Alt-UK

Music, Film, and Gaming

Rich

Rage Against the X-Factor: Mid-Week Chart Shows ‘Killing In The Name’ to be Ahead

by 3 Comments

With Rage Against The Machine ahead in the mid-week charts, Simon Cowell looks to have quite a battle on his hands in the race for this year’s Christmas number one. “F**k you, I won’t do what you tell me” seems to be the message to Simon Cowell here, with people fed up of being told what single to buy each year in the week leading up to Christmas.

‘The Climb’ from Hannah Montana the Movie was the X-Factor single of choice this year, and as Joe McElderry was the winner of the X-Factor 2009, his version of ‘The Climb’ was released at 12am on Monday December 14th as his first single as a solo artist.

The Facebook group ‘RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE FOR CHRISTMAS NO.1’ currently has close to 800,000 members, and the people behind it have been able to raise over £35,000 for the Shelter charity as a result of the group’s great success. Even if ‘Killing In The Name’ doesn’t reach Number One this Christmas then the group will still have done a great deal of good, and if you’d like to make a donation then you can do so here.

The Christmas Number One will definitely be an interesting one this year, and from 4-7pm on Sunday December 20th, I for one will most definitely be tuned into 98.8 for the Radio 1 Official Chart Show.

X-Factor Final Sees Joe Face Olly

by Leave a Comment

Olly Murs is up against Joe McElderry in the X-Factor Final 2009, and bookies favourite Joe may just have to step it up a gear if he’s to win the public over with his final performance tomorrow. Stacey Solomon was the unlucky contestant to just miss out and finish third, and now that Stacey is out of the running; the whole of Essex may just be getting behind Olly as he looks to beat off Joe and emerge as the X-Factor Champion 2009.

It’ll be a phenomenal achievement for former call centre worker Olly Murs if he is able to win the X-Factor, regardless of who wins the show tomorrow however Olly Murs’ life will surely be changed forever and a return to the call centre seems somewhat unlikely. Murs performed with Robbie Williams for the December 12th X-Factor show, and if Simon Cowell has his way then it’ll only be a matter of time before Olly Murs himself is a successful solo pop star.

Both Joe and Olly will be feeling the nerves as they prepare for the final show, they’ll both be aiming to channel any pressure into a positive performance though, and it’s not long now before we find out who will emerge victorious as the X-Factor champion 2009.

Miley Cyrus to Cover Poison’s ‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn’

by 5 Comments

Teenage pop superstar Miley Cyrus wasn’t even born when Poison first topped the charts with ‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn’ back in 1988, that’s not stopping her from covering the track however as she looks to take a more rock-heavy direction with her music.

‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn’ is reported to be one of Cyrus’s all-time favourites, so here’s to hoping that she’ll do Poison proud when she puts this one to record.

We Are The Ocean – Look Alive EP

by Leave a Comment

We Are The Ocean - Look Alive EPThe ‘Look Alive’ EP is the latest release from London based post-hardcore five piece We Are The Ocean, and a very good effort it is from the band too. Lead singer Liam Cromby has an absolutely phenomenal voice, whilst chief screamer Dan Brown also pulls off a fine performance here in all four of these tracks. The contrasting voices of Brown and Cromby complement each other well, and from start to finish the EP is always an absolute treat to listen to. Not just vocally impressive, We Are The Ocean is a band with a great deal to offer instrumentally also, and not one single member of the band fails to impress here.

‘Look Alive’ kicks the EP off in style, and beginning with a bang the quality of this EP never once begins to drop. There’s enough variation here to keep you interested, and ‘Look Alive’, ‘(I’ll Grab You By The) Neck Of The Woods’, ‘Cutting Our Teeth’, and ‘Drag Me Down’ all have something unique to offer.

We Are The Ocean hints at what’s to come with the ‘Look Alive’ EP, and it’ll definitely be interesting to hear what the band serves up with debut album ‘Cutting Our Teeth’ when its released in January 2010. For fans of post-hardcore the ‘Look Alive’ EP is a definite must in the collection, and come January this band will undoubtedly be blowing us away with its first ever full-length release.

Label: Hassle Records
Release Date: November 16th 2009

Rating:
Review StarReview StarReview StarReview Star

First Redemption Shows Since 2007

by Leave a Comment

Redemption
Los Angeles prog metal band Redemption has announced its first shows since 2007. Redemption will be playing a show at The Whiskey, Los Angeles, CA, on February 4th 2010, followed by a show at UB’s in Mesa, AZ, on February 5th 2010.

These shows are to be played in support of the band’s latest album ‘Snowfall on Judgment Day’, released through Inside Out Music on October 6th 2009.

More shows are to be announced in the next few weeks.

