Arctic Monkeys have just returned from recording their new album in America with producer James Ford. While there, they got up to some rather exciting things. Which prompted drummer Matt Helders to upload a video diary.

Arctic Monkeys, surely one of Britain’s greatest exports in recent times. Quintessentially British, specifically North of England-ish, they have managed to gain fans from all around the world. And rightly so.

P Diddy, formerly Puff Daddy, may belong to a different genre but he is, at heart, a genuine lover of music. Good music at least. Which is why he loves Arctic Monkeys. Don’t take my word for it, watch the video below.

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British music is probably the second most popular country-specific music in the world, with only those dastardly Americans beating us as usual. But being a mad British music fan who lives in the UK, I sometimes forget that other nations may see things slightly differently.

What I may see as British artists strengths could be seen as weaknesses in other countries. While a regional accent can help a band succeed in the UK, giving them an identity and a presence, it could go against them when they try and take their music abroad.

Is it possible that some bands are just too British to succeed outside of their homeland?

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Dizzee Rascal may be heading for his first number one single in the British charts as his new song, Dance Wiv Me, is sitting at the top of the midweek charts. The song is a collaboration with fellow Brit sensation Calvin Harris, and is the first release on Dizzee’s own Dirtee Stank record label.

Dizzee Rascal is a rarity in being not only a successful British rapper, but also an artist who seems to command respect from all different corners of the musical landscape. This has helped Dizzee have success beyond the demographic you would imagine him to.

He spoke to Radio 1 about the possibility of securing his first number one, saying:

“It feels good because it’s the first release on my own label and it’s looking like it’s going to the top. I hear Basshunter is on my tail but it doesn’t matter. I’ve not heard his tune anyway.”

Collaborations also play a big part in Dizzee’s career, already having done well featuring on Basement Jaxx’ single Lucky Star. Dance Wiv Me sees Rascal team up with new rave funster Calvin Harris, and Dizzee claims there are many more artists he’d like to work with.

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Some of the bloggers here on the b5 music channel decided to record our Soundtrack For A Day yesterday. This could take different forms, be it all the songs you listened to on that day, a selection from certain moments, or a particular album.

I decided to stick my media player on random and note down the first 50 songs it played, and here is the result.

As a full time blogger who works from home, music is very important to me as it can change the mood of my day. Pressing the random button is therefore a bit of a gamble but this time it didn’t let me down.

Notice the amount of British songs in the collection! That’s not engineered in any way, just proof that that is where my big love in music lies. There are also some brilliant American and Irish bands in there too, and of course, Abba…

Stereophonics - Mr Writer
The Feeling - Join With Us
Foo Fighters - Times Like These
Art Brut - Stand Down
The Killers - On Top
Coldplay - Spies
The Kooks - Got No Love
Radiohead - Videotape
The Hoosiers - Worried About Ray
Maximo Park - By The Monument
The Jam - All Around The World
Girls Aloud - Long Hot Summer
Snow Patrol - Gleaming Auction
Jimi Hendrix - House Burning Down
Therapy? - Knives
Tricky - Ponderosa
Lily Allen - Everything’s Just Wonderful
The Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Woman
Linkin Park - Nobody’s Listening
Rage Against The Machine - People Of The Sun
Nina Simone - Feeling Good
REM - It’s The End Of The World As We Know It
The Young Knives - Another Hollow Line
Paul Simon - The Boy In The Bubble
The Specials - Too Much Too Young

See the second half of my 50 song list after the cut…

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A few of us here on the b5 music channel have decided to get together and talk about our favourite gigs. I’ve been to far too many to list them all, so instead, I’ll focus on my experiences of the last year.

I have quite a broad taste in music, loving everything from Bjork and Joanna Newsome, through the Arctic Monkeys and Bloc Party, up to Megadeth and The Hives, so my gig history is kind of fragmented.

My first gig was the Stereophonics back in the day (when they were good, or at least better than they are at the moment), and that kind of set the tone for my experiences since then.

All I remember about that gig was not being able to hear anything afterwards, and wondering why. Now I’m used to it, and know that my hearing will be relatively back to normal the next day.

Since I’ve started writing Brit Music Scene, I’ve reviewed the gigs I’ve been to, except Megadeth earlier this year because I didn’t know how interested my readers would be.

For the record, it was mind-blowingly good. It was my first metal gig, and one I’ll never forget. From seeing the master, Dave Mustaine, have the crowd eating out of his hand, to getting drenched in sweat that came flying from the long haired goon standing in front of me every time he rocked out, it was an unforgettable night.

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The lead singer of The Enemy, Tom Clarke, has carried on his mission to garner publicity from slagging off other groups, and this time he has his eyes on Arctic Monkeys.

Not known for keeping his gob shut, and carrying on in the traditional role of shit slinger that we have come to know him as, Tom Clarke has ripped in to the Arctic Monkeys for being too successful at awards ceremonies.

The Arctic Monkeys have certainly been blessed in the awards department, having won too many to mention since they burst on to the scene a few years back. They recently won three NME Awards as well as a pair of Brit Awards for Best Group and Best Album.

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Alex Turner front man of the Arctic Monkeys has been friends with Miles Kane from The Rascals for a few years now, and its a friendship based on music, and the love of what they do best.

So it’s no surprise that the two have now teamed up for a new side project to their main bands.

The duo are calling themselves The Last Shadow Puppets, and have recorded an album together called The Age Of The Understatement.

The first single from that album, due out in the UK on April 21st, goes by the same name and is available to watch and listen to on their website from today.

Click here to see the new video!

The single precedes the album, being released on April 14th, and its certainly different than the Arctic Monkeys or The Rascals usual fare.

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9.31pm - The votes are in, and ITV have made loads of money, so we can go ahead and announce the winner of the Best British Single of the year now. Alan Carr is on stage pissed to present it.

Nominations - Mark Ronson - Valerie, The Hoosiers - Worried Abut Ray, Mika - Grace Kelly, Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love, Take That - Shine. And the winner is…

Take That… again. Shine isn’t my favourite song though, as Stardust is much better. Long acceptance speech again.

9.35pm - The Best British Album, presented by Vic Reeves, which is a weird choice seeing as he hasn’t been on TV for ages.

Nominations - Mika, Mark Ronson, Arctic Monkeys, Leona Lewis, Take That. And the winner is…

Arctic Monkeys! Brilliant. Vic Reeves and Sharon Osbourne fought over announcing it. Like a drunk auntie and uncle brawling at a wedding.

They again took the piss, this time out of the Brit school by making out they’d attended it, which is just hlarious. Sharon left her mic on and was heard asking “What have they come as?” Will someone get her off the TV… please?

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9.00pm - Leona Lewis performs Bleeding Love after a fawning eulogy from Ms Osbourne. She doesn’t put a step wrong, but there’s no excitement, just a purple dress.

9.05pm - Denise Van Outen and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber come on stage to present the award for Best International Group.

Nominations - Kings Of Leon, Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, White Stripes, The Eagles. And the winner is…

Foo Fighters! Who unsurprisingly can’t be there.

Dave Grohl is a top bloke though, so he’s forgiven.

9.08pm - James Nesbitt announces the winner of Best British female.

Nominations - Kate Nash, Bat For Lashes, PJ Harvey, Leona Lewis, KT Tunstall. And the winner is…

Kate Nash! Brilliant… very much deserved. A favourite here at Brit Music Scene.

She does the normal thanking thing, and gives a shout out to the Brit School people.

9.11pm - International Album, presented by ex-Eastenders star Michelle Ryan.

Nominations - Kylie, Arcade Fire, The Eagles, Foo Fighters, Kings Of Leon. And the winners is…

Foo Fighters! Again, the right choice, and Dave Grohl even manages to make a joke by taking the piss out of the Brits themselves. Nice.

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The day finally arrived, when all that effort that was shed in trying to secure tickets to see the Arctic Monkeys live came to fruition. Not my effort actually, but my girlfriend’s who got up early one morning a few months back so as to be first in the online queue.

We arrived in the middle of The Horrors set, who were the second support. This meant we missed The Rascals, who are mates of the Arctics, and by getting a support slot, are clearly getting a leg up in the cut-throat music industry. From what I have heard about The Rascals on this leg of the tour, they are very much from the same school as the Arctic Monkeys themselves, not too surprising seeing as the two main men, namely Miles Kane and Alex Turner, are best mates.

The Horrors seemed to go down okay tonight, and I didn’t see any of the missile throwing antics which have apparently blighted earlier shows.

This is the first time I’d been to this venue, and having seen bands at every other major venue in Manchester, and a good few in London too (and Nottingham and Leeds) I’m not too enamoured by it.

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