The Las Vegas indie rock prodigies have took centre stage with the release of their highly-anticipated second album “Sam’s Town”.

Since the formation of the synth rock band in 2002, you would certainly be well aware of “Hot Fuss”: the quad-platinum number 1 album (UK) in 2004. As well as topping the Irish and Australian album charts, they won the MTV Video Music Awards for Best New Artist; NME Music Magazine’s prestigious Best International Band; and were the Bestselling New Group presented by the World Music Awards in the year consequently.

The Vegas virtuosos are back: would you believe they could top “Hot Fuss”? The likes of “Smile like you mean it” and “Mr. Brightside”, to name but a few, were modern musical art.

Though only a short album, at 45 minutes long, you get more for your money. You are given quality over quantity, with the beats spreading like a disease to your uneasy jaw, forcing movement to the lyrics of their embracing anthems.

The hits “When You Were Young” and the latest release “Bones” will surely be familiar to you, with the same suave synth sound, but with so much more this time around. They have come back with an array of socially realistic situations, allowing you to relate to “real-life” issues. It’s not just music, it is life!

Like in Vegas, they sure know how to put on a show! I would avidly recommend a sing-along!                                                   

4.5 / 5

British born and bred, football has dominated the lives, and captured the passion of our great island for centuries. It is thought the concept of kicking objects predates any physical records, but football scored success, and nationwide recognition, in the mid-nineteenth century.

Like cricket, football claimed notoriety in the commonwealth, and before long, the ball was being passed along
Europe, and the world.

Friendship, passion and healthy rivalry from supporters are common associations with football. Uniting nations and people with a game: the notion is incredible. Old to young, male or female, ethnicity, economic class; everyone is brought together to enjoy, to learn and most importantly to share experiences.

I hate to sound cliché, but I genuinely believe “the importance is not winning; it’s the taking part that counts”.

In the First World War, on Christmas Day, 1914, stories of a truce have been told. This memorable event was thought to consist of eating, drinking – general socialising – and… the fruition of football games with whatever would suffice as a ball. English and German teams are believed to have been formed purely spontaneously, in an unforgettable array of football matches. Across “no man’s land” they fought for three points, and not for survival.

It is though that almost a half of Premiership players are of foreign nationality (non-British or Irish). England’s highest professional football division saw a 10 per cent rise over the four season period between 2000 and 2004, and it is expected to continue to rapidly escalate.

Don’t get me wrong, with its worldwide acceptance and following, the Premiership promotes a league of flair and genius second to none. You hear of the increase of international imports, and complaints of football loosing its roots.

Personally, I enjoy the inspiration and excitement of a multi-cultural league, although I also think there is very little encouragement for home-grown footballers to play, as a result.

A complete foreign 16-man squad were lined-up for the first time in the history of the Premier League, by Arsenal on February, 14, 2005. This has sparked controversy, and is a worry to many patriotic managers and supporters.

It was proposed by FIFA director, Sepp Blatter, that a minimum of six home-players must be fielded by all European clubs from the major leagues. Limiting the number of foreign footballers fielded by such clubs has been wildly protested. The proposal has been strongly opposed and is thought by many UEFA members as a breach of European free labour laws within the EU.

Unrivalled skills, belligerent defending, cat-like goal-keeping, pinnacle precision passing, innumerable glistening goals, and most importantly faultless teamwork, effort and ability: the Premiership has it covered! In a league of its own: I know what I would like to see in football.

With all our players performing at their peak at their respective club teams, you could see why there were high expectations. Scraping past the nail-biting group stages and barely reaching the quarters, but for an exquisite trademark Beckham free kick, you’d have been inclined to think differently. That’s no way to show off to the world our home-grown talent.

Let alone the last year, in the last six, we have failed to win any promised silverware, following lacklustre exits from the major competitions at the same cursed quarter final stages: World Cup 2002, Euro 2004 and this year’s World Cup respectively. With the emphatic entrance of Steve McClaren, have things changed? We’ve lost David Beckham for starters…

Jubilant and optimistic thoughts filled my mind after experiencing the thrashing of Greece and Albania in the reign of the former Middlesbrough boss’ new era. Optimism was quickly subbed and anxiety was brought on to the pitch: inevitably predictable. This is England we’re talking about. It’s never easy. When you get on, you know you’re in for a rough rollercoaster ride. With the omission of “Goldenballs”, our score lines drastically decreasing, and convincing victories fast becoming a thing of the past, no-one would blame you for feeling uneasy about the future.

The three lions have recently played like magnets: attractive when apart (at club level), but when united together as a team, they have simply repelled, and just don’t appear to gel. In the last three games: Macedonia away, home, and Croatia away respectively, England have played abysmally. Won one, drew one and lost one the tally illustrates.

The most recent England slump was the humiliating away defeat to Croatia (2-0) in Zagreb; of which, one incident certain for the “Most Embarrassing Football Moments” DVDs occurred. Tottenham keeper, and England number one, Paul Robinson, 27, was slated “rob-bish” – which goes for the whole team in all fairness – after letting in a back-pass from Gary Neville, after the ball bounced awkwardly over a divot in the pitch.

“I look at the incident and it was just a ridiculous fluke,” Robinson said, and he has received support from former England goalkeeping legends. Although a “fluke” goal, it was no fluke that Croatia won on the night, with little goalmouth action threatening the composed Croats.

To be honest, performances have been few and far between since the promising prospect of World Cup glory. Cursed? Rooney’s firing blanks; Lampard can’t hit them on target; and Beckham is nowhere to be seen. What is going on? Talk about three lions on the shirt; we need three lions on the pitch – to liven the game up.

This is a new all-time low for England under McClaren, with fan’s sights set for unquestionable qualification to the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland, two years from now. It is too early to tell the winner of the Euros, right? I hope so.

Although England have been a shambles in defence, lost in midfield, and still can’t get the big man upfront to score consistently, the future is bright… like a gleaming trophy. Don’t threat, dull performances will be kicked into touch, and the glittering goals will start piling in like Brazil versus a junior football team.

With prospect of Rooney rapidly returning to full force, it is inevitable something big is on the goal line. He has been finding form recently, with innumerable assists to his name, and showing intent of scoring that pivotal goal. One simple goal will see his confidence soar; raising the nation on his powerful patriotic shoulders. Belting them in on a regular basis will become child’s play.

Morale is the main factor, I believe. Our lads just lack motivation, and are stuck in the psychological state equivalent to relegation, but with confidence at their respective clubs, I am confident of an exciting and exhilarating future for both team and fans.

Come on England!