Just to let any of you know who fancy treating yourselves with an early xmas present (or even as a hint to the other half )Prince’s masterpiece Sign O’THE times is available for £ 99 on the SDE site. That is an absolute steal and about £ 60 less than I paid. Fill yer boots.
Twenty from Twenty Twenty.
Well what a pile of crap this year has been. A glimmer of hope as we approach its end but I think we are still a way off normality. Music has been my escape this year more than ever. Below are twenty discs that have made my days brighter than they otherwise would have been. They are not in order but all have done well to get into the twenty as there are plenty more lurking outside:
Elvis Costello – Hey Clockface Bright Eyes – Down in the weeds where the World once was Brigid Dawson and the mothers Network – Ballet of Apes Jess Williamson – Sorceress Bonny Light Horseman – Bonny Light Horseman Lucinda Williams – Good Souls better angels Cornershop – England is a Garden Flaming Lips – American Head Rose City Band – Summerlong Three Queens in the Mourning and Bonnie Prince Billy- Hello Sorrow, Hello Joy Jarvis Cocker – Jarv Is Bob Dylan – Rough and Rowdy Ways Drive by Truckers – The Unravelling Lost Brothers – After the fire, After the rain Waterboys Good Luck seeker Olafur Arnalds – Some kind of Peace Mary Chapin Carpenter – The dirt and the Stars Dawes – » Continue Reading.
Sleep – or lack thereof
Following on from the physical ailments post I was curious to hear other peoples comments on sleep. Most of us on here seem to be of a similar age group where sleep patterns most definitely change if my friends and my own experiences are anything to go by. I usually go to bed around 11pm and have no difficulty in getting off to sleep. Nor do I have any difficulty with say a power nap on a Sunday afternoon. Nor do I have to get up in the middle of the night for a pee thankfully. However it is rare I can sleep past about 5.30 am and am often awake at 4.30 – 5 years ago I would sleep until 7am without ever waking up in the middle of the night. What changes and is there anything we can do to improve our lot?
Saucepan Lids and other First World problems
We store our saucepans in a cupboard that is just above head height. Whenever I try to get one out or put one back I can guarantee that the lids coming flying out at me and create an almighty crash as I fail to catch them or they elude my grasp. We have stored them different ways – on their sides in between the stored saucepans or upside down in the saucepan so that we can store other saucepans on top. It does’t stop the damn things having a life of their own.
And another thing – baked beans. My wife only likes a few, I like more but not three quarters of a tin. When making saturday brunch i emptied just half of the tine into a saucepan. Now here is the problem – when you empty half the contents into the saucepan ALL of the sauce goes in. I put the remainder of the can into the fridge for the next day but when the next day comes the beans are as dry as a Nuns chuff because all of the sauce went on the first serving. Drives me nuts.
Eels – Earth to Dora
What does it sound like?:
In these dark times there are few bright notes. However one small upside has been the unexpected releases of albums by artists who may not have released anything in this past year if this past year was normal.I am thinking Dylan and Bruce certainly but this Eels album has come out of the blue. I have been a huge fan since first hearing Susan’s House on the radio. Ever since I have bought every album and seen him on every tour. The last album The Deconstruction was a little disappointing so. it is really heartwarming to get a new album that stands up to his previous efforts. The first song anything for Boo is a typical Eels mid tempo opener but by track 3 we are into classic Eels territory with Who you say you are which questions whether a new lover is who she professes to be and there is a recurring theme of love gone wrng or an admission that he has screwed up. When the album was first announced I was intrigued by the title ‘Are you fucking your ex?’ and imagined it was E being lascivious and admitting to relations » Continue Reading.
Dawes – Good luck with Whatever
What does it sound like?:
In 2011 I was in New York and had one of those ‘stop you in your tracks’ moments. I was there on business and travelling in between calls on a less than fruitful business trip. My friend TIm the driver of the car and also an avid music fan had WFUV on the radio our preferred station if in the New York area. They were playing a song that sounded like Jackson Browne but wasn’t. It had great lyrics and a lovely melody. We arrived at our next call while the song was still playing. I asked Tim to let the song play to its conclusion. It was a song called ‘A little bit of everything’ by a band called Dawes who I had never heard of at that time. To say I was smitten was an understatement. I bought that album and their first and everything since. That song is without doubt the most played song in my collection in the 9 years since I first heard it. I became something of a fan and then I was a little disappointed with their last release Passwords – it wasnt awful, I just felt » Continue Reading.
Who burst your bubble with a below par live performance?
Inspired by the live gig you would like to see again post I thought about gigs I looked forward to that left me cold. There have been a couple for me. I am a big fan of the recorded work of Los Lobos yet when I have seen them live (twice) they have failed to move me. I have heard live tracks of theirs on disc and they have it in them to be incendiary. Yet both times I saw them they appeared to be going through the motions. Another huge disappointment was Robert Cray – recorded output fine. I expected a live performance with extended solos etc but nada – almost a note perfect facsimile of his albums. Really what is the point?
Settle it once and for all
I always thought that piece of metal you put in your mouth that makes vibrating noises somewhat akin to a didgeridoo was know as a Jews Harp. Reading a tribute to Ennio Morricone in this months Uncut I saw it referred to as a Jaw Harp. That would make more sense but is clearly wrong (in my head). Which should it be or can it be both?
What other curiosities can we resolve through friendly debate on this site?
‘You wait an hour for a bus then all of a sudden two come along together’
I have perhaps 3500-4000 albums in my collection. I do not have any albums by anyone called Brigid. Then all of a sudden in the month of July I get two in the shape of Brigid Dawson and Brigid Mae Power – nothing intentional but it is a little odd.
Anyone else experienced any odd happenings recently?
You learn something new every day
Today i learned that Jackson Browne was once a member of The Nitty Gritty Dirt band. I never knew that.
What have you learned recently that took you by surprise
What in Gods name are the Tax dodgers playing at?
Was just shopping on the tax dodgers site and it seems they are no longer listing track names on albums/cd’s – what on earth is the point of that. One could argue if you are buying a new release cd you don’t need to know the track names but certainly if you are looking at compilations or deluxe versions of releases I would have though it was a pretty basic requirement. I might start buying somewhere else as this is another sign to me that they want you to be streamed music or kindle books. They can fuck right off whist I have the choice.
Crash course for the Ravers
This months Mojo has a Bowie themed CD Crash Course for the Ravers. It contains much unfamiliar to me tracks by Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Gail Ann Dorsey and Robert Fripp amongst others. It is absolutely brilliant and if you are not a subscriber to Mojo I urge you to go out and buy the issue or steal it if you have to.Fabulous stuff. They normally go in the bin after one listen – this one won’t.
Gretchen Peters – The night you wrote that song: The songs of Mickey Newbury
What does it sound like?:
I know there are a lot of Gretchen fans on here and I guess a few will be disappointed that her latest release is a tribute to Mickey Newbury rather than a collection of self-penned songs. This review intends to dispel any fears you may have.What you get with any new Gretchen album is one of the best female voices around, great musical backing and fantastic songs. You have all of these elements except that she is interpreting another great songwriters efforts. Mickey Newbury had something of a cult following whilst he was alive but like many others his reputation increased after his untimely death. Firstly I have to say that Gretchen’s voice has matured like a fine wine. If I think back to songs such as On a Bus to St.Cloud or Independence day – her voice had a sweetness and hadnt yet developed the timbre that she now has. It has a huskiness that didnt previously exist and it suits her and the songs. In listening to these songs it is clear that they were a big influence on her own songs – if you take songs like Frisco Depot or San Francisco » Continue Reading.
Chet Baker klaxon
Amazon Deutschland have a 17 disc boxset Chet Baker – Milestones of a Jazz legend for a tad under £ 15.00 for anyone interested.
The bright lights have been dimmed
I heard this on the radio yesterday and was shocked. I thought I would listen to it again this morning just to check if it was a bad I thought it was. It is. The original is a great uplifting song. Mark Ronson has turned it into a godawful dirge. Off with his head. https://youtu.be/lRysND5-Kj0
Roscoe – Lyrical strangeness
Kudos to 6Music for playing my favourite Midlake song Roscoe on my drive in to work this am. Very melodic but strange strange lyrics that I can’t easily make sense off. The line that almost acts as a chorus in a song without a chorus is ‘Whenever I was a child I wondered what if my name had changed into something more productive like Roscoe’. Makes little sense to me either stand alone or in the context of the rest of the song.
