BBC Radio 2

We hope so by now, because we're off home.

Scroll down for plenty of new music from the likes of Wolf Alice, Beyonce, Liam Gallagher, Pink, The Corrs and more.

Plus 5 Things We've Learnt This Week and Josh Homme as you've never seen him before. Truly.

Finally before we go just time to tell you that Robbie Williams has teamed up with Big Narstie on a new release today. It sounds like DIzzee Rascal meets Shirley Bassey in Ibiza - but with added trumpets. There is one swear word near the end but if you don't mind that then check it out., external

We'll leave you will Radio 2 brekkie show guest Russell 'Gladiator' Crowe telling DJ Chris Evans (above) all about his early career as a struggling musician in New Zealand in the 80s.

The 53-year-old Oscar winner performed with his band in London this week. If only he could get the money together for a demo...

See you next week.

The Swedish country folk band we mean, not the bandages, plasters and safety pins thankfully.

The Söderberg sisters are back with yet another cool country guitar ballad dripping in beautiful harmonies that will make you long for the start of the summer.

It will be kind of a long wait in fairness.

It's a Shame is set to appear on the follow-up to 2014 album Stay Gold.

In a statement, the girls talk about moving to LA for five weeks last spring to write and how the city of angels is not all just fun in the sun.

"It’s A Shame is a song about the emptiness and desperation you feel after a relationship has come to an end. How you will go to great lengths just to numb the pain and feel less lonely.”

1) Cardi B landed a historic US #1 single

Rapper and former stripper Cardi B turned heads across the Atlantic this week when she became the first female hip hop star to land a number one in the Billboard chart's Hot 100 in nearly 20 years.

Her track Bodak Yellow follows Lauryn Hill's Doo Wop (That Thing), external which hit the number one spot waaaay back in 1998.

Many female rappers, like Missy Elliott, have tried and failed in the meantime and they were queuing up this week to congratulate her.

Check out Cardi chatting to 1Xtra's Yasmin Evans (above) in April about her forthcoming debut album, which she hopes will be out next month.

Here is the self-proclaimed 'boss' rapping her chart-topping track below.

Read more.

Image source, Getty Images

2) Details of Noel Gallagher's 'experimental' album

One man who, like Missy, has never managed a #1 in America is Noel Gallagher (he's had plenty over here, mind).

This week the High Flying Bird announced details of his forthcoming new album Who Built The Moon?

The record, produced by DJ and composer David Holmes in Belfast will be out on 24 November.

Noel, who recently re-opened the Manchester Arena at the We Are Manchester benefit gig, explained the new record is his most experimental and 'far-out' one yet.

Taste a sample below.

Noel explained the recording process of "one of the best records I've ever made" to 6 Music's Matt Everitt and how "we couldn't have done that in Oasis - there would've been bedlam."

Noel said: "I never thought I was capable of doing anything different."

Listen below and read more.

PS. If you're looking forward to that album dropping, then you'll probably be a tad excited about the return of the Arctic Monkeys next year too.

Image source, MERKY / SOMESUCH / YOUTUBE

3) All about Stormzy's 'inner battle' in powerful new short film

Grime sensation Stormzy this released a moving and compelling short film to accompany his debut album Gang Signs and Prayer.

The 15-minute film, which - we should warn contains strong language and scenes of violence - was premiered on YouTube, external.

It tells the story of a young boy in south London, played by teenager Abdul Basit Ayanwusim (below) who is raised - like Stormzy - by a single parent.

He latches on to a father figure in the local community, who may not be as benevolent as he first appears. Stormzy said the film revealed the "two demons" he faced growing up, and the "inner battle" of many black youths.

Read more.

Image source, MERKY / SOMESUCH / YOUTUBE

Image source, Getty Images

4) Radiohead's Blue Planet II theme collab with Hans Zimmer is out of this world

Earlier this month, it was announced Radiohead were teaming up with composer Hans Zimmer on the soundtrack to the BBC's forthcoming Blue Planet II.

The awe-inspiring piece called (ocean) Bloom - was finally premiered this week, featuring added David Attenborough, and you can check it below.

The band had previously recorded an orchestral version of the song Bloom, external, from their 2011 album The King Of Limbs.

Radiohead's Thom Yorke popped into 6 Music to explain how the original Blue Planet series inspired the original track.

He said: "It was me lying on the sofa trying to go to sleep after being up too late with my young son and it was just coming in and out of my subconscious."

Listen to the full interview with Thom, Jonny and Hans.

Last but definitely not least this week, we learned that...

5) Rapper B.o.B.is raising funds to check if the Earth is flat

B.o.B whose real name is Bobby Ray Simmons Jr, has been a vocal proponent of the Flat Earth theory - the claim the Earth is, in fact, a disc (it isn't) and not spherical (it is).

"Show me the curve," he says.

"I'm starting this GoFundMe because I would like to send one, if not multiple satellites, as far into space as I can, or into orbit as I can, to find the curve," he said in a video on the page.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson (below) for one, was only too happy to oblige B.o.B with an explanation as to exactly where the curve is.

So decide for yourself who to belief (the scientist).

Read more.

There really are an awful lot of new releases and music videos for you today so we handily condensed them down into a single post for you.

You're welcome.

First up is rock newbie Robert Plant and his new track Bluebirds Over the Mountain, which is a duet with another newcomer Chrissie Hynde.

The tracks from his up and coming album Carry Fire, due out on 13 October.

He's playing 6 Music Live next Friday, which should be something special.

Maroon 5 shared their new single “What Lovers Do” featuring rising R&B star SZA in August and now we have an impressively trippy video for it.

It features CGI dinosaurs, squirrels, dolphins and butterflies.

Which is exactly what we want from a music video...

Everybody's favourite ex One Directioner (well, the other four are all still technically in the band) joined forces with Norwegian DJ Kygo for the track Pennies Over Love.

We actually though it was Pennines Over Love at first and was a romantic ode to the hills and mountains of the north...

But that would be ridiculous and this video above is most definitely not shot in Lancashire/Yorkshire.

Finally, it's rocker and impressive roller skater Sheryl Crow and her new track called, appropriately Roller Skate.

Rock 'n roll-erskate more like.

BBC Newsbeat

Image source, Reuters

Baby news... ish.

We know you love it, almost as much as all this new music today. Almost...

Kim Kardashian-West seems to have confirmed that she and US rapper Kanye West are expecting a new baby.

At the end of a trailer for the new series of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, the reality star says to her sister Khloe, "We're having a baby".

In a clip for season 14 of the show (above), Kim is speaking to Khloe in a video call.

"What happens every time I say, 'Guess what?'" Kim asks.

"The person's pregnant?" Khloe asks before Kim announces, "We're having a baby".

They'd best get saving, babas don't come cheap these days.

Read more.

Shania Twain's long-awaited first new album in 15 years Now is out, well... now.

It's her first LP since 2002's Up! (apparently she appreciates brevity)

BBC Entertainment reporter Neil Smith caught up with the star lately to discuss her comeback from a career-threatening condition, brought on by the break-up of her first marriage.

The 52-year-old, who plays Belfast tonight and London on Monday, is alright now though. We know this because she tells us so on the record (below).

That's still no excuse to adopt a pose that would get you told off by a teacher at school though (above).

BBC Sport

*Warning this post contains elements of football chat.

They've spent that much time here of late, that it was inevitable the Foo Fighters were going to get into the English Premier League.

Guitarist Chris Shiflett and massive Gooner has been telling BBC Sport's Football Focus show about how Sex Pistol Jonny Rotten inspired him to become an Arsenal fan and who is favourite ever player is.

Watch above as he predicts victory for The Gunners this weekend, who will probably have Foo Fighters fan and keen drummer Petr Cech protecting their goal.

Country pop star and celeb kid Miley Cyrus releases her new album Younger Now today.

As we told you on Wednesday, the album contains a duet with godmother Dolly Parton.

Now, the 24-year-old has "dropped down to Nashville" for a cuddle with her mum to mark the release.

"What else are you supposed to do the night your album is coming out?"

A problem familiar to us all.

Here's the title track from the record below and it's "kinda whack".

BBC Radio 1

An epic month of Live Lounges will culminate in a performance from London singer Sam Smith at 18:00 BST on Radio 1 this evening.

Lorde had a crack at a Phil Collins number yesterday (scroll down for that performance in full) so what will Sam have up his Grammy-winning sleeve?

Sam follows the likes of Foo Fighters, Jay-Z, Pink, Stormzy and The Killers into the LL.

So no pressure Sam.

A day early but still...

What better to mark a half century of Radio 1 than by subjecting the station's controller Ben Cooper, former breakfast show host Sara Cox and current presenters Adele Roberts and Greg James to a quickfire quiz/test on its history (above).

Also to celebrate the fifty years, a pop up vintage station will be broadcast over the weekend, featuring some classic picks from past programmes.

Here is the schedule...

Image source, Getty Images

Everybody's favourite* Irish sibling band The Corrs are back with SOS, their first single from their forthcoming album Jupiter Calling, which is due out in November.

It's their first new music in two years and you can listen to it below.

The new album has been produced by T Bone Burnett and the band are due to headline a show at the Royal Albert Hall on 19 October.

*Unless you still pine for B*Witched.

Rolling Stone magazine

Image source, Getty Images

A pair of canary yellow high-heeled boots worn by Prince, external have been sold in the US for $75,000 (£56,000).

The custom-made shoes were worn by the Prince during his Sign O’ The Times tour in 1987, which took in 34 dates across Europe.

Which means he danced in them for at least three-solid days, that is a lot of lavender-scented foot sweat.

The boots are said to "exhibit wear consistent with Prince’s exuberant stage performances".

Read more and see them here, external.

He is better known for his impersonations of celebrities, but the comedian and actor has returned to a childhood hobby with a new album of classical piano music.

The Piano Album - is out today and features Alistair performing several short classical pieces, all chosen by himself.

To learn them all, he practiced for up to six hours a day over nine months and told BBC Breakfast he hopes that it will encourage people to pick up instruments and do the same.

Not that we would recommend picking up a piano literally. If you do make sure you bend your knees.

Image source, EPA

Who on earth could he be on about?

LG is on fiery form on his new single Greedy Soul, which he performed on Jools Holland this week., external Be warned though the track contains strong language.

It's the second single taken from his new album As You Were which is out next week and you can watch the new video here, external. But remember, you have been warned.

Liam is clearly angry - but that's always when he's at his best.

Watch him being sweary again but very funny as the BBC cameras followed him to a rock 'n' roll festival in France.

Love him or loathe him, Liam is back.

BBC Radio 2

More new music now from Ed Sheeran's protege Jamie Lawson.

The singer is signed to Ed's Gingerbread Man lavel and releases his new album Happy Accidents today.

Speaking to Chris Evans on the Radio 2 Breakfast show earlier, he told Chris that their pair have never had a disagreement.

"He wanted me to make my record and didn't interfere at all, he doesn't say you can't do that," said Jamie

Fellow guest Russell Crowe piped up "I think I'm seeing him next Wednesday, so I'll tell him how much you've been kissing arse, it'll all be positive."

Check out one of Jamie's new songs below.

Ever wondered what it would be like to be tucked in bed and wished goodnight by the lead singer and guitarist from one of the biggest rock bands in the world?

Well, here just for you, is Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age showing his softer side in his forthcoming Cbeebies Bedtime Story.

Image source, Getty Images

Her album is not out for two weeks yet but US pop idol Pink has eased the pain by releasing title track Beautiful Trauma.

Earlier in the week, the star explained the album got its name due to the traumatic process of recording it but added: "it's also incredibly beautiful, too. There's a lot of beauty still and beautiful souls. Enjoy."

Until it's out, check out the single (as long are you are not offended by some swearing) here., external

It was co-written by "very awesome person" Jack Antonoff of Bleachers, who has written with Lorde, Taylor/Zayn, Fifth Harmony and more, so it's bound to have 'smash hit' written all over it.

And here's Pink doing what she does best in the Live Lounge earlier this month...

Image source, Getty Images

A sitar owned and played by George Harrison on The Beatles' Norwegian Wood has been sold for $62,500 (£46,581) in the US.

The instrument, was purchased from a shop on London's Oxford Street in 1965 and he trained under the musician Ravi Shankar (above).

The Indian string instrument (below) was later gifted to a friend of Harrison's first wife, Patti Boyd.

The name of the successful bidder has not been disclosed.

Read more.

If you're going to do a Live Lounge cover of a pretty iconic song, the rule is 'go big or go home'.

It worked for Rag'N'Bone Man and his reworking of The Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter, external and Harry Styles' Fleetwood Mac cover, external of The Chain and Lorde set herself a challenge with Phil Collins' In The Air Tonight.

Did she pull it off? We'll let you decide.

You can also check out the full performance, which includes her song Green Light.

'Difficult' as the old rock 'n' roll cliche goes but it seems the west London grunge rockers have absolutely smashed it with ease, by all accounts.

Visions of a Life is the follow-up to their 2015 debut My Love is Cool and judging by some of the reviews, it could be an early contender for next year's Mercury Prize.

Too soon?

The Guardian, external describe it as an "exuberant guitar-driven genre jumble", giving it 4/5 stars. The NME, external go one better, awarding it full marks, saying "Wolf Alice's second album is bold, brave and magnificent." Drowned In Sound, external give it 10/10 too. Woof! The online music mag calls the album a "phenomenal achievement."

Ellie and Theo from the band popped into Radio 1 last night to chat to DJ Annie Mac on the eve of their big release and they said they've been trying to get magician Dynamo to help them launch the record.

To be honest it sounds like their album is magic enough as it is...

Check out their chat and Annie's hottest record; Space and Time, from the album, above.

And some fans with a strong emoji game below.