'Dear Joy,
Having a good holiday. Weather has been fine so far and the snow is just right for good skiing. The hotel is very picturesque and we can ski right from the door.
Happy new year,
love Graham and Sally.'
This was no mistake however, as someone had scribbled,
'Many thanks for your order, best wishes. BSP'
Those crazy guys.
Anyway, what I was really excited over was British Tea Power VI. I only wish I had the full set.
Before hot water;
And as if by magic, with hot water;
Lovely.
- Music:Blasphemous Rumours - Depeche Mode
10 random first lines from songs on my Zune to guess. Varying levels of difficulty. The last one is a doddle.
Ok, with added lyrics now.
1. I'm hot on the heels of love/waiting for help from above
2. I've been loving you a long time/Down all the years, down all the days
And I've cried for all your troubles/Smiled at your funny little ways
3. Another sunny day, I met you up in the garden/You were digging plants, I dug you, beg your pardon
4. She was sixteen and six feet tall in a crowd of teenagers comin' out of the zoo/She stumbled started to slip and fall. Teeter-tottered on the top of patent leather shoes.
5. Let the motion of your body be the key/Cuz we be the motherfucking G funk family
6. It was a cold and wet December day when we touched the ground at JFK/Snow was melting on the ground/On BLS I heard the sound of an angel
7. Oh I was walking round my local store/Searching for the ten pence off Lenor/When suddenly I bumped into this guy/On seeing who it was I gave a cry
8. I love rock 'n' roll and all these people with no where to go/I love rock 'n' roll
All these people with nothing to show
9. Now the courtoom is quiet, but who will confess/Is it true you betrayed us? The answer is yes
Then read me the list of the crimes that are mine, I will ask for the mercy that you love to decline.
10. Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton/Old times they are not forgotten
- Music:Pristine Christine- The Sea Urchins
- Music:The Chemical Brothers- It Began In Africa
Yesterday I met up with my friend Sally and watched the film 'The Posters Came From The Walls', a 70 minute documentary about Depeche Mode fans from across the globe. It's co-directed by Nick Abrahams and Turner Prize winning artist Jeremy Dellar. The screening yesterday at the Prince Charles Cinema included a short introduction by the directors and a free brunch. The brunch was basically a free-for-all and all we managed to grab was half a bagel and a cup of coffee each!
The film itself was I believe released a couple of years ago at the London Film Festival, and what we saw was a slightly edited version (I think they cut out 3 minutes of some Brazilian fans).
It's a very funny film, full of fans that Alan Partridge would no doubt describe as 'mentalists'. For example in Russia, on May 9th. DM fans celebrate 'Dave Day', as it's Dave Gahan's b'day. This coincides with Victory Day, a Russian National Holiday, so in Moscow there are typically two marches of celebration. One military and the other an army of DM fans singing, walking the streets with homemade banners and organising club nights. One Russian fan describes the fanbase thus; ‘We are Depeche-ist. Like Communist, like Fascist’'
Throughout Eastern Europe in the 1980s, the band were treasured by a legion of fans, who could only listen to them on bootlegged cassette tapes. A Berliner recalls that when DM played East Berlin, he got a job as a security guard at the concert, only to tear off his uniform as soon the band came on stage and join the fans on the other side of the barrier.
One of the most extreme fans has a journal full of (admittedly very good) sketches of an imagined life she shares with the band. As she shows us page after page, one gets a little uneasy, a bit like when Jean goes through Pat Bateman's diary. This is one of her drawings,
Perhaps the weirdest fan is the German man who re-creates the video to 'Enjoy the Silence' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGSKrC7d
There are British fans interviewed too. A once homeless man who lived under Hammersmith Bridge armed only with a Sony cassette player and a copy of '101' who after seeing Depeche at Crystal Palace turned his life around, got some shelter and educated himself. Then there is the gothic church in Cambridge that holds services for local goths.
There's a lovely mix of sad, touching, bizaare and humorous stories. Trent Reznor makes a short appearance but aside from that all the experiences and stories come from fans worldwide. There's a brilliant marching band version, I think of 'Never Let Me Down' too.
I really wish I could get a ticket for their O2 date in December, but they are rather expensive.
Official website here- http://theposterscamefromthewalls.com/
Afterwards, we went to the Gay Icons exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, which I think ends today. As a bonus, I got in as a student. Hurrah. I hadn't expected to see a portrait of former England and Lincoln manager Graham Taylor, but he was one of the icons selected by Elton John. There were some good photos, a mocked up official police pic of Peter Tatchell with 'Queer Terrorist' below him, and I could stare at Joe Dallesandro's excellent cheekbones for quite sometime.
Further more at the NPG, there is a small and free exhbition of Bob Dylan photographs from his 1966 UK tour in the basement which are well worth looking at if you're a fan.
I now have an awful lot of studying to catch up on, a task to complete before the day is out and cleaning and all the rest of it to do.
- Location:Living Room
- Music:None, watching 'The Invitations'
Last weekend was far more eventful. I managed to get off my backside on Good Friday and visited some of the glorious art deco buildings located on the Golden Mile (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Mile_(Brent
Highlight of last weekend was obviously seeing David Byrne at the Royal Festival Hall. Can it really be 5 years since I saw him there last? This year, he's promoting his second collaborative album with Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. Whilst the tour is promoted as The Songs of Brian Eno and David Byrne, Byrne sneaks in a couple of songs that no Eno connection, including a rousing version of Burning Down The House complete with every band member and David wearing a pink tutu.
The other big difference from other times i've seen him, aside from the setlist, is the inclusion of 3 dancers who prance round the stage at any given time, sometimes incorporating Byrne in their moves. At other times David shuffles across to one side, allowing the dancers the freedom of the stage. It's a wonderful mix of contemporary dance and incredible songs.
At the start, the band come on all dressed in white. Byrne appoaches the mic, where about a dozen photographers are huddled underneath taking their snaps. He explains the 'menu' for the evening and introduces himself- 'I'm Dave, and i'm your waiter tonight'. Other than that, there's not much communication with the audience, and the music is left to speak for itself.
The night starts with Strange Overtones, one of the best songs off the latest collaboration. The early highlights include Help Me Somebody, from My Life In The Bush of Ghosts but it isn't till about 30-40 minutes in that the show really kicks off.
The photographers have done their work and have left the front of the auditorium. The band start playing seminal Talking Heads songs, Crosseyed and Painless, The Great Curve, Heaven, Born Under Punches, Once In A Lifetime, Life During Wartime, Houses In Motion (but sadly no Cities) and after one or two people get up to dance, there's soon about 50 or 60 at the front, plus everyone is now standing and dancing rather than sitting. It's now a joyous occasion rather than a recital. The dances and backing singers move about, using David as a prop as he plays guitar. It's loud too, perhaps surprisingly. This is probably as close as i'll get to Stop Making Sense, and eventually after 2 hours and about 3 encores, David waves goodbye, followed by his band. They'll be back in August at the Barbican, but i've already planned to leave that day for Krakow. It's almost worth postponing that for another day, just to watch the show again.
The other thing I did of note was quite touristy. I hadn't been to St. Paul's in about 20 years. My mother wouldn't go higher than the Whispering Gallery. On my way back from seeing David Byrne, the cathedral was beautifully lit up and I figured I should go again.
The Whispering Gallery left me awe struck. The paintings and decoration are just beautiful to look at. One of the galleries wasn't open, but I did managed to get outside on the roof and look across the city. An incredible building, awe-inspiring really. I didn't realise that Wren's tomb was in the Crypt itself.
Have ordered new mobile from Dialaphone, together with a free gift of an PS3. However, they've delayed delivery now for a week and i'll probably ring them tomorrow to ask what the fuck is going on. Pretty sure their credit checks never took this long.
Bought a new Microsoft Zune Mp3 player too, but god knows when that is turning up.
Oh, did see 'The Russian Linesman' at the Hayward Gallery, curated by Mark Wallinger, which was very good.
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/minisit
Right, time to lounge about, iron and watch Das Boot
Trying to think what i've done over the last month. I've turned 28, so in your faces Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin etc..
Now have lots of books to read.
I've been to the Le Corbusier exhibition at the Barbican which is excellent. I think it closes this month, so best get your skates on. I've finished my Polish beginners lesson and have a crappy certificate to prove it. Not sure if i'll be continuing with it, but I have enough resources to carry on with.
Been to see a few films recently. I saw Che Part Two, but fell asleep due to alcohol intake. Gran Torino was really good, if a bit daft. Watchmen was so boring beyond belief, and featured the worst use of Leonard Cohen I care to remember. The Damned United is ok, but not as good as the book. Michael Sheen is excellent as ever, and Colm Meaney was born to to play the Don! However, it's a lighter affair and the actors playing the Leeds players miscast with terrible wigs on. It's a film that threw in one too many genuine Clough quotes, just for the sake of it. And references to prawn sandwiches is just plain wrong. Disappointing.
Have a few gigs to attend this month. The mighty David Byrne next Sunday, Trail of Dead, Dylan and have to decide on whether I want to see Jim White or I Like Trains on the 30th.
Ventured south to Jamm in Brixton to see Pocketbooks + The Loves + The Give It Ups (?) on Friday which was an excellent night. Loved all three bands and rather than retreat home spent the next few hours at HDIF, which was great fun. I must go there more often.
