Over 8 1/2 years ago, I started to write for Anglotopia. And about a week after I started this job, I found a story about Robbie Williams that was so bonkers that I just had to talk about it: he bought an island off the coast of California so he could build an estate and watch for aliens. Yes, the extra-terrestrial kind if there's any ambiguity about it. I was legitimately not … [Read more...] about Robbie Williams’ “Better Man,” a biopic with a simian twist?
British Music
Paul McCartney announces “The Lyrics,” his life in 154 song lyrics
It was difficult trying to figure out how to title this article. The subject is simple: Paul McCartney is going to release a new book, due for release on November 2. It's called The Lyrics, but it's not quite just a collection of lyrics. Sure, it includes the lyrics of 154 of his songs, from his earliest compositions, stuff from his Beatles days, and now his solo career, … [Read more...] about Paul McCartney announces “The Lyrics,” his life in 154 song lyrics
One Anglophile’s Take on the Cats Movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yleb8iqI2cY A thought experiment for you all: after the human race inevitably blows itself up and extraterrestrials finally feel it's safe to visit Earth, what would they think if they found a copy of Cats among the rubble? The Backstory In between writing Four Quartets, famed poet T.S. Eliot decided to write outside his comfort zone with a … [Read more...] about One Anglophile’s Take on the Cats Movie.
The KLF release new, reworked version of “Chill Out.”
I've spoken before of my interest in The KLF, a legendary electronica act famous for not only releasing several great albums, but also things like announcing their retirement by firing a machine gun loaded with blanks at the audience of an awards show, writing a manual for writing a #1 hit without talent or money after "Doctoring the Tardis" hit the top of the UK charts, … [Read more...] about The KLF release new, reworked version of “Chill Out.”
Livestreamed Concert Tariff Officially Nixed!
Hello, Good Evening and Remain Indoors! Last year, I wrote an article about a shockingly ill-advised plan to double (at a bare minimum) the pre-existing tariff on livestreams in an era where livestreams are probably the only way musicians can perform and might be the only way for venues to remain financially viable. A petition was launched, signed by artists like Sandie Shaw … [Read more...] about Livestreamed Concert Tariff Officially Nixed!
The Kinks announce livestreamed show based on “Lola” album
For a few years, The Kinks have officially been back together, and, for all the things I've been hoping, shockingly little has happened. No new album, no tour, not even a spot at Glastonbury to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of their being scheduled to (and eventually failing to) headline the first Glastonbury Festival. All that I've been able to notice were reissues of some … [Read more...] about The Kinks announce livestreamed show based on “Lola” album
Glastonbury Festival 2021 canceled
For about 8 1/2 years, starting with a prompt from Jonathan, I've been Anglotopia's official conduit for news on the Glastonbury Festival. And while it can be frustrating as all Hell to collate all the news on the festival from the NME and condense them all into a fairly digestible post, it's always interesting to learn more about the festival. Whether it's the Great or the … [Read more...] about Glastonbury Festival 2021 canceled
Robert Fripp and his wife go viral on YouTube
I've been waiting for a long time to be able to write about King Crimson. Admittedly, for the longest time, this has been hampered partly because A) the NME doesn't seem to be covering Crimson news, and B) until recently, due to Robert Fripp's intensely protective attitude towards his music, it's been next to impossible to find King Crimson's music on YouTube. Regardless, I … [Read more...] about Robert Fripp and his wife go viral on YouTube
AC/DC release an unusual music video for “Realize”
Hello, Good Evening, and Remain Indoors! As predicted, AC/DC's new album Power Up is everything we've expected from all their new albums from For Those About to Rock on. And the fact that it's hit #1 on both sides of the pond (and also Australia, where the band is technically from, even if Phil Rudd has been the only Aussie in the band since 1977) certainly helps matters. And … [Read more...] about AC/DC release an unusual music video for “Realize”
The Uncertain Future of Glastonbury 2021…
Hello, Good Evening, and Remain Indoors! If we all do it now, we might actually have a chance at a proper Glastonbury Festival this year. Last month, Emily Eavis told the BBC "we're still quite a long way from being able to say we're confident 2021 will go ahead." And, making it dire, according to Michael Eavis, it looked like Glasto "would seriously go bankrupt" if they had … [Read more...] about The Uncertain Future of Glastonbury 2021…
Bowie Lazarus film to be given virtual screenings, and the story behind his Snowman scarf.
Well, I wish I could have included this little tidbit in my actual review of The Snowman, but Duncan Jones only unveiled the news a few days before Christmas. Of course, if you've seen my review, you've probably seen that intro, and if you haven't, you probably still have, and here it is for those of you who haven't: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54MEWWIiIk8 Bowie delivers … [Read more...] about Bowie Lazarus film to be given virtual screenings, and the story behind his Snowman scarf.
British Christmas: Ten of the Best British Christmas Songs of the Last 20 Years
Since the first British singles chart in 1952, getting a chart-topping single has been the goal of many a British artist. While some of these singles over the next couple of decades were Christmas-themed, the real race to get a Christmas song on the charts didn’t start until 1973 when Slade and Wizzard both released songs in time for the holidays. Those songs, “Merry Xmas … [Read more...] about British Christmas: Ten of the Best British Christmas Songs of the Last 20 Years
Chris Rea’s “Driving Home for Christmas” starts to trend due to COVID restrictions
Hello, Good Evening, and... I think it's appropriate to say Remain Indoors given the circumstances. But before I get to that, I'd like to tell you a little story about British bluesman Chris Rea. In December 1978, he wanted to get home to Middleborough from Abbey Road. He originally planned to take a train there, but the record label didn't want to pay it, and his girlfriend … [Read more...] about Chris Rea’s “Driving Home for Christmas” starts to trend due to COVID restrictions
The Protest Against a Potential Livestreamed Concert Tariff
Hello, Good Evening, and Remain Mindful of Social Distancing Protocols! A month ago, I detailed a plan that I think could have potentially helped many venues survive this pandemic: with socially distanced concerts financially unfeasible, livestreams an ever-growing art form, and laws that allow bands to perform at venues as long as there's no audience physically present, it … [Read more...] about The Protest Against a Potential Livestreamed Concert Tariff
The Fiver – Five Christmas Carols and Their Origins
One of the best parts about the Christmas season is singing all the Christmas carols from years past. They can be religious-based hymns, local songs that grew in popularity beyond their borders, or just fun little tunes with catch lyrics and tunes. Whether you enjoy singing them to yourself while baking cookies or going from door-to-door serenading your neighbors, there are … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five Christmas Carols and Their Origins
The Return of Arena Shows with Culture Club and Pete Tong.
