising.
In November 1977, the band reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart with their recording of "The Floral Dance", where they stayed for nine weeks, only surpassed at the time by "Mull of Kintyre" (the first UK single to sell more than 2 million copies, and third best selling UK single of all time).It was arranged for the band by Derek Broadbent. The b-side was a version of Debussy's "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair". The corresponding album, The Floral Dance reached to Number 10 in the UK Albums Chart.
They are currently a big seller on Itunes and available from the Mbopmegastore
BUY BIG BAND MUSIC

The country music legend Patsy Cline

2009-03-10T05:46:00.000-07:00

"Patsy Cline - the country music legend, inspired by Shirley Temple"

Patsy Cline’s is a story of triumph and tragedy, and of a little woman who couldn’t be kept down – the very stuff of country music songs and legends. Patsy Cline, who held jobs plucking chickens, worked in a meat packing plant and waitressed in a bus terminal, rose to be named the most promising country and western female artist of 1957 by Billboard Magazine.

Boys, they can't take my refrigerator now. They'll never get my car now. I paid cash for 'em and they're mine, and I'm keepin' 'em! Patsy Cline

BUY HERE

2009-03-10T05:40:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,

You can buy some great tunes by legendary Patsy Cline in Mbop Megastore
BUY HERE

““So, have you heard about the oyster who went to a disco and pulled a mussel?” Billy Connolly

2009-03-09T04:07:00.000-07:00

Billy Connolly is best known for laughing at his own jokes and speaking in a scottish accent(Coz he iz)! Oh plus he is married to Lex Luthers old flame in Superman namely Pamela Stevenson, who was a pretty hot chick back in her day!

Billy has most recently been seen on our screens in a new ITV series.

“There are two seasons in Scotland: June and winter.” one of Billy Conolly's famous 'jokes'

He is however a big seller on Mbop with his album Glasgow Accents, Stories & Songs
BUY BILLY HERE

2009-03-04T04:34:00.001-08:00

http://ping.fm/bEQ7i

Anyway, we intend to bring you the Top100 selling artists on the mbop site over the coming days and weeks with some info about the artist and where you get hold of their music. There will be a few suprises and some interested entries. Each entry we will give a link to buy the music and a little story about them or their music...........
Darin fact:
you may remember the Bobby Darin song Don't Rain On My Parade from the hit film American Beauty.........a classic film with a classic Bobby Darin song

Bobby Darin is a big fav!

2009-03-04T04:01:00.000-08:00

BUY HERE

Anyway, we intend to bring you the Top100 selling artists on the mbop site over the coming days and weeks with some info about the artist and where you get hold of their music. There will be a few suprises and some interested entries. Each entry we will give a link to buy the music and a little story about them or their music...........
Darin fact:
you may remember the Bobby Darin song Don't Rain On My Parade from the hit film American Beauty.........a classic film with a classic Bobby Darin song

lastly catch us on Tweet! just tweet and follow Mbop

we are getting right into Twitter, Twitstamp is a great app!(see above)

2009-03-02T09:08:00.000-08:00

46 of Your Favourite Irish Drinking Songs
BUY HERE
Frank Sinatra once said:
"Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the Bible says love your enemy." Well, the Irish certainly love their drink. Is it any wonder that even their coffee has alcohol in it? You can see the Irish fondness for alcohol in Irish drinking quotes, toasts and songs of course! To know how much an Irishman loves his drink, you can read any Irish drinking quote:

When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin, we go to Heaven. So, let's all get drunk and go to heaven.

Guinness Advert Music now on CD

2009-03-02T03:50:00.000-08:00

Guinness adverts have become an institution within themselves...whats your favorite advert...the music behind these adverts have become as recognizable as the images themselves and now all have been made available on one cd!

Artists on Guinness 250 - Music from the TV Ads, include Jesus and Mary Chain, The Ramones, The Pixies, Patti Smith, Dusty Springfield and Al Jolson.

as Guinness describe:
"As a part of our 250th celebrations, we wanted to share some of the best loved tracks from our iconic advertising campaigns throughout the years,” said Grainne Wafer, senior marketing manager, Guinness. “Since 1929, Guinness advertising has been an essential element in building the Guinness brand. The music selection is a key component in the development of all of our ads and careful consideration is always given to choosing the right track for each and every Guinness ad. We are delighted with the music collection and we know that consumers all over Ireland will greatly appreciate it.”

