Anyone with even the slightest interest in music can't help but haven't noticed that a certain new album has been released this week. U2, often referred to as the biggest band in the world, are back with a new album titled How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. Respected industry insiders are already predicting that it will be one of the biggest selling albums of the decade - not bad for an album that's only been in the shops a few days. For many years now U2 have been setting the standard for other bands to follow. Bands like Delirious?, who are often compared to U2, can only aspire to the level of success that U2 have achieved.

There are several quite incredible stories behind this new album from U2. First is that through their link-up with the hugely popular iPod/iTunes, Apple are spending $20million worldwide promoting U2 in TV and Print commercials. That is the result of some very shrewd marketing negotiations from U2's management. For an album to be a success, promoting it properly is essential. But U2 have managed to get $20million worth without their record company having to spend anything. Not bad!

Another fact about the new U2 album that interests me is that it would have been ready for release nearly a year ago but for a decision the band made this time last year. U2 scrapped a year’s worth of work on the album with the original producer and started again with a new producer (Steve Lillywhite). Not only is that an incredibly brave thing to do, it must also have been quite heart breaking to realise that an entire years work was never going to see the light of day. But it does show U2's dedication to producing the absolute best work they can.

It amuses me that within six months of a new Delirious? album being released (if that), a load of fans are already demanding the next album. If it goes more than about 18 months between albums, people start to panic. Imagine what would happen if Delirious? spent a year recording an album, only to scrap it and start again. Delaying the release of an album by a year would have some sections of the fanbase up in arms. I guess when you're a band as big as U2, you can get away with that, people don't expect a new album every year.

Have I bought the new U2 album yet? It pains me to admit it, but unfortunately not. When pressed by my parents for some ideas of what they could buy me for Christmas, I stupidly suggested they get me the new U2 album. Now I'm stuck waiting for Christmas, not daring to buy it in case my parents have bought it for me. Why didn't I just ask them for socks?

Continuing the Delirious.org.uk interview series, today I bring you perhaps the biggest interview of them all. You've all read interviews with the band before, that's nothing new. But have you ever wanted to hear the real story about what goes on behind the scenes? In the latest interview I bring you a fascinating insight into life on the road with Delirious?, from an insider who knows everything there is to know about the band. A drum roll please... Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you... Mr Colin Walker, Delirious? Monitor Sound Engineer extraordinaire and all round nice guy.
Colin Walker behind his mixing desk during a Delirious? sound check

Ok, so that was quite a build up. But read the interview for yourself and I'm sure you'll agree that it is fascinating and informative. Colin's job is to control the sound that Delirious? hear in their in-ear-monitors from his position behind a sound desk at the side of stage. You may well have seen him at a concert, either working the sound desk or dashing on stage to fix Stew's broken cymbal or Jon's blown-up bass amp. I've got to know Colin quite well and he is a great guy (and I'm not just saying that because I know he reads this blog!). At several concerts lately I've watched the gig from "Colin's World", as he calls it. Stood on the side of stage next to Colin you get a good idea of what he does. Every few seconds he's busily adjusting a knob or pushing a button, all the while having eyes in the back of his head to watch for subtle signals from the band or spot when something goes wrong.

In the interview Colin describes what goes into setting up a d: concert. The technical side of things that fans rarely see. Colin also has a great sense of humour and is a bit of a joker, something I discovered when Colin and I were room mates at the hotel we were staying at when I accompanied the band on a trip to Canada last year. My personal favourite story that he tells during the interview is the practical joke he played on Jon when he gaffa-taped Jon’s cable to the floor so that he couldn’t reach his pedals for the encore. The man is a genius. The interview is also tinged with sadness, as Colin explains that he is now taking a step back from his touring duties with Delirious? to concentrate on his other job, running his own company. You'll be greatly missed on tour Colin.

Today I finally got around to putting up my review of Unified:Praise, the combined album from Delirious? and Hillsong available on CD and DVD. I confess I was rather sceptical about the idea of Delirious? recording an album with Hillsong. The bands have such different styles that it seemed like a strange combination. Plus, it seemed to me that a combined album would appeal more to Hillsong fans than Delirious? fans, and thus would really just be a marketing tool from Hillsong to sell more copies because it had Delirious? on the cover. Yes I know, sceptical. And as it turns out, unfounded.

