Marillion, now there was a band! A bunch of aging long haired bricklayers, apparently touched by the magic of early Genesis. I can admit it now, because no one cares, I bought Script for a Jesters Tear. Yes, go on, laugh.
I like Gabriel’s Genesis and it seemed like a good idea at the time, youth is no excuse I know, but I was very young. It’s a bloody awful record by the way.
The singer was called Fish (no, I don’t know why. Look on Wikipedia you lazy bugger!). He thought he was Peter Gabriel, but looked more like Lou Ferrigno with a mullet. The falsetto whine never seemed quite right and the songs were rubbish. Apparently Fish left and they replaced him and got more “rock”. I can’t be bothered to find out.
None of my friends ever knew I bought this atrocity of a record, or that I do actually like ELO. Can you not tell anyone please? I turned the record into a flower pot by the way; old rubbish prog rock vinyl records make great flower pots. This was the best fate for it.
Other records turned to flowerpots include:
Supertramp live in Paris
Barclay James Harvest live in Berlin
The Baron Knights comedy record
Paul McCartney Give My Regards to Broad Street
And many more!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
2% Proof
I’m reading Jared Diamond’s The Third Chimpanzee. The book seeks to establish what it is in the 2% of our DNA which separates us for Chimpanzees that makes us human.
Diamond is very good with this sort of topic. He lays out in graphic detail our propensity for self destruction, genocide and xenophobia, along with our genius for art, language and love. What is proved I think is that we are really not that different from other members of the animal kingdom.
Art for instance, which most of us think of as a great human feature is not at all uncommon. Diamond tells us of birds in New Guinea that build large beautifully decorated nests to attract mates, which on first site appear man made.
The most disturbing section for me concerns our justification and tolerance for genocide. The final solution of the third Reich is of course (almost) universally decried. But what of the annihilation of Tasmanian and mainland aboriginals by European settlers in Australia? Or the calculated attempt at extinction of Native Americans in both North and South America? What of Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Dresden? Diamond reminds us that history is (re)written by the winners, and you can justify anything to make the facts less obvious, and to increase your comfort level. He also reminds us that we are actively seeking our own total destruction by global decimation of Earth and pursuit and use of weapons of mass destruction.
Diamonds work is essential. Guns, Germs and Steel is startlingly enlightening, Collapse is not as good but still very insightful. The Third Chimpanzee however should be on every schools required reading list.
With people like Jared Diamond among us, we still have some hope.
Diamond is very good with this sort of topic. He lays out in graphic detail our propensity for self destruction, genocide and xenophobia, along with our genius for art, language and love. What is proved I think is that we are really not that different from other members of the animal kingdom.
Art for instance, which most of us think of as a great human feature is not at all uncommon. Diamond tells us of birds in New Guinea that build large beautifully decorated nests to attract mates, which on first site appear man made.
The most disturbing section for me concerns our justification and tolerance for genocide. The final solution of the third Reich is of course (almost) universally decried. But what of the annihilation of Tasmanian and mainland aboriginals by European settlers in Australia? Or the calculated attempt at extinction of Native Americans in both North and South America? What of Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Dresden? Diamond reminds us that history is (re)written by the winners, and you can justify anything to make the facts less obvious, and to increase your comfort level. He also reminds us that we are actively seeking our own total destruction by global decimation of Earth and pursuit and use of weapons of mass destruction.
Diamonds work is essential. Guns, Germs and Steel is startlingly enlightening, Collapse is not as good but still very insightful. The Third Chimpanzee however should be on every schools required reading list.
With people like Jared Diamond among us, we still have some hope.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Jim Bob’s new record is out. It’s called Goffam and is, it seems, a concept album about a city in decay, I don’t have it yet as I am hoping to get it on e music, but the reviews, including this one by Andrew Collins, seem good.
Jim should be a huge star, but he can’t even get on the radio. I have been a fan since Carter were in their infancy and may be biased, but I have played his solo records to people who were not (and haven’t even heard of them) and the response is always very positive.
I will comment more upon hearing, but if it is at least as good as his previous efforts it will be wonderful.
Speaking of people who should be huge stars, I have been listening a lot to old Felt records recently. These records are amazing, in fact they sound better now than they did back in the 80’s. Lawrence is a genius, unfortunately as with many other genius’ he is also very self destructive. For those who do not know, Felt released ten albums and ten single in ten years during the 1980’s and then split up (an act of genius on it’s own perhaps?). They never achieved the heights of their peers (I’m thinking the likes of The Icicle Works and The Bunnymen) which I still believe to be criminally unjust.
Lawrence went on to Denim; Back in Denim is another lost Masterpiece. And is now known by Go Kart Mozart, the genius still shines through.
Jim should be a huge star, but he can’t even get on the radio. I have been a fan since Carter were in their infancy and may be biased, but I have played his solo records to people who were not (and haven’t even heard of them) and the response is always very positive.
I will comment more upon hearing, but if it is at least as good as his previous efforts it will be wonderful.
