Mansun

Mansun was an English indie band formed in Chester in 1995. The band comprised vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Draper, bassist Stove King, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dominic Chad, and drummer Andie Rathbone. The band broke up in May 2003.

Mansun was formed in Chester, England in 1995 by Paul Draper & Stove King. The band's foundations were cemented with the addition of Dominic Chad, who was bartender at the Fat Cat pub in Chester city centre. The band were originally called "Manson", after the cult leader Charles Manson but were forced to change it due to copyright issues. The band gave several false accounts of this at the time, one being that they were named after The Verve b-side "A Man Called Sun" and that "Manson" was simply a spelling mistake which accidentally went through to production. The band's self-financed debut release under the name Manson, and the follow up "Skin Up Pin Up" on EMI offshoot Regal, were followed upon their signing to Parlophone with a run of EPs.
According to Mansun's Kleptomania liner notes, frontman Paul Draper states that "Take It Easy Chicken" was their first song, and that the band really did not know how to play their instruments (let alone play together as a band) when Steve Lamacq and John Peel started to play the song on BBC Radio 1. The early EPs were followed by the critically acclaimed album Attack Of The Grey Lantern which appeared to contain a conceptual storyline - heavily debated by fans - whilst ending with a hidden track (An Open Letter To The Lyrical Trainspotter, previously featured on Three EP) proclaiming sarcastically 'The lyrics aren't supposed to mean that much'. The band's debut LP knocked fellow Parlophone act Blur's 1997 self-titled album from the top spot of the British album chart. Radiohead are quoted as saying, at that year's Q Awards, that the album was "a real musical achievement". During the early years of their career, Mansun were noted for changing fashion styles as quickly as musical styles. Such styles ranged from punk fashion, New romantic, Baggy "Madchester" clothes, army fatigues, A Clockwork Orange style "droogs" and even women's clothing. When pressed as to why they did this, the band replied "Because no one dresses like David Bowie anymore".
The second album Six was preceded by the single "Legacy", driven by lyrical references to the Marquis de Sade. The album included a guest monologue by Tom Baker. Several more singles followed, including part 1 of "Being A Girl", "Negative" and a re-recording of the album's title track, "Six" produced by Arthur Baker. Mansun's third studio album, Little Kix, recorded in Pink Floyd's old studio on a boat, Astoria, was plagued by the record company's desire to bring in an outside producer, and by internal schisms within the band. The end came after a UK mini tour in April and May 2002, which was initially promoted under the pseudonym The Masons on Mansun fansites. The band tested out potential tracks from their planned fourth album alongside a handful of old favourites. Due to a Mansun fan petition started on the now defunct Mansunite.com forum, the "sessions" for this unreleased album were released in 2004, along with the non-album singles and a selection of B-sides (chosen by Draper from a top 20 voted for by fans on the band's official website) & rarities, which summarized Mansun's career in a three CD box set entitled Kleptomania. Mansun collaborated twice with Howard Devoto (from Magazine and Buzzcocks), who co-wrote EP B-side tracks "Everyone Must Win" and "Railings". They have also covered "Shot By Both Sides" live. The band were remixed by Manchester based dance outfit 808 State on "Skin Up Pin Up," a song featured on the soundtrack for the 1997 film Spawn. Legacy - The Best Of Mansun, a greatest hits CD and DVD compilation, released on 18 September 2006 in the UK. The CD from this package also provides access to download the previous unreleased "South Of The Painted Hall" demo, which was deemed to have been "lost forever" during the compilation of Kleptomania.
Albums
* 1997 - Attack of the Grey Lantern
* 1998 - Six
* 2000 - Little Kix
* 2004 - Kleptomania
* 2006 - Legacy: The Best Of Mansun

Mano Negra

Mano Negra was a French band fronted by Manu Chao. The band was founded in 1987 by Manu, his brother Antoine, and his cousin Santiago Casariego. It split up around 1995, but many members had already left by 1992.

Mano Negra mixed a number of styles: Punk rock (influenced by The Clash), Reggae, Ska and Latin music (with a brass section). The band, which is still revered on three continents, had been among the pioneers of world music fusion and are a direct influence on countless bands in Europe and South America. The mix of African, Latin and other rhythms is often called mestizo or patchanka (which is the name of one of their albums). La Mano Negra ("The Black Hand") was an alleged anarchist organization in Spain. The Spanish police accused most of the Spanish anarchists of being part of the organization. It is also a common expression in Spanish to say "Aquí hubo mano negra" ("There was a black hand here") to say that something has been made illegally or lacking moral values.
Hits
* "Out Of Time Man"
* "Mala Vida"
* "King Kong Five"
* "King of Bongo"
* "Pas assez de toi"
* "Santa Maradona"
* "Señor Matanza"

Manitoba

Daniel Victor Snaith (born 1978) is an electronic musician recording under the stage name Caribou. Snaith grew up in Dundas, Ontario (which is also the name of a song from his debut album Start Breaking My Heart) and studied mathematics at the University of Toronto and later at Imperial College London (PhD).

He is the son of Victor Snaith, a mathematics professor at the University of Sheffield, and the brother of Nina Snaith, a reader in mathematics at the University of Bristol. Snaith previously recorded under the stage name Manitoba, but changed his name in 2004 under threat of an American lawsuit by Richard "Handsome Dick" Manitoba, who had used the surname professionally since the 1970s (but had not released any music as a solo artist). As Snaith himself commented, "It's like The Smiths suing John Smith or something". Uninterested in and unable to afford the contest, Snaith opted to rename his project. Snaith is quoted as saying that he chose the name "Caribou" while on an LSD trip with friends in the Canadian wilderness.
Snaith usually performs with a live band when playing gigs, often assuming the role of percussionist (as well as a performer of electronic composition, he is an accomplished drummer). Currently, Snaith's live act is made up of Ryan Smith, Brad Weber (of Winter Equinox and Solitary Extraction), and Andy Lloyd (of Henri Fabergé and the Adorables). Sets also often include complex video projections on a large screen featuring clips from the Racey video "Some Girls", a DVD of which was released in November 2005. "In music I will have an idea to put some different sounds together or a melody that meshes with a chord sequence or a sonic mood," said Snaith in an interview. "I'm not the type of person who takes physical things apart and plays around with them, but I like taking mental ideas apart and playing around with them. That's what appeals to me about what I've spent my life doing."
He completed his Ph.D. in mathematics at Imperial College London in 2005. His thesis, titled Overconvergent Siegel Modular Symbols, was written under the direction of Kevin Buzzard. Snaith currently resides in London, England. His 2007 album Andorra was named the winner of the 2008 Polaris Music Prize. In 2008, music discovery site betterPropaganda named Caribou the 24th Most Influential Artist of the Decade in their Top 100 Artists of the 2000's feature.
Discography
As Manitoba
* People Eating Fruit EP (30 October 2000)
* "Paul's Birthday" CDS (26 February 2001)
* Start Breaking My Heart (26 March 2001)
* give'r EP (26 November 2001)
* If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be an Airport 12" (13 January 2003)
* "Jacknuggeted" CDS (24 February 2003)
* Up in Flames (31 March 2003)
* "Hendrix with Ko" CDS (14 July 2003)
* Up in Flames (Special Edition) with bonus disc (29 September 2003)
Most of Snaith's older Manitoba material has been subsequently rereleased under the Caribou name.
As Caribou
* Start Breaking My Heart (re-released 2006)
* Up In Flames (re-released 2006)
* "Yeti" CDS/12" (22 March 2005)
* The Milk of Human Kindness (18 April 2005)
* Tour-Only CD (Super Furry Animals Tour, Fall 2005)
* Marino (DVD) (November 2005)
* Andorra (21 August 2007) - Polaris Prize Winner 2008
* "Melody Day" CDS (August 2007)
* Tour-Only CD (September 2007)
* "She's the One" (March 2008)

Manic Street Preachers

Manic Street Preachers are an alternative rock band from Blackwood, Wales, formed in 1986. Often referred to as the Manics, they are James Dean Bradfield (vocals, guitars), Nicky Wire (bass, occasional vocals) and Sean Moore (drums, backing vocals, occasional trumpet).

The band were originally a quartet: lyricist and rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards mysteriously vanished on 1 February 1995 . He was declared presumed deceased in November 2008. The Manics released their debut album Generation Terrorists in 1992. Their combination of androgynous glam punk imagery, outspoken invective and songs about "culture, alienation, boredom and despair" soon gained them a loyal following and cult status. The band's later albums retained a politicized and intellectual lyrical style, while adopting a broader alternative rock sound. Enigmatic lyricist Richey Edwards gained early notoriety by carving the words "4 REAL" into his arm with a razor blade (narrowly missing an artery and requiring seventeen stitches) in response to the suggestion that the band were less than authentic.
Following Edwards' disappearance, the remaining three Manics went on to gain major success, becoming one of Britain's premier rock bands. They have had six top ten albums and fourteen top ten singles. They have reached number one three times, with their 1998 album This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours and the singles If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next (1998) and The Masses Against The Classes (2000). Their ninth album,Journal For Plague Lovers, will be released on 18th May 2009 and feature lyrics left behind by Edwards.
Discography
* Generation Terrorists (1992)
* Gold Against the Soul (1993)
* The Holy Bible (1994)
* Everything Must Go (1996)
* This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours (1998)
* Know Your Enemy (2001)
* Lifeblood (2004)
* Send Away the Tigers (2007)
* Journal For Plague Lovers (TBR 2009)
Awards
* One of The Writers' Best Albums (Everything Must Go) of 1996 - The Daily Telegraph
* Writers' Best Album (Everything Must Go) of 1996 - Melody Maker
* Reader's Band of 1996 (Runner Up) & "Writers' Album (Everything Must Go) of 1996" - NME
* Writers' Best Live Band of 1996 - NME Brat Award
* "Writers' Best Album (Everything Must Go) of 1996 - Vox
* Writers' Best Album (Everything Must Go) of 1996 - The Sunday Times
* "Writers' Best Album (Everything Must Go) of 1996 - Sky
* Writers' Best Album (Everything Must Go) of 1996 & Readers' Best Album (Everything Must Go) of 1996 - Select
* Readers' Best Album (Everything Must Go) of 1996 - Q Awards
* Writers' Best Album (Everything Must Go) of 1996 - Music Week
* One of Writers' Top Ten Albums (Everything Must Go) of 1996 - Metal Hammer
* Writers' Album (Everything Must Go) of 1996 (Runner Up) - Kerrang!
* One of Writers' Top Five Albums (Everything Must Go) of 1996 - Independent On Sunday
* Readers' Best Album (Everything Must Go) of 1996 - Hot Press
* Writers' Best Album (Everything Must Go) of 1996 - The Guardian
* Best Album & "Best Group" - BRIT Awards, 1997
* Best Band In The World Today - Q Awards, 1998
* Best Album & "Best Group" - BRIT Awards, 1999
* Best Live Act - Q Awards, 2001
* Q Merit Award - Q Awards, 2006
* Best Track (Your Love Alone Is Not Enough) - Q Awards, 2007
* 'God Like Geniuses' - Shockwaves NME Awards, 2008

Mando Diao

Mando Diao is a garage rock band from Borlänge, Sweden. The band got their breakthrough with the release of the album Hurricane Bar. The song God Knows was featured in FIFA 06. Their main fan base is in Sweden, Germany, and Japan although their influence has recently spread to Western Europe, most notably the UK.

The roots of Mando Diao date back to 1995 when Björn Dixgård and the former Mando Diao member Daniel Haglund played in a band called Butler. With band members coming and going over the following four years later the current line-up decided to take that project more seriously. Björn Dixgård and Gustaf Norén locked themselves up in a summer house and spent 14 months writing songs. They claim the Beatles as their original source of inspiration. Allegedly, Gustaf joined the band after he and Björn had talked all night about this band. The two renamed their band Mando Diao which, according to the band has no particular meaning, appearing to Björn Dixgård in a dream.
Albums
* 2002 - Bring 'Em In
* 2004 - Hurricane Bar
* 2006 - Ode To Ochrasy
* 2007 - Never Seen the Light of Day
* 2009 - Give Me Fire
EPs
* Motown Blood EP - 2002 (Sweden)
* Sheepdog EP - 2003 (Japan)
* Paralyzed EP - 2004 (Sweden, US & UK)
* Japan Tour EP - 2004 (Japan)
* Long Before Rock 'N' Roll EP - 2006 (US)
* German Tour EP - 2007 (US)
* The Wildfire (If It Was True) EP - 2007 (US)
Compilations
* "God Knows" was featured on FIFA 06 by EA Sports.
* "Down in the Past" was featured on 2006 Fifa World Cup Germany by EA Sports, and NHL 06 by EA Sports
* "The Wildfire (If It Was True) was featured on NHL 08 by EA Sports.
* "Sheepdog" was featured in E4's teen drama "Skins" (UK)
* "Sweet Ride" was featured in the 2005 film The Ringer
* "Long Before Rock and Roll" featured in E4 Scrubs advert Autumn 2007
* "God knows" was also the backing track for a Tommy Hilfiger denim ad in 2007.
Videography
* "Mr. Moon" (2002/directed by Magnus Härdner, produced by Christoffer Sahlgren)
* "The Band" (2002/directed by Håkan Schüler)
* "Sheepdog" (2003/directed by Pontus Andersson
* "Paralyzed" (2003/directed by Håkan Schüler)
* "Clean Town" (2004/directed by Amir Chamdin)
* "God Knows" (2004/directed by Johan Torell & John Nordqvist)
* "Down In The Past" (2004/directed by Christoffer Diös)
* "You Can't Steal My Love" (2005/directed by Mauricio Molinari)
* "Long Before Rock'n'Roll" (2006/directed by Daniel Eskils)
* "Good Morning, Herr Horst" (2006/directed by Lovisa Inserra)
* "TV & Me" (2006/directed by Kalle Haglund)
* "Wildfire" (2007/directed by Gilly Barnes)
* "Ochrasy" (2007/directed by Lovisa Inserra)
* "If I Don't Live Today, I Might Be Here Tomorrow" (2007/directed by Andreas Nilsson)
* "Never Seen The Light Of Day" (2007)
* "Train On Fire" (2008/Stark)
* "Dance With Somebody" (2008)

The Mamas & the Papas

The Mamas & the Papas (credited as The Mama's and the Papa's on the debut album cover) were a vocal group of the 1960s. The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and ten hit singles. They have sold nearly 40 million records worldwide.

After the split-up of their two previous folk groups The Mugwumps and The New Journeymen bandmates Denny Doherty and John Phillips formed a new group, which included John's wife Michelle. The last member to join was Cass Elliot. The band shortly relocated to the Virgin Islands, and after running out of money, Michelle Phillips gambled back enough money for them to return to New York. After a short period of going under the name The Magic Circle, the group renamed themselves The Mamas and the Papas before signing a five-album contract with Dunhill Records.
Aftermath
Cass Elliot
After the final breakup, Cass Elliot had a successful solo career until 1970, touring the U.S. and Europe, becoming popular with hits such as "Make Your Own Kind of Music" and "It's Getting Better". Their last three albums (released 1972 and 1973 for RCA) didn´t enter the charts and didn't contain any single to hit the charts. She had many successful appearances on American variety shows, including the highly popular Carol Burnett Show. She also starred in two U.S. prime-time network TV specials "The Mama Cass Television Program" airing on ABC in January, 1969 and "Don't Call Me Mama Anymore" airing on CBS in September, 1973. While on tour with her solo act, Elliot died of a heart attack in July 29, 1974. She had just performed to two sold-out audiences at the London Palladium in the UK. The night before she died, she had called Michelle in L.A. to tell her how thrilled she was about getting standing ovations. Michelle Phillips says that Cass Elliot "died a very happy woman." Her former band mates and Lou Adler all attended her funeral in Los Angeles.
John Phillips
John Phillips continued to write songs for solo efforts and other acts. Perhaps his best-known effort was as co-author of the Beach Boys' hit "Kokomo". In the 1980s he formed The New Mamas and The Papas, with his daughter Mackenzie Phillips, Spanky McFarlane (of the group Spanky and Our Gang), and Denny Doherty. After some initial success, Denny dropped out when John slipped back into drugs and Mackenzie ran away. John did eventually get the group back together, without Denny but with his old friend Scott McKenzie. He eventually dropped the "New" from their name and appeared as simply The Mamas and The Papas. Throughout the rest of his life, Phillips toured with various versions of the group playing smaller venues, reunion shows, and TV specials. John's version of The Mamas and The Papas story is told in the American PBS (Public Broadcasting System) TV special, Straight Shooter: The True Story of John Phillips and The Mamas and the Papas. After surviving a liver transplant in the 1980s, he died of heart failure on March 18, 2001. His final album, Phillips 66, was released posthumously in August 2001.
Denny Doherty
Denny Doherty had a solo hit on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1974 with a rendition of the standard "You'll Never Know", and went on to host a popular variety show in Canada. In response to Straight Shooter: The True Story of John Phillips and The Mamas and the Papas Denny produced his own stage musical Dream a Little Dream (the nearly true story of The Mamas and The Papas). It featured music from the group and focused on his relationship with Mama Cass. It was, he said, to "set the record straight." In the 1990s, Denny was the producer and host of a popular children's TV show in Canada, Theodore Tugboat a kind of Thomas the Tank Engine for vessels in the Halifax Harbour. Denny Doherty died on January 19, 2007, at his home in Mississauga, Ontario, from kidney failure following surgery on an abdominal aneurysm.
Michelle Phillips
After the unsuccessful release of an album in 1977, Victim of Romance, Michelle Phillips went on to a successful acting career, appearing in the 1973 movie Dillinger, 1979's Bloodline, the 1980 Sam Spade tribute/spoof, The Man with Bogart's Face, American Anthem in 1986 and Let It Ride in 1989. She also had a successful run in television drama, including Knots Landing and Beverly Hills, 90210. As the last surviving original member of The Mamas and The Papas, and the copyright owner for the song "California Dreamin", Michelle was a major contributor to the 2005 PBS Television Special California Dreamin': The Songs of The Mamas and the Papas.
Legacy
Their first successful single, "California Dreamin'", was rereleased in the UK and peaked at number nine in 1997. John's eldest daughter from his first marriage, Mackenzie Phillips, had a successful career as an actress in the mid-1970s, having first appeared in George Lucas's hit film American Graffiti (1973) and then in the successful TV series One Day at a Time, but found her success so overshadowed by her problems with drug addiction habits that she had shared personally with her father that by 1979 her career had effectively ended due to her inability to work. John and Michelle's daughter, Chynna, would go on to form the band Wilson Phillips along with Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson (the daughters of Beach Boy Brian Wilson), with whom she's been friends since infancy. John's youngest daughter, Bijou Phillips, is a successful actress and model. The Mamas and the Papas were inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000. Much press was given to their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, as the members of the group, especially John Phillips, publicly stated their dislike for each other. At the 1998 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony the 3 surviving members accepted the award, with Cass Elliot's daughter accepting for her. Michelle Phillips created a memorable moment after all had accepted their awards returning to the podium saying, " I know that Cass is sitting on that big full moon tonight, looking down on these proceedings, wearing a size six Thierry Mugler dress, and thanking you all very, very much." The audience then burst into applause. The group then performed "California Dreamin'".
Albums
* 1966 - If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
* 1966 - The Mamas & the Papas
* 1967 - Deliver
* 1968 - The Papas & The Mamas
* 1971 - People Like Us
Greatest Hits compilations
* 1967 - Farewell To The First Golden Era
* 1968 - Golden Era, Vol. 2
* 1969 - Hits Of Gold
* 1969 - 16 Greatest Hits
* 1973 - 20 Golden Hits
Singles
* 1965 - Go Where You Wanna Go
* 1965 - California Dreamin
* 1965 - Monday, Monday
* 1965 - I Saw Her Again
* 1966 - Words of Love
* 1966 - Dancing in the Street
* 1966 - Look Through My Window
* 1967 - Dedicated to the One I Love
* 1967 - Creeque Alley
* 1967 - My Girl
* 1967 - Glad to Be Unhappy
* 1967 - Dancing Bear
* 1967 - Twelve Thirty
* 1968 - Safe In My Garden
* 1968 - Dream a Little Dream of Me
* 1968 - For The Love Of Ivy
* 1968 - Do You Wanna Dance
* 1972 - Step Out

