...if this video is anything to go by, then Primeval S3 will be a very nice addition to my Saturdays.
Big grin!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
If I had to settle on one track the Guardian had missed out so far: About Today by The National
The National are no where near as widely appreciated as they should be, but but for me their most devastating track about love is the bleakly haunting 'About Today':
Today, you were far away
And I, didn't ask you why
What could I say?
I was far away
You just walked away
And I just watched you
What could I say?
How close am I to losing you?
Tonight, you just close your eyes
And I just watch you
slip away
How close am I to losing you?
Hey, are you awake?
Yeah, I'm right here
Well can I ask you
About today
How close am I to losing you?
How close am I to losing?
Cross-posted to Music is Our Hot, Hot Sex
Today, you were far away
And I, didn't ask you why
What could I say?
I was far away
You just walked away
And I just watched you
What could I say?
How close am I to losing you?
Tonight, you just close your eyes
And I just watch you
slip away
How close am I to losing you?
Hey, are you awake?
Yeah, I'm right here
Well can I ask you
About today
How close am I to losing you?
How close am I to losing?
Cross-posted to Music is Our Hot, Hot Sex
Thoughts on the problems with (music) lists: a response to the Guardian/Observer song list
I'm a sucker for a good list, something most readers here will have noted from previous rants on the topic.
So how to respond to the already deeply flawed two parts of seven the Guardian/Observer has so far granted readers in its '1000 songs everyone should hear'?
1) at whom is a list such as this aimed? I doubt many young readers (under 25, say) will care for the intentions and purported breadth of such a list -- and those of the younger age that will are probably likely to have heard a significant proportion of the list. Older readers are potentially likely to complain about the absence of many songs written pre-1940 (hell, I would complain, and I don't feel as if I am in the Guardian's 'older reader category' just yet..) Judging from the comments so far, at least one of these points seems proven.
2) there's way too many examples that, frankly, unless you have lived in a cave for the last 30 years, you will have already heard endlessly (see 1 above). I know that 'God Only Knows' by The Beach Boys is a classic love song - placing it in this list is stating the bleeding obvious to those already aware and will sail calmly past everyone else. Is anyone really going to respond by saying 'I never thought of that track being a great love song before' or 'my word, I must catch up on this popular beat combo: they sound rather charming...' ???
3) despite claims for breadth from the full range of popular music (extending to jazz, blues, folk etc), there's a poor range of tracks outside the pop chart canon. And let's not think about much diversity beyond the English language...
4) if you're talking about songs, shouldn't there be more room for those which have been contributed by the great songwriters and which have garnered multiple versions - many of which may be great in their own unique ways? There are smatterings of the tin pan alley contributers to the Great American Songbook, but even within the narrower pop archive there were some ropey choices of versions listed.
5) if you're going to include very recent songs/performances, you're gonna need a much higher standard of proof for their inclusion in my opinion.
6) why not more off-beat choices? (see 2, above) - I don't mean the journalists having their little in-house 'so-bad-it's-good' fad (Phil Collins), but actual 'alerting readers to excellent tracks that may not be on the readers' radar'.
7) organising these lists in themes allows for far too much dispute about categorisation - I know it probably keeps readers hanging on before wading in with their comments about what was missing ('have they just plonked it in a different category than I would?') but really, we'd all be better placed to tell the list compilers where they've gone wrong if they just created a single alphabetical list by track title. Not only would this also allow for multiple versions of the same track by different artists (which if you are showcasing songs makes sense - see 4 above) but you'd more easily be able to tell where they've missed a classic.
8) if you must have sidebar articles, at least make them have something purposeful to say: Simon Napier-Bell, I'm looking at your miserably annoying piece.
I'd come up with 10 thoughts if I had the energy, but instead here are a few initial thoughts on songs missing in action either in terms of the versions I prefer or just plain missing artistes [admittedly I am basing this on only two days coverage but I'd have expected tracks from them already].
Songs
So how to respond to the already deeply flawed two parts of seven the Guardian/Observer has so far granted readers in its '1000 songs everyone should hear'?
1) at whom is a list such as this aimed? I doubt many young readers (under 25, say) will care for the intentions and purported breadth of such a list -- and those of the younger age that will are probably likely to have heard a significant proportion of the list. Older readers are potentially likely to complain about the absence of many songs written pre-1940 (hell, I would complain, and I don't feel as if I am in the Guardian's 'older reader category' just yet..) Judging from the comments so far, at least one of these points seems proven.
2) there's way too many examples that, frankly, unless you have lived in a cave for the last 30 years, you will have already heard endlessly (see 1 above). I know that 'God Only Knows' by The Beach Boys is a classic love song - placing it in this list is stating the bleeding obvious to those already aware and will sail calmly past everyone else. Is anyone really going to respond by saying 'I never thought of that track being a great love song before' or 'my word, I must catch up on this popular beat combo: they sound rather charming...' ???
3) despite claims for breadth from the full range of popular music (extending to jazz, blues, folk etc), there's a poor range of tracks outside the pop chart canon. And let's not think about much diversity beyond the English language...
4) if you're talking about songs, shouldn't there be more room for those which have been contributed by the great songwriters and which have garnered multiple versions - many of which may be great in their own unique ways? There are smatterings of the tin pan alley contributers to the Great American Songbook, but even within the narrower pop archive there were some ropey choices of versions listed.
5) if you're going to include very recent songs/performances, you're gonna need a much higher standard of proof for their inclusion in my opinion.
6) why not more off-beat choices? (see 2, above) - I don't mean the journalists having their little in-house 'so-bad-it's-good' fad (Phil Collins), but actual 'alerting readers to excellent tracks that may not be on the readers' radar'.
7) organising these lists in themes allows for far too much dispute about categorisation - I know it probably keeps readers hanging on before wading in with their comments about what was missing ('have they just plonked it in a different category than I would?') but really, we'd all be better placed to tell the list compilers where they've gone wrong if they just created a single alphabetical list by track title. Not only would this also allow for multiple versions of the same track by different artists (which if you are showcasing songs makes sense - see 4 above) but you'd more easily be able to tell where they've missed a classic.
8) if you must have sidebar articles, at least make them have something purposeful to say: Simon Napier-Bell, I'm looking at your miserably annoying piece.
I'd come up with 10 thoughts if I had the energy, but instead here are a few initial thoughts on songs missing in action either in terms of the versions I prefer or just plain missing artistes [admittedly I am basing this on only two days coverage but I'd have expected tracks from them already].
Songs
- Gorecki - Lamb (just plain beautiful)
- I lost you but I found Country Music - Ballboy (with or without the divine Laura Cantrell - of whom, hello, where is she?!)
- The Only One - Billy Bragg (though I love the Bragg-meister's whole repetoire, those who only know him for his political/social material are missing a treat with his songs of about love and relationships)
- I get along without you very well (I'm especially fond of Chet Baker's version)
- The Luckiest - Ben Folds (pass me the hankies: it's a blubfest)
- Don't get me wrong - The Pretenders (played this morning on John Richardson's show with enthusiastic glee - and instinctive tearful eyes from me: it's a glorious track about being/falling in love and always makes be cry with delight)
- Just in time - Nina Simone owns this track
- Leave You Behind - Sleater-Kinney (a personal favourite this)
- TheOne - Lambchop (and there could be plenty more where that came from in the 'chop collection)
- Then I Met You - The Proclaimers (points to Guardian for getting in with 'Let's Get Married' via which song, *ahem* ... but even so, the uplifting 'Then I Met You' or the glorious 'Sunshine on Leith' surely deserved a place)
- Don't Let The Teardrops Rust Your Shining Heart - Everything But the Girl (I can't hear this track of betrayal without crying)
- Keeping the Weekend Free - Liquorice (yes, I know I'm virtually the only person who cares about this song, let alone this version, but still. It's gorgeous).
- Forest Fire - LLoyd Cole and the Commotions ('it's just a simple metaphor, for a burning love' - too damn right, but it still roars loudly to me)
- Only You - Portishead (gutting, as is much of the Portishead's output)
- Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack (I'd happily welcome in Safe From Harm as well)
- Miss Otis Regrets - Ella Fitzgerald (though I also love the version that Kirsty MacColl did with bagpipe band one Xmas on Jools Holland)
- Love is a Wonderful Colour - The Icicle Works (if you need to include eighties pop at least make it this kind of sublime contribution)
- The Day I See You Again - Dubstar (not least for the sublime line 'and if the man you've grown to be/'s more Morrison than Morrisey' which can be read as Jim or Van to your own choosing and still make you wince in recognition)
- Bewitched - so many versions to choose from (and there is of course the inspired revisitation of this by The Wedding Present)
- The Way You Look Tonight - the original version from the film Swing Time is pretty darn fine
- Nina Nastasia and Regina Specktor - seriously, guys, are you lot NUTS to have missed out having any songs by these two? Perhaps two of the finest songwriters around at present - shame on you...
- Magnetic Fields - seriously, nothing from Stephin Merritt, in any of his guises? If I have to rave about 'As You Turn to Go' as sung by Momus one more time, I may explode...
- Prefab Sprout - an entire oeuvre which could fill these two sections [Love and Heartbreak]. Enchanted, We Let the Stars Go, Cruel, Couldn't Bear to be Special, Talking Scarlet - and the masterpiece that is the Steve McQueen album
- Jacques Brel - just the most obvious non-English-speaking omission so far
- The Divine Comedy - surely something from the exquisite 'A Short Album About Love'?!
- Rufus Wainwright - no room for Vibrate, or The Art Teacher? I could list more...
- The Wedding Present - masters of the bitter break-up and the angry relationship
- The Decemberists - so many of their delightful story songs to choose from, but The Engine Driver would surely have to gain some place?
I have to stop now before I give this too much time and thought!
(Cross posted to Music is Our Hot, Hot Sex)
Sorry: apologies and thoughts and updates on online communication, music and white suits
I am sorry for:
* not blogging much recently
* not commenting much either (I owe several on-line pals visits)
* sorry for being rubbish at emails (I've a stockpile requiring responses)
* sorry for not even bothering with most Facebook communications (and scarcely ever MySpace)
However, I am NOT sorry for the following:
* thinking Twitter really only works if you have 'free' texts each month; besides which, I text enough without doing more of them - surely regular tweeters will develop evolutionary damage to humanity at this rate?
* changing my mind about white suits not being the total 'no go' statement they have previously appeared (though there's an interesting piece on the white suit at Slate)
* feeling a mix of pride and sadness and fury at the sight of Troubled Diva's piece on the rise and demise of Selectadisc in Friday's Guardian: It was ridiculously thrilling to read about Nottingham's finest music retailer, especially when written about by one of our foremost music reviewers in the area; it was terribly sad to think of the place closing soon, and not even going in for another last purchase (we've bought something from the shop virtually every month we've lived here and it's been a rare visit to town that has not included a diversion through those black doors); and I couldn't help but feel a tinge of provincial fury that national coverage of music providers outside London is so shoddy that it takes Selectadisc's closure to get some national attention. *sigh*
* squealing with glee when George texted from Stockholm to say he'd heard Jarvis Cocker was coming to Rock City (I'm often late with keeping up with concert announcements so ridiculously often rely on the G-man for his timely interventions and recommendations!). Tickets duly booked, and even though I offered to go on my own, Cloud said he'd come too and even paid for his own ticket. Though I am required to not arrive at the venue at 2pm on the afternoon of the gig. Spoilsport.
That's enough for a quick return: I'll try and find a means of getting back into more regular blogging and visits, but suffice to say that by the time I'm getting home most nights at present I am pooped by computer screens... sorry about that.
* not blogging much recently
* not commenting much either (I owe several on-line pals visits)
* sorry for being rubbish at emails (I've a stockpile requiring responses)
* sorry for not even bothering with most Facebook communications (and scarcely ever MySpace)
However, I am NOT sorry for the following:
* thinking Twitter really only works if you have 'free' texts each month; besides which, I text enough without doing more of them - surely regular tweeters will develop evolutionary damage to humanity at this rate?
