CD WOW! Music, Movies & Games

Goldfrapp on target for #1

'Seventh Tree' was released last week and according to early sales reports it's riding high in the charts and looks set to be this week's #1. This latest album by British electronic dance duo Goldfrapp is also available as a CD+DVD Edition.

The album is outselling both versions of Back To Black - the regular album and the 2CD version... which btw for the sake of a few quid extra is money well spent. It has 7 extra tracks including a live version of the great 'Valerie'!
Musically Amy Winehouse is doing amazingly well these days, and following her performance at the Brits she looks set to be #2 and #3, quite an achievement!

Anyway, back to Goldfrapp, this album is their fourth and following the glitter & glam of “Supernature”  some have compared this more to the sound of “Felt Mountain”... which you should know is just £5.99 on CD WOW! Just saying.
However, like all artists that could be set for longevity (Status Quo aside!) Goldfrapp have pulled a U2 or a Prince by once again re-inventing themselves and taken a different, although totally recognisable, move.

The songs are delicate yet laced with layers of instrumentati on that make this album one you could listen to again and again and still pick up something that you have not heard before, featuring Orchestration, Piano and even 70’s Moog. Alison Goldfrapps’ voice reminds me of Cerys Matthews of Catatonia fame, although maybe that's just me... so you can make your own mind up about that!

If you are a fan of Morcheeba’s “Dive Deep”,  Cat Power’s “Jukebox”,  Hot Chip’s “Made In The Dark”  or even Radiohead’s infamous “In Rainbows” then grab yourself a copy of this album, you might just love it! 

It's a Beautiful World for Take That!

The comeback kings of 2007 are set to top the DVD charts with their 'Beautiful World Live' DVD. Hot on the heels of their success at the Brits... Take That took awards for both Best UK Single with “Shine” from 'Beautiful World', and of course Best Live Act, comes the DVD release of the very shows that they won the award for!
And to their credit they did all this without our friend Robbie Williams.

This 2DVD set is over two hours long and includes footage of the entire show. Exclusive behind the scenes action, commentary from the boys, and a photo gallery are also included. See below...
So if you missed the tour never fear, you can get a copy delivered and watch the whole show from the comfort of your living room!

The show was recorded in December at the O2 arena, nominated for Venue Of The Year in the recently announced Music Week Awards and soon to be hosting, among others, the NME Awards Big Gig, Alicia Keys hot off the success of her latest album 'As I Am', the Westlife 'Back Home' tour, and the youthful beautiful Rihanna whose album 'Good Girl Gone Bad' has been a chart topper for some 38 weeks now!

For more concert info it's worth checking out the Backstage Pass blog... and I'm not just saying that because today's post is on Myleene Klass. Class.

Beautiful World Live DVD Track Listing:
Disc 1 – The Show
Overture
Reach Out
It Only Takes A Minute
Beautiful World
Patience
Hold On
I’d Wait For Life
Relight My Fire
Rule The World
Could It Be Magic
Back For Good
Everything Changes
Wooden Boat
Give Good Feeling
Sure
Never Forget
Shine
Pray

Disc 2 – Extras
The Journey – Exclusive On The Road Film
Band Commentary – Filmed commentary of the band talking through the live show and its preparation.
Photo Gallery

Beatles Voted Off?

Sounds like something out of a reality show but this is real life. I was listening to the Christian O’Connell show on Virgin Radio yesterday morning and they conducted a listeners poll on the Beatles (formed in 1960) - to play or not to play, that was the question!

The dear listeners in their wisdom have decided that they do not want to listen to them any more so no more Sergeant Pepper or Rubber Soul.
It got me thinking, if they are not going to play any more Beatles songs what about all of the great songs that Lennon and McCartney penned, no more of any of them either?
How about The Rolling Stones (1962), The Kinks (1963), The Who (1964), Pink Floyd (circa 1966), Led Zeppelin (1968), Jethro Tull (1968), Uriah Heep (1969), Queen (1970)??