Malcolm Mclaren

Malcolm McLaren (born Malcolm Robert Andrew Edwards, 22 January 1946, London) is a solo artist, and most famously, former manager to the New York Dolls and the Sex Pistols. McLaren was born to Pete McLaren and Emmy Isaacs in the suburbs of postwar London.

His father left when he was two, so he was raised by his grandmother, Rose Corre Isaacs, in Stoke Newington, London. She was a charismatic, formerly wealthy daughter of Portuguese Sephardic Jews who were former diamond dealers. Malcolm told Andrew Denton on Enough Rope, that his grandmother always said to him, "It's good to be bad and it's bad to be good". When Malcolm was six, Emmy Isaac married Martin Levi, a man working in London's rag trade. McLaren's stepfather and his mother owned a shmatte factory in London's East End, 'Eve Edwards London Limited', and Malcolm lived in a fine suburban house. Unfortunately, Malcolm and his stepfather never got along, and by the time he hit his teens, Malcolm couldn’t wait to leave home. After a series of jobs (including one as a wine taster), he went on to attend several Art Colleges through the 1960s, being expelled from several before leaving education entirely in 1971. It was during this time that he began to design clothing, a talent he would later utilise when he became a boutique owner.
He had been attracted to the Situationist movement, which promoted absurdist and provocative actions as a way of enacting social change. In 1968 McLaren had tried unsuccessfully to travel to Paris to take part in the demonstrations there. McLaren would later adopt the movement's ideas into his promotion for the various pop and rock groups he was soon to become involved with. By 1975 McLaren had started to manage The Strand, the band who would later become the Sex Pistols. His assistant, Bernie Rhodes (soon to be manager of The Clash), spotted Johnny Rotten who was then sporting green hair, and torn clothes with the words "I hate" scribbled on his Pink Floyd shirt. His appearance and attitude impressed McLaren and Rotten was brought in to audition as a new frontman. Rotten joined, and the band was renamed The Sex Pistols
Discography
* Duck Rock (1983)
* D'ya Like Scratchin' (EP) (1983)
* Madam Butterfly (1984)
* Fans (1984)
* Swamp Thing (1985)
* Waltz Darling (1989)
* Round the Outside, Round the Outside (with the World Famous Supreme Team Show) (1990)
* Paris (1994)
* Buffalo Gals Back to Skool (1998)
* Tranquilize (2005)

Malajube

Malajube is a francophone indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The band has three albums out on Dare to Care Records.

Formed by a group of friends in Montréal, the band made itself known in 2004 with the release of its first album, Le Compte complet. Critics welcomed the disc with positive reviews, which allowed the group to become instantly famous in the Quebec music scene. Several of its songs, such as "Le Métronome" and "La Valérie", were prominent mainstays on several Quebec radio stations. For the production of the album, the group turned to Martin Pelland from fellow Montreal band The Dears. In the months that followed the release of their first album, Malajube launched a tour across Quebec, participating in several major festivals, such as Les FrancoFolies de Montréal. In February 2006, the quartet released its second album, Trompe-l'œil, which also received a warm welcome on the part of Quebec media. Collaborations with singer Pierre Lapointe, Québécois rap group Loco Locass, and the use of a wide variety of instruments has contributed to the album's success in addition to audio engineer/record producer Ryan Battistuzzi's (We Are Wolves, Death from Above 1979, Blessed by a Broken Heart) production work. Trompe-l'œil also began to attract attention in English Canada in July, when it was shortlisted for the 2006 Polaris Music Prize, and in the United States in October, when it was a featured review on Pitchfork Media. In 2006, they won three Félix Awards at the 28th edition of the Gala de l'ADISQ: two for Trompe-l'œil, "Best alternative album" and "Best cover art" while they were proclaimed "Revelation of the year 2006". The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has described them as one of very few Quebec musical groups who have achieved success in English Canada despite not performing in English, something the band states they have no interest in doing. On October 17, 2006, Malajube released their CD Trompe-l'œil in the U.S. They also participated in the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City on November 2, 2006. In 2007 they did a Take-Away Show acoustic video session shot by Vincent Moon.
The band's song "Montreal -40°C" was featured in a Rogers Wireless commercial, and another song, "Ton plat favori", was in a Zellers commercial. Pâte filo was also featured in a commercial for RadioShack in the United States. Regarding the French lyrics, Augustin said in an interview: "I am sure the language, even if we say 'yeah., people from the states are interested in French music We are exportable,' which is something I hear a lot, it would still be difficult to understand that. We have a chance with Malajube, because people get the music. Even if it is in French and people don't get the lyrics, the music does the work. It talks to people." When asked if Malajube find it odd to play a show to an English speaking crowd and have people singing along who have no idea what they’re singing, Cournoyer said: "Yes, it’s very funny. But wherever we go, there always seems to be a couple of Quebecers in the crowd, who teach other people."
Band members
* Julien Mineau (lyrics, vocals, and guitar)
* Francis Mineau (drums)
* Mathieu Cournoyer (bass)
* Thomas Augustin (keyboards, vocals)
Former members
* Rémi Nadeau-Aubin (guitar, 2002-2004)
* Renaud Bastien (guitar/keyboards, 2006-2007)
Discography
* Le Compte complet, 2004
* Trompe-l'œil, 2006
* Labyrinthes, 2009

Magnolia Electric Company

Jason Molina is an American singer-songwriter, originally from Lorain, Ohio. He first came to prominence performing and recording as Songs: Ohia, both in solo projects and with a rotating cast of musicians. Since 2003, he has recorded either under his own name or with a stable line-up of band members as the Magnolia Electric Co.

