All Music

Musical fusionists Alabama 3 Acoustic will bring their rollicking live show to The Spiegel Saloon, Monday 12th December to launch their new album, "Shoplifting for Jesus.

The band join a host of exciting acts at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham this Christmas for 7UP's Winter Wonderland. The album which is possibly their best titled yet will be released in Ireland February 3rd 2012.

They will perform their unique blend of country acid house music at the Spiegel Saloon along with tracks from their new album. There is free admission to 7UP Winter Wonderland, and to the live music performances happening every day in the continental style Spiegel Saloon.

The full nine piece band returns to Ireland in the New Year to play Queens University Belfast (Feb 10th), The Button Factory, Dublin (Feb 11th); Cork Opera House (Feb 12th).
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Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart reportedly can't keep 'their hands off each other'.

The pair spent Thanksgiving weekend together on the Hawaiian island of Kauai with some other family members and Jennifer's three-year-old twins Max and Emme.

Jennifer and her backing dancer have reportedly been dating for the past few weeks.

'They are definitely a couple - and a very touchy-feely one at that!' an onlooker told the Chicago Sun-Times. 'They could barely keep their hands off each other.'

The source also said 24-year-old Casper has already built up a bond with Jennifer's children, who she has with estranged-husband Marc Anthony.

The singer and her new beau were spotted playing with the kids in the sand.

'[He was] looking very paternal toward them,' the insider added. 'It was sweet to see him with them on the beach.'

Despite the 18 year age gap, Casper was taking care of his girlfriend. The pair hugged and sipped cocktails together in a cabana in the shade.

'He seemed very protective towards her, it was quite sweet,' another onlooker told British publication The Daily Mail. 'He seemed like the older one, they seemed if not love, well, very happy to be together.'

The American Idol judge split from her third husband Marc in July after seven years of marriage.http://www.music-news.com

Guilty pleasures and heroes week on The X Factor. We all have them, so when the editor asked for mine I shamed myself with my confession to loving Rick Astley along with Batman. Oh, not that type of hero! Whoops!!

Last week we said farewell to Craig Colton. A truly likeable lad with a exceptional voice but his luck ran out. It's getting so close now. The good just have to keep getting better to make sure they rise above the rest. Hopefully we will hear more from him in the future. Good luck Craig.

This week, we were treated to two songs each from the remaining five contestants. Guilty pleasures followed by their heroes.

First up however, was the bonus surprise contestant, Mr Dermot O'Leary, who danced rather than sang his guilty pleasure.

Onto the serious stuff and girl band Little Mix were first up. Bit of a shaky start but they finished the song strongly.

Their second song was brilliant and I would be stunned if Little Mix did not make the Final. During their performance the note I wrote on my pad was 'Finalists'

Midas Act Janet Devlin was up next, and sadly it did not go at all well. The song choice was not good, made worse by Janet forgetting her words and she looking very uncomfortable throughout the song. Janet has her unique style, and when she sings to this style, she is the most outstanding and unique artist out there. Feedback from the judges wasn't great.

Her Heroes song was much much better, this time she sung a song she both liked herself and that matched her style. Only time will tell if Janet has done enough to stay for another week. I will be keeping everything crossed.

Now if Misha B can get the public on board, then she is set for a great career. Her vocal during her first song was world class and she is always consistently good. My wife is a big fan of hers.

Saying that though her second track was not as good and the curse of the bottom two could be beckoning again if she doesn't get the support.

Marcus Collins entertained us again during his guilty pleasure song but it is all getting a bit repetitive with him. For the first time this series I got bored watching him. Sorry mate.

The judges did their best to try and persuade us that his second song was better but we all must have been listening to a different version at home. His voice was off key at times and the song didn't work for him. I do still expect Marcus to be in the Final though and he does have the like ability factor with that cheeky grin.

Last up was Amelia Lily who did a 'smashing' version of China in Your Hands, and Gary it certainly wasn't shouty.

Her second track was not as good but I think Amelia still had a lot to offer and her first song more than made up for this offering.

The results show tonight is going to be hard to call.

Before I go I just want to congratulate the X Factor team, the finalists, JLS and One Direction for the brilliant charity track 'Wishing on a star'. If you have a spare pound please download the song as every penny is going to the 'Together For Short Lives' children's charity.