Don’t get me wrong, I am not a great fan of the Beatles, but don’t they, along with all of the other greats, form part of the history of British music? Not that I am one to try and prove a point, but riding high in this weeks chart at #15 is Billy Fury, with 'His Wondrous Story'. He goes back further than the Beatles, so my Dad tells me, his career in music started in the late 50’s and he had success until his last chart single in 1983 His Album 'We Want Billy' was a milestone being the first “Live” British Rock Album.
Close on his heels at #16 is Joe Brown with his “Very Best Of” He has a career spanning 40 years, seen as a jolly Cockney rock and roll singer he has been releasing albums since 1962, some 27 in total and the most recent being Down To Earth released in 2006.

Sorry John, Paul, George, Ringo... how easy we forget.

UK Album Charts - February 24th

After 3 cool weeks Jack Johnson topples off the top spot and lands at #8, only to be replaced by The Feeling with their 2nd album Join With Us.
This is the follow up to their debut album Twelve Stops and Home - check out the album review on CD WOW!

UK Album Charts for the week ending February 24th
1. (-) The Feeling - Join With Us (album review on CD WOW!)
2. (2) Nickelback - All the Right Reasons
3. (14) Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
4. (22) Mark Ronson - Version
5. (9) Mika -  Life In Cartoon Motion

6. (3) Michael Jackson - Thriller
7. (4) Adele - 19
8. (1) Jack Johnson - Sleep Through The Static
9. (-) Jonathon Ansell - Tenor At The Movies
10. (11) Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad

Honourable Mentions;
Morrissey - Greatest Hits
Scouting For Girls - Scouting For Girls
Michael Buble - Call Me Irresponsible (special Edition)
One Night Only - Started a Fire
Amy McDonald - This is the Life
Mary J. Blige - Growing Pains
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Hot Chip - Made In The Dark
Bullet For My Valentine - Scream Aim Fire
Hoosiers - The Trick To Life
Britney Spears - Blackout... keep it together girl!

New Release DVDs - February 25th

New Release DVD’s out this week

Stardust - Directed by Matthew Vaughan
Calling all fans of The Princess Bride... this is for you!
Stardust is an out and out fantasy film starring Charlie Cox (A for Andromeda / Casanova) as Tristan Thorn and Claire Danes (Romeo & Juliet / Terminator 3) as his love Yvaine, plus a stellar cast including Michele Pfieffer, Robert De Niro, Peter O’Toole and Ricky Gervais to name a few!
The story follows the adventures of Tristan as he tries to capture a falling star for Victoria, the very beautiful but cold object of his desire, and later when he eventually falls in love with Yvaine to bring her back to his home. This proves to be a difficult task as villainy and twists and turns in the story line will take you on an adventure that begins in a village in England and ends up in the world of fantasy.
The title song to the movie, 'Rule The World', was written and recorded by Take That. Although not on their album 'Beautiful World', the single was a hit for them in October 2007.
Check out the movie trailer on YouTube!

Once is a modern Irish musical directed by John Carney, who just like the lead of the movie is a member of Irish band The Frames.   
It was shot on a budget of just €100,000, about as much as most film makers would use for lunch for the crew!
Starring two real life musicians Glen Hansard (The Frames) as 'Guy' and Marketa Irglova as 'Girl', the film follows the fortunes of two struggling musicians and there interacting lives, 'Guy' works part-time but dreams of one day having his songs recorded and landing a record deal, and one day meets 'Girl', an Eastern European immigrant who has moved to Dublin to start a new life for herself. And just as in the real world, a relationship blossoms between them.
It's not the first time they have worked together as Marketa contributed to Glen's first solo album, The Swell Season, in 2006.   
The original soundtrack was mostly written and / or performed by Glen and Marketa, and as we all know by now they won a Best Original Song Oscar for 'Falling Slowly.
Love good music, you will love this film.

So there you go, run away now and check out our New Release DVD and Pre Releases DVD sections to see what other class movies are available now for pre order! 

Once Upon A Time At The Oscars...

It was one of the highlights of the whole night. Sure there were famous faces, fancy dresses and loads of Disney moments, but it took a Dublin lad and a Czech girl to rouse the crowd.
For an event that's supposed to be up there with the Super Bowl in terms of US viewing figures and entertainment, it was actually quite subdued.

The show itself was watchable, and presenter John Stewart did an admirable job, but it was ruined by far too many adverts, pointless montages and three live Disney numbers from Enchanted. I know they were Best Song nominees (and they were nice spectacles) but they were a little too Mary Poppinsy for my taste.. and judging by the crowd's reaction, and the fact that 'Falling Slowly' actually won the award, the members of the Academy agreed.
There was strong competition so I can understand why Into The Wild was mostly ignored, but surely Eddie Vedder deserved a look in for the original soundtrack??

Stewart was visibly excited by their big win, and made possibly the funniest comment of the night as Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová walked off after their very humble acceptance speech;
“Wow,” said Stewart, “that guy is so arrogant."

There were a few occasions when the mic seemed to be turned off prematurely during acceptance speeches, and this happened to Marketa as she stepped up to express her gratitude. John Stewart to the rescue as he brought her back out on stage after the ad break and told her to enjoy her moment... which she did very well... with an Irish accent! 

And here they are performing the Oscar Award winning Best Original Song 'Falling Slowly' from the soundtrack to the move Once.
Glen (The Frames) released his first solo album in 2006, The Swell Season, and it featured multi-instrumentalist Marketa. Glen and Marketa eventually began dating during filming of the movie.
I thought it was a nice touch for the pair to be introduced by Irishman Colin Farrell, and he was obviously excited to be there for his fellow Dub Glen Hansard!

WARNING! Mother's Day is coming. This is not a drill!

Right folks. Never let it be said that CD WOW! doesn't look out for it's members...
Mother's Day is next Sunday, March 2nd.

So please, don't get stung bringing back some wilted flowers and an out of date box of Ferrero Rocher from the garage after a few pints in the early hours of Sunday morning. Believe me... the results will not be pretty.
As usual your favourite onliners have come to the rescue, our Mother's Day Zone has the inspiration you need.

Thanks to WOW Woman! we can offer you fragrances from Estee Lauder, Salvatore Ferragamo, Elizabeth Arden, Anna Sui and some other fancy designers.
We also have a range of Skincare products that would go down very well... and then there's the huge selection of CDs, DVDs and Games! Check it out here.

You can't go wrong... especially when you consider the alternatives!

There Will Be Gold... And Atonement... And Old Men

It may be the year of the rat... but I can't see Ratatouille celebrating too hard on Sunday night. With 5 nominations, it's expected to pick up the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, but it could be surprised by Persepolis (BTW Ratatouille Region 3 is just £7.99!).
Michael Clayton has been nominated for 7 awards and I'm not sure if it'll pick up too many of those. Only time will tell.
And finally.. my fingers are crossed for poor Kevin O’Connell! I think this is his 20th nomination and he has yet to get a sniff of the stage. Fingers crossed The Academy fancy his Sound Mixing skills for Transformers. 

So else will be the big winners?? Here are my shots in the dark!

Best Picture - there's talk that the academy may go for something less bloody after The Departed's win last year... but it looks like the Coen Brothers will be taking to the stage to celebrate the prize going to No Country For Old Men.

Best Director - and my fiver says that despite competition from Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood and Tony Gilroy for Michael Clayton, they should stay close to the stage as they might just snap up this coveted prize too.

Best Actor - despite being nominated for Michael Clayton, George Clooney himself has tipped Daniel Day-Lewis to claim the Best Actor award for There Will Be Blood.
Rumours are that Viggo Mortensen deserves it just for letting it all hang out in Eastern Promises... but that would be unfair to Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) and Tommy Lee Jones (In the Valley of Elah) who actually kept their kit on. All damn fine movies though!

Best Actress - I'm finding it slightly harder to get excited about the Best Actress award, but Ellen Page is a very long shot for Juno, while Julie Christie looks like the favourite for her part in Away from Her.
Cate Blanchett is in with a shot for Elizabeth: The Golden Age, while Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose) and Laura Linney (The Savages) look like an outside bet.

