Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

On December 13th Mona release their thunderous second single ‘Trouble On The Way’. The Nashville based band who recently signed to Island Records in the UK will make the track available through their own imprint ZionNoiz Recordings. ‘Trouble On The Way’ will be released as a digital download. A limited edition 7-inch with the b-side ‘Brick Shoes’ will also be made available through Rough Trade and other Independent Stores. ‘Trouble On The Way’ is a statement of intent from a band who looking to take 2011 by storm. The track is an unrelenting, fearless, out and out vintage rock song. The single is the follow up to Mona’s unyielding debut single ‘Listen To Your Love’ which was released in early September. Since the band’s debut release they have played their first London shows, to rave reviews, and have announced a UK tour in December. Mona will also returned to the capital in November to make their exclusive first UK t.v appearance in the last of the current series of Later with Jools

Pearl Jam release ‘Live on Ten Legs’, a classic-packed new live compilation album, January 17th on Island Records . Kicking off the band’s twentieth anniversary year and ensuing celebrations in style, the album features 18 captivating versions of Pearl Jam’s landmark tracks. ‘Live on Ten Legs’ was recorded over the course of the band’s 2003-2010 world tours by engineer John Burton. Newly remixed by longtime Pearl Jam engineer Brett Eliason and remastered, the material on the record spans Pearl Jam’s 60 million selling career. The release follows Pearl Jam's victorious Hyde Park show this summer, which cemented the band’s status as one of the best live acts in the world. Included on the album are live versions of classic songs ‘Jeremy’, ‘Alive’ and ‘Spin The Black Circle’ as well as ‘Just Breathe’ and ‘The Fixer’ from their most recent album, the acclaimed ‘Backspacer’. ‘Live on Ten Legs’ will be available in CD, digital and deluxe versions. The deluxe box set version will include a

PJ Harvey's eighth studio album ‘ Let England Shake ’ is set to be released on the 14.02.2011 through Island Records . Recorded in a 19th Century church in Dorset with long time collaborator Flood who co-produced the album with PJ Harvey, John Parish and Mick Harvey. ‘ Let England Shake ’ was also mixed by Flood. The album will be supported by a run of sold out live shows early next year, with dates in Brussels, Berlin, Paris, and London’s Troxy on February 27th and 28th. 2011 will also see Harvey return to the festival-stage, with more details to be announced. PJ Harvey will perform with a live band which includes Mick Harvey, John Parish and Jean-Marc Butty.

As The Drums begin their inaugural tour of their homeland in September, they’re delighted to announce they will return to the UK this winter with a headline tour, and release double A-side single featuring live favourite, ‘Me and the Moon’ and ‘Down By The Water’ on December 13th. The single and nearly sold out UK tour, look set to cap a remarkable 12 months for The Drums. Last week the band was nominated for “Best New Act” at the Q Awards 2010, which followed the news the band were voted NME’s “Best New Festival Band” (polling 25% of their readers’ votes) – the latter coming after a succession of thrilling UK festival shows including Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds, T in the Park, Oxegen and their support slot with Kings of Leon at Hyde Park, London. After selling out their first London Forum show almost immediately, a second show has been announced on Wednesday 24th November. UK headline tour dates: Wednesday 24th November - London HMV Forum ** SOLD OUT ** Thursday 25th November - Lon

With a 14 album box set, 16 albums total, and the entire stream of Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964, iTunes brings you The Beatles. Each album comes with iTunes LP, which features lyrics, photos, and more. The Beatles Box Set includes the band's entire catalog, plus mini-documentary features on each album, and the bands' first performance in the US. DOWNLOAD THE BEATLES NOW

‘Body Talk’ is the third and final album in Robyn’s unique trilogy for 2010. Released on November 29 it will feature 5 of the best tracks from Pt 1 & 2 plus 5 extra brand-spanking new songs from the ridiculously prolific pop star. Releasing music in this way has been an almighty success for Robyn, as she explains: "I’m going to keep mixing up my tours with studio time and am hoping to stick to this new way of releasing music next year. This is the third, last part and completion of the Body Talk album. It was never my goal to break some kind of a world record in how many songs I could release in a year. Although I think it would count as a pretty good attempt, it’s been about the process for me. It’s been very interesting to try and figure out a more organic way of making music. A way that is unbiased and has it’s starting point in what feels logical to me, but also to the listeners. Even though it was never a conceptual idea, but a practical solution to the problem of getting

