'French Dog Blues'- Babyshambles

A bit of whining here

I'm sick. Sinus infection. Ick. As I'm usually ridiculously healthy, when I get sick- bad things happen. Very bad things.

Like-

-being unable to walk up a flight of stairs without taking a little rest

-sleeping 19 hours a day

-only eating Jello snack packs because nothing else tastes good and rediscovering that the reason that I don't eat snack packs is because my cat, Holden, loves them. So, trying to eat when one is sick and fending off a persistent Persian? Not fun.

-Icky things. Seriously, am not going to go there. But take my advice, try to never throw up when you've just taken a hit of NyQuil. For real. DON'T.

Hmmmm, the couch is calling. Must get my 14 hours of beauty sleep.......

Scarness Lake District

Scarness Lake District, originally uploaded by craig_352.

london thames

london thames, originally uploaded by thetravelrag.

'Motorcycle Emptiness'- Manic Street Preachers

I may be slightly obsessed with this song. It's just lovely, and I vaguely remember seeing it on '120 Minutes' at some point in college. "Vaguely" is the operative word here.

This video so predates 'Lost In Translation.' But with less (no) ScarJo and Carl Spackler.

HOT DIGGITY DOG!

'Lord Don't Slow Me Down', the Oasis documentary by Baillie Walsh has received a US release date of November 4.

Gee, I wonder what bit Kazza and I will be watching over and over..... the Serge playing put-put bit?

Or the part where Our Kid is dancing, unaware that the dorkiest commentary in the history of film is going on? (cough, cough, Thomas)

I'm guessing this is the big Oasis news

to be announced later today-

Meanwhile, Oasis have signed a new deal with Universal Music Group.

The band control domestic releases through their own Big Brother label but previously Sony took care of international distribution. Universal now have that role, starting with next month’s DVD release of Lord Don’t Slow Me Down.

Mmmmm, ribbon

The pic is from a post on Housemartin, one of my favorite design-y blogs. Her floral work is outstanding. Very pretty, but with lots of unusual elements like figs and berries.

However, it seems that most florists are somewhat obsessed with ribbon, and I am no exception. I love it. Love it. Would have a ribbon room if I had enough money. Look at that lovely stuff- double-faced silk satin ribbon is made by angels. Or you know, ribbon-makers.

Hee.

Talk about your fun weddings....

After the ceremony, do you suppose they'll pass out glow sticks or helium-filled balloons in lieu of bubbles? Because that would be so cool....

Klaxons' Simon Taylor and CSS' Lovefoxxx are engaged to be married.The couple, who met on the Shockwaves NME Awards Indie Rave Tour earlier this year, had previously fuelled rumours of an imminent engagement after Taylor discussed his wish to settle down with his girlfriend in the tabloids.

Now CSS' drummer, Adriano Cintra, has revealed that the couple are engaged to be married. He told Xfm: "They're the happiest couple of MySpace. They're gonna get married, it's not a rumour. They're gonna have baby CSS-Klaxons, it's gonna be beautiful."

The couple are yet to announce a date for the wedding.

Fuschia flowers

Fuschia flowers, originally uploaded by sarackdeland.

tangerine

tangerine, originally uploaded by t.bone.

"It's probably the same for all of those left behind"

Interview with Natalie Curtis about 'Control'-



I was about three when my mum first told me that my father, Ian Curtis - who died when I was one - was a singer, but it just seemed normal, like having an uncle who was a tradesman or whatever. I remember hearing Love Will Tear Us Apart on the radio and realising he was known in some way, but I never thought of him as famous.

Oh the boy's a slag

Young Alex at the Austin City Limits Festival

Well, thank GOD

Reneging on his previous threat, Big Brother did not name his son Genghis or Ghandi.

Donovan, may you have your father's wit and songwriting ability, and your mother's height and eyebrows.

Oasis leader Noel Gallagher has become a father after his partner Sara MacDonald gave birth to a baby boy this morning (September 22).

The 7lb 5oz has been named Donovan Rory MacDonald Gallagher by the couple, according to The Sun.

It is the couple's first child but Gallagher's second after his ex-wife Meg Mathews gave birth to his seven-year-old daughter Anais in 2000. Gallagher split from Mathews in 2000 after a three-year marriage before they divorced in January 2001.

The Oasis leader and his current partner have been together for seven
years.

'Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies'- Biffy Clyro

Oh my. This video. Oh my.

Too funny

So how did the Enemy get to the point where they are considered suitably big names to play awareness-raising gigs for charities (even if Dirty Pretty Things are headlining)? After all, all three members are still only 19. "I think we expected success," says Clarke, who speaks from the heart rather than from a manifesto. He's like an off-message Billy Bragg or a Paul Weller less pernickety about his clothes. "There are a lot of ways of going about success. You can start wearing trendy clothes and getting yourself in magazines or things like that, which I would never do. Or you can just go and gig your arse off, which is the old-fashioned way of doing it. We have pretty much been on tour since October 26 last year. You can prove your worth on the tour circuit."
....
"We turned up to an HMV signing ,and we walked in and the manager goes, 'There's a policeman in the dressing room waiting to see you,'" says Clarke. "I thought, 'What the fuck have we done?' So we walk in and there is this copper there and he takes his hat off and says: 'I was at the Leicester gig last night, I was crowd surfing.'"

"He's got a few lads at work wearing the Enemy badges," adds Hopkins. "They're wearing them underneath their police badges."
In the event that the Enemy find themselves back in Pentonville for all the wrong reasons, at least they'll have a get-out-of-jail-free card.

Random ten

1. Thieves Like Us- New Order
2. Brianstorm- Arctic Monkeys
3. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now- The Smiths
4. Scary Mary- Biffy Clyro
5. Alfie- Lily Allen
6. The Ghetto- Donny Hathaway
7. Apply Some Pressure- Maximo Park
8. Stay Away From the Brown Acid- Kasabian
9. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor- Sugababes
10. Baddies Boogie- Babyshambles

Bonus-
11. If I Fall You're Going Down With Me- Dixie Chicks
12. Tumbling Dice- Linda Ronstadt

HA HA HA

I think this could be one of my favorite pictures, ever.

Casamento Escoces

Casamento Escoces, originally uploaded by thiagosuaid.

LDN Fashion Week- Paul Smith

Ooooh, I LOVE the blazer that Lily Cole is wearing! Paul IS a Mod. Where's the scooter? Or by looking at Ms. Cole's specs, the broom?

40 years of Radio1

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of BBC's Radio1, various artists have re-recorded one song from each year of the station's existence. Am very excited about hearing the following covers-

1969
'Cupid' by Johnny Nash
Covered by Amy Winehouse

1970
'Lola' by The Kinks
Covered by Robbie Williams

1977
‘Sound & Vision’ by David Bowie
Covered by Franz Ferdinand*

1980
‘Too Much Too Young’ by The Specials
Covered by Kasabian**

1987
‘You Sexy Thing’ by Hot Chocolate
Covered by Stereophonics***

1989
‘Lullaby’ by the Cure
Covered by Editors

1996
‘No Diggity’ by Blackstreet
Covered by Klaxons****

2001
‘Teenage Dirtbag’ by Wheatus
Covered by Girls Aloud

2003
‘Don't Look Back Into The Sun’ by The Libertines
Covered by The View*****

*and this isn't just because I know that Girls Aloud did the backing vocals

**er, this could be INTERESTING

***As Kelly Jones is a wee sexy thing- very appropriate

****Holy hell, do I want to hear this! Please, let it have sirens.

*****EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!

'You're Not Alone'- The Enemy (live at Radio1's Big Weekend)

'Northern Lights'

This is excellent- a rolling interview of sorts with all the parties involved with 'Control.'

Steven Morris cannot believe it. When he talks about what he's lived through as a simple, dedicated drummer, first for Joy Division, then for New Order, he can start to sound like a post-punk Victor Meldew, increasingly indignant at the chaos that unfolded all around him mainly because he found himself, through no real fault of his own, a Factory Records recording star.

Don't get him started on the Hacienda, the Manchester nightclub his two groups helped finance, early in the Eighties, for up to £10,000 a month, where he never got a free drink in eight years. He still hasn't really recovered from the time 27 years ago when Ian Curtis, his 23-year-old Macclesfield friend, and the singer in his band, killed himself the day before Joy Division were due to start their first American tour.

Both his producer, Martin Hannett, and his manager, Rob Gretton, died in the Nineties, and now, would you credit it, the immortal-seeming Tony Wilson, boss of his record company, the crusading mouth of Manchester, has joined his comrades in the great Factory in the sky.

As I've been saying

that the tracks off the new Babyshambles album , 'Shotter's Nation,' are quite good and even brilliant, it's nice to see it get a 5-star review from the incurable rock snobs at The Guardian.

He couldn't have timed it better. The 'Pete Doherty gets it together' album arrives just as his position as Britain's favourite pop fuck-up has been definitively usurped by Amy Winehouse. This means that the second Babyshambles album, the oddly named Shotter's Nation, gets to our ears as an actual piece of music and carrying less media baggage than it would have at any time in the past three years.

Not that it is baggage-free. Shotter's Nation is about smack, crack, Kate Moss, tabloid infamy, junkies and their flunkies, and what we think we know about Peter Doherty, as it has to be. It's also about love, loss, the British urban landscape, laughing at yourself, great guitars, exciting chord changes, tight rhythms, the Stones-Who-Kinks-(Small)
Faces-Clash-Jam-Smiths-Happy Mondays-Stone Roses-Oasis-Blur history of Britrock, rich, simple production, songs with layers, a really good band and a singer who has relocated his voice.

Still more game day

ISU's quarterback, Bret Meyer, of Atlantic, Iowa, walks through a crowd of 24 hour party people after the game.

The game which Iowa State won, 15-13. In case you missed that. We beat the Hawkeyes. Again.

Ames is going to be freaking Sodom and Gomorrah tonight. So, a typical Saturday night.

For obvious reasons,

I was looking for a picture of the Cy-Hawk trophy, and found this piece of shite.

Seriously, Mr. Dude Who Wrote This Article- proofreading. Look into it. (my comments in red)

The Cy-Hawk trophy winner is based on a points system. The winner of contests between each school earns a point towards the trophy. The winner of the football contest gets two points. The trophy was first introduced in 1977 to coincide with the revival of the football rivalry. Iowa holds the edge in keeping the trophy in Iowa City by a 19-10 margin. Now let's get to the important, (Important????) like why this trophy sucks.

Name: Cy-Hawk? I am racking my brains trying to figure out what three year old came up with this name. Anything in relation to a team that is named Cyclone (Oh for Christ's Sake) and has a bird name (try "named," stud) Cy for it's mascot has no business being replicated in full or partial form on anything, much less a college football trophy. (Oh, go fuck off)

History: Or should I say lack of it. Most trophy's (Jesus, this asshole is trying to raise my blood pressure) in college football have some sort of significance or a cool story (seriously, man- "cool story?") behind it. Many have been around for most of this century. (Good God, is Jonah Goldberg writing this? That's just lazy) This trophy was made up simply for the sake of having a big piece of metal to put in a case. (Maybe I'm just a dumb girl Cyclone, but I kind of thought that was trophies *were* "big piece(s) of metal to put in a case." Silly me)

Identity: It has a wannabe Heisman guy figurine, a football figurine, (Hello, redundant) as well as an engraved Herky, and dumb bird on it (try Cy the Cyclone, dickweed. And if Cy is a "dumb bird," then what the fuck is fucking Herky?) . How about something that represents the state? One look and all you can say is, what the Hell is that? (No, really- dude was PAID for writing this?) Also, why does a trophy that represents the winner of multiple sports have a football player on it? I think the volleyball teams may be offended. (Seriously, fuck off )

Sponsorship: Does this make sense? The hyphenated Hy-Vee (don't knock Hy-Vee, fool) grocery store sponsoring an already hyphenated trophy adds to many hyphens to four words that should never be hyphenated. (If I never see the word "hyphen" again, it will be too soon) Perhaps Hy-Vee should sponsor a third tier bowl game in Boise instead. (No really, go Cheney yourself)

With that said, it is still a trophy the fans want back, no matter it's level of suckitude. (*eyes roll back in head*)

I'm starting to channel Samuel L. Jackson here, but YOU HAVE GOT TO BE MOTHERFUCKING KIDDING ME. What a wanker.

OH HELL YES!

*runs around screaming*

IOWA STATE WINS! SUCK ON IT, HAWKEYES! The Evil Empire- vanquished! God or Whomever Bless Bret Culbertson.

AMES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa State kicker Bret Culbertson tied a school record with five field goals, the final a 28-yarder with 1 second left, and the Cyclones upset Iowa 15-13 Saturday for coach Gene Chizik's first win.