After those awards the only one that interests me is the Best Original Song with Irish singer Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova looking good for 'Falling Slowly' from Once.
But more about that on Sunday!

All The Winners from the Brits Music Awards 2008

Paul McCartney put his troubles behind him tonight as he was honoured for outstanding achievement at the Brit Awards. There was no reference to anything controversial...
"I'm hugely privileged to have been in the Quarrymen, the Beatles, Wings and the solo stuff," he said. "I just think British music is the best."
Sir Paul McCartney also found the energy between court appearances to close tonight's ceremony with a 15-minute medley of hits which earned him a standing ovation from the 8,000-strong audience.

Here is a list of the big winners at tonight's Brit Music Awards!

Best British Live Act - Take That
Critics' Choice award - Adele
Best British Breakthrough Act - Mika
Best Internation Male Solo Artist - Kanye West
Best British Male Solo Artist - Mark Ronson
Best International Female Solo Artist - Kylie Minogue
Best International Group - Foo Fighters
Best British Female - Kate Nash
Best International Album - Foo Fighters for 'Echoes Silence Patience Grace'
Best British Group - Arctic Monkeys
Best British Album - Arctic Monkeys for 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' (just £4.99!)
Best British Single - Take That for 'Shine' (from Beautiful World... just £5.99!)
Outstanding Contribution to Music - Sir Paul McCartney

DVDs Released Today - February 18th

OK, so we're a bit late with this post... we won't tell if you won't!
Out This Week! - New Release DVDs

Riding high in the DVD chart you can expect to see the excellent:
Resident Evil: Extinction - directed by Russell Mulcahy. 
This is the third film in the series which are all, of course, based on the highly successful Capcom Resident Evil games.
The story picks up where the second film left off with Alice (Milla Jovovich - The Fifth Element) now in hiding in the Nevada desert. She once again joins forces with Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr - The Mummy / The Mummy Returns) and L.J. (Mike Epps - Roll Bounce) and they pick a few new survivors from Raccoon City up on the way, Claire (Ali Larter), K-Mart (Spencer Locke) and Nurse Betty (Ashanti).
As luck would have it Alice has been subject to biogenic experimentation which has left her with superhuman powers! Which, when faced with a zombie horde with death in mind proves to be very useful! These skills and more will be needed if they are to reach their goal...
If you like the games, or the first two films this one is a must for your viewing pleasure.

On a different note is the BAFTA winning and the multi Oscar nominated:
Michael Clayton - written and directed by Tony Gilroy.
George Clooney (Good Night & Good Luck / Syriana) plays Michael Clayton and is nominated for the BAFTA Best Actor. Tilda Swinton (The Chronicles Of Narnia / Thumbsucker), won the BAFTA for Best Support actress and plays Karen Crowder. Also starring Sean Cullen and Tom Wilkinson.
Clayton is an in-house “fixer” for one of the largest corporate law firms in the US, a former criminal prosecutor he takes care of their dirtiest work but after 13 years on the job finds himself increasingly disturbed with his clientele.
The film focuses on four pivotal days in his life in which a midlife crisis and a crisis of conscience neatly converge when he is called in to 'fix' a situation unfolding in one of his firm's hottest cases.
This film delivers three great characters and Clooney and Swinton’s performances are both extraordinary... the final third of the film will have you hanging on to the edge of your chair! 

And finally if you are in the mood for something a bit lighter... and a bit of Scarlett:
The Nanny Diaries - written and directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini.
This is a comedy about life at the top, as seen from the bottom, starring Scarlett Johansson (The Black Dahlia / The Prestige) as Annie Bradock, a student who is fresh out of college and uncertain about her future.
She is in Central Park mulling her future when she meets Mrs X (Laura Linney - The Crucible / Breach), a wealthy mother from the upper east side who offers her a job and the fun begins.
Annie soon learns that money can buy you a nice house, but not an honest husband or the affection of your son. This film also stars Alicia Keys as Annie’s best friend Lynette.

So there you go, pick one of these hot off the New Release DVDs shelf... and check out our Pre Releases section to see what's available now for pre order!