Category Archives: music

Nov 28 2010

A Walk Around the Lake

I didn’t manage a walk around a lake today, but I did stand by a frozen duckpond and that seemed to do the trick. Nothing like a bit of water to look at when you’re having a ponder. The ducks were all looking at it and having a think too. They were thinking “well, it looks pretty and sparkly but it’s not much good for bobbing in. I wonder if this man has bread?”. And I was thinking “Jeez, is that all you ducks think about? Bread?” And they’re all like “Jeez, is that all he thinks about? Ducks?”. They got me.

Hope you found a lake or similar clump of water to have a think by, if you needed one. x

Nov 24 2010

O-o-h Child

If it’s raining where you are, why not let The Five Stairsteps warm you up? I think it’s a broadcast from the future – I mean look at the colours! Look at the materials! Look at the moves! They’re shiny and mad and fun like nothing I’ve seen in this century, anyway. And so much soul. O–o-h.

I can dig.

Nov 21 2010

Atlas Hands

Wistful. By Benjamin Francis Leftwich. I hope you’re having a lovely Sunday night. x

(The other song I’m loving this week is Fuck You by Cee Lo Green. Is that wrong? It’s the best, most joyful musical “up yours!” I’ve heard since Yes by McAlmont and Butler. Anyway, that’s more of a Saturday tune, innit? So Atlas Hands it is.)

Oct 25 2010

Robot Man

This was the first single from The Aliens, made up of two ex-members of the Beta Band and King Creosote’s brother, and isn’t it amazing? Gloriously meaningless and catchy, it mashes 60′s pop with 70′s funk and I’ve just been robot dancing round the room and looking very cool indeed while I did it. And the video is just a big, happy mess. The Aliens never did anything else this good, but never mind. This’ll do, won’t it?

I am a sketch robot man today – written four, one more to go before bed. It’s all for a super-secret job which I almost certainly won’t get, but if I do… oh man, if I do…

Sep 20 2010

Eff the Em Effer

This is VERY rude, but I would say not gratuitously so. This manages to be angry, offensive, articulate, clever and funny all at once. I met Tim Minchin at a party once. Wish I’d kissed him.

Sep 15 2010

Own Stunts

So this’ll warm you up. The best song ending with the word “hang glider” that I’ve heard in ages. Have a listen and watch the… idiosyncratic video and it’ll be like I’ve never been away.

I haven’t updated in a while because I haven’t felt very funny. Back on it now. How’ve you been?

Jul 29 2010

To Binge/Good Song

It’s Especially For You for the twenty-first century. I’ve posted this song before, but this live version is sweet. Little Dragon’s voice is like vulnerable honey (it totally is!), and I also love Damon Albarn’s direct way with a lyric:

I just have to tell you that I love you so much these days

Gorgeous! I’m a simple soul, and I find a line like that, or like:

You seem very beautiful to me

(from Blur’s Good Song), sung to a simple melody, far more affecting, romantic and swoonsome than, like, a bucket full of poetry. Maybe I just don’t like poetry*. I dunno.

I didn’t know David Shrigley did a video for Good Song. Not sure the leaf blower and the humping dogs do much for the tune, but here it is anyway.

God, why don’t I just marry Damon Albarn?

*I really, really don’t. I despise and fear it. Poetry freaks me out, particularly when the poet is poeming right in your face. How are you supposed to respond? Because apparently shouting FUCK OFF AWAY WITH YOUR SHITEHOUSE WHINGING BABBLE is not acceptable.

Jul 22 2010

Bring The Noise

Can’t say why, but this morning I’ve had this stuck in my head. It’s not what you’d call tuneful, and it’s tricky to whistle, but “Yeeeeaaaaah boooooooooy!” and “Whatcha gonna do? Rap is not afraid of you” have been richocheting round my brain like it’s East Coast representing or something.

Yeeeeeah booooooooooooy!

Jul 12 2010

Sing Songs Along

This song has been in my head all day, but that’s ok.

we’ll wake up your mothers, we’ll start a commotion
we’ll take you apart, yeah we’ll swallow your ocean

It means nothing. Isn’t it great?

I adore Tilly and the Wall’s first album, The Bottoms of Barrels. It’s got a naively sleazy vibe to it, and it’s shouty and celebratory and fun, and anyway any song which uses tap dancing instead of drums is pretty well guaranteed to win my heart. Unless it’s shit.

This video is cheap and dopey but, you know, it’s got people dancing and being happy so I like it.

Here they are on Sesame Street. A good attempt at an A to Z but they stop at D, the slackers.