CultureAlienation

For Louise.

2009-03-31T15:48:00.001+01:00

Two Thousand and Eight

2009-01-23T15:23:00.002Z

So here it is, finally, about a month after I should have done it. I'm not going to write loads. But here we go...

Top Ten Albums

10. Frightened Rabbit - Midnight Organ Flight
9. Elbow - Seldom Seen Kid
8. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
7. She & Him - Volume One
6. Santogold - Santogold
5. Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
4. Yo! Majesty - Futuristically Speaking...
3. Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreaks
2. Neon Neon - Stainless Style
1. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

Top Ten Gigs

10. Madonna - Wembley Arena (Only so low as I can only remember 3 songs)
9. Morrissey - Hype Park
8. Smashing Pumpkins - o2 Arena
7. The Jesus and Mary Chain - Roundhouse 12th March
6. Vampire Weekend - Reading Festival
5. Neon Neon - Summercase Festival, Spain July 19th
4. Yo! Majesty - Barfly Camden
3. Radiohead - Victoria Park 25th June
=2. Blondie - Summercase Festival, Spain July 19th
=2. Kings of Leon - Summercase Festival, Spain July 19th
1. TV on the Radio - Shepherds Bush Empire, 19th Nov

There are so many bands that could have made the list.. Glasvegas, Florence and the Machine, Manics, Bjork, Breeders, Verve, QOTSA...

So there you go. If my opinion counts for anything in your life, you have it above.

Everytime You Close Your Eyes

2008-11-29T17:09:00.008Z

I have decided to write more in my blog, and not just make it musically centered. I'm bored of reading blogs that all mention the word 'drop' 'mix' 'nice' 'blow up' and other 'cool blog' type words. I am not cool and never will be.

So. I'll start with gigs, then move onto other topics.

A few weeks ago I went and saw Yo! Majesty at Camden Barfly. What can I say? They were brilliant. JWL-B kept flashing her tit and the other one with the abs was on top form, giving a shout out to me, a 'fan'. How we LAUGHED. My personal highlights were Louise pulling some small girls hair, the crowd in general, JWL-B's burger nips.

A few days after that was TV on the Radio. I can honestly say I haven't been to a gig where I've enjoyed myself so much and not really known many of the songs. Apparently there were loads of sound problems, but being deaf and wearing ear plugs I heard it all pretty clearly. I don't know why people are labeling them the 'new Radiohead' though, because they're quite clearly not. Setting Sun was so good to hear live.

I went to Bills in Brighton the other day, for dinner. It was the biggest letdown of my entire life, second to the time Louise and I made all our exhausted friends stay up to watch If These Walls Could Talk 2 and it had been replaced with the golf. Don't go there for anything other that lunch. The food was terrible and it had all the atmosphere of a hospice canteen, complete with cement floor for easy vom wiping up.

Also, I am adoring my new Girls Aloud 'Dreams That Glitter - Our Story' book, plus Sex on Wheels, a collection of 70's porn shots by Eric Wilkins that all feature ugly birds lolling about on cars with their tits out (see above). Both brought for me for my 22nd by very good friends. They know me so well.

2008-11-25T15:14:00.000Z

Hear Me Hailing From Inside and Realise

2008-11-12T14:04:00.003Z

Hello.

My so called blog is BACK. Well for a short time whilst I procrastinate from writing scripts.

I can't even remember the last post. So I'll just start from the beginning.

I managed to NOT get tickets for Built to Spill for some reason or other I had it in my head it 'wouldn't be very good'. Now reading reviews of it and it already appearing on peoples lists of one of the best gigs ever, I am really regretting not going.

So I decided to cheer myself up by spending far too much money for a TV on the Radio ticket. I've liked them since their first LP, Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes, then kinda forgot about them until now.

Staring at the Sun - TV on the Radio

Robots - TV on the Radio

Dirtywhirl - TV on the Radio

Also have got really quite into Au Revoir Simone after deleting their album then getting it again.

