Tomorrow evening. Be there.

Hello all.

Just a friendly reminder that we'll be back on the airwaves, 7pm-9pm, www.cur1350.co.uk.

This time, our special guest will be comedian MARC SHALET!!!

You'll loves it.

Jenna and Andy
a.k.a. The SUGAR PILL team

xxx

ELECTION SELECTIONS 2- Cameron & Clegg's Clobber (A Sartotial Outlook)

As the leader's debates cover our screens, newspapers and blogs like the last dregs of conditioner in a greasy mass of hair and dead skin, the electorate are left asking questions. What are the ramifications of the Conservative's tax policies? Do Nick Clegg's budget cuts and splurges add up? Is Gordon Brown really The Head from Art Attack, as reimagined by Max Ernst? Overall, we're left asking: who is the best equipped to run the country? My mother always used to say "you can tell a lot about a man from the cut of his suit", but then again she also used to say that "White Chicks" was a multilayered commentary on Reaganomics, and possibly the best film of all time.

Unemployment rises and declining real-value wages forced many hardworking federal agents to adopt second jobs and moonlight in mediocre Wayans Brother Buddy-Comedy Vehicles

To this question, I shall provide an answer- how much can you tell about the party leaders by the way they dress? Read on, and vote accordingly.

David Cameron

David Cameron opted for a sharp white collar/blue tie combination. Steely, cold and confident, this is a look that strikes fear into the heart of miners, unionised workers and Argentinian generals with millitaristic ambitions everywhere. Of course, this could have been achieved through adopting even more of Maggie's wardrobe, save for the fact that, following her departure from office, she ordered that her sweater sets be burnt lest a pretender to the crown were to don them. I'd like to think his outfit was chosen by a spin steering committe, but it's much more plausible that Mr Cameron only sees occasion to own a single tie...

Nick Clegg

St Nicholas of Clegg, comfortable in the knowledge that, just hours from now, papers would be hailing him as "The New Obama" on a slow news day, decided to go with a garish yellow/gold number. This seems insulting to Barry O- not only is Clegg slightly more acceptable fayre for the W.I "Weird Crush" poll, but Barack is wondering exactly when he became "The Old Obama". Either way, the tie is hideous- it's only possible justification? To avoid being mistaken for David "Kirk" Cameron.

Gordon Brown

In a break from the pre-established prescident, Gordon eschewed the traditional party colours and lumped for an understated blue and pink pastel combo. Keen to depict himself not as the violent, grumpy man we are all familar with, but a gentle giant, evoking perhaps the memory of Frankie Faison in Keenen Ivory Wayans' magnum opus "White Chicks". A capital combination, Brown avoids the tactical blunder of a red tie bringing out his rosy jowls and making him look like a melting crayfish.

Conclusion- All these tactical ties make me miss the "Good Old Days" when men were men, choppin' down trees, kissin' babies and displaying their political colours on their chest in the form of a riddiculous, novelty rosette as if the candidate had just won first place in the church fete's "Dishiest Liberal Democrat" contest. Those were simpler times, when campaigns were carried out from speakers on car, people didn't mince words and everyone was shit-scared of Commies, Gypsies, Gays and Blacks.

On second thoughts, I'm glad times have changed and noone's stupid enough to buy that shit anymore.....

Ah....

COMING SOON- Andy Gets bored of elections, writes review of new Fall album. Stay tuned for new Sugar Pill on CUR1350 dot com

ELECTION SELECTIONS 1- Andy deconstructs the demographics

As a public broadcaster, I'm not allowed to support any of the candidates on air in accordance with Ofcom guidelines. However, the internet is still an unfettered bastion of 4chan child-pornography rings free-speech. Bearing that in mind, I'm going to offer up my skills in predicting the 2010 General Election!

The election, as ever, will be decided by groups of swing voters. Some political commentators estimate the number of people you need to "swing" to win an election as low as a couple of thousand. This is a fact recognised by the 3 major parties, who tailor their policies to appeal to these key demographics and go on to give them patronising names. You might remember Mondeo Man (you know, a guy who owns a mondeo and will vote for anyone who promises "Free Parking for Mondeos, but not for Passats as, quite frankly, the fuel economy is great but the drive is stiff and sluggish"), Worcester Woman (Intellectual property rights to cover Lea & Perrins secret recipe) and Pebbledash People (erm, no, me neither). Of course, these voters eventually become absorbed into the status quo- their made-to-measure policies become party canon and a new demographic is found. In short, the old "key demographics" are no longer relevant (due in part to the lack-lustre interior of the new Mondeo Ghia). That's where I come in...

Who's better qualified to identify what's "Culturally Relevant" than someone who spends more time chasing the zeitgeist than studying for his degree? And I'm not alone. Generations Y through X don't care about "Better Policing", "Tax Rebates" or "Economic Stability"- we're much more concerned with "Meow Meow", "Free iTunes Giftcards" and "Who Will Headline Glastonbury". This election will be determined by first-time voters, and so, with much fanfare, I present to you the Three Key Indierock Demographics of 2010

1.) Reading Man

No, not a man who reads. That'd be silly- that'd be too much of a strain on the education system, and legalising books and free thought would put our firemen out of work. I mean a man who goes to Reading Festival in spite of being between the age of 28-35. Too old to really "get it" but too "young at heart" to realise that a bunch of 16 year olds celebrating the end of GCSEs with a Ketamine binge and a weekend of pretending to be alternative is no place to spend your life. Keeps company with those significantly younger than himself- it is not unheard of him to date those still in their teens (so David Cameron's young couple's allowance won't benefit him much unless her parents consent to the marriage). He likes new-bands-that-sound-like-old-bands, so sympathises with Gordon Brown's personal brand (Tony Blair meets Highlander). Likely identifies a "Gig Promoter", an "Event Photographer" or any other non-job sponging off DJs/Bands/Actual talent, although in reality a 9-5 wage slave like the rest of us. He is unlikely to have any opinion on taxation beyond that the 30% tax hike on cider is going too far. His political colours are traditionally yellow, as he identifies as a free thinker and progressive despite only supporting them because he still thinks Charles Kennedy is the leader and the party support the decriminalisation of canabis.

2.) AltWAGS
The AltWAG is that girl who hangs out at a painfully hip bar surrounded by painfully hip arseholes- the kind of upper-middle class white boys who think Dr Dre really speaks to them (Erm, Andy?- Ed). She achieves the kind of twee perfection only afforded by someone with both the time and money to buy clothes at American Apparel and North-London vintage boutiques, rather than make do with Help the Aged and Primark like the rest of us. Her main goals in life are to look like Topshop and Oxfam had a grueling night of passion out by the bins, to date someone deep and meaningful whilst rich and trendy enough to really "understand her needs". She only judges people worth talking to if they are a DJ/Band member, not that i'm bitter or anything... By that logic, David Cameron is likely to appeal- his favourite album is The Smith's "The Queen is Dead", and she really loves them too but can't remember which song is her favourite it's that really famous one what's your favourite? Oh, her too! This demographic likely leans towards the Conservatives due to a combination of blue being totally in this season and her daddy being a colonel.

3.) Rage Against X-factor Dude

"Man, it's all about capitalist society and like social justice and stuff". The Rage-Dude is the kind of guy (or girl) who lists their Facebook interests as "Kurt Vonnegut, JD Salinger, The Dead Kennedys, < insert ironic movie title here >, and is keen for everyone else to appreciate the message rather than enjoy the content. The kind of person who is really spoken to by things at times, like that copy of the Communist Manifesto he never read (all the good quotes are on Wikipedia anyway). Not to say he isn't sincere, but merely a theoretical radical rather than a practical one- prose before protests. He opposes globalisation and the walmart effect, but shops at ASDA and frequents Wetherspoons (1p of every pint goes to UKIP!). His revolutionary fire still burns strong; however it's only a matter of time before he settles down to become a Mondeo Man (circa 2002). In the orange zone, he'll likely convince himself he's "voting tactically" rather than admit that Socialism in the Labour party is deader than John Smith.



Stay tuned for the next instalment: Which Leader is has the best taste in music?

We Apeologise For Any Inconvenience Caused...

So, guys, there won't be a show tonight. Sorry, it's beyond our control- some chump hired a bunch of monkeys to carry out routine maintainence on the station and they slipped up (on a banana skin no doubt). Subsequently they overran, and the station is currently offline. The director went ape and the show was cancelled. Someone will no doubt end up behind (monkey) bars for this. Which leaves me plenty of time to come up with primate-ive puns for this post. Don't worry though, it's all gibbon take (last one, I promise)

Normal service will resume next week.

Until then, enjoy this  collection of indie-pop covers of gangsta rap classics, this  Daytrotter session with Fruit Bats and this video Domino finally got round to uploading to the yew-choobs.

Happy Valentines Day **OR** You'll Never Find Happiness!

Happy Valentine's Day/Hey there, lonely loser!

I hope you're having fun with your loved ones/crying into your pillow over the pointlessness of existance. 

Today is a day to celebrate love/mock those of us are so disfunctional we're unable to love.

******

Does anyone else feel like valentine's day is a complete load? Maybe I'm just bitter because I'm alone, but I definately do. And I don't mean in a "Corporate Holiday Invented By Greetings Card Companies" kinda way. I mean in a "Reminding Single People That They Are Going To Die Alone" kind of way. I mean, I know that unless I make some major lifestyle changes  (i.e. adopt a normal sleeping pattern and standards of hygiene; stop swearing so much; cut down from 30 cups of coffee a day; learn to talk about something other than myself and indie-pop music) i'm going to die unfulfilled in a hovel aged 58. And I accept that. I'd just rather not be reminded of it.

I enclose a recipe for the occasion: a Saint Valentine's Day Dinner (for one).

MELODRAMATIC HEARTBREAK SOUP


Ingredients:
1 Beef Heart
2 Carrots
An aubergine
An Onion
1/2 head of celery
A head of garlic (hey, it's not like you're gonna be kissing anyone tonight!)
1 pt of Stock
2tbsp Motor Oil
6x500mg Vicodin Tablets

1) Peel and chop the onion, garlic and celery. Add to the pan and soften in the motor oil. Try not to vomit at the smell- you'll need that for when you catch a glimpse of your hideous reflection in the toaster!
2) Finely chop the carrots, pausing only to contemplate their mocking phallic shape. Maybe that's why she left you? Add to the pan.
3) Take the beef heart in your hand. Consider how soft and fragile it is, how yielding it is to the touch, and how easy it would be to shatter it without a second thought. Place the heart in a pestle and mortar and pound it to a pulp, yelling "Bitch! I'll NEVER love again!"
4) Add the heart to the pan and allow to steep in ennui.
5) Dice the aubergine, but do not peel or salt it- we want to preserve that bitterness to offset your crushing sense of abandonment.
6) Add the aubergine, stock and crushed vicodin to the pan, reduce the heat and simmer for 30mins. Season with your own tears to taste.
7) Allow the soup to cool completely before serving- remember, you want to feel lonely, cold and alone and two-out-of-three won't cut it!
8) For best results, pour the soup down the toilet. It's not healthy to obsess over lost loves, and noone ever found happiness through fetishising loneliness. Yes, we all feel abandoned from time to time, but when you let your feelings of inadequacy rule you, you miss out on meeting new people, seeing exciting places and experiencing the wonders this fleeting existance has to offer. Go outside, connect with another human being and who knows? Maybe you'll find love? Or a friend? Or at least a good story. People often forget that few Books of Life are epic novels. Most are collections of short stories- funny ones, sad ones, exciting ones, silly ones, ones where you see the twist a mile off. If a chapter's ended, pick up the proverbial pen and start anew. You've got a while, I'd bet. Now... go!


