These twelve ( it was going to be  ten ) albums  had a huge impact on me as a music fan, I found it hard to pick these and probably if you asked me to pick again today it would possibly be a different list.

As you can see from the list I grew up in the 70´s and 80´s so my early musical heroes are very much from the  Glam Rock and Synth-pop era.

What are your top 10 albums ? I would be interested to hear your thoughts and memories.So here´s mine  in no particular order with a stand out track from each album;

The Human League, Dare, 1981

I remember this album having such an effect on me on its release, I listened to it over and over on headphones and was lost in the way a pop record could sound so synthetic but also warm.This album was just perfect in every way, with classic singles The Sound Of The Crowd,  Open Your Heart, Love Action (I believe In) and the classic  Don’t You Want Me -although I´d be happy never to hear this overplayed song again- I also love its darker tracks Do Or Die, I Am The Law, Darkness and the brilliant Seconds.Definitely an pop album which dreams are made of!

Featured track-The Things That Dreams Are Made Of

Blondie,Parallel Lines, 1978

Debbie Harry is one of my favourite female artists of all time and Parallel Lines is a fantastic pop fest which was produced by Mike Chapman one half of 70´s hit factory Chin/ Chapman who wrote hits for Sweet-Mud -Suzy Quatro and Smokie. The album included no less than four smash singles with two UK no 1´s, the dance hit Heart Of Glass and the sweet Sunday Girl. The album went on to sell 20million copies world wide.

Featured track -Fade Away And Radiate

Brian Eno, Here Come The Warm Jets, 1973

This was my first Eno album and along with Before and After Science and Another Green World are still my favourites. I would of loved to have seen Brian live when this album was released. This was his first solo album after leaving (or was he sacked?) Roxy Music.  There are so many tracks on here I love , Cindy Tells Me , Needles In The Camels Eye and On Some Faraway Beach. There is also the classic should have been single Baby´s On Fire which has been covered many times including T-Total featuring Marc Almond. I never tire of this album however many times i play it.

Featured track-Babys On Fire

Sweet, Give Us A Wink, 1975

Sweet at their hard rocking heaviest best and what the band should really be remembered for.The album has a fantastic production with an amazing sound which was recorded in Munich by the band themselves. The late great Mick Tucker´s  drum sound is amazing on this album. Brian’s voice on the album is amazing no more so than on the the classic single Action “Oh I was suicidal cause you was my Idol” and Brian was mine in 1976. Def Leppard had a hit with Action in the 90´s. The standout track for me is the slow brooding Healer which shows a completely different experimental  side to the band. Other highlights are 4th of July, Keep It In, Yesterdays Rain and the sleazy Cockroach. If you thought Sweet were just a pop band give this album a listen it may change you mind. The cut out sleeve was also fantastic as you could make it wink.

Featured track-Healer

Iggy Pop, The Idiot, 1977

I loved all Iggys´s work with Bowie, Raw Power was my first Iggy album which Bowie produced. The Idiot along with Lust For Life are  Iggy and David at their most creative . The Idiot includes the classic China Girl - much better than Bowie’s version- Nightclubbing which Grace Jones covered, Funtime also covered by Boy George and excellent Tiny Girls with a fantastic sax    piece. Iggy has a great voice I especially love it when he sings deep like on Sister Midnight. The album was produced by Tony Visconti and the album sleeve has more than a touch of Bowie´s  Heroes cover.

Featured track-Tiny Girls

Kraftwerk, The Man Machine, 1978

The first time I heard Autobahn I was intrigued, no guitars no drums how are they making these sounds. Itwasn’t until a few years later when I heard Man Machine that I really fell in love with the band. I saw them on  tour in 1981 when the Model was re-released and made UK no 1. The album also includes the superb Neon Light-anyone remember buying the luminous 12inch ?- which was a hit in 1978. Kraftwerk the perfect electronic band  and this album still sounds timeless

.Featured track-Neon Lights

Ultravox, Systems Of Romance, 1978

This the original Ultravox-sorry Midge they were better with John- this is my favourite of  Ultravox mark 1 . It has a raw beauty which Ultravox Mark 2 glossed over. Highlights here includes Slow Motion, I love the part where John sings “hush can you feel the trees so far away” Just For A Moment is also a fantastic song with cold icy vocals from John. Other stand out tracks are Maximum Acceleration, Some Of Them, Blue Light and the classic Quiet Men which should have been a hit single, I remeber buying the cassette single where you had a empty side of the tape for you to record on, if I recall I taped John Foxx´s My Face from his flexi disc.

Featured track-Just For A Moment

Soft Cell, Non Stop Erotic Cabaret, 1981

What an album and Marc is still making great music check out his new album just stunning. This the first Soft Cell album has so many excellent songs and the album boasts one of the all time classic 80´s singles in Tainted Love I still remember buying this from Hurts Yard in Nottingham.Tainted Love and then bought the album were subjected to the sleezy Sex Dwarf , Frustration and Seedy Films- such fun-I´m sure there were many shocked parents out there.The other singles from Non Stop Erotic Cabaret were Bed Sitter and the kitchen sink drama  Say Hello Wave Goodbye which are also timeless gems.I´m sure many were shocked. Do you remember the video for Sex Dwarf! A classic album from a band who were at odds with all the glossy 80´s pop stars. It always surprised made me that people who bought. I only managed to catch the band live once in Manchester when they were touring the sadly overlooked Cruelty Without Beauty album , they were superb.

Featured track-Bedsitter 12inch

David Bowie “Heroes” ,1977

What can I say about David Bowie, he has been a constant in my life since the early seventies. It was so hard to pick just one record from his classic albums. The reason I picked Heroes was because it was the time I was buying his albums for the fisrt time as they came out, the first was Station To Station and then I bought his back catalogue and have bought everything he has made ever since. I often think Heroes gets short changed as Low seems to be held in higher esteem but I love Heroes. I remember having time off at school-pretending I was ill- so I wouldn’t miss his appearance on the Marc TV show where he premiered  the mighty title track. Wow was I blown away by his vocals. The year after this album 1978 was also my first Bowie concert at Bingly Hall in Safford, what a show, what an impression,my first big concert. My favourite songs on the album are Beauty And The Beast, Joe The Lion, Son´s Of The Silent Age, Blackout and The Secret Life Of Arabia, the instrumentals are also excellent especially Moss Garden and V2 Schneider. I also bought the album again with David singing Heroes in German and French, I used to practise singing the German version- not great lol.

Featured track-Sons Of The Silent Age

Television, Marquee Moon, 1977

I first bought the 12inch single of Marquee Moon and was blown away by the guitar and vocals, I so love this song just perfect New Wave.  This album is perfect there is not a bad track on it, from the single to See No Eviiiiiil, Friction, Prove It all punchy songs. It also includes subtlety in the form of Torn Curtain and gorgeous Guiding Light. I still play this album I´m also a fan of the panned follow up Adventure, but hey how could you top an album this good.

Featured track-Guiding Light

Gary Numan + Tubeway Army, Replicas, 1979

What can you say about Gary Numan, at first I thought he was just another Bowie wanna be but on further listening I got seduced by his synth tunes and became a firm fan. Replicas has so many great pop tunes , Me I Disconnect With You and You Are In My Vision would have made good singles. Down In The Park is still one of his best ever tunes also I´m Praying To The Aliens is fab. The album also has the classic Are Friends Electric? number 1 single. So Numan a Bowie clone, no this album is still sounds  fresh and original.

Featured track-Down In The Park

The Blue Nile, A Walk Across The Rooftops, 1983

Tinseltown In The Rain has to be one of the best singles ever released. I remember buying my first decent record deck A Rega player 3 around the time I bought this album and was really impressed by the vinyl the album was cut on. When this album was released I´d not heard anything which was so beautifully produced, the sound is amazing with such clarity and of course the songs are sublime. Highlights here include, Easter Parade and Automobile Noise the title track and Stay which was another single.I saw the Blue Nile live at the Derby Assembly Rooms on their Hats tour and can honestly say it is the only time I have been moved to tears by an artists voice ,raw emotion. I know they take forever to follow up each release but they are always worth the wait.

Featured track-Easter Parade

The shortlist for this year’s Mercury Music Prize were announced yesterday at The Hospital Club in London. In a ceremony hosted by Lauren Laverne.

Among the 12 nominees for the £20,000 cash prize this year are veteran Paul Weller who was last nominated for his Wild Wood album in 1994, Corinne Bailey Rae, Biffy Clyro and favorite to win this year rapper Dizzee Rascal.
My pick for this year’s winner is Corinne Bailey Rae, The Sea which is such an honest and beautiful album.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony at London’s Grosvenor Park Hotel in September.
Here is the full list of nominees;
Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions
Villagers – Becoming A Jackal
Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea
Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
Paul Weller – Wake Up The Nation
Wild Beasts – Two Dancers
Kit Downes – Trio – Golden
Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
Dizzee Rascal – Tongue N’ Cheek
Foals – Total Life Forever
I Am Kloot – Sky At Night
The xx – xx

Scissor Sisters, Night Work, 2010
It´s four years since the last Scissor Sisters album and there were alarm bells ringing when I heard that they had recorded and scrapped the follow up which took them nearly two years.
But fear not they are back with  shiny disco balls intact and an album that is exciting, fun and downright sexy.
Every song here is a killer including the leadoff single Fire with Fire is a song Brandon Flowers would die  for.
Highlights include Sex and Violence, Any which Way, the funky Whole New Way and Running Away with its Cult like guitar work. Harder You Get has Jake singing in a low register which works to give a variety to the album as does Skin The Cat which has Ana Matronic taking the lead.