Hurricanes - Au Revoir Simone

Aside from that, I went to see Jesus and Mary Chain who were brilliant as usual, supported by British Sea Power who I thought were really good live.

Also went to see Neon Neon/Yo! Majesty. Neon Neon were a bit of a letdown. But then again I don't think seeing any band as the sun sets in Barcelona compared to seeing them at Digital really is any comparison. Yo! Majesty on the other hand I loved (see above picture, courtesy of B Dawg.) So got tickets to see them in London next Monday.

Blame it on the Change - Yo! Majesty

The Rain It Never Stops

2008-10-21T12:28:00.004+01:00

Oh hello, you look fabulous, how have you been?

Expect a huge update coming very soon... including what exciting things I've been listening to, what exciting things I'm going to and possibly some other tiresome rubbish.

Good For Nothin' Type'a Brother

2008-09-19T23:12:00.002+01:00

This remix is so good.

Bills - Destinys Child (TLC Silly Ho Remix)

Plus the new Kings of Leon album is amazing.

Do You Not Yearn, At All?

2008-09-18T16:27:00.002+01:00

So, welcome back. I have had a fantastic summer, thanks for asking. I haven't updated for many reasons:

1. I've been really busy
2. It's been the summer
3. I don't have the Internet in my new gaff

So there's your explanation. This summer I've been to see some amazing bands at various festivals, highlights include Blondie, Kings of Leon and The Verve in Spain, Rage Against The Machine, Glasvegas and Vampire Weekend at Reading and Morrissey in Hyde Park. Plus a David Bowie tribute act, and Madonna at Wembley.

But onwards to more recent times. Here's some stuff I like:

Pink Ghosts - The Acorn

Foxes - Cats In Paris

For some reason, I can't stop listening to Kate Bush, especially Big Sky.

Gig wise, I want to go see Vampire Weekend, Sigor Ros, Jesus and Mary Chain (again), Built to Spill and TV On The Radio. But I have tickets for none. Not until my loan comes through anyway.

And that's it sports fans.

And Don't You Think That It's Strange

2008-06-29T23:33:00.004+01:00

As I finally had a day off today, I was able to download music. God Bless The Internet.

Song We Don't Speak Of - The Seabellies

For My Two Seconds (Teenagers Remix) - Operator Please

Back of the Van (Mock and Toof Remix) - Ladyhawke

Teenage Kicks - Seabear (Undertones Cover)

I really, really like the first and last two songs. I think Seabear did a good job on tackling such a massive song. The others are just on there because "don't you know 'electro'/rmx is what everyone is listening to nowadays, sweetie."

Sadly I can no longer go to Wild in the Country next Sat/Sun. However I'm still going to see Morrissey, Beck, New York Dolls, Black Kids etc this week coming, and then it's obviously Summercase, which I'm hoping they announce more for, as M.I.A, Santogold and The Long Blondes have pulled out - three of the bands I wanted to see.

Forget About Your House Of Cards

2008-06-29T23:10:00.005+01:00

Radiohead + Bat For Lashes
Victoria Park, London
25/06/2008

After a mission from Stratford to Victoria Park in London, with a few cans to drink on the way, we completely missed Bat For Lashes, which I wasn't too fussed about as have seen her before, and she's quite depressing/dull/annoying.

Radiohead came on about 8.15, and played an amazing 2 hour set, with the majority being tracks off In Rainbows, with House of Cards and Bodysnatchers being my high lights from the album. The rest of the set was made up of a mix really... 2+2=5, Everything In Its Right Place, Lucky, The National Anthem, No Surprises to name a few... the encore which included The Bends, Karma Police, My Iron Lung and Paranoid Android was epic.

I can't really put into words just how good this gig was. The atmosphere was brilliant, except perhaps the gaggles of TopShop indie girls about... "oh.my.goddd, someone just spilt BEER on my fuckin' Marc Jacobs purrrse". SHUT UP.

Quite possibly the best gig of my life. Even though I say this about every good gig, this one actually is my new number 1, knocking off The Libertines at Brixton in 2004 off its pedestal.

You Held Your Breathe, And The Door For Me

2008-06-23T22:36:00.004+01:00

So Alanis Morissette on Thursday 19.06.08 at Brixton was a pretty gay affair.

Got there JUST as she came on with Uninvited... can't remember any of her new stuff, definantly made Chris go to the bar at those points in the evening. Anyway, because we are mega gaylords, we enjoyed it lots. She played mostly stuff of Jagged Little Pill i.e. Ironic, Hand In My Pocket, You Oughta Know, Perfect, Head Over Feet, You Learn.

Aside from that, I can't WAIT for Radiohead on Wednesday. Actually can not wait. Gutted to all those not going.

Also, http://www.nme.com/news/amy-winehouse/37538

How my heart bleeds.

Put Your Lovin' Hand Out, Baby

2008-06-18T17:11:00.002+01:00

Get it.

Beggin' - Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (Pilooski Remix)

I Try My Best To Stay Calm As I Watch You Unload

2008-06-18T01:08:00.004+01:00

After a hectic weekend, it doesn't look like things are going to slow down until the end of July. However, the other day I did find the time to delve into the mists of time and submerge myself in a flurry of mixtapes and old Melody Maker compilation CD's.

I used to make such crazy compilations called 'Claire's Tape - Numero Uno' or the slightly more original title of 'CLB's Tape'. With crazy names like this, you can only expect the songs to be in the same vain. For example the aforementioned 'Number Uno' tape opened with Slipknot and closed with Crazytown.

Thank god my music taste has (vaguely) advanced since the early days of the millennium.

However, upon my trip down memory lane, I was reminded how much I loved these two songs:

Beretta - Turn
B'cos We Rock - Brassy

On a further note, I forgot to "review" the Silent Disco. So here it is:

It was well good.

I haven't been listening to much new music, just catching up on things that were released months ago. So to sum up, Foals and the Ting Ting's albums are both shit, and I really like the new Weezer release, especially this song:

Troublemaker - Weezer

Before I stop my inane babble clogging your computer screen answer me this: Does it go 'artist - song' or 'song - artist' when listing tracks and bands?

Alanis Morissette on Thursday, then Radiohead next week. Also got tickets for the one day event on Clapham Common which Ash and The Lemonheads are playing. WINNER.

Tiny Mix Tapes

2008-06-01T20:39:00.003+01:00

I used to be really obsessed with this site when I was about 16/17.

http://www.tinymixtapes.com/

Click on the Mix Tape link on the yellow bar to get to the mix tape page. You can submit your own for people to make, or just read what others have made.

I miss the days of sitting in front of my cd player and spending hours and hours choosing songs, recording them, writing out track lists and designing inlays. Damn iTunes and technology. I still have all of the mix tapes I made, I might dig them out when I get back home to Brighton and post them online.

Loop Duplicate My Heart

2008-06-01T13:43:00.003+01:00

I've been neglecting this of late. In all honesty, I've been really damn busy with University and working on the sex channels, plus keeping up with socialising and friends etc.

A couple of weekends ago Colour of Water and I went to The Great Escape. Saw the following:

Thursday - lots of weird unsigned bands in the daytime, Doll and The Kicks, Elle S'Appelle, Alphabeat and I'm sure someone else too.
Friday - The Shoes, Black Angels, Saul Williams, Syd Matters (for literally 2 seconds)
Saturday - Bunny Rabbit, The xx

All in all, it was a bit of a pain because you had to get to a venue really, really early to actually see anyone you wanted to i.e. Young Knives. And I should have made more of an effort to see bands and not just get really drunk. Hey ho. Was worth it though.

Doll and The Kicks were easily the worst band I saw all weekend, and Saul Williams the best.

Apart from the, I've been manically doing work on media violence. HUGE STAB.

My music taste has gone considerably down-hill. Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy anyone?

Apart from that, I'm also going to see Tina Turner in all her wrinkley glory next year.

We Don't Need Another Hero - Tina Turner

Sorry, but this would be EPIC live.

