On January 27th 2009 you will be able to pick up Working On A Dream, the latest album from Bruce Springsteen.

It will technically be Springsteens 24th album - which is a phenomenal and prolific amount of music. I can’t image how long a concert would go on if he played each song?!?! Any takers on calculating this?

The album has been created in conjunction with his buddies in the E Street Band and has been produced by the familiar Brendan O’Brien - who has also produced a number of Bruce’s more recent albums - including 2007’s Magic.

When an artist works this hard at what he loves it puts a lot of other musicians to shame. Springsteen seems to live strong to the “I’m going down in history” mindset. There aren’t a lot of other musicians in that category any more. Madonna is up there, The Rolling Stones (obviously) - but none from the more recent decades.

Kanye West has recently come out to slate Justin Timberlake in regards to how he has disappeared from view and squandering his talents. This is a prime example of “I’ve got enough to not need to anymore…”.

Can you think of any prolific artists just like Bruce?

Excited about Springsteens new album?

The son of Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, has taken Michael Jackson to court today in order to redeem the $7million dollars that he advanced to the King Of Pop for an autobiography and album that the star has failed to produce. He is being sued for breach of contract.

Jackson denies the claim, stating that the $7 million was a gift.

Maybe I don’t walk in the right circles - but $7 million seems like a bit to much for someone to just give you. A gift is the act of receiving something on a special occasion like your birthday or Christmas. Yet the star accepted the money just after he was cleared of child molestation charges in the US and fled to Bahrain to stay with Prince Al Khalifa in his plush palace - so there is seemingly no special situation to speak of - Unless getting off on the supposed sexual abuse of a minor is a celebratory time in Bahrain - but I seriously doubt this.

The Thriller singer stayed nearly a year in the country before returning to the States - so it is clear that the pair struck up a lasting relationship if this law suit is anything to go by.

All this comes after Jackson was forced to hand over the keys to Neverland - his Peter Pan, make-believe ranch which has all the types of things that little kids like to play with.

Neither Jackson or Sheik Abdulla bin Hammad Al Khalifa appeared in court today and Jackson is expected to appear via video link at a later date in order to deliver his testimony.

Michael Jackson has handed over the ownership deeds of his Neverland Ranch to Sycamore Valley Ranch Co, a company which he owns a partial stake in.

According to Tom Pearson, of the Santa Barbara County clerk-recorder’s office, the singer filed the deed on Monday 10th November, handing full ownership over.

Sycamore Valley Ranch Co. is a joint venture between Jackson and an affiliate of Colony Capital LLC. It is reported that Jackson had defaulted on a loan of $24.5 million (around £15 million) that he owed on the Neverland Ranch and had to be bought out by Colony Capital.

The property was originally called Sycamore Valley Ranch. Jackson bought it in 1988 and set about turning it into a miniature amusement park with a zoo, Ferris wheel, roller coaster and other rides, inviting thousands of children along for the experience.

Jackson subsequently renamed the ranch “Neverland”, after his fascination with the mythical land of Peter Pan.

It is alleged that Jackson has suffered some financial difficulties following his 2003 arrest on charges that he molested a 13-year-old boy at the ranch. He was eventually acquitted of all charges.

Seems like Michaels financial experts have yet again pulled him out of another sticky situation. I’d find it hard to believe that Michael will have to vacate the ranch - which means that he has just been handed $25million for nothing.

Nice.

Kings Of Leon are riding high on the waves of their recent album success, adding two summer UK tour dates to their arena shows for June 2009.

Tickets are set to go in sale this Friday 14th November at 9am and are expected to sell-out fast.

The two gigs are set to take place in on 15th June in the O2 Arena in London and on June 22nd at the Evening News Arena in Manchester.

The band have enjoyed great success from their new album both here (UK) and in the US.

