Get it, Now!

• HAPPY birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthay dear Now! series, happy birthday to you!
To mark their quarter-century as the most iconic pop compilers on the market, Now That’s What I Call Music! 25 Years has been released.
The release is a three CD compilation of eighties, nineties and noughties music including artists ranging from Amy Winehouse to Phil Collins to Micheal Jackson.
• Houston, we have an album – Belfast rock ‘n’ roller Brian Houston is back with a new long-player, Three Feet From Gold.
Featuring his latest single, Oranges, the album mixes vintage rock and pop influences with classic songwriting.
• Superclub Ministry Of Sound releases it annual collection of dancefloor fillers, appropriately titled The Annual 2009, next week.
The album is a comprehensive round-up of the year’s biggest dance tracks from the likes of Basshunter, Calvin Harris and Mint Royale.
• Paul Carrack, who has worked with artists such as The Eagles, Ace, Squeeze, Mike And The Mechanics, Roger Waters, Elton John and many more, has releases a new solo album.
I Know That Name features his current single I Don’t Want To Hear Any more, which features Don Henly and Timothy B Schmidt of The Eagles.
• Add a little flava to you festive season with the new Massive R&B Winter Collection 2008 compilation.
The two-disc collection features tracks by artists including The Pussycat Dolls, Timbaland, The Game, Rihanna, Neyo, Snoop Doggy Dogg, LL Cool J and many more.
• Heart-throb James Blunt returns with a new single, Love, Love, Love, on November 17.
The stand-alone single is the first new material from James since his best-selling All The Lost Souls album.
• As well as visiting Nottingham’s Rock City on November 15, Death Cab For Cutie release a new single on November 17.
No Sunlight is the latest stunning track to be lifted from their brilliant album Narrow Stairs.
• Glittering star Santogold releases another pop nugget on November 24.
The stomping single, Say Aha, is taken from the eclectic singer’s eponymous LP.
Santogold will also be supporting Kanye West when he comes to Europe this month – including a gig at Birmingham NEC on November 15.
• If all of this is music to your ears, you can read more from the pop world online at www.echoisaacashe.blogspot.com.

Camp rock

• DOING their best with a new single out on November 3 are pop rockers Scouting For Girls.
The new track, I Wish I Was James Bond, is the latest to be lifted from the licensed-to-thrill number one album Scouting For Girls.
A spokesman for the group said: "Whilst Britain undergoes an extensive period of uncertainty both politically and economically, it is the music of Scouting For Girls that can lift the nation’s spirits with their hugely upbeat sunshine pop."
You can see the band on tour throughout November and December including dates at Nottingham Arena and Birmingham’s Carling Academy.
• Rockabilly revivalist Imelda May is hoping to make a lasting impression on the record-buying public with debut album Love Tattoo.
The Irish singer’s debut LP, out now, is a rip-roaring collection of ‘50s-inspired tracks.
• Soulful singing sensation Lemar returns on November 10 with a new single, If She Knew.
The track, the lead single from the Fame Academy graduate’s forthcoming fourth album The Reason, combines Lemar’s heartfelt vocals with layers of acoustic guitar-driven RnB.
• The unique sound of Threatmantics hits the charts on November 3 when their debut offering Upbeat Love lands on shelves.
The Welsh rock and roll trio, who visit Birmingham’s Factory Club on November 20, make their music on viola, guitar, drums and keyboards – with Huw Davies playing both drums and keyboards simultaneously.
A spokesman said: "This is a short, sharp album packed to the brim with skuzzy, mind-blowing rock and roll."
• Operahouse are set to release the dynamic Change In Nature EP on November 10.
The release is a taster for their debut album, recorded under the guidance of Embrace’s Richard McNamara, which is due early next year.
• Jack of all trades John Barrowman is releasing a new single on November 17.
The catchy new single, What About Us, is written by Take That star Gary Barlow and is the first taster of new album Music Music Music.
• Former X-Factor entrant Maria Lawson releases a new single, These Walls, on December 1.
Taken from the singer’s second album, Emotional Rollercoaster, due out in January 2009, the track fuses soul, pop and rock sensibilities.
• Looking for an early Christmas present?
Pop Party 6, a compilation packed with hits from the likes of the Sugababes, Ting Tings, Jonas Brothers, Rihanna, McFly and more is out from November 3.
• If all of this is music to your ears, you can read more from the pop world online at www.echoisaacashe.blogspot.com.