Wearing My Rolex

2008-05-19T12:29:00.000+01:00

SOLID.

Great Escape review coming shortly.

What About The Groove That Soothes, That Moves Romance?

2008-05-11T13:29:00.007+01:00

Long time no nothing. I have been far too busy enjoying the glorious weather we've been having. Especially sunbathing at the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain ('What shall we listen to?' 'Dunno... Candle In The Wind?'). Fun times.

Anyway, onward and upward to more important matters. What am I going to see at the Great Escape festival which commences Thursday 15th May - Saturday 17th May.

Defiantly the following:

The Young Knives - Weekends and Bleak Days (Hot Summer)

Envelopes - I'd Like 2 C U

Elle S'appelle - She Sells Sea Shells

And hopefully: Vampire Weekend, Iron + Wine, Black Lips, Laura Marling, Wiley, The Whip, Doll and The Kicks, Jacobs Stories, Alphabeat, The Shoes, Saul Williams, Soko, Santogold, and Bunny Rabbit.

Also booked tickets to go to Wild In The Country - Bjork, Soulwax, Foals, Battles, The Presets, Hercules and Love Affair, and loads of DJ's including 2manydj's, DJ Yoda, Mylo and Plump DJ's.

Just to round off, here is my all time, top favourite summer song:

Sly and The Family Stone - Hot Fun In The Summer Time

Actually, tell a lie... it's this:

Number 47 Said To Number 3 'You're The Cutest Jailbird I Ever Did See'

2008-04-21T16:07:00.003+01:00

Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley

Possibly THE most beautiful man to walk the face of the planet?

Until he got all fat and ugly obviously.

Boots Wit' The Furrr

2008-04-19T15:49:00.003+01:00

Long time no update.

Went to see Bjork at Hammersmith Apollo on Monday. Didn't really know any of her stuff, but she was really good live. Glad I made the effort to get a ticket.

I haven't really been listening to much new stuff, everything just seems so similar at the moment. However I have been plotting my Great Escape plan, as the stage times were disclosed the other week. More on that at a later date.

I guess I should post some music on here, since it is meant to be a 'music blog'. Here is some stuff I've heard/enjoyed/got obsessed with.

Jique - Brazilian Girls

It Pays To Belong - The Embassy

If You Should Try To Kiss Her - Dressy Bessy

Remembered how much I love Dressy Bessy after seeing Clea DuVall in Girl, Interrupted which took me back to the days of being obsessed with But I'm A Cheerleader

With Every Heartbeat (Punks Jump Up Remix) - Kleenup feat. Robyn

Low - Flo-Rider feat. T.Pain

Why I am so obsessed with the above track, I have no idea.

Brought some tickets to see Alanis Morrisette in June, Wireless festival - The Morrissey date which also has Beck, The Black Kids, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, New York Dolls and Siouxsie Sioux and the Silent Disco when it comes to the Brighton Fringe festival in May.

Busy times.

Dirty Cash I Want You, Dirty Cash I Need You

2008-04-07T00:01:00.005+01:00

After a few days in Brighton, which included being verbally assaulted for merely expressing my opinion and utilising my right of freedom of speech, copious amounts of Tanqueray and Gordons, I came back to London to spend my Saturday at work. Sunday has been spent in the snow (oh go on then, because we all know I've been listening to it Snow - jj72) and my pyjamas, although not at the same time.

Right, enough blah. Here's what I've been discovering/re-discovering and listening to:

Miscommunication - Timbaland (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)

Dirty Cash (Money Talks) (Original 12" Version) - Stevie V

Stop Me (Dirty South Remix) - Mark Ronson

YES. I know, I hate Mark Ronson, but Dirty South are amazing, as is this remix.

Egg - Smashing Pumpkins - From the Reel Time Sessions, circa 1989.

Roam - The B-52's - Booked my ticket to see them at the Roundhouse in July which will be actually fantastic.

