Weekly Pop Music Blog Roundup - July 30, 2006

I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but here it is very, very hot (heat index nearing 110), so it's a great weekend to stay indoors and catch up with pop music. Here are some of the most interesting stories on the blogosphere from the past week.

• James #748464866 shared the text of a planned article for a music magazine that provides some fascinating research on indie vs. metal fans.
• Unfortunately, the venerable Top of the Pops is coming to an end today. Diamond Geezer gives us the Top 10 Reasons why.
• I call it The American Idols Go to Washington. It's satire from Marty Kaplan on the Huffington Post.
• In case you are yet to encounter it, 33 1/3 is a brilliant series of books covering classic albums from pop and rock history. It is also the subject of a blog. Read this excerpt from a book manuscript on Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark which describes the efforts to create a pop hit single for Joni.
• Chronic Curmudgeon has been bringing us Mudge's Favorite 134 Songs of the '80's. This week we were treated to a set of video classics.
• Blabbeando gushed over the latest Scritti Politti album White Bread Black Beer which has been shortlisted for this year's Mercury Prize. Remember the brilliance that was Scritti Politti on "Perfect Way" back in the 80's?
• Finally, the Open Letter to Janet Jackson from Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch blog is required reading.