The Review: The Lodgers - Shuffleathon 2008

Here it is: Asta’s. I’m lucky. These are bloody good tunes (well, except the last one). These appear to be mostly Canadian in origin. I suppose that because this came all the way from Quebec that you’d get the sender’s home country featuring quite a lot of their home musicans. Probably that’s where the Shuffleathon really works.

Anyway, the review.

1. Flowers and Football Tops - Glasvegas
Now I’ve heard of this group called Glasvegas, and I assumed that they got their name from both Glasgow and Las Vegas (bright, me!). What I didn’t expect was this sounding like very Scottish rock. Good tune. I like it. ****

2.Golden Age - TV on the Radio
Not entrirely sure about this one. Sounds a lot like Prince. I only hope any album they may have made doesn’t sound all like this. But a fairly good song. ***1/2

Nighthawks - Two Hours Traffic
Good tune. Interesting. Never heard of the band (like most of the tracks in this compilation…no bad thing). But like I said, good tune. ****

That Beat - Architecture in Helsinki
I like this tune. Interesting lyrics “dressed up as bubblegum/I’m stuck to your shoe/Let’s run. Infectious song. ****

Sultanas De Merkaillo - Ojos De Brujo
Ah, a Spanish song. Spanish guitar, spanish vocals. I like this style, and I like this song. Excellent. ****

M79 - Vampire Weekend
Interesting beginning. Violins and what sounds a lot like a pianola (I think). Good tune all the way through. I like. Catchy tune, too. Another ****

Shine - The Album Leaf
An instrumental one, this one, and I like this. Infectious. From their Wikipedia page the group was Sigur Ros’ support group a number of years ago after one of the latter’s members picked up a copy of one of their albums. I only know Sigur Ros’ well-known tracks. Are they any good? Sorry, I’m rambling. **** 1/2

North of Birmingham - The Houseplants
No, not Manchester, but east of Kipling, north of Birmingham. Another good one. I’m beginning to feel a bit spoilt. These are very good tunes. This one is slightly jazzy (I may be wrong, but there’s loads of strings and piano here). Yet another ****

I Put A Spell On You - Nina Simone
A jazz classic. Excellent stuff. I like it. Sort of goes with the previous song. ****

Nike Town - Son of Dave
Blues. Catchy tune. Not sure I like the ending, but all the same, very good. ***1/2

Beautiful U R - Deborah Cox
The most “pop-ified” song of the lot. Not sure I like this type of music (R&B?), but an interesting tune all the same. ***1/2

I’m Still In Love With You - Al Green
Good soul music. Excellent song from Al Green. Why are songs like this so darned good?****

If You See Him - Kreesha Turner
Oh hello. This sounds like a Norah Jones song. But, it’s not Norah Jones singing. I’ve not heard of Kreesha Turner, but I suppose she’s not going all out to sing like Norah. Good tune, though. But too close to Norah Jones for my liking. ***1/2

Bleeding All Over You - Martha Wainwright
So this is Martha Wainwright. I’ve heard of her. Not heard any songs of hers, until now. Not quite sure about it. I’m listening to it on my iPod at the time of writing this, and I’m still not sure. It sounds okay, good melody and all that stuff. But I’m not sure whether I’m missing something. ***1/2

123 My Friends - John McKiel
Like it. Another one I like. I’m a fan of Ricky Ross (Deacon Blue). This sounds very much like his style. Now I’m very, very spoilt. This is an excellent CD. Thanks, Asta!! ****

You Don’t Know Me - Ben Folds feat. Regina Spektor
I like this one. Oh yes, I like this one. A different tune. But then again, my musical exposure hasn’t gone close to Ben Folds or his Five. And I defintely wouldn’t have heard of Regina Spektor. Nice voice (Regina, not Ben). ****1/2

Cry - Godley & Creme
A bit of a co-incidence, that these two came from my home city, Manchester (some of their early songs in various bands recorded in a town 5 miles from where I live. I remember when this one came out. Especially the video. Which came first? Michael Jackson’s video, or this one? A precursor to the morphing technology, maybe? ***1/2

Reckoner - Radiohead
Stop it. Stop the wailing. I don’t like this. I only go for their tracks where the singer’s actually singing and not wailing. Sorry. **

I’ve been doing the Shuffleathon thing for the past 3 years (since it’s inception), and I can honestly say, this is the best CD I’ve received. I like a huge majority of the songs on here, except Radiohead (but then the relationship between me and Radiohead has always been mixed. Wait until you see the track listing of my CD I sent out. There’s a Radiohead track on there. I’m going to have to explain that…

Excellent CD.

Overall score out of 5: A very strong 4 1/2

Thanks again Asta!

Exterminate!

While not a big, big fan of Doctor Who I won’t drop everything to watch it. I do have a favourite episode though), this made me laugh. No doubt, the soon-to-be-announced new Doctor will be reading this book quite quickly.

Exterminate! Exterminate! Damn Steps!

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The 5th

The beginning of 2009 seems to be a natural time to get a few things organised. Everything’s stopping until next week, the 5th, and most of us will be back at work (I know a few people who went back today.)

So the 5th seems to be a good time to actually put one or 2 plans into action. One of these is, of course, the losing weight bit. I ate my fair share of food at Christmas, but this was over about 3 days, and I’m going out for a meal with my parents, Polyhex, Agent and Agent’s mother tomorrow….

The other morning I weighed myself and very nearly cried out in disbelief. I have really put a lot of weight on this year. So, I have an excuse to lose weight: lose what I put on over the Christmas period. Starting on the 5th.

New Year, New Look

First off, Happy New Year to all. Hope 2009 is a great year for everyone.

As you can see, I’ve also changed the theme of my blog. This was done out of necessity rather than choice. I was relatively happy with the previous one I had, but various technical difficulties on my own PC, meant that without rebooting my machine millions of times just to do one thing (long story, appears to be fixed now), I would have got absolutely nowhere with it.

I’ve also decided to add a few more bits of functionality and also use a bit of technology on my blog. Yes, this also means that Twitter is coming back after a brief trial a few months ago. I just want things to be a bit different. But whatever you do, don’t call them “New Year’s Resolutions”. Besides, current thinking (if you can call it that) says that making resolutions is bad for your health.

Let’s see what the next year brings!

“I’m hungry. We don’t know when we’ll get the chance to eat again.”

Hope everybody out there had a good Christmas. Mine was a fairly quiet one, unlike previous years, when it was pretty manic at times. It was just the 3 days of eating…Luckily yesterday, I put an end to that cycle and ate hardly anything. A good job. I’d begin to swell up like a balloon.

Today, it was back to some normality in that I am working today and tomorrow, and then I’m off until next Monday. Today and tomorrow are more like catch-up days for me (imposing deadlines on another department, even!), until next Monday, when the work really begins.

All I’ve been told is that next year (2009) is going to be quite a busy one.

Overheard: “These Christmas songs are rubbish. They’re the same songs time after time.”

I, for one, am now in the Christmas spirit more than what I was an hour ago. Maybe it’s because I’ve finished work for the week. Or maybe because tomorrow it’s finally Christmas Eve.

Over the past week, I’ve managed to get quite a reputation for myself, because I was seen to have a very good time at the works Christmas Party, which, as far as Christmas parties go, was actually one of the best I’ve been to. Quite a lot happened - with me involved and to me (which is all I’m saying about that - far too personal. I wouldn’t like to embarass the lady now, would I?). Yes, I did come home quite merry and a little more than a little drunk, but I had a really good time. Not bad for someone who thought they’d only be there for about an hour or so. Ended up leaving when last orders had finished and the bar shutters came down at midnight. And I was seen to be dancing on the dancefloor - it’s weird times these. Me? Dance? Don’t be daft.

When I got into work after the weekend yesterday, my reputation as a party animal was cemented, and I probably surprised many people as a result. Good!

Everything’s fine and okay. Hopefully tomorrow I won’t have to run around getting things for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Last year was a bit unusual, because the usual thing of going to my uncle’s one day, then my uncle comes round here the next day was broken due to my Christmas being spent in Spain. This year, it looked as though only Christmas Day was on the cards, going round to my uncle’s, because a trip to Blackpool was on the cards, but that fell through, so it’s back to the two-day Christmas. Still not sure when the trip to Blackpool is going to happen.

Anyway. I have a CD to complete, as well as a review to write. 

If I don’t post tomorrow, let me leave you with this, just in case Santa decides to go all legal. and joins the modern world.

Merry Christmas…everyone!

Christmas Cookie Liability And Indemnification Agreement

Before St. Nick makes his way down your chimney and indulges, make sure you leave out our official Christmas Cookie Liability And Indemnification Agreement for him (notary not required). It includes 7 levels of legal protection against being pulled into court, on the basis of:

Failure to provide nutrition information and a list of ingredients (the “Grandma’s secret recipe” clause);
Failure to caution of the potential for overeating because cookies taste “yummy” and are provided at no cost;
Failure to advise that walking, biking, and jogging will shed pounds, but riding around on a reindeer-powered sleigh will not;
Failure to warn that Christmas lights, lawn ornaments (plastic reindeer, snowmen, etc.) and other holiday decorations may constitute manipulative marketing to lure Santa into over-consumption;
Failure to offer “healthier” cookie alternatives (e.g., tofu bars, carob blobs, or carrot sticks);
Failure to affix warning label acknowledging that milk, should it be provided, must not be consumed if Santa is, or could possible be, lactose intolerant; or
Failure to notify that eating too many cookies may lead to even greater levels of obesity.
Ho! Ho! Ho! … Have a Merry Christmas (In moderation, of course)!

The agreement

Santa Claus, AKA Kris Kringle, AKA Jolly Old St. Nick (hereinafter referred to as “Santa”) acknowledges receipt of Christmas cookies from …… (hereinafter referred to as “Baker”).

Santa acknowledges and understands that no warranty, either expressed or implied, is made by Baker as to the nutritional content of cookies. This document is offered to duly warn Santa that dangerous conditions, risks, and hazards may result from overconsumption of cookies. Santa is hereby informed that cookies may contain any or all of the following: calories, carbohydrates, sodium (salt), fat, saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, nuts, sugar, caffeine, chocolate “chips” and/or “chunks,” and good cheer. Santa acknowledges that eating way too many cookies may incur risks including, but not limited to, satiation, indigestion, heartburn, laziness, holiday spirit, “food coma,” and “that bloated feeling.”

As consideration for accepting Baker’s cookies, Santa indemnifies Baker from all liability for injury or other harm (including obesity) which may be caused, in whole or in part, by said “too many” cookies. Santa agrees that neither he, nor his agents or personal representatives, will sue Baker for any injury suffered, in whole or in part, as a consequence of ingesting cookies. Santa assumes full responsibility for, and will indemnify Baker for, any damages in the event that he transfers cookies to any third party (including, but not limited to, potential claimants Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph, Mrs. Claus, and various elves).

SANTA HAS READ THIS DOCUMENT AND UNDERSTANDS IT. SANTA IS SIGNING IT FREELY

By George, I’ve Got It!

My Shuffleathon CD has arrived from Asta. I have 18 tracks to listen to, and I’m only on track 3 at the moment. The review won’t take as long coming out as my CD I’m planning to send out. But, so far it’s going well, I like the tracks presented on said compilation.

Does It Feel Like Christmas?

I’m not sure about you lot, but the lead-up to Christmas feels a bit diferrent. Mainly because it doesn’t seem all that long ago since it was Christmas last year. But then again I didn’t spend Christmas last year in the UK…

Yes, we’re getting the customary cold weather and the usual bets on whether it’s going to be a white Christmas or not (do you think that’s anything to do with global warmi - sorry, climate change?). But apart from that…

Unless I’m getting older, and all of the days are the same (which clearly they’re not), everything seems a bit “odd”. I’m still working out what it is that’s so different, but at the moment, I can’t think of what it actually is.

Hope this makes sense…

I’m Here.

I’m back after 2 weeks self-exile. There are reasons for this.

Apart from being very tired when I got home for most of these 2 weeks, the reason that mostly kept me away from writing anything was due to the sudden, but ultimately not unexpected death of one of my relatives.

Everything, from the arrangements for the funeral to the funeral itself, was all taken care of within a matter of 3 days. So, mostly, it was because this happened that, of course, you don’t think you’d have anything to say, but rather carry on with your day-to-day activities the best you can, and try not to dwell on the coming event of saying goodbye to a loved one.

I was taking a couple of days holiday when we heard the news (it happened on my birthday, last Tuesday), so I was in no mood to celebrate it this year in any sort of excess. That came on Sunday, when I had a roast dinner and loads of roasties. I went into work on the Wednesday, which was okay, and Thursday, which was not. I didn’t want to be there, and I think it was more apprehension about the funeral the next day than anything else.

The funeral was attended by quite a lot of family, friends and colleagues. And I even managed to meet some relatives who I haven’t seen for 25 years.

Everything has now calmed right down, and getting to some semblence of normality. I have to start my Christmas shopping very soon. And I also have a CD to put together. 

As for the reason why I was tired over the last couple of weeks, I’ve mainly put down to the glasses I was wearing and the fact that I don’t really need them any more (at least for the length of time I had them on). My eyes have been feeling fine over the last few days, and I’ve not been tired, despite having a varied and full workload at work.

But I wish this cold weather would stop. I wouldn’t make a good Eskimo.

Access Denied

Well, looks like my internet usage at work has been curtailed. I’ll rephrase that - everybody’s internet usage at work has been curtailed.

Usual, while I’m waiting for the 9 o’clock bell to go for the start of the day, I have a cup of reasonably-tasting hot chocolate in one hand, and I catch up with my blog reading. Not any more. Now every blog I want to read, the Blocking Police deny me. I can’t read blogs any more. I can’t look at my own e-mail anymore. So, it has to wait until that evening, when I’m slightly more tired. Grr!! Damn the Internet Police!!

In other news, I have written out a list of tracks to put on my CD for this year’s Shuffleathon. I think it’s more of a better mix of tunes than previous years. Shows I like a wide range of music. But, I’m giving too much away.