This involves so many of my favorite musicians

that I could just cry. From the Raving Reporter blog at the NME online-

It was a long time coming but today we saw a whole new personality leap out of the immoral morass they call Babyshambles.

For Drew Babyshambles is the man behind the Love Music Hate Racism CD which will be appearing on the front of the NME in a few weeks' time.

And today I spent an enlightening few hours in the company of Drew, Kele Okereke, Lethal Bizzle, The View, Tom from The Enemy, Carl Barat and several spokespeople from the Love Music Hate Racism charity to discuss the issues thrown up by the fact that we suddenly have a serious responsibility to challenge the BNP.

The BNP, it turns out, have been making 'rock' CDs and handing them out outside schools in the interest of recruiting young kids to their way of thinking.

The BNP CD is full of hideous 'Oi' music and antiquated folk rubbish, everything they think is likely to appeal to the youth of today.

So there are not enough hats to take off to Drew and the other acts on the LMHR CD for realising that the best way to humiliate these idiots is by out-cooling them at their own game by getting the likes of Bloc Party, Dirty Pretty Things and The Enemy to contribute to a far more credible CD in response.

Anyone reading this blog is intelligent enough to know that racism is beyond idiocy, but what we can't forget is that complacency lets in the extremists, so make your voice heard. Like Drew did. An extremely intelligent man doing what he can.

Inevitably, though, after the serious issues were tackled, drunkeness ensued.

After several pints in a pub near the photographic studio, half of the participants ended up in Carl's car to the Cuckoo Club where The Charlatans were playing a secret set for Alan McGee's Death Disco TV show.

The spirits flowed freely, leading to this writer:

* having a heart to heart with Alan about what a bloody great bloke Tony Wilson was even though I personally never met him.

* necking so much scotch I can barely type right now.

* having a see-who-can-hold-their-hand-in-the-freezing-bucket-of-ice-water-for-the-longest contest with Kyle from The View just after he'd played an incredible cover of The Beatles' 'I've Just Seen A Face' and just before he started leaping around on his chair screaming for The Charlatans to play 'Love Is The Key'.

We may have set the world to rights but my own personal world went oh so wrong...

Gem Archer @ London Shepherd's Bush Empire 7th oct. 2001

Gem Archer @ London Shepherd's Bush Empire 7th oct. 2001, originally uploaded by Anjali Knebworth.

J, here's your "boyfriend!"

Mercury Prize

So, who do I think will win? Well, I think the majority of the votes will be split between Arctic Monkeys, Klaxons and Amy Winehouse, leaving the field wide open for anyone else....

Bats For Lashes has the endorsement of Thom Yorke, Fionn Regan the support of Drew McConnell....but I truly think that The View will walk away with the award.

I'm most likely talking ten kinds of shit, but it could happen....

Arctic Monkeys - 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'
Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford - 'Basquiat Strings'
Bat For Lashes - 'Fur And Gold'
Dizzee Rascal - 'Maths And English'
Klaxons - 'Myths Of The Near Future'
Maps - 'We Can Create'
New Young Pony Club - 'Fantastic Playroom'
Fionn Regan - 'The End Of History'
Jamie T - 'Panic Prevention'
The View - 'Hats Off To The Buskers'
Amy Winehouse - 'Back To Black'
The Young Knives - 'Voices Of Animals And Men'

'Denial'- Sugababes

The backing track is so 'Without Me'



via Pop Justice

Baby Shambles @ V Festival 2007

Baby Shambles @ V Festival 2007, originally uploaded by Guy Eppel.

Jersey Live

KASABIAN, originally uploaded by bbcjersey.

He's obviously trying to bloody kill me.

Primal Sceam 2

Primal Sceam 2, originally uploaded by Danny North.

In honor of their appearance on 'Live At Abbey Road' on Sundance Channel last night.

'Foundations'- Kate Nash

I like this girl......

Hmmm, there seems to be a pattern

with today's posts. This picture made me laugh me arse off this AM.

The little Enemy boys? Are SO little. Look- even Didz is taller than they are, and he's very close to being the most vertically challenged Dirty Pretty Thing!

*cough, cough, Carlos*

'Away From Here'- The Enemy

Is this the first time on record

that Carlito and Gazza kept their shirts on during a gig?

Random Ten

1. The Other Side- Scissor Sisters
2. The Cedar Room- Doves
3. The Bitch Is Back- Elton John
4. Accelerator- Primal Scream
5. Argument With David Rawlings Concerning Morrissey- Ryan Adams
6. Morning Glory- Noel Gallagher (solo acoustic)
7. Reason Is Treason- Kasabian (Glasto '07)
8. Hong Kong Garden- Siouxsie and The Banshees
9. She's A Bad Mama Jama- Carl Carlton
10. She's So High- Blur (live at the Budokan)

Bonus-
11. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere- Neil Young
12. Over and Over- Hot Chip

Shut the hell up, Rep.Rants

And you too, Gov. Culver. For fuck's sake, Chet. I voted for you. I will be calling you on Tuesday. You KNOW better. And don't even get me started on Rants. He seems to be a bit preoccupied with the butt, if you get my drift.

Love is a precious commodity, and stable families a blessing. Who cares about the composition of said families except for a bunch of narrow-minded jackasses? Let's work on the getting out of an illegal war and an impending depression, and "worry" about the gays later.....

Tomorrow, I am so calling the flower shops in DM and sending bouquets to the couples getting hitched. Why? Because we speak florist, and there are weddings. Brides, male or female, need a posy.

I simply do not understand how two people declaring their love for the other becomes such a big deal.

For the moment, I am EXTREMELY proud of being from Iowa.

DES MOINES - A Polk County judge on Thursday struck down Iowa's law banning gay marriage and ordered the county recorder to permit gay and lesbian couples to wed. Less than two hours after word of the ruling was publicized, two Des Moines men applied at the Polk County recorder's office for a marriage license, and for the first time the application was accepted. The process of granting a license to marry in Iowa takes three days.

.....

House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said the judge's ruling illustrates the need for a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. "I can't believe this is happening in Iowa," he said. "I guarantee you there will a vote on this issue come January."

ROAD TRIP!

Jen, we are SOOOOOO going to Chi-town on November 20th!

