I got a small wrist-slappy move to the Noticeboard last time I posted one of these. Won’t make that mistake again.
Anyway. A couple of songs from our occasional series of rehearsal videos, one of which is new.
Hope you like. Frankly, I hope you see it at all. *waves from doldrums of Noticeboard section*
JustB says
I knew there was a reason I didn’t post this in Noticeboard last time. You can’t embed videos in Noticeboard OPs (or at least the normal field for blogs doesn’t appear).
Anyway. Video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyWElr96YqA
Hannah says
Interesting, that’s something we might be able to address. It’d be useful to embed vids in Noticeboard OPs. Any probs like that, please do drop us an email so we can do something about it. Will report back.
x
PS I don’t know if you’re aware, but Noticeboard stuff appears on the Recently Updated box, our RSS feed, our Twitter feed and our FB page, so not really the doldrums, surely?
JustB says
I’m teasing a little bit, don’t mind me 😉
Hannah says
Naughty Bob. x
ianess says
Any chance you can disembed YouTube clips?
H.P. Saucecraft says
*APPLAUSE*
Sewer Robot says
Y’know a little gentle ribbing or even a genuine expression of weariness over the amount of tube heavy threads is one thing, but after a while it starts to look like you’re taunting a particular individual who contributes enormously to the jollity of the site. People have flounced over a lot less.
The clip-heavy threads, like the football threads or UK politics threads or video game threads may not have universal appeal, but they are easy enough to avoid if they are not to your taste..
Gary says
Yep. Some of us (ie. me) like the youtube clips. I don’t really understand the point when they’re songs everyone knows, so I ignore them (just like I always ignore the football threads) but I really enjoy going through clips I don’t know and would never normally come across. I’ve discovered plenty of new music that way.
chiz says
The random You Tube clip threads don’t reflect the taste of most of the participants here. (Spot the odd one out in the current Most Commented Last 30 days list. ) They have unequal prominence because the person who starts them also provides a huge proportion of the content. Think of the teasing as a slightly frustrated request for a fairer share of voice.
fortuneight says
“The taste of most participants here” – I must have missed that survey.
Bingo Little says
The YouTube clip threads aren’t to my taste, but the people who do get involved in them seem to really enjoy them, and I’m not sure five people having a whale of a time and posting 200 comments between them is any less important than a thread where 40 of us chip in 5 comments apiece.
The point about undue prominence is fair enough – I guess the question is whether most people navigate the site using “Most Commented”. I know I don’t, so it doesn’t bother me in the slightest if a thread on songs featuring musical instruments is top of the pops for weeks on end.
Kaisfatdad says
I confess. I confess. I can get over-enthusiastic if I am interested in a topic.
But for once I didn’t need to.
The odd man out on the Most Commented of the last 30 days is of course my Hip Hop Odyssey thread. Other than myself there were 17 contributors and the enthusiasm and the quality of tracks was stupendous.
Bingo clocked up about 30 YT clips, closely followed by Moose. And I’m very grateful to everyone who contributed. I’ll be revisiting the thread and listening to the playlist all summer.
Come to think of it, 17 contributors is scarily mainstream for me. I promise to try harder next time. Anyone fancy a thread on the use of the mellotron in 1960s Hungarian TV themes?
ianess says
Just to give a recent example, the lists of the ‘Recently Updated’ and ‘Most Commented’ comments were taken up by two threads (out of ten) that comprised lists of YouTube clips. These threads had about four or five participants; the OP poster regularly taking up 80% of the comments. This has the effect of squeezing out other threads which do not have such ‘enthusiastic’ contributors.
Chiz is correct when he mentions they are clearly not to the ‘taste’ of most of these on here – this is blatantly obvious from the vanishingly small nember of views received by comparison to comments; even that number being inflated by the OP poster responding to himself.
Maybe a separate category altogether could be introduced where those inclined could dump the contents of YouTube to their heart’s content, allowing more general posts a bit more life before being crowded out?
H.P. Saucecraft says
A point of view – any at all – is more likely to “entertain lively minds” (how soon we forget) than an endless procession of YouTube clips, mostly unaccompanied by any comment at all. We know where YouTube is, and the blog should perhaps be more than a portal to it. Video links can usefully add to a comment expressing a point of view, recounting a story, posing a question or whatever, but they can quickly become content in themselves – pretty thin stuff.
Tiggerlion says
Only two threads of YouTube clips out of ten in most commented and viewed is not many. Isn’t that within the realms of acceptability?
From time to time, I enjoy them and have discovered some pleasurable music as a result.
There are plenty of other threads to view or participate in.
ianess says
It was a constant 20% which meant other, newer threads were being bumped off the list and possibly not receiving the attention they should.
‘From time to time, I enjoy them..’ is hardly the most ringing endorsement.
Does anyone really listen to the numerous clips in these interminable lists, with their balls-achingly ‘funny’ themes and cringing lye banal comments, other than the trainspotters and ‘enthusiasts’?
ianess says
And apologies to bob for distracting from his very good music and lovely toaster.
It’s ‘cringingly’ and the number of views would suggest very few engage with these particular threads.
chiz says
There was a lovely little thread the other day called The Kindness of Strangers. It had some beautifully-written and really quite moving contributions, and it very briefly appeared at the bottom of the Most Commented list, with 50 comments and 1000 views. 1:20 is a phenomenal strike rate, up there with the Beyonce thread and miles more engagement than any of the other topics in the current lists.
So why don’t we celebrate threads like that when they are clearly what people want to read? Because the site is set up in a way that allows someone to dominate it by pumping 50 or 60 comments into their own thread on Moo Baa Oink: Let’s List All The Sounds Of The Barnyard.
Johnny Concheroo says
There was a hidden camera at the last Afterword mingle
http://i.imgur.com/RP2KP2q.jpg
chiz says
Railway songs! That’s a great Idea for a list, Johnny!
You could call it ‘Train Tracks’
Or ‘Rock’n’Rolling Stock’
Or ‘Station to Station: The Off-Peak Return of the Thin White Duke’
H.P. Saucecraft says
To answer your question, Chiz, I couldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t post this! We Afterword trainspotters get up quite a head of steam, don’t we?
chiz says
Some cross-list fertilisation now with this clip which brilliantly combines Sounds of the Barnyard and Railways!!!!
H.P. Saucecraft says
Great comment, HP! Have an up! Here’s a childhood favourite from television-land!
chiz says
Choo Choo Choon!!!!
H.P. Saucecraft says
What’s coming now, Chiz? From Around The Mountain?
Woo-hoo!
Sewer Robot says
Okay. Well explained, Chiz. I understand the grievance a lot better now. Personally, I always go to the front page and down through the blogs to see if I’ve missed a little gem. “Most commented” and “Most viewed” might as well not be there as far as I’m concerned.
Thing is, going way back, there’s always been clip threads and no topic was too inane – can we find a song for every number? A-Z etc. These threads do throw up new music – I’ve discovered a lot this way – and KFD helpfully takes the time to bang up Spotify lists which saves me the bother and may even draw new people to the site. It was the old Aspidistra & Hatstand nights (and they were just random videos) that piqued my interest.
I think the problem may be, as Poppy has said before and I’ve never really grasped, that this isn’t really a “blog” in the conventional sense ( dunno – never been on any others) so it’s a bit of an abomination.
But your patient explanation has certainly given me pause for thought and I think will prove more effective than some of the “chippier” (IMO) comments of recent weeks..
H.P. Saucecraft says
Spotify lists accomplish quite as much as an entire thread on Tunes About Teeth, take up far less space, and have the advantage of not being playable where I live, so I’m all for them.
Don’t know why you bring KFD into this, though.
minibreakfast says
Bumpity-bump.
hubert rawlinson says
We know a song about that don’t we boys and girls.
minibreakfast says
Love the new one! Will there be an album this year?
JustB says
We hope so! 🙂
Mavis Diles says
As you know, I’m a fan.
I’m not blowing smoke here : there is a step change evident on this video. The confidence, the professionalism, and the passion have all significantly increased. The hard work you put in is massively paying off. The new song, I Am Awake, could be your best so far.
So thanks for posting.
JustB says
Wow! Thank you so much, MD 🙂
H.P. Saucecraft says
Fapfapfap
Mavis Diles says
Yes, the anonymity of the internet gives me a massive raging horn too.
H.P. Saucecraft says
“Massive raging horn” – that’s what the track needs!
H.P. Saucecraft says
Just to calm Mavis down a little, Bob knows I like his songs because we’ve communicated off-blog (imagine that!), and I like this one too. OK, Mave?
Mavis Diles says
Never mind that. What are you wearing..?
minibreakfast says
Clique alert!
chiz says
I like your toaster
H.P. Saucecraft says
It’s a Goblin Teasmade.
chiz says
Hmmm… Breville I think. Possibly the Special Edition 4-Slice Retro Brownstar from the ’08 re-issue series?
