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Hello again,
I hope last week's post helped a little with your TV planning, although I understand it's not as easy to get your highlighter pen out to circle your favourites on a blogpost. A bumper collection of shows this week, including Elton John kicking off this year's Electric Proms and one of the finest documentaries about a Canadian heavy metal band to be released in the past two years. Enjoy;

Thursday 28 October - Ö÷²¥´óÐã Two
1900 - 2000: Keith Richards - A Culture Show Special
To mark the publication of Keith Richards' autobiography, Life, this Culture Show special looks at the life of the man with five strings and nine lives. In a candid interview he chats to Andrew Graham Dixon about his childhood in Dartford, his passion for music and the decade that catapulted the Rolling Stones from back-room blues boys to one of the greatest rock 'n' roll bands in the world.
/programmes/b00vll85

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Friday 29 October - Ö÷²¥´óÐã Two
2350 - 2450: Later with Jools Holland
Joining Jools is Sir Paul McCartney, who performs and celebrates the reissue of the classic Wings album Band on the Run. Legendary US singer-songwriter Neil Diamond performs numbers from his upcoming album Dreams, in which he covers classics of the 60s and 70s, including his own I'm A Believer.
LA-based rapper/singer Aloe Blacc makes his TV debut with a tune or two from his Good Things album. Also, Elvis Costello returns to the Later studio to play songs from his National Ransom release. From Akron, Ohio, the Black Keys play a couple of numbers from their album, Brothers.
/programmes/b00vlqfq

Friday 29 October - Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four
1930 - 2030: Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four Proms 2010 - Chopin & Ravel
Repeated: Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four - MondayÌý2410
Leading Chopin interpreter Nelson Freire is the soloist in Chopin's lyrical and brilliant Second Piano Concerto. On the podium the young French conductor Lionel Bringuier makes his Proms debut conducting the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Symphony Orchestra and gives a sizzling performance of Ravel's score for the ballet Daphnis and Chloe - Suite No 2. Introduced from the Royal Albert Hall by Katie Derham.
/programmes/b00vkjwp

2030 - 2100: Sacred Music - The Story or Allegri's Miserere
tells the story behind Allegri's Miserere, one of the most popular pieces of sacred music ever written. The programme features a full performance of the piece by the award-winning choir The Sixteen, conducted by Harry Christophers.
/programmes/b00g81g7

2100 - 2200: Classic Albums - Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Repeated: Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four - SundayÌý2455
The second album by Black Sabbath, released in 1970, has long attained classic status. Paranoid not only changed the face of rock music, but also defined the sound and style of heavy metal more than any other record in rock history. The result of a magic chemistry which had been discovered between four English musicians, it put Black Sabbath firmly on the road to world domination. This programme tells the story behind the writing, recording and success of the album. Despite vilification from the Christian and moral right and all the harsh criticism that the music press could hurl at them, Paranoid catapulted Sabbath into the rock stratosphere.
/programmes/b00vlq0y

2200 - 2330: Heavy Metal Britannia
Repeated: Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four - SundayÌý2550
narrates a documentary which traces the origins and development of British heavy metal from its humble beginnings in the industrialised Midlands to its proud international triumph.
/programmes/b00r600m

2330 - 2450: Anvil! - The Story of Anvil
At 14, Toronto school friends Steve 'Lips' Kudlow and Robb Reiner made a pact to rock together forever. Their band Anvil went on to become the 'demi-gods of Canadian metal', releasing 1982's Metal on Metal, which influenced a musical generation including Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax. All those bands went on to sell millions of records but Anvil's career would take a different path - straight into obscurity. But Lips and Robb never gave up on their childhood dream and kept rocking, always believing that one day Anvil would taste the success that had so long eluded them.
The film follows Lips and Robb, now in their 50s, as they gear up to record their thirteenth album, This is Thirteen. Coping with increasingly impatient families, crippling mortgages and the effects of old age, they know this is their last chance to really make it.
/programmes/b00sxgsn

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Saturday 30 October - Ö÷²¥´óÐã Two

== A NIGHT WITH ELTON JOHN ==
2145 - 2245: The Making Of Elton John - Madman Across The Water
Documentary exploring Elton John's childhood, apprenticeship in the British music business, sudden stardom in the US at the dawn of the 70s, and his musical heyday. Plus the backstory to the new album reuniting him with Leon Russell, his American mentor. Features extensive exclusive interviews with Elton, plus colleagues and collaborators including , Leon Russell and more.
/programmes/b00vs4yv

2245 - 2345: Electric Proms 2010 - Elton John
Elton John in concert at the Roundhouse with his friend and mentor Leon Russell and special guests Plan B and Rumer. The concert celebrates Elton and Leon's classic hits and they also perform from their new collaboration album, The Union.
/programmes/b00vt2yz

You can listen again to Elton John's Electric Proms performance in High Definition Audio on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Electric Proms website.

2345 - 2445: Elton John at the Ö÷²¥´óÐã
Elton John's career tracked in archive from performances, interviews and news clips.
/programmes/b00vs5c0

Tuesday 2 November - Ö÷²¥´óÐã Two
2200 - 2230: Later Live... with Jools Holland
Kings of Leon join Jools in the studio for the eighth live show of this series.They perform tunes from their new album, Come Around Sundown, the follow-up to their multi-platinum award winning breakthrough Only By the Night. Eric Clapton plays tracks from his current album Clapton, which sees him paying tribute to the songs that inspired him early in his career.
also joins Jools, with a couple of songs from her recent long player. Brand new UK band The Vaccines perform, with their blend of Beach Boys meets The Ramones pop tunes. There's also English folk band Bellowhead, the eleven piece band bought together by John Spiers and Jon Boden. Plus comedian turned TV critic pops in for a chat about his debut album.
/programmes/b00vtz6q

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Next week; Sir John Dankworth, Solomon Burke and Robert Plant.
Take care of yourselves,

Rory

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Hello there,Ìý
We realise that this age of information overload, uncountable channel choice and digital distraction can only make it easier to miss out on the most interesting things in life.

With this in mind we thought we could help a little by distilling down the week's produce from Ö÷²¥´óÐã's One, Two, Three and Four into a best bits of Music TV listing on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Music blog.

We'll post an update every Thursday, hopefully it can help you unearth some gems along the way.

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Friday 22 October - Ö÷²¥´óÐã One
2330 - 2500: The MOBO Awards
Reggie Yates and Alesha Dixon present highlights from the 2010 MOBO Awards, with special backstage reporters N-Dubz. Some of the world's biggest acts descend on the Liverpool Echo Arena for a stellar evening which includes performances from Mark Ronson, Tinie Tempah, JLS, N-Dubz, Jay Sean, Taio Cruz, Tinchy Stryder and Professor Green.
/programmes/b00vhm21

Watch more from last night's MOBOs on 1Xtra's event site.

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Friday 22 October - Ö÷²¥´óÐã Two
2350 - 2450: Later with Jools Holland
Jools returns for the sixth episode of the series with performances from Duffy, The Gaslight Anthem, Crystal Fighters, The Pierces, Sheryl Crow, Marques Toliver and Heaven 17.
/programmes/b00vjfsk

You can watch an exclusive backstage performance of She Loves You by Gaslight Anthem frontman Brian Fallon on the Later with Jools website

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Friday 22 October - Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four
1930 - 2100: Chopin's 200th Birthday Gala Concert
Repeated: Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four - Monday 2520
Katie Derham introduces a sumptuous gala concert from Warsaw to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Chopin's birth. Three past winners of the prestigious International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition pay their own tribute to Poland's favourite musical son. Yundi plays an exquisite selection of Nocturnes, with the Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise, then Dang Thai Son and Garrick Ohlsson each play the piano concertos in F minor and E minor. In interview they reminisce about winning the competition and their affinity with Chopin's music.
/programmes/b00vfhp9

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2100 - 2200: Singer - Songwriters at the Ö÷²¥´óÐã - episode 4
Repeated: Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four - Sunday 2625
The four part series concludes with music from Donovan, Gerry Rafferty, James Taylor, Elton John, Mickey Newbury, Neil Young, Tom Paxton, John Prine, Melanie, Jesse Winchester, Steve Forbert, Chris Rea, Carole King and others.Ìý
/programmes/b00vfhy7