Molina was born in Lorain, Ohio and attended Oberlin College. After playing bass guitar in various heavy metal bands in and around Cleveland, Molina made the decision to become a solo artist under an assumed band name, recruiting other musicians for each individual project as needed. He made several home recordings under various names, including Songs: Albian, Songs: Radix, and Songs: Unitas, which he distributed himself at live performances.
Songs: Ohia
Albums
* 1997 Songs: Ohia (also known as The Black Album)
* 1998 Impala (originally released on Happy Go Lucky)
* 1999 Axxess & Ace
* 1999 The Ghost (tour-only release)
* 2000 The Lioness
* 2000 Protection Spells (tour-only release)
* 2000 Ghost Tropic
* 2001 Mi Sei Apparso Come Un Fantasma (live album, Paper Cut Records)
* 2002 Didn't It Rain
* 2003 Magnolia Electric Co.
EPs
* 1997 Hecla & Griper
* 1998 Our Golden Ratio (Acuarela)
* 2001 Howler (Absalom)
* 2001 Travels in Constants (Temporary Residence)
Singles
* 1996 "Nor Cease Thou Never Now" (Palace Records)
* 1996 "One Pronunciation of Glory"
* 1999 "Untitled" (Western Vinyl)
* 2002 "The Gray Tower"/"Black Link to Fire Link"
* 2002 "Keep It Steady"/"United or Lost Alone"
* 2004 "No Moon on the Water"/"In the Human World" (Chunklet)
Jason Molina
Albums
* 2004 Pyramid Electric Co.
* 2006 Let Me Go, Let Me Go, Let Me Go
Magnolia Electric Co.
Albums
* 2005 Trials & Errors (live album)
* 2005 What Comes After the Blues
* 2006 Fading Trails
* 2007 Sojourner (Boxset)
EPs
* 2005 Hard to Love a Man
* 2009 It's Made Me Cry
Collaborations
EPs
* 2002 "Translation" on Split: My Morning Jacket / Songs: Ohia (Jade Tree)
* 2002 Amalgamated Sons of Rest with Will Oldham and Alasdair Roberts (Galaxia)
Singles
* 1998 "Nay, Tis Not Death" (Alternate) on split 7" with Appendix Out (Liquefaction Empire)
* 1999 "Journey On" on split 7" with Oneida (Jagjaguwar)
* 1999 "How to Be Perfect Men" on split 7" with Rex (Temporary Residence)
* 2000 7" single with Alasdair Roberts
* 2000 "Fade St." on split 7" with Glen Hansard (Road Relish)
* 2001 "Lioness" (Version) on split 7" with Scout Niblett

The Magnetic Fields

The Magnetic Fields is a band led by singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt. Albums released by Merritt under the name "Magnetic Fields" often make extensive use of synthesizers underlying clever lyrics, often about love, that are by turns ironic, bitter, and humorous.

While The Wayward Bus and Distant Plastic Trees are sung by Susan Anway, later albums were principally sung by Merritt himself (though Shirley Simms handles about half of the vocal duties on Distortion.) The band began as Merritt's studio project, under the name Buffalo Rome, with him playing all instruments. With the help of friend Claudia Gonson, who had played in Merritt's band The Zinnias during high school, a live band was assembled in Boston, where Merritt and Gonson lived, to play Merritt's compositions. The band's first live performance was at T.T. the Bear's Place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1991 where they played to a sparse audience that was expecting to see Galaxie 500 spin-off Magnetophone.
One of the group's most significant albums to date is its 1999 triple album 69 Love Songs. It showcased Merritt's songwriting abilities and the group's musicianship, demonstrated by the use of such unorthodox instruments as ukulele, banjo, accordion, cello, mandolin, flute, xylophone, and Marxophone, in addition to their usual setting of synthesizers, guitars, and effects. The album features vocalists Shirley Simms, Dudley Klute, L.D. Beghtol, and Gonson, each of whom sings lead on six songs as well as various backing vocals, plus Daniel Handler (A.K.A. Lemony Snicket) on accordion, and longtime collaborator Christopher Ewen (of Future Bible Heroes) as guest arranger/synthesist. Violinist Ida Pearle makes a brief cameo on "Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side." The band's recent albums, i (2004) & Distortion (2008), both followed the album theme structure of 69 Love Songs: The song titles on i begin with the letter (or, in the case of half the songs' titles, the pronoun) "I", whilst Distortion was an experiment in combining noise music with their typically unconventional musical approach. The liner notes claim the album was made without synthesizers. According to an article: "To celebrate the release of Distortion, Merritt & The Magnetic Fields played mini-residencies in cities around the country, culminating with six shows at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music."
Members
* Stephin Merritt - ukulele/keyboard/lead vocals (and founder)
* Claudia Gonson – percussion/piano/vocals (and group manager)
* Sam Davol – cello/flute
* John Woo – banjo/guitar
Past and current contributors include singers Susan Anway, Dudley Klute, Shirley Simms, Momus, and LD_Beghtol, as well as instrumentalists Daniel Handler and Chris Ewen.
Selected discography
* Distant Plastic Trees (1991)
* The Wayward Bus (1992)
* The House of Tomorrow (EP) (1992)
* Holiday (1994)
* The Charm of the Highway Strip (1994)
* Get Lost (1995)
* 69 Love Songs (1999)
* i (2004)
* Distortion (2008)

Gemma Hayes

Gemma Hayes (born 11 August 1977, Ballyporeen, Tipperary, Ireland) is an Irish singer-songwriter. One of eight children, Hayes was surrounded by music from an early age, both from any of her seven siblings' bedrooms & being played by her father, a keyboardist in a local band.

By the time she left for boarding school in County Limerick, Hayes was already proficient at piano and found that the music used to counter the boredom of living in a small village, now offered her escape from the strict regime of her new home. Although she enrolled at University in Dublin, Hayes soon left to concentrate on music, working part-time in a laundrette during the day and playing the city's circuit at night. Hayes signed to the French independent record label, Source Records in 2001, and issued the 4.35am EP and the Work to a Calm EP before releasing her debut album, Night on my Side, in 2002. In 2002 she won Best Female Singer at the Hot Press Awards. The album was nominated for the 2003 Mercury Prize but lost out to Ms. Dynamite's, A Little Deeper. After touring Night on my Side Hayes took two years out from the music industry; "All I do know is that I didn't want to listen to music at all. I stopped listening to the radio. It was like I'd overdosed on music".
In late 2005 Hayes returned with her second album, The Roads Don't Love You, and picked up the Best Irish Female Artist award at the 2006 Meteor Ireland Music Awards, shortly before completing a small tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Shortly after this she left EMI-Virgin. Hayes co-wrote the song "Hazy" with Adam Duritz for the Counting Crows' live album, New Amsterdam. Duritz then referenced her in the song "Washington Square", from the March 2008 Counting Crows release, Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings - in the context of talking about his travelings the highways, from Dublin to Berkley"), the song's speaker says that he has "heard the songbirds of Ballyporeen".
Popular culture
* Her song 'Two Step' was featured in a season 2 episode of the hit TV show Grey's Anatomy.
* She was also featured in a duet with Norwegian singer Magnet on a Bob Dylan cover, "Lay Lady Lay" in the 2005 feature film Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
* Hayes was on the Ceol '07 album, which was released on 2 March 2007, singing "Rith Mé Go Crích", an Irish language version of "Ran For Miles", which originally appeared on Night on my Side. Other Irish artists who appeared included Bell X1 and Paddy Casey.
* She appeared on the cover of the June 2008 edition of State Magazine.
* Her song "4:35am" appeared in the 2006 film, Flicka.
Awards
* 2001 - Best Female Artist - Hot Press Awards
* 2002 - Mercury Prize - Nomination
* 2006 - Best Irish Female Artist - Meteor Ireland Music Awards - Winner
* 2009 - Best Irish Female Artist - Meteor Ireland Music Awards - Nomination

The Magic Numbers

The Magic Numbers is an English indie rock band comprised of two pairs of brothers and sisters who all attended The Cardinal Wiseman Roman Catholic High School in Greenford. The group was formed in 2002, releasing their critically acclaimed debut album titled The Magic Numbers on June 13, 2005.

Their follow-up album, Those the Brokes was released on November 6, 2006. The Magic Numbers are: Romeo Stodart (lead guitar, vocals), Michele Stodart (bass, vocals), Sean Gannon (drums) and Angela Gannon (melodica, percussion, glockenspiel, vocals). The Stodarts are the children of a Scottish father and a Portuguese mother and were born in Trinidad in the Caribbean, where their mother was an opera singer and had her own TV show. When the family fled an Islamic coup attempt there in 1990, they were raised in New York. In the mid-1990s, when Romeo was 16 and Michelle was 10, they moved to London. The Gannons are of Irish descent but lived in Hanwell, London where they became friends with their neighbours the Stodarts. Prior to forming The Magic Numbers, Romeo and Sean spent time trying to form a band together under various guises, and previously performed under the name 'Guess'.
Studio albums
* The Magic Numbers (13 June 2005)
Chart Position: #7 (UK)
* Those the Brokes (6 November 2006)
Chart Position: #11 (UK)
Contributions
The Magic Numbers have made appearances on various other artists' releases, including:
* Duke Special - "Our Love Goes Deeper Than This" (backing vocals)
* The Chemical Brothers - "Close Your Eyes" (vocals)
* The Concretes – "Your Call" (vocals), "Sunbeams" (backing vocals)
* Ed Harcourt – "Revolution in the Heart" (backing vocals)
* David Kitt – "Up to You" and "Guilty Prayers, Pointless Ends" from the album, Not Fade Away (backing vocals)
* Jane Birkin - Fictions
* The Boxer Rebellion - "Flashing Red Light Means Go" (backing vocals by Angela) - from their newly released album, Union.
Compilation contributions
* Dream Brother: The Songs of Tim and Jeff Buckley (2005) - cover of Tim Buckley's "Sing a Song for You"
* Help!: A Day in the Life (2005) - "Gone Are the Days"
* Sounds Eclectic: The Covers Project (2007) - cover of Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love"
* The Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary Show (2007) - "Love Me Like You"

Madvillain

Madvillain is a hip hop group consisting of MF DOOM and Madlib. Their debut album Madvillainy was met with wide critical acclaim for its unique approach short songs, obscure lyrics, few choruses and a sound which was generally unfriendly to commercial radio.

