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Digital Spy's music blog has the latest midweek chart updates plus news, videos and more.

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Music video round-up: Psy, Justin Bieber, Fall Out Boy

Sunday, April 21 2013, 09:00 BST
By , Music Reporter
We round up the latest music videos to premiere, so you're never out of the loop.

Psy: 'Gentleman'
All of those YouTube views have gone to Psy's head, as he makes it his business to be the opposite of a gentleman. What are those internet stars like, eh?


Whose album are you most excited for this year? Poll

Friday, April 19 2013, 15:36 BST
By , Music Editor
While 2013 has so far been the year of surprise comebacks - David Bowie, Justin Timberlake, Daft Punk - there are also plenty of albums scheduled for release this year that we're excited about.

The past few months have already thrown up some impressive efforts by newer acts, including Bastille's Bad Blood and Charli XCX's True Romance, but there are plenty more established artists and bands who have assured fans they will be putting out new releases this year.

Bastille's Dan Smith.

Bastille

Charli XCX press shot 2013

Charli XCX



But whose album are you most excited for? Vote in our poll below from the list of acts gearing up to release new albums in the coming months.

Poll closed due to suspicious voting

Record Store Day 2013: Digital Spy's top 10 picks

Tuesday, April 16 2013, 16:24 BST
By , Music Editor
Record Store Day logo
Now in its sixth year, Record Store Day has grown year-on-year in the UK as a time to celebrate what the organisers describe as "real, live, physical, indie record stores - not online retailers or corporate behemoths".

To mark the occasion, singers and bands who feel particularly passionate about the cause announce their own limited edition releases to support the event.

Ahead of this year's RSD on April 20, we've taken a look at the complete list of special releases and pulled out our ten favourites below.

  • Kate Bush will release an exclusive 10'' picture disc of the 2012 remix of 'Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)', which you may remember was used in the London 2012 Olympics closing ceremony.

  • Suede are putting out a limited edition 7'' vinyl of their recent singles 'Barriers'/'Animal Nitrate'.

  • Suede Record Store Day 2013 release

    Suede's special Record Store Day 2013 release.



  • The xx's Jamie xx will release 4,000 copies of a 12'' disc filled with edits of a selection of the band's music.

  • David Bowie will put out a collectible 7'' version of his recent singles 'The Stars (Are Out Tonight)'/ 'Where Are We Now', as well as re-issues of his 1973 single 'Drive-In Saturday' and '1965!' EP.

  • Remixes of Tegan and Sara's single 'Closer' will be available on a 12'' vinyl.

  • The Rolling Stones' 'Five by Five' EP is being released on a 7'' vinyl for the first time since 1964.

  • Moby and Mark Lanegan have collaborated on an exclusive track called 'The Lonely Night' to be released as a limited edition 7" vinyl. The track comes backed with a remix from Photek and is being released on Moby's own label Little Idiot.

  • Moby and Mark Lanegan collaborate for Record Store Day 2013

    Moby and Mark Lanegan collaborate for Record Store



  • Little Boots releases her brilliant 'Nocturnal Versions' EP on 12'' vinyl.

  • Paul Weller has recorded two new songs for the occasion, 'Flame Out!' and 'The Olde Original'.

  • A mini music festival is taking place on Berwick Street in London's Soho, featuring performances from Gabrielle Aplin, Frank Turner, Wire and Steve Mason. There will also be a screening of Last Shop Standing - about the rise, fall and rebirth of independent records shops - and a signing/Q&A with author Graham Jones.

    Are you buying anything for this year's Record Store Day? Leave your comments in the box below:
  • Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear

    Monday, April 15 2013, 11:29 BST
    By , Music Editor and Lewis Corner, Music Reporter
    Listen to ten of our favourite new tracks below, including songs by Daft Punk, Empire Of The Sun, Foxes and Cassie.

    Daft Punk: 'Get Lucky' (release date tbc)
    Hype can be a dangerous thing, but in the instance of Daft Punk's upcoming album, new song 'Get Lucky' more than delivers. Pharrell offers his ice-cool vocals to this effortlessly smooth funk number, which marks a very welcome return for the French electronic duo. LC



    Cassie: 'Rockabyebaby' mixtape (out now)
    Quite why Cassie's long-awaited mixtape - which features the likes of Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, Fabolous and Ester Dean - hasn't been released as a proper album is anyone's guess, but if it's anything to go by, the ever-delayed LP will be an absolute corker. Listen to the collection in full below. RC


    Music video round-up: Nicki Minaj, Bastille, Demi Lovato

    Sunday, April 14 2013, 09:00 BST
    By , Music Reporter
    We round up the latest music videos to premiere, so you're never out of the loop.

