She may be many things,

but DAMN, La Moss is one cool bitch*. As is La Ditto. And I say that in the most respectful of tones.

The Gossip frontwoman Beth Ditto has declared new best pal Kate Moss "amazing." The unlikely pair have bonded in recent months and, speaking in this week's NME, Ditto has revealed that they are in agreement about one major issue.

"Kate is amazing. I spent one night talking to her and she just said the most amazing things about bodies," explained Ditto. At first I didn't think I was going to like her, but she just turned up to one of our shows and said, 'Do you know what I hate, Beth? I hate it when people tell my big girlfriends, 'You have a beautiful face...' I mean, that's a really radical concept."

She added: "You can't hate a person for dieting, and you can't blame a person for feeling shit about themselves. You have to blame the machine that feeds it, the thing that makes people feel like that. There are lots of things that are part of that machine, and it's too easy to lay the blame at the feet of women - men don't know what it feels like to be a woman and be expected to look a particular way all the time.

I had those conversations with Kate, and Kate agreed with me about it. She's a smart person."

*and also really, really, really good at spotting trends.

God, I love them

Them being Messieurs Brand and Gallagher. This is just hilarious....

The celeb swordsman quipped: “Happy 40th birthday, eternal rebel, poet laureate of the yob, scribbler of anthems, with the eyebrows of a neanderthal but the soul of NEIL YOUNG.

Now for God’s sake, hand over SARA MacDONALD. You’ve had a good run but you’re a very old man now. Give her and the baby a chance of a better life.

I’ll even raise it to be a lout, unless tests prove that it is, after all, mine.”

Mississippi River at Lansing, Iowa

Florida to Alaska on Bicycle (#55) June 12, 1997: Mississippi River, from Iowa, originally uploaded by worldwidewandering.

One of the prettiest spots in north Iowa.

What Cygirl Did

Had a smashing evening last night- my girl, Casey, celebrated her 29th (wink) birthday with a huge rave-up at her dad's dairy farm in north Iowa.

The morning? Well, I felt like smashing my head against the wall to make the blinding headache go away. I'm 29. (again, wink) When will I learn that Jagermeister is not, repeat not, my friend?

But I digress.

As I was driving through northern Iowa and southern Minnesota (on my way to get some quality time in with my niece), I was very amused by the contrast of the pastoral scenes and the occasional Amish horse and buggy, and with what I was listening to.

Which was? 'Dance Into the Night,' by Wee The View lads, ''Fluorescent Adolescent' by Arctic Monkeys, 'Fuck Forever' by Babyshambles and 'Country Girl' by Primal Scream.

Okay, that last one made sense, but seriously, it was really funny. Maybe that's Jager talking still.....

Face For the Radio

Gorgeous Wee The View Lads.

Shiver Me Timbers!

Without spoiling anyone, 'Pirates Of the Caribbean- At World's End' is chock full of awesome.

Love it, love it, love it. It's got KEEF for God's sake! And Captain Jack Sparrow. And Will Turner. And my girl, Elizabeth.

And the goofy pirates and a monkey!

Simply fab. Big, dumb summer entertainment. And y'all know how I love big and dumb.

And Cpt. Jack looks a bit, um, Khan-y, here.

Obsessions

Even with we obsessive fangirls, the muse leaves us-so to speak- every now and again. When this happens to me, musically, I return to the bands I love more than anything (The Jam, The Roses, Oasis, Primal Scream), and then build back up....

As part of the re-building up process, I've been listening to A LOT of the Manic Street Preachers.

Why? It's festival season in the Motherland, and strings and grandiose choruses sound fantastic when shouted along to by thousands of hammered people. The Manics do both of those really, really well. And the whole pinko Commie and eyeliner and dress wearing-things appeal to me. Again, A LOT.

Along my prediction of 'Fluorescent Adolescent' by Arctic Monkeys as the festival anthem of the summer, let me add 'Autumn Song' by the Manics. It's just lovely.

Random Ten

1. Movin' On Up- Primal Scream
2. Gin and Milk- Dirty Pretty Things
3. Solitary Man-Neil Diamond
4. Off the Hook- CSS
5. Valerie- (Zutons cover)-Amy Winehouse
6. Dance Into the Night- The View
7. What Is Hip?- Tower Of Power
8. Skag & Bone Man- The Libertines
9. Radio Radio- Elvis Costello
10. A Design For Life- Manic Street Preachers

Bonus-
11. I Knew the Bride (When She Used To Rock and Roll)- Nick Lowe
12. Careless Whisper- The Gossip

Mondays!

Shaun, Bez and Co. are back in fighting form. Seriously, they look good.

And this quote from Tony is so funny-

"I think people are genuinely excited that they are not dead...."

We are, Mr. Wilson. We are.

Control

I'm going to NEED to see this movie. Always a good sign when I get weepy during the trailer..... via The Slut

Screamers!

Ooo, I'm going to need this DVD.

'Primal Scream - Riot City Blues Tour', out June 25, features a live performance from the band recorded in November 2006 at London's Hammersmith Apollo.

The collection also features interviews backstage footage from the tour, and 12 of the band's promo videos.

Slashy! Me likey!

the view 1, originally uploaded by RJP Photography.

Wee Kyle and Wee Kieran are trying to kill me.

*nods*

Lake Vyrnwy

Lake Vyrnwy, originally uploaded by Mance.

So very Hogwarts.

Less than 2 months till OOTP movie and Year 7 book!

YAYS!

Oh, Big Brother

While Captain, My Captain, Sweet, Sweet Carlito and my Barely Legal Bit Of Stuff may consume a lot of my attention, Noel Thomas David Gallagher is my original "boyfriend," and this is why-

The Oasis rocker has blasted James Blunt, saying he wants to see his
head on a plate! Grumpy Noel launched his attack after being handed a birthday present on the latest edition of the Soccer AM TV show.

As he tore off the pressie's wrapping, Noel said:
"It's not James Blunt's head is it? I hope it is."

Much to the star's disappointment, the gift turned out to be a Manchester City FC jacket.

And, as always, Soccer AM is an endless source of amusement for we Yank Anglophiles.

So funny

Two items from that bastion of journalistic integrity, The Sun.

NATALIE PORTMAN stars in PAUL McCARTNEY’S new video for Dance Tonight, thanks to her friendship with his designer daughter STELLA.

Macca says: “I rang her and said, ‘I’m Stella’s dad’. Luckily, she was between films.”

and

Hold on to your skirts, ladies. A bulletin from RUSSELL BRAND on my MySpace page tells us his comedy gigs will act as “freedom rallies” so he can “establish a society of hanky panky”.

He welcomes “women aged between 18 and death”.

Guess guitar prodigies run in the family

Johnny Marr's son is set to play his first ever proper gig.

Nile Marr (who plays under the moniker Kid 0477) will hit the stage at the Bar Amp in Manchester on June 1st.

Earlier this year Nile was offered the support slot on Paolo Nutini's UK tour playing to 4,000 people a night... then they found out he was 15.

The View- Up The Junction

from Radio1's Big Weekend

Lily Allen - E! - The Daily 10

"Maybe their hoo-hoos smell bad and they need to air them out."

I love this girl. Love her.

via Stereogum

Go. Watch. Love.

I hate to harp on a subject....wait, no I don't.

The View. Go watch their performance from Radio1's Big Weekend.

They're quite good, especially when you know that they're 19. And so cute and so wee.

They have a song called 'Grans For Tea.' They want to go over to their respective grandma's houses. For tea.

Honestly, that's so darling, it should be submitted to Cute Overload.

Ah, to be a teenager. Only with common sense this time round.

Shoot The Runner

Live at Radio1's Big Weekend. Yes, those are the famous rose trousers.

I love the Internets

I just finished watching the entire Kasabian set from Radio 1's Big Weekend,

and am currently hitting F5 every ten seconds, waiting for Aunty Beeb to post The View's performance.

But then I found pictures of the show.

I realize that he's literally a teenager (19), and I'm definitely not, but I am powerless against the adorableness of Wee Kieran.

I think I could have kept myself under control, but the hat and the tank top were Just. Too. Much.

He's a pocket hottie.

Oh dear

My darling Thomas,

This is a nice picture.

I am very appreciative that your jeans could not be tighter, and I adore that sweater.


It shows your lovely wee tummy.

However, we must talk about your taste in eye wear.

It's crap, love.

This is at least the third pair of hideous shades I've seen you wear. You must consult Our Kid and Big Brother regarding this, ASAP. They can help, as their sunnies are usually drop-dead cool.

With much love and many impure thoughts,

Cygirl

PS- heard you, Sergio and the Other Fuckers, er, Chris and Ian, had a knockout performance today.

Well done!

PSS- I also hear there's a total slag named Kazza that thinks you're sex on a stick, and she has a bit of a thing for rock stars playing football, especially Mr. Pizzorno.

I'd steer clear of her if I were you. She's bad news....

Happy

No, not the Keef song from 'Exile On Main Street.'

I'm referring to my state of mind, since I get to work with my two favorite girls tomorrow-

Jen, my cheerleading buddy (former- I can't still do the Russian split jump, much to my disappointment, as I feel this would be a major plus when potentially wooing Brit rock stars)

and Hilly, the world's coolest teenager

So, to celebrate the occasion, I'm ripping them Cd's from my iTunes.

For Jen- Amy Winehouse, 'Back To Black' and Girls Aloud, 'The Sound of Girls Aloud'

For Hilly- The Fratellis, 'Costello Music' and The View, ' Hats Off To the Buskers'

YAY! Hopefully a minimum of stupid people will come into the shop tomorrow. Unlike today.

Congrats, Mr. & Mrs. Fielder-Civil!

lYou crazy kids! Best of luck to you!

As Us Weekly reported earlier today, Amy Winehouse wed fiance Blake Fielder-Civil in Miami, Florida this morning — just hours before taking part in a photoshoot for an upcoming issue of Rolling Stone. According to a source, the couple had actually planned to get hitched tomorrow, but when they dropped by City Hall today to get their marriage license, they decided to do it on the spot. “I don’t want to say it was on a whim, because that makes it sound whimsical,” said the groom, who was allegedly very giddy after the morning’s nuptials.

The View - Superstar Tradesman + Wasted Little DJs live

They are just adorable... very much looking forward to footage from this weekend's BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend.

(I believe the actual Wasted Little DJs are up on shoulders at the front)

Top 15 most played

on the old iTunes. Feeling a bit list-y tonight. Brit Bee is contagious.

1. L.S.F.- Kasabian (36)
2. Chelsea Dagger- The Fratellis (35)
3. Same Jeans- The View (31)
4. Country Girl- Primal Scream (30)
5. Me and Mr. Jones- Amy Winehouse (29)
6. Vince the Lovable Stoner- The Fratellis (28)
7. Your Love is Not Enough- Manic Street Preachers (26)
8. Claudia- The View (25)
9. Mersey Paradise- The Stone Roses (24)
10. Boys In the Band- The Libertines (22)
11. This Is the One- The Stone Roses (21)
12. High Fidelity- Elvis Costello (19)
13. Common People- Pulp (17)
14. Wasted Little Djs- The View (16)
15. Round Round- Sugababes (13)

Divalicious!

3 of my favorite ladies, together! So fierce! Yoko and Ana and Beth, OH MY!

I must have Ana's dress. Divine.

Random ten

Shake what your mama gave you, and let the good times roll.....


1. Balaclava- Arctic Monkeys
2. Jackie Big T*ts- The Kooks
3. Dance To the Music- Sly and the Family Stone
4. Tonight- Kate Walsh
5. I Believe In You- Kylie Minogue
6. Autumn Song- Manic Street Preachers
7. Crazy Train- Ozzy Osbourne
8. Killamangiro- Babyshambles
9. Ophelia- The Band
10. It's Oh So Quiet- Bjork

Bonus-

11. Man In the Cornershop- The Jam
12. Claudia- The View
13. Slide Away- Oasis
14. What Have I Done To Deserve This?- Pet Shop Boys

Let me be honest

I went to a VERY slashy place upon reading this news item this morning. Actually, I'm still giggling like Beavis and Butthead.

Oasis's Noel Gallagher has reacted to former Shockwaves NME Awards host Russell Brand's declaration of love for the guitarist.

In celebration of Gallagher's 40th birthday, which takes place on May 29, Brand posed wearing a garland round his neck with the legend: "Noel I love you too".

The Oasis star said: "The boy's desperate cries for love are pathetic, yet strangely compelling. I thought we had a strictly platonic relationship based on nothing more than our rapier-like wit and a mutual lusting for my missus."

He told The Sun: "Seems all along he's just wanted to use me like one of his blow-up dolls. I'm disgusted yet strangely intrigued."

Am picturing the Sex Insect using Big Brother.... Okay, I just squicked myself out a little there. Just a little, mind.

Thank God, the giggling seems to have calmed somewhat. Oh crap, 'Strict Machine' by Goldfrapp just came on the iTunes.

Damn, there I go again........

Manic Street Preachers - Your Love Alone Is Not Enough

This is a flawless pop song. Utterly perfect. The hooks, the strings- just absolutely wonderful.

And I want to look like Nina Perrson when I (finally) grow up. Sing like her, too.

Possibly the most fab shoes, evah

via FabSugar

Words I never thought

would come out of Mr. James Walcott's mouth.

I love Kylie Minogue.

This just makes me love him more. And this is hilarious-

Kylie was lunching at the Waverly Inn and no one alerted me. Had the batphone silently lit up, I would have zoomed downtown and loitered at the bar until I was able to fall at her shoes in a gallant swoon and say hi.

On my one visit to Waverly Inn, our posse was sandwiched between Ron Perelman and company were at one table, Rupert Murdoch and crew at another.

Stereo supermoguls: very nice. I might have popped by their tables to introduce myself if it hadn't been for the leg clamps. Just being in the vibrating vicinity of those two tycoons was invigoratingly buzzy.

But, I'm sorry, compared to Kylie they are but shadows in the forest and she the angelic sunlight breaking through the leafy canopy.

Nice to know that a writer that I idolize is a big honking fan boy, too.

Now THOSE are pink pants

From the Poiret do at the Met.

No rose trousers here, no, ma'am!

Vacuum cleaning our cat

1. There is no way that Holden, the world's most spoiled Persian would let me do this to him, though it would be all shades of awesome
2. How hilarious is this?
3. via cuteoverload.com

Claudia

I've listened to this song roughly 20 times in the past 24 hours. Love the lovely wee The View lads.

Entirely too romantic to have been written by teenagers.

And, " I blame it on your upbringing, you were made around the side of a van."

Are you joking me? That's utterly fantastic!

I felt I was one with you,
You probably didn't see.
Oh I'm a nervous one,
My pain it comes easily.

Should I revolve my world around you,
Should I revolve my light around you?

Claudia, Claudia,
You're taunting you're teasing,
You know I have feelings too,
They're all for you.
Claudia, Claudia,
Provoking my heart,
And I still have not broken the code,
To your heart now, oh no.....

I blame it on your upbringing,
You were made around the side of a van,
You call me the trusting one,
Trust it comes easy man

Should I revolve my world around you,
Should I revolve my light around you?

Claudia, Claudia,
You're taunting you're teasing,
You know I have feelings too.
They're all for you,
Claudia, Claudia,
Provoking my heart,
And I still have not broken the code,
To your heart now, to your heart now, whoa whoa whoa.

Fat-bottomed girl*

As part of my new Spartan diet and exercise routine, I've actually (HORRORS) joined a gym, and have started to eat more healthily (aka not eating mozzarella sticks for breakfast, lunch and dinner).

However, as I am possibly the least disciplined person on earth who is not one Peter Doherty, I needed some structure. So, I signed up for Body By Glamour.

Your point, Cy?

I had to weigh myself. It was a required field. I generally avoid scales, as I want to avoid returning to the frightening stick insect look that plagued me in college.

Backstory time-

I went through an ATROCIOUS breakup (I truly believed that the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse were going to be galloping down Lincoln Way at any time), my grandmother was diagnosed with A.L.S and I turned 21. Within about 4 months of each other.

And two of my best girlfriends also went through stomach-turning breakups and turned 21, too. Not a good combo.

We couldn't eat because it made us nauseous. We couldn't sleep for the nightmares. Since our exes were cheap bastards and we were sure to run into them, house parties weren't an option. So, we went to the bar. A lot.

Let's just put it this way, we could have given The Winehouse a SERIOUS run for her money in her pre-'Back To Black' days. Or now, really.

The only reason we were never photographed stumbling out of bars with mysterious white powdery substances on our persons, was that we didn't think to get ahold of any mysterious white powdery substances. And we weren't celebrities, other than with the local bar staff.

We drank most girls under the table. We drank most GUYS under the table, which was either sad or hilarious, since we didn't have 30% body fat between the three of us, total.

We didn't really eat anything before closing time. (Constant application of beer worked to quell the nausea somewhat). We all got far too thin. It wasn't a conscious choice, but it still happened.

We all snapped out of it eventually , but I've avoided weighing myself ever since. Maybe I'm afraid it will start again? Eh, who knows....

I sometimes wish I could go back in time, and let our younger selves know that a ratbag cheating redneck, a stoner Al Bundy-type and a posh boy from Chicago weren't worth what we were putting our livers, stomachs and checking accounts through.

This goes a long way towards explaining my affection for Ms. Amy's trainwreck self. Girl, I've been there.

But I digress.

I weighed myself today. And it wasn't as awful as I thought it was going to be. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a bit, er 20 pounds, over what my driver's license says I am, but it wasn't terrible.

Just thought I'd share.

We'll return to pop culture and political rants shortly.

*This is a joke. Anyone who knows me can tell you, I have no ass. But it made for a clever post title, don't you think?

812, 683 Ways To Please Your Man

From The Onion.

Sadly, this is not very far removed from actual magazine content.

Soundtrack

from Iowa's Coolest Flower Shop, Mother's Day weekend edition. Fairly bulletproof.

1. Vince the Lovable Stoner- The Fratellis
2. Take A Chance On Me- ABBA
3. Same Jeans- The View
4. Rehab- Amy Winehouse
5. Fluorescent Adolescent- Arctic Monkeys
6. The House That Jack Built- Aretha Franklin
7. Oh My Gosh- Basement Jaxx
8. I Don't Mind- Buzzcocks
9. Reach Out (I'll Be There)- Four Tops
10. Jump (For My Love)- Girls Aloud
11. Strict Machine- Goldfrapp
12. I Want You Back- Jackson 5
13. Town Called Malice- The Jam
14. It's Not Unusual- Tom Jones
15. Round Round- Sugababes
16. Listen Up!- The Gossip
17. Chelsea Dagger- The Fratellis
18. She's Electric- Oasis
19. Sally Cinnamon- The Stone Roses
20. Processed Beats- Kasabian

Bonus-
21. Common People- Pulp
22. 20th Century Boy- T.Rex
23. Wasted Little DJs- The View
24. Country Girl- Primal Scream

Mother's Day

Though I'm wont to compare the impending holiday to Valentine's Day, there really is no comparison. While not everyone has a sweetheart, nearly everyone has a mother or grandmother, or is a mother or grandmother. So, suffice to say, we are a tad busy at the flower shop.

And we have a wedding and a funeral tomorrow. Richard Curtis's next movie really should be about a florist finding love or similar.

So, we're a bit busy. My mom, being the business owner, is convinced that we are behind sales from years previous, and myself, along with the other designers, are convinced that she is tripping. Like Happy Mondays-level tripping. Ma is getting her Bez on.

As my beloved co-worker Patti says, we're busier than one-armed paper hangers.

To pass the time, and to keep spirits up, so to speak, we started to play "marry, shag or throw off a cliff." (pick three celebrities- you marry one, shag one and throw the other off said cliff). I think this originated in "Bridget Jones."

I would highly recommend this as a way to pass time. Very diverting.

I made Jen pick between Bez, The Reverend Shaun William Ryder and Peter Doherty. She cringed. I laughed my ass off.

Random Ten

Week of Mother's Day exhausted florist edition-

1. You Dropped a Bomb On Me- The Gap Band
2. Talk Tonight - Oasis
3. Trust a Fox- The Stone Roses
4. Vince the Lovable Stoner- The Fratellis
5. All Fired Up- Pat Benatar
6. Skag Trendy- The View
7. Rock N'Roll High School- The Ramones
8. Shoot the Runner- Kasabian
9. Fallen Angel- Poison
10. What Do I Get? - Buzzcocks


Bonus-
11. I Don't Feel Like Dancing- Scissor Sisters
12. Rock DJ- Robbie Williams
13. Queen Bitch- David Bowie
14. Surrender- Cheap Trick

Oasis - Lord Don't Slow Me Down (7of7)

t rex. get it on

Pulp - Common People live at Glastonbury (1995)

The textbook "the crowd goes wild."

The King

I purchased the May issue of Q magazine today, which had a feature on the best YouTube clips. Regarding the clip above-

"Sky Sports' Soccer AM features a segment in which guests attempt to kick a football through a target from 10 yards. Kasabian guitarist and former Nottingham Forest trialist Serge Pizzorno goes one better, deftly flicking the ball up before spectacularly volleying it through the target. Take note, Steve McLaren."

