New Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams, who was huge in the UK in the late '90s but never really came over here in a big way, is back with a new song called "Bodies."


I dig it. There's a part in the middle that reminds me of Enigma, or perhaps that Benedictine monks album Chant. (did you know that album went triple-platinum? Seriously?)


P.S. Yes, I'm aware that Noel Gallagher quit Oasis. No, I'm not that interested. Noel quit once before, around 2000, and the band released another album two years later. Noel was talking about the band taking a hiatus after the summer tour anyway. I've got $20 says they patch things up eventually.

Your American Idol goes '90s update

As we previously reported here, American Idol winner David Cook has been working with an all-star cast of alt-rock luminaries, including members of Collective Soul, the Nixons, and Our Lady Peace. The first single, "Light On," was co-written with Chris Cornell. The album is out in two weeks, and while the complete list of songwriting credits isn't available, we do know that one track, "Avalanche," was co-written with Kevin Griffin of Better than Ezra.

Also wanting to get in on the action is AI runner-up David Archuleta; he's got a cover of Robbie Williams' "Angels" on his album, out next week. It's a little treacly.

I have managed to ignore every American Idol alum thus far (though the missus likes Carrie Underwood, and I enjoy Butch Walker's take on "Since U Been Gone"). I might have to buy this David Cook album, though.

This week in reunions...

* Hum are playing a one-off show New Year's Eve in Chicago. Given that they're now rolling in Cadillac money, they probably don't need to do a full-fledged reunion at this point.

* Robbie Williams is getting back together with his record company and putting out a new album. I'm mildly interested. Want to see how huge Williams is in Europe? Watch this:


That is roughly 70,000 people singing along at the top of their lungs.

*File this under "probably not happening," but there's a rumor out there (started by the lead singer of Twisted Sister) that Myles Kennedy (formerly of '90s also-rans Mayfield Four and currently of ex-Creed supergroup Alter Bridge) will front Led Zeppelin on a tour. The guy's got a good voice; check out Mayfield Four's only charting single, "Eden":