In 2006, Madvillain was featured on Stones Throw and Adult Swim's DVD/CD Chrome Children with a new song and live performance. Kidrobot followed this by announcing a Madvillain action figure MF DOOM and Madlib are currently working on a second Madvillain album. Madvillain recently won MTVU's Left Field Woodie for "Monkey Suite".
Albums
* Madvillainy
o Released: March 24, 2004
o Label: Stones Throw
o Sales: 150,000+
* Madvillainy 2
o Released: September 26, 2008
o Label: Stones Throw
EPs
* 2005: Madvillain Remixes by Four Tet
* 2005: Madvillain Remixes by Koushik
Singles
* Money Folder / America's Most Blunted - 2003
* Curls / ALL CAPS - 2003
* One Beer - 2004
* Monkey Suite - 2006

Madrugada

Madrugada was a Norwegian rock band formed in the town of Stokmarknes 1995. The band members included Frode Jacobsen (bass), Sivert Høyem (vocals) and Robert Burås (guitar). After the death of Burås on July 12, 2007 Høyem and Jacobsen decided to finish recording their latest album.

The album, entitled Madrugada, was released on January 21, 2008. After the release of the album the band announced they would split after one last tour. They performed their last ever concert on November 15 2008 at Oslo Spektrum in Oslo, Norway. Madrugada formed in the town of Stokmarknes 1995. The band members included Frode Jacobsen (bass), Sivert Høyem (vocals), and Robert Burås (guitar). Simen Vangen took over for Jon Lauvland Pettersen, a founding member of Madrugada; Lauvland Pettersen left the band after their second album (in 2002) and is currently playing in the band Milestone Refinery; Simen Vangen announced his leaving in 2005 and stated he wanted to focus on various jazz projects, things that did not fit together with being a member of Madrugada; however, he will continue to collaborate with Sivert Høyem in The Opposition. Madrugada finished recording their fourth album The Deep End late in 2004 and it was released on February 28th, 2005 in Norway, on March 31st in the rest of Europe and finally in the US on April 11th. A radio single entitled "The Kids Are on High Street" was released for domestic radio play on January 14. A music video for the single was filmed in London. On December 14th 2005, Madrugada released their first live album Live at Tralfamadore. Tralfamadore is the fictional home planet of aliens from several novels by the American author Kurt Vonnegut. By the end of 2005 less than a month after its release it became the highest selling album in Norway in 2005 with The Deep End as the runner up. The year was capped off with Madrugada winning three awards at the annual Spellemannprisen the Norwegian equivalent of the Grammys. They won the categories for Best Rock Album, Best Song and Spellemann of the Year. Afterwards, the band members started focusing on other projects. Sivert Høyem released his second solo album Exiles in 2006. Robert Burås and his band My Midnight Creeps released their second album Histamin in March, 2007.
On July 12, 2007, guitarist Robert Burås was found dead in his apartment in Oslo. He was 31 years old. A new, self-titled album was released on January 21st 2008 after having released the single "Look Away Lucifer" on December 10, 2007. All tracks of the album were recorded before Robert Burås died. After his death, they continued recording the album to honour Robert. In the spring of 2008, Madrugada embarked on a tour throughout Europe and Norway, playing material from the Madrugada album as well as material from previous albums. In late October 2008, their farewell tour began. The 11th and final concert of their last tour was held in a sold out Oslo Spektrum November 15, 2008.
Current members
* Sivert Høyem (vocals)
* Frode Jacobsen (bass)
Previous members
* Robert Burås (guitar) (deceased)
* Jon Lauvland Pettersen (drums)
* Simen Vangen (drums)
* Mikael Lindqvist (piano & keyboards)
Albums
o Industrial Silence (1999) {There also is a limited edition with 3 bonus songs}
o The Nightly Disease (2001) {There also is a limited edition with a bonus CD: The Nightly Disease Vol. II
o Grit (2002)
o The Deep End (2005)
o Live at Tralfamadore (2005)
o Madrugada (2008) [1]
EPs
o Madrugada EP (1998)
o New Depression EP (1999)
o Electric (2000)
o Higher EP (2000)
o Hands Up - I Love You (2001)
o A Deadend Mind (2001)
o Ready (2002)
Singles
o "Beautyproof" (2000)
o "Majesty" (2003)
o "The Kids are on High Street" (2005)
o "Lift Me" [Feat. Ane Brun] (2005)
o "Look Away Lucifer" (2008)
o "What's On Your Mind?" (2008)

Chin Up Chin Up

Chin Up Chin Up is an indie pop band formed in 2001 by Jeremy Bolen and Nathan Snydacker in their hometown of Chicago. The lineup was rounded off by Chris Saathoff and Chris Dye. The band later added Greg Sharp.

Immediately after forming, the band spent eight months recording their self-titled EP. After positive local reviews, the band toured with a variety of bands, including: Appleseed Cast, the Mercury Program, Pedro the Lion, the American Analog Set, Broken Social Scene, Smog, Minus the Bear, and Pinback. Soon after, the band began to record their debut album, We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers, with John Congleton. Late at night on February 14, 2004, Chris Saathoff was killed in a hit and run accident as he was leaving a Ponys show at a local bar, the Empty Bottle, with his girlfriend. After their benefit shows in honor of their friend, Chin Up Chin Up regrouped to finish recording their album, We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers, in which some of the bass lines Chris Saathoff had previously recorded while composing the album were used where possible. The album was released in 2004 on Flameshovel Records. Chin Up Chin Up released This Harness Can't Ride Anything on October 10, 2006. They released it on Suicide Squeeze, a Seattle-based indie rock record label.
Members
Jeremy Bolen, formerly part of the band Punjab, plays guitar, along with Nathan Snydacker, who used to sing and play bass for Nymb. Chris Saathoff played bass, and after his death he was replaced by Jesse Woghin. Chris Dye plays drums. Greg Sharp plays the keyboards. Their album was recorded by John Congleton.
Discography
* Chin Up Chin Up – (May 15, 2002; Re-released w/ Bonus Tracks July 26, 2005)
* We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers – (October 13, 2004)
* This Harness Can't Ride Anything – (October 10, 2006)

Madness

Madness is an English pop/ska band from Camden Town, London, that formed in 1976. As of 2008, the band has continued to perform with their most recognised lineup of seven members, although their lineup has varied slightly over the years. They were one of the most prominent bands of the late 1970's 2 Tone ska revival.

Madness achieved most of their success in the 1980s. Both Madness and UB40 spent 214 weeks on the UK singles charts over the course of the decade, holding the record for most weeks spent by a group in the 1980s UK singles charts. However, Madness achieved this in a shorter time period (1980-1986)
Awards
The band's first notable musical award came in 1983 when they won an "Ivor Novello Award" for Best Song for the international hit "Our House". They received another "Ivor Novello Award" 17 years later for an "Outstanding Song Collection". In 2005, they were awarded the MOJO "Hall of Fame" Award, notably for being 'an artist's artist'. As of 2007, a campaign is taking place by fans of Madness for the band to be awarded a Brit award. Many fans and critics feel they have been overlooked over their past 30 years in the music industry.
Discography
* 1979: One Step Beyond... (UK #2)
* 1980: Absolutely (UK #2)
* 1981: 7 (UK #5)
* 1982: The Rise & Fall (UK #10)
* 1984: Keep Moving (UK #6)
* 1985: Mad Not Mad (UK #16)
* 1999: Wonderful (UK #17)
* 2005: The Dangermen Sessions Vol. 1 (UK #11)
* 2009: The Liberty of Norton Folgate

Madcon

Madcon is made up of Tshawe Baqwa and Yosef Wolde Mariam. The band originates from Norway, but they have long since been exported all over the world. Their biggest hit Beggin' has been a and they are currently releasing their album and second single in Europe and the US.