Speaking of people who should be huge stars, I have been listening a lot to old Felt records recently. These records are amazing, in fact they sound better now than they did back in the 80’s. Lawrence is a genius, unfortunately as with many other genius’ he is also very self destructive. For those who do not know, Felt released ten albums and ten single in ten years during the 1980’s and then split up (an act of genius on it’s own perhaps?). They never achieved the heights of their peers (I’m thinking the likes of The Icicle Works and The Bunnymen) which I still believe to be criminally unjust.
Lawrence went on to Denim; Back in Denim is another lost Masterpiece. And is now known by Go Kart Mozart, the genius still shines through.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Stop Making Sense
I am sitting here in the office listening to two people separated by a common language. One person is talking about something, the other person is talking about the same thing, and neither of them has any idea what the other one is talking about.
There is a lot of talk in meetings about filters, i.e. viewing the world from your point of view and disregarding other people’s points of view. I am not a big fan of this sort of talk; it is usually a job creation method for people who don’t do the real work. The filter thing makes sense though; it is very hard to see past your own experience / knowledge.
I try to overcome this by reading and listening and learning, this has helped me a great deal. I grew up in a very insular world and had to teach myself everything about the wider world, I certainly had a very thick filter to view through. This is not to say that I am open to all viewpoints, God forbid I should ever wimp out and be one of those that sit in a room agreeing with the local right wing nutcase and left wing blubberer simultaneously.
Opinions are good, some filters are good. We should be proud of our outrage at mediocrity and extremism. But we should not allow the filters to transform us into the mediocre or extreme.
There is a lot of talk in meetings about filters, i.e. viewing the world from your point of view and disregarding other people’s points of view. I am not a big fan of this sort of talk; it is usually a job creation method for people who don’t do the real work. The filter thing makes sense though; it is very hard to see past your own experience / knowledge.
I try to overcome this by reading and listening and learning, this has helped me a great deal. I grew up in a very insular world and had to teach myself everything about the wider world, I certainly had a very thick filter to view through. This is not to say that I am open to all viewpoints, God forbid I should ever wimp out and be one of those that sit in a room agreeing with the local right wing nutcase and left wing blubberer simultaneously.
Opinions are good, some filters are good. We should be proud of our outrage at mediocrity and extremism. But we should not allow the filters to transform us into the mediocre or extreme.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Irrelevant Pop Stars
Stop already! I’m talking to you Neil Young and Prince!
For goodness sake, a record every three years would do. And please edit your output somewhat! The quality of your records is awful; do you just release everything you record? Of course you do, and you record everything you write. This leads to awful triple albums of fifth rate rubbish, which your misguided fans feel compelled to buy.
Fork in the road is the new album by Neil Young. A concept album about cars and stuff, that seems to be an extended commercial for canola oil as our energy future. Prince is apparently releasing three albums this year! What in the name of God is a Lotus Flow3r anyway? I’m amazed that these people’s arses are big enough to take their giant heads!
Another piece of news for NY&P (hmm good name for a band), albums are irrelevant anyway, a triple album is just 30 or so MP3’s purchased and listened to (or not) in no particular order. Neil may want us to listen to a bunch of songs about cars that double as deep fat fryers, but the one good song (if there is one), is just going to end up next to Like A Hurricane in our MP3 player.
Well they are not getting my money, first of all they are not on e music and even if they were all my downloads for the next few months are booked for Felt and Jim Bob.
For goodness sake, a record every three years would do. And please edit your output somewhat! The quality of your records is awful; do you just release everything you record? Of course you do, and you record everything you write. This leads to awful triple albums of fifth rate rubbish, which your misguided fans feel compelled to buy.
Fork in the road is the new album by Neil Young. A concept album about cars and stuff, that seems to be an extended commercial for canola oil as our energy future. Prince is apparently releasing three albums this year! What in the name of God is a Lotus Flow3r anyway? I’m amazed that these people’s arses are big enough to take their giant heads!
Another piece of news for NY&P (hmm good name for a band), albums are irrelevant anyway, a triple album is just 30 or so MP3’s purchased and listened to (or not) in no particular order. Neil may want us to listen to a bunch of songs about cars that double as deep fat fryers, but the one good song (if there is one), is just going to end up next to Like A Hurricane in our MP3 player.
Well they are not getting my money, first of all they are not on e music and even if they were all my downloads for the next few months are booked for Felt and Jim Bob.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
I am The Curious Orange
I’m a big fan of Richard Herring (link over on the right there), I have been since the 90’s and his work for On The Hour. His most well known work is Fist of Fun and TMWRNJ.
Mr. Herring’s comedy (I may have mixed him up with his father there), can be very uncompromising and challenging to hear. Something that is once again sadly lacking in comedy. Youtube is full of his stuff, check it out.
There was a brief point in time during the 80’s and 90’s when comedy was vicious and inventive, I’m thinking of the likes of Bill Hicks and Andy Kaufman. Britain had more than it’s share, The Young Ones (and various spin offs), The Day Today and Brass Eye (also various spin offs), David Baddiel & Rob Newman and the aforementioned Richard Herring and erstwhile companion Stewart Lee.