Hello, Good Evening, and Remain Mindful of Social Distancing Protocols! As I write this, there's a new spike in cases of COVID in America. Fortunately, however, in the UK, new cases have been trending downards since November 12, and it looks like there's some light at the end of the tunnel, since it looks like arena gigs are coming back! Admittedly, they might not be arena … [Read more...] about The Return of Arena Shows with Culture Club and Pete Tong.
Mick Fleetwood’s Tribute Concert to Peter Green to get official releases
Hello, Good Evening, and Remain Mindful Of All The Measures In Place To Protect Us Against COVID! Back in the Before Times, Mick Fleetwood held a tribute concert to celebrate the music of Fleetwood Mac's soon-to-be-late original frontman: Peter Green. It had artists like Dave Bronze, Andy Fairweather Low, Neil Finn, Noel Gallagher, Billy F. Gibbons, David Gilmour, Kirk Hammett, … [Read more...] about Mick Fleetwood’s Tribute Concert to Peter Green to get official releases
The Radiophonic Workshop to use the Internet itself as a musical instrument
Hello, Good Evening and Remain Indoors! Or Mindful of Social Distancing Protocols! You may or may not know the BBC Radiophonic Workshop by name, but, if you don't, you probably know at least some of their work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75V4ClJZME4 Among other things, they've worked on most of the music for Doctor Who (and almost all the sound effects, including the … [Read more...] about The Radiophonic Workshop to use the Internet itself as a musical instrument
Blur’s Graham Coxon to release Sci-Fi graphic novel “Superstate.”
Until recently, I did not know Graham Coxon of Blur was an artist in his spare time. He's created the covers to most of his solo albums, and even one for Kate Rusby. And then he announced he was working on a graphic novel called Superstate.. To quote the summary provided by the publisher: The Superstate is everywhere, and its authority is absolute. Yoga Town is a city … [Read more...] about Blur’s Graham Coxon to release Sci-Fi graphic novel “Superstate.”
The music industry and the loophole that could help it adapt to Britain’s new COVID lockdown
Hello, Good Evening, and Remain Mindful of Social Distancing Protocols! Or just Remain Indoors if you're in an area that's gone back into lockdown. Since new cases of COVID are currently spiking, with an all-time number of new cases sprouting up in late October, with a promise of more to come [note: on October 31 alone, slightly less than 600,000 new cases were reported … [Read more...] about The music industry and the loophole that could help it adapt to Britain’s new COVID lockdown
Damon Albarn announces an animated Gorillaz movie is in the works
For what it's worth, Damon Albarn's been keeping busy during this quarantine, working on new Gorillaz songs, with new music videos every month, an album that just came out last week, and it's all part of a project called Song Machine. And in addition to all that, there's going to be a movie made around next year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbA5p54Rw2M To quote Damon … [Read more...] about Damon Albarn announces an animated Gorillaz movie is in the works
Paul McCartney to release “McCartney III” album from lockdown
Paul McCartney has recorded a few solo albums. 18, probably more if you count the classical stuff, the electronica albums, and of course, even more if you count Wings as a solo project. And he's even made a few albums truly solo, with no other musicians, except maybe Linda on backing vocals, specifically 1970's McCartney and 1980's McCartney II (possibly counting Chaos and … [Read more...] about Paul McCartney to release “McCartney III” album from lockdown
The Kinks announce a deluxe reissue of “Lola…”
There's a lot of debate about which Kinks album was the best. For my own part, I'd recommend Lola vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround Part 1. And if it isn't their best album, it's certainly one of their most underrated, with not only hits like "Lola" and "Apeman," but underrated gems like "Strangers," "This Time Tomorrow," and "Get Back in Line." It's a loosely-organised concept … [Read more...] about The Kinks announce a deluxe reissue of “Lola…”
AC/DC release new single, confirm details about their comeback album
Last week, I detailed all the details that seemed to add up to one conclusion: AC/DC are back. As it turned out, they did. The same day that story went up, the band outright confirmed what they had been heavily hinting: the classic post-Bon lineup (minus Malcolm because even Angus doesn't have access to the sort of magic or technology needed to reverse death and years of … [Read more...] about AC/DC release new single, confirm details about their comeback album
Led Zeppelin finally, definitively, win the “Stairway to Heaven” plagiarism case
I have written at length regarding the longstanding Jarndyce v. Jarndyce Skidmore v. Led Zeppelin case, how the estate of Spirit's Randy California sued Led Zeppelin over how similar the intro to "Stairway to Heaven" sounded to Spirit's instrumental "Taurus", how they eventually got to argue their case before a California court and won, how lawyer Francis Malofiy got the case … [Read more...] about Led Zeppelin finally, definitively, win the “Stairway to Heaven” plagiarism case
Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas in 2007 in a closet in Chicago. Anglotopia is for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Join us as we explore Britain and everything it has to offer!