Also brought a Reading Festival ticket. The line-up so far looks quite awful, and have seen the majority of people announced... just hoping some of the bands on the smaller stages will be worth a peek. Seeing Rage Against The Machine will be intense though.

Lonely Is The Room, The Bed Is Made

2008-04-02T00:53:00.005+01:00

As I am feeling annoyed, frustrated and glum (which reminds me to check out that London club night that only plays depressing music, 'Feeling Gloomy') I am going to post some depressing music. Because I can, as this is my blog.

Bat For Lashes - Sad Eyes

The Smiths - Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want

Jeff Buckley - Lover. You Should've Come Over

Smith - Baby, It's You

Would Elliott Smith be too much of a cliche? Most probably, yes.

Aside from feeling sorry from myself, I have nearly broken up for Easter, which can only mean heading to Brighton to dance to appalling pop music.

With A Little Bit'a Gold And A Pager...

2008-03-26T22:55:00.003Z

After wallowing in self-despair with Lemsip as my only friend and popping more pills than Shaun Ryder and Bez put together, I have now fully recovered from my throat horridness.

Getting ill was kind of a good thing, as I was able to go home and on a downloading binge. Which is where I discovered these amazing songs and bands.

She & Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?

Kind of acoustic folk, some songs more downbeat and some more upbeat. Their album Volume One is one of the best I've heard this year so far.

Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - Rent A Wreck

Really loving SKWBN at the moment. This song is one of their better I think. Or maybe it's just the kind of stuff I like. Make your own judgment.

The Cool Kids - Gold and a Pager

Obviously a line taken from NWA's Fuck Tha Police, but read about them in the paper and decided to check them out. Apparently they were one of the best acts at SXSW. Original 80's style hip hop and am loving them sick.

M.I.A vs Battles - Boys Atlas (Diplo Remix)

Obviously everyone has been creaming about this for ages, but just in case you hadn't heard it.

Also been listening to The Whip's album, X Marks Destination, which sadly doesn't include their cover of that early 00's dance classic, Benni Bennassi - Satisfaction. However, on the whole a good album although really similar to everything 'electro' at the moment. However, defiantly going to try catch them at The GE this year as reckon they'll be more fun live.

Anyway onto The Long Blondes latest, 'Couples' which I thought after a few listens was a complete letdown. Although, tracks Century and Erin O'Connor were enjoyable, it all sounds too try hard. Oh that "difficult second album". I'm sure I'll get into it more after a few more listens.

Have promised myself not to buy any more gig tickets, after failing to see The Presets last week due to illness, I keep wasting money. Furthermore I'm going to 3 festivals this year and need to save. Unless someone REALLY amazing decides to play... Like Mutya at Wild Fruit, then, and only then I'll cough up.

Tonsil

2008-03-19T16:29:00.003Z

This is what my throat looked like, courtesy of Wikipedia.

I Can't Explain, Exactly What I'm Doing Standing In The Rain

2008-03-19T16:11:00.003Z

The Jesus and Mary Chain
Date: 12.03.08
Venue: Roundhouse, London

After missing the two support bands, due to drinking in a pub that played the second Libertines record on loop (greaaaat, or not) we got there shortly before JAMC came on stage.

They played a really good set, compromising of a mixture of songs. The personal high lites for me being Sometimes Always, Some Candy Talking, Blues From A Gun, Head On, and Just Like Honey.

I really can't remember much else at all. Except the beer being warm.

Come Walk With Me

2008-03-14T18:25:00.003Z

So here's some new stuff:

M83 - Teen Angst

M83 are a French electronic who I've only just discovered through their remix of Bloc Party's Pioneers which can also be found here.

Isobel Campbell - (Do You Wanna) Come Walk With Me
Isobel Campbell - Amorino

The first being a collaboration with Mark Lanegan (former Screaming Trees vox) and collaborator of a fair few including Queens of the Stone Age and Mellisa Auf de Maur. Isobel herself is former Belle and Sebastian cello and backing vocalist.

Saturday Looks Good To Me - Lift Me Up

SLGTM are an American indie pop-esque band, reminiscent of early Belle and Sebastian (what a link from the above there). Anyway, this song makes me want summer to come along now with it's fresh gangley guitars and hand claps. Lovely.

Fourth of July - She's In Love

Don't know how I came across them. But I love them all the same.

Sorry if the last three were a bit twee indie pop for some people.

Went to see The Jesus and Mary Chain in Camden the other night. Review coming shortly.

Anvil

2008-03-07T22:33:00.002Z

I have just located, from the depths of time (2004), some midi songs I made using Anvil on my old windows desktop. Have a listen to the appalling sounds of myself.

2Sq=T - ...And That's Just What She'll Do

2Sq=T - Jeffery

2Sq=T - Unknown To Known

If you don't believe I made these so long ago, you can ask Jo as she will remember how obsessed I was with creating my midi version of Crazy In Love

I don't know how long the links will work for, as I don't know how long they'll be on some file uploading website.

Paris

2008-03-06T21:32:00.003Z

At the weekend I went to Paris to shoot a short horror film for a University competition. So in light of that, here's some music by some French people:

Stereo Total - I Love You, Ono

Nouvelle Vague - Friday Night Saturday Morning

Daft Punk - Da Funk
(Quite possibly my favourite Daft Punk song)

And I guess I should post some stuff I've been listening to, as I can't be bothered to think of anymore French music I like, except this obviously, Je Taime... Mon Non Plus (Sven Vath feat. Miss Kitten version). Miss Kitten is also French, so I feel this downbeat electro version is acceptable in the absence of Serge Gainsbourg.

Jason Donovan

2008-03-05T15:22:00.002Z

Anyone want to help me re-live my childhood at Hammersmith Apollo on Dec 19th?

Jason Donovan - Too Many Broken Hearts

Come on. This man is practically Australia's God.. except for the drug addiction and gay rumours.

Any takers? Thought not.

Of Late

2008-02-29T14:15:00.003Z

Here are some links to some songs I've been listening to and think are good. And yes I know I'm really behind, but was only shown yesterday how to actually make song links so expect loads to be posted over the next few weeks. Anyway, here you go.

The Young Knives - Weekends & Bleak Days (Hot Summer)
The Moldy Peaches - Steak for Chicken (yes yes yes we all know everyone in the world knows about them now because of that crappy Juno flick)
M.I.A - Paper Planes (DFA Remix)
Smashing Pumpkins - Perfect

Hot Chip

2008-02-29T13:45:00.003Z

Hot Chip

Date: 28.02.08
Venue: Corn Exchange, Brighton

After only seeing Hot Chip performing an in store at (the now sadly defunct) Fopp in Brighton just under two years ago, I was mega excited to finally see them play their electronic music in a proper venue. Opening with Shake A Fist off their recently released Made In The Dark album, and playing maybe a slightly too shorter set of just an hour they played a mix of old and new, and not surprisingly it was Over and Over off The Warning LP that got the crowd dancing.

Alexis Taylor's high pitched melodic vocals swept across the Corn Exchange to the sound of the rest of the bands Casio based bleeps. It was refreshing to see music being played so intelligently and passionately as the boys did last night. Rumoured to be playing Summercase in Spain this year, I really fucking hope they do as would love to see them again.

Nouvelle Vague

2008-02-24T12:07:00.004Z

Nouvelle Vague + Phoebe Killdeer and The Short Straws
Date: 20/2/08
Venue: The Scala, London

I just wrote a massive review of this, and then Firefox decided to crash, so don't blame me if this one is short and sweet.

Opener Phoebe Killdeer and the Short Straws were really good. Their jazz/samba/acoustic/folk/indie/funk (is that even a genre?) went down really well. Phoebe used to sing for Nouvelle Vague but it seems she has gone onto form her own group with The Short Straws as her band. A really tight and mesmerising performance from both band and singer.

Nouvelle Vague took to the stage and opened with A Forest (The Cure) which was amazing to hear live. They played a fantastic set of slow and more upbeat songs, including Too Drunk To Fuck (Dead Kennedys), Blue Monday (New Order), Friday Night Saturday Morning (The Specials), Ever Fallen In Love (Buzzcocks), Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division) and Dancing With Myself (Billy Idol). The high lite has got to be their version of God Save The Queen (Sex Pistols) which was played with just an acoustic guitar and one of the two female vocalists which I think was Melanie.

Overall well worth the treck to Kings Cross to get to the Scala and the £20 for the ticket. I really hope this band don't decide to 'go in another direction' and alter their bossa nova covers of 80's New Wave and Post Punk artists because the rearrangements that they create are so removed from the original sound, it's refreshing to hear some of my favourite songs in a completely different covers format as opposed to your mates band down the pub banging out yet another rendition of Teenage Kicks.

Unfortunately couldn't attend Nada Surf, but Hot Chip in Brighton on Thursday should be a good one.

Mark Ronson

2008-02-22T22:10:00.003Z

Why is everyone still wetting themselves over Mark Ronson? Just saw the advert for his "amazing new album!!!", Version on channel 4 for about the eighth time this evening. New album? Didn't it come out in like, 2006? What a prat.

And his Radiohead - Just cover is appalling too.

Photos

2008-02-19T20:55:00.002Z

Brighton circa 1985. At first you'd think this was a war torn country, but no. It's just some man sunbathing under a digger. I miss Brighton. Copywrite Martin Parr.

This was taken in a home for disturbed children who grew up in a concentration camp. The girl in question was asked to draw her 'home'. Copywrite David Seymore.

2008-02-19T18:25:00.001Z

Just watching David Byrne on TOTP2 singing 'Lazy' with X Press 2 reminds me of watching a pissed Dad at a wedding doing karaoke. Very depressing. What was he thinking?

Funeral

2008-02-19T13:59:00.002Z

I've been thinking long and hard about this subject, considering I've had the same conversation with 3 different groups of people in the past two weeks, plus reading an intriguing article in the paper on Saturday about death. What would I have played at my funeral?

So far my shortlist is:

Nina Simone - Everyone's Gone to the Moon
Maria Mckee - If Love Is a Red Dress
Radiohead - Bulletproof
Elliott Smith - A Fond Farewell
Smashing Pumpkins - Farewell and Goodnight

or perhaps something more 'epic' that people can walkout and cry to and NEVER forget that moment.

Abba - The Winner Takes It All?
Madonna - Like A Prayer?
Rolling Stones - Can't Always Get What You Want?
Boston - More Than A Feeling?

Who knows. But I reckon it's best to plan ahead.

Cool Kids Never Had The Time

2008-02-19T13:42:00.003Z

Smashing Pumpkins + Oceansize
Venue: 02 Arena, London
Date: 16/02/08

Seeing Smashing Pumpkins for the second time was even better than the first. The night began with support band Oceansize doing their whiney indie 'look at us we're so great' kinda thing, which I thought was pretty awful. Really the wrong act to support SP at such a big venue. The crowd didn't seem into them at all and they were just bland and predictable.

And then it was a completely different reaction at 8.45 when Billy and co. took to the stage. Right form the opener of Porcelina... through to the encore of an Echo and the Bunnymen Cover of Lips Like Sugar they had the crowd in the palm of their hand. Classics such as Zero and Disarm were left out in favour of a more diverse delve into their extensive back catalogue. The set included Mayonaise, Lily, Drown, Today, 1979, Ava Adore, The Everlasting Gaze, Stand Inside Your Love, Tonight Tonight, and a few off their most recent Zeitgeist album, including a storming Tarantula. Billy even played an impromptu version of 'Call The Shots' of which I have no recollection but I'm sure it was pretty special all the same.

Sure they were self indulgent, sure the solo's were drawn out but that's what makes the Pumpkins what they are. That's the point. And overall they put on a fucking great show with an amazing setlist to boot.

Tomorrow a change of scene with some French New Wave covers from Nouvelle Vague, followed by American college radio rock from Nada Surf on Thursday.