Madcon is a multi platinum award winning hip hop group. 2008 brought the smash hit Beggin' that earned the group several #1 chart positions in Europe (including France, Portugal, Norway, Russia and many more), and an overall #2 position on the European Billboard Hot 100 chart. Madcon has won a World Music Award, sold millions of singles and compilations, and have performed and toured all over Europe. In 2009 the adventure continues with album releases all over Europe, and their debut release in the US and Australia. Madcon was founded by Tshawe Baqwa & Yosef Wolde-Mariam in 1992.
Studio albums
* It's All A Madcon
* So Dark the Con of Man
* InCONvenient Truth
Singles
* Doo-Wop
* Infidelity
* Beggin
* Back On The Road
* Dandelion
* Liar

Mad Season

Mad Season was an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1994 by members of three popular Seattle based bands: Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Screaming Trees. Mad Season only released one album, Above, and is best known for the single "River of Deceit".

The band went on a semi-permanent hiatus in 1996 due to the band members' conflicting schedules and vocalist Layne Staley's problems with substance abuse. Attempts were made in the late 1990s to revive the group without Staley, however the band dissolved following the death of bassist John Baker Saunders in 1999. During the production of Pearl Jam's Vitalogy, guitarist Mike McCready went into rehab in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he met bassist John Baker Saunders. In 1994, when the two returned to Seattle, Washington, they formed a side band with drummer Barrett Martin. McCready had played in such bands as Pearl Jam and Temple of the Dog, Martin with Skin Yard and the Screaming Trees and Saunders with blues talents such as Little Pat Rushing, Hubert Sumlin, Sammy Fender, and The Lamont Cranston Band. Immediately the trio set up rehearsal time together and wrote the music for two songs that would later become Mad Season's "Wake Up" and "River of Deceit" (RiverofDeceit.OGG sample, both of which would later appear on the band's album Above. McCready then brought in friend and Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley to round out the line-up.
Band members
* Barrett Martin - drums
* Mike McCready - guitar
* John Baker Saunders - bass
* Layne Staley - vocals, guitar (1994–1997)
Additional personnel
* Mark Lanegan - vocals
* Skerik - saxophone, percussion (1994–1995)

Macy Gray

Macy Gray (born Natalie Renee McIntyre on September 6, 1967 also credited as Natalie Hinds in her music) is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis

To date, Gray has released four studio albums, one compilation album, and one live album—with her fourth studio album, Big, released in March 2007 & has received five Grammy Award nominations, winning one. She has appeared in a number of films including Training Day, Spider-Man, and Idlewild. Gray is best known for her international hit single "I Try", taken from her multi-platinum debut album On How Life Is. In late 2008, Gray took on a new alias "Nemesis Jaxson", and has plans to release her fifth studio album in 2009.
Personal life
Gray was married from 1996 to 1998 to Tracy Hinds, with whom she had three children: Aanisah (in January 1994), Tahmel (in December 1995), Cassius (nicknamed "Happy") (in 1997).[69] She opened up a music academy called The Macy Gray Music Academy in 2005 and it was the scene for an episode of MTV's Punk'd because of "black mold in the building". Gray has been highly praised for her work with the academy and has given underprivileged children and teenagers the chance to perform. Gray has two tattoos one on her right wrist with all her children's names and the other on her leg that has a rose and says "Daddy". She was an early supporter of a Barack Obama presidential campaign, almost two years before his official announcement, she wore a shirt saying "Barack Obama for President" during the Hurricane Katrina fundraisers. Macy is the oldest of her three younger siblings; Nathan McIntyre, Nehlia Grey, and Chanese Taylor ( the youngest ).
Studio albums
* 1999: On How Life Is
* 2001: The Id
* 2003: The Trouble with Being Myself
* 2007: Big
* 2009: The Gray Life
Films
* Training Day - Sandman's Wife
* Spider-Man - Herself
* Scary Movie 3 - Herself
* Gang of Roses - Assassin
* Lackawanna Blues - Pauline
* Around the World in 80 Days - Sleepy Frenchwoman
* Lightning in a Bottle - Herself
* The Crow: Wicked Prayer - Carman
* Shadowboxer - Neisha
* Domino - Lashandra Davis
* Idlewild - Taffy

M.I.A.

M.I.A. was a 1980s punk rock band from Orange County, California. The band's sound was generally hardc... and thrasher, though they produced more melodic and progressive sounds in their later albums. Allmusic called the band "one of the 50 best So-Cal punk bands of the great early-'80s second wave explosion."

The band had its origins in Las Vegas, where singer Mike Conley, drummer Chris Moon and guitarist Nick Adams were in a band called The Swell. After the break-up of The Swell in 1981, the three moved to Orange County and formed MIA. In 1984 they signed a deal with the cult Alternative Tentacles label, after the label's founder, Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra, saw them play at a secret illegal punk nightclub in Las Vegas. Biafra was impressed by Mike Conley's distinctive voice, saying "The minute you hear a song with him singing you know it's him." In 1984 M.I.A. released the album Murder in a Foreign Place on Alternative Tentacles, followed in 1985 by Notes From the Underground on National Trust Records, and in 1987 by After the Fact on Flipside Records. The band split up in 1988. In 2001, Alternative Tentacles released Lost Boys, a 37-song retrospective of the band's work, including Last Rites, Murder in a Foreign Place, and several additional tracks.
Death of Mike Conley
On February 28, 2008 vocalist Mike Conley was found dead in a Chicago hotel parking lot. Conley was taken to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park, where he was pronounced dead at 6:25 a.m. On April 27, 2008, there was a secret warm up show at Detroit Bar featuring Todd Sampson of Self Abuse and Samson's Army on vocals, Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys on guest vocals, Chris Moon and Larry Pearson on drums, Nick Adams on guitar, and Bob Thomson on bass. On April 28, 2008, the "Beautiful Noise" benefit show took place at the Anaheim House of Blues with Jigsaw, Naked Soul, Cadillac Tramps, Social Distortion and MIA with the same lineup as the previous night, but adding Kevin Seconds of 7 Seconds on guest vocals. The proceeds of "Beautiful Noise" went to Mike Conley's family.
Discography
* Last Rites for Genocide / MIA (split LP, 1982, BOMP/Invasion Records)
* Murder in a Foreign Place (LP, 1984, Alternative Tentacles)
* Notes From the Underground (LP, 1985, National Trust Records)
* After the Fact (LP, 1987, Flipside Records)
* Lost Boys (CD, 2001, Alternative Tentacles)

M. Ward

Matt Ward, known by his stage name M. Ward, is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to prominence in the Portland, Oregon music scene. In the summer of 2006, Ward relocated to New Hampshire and in the fall of 2007 subsequently returned to Portland.

Regarding the types of music he grew up listening to, Ward said: "My dad turned me onto Johnny Cash. He was always into gospel and country," Ward said. "My mom listened to classical music."
Albums
* Duet for Guitars #2 (1999)
* End of Amnesia (2001)
* Live Music & The Voice of Strangers (2001)
* Transfiguration of Vincent (2003)
* Transistor Radio (2005)
* Post-War (2006)
* Hold Time (2009)
EPs
* Scene from #12 (I Ain't Sleeping) (2002)
* To Go Home (2007)
Compilation tracks
* "John King's Watercolor Bicycle" on Acuarela Songs 1 (2001, Acuarela)
* "Fearless" on Merge Records Presents: Survive and Advance Vol. 3 (2003, Merge)
* "Story of an Artist" (Daniel Johnston) on The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered (2004, Gammon)
* "One More Goodbye" on Old Enough 2 Know Better: 15 Years of Merge Records (2004, Merge)
* "Let My Love Open the Door" (Pete Townshend) on Sweetheart 2005: Love Songs (2005, Hear)
* "Green River" (Creedence Clearwater Revival) on Green River: Benefit For Mercy Corps (2005, Merge)
* "Bean Vine Blues #2" (John Fahey) on I Am the Resurrection: A Tribute to John Fahey (2006, Vanguard)
* "What is a Soul?" on Big Change: Songs for FINCA (2007, IODA)
* "Let's Dance" on Sounds Eclectic: The Covers Project (2007, Hear)
* "Crooked Lines" on The Hottest State (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2007, Sony/ATV)
Other appearances
* The Band of Blacky Ranchette – Still Lookin' Good to Me (2003, Thrill Jockey)
* My Morning Jacket – Z - "Into The Woods" (2005, ATO)
* Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins – Rabbit Fur Coat (2006, Team Love)
* Bright Eyes – Four Winds (2007, Saddle Creek)
* Bright Eyes – Cassadaga (2007, Saddle Creek)
* She & Him – Volume One (2008, Merge)
* Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue (2008, Reprise)
* Eli Stone – season one, episode two
* The Go-Getter
* Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo

M People

M People are a British house music act from Manchester formed in 1990 which achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.