* changing my mind about white suits not being the total 'no go' statement they have previously appeared (though there's an interesting piece on the white suit at Slate)
* feeling a mix of pride and sadness and fury at the sight of Troubled Diva's piece on the rise and demise of Selectadisc in Friday's Guardian: It was ridiculously thrilling to read about Nottingham's finest music retailer, especially when written about by one of our foremost music reviewers in the area; it was terribly sad to think of the place closing soon, and not even going in for another last purchase (we've bought something from the shop virtually every month we've lived here and it's been a rare visit to town that has not included a diversion through those black doors); and I couldn't help but feel a tinge of provincial fury that national coverage of music providers outside London is so shoddy that it takes Selectadisc's closure to get some national attention. *sigh*
* squealing with glee when George texted from Stockholm to say he'd heard Jarvis Cocker was coming to Rock City (I'm often late with keeping up with concert announcements so ridiculously often rely on the G-man for his timely interventions and recommendations!). Tickets duly booked, and even though I offered to go on my own, Cloud said he'd come too and even paid for his own ticket. Though I am required to not arrive at the venue at 2pm on the afternoon of the gig. Spoilsport.
That's enough for a quick return: I'll try and find a means of getting back into more regular blogging and visits, but suffice to say that by the time I'm getting home most nights at present I am pooped by computer screens... sorry about that.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The International: brilliant use of the Guggenheim Museum in NYC!
Went to see The International at the weekend: totally enjoyed this thriller conspiracy film, but was especially excited by the sequence in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City.
Suffice to say I sank further and further down my seat in terrified retreat from events on the screen.
I don't think any bullets caught me...
Suffice to say I sank further and further down my seat in terrified retreat from events on the screen.
I don't think any bullets caught me...
Friday, March 06, 2009
Hamlet on DVD?
The item in the Telegraph earlier this week gave life to hopes that last year's triumphant RSC production of Hamlet with Patrick Stewart, Penny Downie, and some bloke called David Tennant, would be released on DVD. the hope is that it would be filmed summer 2009.
If it happens - and I'll believe it when the RSC itself confirms it - I can well imagine sales will be significant.
But what is annoying me right now is that everywhere the Telegraph's story is being picked up, they keep saying things like 'Tennant's performances in the role were short-lived'.
NO.
His appearances in the London run of the show were curtailed by his back injury, but the man had managed to put in a constant run of 24 July to 15 November 2008 (not forgetting he also took on Love's Labour' Lost for the latter 6 weeks).
In what way exactly could his FOUR MONTHS of appearances in Hamlet be deemed to be 'short-lived'?
Oh, I forgot: the majority of the performances weren't in London, so they don't count!!
I know that the Laurence Olivier Awards are a key marker for performances on the stage, and that Tennant's limited appearances in London scuppered any (well-deserved) nomination for that prestigious award, but even so... *sigh*...
If it happens - and I'll believe it when the RSC itself confirms it - I can well imagine sales will be significant.
But what is annoying me right now is that everywhere the Telegraph's story is being picked up, they keep saying things like 'Tennant's performances in the role were short-lived'.
NO.
His appearances in the London run of the show were curtailed by his back injury, but the man had managed to put in a constant run of 24 July to 15 November 2008 (not forgetting he also took on Love's Labour' Lost for the latter 6 weeks).
In what way exactly could his FOUR MONTHS of appearances in Hamlet be deemed to be 'short-lived'?
Oh, I forgot: the majority of the performances weren't in London, so they don't count!!
I know that the Laurence Olivier Awards are a key marker for performances on the stage, and that Tennant's limited appearances in London scuppered any (well-deserved) nomination for that prestigious award, but even so... *sigh*...
Red Riding in the hood
Opinions on Red Riding anyone?
It was certainly unsettling, as The Telegraph admits, whilst The Times found Andrew' Garfield's lead as Eddie Dunford hard to like, even as they praised Grisoni (adapting the novels) and Jarrold (directing), and The New Statesman felt that the bleak tone was more exaggerated than it needed to be.
I have some sympathy for all three points of view: it was undeniably bleak and unsettling. But it was superbly acted and directed with an attention to detail bordering on the psychopathic. Yes, it was hard to find a figure to identify with - everyone was flawed; no-one behaved well - but despite that I felt engaged in a way that is relatively rare in contemporary television.
I'll be watching the remaining two parts and then finally trying to catch up on the novels.
It was certainly unsettling, as The Telegraph admits, whilst The Times found Andrew' Garfield's lead as Eddie Dunford hard to like, even as they praised Grisoni (adapting the novels) and Jarrold (directing), and The New Statesman felt that the bleak tone was more exaggerated than it needed to be.
I have some sympathy for all three points of view: it was undeniably bleak and unsettling. But it was superbly acted and directed with an attention to detail bordering on the psychopathic. Yes, it was hard to find a figure to identify with - everyone was flawed; no-one behaved well - but despite that I felt engaged in a way that is relatively rare in contemporary television.
I'll be watching the remaining two parts and then finally trying to catch up on the novels.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Primeval S3 to air from end of March 2009?
itvmedia have said that the 3rd season of Primeval will air in the UK from the end of March 2009... Hurrah!!
Thanks to the Douglas Henshall fan website as usual for passing on information.
Can people see my grin from where they are? 'cos I'm beaming at the thought!
Thanks to the Douglas Henshall fan website as usual for passing on information.
Can people see my grin from where they are? 'cos I'm beaming at the thought!
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Music recommendation: Cherbourg
Madness to be recommending a band who I managed to NOT see performing live last night* but there you go.
So, Cherbourg. Dear lordy, I like this band. Their 4 track EP is a thing of great beauty with harmonies and strings and crescendo rises. That pretty much guarantees a good recommendation from me so I urge you to try and at least listen to / buy their EP tracks and if you have more energy than me, go see them live. I'm pretty certain they would be great.
*I was in no fit state to muster up energy to wait for the headline act
So, Cherbourg. Dear lordy, I like this band. Their 4 track EP is a thing of great beauty with harmonies and strings and crescendo rises. That pretty much guarantees a good recommendation from me so I urge you to try and at least listen to / buy their EP tracks and if you have more energy than me, go see them live. I'm pretty certain they would be great.
*I was in no fit state to muster up energy to wait for the headline act
Friday, February 27, 2009
Selectadisc to close: *LOUD SOBS OF ANGUISH*
Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
This is not good! Nottingham's awesome Selectadisc record store is to close at the end of next month. I accept that this is an inevitable result of changes in music purchasing more than the credit crunch, but this has just not helped make my week better...
This is not good! Nottingham's awesome Selectadisc record store is to close at the end of next month. I accept that this is an inevitable result of changes in music purchasing more than the credit crunch, but this has just not helped make my week better...
Update on life, the universe and a lack of blogging
*sigh* sorry folks, its not been a good month for blogging from me.
Still, I am apparantly better than expected in the Sitting Tennant stakes: which is nice.
Still, I am apparantly better than expected in the Sitting Tennant stakes: which is nice.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Reading and stuff: not really blogging...
Read two Jasper Fforde books this weekend (The Big Over Easy and Something Rotten).
Watched Spearhead from Space. Plastic scares me.
Had a day out in Lincoln.
I seem to have lost the blogging mojo. Bear with me....
I can comment but not much else. Sorry.
Watched Spearhead from Space. Plastic scares me.
Had a day out in Lincoln.
I seem to have lost the blogging mojo. Bear with me....
I can comment but not much else. Sorry.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Tardy and hampered by time and rubbish systems
The Internet keeps falling over (*hits IE* and wishes she could move to Safari/Firefox/any f&*%ng system that reliably worked on her office computer).
I've been short of time (busy starting to watch S5 of The Wire at last and having a nice Valentine's Day)
Generally, this week I have mostly sucked at blogging.
Apologies.
I've been short of time (busy starting to watch S5 of The Wire at last and having a nice Valentine's Day)
Generally, this week I have mostly sucked at blogging.
Apologies.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
For those of us who never will: Stu_N reports on The Fat Duck experience
Whatever your opinion of the food and experiences Stu describes of his important birthday visit to The Fat Duck I would merely recommend that you simply revel in the sumptuous way in which he describes the whole experience in magnificent detail.
Best food writing I have read in a long while. Almost makes me wonder if we shouldn't do this sometime. Then again, The Fat Duck isn't exactly local to us... and I'm not sure how long it would take us to save up...
Best food writing I have read in a long while. Almost makes me wonder if we shouldn't do this sometime. Then again, The Fat Duck isn't exactly local to us... and I'm not sure how long it would take us to save up...
Jeff Vader - lego brilliance
I'm sorry I know this has been around for an age but I am so in need of giggles I have to share:
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