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2200 - 2310: David Gray, KT Tunstall and Ray LaMontagne - Songwriters Circle
Repeated: Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four - Sunday 2515
Three premier singer-songwriters play solo, taking it in turns to perform their signature songs and play together at west London's intimate Bush Hall. Chatting about the art and process of songwriting, Cheshire-born David Gray plays songs like Babylon and This Year's Love, plus material from his album Foundling. KT Tunstall plays Other Side and Black Horse and the Cherry Tree from her million-selling debut album Eye of the Telescope and songs from her recent Tiger Sun album. American Ray LaMontagne plays Trouble as well as songs from his fourth album God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise.
/programmes/b00vfhy9

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2310 - 2400: The Man Who Recorded America - Jac Holzman's Elektra Records
Repeated: Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four - Sunday 2425
In the 1960s, a small indie label would conquer American music. With artists like The Doors, Love, Tim Buckley, The Incredible String Band and The Stooges, Elektra Records was consistently on the cutting edge, having built its name initially with folk revival artists like Judy Collins and Tom Paxton, signed out of Greenwich Village. Elektra was run by suave visionary Jac Holzman and this is his story. Featuring contributions from Jackson Browne, Iggy Pop, Judy Collins and choice Ö÷²¥´óÐã archive.Ìý
/programmes/b00vfhyc

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Sunday 24 October - Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four
2000 - 2100: Legends - Joan Sutherland - The Reluctant Prima Donna
Repeated: Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four - Tuesday 2530
Documentary about Dame Joan Sutherland, one of the greatest operatic performers of the late twentieth century, who died in October 2010. Shy and lacking in confidence, she had sung unnoticed at Covent Garden for seven years after arriving from Australia, but over the course of twelve months was transformed into La Stupenda. With a focus on the two roles - Lucia di Lammamoor and Alcina - that launched her, the film features interviews with Dame Joan, Richard Bonynge, Franco Zeffirelli, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti.
/programmes/b0074t3wÌý

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Tuesday 26 October - Ö÷²¥´óÐã Two
2200 - 2230: Later Live
Joining Jools on the seventh show of this series is Sir Paul McCartney, who performs and celebrates the reissue of the classic Wings album Band On The Run. Legendary US singer-songwriter Neil Diamond performs numbers from his upcoming album Dreams, in which he covers classics of the 60s and 70s, including his own I'm A Believer. LA-based rapper/singer Aloe Blacc is making his TV debut with a tune or two from his Good Things album. Also, Elvis Costello returns to the Later studio to play songs from his brand new National Ransom release. And from Akron, Ohio, The Black Keys play a couple of numbers from their latest Brothers album.
/programmes/b00vncd9Ìý

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Set your PVRs, VHRs, iPlayers and enjoy.
Next week; Keith Richards, Metal Britannia and a night with Elton John.
Take care of yourselves.

Rory

One of the busiest months on record for fine new releases, September 2010 provided plenty of reasons to part with the pennies in exchange for long-players of no little excellence. Breaking the period down to just a handful of picks here was pretty tough, so do scan the reviews archive for the full picture of four weeks bursting with brilliant albums.

This month I'm introducing a top pick of the period, too. So if you only spend your hard-earned on one new album right now, you could certainly do worse than make it this one.

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Editor's Album of the Month

Aloe Blacc - Good Things
(Stone's Throw, released 27 September)
Recommended by: Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show, Gilles Peterson

"Inspired by the recession biting both sides of the Atlantic, Good Things is no mere beatnik projecting: Californian vocalist Blacc was among thousands who saw their day jobs cut short by redundancy when the downturn hit. But the uplifting manner in which he sets about detailing hardship is striking. This second album is sufficiently accomplished, in fact, to temporarily banish the clouds of financial doom and gloom to the horizon."