The Gossip have announced that they'll play a series of dates throughout the US this fall.Following on the heels of an extensive UK and European and jaunt this summer, the Arkansas trio plan to hit the road again in the States, starting off in their current home town of Portland, Oregon on November 2. They'll then head down the west coast and play two dates in Los Angeles before heading east for shows in several major cities across the country.

The tour dates are:

Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom (November 2)

Seattle, WA Showbox (3)

San Francisco, CA Bimbo's (5)

Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theatre (6,7)

Washington DC Black Cat (14)

Philadelphia, PA Starlite Ballroom (15)

New York, NY Webster Hall (16)

Brooklyn, NY Music Hall (17)

Boston, MA Middle East (18)

Chicago, IL Metro (20)

the view 4

the view 4, originally uploaded by RJP Photography.

Kasabian @ The V Festival 2007

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guyeppel/1212767501/, originally uploaded by Guy Eppel.

Goodness, he's pretty......Hottest nerd ever.

'Umbrella'- Biffy Clyro

Yes, THAT 'Umbrella'.....

Oh, wow

My Beloved Noel playing 'Sally Cinnamon.' Let me reiterate the wow.

Oasis - Sally Cinnamon (Instrumental)
Uploaded by Belletan

Hee

Back when Alias was still on network TV, my must-read every week was Erin's recap of the show on Television Without Pity. Anyone who came up with the nicknames "Spy Barbie" and "Spy Daddy" is okay by me. And she had an appreciation for the hawtness that was one Mr. Julian Sark. Mmmmmm, Sarky.

So, imagine my delight when I discovered that she has her own blog! YAY! And it contains things like this-

For almost a year now, I have been sleeping on one of these motherfucking pieces of shit mattresses.

You know how it is. Or, you would know, if you’ve ever moved from, well, anywhere else to the lovely island of Manhattan. You have to get rid of EVERYTHING YOU HAVE EVER OWNED because NOTHING YOU OWN will EVER FIT into the SMALLEST FUCKING APARTMENT ON THE PLANET. This doesn’t just mean you give your books to your friend and leave your 36-inch tube TV on someone else’s credenza — wait, scratch that, on YOUR credenza because, hi, THAT SHIT WON’T FIT IN YOUR APARTMENT EITHER so you give it ALL to your friend because at least SHE will be able to get years of enjoyment out of it — oh, no.

It means you donate antique furniture to the Salvation Army, including a lovely library table that belonged to your parents for, like, thirty years, and a chest of drawers that held your father’s clothes for at least fifteen years; you throw every last piece of IKEA furniture you hauled all the way from Chicago to Charleston out onto the curb and watch as your neighbors pilfer said pieces almost as quickly as you leave them out there; and you bag up 95% of your wardrobe because you are going to move to a place where, not only are eight pairs of shabby capri pants and 3/4-sleeve blouses in various sherbet-toned colors totally inappropriate for the Big Apple, YOU WILL NOT HAVE ROOM FOR THEM ANYWAY, SO JUST GIVE THEM TO THE DAMN HOMELESS ALREADY.

TWOP was a incubator for my favorite writers. Who else started there? The Right Honorable Heather and Jessica GoFugYourself, who were in charge of recapping 7th Heaven.

*shudders*

Saville and Smith

PAUL SMITH has teamed up with graphic designer and record industry supremo Peter Saville to launch a limited edition T-shirt in
honour of the eagerly-anticipated film Control - a biopic of Joy Division's
enigmatic front man Ian Curtis, by Anton Corbijn.

It's a fitting tribute from one of the UK's top designers and the acclaimed artist, who provided the graphics for the band's albums before Curtis' tragic suicide at the age of 23.

"As a big fan of Joy Division and Peter Saville, I was thrilled to work on a T-shirt for the release of the film Control," Smith tells us. "It is a fantastic British movie; a moving story and great cast."

Starring Sam Riley and Samantha Morton, Control won the Michael Powell award for best new British feature at the Edinburgh international film festival - where all the cast and crew wore the collaborative tribute T-Shirt.

The design, which references Joy Division's 1979 debut album Unknown Pleasures, will be available at Paul Smith stores and via www.paulsmith.co.uk from September. (August 29 2007, AM)

Waiting

I know that I've touched on this before, but one of the more difficult parts of being a florist is knowing how much and what inventory to have on hand, since it can go south real quick-like.

Why am I bringing this up now? Funerals. Or impending funerals, more specifically. But let me explain a bit first.

Florists, much like anyone that works in the medical field, have very (for lack of a better expression) gallows senses of humor. Death is just something that you have to deal with, sometimes on a regular basis.

I witnessed a great example of this last weekend at a floral design show. The presenter was talking about how, at his shop, all brides pay 50% of the cost of flowers 60 days before the wedding, and and the rest at 30 days. He stressed that there were no refunds, ever (as the flowers would have been ordered by that point, and labor costs would have been incurred).

Then the presenter said something that made a room of 75 florists fall about laughing.

"Well, I suppose you could refund partially if the groom DIED or something. Or you could use the wedding flowers for some really beautiful sympathy work."

Seriously, it was absolute pandemonium in the room. There was snorting. Now you may think, "God, what a bunch of heartless bitches," but if we thought too much about the emotion surrounding funeral services, we'd be of no use to no one. And we have a job to do.

Back to my point. There are two members of our community, really, pillars of it, who are not doing well. One has stage 5 cancer and has received last rites, the other has A.L.S. We know that they are still on this plane of existence, but for how long? Who the hell knows?

So, we're dealing with several things at the shop. One, we're all weepy messes about these two people, which are family and friends of myself and several of my co-workers.

It's awful, though if I haven't said it before, hospice workers do God or whomever's own work.

Two, we're bracing ourselves for gigantic funerals. Huge ones.

Why are we especially concerned about this? Because this weekend is Labor Day, and the floral warehouses we order from do not deliver on Sundays or on holidays.

Which brings me back to inventory: do we hedge our bets and order supplies in, thinking that they'll pass in the next 5 days, taking the risk that nothing will occur and we'll be caught with perishable product?

Or do we not order anything in other than our regular order, and take the chance that we'll be caught flat-footed on a holiday weekend?

We'll just have to wait and see- no decisions need to be made till Friday. I hope this doesn't sound callous, merely practical.

Dirty Pretty Things

Dirty Pretty Things, originally uploaded by simonse15.

Anthony's streak of truly horrid sunglasses continues.

You know,

if I were less obsessed with music, and a much better writer, I believe I'd start investigating every state or regional campaign chair for every Republican candidate.

Why? No reason at all.

Run, Fat Boy, Run

Looks hysterical AND has a new Dirty Pretty Things song on the soundtrack!

Kazza is gonna flip her crap

Fwd: kasabian, originally uploaded by shirk.

dirty pretty things@get loaded

dirty pretty things@get loaded, originally uploaded by +++ponyrock+++.

Good Lord- Stanley and Carlito are trying to kill us.....

Please excuse the fangirling. Having a moment here.

Carse of Gowrie - Hazy Scottish View

Carse of Gowrie - Hazy Scottish View, originally uploaded by idg.

Lake's Gate

Lake's Gate(2), originally uploaded by Zé Eduardo.

Kings Of Leon- Carling Weekend

I have no idea how the Followills sit down. Or move. Or get their trousers zipped.

'Shoot The Runner'- Live at Abbey Road

Mmmmmmm........

But I liked 'Second Coming'

So it wasn't as good as 'The Stone Roses,' but what the hell is?

This review from Carling Weekend of Rev and The Makers sounds promising, though.

Arctic Monkeys mentor McClure puts on a show of self-confidence that makes the cocksure, swaggering Johnny Borrell look like Woody Allen. He turned his mike lead into a gun, pow-powing the audience, and shadow-boxed during the instrumentals like Ali before the rumble in the jungle. In between songs, he spewed out poetry that could well have come straight from the crib sheet of his hero, John Cooper Clarke. The band's intelligent funk-punk was like the best Ian Brown solo stuff, but with more intelligible vocals.

Better than: Anything the Stone Roses did after their first album.

Worse than: Seeing the Stone Roses for those brief few months when they were really as good as everyone says they were.

Anything this cute should be illegal

And for once, I'm not talking about my rock boys. Look at the baby Orangutan! And the mama!

Awwww.....

HAHAHA

Gee, do you think that Webby and Pedro were drinking a wee bit? Nice Rosary, Kieren.....

DESIGNERS at Prada and Luis Vuitton would be tearing their hair out if they saw their bags being soaked by a Scots rock band.

But thankfully for The View, management at the new Mulberry store on Ingram Street didn't mind the Dundee band's champagne exploits.

The rockers shook a fizzed-up bottle and ended up spraying it over designer handbags and guests at the shop openingin Glasgow.

At least five bags were splashed, however management laughed it off as "the most rock 'n' roll launch we've ever done", despite an estimated £5000 worth of damage.

Random Ten

1. Willow Song- Doves
2. Meat Is Murder- The Smiths
3. Raspberry Beret- Prince & The Revolution
4. For Tomorrow- Blur
5. Levon- Elton John
6. Dirty Harry- Gorillaz
7. Filthy/Gorgeous- Scissor Sisters
8. For The Girl- The Fratellis
9. What A Waster- Adam Green
10. Middle Eastern Holiday- Hard-Fi

Bonus-
11. Lady Marmalade- LaBelle
12. Melt Your Heart- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins

*fans self*

Lawdy, I may have to retire to my fainting couch, Drew McConnell looks so good here.....

'Talk Tonight'- Noel and Wellah!

While some might say* that many Oasis lyrics do not make a lick of sense (how does walk slowly down a hall, and still be faster than a cannonball), you can't deny that Big Brother can write a hell of a melody. And with lovely Paul-on-the-keys bonus.....



*sorry about that

Gossip- 'Jealous Girls'

*fangirls*

Nice socks, Carlos

Mr. Barat as Gene Vincent in the upcoming biopic of Joe Meek.

Lazyitis- Happy Mondays

Well, I'm a mess now

and not a hot one. These shots from Tony's funeral made me cry, especially the one of Oliver Wilson and Hooky. And for some reason, the one of Vini Reilly. And Rowetta.

Shaun looks positively dapper in his suit. Well done, Reverend Ryder.....

Too cool

Manchester never knew how much it would miss Tony Wilson. Yesterday, beneath a grey northern sky, the city's sense of loss for the man who had been the life and soul of its party for so many years was clear.

Family and friends of the man known as "Mr Manchester" attended a private funeral ceremony at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, known as the Hidden Gem, in the city centre.

Fans gathered outside the church to pay their final respects to the founder of Factory Records and the Haçienda nightclub.

A roll call of famous Mancunians turned out to remember Wilson, a champion of the city, who died earlier this month, aged 57, after a prolonged battle with kidney cancer. They included the Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder and New Order and Joy Division bassist Peter Hook, whose bands were key to the Factory Records success story.

Peter Saville, who co-founded the iconic record label with Wilson, gave a reading during the mass. So too did Richard Madeley, who worked alongside Wilson at Granada Television, and arrived at the service with his wife Judy Finnigan.

After the service, which included the hymns "Hail Queen of Heaven" and "To Be A Pilgrim", six pallbearers, including Wilson's son, carried the coffin out of the church to the sound of the Happy Monday's track "Bob's Your Uncle".

calton hill 046

calton hill 046, originally uploaded by nushbush.

Blur- 'Beetlebum'

Though one may tend to fixate, ahem, FOCUS, on Damo and Alex in this clip, don't forget Graaaahhhhmay and his brilliant guitar bit.

Well said

from Steve Coogan's tribute to Tony Wilson-

"In the late 70s there were quite a lot of arty, lower middle class, catholic Manchester grammar school boys. Some of them tried to form bands; others (me) just bought records and listened to them. Tony was the apotheosis of those baby boomers who wanted to reach beyond their background and find the poetry in this post-industrial landscape. He gave confidence and legitimacy to an army of haltingly insecure men. Put simply, he showed it wasn't poofy to wear nice clothes and use long words. But above all he was a true civic champion, who found excitement and creativity on his own doorstep. Under his stewardship, Manchester became and still is an alternative metropolis. That is his legacy.

Scamps

It seems that Wee The View lads were unable to resist stealing a golf cart at the Lowlands Festival, and that one of the boys fell out during their wild ride. No one was injured, thankfully. Oh, those kids!

Let's face it, Kyle, Kieren, Pete and Steve could do just about anything, and I'd still fawn over them. Say if one of them was arrested for cocaine possession and another was for driving the wrong way down a one-way street with one Peter Doherty.

Wait, those things already happened? Lads! Behave yourselves. See, I'm helpless against the cute....

L.S.F- UK version

vastly superior to the Yank version, in my opinion. And the henley makes an initial appearance.

This picture took 10 years off my life

Sweet fancy Jesus, he's trying to kill me.

At V Festival- pic by Jo McCaughey

Babyshambles- 'Delivery'

Based on this, I'd say their new album will debut in the top ten. Maybe top five. Love the "whoa" bit at the end....

Oooooo

From the homecoming concert at Caird Hall in Dundee. Kyle, put your shoes on!




via

Random Ten

This is a GREAT one!

1. Delivery- Babyshambles
2. All You Have To Do- Jet
3. Champagne Supernova- Oasis
4. (Songs For My) Sugar-Spun Sister- The Stone Roses
5. Flights In the Sea (Lovely Rain)- Graham Coxon
6. Reptilia- The Strokes
7. Wake Me Up- Girls Aloud
8. Solid Gold Easy Action- T.Rex
9. Stumble and Fall- Razorlight
10. Ooh La- The Kooks

Bonus-
11. I Get Along- The Libertines
12. Women's Needs- The Cribs

marquesina

marquesina, originally uploaded by _Natu.

"I am McLovin"

I cannot emphasize enough how NSFW this trailer for 'Superbad' is. Awesome.....

Things that make you go "SQUEE"

Yes, yes, yes, I know. Somewhat derivative. Slightly thuggish. Mouthy. Like those are bad qualities. Upon reading this bit of news this AM, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't do the happy dance.

Oasis have announced they are to release new material this year -tour documentary 'Lord Don't Slow Me Down'. The band are bringing out the on-the-road film on DVD on October 29. The movie follows Oasis on their last world tour, taking in 26 countries and two million fans, and features unique backstage access and interviews with the whole band. The release also features new Noel Gallagher- fronted title track, 'Lord Don't Slow Me Down', over the film's credits.

The DVD release will feature the full-length film - and edited version was shown on British TV last year - along with a host of extras.Footage of a Noel Gallagher fan Q&A is also included, while the whole band have provided an alternative 'directors commentary' to the film.

Additionally, the release will feature a second disc with footage from the band's homecoming show at Manchester City's Eastlands Stadium on July 2, 2005. The concert, shot in high definition colour, includes 16 tracks, along with a montage of pictures sent in by fans.

To whet you appetite you can read NME.COM's review of Oasis' City of Manchester Stadium shows online now.

Meanwhile Oasis have confirmed that they "are currently preparing a brand new album for release in 2008".

I believe the phrase I'm looking for is-

HOT DIGGITY DOG!

This is the tour film which produced this clip.



Our Kid dancing badly, unaware that he is being filmed, My Beloved Noel laughing at him and Captain, My Captain Thomas Meighan in the background, ranting about 'Star Wars' in fluent Nerd.

Which I believe is the universal language.

British Indie

Oh Lord, I can't handle this- The Smiths, The Roses and Oasis. May faint. From the BBC documentary, '7 Ages Of Rock."

'Roll With It'- TOTP

A repeat again, but this is so very funny. Why?

1. This is obviously when Robbie Williams was still in his Oasis fanboy stage
2. Liam is not a guitar player. At all.
3. Noel is "singing" but it's Liam's voice. Hmmmmm.....

I know Jen's going to say, "You're a lying sack of crap, Cy! Noel was good-looking back then!" Let me tell you, doll, the cuteness that you see here? Was not par for the course till about 2000.

Hmmm, now I kind of feel like watching 'Country House' on TOTP. Thank God I don't have a damn thing to do today....

'L.S.F.'- T In the Park 2006

So, this isn't the best the boys have ever looked, though I love Serge's dancing and Thomas is fully rocking the gigantic Ewan-thing, but this is my favorite live version of this song. Ever.

'Delivery'

Oh, this is promising. Go listen to the new Babyshambles single. If the rest of the album is this good, I think we might have a live one.....

Listen here

Pups

, originally uploaded by yellowdogandy.

The View at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Preston

The View at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Preston, originally uploaded by radio1interactive.

A repeat, but a lovely one. Fwaaaah Kieran.

You can see the scar on his arm (all the Wee The View lads branded themselves with Wee Kyle's grans Rosary before going on tour with Primal Scream).

Take heed of ye warning

Take heed of ye warning, originally uploaded by briggso.

Let it be known

that tomorrow is my 29th (ahem) birthday, so I will be posting stuff that makes me smile all weekend.

I'm the Queen of the weekend, bitches!

Dammit

Tony Wilson, co-founder of Factory Records, has died at the age of 57.

Born Anthony H. Wilson on February 20, 1950 in Salford, England, he went on to become a renowned broadcast journalist, band manager, record label executive and night club owner.

As the Factory Records boss, he was responsible for signing legendary bands including Joy Division and New Order to his label. Also, as owner of the renowned Hacienda nightclub in Manchester, he played a key role in the Madchester scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s that mixed indie rock and dance music and included artists such as Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses.

The Hacienda, which hosted Madonna's first UK television appearance in 1983, was forced to close in the late 1990s as it was losing money allegedly because its patrons were taking ecstasy rather than buying drinks at the club.

Wilson reportedly became involved in the Manchester music scene in the 1970s when hosting the culture and music programme 'So It Goes' on Granada
Television.

After covering a Sex Pistols performance at the Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall in June 1976, he described the experience as "nothing short of an epiphany" and booked the band for one of the first television broadcasts of British punk rock.

These aspects of Wilson's life were later chronicled in the semi-fictional 2002 feature film '24 Hour Party People', in which he was portrayed by British actor Steve Coogan.

More recently, Wilson was involved in In The City, a yearly music festival and conference that takes place in Manchester and New York City, which he co-founded with his partner Yvette Livesey.

In 2005 he launched F4, the fourth incarnation of the Factory Records label. Earlier this year, the music mogul was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery to have one of his kidneys removed.

via

Sexy! No No No... - Girls Aloud

Random ten

1. Yesterday's News- Whiskeytown
2. Superbad (Parts 1 & 2)-James Brown
3. Loose- Primal Scream (live at Dingwalls 1988)
4. Alala- CSS
5. Coming Down- The View
6. I Can't Decide- Scissor Sisters
7. I.D.- Kasabian (Glastonbury '07)
8. Catch the Sun- Doves
9. Last Of the Small Town Playboys- Dirty Pretty Things
10. Blockbuster- The Sweet

Bonus-
11. Naive- The Kooks
12. Up the Junction- Squeeze

OMG- Iowa City

Hmmmm, I'm thinking a road trip would be supercalfragilistic to The People's Republic of Iowa City.....

I like this girl

Ms. Remi Nicole has some great taste in music.

Stronger Than Me, Amy Winehouse
This song still gets me every time I hear it. I know Back to Black is the album everyone goes on about and I do love it, but I also think her first album Frank (from which this song is taken) is great. I might even prefer it because I was so blown away when I heard it. Stronger Than Me is the song of hers that I identify with the most.


All Day and All Night, the Kinks
What I like about the Kinks is that they sound so much of their era, 60s beat kind of stuff, but it also sounds really modern and new. I guess that's maybe because they had a very distinctive sound which a lot of contemporary bands replicate, but it still doesn't sound overplayed. A definitive classic.


All You Need Is Love, the Beatles
Everyone knows the Beatles wrote great pop songs, but All You Need Is Love is typical of why they were so good. They can take this really simple, clear sentiment and make you feel it in a way that you hadn't thought of before. It's such a logical idea but it works.


A Message To You Rudy, the Specials
I know the lyrics are serious but they really just remind me of being a kid and being naughty and to literally stop messing around. I know I'll be listening to this song for a long time.


Got My Favourite, Jack Penate
I think Penate is a perfect example of what we now call modern day
pop music. I think he has the potential to be huge while still having a niche sound. In particular, his song Got My Favourite, which I think is about trainers, is across the board great: it's catchy, fun, clever.


Mardy Bum, Arctic Monkeys
This song has an amazing melody and it's so funny. As a girl, I know we can be real mardy bums. One of my friend's boyfriends used to sing this to her when she was annoyed, as I'm sure lots of boyfriends do. I like the way Turner's singing about trying to make someone smile when they've got a face on, we all know what that's like. They're a proper good bit of British talent are the Arctic Monkeys.

Ryan Adams - Answering Bell

I love, love, love this song.

I really like it, get it?

Acoustic Superstar

My theory on the Mercury Prize? Arctics, The Winehouse and Klaxons are going to split the vote, and Wee The View lads will walk away with the award.

In the Same Jeans that they've had on for four days now, with their Face(s)For the Radio.

They'll Dance Into the Night with Claudia and the Wasted Little DJs.

After going to their Grans For Tea with The Don and Skag Trendy.

No Posh Boys allowed, though.

I'll just shut up now.

Here's Wee Kyle and Wee Pete-

via

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

THE VIEW, THE VIEW, THE VIEW ARE COMING HERE! ALLEGEDLY!

With Dizzee and The 'Shambles. For some reason, I think Peter might have a bit of trouble getting a visa.


via the Best. Email. Ever. Thanks, QB!

This is great!

Girls Aloud performing their new single at T4 on the beach. Bulletproof dumb pop genius. Xenomania=Gods of Pop

I did NOT need to see this first thing in the AM

What. The. HELL?

Lily Allen has been banned from the US after being stopped at Los Angeles airport.The singer had her US visa cancelled after being held at an American airport, locked in a cell and strip-searched, reports The Mirror."I am trying everything I can to sort this out. I don't like letting my fans down," explained Allen. "It is my intention to play my American dates in September. This depends on authorities granting me a new work visa."

She added: "I want my fans to know that I will do everything I can to be back in America in September. I don't like letting my fans down and this is a situation that I am sure we can sort."She was challenged by US custom and immigration officers at Los Angeles international airport on Sunday (August 5).

My ongoing problem with US customs officials continues unabated.

WE CAN LET WAR CRIMINALS MOVE FREELY ABOUT THE COUNTRY (well, we do seem to produce a lot of them) BUT LITTLE TINY BRIT POP STARS LIKE LILS AND WEE THE VIEW LADS ARE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR WAY OF LIFE?

Give me a fucking break. Grrrrrr.......

update- Never mind. Damn you, NME. I'm still pissed about The View, though.

The-View 4

The-View 4, originally uploaded by Danny North.

felt I needed to revisit this- my favorite wee bass player and my favorite beer. God or whomever bless Kieran and Stella.

A comment

I truly feel that the Fashion Rocks writers missed the boat on one bit.

They had a feature on Nas and Kelis, and one on The Winehouse, yet never mentioned that Amy's song, 'Me and Mr. Jones,' is about her boyfriend failing to obtain tickets to a Nas concert.

Sadly, the best possible response is-

"What kind of fuckery is this?"

What Became Of the Likely Lad?

Either

1. Peter will be v.v.v.v.v. sorry and promise oh so sincerely to change his ways

or

2. Boyfriend won't show up at all

Your guess is as good as mine, though I'm guessing the former rather than the latter, as he's still trying to get back with La Moss.

Hoping this winds up more Keith Richards than Sid Vicious. For everyone concerned.

Pete Doherty is due in court at 10am tomorrow morning (August 7).The Babyshambles singer is due to attend West London Magistrates Court to be sentenced for a drugs charge.Doherty pleased guilty to possessing class A drugs on July 3, and was ordered to reappear for sentencing tomorrow.The charges releate from May 5 when he was stopped by police in Kensington High Street, central London. Having pleaded guilty to possessing quantities of crack, heroin, cannabis and ketamine, as well as two driving offences, the singer is also facing an additional charge of failing to appear in court without reasonable excuse after he turned up late to the initial hearing.

Best. Headline. EVER.

I can't stop snickering.

Tabloid Hell: Robbie to tackle Beckham's Rudebox?

Singer and footballer to play on-screen lovers?
06.Aug.07 11:55am

Silly season not so much stepped up a gear as clamped on another afterburner today (August 6).Cripes! The tabs are reporting the hot, hot news that new Los Angeles resident David Beckham may be performing alongside Robbie
Williams - as one half of a very trendy gay couple indeed. Apparently the makers of 'Desperate Housewives' want Goldenballs and the ex-Take That man to bunk up for an episode of their show, and are confident Beckham's up to the challenge.

Rave On

Love this picture from the Fashion Rocks supplement.....

The NME is trying to kill me, part 876

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray to whomever my soul to keep.
If I die before I wake,
I don't give a shit,
because Thomas and Sergio look so good here.

Had Enough?- The Enemy

Biffy Clyro- Folding Stars

This song? Has one of the prettiest choruses I've heard in quite a while......

My morning

8AM- cat wakes me up by nudging my hand

8:02- turn on sink on for cat, vow to buy a kitty water fountain

8:05- head downstairs to read NME, er, foreign policy journal, before getting ready for work AKA throwing clothes in dryer for a quick de-wrinkling and spraying hair into Horrors-looking shape

8:50- put on makeup on in the car on the way to work (I'm not driving, of course).Listen to "Car Park Catchphrase" on Radio1. Moyles is amusing. Adore Jo Whiley.

9:05- make coffee. Coffee v.v.v.v. good and vital to my not falling back asleep

9:07- first attempt at re-formatting store business cards

9:09- mmmmmmm, coffee

9:15- give up on business cards. Jack around with stereo for a while. Seems like a Mark Ronson, Paul Weller, Aretha, Teenage Fanclub and Blur sort of day

9:20- make a second pass at fresh arrangement that I started on Thursday at 4:30PM. Goes better this time

9:25- text Kaz with important Kasabian, er, foreign policy-related information

9:30- second attempt at business cards

9:34- mmmmm, more coffee

9:38- divvy up samples stolen, ahem, OBTAINED, at gift show last week

9:45- phone rings. As person on the line is supa dupa annoying, play hot potato with phone. Am successful in avoiding convo

9:47- Mmmm, Diet Dr. Pepper

10:10- go outside to hang balloons on sale sign. As is extremely humid, sunglasses fog up immediately upon leaving air conditioning

10:11- hair goes straight to hell

10:15- go into cooler to get flowers for an order

10:17- emerge from cooler to hear a man talking loudly to my mom and co-workers from the showroom

10:17-the hair on the back of my neck stands straight-the-fuck up

10:17- Mom sends me a "Holy hell, what is going on?" look

10:17- grab my cell phone and head into Mom's office

10:17-call the store's line, and ask Mom if she wants me to call someone. She says "yes."

10:17-call Traci and ask her if her dad can come over, STAT

10:18- crazy tweaked-the-hell-out guy starts screaming about fireworks, potato salad and the Holocaust. Am not kidding.

10:20- call neighbor, who is married to an Iowa State Trooper, to get her hubby's cell phone

10:21- call cell phone. Leave VM

10:22- Tweaker starts ranting about how much he loves Jesus, and how he's also a country songwriter.

I'm like, "Dude, you can love Jesus as much as you want, but you're still off your head on Drano and anhydrous ammonia."

10:23- Notice that he has on a Iowa Hawkeyes hat. Just a coincidence, I'm sure;)

10:24- possible escape routes are running through head

10:25- Tweaker McTweakersons feels the need to prove that he is actually a budding Willie Nelson, and goes out to his car to get some examples of his work

10:26- we all freak the fuck out

10:26- Mom calls auto dealer next door and asks them to send someone with testosterone over

10:27- Tweakaleeza Rice reappears, bearing the fruits of his labor. An old Quad Cities Times and an issue of Country Weekly with Carrie Underwood on the cover. Am suspicious for some reason.

10:28- Tweaky tells us that he's not trying to scare us, he's just happy and loves the Lord. Strangely, I'm just as reassured by this as I am when a boy tells me that he's "just a nice guy, and women don't want nice guys......"

10:29- Tweaker Aaron Presley leaves the building. Mom casually goes over and locks the front door, then sprints for the work room

10:30- I stand near the window in the work room, and copy down Tweaker Limbaugh's license plate number, make and model of car, and a description of the person in the car with him. Am grateful that my hours of watching 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' have finally paid off.

10:31- Tweaker Cruise whips out a paintball gun and starts waving it around in the parking lot

10:31- I hit the deck

10:31- Briefly think that if I die before I see Primal Scream, The Fratellis, Dirty Pretty Things, The View, Diamond Lil, Oasis, Kasabian or Grahhhhhmay in concert, I'm going to haunt the hell out of someone.

Bitchiest. Ghost. Ever.

10:32- They leave the parking lot

10:33- Traci's bad self shows up, as does a guy from the auto dealership next door.

10:33- Being the daughter of the town's fire chief, Trace has the non-emergency police number programmed into her phone

10:34- call non-emergency number. Dispatcher is impressed with the amount of info that I gathered. Resist the temptation to tell her that it's all due to watching Dick Wolf productions (the non-Fred Thompson ones- he's just irritating to me)

10:39- Traci and the guy from next door leave. We re-lock the door

10:43- Oooo, new email. I'm so glad I can check it on my cell phone. And it's celeb gossip from QB! YAYS! Hmmm, what could it be about...... did Peter do something stupi.......

10:43- Oh, fuck-Tweakeriffic pulls back into parking lot. We hit the lights, and pull everyone into the office.

10:44- He tries to get in the door. Is unsuccessful

10:45- After leaping about, leaves parking lot

10:46- we freak the hell out

10:50- Traci calls and says that the cops have the guy pulled over at a gas station up the road, and are searching the car

10:52- cops let the guy loose, he dances in the parking lot, then heads north

Obviously, we were a bit wigged out. And may I point out, this all happened before 11AM and my third cup of coffee this morning.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be less exciting.

Oooo

Nice dress, Ana!

If this is true,

hooooolllleeee crap! GO AMY! Wonder if she'll be rockin' the beehive?

If there were any doubts about Amy Winehouse being a trans-Atlantic sensation - there ain't now. The jazz babe has been afforded the ultimate accolade - the front cover of American Vogue - on the orders of ubercool editor Anna Wintour.

Ice queen Anna (pictured below) insisted on the singer after falling in love with her award-winning album Back To Black. Our Amy was then chosen to front the style bible's September issue, traditionally the highest-selling of the year.

A mag insider tells us: "An order from Anna Wintour is like a royal command and the order was 'get me Amy'. "Anna loved Amy's album so much that she just had to have her. But at the end of the day, it's not just about the music, it's about her rawness, her kooky style and her outspokenness. "She's very much a one-off - but incredibly talented with it."

The shoot by world-renowned photographer Bruce Weber was done in Miami where Amy and hubby Blake Fielder-Civil got married. Our insider continues:
"Wintour was instantly delighted with the outcome and thought Amy oozed cool."

Random Ten

1. Holiday- Green Day
2. Fuck Me Pumps- Amy Winehouse
3. Girls Just Want To Have Fun- Cyndi Lauper (WTF?)
4. When You Are King- Sadie Frost
5. Fire, Fire- M.I.A.
6. Manic Monday- The Bangles
7. Voulez Vous- ABBA
8. Take Me Out- Franz Ferdinand
9. Laid- James
10. An Innocent Man- Billy Joel

Bonus-
11. Butterfly- Corinne Bailey Rae
12. What's He Got?- Graham Coxon

My taste in music scares the shit out of me

As I just realized that I've been singing along to a My Chemical Romance song for the past two weeks on BBC Radio1, I'm thinking I might as well grow my fringe into emo-bangs.

The song is very Fabulous Thunderbirds.....and quite catchy, no?

But what's next? Fall Out Boy? I need a megadose of Libertines, STAT!

LOVEFOXXX and BETH DITTO

LOVEFOXXX and BETH DITTO, originally uploaded by James Looker.

These two kick all sorts of ass.....

Stanley! Get down from there this instant!

Mistah Anthony Rossomondo, before he was a Libertine or a Dirty Pretty Thing.

The Damned Personals- 'Orange Felix'




from QB, via email

Awwwwwww

Fluff and stuff.

*cuddles widdle puppeh*

Monkeys On Film

Now this is interesting......God, I love Paddy.

MANCHESTER has been the back-drop for a radical new documentary following indie sensations the Arctic Monkeys as they played their landmark gigs at Old Trafford over the weekend.

The band, who played to around 100,000 fans over two nights at Lancashire County Cricket Ground, were being followed by uber-cool Britflick director Shane Meadows - the man behind acclaimed films This Is England and Dead Man's Shoes for a new rockumentary.

The Sheffield band are huge fans of the director - and even played clips of his films on big screens at the gigs on Saturday and Sunday night.The new film was made over five days, following the lads as they prepared for their massive open-air concerts and as they relaxed with family and friends at the five-star Lowry Hotel in Salford.

But the twist is that the "star" of the film is fictional break-dancing roadie "Le Donk", a comedy character played by movie star Paddy Considine and first created by the actor with long-time collaborator Shane eight years ago.

Well, crap

This? Not good. Again, wouldn't it be lovely if the National Guard were around to assist in rescue efforts?

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - A highway bridge collapsed and hurled vehicles into the Mississippi River in central Minneapolis during evening rush hour on Wednesday, killing at least three people, officials and media said.

...

A 500-foot (150-metre) span of the eight-lane steel and concrete bridge, which was under repair, buckled and fell into the river and onto concrete embankments at about 6:05 p.m. CDT (2305 GMT).

The mysteries of fangirldom

The thing about being a fangirl is that you never quite know what is going to set you off on another obsession.

-Comments about dimples
-mentions in idle conversation that certain footie-god guitar players resemble pirates and/or The Prince Of Darkness (no, not Justin Hawkins)
-Dan Abnormal in a dress
-Carlos just being his Timmy-baiting self
-Stanley's hoodies
- realizing that Graham Coxon's glasses=hot, hot sex- well, there's really no pattern....

Yeah, I'm a dork. And so are my friends. So I'm not embarrassed at all to reveal that I actually fell off my desk chair when reading the bit in bold-

Kasabian brought the iTunes festival to an emphatic close in London tonight (July 31st). Playing to just 300 people at London’s ICA on The Mall, in what was one of their most intimate performances in recent years, the band played a set which included hits from both their albums.

After opening with an empowering rendition of ‘Shoot The Runner,’ the bands lead singer Tom Meighan – who took to the stage in his now familiar black spectacles - thanked the crowd for “coming down to the nice little venue” before launching into first album smash, ‘Reason Is Treason.’

Meighan continually praised the crowd throughout the performance which he boasted – in reference to the intimate venue - was “like being in bed with Kasabian.”

JESUS, Thomas! You're trying to kill me and Kaz! Play nice!

I can't explain it, there's something about them, something about ALL the bands that I fangirl, that I really just adore. Glasses and comments about bed just confirm our how noble and pure our love is. Okay, maybe not so pure....

What. An. Asshole.

Christina Aguilera had to cancel a few concerts because of a throat infection.

Upon hearing this, most normal people, fans or not, would hope for a speedy recovery for Christina. Not this dickhead, who is affiliated with Baptists For Brownback. This is his statement-

Christina Aguilera Finally Tastes Her Just Desserts!

Folks, sometimes God works in mysterious ways. He’ll do something for reasons you, in your puny mortal ignorance, cannot fathom. So be it. It is not up to us, and especially you, to question His wisdom. However, events such as tornadoes, earthquakes and the unending persecution of President George W. Bush can have the effect of drying up your well of faith. Jesus and I understand this, even as we rebuke you for your weakness.

But then, every once in a while, the Lord will take action so obviously necessary, so clear in its intent, that Christians everywhere find their faith-wells overflowing with the sweet, crystal waters of Christ’s eternal justice. Just such an event occurred over the weekend.

I am speaking of course of the “upper respiratory infection” that has struck down Miss Christina Aguilera, her “dancers” and various members of her “crew”. A “singer” of popular “music”, Aguilera has lost her voice, and has been forced to cancel a series of concerts in Australia. Lord only knows how this strumpet contracted her throat infection. I do not want to know. But suffice to say these lyrics, from one of her songs, provide a clue:

“Hush now, don’t say a word,
I’m gonna give you what you deserve.
Now you better give me a little taste
Put your icing on my cake
You nasty boy (boy)
Oh no, ooh there I go again
I need a spanking,
’cause I’ve been bad
So let my body do the talkin’
I’ll slip you that hot, sweet, sexy lovin’ (lovin’)”

Those words come from a song titled, “Naughty, Nasty Boy”, which may as well be the official anthem for harlotry and sodomy. One can only imagine how many unplanned sexual events occurred as a result of impressionable young minds being exposed to such filth.

