Saturday, January 19, 2013

Bookmarks: HMV

Lady_cait worked for the Virgin Megastores as they became Zavvi and then crashed into a wall. She then joined HMV, and is seeing her employer collapse all over again. She's hoping that as people get upset about their gift cards losing value, they'll also spare a thought for the 4,000 people losing much, much more:

Except its not 4000 jobs. It’s 4000 people. 4000 families. 4000 homes. Just like when our shop went under it was me and my credit card bills. Jess and her mortgage. Dan and his kids, Tony and his retirement plans. People’s lives thrown into absolute chaos. It’s the scariest thing that ever happened to me, and probably to alot of them too. I hope people realise that in the next few weeks, when they walk into a HMV and find out they can’t use their gift card anymore.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Progobit: Nic Potter





The long Game




It's a collapse jam-packed with irony.

Cover sludge: recreating The Beatles

Here's a headline to chill the blood:

Mick Hucknall and Stereophonics to re-record first Beatles album
Obviously it's not just those two; War and Famine will be also be taking part in the project to complete the team.

It's apparently a project designed by Radio 2 to celebrate "the golden age of the album" - so Kelly Jones must be on board to remind us how far we've fallen since then.

The idea is that Please Please Me will be recreated in twelve hours, thereby proving... something. That musicians can still work at the pace The Beatles did, presumably. But it's actually going to take about three hours longer than the original did.

Unconfirmed at present are rumours that 6Music is going to try and recreate The Spaghetti Incident sessions over a similar period taken by Axl.

Occupy HMV

While Deloitte are still trying to find a buyer for the UK HMV chain, the Ireland branches have been put into receivership and closed.

Staff, understandably, are angry as hell at being told they won't get paid, and are occupying the Limerick store:

Also being hit by the more extreme approach being taken in the Republic are the proceeds from a charity single. RTE explains:



The charity says that Deloitte are "aware of the sensitivity of the situation", by which I think they mean they know how bad a terrible situation could look. Perhaps Deloitte might like to pass a share of the squillions they're getting for closing HMV down to the charity as well?

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Punkobit: MJ Drone









Mike Drone continued to play - here's a performance from 2006:

MJ Drone died January 10th; there are no further details.

Gordon in the morning: Olly's sweet FA

Gordon has spotted a gruesome twosome:

HOW about this for an unusual partnership? Former England striker ALAN SHEARER and Essex lad OLLY MURS.

They got together for a chinwag and a couple of bevvies yesterday as the Football Association celebrated the launch of its 150th anniversary year in central London.
Two people at the same event have a chat hardly seems that unusual - perhaps if they were going round solving crimes, or announcing a civil partnership, there might be a raised eyebrow.

But Murs being at the event in the first place - there's something strange there. It turns out Murs has a role with the FA:
Man United fan Olly was at the bash because he’s just been named as an official ambassador for the FA.
Olly Murs. An ambassador. For the FA.

Did it not occur to the FA that they might have access to any number of well-renumerated, high-profile people who perhaps might be more appropriate to promote the image of football?

I'm picturing the scene at Lancaster Gate:

- Righto, we need someone to bring football to the public. How about Olly Murs?
- From the X Factor? Wouldn't it be more appropriate for us to get someone like Beckham?
- Don't be ridiculous, she'd be way too busy with the fashion and musicals and what-not.

Murs does have a connection to the world of Association Soccerball:
Back in the day, Olly was a half-decent footballer – even plying his trade as a semi-pro for Witham Town for a short while.
So that's half-decent performances at a non-league standard from Murs. But before that, he was a footballer.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

OneUp down





Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Gift vouchers expired



HMV limps on







Monday, January 14, 2013

HMV throws in the towel

BBC News is reporting that HMV has appointed administrators and suspended trading in its shares.

It looks pretty grim indeed now.

Chill remains in deep freeze


Teena Marie has one last album

When Teena Marie died in 2010, there was an album waiting to be released. It's finally getting an airing, after Marie's daughter, Alia Rose, did the leg work to get it out.

SCUM washed off our streets

SCUM are the latest band to take advantage of the new year to call it a day:



Tom, Brad, Huw, Mel and Sam x
They done that on their Facebook.

Relive they way they were with their 2012 Daytrotter session.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Olivia Harrison halts Beatles statue plans





This week just gone

The most-read stories from 2013 so far are:

1. Shrag split
2. NME's best singles of 1993
3. Cassingles are growing in popularity
4. HMV slashes prices to stay afloat
5. Video: Tindersticks
6. What are people saying about the new Bowie single?
7. If someone steals Damon's bike, he buys a new one
8. Bowie v Hendrix v Suede
9. Video: Suede
10. NME hails Haim

These are the interesting releases:

Broadcast - Berberian Sound Studio

Download Berberian Sound Studio

Gallops - Yours Sincerely, Doctor Hardcore

Download Greatest Hits

Francoise Hardy - Francoise Hardy

Download Greatest Hits

Merz - No Compass Will Find Home