For some reason, Popjustice HQ received twelve (twelve) copies of the same CD single today. The single in question is 'Body Crash' by Buy Now. It features a 'Let's All Chant' sample and is brilliant. But is it twelve (twelve) times brilliant?
The question, of course, when one receives twelve (twelve) copes of the same CD single, is how best to put these extra copies to some practical use.
What we need is a solution which will be both stylish and functional - but something which will be self-contained and won't be messy in the office.
What would be really good is some sort of attractive ornament...
...which could contain all the spare copies of the CD.
Starting later this month, it will be illegal for companies including record labels, PRs and managers to pretend to be normal music fans when they post online. (It's all outlined here.) What it basically means is that from June, 'creating an online buzz' won't be quite as simple as spamming a load of messageboards and blogs, pretending to be a fan.
It's a shame, in a way, because TOTALLY PRICELESS moments like this, from the Popjustice forums, will die out. (We've removed the band's name as it's really not their fault this sort of thing happens.)
One of these two board members registered using the email address of an online PR company. The other board member posted their opinion using the same computer.
Bimbo Jones remixes to find themselves hiding under the 'competent but not going to change the world' umbrella and their work on Alphabeat's '10,000 Nights' does little to change this fact.
Remember we mentioned Katy Perry, whose 'Hot & Cold' is brilliant and whose 'Ur So Gay' is not brilliant?
Her first proper single in the States is somewhere between the two - it's pretty good, but it's called 'I Kissed A Girl'. We're not sure if we've ever come across an act so clearly developed and marketed for the post-American Apparel pop blogscape, but here she is anyway. Her album, 'One Of The Boys', is out on June 17.
Anyway, here are some streams a PR has emailed to everyone in her address book. Listen to them if you like. If you don't, don't.
1. More pop than the last one. 2. One of the songs sounds a bit like Alphabeat. 3. Best songs are 'Believe Achieve' (electroish sort of affair), 'Move' (which sounds a bit like Alphabeat), and 'Reggae All Night'. 4. 8 out of 10. 5. The End.
Last Saturday the Pet Shop Boys made a short live appearance at 'Can You Bear It?', a benefit night held at Heaven for the family of Dainton, their assistant and friend who was killed in a car accident last year.
Madness also appeared at the event and the the two bands collaborated on a cover of Madness' 'My Girl'
Here's a fan's clip of the performance - Suggs seems suitably 'refreshed' - and if you look carefully you can see Neil giving Suggs subtle cues on when to start sing in this song's new arrangement.
Neil and Chris have put their own demo of the track - with Neil on vocals - on their website. Here's a clip...
...and you can listen to the whole thing by going to Petshopboys.co.uk, clicking on 'Product', then choosing 'Exclusive tracks'.
The new Frankmusik video, for 'In Step', has got everything: a pretty girl in her pants for straight fans, and a glow in the dark hula hoop for the gays.
Very clever.
The track's out as a limited edition of 500 7"s - or 499, because there's one on our desk - at the beginning on June.
Here's an odd video thing Robyn shot when she was at SXSW last month or whenever it was. It's a 'Bum Like You' video which in terms of well-executed kookiness / overt virality is about as subtle as an EastEnders storyline, but it's fairly watchable.
Remember we mentioned Katy Perry, whose 'Hot & Cold' is brilliant and whose 'Ur So Gay' is not brilliant?
Last Saturday the Pet Shop Boys made a short live appearance at 'Can You Bear It?', a benefit night held at Heaven for the family of Dainton, their assistant and friend who was killed in a car accident last year. 