(Normal Sugar Pill Service will resume tomorrow).

Sweet Gorilla of Manilla, Another Show!

What's happening, Primates and Primnines?
 

(Left- the station manager. He lives upstairs, approves the playlist and writes Andy's dialogue. He's one tough customer, but can easily be placated with Walnut Plug tobacco and Dominos Pizza adverts)

Andy & Jen return to the previous format for one show only- no guests, just the Beauty & the Beast (who's who is yet to be ascertained). The playlist is below. Andy makes a mistake of playing a song someone requested before the show, not realising it was VERY explicit. So, you know, sorry you guys. Andy also sings (after hearing it back, he will never do that again. Ever.)

To listen to the show, follow the link to the CUR1350 website. I'd really like to thank everyone who emailed in, and who listened. You make the show possible. Really love you, bros and broads!

If you missed last week's show with the ambrosial James Syrett, you can download it by clicking on the intentionally mispelt werds in this veeerrry sentence. Till next time, cats & kittens! xxx

Now Is the Winter of Our Disc-Content

January is here. As the days get longer, we realise that we have to sit through more hours of freezing, disappointing daylight. The earth continues to hurtle around the sun but, now, does so reluctantly. Even gravity wants to pack it in, go home and read some Chekov. If February is for lovers, then January is for cynics. Each new day is heralded by a half-hearted grumble, and it is oh so bitterly cold.

So, In order to warm the cockles of your hearts, we've bought a bonanza of Sugar Pill goodies:

First, there's the new episode of the show, where Jenna gets out-geeked, Andy gets his foot caught in the mixing desk and Patrick schools them both in how things should be done. You can listen to it here. Or here. But not here. 

(Seriously, that last one was just puerile...)

As listeners to the show will be aware, it is (was) my Birthday. This is a Good Thing, even though I have to ditch teenage angst in favour of the standard 20-something middle class ennui. Every year on my birthday, I go to Black Lake, rip a page out of my Book of Excuses and mutter "I'm sorry, Mother!" between the teardrops as the waters wash away the ink, swirling on the page like a sick Rorschach test...

Anyway, I bought myself some CDs for my birthday, some of which are new (some aren't), so I'm gonna give you a lil' review of them to read. If you'd rather, you can go back and listen to the show. Or read the plot synopsis of Morris Gleitzman's "Bumface" again. Hur hur hur.

Vampire Weekend- Contra (XL)

The eagerly-awaited follow up to 2008's self titled debut sees the preppy New York outfit return with their trademark muted pastels, congolese percussion and intelligent wordplays. The album opens with "Horchata", a track that sounds like what would happen if Timon & Pumba went to Harvard, started a band and sung songs about drinking San Pelegrino. It's definately a "fuller" arrangement than comparable songs on the previous release, and in fact that can be said of the entire album, using a rich library of percussion, synths and M.I.A samples. Other highlights include the pacy hook-laden "Cousins",  and the anodyne "Giving Up the Gun"- a track that systematically alienates anyone who's only previous encounter with the band was the video for "A-Punk". My main criticsm of the album would be the relatively weak use of metaphor in Ezra Koenig's lyrics. Whilst "Vampire Weekend" had me scratching my head for the deeper meaning (does anyone know what "The Kid's Don't Stand A Chance" was about?), "Contra" is much more straight forwards. The only other flaw is the quality of pop culture references- compared to "Oxford Comma" and it's homage to Lil' John's "Get Low", the allusions to Joe Strummer throughout the album seem, well, a lil' weak. Overall, it's a good album- Vampire Weekend have managed to continue moving forwards and develop as a band with an album that begs comparison to The Clash's excellent Sandinista!- and I'd highly recommend it. Come summer, it's an album you can't afford to be without!