Separated for 15 years, Take That and Robbie Williams are back together and releasing what could potentially be the biggest single of Take That's career. The Flood is out now. It is taken from the forthcoming album Progress, which is due out on November 15. 'Progress Live 2011' is billed as a feast for the imagination charting the evolution and the progress of Take That and Robbie Williams through their extraordinary 20-year history. 1 million tickets were sold in a day! iTunes bundled The Flood single and music video for 99p.

Last year The Prince of Grime scored two number one singles, (‘Number 1’and ‘Never Leave You’), released a critically acclaimed chart topping album, (‘Catch 22’), and notched up enough sales to make him the biggest selling British solo male artist of 2009 . He also performed at all the major festivals of the summer, supported Akon on tour, embarked on his own 18 date sold out nationwide headline tour, developed his Star in The Hood merchandise from T-shirts sold on eBay to a fully developed clothing range, and graduate with a degree in Digital Arts and Moving Imagery from The University of East London. This year has seen Tinchy Stryder complete a second sold out headline tour in the UK, open the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, expand his clothing range from online to in store (it is now stocked in over 60 stores nationwide) and start up a Joint Venture 360 music entertainment company with Jay Z (Takeover Roc Nation). All while writing and recording his third album ‘Third Strike’. Followi

The Drums began their inaugural tour of their homeland in September and are now delighted to announce they will return to the UK this winter with a headline tour, and release double A-sided single featuring live favourite, ‘Me and the Moon’ and ‘Down By The Water’ on December 13th . The single and nearly sold out UK tour, look set to cap a remarkable 12 months for The Drums. Last week the band was nominated for “Best New Act” at the Q Awards 2010, which followed the news the band were voted NME’s “Best New Festival Band” (polling 25% of their readers’ votes) – the latter coming after a succession of thrilling UK festival shows including Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds, T in the Park, Oxegen and their support slot with Kings of Leon at Hyde Park, London. After selling out their first London Forum show almost immediately, a second show has been announced on Wednesday 24th November. UK headline tour dates: Wednesday 24th November - London HMV Forum ** SOLD OUT ** Thursday 25th November - L

Fresh from a show stopping performance and fourth award win at the recent MOBOS, urban pop super-group N-Dubz triumphantly return with their new single ‘ Girls ’, released via their new musical home, All Around The World & Island Records on 13th December 2010. ‘Girls’ is the second single from their highly anticipated new album ‘ Love, Live, Life ’ (released November 29th) quickly following their recent Top 10 smash ‘Best Behaviour’. Written by the band and Jim Jonson (Beyonce, Usher. Lil Wayne), ‘Girls’ is a slick celebration of the female form, showcasing edgy beats and tough lyrics reminiscent of early N-Dubz hits. Representing a universal love for women, ‘ Girls ’ features a contagious hook that flows over the band’s trademark electronic synths and gritty urban beats. The N-Dubz furore continues this winter with the release of their third album, ‘Love, Live, Life’. In May 2010, N-Dubz signed a five-album deal with Island Def Jam records in the U.S. Recorded in LA and Miami an

Jonathan Jeremiah, whose timeless songs and soulful voice have marked him out as a songwriter with a rare talent, previews his highly anticipated 2011 debut album “Solitary Man” with the release on December 13th of his new single “See”. In addition Jonathan was one of the guests, alongside Kings of Leon, M.I.A. and Eric Clapton, on this week’s Later With Jools, which transmitted on BBC2 at 11.50 on Friday November 5th. (performance available on BBC iPlayer). The public will have a chance to hear Jonathan perform this beautiful string-drenched song and other tracks from the new album during his forthcoming residency at London's Borderline. The shows kicked off on October 27th, with further appearances on November 10th, 23rd and December 6th. Jeremiah recently guested with Rumer at her sell-out Bloomsbury Theatre show. Jeremiah was born and raised in London to an Anglo-Indian father and a Tipperary born Irish Catholic mother. From an early age he listened to songs from his parent’s