Buy Guinness CD

Tom Jones is the Codfather!!!!!

2009-02-24T01:58:00.000-08:00

Tom Jones is the Codfather!!!!!

Tom Jones in new movie about drugs and fishing

23/02/2009

(BANG) -

Tom Jones will play a fisherman in a new movie.

The legendary crooner will star in a new British comedy about a trawler crew who smuggle £10 million of drugs in a consignment of cod alongside fellow Welshmen Rhys Ifans and Rob Brydon.

A source involved with the movie - entitled 'The Codfather' - said: "It's great to get Tom on board. Hopefully his appearance in the movie will reel in the audience."

The 68-year-old star previously had a cameo as himself in 1996 sci-fi film 'Mars Attacks!', but this is his first fictional role.

'The Codfather', directed by Xavier Leret, is expected to start shooting later this year and is scheduled for release in 2010.

Meanwhile, the 'It's Not Unusual' singer has spoken about his love of wife Linda, who he began dating age 14, insisting their relationship is as strong as ever.

Tom said: "I'm still in love with Linda today. We've gone through thick and thin. I also remember all those times growing up together which is why we will never split - no matter what has happened or what I've done.

"After the passion in our marriage died down, we became soulmates."
(C) BANG Media International

Buy Tom Jones here

Oldies win @ The Brits

2009-02-20T02:44:00.000-08:00

BUY PAUL WELLER HERE

Well we were suprised! Paul Weller winning a Brits the ex Jam and Style Council aficionado seems to be in resurgence at the moment (again) Maybe its his cool dress sense as well as catchy, smooth rock pop.

Louis Bellson - 1924 : 2009

2009-02-17T02:14:00.000-08:00

Louie Bellson didn't just make the drums swing—he made them sing.

Listen closely, and you could hear melody and phrase in the tintinnabulation of fast-flying sticks striking cymbals. All the while, his feet moved like crazy, articulating multiple rhythms on not one but two bass drums—a Bellson signature.

Mr. Bellson "was an extremely significant figure in jazz," noted drummer Dana Hall, music director of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble.

a great place to buy Louis Bellson albums is Mbopmegastore

The Louis Bellson Quintet Salute

Louis Bellson Don't Stop Now

Empire of the Sun - the sound of 2009?!

2009-02-16T02:54:00.000-08:00

We love Empire of the Sun - even though 1. they seem like a couple of pretentious pre-Madonnas and secondly only 4 tracks from their debut album are worth the listen (the rest is a complete load of tosh!)
However the 4 tracks that are a good are brilliant! Namely; Walking on a Dream, Half Mast, Standing on a shore, We are the People and possibly the last track Without You..?
it seems the UK music buyers will be downloading like mad!

here is what contentmusic.com said about them:
Ambitious Australian duo Empire of the Sun have finished in fourth place in the BBC's Sound of 2009 shortlist.

The prestigious list predicts the musicians likely to break through in the next 12 months and was won last year by Adele.

Comprised of the Sleepy Jackson's Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore of electronica act Pnau, Empire of the Sun have reached the Australian top ten with their debut album Walking on a Dream.

With theatrical stage outfits, a band mythology concerning ancient cultures and an 80s-influenced synth-pop sound, the pair have come fourth on the BBC's list of bands to watch for 2009.

"We're so visual," Steele told the BBC. "We want to make something that as a child you see and you just love because it's so colourful and it's got imagination.

"Music is magic, and with imagination combined it can be completely epic. We've been both on the road doing shows for the last ten years and we wanted something that's higher - visually, mentally, physically, a bigger level, a bigger vision that can last for ever."

The longlist was unveiled in December and each entrant in the top five will be named on a daily basis this week, with Adele's successor revealed on Friday January 9th.

It was announced on Monday that electropop pair La Roux had been named as the fifth most exciting act of 2009.

This year's Sound of 2009 longlist also included Brit winner Florence and the Machine, Grammy-nominated hip-hop princess Lady GaGa, arty duo the Big Pink and singer-songwriters Dan Black.

