diarmaid

I like the tune and arrangement a lot but I'm not 100% sure about the vocal mix. Still... there's a lot of awesomely fun stuff in there. Well done.

Cheers lads. The vocals is probably the one thing I'm always least happy with but hey ho. Second one now up for free download too. Hope folk enjoy.

http://bellocshavana.bandcamp.com/track/daughter-dear

Just finished Ellroy not Ellory's 'The Black Dahlia'. Excellent read. Though, in saying that, have to say it is a thoroughly disturbing piece of work. Not a novel for the faint of heart. The last 40 pages or so were especially grotesque.

Hasn't put me off mind. Now planning to make my way through his LA Quartet and start 'The Big Nowhere' the morn.

New Field Music album is out on Monday. Currently streaming online and it's quite enjoyable. After that, new Sweet Billy Pilgrim album due in April. Other than those two, I care not a jot. Though, having said that, Ben Folds Five are back and recording a new album.

Just finished Dennis Lehane's 'The Given Day'. It centres around a black man and an Irish Boston police office in 1919 following the end of the war. Its all about the police strike that happened and other general commie nonsense. Its absolutely fucking brilliant. 700 pages but well worth it.

Finished Lehane's 'Shutter Island' a week or so back as well, which is what made me read 'The Given Day'. It was also very very good. Never saw the movie, but from what I gather, they made it more of an action movie than the book suggests.

As for current, think I'm about to dive into some Ellory, possibly The Black Dahlia.

As a band, we don't play live all that often, our first gig in a year, being in March. So we decided we'd just start recording and releasing a tune a month.

So if you like quite camp, 70s inspired, Jellyfish-esque pop, give us a listen. This was 'released' 31st of January and we're planning another song each final day of each month of the year.

Essentially a weak ass version of what Mr. Alan Cynic did a couple years ago, what with his song a day insanity. Hope folks enjoy.

http://bellocshavana.bandcamp.com/track/happy-to-help

I agree with recording everything. It's annoying as shit having an awesome riff and then completely forgetting it. Sometimes I've remember the chords/notes but completely forgotton the rhythm, and could never get it back to how it used to sound. So many blockbusting anthems gone to waste.

The one piece of advice I ever got about songwriting was that your memory is a great filter. If it so happens you can't remember it, possibly pretty pish anyway. I rarely write down any lyrics, or if I do, I lose them. Rarely record things these days either unless I get something finished. I just write and write and write, if it's good, it'll stick. Oh, and if you're stuck, follow Loudon Wainwrights lead: can't write a good song, write a band one, loosen the flow.

Divine Comedy - Promenade/Casanova

The Wildhearts - PHUQ

Todd Rundgren -Something/Anything?

The Beatles - Abbey Road

Field Music - Measure/Tones Of Town

XTC - Oranges And Lemons/Nonsuch

Ben Folds Five - Whatever And Ever Amen/Rocking The Suburbs

I rarely enjoy new music so pretty sure this list won't change anytime soon.

Drederick Tatum: I like Homer Simpson, I've nothing against him, but I'm going to make orphans of his children.

Reporter: You know, they have a mother?

Drederick: Yes, but I imagine she would die from shame.

Aunt Gladys: And to my sister Jackie I leave my pet Iguana, Jubjub.

Jackie: Why couldn't she have left me the bowel obstruction that killed her?

Some random Imperial Storm Trooper or some such other in Star Wars was acted by some guy called Dermot something or other. After a day of life, Dermot was changed to Diarmaid and when I changed my screen name I forgot the capital. Boom.

I think most musics shite (as a whole, not just locally) and subsequently (as of late) would prefer to spend my time watching Masterchef. I apologise for the part I have played in the death of our city's scene.

Finally got a listen today, and was a happy bunny ( despite the tracklist having KopiLuwak and Matricarians mixed up... might've een my fault!).

I thought you were merely exploring a new direction.

Got my first listen. Think its cracking. Les Pelicans, Jim Ewen and Mondragon the highlights for me. Oh, and Causey Mounth as well. Any song capable of incorporating haud yer wheesht into the lyrics deserves significant plaudits.

Have you put the CD in the right way up...?

I genuinely doubted myself there for a moment. But yes.

Mine is apparently blank. Not working on my laptop. Is this just me, doing something remarkably daft?

Picked mine up this morning. Only to take it home to a broken CD player. Regardless, it looks very lovely. Well done chief.

Nearly finished our second album 'Songs Fir The Weans'. Though not sure as to its legitimacy as an album considering it may not get downloaded or listened to. But nonetheless, in the run up to 'releasing our second album' thought I'd just start shoving up some unrelated pop nonsense, b-sides, deleted scenes, songs that don't quite fit the bill anywhere else. If folk like them, braw, if not, braw.

http://bellocshavana.bandcamp.com/album/b-b-bright-boys-b-b-b-b-sides

For fans of pop. Listen at your leisure and if you do enjoy, more shall be put up periodically whatever and ever amen.

I got told recently I was the spitting image of Richard Stilgoe. After seeing a picture of him, this upset me. Greatly.

Unloved by Al? Noooo!

(Taptaptap)

Unloved by all? Noooooooooo!

Thats mine sent. Boom.

Im prettymuch done. Whats the email to send it to?

Started listening to Todd Rundgren and Randy Newman a few years back. Now recently been getting into bands such as Supertramp and 10cc. Looking to expand my knowledge of 70s pop rock. Any recommendations folk might have fire them up.

Also, looking to explore some Sparks. Where's good to start? I know of 'Kimono My House' and that's about it.

Appreciated.

But I thought you said he was dead!!

No, what I said was, he sleeps with the fishes, you see....

'Oh boss, no, I just ate awhole bowl of vunga magoo' (or Italian words to that effect)

'Up yours Krabbapel!'

'Poor predictable Bart, always picks rock' 'Good old rock! Nothing beats rock'

True Grit (2011)

I imagine I have at somepoint in my life, no doubt as a wee bairn with my faither, seen the original but can'treally recall anything of it. So was able to watch this without prejudice. Story the basic daughter seeks revenge for dads killing, hires US Marshall, goes off in pursuit of revenge.

As with pretty much all Coen brothers movies, thought it was very very good indeed. Simultaneously doesn't hang about and allows the story to develop without rushing. The scripts great. Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn is good but the young lassie who plays the young lassie (aged only 14 in both movie and real life) is absolutely brilliant. She makes the movie what it is.

As modern westerns go, its a must see.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut

Its been so long since I watched any version of this movie I couldnt even say with any certainty which version I have actually seen. Regardless, this versions brilliant. Not much more to be said. Though if anyone fancies telling me the significant differences between this version and those of old, feel free.

I'm two chapters in to this. Haven't had the urge to read anything but comics recently. Went out and bought Zombie Survival Guide forgetting about Choke. It seems decent I just don't have the motivation and sit and look at something that doesn't have pictures.

I ended up reading it almost in a one-er/whunner/woner on the bus down to Edinburgh. I thought it was cracking. Understandably not for everyone I'd say though.

Recently finished Lucky Guy by Michael J Fox. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Starting The Black Dahlia by Ellroy.

I'm unseasonably ahead of the game. Started recording mine tonight.