Jammer

Looks like she is going to be number one on Sunday. Kind of bizarre considering the same single was released a few month ago and didn't even break into the top 40.

Just goes to show how important major label backing still is.

The Road to Amarillo took far longer...but on a serious note there are many singles which are re-released and then do something...or not.

It requires more listens' date=' but from the first play I wouldn't say so. It's only half an hour long, too short![/quote']

Better that than overstaying it's welcome. Too many albums have songs that are overlong with padding or are just padding.

I can kind of understand his reasons for the post' date=' but he probably didn't need to name any bands specifically, I don't see what it adds to the piece. Gives the recommended bands a bit of publicity I guess, but nothing they wouldn't get anyway if they are chosen, and it will raise expectations among some bands...[/quote']

As I said earlier the reasons for choosing his selections are sound but I agree it was the naming of the bands which is odd and indeed naive.

Well it done now and it's raised another TBreak discussion

D'ye think he gives a fuck anymore? Leading from that d'ye think he'll be a judge next year?

Well his judgement to publish that was off...

he got in trouble form tbreak and stuff and was told to remove them

With all his experience you'd think he would have been a bit more sussed with things like that...

Seems common sense but why is he going public with his choices? Is that fair on the rest of the judges and indeed do TBreak as an organisation know about and agree to this?

I may have to check him out. There's a distinct lack of summery pop songs in my MP3 player at the moment' date=' that's kinda what I'm on the lookout for at the moment, would he fit the bill do you think?[/quote']

Well you should also checkout Bellybutton and Spilt Milk by Jellyfish for some perfect pop.

Brendan Benson is ace' date=' I adore him. Go and buy Lapalco, it's his 2nd album and it's just beautiful, a good mix of mellow songs, clever lyrics and catchy hooks. I think it's only about 5 in Fopp right now. The new album Alternative to Love is good but not as cheerful, think he got dumped before recording Jason Faulkner was in Jellyfish I think and produced Lapalco.[/quote']

Jason Faulkner was indeed in the fab popsters Jellyfish. His album Presents Author Unknown is excellent.

Is the Raconteurs album any good? - ordered it today purely on the strength of "Steady as she goes." Haven't listened to "Superfly" in ages - must go dig it out now that you've reminded me.

Yes so far so good...I've only played it twice. Benson and White's vocals work really well together. I find Benson a bit smooth on his own but there's a nice edge with Jack White. Some touches of Beatles mid 60s harmoines and even a bit of Led Zeppelin.

Steady as she goes has the same bassline as the old Joe Jackson Is She Really Going Out with Him. Weird.

Have you heard Jason Faulkner who is also in the same area as Benson?

I bought Superfly for Freddie's Dead as I've got the Fishbone cover version. The orginal is very restrained in comparison but very cool groove as is the whole album

The Raconteurs

JJ Cale - Troubadour

Curtis Mayfield - Superfly

Nick Drake - Pink Moon

i was just wondering how successfull goNORTH has been ? Whats its purpose?

cheers ollie.

Is this maybe an answer in itself?

I've put up as much as I can' date=' but, after repeated requests, and repeated promises, of impending "official" information, I've still had to trawl through every bands website.

[/quote']

Ian, if it wasn't for folk like you, who'd know about GoNorth? Maybe next year, they'll get their house in order!

I love Elbow's cover of Destiny's Child's "Independent Women". Great fun.

Nickel Creek did a similarly weird and twisted version of Britney's Toxic at The Lemon Tree

Pity it wisnae Ronnie Wood...a better headline

"Wood falls from Tree"...

Come to think of what "Stone falls from Tree" isn't that bad either....

Just listen to prog rock. It can go from depressing' date=' but good, (Marillion) to happy/hippy (Yes)[/quote']

Maybe the lyrics can at times (although I wouldn't bet on it) but depression sets in from any exposure to "prog rock" due to it's lack of basic song/melody.

Are Marillion still "prog". I thought that ended with the Fish era.

eh? what beattles' songs? there is a tiny minority of protest/political songs. socially aware songs maybe' date=' but even those are rare in the Beatles back catologue.[/quote']

Revolution in it's various forms was at times an unclear reflection of the 1968 political unrest due to issues like Vietnam and racism. Blackbird was supposed to be about the black rights issue.

But most of them in solo forms have produced some... Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" Harrison's "Bangladesh" although mostly without any merit especially in 1971/72 e.g. Lennon's Sometime In New York City LP and Macca's Give Ireland Back To The Irish. McCartney also had he recent that appalling 9/11 reaction effort with the Freedom single.

I don't really think that pop/rock stars are that good or successful at real protest songs as they seldom actually truly understand the issues or offer any solutions. Although I'm aware of a lot of issues due to songs and attitudes of my favourite artists e.g. Vietnam, Apartheid, Third World poverty. Whether that's influenced me in my opinion or do do something about those issues is a different matter.

Plus the acutual songs are usually mince (see Freedom above). Some good "songs" to add to some mentioned earlier in a message vein though:

Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi (globalisation)

Neil Young's Alabama and Southern Man about the American South's racist attitudes

Lynyrd Skynyrd fantastically commercial though potential controversial answer in Sweet Home Alabama "Montgomery had the answer..." I still don't know what to make of it mainly due to that line.

I think it's easier to come up with doom and gloom type songs. All that teenage angst and introspective navel gazing.

But there does need to have darkness in songs because it reflects life...which at times is "a piece of shit, when you think of it". But you need some balance so I don't think it's healthy immerse oneself in it.

I like to hear music that is positive and lifts my dark, sorry, soul. So I go back to The Beatles every now and then...Love is all you need

I suppose there's irony there too for me as Lennon's Plastic Ono Band is one of the most harrowing collections of songs and performances I've heard.

maybe....MAYBE... he didn't know what the guitarist in Dream Theater looked like.

Exactly' date=' who would even expect that scenario to occur? It would in 99.999999% of occasions be some sad bedroom wannabe

Who are Dream Theater why do peoplelike such utterly crap music?

EDIT: I'm pissed don't take offence wank rock fans!

I have heard them but agree with your point.

Exactly' date=' this list is a load of crap, completely made up by journalists. They have no idea how much people are worth.[/quote']

Could be an over indulgence some nasel activites

Celtic Rock anyone?

Irrelevant drivel. Hardly any impact here let alone in music in general.

It was a good experience but I wouldn't say it's how it "should" be' date=' if a band want to take time to talk after shows that's their choice. If Terrorvision had chosen to ignore me I wouldn't have thought any less of them, I'd probably be the same if I was in a big band and had to walk through throngs of autograph hunters when I was tired and wanted to go to bed. And lets face it, most signed stuff is just going to end up on Ebay the next day anyway. I certainly wouldn't have driven up to Terrorvision's tour bus and tore up a poster of them. In fact that act has led me to have a lower opinion of whoever started this thread than of Panic At The Disco.[/quote']

Of course there's professional autograph hunters but I'd think that the majority of these people that hang around are genuine fans. Every band isn't gonna do that but I do think that giving up a few moments for the fans is all part of the deal. It's the fans who pay the money and provide the support so "star" hissy fits are nothing but destructive and ultimately negative.

Can't see a future for that band anyway...apart from in burger bars

I don't really see what they did wrong to be honest' date=' they were probably tired, not looking forward to driving all night and had probably been bothered by autograph hunters all day. Maybe the singer had got bad news, had a fight with his missus, was maybe sick, you don't know what's going on in his personal life, it's not always right to dismiss someone as an asshole without knowing the story. He was probably pissed off about something else.

Incidentally, the coolest band I ever met were Terrorvision, I met them a few times and they were great guys, signed everything, stood and chatted for ages, the singer Tony recognised me every time we met (What the fuck are you doing in Bradford mate, you live in Aberdeen!) and even bought me a couple of pints on occasion. Top lad [/quote']

Is your Terrorvision experience not how it should work? You have fond memories of the experience and it's a great example of someone who gives a shit. I'm not big on the autograph thing and meeting bands but I still remember getting invited to the dressing room of Pallas at the Fusion/Ritzy before their Reading appearence, Kings X after their Network in Edinburgh, Fishbone in Sleasy's when they played the Garage a couple of years ago and Fran Healy at Gig On The Green. It's cool that they take the time to speak no matter how famous...or not they may be...

Fans are what makes a band successful. Shit on them and it's a bad career move especially if your still on the way up. Simple.

Crazy Town cover Refused....seen it all now

This is truly awful!

Another one for the pot.

Queensryche - Scarborough Fair

Has to be heard to be believed. B side of a single...think it may be Silent Lucidity the song that sounds like Comfortably Numb

One has to assume that the GN selection process is even more dubious* than that of T Break....some quite baffling selections and non selections imo.

*well fucking dodgy like

Yup...fills everyone with bags of confidence in such organistions and their "processes" . Aye right

I think point 2 would apply to any city' date=' certainly judging by the few bands that I've heard from that list.

You missed out 3.5/ Most bands know it's a waste of time, cos even if it is on your biography, who's impressed by someone playing the T-Break tent?[/quote']

Bands from up Moray/Inverness area did enter and they aren't guff. Maybe all the central belt bands are incredibly good...but if they are I'll eat my hat.

Who really knows about the selection but if it is some regional biais then it's a really poor show.

Surely there must be a few decent Aberdeen bands at the moment. I'm surprised if not.