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Lyrics that should be the first lines in a book

by 91 Comments

Three from me:

“It’s strange what desire will make foolish people do.”

“People tell me it’s a sin to know and feel too much within. I still believe she was my twin, but I lost the ring.”

“I think when it’s all over, It just comes back in flashes, you know? It’s like a kaleidoscope of memories. it just all comes back. But he never does.”

Any other suggestion?

Does Douglas have the right to create a “Who Cares Saucecraft?” thread in response to HP Saucecraft’s comments in Jonny Concheroo’s thread entitled “The Beatles Did It First”? Or is that thread too metatextual?

by 35 Comments

i think not. Although Mr Saucecraft’s comments on Douglas’s “Who Cares Saucecraft?” thread in response to HP Saucecraft’s comments in Jonny Concheroo’s thread entitled “The Beatles Did It First” smacks, perhaps, a little too much of PoMo intertextuality.

Thoughts?

Taking Back Control?

by 422 Comments

Genuinely sad about this vote. But the polls after a democratic vote are what they are and it was nice to see people so obviously engaged. Obviously DC is now a dead man walking. I want to be positive, it could be a genuine invigoration of politics, but in the longer run I fear balkanization of the UK. What do you think the repercussions will be?

case/lang/veirs

by 15 Comments

What does it sound like?:

Let’s get the an obvious comparison out of the way, Is this a female CSN pour nos jour? Well, the facts point that way; all three are great singer songwriters and their harmonies do have that goosebumps-inducing closeness. However, on comparing first albums, CLV have a wider stylistic focus. After kicking off with Atomic Number, a catchy bit of shuffling indie rock, the album ranges from Honey and Smoke a typical bit of kd low-key lust complete with Bacharach style backing vocals, Veirs reverb-rich homage to Judee Sill, and the soaring pop of Neko’s 1980s inflected Delirium. And that is just in the first five tracks. Taking in torch songs, C&W and Americana, this is an album chockablock with hooks and actual real tunes. Oh and the harmonies aren’t too bad either.

I’m already saying this is my Album of the Year.

What does it all *mean*?

Old fashioned songwriting is still alive and kicking.

Goes well with…

A proper grown up drink like a single malt, a dark room, and a broken heart.

Might suit people who like…

All the individuals involved. Oh alright then CSN(and Y) fans. If you are curious, » Continue Reading.

Unlikely Sporting Anthems

by 41 Comments

Tied into The Manics quite good official Welsh Euro anthem, Nicky Wire was interviewed by Nick Robinson on Radio 4. He reminded Robinson that the Echo and the Bunnyman had recorded a song for the 1998 football World Cup with the Spice Girls. Until Wire reminded me, this song had been expunged from my head space. What was everyone involved thinking about?

Any more unlikely, unusual, or just plain crap sporting tribute songs you want to share?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtVGYFeiD2A

Do give up the day job

by 2 Comments

I was tempted to start a “Jobs after they are famous” thread, but that’s been done. So I have no other reason to link this story other than the amazing fact that Dave Lee Roth – singer on the best rock debut ever apparently, it must be true I read it somewhere authoritative -is also a qualified and active New York paramedic. Sod any charity work, DLR is actually getting his hands dirty (probably literally sometimes) and doing something practical for his community. Props to him.

Also interesting to see that the (forgotten?) original winner of Fame Academy has a successful songwriting career.

That’s all folks.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/6d6c254d-9543-4870-8d40-85f2a92d988d

Neil Young and the Promise of the Real

by 13 Comments

Venue:

Leeds Arena

Date: 10/06/2016

Following a subdued set by Laura Marling, the stage was blessed in some ersatz Native American ritual in which young women threw what I think were corn seeds into its four corners. When the spotlight came up, Mr Young was sitting at the piano and the distinctive chords of After the Goldrush chimed out. Straight after, he strapped on an old acoustic guitar and harmonica stand, and went through stripped down, busker versions of classics like Heart of Gold and The Needle and the Damage Done. Suddenly the lights went down and in contrast to the original ceremony, a bunch of hazchem suited goons came on and “chemically sprayed” the stage. Promise of the Real stepped into the limelight, Mr Young strapped on a semi-acoustic and the full band went straight into From Hank to Hendrix off Harvest Moon. About an hour in, things really took off. It began with a really snappy, joyous version of Walk on. Following a quick inter-group convo the crowd were told, “we gonna try something we haven’t done for years, not sure if we can play this” followed by a perfect version of If I Could Have Her » Continue Reading.

I’m like, defo, dropping the vinyls now.

by 31 Comments

So, right. Me, you, and your bae are like totally into the vinyls, Yah right my bros? Give me a fist bump. It’s like one of those bespoke, on fleek, touches that makes us, right, different and down with it. But, heads up me posse, this occurrence – see the instagram below – had me throwing shade. THE VINYLS ARE ON SALE IN SAINSBURYS, ya?

Know what I think? Cray cray, I know, but the vinyls are, like, so dead bro. Like, I am totes over them now. You know what I am saying?

So my posse, wha gwan next for we?

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd449/jimathomas/File%2029-05-2016%2012%2016%2030.jpeg

Did you know Bricameron

by 5 Comments

is actually David Cameron discreetly trying out new policy ideas before they are announced to the public? Obviously, I immediately spotted this because his crap “anonymous” id gives it away. Anyone got more policy suggestions for him?

Me: Boris Johnston should be forced to release a pro-Brexit dub platter.

A sunny spring day in Northern Europe is good for the soul

by 25 Comments

Yesterday that was a perfect spring day. I took this picture just 3 miles from my front door. I was looking at that view, listening to a Skylark song and the previous night’s heavy rain gurgling down hidden culverts, Then the first verse from this Dylan Thomas poem came into my head and i had a few seconds of satori when I was so grateful to be alive, to be resolved to the whole fucking madness of existence and to the moment my death.

Is there a better place than the British Islands on a sunny spring day?

Nothing else to say really. Anyway Mr Thomas says it better:

The force that through the green fuse drives the flower Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees Is my destroyer. And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.

The force that drives the water through the rocks Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams Turns mine to wax. And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks.

The hand that whirls the water in the » Continue Reading.

It’s a long shot, but maybe it will come in.

by 1 Comment

The only time I have been to Cheltenham was on Gold Cup day about 20 years ago. I was my father-in-law, a keen follower of the Sport of Kings and a former tipster for his local paper. Before the first race, he gave me the name of his favoured nag, which was at 25/1. Unbeknownst to him I put down £20 on the nose. It won and turned the rest of the day into a Guy Ritchie film. We left without any of the winnings…and not many memories of later events.

Anyway, if you can believe Ton Hanks he may be about to blow my best day at the races to pieces. Anyone else win anything against the odds?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJwgPyPVO7I

High capacity MP3 player

by 38 Comments

Oh woe is me. It appears I have dropped my 160gb Ipod classic while on a walk in the peak district. Its performance was getting a bit eccentric in the last few months, but I am already suffering from withdrawal. I need something with at least 100gb capacity. A quick trawl around the web, leads me to 3 possible replacements, each of which has slots for SD cards and can play lossy and lossless files.

(i) A FiiO – probably a X1 would do.

(ii) The Sony NWZA-15 A looks good, especially as it has 50 hours playback off a charge.

(iii) Or maybe a AGPtEK Imp. Which at less than £60 seems too good to be true.

Anyone got any advice or recommendation? To be honest, I am not in the market for something too upmarket like a Cowon.

Lucius

by 2 Comments

Venue:

Brudenell Social Club

Date: 09/04/2016

A proper Saturday Night gig in a proper Saturday Night Venue.

Jess Wolfe, Holly Laessig are striking; looking like they are members of some New Age Cult, they run onto stage in 1970s style, science fiction robes, heads shaved back and sides and the rest of their hair hennaed. The three guys in the group, all with hipster beards, take up a line behind them and they are straight into the music. Eclectic music it is too: taking in 1960s girl group pop, 1970s folk, country and western, and 1980s New Wave. Given the influences – and the fact they come from New York – they feel like an East Coast version of Haim, without the bass-face; in fact they haven’t got a bassist at all. What they do have in abundance is old fashioned, hook-based, power pop, laden with the girls’ sugar-sweet, tight harmonies and the guys angular instrumentation.

They’ve got plenty of confidence too. At one point, thanks to their radio mikes, Jess and Holly wander into the crowd and just keep on singing their hearts out. That done, they sit on the stage edge and lead us into an » Continue Reading.