H.P. Saucecraft says
The Brownstar is a collector’s item! There’s a great unboxing video on YouTube.
chiz says
My Brownstar pops out two lovely mahogany baguettes every morning before breakfast
H.P. Saucecraft says
*backs slowly away from thread*
chiz says
21 hour drop-time on that joke. I’m quite proud of that.
H.P. Saucecraft says
You’re feeling flushed?
JustB says
It’s a Dualit. A lovely green one.
H.P. Saucecraft says
Shame it’s not the Brownstar. That’s the toaster’s toaster.
Sewer Robot says
The whole thing would be much improved if, while Bob was trilling, Katy picked up a baseball bat and smashed the toaster to bits*
(*that’s a Beyoncé reference for those who think I’m some sort of nutter)
Poppy Succeeds says
Lovely! And great corpsing from Katy!
Beany says
Needs more cowbell. I Am Awake. No really I am now and I appear to have something in my eye. My goosebumps even have goosebumps.
JustB says
Thanks Beany! An endorsement from you is always… well, let’s be frank, it’s always a bit of a worry. 😉
Beany says
In that case I shall say.. “I hated it” – Beany.
You can use that in the Melody Maker adverts.
niallb says
Really good stuff. I Am Awake is terrific. As MD says above, you’re sounding polished and professional, which can only come from time together and lots of rehearsal.
Well done.
JustB says
Thank you, Niall!
Junior Wells says
I listened to all of that ,which is saying something given the amount of youtube on this site.
Really liked it.
Every now and then I am reminded of a Melbourne band the Killjoys that deserved more recognition than they got. Not this song particularly but this is a good one.
JustB says
Thank you, Junior 🙂
minibreakfast says
I’m waiting for the vinly.
H.P. Saucecraft says
In a private email, Bob commissions me to draw a pair of breasts for the cover. He wants something “that looks like it might be graffiti on a really rough toilet wall, something schoolboyish and crude to go against our image.”
minibreakfast says
Get ’em out then.
H.P. Saucecraft says
… from here?
Junior Wells says
How about it has Bob sitting against a wall reading a comic from the 60s?
Johnny Concheroo says
Which comic though, JW? Can you be more specific?
JustB says
Thank you all for being very nice. A bit weird – you know who you are – but very nice.
Bingo Little says
Just had a listen. Blimey – the new one is really, really good. Very well done!
JustB says
Yay! Thanks Bingo. 🙂
fentonsteve says
That’s proper lush, that is.
Fancy a trip to south west Cambridgeshire on the afternoon of Sunday June 12th?
I have a gig in a marquee, and a vacant 45-minute slot supporting @Skirky and his Neighbourhood Dogs. No performance fee to offer, but free BBQ and beer.
JustB says
Ooh Steve – drop me a PM. That sounds great! Will check with Katy. 🙂 Thanks!
Skirky says
Come on over, son – it’ll be a hoot!
fentonsteve says
Unfortunately, The Disappointment Choir will not be joining us at ‘WordStock as Katy has something called “a life”, which doesn’t involve typing musical trivia at strangers. Some people!
JustB says
Yeah, we’re really sad we couldn’t make it but K is away on a break with friends that weekend. Dead disappointing. 🙁
Vulpes Vulpes says
That’s a cracker Bob’n’Katy. Best thing since toasted bagels. You talented bastards.
JustB says
Thanks, Foxy. Very nice of you 🙂
Beezer says
Consider my boat floated. ‘I Am Awake’ is something rather good, is it not? Katy’s harmonies lift it right up. In fact I thought it’s ideal arrangement would be a choral work, with a geet massive choir singing the balls off it.
As Bernard Levin would doubtless have said.
Could you not afford colour?
JustB says
Ta Beez! It’s very different in its “full form”. Structurally and melodically the same but it gets – and stop me if I’m getting too technical – “fuck-off massive” at certain points.
We’re thinking of maybe book-ending the album with the “big” and “small” versions, possibly doing one with slightly altered lyrics to fit the sort of “story” of the record.
Beezer says
You have my permission to proceed with this plan.
Rigid Digit says
Just to add to the maelstrom of positivity, yup that’s got me too.
Properly good that is – I’ll be honest, I don’t think I’ve heard a duffer from your good selves
(and don’t forget this is Punky Heavy Metal Boy speaking here)
JustB says
Thanks RD! 🙂
nigelthebald says
I’m half asleep, but even so I could tell that was bloody lovely!
JustB says
Thanks Nigel!
Lodestone of Wrongness says
I’d just like to say that was fucking awful. Of course I may be wrong, I usually am
JustB says
How lovely of you.