Comedy should not be nice, it cannot be nice. When it tries to be it ends up boring, forgettable and completely unnecessary (think Last of the Summer Wine, Chef , The Vicar of Dibly, Mr. Bean and Ben Elton).
So, listen to the Collings & Herrin podcast (link to this is over there too!), and search for TMWRNJ or Richard Herring on Youtube (watch him rip a heckler apart, it’s priceless!). I assure you, your life will be better for it.
Let me know if you want more suggestions, I have wonderful taste you know!
Mr. Herring’s comedy (I may have mixed him up with his father there), can be very uncompromising and challenging to hear. Something that is once again sadly lacking in comedy. Youtube is full of his stuff, check it out.
There was a brief point in time during the 80’s and 90’s when comedy was vicious and inventive, I’m thinking of the likes of Bill Hicks and Andy Kaufman. Britain had more than it’s share, The Young Ones (and various spin offs), The Day Today and Brass Eye (also various spin offs), David Baddiel & Rob Newman and the aforementioned Richard Herring and erstwhile companion Stewart Lee.
Comedy should not be nice, it cannot be nice. When it tries to be it ends up boring, forgettable and completely unnecessary (think Last of the Summer Wine, Chef , The Vicar of Dibly, Mr. Bean and Ben Elton).
So, listen to the Collings & Herrin podcast (link to this is over there too!), and search for TMWRNJ or Richard Herring on Youtube (watch him rip a heckler apart, it’s priceless!). I assure you, your life will be better for it.
Let me know if you want more suggestions, I have wonderful taste you know!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Edible Sea Insect
I have been craving lobster. This could mean one of three things:
1. I am pregnant and craving unusual foods
2. I am turning into an aquatic mammal of some sort
3. It’s been a bloody long time since I had lobster
The answer is of course number three (I hope. I don’t see any flippers or odd belly lumps appearing).
Food cravings are odd things. For no apparent reason a food that you haven’t thought about in eons suddenly becomes vital to survival. This could be some sort of biological alarm clock, maybe my body is lacking vital chemicals that can only be found in lobster meat. It could be that I have the subconscious urge to boil a living creature alive, but I don’t think so. I’ll stick with the biological alarm clock thingy.
Alcohol is clearly a very potent catalyst in this chemical reaction. You can have a very nice meal before you leave for an evenings drinking and be full as an egg, two pints later there comes a desperate need to devour the spiciest, saltiest food you can grab. A plate of buffalo wings perhaps, or 2 bags of salt’n’vinegar crisps (that’s potato chips for the Americans). A curry probably (mmmm curry!) or any sort of Indian / Middle Eastern meat based product.
Whatever the reason or catalyst may be, enjoy your cravings. They prove you’re still alive.
1. I am pregnant and craving unusual foods
2. I am turning into an aquatic mammal of some sort
3. It’s been a bloody long time since I had lobster
The answer is of course number three (I hope. I don’t see any flippers or odd belly lumps appearing).
Food cravings are odd things. For no apparent reason a food that you haven’t thought about in eons suddenly becomes vital to survival. This could be some sort of biological alarm clock, maybe my body is lacking vital chemicals that can only be found in lobster meat. It could be that I have the subconscious urge to boil a living creature alive, but I don’t think so. I’ll stick with the biological alarm clock thingy.
Alcohol is clearly a very potent catalyst in this chemical reaction. You can have a very nice meal before you leave for an evenings drinking and be full as an egg, two pints later there comes a desperate need to devour the spiciest, saltiest food you can grab. A plate of buffalo wings perhaps, or 2 bags of salt’n’vinegar crisps (that’s potato chips for the Americans). A curry probably (mmmm curry!) or any sort of Indian / Middle Eastern meat based product.
Whatever the reason or catalyst may be, enjoy your cravings. They prove you’re still alive.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
And I felt....
I was reading about Richard Hell today. The man is an icon and an obscurity, this is all too often the fate of risk takers and inovators.
Richard Hell's career reminds me of an old tv comedy sketch about Orson Wells, he starts as a young man with fame and fortune (War of the Worlds and Citizen Kane), and grows into an oversized parody of himself doing crap commercials for cheap sherry.
Television are rightfully legendary, The Heartbreakers a mistake, and The Voidoids a genius piece of flawed failed art. Blank Generation is a masterpiece.
And I felt....slightly sad for old Richard Hell, but then I realized, he is still a genius. Just a quieter one.
Richard Hell's career reminds me of an old tv comedy sketch about Orson Wells, he starts as a young man with fame and fortune (War of the Worlds and Citizen Kane), and grows into an oversized parody of himself doing crap commercials for cheap sherry.
Television are rightfully legendary, The Heartbreakers a mistake, and The Voidoids a genius piece of flawed failed art. Blank Generation is a masterpiece.
And I felt....slightly sad for old Richard Hell, but then I realized, he is still a genius. Just a quieter one.
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