It's that time of year again voters where the X Factor returns with that smug git Simon Cowell. Despite its severe lack of any real musical merit this show is worth watching simply because of the hilarious auditions, the scathing put-downs and the sheer irony of Danni Minogue telling people that their voice 'is'nt quite good enough'. Well, she'd definitely know wouldn't she?
The best quote I think I've heard about the X Factor was when Noel Gallacher said "yeh I think it's great that some kid from Tescos can make a million quid because he sounds like Ottis Redding, just don't call it 'music'". He has a point with the show being more about Karaoke and less about making music. Most of the contestants themselves pull out endless delusional quotes about how they want "a number one", or they "wanna be famous" but criminally none of them say they want to 'make music'. Then again it's actually more a TV show with an accompanying CD as 10 times more people WATCH the show than purchase the winners album. I have to admit that there are some decent singers in this years show though but alas millions and millions of people can sing in tune but only 1 in a billion can write something like 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'.
The MTV music awards are being held in Liverpool this year with Coldplay and Duffy both recieving a couple of nominations each. Should be an interesting affair and I'm sure the usual suspects will turn up. Russel Brand's weird sense of humour (how does he pull so many women? The blokes a mess!), hopefully Amy Wino will be able to stay sober and drug free (for at least the first 15 minutes), Oasis should be there and I'm sure they'll roll out some old rockers (Keith Richards anyone?) and some old English actors (Judy Dench and that bird that played the Queen are surely gonna be giving out some awards?). But if Michael Jackson does turn up lets hope security take care of Jarvis Cocker this time.
Currenlty Kings Of Leon are topping charts all over the place with their new album 'Only By The Night', however their most popular album on this chart is still 'Youth And Young Manhood'. The success of the 'camp it up-athon' that is 'Mama Mia' is pushing sales of Abba records through the roof whilst Abba's 'Waterloo' is in an impressive 55th place on this chart. Other new albums out this month are Metallica's 'Death Magnetic' (note: I'll be buying it legitimately so that Lars & co don't sue me....), Queen and Paul Rodgers recently released 'The Cosmos Rocks' (a reference to brainy Brian's obsession to astrophysics you think??) and The Killers have a new album coming soon.
Before I sign off make sure you either check out or actually purchase David Gilmours latest DVD 'Live at the Gdansk'. This bloke is pure class! Clip below:

{Greenster}

Sorry for the lack of updates recently but I've been spending all my time playing Mario Kart on the Wii!! What a fantastic game! I'm also highly addicted to Wii Sports Tennis which has to be the best example of virtual game control realism ever seen!
Anyway, back to the chart and the votes continue to roll in and so do the complaints! Yes I removed Britneys greatest hits album from the chart as it didn't adhere to the rules and I got hate mail!!!
Britney's In The Zone is still the album of the moment after flying up the chart into a strong 33rd position and she is still getting a lot of votes lately so there is no reason to HATE me Britney fans!! There have been no other significant chart movers lately although the Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream and Floyd's Dark Side are still pulling votes in a bid to move into the hallowed top five!
No votes yet for Coldplays new album Viva la Vida (strange name) but Parachutes remains their most popular album and is in a decent top 170 placing.
Also no votes yet for One Republic although their Apologize song seems to be everywhere at the moment. I've bought their album but I'm still waiting for Amazon to deliver it.........
I recently discovered a fantastic band called 3 Doors Down (way down in 1,792nd place on this chart) who are the same kinda hard rock as Nickelback but more 'edgy' - check out their fantastic "Kyrptonite" below:

{Greenster}

HAPPY NEW YEAR from Vote World the premium FREE VOTE website for album popularity! It's FREE to vote and you are given a 'free vote' no precompiled lists here, NO NO NO. You vote for ANY album in the world. If you love it and it abides by our qualification rules then we will enter it into our chart!

If you haven't voted yet then don't delay, VOTE NOW , all you have to do is nominate your ten most favourite albums of all time and enter them into our chart. The chart will change in real time to reflect your choices, watch your favourite albums move up the chart as soon as you've voted!

December was a bit slow for votes but they are still creeping upwards towards the next landmark figure of 13,000 (THIRTEEN THOUSAND VOTES!). The minmial changes to the chart recently have seen Exile On Main Street creep back onto the Top 110 board , Pink Floyd's The Wall has broken into the TOP 20 and Britney's second album 'Britney' still lays claim to 'album of the moment' after rocketing up to 38th.