Sewer Robot says
I suspect LoW is making a nominative determinism joke. Although I’m usually wrong too..
minibreakfast says
I think you’re right. He’s not usually a dick.
H.P. Saucecraft says
Good grief. It’s a J-O-K-E.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
A feeble, ultimately futile attempt at a joke. If that’s disappointment then give me more….
JustB says
Really didn’t pick up on the jokiness. My bad!
H.P. Saucecraft says
Made me laugh. Give the man some credit!
MC Escher says
Hey! Just noticed a possible site issue. After a few nested replies the “Reply” button disappears. For example the comment from Fortuneight above has no Reply button associated with it.
I was going to comment on the music, honest, but got distracted when I noticed.
JustB says
I think after x number of nests it stops showing. I assumed feature, not bug.
MC Escher says
Ah right. Will listen at my leisure, promise.
JustB says
🙂
Mike_H says
Either a site bug or a Chrome browser issue, IMO, as the occasionally-disappearing Reply button seems to turn up if the page is refreshed on my laptop here.
Mike_H says
…and the new songs are good ‘uns and indeed a step forward.
JustB says
Thanks Mike!
fortuneight says
It’s happening in Firefox (refreshing doesn’t make any difference) and on my iPad too, and there are other comments deeper nested that I could reply to. I assume it’s part of the new editorial policy that apparently we need.
GCU Grey Area says
I think its an issue with WordPress-based sites. Affects me whatever OS/browser I use.
It used to happen with the previous Drupal-based site, too.
Lando Cakes says
Excellent. Will be interested to hear the electronic-y version of I Am Awake.
JustB says
Thanks Lando – we’re really looking forward to recording it.
Tiggerlion says
I enjoyed that. Excellent. You are a good-looking, talented chap with great hair. You should go far.
Rigid Digit says
Gret hair is all very well, but surely it is the trousers which are the key to success
JustB says
Haha, thanks Tiggs!
pencilsqueezer says
Very nice.
JustB says
Thanks Peter.
GCU Grey Area says
http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/t449/GCU_Grey_Area/RP2KP2q-1_zpsweztujfh.jpg
Kaisfatdad says
Witty as ever GCU! Have an Up. If this train of thought continues, I may soon have to rename myself FatController.
chiz says
Or the Tube Driver…
H.P. Saucecraft says
Chiz adds his amusing comment to the thread! Cheers, Chiz!
Johnny Concheroo says
It should read “No Civilians Beyond This Point”
GCU Grey Area says
I increasingly identify myself as a civilian, in terms of music. No problem keeping up with loads of other stuff, but new music just seems to whizz past me at a furious rate.
Sewer Robot says
Oh, that is puntastic!
H.P. Saucecraft says
And font-tastic, too!
GCU Grey Area says
The D5— number suggests its a Class 26, but might be a 27, 28, 29, 30 or 31, in that rather fetching green and yellow livery.
*gets weak lemon drink*
H.P. Saucecraft says
Hmm. I feel an Ian Allan thread coming on …
Johnny Concheroo says
You rang, sir?
http://i.imgur.com/B290mLU.jpg
GCU Grey Area says
I have loads of Ian Allan aircraft and warship books, but no railway ones, not being that into trains.
Johnny Concheroo says
Can anyone name a song that references train spotting?
Clue: It only just crept into the UK top 50, but was the follow-up to a massive worldwide number one.
H.P. Saucecraft says
Is it “Trainspotting”, by The Trainspotters, Johnny?
Johnny Concheroo says
Ah, would that it were, young Saucecraft. Would that it were.
H.P. Saucecraft says
Is it “I’ve Got Your Number” by Dee Sell And The Bogies, Johnny?
fortuneight says
Wish I could sing and harmonise like that. Great stuff.
JustB says
Thanks F8!
Rob C says
Cool stuff, Bob. Lovely vibe.
JustB says
Thanks Rob!
Fin59 says
Very good. Really strong songs. My favourite is Need Someone. Love its cadences and world weary but optimistic vibe. Nice work Bob.
JustB says
Thanks Fin. Really nice of you.
Raymond says
Lovely songs, both of them. And the videos, although (perhaps because?) they are very basic, capture the spirit of your act.
I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned this before, but your vocals and melodies remind me -at times- of Ben and Jason.
Apologies for hi-jacking the thread, but some Afterworders may be unaware of this wonderful chart-avoiding number 76 smash from 1999. This is a gorgeous song and the album ‘Emoticons’ contains plenty more. Bob is new Ben. Or maybe Jason.