My favourite track Invisible Light,  surely Frankie Goes To Hollywood´s bastard child which features Sir Ian McKellan’s voice over and is brilliantly produced by Stuart Pierce.
The album has no ballads this time which is my only qualm as they do them so well and it would have made a rest from onslaught of dance tunes.
Sparkle Rating 9 out of 10

Grum, Heartbeats, 2010
Heartbeats includes the three singles so far released the wonderful title track with its Casio, opening bars, the most recent single Can’t Shake This Feeling which is a little on the sweet side and Runaway which sounds like Calvin Harris making out with Kraftwerk .

On La Lights we are treated to a song which is melodic soothing house, and is one of the best tracks. Grum also cover Dame David Bowies classic Fashion which is not great but interesting to hear their version of this song. Other high points include Transport and the excellent Through the Night which should set the dance floor on fire.
A fine electro disco album debut from 24 year old Graham Shepherd, defiantly a guy to keep an eye on.

Sparkle Rating 6 out of 10

Marc Almond Varieté, 2010
Varieté is Marcs first album since his covers album Stardom Road and the first to feature original songs since his motorbike accident in 2004. It is also said to be his last album of original material.
The album is very personal covering Marc´s early childhood, growing up gay in the 70´s and his times in New York in the early 80´´s. There is not one a filler on the album and Marc is singing better than ever, he really is underrated as a singer.
Being of a similar age I can identify with some of the themes running through this album especially on Soho So Long where I´m sure we all have /had our own Soho , Marc reminisces about his times there singing “I gave it everything I had” .
Among my favourite tracks are The Exhibitionist “ordinary is bad strange is good” The Trials of Eyeliner is a fantastic song with many reverences to Marcs life which I recognize from his autobiography Tainted Life and must rate as one of the best songs he has ever written.

Nijinsky Heart is pure Almond with gorgeous strings and But Not for Today is a beautiful song . Lavender is my favourite track at the moment with its 70´s references “Lady Stardust, Judy Teen in your own Moonage Daydream” and “so you splashed on some Brut and lowered your voice when Charlie was really your choice”.
Varieté is often touching and occasionally funny this is Marc at his best let’s hope he changes his mind and one day writes and records in the future.
Sparkle Rating 10 out of 10

Brendan Perry, Ark 2010
With this new album his first since 1999 Brendan has written performed, produced and recorded this independently. The album also includes two songs Babylon and Presence which were originally composed for his previous band Dead Can Dance.
Ark has a spell like quality which draws you in with its mesmerizing electronic textures and of course Brendan´s rich hypnotic voice which has never sounded better.
With only eight songs which deal with politics nature and the human spirit it’s hard to pick out highlights as ever track is a dramatic listening pleasure.

Bogus man has an exquisite throbbing intro with minimal layers of gorgeous textures. Crescent is the longest track here and if push comes to shove my favourite- at the moment-The self released single Utopia is also a beautiful song and like the rest of the album really deserves a wider audience.
The album has a rich atmospheric feel with musical influences from around the world and is one that will just get better with time.

Sparkle Rating 9 out of 10

Andy Bell, Non Stop, 2010
Non Stop is Erasure front man Andy Bells second solo album, his last in 2005 became an instant favourite of mine and was a refreshing change to Andy´s work with partner Vince Clark and where his previous album had a much more subtle approach to the music Non Stop is a full on dance /pop album.
Throughout the album Andy´s vocals are treated which works well to make a marked difference to his Erasure catalogue.
Best tracks on the album are the glam disco of DHDQ (Debbie Harry Drag Queen) which is fast, fun and infectious, Running Out which opens the album with its catchy chorus and analogue synths still sounding fresh when mixed with today’s beats.
Subject Object is a fab song and surely should be a single, and Slow Release is also another highlight sounding darker than the other songs on offer.

My favourite track on the album is Honey If You Love Him (That’s All That Matters) which includes the line “I´ve got to confess your ex was a hot mess” which is sung with heavy treated vocals over a trancey backdrop. This is Andy´s collaboration with Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell.

Sparkle Rating 7 out of 10

Devo, Something For Everybody, 2010
Devo are back with their classic sound of the early 80´s and have produced an uplifting quirky album their first for twenty years including great Imagery used throughout the album booklet.

The band let fans pick songs for the finished album in a song study and it certainly seems to have created a buzz around this record.
Something For Everybody really does have something for every Devo fan every song bar one is classic Devo with hooks galore.
The album starts with Fresh a new wave song that has hit written all over it “so fresh it almost makes me want to cry”. Other highlights and there are many include What We Do with its irresistible dance beats, Human Rocket and Step It Up.
My favourite tracks are No Place like Home which is a little different than everything else on this disc which starts just a piano intro then becomes a driven ballad of sorts a little like Ah-Ha at their best, and the full on dance track March On which will go down a storm in the clubs surely another single.
In fact any of the songs here could be singles and as the band haven’t produced any new music for twenty years this could almost be a greatest hits from those lost years.

Sparkle Rating 8 out of 10

The Gaslight Anthem, American Slang, 2010
From the opening bars to the energetic anthem American Slang -which wouldn’t go a miss in a Springsteen set-you get the feeling of a band who are enjoying playing this stadium style American rock.
This is their third album and is short –like albums used to be- and there are no fillers here just good old fashioned rock and roll sounding almost like a late 70´s album.

Standout tracks include The Diamond Church Street Choir and The Queen of Lower Chelsea –love this one- but the best song has to be We Did it when we were Young in which Brian Fallon sings passionately “But I am older now, we did it when we were young” to a U2 inspired backing.

Sparkle Rating 7 out of 10

The Magic Numbers, The Runaway, 2010
With all the electro-synth retro pop music around at the moment it´s good to put an album on which is rich in vocal harmonies and subtle instrumentation.
If like me you have been put off listening to The Magic Numbers because of their image, (sorry)  just close your eyes and listen to this album you may become a fan, I know I have.

Highlights for me are the Fleetwood Mac inspired Why Did You Call? Along with A Start with No Ending.
There are some moments of still beauty here, The Pulse, Only Seventeen and I also really like the gorgeous Restless River.
As I said this is my first time listening to any of The Magic Numbers music and I´m pleasantly surprised how much I have enjoyed it. I have read a few reviews saying that this is not their best work but as a newbie I found it refreshing, relaxing and real.

Sparkle Rating 7 out of 10

Sia, We Are Born, 2010
On listening to Sia´s new album you will notice a departure from her previous style, she is going for the mainstream this time and is heading straight for the dance floor.
The album has much to admire, you still have Sia´s gorgeous voice and the production is very much now.

We Are Born has up-tempo/ dance numbers as well as down-tempo songs.
The dance orientated tracks work best here especially the single Clap Your Hands, Stop Trying, the Fight and the delightful Hurting Me Now.

Of the down- tempo songs the best are Big Little Girl, and I´m in Here which is my favourite song from the album as Sia´s voice sounds sumptuous.
There is also a cover of Madonna´s Oh Father which is a little pedestrian and ads little to the original.
Sia has made a good effort to reinvent herself on We Are Born much more convincing than Christina Aguilera latest album.
Sparkle Rating 6 out of 10

Kele, The Boxer, 2010
Kele Okereke’s first solo album is where he had decided to explore electronic music but unlike many artists at the moment he has gone for a harder Techno mechanical sound rather than synth-pop.
Because of this the album takes a while to connect with but on continued plays the songs really grow and become exciting.
The songs which have impressed are Unholy Thoughts which has an infectious bass line while the track Rise has the lyric “you are stronger than you think” over a stirring piece of music.

All things Could Ever Say is an electronic ballad in which Kele repeatedly sings “Your making me older, You making me old” and as the track peaks he is joined by female singers over a wonderful buzzing-swirling synth back track.
Yesterdays Gone is my favourite tune here and would make a good single and is probably the most radio friendly track here.
A good debut record from the Block Party singer.

Sparkle Rating 7 out of 10

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Mojo, 2010
I have loved Tom Petty since hearing the very first notes of American Girl in 1977 and he constantly delivered quality songs ever since.
Back with the Heartbreakers releasing their first new album for nearly a decade Tom and the band sound as good as ever on the blues influenced Mojo.
Highlights include Jefferson Jericho Blues a spunky number where the harmonica playing by Scott Thurston really gets under your skin, No Reason to Cry is a lovely ballad with its steel guitar and The Trip to Pirate Cove is a slow subtle and sensuous .
Other highlights include the slow swing of Lover’s Touch the enjoyable groove of Let Yourself Go.

Tom just seems to write better as he gets older Good Enough is one of his best he has ever written if I had this album on vinyl I would have worn out this track by now.
Much of this album was recorded live and sounds fresh and exciting but most it sounds like the band are enjoying playing together again.
Sparkle Rating 8 out of 10

Kylie, Aphrodite, 2010
After Kylie´s last album X was released and lets be honest it wasn’t really very good- too much stlye over content-I thought perhaps it was time for a career change but no I have been pleasantly surprised at this return to disco hot pants form.
The album is full of exhilarating dance floor tunes which I´m sure will take her back into the charts in a big way.
The first single from the album All The Lovers is really a slow burner which on the first few listens didn’t excite me but I have grown to love the song and haven’t been able to get it outta my head!!
Other highlights include Get Otta My Way which will be a smash, as would the delightful Better Than Today. There are many potential single on Aphrodite.

