The December issue of Q Magazine is an 'Artists Of The Century' special edition, covering all of the acts that the fine staff of the good ship Q feel are the most important of the century so far. As befitting a special edition of the UK best selling music monthly requires a special cover was commissioned world renowned photographer John Wright has spent over a year shooting 34 artists to fit on triple fold out cover.

The issue is packed to the gills with pieces written by Russell Brand on Noel Gallagher, Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis on Coldplay and Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme on The Arctic Monkeys. In addition it also includes exclusive interviews and photos from the likes of Amy Winehouse, Dizzee Rascal, U2, Dave Grohl, Lily Allen, Rihanna, Sir Paul McCartney, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Brandon Flowers from The Killers, Elbow's Guy Garvey, Pink, Muse's Matt Bellamy, Murdoc from Gorillaz, The Kings Of Leon, Mark Ronson, Mika, Nick Cave, Robert Plant, Florence Welch, Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol and Tom Chaplin of Keane.

What do you get when you throw Pitchfork's favorite albums in a blender with NME's? Q's favorite albums of 2009 are (questionable & very UK-centric and) listed below..

Continue reading "Q Magazine's Top Albums of 2009 "

by Bill Pearis

Melbourne, Australia's The Temper Trap are currently on their first big tour of the States, and will head into New York later this week for two shows during the CMJ fest: Thursday (10/22) at Music Hall of Williamsburg (tickets) and Friday (10/23) at Bowery Ballroom (tickets). Already huge in their own country, the band's debut album is currently in the UK Top 40 and their single "Sweet Disposition" (also featured in the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack) is just outside the UK Top 10. Their sound is stadium-ready (I'm talking U2 and Keane) but I do think they have some good songs. I especially like non-single "Down River" and there's no denying "Sweet Disposition" is catchy. So I wouldn't be surprised if the next time they hit town they skip straight to Terminal 5. We'll see.

The MHoW show is a pretty good show overall, where they play with three London bands: the folky, charming Mumford & Sons who were great at Cameo back in March; the underrated, hard-to-pigeonhole Golden Silvers, and Goldhawks who've toured with Temper Trap in the UK and have a somewhat similar sound.

The Bowery show is with Portland's hippy-friendly Portugal. The Man, Boston's country-ish Drug Rug, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel (who play our show at MHoW tomorrow night [10/20]), Cincinnati's anthemic, atmospheric All The Day Holiday, and singer-songwriter Julia Nunes.

A couple Temper Trap videos, plus tour dates, are below...

Continue reading "The Temper Trap from Australia - 2009 Tour Dates (CMJ shows w/ assorted bands @ Bowery & MHOW)"