top 10

A delighted Laura Marling receiving the news that her album is my no. 1 of 2008

Pointless and hack I know, but I am currently compiling my top ten albums of 2008 for my show on Sunday.  So far I have a top 9 but am unsure which one should get my top 10 place.  Of course all this will change before Sunday.  Being the creepy obsessive I am Laura Marling will probably still be no 1.

1. Laura Marling – Alas, I Cannot Swim
2. Cajun Dance Party – Colourful Life
3. Sigur Ros – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
4. Operator Please – Yes Yes Vindictive
5. Ida Maria – Fortress Around My Heart
6. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
7. Sons & Daughters – This Gift
8. White Denim – Workout Holiday
9. Randy Newman – Harps and Angels
10.

The others that are being considered are…

Band of Horses, Elbow, Oasis, Raconteurs, Sonny J, Bon Iver, Friendly Fires, Futureheads, Twilight Sad, James, Neil Diamond, Martha Wainwright, Seasick Steve, Noah And The Whale, Ladyhawke, Johnny Flynn, Frank Turner, The Aliens, Mystery Jets, Travis, Gnarls Barkley, MGMT, Born Ruffians, Rufus Does Judy, Vampire Weekend, Twilight Sad, Lightspeed Champion, Jim Jones Revue, Tapes N Tapes, Flight of the Conchords, Okkervil River, Jenny Lewis, Walkmen
I can’t include EPs and I’m fairly sure that there are some really obvious names that I’ve left out.  Any suggestions much appreciated.

Q have already done their top 50 here

broken records

…really are one of the best bands in Scotland just now, and this video shows why…

Oasis Vs Sir Cliff

The technical genius that is Producer Dave has put together a wee video of part of last Sunday’s show.  Taken from the story on music news that fans of Sir Cliff have accused Oasis of thieving Devil Woman.

Zap…

Take some ska, a bit of Christianity some genuinely creepy lyrics and mix together to get this…

He taught me how to turn my cheek

when people laughed at me

I’ve had friends before [note the past tense]

he’s one who’ll never leave you flat

Clearly some issues there.  You know fine well that at least one member of the band has been responsible for the death and mutilation of many a non believer.  Think my favourite line is the one that compares Jesus to a mountie.

Maestro

I know I shouldn’t really enjoy BBC 2’s Maestro.  I mean I’m a refined sort of chap who loves clever, big TV shows like The Wire and The West Wing.

I remeber reading about it on the front page of Chortle  a few months back and thinking that the whole idea behind the programme sounded a bit rubbish.  I mean who wants to see a few comedians and B-list celebrities try and conduct an orchestra?  If the idea was to get people not normally interested in classical music interesed in classical music then I can’t see why giving Bradley Walsh and Sue Perkins a baton is going to help.

I didn’t watch the first episode when it first aired but I did read a couple of reviews and do you know what the critics liked it. So I went away and iplayered episode 1 and became hooked.  It was funny.  Really, really funny.  It’s also a bit grown up.  Although the TV folk behind it have copyied the Strictly Come Dancing/X-Factor judging format with four judges, three of whom are obnoxious and whose opinions you couldn’t care less about.

In short it’s a TV programme that has made me laugh, made me even care a bit about some of the contestants and has made me dig out and listen some the orchestral music on my ipod.  What more can you ask for?

I thought Alex James would walk it, but that’s because I like Blur.  The real star is Goldie.  This is him conducting ‘O Fortuna’ from Orff’s Carmina Burana.  Superb.  The final is next week - Goldie to win.

mixtape and shergar

Have put together a mixtape for the end of July  andrewlearmonth.muxtape.com . Seemed liked the best time to do it.

Sometimes the cartoons in Private Eye aren’t that great, at other times they’re subtle, clever and superb.  This is from the latest issue.

HEATHCLIFF…

…It’s me, Cathy.  Come home, let me in your window…

Just listened to a BBC radio 4 documentary about the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.  Their version of Heathcliff is superb and will be getting a wee play on the radio show tonight.

Hmm, listening to radio 4 and didn’t bother to turn it off when the Archers came on.  Not a healthy sign.

another week, another podcast

Podcast 27 is online right now.  I think it’s our biggest ever podcast, coming in at a whopping 53 minutes.  There’s a session from Sons & Daughters, where they play Gilt Complex and Iodine, Peterhead band the Resolutes play us a couple of songs, and as well as that there’s a humongous interview with the Futureheads.

 

 

 

 

 

http://original106.drlnet.co.uk/podcasts/sunday_showcase/250508_sunday_showcase_ep27.mp3

As promised here’s the acoustic version of Gilt Complex.

long time…

haven’t posted here in ages.  I’ll maybe do something a bit more substantive tomorrow.  To make up for the pathetic absence have a mixtape.

http://andrewlearmonth.muxtape.com/

Features Ida Maria’s performance of I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked from Sunday’s show.  Which is, of course, on the podcast alongside a session and chat with Dundee rockers the Law.  Available from http://original106.drlnet.co.uk/podcasts/sunday_showcase/120508_sunday_showcase_ep25.mp3 .

Album of the Week…

…has to be the self named Flight Of The Conchords CD.  Came out on Monday with next to no fanfare.  Really is up there with the funniest things ever.

Seem’s that my favourite song isn’t on the album but it is here on youtube.  Properly beautiful.