The victory was Iowa State's fourth in five tries at home against the Hawkeyes (2-1). The Cyclones (1-2) have taken seven of the last 10 from their in-state rival.

Will resume normal music fangirl posting as soon as I calm the fuck down..... The important question is-which Hawkeye fans can I call and taunt? Like any of them will answer their phones.....

*resumes screaming and running in circles*

'Call Me'- Blondie

This performance of 'Call Me' on the Muppet Show in 1981? One of my first musical memories. Besides listening to 'Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl' by The Spinners on the car radio, on the trip back from Chicago in 1979, that is.

The Muppet Show and Monty Python's Flying Circus were part of my weekend AM routine. That and Sunday School. Guess which "took" more?

The original boys behaving badly

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

'Glitter and Trauma'- Biffy Clyro (Live at Reading)

I may have a teensy, tiny problem. Thanks, QB.

Random ten

The I-swear-I-didn't-cheat-edition

1. Call Me- Blondie
2. I Wanna Be Adored- The Stone Roses
3. The Masterplan- Oasis
4. Superstar- Bette Midler
5. Atlantis To Interzone- Klaxons
6. Country Girl/Rocks- Primal Scream feat. Mick Jones & Pete Reilly(live @the NME awards)
7. Who's Got A Match?- Biffy Clyro
8. I Was Made To Love Her- Stevie Wonder
9. My Way- Aretha Franklin
10. Superstar Tradesman- The View

Bonus-
11. By Tomorrow- Candie Payne
12. The Boy Looked At Johnny- The Libertines

Regarding the MTV Music Awards

There are certain artists that should only be enjoyed in a recorded format. Britney Spears is one of them. Her voice is thin at best, and best heard on her brilliantly produced albums. Love Max Martin. (Yes, I'm a production nerd)

Her performance was a complete trainwreck from start to finish- she looked like a deer in the headlights....

However, if I hear one more person call her fat, I will rain down hellfire upon them. Shit, I wish I was that "chubby."

And what Rebecca Traister said......

via

Goody!

The nominees for the Q Awards on October 8 were announced this AM, and my, oh my, did my bands do well! Two guesses who I'm voting for in the Live Act category, and the first one doesn't count.....

Full List of Nominations

Best New Act:
The Enemy
Klaxons
Cherry Ghost
The Pigeon Detectives
The View

Best Track:
Manic Street Preachers - Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby
Hard-Fi - Suburban Knights
Athlete - Hurricane
Muse - Knights Of Cydonia

Best Breakthrough Artist:
Kate Nash
Mika
Jack Penate
Jamie T
Calvin Harris

Best Video:
Lily Allen - Alfie
The White Stripes - Icky Thump
Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby
Bjork - Earth Intruders
The Killers - Bones

Best Live Act:
Arcade Fire
Muse
The Killers
Arctic Monkeys
Kasabian

Best Album:
Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly, Angry Mob
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Manic Street Preachers - Send Away The Tigers

Best Act In The World Today:
The Killers
Arctic Monkeys
Foo Fighters
Muse
U2

How was I unaware of this?

Alex James has a video diary on The Guardian's website? In which he talks about cheese? Because that is AWESOME.

Sometimes my digital subscription just doesn't cut the mustard

Tomorrow's NME? Has Babyshambles new single on vinyl with it, a week before the actual release date of 'Delivery.'

Not available for those with digital subscriptions.....

Argh! To the eBay!

Hello Drew! *pets the pretty bassist*

I am frickin' old

Lord. I was out delivering a few floral arrangements just about the time that my town's high school let out for the day.

So there were a few dodgy drivers about, let's just say. I myself was an excellent driver as a teenager. Snicker.

I was minding my own business, driving along, listening to 'Death On The Stairs' for the MILLIONTH time this week, when I was nearly rear-ended by a car full of teenagers.

Your point, Cy?

I think I may have actually shook a fist at them. And may have yelled something like "Damn kids!" Then I kind of wanted to die. Because I was about 2 seconds from shouting "AND YOUR ROCK AND ROLL!"

To make myself feel less ancient tonight, I'm painting my fingernails silver. And listening to The Libs. Again. How this is postponing my downward slide into the geriatric ward, I have no idea. But however decrepit I am, I can still appreciate Carlos in a vest.

'Fast Fuse'- live in Glasgow

My Lord, the amount of fangirling I've done over this song.....

Electric Proms lineup

Sounds like some spectacular shows in October.....

* Agaskodo Teliverek
* Alasdair Roberts (appearing at the Lal Waterson tribute)

* Basquiat Strings
* BBC Concert Orchestra (appearing with Mark Ronson)
* The Beatles (film - The Beatles: Help!)
* Ben Westbeech
* Beth Orton (appearing with The Chemical Brothers)
* Bishi
* Blanche
* Bob Dylan (film - The Other Side of the Mirror)

* Candie Payne (appearing with Mark Ronson)
* The Chemical Brothers
* Charlie Louvin
* The Crouch End Chorus (appearing with Ray Davies)
* Cold War Kids
* The Coral

* Daft Punk (film - Electroma)
* Daler Mehndi (appearing with The Wolfmen)
* David Arnold (appearing with Kaiser Chiefs)
* Duke Special

* Editors
* Eliza Carthy (appearing at the Lal Waterson tribute)
* Ellery Eskelin (appearing with Basquiat Strings)
* The Enemy
* Estelle

* The Flaming Lips (film - UFOs at the Zoo)

* Ghetto

* Hadouken
* The Handsome Family (appearing with Charlie Louvin)

* James Yorkson (appearing at the Lal Waterson tribute)
* Jamie Cullum (appearing with SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS)
* Justice


* Kaiser Chiefs (appearing with David Arnold)
* Kano
* Kathryn Williams (appearing at the Lal Waterson tribute)


* Lily Allen (appearing with Mark Ronson)
* Lisa Knapp (appearing at the Lal Waterson tribute)

* Mark Collins (appearing with Mark Ronson)
* Mark Ronson
* Martin Carthy (appearing at the Lal Waterson tribute)
* Marry Gilhooley (appearing at the Lal Waterson tribute)
* The Metros
* Mike Waterson (appearing at the Lal Waterson tribute)

* New Cassettes
* Norma Waterson (appearing at the Lal Waterson tribute)

* Oliver Knight (appearing at the Lal Waterson tribute)

* Paul McCartney
* Paul Weller (appearing with Mark Ronson)

* Radio Luxembourg
* Ray Davies
* Reverend and the Makers
* The Riff Raff (appearing with Riz MC)
* Riz MC (appearing with The Riff Raff)

* Sam Isaac
* Santo Gold (appearing with Mark Ronson)
* Sean Lennon (appearing with Mark Ronson)
* Seb Rochford (appearing with Basquiat Strings)
* Sigur Rós (film and performance)
* Simon H. Fell (appearing with Basquiat Strings)
* Siouxsie Sioux
* SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS (appearing with Jamie Cullum)

* Terry Hall (appearing with Mark Ronson)
* Tim Burgess (appearing with Mark Ronson)
* Tim Van Eyken (appearing at the Lal Waterson tribute)

* Willy Mason (appearing with The Chemical Brothers)
* The Wolfmen (appearing with Daler Mehndi)>>

I am going to need this

Paul Weller is to release an expanded version of his 1993 album 'Wild Wood'.

The new version is out on October 29, and will feature demo tracks and radio session songs, as well as B-sides from the period. The 2CD set will, as well as the original album, feature 15 previously unreleased demo versions of the album tracks and three BBC radio session recordings. The reissue will also include a 32-page booklet and will come in deluxe digipack packaging.

Without any exaggeration whatsoever, I have listened to 'Hung Up' off this album about 500 times. It is GORGEOUS. Hear it for yourself......

So Cool

This sounds about a million times more fun than attending the VMAs. Though it would have been amusing to watch the Kid Rock/Tommy Lee slap-fight.....

Did Britney do her thing?,” Dave Grohl asked the crowd in suite 26213. “Did she do it? Did she make it? It’s done? She did it? So what!” High above the VMA ceremony, Britney’s medicated performance was the last thing on the minds of the fifty-odd lucky rock fans who crammed into the hotel room at the Palms Hotel & Casino for a ninety-minute performance by Foo Fighters.

The Foos held down two suites on the twenty-sixth floor. One was full of alcohol, and custom Foo Fighters beer bongs. The other they turned into a hot, sweaty pit for guest appearances by Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, Cee-Lo Green of Gnarls Barkley, Jesse Hughes and Brian O’Connor of Eagles of Death Metal, guitarist Pat Smear, Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister and metal gods Mastodon.

The Foos kicked off the set with classics like “Everlong,” “Best of You” and “All My Life,” before Cee-Lo stepped in for a rocked-out rendition of Prince’s “Darling Nikki,” (”Let’s make this sexy,” Cee-Lo said) and a soulful take on the Queens’ new classic, “I Wanna Make It Wit Chu,” featuring Grohl on drums. Mastodon smoked out “Colony of Birchman” at an ear-shattering volume, then Lemmy hopped onstage for the Probot jam “Shake Your Blood.”

I love this man

May I point out this is 2000 and fucking 7? Good LORD. Good for you, Mos Def. This is complete bullshit. (And I wouldn't consider a noose a "racial slur," but more an out-and-out threat)

Mos Def has written an open letter seeking support for six black students who face serious charges resulting from an attack on a white schoolmate in Louisiana. Def is asking "African-Americans of influence, and all concerned parties" to join him the "fight against racial inequality and show solidarity for these young people, who are being treated very harshly by the law".

The 'Jena Six' were arrested after beating up a white fellow high-school student after the student reportedly taunted them with racial slurs. They were originally charged with attempted second-degree murder but following protests from civil rights advocates, some of the charges were reduced.

Charges against Carwin Jones, Mychael Bell and Theo Shaw were reduced to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy. Bell has already had his trial, was found guilty, and will be sentenced on September 20, the day Mos Def will attend the rally. Robert Bailey Jr. and Bryant Purvis are still facing attempted murder charges, while the sixth student, an unidentified juvenile, faces undisclosed juvenile charges.

The beating happened after a black student sat under a particular tree in the school grounds in Jena, Louisiana, where white students traditionally sit. After the student sat there, three nooses were hung from the tree and the students accused of hanging the nooses were suspended from school.

I love my Google alerts

Why? I found these stills from the 'Shoot The Runner' video from one......

Interesting

set of collaborators that Kano has on his new album- Damo and my girl, Kate Nash.

On his debut album, Kano relied on support from a small number of close associates, but for the follow-up he has spread his net far wider. Craig David and Lemar croon soulfully, while the dancehall star Vybz Kartel adds his particular brand of earthiness. Most eye-catching of all is the appearance of Damon Albarn on the lolloping "Feel Free", the chorus augmented by kids from Kano's old school. Not that the artist planned it that way. In fact, he started recording the album without his label's knowledge, laying down a handful of tracks to show how he wished to progress. "I did it that way because you get too many people telling you how a track needs to go. I made a lot of tracks without anyone on them, apart from session singers or my producer, but I wanted to hear somebody different, so I got in Vybz Kartel and that went well. I don't normally like collaborations, because it's more hassle, with too many preconditions."

....

Although fellow British rapper Lethal B has released Back To Biznizz, with a guest appearance from Kate Nash, Kano is adamant that he discovered the singer-songwriter first. Last November, the rapper wrote lyrics for a girl to sing on "Me & My Microphone". He asked his producer to find someone in the mould of Lily Allen, so the producer trawled the solo star's MySpace page for female performers, from which Kano plumped for Nash. After the live clampdown drove black artists back underground, they have set up shop on the social networking site and use it to make contacts or publicise their work.

"Fraser was a bit scared of contacting her at first," Kano remembers with a chuckle. "He thought so many people must contact her saying, 'I'm a producer', but she came down and did her stuff."

The forthcoming single, "This Is The Girl", shows yet another side to this versatile performer. With its strident strings sample, plus Craig David on hand to provide a melodic counterpoint to Kano's rap, he has created an R'*'B/garage hybrid that has been tearing up dancefloors for weeks. "I'd been talking to Craig for a while. I like R'*'B and I like working with different people that do what I can't and bring in their thing."

Portofino Promontory

Portofino Promontory, originally uploaded by Neal1960.

'I Get Along'- The Libertines

My Lord, Carlos is trying to kill us.....

'Pounding'- Doves

Live at Glasto '05. Manchester >The World, indeed.

Freaking spectacular

Great. My team lost to a I-AA school. A I-AA school that two of my siblings graduated from. Fucking wonderful. I'm not answering my damn phone tomorrow.

AMES, Iowa (AP) -- Eric Sanders passed for two touchdowns and ran for another and Northern Iowa kept Iowa State winless under new coach Gene Chizik with a 24-13 victory Saturday night.

Northern Iowa (2-0), a member of the Football Championship Subdivision, looked much stronger and sharper than its Big 12 opponent, which coughed up four turnovers and rarely established any consistency on offense.

And while the outcome won't rock the nation in the manner of Appalachian State's upset of Michigan, it was still satisfying for the Panthers, who ended a five-game losing streak to Iowa State (0-2) in front of the largest crowd ever at ISU, 56,795.

SAINT PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL

SAINT PATRICK CHURCH, originally uploaded by S C A R F A C E.

'Come Together'- Smokin' Mojo Filters

Sir Paul, Wellah and Big Brother. From the 'War Child' benefit album.

With special appearances by Steves Craddock and White, Carleen Anderson, Linda McCartney and La Moss. Thankfully, the last two aren't part of the recording process.

Oh dear

Poor Alex.

Love Music, Hate Racism

This is made of awesome......

LMHR “SCHOOLS CD” - ON THE COVER OF THE NME NEXT MONTH
NME - the LMHR issue. In shops: Wednesday 10th October 2007

The LMHR CD for schools, supported by the NUT, has drawn a fantastic response - with many top artists contributing exclusive tracks (see below). Even better, the NME have now come on board, meaning that the CD will be covermounted on their 13th October issue, and that nme.com will be hosting a LMHR minisite where a week after the mag comes out you can download all the tracks alongside information on fighting racism and fascism and on putting on your own LMHR event.

This special edition of the NME will feature a special LMHR-themed cover bringing together Lethal Bizzle, Babyshambles, Bloc Party, Dirty Pretty Things, The View and The Enemy, as well as feature articles about LMHR including a roundtable discussion with the artists on racism, the BNP and music. Schools, colleges and other organisations can order bulk copies of empty LMHR CD sleeves in which your own pick of the tracks can be burned to CD after you’ve downloaded them from the website. The empty sleeves will also act as a flyer for LMHR and will be distributed in schools across the country.

Here’s the 100% confirmed tracklisting, in alphabetical order, with one or two surprises still possible - it’s still tbc which will be on the NME cover CD and which will be exclusive download-only tracks:-

Akala (”Electro Livin’” exclusive track)

Albert Hammond Jr. (”Cartoon Music For Super Heroes”)

Babyshambles (”Stone Me What a Life! - exclusive track from new album sessions)

Billy Bragg (”The Big Lie” exclusive track)

Bloc Party (“Where is Home” - Diplo remix)

Blood Red Shoes (exclusive track from album sessions)

Carbon/Silicon (“The Network’s Going Down”, exclusive track)

The Charlatans (exclusive track)

Dirty Pretty Things (’9 Lives’, exclusive and specially-written track)

Drew McConnell, Seb Rochford, Fionn Regan & Albert Hammond Jr. - ‘Ampersand’ (exclusive)

The Enemy (’Fear Killed The Youth of A Nation’ tiny-indie-release b-side of 1st single)

Johnny Flynn (’Cold Bread’ - exclusive track)

Get Cape Wear Cape Fly (exclusive live track from LMHR Glastonbury 2007 show)

Hard Fi (exclusive remix of track from new LP)

Hardkaur (’Hype’, exclusive)

Lethal Bizzle (exclusive remix of “Babylon’s Burning Up The Ghetto”)

Maximo Park (exclusive live track “Nose Bleed”)

Mecca 2 Medina (track TBC)

M.I.A. (track TBC)

Natty (exclusive unreleased track)

Noisettes (’Shame’ – exclusive)

Fionn Regan (’Campaign Button’ - Hidden track on current LP)

Roll Deep (’Racist People” exclusive remix)

Skream (’Chest Boxing’, exclusive track)

Statik (’Summer Nights’ )

The View (“Fireworks and Flowers” - exclusive)

No comment

Veteran rockers The Charlatans gave fans a taste of their forthcoming 10th studio album at a tiny show at London's Cuckoo club.

The View, Klaxons and Carl Barat were at the gig, filmed for Rockworld TV. Singer Tim Burgess told us: "It was mayhem." Mental...

Random ten

1. There She Goes- Babyshambles
2. Sheila, Take A Bow- The Smiths
3. Mocking Bird- The Libertines
4. Slip Inside This House- Primal Scream
5. The Concept- Teenage Fanclub
6. Because Of You- Kelly Clarkson
7. Away From Here- The Enemy
8. Genie In A Bottle- Christina Aguilera
9. I Get Along- The Libertines
10. Stacy's Mom- Fountains Of Wayne

Bonus-
11. Get Lucky- New Young Pony Club
12. Tick Tick Boom- The Hives

Things that could only happen to me (work edition)

Our stereo at work? Complete shit. And I should know- I bought the damn thing in March and paid 45 bucks for it.

My point? The CD player skips like a mother, so I'm forced, FORCED I TELL YOU, to burn discs on a semi-regular basis to listen to when we're working our magic. (this is how I've been able to turn everyone I work with into a Kasabian, Primal Scream, Libertines, The View and Girls Aloud fan)

However, they are currently acting like insane bitches. We were listening to a Roses mix CD that contained 'Elephant Stone,' when I went into the cooler to get some fleurs. I came out of the cooler to find my freaking mom and Jen singing 'Cum On Feel The Noize'* over it. They claim they sound the same. Now, I concede that it is possible they contain some of the same chords (I think everyone from Manchester of a certain age is a Glam fan), but I remain unconvinced.

My question? Are my mom and J on some type of previously undiscovered hallucinogen or am I the insane bitch?



and


*yes, this is the Oasis cover of the Slade tune. I prefer it to the original. Mainly because Our Kid is much better looking than Noddy Holder. Sue me.

La Moss for Topshop

From the new fall collection.

I must have these-








and this jacket. Wow, that's gorgeous.....
















Hmmm, am wondering if Irina will be the face of the fall/winter line....

Late Afternoon Clouds in Tuscany

Late Afternoon Clouds in Tuscany, originally uploaded by BBMaui.

Wow

Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, I've obtained 4 songs off Babyshambles upcoming album. (I'll buy the actual copy when it becomes available here in the Colonies)

Verdict? Pete needs to go through a traumatic breakup with a supermodel more often. These songs are FANTASTIC.

'Delivery' is pop perfection, 'There She Goes' is all jazzy and European (sounds like the Exciters 'Tell Him', to me anyway), 'French Dog Blues' is straight rock and 'The Lost Art Of Murder' is simply wonderful.

Buy it when it drops is what I'm saying.

HAHAHAHA

Can't. Stop. Giggling.

Klaxons have certainly being celebrating their Nationwide Mercury
Music Prize win last night (September 4) hard - as it spilled onto breakfast TV this morning.

The band were set to appear on BBC News 24 at 8.30am BST, but turned up at the studio still to drunk to appear, leaving NME's New Music Editor Alex Miller to go on air for them - and according to those who saw it he "wasn't much more sober".

Arriving for the broadcast, the news channel were warned by the BBC's reception they were still merry as they arrived.

Picking our man - who spent the night partying with the band - to go on instead, he "dissed" presenter Kate Silverton's hairdo, saying she looked like she had just got out of bed, before explaining that the band were with him but were too drunk to go on TV.

You've done us proud Alex.

However more fun continued in the green room, with the band member Jamie Reynolds yelling "I've got 20 grand in my pocket," and then kept shouting "there I am" every time a clip of the band appeared on the various news channels being shown while almost falling off his crutches.

Expect a full update when we finally get in touch with our man Miller - actually, if anyone sees him can you let us know?

Flares. In again.

If La Moss is wearing them, then every feature on denim in every fashion/female magazine will be showing flares as the "new, super-flattering trend, guaranteed to improve your sex life, advance your career and ensure super blissful happiness" within 6 months.

So frickin' predictable. This isn't meant to denigrate Kate's* influence whatsoever. However, it doesn't seem like fashion editors try too hard sometimes...

Kate Moss is more or less the leader of fashion trends, especially when it comes to jeans. Love her or hate her, she single-handedly pioneered skinny jeans to the point that we all thought we couldn't live without them.

Now, days before her latest Topshop launch, Ms Moss has been seen sporting flared jeans. Is this possibly a hint of what we might see from her latest collection?

Flared jeans are obviously much easier to wear than skin tight skinny
jeans, especially if (like me) you have hips! The larger flare balances out the shape. These two pairs are available on the high street now for under £30! Flares should be slightly higher waist than you've been used to which makes them more flattering.

*and I'm not just saying this because I bought two pairs of flares recently. Because I saw Katherine wearing them. I'm weak like a kitten.

'Gravity's Rainbow'- Klaxons

The Mercury Prize winners perform on Later...with Jools Holland

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.