Johnny Foreigner- Grace and the Bigger Picture (Best Before)

As an antithesis to Contra, I offer you Grace..., a madcap flurry of growly guitar, squalking boy/girl vocals on the strained to the edge of shattering in an embarrasing mess and machine-gun snares. I first saw Johnny Foreigner supporting Los Campesinos!, to whom they bear many superficial resemblences- their humour and urgency, their vocal stylings and their interplay between male and female band members- but Grace... is a record by a band that have shaken such unfair comparisons to find their own sound. They're lot shoutier and less twee than LC!, which will likely win them many friends. Their real strength lies in raw power- the band clearly have a strong punk-rock ethos if not sound that comes across as an overwhelming, breath-taking half hour. Frontman Alexei Berrow's lyrical finess trully delightful, with gems such as "So all I want to do is sit and watch the riots on the last night/ Dropping all the lamps till the fires are our only light" and "Hold all yr secrets in a dark heart/ Breaking the horizon now the death stars gone/ O please, concede" good enough reasons alone to purchase the album. My only regret is not buying it sooner.

Thanks for humouring me. I'm off to play Lego Rock Band. You're off to listen to the show, right? (oh, I give up...)

Andy

Andy's Top 10 Albums of Twenty Ohh Nine

Hear Me, Hear Me. ME. Imma let you finish your decade, but I just wanna say these are the best albums of the year. Jenna will be providing her view later this week, but for now you're stuck with me

10. Vs. Children (Casiotone for the Painfully Alone)

Ok, before I start, let me make one thing abundantly clear- all "Best Of..." lists are painfully subjective, and infused with the authors own personal preferences and tastes. That's the main reason this record made it onto the list- I'm a massive Casiotone fan. Even having said that, Vs. Children is undoubtably some of his best work; a slightly more intimate, mature and thematic outing for Californian indietronica minstrel Owen Ashworth. The shadows of Bonnie and Clyde lingers over the album- from the album cover (Fay Dunaway as Bonnie Parker in the 1967 movie rendition) to the bankrobber theme of Optomist vs. Silent Alarm- which serves as a powerful metaphor for family life. Perhaps the most moving track is White Jetta, climaxing with the dying wish of Ashworth's mother: for him to start a family. Seriously, this is worth seeking out.

For more, visit http://www.cftpa.org/. Or download "Optomist vs. Silent Alarm" here.

9. Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do (Major Lazer)

With album artwork that could cut your eyes open, the debut full-length from the DJ/Producers Diplo and Switch is a dancehall-tastic fury packed with guest appearances from Jamaican artists and samples from Commodore Amiga games. Like everything that Diplo touches, it's fresh and exciting, and I guarintee it'll make you smile as wide as a Switch remix. The aforementioned cover art actually sums up the whole album- from a glance, you can tell it's going to be mega, but you wouldn't want to leave it on loop, lest you have an epilectic fit.

To see the Saturday-Morning-Cartoon monstrosity that is "Hold the Line", head on over to Youtube.

 

8. Why There Are Mountains (Cymbals Eat Guitars)

In what has been quite an electronic year (at least if you're me), Cymbals Eat Guitars managed to whack out an impressive rollercoaster of dramatic, balls-to-the-wall indie rock. It's more than just a nostalgic retread of the paths carved out by Modest Mouse et al, though- frontman Joseph D'Agostino has an uncanny ability to navigate the trecherous swells and falls without crashing and sounding hackneyed. It's almost as if Doug Martsch lent him a map...


To listen to "Wild Phoenix (Proper Name)", follow this link courtesy of the kind folks at Daytrotter dot com

7. There Is No Enemy (Built to Spill)

... speaking of which, Doug's back with a new release from Built to Spill. And it's actually quite good (Hence it's on this list. Duhr. Even if it's only placed at number seven so I could have that sweet intoducing sentence. Seriously, was that slick or what?). After the lukewarm reception for previous release You in Reverse from critics, fans and fans-turned-critics like me, There Is No Enemy was an exercise in expectations. I expected another predictable, anodyne nostalgia-bomb. Instead I got vintage BTS in a highly crafted, exciting return to form. Considering this is the band that wrote Perfect From Now On is pretty high praise indeed.