Many different writers have helped out on this album including Calvin Harris, Jake Shears and Kylie on Too Much a euphoric floor filler and keane´s Tim Rice Oxley on the Scissor Sisters sounding Better Than Today.
My favourite track from the album is Cupid Boy with its slightly menacing guitar breaks and has the pop princess doing what she does best, big pink throwaway pop.

Sparkle Rating 7 out of 10

Some of the biggest and brightest stars have played at Glastonbury over its 40 year run and it has become the must see UK music festival.

The festival first took place  at Worthy Farm between the small villages of Pilton and Pylie in the South West in England. Glastonbury is organized now by Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily Eavis, originally it was run by Michael and his late wife Jean.

The first concert was held in 1970 and was attended by 1,500 people. The first act to appear was Stackridge and the headliner by default was Marc Bolan´s Tyrannosaurus Rex as the original headliner Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders pulled out at the last minute.

By the mid 80´s the festival had outgrown Worthy Farm and so neighboring Cockmill Farm was purchased.  Highlights include scores of fans invading  the stage as The Smiths played and they draped themselves around Morrissey and in 1989 Suzanne Vega performing  in a bullet proof vest as she had received death threats prior to the festival.

1990 saw its biggest ever festival to date and  also one which will be  remembered for the violence that occured between security guards and New Age Travelers which led to one year sabbatical in 1991. On its return in 1992 it was the first year the new age travelers were not initially allowed onto the site free.

Throughout the 90´s attendances rose and we had many memorable performances from the likes of Pulp, Oasis and the Cure, and in 1995 they had a Dance tent for the first time to cater for the now popular rave scene.

In 1995 ex-Take That member Robbie Williams was seen dancing on stage with Oasis and in 1997 Michael Eavis says Radiohead’s performance was “Glastonbury’s finest ever set.” While 1998 saw the attendance officially break the 100,000 mark.

In 2000 they had a new Pyramid Stage (the original burned down in 1994) and the festival was headlined by David Bowie playing there 30 years after his last performance. Although only 100,000 tickets were sold that year there was an estimated 250,000 people who attended the festival.

In 2005 the headliner was supposed to be Kylie Minogue who had to pull out due to treatment she needed for breast cancer (she would eventually guest with the Scissor Sisters this year). Coldplay performed a cover of Kylies “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” in their set as did Basement Jaxx . 112.500 tickets sold out in just 3 hours and 20 minutes.

This year also saw The New Tent renamed The John Peel Tent in his honour after he passed away in 2004.

Jay-Z the American rapper was the controversial headliner in 2008 and was ridiculed by Oasis Noel Gallagher, but Jay-Z won over the crowd when he opened with his cover of Oasis’s Wonderwall.

This year’s festival sold out within 24 hours. U2 due were to perform on the Pyramid Stage but had to pull out due to Bono´s recent health problems and were replaced by The Gorillaz. Although last year Blur were a success Damon´s Gorillaz this time failed to ignite the crowds.

2010 the driest year (no mud) for years kicked off with Rolf Harris celebrating his 80th b-day next year with more gusto than many of the young performers thrice his age singing his 60´s classic (hmmm) Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport.

Muse appeared on the Pyramid stage with U2´S Edge guesting on a cover of Where the Streets Have No Name.

Biggest surprise of the weekend was Radiohead´s Thom York with his set of classic tracks with guitarist Jonny Greenwood on the Park Stage. Thom was introduced by Michael Eavis who clearly felt that this was going to be again very precious. Though Michael didn’t introduce Vanilla Ice (strange that!!) when the rapper performed this year.

One of the campest  pop moments has to be the coupling of Jake and Kylie on new Scissor Sisters track Any Which Way.

Sundays headliner was Stevie Wonder who put on a crowd pleasing greatest hits set which makes me wonder (sorry for the pun) at what stage dose an artist get to where their catalogue is bigger than themselves and where does nostalgia just take over from real emotion, how long can you sing For Once In My Life or any of your old lyrics with any conviction?

But one could almost forgive Stevie for singing the awful Happy Birthday song when he has Michael Eavis on stage at the end of the festival (Well almost!!!!)

Happy Birthday Glastonbury here´s to another 40 years.

!!SPARKLE WARNING YOU MAY FIND SOME OF THESE IMAGES OFFENSIVE!!

Here we go again, as many of you enjoyed the original post, The Worst Album Sleeves Ever!! I thought you would like to see more of the same;

Paddy Roberts, Songs for Gay Dogs

I,ve heard it all now

Christian Crusaders with Al Davies
They were an early influence on Kraftwerks Image.