Right now where did I leave my Rick Astley CD?
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American Anthems II is three CD set to follow up the original collection from last year. Again the set picks up classic tracks from American artists, spanning 3 decades of music. There are some great forgotten tracks on here – Sixpence None the Richer for one, although bizarrely Janet performed this on X-Factor the same week the set came out!! Other ‘lsot’ tracks for me include Mr Mister’s ‘Kyrie’ (better than Broken Wings), Billy Joel’s environmental hit ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ and Rick Springfield’s’ ‘Human Touch’; all take me right back to No Limits with Jonathan King, Lisa Maxwell and Jenny Powell.

This collection also encompasses some more recent acts such as The Killers, Train and Kid Rock, with all three fitting into the set seamlessly. Finally, great to see Prince on here; doesn't appear on many compilation CDs.

Excellent volume 2.


Disc 1

1. Africa - Toto
2. We Don't Need Another Hero - Tina Turner
3. Gimme All Your Lovin' - ZZ Top
4. Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
5. We Didn't Start the Fire - Billy Joel
6. Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac
7. I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) - Hall & Oates
8. Burning Heart - Survivor
9. Unskinny Bop - Poison
10. Girl Can't Help It - Journey
11. When I See You Smile - Bad English
12. Lido Shuffle - Boz Scaggs
13. What I Am - Edie Brickell
14. When I'm Alone - Lissie
15. I Don't Want to Be - Gavin DeGraw
16. Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer
17. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite - R.E.M.
18. All Summer Long - Kid Rock
19. All These Things That I've Done – The Killers

Disc 2

1. Can't Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon
2. Waiting for a Girl like You - Foreigner
3. You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon
4. Stuck with You - Huey Lewis & the News
5. Long Train Running – The Doobie Brothers
6. Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band
7. You're So Vain - Carly Simon
8. Hey, Soul Sister - Train
9. Kyrie - Mr. Mister
10. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
11. Take This Heart - Richard Marx
12. Walking in Memphis - Marc Cohn
14. One of Us - Joan Osborne
15. Babe - Styx
16. Lullaby - Shawn Mullins
17. Little Miss Can't Be Wrong - Spin Doctors
18. More than Words - Extreme
19. If You Leave Me Now - Chicago

Disc 3

1. If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher
2. Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
3. Californian Girls - David Lee Roth
4. Crazy Crazy Nights - Kiss
5. Leave a Light On - Belinda Carlisle
6. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship
7. Two out of Three Ain't Bad - Meat Loaf
8. I Drove All Night - Roy Orbison
9. These Dreams - Heart
10. Gloria - Laura Branigan
11. Playing with the Boys - Kenny Loggins
12. Mighty Wings - Cheap Trick
13. Human Touch - Rick Springfield
14. Sailing - Christopher Cross
15. Hitch a Ride - Boston
16. Carry On Wayward Son - Kansas
17. Make You Feel My Love - Bob Dylan
18. Make It with You - Bread
19. A Horse with No Name - America
20. Purple Rain - Prince
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Formed by Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett back in 2001, the virtual band have released four studio albums and collaborated with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Dangermouse, Bobby Womack Little Dragon, Shaun Ryder and Lou Reed.

The Singles Collection: 2001-2011 was released today (November 28) and to celebrate Gorillaz and Spotify are giving usees of the site five weeks of exclusive and interactive content.

The exclusive content includes a three-part radio programme hosted by Gorillaz characters, covering the band's history and unseen live concerts.

The Singles Collection: 2001-2011' is available on CD, DVD and vinyl.

The tracklisting for 'The Singles Collection: 2001-2011' is:

'Tomorrow Comes Today'
'Clint Eastwood'
'19-2000'
'Rock The House'
'Feel Good Inc'
'DARE'
'Dirty Harry'
'Kids With Guns'
'El Manana'
'Stylo'
'Superfast Jellyfish'
'On Melancholy Hill'
'Doncamatic'
'Clint Eastwood' (Ed Case & Sweetie Irie Refix)
'19-2000' (Soulchild Remix)

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Reports emerged yesterday (November 27) that the singer had granted permission to allow his music to be used in the stage show, which was reported to get its world premiere next March in London.

But, according to Bowie's official spokesman, this is incorrect and neither the singer nor his management are in negotiation for his songs to be used in a musical.

The statement reads: "Neither the David Bowie Organisation, nor its co-publishers EMI Music and Chrysalis, has issued a license for this performance at the O2. There are no negotiations pending for a long running musical featuring the music of Mr. Bowie".

The singer has not released a new album since 2003's 'Reality' and last performed live in 2006, despite calls from his fans to make a comeback.
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