The new album ‘Only By The Night’ entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at Number Four in early October. The album also hit the top spot in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Meanwhile the band are busy preparing for the Sell-out tour in December this year at the following venues:

• Brighton Centre (December 1)
• Nottingham Trent FM Arena (2)
• Newcastle Metro Arena (4)
• Sheffield Arena (5)
• Glasgow SECC (7)
• Liverpool Echo Arena (8)
• Birmingham NIA (10)
• London O2 Arena (11)
• Bournemouth BIC (14)
• Manchester Evening News Arena (16)
• Cardiff International Arena (17)
• London Wembley Arena (22)

What seems to becoming the most controversial show in television at moment, the X-Factor, has now found itself worthy of a mention in none-other than Parliament.

Forget gossip columns and music mags, just tune into Parliament talks every Wednesday to hear the latest controversy surrounding who was voted off on Saturday night.

X-Factor judge Louis Walsh has never felt so unpopular after last Saturday nights decision to vote Laura White off the talent show and is having to defend his decisions at every turn-about. The UK’s Culture Secretary Andy Burnham describing the decision as “very harsh” in parliament.

Walsh defended his decision to the Sun Newspaper saying:, “No one in the bottom two ever wins the X Factor that’s just a fact”, he continued, “Laura was never going to win. Laura was in the bottom two. Her performance was bad and her styling was even worse. She didn’t get the public support and got three votes from the judges.”

Meanwhile the unlucky singer to be voted off, Laura White said: “I was actually quite happy with my performance on Saturday. I can’t believe I’ve gone.”

Laura went head-to-head with Spanish Ruth Lorenzo, both of which the other judges felt should never have been in the bottom two. It is reported that a petition has been set up my X-Factor fans to get Laura back with already 12,00 fans having signed up.

If ever there was a petition that would never go anywhere it is this one! How can the show ever pick an eventual winner if people get petitioned back on it when they are voted out?

Fail.

The greatest recording artist that has ever graced my earphones has shocked me to the bone by playing his 1968 masterpiece Astral Weeks live to an audience in LA on Friday night.

The mystical artist, from Northern Ireland and my homestead, recorded Astral Weeks in New York 40 years ago to nothing but silence. The album was termed a failure - mainly due to the fact that his record company, Warner Bros, didn’t even attempt to promote it.

As a result of this Van Morrison didn’t get to perform the songs in a full live set - until now.

The Hollywood Bowl in LA hosted what I can only assume was a majestically delivered set list of Astral Weeks‘ full roster for the first time ever - and I wasn’t there.

Van Morrison had this to say when questioned why the album remains such a favourite and an inspiration to bands like U2, E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen and The Frames :

“Maybe it speaks something to some people … I don’t know. All I know is that it was a lot of hard work to make. I worked on crafting the material for years before the 1968 sessions. At the time, I was just creating; honing my songwriting; and picking out words that go well with other words — and working with the musical arrangements. The album is sophisticated poetry that I set to multi-layered musical arrangements; dynamic melodies course through every song.”

The reclusive artist was accompanied on stage by some of the musicians who were involved in the original recording as well as a full orchestra to give each song its full embodiment and life and he doubts that there will be any re-enactment of the show.

There have been no announcements in regards to the recordings being released yet - but I am sure details will follow when digital mastering has been completed.

Where you there?

What was it like?

Last night Liverpool’s Echo Arena hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards and changed the relevancy of the awards show forever.

The show was hosted by Katy Perry and featured live performances from artists like Beyonce, Kid Rock, Take That, Duffy and Pink.

Perez Hilton also graced the red carpet as he interviewed the musicians and celebs coming in. His meteoric rise to fame has been dramatic.

The shows main talking point was not that Britney Spears cemented her comeback by winning the Album of the Year award with Blackout or that Sir Paul McCartney was bestowed with the Ultimate Legend award. Disappointingly the main talking point surrounding the show was that of the winner of Best Act Ever.

Rick Astley made personal history by being nominated for an MTV award - never mind winning one. The Internet rallied behind the 80’s star and proved just how easy it is to game the entire award show.