Quim Barreirds, Reeebi Om Convite A Casa Da Joquina
One of Borats early albums

The Frivolous Five, Sour Cream & Uther Delights
Would you take a rose from any of these ladies?

Bitch Slapped, Breaks
Enough said.

Gary Dee Bradford, Sing for You and You and You
I hope he made enough money from this album to have his eye corrected

The Amazon Twins, Hallelujah!
George Doors early band with brother William Windows

Geraldine and Ricky, Trees Talk Too!
Looks like they have just arrived at Fantasy Island

The Cooper Family, I´m Gods Child
What is the alien from Mars Attack doing with this family

Various, My Pussy Belongs To Daddy
I cant believe the song titles on this album.

Johhny Houston, Makin Bacon
I,m scrapping the barel with this one.

Keane My Shadow Remix by Danny Dance 2010
This is interesting; one of our own Sparkle members has remixed one of the tracks from Keane´s new album- reviewed in the May album reviews here.
An excellent piece of work Danny, love the radio sound at the end of the track.

Check out his site   here

LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening, 2010

This is the third LCD Soundsystem album and is defiantly their best. James Murphy the main man here has also stated that this maybe their last.
I haven’t stopped playing this now for three weeks and it just gets better and better with hooks galore and inspired instrumentation throughout.

At times you get the feeling James has been listening an lot to Bowie, Eno and Iggy circa ¨77-¨78.
The standout tracks are the Iggy influenced “Somebody’s Calling Me” which could have been lifted of “The Idiot”, “I Can Change” is a new wave/synth influenced tune which evokes memories of “Love Is A Stranger” by the Eurythmics and  “Pow Pow” which was released as a single for this year’s Record Store Day and is punky funky and fun.

You Wanted A Hit starts off all atmospheric then turns into an infectious art dance floor song ripped from the early eighties with a fantastic vocal inflections throughout.  Drunk Girls another single is almost a rewrite of Bowie´s Boys Keep Swinging featuring  lyrics “Drunk Girls, Drunk girls cause a couple of heart attacks, Drunk girls are unusually mild, Drunk boys keep in pace with the pedophiles, Drunk girls are boringly wild”.
Another stand out track is Dance Yourself Clean which crawls along for three minutes eight seconds till a big fat bass reverb kicks and lifts the track track to a whole new level.
Don’t be put off by all the musical references here as they don’t distract from the songs which stand tall in their own right.  Lets hope James changes his mind and records another album in the future.
Sparkle Rating 9 out of 10

Macy Gray, The Sellout, 2010
I absolutely love this album. Macy has such a distinctive raspy voice and has a wonderful way in which she expresses herself, her lyrics, her look she is definatly  real deal.
This album her first for three years has so many good songs and in many different styles;  Still Hurts is Macy the torch singer and features Romika,  Kissed it is almost a 70´s Glam anthem were she rocks out with Velvet Revolver and it’s just Glamtastic!!
There is a sweet ballad called Real Love with ex Mr Houston Bobby Brown , Stalker is brilliant with fantastic lyrics from Macy and Let You Win is a lifting musically with Macy sounding oh so good.

Another highlight is That Man which uses the 60´s Batman TV theme perfectly. Beauty In The World is the first single from the album and deserves to be a hit.
Go out and buy this album, highly recommended.
Sparkle Rating 8 out of 10

Broken Bells, Broken Bells, 2010
The Broken Bells are James Mercer from the Shins and Brian Burton AKA Danger Mouse. This is their first album together which is an interesting listen.
The album is a bit of a slow burner but you reap the rewards tenfold with repeated plays. At times the album almost sounds cinematic with its lush production.

Highlights include the excellent first single The High Road, Trap Door and The Ghost Inside which is an up-tempo number and sounds like a Gorillaz track , also the post punk influenced track The Mall and Misery is fantastic
A good debut album worth investigating let’s hope this duo work together again in the future.
Sparkle Rating, 7 out of 10

Smooth The Parade, 2010
Smooth are an Electro Lounge act from France. The album is a melodic and dynamic affair. Each track has something different to offer from Downtempo coolness , 80´s New Wave to lush Synthpop.
The Parades stand out track is I Know which features the sultry vocals of Dominique A and it’s just stunning.
Other highlights include the opening track Friendly Yours featuring a scratchy record intro-love that-, and the Trip Hop Manson featuring Alain Chauvet.

The piano  ballad This World is also a stand out song and the gorgeous synth song Another Life which I just love.
I have been listening to this album for a couple of months now and it has become one of my favourites releases this year.
Sparkle Rating 8 out of 10

Christina Aguilera, Bionic, 2010
I approached this album with more than a little caution after looking at the sleeve Christina’s face is half robot and reading who she has collaborated with for the album, Ladytron, and M.I.A. it just smacks of her not being comfortable  and doesn’t quiet ring true.
Some of the songs here sound a little forced ie; the title track and Elastic Love. Other  low points are I Hate Boys and Vanity- swearing is just not you Christina- and the track Glam is very Vogue era Madonna.

