First of April mp3 downloads - you'd be a fool not to!

This one's pretty self-explanatory... (read all about April Fool's Day over at Wikipedia)

April Fools - Rufus Wainwright

April Fool - Soul Asylum

Fool - Cat Power

Everybody's Somebody's Fool - Connie Francis

I Pity the Fool - Ann Peebles

A Fool For You - Ray Charles

Fool To Cry - The Rolling Stones

Dancing Fool - Frank Zappa

Chain of Fools - Aretha Franklin

Fools Gold - Amy Winehouse

Foolish You - Kate and Anna McGarrigle

Keep Cool, Fool - Ella Fitzgerald

Crackerjack Fool - Josephine Foster

A Fool In Love - Ike and Tina Turner

Fools In Love - Inara George

Only Fools Rush In - Elvis Presley

And finally, in an entirely contrived, but inscrutably honest, attempt to try and attract at least a few more hits...

Have I Been A Fool? - Jack Penate (the male Kate bloody Nash...yeurch!)

Acting Like A Fool - Matt Costa

And why not an extra one for my Gallic friends too?

I'm Gonna Go Fishin' - Peggy Lee

The A-Z of Divinyl-ness... (aka Alphabet Meme)

I was tagged in a meme recently by Canuck Chick, aka Bamboo Blitz and, let's face it, I am rubbish/lazy/preoccupied/delete as appropriate* lately, therefore I have decided to wimp out and simply repost something from my pre-Blogger days (although I did migrate it over here with me, so it comes straight from way back in my archive somewhere). Well, it fits the bill..! I shall not tag anyone directly, but feel free to meme away...the original meme asks for one fact about yourself for each letter of the alphabet!

A:
Atheist. Ambition. Something I wish I had more of! (The) Arena…the place of my misspent youth (well mid-teen years anyway!). Albert Herbert Hawkins: The Naughtiest Boy in the World...was one of my favourite books...all about spacemen being scared of mice...what could be better? (The Beast in the Bathtub is also worth checking out!).

B:
Boobies. Yes, they are rather large. No I didn't have them surgically enhanced for your viewing pleasure, so you can stop looking now, my face is up here! (See also 'jubblies'). Boudoir (by Vivienne Westwood)…my 'signature scent'. Blonde…something which (as I have got older) I am no longer…which is also kind of true of blue-eyed.

C:
Creative. At times. Colour co-ordinated. It's important! Caring…according to Gil who, when I asked her about this blog, immediately said I was "Kind, caring, sensitive"…I don't think she really got that it wasn't a 'big myself up' kind of blog…but I'm including it here anyway, simply because Gil is fit! Coca Cola…way superior in taste to Diet Coke, however it does leave your mouth feeling like something's died in it. It's a tough one. Canada…is somewhere I want to go (and I have new 'relatives' in Calgary…and had a penpal in Quebec as a child). Celibate. I might as well be!

D:
Dancing. Or not, as the case may be. Something which is, to me, extremely scary and awkward, and which should be avoided at all costs! Dresses…yes, I do wear them…people never believe me until they've seen it with their own eyes. Possibly because I also own dungarees (I like them…sod the stereotypes!). Dreamer (rather than doer). Dual nationality…lucky me eh?

E:
Enthusiastic…often rather hyperactively so. Edible. There's a cheese with the same name as me (minds out of the gutter please!). Elvis…surely the most beautiful man ever (although Marlon Brando was sometimes pretty hot too!).

F:
Fuller-figured…or maybe even (gasp!) FAT! Fag hag…most of my friends are gay men. It just happened that way. Can you be a fag hag if you yourself are of a somewhat bendy persuasion? Football bores me rigid (as do most other sports). Future. Something of which I am unable to conceive (this links in with 'ambition'!).

G:
Gateshead. Well, it's where I live. Also gin…is rather smashing :o) Goats' cheese…actually, also gherkins…food I love! Geek…we rule! Gigs.

H:
Horizon. My favourite concept when playing 'I Spy' as a child…unfortunately this meant that it was always rather easy to guess what I had spotted…it was either that or 'tree'! Also horizons (plural)…something I was very fortunate to have been provided with growing up, and Horizons, a group I worked for as a volunteer in my time at uni. Homo…wner.

I:
Indescribable…seriously, why am I bothering? Indiscreet (at times…see also 'loud'!). Indecisive. Individual (see 'U'). iPod…the best invention ever? Certainly the best Christmas present I have ever had.

J:
Journalist. Something I would love to be (of the print variety…ideally a critic) should I have any of the requisite drive or motivation. Jubblies (as per 'boobies'). Joanna. It's my middle name. Junior VIP (or UM)...British Midlands frequent flier when I was only wee.

K:
Kitsch…a great word and a great home decorating scheme! Kissing. A wonderful pastime…and I have been told (lots of times!) that I am rather good at it, thank you very much ;o)

L:
Loud…for this is the word that is most often used to describe me. Laugh. I am frequently told I have a dirty one. Lazy…yes, I admit it. Lori…in which case, 'L' also stands for (blummin') long story. Labels…none of them fit me very well (I'm not talking clothes, I'm talking being put into nice little discrete boxes).

M:
MUSIC!! Is life. Also Middlesbrough, for that is where me roots are, mon. And minky…tee hee. Mushrooms. Are truly evil things…bleurch! Misfit. Well, it has to be acknowledged. Messy! Mature…yeah, right! Mud, mud glorious mud...is possibly the first song I learnt to sing...although it may have been It's A Long Way to Tipperary or Be Bop A Lula...my dad's not quite sure and I certainly don't remember.

N:
New Zealand. The place of my birth, and the origin of my first name. Also Northern…something which I was known for being in my time at sixth form college, due to relocating to Hampshire from Teesside and being something of an anomaly. Needles (as in syringes)…absolutely petrify me :o( (It's called trypanophobia). Noses…I love a good, unusual nose.

O:
Obstreperous. Just because it's a jolly smashing word and reminds me of a jolly smashing friend. Onomatopoeia…a great concept, in a word that is spelt horribly (see 'vowels'). Oldies…but goldies (this could go for my musical or romantic preferences!).