    Bastille: 'Laura Palmer'
    Since hitting number one on the UK album chart, Bastille's Dan Smith has become so in demand, people are actually kidnapping him while he is filming music videos.


    Avril Lavigne's 7 best singles of all time

    Thursday, April 11 2013, 12:41 BST
    By , Music Editor
    Avril Lavigne 'Here's To Never Growing Up' still

    © @AvrilLavigne



    As we're sure you're already aware, Avril Lavigne debuted her rather brilliant new single 'Here's To Never Growing Up' earlier this week.

    To celebrate (and keep us busy until it's available to download in the UK on June 9), we've counted down our seven favourite Avril singles of all time below.

    7. 'My Happy Ending' (2004)
    Avril's second album Under My Skin was a much darker affair than her debut, but 'My Happy Ending' struck a neat balance between its moody lyrics and big pop chorus. It was also one of the last times we saw her before pink became her go-to colour, though there's a brief flash of it in the music video.

    Best line: "It's nice to know we had it all/ Thanks for watching as I fall/ And letting me know we were done."


    Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear

    Monday, April 8 2013, 12:46 BST
    By , Music Editor and Lewis Corner, Music Reporter
    Listen to ten of our favourite new songs below, including tracks from Selena Gomez, Beady Eye, Fall Out Boy and Eve.

    Selena Gomez: 'Come & Get It' (UK release date tbc)
    After shaking off her Disney image in new film Spring Breakers, Selena is back with a new sound. Hypnotic Indian beats and synths, which get more addictive with each listen, set it apart from the average radio hit. Having been produced by Stargate, we're not surprised at all. LC


    Sunday chart predictions: Duke Dumont, Imagine Dragons, more

    Friday, April 5 2013, 14:47 BST
    By , Music Editor
    Duke Dumont ft. A*M*E 'Need U (100%)' artwork
    On Wednesday's update, Duke Dumont and A*M*E were on course to top the singles chart, while Imagine Dragons had stormed into the lead on the album tally.

    Ahead of Sunday's Official Chart, Digital Spy takes a look at Friday's midweeks.

  • Duke Dumont and A*M*E's single 'Need U (100%)' is still at number one, followed by Pink's 'Just Give Me A Reason' and PJ & Duncan's 'Let's Get Ready To Rhumble' at two and three respectively.

  • The Saturdays 'What About Us' US cover
  • The Saturdays are at five with 'What About Us', Michael BublĂ©'s 'It's A Beautiful Day' sits at number eight, and Bruno Mars completes the top ten with 'When I Was Your Man'.

  • Elsewhere, Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding climb two places to 20 with 'I Need Your Love', Chris Brown's 'Fine China' leaps from 39 to 30, and Iggy Azalea lands at 40 with 'Work'.

  • Tyler, The Creator 'Wolf'
  • On the album chart, Imagine Dragons hold at the top with Night Visions, while Bring Me The Horizon's Sempiternal slips from two to three.

  • Meanwhile, Rihanna is at ten with Unapologetic, Tyler, the Creator's Wolf falls from nine to 12, and Wiley's The Ascent slides from 21 to 24.


  • Next week's singles include the official release of Azalea's 'Work' and Nina Nesbitt's 'Stay Out' EP, while James Blake, Paramore, Angel and The Knife will be battling it out on the album chart.

    Who would you like to see at number one next week? Leave your comments in the box below:

    Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear

    Tuesday, April 2 2013, 10:59 BST
    By , Music Editor and Lewis Corner, Music Reporter
    Listen to our ten favourite songs this week, including Little Mix and Missy Elliot, Jonas Brothers, Texas and Chris Brown.

    Little Mix: 'How Ya Doin'?' ft. Missy Elliot (out May 5)
    It's common for acts to re-swizzle their single releases with an added rap, but when Little Mix confirmed that Missy Elliott would feature on their '90s-drenched hip-pop song 'How Ya Doin?', we were more than a bit excited. LC


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