The songs which work best are the ballads; I Am, All I Need and Lift Me Up written by Linda Perry is what this girl is really about and my favourite song here You Lost Me which really shows off her voice.
It seems to me that Lady Gaga has had an effect on Lady Aguilera and I don’t think it is for the best.

Sparkle Rating 5 out of 10

Tracey Thorn, Love And It´s Opposite, 2010
Putting on a new Tracey Thorn album is like getting into a newly changed bed with crisp sheets and a duvet so soft and warm that you loose yourself into it.
I fell in love with Tracey’s voice in 1984 when I first heard Each And Everyone then she was with her now husband Ben Watt in Everything But The Girl.
This is only Tracey´s third solo album and follows up the excellent Out Of the Woods from 2007. That album had a dancey felling about it, where Love And It´s Opposite is wrapped in a friendly intimacy and makes for a cosier listen.
The album contains eight new tracks and two covers,  Come On Home To Me by Lee Hazlewood which is one of the albums highlights as Tracey duets with Jens Lekman-simply dazzling- and You Are A Lover by the wonderfully named The Unbending Trees.
Other memorable songs are “Long White Dress”, Singles Bar which includes the line “Can you guess my age in this light?”, another favourite is Late In The Afternoon with its sparse backing which has Traceys sublime vocals painting a melancholy picture. Oh! The Divorces is also a strange but a good song to be singing when she only recently married.

So pull down the blinds curl up in your bed with a loved one and prepare to fall in love with Tracey all over  again.
Sparkle Rating 8 out of 10

The National, High Violet, 2010
This is the National´s fifth album and is a little darker than previous outings, if you enjoy Joy Division you may like they’re blend of slow burning  emotive songs full of tension.

The stand out tracks are England , Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks and the amazing Sorrow which includes the lines “Sorrow found me when I was young, sorrow waited , sorrow won, sorrow put me on the pills” sung over jangly guitars. Afraid of Everyon is my favourite track here which builds from its humble atmospheric almost acapella vocals to a crescendo of rampant drums and raucous guitars.  Anyone´s Ghost is also a song of note with a welcome upbeat air about it.

I recommend this album, at times sad and bleak but also wonderfully magnificent.
Sparkle Rating 8 out of 10

Eli Paperboy Reed, Come and Get It, 2010
When listening to this new album by twenty six year old Eli Paperboy Reed  it is  like listening to Motown by numbers.
Everything is in its right place, horns a plenty,  soulful backing vocals and Eli has a very good voice.  It´s just there is no originality in the songs they are just 60´s pastiches lacking any real sparks.

Where´s Amy Whinehouse and Plan –B bring something new to the classic 60´s sound Eli has added nothing and I would rather go and listen to some of the original Motown or Stax songs from that era.
Best song “Come and Get It” download this and forget the rest.
Sparkle Rating 4 out of 10

Jakob Dylan, Women and Country, 2010
I used to love the Wallflowers Jakobs former band who are probably best known for their excellent single One Headlight. At the time I didn’t realize Jakob was the son of music legend Bob Dylan.
So with this his second solo album Jakob has produced an enjoyable taste of folk driven American music.

The opening song Nothing But The Whole Wide World is a pleasant tune with sweeping strings and Jacobs vocal is perfectly harmonized with Neko Case. Everybody’s Hurting is also a highlight here with its peddle steel and Fiddle.
Truth For A Truth is one of my favourite tracks as it´s a little more upbeat than many of the songs on the album. Smile When You Call Me That is a lovely romantic song and both Standing Eight Count and Thevé Trapped Us Like Boys are both quality songs.
The production of Women and Country by T Bone Brunette is excellent throughout and makes for a pleasurable listen.
Sparkle Rating 7 out of 10

Faithless, The Dance, 2010
With The Dance Faithless seem to have gone back in time. The album could easily of been released at their 90´s peak.
They have tried to vary their sound on a couple of tracks notably the reggae paced  Crazy Bal’heads and for some reason there is a remixed Blancmange track Feel Me-great tune but so out of place here-

Tweek Your Nipple sounds like a watered down poor man’s Insomnia and because Maxi  Jazz´s voice is so distinctive it can wear a little thin.
The best track is probably North Star which features Maxi and Dido.
Sparkle Rating  5 out of 10

Now the world cup has started and is in full swing- lets hope there are no more hand of cod moments for England- Id like to look at some the songs surounding this years tornament the good and the bad;

Here is the offical world cup song as featured in the opening celebrations,theire are also versions in different languages which is a nice touch.