For the full album, go back in time to September and stream it from the band's Myspace 

6. Psychic Chasms (Neon Indian)

Incase you hadn't noticed, 2009 was the year electronic music "made a comeback". In a shady freemason meeting hall, the powers that be selected the 1980s as a decade in need of a revival in the usual way (a novelty oversized dartboard and a balista). Of course, the synth never really died, it merely went underground, spawning a string of genres with horrific names. For me, Psychic Chasms is a perfect middle ground- it's an electropop album for everyone: whether you kick back with Depeche Mode, Ladytron or Little Boots, you'll find something you enjoy. From the glisten-and-grind of the title track to the brutal and sometimes funky Ephemeral Artery, it's a mixed bag of lo-fi electro tricks.

For Paul's (of Too Much Happiness) Neon Indian Indie-Rocktail, look no further:

The NEON INDIAN
4 oz. Riesling
4 oz. Lemon-lime gatorade
For best results, drink while wearing an enormous, racist Indian headdress. 

5. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (The Pains of Being Pure at Heart)

Who said indie-pop was dead? The Pains... is a blisteringly gorgeous self-titled debut (on Fortuna/Slumberland, no less!) that marks a rennaisance for lovers of twee and C83 everywhere. The album is an incredibly open affair, unashamedly baring the band's obvious influences- the catchy jangles of The Smiths ring through in Stay Alive, the strained echoing vocals of Heavenly and the Field Mice pervade the entire outing, and even Another Sunny Day's sense of humour is visible in the song titles (The Tenure Itch; Young Adult Friction). In this way, the band conjure up a rich imagery of particular moments, places and naratives that make you feel somewhat less alone. If that kind of thing makes you wretch, then this clearly isn't for you. But if an album clearly intended for people who like tea, cake and libraries appeals to you, then you'll be all the better for letting it into your life. 


For a s'amuse bouche, follow this link to download "Come Saturday"

 

4. Merriweather Post Pavillion (Animal Collective)

Animal Collective are HOW FAR DOWN???

Ok, ok. Hear me out. MPP is fucking ACE. I think it's some of Animal Collective's best work, and it's a concept album anyone can "get" (a record "deserving of an amazing outdoor listening experience") which is rare in this day and age. But, had some relative unknown released this album, would it have made the top of everyone's xmas list? I doubt it somehow- it might just be me, but I kinda prefer Strawberry Jam, or the Water Curses EP. And the cover is trying too hard to freak out AC listeners which, considering many will be stoned, is like shooting fish in a proverbial piscine barrel. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great album, full of the epic soundscapes and elation we've come to expect. It's just not my favourite AC album. Is that an unfair benchmark? Probably. But for a band who are hailed for constantly pushing the boundaries, MPP feels like an album taking baby steps forwards, rather than the bounding leaps I was hoping for.

To read some reviews even less complimentary than mine, click here.


3. Tarot Sport (Fuck Buttons)

In spite of an immature name, post-rock duo Fuck Buttons have released a snowballing cacophony in Tarot Sport. Upon first listening, it almost sounded accessable. By the second track, Rough Steez, I was completely lost. By the end of the album, I didn't particularly care where I was, or if I'd ever get back. An exhausting listen, and a serious wall-of-sound, this is an album that demands respect from it's listeners. Plug in some headphones, turn it up loud, and drop out for an hour.


Get started now- grab the fanciest audio equipment you can find and follow the white rabbit

2. Embryonic (The Flaming Lips)

The Flaming Lips are an institution. That's not usually a good thing- most bands run out of anything interesting to say by the third album, let alone their twelfth. But Embryonic manages to do something no other Flaming Lips release has done to date- it's their first double album and, as such, is less of a gruelling concept album and more a lurching, atmospheric slow burner of 21st century prog. Whether or not this makes it any easier to listen to is a mute point. Embryonic manages to be instantly accessable and endlessly challenging at the same time- it's not a single hour long track, but undeniably there is a thematic link connecting the noises that come between the infuriating half-second pauses on my CD changer. Add to that guest appearances from everyone from Karen O to German mathematician Dr Thorsten Wörmann and you've got a trully unmissable album that proves that The Flaming Lips are still relevant today. Which is good news for fans of human hamster balls everywhere.