Razorlight return

• THE cutting edge brilliance of Razorlight returns to the charts this month, in the form of new single Wire To Wire.
The track, the first taste of forthcoming third album Slipway Fires, is an affecting ballad with a hook catchier than flu.
You can catch a copy when it hits stores on October 27.
• Metal titans Trivium have released their fourth album, the bone-shattering Shogun.
The album brilliantly showcases the group’s technical mastery and brutal thrash metal sound.
• This’ll cheer you up – New Zealand indie rockers Cut Off Your Hands have released a new EP, Happy As Can Be.
The Bernard Butler-produced four-and-a-hidden-track release is sure to whet the appetite for full-length release You And I, due early 2009.
• Dundee’s finest The View are back with a new single, 5Rebbeccas, released on October 27.
The raucous ripsnorter of a release is being backed up by a 35 date tour including nights at Nottingham’s Bodega and Leicester’s Charlotte.
• Oddball Swedish singer songwriter Lykke Li has a new single from her album Youth Novels out on October 27.
Little Bit is a hushed, breathy hit-in-waiting which could see Lykke following in the footsteps of fellow Scandanavians Robyn and Feist.
• Mercury Prize-nominated folk singer songwriter Laura Marling is hoping to have a good day on October 27, when new single Night Terror is released.
The former Noah And The Whale singer’s will be playing the track, plus others from debut album Alas I Cannot Swim, at gigs at Nottingham’s Rescue Rooms and Birmingham’s Glee Club during November.
• You don’t have to be flush to make a deposit towards the Empty Boat cause.
The international musical collective release an album, Waitless, on October 27, and every copy sold will see money donated to Pump Aid, who provide much-needed sanitation in some of the poorest countries in the world.
• Four-time Grammy winner Tracy Chapman is back with a new single, album and European tour in November.
Album Our Bright Future and single Sing For You are released on November 10, and the singer arrives in the UK on December 12.
• If all of this is music to your ears, you can read more from the pop world online at www.echoisaacashe.blogspot.com.

No more NuNews

THE decision to close NuNews has been taken by Trinity Mirror Midlands as part of its current restructuring process, after no buyer for the paper could be found.
Therefore Upbeat will now be only syndicated across the Coalville Echo, Ashby Trader And Echo, Burton Trader and Trader Xtra newspapers.

Steve rocks the boat

• THE ill skills of bluesman Seasick Steve are showcased on his new album, the fantastic I Started Out With Nothing And I’ve Still Got Most Of It Left.
The guitarist’s major label debut and follow-up to breakthough LP Dog House Music sees the Californian, real name Steve Wold, performing alongside Nick Cave and KT Tunstall.
• Folk singer songwriter Emily Jane White releases her debut album Dark Undercoat on October 20.
The San Franciscan’s first LP. a fragile acoustic collection, is backed up by a European tour during October and November – log on to www.emilyjanewhite.com for more information.
• Diving into the charts with a new single are The Submarines.
You Me And Bourgeoisie is a blend of indie guitar and electronic beats taken from forthcoming album Honeysuckle Weeks.
• Welsh one-man wonder Rod Thomas has released a new single, Same Old Lines.
The lo-fi folk-pop singer’s new song is a ukelele-led anthem of a track.
• Fledgling star Sam Isaac’s new single, Sticker Star And Tape is out now.
The single from the singer, who was asked to play the BBC Electric Proms whilst still unsigned, is the first taster from 2009 album Bears.
• Get Well Soon are in rude health, having announced a series of headline shows inclusing a visit to Nottingham’s Bodega.
The group is the musical vision of Berlin-based Konstantin Gropper, and has been described as "a medieval Radiohead".
• Londoners Me My Head have released their debut single, Damage Is Done.
The track is a powerful, short-lived slice of paranoid, agitated new wave.
• Castle Donington four-piece Late Of The Pier’s new single, the bass-heavy dance smash Bathroom Gurgle, is unleashed on the record-buying public on October 27.
• If all of this is music to your ears, you can read more from the pop world online at www.echoisaacashe.blogspot.com.

U2 live again

• U2’S SEMINAL live album Under A Blood Red Sky has had a digital overhaul to coincide with the re-release of the Live At Red Rocks concert footage.
The Irish group’s remastered album and DVD, originally filmed in Colorado and released back in 1983, are in stores once again.
• Actor, singer and TV personality John Barrowman releases a new album, Music Music Music, next month.
The album is co-written by Take That’s Gary Barlow and Kylie-producer Chris Braide, and features a new single, What About Us, which is out on November 17.
• Encore Une Fois? Why not – The Best Of Sash hits stores on October 20.
The dance legend’s compilation features tracks such as Ecuador, Stay, Adelante and Mysterious Times.
• If you’re a fan of hard rock, be sure to pick up a copy of the new single from Stone Gods.
The band release Don’t Drink The Water on October 27, before heading out on tour across the UK, including a date at Notttingham’s Rock City on November 20.
• Brighton-based band The Rivers have released a new download-only single, Love Or Whatever.
The energetic slice of pop rock is remiscent of The Kooks, and whets the appetite well for the band while they work on a debut LP.
• Still going after 50 years in the music business, Joe Brown releases his new album, More Of The Truth, on October 13.
As well as original music, the album mixes original material with covers such as All Shook Up and Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.
• Former Eurovision entrant James Fox is back with a new album and single in November.
Single Higher and album Rocking Chairs And Lemonade are typical of the South Wales-based singer songwirter’s catchy upbeat pop style.
• Rising stars Cut Off Your Hands release a new single, Happy As Can Be, on October 20.
The track is an exuberant drum-driven slice of charming, uplifting indie taken from forthcoming album You And I.
• Queen and former Free frontman Paul Rodgers have released The Cosmos Rocks, their first album of original material since the death of Freddie Mercury.
The album, dedicated to the legendary Queen frontman, features the latest single C-Lebrity.
• If all of this is music to your ears, you can read more from the pop world online at http://www.echoisaacashe.blogspot.com/.