As the third and final album in Robyn’s unique trilogy for 2010 approaches, the exquisite song Indestructible will round off her single releases for the year. Further album details to follow. The acoustic version on Body Talk PT2 was orchestrated by a surging string section and displays Robyn’s ebullient lyrics about the power of love. Once again we witness her innate ability to project utter strength in her lyrics while also wearing her heart proudly on her sleeve. This pulsating full power version takes every ounce of that emotion and wraps it up in another exceptional disco-pop record worthy of any dance-floor or passion-laden sing-a-long. “ I wanna love you like I’ve never been hurt before, I wanna love you like I’m indestructible ” Robyn recently performed Dancing On My Own at the MTV VMA’s in LA with Deadmau5 following her tour of the U.S with Kelis. Currently on tour in Europe, she returned to the UK on October 18th to play her biggest shows to date. And Robyn has just announced

Nicki Minaj, the first lady of Young Money/Cash Money Records and one of the hottest artists on the planet right now, has her new single “Right Thru Me” released on November 22nd. The track is taken from the 25 year old rap phenomenon’s feverishly anticipated debut album which is also released on November 22nd.  Nicki Minaj’s star has been on the rise since she released her first mixtape, Playtime Is Over, in 2007. The mixtape featured Lil Wayne and the cover showed Nicki posing as a Barbie Doll. A second mixtape “Sucka Free” released a year later, increased the heat around Minaj and was followed in 2009 by mixtape number three “Beam Me Up Scotty”. Shortly thereafter Nicki, aka Harajuku Barbie, aka Nicki Lewinsky, aka Roman Zolanski, aka Ms Step Your Cookies Up, signed to Lil Wayne’s new label Young Money Entertainment and featured heavily on Young Money’s debut album “We Are Young Money” which spawned the massive hit single “Bedrock”. Minaj has also made her name from her many feature

Earlier this week Take That announced their latest stadium tour – Progress Live 2011. Tickets go on sale Friday 29 October 2010 at 09:00 at Click here to visit Ticketmaster official site UK tour dates . Sunderland Stadium of Light Monday 30 May 2011 City of Manchester Stadium Friday 3 June 2011 | Saturday 4 June 2011 | Sunday 5 June 2011 | Tuesday 7 June 2011 Cardiff Millennium Stadium Tuesday 14 June 2011 Glasgow Hampden Park Wednesday 22 June 2011 | Thursday 23 June 2011 Birmingham Villa Park Monday 27 June 2011 Wembley Stadium Friday 1 July 2011 | Saturday 2 July 2011 | Sunday 3 July 2011 | Tuesday 5 July 2011 FIND TICKETS

To round off yet another exceptional year, Florence will be releasing the mighty single ‘Heavy In Your Arms’ on November 15th. Produced by Paul Epworth the track a favourite of recent festival headlining live sets was recorded for the Twilight Eclipse film. Florence comments “ Heavy in your arms I suppose is about the weight of love, and how sometimes it can be a burden between two people, I felt this was a strong theme in the twilight series, is someone being rescued or are they being condemned, and is the love you carry bringing you down. I recorded it with paul one evening, using a lot of strange reversed vocal samples and big hip hop piano, its basically inspired by 90's hip hop, and gospel choirs, like most of my songs.. ” ‘Heavy In your Arms’ will also be available on ‘Between Two Lungs’. A two disc special edition version of her 4 x platinum selling Brit Award winning debut album ‘Lungs’. ‘Between Two Lungs’ will feature new cover art, sleeve notes by Florence and exclusive