The album is effectively in two halves. The first half of the album see's Hillsong and Darlene Zschech performing a number of songs, and the second half see's Delirious? performing their songs. In the middle is a small amount of cross-over, where both 'bands' share the stage together. The main occurrence of this is 'I Could Sing', although to be honest it's more Darlene singing a Delirious? song than the bands combining. It's performed much slower than Delirious? would do the song, and aside from a few shots of Tim at the keyboard, you wouldn't even know d: were involved in the song until the final minute where Martin gives Darlene a break from singing. The rest of Delirious? don't take part in the sing at all.

So it's not until you get into 'Did You Feel The Mountains' that it really becomes a Delirious? concert. It's always easy to pick out the things you don't like, and I apologise for mentioning a couple of negative aspects. But my biggest gripe with the whole project is that for most of the time you just can't hear the crowd. Sure you can hear the large Hillsong Choir in the background, but personally I like to hear the crowd on a live recording, and the cheers and crowd singing are few and far between on 'Unified:Praise'. Anyway, enough of the negative, now on to the positive.

The performance of 'My Glorious' (which unfortunately is only on the DVD, not on the CD) is world-class. Stu absolutely rocks with his guitar. 'Rain Down' is amazing too. The cool multi-camera-angle 'What A Friend' is also a great addition to the DVD.

At first I wondered who would buy this CD or DVD. Obviously dedicated fans of d: and Hillsong will be interested in it. But on reflection, I think 'fringe fans' who want a taste of both Hillsong and Delirious? will also be tempted to buy it. If nothing else, it's a great introduction to both bands for a new fan. Having an album that appeals to two different sets of fans, Hillsong and Delirious?, is clearly a good tactic but only if it's not at the expense of either band not doing what they do best. Thankfully 'Unified:Praise' doesn't fall into that trap. Whilst there is some attempt at the two bands joining forces, most of the time they stick to their own thing, and that's why it works. Each style of music has it's place, and neither band tries to do something that they can't pull-off.

If you happen to be in McDonalds in Germany during November you should pick up a copy of their free instore magazine along with your Big Mac and Fries. 'Why?' you might ask. Well, it seems that the World's biggest fastfood burger chain is "Lovin' Delirious?". Yes that's right, Delirious? are featured in this month's McDonalds magazine in Germany.

In the music section of the magazine's "novelties" column is a review of World Service (Silver Edition) which was released in Germany last month. So what do the German Burger people think of Delirious? Here's a rough translation of the review.

"Delirious?: The fresh alive sound with volume. Their history is the foundation-stone of their success. With a 10-year international career behind them, Delirious? bring things to a higher level with the new album 'World service Silver edition'. The music is high-grade, imaginative and exciting. Delirious? present their most impressive work so far."

Things in Germany are looking pretty good, with a four date tour and new single Rain Down coming up, and mainstream media attention starting to build. Looks like the Germans got there first again.

(Just to reassure people, apparently there is no truth in the rumour that McDonalds are sponsoring the forthcoming d: tour and have requested certain songs be renamed appropriately, including: Grace Like A McNugget, Big Mac Comin On, and Every Little Happy Meal)

Here is the Delirious.org.uk Top 10 Lyrics Chart for the month of October. (chart placings calculated by the number of 'page visits' for the lyrics of each song during a month)

1. Obsession
2. I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever
3. Majesty
4. My Glorious
5. History Maker
6. Inside Outside
7. Every Little Thing
8. The Happy Song
9. Did You Feel The Mountains
10. Shout To The North

A major change this month with 'Obsession' arriving out of nowhere. Last month it didn't even make the top 10, but now it arrives to take the top poisition. 'I Could Sing' stays second, but 'Majesty' drops from top to third place. 'Did You Feel The Mountains' drops from fourth to ninth, making space for 'Every Little Thing', the latest single in Germany, to rise from tenth to seventh.

Last month's chart: Top 10 Lyrics for September