MelodicJam

Post 60, Passed at 50.

2009-06-26T13:49:00.008+01:00

Admittedly and I'm guessing everyone at some point has made jest of Michael Jackson, especially in the last decade. I remember a few posts ago wishing him well on his comeback tour hoping that it would not only be a great event for his music and fans across the world but also be a suitable farewell to such a spanning career and one that was bathed in stardom. But with news this early morning it seems this will never be with the unfortunate passing of Micheal Jackson, by cardiac arrest (unconfirmed at time of typing) age 50.

Some would say this is quite young for such a talent to pass away, but the truth is it was ironically meant to be. His music by the present day seems to have lived lifetimes and has inspired so many musicians the past 40 or so years that it's hard to imagine the number, and all this since his first media coverage with The Jackson Five at the meer age of ten. It appears however that the sheer mass attention and pressure from childhood even right until the final filmed moments of pathologists and paramedics loading his body into a coroners van has ulimately forced this hand. The pace at which Michaels career developed meant he never really braced becoming an adult which lead to his well known gentle and reserved manner through opting for the childhood he never had.

Putting aside all the strange personal stories of the 'created character' of 'Wacko Jacko' that later came to light, it is certainly a great shame for someone such as him to have gone this way and unjust for such an influential and pivotal popular recording artist. The legend (in whatever shape or form) will live on, and the stories/documentaries and rumours will no doubt follow.

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009).

#UPDATE# Last spotted working at Toms Bargains down Cleethorpes seafront, filling the pound thong dispenser machine.

I'm

2009-06-19T18:32:00.002+01:00

For the Summer at least, exams are now finished and so is the semester (all right now). Now time to celebrate/pack. I think some Basie will suit the mood just nicely.

Next Week on The Bill(board).

2009-06-03T18:59:00.027+01:00

It's around 7 now starting this, I'm already thinking of cracking open some whiskey later and chilling to some stride. My last piece of coursework for this foundation course is now in. The first half the report is to be marked at a later time and as the lab book has been fully ruffled today by post-grad and PHD students, I'm happy that it has got a decent mark that's a damn sight better compared to last semester. So that's how I'm going to celebrate as I'm knackered. And with the prospect that I've really got to start revision tomorrow, it's a nice way to salute the sort of year that's gone by. Sad i know but i think the union would be pretty empty if i went down tonight. Damn the exam period.

A few days ago i saw the story that a Christian group in Las Vegas was coming under the fire for supposedly erecting the following billboards:

This has angered quite a few people including many of the Asian community, and has left others bemused as to why the organisation Truth Ministry would produce quite a prejudicial racial campaign. The truth of the matter however emerged a few days ago with a statement from the Truth Ministry saying that the billboards have been purposefully photo-shopped by a gay rights activist who is a member of that particular Christian church organisation. I found this today with the actual statement released:

To be honest it's quite amusing and has obviously worked in the activists favour. It's still quite hard to believe that in Las Vegas there are these sort of views present towards homosexual Christians and members of the church when there are large numbers of men and women of the church that are openly homosexual across the world, take for example our very own current Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams (aka Night Owl) is openly gay.

Although i can believe that in the case of America there are potentially more radical/strict Christian groups about that take the teachings and scriptures of God very seriously. By today's standards there should be at least an openness to these scriptures and what is meant by the words of God. Here in fact is an interview about a year ago with Dr Williams on his position when it comes to teaching the people and congregations and how he believes a civil partnership is more or less equal to a marital ceremony.

It should be common place for people to be able to accept the self choices of others and their sexual orientations. Religion should not be a choice as to whether you will be heterosexual or not and highlighting the Truth Ministry they should not cast to the many that being Heterosexual is preferable if you are a Christian (especially in the Nevada area).

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Note: i am not begrudging Christians of any sort by this post just because i was approached and interviewed by a member of the Christian Society at my university about Christianity where i told him i am fairly agnostic in belief and was met with the response of "There is no word about it, because you do not worship God and don't thoroughly abide by his teachings you are definitely going to Hell". Not something you really want to be met with a day before a vocal presentation but there you go.

The truth of the matter is even though i believe there is a God and i consider myself a follower of the Christian faith, I'm still sceptical and don't really want to worry or concern myself with devoutly following a religious faith at the moment. That sounds quite rash and prudent of me but that is my choice. Perhaps when i get older i may go to Church more often but as far as i know none of my family have ever really been concerned with going to worship. So if they're going 'down-under' then.. what the Hell (har-de-har-har), i may as well also.

*Jazz all around, Satan's playing that boogie jungle music on the rocks!*

Final note I'd however like to thank the guy from LSCU who asked for the interview for his survey, even if the summary of my afterlife was a pretty extreme statement to dish out to someone who is basically sitting on a 'religious fence'. But from it I've kept the arty condensed version of the bible given out which includes key passages from both testaments to which I'll try reading through all of it in the near future.

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Update - Just found this really nice and recent interview with Sonny Rollins. Well worth a watch.

Musician Sonny Rollins from Texas Monthly Talks on Vimeo.

Bird Is The Word.

2009-06-01T10:23:00.008+01:00

"OK OK, I like Birdsong Radio!"

Wasn't planning on doing a blog today since i really need to get on with work. But this news seems quite right for it turning the first of June, a sure sign of Summer rolling in.

This is news that Birdsong Radio is being replaced this morning by the new Amazing Radio a station that will broadcast songs from unsigned pop, indie, acoustic, urban, rock, jazz and other acts from across the country. What's really interesting is that those unsigned acts could be you, yes you. By uploading your own recorded material to the Amazing Tunes website you can not only listen online as well as on the radio, but also build a fan base and get possible attention from those dictating music moguls of popular culture or hopefully some decent labels that won't make you churn out shit but produce a sufficient income and positive outlook on your talents.

Personally i don't know what to make of it. It might go far and last longer than Birdsong has, but it might not be as catchy as Birdsong has (a pure novelty of looped recordings from about twenty years ago). After all i can see most of the new stations music being split in terms of 20% great, 80% crap, or 40%/60%.

Good news or at least i think it is anyway is that Birdsong will still go on but will stream the recordings online, which gives people chance if they want to to become a free member of the site, purchase mp3's and Cd's that can probably be found in most garden centres, or even tell your friends! ... I don't know why I'm mocking it since I'm listening to it now and it is pretty relaxing and makes a change to constantly hearing rumbling morning traffic and is helping to "escape the grind". Maybe it's the fact that i have the mannerisms of a 60 to 70 year old jazz lover. C'est la vie, mais quel une grande surprise il est.

Happy Birthday Ben.

2009-05-31T20:10:00.003+01:00

http://www.bigben.parliament.uk/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8075833.stm

Black and Blue.

2009-05-24T15:31:00.022+01:00

What a change today is from the past few weeks of rain and misery. Glorious sunshine cascading over many places across the country with clear blue skies, i can hear bells ringing from the town centre, and it's the same temperature inside as it is out which is turning me into one hot tomale. And while i kill the hours with some needed r&r i thought I'd look up one thing that got me interested recently.

Last weekend when my parents came to visit and bring up some gifts for my birthday they brought one thing which I'd been wanting for a while since i saw them in shops. A brand new Golliwog doll. Now whatever you may think about them they will always be labelled by racism, but to me these dolls are no such things. If you were to look upon those dolls and say they were racist by today's standards, then i think that's more racist actually branding them in that way. I have friends that are Asian, Spanish, French, and black, so when i look at those dolls i don't see a black person but an iconic image. You have to admit they do look cute or the latest versions do that miraculously seem to have invaded shops despite recent events with Carole Thatcher, one of the Queen's gift shops and an incident involving police after the daughter of a woman placed her old Golliwog doll in her living room window to the much annoyance of neighbours. Hopefully as a nation and a global population we have gotten passed the original intention of Golliwogs and can accept that they can be just adorable characters rather than objects of hate and racial stereotyping. I don't want to make this sound that i approve of Golliwogs, so to be clear I am all for Golliwogs as characters but i am not for the propaganda or racist cartoons which are intended as derogatory commentary.
Another point i was interested in was the racial term "Sambo". I've been called it many times but that's because it's my name, the same as calling me Samuel (which I'm not, just plain Sam) or Sammy (the shammy). You would think that the name originally came from American southern states were segregation and racial prejudice was rife up till the late sixties (and still some areas today), but surprising to me it actual originates from Britain. Specifically Morecambe.
As stories go during the height of the British Empire a Caribbean slave ship docked into Morecambe bay for supplies. Days later after they'd left port, the crew on ship noticed one of the black staff was missing and had been left ashore. His name was Sambo. They never returned for him which resultantly caused the townspeople to shun him into living on the outskirts of the town till his final days. There's even a monument were Sambo supposedly died marked "Sambo's Grave".

Minstrels - original product of racism?

What is even more interesting is that both the name Sambo and the Golliwog origins are linked together. Scottish writer Helen Bannerman first published a children's book whilst living in India before the turn of the 20th century titled The Little Black Sambo. The story itself focuses on a little Indian boy called Sambo who outwits a bunch of hungry tigers. Sambo is also an Indian word of Hindu origin so it seems sense to have a story with a related name. However as the book was published across both Europe and the US the original drawings from the book were changed gradually so that Sambo both had progressively darker skin and curlier hair. The comparison was then inevitable that the character in the book started to look like the already existing Golliwogs and made even more impact on the fact Sambo was now prominently used in the US as a racial slur for blacks. Things like this are always amusing to me when the context of original articles is taken beyond original intention. But this is how unfortunately both the use of Sambo and prominence of Golliwogs continued to develop with stronger association of racial contexts.
I also found digging around that there is a change of restaurants in the US called Sambo's still open today from its original founding in 1957. This particular chain uses characters based on The Little Black Sambo artwork but in a positive difference uses a clearly defined cartoon Indian boy and tiger.

Now for news I've been hoping for a long time, Jamie Cullum's latest album is finished! That news and more updates can be found on his Twitter page (don't use it myself, as you can see I'd be useless at limited character blogging). Below is a sneak peek of what is to come, hopefully all the 20 tracks will be released as 12 with 8 bonus tracks in some form because if not that'd be a big shame. JC is currently thinking up the albums title but to me the one on the CD would be just fiiiine. And props on the 'metrosexual hat' featured at the top.

Last note, congratulations to Fred (Frederick Bowers) on getting through to the live semi's of Britain's Got Talent. I can officially say i knew him before he was famous now.

Porno music.

2009-05-22T17:23:00.012+01:00

I've finally got a break! After the annoyance of finding out i had a week to complete some coursework instead of two and with the realisation that i had to continue with it over my birthday, i can now breath a little until the next hand in and the one after that. And then start exams, happy days *retarded face*.

"That's the last time i ask for a quickie.."

Besides music I've been watching a lot of porn. Green Porn that is. Not environmental porn but that's pretty close. Green Porno is a film series or alternatively a collection of amusing but factual notations on animal sexual behaviour. Brought to life by its creator Italian filmstress, writer and ex model Isabella Rossellini stars as the lead.. animal, in whatever description such as bees, worms, flies and the like. The first series focuses primarily on insects with a new series this year on marine life. With another series in the reproductive pipeline based on farm animals i'm sure there will be more entertaining moooovies to come (not meant to offend orgasming cows, farmers, or cattle breeders in any way). The Sundance Channel are screening these virally and I'd recommend to watch them. Not because I like to see animals having sex or condone animal sex, but seeing a recreation of a six foot whale penis on what is effectively a blue sumo costume trying to impregnate a cardboard female whale is hilarious. And it helps that the series is also quite interesting.

In relation to insects on a science fiction note, i recently got The Green Death on DVD one of Jon Pertwee's Doctor Who stories. Notably this is the one with the giant mutated maggots that sound like hissing cats (left). Personally i think this story is too well known for that when in fact it has very other brilliant plot pieces, even if in my view it could have been done in four parts instead of six. Not only does it use Wales the current filming land of new series Doctor Who as a location, but also acts as the swansong of Jo Grant who suddenly develops a romance with a welsh professor (uncannily like a younger version of the Doctor, if only Pertwee were a brick shit house) and presumably follows his dreams to journey into the amazon and find a rare fungus, lovely. And also the journey to Metabilis 3 at the beginning of the story has some serious repercussions which would ultimately next series would cost the Doctor his life.
Keeping in the theme i was looking around on the net when i found a clip of a William Hartnell story The Chase where the Daleks chase the Doctor and co through time and space as if they're going "We're going to catch up with you and then hurt you for no other reason except that we don't like you!". This clip is of the Doctor arriving at the top of New York's Empire State Building followed closely by a Dalek which gets the piss taken out of it by a tourist from Alabama. I later found this entry on wikipedia because i noticed a relation from recent episodes:
-The Daleks return to the Empire State Building in the Tenth Doctor episodes "Daleks in Manhattan"/"Evolution of the Daleks". In Doctor Who Confidential, Russell T. Davies comments that he likes to imagine that they stored the Empire State Building in their memory banks and returned there deliberately as a result.-

Do you ever feel the need to revise to different types of music whilst you work or revise? Strangely in my case i can only revise with very relaxed jazz. I know a few that listen to dance and indie to then revise with only classical music, but for me it's got to be almost lounge style tunes. While i was doing this particular coursework instead i tried to look up some new people to listen to, Rahsaan Roland Kirk was one such artist i found. He was a talented musician, went blind at a young age but this did not stop him from learning to play music. He played saxophones, flutes, clarinets, and often at the same time. This multi instrumentalist primarily known for his saxophone skills customised an alto and soprano sax so he could play along with his unmodified tenor all at the same time. Here is an example of Rahsaan's virtuoso ability which has inspired a lot of musicians, notably Jimi Hendrix and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull.

Also:
Harry James & Buddy Rich - Green Onions: fantastic arrangement, differs from the mod sound but James nails it with the solo.

Question Time in Grimsby: amusing edit of a visit to my home town.

Liquid Soul gettin' Dizzy: Salt.. Pea-nuts-ahh..

You'd like some Pea-nuts-ahh?: Pianist Stan Kenton playing 'The Peanut Vendor', never actually knew this piece until i played it last week. Here to me the flute really makes it sing.

All Wight man: Miles Davis, Isle Of Wight Festival 1970.

E.S.T - Mingle In The Mincing Machine: "Bu-dum-ba-dum-dum".

retarded face

2009-05-20T20:04:00.000+01:00

Happy Mother Fucking Birthday Mother Fucker!

Melodicbusters

2009-05-17T14:49:00.005+01:00

I just realised. We are like the Mythbusters.
I am Adam, and Sam is Jamie.

Euro'll Idiots.

2009-05-16T19:51:00.005+01:00

"Er did you Czech that we had a good song?.. what do you mean no?"

As i watch/shut my curtains on a group of weed smoking chavs through the windows of the opposite multi storey, i turn on the television to watch the highly amusing Eurovision, with the opening sequence featuring a cross between the witch from Snow White and the Child Catcher running about amongst members of Cirque Du Soleil (one suspiciously looking exactly like Mimi from 'Allo Allo?') themselves performing a routine strangely to do with Russia. Is it really the most logical thing to do hiring a Canadian/French performance troupe for a Russian hosted event? Oh now a travelling guy in white trousers is running past girls on a conveyor and running through polystyrene walls whilst being hounded by female photographers, another wall, strips some more, another wall and now is singing whilst being hoisted through a giant Pink Floyd 'The Wall' montage. Ok the last bit didn't happen, unfortunately, because instead it's consisting of smiling, rolling on the floor smiling, singing about angels whilst smiling and caressing a blonde Russian woman.. whilst smiling seductively. At least they got one part right by including her for all of the five seconds on screen.
Sorry got distracted. If I'm commenting on events whilst they happen you can guarantee they'll go on for quite a few paragraphs or pages. Oh come on don't leave the blonde woman alone! For god sake have more shots of her not the white pants man! (Oh you can dance in your pants..).

Thought this news story was interesting since Eurovision seems to cater for around 100% of homosexual Europeans. Coincidentally a protest was organised consisting of around 30 gay rights activists protesting for equal rights for gay and lesbian people in Russia. This included prominent British activist Peter Tatchell who amongst the crowd chanted and waved flags. This was until a force of Russian police quickly and efficiently (accented use of efficiently there) disbanded them. Around 20 of them were arrested, but what gets my goat is that the Tatchell shouting whilst being taken away "This shows the Russian people are not free". The statement doesn't annoy me because one i can understand in the situation the police wanted to clear them quickly because of today's proceedings but they could have handled it more politely, but why on earth is there the need for a British man to interfere in what is effectively a Russian political issue. Is their voice not prominent enough to make a statement, and if not why on earth include him since this is probably another reason why so many were arrested if they were thought to be in league with Tatchell. Or maybe Tatchell did this because he knows we don't have a chance in hell of winning or coming within the top ten of Eurovision this year yet again, who knows *cough Eastern Block cough*.

Finally got the Melodica i bought today (brought down from home) and i have to say what a great buy. The make is an 'Apollo Melodiker M-37N' (meaning 37 notes or keys), for £29.95 I'm quite impressed. The instrument itself is as it was described; plastic body and keys with powder blue finish, can be played with either the included tube (looks cooler) or a sort of bent mouthpiece which preferably can be played like a trumpet or recorder. And from what i heard it was going to come in some sort of cheap plastic case. I was completely wrong, and instead was greeted with a dark red and black cloth, velvet lined hard case. It's a pretty impressive sight with adjustable hand and shoulder carrying straps. This to me gives the impression and hopefully to others that this is not a toy but a serious musical instrument, even if it does remind you of a small accordion.
I may since I'm busy the next coming weeks try and record some videos of me playing both the Melodica and my beloved sax when i finish for Summer, I've already had a challenge to try and learn a Rancid song from Tom on Melodica so look forward to that. Speaking of Tom he just sent me a photo of a Melodica at a Slackers gig he's now at in Sheffield, the bastard.

I wish when i thought of great covers for bands they would somehow read my thoughts and then do them. Specifically The Bad Plus known for their varied and dramatic covers. Although this did happen with David Bowie's Life On Mars..
Even though i know they won't be recording covers for quite some time i wish they would try and handle Baba O'Riley by The Who. Think of it.. Iverson reeling the piece off with the grandiose synth line eventually building to an all out powerfest, and it has enough variation for them to experiment with it emotionally. When i have access to a piano I'm going to try and learn this.

Last One To Die

2009-05-12T23:34:00.002+01:00

Rancid has a new music video out, which is also their latest single from their upcoming album, Let The Dominoes Fall. Check it out!

Come what May.

2009-05-08T22:08:00.006+01:00

"Your hands are mating, look, when they touch they start mating". - Engineering graphics tutor.

My month, Taurus! Anyway with a break from coursework and with a module presentation over with, I'm back for another considerable sized post through your door (in a brown envelope and sealed to contain the smell).

Why does it always happen when i try and do work i seem to become preoccupied. I'm sure a lot of people find themselves in the same situation but with so much music approaching this coming Summer and fall, the musical palate is only being tickled as yet.
I was browsing through more radio sessions on BBC iPlayer (now in higher quality stereo sound for radio and free HD viewing for television shows!), and found Craig Charles's Funk & Soul Show. I knew Lister was a DJ but i didn't know he did this show so i may tune in from now on, Saturday nights, Radio 6, 6 till 9pm. Luckily i went on the homepage to find some live videos of a band called 6ix Toys. I have to admit before they started i thought they'd be second rate but after watching the videos and checking out recorded tracks from their debut album I'm impressed by the tight grooves and the interesting collective on hand (especially the DJ, weirdly fitting in, utilising many classic and pastiche 'Soulesque' record samples in the mix). At the moment I'll save myself being tempted to download zips of this and buy the album soon because these are guys that certainly deserve the support. If this post doesn't remind me, then nothing will.

I know Tom's been anticipating this album as well as a few others these past few months but I'll leave them to him if he wants to reveal said details, however a few reviews this week have caught my eye for the long awaited Madness album 'The Liberty of Norton Folgate'. Largely positive ones infact, and in some cases extremely positive ones. To me even though you can't beat the young and pale faced boys of so so many years ago, this album seems to have shaped up to be a quality showcase and natural progression for the matured and talented troop of nutters. And without listening to many of the news songs if the album artwork is anything to go by, are we promised something in theatrical and emotional proportions as Pink Floyds The Wall, or indeed a condensed ska/reggae/pop-opera? 18th May will be the deciding date.
Last musical contribution and I'm a bit pissed by a woman's comment on YouTube of Jamie Cullum's recent performance on the American version of Strictly Come Dancing, 'Dancing With The Stars' (drab title by the way). Firstly she said the arrangement of 'I Get A Kick Out Of You' was awful and didn't fit the choreography, and then insulted him for climbing on top of the piano and jumping. Firstly if there is any chance of that woman reading this, lady, that's his thing. Where have you been the past five years since Twentysomething was released, and arrangement?.. this is jazz! Thank you The Fast Show.

Don't question the Cullum.

The moving image, small screen first. Only on episode 3 for series 2 of Ashes to Ashes currently, but I'm now starting to enjoy this show. Last year it really got off to a very shaky start, and to me the direction of were the writers were making Keeley Hawes go with Alex Drake as a character was especially so. But suddenly it seems to have stepped up a notch to Life On Mars standard and for that reason i welcome it with open arms.
Big screen second, X-men Origins: Wolverine. I feel like there's now a baited wolf waiting to criticise me over my shoulder so i will keep my opinions brief. I enjoyed this film, it was a good film, not a fantastic film, but a good action film on par with the previous X-men films. Besides the plot trailing towards the end which probably let it down for me anyway, the fact i had no prior knowledge of any fiction or continuity to the comic book characters or series made it better viewing. If i was a hardcore fan and this film was a kitten I'd probably have put it in a sack and pissed on it. But I'm not a hardcore fan and very much a cat person so in the end everything is fine and I'm happy with what i saw (except a fairly dodgy green screen car driving scene and Adamantium claws in the bathroom, cheeky).

Finally it's time for some redemption, oh yes. I've been waiting for this announcement for years and i had no idea about it till today. Coming this fall Red Dead Redemption the indirect sequel to the fantastic game Red Dead Revolver. Shotgun this game (literally, you varmint).

BOOM!

2009-05-02T23:45:00.002+01:00

Ignore Sam, he smells real bad. And 'Fast And Furious' was a damn good film! He just can't appreciate it cause "it's just another car film". He doesn't understand the passion that some of us have with driving and cars, cause he drives like an old granny. The wuss... But to clarify, damn good film. I loved it. Want to watch again. Go see it. Sam doesn't get it. Done!

A Shout Out To Sam

2009-04-28T22:46:00.004+01:00

FUCK YOU!!! Yeah, that's right, I said it... It is also a song by Lily Allen. Someone who I quite like, but I prefer her old album to her new one which I have forced myself to talk about so I can say FUCK YOU!!

Also the photograph at the top of the post reminds me of the cover of the Street Dogs' last album, State Of Grace. A fantastic album, check it out!

Mega46

2009-04-28T20:26:00.004+01:00

When coming up with this post i was determined to not include any sort of music content for a change. So here's some music content and other miscellanea.

Sammy Baby - i found deep in many hidden and forgotten files Dave Brubeck's recording of 'That Old Black Magic'. Since i haven't really heard any other versions i thought I'd look a few up. Besides there being the well known Sinatra version there is of course Sammy Davis Jr doing personally what i think is one of the best covers ever. Normally i put vocal jazz aside but it's the shear energy in Sammy's performance that really make it. Also amusingly i found a supposedly rare 70's disco version Sammy recorded of the same song, and to me it sounds like an almost spot on impersonation of a Jim Carrey impersonation of Sammy. Weird how things loop round like that. See below for the older TV version and here for the disco-o-o-o.

..speaking of Jim Carrey, CSI Miami, Horatio Cane sunglasses scene compilation. Genius.

..speaking of canes, Hugh Laurie in House MD. Or should i say.. Hugh Laurie don House MD. I like Schweppes but this makes it all the more sweeter.

..sweet, like the sound of ringing bells. Click compose if you're in the mood for creativity.

Damn fresh out of links, anyway moving on i really want one of these baby's. If John Medeski can make one of these look swish then i can too, but only in a moderate fashion.

Melodica!

In the news boy band Blue is reuniting for a Summer concert this year, and my mum is going berserk with excitement. She will be getting the cardboard cut-outs from the loft now *shudder*.

And rounding off, you can't beat photos with explicit and sexual innuendo (thanks to Carl). Here are a few i found amusing. Pose Chicken Dummy Rug Weather Misunderstood Rubbish Super.

"..and served with a Latin dressing."

2009-04-26T20:33:00.006+01:00

I don't know if the last post has spurred me into more experimental and worldly territories (or maybe i'm just trying to put off revision, but i lye i've done quite a bit already). So this is a sort of blogger break whilst watching an annoying critique on Come Dine With Me (yes i enjoy the show, mainly because i want to see someone snap and kill one of the competitors with cooked cuisine). Thought i'd mention two artists that caught my ear on the regular Peterson slot on Radio One this week (i still think it's quite biased they play that stuff at 2am when clearly there is some potential there for mainstream audience appeal due to the electronica, dance and hip-hop content usually on offer with the jazz, soul and funk).

Quantic is not just a DJ but also a highly regarded musician. To be honest even though i've never heard of him, i respect that he's been able to produce an impressive catalogue of albums and he's only in his early 20's. One song which was played on the show is by his newly formed band running opposite his Soul Orchestra, Quantic and his Combo Barbaro - New Morning, from upcoming July release 'Tradition in Transition'. From first hearing it sounded as if this song was recorded during the late 60's or earlier by a latin band, but i'm guessing some of the tape hiss is intentional on the track to relate back to the early examples of cuban and latin music. It's a pretty catchy tune as well, i've found myself humming it this afternoon no end of times. So when this comes out during the Summer there is no doubt i shall get hold of this in some form.
Now in contrast with a more straightforward and soulful jazz sound a track by new singer Melody Gardot called Who Will Comfort Me. Her new album 'My One and Only Thrill' should really be credited more. It's certainly a very R&R acoustic sound, and if i dare say so with this quality of material she could be the female and more seductive equivalent to Michael Buble (aka Mickey Bubbles).

Finally i've added another sub channel on Youtube, Dimsunk, this guys Steve Gadd lick tutorials and latin videos are top notch. Wish i could play drums as good as this.

P.S we're all going to die from Mexican Pig Flu, those swines.

Banjo Kazooie.

2009-04-25T19:35:00.003+01:00

No..not a mildly obese bear with a fit bird for a friend, but a news story that caught my eye. I'm not really that transverse in the world of folk or country blues and not often do i take much interest (even though i should, some of it's pretty good). Bela Fleck is one example of those 'pretty good' artists and the main interest of this post is his latest album 'Throw down Your Heart' recorded straight from several African villages in a sort of impromptu jam session with locals. I never knew but the banjo originated from instruments brought over in the slave trade and still today there are practising tribe musicians with similar looking and sounding string instruments. A few are highlighted in this photo slideshow narrated by Bela himself. They've even made a documentary but because it's only being screened in film festivals across the US, I think I'll be left to check out the CD.

What are you doing Darling?

2009-04-22T12:49:00.005+01:00

Yes i am quite bored, I'm watching the 2009 Budget live. It's obviously interesting to know where all the UK money is going in the coming year with supposed expectations for economical repair, physical easing's and sustainable public finances. However with the UK economy borrowing £175 billion for 2009/10 i wonder if the figures set for 2010/11 for overall borrowings will change as the months go on, only time will tell.

In other news i will try to finish Day Of The Triffids the next few weeks because i want to start on The Audacity Of Hope by the highly publicised political god/saviour Barack Obama. It seems a worthy read and to compare since the book was published in 2006 against today's situation in the midst of a global recession and if the 'hope' of a better future is finally here.

Finally some vids found today. The Mega64 guys have done it again (nice Colossus costume) and The Lonely Island convey through the medium of rap the frustration of abrupt ejaculation.

New Layout?

2009-04-20T23:43:00.001+01:00

Bitches.

2009-04-16T18:31:00.005+01:00

I've been meaning for a long time to look at the later Miles Davis records done past the late 50's and early 60's, put I've always thought that i don't want to go into what seemed to become by the late nineties Miles looking very eccentric with a bright red trumpet look some sort of metamorphosis and metaphoric interpretation of a musical clown. I'm not doubting the music has some high points at that period in his life but it's always such a strange feeling looking at music building up to business that was never really finished. Take E.S.T for instance, when listening to their last record i always feel eager for more. And to have knowledge that they were rehearsing new material in Esbjorn's basement in Sweden the day before the tragic accident is almost like being slapped in the face. Like a treasure in a tomb that you will never reach or see. And in a way when referring back to artists later musical offerings it's almost as if that you then have to accept your interpretation of it and then think where it might have gone, and in such cases of professional musicians to then try and carry that work onwards.

I don't know why I've just said all that because when I'm talking of Miles's later records I'm talking of his 69 release Bitches Brew. I'll get listening at a later time to the 70's and 80's and real early 90's offerings, but for now and for the past two hours I've been trying to take this CD in after finding it by accident in Grimsby HMV (in the smallest jazz section ever; consisting of Miles Davis compilation Cd's, Dinner Jazz soundtracks - the devils work *spits*, and a few BB King Cd's - blues fans are now queueing up with burning torches and buckets of rotting haddock), which is a miracle in itself.

I've nearly finished through the double set but notably i just love the spontaneous nature of the tunes recorded and i can really see now why this was 'a' or if not 'the' defining moment in changing the face of jazz and changing the progressive music to which the later would diverge into lots of other genres such as jazz fusion, and also influence established rock, soul and popular music at the time. If i was to recommended a track to listen to to get into this sort of jazz or fusion I'd definitely say take the time to listen to the namesake 'Bitches Brew'; where Miles at his melodically simple best, creates a very haunting signature riff using seperate octave intervals for almost primal trumpet screams with lots of echo.

And in final news I've heard YouTube are updating the well known layout of video channels, and to much amusement of myself a lot of people have complained about various bugs and what not concerning the developed beta version. One i've noticed is that you can't click open into the individual video pages to comment on videos, well done YouTube (y) {s33 h0w c00l 1 4m, jnst call m3 Mr L33t lolroflcopter!!11!}. So we'll see if that gets fixed with lots of other stuff, even though that won't take the sour taste away of more sponsor promoted products and greater advertisement of films rather than keeping user generated content at its core. Happy fun times for corporate merger and commercialism.

II

2009-04-15T09:34:00.005+01:00

God they're sneaky, or over here in the UK there's not much news about them and i haven't checked their website in a while (i think it's the later). Yesturday Medeski, Martin & Wood's latest in the album series Radiolarians 2 was released. Even though i've only listened to a few tracks on their myspace, again it seems to be a batch of high quality material. And with news that this was recorded last Summer after the 2nd tour and with the third album in the can last November you can expect that the next will be slated for a late Autumn release.

Check these links for 1) Free Track 'Amber Gris' (from the MMW website), 2) MMW Myspace, 3) Groovy Radiolarians tour gear (shame none of the packages have large men sizes available as yet).

A Night in, fast and furious (oh babe).

2009-04-14T19:26:00.012+01:00

I'm going to try and keep this to track, there's been a lot of stuff I've wanted to post about the last week but I'll try and keep it to the last few days.

Firstly films, Fast And Furious and Paul Blart: Mall Cop. I've seen both and the later with Tom today so I'll give him some time to post his opinions on it. Personally i tend to judge movies purely on the storyline or premise of the film I'm about to see. Anything that's got an engaging storyline then I'm there. So to some who just go and watch movies that have one thing in them and are usually promised that one thing well that's good for them, and that is why I've been fairly cautious with the Fast And The Furious movie franchise. Cars, girls, legs, ass(s) = ace, it's a winning combo and certainly with this cart horse in its fourth outing it can't lose. I've seen only the first one anyway so i could roughly remember the characters, and like the first which i enjoyed to an alright extent i still enjoyed this one for what it promised on the tin. It's one of those films to actually forget it's a film of any sort, throwing away a logical plot but tells you to belt up and follow whilst it all gets resolved come the ending or leaves on yet another cliffhanger.

*SPOILERS*

The only things i can really gripe about are how did Vin (The Vest) Diesel's gang at the beginning get a liquid nitrogen gun, the FBI bureau seemed pretty lax in surveillance of Brian O'Connor and more so towards the end of the film, and the whole thing with finding out who Braga actually is never really works with the reveal more like an expected fart.

*END SPOILERS*

But hey it's the only possible decent movie out there at the moment so go see it, hopefully the next one will be set in the UK specifically Yorkshire and called T'Fast n Furious. Slap covered chavs walking the streets in track suits, 20 stone jiggling in time, here go the lights, red amber, oh wait sorry it's a pelican crossing..

The other film Paul Blart: Mall Cop i don't even really want to type about. I admit it was fun to watch but as a film i didn't find it enjoyable, or even that comedic. The only thing going for it was the Tom Selleck style moustache that Kevin James sports, but that in itself is pretty much ruined by the endless fat jokes. The unfortunate thing is Dragonball Evolution got a two star rating in The Times compared to Fast And Furious with one star (should be the other way around), and American comedies like Paul Blart are being treat on an equal comparison as the 'cars, girls, legs, ass(s)'fest. It annoys me at a time like this i didn't get to see Watchmen in cinemas, a film that should have stayed a few more weeks despite the constant reminders of the comic movie with the glowing blue penis.

Not Paul Blart, Thomas Magnum ate Paul Blart for breakfast.

Some music now. Was listening to some Dizzy Gillespie and i came across some old school hip-hop using samples from 'Night In Tunisia'. I like real old hip-hop anyway because at least back then it wasn't all singing about getting some ass, girls, , bitches, slappin' ass, and then respecting them in one big contradiction. After looking through a few music videos of songs Gang Starr have a pretty unique sound to what I've heard, incorporating elements of hip-hop and jazz in a very pro manner. See two tunes which i like below '(Words I) Manifest' and 'Ex Girl to Next Girl', i particularly dig the smooth horn riff on Ex girl and in the video (around 2:20) when one of the guys switches to a Cadbury Dairy Milk wrapper ensemble. Then that shit gets pretty fly.

Still haven't finished Day Of The Triffids but i plan to pick up the last few chapters when uni starts again, but since i now have some spare cash I'm going to see if i can also get this. Finally the never ending comedic dreams of Pride and Prejudice are realised by the introduction of zombies.

And on a final note the Doctor Who special Planet Of The Dead in my opinion was pretty good, a greater improvement on the giant Cyber-transexual robot at Christmas (come on Russell, please, don't lower the Cybermen any more). But with the final few episodes starring Ten approaching it will be very sad to see him go when he does, to which i expect many across the country will cry in endless days of mourning. But with the prospect of Tremas returning once more (fan joke) i personallycannot wait. Bring on the winter months ahead.

Dude...

2009-04-13T14:18:00.002+01:00

Please welcome Jam2.0.

It's been a long time since posting anything, but there will be more very soon. And as a treat i've redone the page design to conform to Bloggers new Template settings instead of using pure html. Aren't you people lucky.

Dude...

2009-04-01T19:24:00.002+01:00

http://badtown.bigcartel.com/

Dude...

2009-03-30T18:42:00.000+01:00

Sam is back in Grimsby!

I've never had a jacket potato.

2009-03-27T17:42:00.002Z

"I've never had a jacket potato, i just don't like'em, it's like.. i just don't get what it's about coz am like.. yeh babes wateva." - Slap-laden University Student who looked about 16, buying booze with m8s in Somerfields.

Saturday Night Fever.

2009-03-27T11:33:00.006Z

I'm not talking about the musical which is fantastic, I'm instead talking about the time spent at the end of term union party featuring The Saturdays which has practically left me feeling feverish in the sense of.. wow i could produce a better gig from my arse.

With a comment like that you can tell I'm not in the best of moods. Feverish by definition in the dictionary produces meanings such as "Marked by intense agitation and emotion" and certainly i and practically everyone who paid £7 for a ticket to see The Saturdays perform live. And even though i don't like their music, they certainly haven't been hit by the ugly stick like yours truly. So for that amount of money for a performance and a supporting band seems like a no brainer when they're probably at the height of their popularity or just beginning.

I'll set the scene: The Saturdays supposed to play at 11, which at 11:10 and promises of they'll be on stage soon you can forgive. Another ten minutes on they finally get on stage at 11:20. They open with what seemed to be the poorest lip syncing in history which immediately received a few boos. But after they finished that song and introduced themselves they went into their latest single 'Issues'. From here on they seemed to be actually singing, maybe because it is their favourite song after all (repeating this fact around two dozen times). To be fair they didn't sound too bad tuning wise so i clapped at the end hoping that from here it might get better and turn out to be a really good night.

My hopes were raised even greater when Frankie and the rest of the band didn't know what song they'd be singing next, revealing they have a set list on stage to remind them of what they're singing (ha-ha-he-he..the dumb persona you're projecting is wearing pretty thin on my soul), and by set list and i know by set list that means 'great, there's quite a few more coming'. Oh how wrong i was.

After performances of 'Up' and 'I Just Can't Get Enough' the immortal words were spoken.. "Thanks very much guys, have a great night!".

Er hang on.. did they just say what i thought they said. The 'what' that they said whilst smiling, waving to the crowd and walking back stage? No.. can't be. What? You're kidding me..

I think that has to be a record for any gig I've been to, even charity gigs where there's obviously many acts playing. 12 minutes of performance for what was to be a night with The Saturdays, £7 for 4 songs. To be honest with you I'm not really that angry, what i am more is disappointed, i feel played by the event and if that wasn't specifically planned then i feel conned by both their management and The Saturdays themselves for such a poor quality event. Both my friend and i agreed we'd feel pretty guilty inside if we were in their shoes.

The only frankly good thing was the support act The Gentlemen, a new band from Sheffield (good lads) who haven't even got their album out yet but yet played a whole 45 minute set comprising of their just released single 'Sending Cards' and an array of other originals to what was frankly a very tough crowd after that major disappointment. It's pretty hard also to get people involved if they don't know any of the words to the songs and also haven't even heard of you.

So i have to say at least thank you to The Gentlemen for making it a reasonable night after the shat that was left by the cat on the mat, and I'm still left thinking should it have been the other way round with The Gentlemen supported by The Saturdays. It certainly felt like it regardless.

----------------

Anyway after that rant and not much else to report i thought i'd delve into youtube again for some well worth watching videos.

Felix's Machines - amazingly engineered music performance (sort of reminds me of Aphex Twin's Nannou).

Harry Hill & The Boy With The Big Face

Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock & Kenny Garrett - words cannot describe how sweet these three jamming together is, especially since i didn't know if Herbie had played with Kenny before. So this was a big surprise.

Hiromi Uehara gets on her Boots.

Zzzap! - recently rediscovered this show i remember watching every day when i got back from primary school, brings back a lot of memories.

ARGH!

2009-03-25T16:53:00.002Z

Signs of the Times.

2009-03-24T13:17:00.006Z

Two possible purchases for me this Easter, "The Myway Code" which looks to be a very amusing parody of the Highway Code. Just remember if you're going to learn to drive properly please pick up the proper guide and not this (the driving examiners will not find anything funny about you performing an emergency stop because the sign said there is a pregnant woman with her waters broken, lying in the middle of the country lane ahead). Anyway secondly because of the title and a brief recommendation by a friend "The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse".

*Note: i don't endorse amazon purchases ever since i ordered an item and it came half beaten up in a plastic bin bag, but there are some reviews on there if you want to judge for yourselves.

Before i forget a brief mention on situations mentioned in previous posts, for one I'm not designing a Stephen Fry T-shirt anymore because some clever devil has already got there before me (see http://www.stephenfry.com/store/ and hopefully the few already on there will be available soon). Secondly and finally I'm about three quarters of the way through "The Day Of The Triffids" and so far i have to say it's been a very engaging book. Once I've done reading that on and off I'll write a review of the book and how it compares to the film and TV versions.

Isle have the last laugh.

2009-03-22T00:01:00.005Z

Not often do i out a-loud to myself say "What an idiot", but after being pointed to links from TBP's blog recently i watched what can only be described as a collection of the most embarrassing videos I've seen in a long time, if not my life. Expert Village is a website show casing musicians who give either written or video tutorial segments in how to play genres of music, mostly there's a lot of jazz as I've seen before on various sessions roaming the web. With good reason i usually stay clear of these as it's hard enough trying to teach yourself than it is trying to teach yourself watching someone else thinking they know a lot about a particular topic or whatever.
However looking at these videos is not only embarrassing to myself to watch, but from the many comments left by confused and angry viewers about the pianist Austin McBride and his so called quality of playing. If that guy has been playing jazz piano for more than ten years then he needs to be shot I'm sorry, I'm an even better pianist than him and I'm self taught for about 3 years now! His playing style is silly, his terminology in describing jazz is frankly appalling and of piano music in general (and only seems comfortable playing Beatles songs), and worst of all he can't count, for all the key changes in Giant Steps! Notably there are two videos I've linked, the 5/4 time (where he goes to back to playing 4/4), "Experimental" jazz, and Latin jazz tutorials. The rest can be viewed here. I'll let you be the judge but somehow i don't think this is satire or faked in any way, so evidently someone at Expert Village must have a screw loose somewhere.

------------

More well worth watching programmes Rocket Science and Genius (strange format so far but I'll see how it goes) from the BBC (catch up on iplayer, currently Rocket Science has all the series available so watch them whilst you still can in the UK).

------------

Other than that today i got another cool trilby, just right for the spring weather that hopefully continues. When I'm in a trilby mood i reach back for the old records. Mainly a bit of Miles Davis to which i wondered half way through a piano solo on a recording of "All Of You" i thought i bet it's Herbie Hancock playing. I knew that he played a lot with Miles before his career started to rocket in solo work but i hadn't really listened carefully enough to those ones which included John Coltrane rippin' up a few spots here and there.

I decided to then download both Herbie's Empyrean Isles (even though I've listened to it loads of times i hadn't bothered downloading the whole album, i know sue me) and Takin' Off, both great records especially Empyrean which thinking about it completely revolutionised jazz we see today. Particularly great ones are Cantaloupe Island (who doesn't love it?) and The Egg with its very experimental structure (take that McBride!) that really flows over the 14 minute period, showing off greater sides of Herbie's distinctive playing style as well as the versatility of the other three legends that are Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Ron Carter bass, and Tony Williams on drums, making it an unforgettable line up.

------------

Rounding off this fragrant bunch of Herbs here's a vid of Herbie fairly recently on a show hosted by Elvis Costello, my look-a-like, playing blues classic Watermelon Man.

Myself (left), Elvis Costello (right).

What really surprised me is the subtle change from the original upbeat arrangement to the funk grooves pinned down on the Headhunters album which is fantastic. Both me and Tom have decided this is the theme tune for our friend Jenny who is obsessed with her melons. After showing her this she approved and said "Actually it's quite nice, i could see myself walking down the street to that.".. and then also spontaneously breaking into dance moves after the first few metres.

Hate

2009-03-21T23:30:00.003Z

I hate this blog and I hate you!

I also hate the new Facebook layout... it doesn't look like twitter but it does suck BIG time!

Sprung.

2009-03-20T18:53:00.004Z

Now officially we seem to be in Spring. Weirdly i thought it was decided the 1st March was the first day of spring this year but i must've heard wrongly, the 20th March is the officially the first day of spring. Or is it.. as next Saturday is the time when the clocks are put forward so surely then on the 27th or 28th it's the first day of Spring? It's all very confusing, we seriously need to sort out our time zone issues. But lovingly Google have marked this day, and very nicely too as here in Loughborough it's been sunny and warm all day (shorts time!).

Quite a lot has happened this week in the news, and quite a bit revolving around the frisky Joseph Fritzel (hopefully the good behaviour lately won't entail him being released in 15 years time for behaving well), and the late Natasha Richardson. Here are a couple though that've caught my attention:

1) Idiots! The length that some people will go to to collect money, after two suspected californian drugdealers released thousands of dollars in the middle of a motorway mid-chase to cause trouble for following police. Many people as seen in the video just stop driving and pick up the many bills floating about.

2) Duran Duran to record next album with Mark Ronson, the highly ass kissed recording artist and producer the last few years. I'm not excited that Ronson is onboard i couldn't care less to be honest even though he's produced a few good songs (damn that Valerie..), but the fact the DD boys are still going is again a testament to British music.

3) Facebook sucks, the new layout is now subject to national news with reports that nearly a millino users hate the 'twitter style' looks. Personally i also do too as the system does not seem to update enough as it should, commenting people is now pretty confusing and when reading other peoples comments left on pages, and i don't actually want to know "what's on my mind" as it will be different to what i'm doing! Please change it back Facebook, or at least make an option for 'classic' to be used.

4) U2 - Don Valley Stadium Sheffield - 20th August - i'm going to try and get tickets. I know they've done many a tour and they're getting on a bit but if this will be the only time i ever see U2 at least then i can say i've seen them and judged them accordingly.

5) The Apprentice is back on BBC One! From next Wednesday i can laugh at Sir Alans wise words once again. But looking at people for this series, half of them look as if they're from another planet or have just emerged into society from a test laboratory due to their freakishly abnormal faces. I know i can't say they look strange or ugly because to myself i think i look a fairly odd (can you trust a man with slanted ears and eyes?), however i think i'm right in saying they could probably kill a small child if they smiled directly at them.