Pickering had been a member of Factory Records dance act Quando Quango, but became more noted as one of the original DJs at The Haçienda. Paul Heard was a member of acid jazz band, Ace of Clubs and Shovell had previously been in the collective Natural Life. The original plan had been to have a roster of different singers for different songs but having been spotted by Pickering and Heard, Heather Small became the distinctive vocalist of the group. She had been in the British soul band Hot House, who had released a number of critically acclaimed records without scoring any major success. Their first release came in the form of "Colour My Life", a limited white label pressing which got them some recognition, but it was the first official single "How Can I Love You More?" that gave them their first Top 30 hit and a following in and around the Manchester club scene, where Pickering was still DJ-ing. Their first album, Northern Soul, provided other singles, including a full release of "Colour My Life", "Someday" and "Excited", followed by a re-release and repackaging of the album.
Band members
* Heather Small - vocals (born 20 January 1965, London)
* Mike Pickering - keyboards/programming (born 1954, Manchester)
* Paul Heard - keyboards/programming (born 1960)
* Shovell - percussion (born Andrew Lovell, 11 February 1969, Jamaica)
Albums
* 1992 - Northern Soul
* 1994 - Elegant Slumming
* 1995 - Bizarre Fruit
* 1995 - Northern Soul (re-issue)
* 1995 - Bizarre Fruit II
* 1997 - Fresco
* 1998 - The Best of M People
* 1999 - Testify
* 2005 - Ultimate Collection (remixes)

M83

M83 is an electronic music group consisting of Anthony Gonzalez (and formerly Nicolas Fromageau), & was formed in Antibes, France in 2001. The musical style owes something to the shoegazing genre in its extensive use of reverb effects and lyrics spoken softly over loud instrumentals, though M83's songs employ considerably less guitar than most shoegazing bands.

For the third album released by M83, Before the Dawn Heals Us, Gonzalez decided to part from Fromageau (after an emotionally distressing tour for Dead Cities, involving members of the rock band Eon Megahertz) and record mainly on his own, with the help of a few other musicians.
Songs and album history. M83 produced the remix of the track "Pioneers" on British group Bloc Party's 2005 album Silent Alarm Remixed. They have also remixed Placebo's "Protège-Moi", Goldfrapp's "Black Cherry", Depeche Mode's "Suffer Well" and Bumblebeez 81's "Vila Attack". Similarly, M83's songs have been remixed by Gooom labelmates Montag and Cyann & Ben. In 2005, M83 also reissued their 2001 self-titled album. This was made available in the United States, unlike the 2001 release. In 2006, after the Before the Dawn Heals Us US tour, Anthony Gonzalez continued to explore a musical direction already heard on earlier M83 tracks and began writing and recording a collection of ambient works. The album was recorded primarily at his home studio with the assistance of Antoine Gaillet. The resulting project is called Digital Shades Volume 1 and was released on September 3, 2007. It is intended to be part of an ongoing series of ambient works. Saturdays = Youth, M83's fifth studio album was released on April 15, 2008 on Mute Records. It was recorded with Ken Thomas (known for his work with Sigur Rós, The Sugarcubes, Boys in a Band, Cocteau Twins and Suede), Ewan Pearson (who has also produced for Tracey Thorn, The Rapture and Ladytron) and Morgan Kibby (of The Romanovs) The album is said to deliver the rich sonic textures for which M83 is well known, but with a more focused approach to song structure and form. "Couleurs" was the first single from the new album, released to digital retailers on February 25, 2008. The album's second single, "Graveyard Girl," was released to digital retailers on April 8, 2008 and comes with an exclusive remix from Yuksek. In 2008, they supported Kings of Leon on their UK tour. In 2009, they will tour with The Killers and play the V Festival tour around Australia.
Albums
* M83 (2001)
* Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts (2003)
* Before the Dawn Heals Us (2005)
* Digital Shades Volume 1 (2007)
* Saturdays = Youth (2008)
Singles
* "Slowly / Sitting" (2002)
* "Run into Flowers" (2003)
* "0078h" (2003)
* "America" (2004)
* "A Guitar and a Heart / Safe" (2004)
* "Don't Save Us from the Flames" (2005)
* "Teen Angst" (2005)
* "Couleurs" (2008)
* "Graveyard Girl" (2008)
* "Kim & Jessie" (2008)
* "We Own the Sky" (2008)
Remixes
* Steve & Rob - "Wallis & Futuna (M83 Remix)" (2000)
* Kids Indestructible - "Trans-Pennine Express (Remixed by M83)" (2003)
* Goldfrapp - "Black Cherry (M83 Remix)" (2004)
* Abstrackt Keal Agram - "Jason Lytle (M83 Version)" (2004)
* Placebo - "Protège Moi (M83 Remix)" (2004)
* Bumblebeez 81 - "Vila Attack (Remixed By M83)" (2004)
* Bloc Party - "The Pioneers (M83 Remix)" (2005)
* Telex - "How Do You Dance (M83 Remix)" (2006)
* Depeche Mode - "Suffer Well (M83 Remix)" (2006)
* Fortune - "Mission (M83 Remix)" (2007)
* Midnight Juggernauts - "Shadows (M83 Remix)" (2008)
* Maps - "To The Sky (M83 Remix)" (2008)
* Van She - "Kelly (M83 Remix)" (2008)
M83 music on films and TV
* "In Church [Cyann & Ben Version]" from Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, in Stranger Than Fiction, during an emotional scene between Harold (Will) and Ana (Maggie Gyllenhaal) later in the movie.
* "Teen Angst" in the trailer for A Scanner Darkly.
* "Unrecorded" on series 3, episode 2; and series 4, and episode 5 of Top Gear; "Cyborg" on series 3, episode 5. "Moonchild" on series 6, episode 6; series 7, episode 3; and series 7, episode 7. "A Guitar and A Heart" on the first episode of the series 11, shortly after the Ferrari runs out of petrol during the fuel economy tip sequence. "Moonchild", 'the McLaren vs Boat race', during sweeping shots of Jeremy Clarkson crossing the Oresund Bridge in a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. "*" from Before the Dawn Heals Us on (S11E03), during Clarksons review of the Bentley Brooklands Coupe; "Lower Your Eyelids to Die With the Sun" during several shots from the Vietnam Special (S12E08).
* "Unrecorded" from Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts in the trailer for the international release of the Russian movie Night Watch
* "We Own the Sky" from Saturdays=Youth and "Moonchild" from Before the Dawn Heals Us in the movie "That's It, That's All" starring snowboarder Travis Rice.
* "Lower Your Eyelids and Die with the Sun" from the album Before the Dawn Heals Us was used for the credits on Britney Spears' 2008 documentary, Britney: For the Record.
* "Lower Your Eyelids and Die with the Sun" was used as the opening song for the skateboarding video Fully Flared made by Lakai.
* "Graveyard Girl" from Saturdays = Youth was used in a commercial for the British teen drama Skins.
* The song entitled 'Gone' was used in the trailer for British drama trilogy Red Riding,
* On Britney Spears official MTV Documentary M83's song "Lower Your Eyelids and Die with the Sun" was used towards the end of the programme.

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American Southern rock band. The band became prominent in the Southern United States in 1973, and rose to worldwide recognition before several members, including lead vocalist and primary songwriter Ronnie Van Zant,

Died in an airplane crash in 1977. The band reformed in 1987 for a reunion tour with Ronnie's younger brother, Johnny Van Zant as the frontman, and continues to record music today. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006. In the summer of 1964, teenage friends Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, and Gary Rossington, formed the band "The Noble Five", which then changed in 1965 to "My Backyard", when Larry Junstrom and Bob Burns joined in Jacksonville, Florida. Their early influences included British Invasion bands such as Free, The Yardbirds, the Rolling Stones, and The Beatles, as well as Southern blues and country & western music. In 1968, the group won a local Battle of the Bands contest and the opening slot on several Southeast shows for the California-based psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock.
Studio albums
* 1974 - Second Helping
* 1975 - Nuthin' Fancy
* 1976 - Gimme Back My Bullets
* 1977 - Street Survivors
* 1991 - Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991
* 1993 - The Last Rebel
* 1997 - Twenty
* 1999 - Edge of Forever
* 2000 - Christmas Time Again
* 2003 - Vicious Cycle

Lykke Li

Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson (born March 18, 1986), better known by her stage name Lykke Li, is a Swedish indie rock singer. Li was born in Ystad, Skåne, in Sweden, in 1986 and was raised by artistic parents; her mother was a painter, her father is a musician.