The Ting Tings, Duffy, Glasvegas and Vampire Weekend were featured in the 2008 list.
source: Contactmusic.com 15/02/2009

get the album for a great price here

Megabop Update!

2009-02-10T09:40:00.000-08:00

The Grammy 2009 results saw a host of multi genre winners. Here is a list of the obscure categories but equally as popular worldwide. Listen to the winners from Contemporary Gospel to Classical Crossover!

Explore music at the Mbop megastore. Here is a list of a select 2009 Grammy winners we thought might interest:

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: "Thy Kingdom Come," CeCe Winans
http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/53987950&camp=blogger

Best Banda Album: "No Es De Madera," Joan Sebastian
Joan Sebastian
http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/52208395&camp=blogger

Best Traditional Blues Album: "One Kind Favor," B.B. King
http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/50948417&camp=blogger

Best Traditional Folk Album: "At 89," Pete Seeger
http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/50886361&camp=blogger

Best Traditional World Music Album: "Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu," Ladysmith Black Mambazo
http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/50758221&camp=blogger

Best Classical Crossover Album: "Simple Gifts," The King's Singers
http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/51073001&camp=blogger

Please visit the megastore for more details!

Music marketing in the Digital Age

2009-02-10T03:53:00.001-08:00

Music marketing in the Digital Age

Gone are the days when bands or artists had to rely on huge record label advances to get their music out there on a global scale. A classic example of this are Sheffield’s very own Indie rockers The Arctic Monkeys, who put themselves on the road to success with online file sharing- prompting many music industry insiders to question the way in which a band or artist is promoted. To have continued success in the today’s industry requires bands and artists to focus their efforts on delivering an all-round promotional package which encompasses online PR, marketing, distribution and plugging. The hundreds of bands and artists uploading thousands of tracks on a daily basis shows just how easy it has become to sell music online. This has its benefits but also its limits, whilst it has never been easier to get your music out there, with so many competing voices an artist or band can often get lost or quickly forgotten without a coordinated promotional campaign to keep them in the spotlight. Megabop Digital and Promotions in conjunction with the MBOP Megastore, provides a bespoke promotion service to record labels and artists, offering a package that encompasses radio, television and press on a Global scale. Social and viral marketing are fast becoming an integral part of MBOP’s unique selling point (USP) and a way of creating artist awareness. Database/fanbase development, Customer Relations and Broadcast management
and our partner eCircle (www.ecircle.com), are additional key resources Another area where MBOP are at the cutting edge is promotional email. For Mbop, email is the backbone data of effective communication. However, to avoid the risks associated with nuisance or unwanted emails or the risk of blacklisting, Mbop use Communicator Corp (www.communicatorcorp.com), and eCircle,
leading global providers of digital communication and next generation email, together with other key marketing companies. Communicator Corp’s unique, self-learning Intelligent Delivery Solution ensures that Mbop’s email communication automatically responds to ISP/IEP policy changes and bases sending rates on the statistical analysis of previous campaigns. In short, the right emails hit the right inboxes with the right messages at the right time. With Communicator Corp and eCircle providing a professional method of communication, storage, and usage of data, Mbop optimises its interface with its network whilst enhancing its reputation. Mbop strives to provide a quality social networking service and build a buzz for artists, labels and its own store. Building and tapping into new and established online communities and providing connections to sites such as MySpace, Bebo, Facebook, Hi5, Rivmixx and Twitter are essential for the Mbop team to reach out to people who share common musical interests and provide them with information on releases, product or artist information, music news and general musical matters. By offering information above and beyond the music itself, we give music fans a platform to discover everything they need to know about an artist or band, therefore allowing them to buy into the whole package that the music represents. Fans like to be in the loop with the latest trends and developments, and social networking does just that on a level that is still a long way from reaching its full potential.
Mbopdigital's experienced marketing team continues to explore and maximise all digital opportunities through social news widgets, blogging, Youtube videos, visual representation and more. This kind of viral marketing uses methods such as social bookmarking, blogs and video sharing and can ultimately be hugely successful and rewarding. One blog or posting can make an impact over time, just one person passing information onto another at the click of a button can start to build a buzz for an artist or band - a buzz they may not even be aware of at the time. It has been said that Arctic Monkeys didn’t even know what MySpace was before they had a No.1 single, and that their MySpace page was engineered by their fans. Take into account they had little or no offline advertising and this gives even more weight to the power of online marketing. With new platforms being introduced all the time, Mbop is always on the cutting edge of technology, experimenting with new ideas and finding new ways to exploit the latest technology to promote our artists and bands.

