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3:24pm: Hmm
Looks like the Dot to Dot line up for this year is now complete and, to be hones, a bit underwhelming. Now I know the point is to find new fun bands, and these have given me the most pleasure in the last 2 years, but there's not as much that's jumping out at me this time.

ALSO, it doesn't seem like anyone else is going? Or am I wrong? Are YOU going? Bear in mind I'm talking about the Notts event. I have a ticket but hmm, effort and that.

The bands I'm interested in seeing are: Kissy Sellout, the Mae Shi, Mystery Jets, Sons & Daughters, Boy Least Likely To, Two Gallants. Moderately intrigued by: 1990s, Buraka Som Sistema, Eugene McGuinness, Florence & the Machine, Ida Maria, Jeremy Warmsley, Johnny Flynn, Operator Please, Primary 1, Spiritualized.

To be honest, the fact that it's over 2 days is putting me off rather than making me more interested. One was enough.

More bands behind the cut below. Is it worth going still?

( Read more... )

I have booked Latitude, by the way. Is anyone else on here going?

9:19am: BEST
So, Bestival line-up announced. My Bloody Valentine headlining probably swings it for me, along with CSS, the Breeders, Human League, Pendulum, and loads of other good stuff. (Also British Sea Power who aren't on that list but have self-confirmed, pretty much.)

Have a feeling it might sell out soon so I'm in favour of ticketing soon. Anyone else in?

1:50am: YaY @ New Year's. Perhaps I will expand. But ACE!

6:17pm: Today's bizarre news gleaned from Facebook news feed is this:

Erol Alkan is DJing at the Bullingdon Arms on Saturday night

Mental.

Anyone going then?

10:17pm: Musicings
This isn't really a necessary post:

- The Luke Haines album is fairly spectacularly disappointing, but then my hopes weren't high anyway. It is only really redeemed by the title track, and 'Leeds United', which is fantastic. There are a few other almost-good tracks, and as our Haines expert panel listening party (also featuring the recently graduamalated wicker_girl and Ed M) decreed: If he'd released those two tracks and 'Bad Reputation' as three singles, with the rest as b-sides, it'd all be fairly impressive. If he'd done it about 2 years ago at least. Proper album now please, Haines, stop mucking around. More lyrics, less repetition and lists of things that sound like they should probably be in a Luke Haines song. And ffs, if you're going to tour to promote your new not-at-all-acoustic album, please take a band with you. LAZY.

- I am also failing to get into the Jarvis album. In fact I'm struggling to even form an opinion on it at all, as despite listening to it 3 or 4 times, I can only remember 'Black Magic' which itself is quite middling.

- All of this is quite spectacularly compensated for by the Long Blondes album, which is GREAT. I hope it's not one of those albums I like for 5 minutes and then it wears thin. It might be, but now, it's GREAT. Not a bad track at all. Still sounds a bit like Sleeper with a bit more suss, the benefit of hindsight and a touch of Sheffield. This, I must conclude, is no bad thing.

- That CSS album is alright. Quite good fun.

- Girls Aloud best of was a waste of downloading time er, stuff. As I really should've known. Not that there aren't 7 utterly fantastic tracks on there. But there's also some utter dross. Far too early.

8:46am: I have a feeling it's been a while since I posted on here! In brief, then...

- Last night I went to see the Divine Comedy. Very good. Sound was better than usual at Brookes. Only marred slightly by an angry young woman shouting at me for being tall. But there you go. ( setlist spoilers(!) ) Good night though and good people out. Even the support (Duke Special) was pretty good - quite odd looking and overblown, but good tunes.

- Saturday of course was all about the GothCrawl in London. If I was at all interesting I would tell you loads of hilarious anecdotes but I don't think I'll bother. Safe to say 'twas a marvellous day with plenty of drinking and some unusual new pubs. My highlights though were still probably calling embitteredpoet at the height of collective drunkenness and shouting nonsense down the phone. And of course celentari's bloody incredible roast. Still baffled as to how everyone else failed to eat it all- I could've eaten enough for about 12 people but then that is why I am large and everyone else is thin and attractive. Oh well.

- On Friday I went to see The History Boys at the Phoenix with Jessi and Dave. I enjoyed it very much, but as I've now said about 20 times, so, so easy to pick holes in it / generally laugh at it. But that doesn't change the fact that it was an enjoyable bit of fluff with some great, great performances. In fact, hard to think of a bad one - the youths in particular were all brilliant.

- I have mainly been listening to more Nick Cave, and albums by Metric, Liam Frost and the Dears. And 'A Rook House For Bobby' by iliketrains on repeat. I should get the mini-album I think.

12:18pm: I'm bored so I will inflict some news of what albums I have recently acquired and am listening to/enjoying in some capacity at the moment. Feel free to reply back with stuff you're currently enjoying which I should probably listen to.

Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country: I'm feeling a bit twee-ed out at the moment so this is not getting my full attention.
MSTRKRFT - The Looks: kinda 2003 if I'm honest, but very good nontheless. The title track basically is Adam Freeland's 'We Want Your Soul.' Good motivational work music though.
Various - Kompakt Total 7: as recommended by katstevens. CD2=excellent, CD1=a bit of an effort, quite noodly and subdued. Good overall though.
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over The Sea: Probably should have got into these earlier. Though there are some rubbishy emo tracks on here among the genius ones.
Cat Power - The Greatest: can't really get past playing the title track on repeat. The rest is a bit bland.
Absentee - Shmotime: Great fun, love this guy's voice. Twee backing with a very deep voiced singer. What you need.
Pendulum - Hold Your COlour: Meant to get this ages ago. It's universally good (except for one track which crosses my aggressive sounding music threshold) but really does go on a bit. Would be better at 2/3 the length.
The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat: These are a band I really could fall in love with. They do toss around a bit but always bring it back together with some incredible moments.

I'm also waiting for albums by Beirut and Casiotone..., and the second Tilly and the Wall. And listening to loads of Nick Cave and contemplating buying more.

8:27pm: CHOQUE!
This is great. One of my favourite bits of Benicassim was when Cat and Holly and Ben dragged me, in the midst of the second day of a 36 hour hangover, to the cinema to see some short films. This one was by far the best:

Choque, by Nacho Vigalondo

It's 10 minutes long. Get some popcorn and watch it on full screen in a darkened room, as the joy of it is in the details.

In other news, Ben has posted his mammoth review of Benicassim here. Highlights include videos of Madness and Art Brut featuring us all being ludicrously drunk and happy, a link to the whole of Morrissey's set recorded from TVE, and, of course, incisive comment from the man himself.

I'm so not going to shut up about Benicassim for months.

3:33pm: Hello
Hello hello hello. Benicassim was ace. All the great and then some. I am now tired and lazy and in Worksop and thus probably unlikely to make the pub crawl in London tomorrow. I have no money and have to go back to work on Monday but it's all good because I had the best time in the world ever. I will update more at some point and at some point there will be photos and collaborative airport-written unfinished diaries.

In my usual fashion for now I will cop out with a list. A difficult one as for once almost every band I saw was incredible, but my favourite 5 bands in terms of sheer enjoyment of the weekend were:
1. Art Brut
2. The Strokes
3. Madness
4. Nada Surf
5= Pixies/ Bunnymen/ Morrissey/ Franz

OK, the last one was a total cop out. But they were all great so how do you choose?

MUCH MORE LATER

EDIT: PHOTOS!!! Admittedly just a few from my camera phone. I'm looking forward to Cat's and Ben's much more. But these should serve as a taster.

12:28pm: I think I'm going to cry
My iPod has been wiped! It's empty! There's nothing there!

This is clearly something to do with my faffing around trying to make last.fm update with songs from iPod. But it's terrible! AND it claims there are '0 songs, 10GB capacity, 1.5GB free'... so what is using the other 8.5 gigs? I am not happy with this at all.

12:39pm: Non-benicassim people ignore.
( new FIB confirmations )

12:30pm: ( Sea Power, Art Brut, Pipettes etc, London all-nighter, April 13th )

I know it's only 2 days before that Soulwax jobby, but this one is MUCH better timed for me and also features bands I actually like. Please at least ONE person come! Or I'll be forced to go on my own...

http://www.insomniacsball.co.uk/

1:35pm: Aceness
I don't have much to add but the Wetherspoon's pub crawl on Saturday was fantastic. Here is an account of my part in it as told by Monica, and here is an account of events of the full day including the first SEVEN HOURS which we missed from Master of Ceremonies and efficiency personified darkpigeon. Few better days have been had by so many in recent times, it seems, and it was indeed of Very High Quality, in terms of company, location and frolics.

Good to meet some great new people, some of whom I have already got round to adding on this thing so hello! And even better to see some not-often seen Londoners, all on top form. Brilliant. Just remembered I got IDed at After Skool which is not in other accounts due to only me caring. Fun!

I don't know if celentari wrote it on her arm in the end or not, but we also had big big discussions about Benicassim. I hope everyone is standing by their resolve and we can begin to gather a group together for some serious festival fun. I've already got the 2 weeks off work then so I'm half way there...

Going to be doing some quali interviewing in a few weeks. Bit daunting as it involves going into randomers' homes and, er, interviewing them. The subject is racing car computer games though, so I should hopefully at least find it interesting...

That is all. No it isn't:

You have booked 1 standing tickets for THE SHINS at Brookes University in Oxford on MON, 22/05/2006, doors at 19:00, starts at 19:00

That nicely solved my London vs. Nottingham dilemma, didn't it?