Other than work this week i've been listening once again to quite a few tunes. Particularly i'm interested in getting some big band ensemble arrangements or if need be i'll have a go at transcribing these myself:

Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra - Fat Fred/L.O.V.E

Dizzy Gillespie - Salt Peanuts (bum ba dum, bum ba dum)

Jimmy Giuffre - Four Brothers

Stevie Wonder - Superstition

Charles Mingus - Haitian Fight Song

Throw back a bottle of beer/stout (for St Patrick)..

2009-03-17T22:17:00.008Z

..riot!..and if you want comb your hair. Perhaps shampoo and condition at some point..

After a very successful students union gig with my swing band Tuxedo Swing last Saturday, i've been listening to a few recordings of the final set we played. One of the songs i thought i'd find a bit more about, "Zoot Suit Riot" by the Cherry Poppin' Daddies. To me without any prior knowledge this song sounded as if it belonged in the sort of 40's era of big bands belters, but to my surprise looking up the Daddies they instead played a big part in the 'swing revival' during the late 1990's (probably coming off the back of masses of New Jack Swing and of course ska and punk music at the time).
Maybe it was popular because its appeal was uber-cheese, i mean the idea of swing influenced music being in the public consciousness again instead of being reserved for lounge and cocktail functions. But regardless it was a hit much to some discomfort from the band which are primarily play ska and soul, and the particular album release was a compilation record of previous albums and a few new songs.. including Zoot Suit which received better attention.
Amazingly the band are still around, and to me it's a good testiment to know that a few groups like this are still out there to please fans and make good original music. Check out both the Daddies website and also the video below (don't tell me those toms don't sound sick).

Also about 30 minutes ago i just watched out of interest "Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle" on BBC2, and unlike a lot of new comedies out there today which are or have so far proven to be very mediocre (rhymes with 'Porn and Boredom') this show to me anyway is very satirical and funny. If you like very very dry humour then you will definately enjoy.

Note: Brum is not a comedy vehicle, Brum is a childhood friend and memory that shall forever be cherrished.

Reverse Gear

2009-03-10T00:01:00.002Z

I just found out about something I already knew about but didn't know about. Reverse Graffiti.
My favourite one that I have seen was when I was on a bus two years ago and saw a real dirty van that someone had written on it, "I wish my wife was this dirty".

Take Five (seperate bits)

2009-03-09T23:51:00.006Z

Here's a few little bits i've been revisiting recently:

The Bad Plus - Fem (etude no.8)
Another one from "For All I Care", now currently one of my fav TBP tunes for the sheer genius of the arrangement (i desperately want the original score to this). If Gyorgy were still here i'm sure he'd be bopping/rocking along with the rest of us.

Kenny Garrett - Cherokee Cadenza!
I wish in a few years i could play upto at least half this standard. See if you can listen for a few 'quotations' in this audio clip, i can at least detect some Rollins and Coltrane.

Alison Moyet - That Ole' Devil Called Love
A chilled out tune we play with our swing band.

doodie

2009-03-09T23:25:00.002Z

my hands smell of perfume... It's quite distracting...

Crash

2009-03-09T23:18:00.004Z

I don't usually like cover bands but I think I found one of the best... Black Market Clash is a cover band of The Clash. You should really check out their Myspace, it is damn cool!

http://www.myspace.com/blackmarketclash

Rhubarb and '_______'.

2009-03-06T18:28:00.004Z

"*gasp*"
- Business Secretary Peter Mandelson (6/3/09)

"I'm melting! I'm melting!"

Now if it were up to me Mandelson would be home secretary instead of Mr Eyebrows, even in light of all the controversy he has caused over the many years on Blairs cabinet he is obviously a far better leader (and less boring). Today saw Lord Mandelson arriving for a 'Low-Carbon Summit' (by car) and on arrival aquired a copious amount of green custard in his face from a environmental protestor (link). Rightly so on Leila Deen's part too (member of the "Plane Stupid Group" opposing Lord M's support for the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport), but like Mandelson said i'd rather have gone up and spoken to him to see if he listened.. and then thrown the custard if otherwise. But i guess her intention has worked and now the issue is in the headlines and causing various MP's to have abrupt bouts of rage for her imminant arrest. Take it easy guys, it's not like it's a condom filled with purple powder is it..

--------------

Now oh dear Mr Jackson what's that we hear, you're.. you're leaving the limelight and finishing it all? Really?? "This is it"???

I'm not that much of a Michael Jackson fan but it's sad to see such a world reknowned performer dust himself down and take of his white glove (singular) for the last few times. And even more strange is that this proposition of a few concerts is only going to take place at the O2 arena when he could turnout a bomb on a final world tour. However i guess this is a testiment to the fans and to show that he's not fooling around and jetting from one place to another, which at todays rate of band and artist date cancelations i don't blame him if he wants to make these the last ever performances the best ever and to seal his status as possibly the greatest pop star ever.
Even though i am dubious of his current state of mind or which 'persona' he is now, invented or himself, i wish him the best of luck in giving it all for one last time. Maybe he'll take his mask off and will be black again underneath, a 20 year stunt imagine that! (No offence intended, i know he has a special skin condition).

--------------

And now for a few tracks which i'm going to call my "March Mornings" which for the most part i've listened to this last week in reflection that Spring is finally (or nearly..) upon us.

U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
John Coltrane - Mr P.C
Miles Davis - Bye Bye Blackbird
Jamie Cullum - Get Your Way
Neil Young - Are You Ready for The Country?
Sonny Rollins - Moritat (Mack The Knife)
Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke
Aphex Twin - 4
Glenn Miller - American Patrol
Duke Ellington - C Jam Blues / Jam With Sam

Here's a vid with Duke and a certain trumpeter called Cat Anderson, dig his screech.

March! (Get on your boots in gran style to mecca).

2009-03-05T18:57:00.013Z

"Anything to do with saliva really excites me."

- possible university lecturer/product developer (3/3/09)

Now that might sound bizarre, but even more bizarre was the fact that particular conversation took place between an American professor who specialises in bodily fluids and testing and his German colleague.. in the Linford Diner. A number of times he repeated the words "saliva","fluids","spit" and "phlegm" emitting loudly to the surrounding environment. It certainly diminished my appetite for beef stew.

Anyway it's been a while since a post and I've a few things to talk about (as per usual).

-----------

I've been a fan of U2 for a while now but since i first bought "How To dismantle An Atomic Bomb" I've been less enthusiastic of facing the prospect of their latest fore baring "No Line On The Horizon". The constant almost butt kissing attitude by the BBC lately (which is usually non-biased or fairly non-promotional) didn't really get my wallet opening in anticipation either thinking that U2 are unfortunately going all out to get money out of a perhaps fairly average album, especially with the first single release of "Get On Your Boots" which on first listen to me felt like a dampened down version of "Vertigo" which again i didn't like that much.

However with a few quid left on a WHSmith's card i got the new album, and in conclusion i want to slap myself several times for being such an idiot. I know there's been a fair few reviews out now but i have to say i feel such an idiot for doubint their musical ability for this is by no doubt a very good album, and a very good album in terms of U2 is on equal par with dare i say it.. "Joshua Tree", and already above one of my personal favourites "War".

The thing i like about this particular album is that it seems that the lads have finally put a lot of time and effort into the songs, with my highlights being the title track "No Line On The Horizon","Magnificent"(really catchy riff time),"Moment Of Surrender"(almost blues/gospel and late 90's RnB sound going on which really works for Bono's screaming and whispering moments),"Get On Your Boots"(OK after a few listens i see why this is in, and very wise to be in the middle to break up the other heavier songs with a lighter, rocky number),"Breathe","Cedars Of Lebanon"(a break from the norm, almost country blues style approach which is really refreshing and shows a different side and hopefully a new direction for the band).

I wouldn't normally recommend buying music in the 'popular consciousness' as that's just not me, but in comparison to the rubbish out there today i really recommend you take a listen.

-----------

Gran Torino now, I went to see this particular film last night and shall do a review whilst it's still fresh in my mind. As a piece forgetting any involvement with Clint Eastwood (which automtically makes the film usually good anyway) i have to say i really did enjoy it. Summarising the plot Walt is a seemingly grumpy war veteran who served in Korea during the 50's (Eastwood) and now faces after the recent death of his wife his neighbourhood slowly being overtaken by the various families of Hmong, Vietnamese, Haitian, Mexican and Black people. He then faces greater isolation from his family due to his nature and rejects the idea of moving from his home and from his beloved Ford Gran Torino. Eventually he befriends a family of Hmong living next door despite his highly racist remarks and assumptions, and after various family gang disruption causes him to become a hero to the neighbourhood and so must help in saving not only the town but also his new family from the damage left by the violent groups.

OK i can't describe the plot in a few sentences (just look on imdb for that and for less mild spoilers), but even though the plot is fairly straight forward i was still shocked by the conclusion of the film. This to me was down to the excellent direction as ever from Clint who's simplistic style really doesn't need great action or pace and really compliments even the shoot out scenes (dig the 'hand gun' action). The only thing i can say i didn't like was the lack of music which could've been used as a greater device in order to show an obvious change in location and help structure the time period of the scenes (some of the cuts were too quick to notice a day in difference) and a bit more Jamie Cullum is always a thumbs up for me. Additionally some of the cast were apparently local Hmong actors and i suspect one of the main cast is too (I'll let you guess who) and is similarly lacking in long term coaching. Even though that person makes a stab at the role i feel they could've really done better with it in order to particularly not make me cringe at parts (especially the shouting.. got it now?).

Besides those two instances i thought this was a great film, and if the rumours are true, it is certainly a fitting tribute to the end of an expansive on-screen career such as Mr Eastwoods.

Even though i haven't seen it a friend said he thought "Million Dollar Baby" was slightly better, but I'm not the one for comparing films unless they're obvious sequels. So go see Gran Torino in cinemas in the now and also check out M-D-B which is probably on both DVD and Blu-ray.

----------

Finally the worst bit of news has spread to me today through my home town's local newspaper. The Hairy Bikers.. THE Hairy Bikers of BBC 2 cullinary fame were in Louth today (which is only a few miles from Grimsby) for filming of a brand new series celebrating and discovering various Great British food (mmm traditional lincolnshire food).

“Louth is a real foody Mecca. It is fabulous and we would definitely like to come back. We have been cooking Lincolnshire Red Beef, cutting cauliflowers in the field which was a bit of a challenge, trying haslet and Lincolnshire stuffed chine.”

.. and hopefully i'll be back home instead of many miles away. Especially as it'd be great to pick up a few good recipes for uni.

Fried Circumcision.

2009-02-27T17:31:00.005Z

"I wonder how many Mrs Gods there are out there?"
- University Student i was sitting nearby (26/02/09)

..even though in this case there could've been a general topic of religion i missed in over hearing that conversation, i do honestly wonder what sense do people have these days. Or at least in terms of in contact sense, to really think before they speak.

Just a short one today seeing as i'm knackered from our university swing band gig last night and a couple of exciting hours of lectures today along with a materials lab (which was surprisingly very enjoyable for an "experimental" as the good Dr B would say).
After i got back i suddenly remembered an old favourite clip of mine from "A Bit Of Fry & Laurie". In particular the great Dancersize demonstration of quantity surveying. This has prompted my decision to have a go with a T-shirt design showing my love for this particular acitivty myself. What can i say, on top of knowing i have a sick mind from previously i also have 'a lot of time to kill' when not doing work.

And now, with a bit of Prodigy in the mix..

I'll keep posted on progress..

Christmas

2009-02-24T22:58:00.001Z

There is nothing quite like hearing an OAP singing this song...

BOO-YA!!

re:Verse.

2009-02-24T21:09:00.006Z

Full of cold, not happy, but it's at the point of 'bearable' (who says a weaker immune system makes us less manly?!).

Fashion now and as Tom knows very well i am the very height of fashion in every sense - especially my turn up jeans which i think is strangely a jazzy thing to do (seen it many a time at clubs I've been to, unless that's a sign of a mid-life crisis creeping in). The Bad Plus even though on their current release tour in America have managed to take time out to perform at Isaac Mizrahi's 2009 fashion line exhibition. I really do hate a lot of the fashion out there today mainly due to the over excessive use of trends and the constant establishment of what is 'in' or 'out', i could go on more and sound very metrosexual and then hastily add I'm not.. but lets avoid that shall we before I'm driven insane by the sound of my nose vibrating like an SI engine turning over.
What is very hip about this show is that it's again reaffirmed to me that those guys are very talented. Briefly summarising one of Ethan's latest posts they wrote 3 compositions to last around the 10 minute procession. Obviously they couldn't have a free jazz progressive jam (to my dismay) but instead are mostly pop, straight forward dance/techno style songs.
Ethan wrote "One Thirty-Three" apparently based on the most common tempo time of techno and electronica music (and by metronome one quaver = 133), but instead takes an approach with ornamentation usually associated with classical music and i swear but one part sounds very similar to the opening of a Kraftwerk song. I'll find that out soon.
Dave my favourite of the composers brought "High Waisted Drifter" and in true style incorporates lots of key signatures, turns of phrases and contrasts very well to the clothes that are shown in the sequence. Finally Reid with "Really Good Attitude", upbeat, boppy, and even though longer than the others pieces it seems they keep the repeated section going to end the thing on a high. If there is such a phrase as a high in fashion with images of models looking like they've just seen Doctor Death and most abstract catwalk shows resembling in close comparison to crumpled up bits of cardboard sticking out in all directions from a fast food restaurant bin surrounded by various attracted insect (for sparkle).
Considering another long tour going on and the fact their next release is promised to be all original material, to compose something as good as them gems is amazing. But hey they're professional musicians, I'm just being too much of an ass kisser come to think of it. Although i write music and it takes me a long time to get it how i want it (AS/A2 Music Technology woo!).
Anyway if you want to watch the video in full, click this link.

----------------

To some delight the other day i managed to buy a copy of 'The Day Of The Triffids' without resorting to Internet sellers and I've just started reading the first few chapters. Again I'll probably do a full review in a month or so but for now here's a quotation i laughed at quite a bit whilst coughing:

"But i certainly was getting the willies - and once you get 'em, they grow. Already they were past the stage where you can shoo them off by whistling or singing to yourself.
It came at last to the straight question: was i more scared of endangering my sight by taking my bandages off, or of staying in the dark with the willies growing every minute."

What can i say i have a sick mind. Thankyou Post-war literature for being so damn English.

----------------

And now a thanks to Uncle Leslie, Dr Les Mustoe our maths lecturer on my university course for today unlike usually sending out problem sheets by email, he instead sent a rather good verse:

Cargoes - John Masefield

Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir,
Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine,
With a cargo of ivory,
And apes and peacocks,
Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine.

Stately Spanish galleon coming from the Isthmus,
Dipping through the Tropics by the palm-green shores,
With a cargo of diamonds,
Emeralds, amythysts,
Topazes, and cinnamon, and gold moidores.

Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack,
Butting through the Channel in the mad March days,
With a cargo of Tyne coal,
Road-rails, pig-lead,
Firewood, iron-ware, and cheap tin trays.

Hate and War

2009-02-23T23:10:00.000Z

I hate the word 'cliché'. That is all.

Pants

2009-02-22T13:47:00.001Z

"If you illegally download so much that you pay for a premium acct on megaupload, I'm going to punch you in the face." - Jason Fisher.

I agree.

Notes So Blue.

2009-02-21T15:57:00.009Z

Double posting time! Check out part one below of two posts today.

Yesturday i had some spare time to check out the latest Gilles Peterson show on Radio 1.

G broadcasts quite a varied amount of stuff in two hours which is always cool to listen to, ranging from "soul, hip-hop, house, afro, latin, dubstep, jazz and beyond". This week it was another edition of the 'Brownswood Basement' were for the most part the entire playlist is directly broadcast from vinyl. Cuts of the lastest tunes or ranging back like with this week for a small special to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the jazz label giant Blue Note Records. A lot of my favourite jazzers recorded with this label, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, so it was good that at least some records and artists i'd not really heard of before were played.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/gillespeterson/

Two which caught my ear were 'Kenny Dorham - Afrodisia (album "Afro-Cuban")' and 'Dexter Gordon - Soy Califa ( from "A Swingin' Affair")'. For now i'm listening to both these on last.fm (thankyou free full length previews) till i can get hold of copy's but if you like some calypso/latin/afro-carribean based jazz and fusion you'll really love this raw stuff.

Death.

2009-02-21T15:06:00.007Z

(One of two posts from me today).
Great title i know *bows*. But really it ties in with the numerous events and news stories I've read this past week. Firstly a couple of us went to see the new remake of 'Friday the 13th'. Now i had my reserves about seeing this film, for one i don't like watching scary movies that often and two quite a trend seems to be that recent horror remakes absolutely butcher the amazing foundations set previous. To name such a few the shoddy version of 'House of Wax' (#SPOILER# i don't think it's just me but the scene of Paris Hilton being speared through a car window in head was the scene that made the film, albeit it wasn't meant to be that and also it wasn't meant to make the cinema audience cheer with rapturous applause) and the latest 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'.
With my reservations still in hand i felt at least comforted that they haven't messed with the formula of murderous isolated killer Jason Voorhees once again for the 12th time in cinema screen history going back to the original roots and killing lots of teens with the trademark machete that killed his mother. Even though i haven't seen the original i have to say i particularly enjoyed this film for the fact it wasn't afraid to just kill off main characters for the sake of more blood and guts, because that's basically the whole plot of the story (with origins cleverly cut in between the first few minutes of the title credits). For the most part it wasn't particularly frightening I've seen greater gore in films like Braindead which have even greater comedic value due to the excessive lashings of the crimson claret and minced beef. It was good though that here each of the deaths was cleverly calculated to build greater tension and for some of the time quite unexpected, heightened further by the music which as always made me jump (I'm a terrible jumper in cinemas.. mostly nylon).
As i can't really say more without explaining the whole movie, instead I'll say i really recommend going to see this film for the shear gore it gives (which to me equals fun) and unlike many new movies this version has actually re-established the phrase "good remake".

Onto other relations of death this is from two news stories which are in ways like Friday the 13th very extreme and violent ways to die. The first is from last Friday.. the 13th concerning the plane flight 3407 from upper regions of New York to Buffalo which crashed a few miles from the airport into a neighbourhood area. It is very tragic that all 50 people on the flight died on impact, but the most unlucky part of this story is that only one person died on the ground when the plane hit. Considering that planes crashes must happen every day around the world it is fairly bad luck that one of those planes hits you in your house destroying it and then slowly engulfing the rest of the surroundings.
The second is of an American woman who called the police after her pet chimpanzee escaped and started to attack her friend, and as far as i know has left her in a severally critical condition. The police department in Connecticut afterwards issued the phone recording to which by the end of the call the owner keeps saying "he's ripped her apart" and "they've gotta shoot him". If you want to listen to an extract of this here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1pdvV_gT6I

Fame, Fortune and Fornication

2009-02-15T21:33:00.002Z

...is a cover album by Reel Big Fish, and it is this months 'Album Of The Month' (just like last month, which was uncredited).

Little Sick Tonight.

2009-02-13T19:51:00.002Z

Black cat substitute for a special Friday *cough*.

Check out my seed.

2009-02-11T20:06:00.006Z

Been a gap in blogging mainly because for me anyway my next semester has started and so far until today has been quite full of lectures, settling back in 'et cetera'.
Last Sunday i made my way back by national express coach which is a first for me. Luckily i also had a 30% student discount card so overall my journey cost only £13 including the exchange stop which was more time by a bit than by train, but ten quid less. Good way to travel if you don't have to be anywhere quick.

I didn't really have a subject to post till this afternoon when i caught news that the BBC are producing a modern version of 'The Day Of The Triffids' for later broadcast this year. I'd heard a lot from my daad about this classic sci-fi film (that and V, but i'm not going to look at that shite).
Two major versions have really been made of this john Wyndham novel. The 1962 film cheekily casts american actor Howard Keel in the lead role of Bill Masen and from what i've read strays quite a bit from the original storyline to suit the american auidences. The other is often regarded the best against the original stimulus and was produced as a series by the BBC in 1981. Like a lot of the science fiction tv produced by the beeb at that time like Doctor Who and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, these all seemed cheap and primitive in comparison to the production by large american studio companies (mainly down to using more expensive technology and techniques). Even though i've just seen a small clipping as i can't find any online copy of it, to me it seems much creepier than the film version. Maybe this has to do with me watching a lot of Doctor Who episodes from this time i don't know, but after i watched the film in its entirity i think i'll have to find out if the tv series is available on dvd. Also i'd like to get my hands on the original book pretty soon to pass the many long uni breaks, i think i can spare a few pints less one week.

Interestingly in the film version i was very surprised to see Carole Ann Ford crop up half way through as a french blindy (i won't spoil any more on the plot besides that the RNIB would do their nut in trying to file applications if this really happened). Even more funny to me was the fact she meets the main girl character called Susan who Bill Masen rescued from the mass of scrambling and panicking London folk. This is a real geek realtionship here because for those who don't know who Carole Ann Ford is she was the first ever known companion in Doctor Who playing Susan the granddaughter of the Doctor.
Which leads me swiftly onto 'The Seeds of Doom' a Doctor Who episode from Tom Bakers era. Besides it being Tom Baker in the role it is probably one of my favourite episodes and possibly the first i can ever remember watching back in the day on UK Gold. It looked cheap, the premise was strange and odd to me (especially why Tom had a habit of knocking out loads of guards throughout the story). But this afternoon it clicked to me like never before that in more cases than i probably know, Doctor Who has a habit of borrowing ideas from existing fiction and known folklore. Take these for a small smidgen:

The Brain of morbius - Frankenstein
State of Decay - Dracula
Tooth & Claw - Werewolves/The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Shakespeare Code - Carianites (basically witches from space)/lots of Shakespearian quotations..

Really this story encompasses what's creepy about 'Triffids', the apparent isolation from 'The Thing (From Another World)' and uncannily in the final climax the action sequences from 'The Quatermass Experiment'. And it does this brilliantly without coming off stupidly pastiche which is obviously down to the great writing of Robert Banks Stewart (who also wrote previous serial 'Terror of the Zygons') and the intelligent direction of Dougie Camfield veteran Who director.

So check these things out if you're interested, i certainly am or shall go to check out the book at least. Bonus - completely off subject, below is a vid link which really captivates my love for classic kids tv.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta7VHKGuoJY

Do The Locomotion.

2009-02-04T19:26:00.012Z

I'm home, in my official home. Finally the January exams are over! Well.. they were for many others before me but i was just unlucky that my last exam was on the final official exam day. Although this gave me the opportunity to have like a lot of my mates a break from uni life before a hard semester begins once more, so i thought i'd try out the trains running from Loughborough to Grimsby. This unfortunately has now cost me the use of my back from carrying the shoulder bag equivalent of a hippopotamus, or a pre-gastric band Fearne Britain with a 10 kilogram crate of rivita's. Silly silly me, but hey i needed to do some washing. I couldn't bare the thought of stinky clothes crying to sleep in my flat.

Was a relatively good journey, initiatively catching the earliest train which went through various stops on the way to Lincoln and finally catching the exchange to GY. As the time went on i was amused by the change in temperature and weather on entering lincolnshire; going from -2 with thick snow patches, to a cold, dry and sunny 1 degree. From last Sunday i'd seen a lot of snow, ice and slush so it was all the more comforting to know it was nice back here and had missed the heavily reported blizzards.. for now (muhahaha).

Most of the way from Lincoln i stuck my headphones in and listened to some complimentary vibes. Ironically i hadn't realised the number of train related songs, so for your pleasure here are the "locomotunes" which uplifted my positive yet extremely knackered mood. Remeber to check them out.

Steps Ahead - Trains (Magnetic)
Mid-80's - fusion band - Michael Brecker! - EWI(electronic woodwind instrument) - tenor god - about trains (i'm guessing).

Originally found this tune from looking up Brecker vids on youtube (yes thanks Tom for below, you know me too well) and Brecker without the rest of SA performed this with a highschool band. As expected he 'ducks' them all up the 'fass' a million times with one tenor solo. Recommended highly even if you don't have a moustache, stone washed denims or a big lovely perm.

"I've told you politely but now you've caused further aggrevation on my part. I can only listen to categorised popular music from 1980 period of Earths history! Your suggestion of this.. 'j-azz' music is quite unheard of, i didn't know daleks liked spontaneous dribble. But i now understand why this is so in relation to your physical appearances." - perhaps a Doctor Who post one day (although the whovianistic knowledge might cause discomfort and similar harm).

Seasick Steve - Prospect Line (I Started Out With Nothin', still..)

Country Blues - Seasick Steve - about waiting for trains - acoustic guitar slides!

Need i say more except i've got my ears down to the ground listening for that a rumblin' sound, deliver me from this town, today i'm gonna be homeward bound.

Medeski, Martin & Wood - The Train Song (Let's Go Everywhere)

Funk - MMW with vocals?! - childrens concept album?!

Surprisingly this whole album although aimed at gaining the attention of younger children to stop them getting into the dispise-worthy current music scene is rather good and highly original. Probably not some peoples tastes but once you get past the simple melodies, voice samples of american kiddies and intentionally humorous numbers (Pirates Don't Take Baths), a lot of the stuff is quite listenable and could be compared to other MMW material. This track even though describing a kid and the fun they have with their trainset, is really quite charming (come on who had Thomas the Tank Engine?), with sections of whistling, harmonica licks and tempo changes echoing train movement. Good blues style tune with a lot of long-hall-hooks to keep you tapping those feet y'all.

E.S.T - Leucocyte 'Ab Initio' (Leucocyte)

Maybe it's to do with the fact the publicity video for this album after Esbjorn Svenssons tragic passing was set to black-and-white footage of trains and moving traffic is why singularly it sticks in my head. And after all it still amazes me that this was all improvised. Effects laiden and verging on heavy metal jazz it is both bad ass yet very graceful; almost like travelling at increasing speed, faster and faster till all you see is a blur. Yet the blur is still beautiful because you see more of the details unlike when you are standing still.

When i remembered i had this song on my phone i stuck it on and the event was almost ghostly. The timing of the song from start to finish matched the length of a station to station journey, all the winter scenery from snow covered countryside to the rusty looking towns and cities, and also the varying velocity of the engine. Perhaps i'm looking too deep into this but i still think when you listen to this album in its entirety, Esbjorn somewhere is looking down upon whoever listens to it. As a testiment to what could've been and where the journey finally ended.

Much like the end of a train journey...

Just The Two Of Us...

2009-02-01T02:05:00.008Z

The Team. The Duo. The Long writer and... me.

Go Straight To Hell Boy

2009-02-01T00:58:00.005Z

At the minute i'm really interested in cover songs. I don't know why but I don't really care why. I just do! Here is one that I discovered today that I quite like. It is Lily Allen covering The Clash's song 'Straight To Hell'

The Clash's version:

Lily Allen's Version:

I Can See The Light.

2009-01-29T18:52:00.008Z

Finally! My lights are fixed. Well they were this morning after 10, i've been busy inbetween then. I wonder if my rant last night got the message through somehow to the subconcscious of my manager. This post is going to be quite abstract in comparison to others mainly because i just can't seem to do short posts, i need to provide sustinance to the blogging community.

Seasick Steve documentary (available now on BBC iPlayer - UK only) - most of this doc is going back to the early home territory of the fantastic blues player meeting up with old places and friends alike. It was more than interesting to see throughout the duration of the programme and in various interviews recently that even though he has obviously sold a lot of records and clearly a lot of money in his denim dungarees, he hasn't changed under the temptation of fame like so many so called popular music artists. Here is a man dedicated to his music, very humble and writing about simple things in life; which in comparison to songs in todays charts (which are equally simple) like the latest offerings from Britney Spears or Lady Gaga, seem a lot more important than being a womaniser or getting up to dance (yes of course miss spears you wrote it yourself didn't you, that's what it'll say on the album don't worry your fragile bald head about it). Spears or Gaga have nothing on Seasick Steve as they don't have the heart or memories to write genuinely moving music, and for this reason he should be like so many others the greater icons for younger kids today. And not just because he looks like a Southern Hillbilly. Say that to someone in countryside Memphis and you'd have a shotgun up your ass.

Radiolarians - just got a copy of Medeski Martin & Woods latest offering which is promised to be a three part series of albums which goes through an apparently different concept to most of their previous albums: Write music - Tour/Continue to write/Improve - Record - Repeat.

Maybe for this reason Radiolarians 1 is probably the most accessible personally of their albums i've had the fortune to listen to, the collection of songs is vast in influential styles but of course with funky improvisation always at the heart. Can't wait for the next two installments some time this year.

Definition of a Dog - god rest Esbjörn Svensson and e.s.t (Esbjörn Svensson Trio). He, Dan Burgland and Magnus Ostroms collaborations are sadly missed by me as i look over varying amounts of maths notes. Like The Bad Plus i will go over all their music sometime in a post, or maybe both together in comparison.. who knows. Live In Hamburg + Definition of a Dog (for 18+ minutes) = dribble worthy.

Guinness - on impulse yesturday i bought a four pack of Guinness original (damn Oswald Clark and James May! *shakes fist* - BBC Two see listings http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00grswy). Viewing the Dublin breweries and after not having Guinness in well over a year made me want to buy some again. It didn't disapoint, great tasting staut with the distinctive burnt coffee aftertaste. As revealed in the Oz & James Drink To Britain the master Guinness brewer in Dublin explained the specific way to drink stauts in general to get passed the bitter taste many associate with the type of beer. By sipping through the head which apparently is the bitter part you would taste, you can then get a chock load on your palette. A proper drink, unlike vodka and rum popalicious treaties on nights out (can't stand vodka, don't know why). Even though i'm on a student budget i think i can spare a few quid for something well worth the money in future. 1759 to 2009, happy 250th birthday Guinness!

Pole Dancing Children - well not children but dancing to children. News story of a devonshire college (South Devon College) now erupting to many complaints after the college brought in 'Art of Dance' a dance school ensemble to perform as part of the college's 'B-healthy' week. Seems fine enough but for one part of the demonstrations and questions there was a section of pole performance. But some of the parents now think this was an obvious act of pole dancing in the exposure of students ranging from young as 14 to 19. In my opinion this has been blown out of proportion. The whole demonstration saying it was pole dancing was silly and it can clearly be thought of in an innocent manner to show the strength and gymnastic abilities needed to traverse a grounded metal beam and support yourself.

I can why there is blame pointed towards the college because to subject younger children to something like that (i'd enjoy it..), in respect they should have notified parents beforehand saying these dance demonstrations will take place and will include pole performance. After that they could have then filed for the parents consent for ones that are willing for their kids to take part. On the other hand i don't exactly blame the school entirely as the younger children wouldn't think they want a lap dance or to afterwards by inspiration go and roll out for some hookers. They would obviously know the school wouldn't want to promote that kind of sexual activity but to merely highlight the physical ability involved. Considering also that the age range was from 14 to 19, what else could they do to keep the attention of older students *cough*.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7859239.stm

Come on let's role.

2009-01-28T20:40:00.007Z

Yesturday a few of us went on an excursion down the good old backbone of Britains highway system to go see Role Models. I had my doubts initially when there's a lot of other films i'd like to see (see second to previous post). But i have to say i really did enjoy this film. Maybe it was the good company i don't know, but one thing i know is that i hadn't laughed so hard in a cinema openly since Dodgeball was released.
You know when you're in a cinema watching a comedy, rom-com (in my case not often) or other similar divergant into amusement, and there's the obvious funny moments you snigger at or have to make an acknowledgement of otherwise the people around you will think you're not most brain sturdy, well in this film like dodgeball the subdued jokes are just above sniggers but for most of the slapstick or visciously hilarious verbals you can't help but laugh.
Briefly explaining there are two guys (Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott) working for an energy drinks company, one guy is happy with their jobs. Well his to dress up as a spandex minatour. The other is unhappy with his life wondering where has it all gone, like Hollywood. Unhappy guys girlfriend sees he's being quite literally "such a dick" and unhappy so she leaves him. But that girlfriend is also his lawyer, who then helps sort legal proceedings for when he goes over the edge at a school presentation and drives a pimped out truck into a horse statues anus. Both guys then have to either go to prison or serve community service. Throw in some disfunctional kids and a care agency for the troubled delinquiants and you have yourself a movie, and weirdly to me anyway.. it worked.
My key surprise was to see the awkwardly pronouncible actor Christoper Mintz-Plasse playing one of the main kids called Augie, innocently obsessed with real-life 'world of warcraft' style games and battles. In most cases like he did in Superbad making Mc'lovin somewhat of a teen hero and legend in his own right ("Oh my god, it's in, i think it's in") he steals the show once again with one of the most over the top scenes towards the end which obviously is a pastiche/taking the michael of many a medieval style franchise. Hopefully he doesn't get typecast with these types of characters in future as obviously he is easily capable of more than geek.
The only thing that spoilt it was a crude joke that reoccured during the end credits (go see it! and you'll see what i mean) but besides that, a very good comedy recommendation to start 2009.

On a more personal note, i'm now still waiting for the lighting to be fixed in my room. But hey at least i can survive on the campfire lamp i purchased, whilst i'm clearly not paying for any of my accomodation or repair costs upfront so that someone could at least come see me after i've been three times to ask if they could replace the bulbs i've virtually paid for and lighting which i've paid for through digital currency transaction. It'd be stupid to do anything otherwise, right.

Re: Cleaning?

2009-01-25T23:35:00.001Z

Why are atheists such bastards...?
Whats with all the hate?
Why can't we all just get along? (while quietly judging the religious people)

And I bring you an ol' favourite image of mine. Enjoy.
And credit to whoever made this S.O.B.

"Watergate: A Summary" & further tunes.

2009-01-24T00:17:00.013Z

Only joking, the post title is only mere a connection to the fact at some point in the next few weeks i want to see Frost/Nixon. Specifically to view and look at comparisons of both leading actors, Frank Nigella for his portrayal of President Richard Nixon and Michael Sheen staring oppositely as the plucky British (bah good ol'British) journalist David Frost.

Don't get me wrong i don't doubt Nigellas skills as an actor, and from screen clips i've seen so far his performance is surely nothing short of brilliant and the most realistic impersonation i've heard in a long time of the Nix. However what i'm quite annoyed about is the current nominations for the 2009 academy awards, which rightly nominates Nigella for best male actor but for best supporting male disregards Sheens presence completely when clearly he is equally as talented.

I rarely watch tv nowadays and catch up with programs online (good ol'british invention the Internet, bah - note: i don't know if this statement is actually correct), but the past few years way before the Queen with Sheen as Tony Blair was released (which most of America seemed to soak up again his opposite counterpart Dame Helen Mirrons acting!) he is even more astounding in smaller screen roles such as his part in the tragic tale of Emperor Nero in BBC drama series Rome. Highly overlooked in most cases..which some i can agree quite a bit, but at peak points when Sheen has screen time the degree to which Nero as a character seems to be on the verge of insanity when confronting his people is a startling insight to what Sheen is clearly capable of.

So in conclusion to this news - "staff it up ya jacksy Oscar!" Although some recognition is due to the makers and actors who took part in slumdog Millionare which i also want to see at some point, showing that all good movies don't need to have a extenuous budget or 'the magic of hollywood' to produce great films.

Finally to round off here are some more tunes that are currently getting me through the exam period:

The Aggrolites - Lets Pack Our Bags

Reggae Hit L.A (2007)

Tom got me into these guys. Originally i was very cautious of this band thinking that most of the stuff would be fast ska/punk which is ok but not my personal favourite all the time. When i think of reggae and ska music i think laid back songs, simple messages, good melodies and with a bit of funk thrown in. Aggro complete this equation perfectly and i'd recommend this rising band.

This track to me is different to the rest of the songs on this record as it harks back to a lot of the early 70's records being produced, and the vocal harmonies are pretty tight and original for this type of band. Great stuff, i see great things to come.

The Bad Plus - 1972 Bronze Medalist

These Are The Vistas (2003)

Somehow i manage when going through my tracks to come back to them. And always their original debut with columbia records, being drastically different in tone of a jazz record and drastically (and critically shunned) different in the way the guys have been recorded. Overall all the tracks sound down right nasty and would guarantee to blow your head off infront of a large set of amps. I won't go on and i will start working on a large TBP post.

1972 Bronze Medalist is the tale of Jacque a french diving champion who now retired in the south of france walks proudly down to the seaside town where he lives, still wearing his swimming costume he wore all those years ago, sun shining onto his swaying bronze prize around his neck as he plods through the town to the beach with the towns people cheering him on. Dave King the drummer of TBP however mentally challenging with his compositions and multi-rhytmic talents likes a lot to compose by story, and this song uses that very well. 1 & 3 beat bar stabs make it seem like Jacque is strolling big time, and overall is the kind of song to do a victory walk to and punch the air in triumph - "giving it up for the bronze medal and third place winners".

Medeski, Martin & Wood - Chubb Sub

Friday Afternoon in the Universe (1995)

I've known of MMW a long time but only recently after listening to some Rick Wright organ music, The Wailers and Rick Waterman from Yes doing their thing on hammonds, rolands, and manic synthesizers made me realise i need to give them a chance. So after listening to a few songs on youtube this song instantly stood out to me, and when i get the chance i shall order this album. Also check out 'Uninvisible' if you want a starting point into this fine trio which has more accessible elements taking bits from hip hop and rock.

O-balm-A

2009-01-21T23:31:00.000Z

Show your support for the new US President by making sure those lips of yours are smooth as Sam's forehead(and then the rest of the head) will be in 10 years time.
This is entirely organic and made in the good ol' U.S. of A.

Available at www.moretreeshemp.com
Get Buying.

Bye Dick & George!

2009-01-20T17:11:00.000Z

(Click drawing for larger view).
Illustration by graphic artist David Rees. For more humorous material: http://www.mnftiu.cc

A man who can speak against the present views of other countries and extremist societies but also shadow verbly the threats of these groups through a calm and confident manner is a very wise and intelligent man. I've always said unlike previous presidents Obama is not only good with words, but is exceptional in presenting his public figure.

After watching the inauguration of 44th president Barack Hussien Obama even during these times of grim hardship for America and countries around the world, i certainly hope that there will be a light provided by this powerful figure through the promise of "remaking America". In doing so this event has brought together all aspects of society, all races, all colours. This historic moment should be an example to the onlooking governments and peoples of the world, and to the welcoming of similar "Change".

Reflecting this change were the broadcast images of the procession; from the first glimpse of Barack Obama climbing into a limo smiling in apparent confidence and shear delight, to the final images of Dick Cheney clambering out of a wheelchair with cane in hand (due to over-enthusiastic box lifting..) leaving by private car, and former President Bush leaving by military helicopter. These images really showed the final transition from old to new.

I only hope within the next few years there will be an equally reputable figure and indeed government to be elected in the UK.

#UPDATE#
On a musical note during the ceremony a piece entitled "Air and Simple Gifts" was performed live, which i hear is an arrangement by John Williams of a 19th century american work song called "Simple Gifts". I was taken aback not only by the ability of the players (tone of the clarinet player was exquisite), but also the female pianist was wearing fingerless gloves! Hobo gloves rule :) . Below is a video of this performance (uploaded by one very speedy youtuber).

Sam N.

Lights out, music on.

2009-01-16T21:32:00.000Z

It had to happen sooner or later but for the first time at my university accomodation i have my first maintenance problem! The lights in my room and my neighbours have blown and so have the kitchens, which is directly opposite my room. Normally i wouldn't complain but when you were about to go and start making some tea after lack of food all day and then suddenly plunged into darkness along with equally bemused friends. That's a way to describe that i'm not in the best of moods. Even more so when your sub warden does not return until two days from now and your manager even on mobile calls is not answering. The worst aspect is i'll have to shower as if it were 1942 during an air raid.

If anything this has shown me how dependent todays society is on electric lighting, quite sad really when only over a century ago most houses in the Britain were dependent on candle light and they seemed to manage very well. Equally they coped without modern entertainment such as television, which coincidentally is providing the source of light for my room as i type. "Technika light", doesn't have a ring to it really. And.. actually i lie, i have a cool purple desk lamp provided to me during these harsh and desperate times (thanks Emma!).

Now with the intro part of the post over, and with my sight semi-deprived i thought i'd take this opportunity to listen to some tunes i'd forgotten about until recently and ones which i've recently been turned towards thanks to the Zavvi sales (who said economic depression was bad for records?).

Most of the music i listen to is primarily Jazz, but i listen to many other genres (musically open minded). So most of the posts i'll do will probably be jazz orientated in some way. So to kick off here are a few tunes which are catching my ears and helping pass the wee small hours.

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(in no particular order)

Kenny Garrett - Sketches of MD
Sketches of MD (2008)

When i first heard Kenny was releasing a new album and even though i've listened to his music a lot before, i thought i'd make the effort to buy this particular gem. Once again thankyou Zavvi for the 30% discount for a virtually brand new release, and what a release it is.

This is the first live album that KG has done and personally i think he should do more, with many of his live shows turning into an eventual party (noting 'Happy People' as his most melodically catchy which often causes 'down right funky' dancing, or spasming in my case). Even though this album has two extended versions of that number and 'Waynes Thang'; show casing his older back catalogue, the highlights are the three new compositions 'The Ring', 'Intro To Africa' and 'Sketches of MD' with the tunes on the disc relating purposefully to well known jazz players (see if you can name them on first listen).

Sketches is the most experimental compo, and personally more experimental and zaney the better. Here intentionally using an almost sparse texture with repeated muted piano stabs, back-beat/hip-hop rhythms and small bursts of sax and synth reflect the relationship Kenny had with Miles Davis and his band during the last few years of his life. Instead of filling the air with a barage of notes like most sax players, Kenny here like Miles has a way of creating simple yet gorgeous melodies and harmonies with just a few notes. Amazing and inspiring.

The Bad Plus - Comfortably Numb

For All I Care (2008 EU/2009 US)

The Bad Plus, what can i say. They are and always will be my favourite band, mainly because thanks to them they helped me discover music for the first major time and helped me develop a further interest in jazz. Even though i had a few cd's from the 50's mainstream jazz era including Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond i'd not really delved indepth into any sort of music besides ashamedly owning a few pop cd's (The Darkness to name one.. they weren't rock or even glam rock, just camp spandex pop).

*I'll probably do a post in future on TBP to show my 'fan love' for them but also on their albums and such. But for now i'll talk about their latest album, For All I Care.

Luckily in the UK i got this in October 08 which was pretty strange due to the fact an american bands cd was released in the EU before an offical american release, but i guess that's the music business.

Particularly for me this marks a milestone in TBP's discography. Not only for the fact that 9 of the 12 songs on the disc feature vocals provided by the lovely Wendy Lewis, but personally i can't seem to judge this as a TBP record. This does not mean in a bad way but if i were asked what is my favourite album of theirs, i wouldn't be able to judge FAIC on equal terms as the other previous releases as it is individually very different and utterly brilliant. The premise of the record is to convey a covers album but in a jazz idium (taking particular note of some John Coltranes albums during the 50's and 60's) and in true TBP style striding genres of pop to rock, prog rock, metal, country, classical and adding another song from grunge gods Nirvana to their repertoire. However the song that stands out to me is their cover of Pink Floyds Comfortably Numb.

The take on this song is so original i cannot describe it in words. With Dave King providing drum climaxes and textures so hopeful, Reid Anderson on bass providing the dirtiest of basslines, Ethan Iverson flowing like a sea of notes effectively amplifying the original key and guitar arppegios on piano, and Wendy Lewis with her powerful yet gentle vocals; if anything shows from this song as does the rest of the album, it shows a band that has matured to an extent that their tightness and group musicianship has never been stronger.

David Gilmour - Echoes

Live In Gdansk (2008)

Sorry for the other descriptions being long, that's what jazz does to me. So here's a change altogether with the great David Gilmour.

Echoes was originally the main feature of 1971 Pink Floyd album Meddle, a 20 minute plus progressive epic of rolling waves, coral caves and echoes of distant times. This song is quient essentially a prime example of progressive rock music, and for David's live show in Poland promoting his latest solo album 'On An Island' this live cd delivers all those songs as well as some classic Pink Floyd numbers resurrected alongside Rick Wright on keyboards providing another original slice of Pinks sounds.

It was devastating news to hear of Ricks death not long before this album was actually released, and although the album does not have a dedication to Rick within the sleeve i'm sure David would agree that not only does this album demonstrate the versatility of how strong a guitar player and song writer he is but also stands as a last testiment to the experimental yet jazzy roots of Rick Wright. And that has more meaning than words.

This version of Echoes (actually longer than on Meddle) has as much raw energy and grace since the day it were recorded. Great song, great album, buy!

Sam N.

About.

2009-01-15T23:37:00.000Z

"BLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!" Booth (2009).

MelodicJam is a 'mutant child of a blog' run by both Sam Neilson and Tom Booth, both students from the UK who thought it was about time their opinions be voiced across the wide, encrypted silk strands of the Internet spiders worldly web.

Mostly this blog will be filled with miscellanious items brought together and congealed to make what is deemed 'a Melodic Jam' with thoughts, opinions and more, celebrating all that is inspiring regardless of how popular or downright shameful it may be.

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Right enough of the sebatical and back to business. With the above almost poetic piece aside, we hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as we'll enjoy raising it. From nappies to a moody teenager, full maturity and perhaps through to an incontinant elder. Who knows!

Music, stories, news, goings on, the lot. Join the jam while there's still some left.

Sam N. (First actual post coming soon)