Sun, 25 January 2009
The Spacecast is yet another podcast dreamed up in the pub, this time between myself and Dylan, the official Song, by Toad photographer. And again it's one of those podcast which could have gone on for over two hours quite easily, but we don't do that anymore, not around here, we're disciplined these days goddammit. So I've missed off about a million other suggestions and come up with a combination of songs genuinely about space, and few that use space as some sort of metaphor and then a few which just stick a few spacey words in the title. And of course, it starts with something rather splendid... but you'll have to listen to find out what it is. Alright, it's not that special. Just mildly amusing. 01. Me First & the Gimme Gimmes - Rocket Man (03.52) |
Sat, 17 January 2009
This is just an overspilling of all the shiny new things I have in my inbox this week. It's so fabulously up to the minute that there are songs in here which only landed in my inbox yesterday. There's a slightly sneaky legend making an appearance as well, in the shape of Jason Lytle. Jason was the lead singer of Grandaddy, a legendary group who disbanded back in about, erm, 2006 or so, leading to Jason moving to a house out in Montana and apparently giving up on the idea of making a living out of music altogether. The thing is, music is an art form, and no-one makes a fucking living out of making art. The only exceptions are deplorable cunts like Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst and fucking Bono, so please can we dispel the idea that art is a profession. It's not a job, nor a career, it's a fucking calling; an obsession. Of course, the good news for us fans is that, because it's a calling rather than a job, Mr. Lytle was never likely to stay away forever. If you care about something it's almost impossible to stop yourself doing it. Believe me, I know - I feel the same way about masturbation (sorry, not that funny, I know). Oooh, by the way, I was very macho this evening. I got home and I opened the gate to find some random chump sitting on our steps drinking beer. So I bellowed with rage, grabbed him by the lapels and flung him out into the street, shouting angry man things like 'get the fuck out of my fucking house you cunt or I'll fucking batter you fucking senseless' and other well known aristotelian arguments. Unfortunately, as is often the case with fighting, one proved vastly less capable than the other, and he apologised and asked for the rest of his beer back and acknowledged that was in the wrong. Christ that made me feel like a prick and a bully. So I ended up pointing out that my wife was small and that if she came home and found someone sitting on our steps drinking beer she's have been scared, and that I was sorry for being so violent and please just bugger off etc etc. He agreed and apologised and basically took all the fun out of being an alpha male, the bastard. Christ, I might have to wait ten years to be that macho again, why did he have to ruin it for me? 01. Orouni - A Greased & Golden Palm (05.47) |
Sat, 10 January 2009
Well here we go. The new year is yet to quite take hold or take off, but I promise you that things will kick back into gear this weekend. There are some fine love shows appearing on the calendar, slowly but surely, and eventually 2009 will get going. No rush though. This Toadcast is a bit of a mix. I've got some of this year's favourites, I look back at some of last year's favourites, and I also poke away at a couple of the bands I hope will make their mark in 2009. In that sense, examining last year's favourites makes a lot of sense. I'm always curious about how well our fads and fancies bear up to the passage of time.
I've not been too fickle in recent years, which is sort of nice, so I
don't mind looking back like this. There aren't too many
embarrassments to be had, so it's kind of nice to take the chance to
look backwards, look forwards a little and generally just take the
opportunity to pause for breath and enjoy the new year. As should you,
toadlings, as should you. Happy new year, folks. 02. Gerry Mitchell & Little Sparta - The Ragged Garden of Your Eye (08.57) 03. Aidan John Moffat - The Boy That You Love (12.19) 04. Mitchell Museum - Extra Lives (18.11) 05. The Savings & Loan - The Virgin's Lullaby (24.36) 06. The Builders & the Butchers - When it Rains (28.06) 07. Elvis Perkins - It's Only Me (34.30) 08. Mother & the Addicts - Are Others (38.21) 09. The Pictish Trail - Winter Home Disco (46.27) 10. The Low Lows - Dear Flys, Love Spider (54.49) |
