ThePensmith

Oh that is absolutely glorious! Chris Fox has worked his magic again. It really brings out the colour and fun of that video!

Calling all gift wrapped kitty cats - "Love Machine" is the next single to get the digital reissue treatment tomorrow:

Fantastic gig for the guys! I'll tune in with it online over the weekend because my last gig of the year is firmly Sophie Ellis-Bextor on 29th and I need a bit of a break from gig going after this year!

Tour finishes tonight in Sheffield. They were in London at The O2 on Thursday and last night - I was at the latter show and it was awesome again, it just gets better every time I see it. Also last night was their 20th time performing there! Think that must be a record surely? Olly Murs was a guest during DJLS on Thursday doing "Heart Skips A Beat" and Tinie Tempah came out last night for "Eyes Wide Shut":

Full digital single of The Show is out at midnight - and the official store is currently showing as "Temporarily unavailable". I think it's safe to say the Neighbours reissue era has begun!

Mollie is hosting a (rather brilliant) new podcast for BBC Sounds called "A Short History of Girlbands". The first four episodes are available now, which includes Spice Girls, TLC, Mis-Teeq and All Saints - Sugababes and Girls Aloud amongst others will follow on future episodes over the next few Mondays: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p0gjcd5...in=share-mobile

I think they'll probably follow the Steps model and reconvene every few years or so when it's time for a milestone anniversary. I went to the first Cardiff show on Monday and met them. Was really hoping they would be lovely and they were. Turns out Marvin knew who I was as well as he's read my blog! The Q&A session we had was good fun as well. And the show itself was awesome! They've never sounded better and it's their best tour to date for me. The DJLS section where Aston and Marvin DJed whilst JB and Oritsé hyped the crowd was brilliant. Aston also played "I'll Be There For You" in his set as a tribute to Matthew Perry which was a really sweet moment. I've got the first O2 show next Friday to look forward to now. There was no catwalk at Cardiff so I'm looking forward to seeing the show as fully intended! Also booked for Margate on the summer tour next year. Also in Manchester last night during the DJLS section, Fleur East and Max George (The Wanted) came out as special guests and sung "Sax" and "Glad You Came":

Rumours are that Marvin Humes has been signed up.

It is indeed the summer shows. Presale next Tuesday and on sale next Friday: @1717829861518020749 @1717830824324739181

They have announced the UK leg of a Greatest Hits Tour around theatres next April and May - on sale this Friday. They're also doing Europe and have sold out several dates in Italy already:

Did eventually get my repress after enough nagging. Jesu! In other news, they've announced the first six of their summer shows for next year:

Announcement coming on Friday...

Ooh I'm loving that cover artwork for this repack! Very good move especially to stagger the physical release to around the time of the tour as well.

Tour starts tonight in Dublin and it would appear there is no barrier as reported!

She's a guest on the latest episode of Giovanna Fletcher's podcast Happy Mum Happy Baby, just been listening to it. Lovely little chat this actually! Also turns out Gi listened to the "Scream If You Wanna Go Faster" album whilst doing her GCSE Art coursework! pdMJ2dJJK9c

Has anybody else still not had their replacement disc for the misprinted Guest Features Edition CD? I have had to chase the supplier that HMV provided me contact details for for weeks and I still haven't had it, and the window to get it closes next week. 😠

I mean in all fairness, it was highlighted quite clearly on the M&G packages when the tour went on sale in March, so it's not like it's some best kept secret. It's been there in plain sight all along. I should point out at this juncture that when Blue did their tour last year, their M&G protocol was reading the same but people had the proper M&G without any distancing or barrier in the end. Even if the same thing doesn't happen I'm still gonna enjoy my one in Cardiff. In the grand scheme of things, it's not that important. There are actual people caught up in real life death or situations across the world right now.

Just purely by chance I came across a - really quite spiteful - thought piece in The Independent today: https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/s-club-re...c-bleak-2679892 Apart from the fact it's mostly dragging up old wounds again, is woefully inaccurate and offering unhelpful comparisons to Sugababes (they're two totally different bands and don't need to be anything else)... why do people think digging the knife in like this is acceptable? Just makes me so cross 😠

I'm about eight chapters in now. It is painfully obvious to me that she has been schtumed by Simon Fuller's lawyers because I feel there is more she wants to say but hasn't been allowed to. And actually, she's not really the one to be angry with. It's Simon. I'll spoiler this next bit with my reasons as to why.

My signed copy just arrived. I'm equal parts excited and worried to start reading it!

I was about to say, suddenly it becomes apparent why the speed of this release was so rapid <_< And re: Natural, mercifully that is the only one with its correct single version on there. If that wasn't on there I really would riot.

It gets worse. The single versions of "You" and "Love Ain't Gonna Wait For You" aren't on here either. Seriously. Whoever signed off the masters on these needs sacking! I fortunately ordered mine off a Universal Music affiliated store (Recordstore.co.uk) so I have emailed them to outline the issue in detail and ask for it be escalated to the relevant higher powers. I realise this may not resolve it given the contempt Simon Fuller treats it with, but if you don't say anything how will they know?

Received mine yesterday and spinning it now. Regrettably, the album versions of "Two In A Million" and "You're My Number One" are incorrectly on here and not the far superior single versions as they should be which puts a bit of a dampener on this release for me :angry:

I agree, it seems a bit baffling that they're repacking this without updating it to include any singles from the five albums that have been since this greatest hits. My only guess is that because White Light and Jupiter Calling were both on EastWest rather than Atlantic Records (although both are under the Warner bracket, are they not?) that might explain why they're noticeable by their absence. Hopefully we get a comprehensive collection at some point (and the other albums on vinyl. Talk On Corners was initially down to come out on coloured vinyl for National Album Day next Friday along with Forgiven Not Forgotten. Maybe it still will be soon?)

One of three new tracks on the album is a cover of Fleetwood Mac's 1988 hit "Little Lies" in tribute to Christine McVie who passed away last year, and is out today as a single: