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Parting ways with a favourite band

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The National have a new album coming out next month, and for the first time I find I’m not that bothered. The first single ‘Tropic Morning News’ is… fine. They’ve released another two songs from the album in the last few weeks and I hadn’t even bothered to listen to them until I started writing this post. They are similarly… fine. It’s always disappointing when a favourite band fail to deliver. I think most would agree that The National peaked with Alligator/Boxer/High Violet, and I quite like Trouble Will Find Me, but it’s been diminishing returns since then. They’re also touring but have stepped up to arenas, so I don’t think I’ll be seeing them this time.

So – have you parted ways with a favourite band? Or do you keep buying the records and going to shows out of some sense of loyalty?

ATM: running apps

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I’ve never really done much exercise, but as a result of lockdown and home working I found myself moving even less than usual. So I’ve been running, using the BBC’s Couch to 5K app, and after a couple of months I’m amazed to find myself regularly running for half an hour. So now that I’ve completed that, I’m looking for another running app to encourage me to keep going. Couch to 5K doesn’t actually track how far or fast you’re running, so I’d like to be able to see that, and I’d like to be able to listen to my own music. And I’d like it to update me as I run, how far I’ve gone and how long I have left. And I’d prefer it to be free if possible. Thanks in advance!

New album from The National

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Look! The National have got a new album coming out in May! First new song ‘You Had Your Soul With You’ features Gail Ann Dorsey and sounds pretty good, and there’s a short film to go along with the album, directed by Mike Mills. Oh, and tour dates too (I’ll be at Kelvingrove Bandstand in August). *end of public service announcement*

Songs with your name in them

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Over on the Festival or Jestival thread, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin get a mention, and it reminded me that they are responsible for one of the few songs I know of to feature my first name – Stuart. A quick google suggests Green Day and the Dead Milkmen also have Stuart songs, but that’s about it. Mrs Wilson Wilson is a Laura, and has more choice. So, are there any songs featuring your name? Do we have any Roxannes or Lolas or Sharonas here?

Has the snow scuppered any of your plans?

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I’m supposed to be seeing Nils Frahm in Glasgow tonight but it’s been cancelled due to the weather. Which is a relief as there’s no way I’m getting into the city from my snow-bound suburb. I’ve also been unable to get to work for the last two days, which is less upsetting.

Is there anything you’re meant to be doing that the beast from the east has prevented.

Help me spend my Fopp vouchers

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I had a big birthday the other week, and my colleagues very kindly got me some Fopp vouchers. I haven’t bought much new this year, so this my chance to catch up. Are there any recent releases I should be checking out? For context, my last couple of purchases were The National, LCD Soundsystem, Mogwai and Feist.

New Mogwai

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Mogwai have a new album, Atomic, coming out on April 1st. It’s the soundtrack to Mark Cousin’s documentary about the atomic age. Of course it is…

Ride

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Venue:

Glasgow Barrowlands

Date: 22/05/2015

Last time Ride played at the Barras, I was a floppy-fringed fourteen year-old with no chance of getting in to see my favourite band. And 23 years later, the setlist probably hadn’t changed much: Black Nite Crash was the only song featured from their last two albums, although I doubt anyone was much bothered. Some of the criticisms levelled at ‘shoegaze’ bands possibly still stick – they’re not the most dynamic performers, and there’s not a lot of chat with the audience. But the music is great. Vapour Trail and Twisterella are great jangly pop songs, and they seem to enjoy stretching out the noisier numbers like Seagull and Drive Blind. Loz Colbert is a brilliant drummer and drives the whole thing. Andy Bell keeps his Oasis-regulation parka zipped up to the neck throughout. Mark Gardener’s ever-present George Galloway hat suggests his floppy fringe has gone the same way as mine. They end with an epic Leave Them All Behind, and I head home like a giddy 14 year old again.

The audience:

Mainly 30 and 40 somethings, with a few younger faces.

It made me think..

I thought twice about going to this » Continue Reading.