Bluebonnet Hill

Bluebonnet Hill, originally uploaded by jeffclow.

Because I miss my friends in Texas a lot right now. Not Texas, mind you, but Joy and Adeline.

"I don't think he's in regular correspondence with His Holiness"

This made me laugh so freaking hard that I spit water out my nose. Living large, my friends, living large.

I know it's "Anyone but United," but this is so funny!

* Pope Benedict XVI might want to look out for some unusual personal correspondence in the coming days.

His Holiness has not, to our knowledge, consumed industrial quantities of cortex-splitting pharmaceuticals, used the microwave on his tour bus to cook the aforementioned narcotics, vomited on Elvis's front door, bounced a ball off the head of Blur's Damon Albarn for some unknown misdeed, or been banned from Top of the Pops.*

The members of rock band Primal Scream have.

And I hear that the Scream's bassist, the loopy Mani, a Manchester United fan, has decided to write the Pope a letter calling for the canonisation of Man U manager Sir Alex Ferguson, after he won his ninth Premiership title with the club.

"Mani wants Fergie to be made a saint," says a friend, who faces eviction after Mani's excitable (mid-bender) stereo volume control upset the neighbours on Monday night.

"He says he's writing a letter to the Pope listing Fergie's miracles.

"I don't think he's in regular correspondence with His Holiness, but I've not spoken to him since last night, so for all I know he could be on the phone to him now."

If you doubt

for a minute that Oscar De La Renta has, shall we say, lost his touch, I would direct you to the ensemble he designed for First Lady Laura Bush for tonight's state dinner.

Disclaimer- I have many, many, MANY issues with the woman's husband. And she tends to say things that are completely insensitive/out-of-touch with any form of reality that I'm currently familiar with.

However, the fact remains that she is representing the United States on the international stage.

For God's sake, Laura, Liz Windsor has on a more flattering dress than you do , and she's 81!

As the Brits say, everything has gone a bit pear-shaped.

Peter, Peter, Peter

Sweetie darling,

You simply must stop this behavior. You see, I'm emotionally invested in you now, so you'd best straighten up and fly right.

Yes, I'll go all schoolteacher on your ass. You don't want that. Trust me.

Kisses,
Cygirl

PS- Ms. Moss- Let his ass SIT IN JAIL AND DETOX!

Thanks, love. Adore the new clothing line.

Red

Red, originally uploaded by Mance.

Speaking of Hooky

I don't want to fucking talk about it. Am in mourning. Bands that I love shouldn't be allowed to split until AFTER I've seen them in concert.

Shit.

New Order have split up, according to bassist Peter Hook.

As previously reported the band denied they were splitting earlier this year despite drummer Stephen Morris being quoted as saying: "We should stop for a while."

Hooky and Rowetta

Now this is interesting.....

MANCHESTER music stars Rowetta and Peter Hook are joining forces to raise money for Cancer Research.

The Former Happy Mondays singer and New Order's bassist Hooky are to perform reworkings of classic New Order and Joy Division tracks at the huge Impossible Dream Project gig at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff this December.

The pair came up with the idea after they played a few Joy Division classics together at a small private gig in Manchester and the reaction was very positive.

Rowetta, partying at trendy new Altrincham bar Opulence, told me: "I know that certain Joy Division fans are quite protective of the legacy of singer Ian Curtis.

"I can totally understand that.

"So I was really pleased when me and Hooky played a few tracks together that we got such a good reaction. It was lovely to see."

Random Ten

And away we go......

1. Beetlebum- Blur
2. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down- The Band
3. Sparky's Dream- Teenage Fanclub
4. Say You'll Be There- Spice Girls*
5. Always On My Mind- Pet Shop Boys
6. Atlantis To Interzone- Klaxons
7. Don't Stop Believing- Journey**
8. Liza Radley- The Jam
9. La belle et la bete- Babyshambles
10. Here It Comes- Doves

Bonus-
11. Every Day I Write the Book- Elvis Costello
12. Push It- Garbage
13. Neptune- Ian Brown
14. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is- Jet

*shit
**fucking hell

Pulp - Common People

SADIE! Hey, girl!

Indie Anthems- top ten

I'd like to point out that I correctly called quite a few of these. Yes, I'm actually that smug. (I'm not, actually)

But here we go (my thoughts in lavender, again)-

10 Arctic Monkeys - 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor'
(absolutely electric live)

9 The Strokes - 'Last Nite'
(what I said about #10)

8. The Stone Roses - 'I Am The Resurrection'
(oooo, should have been higher. The jam at the end? Transcendent)

7. The Smiths - 'How Soon Is Now?'
(My favorite bit of Marr)

6. The Libertines - 'Time For Heroes'
(love it. And the video is the slashiest thing I have EVER seen)

5. The Libertines - 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun'
(should have been 'Can't Stand Me Now' or 'Boys In the Band')

4. The Smiths - 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out'
(Smiths songs are so melancholy, but so fucking funny at the same time)

3. Pulp - 'Common People'
(Until my friend, the lovely Kazza, said something, I had no idea the patron saint of pervy older women (that I have mad respect for), Ms. Sadie Frost, was in this video)

2. Nirvana - 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'
(Told you so)

1. Oasis - 'Live Forever'
(bullet-proof bit of pop magic there....)

Not a perfect list (I would have put 'Resurrection' in at #1, and 'Live Forever' at #2), but hell, it still isn't too bad......

BabyShambles- Fuck Forever

Oooo, this is great.

Indie anthems 30-11

Here's the next round. Again, my comments are in lavender (if you actually care;)

11. The Smiths - 'This Charming Man'
(love it, love it. My co-workers don't appreciate Moz yet, but give me time)

12. The Stone Roses - 'She Bangs The Drums'
(If I could have a song's babies, it would be this one)

13. The Libertines - 'Can't Stand Me Now'
(I love it that during Libs performances, Carlos and Peter always looked like they wanted to punch each other in the throat or make out. Possibly both)

14. Oasis - 'Don't Look Back In Anger'
(I have no words. I love this song so much)

15. Blur - 'Song 2'
("Woooo Hooooo")

16. Franz Ferdinand - 'Take Me Out'

17. The Stone Roses - 'I Wanna Be Adored'
(I KNEW IT!)

18. The Verve - 'Bitter Sweet Symphony'
(I adore this song, and would like to say, as a Rolling Stones fan, that Jagger is a complete dick for suing them over this song. ESPECIALLY SINCE KEEF WROTE THE FUCKING ORCHESTRAL VERSION OF 'THE LAST TIME')

19. Joy Division - 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'
(thought this would be top ten)

20. Joy Division - 'Transmission'

21. The Smiths - 'Panic'
("Hang the DJ, hang the DJ")

22. The Breeders - 'Cannonball'
(Played a million times when my bestest friend and I went to the Greek Getaway weekend, an attempt to recruit for sororities, at Iowa State in 1994. It took for her, not for me)

23. The Gossip - 'Standing In The Way Of Control'
(Beth Ditto is one cool bitch)

24. Babyshambles - 'Fuck Forever'
(You read the lyric and start to realize what all the fuss is about Mr. Doherty)

25. Oasis - 'Supersonic'
("Give me Gin and tonic")

26. Radiohead - 'Creep'
(the only Radiohead song I own)

27. Oasis -' Wonderwall'

28. Pavement - 'Cut Your Hair'

29. Arcade Fire - 'Rebellion (Lies)'

30. Manic Street Preachers - 'A Design For Life'

DIRTY PRETTY THINGS

DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, originally uploaded by James Looker.

I am completely incapable of speech. This is Teh Hot. Sweet, sweet Carlito. This is rock and roll wasted youth, my friends. The modern equivalent of Lord Byron. But not posh. God. GOD. Carlos is fine.

Update- This is why I shouldn't look for Flickr pictures of my favorite rock and rollers after a few festive glasses of Chardonnay. Excuse the hyperbole.

"Oh, the boy's a slag"

Well done, Messieurs Turner, Cook, O'Malley and Helders.

Arctic Monkeys have entered the US album chart at Number Seven with their second LP Billboard'Favourite Worst Nightmare'.

The album fared better than 2006 debut LP 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not', which entered at Number 24.

Seriously, Al's lyrics are incredible. He's freaking 21. A baby. I was still not applying myself in college at that point, not writing Top Ten albums.

At that age, I would have written something like:

He loved me,
I loved him.
He dumped me for the sorority whore with too much makeup on.

Slamming drinks, manipulating the dj,
Woooo, 'The Rain Song.'
Gaaawwwdd, I think he's hot.
The cycle starts again.

Where am I? How did I get here? Who is this guy?

Enter the walk of shame.....

Shit, we're out of beer,
To the Keg Shop!

Ooo, I think he's hot.
The cycle starts again.

Or something equally profound.

*rolls eyes*

Best. Graphic. Ever.

Just appear already!

I want my new issue of NME to appear in my inbox right fucking now.

I have no idea why it is so very important for me to know what a bunch of teenagers and rock snobs consider to be the top indie anthems of all time, but it is. It's really fucking important.*

And I care about what teenagers and rocks snobs think, because basically I'm a big teenager with no acne and credit card debt, and Jeebus knows I'm a rock snob.

*I have a sneaking suspicion that this is due to my continued indecision on potential grad school major areas of study. Also, where I'm attending grad school

Back to my obsessing.

They've released #'s 50-31 today, and tomorrow will have #'s 30-11. But that won't matter, because I'll have my hot little hands on my digital copy.

So, let's see what we have here (my comments in lavender)

31 Oasis - 'Cigarettes & Alcohol' (Yes. YES. HELL YES.)

32 The Stone Roses - 'Fool's Gold'
(Oooo, I thought this would be higher. Higher. Snicker)

33 The Killers - 'Mr Brightside'

34 Radiohead - 'Just'

35 Pixies - 'Monkey Gone To Heaven'

36 Kaiser Chiefs - 'I Predict A Riot'
(I actually like the Girls Aloud cover better, but let's pretend I didn't just say that)

37 Kasabian - 'LSF'
(Fantastic! And I've listened to this song, oh, 75 times in the past few weeks due to the Thomas Meighan-related psychotic break I've experienced)

38 Pixies - 'Gigantic'
(All my stoner friends in college LOVED Pixies)

39 Oasis - 'Champagne Supernova'
(How can one be faster than a cannonball? There's a really great Big Brother quote re: this song, but I can't bloody find it)

40 Klaxons - 'Golden Skans'
(I have this! I feel like I should go buy the rest of the album, since I think New Rave is really taking off here. Because it is my favorite thing to say, "Oh, I've been listening to them for months now...." in a bored manner)

41 Blur - 'Parklife'
(I feed the pigeons, I sometimes feed the sparrows too. It gives me a sense of enormous well-being. Parklife!)

