Supermarket shelves in other parts of the world (and at certain specialty shops in the US) contain a food product called Marmite, which is basically a bread spread made out of yeast extract. I personally tried it when I was 16, after an Australian pen pal sent me a few packets, and my Cool Ranch and Domino’s-trained palate found it absolutely repellent; I haven’t tried it since, because the thought of doing so makes me shiver. But apparently it’s pretty divisive in the UK, to the point that the product name is actually being used by some music-biz insiders to describe certain artists who have a love-’em-or-hate-’em appeal. The musical omnivores at Popjustice explain: “the phrase describes the sort of band or artist which divides opinion as strongly as the disgusting/delicious yeasty food product Marmite. It is not a phrase used to describe how good or bad something is–there’s no value judgment involved.” Popjustice says that Alphabeat, the Scissor Sisters, and Bob Dylan are all “Marmite artists”–although a shitty band being pushed by a publicist to no avail is not, so don’t try it next time, publicists. Confused yet? Well, in keeping with our English-class form, the term is used in context after the jump!
As part of Idolator’s continuing effort to geekily analyze every music chart known to man, we present a new edition of Project X, in which Michaelangelo Matos breaks down top-ten lists from every genre imaginable. In this special Oct. 10 edition of his column–it is 10/10, after all–he breaks down some of the worst lyrics to reach the airwaves of British radio.
A small but vocal section of the internet claims that musical bricoleurs Noel and Liam have swiped some or all of “The Turning,” slated for the upcoming Oasis album Dig Out Your Soul, from a 1976 song by old-school Brit chart powerhouse Cliff Richard. Oasis? Jacking from a U.K. pop star who was big in the ’60s? Apparently so, according to the international network of rabid Cliff-ies. To wit.
Oasis’ show tomorrow night in New York City has been scrapped because Noel Gallagher is still recovering from injuries to his midsection suffered Sunday night, when he was body-checked by a Canadian “fan.” More »
Oasis has postponed its show in London, Ont., tonight, thanks to Noel Gallagher sustaining hip and rib injuries after being attacked on stage Sunday. The show has been moved to Dec. 15; meanwhile, the 47-year-old (!!!!) More »
Last night in Toronto, an unidentified man rushed onstage during Oasis’ set at the Virgin Festival and body-checked Noel Gallagher, perhaps because he wanted to show the brawl-happy band what happens when you traipse around a country where hockey is the national sport. More »
Perhaps taking a cue from his tourmate Ryan Adams, Oasis’ Noel Gallagher has started a blog, although for some reason (well, probably a reason that’s rooted in some marketing initiative or another) it’s registration-only. So you’ll only be able to hear about Noel’s irritability with autograph-seekers and all-night vodka/Neu! parties if you give up your e-mail address and a few other identifying markers. But if you do, oh, what treats await you! Like this glimpse into Oasis’ dressing-room debate over the 10 best bands of all time, ever. Sure, he went the “list-as-content” route early, but c’mon, if there’s one thing Noel Gallagher probably knows, it’s that the Internet loves nothing more than to argue over semi-meaningfully quantified groups of artists, songs, and other cultural curios. I bet you can all guess who took this list’s top spot…
The Spanish producers Cookin’ Soul have done the guy who blended Jay-Z’s “Jockin’ Jay-Z” and Oasis’ “Wonderwall” one better, and created a whole mixtape bringing together tracks by Jay and the Britpop blowhards, who I guess are still fighting since they both have albums coming out later this year. More »