POP BITES OF A T4 MUSIC MAESTRO:

According to the sticker on the CD the wait is over - Leona Lewis's album is released next week. Phew!! The very same label is also releasing the new Alicia Keys album. Now you would have thought that the UK and US art departments would have fired off a quick email? You know, subject matter 'Cover Artwork: I’ll show you mine if you show me yours'?

Looks like this didn't happen.



Oh dear. Another thing they have in common is that they both contain one killer, decade-defining track - 'Bleeding Love' and 'No One'.


THE T4 MUSIC MAESTRO'S REVIEW

The most fun album about to hit the stores/your mp3 player is the new Girls Aloud offering 'Tangled Up' - again you would imagine the department that looks after such things at Polydor might have thought 'Funny title for an ensemble currently flogging hair conditioner'. Hair issues aside (and they currently have a few) it's a non-stop pop shop. Not a single duff track, cover or ballad in sight. 'I Can't Speak French' (oh so should have been on the Kylie album) and 'Control Of The Knife' might just be two songs of the year.

GIG OF THE YEAR

Rather than pondering this thought on December 31, I can quite confidently say it happened recently in a tiny tatty warehouse in North London - The Ting Tings, straight out of Salford. Each gig is an 'Art Happening'. More to follow on these soon. You really need to see this duo this year - before it all kicks off for them in 2008. If you are a bit posh you can see them play West Hollywood on November 9. If you're not you can see them in downtown Manchester on November 17.

By Nick Neads - T4's Head of Music

Watch exclusive performances from Leona Lewis, Westlife and Hard-Fi at T4

Watch Girls Aloud's new video on Musicbrigade