42 The Cribs - 'Hey Scenesters'

43 Suede - 'Animal Nitrate'

44 The Stone Roses - 'Love Spreads'
(I don't care what anyone says, I liked 'Second Coming.')

45 The La's - 'There She Goes'
(My top ten is totally fucked now. 'Son Of a Gun' maybe?)

46 Dinosaur Jr - 'Freak Scene'

47 The Libertines - 'Up The Bracket'
(Hurrah! The Good Ship Albion!)

48 Sonic Youth - 'Bull In The Heather'
(Another band that I'm not smart enough to like. Or cool enough to pretend I like)

49 The Rapture - 'House Of Jealous Lovers'

50 My Bloody Valentine - 'You Made Me Realise'

So, the wily bastards at the NME have a scan from the issue up on their website, showing some of the top ten, which I can't make out, because I'm fucking blind.

It appears that 'Dancefloor' by Sheffield's finest (other than Sean Bean, that is) is in at 10.

The Libs are in there (#6)? The pic they have shows Carlos's tummy. Which is lovely. But Thomas's wee tummy is better. Seriously, y'all, PSYCHOTIC FUCKING BREAK.

And my boys, Ian, John, Mani and Reni seem to be in at #8! WOO WOO!

So I'm guessing, depending on the Roses song, that it will be them, The Smiths or The Brothers From Burnage in at #1.

But of course, I might be hallucinating. We will see tomorrow.

bluebells

bluebells, originally uploaded by Mance.

I'm so going to look for bluebells tomorrow. Yay spring!

Indie anthems

The NME has released names of artists that have songs on their list of the greatest indie anthems, with the songs to be named later this week:

Arcade Fire ,Arctic Monkeys, Babyshambles, Blur, The Breeders , The Cribs, Dinosaur Jr, Franz Ferdinand, The Gossip, Joy Division, Kaiser Chiefs, Kasabian, The Killers, Klaxons, The La's, Manic Street Preachers, My Bloody Valentine, Nirvana, Oasis, Pavement, Pixies, Pulp, Radiohead, The Rapture, The Smiths, Sonic Youth, The Stone Roses, The Strokes, Suede, The Verve

Thoughts? The top ten, in my opinion, will include, in no particular order:

Suede- kicked off early Britpop

Blur- for 'Modern Life Is Rubbish' alone

Nirvana- for the Americans, and their gloomy lyrics gave Big Brother something to react to

Oasis- the back catalog is bulletproof.

Joy Division- because of Ian. Because Hooky is one of the most influential bass players of the past 30 years. This will be part of the JD renaissance, I'm telling you

The Smiths- on this one, I'm going to venture a song title. 'There Is a Light That Never Goes Out' will be in the top ten

The Stone Roses- For the Roses, I'm thinking it's going to be 'I Wanna Be Adored,' but I've been wrong before. Maybe 'I Am the Resurrection.' They'll be in the top 5, for sure.

Radiohead- They're important. I don't "get" their music, but they'll be in the top 10. (I'm not smart enough to understand it, apparently. I love 'Creep,' though. Yep, I'm one of THOSE people)

The La's- Massively, massively influential for a band that only put out one album. In 1990.

Arctic Monkeys- 'Dancefloor' for sure. The lads have so much momentum behind them right now.

Possible others in the top ten? Pulp, Pixies and The Strokes.

Step On

Since Mr. Mark Berry wasn't allowed into the US for Coachella, the Mondays obviously needed a freaky dancer to perform onstage with the Rev. Shaun William Ryder and company.

I'm not sure how it came to pass, but Dan Martin from the NME is shaking the Mancunian maracas tonight.

The following is from the NME's Coachella blog-

So I'm sat behind the Sahara Stage where the Happy Mondays are currently getting it on, and where stunt Bez for the night Dan Martin is warming up his repertoire of moves. He couldn't be more excited if he was a Frenchman with a pair of self-removing trousers. Check back in a bit to see how he got on!

"Stunt Bez." BWAHAHAHAHA!

But can he offer anyone "like the best drug experience they ever had?"

I like the way that the NME is working with the whole instant gratification thing that blogs provide with their festival and awards show temporary sites.

Most of the content winds up in the print edition, but it's just nice to know what is happening, when it's happening, rather than waiting a week for the magazine to hit the stands.

Arctics-Coachella 2007-A Certain Romance

My, Alex was chatty! I love Helders's mugging for the boys in the band, but what is the child wearing? Hysterical.

LILY ALLEN

LILY ALLEN, originally uploaded by James Looker.

darling piccie of Diamond Lil.

Live from Abbey Road- Shoot the Runner

'Absinthe makes you a whore.'

Don't tempt me, boys. Don't tempt me. ;)

Sheryl Crow is a brave woman

I wouldn't step foot into a room that contained Turdblossom without a shitload (literally) of garlic and a cross to hold the evil back.

Control to open Cannes

A Joy Division renaissance is in the making, mark my words......

A BIOPIC on the late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis has been selected to open a prestigious section at the Cannes Film Festival.

The debut feature by photographer Anton Corbijn follows the singer's rise to fame, as well as his relationships, his struggle with epilepsy and his suicide in 1980 just before the Manchester band's first US tour.

Back Turner Street , Manchester UK

Back Turner Street , Manchester UK, originally uploaded by marky1969.

I know I've posted this fav before, but cut a florist (the week of prom) some slack.

Someday, when I'm a successful writer, fashionista or rock courtesan (fingers crossed on the latter), my first major purchase will be a print of this photo.

It's so simple, but I adore it. It's marker on painted cement, but sooooo wonderfully composed.

Ridiculous how some images can make tears come to your eyes, isn't it?

the-view199 copy

the-view199 copy, originally uploaded by Danny North.

I'm exhausted, and I've nothing, so here's Wee Kieran and the Wasted Little Djs.

The enthusiasm is so adorable.

NME Awards- Arctic Monkeys

Best Album award, presented by my two fav Girls Aloud, the very hammered Sarah and Nicola. Also featuring appearances by Big Brother and Captain, My Captain. With max dimple action.

I know I've said this before, but Matt Helders is a fucking funny kid. Way to take advantage of getting an award by hitting on the presenters, son!

Random Ten

*shakes iTunes*

1. Down By the River- Neil Young
2. Little Red Corvette- Prince
3. Take Me Out- Franz Ferdinand
4. The Bad Thing- Arctic Monkeys
5. Mr. Brightside- The Killers
6. Listen Up- The Gossip
7. Rip Off- T.Rex
8. Country Girl/Rocks (feat. Mick Jones- live at NME Awards)- Primal Scream
9. All My Life- Foo Fighters
10. Mermaids- Paul Weller

Bonus-

11. It's Tricky- Run-DMC
12. The Boys Are Back In Town- Thin Lizzy
13. Strict Machine (live iTunes session)- Goldfrapp
14. Son of a Preacher Man- Aretha Franklin

What kind of fuckery is this?

Ooooo, the nasty-ass visa persons strike again. For GOD'S sake, what harm is the Freaky Dancer from the Mondays going to do? Have a maraca fly out of his hand and bean someone? Oh, but we're SAFER now. Whatevs.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRR......

Bez has been barred entry to America and will not be allowed to play with Happy Mondays in California this weekend, it has been announced.

The famed dancer with the Madchester icons was scheduled to appear at the Coachella Festival on Sunday but has not been granted a visa.

I did find this hilarious, though-

The band released a statement today, commenting: "Due to tightening immigration and working visa legislation, Bez was not, unfortunately, able to secure a visa to perform at Coachella this weekend.

"Happy Mondays apologies to all their US fans that they will not, on this occasion, be able to enjoy the spectacle of Bez shaking his stuff for them at Coachella."

"I'm not a plastic bag"

Oooo, I want one! That one!

Once again if you were hoping to get your hands on one of Anya Hindmarch's 'I'm not a plastic bag' eco-shoppers then you're out of luck. The bags went on sale at Sainsburys stores this morning and have already sold out. Not hugely surprising since some stores were only stocking up to 30 bags. According to Sainsburys' website there will be no more bags made for the UK market. In the meantime, if you're living in the US and have your heart set on owning one then you better prepare yourself. A limited edition navy blue shopper will be launching in June and if you're in Japan a green version will be available in July. To register your interest visit the Anya Hindmarch website. Or for details on how to enter a competition to win one visit Hippyshopper. [Images via Getty Images]

Kasabian - Processed Beats - Glastonbury 2005

The sound isn't very good, but Thomas is totally looking like a tall Ewan McGregor here, and Sergio is shaking his shit all over the place. Which redeems the lack of quality sound.

Lovely, just lovely.

The View are on fire

I love these boys, and I'm not just saying that because I've listened to 'Same Jeans' 500 times in the past week.

They're just darling. Look at Kyle and Kieran!

I want to make sure that they don't smoke or drink too much, keep off the hard shit and away from one Peter Doherty, who, bless, is probably not the best influence for the wee lads.

Gossip- Listen Up!

Fantastic song. Although, I must admit, that I initially listened to it because I thought it was an Oasis cover.

Beth is a godess.

Question

I've recently obtained a version of 'You Know I'm No Good,' orginally written and recorded by The Winehouse, covered by Arctic Monkeys. They sing the cover as is- no switching of the perspective from female to male.

My question is this: why does the song sound SO much more filthy when sung by Young Alex Turner?

Is it the perspective? I'm not exactly sure.....

By the way, The Winehouse is on Leno tonight, and Arctics are on Jimmy Kimmel Friday. Yay Coachella!

Pink Spring Flowers

Pink Spring Flowers, originally uploaded by femkecc.

Hootenanny! Finale: the Mighty quinn with Ade on trumpet!

That girl can SANG! Also, Sam Moore and Wellah! aren't too bad, either;)

Irish Blood, English Heart

Interesting article in The Independent regarding the massive influence of Irish immigrants on Brit pop culture. When you really think, it is quite staggering.

The Smiths- Steven Patrick Morrissey, Johnny (Maher) Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce

The Brothers Gallagher- Noel Thomas David and William John Paul

Shaun William and Paul Ryder

John Lennon

Johnny (Lydon) Rotten

I mean, look at that list. Some of the most iconic Brit frontmen ever!

Not to mention Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien, whom you may know as Dusty freaking Springfield.

Great bit about Big Brother, too:

Noel Gallagher might be a Mancunian with football blood coursing through his veins but when Oasis were asked to record the "Three Lions" English football anthem seven years ago, he was unequivocal. "When push comes to shove, I'm in the Ireland end," he said. "If I'd done the England song and gone on at Wembley my uncles would have killed me."