12:21pm: Big list
( top 50 singles 2005 )

1:28pm: it's Monday, so it is, yep
Had another great weekend over in the London with the misteryguest. She has very kindly allowed me to tell the story of the weekend this time, but sadly I'm not sure I'm going to make a very good job of it due to being pushed for time and a bit uninspired. Oh well!

Started off well on Friday evening by finishing work at 5.30 and making it from Wallingford to Harrow by 7, despite quite a bit of traffic. Impressive. Then we went to meet some nice people in a posh flat. Damn them lot with them there decent jobs. Tube home. MISSED PEEP SHOW which was a bit gutting, but have it on tape at home so something else to add to xmas cheer (starting next Weds!).

Bummed around a bit before going into town on Saturday. Great plans were hatched- INCLUDING buying a secret santa for someone at work. I have still failed in this task. It doesnt help that it's only 5 pounds we have to spend. Anyone any ideas? He's oldish, irish, with a reputation for being a bit grumpy. Big character in the company though so it's HARD. ANnnoyinggg. Nothing much else was achieved in the day other than lots of pleasant wanderings around London town. Which is always a fantastic place for a visit. I'm still not totally convinced I could ever live there, but in another sense it'd be a shame not too at some point. AH, trade-offs, etc. Onwards to the evening and an early start to drinking. We'd been reading about Sam Smith's pubs in time out earlier (those like the 3 Goat's Heads and that one near Tower Bridge, in my limited experience) and I was just pondering on the lines of 'could do with a pint/ shame there's no sam smiths nearby' when lo and behold there appeared the very pub timeout was talking about. Into there and drank some very tasty and well-presented pints while playing the song list game from whatever that rubbish new Friday BBC sitcom is called. Nice! Then we met geebabygee briefly which was nice and had more pints. Then Monica wanted to take me to another pub which she had only seen from the outside but looked nice. Guess what? Twas another sam smiths! Cheering!

Eventually via a chippy we made our way to the Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes, had to queue up for a bit due to sneaking in a final pint nearby, but was worth it! Really cool place, evidentally already filling up at 8.30, madly enough. The bowling was already booked for the next 4 hours so we didn't get to take advantage of that - another day maybe! A nice pint (theme?) at the bar before it got too busy. They were playing some fantastic northern soul/motown/sixties/rock n roll type music all the time we were there, was great. Then the Pipettes -- who I thought were excellent IF a bit of a one-trick pony without any real shade to their large amount of light. That 'I like a boy in uniform' is very catchy indeed though. They also made me slightly downbeat for some reason, mainly to do with wishing that I'd seen certain better fun young girl-group indie types in the nineties. Well, Kenickie. But they are still good, yep. We then made the decision to leave as they had "run out" of pints and were only serving blooody bottles there were massive queues for the bar and we were really tired. We also managed to catch the last tube home which was a godsend. We missed some sort of "indie supergroup" doing covers later on. I spent most of yesterday trying to figure out who we'd missed, but so far we have figured out that it included Ed Harcourt and Leila Moss from the Duke Spirit, and some people that noone on the internet really recognised, so not a great loss. I bet it would have been fun though. I really would like to go to more rock n roll soul nights, even without bowling/pipettes/supergroups (Mainly as none of the above made that massive an impact!). It was unbelievably busy though. Absolutely rammed from about 9, ridiculous. Some people clearly know what they're doing! Best night (in theory at least) I've been to in a while mmhmm, yes.

That was a bit of an aimless ramble. I had a really nice weekend though, and probably more fun and pleasant than it sounds from that stilted narrative. Another week and a half to go... think it's going to be a long one...

1:22pm: Hmm!!
Well, I did mean to update about the weekend but misteryguest has gone and ruined my fun by writing about everything in a way in which I can't but agree entirely. Especially worth noting the point about the music in clubs I think. Anyway, it's all here.

I suppose some worthy additions are that my last minute bad planning was to blame for the 'party' turning into more of a small pleasant gathering, but I shouldn't complain too much though as it was still an excellent night, albeit quite different to the so-called plan.

I also had another band practice yesterday and it's ticking along very nicely. We would now really like, ideally, a drummer and someone who can sing backing/extra vocals and play an alternative instrument (our current favourites are effectsy keyboard and/or violin). Anyone know of any of the above?

Monica also missed out that we went to the record fair on Sat. I got albums by The Chalets, The Robocop Kraus, and Dan Sartain (all 2005 releases) and Baader Meinhof which I inexplicably didn't already own, all for a total of £12. My cheap collection-expanding continues apace...

The single downside to a very good weekend was my laptop packing in. It's done it before but it seems somehow even less responsive this time. No lights at all, just won't switch on. Dammit. It's about 3 years old though, so maybe it is time for a new one. Could do with it not being entirely dead though.

Two and a half weeks till I break for xmas. Cool.