ASWAD COVER HOWARD JONES FOR NEW SINGLE:



Reggae greats Aswad have covered the Howard Jones hit "What Is Love" and released it as their new single. Pretty decent version featuring Sweetie Irie, video above.

NEW SIMPLE MINDS CD "GRAFFITI SOUL":

















Simple Minds return with their 15th album titled "Graffiti Soul". You can order it here, the Deluxe 2 cd version here (with bonus covers cd) and the vinyl edition here.

After taking a quick spin through the record I can say hardcore fans of the band will like it, I think it is okay, it may grow on me a bit after a few listens. The first single is "Rockets" (see the video below), I think my favourite track is "Kiss And Fly". Jim Kerr posts that the album has been complete since last year and that "For the moment we give you Graffiti Soul, but believe me when I say that the next one will be even better!", take what you will from that.


.

AMERICAN IDOL PERFORMANCE FINALE - IDOL SONG IS BAD:

















I haven't talked much about Season 8 of American Idol on this blog, I have posted comments on other blogs that are following the competition more closely. Last night was okay, but I have to say the the "Idol song" - "No Boundaries" is horrible, plain and simple. The producers and Kara DioGuardi should all be embarrassed that it was used, a very bad case of nepotism. The lyrics are pedestrian and it certainly doesn't have much of a hook, and it didn't suit either Adam or Kris.

Kudos to Randy Jackson for being the only judge to actually critique the performances of "No Boundaries" while to other judges copped out. I look forward to hearing both Kris and Adam's cds, I pity the one that has to release "No Boundaries" as their first single, it is so WEAK!

I've said from the beginning of the Top 10 that Kris is going to win the season and I stand by that prediction today, should be an interesting show tonight.

UPDATE: Nice to see Kris Allen win Season 8 of American Idol (what a jam packed finale). After listening to the studio recordings of "No Boundaries" by both Kris and Adam (Allen's version is better) it sounds a bit better but I still think generally it is a weak song with cheesy/predictable lyrics. This season was full of favoritism and nepotism, they better cut that kind of stuff out next year, just critique the performances and get a better song for the winner to perform.
.

KULPOP'S THIRD ANNIVERSARY!:














Well it has been three years since I started my KulPop blog. My first post was an a variety of things and my first comment came from XOLondon. And my recent post about a-ha's upcoming album release got a bit of notice from other's in the blog world. A few of my favourite posts over the years have been:

My review of The Feeling in concert (and getting to meet them)

What Are The Thompson Twins Up To Now (and one on their cd reissues)

Some concert reviews: Lo-Fi-Fnk, Patrick Wolf, Darren Hayes, Ben Lee, Duran Duran, Adele, Elbow/Air Traffic, and Howard Jones' 25th Anniversary gig.

Thanks to those of you that read KulPop and sometimes leave a comment, I appreciate that.
.

MORE INFO ON THE NEW a-ha CD "FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN":





















Above is the cover for the new a-ha album, not sure if I like it that much. Besides the title track single, two songs to be on the album are - "Shadowside" and "What There Is". "These songs probably have a classic a-ha sound, but many of the other songs on the album will be quite different", Magne Furuholmen says. Hardcore fans of the band may feel that they have heard the band's new single before, apparently the verses are identical with those in the song "The Longest Night" - which was on Magne Furuholmen's "A Dot Of Black In The Blue Of Your Bliss" album last year. But the chorus is new. "This is a completely normal way of working. The song was originally written for a-ha, but then things took time, and it ended up on my solo album first. We're also planning to make a new verse for "Take On Me" and re-release it", Magne Furuholmen laughs.

The cd "Foot Of The Mountain" is due out on June 19th (June 22nd in Norway), no idea if a release is planned for North America.

Monday is a special day here at KulPop, check back to find out why.
.

FREE DOWNLOAD OF THE NEW COLDPLAY LIVE CD:





















Go here to download the new Coldplay live cd titled Left Right Left Right Left. They are giving away free copies of the cd to everyone who attends a regular concert on their current tour.
.

MIKA TO RELEASE "SONGS FOR SORROW" ACOUSTIC EP:


















Mika who will be releasing his new album later this year has decided to release a 4 track EP of acoustic songs called "Songs For Sorrow" to tie in with his small acoustic tour of Europe (dates below, it would be nice to see some North American shows added to this special tour). Mika will also be releasing a limited edition (10,000 copies worldwide) of the EP with a special super high quality deluxe 68 page book and specially commissioned artwork from some of Mika’s favourite artists (for 15 pounds, out June 8th). This EP will be available from his website and also on his tour. I've heard two tracks from the EP and they are fine, not his usual candy coated pop. Mika also has a newly constructed website, he talks about it and the EP in the clip below.