P:
Photography. Is fun (except for when I am the subject). Perfume…is a great book, in my humble opinion. Pal Ben would, I reckon, be a good name for a band (well, better than Red Leather anyway…as my friend Kate and I were called as children singing for pennies in her front yard!). Portrait of A Legend…my Desert Island Disc. Plucking…I am addicted to my tweezers…unhealthily so. Piercings. I have two, despite the aforementioned trypanophobia (go figure). Paul Simon…one of my favourite recording artists. Pubs…beat clubs every time.

Q:
Queer. Well what else begins with 'Q'? Queuing, just because I'm British? Erm…Queen Latifah? She's hot! Qi…is a jolly useful word to know when playing Scrabble.

R:
Riki Pickle. My dad used to call me this (basically because it sounds a very little bit like my actual name I think). Red wine…yum yum, yes please! Reflective observer (and abstract conceptualiser)…my dominant learning style(s). Roland Rat...important to my childhood for so many reasons!

S:
Singer. Something else I would love to be (see 'journalist')…if I was brave enough and, erm, could sing consistently in tune! San Francisco…the place I lost my heart…fnar. Stars…are my favourite shape. Spendthrift…I am so rubbish with money. Which brings us neatly onto shoes…love them, love them, love them…especially trainers. Stentorian (look it up). Shy…no, really. Scrabble. Split ends…I am lazy about getting around to having my hair cut. Sabre...was my Auntie's dog when I was a kid...even when he got really old he used to climb the stairs so that he could sleep by my bed. One of the best friends I ever had. Sixties Mania 2. My favourite tape in the car aged 6ish...my dad would get sooooooo sick of it! Sam :o(

T:
Taurean. Well, I am. That's all there is to say about that really. Touc…a nickname I tried to create for myself as a kid (this never really works)…simply because I'd never had a proper one. Tapestry…possibly my favourite album. Tabitha. Was the name of the cat I had at my Auntie's house when I was young…she was named after the little girl in Bewitched…and was my muse in winning a Bellamy's Bugle Pet Poetry Competition (one of the very few things I have ever won!). Tartan Asia Extreme…have released some super films. Tokyo. Is somewhere I would love to visit.

U:
Unusual…I have been referred to as 'special' in the past, which perhaps is not so great…particularly when it's your friends saying it! But "Nice…different…unusual" is ok. Definitely unique. Ditto unforgettable. "Umb-er-ella…ella…ella" is a truly pants song, yet still made it to the top of the charts! I despair.

V:
Vowels. I have a thing about vowels being all up next to each other in spelling a word…they make horrid sounds when you have to say them out loud. Example words are moist, poignant, the name Phoebe…and the way onomatopoeia is spelt is like this too. Vinyl. As in LPs. Vegetarian…mostly (chicken's a vegetable right?). Verbose (this will not come as any great shock!).

W:
Walrus. Because, as a wee little snip of a peep, I had an alphabet book where 'W' stood for 'Walrus' and I used to point it out convinced that it was a picture of my Uncle Mike! Yes, these good looks are hereditary ;o) Water…drinking it, swimming in it, listening to it run, looking out at it (in sea form). Walkers' cheese and onion crisps. Wellington Hospital…the more specific place of my birth (see 'New Zealand'). Words…are brilliant and I am a little bit obsessed with them.

X:
XX. Is my chromosomal make-up…at least as far as I am aware (see also 'boobies'!). Xmas…comes but once a year…and is a totally unnecessary way of shorthand-ing Christmas. "Xanadu…ooo…hey, Xanadu!" (well, 'X' is a rather difficult one!).

Y:
Yodelling. Well, not really…I just thought it would be an amusing thing to put! Yan tan tether nether pim…yan dick, tan dick, tether dick, nether dick etc. This is how Cumbrians count sheep…what a bloody useless piece of knowledge! Yonder…I word I recently decided that I would try to use more frequently. Yorkshire…a place I am not from, so quit telling me I sound like I am!

Z:
Zaftig…hell yeah baby! Zami (see 'queer'). Zzzzzzzzzzzz…and that's your lot! :o) I'm off for a snooze now.

My life in song...with a little help from Elvis Costello!

I was over at Zen's page recently and saw a post that really caught my interest; she, in turn, had got the idea from The Notorious J*O*E. The basic idea is that there are 25 questions, which you have to answer using the song titles in one band's/artist's/songwriter's back catalogue.

I've been through a few before coming to rest with Elvis Costello...first there was Kristin Hersh and Throwing Muses (predominantly one word titles, which made the task somewhat difficult!), then I tried Pixies, then Paul Simon, but none quite seemed to fit the bill. In the case of Mr McManus, I had a hard time whittling it down to one answer per question! Well, what were brackets invented for if not me and my verbosity?

And so, to the challenge...

1. Are you a male or female?

She.

2. Describe yourself.

Hidden Charms (decided against Worthless Thing, as it is a long time since I have been a teenager!).

3. Describe your day.

Sittin' and Thinkin'.

4. Describe where you currently live.

This Town.

5. If you could go anywhere, where would you go?

Chelsea (I Don't Want To Go To)...so, Black Sails In the Sunset methinks (less obvious than Living In Paradise!).

6. Your best friend is...

The Invisible Man.

7. Your favourite colour is...

When Green Eyes Turn Blue.

8. You know that...

Imagination Is A Powerful Deceiver.

9. What's the weather like?

The Other Side of Summer.

10. If your life was a television show, what would it be called?

The Imposter (or perhaps Everyday I Write the Book).

11. What is life to you?

This Sad Burlesque (also considered: Brilliant Mistake, Dear Sweet Filthy World, God's Comic, All This Useless Beauty and Monkey To Man).

12. What is the best advice you have to give?

Tiny Steps (although this only just won out over Peace, Love and Understanding and Don't Look Back. Or how about Put Your Big Toe In the Milk of Human Kindness?).

13. Describe your ex.

Battered Old Bird. Ha ha! No, that's cruel...how about Accidents Will Happen? Or I Hope You're Happy Now? (The latter sounds quite threatening typed here, but I intended it in a nice way, honest).