If you get lost along the way, try this track-by-track guide written by frontman Wayne Coyne

1. xx (The XX)

Yes! It's time to crack open the buzzbands! Blogworthy, genre-defying, Guardian Album of the Year, and album art that makes it look like a new flavour oxo cube (and probably a fucking nasty one to boot), xx is probably the album that's generated the most riddiculous descriptions this year. Tim Jonze called it "more than just the sound of 2009, it was a distinctive musical statement of the like we may never get to hear again", whilst Pitchfork opted for the more abstract (read: batshit crazy) " a secretive conversation, the sort you might have after sex, or on a train, or at a coat check at night's end".* Whatever. They're all right. It's an absolute treat. Exciting, energetic and effortlessly cool without a cloying aftertaste of pretension (well, except for the fans). Fuck what the Beastie Boys said. DO believe the hype!

For free mp3s and a whole bucket of minimalist chic, check out the band's website: http://thexx.info/



*for the record, my contribution to the hype cloud was that stockcube based gem


Predictions for 2010- Andy will rave about the new Los Campesinos album whilst Jenna pretends to listen; Jenna will rave about the new Little Boots album whilst Andy pretends to listen; They'll both rave about the new Arcade Fire album whilst everyone else pretends to listen; the results of the General Election will probably not be a Good Thing.

Chasing the Zeitgeist with a Proton Pack: a Themed Playlist

Greetings! I've compiled a playlist of the songs I think sum up how i've been feeling this week- simultaneously realising that everything really is as real as everyone says it is and having an anxiety attack. Anyway, if you're "done with that shit" then tough. If you wanna wallow, have a listen.

Unfortunately spotify is shit and doesn't have the Billy Bragg, Maritime, An Horse, Jacob Golden or Tanya Davis songs that made up about HALF of the version i'm listening to. This is a close second:

http://open.spotify.com/user/raynogernsback/playlist/0BM78MYyOYAZy3AHB8sizp

Enjoy a flavor of the week that was, at best, testing. A x

Watch this space!

Today I heard something that was undeniably "good news". It'll hopefully make a show in a couple of weeks. In the mean time, we'll be dropping sickeningly obtuse hints as to what the hell we're talking about!

Andy (Probably Hasn't) Got Swine Flu, and Varsity Bits

That cough got worse. I have over-the-counter meds and bedrest now. It's an akward situation cause, when I leave the house, I feel terrible and start hacking up, but when I'm at home I feel fine like I'm wasting my time moping around. So I set off to the lab and the cycle renews. I hate diseases

Pandemic flu? Fuck that noise! They don't give tamiflu unless my fever reaches some insane temperature, so i'd better man up.

On a better note, that Mountain goats article got published in Varsity today. So je suis plus bon even if i'm actually not. Check it out in print, or just read on

The Life of the World To Come- The Mountain Goats (4AD)

 

With every Mountain Goats release there’s an unshakable fear that this could be the long overdue “difficult third”. Their seventeenth full-length, a concept album loosely based around the books of the Bible, is anything but. Frontman John Darnielle evokes sincerity and dashed optimism on this solid, if slightly slow burning, record. There’s almost a hint of sarcasm in “Romans 10:9″ as he echoes the words of St. Paul: “if you believe in your heart and confess with your lips, surely you will be saved one day...” The implied “...yeah right” is left unsung. Although “The Life...” is beautifully crafted, it lacks the urgency of “Heretic Heart” or the tenderness of “The Sunset Tree”. It does, however, avoid the major pitfall of the concept album- the tracks are good enough to stand up against Darnielle’s best songwriting. Is this the best Mountain Goats album? No. Is it in the top five? Yes. 