The family moved to Stockholm when Li was a toddler and later moved to a mountaintop in Portugal when Li was six, where they lived for five years; the family also spent time in Lisbon and Morocco and spent winters in Nepal and India. She moved to New York for three months when she was 19. She returned when she was 21 to record her album. Contrary to what many believe she has been a backup dancer only once. When not touring, she resides in the Södermalm district of Stockholm. She released her first album, Youth Novels on LL Recordings in the Nordic region on February 4, 2008 and it received a wider European release in June, 2008. The album was produced by Björn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John and Lasse Mårtén. It was released in the United States on 6 May 2008. The album was released in the Republic of Ireland on June 6, 2008 and June 9 in the UK.
She had some success with the EP "Little Bit" in 2007. Stereogum named her an artist to watch in October 2007 and described her music as a mix of soul, electro and "powdered-sugar pop". She also appeared on Swedish musician Kleerup's self titled album, contributing vocals to the track "Until We Bleed".
Albums
* Youth Novels (2008) Sweden #3, Republic of Ireland #66, UK #112, #18 US Heatseekers, #7 Aus Hitseekers
B-sides
* "I Don't Mind (Jump On It)" - 4:13 included on the Swedish and UK 2-track single of "I'm Good, I'm Gone"
* "After Laughter" - 3:41 included on the UK digital single of "Little Bit"
* "Until We Bleed" - Kleerup feat. Lykke Li - 4:29 included on the Swedish 2-track single of "Tonight"
Guest appearances
* "Until We Bleed" - 4:24 - Kleerup featuring Lykke Li (Kleerup, 2008)
* "Gifted" - N.A.S.A. featuring Kanye West, Santogold and Lykke Li (The Spirit of Apollo, 2009)
* "A Little Bit (Remix)" - Drake & Lykke Li (So Far Gone, 2009)
* "Miss It So Much" - 5:01 - Royksopp featuring Lykke Li
* "Knocked Up (Remix)- 5:36 - Kings of Leon featuring Lykke Li
* "Were You Ever Wanted" - 5:38 - Royksopp featuring Lykke Li (only in Japan)
Covers
* "Knocked Up" - 5:35 Originally by and Featuring Kings of Leon
* "Hustlin'" - 3:48 Originally by Rick Ross
* "Can I Kick It?" - Originally by A Tribe Called Quest (Regular live cover and Performed with Q-Tip at MTVu Awards)
Nominations
* Best International Female - 2009 Meteor Ireland Music Awards
Studio8 International Music Awards
* Female Voice Artist of February 2009

Lush

Lush were an English shoegazing band, formed in 1988 and disbanded in 1996. The original band members were Steve Rippon, Emma Anderson, Meriel Barham, Chris Acland and Miki Berenyi.

Barham left almost immediately, eventually joining fellow 4AD label mates, Pale Saints. In 1989 the band signed to 4AD Records and released Scar, a 6-track mini-album. Critical praise for Scar and a wildly popular live show established Lush as one of the most written about groups of the early 1990s U.K. indie scene. Not long after, the British music press tagged them with the title of 'shoegazers', a label that has developed into a whole genre of its own, i.e. 'shoegazing' (sometimes referred to as 'The Scene That Celebrates Itself'). The following year, the EP Mad Love, produced by Robin Guthrie, and single "Sweetness and Light" (produced by Tim Friese-Greene) were released. All three releases were eventually combined into the Gala album which was produced mainly for the US and Japanese markets.
Studio albums
* 1992 - Spooky
* 1994 - Split
* 1996 - Lovelife
Compilations
* 1990 - Gala
* 1994 - Cookie
* 1997 - Topolino
* 2001 - Ciao! The Best of Lush
Singles and EPs
* 1989 - Scar EP
* 1990 - Mad Love EP
* 1990 - Sweetness and Light
* 1991 - De-Luxe
* 1991 - Nothing Natural
* 1992 - For Love EP
* 1992 - Superblast
* 1992 - Nothing Natural
* 1994 - Hypocrite
* 1994 - Desire Lines
* 1996 - Single Girl
* 1996 - Ladykillers
* 1996 - 500 (Shake Baby Shake)

Luke Haines

Luke Haines (born 7 October 1967) is an English musician, songwriter and author, who has recorded music under various names and with various bands, including The Auteurs and Black Box Recorder.

Haines formed numerous bands when he was at school. At college he joined The Servants who recorded two commercially unsuccessful albums. It was only when Haines formed The Auteurs with his girlfriend Alice Readman and Glenn Collins in 1990 that he began to achieve some success. Regular gigging in the London area and an NME sponsored gig brought them to the attention of Hut Records. They released their first single, "Showgirl" in 1992, and their debut album New Wave a month later. Haines was later to claim that this was the album that started Britpop, though he later showed disdain towards the movement, stating in a 2003 interview that Britpop consisted of "a bunch of bands who weren't good enough to exist in their own right, like music's equivalent of the Bloomsbury Group." Certainly it was ahead of its time in turning back from the acid house then popular to more traditional songwriting in the vein of The Kinks or The Small Faces. It is arguable that more commercially successful bands (such as Suede) owed much to Haines' vision. In any case, the album sold 12,000 copies only but was nominated for a Mercury Prize. The band toured the UK and the USA, gaining generally good reviews: however it is the opinion of the NME that the band were better in the studio than live.
Black Box Recorder reformation. In December 2007, Black Box Recorder teamed up with Art Brut to create the single Christmas Number One under the collaborative title of The Black Arts. In October 2008 Black Box Recorder appeared at the Nick Sanderson (Earl Brutus) tribute concert. It was subsequently announced on Luke Haines' web site that the band would play their first headlining gig for five years at The Luminaire, Kilburn, London in February 2009.
As an author
Haines' memoir Bad Vibes: Britpop and My Part in Its Downfall was published on 1 January 2009 by William Heinemann Ltd. The book covers Haines' experiences during the Britpop era 1991 to 1997.
Studio Albums
* New Wave, 1993 (The Auteurs)
* Now I'm a Cowboy, 1994 (The Auteurs)
* After Murder Park, 1996 (The Auteurs)
* Baader Meinhof, 1996 (Baader Meinhof)
* England Made Me, 1999 (Black Box Recorder)
* How I Learned to Love the Bootboys, 1999 (The Auteurs)
* The Facts of Life, 2000 (Black Box Recorder)
* Christie Malry's Own Double Entry OST, 2001 (Luke Haines)
* The Oliver Twist Manifesto, 2001 (Luke Haines)
* The Worst of Black Box Recorder, 2001 (Black Box Recorder)
* Passionoia, 2003 (Black Box Recorder)
* Das Capital, 2003 (Luke Haines)
* Luke Haines is Dead, 2005 (Luke Haines)
* Off My Rocker at the Art School Bop, 2006 (Luke Haines)
Singles/EPs
* Showgirl, 1992 (The Auteurs)
* How Could I Be Wrong, 1993 (The Auteurs)
* Housebreaker, 1993 (The Auteurs)
* New French Girlfriend, 1993 (The Auteurs)
* Lenny Valentino, 1993 (The Auteurs)
* Chinese Bakery, 1994 (The Auteurs)
* The Auteurs vs Mu-Ziq EP (remixes), 1994 (The Auteurs/Mu-Ziq)
* Back With the Killer EP, 1995 (The Auteurs)
* Kid's Issue, 1996 (The Auteurs)
* Light Aircraft on Fire, 1996 (The Auteurs)
* Child Psychology, 1998 (Black Box Recorder)
* England Made Me, 1998 (Black Box Recorder)
* The Rubettes, 1999 (The Auteurs)
* The Facts of Life, 2000 (Black Box Recorder)
* The Art of Driving, 2000 (Black Box Recorder)
* These Are the Things, 2003 (Black Box Recorder)
* The School Song, 2003 (Black Box Recorder)
* Off My Rocker at the Art School Bop, 2006 (Luke Haines)
* Christmas Number One, 2007 (The Black Arts - collaboration between Black Box Recorder and Art Brut)
* Leeds United EP, 2007 (Luke Haines)

Lucky Soul

Lucky Soul are a British six-piece indie pop band based in South East London. Formed in 2005, the band consists of Ali Howard on vocals, Andrew Laidlaw and Ivor Sims on guitars, Malcolm Young on keyboards, Russell Grooms on bass and Paul Atkins on drums.

Their debut single My Brittle Heart / Give Me Love, released in March 2006, was made 'single of week' by the Guardian newspaper and described as featuring "melodies as colossal, memorable and irresistible as a stampede of elephants bearing down on your tent". In June of that year they released another single, Lips are Unhappy. This was followed by an EP entitled Ain't Never Been Cool, in early 2007. Ain't Never Been Cool achieved fame by being featured in BBC Radio 1 DJ Colin Murray's top 20 tracks of the year. A further single, Add Your Light to Mine, Baby, was released on 26 March 2007 as a digital download, CD and limited edition, hand-numbered vinyl, followed by One Kiss Don't Make a Summer in late August. The band have performed numerous live dates in the UK and overseas. On June 20, 2007, they were one of the first acts to perform at The O2, as part of Greenwich Council's soft launch event and supported Bryan Ferry on his Dylanesque tour that same year. They have since toured in Spain, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Japan, USA and most recently Russia, where they performed at the Kinotavr Film Festival in Sochi.
The Great Unwanted
The band's debut album, The Great Unwanted. was released on 9 April 2007. Produced by George Shilling, it had a five star review in the Independent on Sunday, a five star review in Metro and The Independent on Sunday, four stars from both The Guardian and The Times and a further four star review in Uncut magazine. The album cover photos were taken by Libi Pedder at the Commercial Tavern, London E1.
Discography
* My Brittle Heart - Give Me Love
* Lips are Unhappy
* Ain't Never Been Cool
* Add Your Light To Mine, Baby
* One Kiss Don't Make A Summer
* Lips Are Unhappy - Lonely This Christmas

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