14. Your current relationship status?

No Action (I wished I could have used Getting Mighty Crowded!).

15. What's your favourite hobby?

Pretty Words (Turning the Town Red would've been a good answer, but it wouldn't really have been true).

16. When you think of your friends...

Running Out of Angels (or Lip Service).

17. What do your friends think of you?

Mouth Almighty (or perhaps even Too Far Gone).

18. What does your current love interest think of you?

Honey Are You Straight Or Are You Blind (maybe also God Give Me Strength!).

19. You always travel with?

Radio Radio.

20. The best way to end a long day?

Sleep of the Just (although Howling At the Moon, Talking In the Dark, Human Touch, Sweet Dreams, and simply Sleep could all have worked too).

21. Your occupation is?

Coal Train Robberies...well, ok, not really, but nor is it Shipbuilding or King of Thieves.

22. When you grow up, you want to?

[Have a] Seven Day Weekend! (This is, at least, less melancholic than my initially chosen title of I Want To Vanish!).

23. What does your family think of you?

Distorted Angel...or simply Big Sister.

24. Your favourite food is?

Chewing Gum.

25. You want to be remembered as?

Beyond Belief.

That was rather fun! If you would like to join in, I would love to see your choices...leave me a comment to let me know if you've had a bash at this one.

Songs in honour of the soul-sapping, bank account-draining, arse-raping new government budget!

I have taken my time in getting around to it (really, would you expect any less from me lately?), but I just had to post about the government budget report that was announced this week. Is there any man out there with a less fitting name than Alistair Darling? Surely that is like a serial killer being called Schnookums Fluffy-bunny?

This year's budget means that I will be paying an extra:

• 55 pence on a bottle of spirits
• 14 pence on a bottle of wine
• 4 pence on a pint of beer (some places in Newcastle are already charging £3.60 for the privilege!)

• 11 pence on a packet of 20 cigarettes (I am seriously not pleased about this!)

I will also be paying more fuel duty, more car tax (it's fine if you can afford to buy a new car...I can't even afford to get my current one fixed!). Oh, and an extra 3.9% in Council Tax. Joy!

But surely, I hear you cry, the budget can't be all bad?

You are right, of course. Child Benefit has been upped, there is £200 million being invested in schools to raise GCSE results and the government plan to spend £2 billion more on British troops.

All well and good...but as a pacifist who has no intention of spawning any mewling sproglets, who has already got pretty good GCSE results thank you very much (really far too long ago), yet still pays her taxes, I demand some money off my tabs! (Overseas readers - tabs = cigarettes). It's only fair...some kind of voucher system, or tab stamps or suchlike, will do me.

Thank you in advance darling Mr Darling!

(All songs below are in mp3 format, all downloadable by right clicking, saving target as, etc. etc...you know the crack by now)

Shitloads Of Money - Liz Phair

The Hustle - Van McCoy

Money, Money, Money - Abba

Cash Machine - Hard-Fi

Welfare For the Rich - The Nihilistics

Free Money - Patti Smith

Rape Me - Nirvana

Money Worries - Bedouin Soundclash

If I Was A Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani

Give, Give, Give Me More, More, More - The Wonder Stuff

It's Yer Money I'm After Baby - The Wonder Stuff

Rich Man's World - Eilen Jewell

Baby You're A Rich Man - The Beatles

Mo Money Mo Problems - Notorious BIG and Puff Daddy

Cash Cow - We Are Scientists

'Til the Money Runs Out - Tom Waits

Little Old Money Maker - The Meters

Cash Grab Complications On the Matter - The White Stripes

Don't You Mess With My Money - Sterling Harrison

Fools Gold - The Stone Roses

Cash Machine - Two Ton Boa

Sorry We Took All Yr Money - Scary Mansion

I just couldn't bring myself to upload Money For Nothing by Dire Straits, no matter how apt the title is!

Live music review: Carolina Chocolate Drops, Newcastle Cluny 07/03/08 (plus Lady Caroline Mary)

Bluegrass / soul / blues / gospel / country / general musical bastardisation (with full respect to African-American musical traditions) that is a TREAT to listen to!

Contrary to how it may seem, I do attend gigs at venues other than the Cluny. But when, via their affiliation with the Jumpin' Hot Club, they book such great bands (and in such a brilliant, and small, venue) as Carolina Chocolate Drops, a wee jaunt out is very hard to resist!

In contrast to the last gig review I wrote (the last proper, not pretendy gig review, anyway), I was a good 20, maybe even 30, years younger than half the audience here tonight...well, aside from the hoardes of lezzies, presumably out in force to cheer on local lass Caroline Mary at her debut solo Cluny support slot.

Well known round these parts, at least in lesbian circles, as a member of Mush and The Camp Vamps, Lady Caroline Mary is now setting out all alone, just her and a banjo...well, and a guitar too, actually.

Her first five or six songs were played on the guitar, before she took to her banjo, which is when things became even more promising. This is very girly music, with songs about 'pussy cats' and lines like "a tray of fancies lies on the sideboard and I didn't know I could take one". In fact, she would make a great childrens' party entertainer, with her rather charming way of rhyming along as she goes and use of words such as "fandango". But listen a little more intently and you realise that often the sentiments proffered, whilst perhaps disguised as cutesy, can be quite cynical. Sometimes, however, they just stay cutesy...how about "I'm so sorry your allergies made you sneeze...in my house".

Caroline could easily be described with that much overused word 'quirky', introducing songs with lines like "This is for any ghosts" and (the definite high point of her set) her "self-indulgent" low-key, banjo cover of Kim Wilde's Kids In America. Titters, and chorus of supportive lesbians providing the "Woah-oh"s aside, this really did work quite well!