4 stars

Season 4, Episode 1 12/10/09

In which Jenna uses dead air to her advantage, Andy contracts tuberculosis from a ladybird who's totally all up in his grill, we give a simultaneous "fuck you!" to Neighbours and badly built gas boilers, and absolutely no catch phrases emerge...

The new show is up and online right this goddamn minute! We'll  upload an MP3 version to the archive after it's taken down from their site as they totally own us. They could totally come over and mess stuff up- moving my mugs around a bit and stuff. But seriously guys, you should totally listen to this noise. 

As for now, here's the playlist for the show: 

Jeffrey Lewis ‘Broken Heart’

Cribs ‘Cheat On Me’

Mumford & Sons ‘Little Lion Man’

Florence & The Machine ‘Rabbit Heart’

Temper Trap ‘Sweet Disposition’

Animal Collective ‘Water Curses’

Mountain Goats ‘Hast Thou Considered The Tetrapod’

Frightened Rabbit ‘Fast Blood’

La Roux ‘Bulletproof’

Kasabian ‘Vlad The Impaler’

Speech DeBelle ‘Finish this Album'

Johnny Foreigner  ‘Lea Room’

Pavement ‘Fame Throwa’

Los Campesinos ‘The Sea Is A Good Place to Think About My Life’

Pixies ‘Debaser’

Franz Ferdinand ‘Can’t Stop Feeling’

Bombay Bicycle Club ‘The Hill’

Meaghan Smith ‘Here Comes Your Man’

She & Him ‘Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want’

Little Boots ‘Remedy’ 

Peace x A

Album Reviews- The Cribs, Let's Wrestle and explicitly not The Mountain Goats

Howdy y'all! I've been slaving over a hot keyboard (my laptop seems to have the fan out of an Apple III) writing a review of the new Mountain Goats release for Varsity. Obviously I can't show you that yet. Not until it get's rejected by the editor. But here's some others that are kicking about. One album you've probably heard of, and one you probably haven't. Enjoy, bitches and brats! Oh, and don't forget to listen to the show tomorrow!

The Cribs

Ignore the Ignorant (Wichita)

Fate has not been kind to The Cribs. In addition to being unfairly lumped under that cursed label of “yet another guitar band from the north”, they’ve thrown caution to the wind and recruited an actual member of The Smiths, as opposed to the more traditional Disciple of Mozz. Ignore the Ignorant is the start of a new direction for The Cribs with higher production values- a brave and, frankly, misguided move, leaving an album lacking the gritty lo-fi sound and raw aggression fans have come to expect. However, taken as isolated tracks, the album contains the band’s best songmanship to date. From aggressive opening “We Were Aborted” to the sublime “Cheat on Me”, Johnny Marr’s distinctive jangle sets a surprisingly refined backdrop throughout, showing a more restrained maturity than on previous releases. It’s just a shame The Cribs didn’t have 12 more tracks of youthful anger.  

Verdict- Buy, but only 4 tracks will end up on your iPod

******

Let’s Wrestle

In the Court of Wrestling, Let’s (Stolen)

If you’re seeking boisterous, low-fi indie rock steeped in grimy 80s pop-punk, the first full length by this London 3-piece hits the bullseye, splits the board in half and sneaks sips from your pint whilst you’re throwing your darts. The album lacks pretension- all too refreshing for guitar bands- and is a riotous mix of fuzzy twang and lyrics that can’t make up their mind on being stupid or superb. The band’s guitarist/singer looks a lot like Sid from Skins, and actually this album isn’t far off what would happen if that were true. Minimal and real in all the right ways, the musical equivalent of a can of Red Stripe- great fun with the lads, but isn’t going to impress the intelligentsia, who’d rather settle down with a bottle of Saint-Emilion and wax lyrical over Radiohead B-sides. Expect good things from their follow up.  

Verdict- Steal. They’ve probably nicked your hifi whilst you were reading this anyway