Jade's Music Blog

The follow up to The Journey – which featured Does this train stop on Merseyside?, the track which reduced the great John Peel to tears on air each time he played it – this promises to be the album that changes it all for Amsterdam.

I caught up with singer Ian Prowse this week to find out more about the music that’s inspiring him.

“I don't actually own an iPod but I do feed my laptop lots of music regularly which it regurgitates back at me on 'random' all day long,’ he explains.

The Stranglers-5 Minutes.
Been listening to a lot of the first four Stranglers albums lately and it's such unusual music.Lengthy musical pieces without ever being even slightly prog.Mad lyrics and fabulous singing.The intro to 5 minutes sounds like the countdown to Armegeddon.

U2-Electrical storm
Are U2 any good? Begin this conversation with your mates in a pub and garunteed it will rage for hours.There will always be two opposing views in any company.If you can write something as beautiful as this 25 years into your career though then you get my vote.

The Wombats-Moving to New York
As exciting a pop song as I've heard in ages and a fine silly performance at St.Georges plateau during the opening ceremony.
Dunno if I'd like a whole album but it was in stark contrast to Rongo Starr's dreadful 'take the money and run performance' of that awful 08 song.

Bruce Springsteen-Tunnel of Love
If you fall in love kids and it doesn't work out then buy this album and use it as a guide. In fact buy all of Springsteens albums and use them all as a guide through your life and times. He's the best there ever was and the best there ever will be. In every field.

Christy Moore-North and South
Christy Moore found his voice later on in his career so I really identify with him.Go on to You Tube and find him doing this song. The best there is about Ireland's past and Ireland's future and as touching as it gets. I love him very much.

Amsterdam’s new album, Arm in Arm, is released on March 17, with a launch at the Cavern on March 15. For more information, see www.myspace.com/amsterdamhq.