Relatively subdued until that went down so successfully, Caroline appeared to relax a little for the final song of her set - "This is a song I wrote after a visit to Australia. It's called Australia" - and now that she had 'warmed into' things, there was something generally more engaging about her performance. But I'm a sucker for the banjo...and Caroline herself isn't too shabby!

www.myspace.com/ladycarolinemary

Carolina Chocolate Drops took to the stage shortly later, and it was immediately apparent that they were friendly, likeable people...this, for me, is half the battle. I hate it hate it hate it when you go to see a band and they look like they can't be arsed being there, or look at the audience like they smell bad. No such nonsense with the Chocolate Drops...they told us about their drive up from Chichester and how they expected us to join in. I thought that they may be a little disappointed with the Cluny crowd if they were expecting full-on American-style honky tonkin', but we did our best in our inimitably British way!

They spent the set swapping instruments (fiddles, banjo, guitar, jug, castanets, snare, kazoo...even the latter was played skillfully!) and getting up to do seemingly impromptu, although possibly quite practiced, jigs and dances. At one point, Rhiannon Giddens (who got into contra dancing after graduating from university) was lucky not to behead herself when she jumped up on a speaker and danced for us...complete with 'knee swap' moves...oh yes!

Their musicianship and natural ability was astounding, their love and knowledge of music past and present impressive. This is not traditional music, in the sense of sticking to any specific genre...it comes across, I suppose, as bluegrass, due to the instruments employed, but borrows equally from old school black singers and bluesmen. They talk passionately about reigniting black banjo-playing heritage and named themselves in homage to the 1920s fiddle and mandolin band Tennessee Chocolate Drops. They even covered a traditional Irish tune for piano and flute with their fiddle, banjo and guitar line-up (the song Mountain Dew...possibly my favourite of the entire set). And Giddens has a wonderful, soulful voice...song 5 of the set was an a capella number about Lazarus, on which she reminded me of Ruthie Foster and incorporated gospel influences. There was a good old stomp and clap along from the audience, proving that the Cluny crowd were capable of a little interaction...if in a relatively restrained, stiff upper lip way.

Justin Robinson was incredible on his fiddle (bringing to mind the line from Old Crow Medicine Show's song Wagon Wheel - "born to be a fiddler in an old-time string band"), and blew me away (pun entirely intended) when he kept up his jug playing (which sounded like spit and raspberries, but provided some rhythmical accompaniment) for an entire song...that guy must have an awful lot of breath in him! On the very same song, we were treated to a full-on rock and roll style howl by Dom Flemons...

...who looked like a premature front porch-sitter in his check shirt, braces (as in breeches) and glasses.

I must reiterate before I sign off just what a likeable group of people Carolina Chocolate Drops are...they put everything into the performance, care about engaging their audience, and are hugely talented and entertaining. This, Giddens told us, is their "first tour overseas...we're completely addicted to tea now". Hopefully that means they'll be coming across the pond to visit us again soon. This is a band that you simply have to see live!

www.myspace.com/carolinachocolatedrops

http://www.carolinachocolatedrops.com/ (where, if you click on 'media' and then 'sound clips', you can listen to seven of their songs)

And please, please buy their music:

Heritage (enhanced CD - their first and only European release, not available in the States)

Dona Got A Ramblin' Mind

As part of their set, the Chocolate Drops did a great cover of Blu Cantrell's Hit Em Up Style...with banjo, natch!

Here is a video of them performing it at the Great Lakes Folk Festival in August 2007 (courtesy of HomerMFishbulb over at YouTube)...the sound quality isn't great on this, but it should give you an idea of how fun their cover is!

Free and legal downloads:

mp3: Starry Crown -Carolina Chocolate Drops

mp3: Rickett's Hornpipe - Carolina Chocolate Drops

mp3: Short Life of Trouble - Carolina Chocolate Drops

Duffy at The Cluny, Newcastle - 24/02/08

My first live music review of a gig I haven't been to!

It is exceedingly seldom that I find myself even vaguely interested in music that bothers the charts, never mind the very top of the Hit Parade! I make the odd exception for Britney, but truthfully this is rarely about her music, and more due to a lack of immunity to rubber-necking and being dazzled by all the National Enquirer type reporting...as opposed to experiencing any overt interest in her recorded output (with an exculpation for Toxic, which is simply a stonking good song).

Anyway, I am not here to talk about Britney, but the current inhabitant of Britain's number one spot - a young, Welsh lass by the name of Duffy. There is just something about the (few) songs that I have heard from her so far that has caught my attention.

Here is a young woman with not just a great voice, but a good dollop of soul...before you think of Joss Stone, please, have a listen if she for some reason has not yet reached your shores. Her single, Mercy starts out all Stand By Me and morphs as it goes into Chain of Fools. And, as you may be able to tell from the picture above, it really would be difficult for this girl to be any whiter, which adds an interesting angle to her old-school Motown style sound. For this reason I am reminded very strongly of Chris Clark.

By the time I heard that Duffy was due to be appearing at local venue The Cluny it was already too late. On the Cluny website, SOLD OUT was emblazoned in large letters (this almost never seems to happen at the Cluny, despite it being a small venue. Perhaps this is precisely because I don't tend to want to go and see chart-botherers...and it's not generally the sort of venue that they play anyway. But even with the much-net-hyped Johnny Flynn I was able to get tickets on the night). I telephoned to check - yep, definitely sold out.

On the night itself, a friend and I decided to head across there anyway, just in case...it is the kind of place where you will often find people selling any spare tickets they might have in the queue. I have never, in the entire time that I have been frequenting - and I mean frequent-ing - The Cluny seen it so busy!

As I fought through the throng to the door to the venue itself (handily right next to the toilet had anyone chosen to be funny with me about my journey there) in order to enquire of someone 'in the know' if there was likely to be any chance of getting our mitts on two tickets, or indeed if we could be alerted should some unneeded tickets come to their attention, I was looked at by the queuing masses with equal parts disdain and curiosity - who might be so important as to be allowed in, or so un-British as to jump the queue?!

The man with whom I spoke said that there were about 40 people on a waiting list for any tickets that might come free...bummer!

Is it just me that finds all this Duffy mania, this frenzy, completely crazy? The majority of people have only heard one song and, correct me if I am wrong, one is not yet even able to buy anything by her. Talk about media hype!