Rapper/actor/CEO, 3 time Grammy winner and all-round superstar Nelly, whose 30 million plus combined album/single sales have established the St. Louis native as one of music’s most bankable and consistent stars, returns in a big way with the release on November 8th of his brand new US smash single “Just A Dream”. Taken from his hotly anticipated forthcoming new album “5.0”, “Just A Dream” entered the US iTunes chart at number 5, has already sold over 1 million copies. “Just a Dream” was produced by Jim Jonsin (Lil Wayne “Lollipop”, T.I. “Whatever You Love”) and Rico Love (Beyonce “Sweet Dreams, Kelly Rowland “Commander”). The new album will feature appearances by Akon, T.I. and Kelly Rowland. With “Just A Dream” Nelly looks to add to his celebrated run of global hit singles from his game-changing debut “Country Grammar,” and “Ride Wit Me” to the Justin Timberlake collaboration “Work It”, the Kelly Rowland duet “Dilemma” and the seven-week at No. 1 “Hot in Herre.” With a catalogue of g

Global superstar Akon, whose three previous albums have each sold more than half a million copies in the UK, yielding an unbroken string of massive worldwide hit singles, returns with the release on November 22nd of his brand new single “Angel”. Taken from his eagerly awaited dance music inspired album “AKONIC”, “Angel” was produced by Akon & fellow master hit maker David Guetta. Akon is without question one of the greatest hit making forces of all time and is the first solo artist to hold the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 - twice. Over the years he has worked with, produced and featured on a slew of international hits, including those for Michael Jackson, Sir Elton John, Eminem, Gwen Stefani, Whitney Houston, as well as Lady Gaga, who was one of the first signings to Akon’s Kon-live label. Akon has also established himself as a serious business man and entrepreneur who has quickly built an empire that includes a record label, fashion line and ch

At long last it feels like UK rap music is well and truly erupting. Every way you look - from the summit of the charts to the breaking waves of the underground - the UK rap fraternity is seizing control. In between the ricocheting lyrical crossfire one face is emerging as one of 2010's most notorious breaking artists, and that's the angular bone-structure of Dagenham, Essex's very own Devlin. ‘bud, sweat & beers’ is a step change for grime. Socially aware. Spiritually conflicted with a sacred heart and profane mouth. Dark, accurate and artful lyrical sketches of life at social margins. Capacious enough to make reference to Hollywood’s Wesley Snipes, super-bug C-Difficile, Pengi, Nostradamus, Picasso, Tectonic plates and Elvis. It’s an imaginative feast. Lyrical meaning unfolds on meaning. Metaphors come as quickly as the mind can process. The album opens with the thunderous cavalcade of ‘1989’ where heavy-metal guitar stabs provide an urgent, heart-in-mouth backdrop for

In thrall to uplifting 1970s Disco as much as it is to intricate 1980s electro, ‘In Spirit Golden’ is a shimmering, soaring anthem full of giddy nods to computer game soundtracks and Killers style stadium pop riffs. ‘In Spirit Golden’ will be released one week before I Blame Coco’s debut album, ‘The Constant’ (November 8th). The single will be accompanied by remixes from Arthur Baker,, RacknRuin, Soul Avengerz and DC Breaks, the latter of which has already worked its way onto Radio 1. After a summer packed with festival shows, I Blame Coco will be embarking on her first nationwide headline tour this autumn, during which ‘In Spirit Golden’ will be released. Read More I Blame Coco posts

As arguably the most original, genre-redefining, prodigiously talented and best-selling hip-hop artist of the past decade, Lil Wayne returns with the hugely anticipated release on October 4th of his brand new album “I Am Not A Human Being”. The album has just gone straight in at number 1 on the US iTunes chart and features ten brand new tracks including lead single (US iTunes # 1) “Right Above” which features Wayne’s protégé and hip hop superstar in his own right Drake. Speaking about the new release on his birthday September 27th, Wayne commented “ I want to give a gift on my birthday to my loyal fans who have continued to support me ”. “I Am Not A Human Being” will be released digitally on October 4th in the UK and physically two weeks later on October 18th. The physical release will feature the same ten tracks plus three additional cuts: “YM Banger” feat. Jae Millz, Gudda Gudda, Tyga, “YM Salute” feat. Lil Twist, Lil Chuckee, Gudda Gudda, Jae Millz, Nicki Minaj and “I Don't Lik