Music Week

Doves set for top 10

Music week reports that the best of is on course to slot in the top 10, though overtaking Lady Gaga (again) seems unlikely.

Doves’ greatest hits set The Places Between, as well as new albums from Rufus Wainwright and Jonsi are all set to debut within the top 20 this Sunday, as Boyzone and Lady GaGa continue their tussle at the top.

The Places Between (Heavenly) sold more than 3,000 copies yesterday despite the bank holiday to sit at five in midweek sales flashes, the highest of a number of new entries.

Jez gave an interview to 6 Music where he gave his views on the music scene today..

Guitarist Jez Williams told 6 Music that money from record labels for touring and recording has dried up –which he put down to the effects of file-sharing.

“It’s really difficult for bands to go out on the road and tour,” he said. “It costs a lot of money to take a band on the road to do 10 UK dates.”

Referring to the pot of cash traditionally provided by labels for their artists to go on the road, he said: “It’s really tricky for new bands to get tour support because there’s no such thing as tour support any more.

“So people haven’t got that back-up any more. And that’s a direct link to people downloading albums without paying for it. It’s suffered because of that.”

The Manchester trio have just released their greatest hits album, called The Places Between, which is heading for the top 10 this weekend.

The process of choosing the tracks caused some friction within the band, he revealed.

“Everyone’s got their own favourites so it was a bit of a long painful process of trying to pick [songs] and compromise where we all were happy,” he said.

Going back to third album Some Cities gave him a particularly pleasant surprise.

“That sounds a lot better than I remembered it,” he explained. “There are some great songs on there and I was really proud of most of that CD.

To read the full interview, click here.

Meet Doves Roadies Video

The BBC’s Music Week chatted to some of the roadies yesterday before the show. Very Cool…

Doves On Track For U.K. #1 Album

Music Week reports that the album sold a staggering 18,500 copies on its first day of release, yesterday.

Music Week

Doves flying high in sales reports

Doves look set to score another number one album this Sunday, with their new set Kingdom Of Rust (Heavenly) leading a wealth of new entries to the chart.

The Heavenly album sold around 18,500 units on its day of release yesterday, comfortably outselling nearest competitor Lady GaGa’s The Fame (Polydor), which topped the charts last week.

To read the full article, click here.

Review Round-Up #3

More reviews of both the single and album, which you may have missed over the last few days…

Sunday Mercury.net, Album Review:

Sunday Mercury.net

WITH three equally impressive, idiosyncratic albums to their name already, the right fourth album could assure Doves’ rightful place as one of our most consistently exciting bands. Kingdom Of Rust explores a layered, adventurous terrain, with nods to Kraftwerk and funk in various places, thanks to Jimi Goodwin’s unique howl and a Sub Sub-esque groove. Opener Jetstream and the title track will be known to fans already, but it’s perhaps Winter Hill, 10.03, arranged by Chemical Brother Tom Rowlands and anthemic closer Lifelines that typify Kingdom Of Rust best, bustling with ambition.

Music Week (via California Chronicle.com), Single Review:

Music Week

For a band who concentrate their attentions so much on texture and atmosphere, Doves have a canny knack of delivering a killer pop song to kick-start an album’s campaign. As with previous singles There Goes The Fear and Black And White Town, Kingdom Of Rust sounds like nothing else at the moment; a soft-focus jangly gem seemingly plucked from a Morricone-scored Western. Radio loves the track, with BBC, Absolute and Xfm stations showing support. Meanwhile, the band are midway through an extensive campaign of airplay sessions and are attracting interest from Channel Four, E4, Sky and a wealth of national press.

Daily Record, Single Review:

Daily Record

Doves – Kingdom Of Rust *** It’s been four years since Doves had their biggest hit Black And White Town. Since then, fellow northern English sadsacks Elbow have achieved crossover success. Let’s hope this jaunty Chris Rea-sounding upbeat tune helps the trio.