Uniqlo UT Music Icons Range: Should Fashion Stores Sell Band T-Shirts?

As Uniqlo's UT project launches its new 'Music Icons' range of t-shirts, it once again brings up the question Urban Outfitters, ASOS and countless others have provoked in recent years: should fashion retailers sell band t-shirts?

Siouxsie Sioux x Supreme

Supreme is going old school punk on hipster skate kids' asses this Spring with their Siouxsie Sioux print pieces, including this classic black t-shirt. I wonder how many of them will know who she is?

My New Jam: Lizzo feat. Sophia Eris 'Batches & Cookies'

Lizzo is ACE. Ooooh oooh cookies and creeeaaaammmm...

NICOLA ROBERTS DOES IT AGAIN! - LUCKY DAY VIDEO

How Sex & The City, Carrie walking back to her apartment is this video??  LOVE the baby doll mini tunic paired with high tops.  Our Nicola does love flashing her pants, doesn't she?  And so would I with pins like that. CHOOOOOON!

Nicola Roberts' new single, Lucky Day, out September 18th.

VIRGIN MEDIA TV DOES KARAOKE ON DEMAND!

Yeah, so us Virgin TV users might not have Sky Atlantic but I'll tell you what we do have... Karaoke On Demand!

The track selection ranges from show tunes, chart hits and karaoke classics like New York, New York and I Will Survive, to hip hop, soul, R&B, rock, indie and brand new pop tracks from acts including Hurts and Owl City, as well as kids songs and film soundtracks.  Helpfully (?) it gives you the key at the start of each track and check out the excruciatingly twee background videos too. 

I came across this option by chance and it seems not many of the other Virgin users I know were aware of it either so I hope this is good news for at least some of you.

You can choose your aural posion via genre or browse the whole menu.  Personally, I've never done karaoke but being able to practice in the privacy of my own home might just change that...

To access: From your Virgin Media TV remote (which you can also use as a microphone, hairbrush style), press the Home button, select On Demand & Catch Up TV, then Music On Demand et, voila! Karaoke.

NB: PLEASE check if you have to pay to use this service before running up any massive bills!! :)  It says it's currently free if you have an XL package but best to be on the safe side. Phew.

LADY GAGA'S ROCKING HEARTBEATS HEADPHONES

These rock chick looking in-ears, inspired by metal, leather and studs, are Lady Gaga's 'Heartbeats' - the latest high performance headphones to be produced for Dr. Dre's Beats range.  Available in white or black, they are ultra light and come with five ear tips, all packaged in a travel pouch for £119.99 online.  The headphones work with smartphones and PDAs as well as MP3 players and the allegedly superior sound quality also helps justify the hefty price tag so, if the quality is as good as they look, I really hope some she designs some 'over-ear's soon.  Another style win for Gaga.

TOTALLY GRATUITOUS PULP AT GLASTONBURY POST

So, all you muddy revellers reading this from the post apocalyptic Glastonbury fields (or sensible, warm, dry, armchair fans), it turns out Pulp are the surprise act playing on the Park Stage tomorrow. 

This seems as good a reason as any to post some classic clips from their incredible 1995 Glastonbury appearance ahead of their hot ticket headline slot at Wireless next week which I am literally DYING to see (then T in the Park, then Reading..).  They truly are the best band EVER, no returns. 

They're also re-releasing their first three albums - It (1983), Freaks (1987 - where Russell gets to sing...) and Separations (1992) - with a few added bonus tracks, which I suggest you snap up sharpish too.  

Clearly this isn't my most eloquent of posts but Jarvis, Steve, Candida, Nick, Mark and Russell leave me tongue tied in a proper fan girl kinda way. What can I say?  PULP RULE.

Check www.pulppeople.com for forthcoming tour dates.  

I JUST CAN'T GET THIS OUT OF MY HEAD: RIZZLE KICKS - DOWN WITH THE TRUMPETS

BUYBUYBUY on iTunes now!! Rizzle Kicks are smashing it with one of the biggest, most infectious sounds of the summer.  Let's get down with the down with the...

WHAT DO I DO NOW? READ LOUISE WENER'S ADVENTURES IN BRITPOP

Sleeper have become the 90's music scene equivalent of 1980's puffy marshmallow reversible Slush Puppy jumpers - you loved em but it's not until someone mentions them that you remember they were a big part of what was going on at the time. 

Despite a back catalogue loaded with catchy tunes, the grandstanding of a Wireless reunion, like Blur or Pulp (yay!) is not for them.  They've moved on (or possibly haven't been asked). 

Lippy doe-eyed frontwoman Louise Wener is now an established author and I have to admit to being a little disappointed to hear that her new book, Just for One Day: Adventures in Britpop, is actually a re-titled re-release of her fantastic, awkwardly sassy autobiography, Different for Girls: A Girl's True-Life Adventures in Pop. Even more baffling is why Amazon are selling the two books together as a bundle... Whatever, hopefully it will help to bring this hilarious little book to a much bigger audience.  Wener's wry and searingly, endearingly honest tales from her school days to the height of Britpop fame are a great read although if you're from anywhere near Ilford when Our Price was still the premier Saturday hang out, it will strike such a chord I recommend you don't read it on public transport.  Yes reader, I snorted.

A few Sleeper greats courtesy of YouTube:-
What Do I Do Now?
Inbetweener
Vegas
Alice in Vain
Sale of the Century

NEW MUSIC MUSINGS - BERRI FARLEY

Anyone who loves new music should check out Mojo Magazine's Best New Voice 2011 competition which ends on Sunday (12th June).  Click here for the Top 10 finalists who are currently waging fan wars to get as many votes as possible in order to get into the final 5 who will then have to perform for an illustrious music industry panel, like a more worthy version of X Factor.

My top pick is the sultry and soulful songstress, Berri Farley - you can hear her track 'If I Had A Pound' and vote for here (she's the third act down):
http://www.mojo4music.com/mojo_honours_2011/new_voice.shtml

Pic courtesy of Berri Farley - Like her on Facebook here.