Pop Corner

AILBHE MALONEblubs for Bieber's lost anonymity

* TRACK OF THE WEEK:

Evening by TOPS

Housed on the achingly cool Artbutus Records (the Montreal collective that’s home to Grimes, Doldrums and more), you’d think that TOPS would be more interested in psych-glitch than New Wave. And you’d be wrong. Debut album Tender Opposites is out at the end of September, and sounds like Metronomy necking Lambrini with Ariel Pink.

* Justin Bieber’s been mulling on fame recently. And his conclusions aren’t positive, he told VIBE magazine. “What does that really mean, ‘to be famous’? In general, fame can tear you apart, so you can never really feel like youre famous,” he said. “When people start acting like theyre famous, thats when they start losing it.”

Poor Bieber’s learned to be cagey: “I don’t like giving too much personal information about where I live and the cars I drive . . . There are a lot of people in this world that aren’t good people, and all they need to do is a little research and then they can [find me] . . .” Not that discretion has helped. “[I’ve had] people hiding in garbage cans overnight to catch [pictures] of me. Crazy things happen.” Sadface.

* Elsewhere, Lady Gaga reflected on the challenges of the past year. Posting on her dedicated fan website, littlemonsters.com, Gaga wrote, "The past year was a challenge, and I'm so happy to have my spirit back. I felt in chains at times. Whether it be the record label disagreeing with me on single choices, or directors who could only create an idea of 'gaga' or what I've 'done before' and were not able to move forward, and there was also of course the incessant dragging of the most important single of my career in dead-beaten-horse-mud ." Luckily, she's on the mend now. "I am feeling blessed to have removed those from my life driven by money and luxury, it's all about the art of it. I feel free today." Gosh, Gaga. Maybe a break would be helpful? Or some ice-cream? We can definitely try and courier you some ice-cream.