50 quid bloke

I haven’t posted anything for a week or so. I could claim I was busy, but the truth is that I’ve been so ashamed after ‘discovering’ Jack Johnson about a decade after the rest of the world, that frankly I’ve been really questioning my right to offer anyone opinions about music ever again.

I knew I was a bit slow off the mark, but a mail from one of the the uncoolest men I know going ‘I can’t believe you’ve only just discovered Jack Johnson’ sent me into a deep dark depression that I’m only just climbing out of. My very own Touching the Void.

It’s still another week till any decent music is due to arrive from Amazon. However, the Earlies album finally reached me this week. Which was nice - even though I’m coming to it rather late.

I have an excuse though. A couple of week’s before Xmas a CD arrived from Amazon: Soul of a Woman by Kelly Price. I had no recollection of ordering it - but that’s nothing new. Stuff is always appearing that I ordered while drunk or half asleep and then gets completely forgotten about.

[In fact, ideally, I’d be able to completely forget anything I order so that every delivery could be a wonderful surprise - but chosen by someone who completely gets my music taste].

However, when I listened to this - I simply couldn’t imagine any circumstances that I’d have bought it, or that anyone I’d have rated would have reviewed it favourably. Nothing fundamentally wrong with it, just that it was the sort of big breathy R&B mush that I find unbearable.

Still - I stuck with it. One listen. Then another. But no - I still hated it. Anyway, checking the bin for the receipt, it turns out it was meant to be The Earlies, which I’d ordered months ago (no, honestly, I had) but had never appeared.

So - a quick exchange later and there it is. And it’s very nice. A little bit Lemonjelly in parts. Very listenable while doing DIY - which seems to be my main music-listening environment at the moment.

Of course, I don’t need to tell you this, because you’ve been into them for ages. But I just wanted you to know I’m catching up.

On new year’s eve, driving off to enjoy a really rather pleasant dinner with friends, we’re listening to some radio station or other, trying to get ourselves all new years-y.

Whatever station it is, suddenly starts talking about their tips for next year, and an American woman mentions Jack Johnson. And sure enough it’s quite nice bloke with a guitar stuff… some slightly gravelly folk. You know the sort of thing.

I’d never heard of him before, but do quick check on the net..and see he seems ok and order his album Bushfire Fairytales and On and On.

Bushfire arrives, I’m very happy with my new discovery. Then someone who I like very much, but who I’d hardly say is up to speed musically (Xmas present requests: Scissor Sisters and Maroon 5), sees the CD and goes: ‘Jack Johnson, oh we’ve got that, it’s a really nice album…’

Have I just discovered Dido?

I’ve been waiting, such a long time…for my first serious batch of music for 2005. There’s a load of classical stuff, as recommended by someone here at work, but I’ll talk about that another time.

In the meantime, following my monthly trawl through Uncut..and a few other favourite sources, I’m now waiting for all these to arrive. Everything seems to be being released on January 24.

They made the two albums by Bright Eyes their albums of the month. I’ve never heard of him, so randomly chose I’m Wide Awake This Morning.

I notice, incidentally on Amazon, that people who bought this are also likely to have bought Mercury Rev’s The Secret Migration and sure enough, that’s on the list as well.

And, it turns out that if you like this, you might like lcd soundsystem’s eponymous album, which I also happen to have bought.

I’ve also been waiting for Rilo Kiley’s More Adventurous to come out, ever since finally getting into them last year . And, if I like this, Amazon tells me I should really like Bright Eyes other album Digital Ash in a Digital Urn which proves I am nothing if not predictable.

In the meantime, I’m spending some quality time with some of the music I bought last year but never really listened to enough. Bob Schneider anyone?

Stuck at 5pm on new years eve with the need to sort out a secret santa present for the evening’s festivities, I thought I’d make  someone a lovely CD of the year.
Anyway, one thing led to another, and it ended up as a collection of bootlegs, mash-ups and remixes: and to be honest, I’m not sure how well it went down.
However, it was (yes, I know, I’m late to this), the first time I’d spent serious time trawling round Get Your Bootleg On . More fun than a grown man’s allowed.
My favourites? Oh god, I now can’t find them all. But I loved Party Ben’s Boulevard of Broken Tunes (Green Day vs Oasis vs TRavis),..which has apparently been doing the rounds for a while.now getting ready to listen to his Daft Punk vs Queen - BiteDaFunk. All downloads available here.

And the latest list - from Michael Hann who edits The Editor pages in the Guardian, and introduced me to the Decemberists earlier in the year - for which I am truly grateful. He’s done a list of what he listened to over the year. He uses something called a Discman.

From 2003, but dominating the Discman in 2004
Guided by Voices: Human Amusements at Hourly Rates
Truly, America’s most compelling rock band of the last 20 years. This best-of proves it
The Decemberists: Her Majesty The Decemberists/Castaways and Cutouts
The the first new group I’ve felt really passionate about in some years
The Wrens: The Meadowlands
Sort of like Snow Patrol. But good

From 2004, and very good too
The Unicorns: Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone?
Very strange, very playful neo-psychedelia from Canada
Brian Wilson: Smile
As good as one could have hoped for
The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow
Hurrah for indiepop
Secret Machines: Now Here Is Nowhere
I feel I probably shouldn’t like a group so obviously endebted to Floyd and Zep, bnut I can’t help it

From ages ago, but revisited in 2004 and sounding great
10,000 Maniacs: The Wishing Chair
Folkier, and less earnest than their later, bigger albums
Wire: Pink Flag/Chair’s Missing/154
Makes you realise how average the post-punk revival groups really are
V/A: Tamla Motown Gold
Three CDs, 82 tracks, all hits - for under £15. Fantastic.

And one for the kids
Farmer Jason: A Day On The Farm With Farmer Jason
He used to be the leader of Jason and the Scorchers, who were the fiercest of the 80s “cowpunk” bands. And now he makes kids’ albums

As The Tears. Live review from The Guardian.

Each of the dozen or so songs contained fragments of what once made Butler and Anderson great - the endorphin jolt of Co-Star, the swooning choruses on Apollo 13 - but the results lacked greatness. Of course, it’s entirely likely that, once available on CD next year, the songs could grow as the initially unlovable Suede album Dog Man Star once did. Anderson still writes a massive chorus, and now that Butler is singing backing vocals, the tunes have a creamy new depth.

Setlist over at NME (of an earlier gig, at least). As I’m sure you’ll have guessed, they’re named after the final line of the Philip Larkin poem Femmes Damnees. (full text at the bottom of this page)

The marble clock has stopped. The curtained sun
Burns on: the room grows hot. There, it appears,
A vase of flowers has spilt, and soaked away.
The only sound heard is the sound of tears.

Introducing the Morrissey Mobile store…

You’ll love this (much touted) list of best of 2004 lists. Of which, you really should take a look at (the peerless) LargeheartedBoy Albums of the Year.   (complete, of course, with illustrative MP3s)

I’ve been pretty useless at posting recently. Apologies. To make up for it -  let me introduce this most excellent Guest list from Steve over at Really Rather he has been a constant tipper of excellent new music throughout the year, and is offering us his top 10 ‘Found Sounds’ of 2004 - ie stuff he’s stumbled across online. In his words: “it’s mostly soft girly stuff - even the blokes on the list sound more Prince Edward than Prince Harry. The tracks hang together well enough though - if anyone’s got the kit to burn it, it’d make a decent ‘Now that’s what I call Wimp Pop’ CD compilation.” Oh, and all the tracks seem to be legal…which is nice.

Suburban Kids With Biblical Names -  Rent-a-wreck
Artist site| Track download | Label downloads

Tilly & the Wall / Bessa
Artist site | Track download
(Who needs a drummer when you can tap-dance?)

Cocorosie / Good Friday
Track download
(they’re French)

Kite Pilot / on my lips -demo(no records yet)
/songs/on_my_lips.mp3\\
\
Willow Willow / I feel love\
-demo (no records yet)\
Totally wet late \’60s throwback but hey, they are\
actually from San Francisco\
\http://www.willowwillow.com\/music.html\\
\http://www.willowwillow.com\/ifeellove.rm\\
\
The Pipettes / Judy (Wotcha gonna do?)\
-demo (no records yet)\
Brighton\’s finest\
\http://www.mdawson.aviators\.net/pipettes/\\
\http://www.mdawson.aviators\.net/pipettes/demo/judy.mp3\\
\
Laurel Music / The way love goes\
Swedish loveliness (and live in Brixton on Dec12)\
\http://www.laurelmusic.se\\
\http://www.laurelmusic.se/mp3\/laurel_music-the_way_love\_goes.mp3\\
\
Denison Witmer / Are you lonely\
Long-term blog hero and fine, sincere\
singer-songwriter\
\http://www.denisonwitmer.com\/albums_flowsinto.php\\
\http://www.denisonwitmer.com\/music/denison_witmer-flows\_into-are_you_lonely.mp3\\
\
Fitzgerald / Dirt\
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//–>Track download

Willow Willow / I feel love -demo (no records yet)
Artist site | Track download
Totally wet late ’60s throwback but hey, they are
actually from San Francisco

The Pipettes / Judy (Wotcha gonna do? - demo)
Artist site |Track download
Brighton’s finest

Laurel Music / The way love goes
Artist site| Track download
Swedish loveliness (and live in Brixton on Dec12)

Denison Witmer / Are you lonely
Artist site | Track download
Long-term blog hero and fine, sincere
singer-songwriter

Fitzgerald / Dirt
http://www.myspace.com/fitzger\ald\\
\
Fizzle Like a Flood / like wind like rain\
Douglas Kabourek, D-I-Y bedroom Brian Wilson\
\http://www.ernestjenning.com\/bands_fizzle.htm\\
\http://www.ernestjenning.com\/music_samples/fizzle\ like\
a flood - Track01.mp3\
\
Er.. that\’s it.\
\
Cheers\
\
Steve McEntee\
“,1]
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______________________________\____\
Do you Yahoo!?\
Yahoo! Mail - Easier than ever with enhanced search. Learn more.\
\http://info.mail.yahoo.com\/mail_250\\
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//–>Artist site

Fizzle Like a Flood / like wind like rain
Artist site | Track download
Douglas Kabourek, D-I-Y bedroom Brian Wilson

They say it’s strange the way that people will often confess things on their blogs to complete strangers that they’d never confess to their friends. Well, here goes: I’ve bought Paul Weller’s covers album: Studio 150.
Yes, I know I shouldn’t have. And I feel cheap and dirty. But, well…I don’t know…it seemed like the right thing at the time.
Actually, I bought it because I loved his version of Gordon Lightfoot’s Early Morning Rain (a dramatic improvement on the original), and Sister Sledge’s Thinking of You (a genuine surprise) - both heard, I should add on Word’s covermount CDs (this month’s is excellent, btw).
So, what do I think? Well the thing is - I think he’s really good when he’s adding a bit of depth and gravel to lightweight songs like those two, and, on the album, ‘Wishing on a star’. That said, he does a version ofn of ‘Close To You’ which is sort of sub, but he completely murders songs which have any subtlety of complexity to them.
Aaron Neville’s Hercules is murdered. Gill Scott Heron’s The Bottle is brutally butchered. And, his version of All Along The Watchtower proves he’s neither a Dylan nor Hendrix).