North Atlantic Oscillation – Cell Count Video

by Leave a Comment

The official video for North Atlantic Oscillation’s ‘Cell Count’, a track taken from the band’s ‘Callsigns’ EP. ‘Cell Count’ has been going down well with the critics and music fans alike, and was even given the award of Single of the Week over at Drowned in Sound.

Slade – Merry Christmas Everybody: Party Hits

by Leave a Comment

Slade Party HitsChristmas just wouldn’t be the same without hearing Noddy Holder shout ‘It’s Christmas!’, and that’s exactly why everyone should own at least one Slade album. ‘Merry Christmas Everybody: Party Hits’ is the latest compilation release from Slade, and comes complete with a total of twenty tracks from the band. Kicking off with the massive hit ‘Merry Xmax Everyboday’, the ‘Party Hits’ collection has all the tracks to get you in the mood for Christmas as it continues with ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ and closes with the ‘Okey Cokey’ and ‘Here’s To The New Year’. With plenty of entertaining tracks in between such as ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now’, ‘Coz I Love You’, and ‘C’Mon Feel The Noize’, there’s much here to keep you interested and ensure that a very satisfying listening experience is provided.

The ‘Party Hits’ collection from Slade is an excellent album to purchase this Christmas, and if you know of any friends or family members that enjoy the music of Slade then what better Christmas present to provide them with than a copy of the ‘Merry Christmas Everybody: Party Hits’ album this December 25th. It’s absolutely brilliant value for the 20 tracks that you receive here, and not only does it contain some true Christmas classics but a number of Slade’s other big hits also.

Slade may not be together in its original form anymore, the fact still remains that this band has released a lot of great music throughout the years however, and that’s something that is displayed here with the ‘Merry Christmas Everybody: Party Hits’ collection.

Brighten up your Christmas with a bit of Slade and definitely do look to invest in this album.

The following is the full track listing for Slade’s 2009 ‘Party Hits’ album:

1. Merry Xmas Everybody
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
3. Mama Weer All Crazee Now
4. Let The Good Times Roll / Feel So Fine
5. Coz I Love You
6. Gudbuy T’Jane
7. We’re Really Gonna To Raise The Roof
8. C’Mon Feel The Noize
9. My Baby Left Me
10. Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me
11. Let’s Have A Party
12. Hey Ho Wish You Well
13. Let’s Dance
14. I’m A Rocker
15. My Oh My (Swing Version)
16. Standin’ On The Corner
17. Do You Believe In Miracles
18. All Join Hands
19. Okey Cokey
20. Here’s To The New Year

Label: UMTV
Release Date: November 23rd 2009

Rating:
Five Star ReviewFive Star ReviewFive Star ReviewFive Star ReviewFive Star Review

Sparks The Rescue – We Love Like Vampires Video

by Leave a Comment

The official video for the Sparks The Rescue single ‘We Love Like Vampires’, an amusing nod towards the vampire obsession that has rocked the world thanks to Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. ‘We Love Like Vampires’ can be found on the band’s 2009 re-release of the ‘Eyes to the Sun’ studio album.

We Are The Ocean – Look Alive Video

by Leave a Comment

The official video for the We Are The Ocean single ‘Look Alive’, a track taken from the band’s ‘Cutting Our Teeth’ studio album which is all set for release on January 25th 2010.

Label: Hassle Records
Release Date: November 16th 2009

Naruto Unleashed Series 6: Volume 1 Review

by Leave a Comment

Naruto Unleashed Series 6: Volume 1Beginning where Series 5 left off, Naruto Unleashed Series 6 kicks off in great style as the fight between Naruto and Sasuke concludes. It’s an exciting start to the series as we watch it all unfold, and although Volume 1 also comes complete with a few filler episodes; overall this is addictive viewing and watching Naruto Unleashed episodes 131 through 143 is most definitely highly recommended.

If you’re a Naruto fan then there’s plenty to keep you entertained here, with Volume 1 beginning and ending on a high, leaving you with a thirst for more. Once you finish watching episode 143 you immediately want to see what happens in episode 144, sadly this is where the DVD ends though and if you do wish to watch what happens next then you’ll just have to look to Naruto Unleashed Series 6: Volume 2.

Naruto Unleashed Series 6: Volume 1 provides the option to watch the episodes dubbed in English or spoken in Japanese with English subtitles, and whichever way you choose to watch the DVD then it’s sure to impress. Naruto himself is as entertaining as ever here in these 13 episodes, and some of the action that you get to watch here really is fantastic.

For Naruto fans Naruto Unleashed Series 6: Volume 1 is essential viewing, and with the boxset currently available from Amazon for £15.88 (or the complete series can be bought for £29.98), for the entertainment provided it is most certainly well worth the money, and this really is one to put on your Christmas list if you don’t already own it.

Rating: