Blur to perform at Brit Awards

Blur will receive an Outstanding Contribution to Music award at this year's Brit Awards. Previous winners of this category are Paul McCartney, U2, Oasis, Queen, Van Morrison, and Fleetwood Mac, so Blur will be in fancy company. However, they will also perform on the ceremony.

Speaking to British station XFM, bass player Alex James revealed:

"I saw the guys this week, we had a Christmas cuppa, we're going to play, which is brilliant, it's like putting the Blues Brothers back together."

Blur last performed in 2009 at Glastonbury festival and at London's Hyde Park. Maybe they will perform more than once this year, too, but things are uncertain so far. James stated:

"Well, let's hope. I wish I could tell you more. I'm sure it will happen one day but I don't know when. It's quite nice to keep it special."

Are you excited about Blur getting together again? What songs do you think they'll play? Below you can watch some performances of them performing at Glastonbury in 2009 to remind how awesome these guys are.

Song of the day: GoodBye Lenin - "Teenage Crush"

Awesome song from one Slovakian band. These guys are basically unknown even here in Slovakia and that is kind of shame.

Cancer Bats to release new record

Cancer Bats have announced that they will release new record entitled Dead Set On Living in April via Hassle Records. It will be these hardcore rockers' fourth album. The band also posted one-minute long video teaser, wich doesn't really reveal a lot though. However, it features some cool footage of Cancer Bats' recording proces. You can watch it here on vimeo.

Best Albums of 2011: The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?

The Vaccines are one of the latest UK sensations. Their debut LP What Did You Expect From The Vaccines has kind of good title. Because really, what did you expect from The Vaccines?

Well, they are another british band sounding very similar to many bands (Ramones, Interpol, Pixies, Joy Division, etc). However, is it really bad to sound like other bands? I mean, they basically took all the good stuff from these bands a made from it their sound. And I like their sound even though it is not quite unique.

The Vaccines remind you many bands you love, but I have to admit these guys' music has more guts than any other band. First song "Ra Ra Ra" is just so cool even though it may remind you The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop". Other songs such as "If You Wanna", "Wetsuit" or "Post-breakup Sex" may feel kind of "borrowed", but they're still awesome and I still enjoy listening to them.

We'll have to see what these guys bring us next, but this record is more than enjoyable to listen. I still like coming back to it.

Best Albums of 2011: Cults - Cults

Cults is a indie band from New York and their self-titled album is just their debut. However, they sound like experienced band. This duo knows how to get attention and they kick it off right at the beginning of the album. Their catchy and simple melodies of first two songs "Abducted" and "Go Outside" just have to get attention of any listener.

Spirit of these two songs is present in every song of the record. Many tracks are just so addictive and you have to listen to them over and over again. Charismatic voice of lead singer Madeline Follin gets probably everybody.

I think we will yet hear about this band much more and I can't wait until their sophomore album is out.

The Beach Boys reunion

American band The Beach Boys is planning to reunite for their 50th anniversary. Members of this band - Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston anf David Marks, are set to release new studio album and go on world tour. There are no official dates, however, they will be headlining New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which will start on April 27, 2012.

We have already Black Sabbath reuniting in 2012, now we have also The Beach Boys. Which reunion are excited more about? I think I'll go with Black Sabbath even though I'm worried about Ozzy's voice...

Best Albums of 2011 - White Lies - Ritual

Ritual is only White Lies' second album, but they have already become quite successful during this short period of time. These british dark indie rockers released their great debut To Lose My Life in 2009. Since then they've played on every major European festival and I gotta say they deserve it.

After release of Ritual in January 2011, people didn't get excited as much as with their debut though. Mainly reason for this is probably the fact that they didn't really bring anything new to the table. However, I consider their loyalty to their sound the key reason to their previous success. So why change it? I think that it is good they keep doing their thing only with minor changes in their sound (guitars are more quiet and keyboards are louder) because their dark style is quite unique.

Only disadvantage of Ritual is lack of real single. To Lose My Life has several singles and they proved their potential in charts ("Death", "To Lose My Life", "Farewell to the Fairground", and "Unfinished Business"). "Bigger Than Us" is probably the only real single from Ritual.

Despite that, their sophomore record has consistent sound that just can't betray you in any way.

Song of the day: Ozzy Osbourne - "Dreamer"

Awesome song from a legend.

Side project of Trent Reznor will finally release LP

Trent Reznor's side project How To Destroy Angels will finally release full-length album. It should be out  in early 2012.

Reznor formed this band with his wife Mariqueen Maandig and his writing partner Atticus Ross. They previously released EP.

Reznor told Rolling Stone:

"[We are] finishing our full-length record, which has fully matured our sound into something that is very unique. I can’t wait for that record to come out, actually probably [in the] first quarter of next year. Really, why I stopped Nine Inch Nails as a live entity was because it started to feel like I've done it, I've done it, and I've done it again. I started to feel like I needed reinvention and I needed to force myself into that," he added. "

Hopefully, he won't forget about NIN entirely...

Best Albums of 2011: Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

I don't even know if I should mention why this record is one of the best ones of 2011. Basically, this was Foo Fighters' year. They released this record in the same year as legendary Nirvana's Nevermind was celebrating its 20th anniversary. Producer of this album was Butch Vig (producer of Nevermind) and Kirst Novoselich played bass guitar part in "I Should Have Known" - song dedicated to Kurt Cobain.

There is a lot of symbolisms regarding Nirvana and Nevermind. This record is so powerful. It was recorded using completely analogue equipment. So the sound is obviously raw and as rock and roll as it can be. I think that three guitars together never sounded so badass on any other record ever. Wasting Light has the power to blow your mind.

I think that this album doesn't feature bad song. Each song has its own atmosphere and is different. In case you haven't heard this album, you should really listen to it and give it a try because I think that it is probably the best album of this year...