We know songs like I am the Walrus are difficult to make sense of but this is a seemingly serious song which I assume is supposed to refer to something. Any other examples out there that you would like to post?
The Troubles of our times
Let me say at the outset that this post is not intended to be either political or controversial but is borne out of something that I have been thinking about and have discussed with friends and colleagues.
I think every generation has a tumultuous event to contend with that will stay with them for years. I can only shape this in terms of my experiences, my parents experiences, my Grandparents experiences and my children’s experiences. My paternal Grandfather survived Ypres whilst my maternal Grandfather was an officer in India, China and an artillery gunner in Gravesend who shot down one of the first Zeppelins over the UK. Both of them in their advancing years reminisced about the First World War to some extent fondly if that is the right word. As they neared their final days both of them had recurring hallucinations that dispelled the fondness which must surely have been a front.
My mum and dad born in 1931 and 1929 respectively were both too young to be active in the war but have vivid experiences. Birmingham was a target for nightly bombing raids and they clearly recall the air raid shelters.Mum was evacuated to a family in Somerset » Continue Reading.
Passed my by the first time around
I really like The Thievery Corporation and know there are some fans of theirs on here. However their album The Temple of I and I really didn’t move me when I first heard it and has stayed on my shelf ever since. However I played it on one of my work from home days and have to say have played it about 5 times in the last week. Don’t know whether it is fine weather or a relaxed frame of mind but it has really gelled with me. What albums did you ‘get’ after initially being underwhelmed?
A piece of advice from Mr Randy Newman
Anyone fancy a pint?
Austria is planning to open its bars and restaurants on 15th May – anyone fancy a pint?
Easter present
I first heard this in a helicopter flying from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. I didn’t know of its existence but was instantly taken with it. I haven’t heard it since until today when I was sorting through photos and thought back to that magical day. I know there are many who don’t like the Eagles but I happen to think this song is tremendous and so too this version:
https://youtu.be/5EHyht_Kx5I
Isolation Jukebox
I guess many of us are either working from home or self isolating. I work in an essential industry but work from home alternate days. Its a novelty and gives me chance to play discs that haven’t been aired for a while and catch up on new. Yesterday my Jukebox was:
Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbotts – Manchester calling (delivered that morning – first listen fab) Mike Oldfield – Ommadawn – long time since I played, really enjoyed hearing again. Fela Kuit – Everything scatter Elbow – The take off and landing of everything – a greatly underrated Elbow album Hurray for the Riffraff – Small Town Hero David Bowie – Is it any wonder ep Danny and the Champions of the World – Brilliant Light Goat – Requiem
Party like its 1999
No doubt this current predicament the World faces is a pile of shit. As a born optimist I have to look to the World post Coronavirus. In view of the fact that pubs and restaurants are taking a right kicking I believe we have a duty to spend a lot of time in them when normality returns. Let’s make sure we have a great fuck off party.
Opening tracks
Reading Eltons Autobiography at present and really enjoying it. It inspired me to give Goodbye Yellow Brick road a spin – you don’t get many better opening tracks than this one.
Two old bats at the theatre
Yesterday we were in London to see the stage performance of Pretty Woman, a Christmas present for my daughter. We were enjoying the show despite two older women behind us grunting and talking throughout the first half of the show and trying to sing the words of the songs that no-one knew. As the first half drew to a close one of the old bats put her hand on my daughters boyfriends shoulder and asked if he could move seats because she couldn’t see. Firstly he is not tall- about 5’10” and secondly it was a sold out show – where exactly was he going to move to? She continued putting her hand on his shoulder and saying she had asked nicely. He asked her not to put her hand on his shoulder. They then proceed to talk loudly between each other that they had upset him. It became quite heated and he walked out of the show because he felt uncomfortable. The discussion carried on a the trouble maker of the two bats said something about our accent. I then lost it: ‘what exactly is the problem with our accent?’ ‘Well its not from London is it?’. ‘So lets » Continue Reading.