Tour Dates:

June 1st - Berlin Passionskirche, Germany
June 2nd - Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Holland
June 4th - Brussels, Ancienne Belgique, Belgium
June 6th - Milan Franco Parenti, Italy
June 8th - London Sadlers Wells, England
June 11th - Paris Cirque D’Hiver, France
June 12th - Paris Cirque D’Hiver, France
.

RAINY DAY RECOMMENDATION: AUSTRALIA'S DCUP:















I just recently discovered the music of DCUP (Australian musician/remixer Duncan MacLennan). blouse has been championing him for a while now and Hyperbole currently has two "must have" downloads up that I highly recommend. One is DCUP's own track "To Be In Love", and the other is a great remix of X And Hell's song "Monster" (cheeky lyrics and all). He is about to release a cd titled "Style EP" on the Sweat It Out label. You can also get his track "Epic" here.
.

NIK KERSHAW ACOUSTIC GIG VIDEO CLIPS:





















Picture By: Darren Coleman / Puttyfoot

Nik Kershaw has been playing a lot more gigs in the last year, with the occasional big retro concert thrown in for good measure. You can check out his upcoming tour dates here. Someone has made available a few songs from his recent acoustic gig in Newcastle . Nik is a true performer and you can see Nik is at ease with his audience and has a great sense of humour. I espcially like his version of Dancing Girls, not what you would expect. Below are the links to a few clips from his recent acoustic gig on MegaVideo, enjoy.

EDIT: The clips seem to have been removed, sorry.

The Riddle

Dancing Girls

I Wish (Stevie Wonder cover, not full song)

THE BAND "MAKING APRIL" COVERS IMOGEN HEAP:





















I had never heard of the band "Making April" until today. I checked out their new album "The Egg Hunt" and found it to be somewhat predictable piano based pop rock, not bad actually if you are in the mood for that sort of thing. It seems they formed two years ago and were featured on MTV Laguna Beach and became one of the Top 10 Unsigned Artists on MySpace (their song "Roses and Butterflies" is edging up to 2 million listens on their MySpace page). I went to their MySpace site and found they do an interesting acoustic cover version of Imogen Heap's hit "Hide & Seek" that you can download from iTunes and Amazon.
.

THE LIGHTNING SEEDS ARE BACK WITH NEW ALBUM "FOUR WINDS":





















The Lightning Seeds (Ian Broudie) have reformed and are set to release their first album in a decade called "Four Winds" that is due for release in the U.K. on May 25th (order it here). The album is a fairly acoustic sounding affair, certainly not as "pop" as the band's earlier material. The Lightning Seeds are set to join Motorhead, Brian Wilson and The Happy Mondays at this year's Guilfest on the Ents24 stage on Saturday 11 July.
.

NEW A-HA ALBUM "FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN" DUE OUT IN JUNE:





















Norway's a-ha follow up their successful "Analogue" cd with their ninth studio album titled "Foot Of The Mountain" due out in Europe on June 19th. The first single (cover of single above) is the title track and you can listen to it here and a sample of it on the band's newly set up MySpace page, and they have also set up a Twitter page. A-ha had some live dates scheduled for late October in Germany and a November 4th concert at London's O2 Arena, tour dates here.
.

VARIOUS BITS AND PIECES:







Both Ohh Crapp and Poster Girl have features on Troy This!, definitely worth checking out his funky pop music. Looking forward to buying his album, I will be playing "Back That Up!" and "American Dream" on my radio show this Monday.








Ben Lee starts his North American tour tonight in San Diego, promoting his latest and very good album "The Rebirth Of Venus", check out the dates here.

Howard Jones is set to play a trio of album premiere showcase gigs in the UK in November 2009. Taking in London, Manchester and Cardiff, each location has a special significance for Howard. The gigs will include a premiere of Howard's new "Ordinary Heroes" album in its entirety, performed by the artists used in the recording of the album and followed by a full electronic band set including his biggest hits. Special guests will also be included at the London and Cardiff shows. Special VIP tickets will be available at each venue with access to an exclusive after show party attended by Howard and the band. These tickets will be very limited and early purchase is advised. The dates are:

Friday 6th Nov 2009, Indigo2, Greenwich, London
A return to the venue which hosted the fabulous 25th Anniversary concert. Howard will be supported by the talented Nick Heyward.

Thursday 12th Nov 2009, Royal Northern College Of Music, Manchester.
A very special evening for Howard, as he returns for the first time to play a gig at the conservatoire where he studied music and piano before hitting the big time. This will be a very intimate gig with just 650 tickets available.

Friday 13th Nov 2009, St.Davids Hall Cardiff,Wales
In the city where Howard spent much of his childhood, he will perform a concert which promises to be a fantastic finale to the trio of gigs. Howard will be supported by the rousing 95 strong world famous Morriston Orpheus Choir, who will also accompany Howard during the performance of the new album.
.