Read the full review and listen to previews

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Aloe Blacc - I Need a Dollar

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The Best of the Rest

Manic Street Preachers - Postcards from a Young Man
(Columbia, released 20 September)
Recommended by (among others): Radcliffe & Maconie, Steve Lamacq, Dermot O'Leary

"From the waltzing strings on (It's Not War) Just the End of Love onwards, Postcards From a Young Man is packed with screamed-from-the-terraces pop moments bankrolled by James Dean Bradfield's syllable-munching holy yelp and a few kitchen sinks' worth of gospel choirs, choppy riffs, power chords and string sections."

Read the full review and listen to previews
Read our Album Reviews Q&A with Manic Street Preachers

Bilal - Airtight's Revenge
(Plug Research, released 13 September)
Recommended by (among others): Rob da Bank, Benji B, Gilles Peterson

"The results are often experimental, albeit still steeped in the history of jazz and soul. Cake and Eat It Too cuts a stoned Sly Stone groove, a half-speed jam with languid funk guitars, and the intriguing Levels, a co-production with Shafiq Husayn of Sa-Ra, emerges from a fog of bubbling stand-up bass and sunken piano before Bilal leads the music to soft-rocking climaxes."

Read the full review and listen to previews
Read our Album Reviews Q&A with Bilal

Smoke Fairies - Through Low Light and Trees
Cooperative Music, released 6 September)
Recommended by: Jarvis Cocker

"With a name like that it would ill behove the Sussex duo of Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies (who are Smoke Fairies) to deal in anything but ethereal, folk-tinged melancholy and wistful, wonderstruck song craft. Right enough, that's pretty much exactly what they deliver on this, their debut album proper of dreamy, timeless music."

Read the full review and listen to previews

Grinderman - Grinderman 2
(Mute, released 13 September)
Recommended by: Marc Riley, Jarvis Cocker, 6 Music Album of the Day

"Veteran producer Nick Launay has helped Nick Cave & Co embrace a bigger, fuller sound, influenced as much by 60s garage punk and droning Krautrock as the blues. A slew of stunning guitar moves are unleashed, sometimes erecting a wall of psychedelic sound, sometimes bucking and rearing out of the murk like some wounded animal at the end of its cattle-prod tether."

Read the full review and listen to previews

Robyn - Body Talk Pt. 2
(Konichiwa, released 13 September)
Recommended by: Annie Mac, Nick Grimshaw, Fearne Cotton

"A brief, brilliant record that showcases the gleeful ease with which Robyn flits between genres, Body Talk Pt. 2 is the latest evidence that the Swedish singer is probably the best, most versatile pop star currently at work. If the next part even half as good, such an accolade will be proven beyond doubt."

Read the full review and listen to previews

Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
(4AD, released 27 September)
Recommended by: Marc Riley

"Across the entirety of this fourth album proper lies a sense of warm experimentation that should feel familiar to fans of Deerhunter's unique brand of ambience-loving indie-rock. Halcyon Digest is simply another solid entry in the discography of a mighty band. A band whose accomplishments to date have made any questions about diminishing returns completely irrelevant."

Read the full review and listen to previews

Glasser - Ring
(True Panther Sounds, released 27 September)

"Apparently, Ring was inspired by the symmetrical order outlined in Ö÷²¥´óÐãr's poem Odyssey, the idea that any structure doesn't necessarily have to abide by a beginning, middle or end. Presumably this is why when succulent-lullaby Clamour completes the cycle you'll want to return to the start once more."

Read the full review and listen to previews

El Guincho - Pop Negro
(Young Turks, released 13 September)

"It's when the ceaseless forward momentum of old hijacks Pop Negro's new structural nous that the most rewarding moments arrive here, the likes of Soca Del Eclipse, Ghetto Facil and Muerte Midi highlights of an album that's among the year's best, and that, while immediately enchanting, will take years to unravel."

Read the full review and listen to previews

Röyksopp - Senior
(Wall of Sound, released 13 September)
Recommended by: Rob da Bank, Nick Grimshaw, 6 Music Album of the Day

"The duo describes the album in the pre-publicity as the equivalent of a drug trip. But, in truth, Senior is more likely to get you addicted to motorways than Class As. This dreamy, optimistic yet pulsing sound is pure autobahn, reviving memories of Kraftwerk, obviously, but also the rapturous electro travelogues of early Simple Minds."

Read the full review and listen to previews