06 September 2009

Some things I'm reasonably excited about so far...


I've always enjoyed Kraftwerk since I first heard 'The Model' in 1981. And you don't have to be Einstein to know how influential they were on dance music, etc. Essential. Perhaps more so than the next act who I'm reasonably excited about...


The first Beatles albums I ever 'taped' off someone was the 'Red' and 'Blue' albums in 1995. Obviously The Beatles were always so ubiquitous that you didn't really have to own anything by them. I've never really been into 60s music, but the point with The Beatles is that you can't consider them to be 60s music, in so far as they, like Kraftwerk, are pretty much responsible for modern pop music and unfortunately...Oasis. That's not to say that 60s music isn't much cop and only The Beatles are worthwhile. No, it's probably because it wasn't an era I grew up in. I love some of the output by The Beach Boys as well. Although I could appreciate the songwriting of Lennon/McCartney I never got the whole thing about how great Sgt Pepper sounded because either the original CD masters weren't much cop or it was the cheap Hi-Fi system I had. That changed when I bought the 'Love' CD when the panoramic sound college and my superior system hinted at what could be possible if their albums went through a decent remastering. Anyway, can't wait. I'll probably get one or two albums a month and make my own definitive compilation. I'll start with The Beatles 'White' album.

Following what critics often lazily hail as a 'return to form' in the form of 'Yes' the recent Pet Shop Boys album, all being well, I'll be seeing them at the Manchester Evening News Arena for a live show this December that promises Chris' disco mirror ball jacket, live versions of 'Please' tracks, 'Two Divided By Zero' and 'Why Don't We Live Together?' and a track list that's programmed and arranged by super producer Stuart Price. Whey!

For the past three albums Sparks have done no wrong. They have transformed, progressed and continued to produce a sound that is their very own. In many respects their last three albums OWN those of their counterparts. Now having heard the radio version of the new Sparks musical about the nightmarish adventures of Ingmar Bergman in Hollywood, it doesn't immediately grab you as the last couple of Sparks albums. That's beside the point. As with 'Lil' Beethoven' I'll probably be hooked by the third listen and we can hope that a film version starring Ron and Russell will follow.
Everyone who knows me, and that's not too many outside my other half and my sole work mate, my boss maybe...well they know that I adore Little Boots. They'll know that I will go out of my way to say how platonic it is and that she's like the step-sister I never had. The fact is, well my fact is, is that she's a fantastic pop star with pop songs as catchy and euphoric that I haven't heard since the 80s. The fact that she wasn't nominated for the Mercury Music Prize doesn't matter as the judges are reactionary tossers, no does the fact that 'Remedy' didn't go number 1 mean that it isn't the best pop song of the year. Irrelevant. As far as I'm concerned she pisses on La Roux and her contemporaries but that isn't important. It's the potential...where will she go...what will she be like in five years...reclusive like Kate Bush, sexualised like Madonna but still jumping onto the trendiest producer, a homecoming queen like Kylie, down the dumper like Kate Nash and probably La Roux or...Can't wait to see her live show this autumn.


Waiting for confirmation of the live DVD of The Killers Live at RAH which I attended in the summer. It was a triumphant show of glitter, sparks, theatrics, arm waving, air-punching, big choruses, powerful chords and emotions. Spectacular. If they can capture 25% on DVD it'll be worth it. Should be out in November.

So these are some of the things I'm reasomnably excited about. Hope you are too.

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