LCD Soundsystem: Retiring With Edge Fully In Tact

Week One: A Tearful Goodbye

LCD Soundsystem broke hipster hearts by bowing out on the grandest stage of all at Madison Square Garden. Keenly aware that millions of fans couldn’t get tickets, Murphy screened the entire three hour gig on Pitchfork TV and created a beautiful moment that saw thousands of fans exchanging memories on twitter. The gig itself was spellbinding and proved remarkable prescient as Ticketmaster among others set about making video screening the new norm.

The announcement was bizarre enough but Fulham fans where positively besumed when they saw Michael Jacskon looking down on them as they approached Craven Cottage. The backlash soon died down, as kids in particular enjoyed the statue.

Adele continued on the warpath, breaking Madonna’s female chart topping record and setting her sights on Bob Marley’s sales record. Jennifer Lopez refound her mojo on the singles chart with the week’s new number one “On The Floor”.

Bloc Party began a still ongoing saga by declaring they were back together and working on new materiel…or were they?

Bob Dylan shock fans and critics by announcing a tour of China and the far east, despite the potential censorship issue. While hardly surprising, it proved big news, as it happen in the same week that the artist Ai Weiwei, then displaying at the Tate Modern, was disgracefully arrested as a so called “dissident”.

Soundgarden: Back By Accident

Week Two: Reunion rumours and rationales

Soundgarden explained the reason behind their reformation (and it was a silly one). The poorly worded tweet that started rampant hype among fan and a bidding war among promoters almost a year ago, convinced the band that people still wanted to see them in more than just DVD and greatest hits form. Who says poor literacy is an evil?

Mani laughed of the idea of a Stone Roses reunion, John Spuire and Ian Brown playing together? You’ve got to be kidding me.

U2 became even more monolithic in April as they broke The Rolling Stones record for the highest grossing tour of all time, raking in £341 million with 20 concerts still yet to be played. Speaking of U2, Morrissey was announced as their support for their much-anticipated Glastonbury set.

Citigroup reassured music fans by confirming that EMI would remain a solitary business and not be broken up and sold.

Ray Davies got hopes up across the UK when he promised he’d agree to a Kinks reunion if Dave would.

No change in the charts this week as J-Lo and Adele fought off The Kills, Glasvegas, Katy B and Katy Perry.

Rihanna: Too Hot For The Daily Mail, But Not TV

Week Three: All Change At The Top

Foo Fighters disposed Adele at the top of the album chart with Wasting Light crushing her dreams of breaking Bob Marley’s 12 week top spot record, while in less inspiring news LMAO became the new singles chart leaders with the vapid “Party Rock Anthem”.

Odd Future found Earl! Arguably Odd Future’s most gifted rapper on a technical level Earl Sweatshirt was found in Samoa of all places.

Radiohead put a stop to rumours of a King Of Limbs squeal, forcing fans to accept what they already had, love it or leave it.

Independent Record Stores increased for the first time in decades even as mainstream stores vanished from the high street, cashing in on nostalgia trends and the lack of competition at street level.

Little Monsters were outrage by the uninspired and kitsch artwork for Lady Gaga’s new album Born This Way. It’s a shame as the alternate images were far more interesting.

Media Regulators thankfully dismissed the Daily Mails ludicrous complaints about the sexual dance routines of Christina Auguilera and Rihanna on the X Factor.

Bad Meets Evil: The Reunion Wheel Keeps On Turning

Week Four: Slow News Week

Adele took her crown back from Dave Grohl as April came to end, with 21 returning to the top spot, while LMAO fought off competition from Wretch 32 in the singles chart.

Girls Aloud planned to reunite for their tenth anniversary, a plan that was later scuppered by Nicola Roberts who broke out on her own with a critical acclaimed debut LP.

Eminem reunited with Royce Da 5’9. News which caused major waves in the US but was met with mild indifference in the UK.

Deaths In April

Notable Album Releases: