Journal Entries
Lost in Translation
Posted Feb 19, 2004
Well, I've just watched "Lost in Translation" and I can't honestly remember the last time I was so touched by a movie. How wonderful is this film?
For anyone who's ever been far from home and not wanted to be, for anyone who's ever made a temporary best friend.... Heck, just for everyone else who likes good movies, this is a must see.
If it doesn't win bucketloads of awards there is no justice.
*sigh*
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Latest reply: Feb 19, 2004
Agony is....
Posted Feb 12, 2004
Some of you might have noticed I'm something of a Marillion fan. The rest of you evidently aren't paying attention.
Now, Marillion have a new album out in May (it's called 'Marbles' - go buy it) and, as has become customary for Los Marillos, they have put the record out for pre-sale among the faithful. This time with the small incentive of being put into a draw to win attendence at a special press conference well in advance of the album's release, where the new album will be played in full and the band will be on hand to answer questions about it and generally chat over some free booze.
Imagine my surprise when I WIN. 
Imagine my horror when I learn it's in Oxford. 
On a Thursday night. 
Well, I've thought through every possible option - taking days from next year's holiday allowance, brutally mutilating the flexi-time rules, driving overnight and even taking a sleeper train, but it's just not on. I can't go.
I guess I'll just have to have my own Marillion night in that night. You can imagine just how torturous that will be for me, I'm sure...... 
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Latest reply: Feb 12, 2004
Top 10 albums of 2003
Posted Jan 3, 2004
For those who like such things, here are my top 10 albums of 2003. For those who don't, there's a whole world out there.....
The order is as of 8:35pm on January 2nd and is subject to change depending on which I played last.
1. Slingshot Professionals - Kelly Joe Phelps
Kelly Joe brought us his most accessible album yet in 2003. Slingshot Professionals has a more 'band' oriented sound than anything he's produced before, and the songs are more complete and structured, but without losing any of their intimacy. Not quite up to "Sky Like a Broken Clock" perhaps, but a superb album nonetheless. He's stonking live too if you get the chance
to see his show.
2. Volume 4 - Joe Jackson Band
I love Joe Jackson, even when everyone else hates him, but somehow he's at his best here, back with the original line up who made the first three albums back in the late 70's / early 80's (hence the title).
As usual the lyrics are cutting ("Thugz'r'Us"), spot on ("Awkward Age"), hilarious and touching ("Love at First Light") but here the rhythm section rather than the piano drives the whole record from the beginning, and the mix deliberately highlights it to make a driving, hard edged sounding album that you can't help but get involved with.
3. Never, Never Land - UNKLE
Everything Massive Attack's "100th Window" should have been - from the atmospheric opener "Back and Forth" you're drawn in, then "Eye For An Eye" attacks you on every level, and the rest of the album flows beautifully from there. "Inside" finishes the standard CD, but the bonus track on the UK edition "Awake the Unkind" is possibly the best closing track I've heard on
an album this year.
4. Conversations with the Unseen - Soweto Kinch
That this man didn't win the Mercury Music Prize is the crime of the century - fabulous sax playing, coupled with a rock solid rhythm section and seamlessly blended with rap and hip-hop influences which somehow sound warm rather than aggressive and are never out of place or forced.
Perhaps not 'prog', but definitely 'progressive' , this is a totally unique album which is being called the greatest British jazz album of all time by people who know a heck of a lot more about jazz than I do.
5. Feel Euphoria - Spock's Beard
This one's divided the fans, but I loved it from the outset. Rocking opener "Onomatopoeia" is a definite statement of intent, and that statement is "we're still here!". The sound is different from Neal Morse's Beard, but what do you expect from a band who's lost their main creative force? Nick D'Virgilio proves he's more than capable of filling Morse's shoes in that respect, and centrepiece "A Guy Named Sid" showcases every member of the band individually, which I'm not sure 'Old Beard' ever did.
A few over-indulgences (most notably on the title track) could have been ironed out by stricter production, but "Ghosts of Autumn" is worth the price of admission alone....
6. Absolution - Muse
2003 was the year I finally noticed Muse. I heard "Time is Running Out" and was hooked - and the album's a belter too. It's an album I don't pick tracks out of, but "Butterflies and Hurricanes" is a standout, and although I don't particularly hold with the 'new Queen' tag they're getting, the Bo-Rap comparisons are unavoidable - in terms of power and drama it's all there.
7. Just Like Blood - Tom McRae
Tom's second album improves immeasurably on his first. It's a strange album that always seems to sound too loud.... It chills the soul and somehow manages to be uplifting too - haven't quite worked out how. A beautiful late night chill-out album.
8. Permission to Land - The Darkness
Ah, what can one say about The Darkness that hasn't been said already. I'll just say I'm firmly in the 'love it' camp =)
9. Big Beautiful Sky - Venus Hum
At first listen, this is a bog-standard dancey pop record, featuring some bird doing an uncanny Bjork impression on vocals. Listen closer though, and it's actually a very unique album - sure, the lead singer does sound a little like Bjork, but to these ears the voice is sweeter, and better controlled. The sounds used for the synth percussion are wonderfully weird -
one souds like an egg being broken against a pebble-dashed wall.
There's influences of techno, rock, jazz and even flamenco in there (notably on "Beautiful Spain") which raise this well above the standard pop-dance fare of the year. The layering of the melodies and the rich soundscapes make it always an involving and uplifting listen. High hopes for a follow up in 2004.
10. The Thorns
When three brilliant solo artists get together to make a record you've got me interested. It's just a lovely, lovely record - the harmonies are as sweet as the acoustic strumming; it's just recorded sunshine.
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Latest reply: Jan 3, 2004
Water under the bridge
Posted Dec 29, 2003
Well 2003 is all over bar the shouting, and what a long strange trip it's been.
All the best to everyone out there in hootooland for hogmanay and beyond - sloppy snogs and firm manly handshakes* all round!
*delete as appropriate
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Latest reply: Dec 29, 2003
WARNING! Direct Line Insurance
Posted Nov 10, 2003
People of the UK - a warning about the service of Direct Line insurance.
Go to your filing cabinet, documentation wallet or whatever - and make sure you're covered for what they say you are. If necessary call them and ask, because they are not true to their word. Then get them to send out a signed document detailing the conversation, for they will not believe it took place without evidence.
I extended my cover three years ago to cover my camera etc. when travelling. I was told there and then that the cover was in place and accepted their word in good faith. Now, when I try to claim, I am told that I am not, nor have I ever been, covered in such a way. They will not accept that it is their mistake simply because I have failed to point it out to them in the intervening period, and have denied my claim for my stolen camera. Strangely I only discovered their error when I try to use the insurance. They are not willing to take any responsibility for their error, blaming me instead for not having pointed out their error earlier.
They did very kindly offer to extend my cover in the future for an additional charge. I very kindly offered them a choice of orrifice.
In short, their word is meaningless, they only operate on proof and documentation and their customer service apparently doesn't even extend to believing a customer when he calls and points out the error.
I shall be moving all my insurance away from direct line in future, and would recommend anyone to consider carefully what sort of organisation they are dealing with before entering into a policy with them.
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Latest reply: Nov 10, 2003
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