Prior to Sunday night, in an attempt to try and wangle some tickets (even this was a good week before the gig itself), I attempted to message Duffy on MySpace. I got as far as receiving some script from her (pre- me being able to type anything) saying that she is receiving so many messages that no-one is allowed to send any more! I have never even seen this message before! I then tried to contact 'her people' via her own website, explaining that I write a music blog (yes, yes sporadically at the moment, but anyway...), would very much like to write about the gig, was not asking for a freebie yadda yadda...and never heard a peep back.

Back to Sunday. Whilst waiting about for the gig to start, biding our time loitering outside smoking, we talked to a man with a pass around his neck...absolutely no idea who he was, but he seemed like a nice and chatty sort of chap. He told us that, outside the gig in Edinburgh the previous night, there had been people touting tickets for £150! He, too, found this to be completely bonkers. All on the merit of one single? This is nutty business!

Shortly after door opening, and after another brief chat with man-at-door (who was also very personable, on both occasions, incidentally), me and my aforementioned friend roundly gave up and actioned Plan B...local band Blackflower for free at The Tyne, a pub just a hop, skip and a jump down the road.

Blackflower had been a band I was keen to see...songs I had heard, ooh a long time back now, of theirs on the net had sounded good and, hell, it was free and in one of my favourite drinking establishments in Newcastle! They were fine, but sadly under-inspiring. And it was hot and loud in there (am I turning into a grown-up?)...although I'm willing to bet that it was not nearly as hot nor loud as Plan A would have been.

In summary, we didn't get into the Duffy gig, we didn't even manage to stick out the whole of the alternative gig...instead we headed to meet some friends at proper cask ale and folkie singalong boozer The Cumberland Arms. I even joined in a little on my way to and from the toilets. And do you know what? It was a cracking good night! (I even managed to do a bit of hob-nobbing with a guy involved in local music-booking legends the Jumpin' Hot Club).

So don't be dismayed if Duffy also spurns your advances...she may be very good (I couldn't say), but it will all turn out alright in the end!

mp3: Mercy - Duffy

mp3: Rockferry - Duffy

mp3: Breaking My Own Heart - Duffy


Links:

Duffy on MySpace

Website

Albums that you have forgotten you love: Come On Feel The Lemonheads

It is difficult to believe that Come On Feel The Lemonheads was released 15 years ago, but it's true...and makes me feel very old! This is by no means the greatest record ever released, but if you are late 20s/early 30-something, you are likely to remember it with fondness. Equally likely is that the first image that will come into your head is Evan Dando in a flowery dress sporting bunches. Don't ask me why, but I loved those pictures of him when I was a young teen...maybe it is akin to Lisa Simpson and her subscription to 'Non-Threatening Boys' magazine!

The picture on the left is not the exact one with which I was so enamoured, but it's the closest that I am able to find on this ole t'interweb. So was the indie-grunge success of The Lemonheads just down to their undeniably easy on the eye front man? This Divinyl thinks not. And my evidence is their 1993 album.

Come On Feel The Lemonheads was, if you like, their country album; for example, Dando could hardly sound more like Gram Parsons on hit Big Gay Heart. Previous release It's A Shame About Ray may be a better all-round offering, but it is this later album that I continue to return to...and which always makes me smile.

The smiles are, of course, a lot to do with reminiscences, but they are also to do with the endearingly simple sentiments, the sunshiney accompanying vocals of Juliana Hatfield (and even Belinda Carlisle) - epitomising that 90s sound - and, whilst the lyrics can be hit and miss, there really are some gems herein.

Try:

"Patience is like bread I say/I ran out of that yesterday" (It's About Time),

"Why Can't you look after yourself and not down on me?" (Big Gay Heart) or

"Would you trust me not to break you/I'm just trying really hard to make you/Notice me being around" (on a song with otherwise questionable lyrics about "booger"s and suchlike - Being Around).

If you haven't listened to this album since those heady teenage days, stick it in the player, or download a couple of sample tracks from here...and smile! These are well written, unfussy songs (ok, with a few dodgy lyrics strewn about!). I know that I can't be objective, and I have no idea what I would think of this album should I be listening to it for the first time now but, you know what, I don't think that it's one that I could ever just dismiss.

Tracks worth revisiting: Into Your Arms, Paid To Smile, Big Gay Heart, Rest Assured, I'll Do It Anyway, Being Around, Favourite T.

Skip past: Rick James Style...a pointless, rambling and, frankly, rather rubbish revisiting of the song Style. Closing Track The Jello Fund...a complete waste of time, particularly as this runs into the 'hidden' track (such a 90s mainstay) which, at 15 minutes and 33 seconds is ridiculous use of studio and CD time...it is mostly tuneless guitar tinkering.

That said, with those disclaimers in situ, this album is still, on the whole, a winner!

mp3: Into Your Arms - The Lemonheads (not to be confused with Nick Cave's irresistably beautiful Into My Arms)

mp3: Paid To Smile - The Lemonheads

mp3: Big Gay Heart - The Lemonheads

*Previous 'you've forgotten you love' album review of Sneaker Pimps with Becoming X.*

Listen up! It's The Correspondents

Wandsworth's The Correspondents make me want to dance! And nothing makes me want to dance...well, except for maybe The Jackson 5 and I Want You Back!

The tunes on their MySpace page are seriously kick ass and they sound like they'd be great fun live...if I could find out where they're playing! There also doesn't seem to be a way to actually own any of their music yet...either in 'get your sticky mitts on it' or download form, but as soon as there is, I'm there!

Describing themselves as "1930s Hip Hop", throwing in some swing and big band sounds, as well as some nifty turntablism, this is proper catchy stuff. In places it reminds me a lot of Chumbawamba (back when they were good) or The Avalanches...with some foot-shuffling, scuffling ska thrown in. And you just have to hear their version of The Jungle Book's I Wanna Be Like You!

They are DJ Chuckles (aka Tim Cole) and Ian Bruce, the former being the DJ/producer and the latter MC/singer/general trouble maker and they site such diverse influences as Ella Fitzgerald, Fatboy Slim and Donovan.

Their story, as told on their MySpace blog:

"The Correspondents formed in a small coffee shop in the French Riviera while waiting for the bar to open. They both set eyes upon the same unfinished glass of 1987 Bordeaux, and after an extremely gentlemanly yet dubiously romantic cuffuffle, managed to spill it down Ian's hand tailored tweed waistcoat. A crime Chuckles is still paying for today.

The Correspondents found that large quantities of port, Swing and Hip Hop go surprising well together.

The Correspondents found that while decks will skip, sound systems will cut out and microphones will feedback... Ian's two tone spats will without fail maintain the contrast of the ying-yang.

The Correspondents spent an illustrious couple of years peddling imitation moonshine in a Glaswegian suburb.

The Correspondents thought about becoming a Phil Collins tribute act... But then thought that time is better spent doing just about anything else.

The Correspondents have heard a rumour that Ian hangs his tie collection on a rhinoceros horn he acquired from an ex-pat colonial adventurer he met once in his local... This is nearly true.

The Correspondents realise that lying is bad, so want to tell you that really they just met in South London."

Catch them now and you can say you were there at from the start...they have only 121 friends and 9 comments on their MySpace page.

mp3: I Wanna Be Like You - The Correspondents

mp3: Course Of Last Night - The Correspondents

mp3: Rentaclown - The Correspondents

(P.s. Apologies to all for my dreadfully sporadic posting, and replying to messages, of late...there is a lot going on in Divinyl World, outside of Blogland...no immediate promises of any improvements on this, but I'm still knocking around and will get back on the horse eventually!)

Cinnamon Girl: Women Artists Cover Neil Young for Charity

The title of this CD (and indeed of this blog post) says it all really. Cinnamon Girl is a two disc, 21 song, all female compilation of covers of Neil Young's music. Well, except for Jill Sobule's track, on which she cheated a little, as you will see in the track listing below. The songs in question are all from the period between 1969 and 1979. And, after what has been a very long wait, it is released tomorrow (February 12) on American Laundromat Records.

ALR is the record label that was also responsible for the Pixies tribute CD Dig For Fire, which featured the likes of Mogwai, They Might Be Giants, British Sea Power, Joy Zipper and Dylan in the Movies. There is also a tribute to Kim Deal (Ceci N'est Pas un Blog hearts Kim Deal!) out in April, so for your tribute compilation CDs, they are clearly the ones to watch!

Contributing artists include Tanya Donelly, Jill Sobule, Veruca Salt, The Watson Twins and Ceci N'est Pas un Blog favourite Kristin Hersh. A gold vinyl 7" split of Donelly and Luff's songs has already been released (limited to 500 hand-numbered copies...I've got mine!), and the album has been available for a little while on iTunes in the US (which is bugger all use to the likes of me!), but finally it's here in touchable, kissable physical form!

Tanya Donelly says of Neil Young and Heart of Gold:

"I always want to hear everything he has to say. He makes me feel better. I just love this song. I think it's perfect actually - structurally, lyrically, musically. There aren't very many words, but they say everything and I can relate to every single one of them. I love that such strong images and heartbreak and hope all come through in a few lines, and that harmonica is a killer. I just love it."

All proceeds from the CD (and the 7" too) are to be donated to Casting for Recovery, in memory of Norine R. Spadaro (the mother of ALR founder Joe Spadaro), who lost her six year battle with breast cancer in July 2005. Casting for Recovery is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1996 that works with women who have, or who have had, breast cancer, offering support, counselling, education and relaxation. The no-cost-to-the-participant weekend retreats promote physical and emotional healing by allowing women to gather in a peaceful and natural environment and learn fly-fishing. No really...it's all about the fly-fishing apparently!

The track listing for Cinnamon Girl is as follows:

Disc 1

01. Heart of Gold - Tanya Donelly

02. I Am A Child - Britta Phillips (of Luna)

03. Comes A Time - Kate York

04. The Needle and the Damage Done - Lori McKenna

05. Down By the River - Jill Sobule with John Doe

06. Burned - Veruca Salt

07. Cowgirl In the Sand - Josie Cotton

08. A Man Needs A Maid - Dala

09. Ohio - Darcie Miner

10. Everybody Knows This is Nowhere - Carmen Townsend

Disc 2

01. Cinnamon Girl - Euro Trash Girl

02. I Believe In You - Julie Peel

03. Tell Me Why - Luff

04. Ohio - Dala

05. Helpless - Elk City

06. Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Amilia K. Spicer

07. Sugar Mountain - Louise Post (of Veruca Salt)

08. Powderfinger - The Watson Twins

09. Like A Hurricane - Kristin Hersh

10. Old Man - Cindy Wheeler (of the Caulfield Sisters)

11. Walk On - Heidi Gluck (of Some Girls)

I can't wait to hear the whole album! Let's hope that it's less of a mixed bag than 1989's The Bridge: A Tribute To Neil Young as, whilst that featured some great artists (including Soul Asylum, Victoria Williams, Pixies, Nick Cave, The Flaming Lips, Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr.) the success of the covers on that seemed to be very hit-and-miss.

Head to MySpace to hear clips from four of the songs (Donnelly, Phillips, Cotton and Hersh).

Or go to Juno to listen and purchase it as downloads.

And of course, get your CDs from American Laundromat Records.

Here are a couple of female cover versions of Young songs for you to download me sweets (not from this album):

mp3: Helpless - Patti Smith (from the album Twelve)

mp3: After the Gold Rush - KD Lang (from the album Hymns of the 49th Parallel)

Album artwork by Katy Horan

Whilst we are (kind of) on the subject of Kristin Hersh, have you checked out CASH Music recently? Kristin has now released three songs over there, and Donita Sparks and Xiu Xiu have also joined up. Keep your eye on it, as it's all getting pretty exciting!

Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim

This one is just a super-quick post to let you guys know that, this week, you can download Laura Marling's excellent album Alas I Cannot Swim in its entirety for only £5.00 from 7Digital. The nifty widget above will let you preview each of the tracks and I think you will see, and I can assure you, that this album is a steal at that price!

It's A Zip: Volume 1

I thought I would experiment a bit with zip files (yes, I am very much learning as I go at this...I am not particularly technically able!), as I've been thinking about posting some kind of weekly 'mix tape'...of a range of music I like, not just new stuff...songs you might not have heard, songs that will bring a nostalgic smile to your wee faces, songs that are just plain great, that kind of thing. It has taken quite a bit of experimenting, I can tell you! But this one seems to work...please could people leave some feedback in the comments...on whether they can indeed download the zip file, the songs are in the right order when it opens etc.? Any constructive criticism very much welcomed. And then if this one has worked ok, I will be back in future with further zip-stylee offerings.

Ok, so this one was thrown together rather hastily just for the sake of the experiment, but the track listing is as follows:

01. Funnel Of Love - Wanda Jackson

02. Les and Ray - Le Tigre

03. Sssipppee - Teeth!!!

04. Suzanne Beware of the Devil - Dandy Livingstone

05. If I Had $1,000,000 - Barenaked Ladies

06. 5 Years Time - Noah and the Whale

07. Bring It On Home To Me - Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward (a great cover of one of my faves - Sam Cooke!)

08. Oleander - Sarah Harmer

09. Strongmen and Acrobats - Laura Sings Liver

10. Chinese Children - Devendra Banhart



Download: Its A Zip Volume 1

Pete Shelley - Homosapien

Another video for LGBT History Month - Pete Shelley with the excellent Homosapien.

And I may as well throw in Shelley with The Buzzcocks singing Ever Fallen In Love (With Somone You Shouldn't)...a classic. And it even has Sir Jim'll of Saville at the end of the clip! Seriously guys, what more could you ask for? ;o)

What is that song? The MacBook Air ad

Unless you have been whiling away your time under a boulder, you will no doubt, by now, have seen the new MacBook Air from Apple. You are also likely to have seen - and heard- the television advertisement. Apple have been savvy in their choice of sounds once again, as with Leslie Feist's 1234 in their iPod Nano ad. This time, they have plumped for Yael Naim. The song that everyone and his/her dog has been Googling furiously for (long before now) is New Soul and, well, is just gorgeous.

French-Israeli Naim was born in Paris in 1978, but moved to Israel, not far from Tel Aviv, aged four. There she fell in love with the piano and the rest, as they say, is history. New Soul comes from her latest, and sophomore, solo album, which is eponymously titled (her debut being the appallingly-titled In A Man's Womb in 2001) and was released on 22nd October 2007. It was recorded in the studio of her Paris apartment over the course of two years and owes a great deal to West Indian drummer and multi-instrumentalist David Donatien.

On Yael Naim, she sings in not only English, as per the song you have all heard, but also French and Hebrew. And, for me, it is the last of these that results in the most beguiling of her songs...it's not a language you often hear used in contemporary folk-pop music!

New Soul, as I am writing this, is currently the 39th most popular download at iTunes UK, although I understand that it's at #1 in the US. And you know what? The album is great too (although that is nowhere to be seen in the UK top 100 on iTunes). These are not songs that you will find yourself humming or singing along to, but as a whole the album is really rather nice. A lot of the songs sound like lullabies, so it is not one I would recommend as driving music. My concern is that, although I like this album from the five or so listens through I've had so far, her profile will be raised so greatly due to the ad that she will become like a Norah Jones or Katie Melua that I never want to hear again.

It's not that I am some obscure music snob (as this certainly isn't...used by Apple!), you understand, it is just that when something becomes so omnipresent the patina wears thin and it starts to grate...think Dido.

I can appreciate a good pop song...hell, I have Crazy Chick and My LA Ex on my iPod; they are catchy, well-written tunes...good at what they do and hitting the metaphorical nail. Another great pop ditty is Toxic, by the ever more pitiful Britney Spears...and that is covered here by Naim! (Nope, it wasn't just a random tangent). It's a lovely, ballad-y version and plenty nice to listen to but, shoot me for saying this if you wish, in this case I prefer Britney. And that is not something you will hear me say often! Have a listen for yourselves...what do you think?

mp3: New Soul - Yael Naim

mp3: Pachad - Yael Naim

mp3: Toxic - Yael Naim

And I feel that I can't leave without mentioning it, although it matters not a jot to the music, but she's certainly rather easy on the eye too!

Yael Naim's website and MySpace.

Willie Nelson - Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond Of Each Other)

Following that brief blip of an album review, back, for now, to LGBT History Month. This one's a song from the Red Headed Stranger. It was debuted by Howard Stern back on Valentine's Day 2006 (should I have waited until the 14th to post this?), however it was written waaay back in 1981 by Ned Sublette.

Video: Willie Nelson - Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond Of Each Other)

Check out the lyrics to the song here (the reference to 'Pansy Division' is not homophobic...they are a Queercore band that recorded the song in 1995!).

Whilst I'm here, it only seems right to mention Nelson's song He Was A Friend Of Mine, which was used in the film Brokeback Mountain (and which is a great song)...i.e. from a song about gay cowboys to a song used in a film about gay cowboys, and both from the same artist.

mp3: Willie Nelson - He Was A Friend Of Mine

Album review: Paul Hickey 'Coolhouse'

Rather curiously, an album released in 2005 recently landed on my doormat via a music PR company. Never mind, music doesn't have to be brand spanking new to be good, does it? In fact, I'm a proponent of the argument that the opposite often holds a great deal more true. Anyway, moving on with the review, this particular album was Coolhouse by Paul Hickey.

This is not the kind of CD that I normally would have come across, but it is really pretty good. Coolhouse is not a high budget release, and therefore it sounds like Hickey has been able to record exactly what he wanted, without any record company interferences. The music we hear is honest...it is not 'try hard' and there are no alternative agendas.

All of the songs (12 of them) were written by Hickey, who has played with various outfits in his time - from Chessnut in the 70s, to The Alsations in the 80s, and others including Keep The Faith and The Critters. Coolhouse is his second solo album, after his 2002 debut with Cheap Cabaret. It was recorded in Hollywood...erm, that's County Wicklow folks! Yep, this is Irish music through and through; yet it is not just that, there are many other influences to be heard here.

The opening, and title, track, Coolhouse, is a sultry number about hot nights and cold beer. The vocal here reminds of Chris Rea or Joe Cocker, and there is even a chorus akin to Lou Reed's "coloured girls"...except here it is "la la lah", as opposed to "do do doo"! Those backing vocals come courtesy of Sue Jefferson and Lou Holden of Choral Sex, and work nicely with Hickey's voice, however can sometimes be a bit distracting, and could have done with being a little quieter in relation to Hickey's lead vocals. This is not a big criticism however and, all in all, this is a great opener and a track that you will want to hear again.

Second track And When I Walk is completely different in tone. A simple song (promising "no more funny stuff"), this has even more "la la lahs" and you begin to really hear Hickey's Irish twang.

Third is, for me, the stand-out track of the album, and is called Heuston Station. This is no Homeward Bound but, written at a station, this is the most obvious song to compare it to...well, except for the Littlest Hobo theme tune (which, laugh if you like, I love!), due to the lyrics "I'm not searchin'/I'm just wandering on".

My Love and Me is a lovely song about, surprisingly, love. The sentiments here are sweet, no frills and affectionate. By this, track 4, things are beginning to sound more Irish, musically-speaking...a little bit Saw Doctors, a certain hue of Shane McGowan (although, despite singing about beer on his opening track, Hickey does not sound like he's put quite as much moonshine away as McGowan!).

Straying into slightly political territory is track 5, In God We Trust, which Paul tells us a little about on his website,

"In 1986 there was a divorce referendum in Ireland that was defeated by religious power. I felt so angry, at the time, and I wrote this song about the hyprocrisy of the whole event."

A refreshing angle, then, from a country so veined with religion.

Jimmy Cliff comes to town on next track Watch Out Love. The reggae-lite backing here reminds me of Cliff's song Vietnam and has me bobbing my head along each time it comes around.

I can imagine that this album sells very well at gigs as, from what is recorded here, it sounds like Hickey would be good live. As I said before, this is honest music with no pretences. The playing is also very capable and, I can't think of a better way to put it but, I think the atmosphere at a Paul Hickey gig would be a good, happy, friendly one.

There are six further tracks that I haven't discussed, but I think that I have rambled on enough for now! Suffice to say that they are all, also, very listenable and, although this is not the usual kind of music I have been listening to recently, I've played this album a good few times.

The full track listing for Coolhouse is:

01. Coolhouse
02. And When I Walk
03. Heuston Station
04. My Love and Me
05. In God We Trust
06. Watch Out Love
07. Sometimes
08. If I Could Sail That Ocean Again
09. Teach Me To Fly
10. Live Before You Die
11. Revolution On Their Minds
12. See You Again

...and you can buy it here or have a bit of listen and purchase individual tracks over at Indie 911.

Lesbians In Tune - Sapphic songs for LGBT History Month

February is the fourth annual LGBT History Month in the UK, so, in honour of that, here we have some lesbian-themed songs for your delectation. There are 20 of 'em and each song is downloadable by right clicking on the title and choosing 'save target as'.


BD Woman's Blues - Lucille Bogan (from 1935! The "BD" standing for 'bull dyke')

Carolyn - Phranc (an amusing one)

Crimson and Clover - Joan Jett and The Blackhearts

Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover - Sophie B. Hawkins

Genius - The Murmurs

High School Confidential - Rough Trade

I Kissed A Girl - Jill Sobule

If It Isn't Her - Ani DiFranco (for all the B's out there!)

Iowa - Dar Williams

Lick It - God-des and She (warning - the lyrics to this one are very explicit)

One More Hour - Sleater-Kinney

Prove It On Me - Ma Rainey (another one from an early girl)

Rebel Girl - Bikini Kill

Rim Me Isabella - NEED (surely the best title for a song ever??)

She's Amazing - Team Dresch

She's My Heroine - Skunk Anansie

She's So Lovely - The Butchies

Start Leading Me On - The Cliks

Tell Me Does She Love the Bass - Lesbians On Ecstasy

Where the Girls Are - Gossip

And a further 10 that aren't really lesbian songs, but could be with some interpretation!

Christobel - Joan As Police Woman

For Me and My Gal - Judy Garland (for all friends of Dorothy - what would a list of gay songs be without Judy?)

Gloria - Patti Smith

Just Like A Woman - Charlotte Gainsbourg and Calexico

Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson - Alison Krauss

Oh My God - Pink, featuring Peaches

Past the Mission - Tori Amos (just for the line "I once knew a hot girl")

Secret Love - Doris Day (a coincidence that, in Calamity Jane, she sings this as she is shacking up with Katie? Calam was a butch dyke if ever I saw one! Come on, there is even a line about daffodils!)

Starpower - Sonic Youth

When She Loved Me - Sarah McLachlan (actually a song from a toy to its owner, from Toy Story 2 of all places...but taken out of context...)

And I shall leave you for now with a WTF?? I can't believe this book (below) exists!

Free mp3s from Kellie The Eagle/Joy Tourette

I can tell you very little about Kellie The Eagle...except that I think it sounds good! This is the new name for the artist formerly known as Joy Tourette (she changed the name on 9th January 2008...hey, at least she opted for words, as opposed to some dumb squiggle!), who comes from Norwich, England, played her first solo gig on 20th July 2007 and...actually, that really is all I know.

Her music is beat-driven electro, with some folky influences...a bit Peaches, a bit PJ, vocals-wise, in places, a little bit Lamb. And what I've heard so far is rather tasty.

Have a listen for yourselves (all mp3s free and legal):

mp3: Metal Bird - Kellie The Eagle

And some from alter-ego Joy Tourette:

mp3: Lupine Man - Joy Tourette

mp3: Coqinelle - Joy Tourette

mp3: Autoharp - Joy Tourette

mp3: Duck and Swallows - Joy Tourette

mp3: Circles - Joy Tourette

Go to Monkey Love Records to buy the Joy Tourette EP Cassiopeia - either as a CD or to download.

Track listing for that -
01. Cassiopeia
02. Good Vibrations
03. Charms

Whilst you are there, you could have a gander at Kellie's artist page (still under the name 'Joy Tourette' at the moment)

Visit Kellie The Eagle at MySpace.