But thanks to the majesty and power of God, the blaring megaphone of Chrisina Aguilera’s sexual terrorism has been muffled. And Praise Jesus is all I can say to that!

In Christ’s Name,
Tobin Maker, resident pastor, Baptists For Brownback 2008

Several things-

a- It's Just DESERTS, shit for brains

b- If God is sending natural disasters as "punishment for the unending persecution" of Bush, then why does the south keeps getting hit repeatedly? Hmmmmm?

3. Those lyrics are crap. However, I've seen dirtier. USUALLY SUNG BY MEN.

Oh, but that's DIFFERENT. They're allowed to be sexual beings. Not women, though. Nope, no sexy time for them. Unless it's for procreation, of course. And they shouldn't enjoy it, even then. Just lay back and think of the snowflake babies.

Also, if there's an "official anthem for harlotry and sodomy," I'm not thinking this is it. Isn't it interesting how everything boils down to the buttsex for these people?

Hmmm, what would be a good anthem for harlots and sodomites? To the iTunes!

4. Strumpet. Hee.

5. If this asshat is on the same wavelength as Jesus, which I somehow doubt, why is he taking pleasure in the misfortune of another? I must have slept through that bit at church. Was the edict to kick people while they're down issued during Jesus's "lost weekend," when He got liquored up and.....

Oh, that didn't happen, either. Sorry.

6. "Sexual Terrorism" would be a great name for a band. Someone needs to make this happen.

Crap like this makes me slightly crazy. But not as crazy as this motherfucker, though.

Whiskeytown- 16 Days

One of my all-time favorite vocal combinations- Caitlin Cary and Ryan Adams.

About You- Teenage Fanclub

I'm just going to cry

You couldn't have just laid off the bud a bit, Ian......

HE admits he's barely strummed a guitar in the past year, but who needs rock 'n' roll when you can take the art world by storm instead?

Former Stone Roses legend John Squire unveiled his new artwork this week to critical and commercial acclaim.I hear that just a day after the launch he's already sold more than half of his collection - with pieces ranging from £2,000 up to
£28,000. And John tells me he's enjoying his art so much that he's now shelved-for good - any more music projects. He says: "Music and art are both disciplines that fulfil the same need, that is the need to create. I get the same buzz from creating a successful painting as writing a great song - it comes from the same place.

Contrary to

some reports, Dontatella Versace will not be designing the stagewear for the Spice Girls's tour. This is yet another example of crap that I should not care about, yet still do. (Though I must disagree with UK Vogue's assesment of the outfits at the presser last month. Both Mels looked FANTASTIC)

REPORTS in today's papers claimed the Spice Girls had found their much-needed fairy style godmother in the shape of Donatella Versace, who was said to be designing £200,000-worth of designer stage outfits for their comeback reunion tour - but a spokesperson for Versace has denied that this is the case. "It's simply not true," he told us. "I have no idea where the rumours have come from." The Nineties supergroup appeared under-styled and sartorially out of tune at the photo call to officially announce their reunion last month and, without the backing of one of the world's most highly-respected fashion houses, they may yet be delving deep into their wardrobes for their trademark platform trainers, leopard-print catsuits and Union Jack minis. (July 30, PM)

Go lads!

Our boys did well this weekend, Queen Bee!

Arctic Monkeys have played their biggest shows of their lives, as they performed at Lancashire County Cricket Club's Old Trafford ground this weekend (July 28 and 29). Recalling generation-defining performances from the likes of The Stone
Roses at Spike Island or Oasis at Knebworth, the band performed to 100,000 people over the two shows.Despite suffering a bit of technical trouble on the first night (28), the band rose to occasioning, playing two storming sets.

Gorgeous

So, it's not enough that I'm completely envious of Nicola Roberts being lovely, funny and a good singer, now I have to envy her mad writing skills? Shit, girl, leave something for the rest of us.....

They call it manufactured pop, as if that was something to be ashamed of- but we are a manufacturing country. Down our conveyor belts come cars, and shoes, and biscuits, and guns and pop bands. Useful things and beautiful things. Things that make us go faster, and things that make us feel like we're going faster. Things that we love passionately for a day and then throw away, and things that we love passionately for a day, and then keep forever.

Being able to plan for and make our necessary things- instead of relying on accidents or nature to supply them- is one of the first signs that a society has achieved civilization. And what could be more necessary than pop? What else should we aim to pump out in such greedy, thrilling, giddying amounts?

The factory is a democratic place. Sometimes, people working on the floor come cruising in on a Monday morning, still wearing Saturday night's makeup, and Sunday morning's smile, and say "sod this." They pull off their hairnets, and jump on the conveyor belts themselves. They announce that they are pop stars, now. They make a band.

That's allowed, in the factory, because we are a manufacturing country, and that means we are also allowed to manufacture ourselves. We are allowed to change our futures. We are Girls Aloud.

And in the band that we manufacture, we don't have to smile, if we don't want to. We won't have dance routines that ruin our hair. We don't sing songs where we pretend we're scared, or that we can't run in our heels, or that we don't know exactly what we want. We don't need no beauty sleep. We think you're off your head. We text as we eat. We flirt while we work. We flick our finger to the world below. If we'd know, or if we'd care, we would have stood around the kitchen in our underwear.

When Jack Kerouac wrote On the Road in 1957, he said that the people that he oved the most were the Fabulous Yellow Roman Candles, who were mad to live, mad to talk. We saw it on a t-shirt once. But anyone who was mad to live wouldn't want to be a Roman Candle. Roman Candles are the rubbish ones. They're over in thirty seconds. They don't even spin, or fly. If we were a firework, we'd be a limousine full of dynamite. And we'd put the fire out with vodka. If we could be bothered.

If you know someone that sounds like us, we'll give you a tenner. If you like someone better than us, frankly, we don't care.

We're Girls Aloud.

We're Made In Britain.