We all know that sales don't necessarily show how popular an album actually is, mainly because people may buy albums before listening to them and after listening to them they might actually dislike them (or like them less than other albums they already have)! Therefore this chart is a truer reflection of album popularity because people nominate the albums that they love!
With that said I recently saw a list of the biggest selling albums of all time and thought it would be interesting to see where these albums sit in the VoteWorld chart!

Worldwide best selling albums
1. Thriller Michael Jackson ( Reported Sales: 42,537,000 ) Voteworld: 160th.
2. Greatest Hits The Eagles ( Reported Sales: 31,934,000 ) Highest album at Voteworld: Hotel California 211th.
3. The Bodyguard Whitney Houston ( Reported Sales: 31,698,000 ) Voteworld: 313th.
4. Come on Over Shania Twain ( Reported Sales: 30,460,000 ) Voteworld: 623rd.
5. Led Zeppelin IV Led Zeppelin ( Reported Sales: 28,627,000 ) Voteworld: 32nd.
6. Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morisette ( Reported Sales: 27,664,000 ) Voteworld: 156th.
7. The Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd ( Reported Sales: 27,629,000 ) Voteworld: 8th.
8. Rumours Fleetwood Mac ( Reported Sales: 27,008,000 ) Voteworld: 138th
9. Back in Black AC/DC ( Reported Sales: 25,215,000 ) Voteworld: 23rd
10. 1 The Beatles ( Reported Sales: 23,769,000 ) Highest album at VoteWorld: White Album 15th

source ukmix.org as at october 2007

Now I find this very interesting because as much as some people like to bitch about the chart featuring some questionable entries these mega selling albums are actually pulling in a good proportion of the votes.
Three of the albums (four of the artists) on the list are in the TOP 50. Floyd, AC/DC, The Beatles and Led Zepellin. With another four inside the top 200 in the shape of The Eagles, Alanis, Michale Jackson and Fleetwood Mac (well Hotel California is almost in the top 200!). Whitney is verging on breaking into the top 300 and Shania Twain's Come on Over is the only one that I would consider to be 'struggling' for votes way down in the mid 600's.
This suggests (to me anyway) that my chart is working and one day when I have millions of votes this chart could truly be the DEFINITIVE popular album poll of ALL TIME.
Before I sign off, enjoy the Rock maters Led Zeppelin performing the legendary Stairway to Heaven at their recent O2 gig and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

{Greenster}

Voteworld is the largest democratic free album vote ever seen (probably).
The Cures' Disintegration is still miles clear! Click here to see the current TOP TEN ALBUMS OF ALL TIME.

Went to see the brilliant My Chemical Romance last week at the O2. The O2 is a great venue and those boys make a great noise. Highlights were definitely "Mama", "Helena" and the rocking encore "Famous Last Words" from the Black Parade (currently 710th in the chart).

Back to the chart and the Pink Floyd masterpiece The Wall has broken into the Top 20 at last, displacing Faith by The Cure.
The Floyd are doing rather well in the chart with four albums within the top 150. Dark Side Of The Moon, The Wall, Wish You Were Here and Animals.
Meanwhile, Dirt by Alice In Chains has re-entered the chart (120th place) and the brilliant What's The Story by Oasis continues to climb toward two other classic albums positioned right above it in the shape of Bowies' legendary Ziggy Stardust and London Calling (40th, 41st and 42nd respectively).
The POP votes may have receeded but Britney still lays claim to 'Album Of The Moment'.

On a slightly unrelated note I recently discovered a gem of a cover version by The Killers (The awesome Sam's Town is way down in 1,657th place.) doing Romeo & Juliet by Dire Straits (highest album in this chart Brothers In Arms at 323rd)

Keep the votes coming - see you around!
{Greenster}

We have finally exceeded TWELVE THOUSAND VOTES !!!
The democracy of the internet after 12,000 votes says that The Cures' Disintegration is the best album of all time! But will it still be there after 15,000 votes? Only time will tell.

Meanwhile the battle of the Pop Divas Britney and Christina still rages! ( Thanx for QTKidds for finding this image!)

Britneys' "In The Zone" has penetrated the top 50 overtaking landmark albums such as Automatic For The People, Who's Next, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Appetite For Destruction and Blood On The Tracks. Christinas' "Stripped" is on the verge of breaching the top 70. Britneys' popularity can't be knocked, despite her recent problems, she now has all 4 of her studio albums in the top 100!

Recent additions to the chart: