50 quid bloke

After a full strategic review….all my blogging now takes place here

I love the whole digital DIY thing that new bands get into these days. After all the stuff about how the internet is going to destroy the music industry, the fact that new bands can use it to promote themselves a thousand times more effectively than before is really rather wonderful.

My enthusiasm doesn’t always extend to the music - so while I love getting an e-mail from a band …even if they’ve clearly never read my blog…

However, I’m rather impressed with All Mighty Whispers - not just because they’re doing the digital DIY thing with a fair degree of panache (MySpace - check; Podsafe - check; free downloads on their site -and a player for the whole album - check; a site that you don’t need Flash for - check). But the album, Love Revolution is really rather good.

Take a listen here.

So, I loved Walk The Line - even though it seemed like a white version of Ray. And on Saturday night, while roasting a chicken I listened to Grievous Angel, the Gram Parsons story on Radio 2 (listen again here ). And before you know it, it’s Sunday morning, and I’ve downloaded Johnny Cash Live at San Quentin and Folsom [Amazon | iTunes ] ; and The Byrds Sweetheat of the Rodeo [Amazon | iTunes ] and (this is so Uncut, I can barely admit it): Flying Burrito Brothers Gilded Palace of Sin [ Amazon | iTunes ]. And before you know it, I’m having a country frenzy in the kitchen. And, yes, rather enjoying it.

I never really got that whole country rock thing - but maybe something happens when you turn 40 and it suddenly seems like the most obvious music in the world. The Byrds thing is quite a revelation, because I’ve listened to Fifth Dimension about a million times, but that’s really it. Anyway, I’m sure I’ll be over it soon. Meanwhile - it’s back to the Folsom Prison blues for the 20th time today.

The Delays new single, Valentine (as recommended by NME) is really quite brilliant. To be honest, I found their album last year ultimately quite forgettable. But they’ve clearly been given a bit of a kick and this is much, much better. Hi-engergy indie - if there is such a thing. With more than a whiff of A-ha about it..(ok, maybe that’s not selling it too well). Find it on iTunes.

It’s all been girl power so far this year. Cat Power’s The Greatest and Jenny Lewis have been on constantly - as has Paris Motel’s 071 ep. In addition to this, Hush records in Portland (home of the Decemberists and Kind Of Like Spitting, among others) sent me an advance download (bless them) of a new Shelley Short album, Captain Wildhorse, which isn’t something I’d normally fall upon, but sits alongside the other three almost perfectly.

The boys, however, are back in town. Not just Jack and Brendon , but - and I can’t believe I’m writing this - I’m very excited about Neil Diamond’s 12 songs coming out on Monday, and also the James Roberts album, Everything You Know Is Right - which was reviewed in NME in the first week of January (it got 9/10) and then in the Guardian on Jan 20, but only released on Monday — and it sounds perfect lolloping wintry stuff. Waiting for it to arrive.

[Started writing this post about 10 days ago, then got sidetracked] ..If Jack White and Brendan Benson decide to release their first Raconteurs single: Steady as She Goes and Store Bought Bones on 7inch vinyl - then I’m afraid it’s a case of needs must (and the fact that it was so easily available on Limewire means many others felt the same). I’ll buy two copies of the album to make up. Promise.
I’ve been so busy that I haven’t noticed if it’s now number one or something. But their album is obviously going to be huge. The thing is - it sounds more like Jack White tinkering with Brendon Benson than the other way round, if that makes sense. Bodes well, methinks.

Have you managed to get hold of a copy of Paris Motel’s 071 ep?

I read about it, surprisingly in the NME (I say surprisingly, because it’s very calm for their tastes). Paris Motel is really Amy May and 071 is five tracks that everyone should get hold of.
It’s an utterly blissful bit of acoustic loveliness, that manages to avoid the dangers of being too Laura Veirs (ie whispy nonsense) or too Dido (you know exactly what I mean).

You can buy a copy here (and get a couple of sample downloads). Actually, I thought it was a download - and ended up ordering it twice. But, I feel that’s the very least I could do for her.

Of course, She/ they can be found on MySpace.

I haven’t read a better evaluation of it yet than Andrew Collins’ piece in Word magazine this month. Titled: ‘How Arctic Monkeys saved my life’, it’s basically a description of how they have turned him - a middle-aged, seen-it-all music hack - into a stammering fan again.

Anyway - the album’s out today. But, not on iTunes until tomorrow, I assume. If anyone finds an album review that gives it less than full marks…do tell. I haven’t seen one yet.

Hurray...