Swingin' Ryan

Good shout, they are woefully underrated. I saw them playing in Glasgow with The Duke Spirit and they were amazing. Spoke briefly to the guy Charles after and he seemed genuinely surprised we'd come primarily to see them and not the other two bands. Recently I've been mostly listening to Butcher Boy, Voxtrot, Alessi's Ark, and bits and pieces from the new stuff from the Manics, Camera Obscura and Stuart Murdoch. This has been an amazing year for music so far.

Beautiful piece of writing from John Niven about the new album up on the Manics site. Manic Street Preachers

Stuart Murdoch's 'God Help The Girl' now has a release date of the 22nd of June. This is the thing that he talked about a few years back that I think was going to be/possibly still is going to be a musical film. It's essentially songs Stuart Murdoch's written sung by a host of singers he found through auditions and some people from different bands (Divine Comedy/Smoosh). The first single 'Come Monday Night' is stunning. Very 60's girl-group with big Spector-esque strings. Lovely stuff. http://http://godhelpthegirl.com/

Agreed, although I do think Carrick had some cracking moments. I'm missing Hargreaves though, amazing work rate.

Saw this last week and thought it was brilliant, Michael Sheen was great. The whole look of the film was beautiful as well. Also saw Wendy and Lucy the other week which was excellent as well. I don't think I've ever been so enthralled by a film where so little happens.

Have now heard Peeled Apples and Jackie Collins Existential Question Time on the radio. This album is going to be very, very good!

Did nobody else notice this rather startling statement or am I just easily shocked?

The sketch thing Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant did in 2007 for Comic Relief was brilliant, pointing out the use of charity appeals to promote the celebrities products. Apparently when he started crying in this video the phone donations reached their peak, then dropped to their lowest of the night when they realised it was a piss-take!

Polly Scattergood - S/T (Lovely stuff)

A big almighty yes for the Shop Assistants!

I did this as I regularly read NME despite loathing a lot of what is printed in it (I enjoy having a weekly music press and despite all the shit, there's some occasionally great journalism). I also sympathise with your plight as I'm doing a dissertation on independent subculture so covering some of the same areas. Could have done with an 'undecided' option in the next election area though as I voted in the last one but don't know who I'll vote for in the next yet. I just filled it in on the 'other' section. I'd also have liked to have seen clarification of what I'd selected as I voted SNP in the last election which was dangerously close to BNP and I would not like anyone to believe I was a BNP supporter due to scattershot clicking! All in all a good survey though.

Just be glad they don't sound like Taulah Gosh or I'd be here all night.

New single 'French Navy' is brilliant. Traceyanne's 'oooh's' + lots of strings + use of the phrase 'dietary restriction' in the lyrics = pop gold.

Yeh, they kind of sound like Black Tambourine with a young Bob Wratten singing. Young Adult Friction is very Field Mice, I'm a sucker for a library-based love song. I'm glad to see one featuring in the new camera obscura single as well.

I saw John Niven covering Clampdown by The Clash with James Dean Bradfield from the Manics in Glasgow, he was amazing.

Walked past last night on the off-chance this was actually happening and saw the 'cancelled' sign. We went in for a pint anyway for a nosey around and watched the guy on stage cover The Bee Gees...left for Moshulu. Gold. They also took a photo of our disappointed faces for the website.

Pretty much all that needs to be said on the matter. The furore is ridiculous, the whole situation just makes me think of Brass Eye, which is a compliment!

Thank you, I had a very nice day. No drugs or buggery though because I live a quiet life. I was completely minced however. I was in Exodus between 12 and 2am and remember very little of it, I think I got my foot trapped in a fence at one point due to the horrific state of my new shoes.

Amazing band, album is defnitelly getting bought on pay day. Seeing them at Primavera in May, back of the net!

It's my birthday tomorrow. I'm not really big on birthdays, haven't had any kind of major birthday celebration for about 7 years or so. I actually can't even remember what I did on the day of my last birthday. I'm going to go out tomorrow at least, unfortunately my birthday falls on a Wednesday my least favoured of nights to go out but needs must when the devil drives.

The first single 'Zero' is amazing. It reminds me of The Cocteau Twins for some reason, even though it doesn't really sound like anything The Cocteau Twins ever did. This only makes sense once you listen to the song.

Is Tonic the one inside the Galleria shopping centre? If so it is the worst place in the history of bars. Anyone who thinks the Hen Hoose is anything other than great is wrong. I do most of my drinking in Archibald Simpsons nowadays as it's the first habitable pub on the way into town from work and it now has bottles of San Miguel for a quid. Watched half the Man Utd game in The Bobbin after spending 2.70 on a pint today surrounded by loud, rich Rugby playing students, then retreated to Archies where the beer's cheap and the tramps talk quietly to themselves in the corner. There's something comforting about the smell of piss when you walk through the door.

Now that I've finally recieved it and given it a proper listen, it's really good. Quite similar to Post-War but a shade more eclectic in sound. Some great collaborations, Zooey Deschanel and Jason Lytle from Grandaddy both feature. The title track and the cover of Buddy Holly's 'Rave On' are particular highlights. On another note, to echo previous sentiments, the Joy Formidable album is great.

Would this story have made anywhere near as much of a splash if it had been a thirteen year-old mother? Stories about mothers in their early teen years stopped being shocking about 10 years ago. Frankly, I think this is a rubbish news story, it's only making the papers because he looks about 5 years old. This is almost as bad as the 'man who got pregnant' story, which on paper sounded like the most incredible story of all time. In reality, it was a women who got pregnant then had a sex change.

I wish I knew, I'm still waiting on it to get delivered! The couple of songs I've heard have been great though.