“Wavin  Flag” by K´ naan (Official World Cup Theme Song)

In England we have “Shout For England” fromDizzee Rascal and wanna be comedian James Corden which is a cover of the old Tears For Fears track Shout.

We also have that old chestnut “Three Lions” run out again with Russell Brand and Robbie (im desperate for a hit and ill try anything) Willams.

There is also “This My Dear England”, which I actually quiet like,

Pitbull featuring TKZ ee and Dario G, have released the officail FIFA Mascot song “Game On”

R. Kelly featuring Soweto Gospel Choir, “Sign of Victory  “Official FIFA World Cup Anthem

Shakira and Freshlyground, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”

Official FIFA World Cup Song this is getting confusing now whats official and whats not, but a good song all the same

England World Cup Song FABIO by UKFF Girls featuring The Mighty Mascots. Awfull!! as is the video, but the young lads out there will love it.

And how to spoil a great song in one easy lesson; Chris Martini “When England Rule the World”

I could go on as there are many many more out there but Im sure you get the picture,  whats your favourite football song?

Mine is (not strictly a football song but a slab of synth pop )  footballers Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle Diamond Lights.

And as the DJ presenter says at the end of this clip, “not a bad song, but not a good song either” But hey you gotta admire Glen´s mullet!!

There are 39 countries taking part and from the two semi-finals on 25 and 27 May 2010, twenty five countries have made it to the final which is being held tonight Saturday the 29th of May .
My tip to win is the alternative sounding  Estonia entry which has Malcom Lincoln singing Siren.

This is the second year with Graham Norton hosting the show – I do miss Terry-  and this year’s UK entry is written by Pete Waterman and Mike Stock-oh dear!- and sung by 19 years old Josh Dubovie (is he even English?) The song called That Sounds Good to Me (it doesn´t) has been panned by fans of the show and Ladbrokes stated this week that only one hundred pounds had been bet on the UK entry to win.

Everyone at Sparkle wishes Josh well, he´s young and people will forget in time that he was our 2010 entry, look at Samantha Janus who was our entry in 1991 and is now in Eastenders.

The Eurovision is not for the serious music buffs but one championed by the poofs!!

Eurovision Results, Lena from Germany Wins and the UK comes in last place with just 10 points, bad luck Josh.

Taking matters into her own pragmatic hands she decides to have an abortion and then, after a change of heart, to offer the unborn baby up for adoption to the perfect couple who are desperate for a baby of their own, showcase housewife Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) and musician turned jingle writer Mark (Jason Batemen).

It’s an arrangement which suits everyone, but as we all know, the best laid plans of mice and, in this case, teenage girls often go awry…

Review
An everyday run of the mill plot about a teenage girl making the biggest mistake of all with her first tentative steps at becoming sexually active might not sound like the stuff of movie classics. But don’t be fooled, Juno is full of the sort of tasty ingredients that most wham bam hi-concept blockbusters can only dream about.

The script is delicious to the ears. Sassy, cheeky, real, laugh out loud witty and has an original rhythm and style which is field of daisies fresh and full of quotable dialogue such as this exchange between Juno and adopted father-to-be Mark:
“My dad had this weird obsession with Roman or Greek mythology or something and he decided to name me after Zeus’ wife.”
“Zeus’ wife?”
“Yeah and I mean Zeus had tons of lays but I’m pretty sure Juno was his only wife. And apparently she was supposed to be super beautiful but really mean, like Diana Ross.”

The cast is about as perfect as it could be: JK Simmons and Allison Janney hit just the right note as Juno’s understanding but worldly wise parents; Michael Cera makes nerdy Paulie likeable; best friend Leah (Olivia Thrilby) is hilariously supportive - “ Oh, gruesome. I wonder if the baby’s claws could scratch your vag on the way out?” and it’s impossible not to sympathise with Jennifer Garner’s desperate-to-be-a-mother Vanessa and Jason Bateman’s Mark – even if it’s for different reasons.

But the cherry on this bun in the oven is Ellen Page. Her Juno is a classic creation. She is one smart, likeable and oversized cookie who you desperately hope everything turns out all right for in the end.

Juno is simply a bitter sweet gem of a film.

Sparkle Rating
9/10 – It’s a triumph of film-making to take a life-changing and potentially depressing subject such as unplanned teenage pregnancy and tell your simple tale in a funny, charming and engaging fashion, but to keep it real at the same time. Unmissable.

Lilly the Pink, The Scaffold

The Streak, Ray Stevens

Star Trekin, The Firm

The Laughing Gnome, David Bowie

D.I.V.O.R.C.E, Billy Connolly

The Funky Gibbon, The Goodies

Axel F, Crazy, Frog

Tip Toe through the Tulips, Tiny Tim

My Ding A Ling, Chuck Berry

Tie Me Kangaroo down Sport, Rolf Harris