The once hilarious gag of rickrolling someone has now become out of hand and the actual artist is publicly being dragged through the mud. Astley was so embarrassed by the award that he didn’t even show up to receive it. The fact that MTV allowed him to stay in the running for the award was childish and unprofessional. Winning was ultimately pyrrhic.

The question I have is - Did MTV keep Rick Astley in the running in order to up their viewer numbers and get the Internet on its side?

The full list of winners can be found below:

• Most Addictive Track: Pink ‘So What’
• Video Star: 30 Seconds To Mars ‘A Beautiful Lie’
• Headliner: Tokio Hotel
• Ultimate Urban: Kanye West
• Rock Out: 30 Seconds To Mars
• Artists Choice: Lil Wayne
• Act of 2008: Britney Spears
• Ultimate Legend: Sir Paul McCartney
• Album of the Year: Britney Spears Blackout
• Europe’s Favourite Act: Emre Aydin (Turkey)
• New Act: Katy Perry
• Best Act Ever: Rick Astley

Trying to get back on the circuit, 3 desperate S Club 7 members have joined together to jump on reunion bandwagon along with competing boybands like Take That, Boyzone and New Kids On The Block.

The trio tried in vain to coerce the other 4 band members to join them for their reunion but alas their was no convincing them.

Rachel Stevens is currently performing well in Strictly Come Dancing and had a decent solo pop career - so her desire to return to a cheesy kids band would be pretty low.

Hannah Spearritt has taken to acting since S Club 7’s split and is said to be loving it. She is currently a star in Primeval on ITV.

Jon Lee has taken to the stage in the West End and Tina Barrett hasn’t really been seen since her relationship with David Schwimmer began.

At this stage the remaining 3 (Jo O’Meara, Bradley McIntosh and Paul Cattermole) are gigging in Universities and nightclubs and are supposedly getting as much as £3000 for 20 minutes work.

Their promoter, Terry Mills, has said that they have had a handful of appearances so far and that he expected the singers get a lot more bookings.

I can’t think of any famous trios where the band consists of 2 guys and a gal. Can you?

I can’t see this working out and it smacks of desperation.

If you feel like its been forever since you have seen Leona Lewis then you only have to wait 2 more weeks.

On 15th November you will be able to see powerful British singer perform her new single, Forgive Me, on ITV’s The X Factor show.

The X Factor is now turning into the flagship TV show for artists to release their new singles. Of course - it is only being used by artists that are signed by Simon Cowell’s label.

Over the last few weeks we’ve had Leon Jackson, Girls Aloud and Will Young.

Now Leona Lewis is getting in on the opportunity to have nearly 7.5million people in the UK hear her comeback single. This will undoubtedly help to thrust the singer to the top of the charts.

If you can’t wait 2 weeks to hear Leona’s new single you can catch the YouTube video below.

Joss Stone has revealed that she has had to record her next album in complete secrecy because she thought her record label, EMI, would start “f@#king with it”.

The blues-y singer grabbed her ‘crew’ and laid out the tracks at her mothers house in Devon.

The as yet untitled album was recorded by the 21 year old wanna be American in the space of a week. Apparently the house was a wreck with building work at the time.

No release date has been set for the album so expect EMI to get their paws on the tracks to do with as they wish.

I find it funny how the singer dragged people to Devon to record her album in order to evade the producers and execs at EMI from imposing their directions on the album when she has to go back to them to push it out the door.

She had this to say:

“I recorded the bulk of my new album in the space of a week in February this year. It was a secret. The house was like a building site at the time, so it was just me and the crew in two bare rooms with a microphone. Because we wrote and recorded most of the album in such a short space of time, it has a very raw feel. I’m really, really happy with it.”

The fact of the matter is that she has a contract with EMI and it is EMI who will decide if the album is worth putting out. If it isn’t - then she will be politely asked to either re-record some tracks or work with new people to create some new ones.

I just wonder whether this is a case of the artist getting to big for their boots or demanding more creative control over their musical future.