Contact: +44(0)207-415-7010 Email: info@mbopdigital.co.uk

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Key Note 200 words
MBOP’S EXPERTISE
Mbop and its divisions offer 360 degree global digital services including distribution & marketing solutions for artists, label and catalogues.
Mbop Digital
Mbop’s direct label services arm comprises all the traditional functions of a record label tailoring them to the digital and online environment, from artist development, marketing and promotion, to the manufacture and distribution of digital media.
Mbop Promotions
headed up by Nigel Wilton, Mbop promotions exists for record labels and artists that require a bespoke offline promotions service. Working across all genres, Mbop Promotions offers a complete package encompassing radio, television and press on a global scale. PR is linked to coalition deals with other PR companies both within the UK & Around the world.

Mbop Global
Set up to handle worldwide licensing and distribution of catalogue, Mbop Global currently oversees over 250,000 tracks from many labels. With retail accounts in every major global territory and specialists in post-production, sync licensing and marketing, Mbop Global is positioned to ensure that repertoire is made available to the widest possible audience.

Mbop Megastore
Mbop’s new online music store features over 5 million tracks, from both major and independent labels. With over 800,000 registered users already Mbop Megastore has established itself as a leading online destination for the digital music consumer.

Megabop's Hot Picks!

2009-01-30T08:23:00.000-08:00

Here are Megabop’s latest featured releases:

Brit Award Nominees 2009...

Kate Perry: One Of The Boys

http://www.mbopmegastore.com/tssite/homepage.do?ruleset=release&id=575/http://www.mbopmegastore.com/?camp=blogger

Adele: 19

http://www.mbopmegastore.com/tssite/homepage.do?ruleset=release&id=521/http://www.mbopmegastore.com/?camp=blogger

The Verve: Forth

http://www.mbopmegastore.com/tssite/homepage.do?ruleset=release&id=575/http://www.mbopmegastore.com/?camp=blogger

Coldplay: Viva La Vida/Death & All His Friends

http://www.mbopmegastore.com/tssite/homepage.do?ruleset=release&id=575/http://www.mbopmegastore.com/?camp=blogger

Iron Maiden: Killers

http://www.mbopmegastore.com/tssite/homepage.do?ruleset=release&id=556/http://www.mbopmegastore.com/?camp=blogger

Hot new single from one of the bands to watch for in 2009

Empire Of The Sun: Walking On A Dream

http://www.mbopmegastore.com/tssite/homepage.do?ruleset=release&id=577/http://www.mbopmegastore.com/?camp=blogger

New releases from Lily Allen!

The Fear (single)

http://www.mbopmegastore.com/tssite/homepage.do?ruleset=release&id=575/http://www.mbopmegastore.com/?camp=blogger

It's not me; it’s you (album)

http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/57745293/http://www.mbopmegastore.com/?camp=blogger

Featured Label: Rough Trade Records

The Strokes

http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/51402647/http://www.mbopmegastore.com/?camp=blogger

Arcade Fire

http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/51462441/http://www.mbopmegastore.com/?camp=blogger

Belle & Sebastian

http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/51462491/http://www.mbopmegastore.com/?camp=blogger

Babyshambles

http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/51403488/http://www.mbopmegastore.com/?camp=blogger

Please visit the megastore for more details!

Megabop’s Hot Picks For 2009

2009-01-09T09:25:00.000-08:00

Here are Megabop’s hot tips for 2009:

Friendly Fires - http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/53023829

Florence & The Machine - http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/53412702

Broken Records - http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/53294871

White Lies - http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/51262101

Red Light Company - http://www.mbopmegastore.com/link/53410197

Here are Megabop’s featured albums:

Beyonce – I Am Sasha Fierce

Leona Lewis – Spirit

Pink – Funhouse

Please visit the MegaStore for more details - http://www.mbopmegastore.com/

albums for the new year

2009-01-06T09:09:00.000-08:00

..MBOP MEGASTORE - Download Our Weekly Featured Albums