Busy times.

Queens of the Stone Age

2008-02-15T16:40:00.004Z

Queens of the Stone Age

Venue: Hammersmith Apollo

Date: 11/02/2008

Having only previously really enjoyed QOTSA first three albums, I was shocked to find myself enjoying songs from the last two so much. Granted I didn't know them that well/if at all, but QOTSA at the Hammersmith Apollo on Monday were incredible. However, I was disappointed not to hear any of their 'hits'.. no No One Knows, Lost Art... etc. I wish I'd made more of an effort in their Rated R/Songs for the Deaf era. However overall a good live band and one I would like to catch again at some point in the future.

Smashing Pumpkins tomorrow night.. I hope they can top their performance at last years Reading festival.

You Are Listening to Radio Soulwax...

2008-02-12T15:53:00.000Z

2manydjs + support
Venue: Digital, Brighton
Date: 9/02/2008

After planning on not going to see 2manydjs at Digital in Brighton for some time, I'm glad I was convinced (many drinks into the evening) to queue for a good hour to get a ticket on the door. What an incredible gig it was. Having seen them 4 times previously at various festivals and venues (including an unbeatable set at Summercase in Spain) they were on top form. With the Police closing the bars down due to over crowding, the venue was absolutely rammed full of sweaty dancers all up for an amazing night. When they eventually took to the stage at 1.30am, it all kicked off. Memory of the night is limited, but the highlight has got to be their remix of The Gossip - Standing In The Way of Control. The set was their usual mix of unknown beats mixed with popular songs of then and now, including The Ones - Flawless and The Clash - Rock the Casbah. Stumbling out of the club at gone 3am into the crisp seafront air, there were still people queuing outside desperate to get a glimpse of the unstoppable Belgian duo.

Great Escape

2008-02-09T11:09:00.000Z

So yesterday I got my Great Escape ticket. In case you don't know, G.E is a Brighton based 3 day music festival in mid May showcasing a universal collection of new bands and up and coming groups. Last year saw Kate Nash playing to 220 alongside Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip at the Pressure Point, Adele playing to a lucky 50 or so people in Red Roaster Cafe, Happy Mondays on Brighton Pier, Gallows at the Komedia, Bat for Lashes/Cold War Kids/The Gossip/Scissor Sisters doing a T4 Transmission gig and so forth. If you've got the energy to run around like a headless chicken to over 20 venues in Brighton over 3 days and nights get your ticket now as this year it's going to take off what with being billed as the south's answer to SXSW. Already confirmed for this year are Young Knives, Black Lips, Ipso Facto, The Subways, The Teenagers and Iron and Wine plus many more to be confirmed over the next few weeks.

Expect a few gig reviews coming up in the next few weeks... including Queens of the Stone Age, Smashing Pumpkins, Nada Surf and Nouvelle Vague.

"Heavy".

Missy Elliott

2008-02-06T15:49:00.000Z

Missy Elliott is known for releasing amazingly produced singles and forward thinking beats/lyrics... if her latest release is anything to go by, she's definantly lost her way. 'Ching-a-ling/Shake Your Pom Pom' is diabolical. Example lyric includes:

'Missy swing from a tree, I'm Mohamed Ali, cause I can sting like a bee'

Summed up in a word: Letdown.

Last.fm

2008-02-05T22:49:00.001Z

Check out the last.fm link on the right to see what I've been listening to... Last.fm is an amazing site which tracks the music you play through itunes or whatever you play music through (who doesn't use itunes in this day in age?) and generates weekly playlists so you can really see what you've been listening to. It also gives recommendations, gig listings and the ability to create your own radio station.

Cool Groovy Morning Fine

2008-02-05T16:31:00.000Z

I have jumped on the internet band wagon and got myself a blog. Expect to find it's mainly about music.. reviews, recommendations, gig photos etc. Anything else that interests or amuses me I will put in here too. I haven't had one of these before (livejournal doesn't count for shit anymore) so it may take me a while to get in the swing of things... Enjoy.