Won a bit of money back on the National with My Will coming in third but aside from that did very little the rest of the weekend except download some Falco and D.A.F.
Have recently enjoyed the latest PSB album, and SFA's latest effort. Even a good (not outstanding) SFA album is better than anything else out there. Will listen to the 1990s and Brakes albums again but not convinced on first play that they are up to the quality of previous long players.
Impressed myself by starting to get back into the swing of reading again. Finished The Damned United before the film came out and finished Netherland by Joseph O' Neill. Have to say that despite the plaudits for the latter, it didn't really do much for me. Still reading Mark Bowden's Killing Pablo, and will start on Estates: An Intimate History by Lynsey Hanley shortly.
I'm in need of a new MP3 player as itunes tells me that my "pod Cannot Be Restored An Unknown Error occured (1429)"
I regret caving in and buying a bloody ipod, so i'll go back to trusted Creative. However, I might just wait until Microsoft release the Zune in Europe later this year. At least they have an 120gb version.
My phone also needs replacing. Or rather, I want to get a free PS3 with dialaphone, so may as well replace it.
Expect another update in 4-6 weeks.
- Music:Der Sheriff - D.A.F
Step 1: Put your music player on shuffle.
Step 2: Post the first line from the first 20 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing.
Step 3: Strike through the songs when someone guesses both artist and track correctly.
Step 4: Don't look them up on Google or any other search engine, you cheater.
Step 5: If you like the game, post your own.
Step 6: After a week, any songs left, I'll just post the answer."
1. "You're supposed to be my friend /We're supposed to get along"
2. "Ground control to Major Tom"
3. "Have mercy on me baby, i'm down upon my knees"
God, these are so easy.
4. "I got a 69 Chevy with a 396 fuellie heads and a Hurst on the floor"
5. "The king can take the queen, and the queen can take the knight"
6. "Roman candles that burn in the night"
7. "Down the street you can hear her scream you're a disgrace"
8. "Don't worry bout me/ don't worry bout me/ don't worry bout m" (big clue there)
9. "Don't look to the eyes of a stranger, don't look through the eyes of a fool" (fucking hell, how many of these songs give away their title in the first line?!"
10. "I loved you in the morning/Our kisses deep and warm"
11. "They fall, from your mouth/Propelled by your belly and your tongue"
12. "Home- home in the late-night and away- away in the half-life"
13. "Tears for souvenirs"
14. "Why do we argue the way we do"
15. "It's that Rocafella music... Soulful... "
16. "I knew that someday I was going to die...."
17. "A pirate with a tune on a holiday" (Grrr!)
18. "Whatup BITCH? I'm Peavey Wheatstraw"
19. "I see your sister in her Sunday dress"
20. "Ooh! Yeah yeah! Alright, yeah yeah! Now alright! Everybody's dying, they're all trying to feel it, I know they are."
- Music:2nd Foot Stomp - Clinic
Last weekend my parents came down to visit. we met at Leadenhall Market which i'd never been to before and had a drink there before eating at the nearest S & M Cafe. They played Black Box Recorder over the stereo, which was nice. My dad wanted to walk round a couple of Wren churches but because they were running late we just took a general walk round the City, another one to mark off Andrew Duncan's London Walks.
In the evening we saw Milk, or rather I saw it, whilst my dad slept and my mum nodded off. It's a good film, with strong performances from Sean Peen and James Brolin (wasn't he the fat Swede who played for Leeds?). Far more enjoyable than either Slumdog or The Reader anyway.
Saturday morning we went to Buckingham Palace to see the Flemish exhibiton. Shame there wasn't more Bruegel, but at least 'Massacre of the Innocents' were there. Interestingly, the painting was bought by the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, and on not liking what he saw (children being slain) he ordered that the depictions of children to be covered up and replaced by anonymous looking 'bundles' or animals such as dogs and swans. More like a plunder than massacre by all accounts.
Had a long walk around Dulwich in the afternoon, and in the evening watched Alan Bennett's Enjoy at the Gieldgud theatre. Deliciously absurd humour, with elements of satire and slapstick thrown in but there were some elements of the plot that I didn't like particularly. Was good to see something that wasn't a musical for a change.
This weekend, I did a bit of Polish revision (i didn't go on Tuesday due to knackeredness) and then saw Barnet thrash Bradford 4-1 at Underhill. Good atmosphere, despite there being only 2,500 there and good to see Gary Breen still playing! Barnet's two wingers look a handful too, and i'll be back there next month to see City get thrashed. However, it was nice to spend a Saturday afternoon without worrying what Lincoln were doing, as we had beaten Port Vale the night before. Play-off push starts now!
Sunday morning was spent doing my chores and getting annoyed at housemates but I later ventured out to the Le Corbusier exhibtion at the Barbican Centre. Excellent collection of work, dealing not only with his architectural design and theory but his interior design and paintings (which i'm not too fond of myself). Very good value for money I thought, and naturally the perfect setting for a Le Corbusier exhibition! I may ask for a book about modern architecture for my b'day.
Saw Fleet Foxes (neatly brings back to Bruegel) in the evening at the Roundhouse, who were excellent (shut up John) and good humoured despite the numerous idiots shouting out requests. Robin Pecknold has a fantastic voice.
Off to see Titus Andronicus at the Hoxton Bar & Grill tonight, which should be good. I use far too many brackets.
My manager, for some reason has a copy of a daily email I send to our store requesting boxes back to the office. He's highlighted my hotmail address which I add to my signature. Now, I know he's got some email security meeting later today and I wonder if he's going to be using it as some sort of example. He hasn't mentioned anything to me, and I can't see anything wrong with disclosing my own email address- it's completely up to me as far as I can tell. However, I don't think he should be making copies of emails I sent, even if it's just a boring work one. I don't expect him to say anything.
- Music:Christmassteps- Mogwai
Struggling to come up with 10 albums that have actually made any difference to me. I can probably muster 4 or 5, and no doubt I should be putting more thought into this, or even doing some actual work. Hell, it’s Friday afternoon though, so I can’t be bothered asking if there is anything I can do. I’m usually more than willing. I even pottered along to
Buddy Holly & The Crickets – 20 Golden Greats
No. 92 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums of All Time, fact fans. My dad has it on cassette, and I distinctly remember the cover being a white brick wall with ‘Buddy Holly Lives’ spray-painted on. I listened to this an awful lot when I was young, but it was only a couple of years ago that I actually bought another Holly compilation. Hmm, this isn’t going so well is it? How did it make a difference to me? Erm…bugger…
Queen - Greatest Hits 2
I can’t even choose the right Greatest Hits album. The first one pisses all over this, but it was my friend from primary school Nick Cooper who had this on double vinyl, and my mum who copied it onto tape for me (with the tracklisting the wrong way round as it happened- yeah well done mum). I got so deeply involved with Queen, I even joined the Queen International Fan Club. Four ‘magazines’ a year, mostly going on about Brian May’s band, Roger Taylor embarrassing himself (Nazis ’94) and John Deacon doing nothing cept making tea for himself. Freddie’s news updates were even more quiet. I did get a Brian May pin badge in the shape of Red Special though (ace). I still have it somewhere. I think Queen II was the first CD I bought, in about 1992. They were the first band I really got into.
Oasis – Definitely Maybe/What’s The Story Morning Glory
I was still largely listening to my dad’s records when Britpop emerged. Though there is absolutely nothing wrong with listening to Dire Straits and ‘Divine Madness’, noone at school was really interested, and kept going on about this band who had a song about ‘lasagne’ or summat. Then a boy in my class, Ben Hey brought in a copy of the NME one week. I think it had an interview with Noel Gallagher and whilst I didn’t religiously read everything he said, I do give Oasis a lot of credit for getting myself more involved in the music scene of that time. I started buying the NME weekly (it was only 80p!), and it was so much comprehensive, witty and informative than the embarrassing rag they put out now.
Manic Street Preachers – The Holy Bible
I didn’t get into the Manics until after Everything Must Go, but it was really my brother who got me into them, when he went to Uni (1996?). He lived in halls with a pair of FMFs and as a result I listened to them quite a lot. For my 15th b’day I asked and received The Holy Bible which was up to then, the one album of theirs by brother didn’t have. And so my love of the Manics started, and I read lots of interviews and listened to a lot of the bands they mentioned (The Clash, Public Enemy to name two) which all helped broaden my mind. Just wish I’d been there from the start really.
Spiritualized- Ladies and Gentleman We Are Floating In Space
Summer 1997 and everyone seemed to be banging on about OK Computer and how marvellous it was. I was still buying the NME weekly and looking at the reviews and read about the wonderful packaging of L&GWAFIS. Previously, I’d bought It’s Great When It’s Straight Yeah purely on the front cover, and this was another purchase based on an NME review (I think they gave it 9 and one-eighth) and the packaging. I was not disappointed. It was, and remains a masterpiece of love and loss mixed into blues, gospel and straight forward garage rock. I just felt so good and happy listening to this.
The Smiths – Singles
I think I bought this in Woolworth’s in Horncastle, at some obscene price (£15.99 or such). Well worth it in the end. The more I listened to the Smiths (I think the next purchase was Louder Than Bombs) the more I kept changing what was my favourite song, they were all just so fantastic. Typically for a FSF, I felt Morrissey was talking about my life, despite being a middle class 16 year old at Grammar School, living in rural
Jurassic 5 – Jurassic 5 LP
I think there may have been a few years between hearing ‘Concrete Schoolyard’ on the Evening Session, and purchasing the J5 LP. Outstanding old-school vibe and from what I recall a relatively short LP. Wonderful obscure samples, similar in vein to the kind Boards of Canada often use, voiceovers from educational videos, etc. Opened my eyes to Cut Chemist/Ozomatli/DJ Shadow.
Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense
Not by any means the first Talking Heads records I heard. My brother had their Greatest Hits which I listened to a lot. I do remember hearing, ‘Road to Nowhere’ and ‘And She Was’ when I was very young, and listening to that Greatest Hits record jogged my brain a little. I can’t remember if I had seen ‘Stop Making Sense’ first before buying the soundtrack. I bought the VHS version of the film off ebay I think in either my first or second year of university. I recall watching it in my second year and during ‘Life During Wartime’ my American flatmate at the time came in just as David Byrne was shifting his hips and doing the most fantastic dancing ever. She was really impressed with that. Bizarrely, a couple of days after watching it I overheard some people on the top deck of a bus talking about SMS and David Byrne’s dancing. Weird. Anyway, it’s the greatest concert film ever, and I actually remember being a little downhearted after listening to the studio versions of ‘Cities’ and ‘Life During Wartime’, because the live versions are just mind blowingly brilliant. This influenced me to buy an oversized suit.
Snoop Doggy Dogg – Doggystyle
My second year of university was way better than my first. Not just because of listening to Doggystyle you understand, but it’s something I always relate to that year. Playing Champ Man with Wez and Jimmy and listening to either Thriller or Snoop.
The funky beats are just hypnotic, the use of samples genius, and together with Talking Heads made me a whole lot aware of Parliament/Funkadelic and funk in general.
The White Stripes – White Blood Cells
I wish I could say I heard about the White Stripes in 1999, but that would be lying bullshit. I’d read the buzz in the papers, saw the ‘Hotel Yorba’ video on MTV and purchased their first 3 LPs from the shop in the Student’s
Now, I’m firmly in the camp that thinks Jack White is a songwriting genius. I also think Meg is rather nice (probably a smaller camp), but hey. There’s so much to like, not just the brilliant songwriting but the whole brother/sister myth (at the time), the colour co-ordination and general visuals. Their interpretation of others songs are brilliant too, ‘One More Cup of Coffee, ‘I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself’, etc but to my mind Jack White’s songs are so good, I’m forever thinking they must be someone elses. Listening to them just reminds me of that second year of uni, being very happy and seeing them with the Von Bondies at the MDH of Manchester Uni.
Sorry, what was the question again?
- Music:The Magnificent Seven- The Clash
Have seen two films since I last updated, Frost/Nixon & The Reader. Frost/Nixon was very good, though i'm not sure about the fictional phonecall the writers concoted between the pair of them, before Frost's last interview with the great ogre. Michael Sheen will forever be linked to playing Tony Blair and there's a sense he hasn't quite shaken that role off here. Naturally, what with Frost being foremost a chat show host, a lot of what he says and how he acts appears quite Partridge-esque. One feels no great sympathy for either Frost nor Nixon. Nixon, is a lying crook looking for a way back into front line politics, and Frost deeply wants to be taken seriously, whilst also maintaining this playboy image. There's something creeply and slimey about the pair of them, which is a tribute to the acting, though Langella almost draws you into feeling sympathy for a crooked shit of a President. It's certainly as good as Anthony Hopkin's portrayal.
There's able support from Kevin Bacon and Sam Rockwell as advisors to Nixon and Frost respectively. Sadly, I didn't see the stage play, but I believe the original interview are available somewhere so i'll hunt them down.
I'm not sure what to make of The Reader and frankly, Winslet's performance did nothing for me. If anyone should be rewarded it should be the make up department for making her look as if she's over 60. If there any acting plaudits to be given, I believe it should be given to 18 year old David Kross who plays the part of Michael Berg (a teenager who falls in love with Winslet's Hanna Schmitz). Ralph Fiennes, who plays the older Michael is typically good. There are smaller roles given to Bruno Ganz, and Alexandra Maria Lara, both of whom starred in the magnificent Downfall. The Reader though, is a decent film but i'm unhappy with two things. The 'secret' which is revealed about half way through (to be fair, it is well paced) and the ending which I think is just fucking dreadful. I believe the Guardian review gave it one star, which is unfair but they whoever wrote it, I think it's Peter Bradshaw, was right about the ending.
I still have plenty to catch up on, and will no doubt make it to the cinema at least once this week, weather permitting of course!
Not a lot else to report. Have finished the first of the two Mark Thomas books I got for Christmas. Still have tonnes of books to read and more to buy. The Franz Ferdinand album is about as average as the last one, perhaps with one or two exceptions. The remixed tracks sound a lot better. By contrast the Morrissey album is to my mind, better than ROTT and is as good as YATQ (maybe it's the late Jerry Finn's production?). There's a lull somewhere in the middle, which is probably to do with the two naff singles he released last year, but aside from that it's a much more punchy effort. Nice to see Boz Boorer given writing credits again.
The Springsteen album is as Springsteen albums seemingly are these days. Pretty standard, solid efforts but as soon you've finished you're crying out to listen to Darkness on the Edge of Town. He was however, in excellent form last night during the Superbowl Half Time Show. Pretty obvious he was going to play 'Born to Run' and 'Working On A Dream', but absolutely delighted he opened with 'Tenth Avenue Freeze Out', one of my favs. No matter how ordinary the latest albums sounds on record, when he's out there with the E Street Band, it all sounds top notch. Announce UK dates soon please Boss.
Right, that was the week that was. Now back to learning basic Polish, and having a quick (if that's possible) blast of Championship Manager.
- Location:home
- Music:Basic Polish
Apparently, Chris Moyles is one of the celebrities lined up for the next series of 'Who Do You Think You Are?'. I only know this because apparently he was on his show saying that unlike most of the other celebrities, he travels to Ireland, rather than Auschwitz. "pretty much everybody goes there, whether or not they're Jewish... they always kind of end up there, you know, if they just pass through on their way to Florida or something." said the popular twattish oaf. Needless to say, despite enjoying these shows, i'll give his a miss. Oh, 5 complaints have been made about him mocking Will Young by singing Evergreen in a camp voice and saying that he'd put on his best dress for Will's birthday party. Chris Moyles there, marvelous. Isn't he just loveable?
Started my Polish lessons on Tuesday evening. Only a class of 8, including one Italian, one German, one French-American and an Australian. 6 of the group I think wanted to learn because their partners/wives/husbands were Polish and they wanted to speak their language and understand the in-laws! I was the only one there who wanted to learn because I intend to visit later this year. I think most had already been to Poland. The teacher Franek, seems a nice guy and I hope he's going to be patient as i've not learnt a language since GCSE French (poor show, I know). However, despite the words looking frightening I don't think it's as bad as all that, and I have some rules of Polish grammar to read before next Tuesday. We're only going to learn a fraction of the textbook we've been given in 10 weeks, and only my bank manager knows whether i'll do the next 10 week course 'Beginners Plus'. We shall see. Meanwhile, i'll be practicing for at least 30 minutes a night to try and remember what i've learnt and hopefully my confidence will build up.
Have lots of films to catch up on, despite trying my best not to spend any money until next Friday. What with it being Oscar season, all the nominees are gradually coming out in this country. I think 'Milk' and 'Frost/Nixon' are out tomorrow, plus i've still got 'The Wrestler', 'Slumdog Millionaire', 'The Reader' and at least one other to see. i'll try and make it to one of those this weekend.
Nearing the end of 'Public Enemies' . Pretty Boy Floyd and Babyface Nelson have been killed, so it's just Alkin Karpis left now. Enjoyed the book immensely.
Do widzenia.
- Music:Wordy Rappinghood- Tom Tom Club
For whatever reason this week i've been looking at books on topics I covered in A-Level History. That is to say aspects of European history from the mid 19th Century. The Unification of Germany, the Unification of Italy, and with Poland in mind, a general history of that country. I particularly enjoyed learning about the Risorgimento and the men who shaped Italian politics then. Mazzini, Cavour and of course Garibaldi. Naturally, there are times when I kick myself and think why I didn't take an MA in History. The obvious reason being that I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with myself. So, for the past week i've been adding books onto my Amazon wishlist in the vein hope I might get one or two for my birthday, even though that is weeks away.
Have made a grave error in installing Championship Manager 2001-2002 on my laptop. Hours of addiction now likely. I'll take days off work just to compete. So far, as Lincoln manager, i've got us into a play-off place having sold my two best players and signed a plucky 16 year old Portuguese boy called Cristiano Ronaldo. I've just upped his wages to £130 a week. Course, I have later editions of Football Manager, but that's far too proper (and more difficult!). Championship Manager is more like an arcade game in contrast.
I managed to leave the house today though, taking in a long walk from my house to Holloway Road, up to Tufnell Park and then down again to York Way and to Angel (according to Google, 6.7 miles). Walked past North Road and the roadside memorial to Ben Kinsella. Despite not having much time for roadside memorials, I found it quite moving. Down the road the American Football side, the London Blitz (or at least one of their teams) were being put through their paces in a training session. Walked past the derelict York Way Tube Station, the first time since i've lived down here.
Been listening to 6Music a lot more since having the digital radio, despite the fact I could obviously listen to it online. Very good to have in the background whilst cleaning, and downloaded the Titus Andronicus album as a result of hearing them. I think it was Tom Robinson's show, but i'll have to check. They sound a bit like Trail of Dead (must remember to get a ticket), maybe a bit more shoegazy, if that's a word. Their album title is directly inspired by an excellent Seinfeld episiode. What's not to like?
Polish lessons begin on Tuesday. I really must listen to the CD my brother gave me with the Berlitz guide.
Read with some surprise that Gomorra hasn't made it on the Best Foreign Language Picture shortlist for the Oscars.
- Location:home
- Mood:
tired - Music:Geiger Counter - Kraftwerk
Had a pretty quiet weekend, though I still ended up spending too much. I made the error of going to the pub to watch Stoke v Liverpool bore the shit out of everybody. I'll never learn my lesson.
Did make it however to the Andy Warhol exhibition, Other Voices, Other Rooms at the Hayward before it ends next weekend. There's an astonishing array of works on show, focusing largely on film and other media work. When you enter there are screens showing his numerous 'screen tests' featuring Lou Reed and other Factory stars like Edie Sedgwick. The adjacent wall showed various material- various copies of Interview magazine, record covers Warhol designed, books, his gold leaf pictures and items from his 'time capsules' that were opened up after his death.
I could have spent the whole day watching each recording. There's Andy's mother showing her photographs of her son as a young boy, talking about her relationship with him. David Bowie in 1971 stopping in for a chat at Factory, and then a dozen or so audio recordings including interviews with Warhol.
A large proportion is devoted to the television appearances Warhol made, and later his own tv shows, Andy Warhol's TV and Andy Warhol's Fifteen Minutes. There's about 30 odd tv screens each showing a program. Would have taken me hours to watch them all, but the ones I did see featured guest appearances from Sparks, Pee Wee Herman, Nick Rhodes and er, Warhol's own personal trainer (with Warhol demonstrating his physical fitness by completing 42 press ups). The next room is solely devoted to his movies of which there were many. Probably the most notorious is Blow Job (a half hour continuous shot of an actor's head whilst he's receiving oral sex). The array of archive footage and material is really quite impressive and I just wish I had more time to spend there.
Didn't really do anything else of note this weekend. Bought trousers, watched United anhiliate Chelsea. Listened to the Nicole Atkins album finally (very good). Made a mental note to get Trail of Dead and Jim White tickets. Wished my mother happy birthday, finished The West Wing Season 4 and booked myself in for 10 weeks of Polish language lessons from next Tuesday. Had originally planned to go to SSEES, as I could get a discount but the course started way back in the autumn. Better start learning the very basics at home.
Im reading Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933–34 by Bryan Burrough at the moment. It's a fantastic, gripping narrative featuring Dillnger, Baby Face Nelson, Bonnie & Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd against the Feds. Some marvellous tales including how John Dillinger (allegedly) escaped prison with a wooden gun, and how incompetant the FBI were (they make our own boys in blue look good). Certainly worth reading, particularly as Michael Mann's directed a film based on it with Depp and Bale.
- Music:6Music play the Chemical Bros.
Going home for a week was good, I got to see 3 consecutive City games which was good, and we only one of those was truly crap. My dad was delighted with his pork pie hat I got from my local hat shop, and when I can afford it, i'll go back there to buy a bowler for myself.
I have a lot of reading material to get through, two Mark Thomas books, Nixonland by Rick Perlstein and a history of the American Civil War. I now have a digital radio, and we've now got Virgin cable at home which is good. At least there's one tv with decent reception in the house.
My brother got me a Berlitz Polish phrasebook and guide to Krakow, so I guess I oughta save some money and actually book the damn holiday. I'll probably book 10 days in August, which gives me enough time to learn the language (SSEES offer courses) and save enough money. If anyone has been to Krakow or Poland feel free to give some advice, travellers tips or whatever.
Not been up to much since I got back to London. Had a couple of nice walks this week. The first round the City, and yesterday from Kew to Hammersmith. Saw the gravestones of Gainsborough and Hogarth, marvelled at some of the lovely houses by the Thames and the birds at Chiswick House (sadly under major renovation- the house, not the birds).
Watched Che (Part 1) on Friday which was decent enough, without really digging deep into what made the man tick. The first part focuses solely on the Cuban Revolution, interspersed with Guevera's speech at the United Nations. There's nothing bad about it in particular, but nothing spectacular either.
I really gotta plans these posts I keep meaning to update and then I forget what i'm gonna say. Ah well, i'm going to upload some pics to facebook and have some rum.
Followed all that by going to London Zoo, the first time i'd been there. Sadly, didn't have too much time to see everything but thoroughly enjoyable. Gotta love the ring-tailed lemurs. The evening was spent at the Noel Coward Theatre watching Avenue Q, which was pretty funny and very cleverly staged. South Park humour mixed with the Muppets.
Sunday was spent visiting family friends who'd bought a new 1 bedroomed flat in Putney. They have a wonderful view of the city with Wembley and the Trellick Tower visible to the left. Stamford Bridge, the Royal Albert Hall in the centre, with BT Tower visible in the background. With the binoculars I could make out the time on Big Ben (looking through The London Eye). Had superb lunch by the river too.
Suddenly have a few gigs to attend over the next couple of weeks starting with Spiritualized on Thursday. Been liking the lastest offering by The Streets, and have others to get downloaded and listened to. Is it just me or has 2008 been a lot better than 2007 in terms of music?
Finally got round to watching The West Wing, only 8 years too late. Could have sworn my PS2 was playing silly buggers and not recognizing the dvd earlier this year, but seems everything is working fine, so have up to Season 3 I think to catch up on before I go back home and get the rest off my parents.
Continuning to struggle through Daniel Yergin's The Prize a narrative history of the oil industry, but that is down only to me being too sleepy in the mornings to read it on the 73. Have so many other books that need reading..
Not updated properly in a while, give or take the amusing clip of Larry David speaking on behalf of a cancer charity.
Saw Simon Amstell last Tuesday doing one of two shows that evening at the 100 Club. It was my first time there, and the show was filmed for reasons not yet known. Simon said that if he did a proper DVD then this footage could be used as one of the bonus features. It was pretty scatty, he seemed to be all over the place which seems strange seeing as he's been on tour, unless this was all new material. It was all pretty funny anyway, except he's had what he calls a 'trendy' haircut, and it just doesn't suit him whatsoever. The problem he so rightly says, is his face just isn't trendy enough for the hair.
Aside from that, the week consisted of going to
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
brain_opera 's birthday meal and Pappagone which was all very good and delicious. Even the seemingly hundreds of little Other than that, bugger all has been the order of the week. Over the last couple of months i've learnt how to use Utorrent and that's taken much of my time, downloading shit loads of stuff that I simply won't have time to listen to. So, along with the complete Elbow discography (i have a spare ticket to their Roundhouse show btw, if anyone is interested), the complete Jay-Z , Nas, Magnetic Fields and The Divine Comedy back catalogue, i've heard The Hold Steady for the first time (which I like), and The Gaslight Anthem's The '59 Sound which is decent. I may even see them when they tour here later, but money is tight and i'm being canny with going to gigs.
I'd like to see Nick Cave, The Pogues, BSP, Glasvegas as well as The Gaslight Anthem and one of Dylan Moran's shows. So far i've limited myself to the aforementioned Elbow, Spiritualized, Neon Neon and Mercury Rev. I've listened to the Rev's latest album, or one of them at least (they are streaming one of them on Myspace I think, or something like that), and it's a return to a more psychedelic. Gone are the lustrous string arrangements.
One show that i'm definitely seeing i'm afraid is Andrew WK, who is playing his first UK date in four years. My brother, who I feel sees London as Alan Partridge does is even coming from Swindon to see it, as are his friends in Oxford. They all saw him play the Zodiac four years ago, whilst i've not had the pleasure yet. The evening before, Mr. WK is doing some talk on motivation which apparently is sold out!
This weekend I have managed to get off my arse and tidy my mess of a room, packing a lot of VHS cassettes for Oxfam in Dalston, together with a few shirts I need rid of. I also have some stuff I want to sell on ebay, but I don't think anyone will be that interested in a Strange Death of Liberal England t-shirt. Anyway, my room now looks fantastic, and i need a new needle for my record player and found the leads for my old iRiver. Sadly, the iRiver needs repair as I can only hear out of one ear, I think the soundboard or something is faulty (it's not the earphones). If i could get that fixed than that would be magical, as I continue to have problems with fucking iTunes as I knew i would.
This last paragraph is about football, so if anyone is reading this far down, you can go now. Lincoln managed their first win of the season on Saturday, admittedly it was against Barnet who are having a pretty dreadful run at the moment. Dany N'Guessan managed to contribute something other than causing extreme stress and tapped home the first, and even more magical than that, Adrian Patulea who first came to the club's attention when he carried his naked gf on his back round the training ground scored on his football league debut.
Multumesc, Adrian!
I mean just look at the evidence. He produced The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy for radio, produced and wrote for Harry Enfield, The Fast Show, Spitting Image, Saturday Live, Happiness and they're just the shows I liked! More than that though, he reportedly created the greatest game in broadcast history, namely Mornington Crescent. Rest In Peace.
Here is Geoffrey as Mike Flex, presenting KYTV's Telethon alongside 'TV's Mr. Sex' Angus Deayton.
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