My Top 10 Albums Of 2012

10. Beach House - Bloom (Sub Pop)

9. Godspeed You! Black Emporer - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! (Constellation)

8. Coasting - You're Never Going Back (M'lady's)

 

7. Dan Deacon - America (Domino)

 



6. The Lovely Eggs - Wildlife (Egg Records)

5. Patrick Wolf - Sundark & Riverlight (Bloody Chamber Music)

 

4. Akira The Don - ATD28: The Unkillable Thunderchrist (www.akirathedon.com)

 

 



3. Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra - Theatre Is Evil (8ft Records)

2. Teeth - The Strain (bandcamp)

RIP John Grabski III. Rock vs Cancer. Rock Wins.

 

1. Dinosaur Jr - I Bet On Sky (Jagjaguwar)

 

 

Goodbye Mr Brubeck

I like Jazz but I'm not going to pretend to be an expert, Dave Brubeck is one of the artists I like most though, so I was saddened to hear of his death yesterday. Here's a fantastic video of the Dave Brubeck Quartet from 1964, it's half an hour long so get a cup of tea (or coffee if you're so inclined) and settle in.

RIP Dave Brubeck 6 Dec 1920- 5 Dec 2012

Me & My Mo'

 

 Finally this year (after 2 years of wanting to but not having an internet connection at our flat) I signed up for Movember - the annual moustache growing event to raise money & awareness for men’s health issues such as Prostate & Testicular cancer, Depression and other issues. When you sign up you are asked for your motivations for doing it, which made me stop and think. Why did I want to do this?

 

Well primarily because it’s an excellent cause and it always sounded like FUN to me. But also because my mum suffers from depression so raising money for depression, albeit male depression, is a cause close to my heart especially as at the time she was in hospital due to mental health issues. And lastly in memory of my Dad who died 2 years ago on 9th November of a heart attack, I didn’t know him very well as he left when I was 7 and moved to Germany, but in the image in my memory he will forever have a moustache.

 

 

Undoubtedly when starting Movember every man dreams of growing an Abe van de Ban or a General Melchett, but Mo’s as in life often fall short of our ambitions. And so it was a week and a half into Movember I found myself starring into the mirror wondering if I would ever get past the Michael Cera stage. Now I’m never normally cleanshaven (and haven’t been for several years), usually residing somewhere between stubble and a short beard, so it had slipped my mind how long it takes me to grow from scratch. Presumably this is why Movember also raises money for depression, for those of us that are not as follicly endowed as we would like.

 

The Michael Cera Period

 

 

 Look, No Zoom!

 

As we entered the last week of the month I finally acheived respectability ie. the ‘tash finally shows up in photographs without the need for the zoom or the macro function. Which was just in time for Debra & I to host our Movember Party at the flat, which was definately the highlight of my ‘tash enhanced November, although I did nearly have to throw out one guest for having a better Mo than me despite having one and a half weeks LESS growth. The MoQuiz went well despite my fiendishly hard questions and was won at a canter by team Hairy Poppins aka Tash for Questions, and Debra’s Mo themed Cookies & Cupcakes helped raise another £35 and put me over the £100 target I secretly had in my head. Having lived with my Mo’ for a month now I can confirm that the average moustachioed man touching his upper lip foliage 760 times a day isn’t unrealistic.

 

 Debra's Moustache Cookies

 

One of the biggest thrills of Movember is getting a sponsorship donation, especially an unexpected one and with just over 24 hours left I’m very pleased to say I’ve managed to raise £125, and I’d like to thank everyone who has sponsored me. I’ve really enjoyed my Mo’ month and would recommend anyone do it, there’s even talk of a few of us doing it as a team next year. But there’s still time to sponsor me this year, whether it’s £1 or £10 all contributions are greatly appreciated, just click here > http://uk.movember.com/mospace/3349233

 

 

 

Knowledge Is Power, Moustache Is King!

Our ‘lympic Summer

Note: I originally wrote this blog about a month ago, and intended to include comments from Debra in it but because of other events that never happened. I forgot all about it until I received my London 2012 dvd through the post yesterday, and figured better late than never.

 

I hadn’t really thought about it before but looking back I guess the Olympics always seemed like something that happened far, far away, another world almost. It wasn’t until we saw the torch come through little ol’ Rayleigh, that it was really brought home to me that the Olympics really were going to be just up the road. I guess I’ve always thought of the torch relay as just part of Olympic furniture, but it really did make London 2012 seem more tangible and it was amazing to see what felt like the whole town out together. Although I will admit I did find the corporate buses nauseating.

 

 The Olympic Torch in Rayleigh High St, just 30 seconds from our flat.

 

 

Once the Olympics were underway, I almost instantly regretted not trying for more tickets, this was once in a lifetime stuff. I’ve always loved watching the Olympics on tv, but the BBC’s wall to wall coverage - 24 extra channels! - quickly got me addicted like never before. So like many others I bought tickets for the Paralympics, not as a runner up prize but as a way of grabbing my own piece of the experience. In the meantime I continued to watch all that I could until the the last weekend of the Olympics came around and our trip to the Hadleigh Mountain Biking event.

 

 Looking back up the hill at Hadleigh Farm.
 

In this case the Olympics really were on our doorstep, just 3 miles from out flat to Hadleigh Farm and the specially constructed course. The excitement of the day was tempered a bit by the fact we were taking my mum aswell, and because of her ill health we’d hired a wheelchair for the day. We needn’t have worried, from the moment our taxi dropped us at the drop-off point we were taken care of, ferried first by another taxi down the country lanes to the Salvation Army buildings, then the Gamesmakers took us down onto the site in disabled friendly golf buggy’s. We were then able to take her onto a viewing platform and took it in turns to stay with her then explore the venue. The weather was glorious and the track quite spectacular with steep climbs, sheer drops and rocky sections. Sadly Britain’s Liam Killeen crashed out on the 2nd lap, but the atmosphere was fantastic with fans from all over the world. The race was eventually won by Czech Jaroslav Kulhavy, who overtook Nino Schurter of Switzerland on the very last bend of the very last lap, a moment I somehow managed to capture on camera.

Jaroslav Kulhavy (blue) overtaking Nino Schurter to win Gold.

 

After an agonising two week wait the Paralympics finally started, and once again we became just as addicted, this time to Channel4’s superb coverage. I have to admit I hadn’t really watched much, if any, coverage of previous paralympics and was unsure how into it I would get - I ended up spending just as much time watching the Paralympics as I had the Olympics. But again we had to wait until the games were almost over before we had our adventure.

 

 

The Aquatics Centre.

 

The swimming heats began at 9.30am which meant we needed to get the train by 7.30 at the latest, happily none of the transport problems we were worried about materialised. Extra trains were still being laid on and when we arrived at the Olympic Park we were in & through security in no time at all, with plenty of time to get our bearings and some breakfast. The Aquatics Centre was a very impressive structure, sleek and modern, when we arrived it was probably only a third full but filled up throughout the early part of the morning. The noise whenever a British athlete raced was quite incredible (and I’ve been to plenty of football matches), and rocketed to another level when Josef Craig broke the World Record in his S7 400m freestyle heat. We also got to see legendary South African Natalie Du Toit win the heat of her last ever event.

 

The green blur about to win is Natalie Du Toit.

 

 

Our day was not over though as we also had tickets to go up the Anish Kapoor designed Orbit which towers over the Olympic Park. The views from the top were superb, as we were able to see over the whole park, london, and beyond. We would have liked to explore the park more, but it was incredibly crowded so we headed home.

 

Orbit.

 

Debra & I outside the Olympic Stadium.

 

The next morning we were still shattered from the day before but got ourselves up anyway, today we were going to the Stadium itself! Thankfully it started an hour later than the previous day so we had a bit of extra time. After another breakfast stop in the park we headed into the Stadium to find our tickets were in the third row which gave us a great view, just a shame we were on the bend of the track and most of the heats were 100 & 200m over the other side of the stadium! We did have a great view of the morning’s two Javelin finals though, and even though the Brits never really challenged, all the athletes got fantastic support. We did get a Gold Medal moment though when Great Britain’s Josie Pearson came first in the F51 Discus, something I was able to see even though it was at the other end thanks to Debra’s inspired decision to take her binoculars! And that was that, our ‘lympic adventures were sadly over, like many we wished they could have continued forever.
 

　

　

 

 

During the Paralympics closing ceremony Debra looked at me and said "Let’s go to Rio in four years..."

 

Watched #2: On The Road Special

I'm not normally one that criticises film adaptations for not sticking exactly to the book, they are completely different mediums afterall. However I was nervous to see what Walter Salles had done with a book I know so well, having read it at least 5 times. And knowing it so well I couldn't help but notice what was missing, things like Sal's time as a security guard with Remi near the start of the book, and much reduced sections with Terri, and the ride on the back of the farmers truck. On The Road is such a dense book with so many events that to include them all would have been impossible. So the screenplay sensibly concentrates on the story concerning Dean Moriarty.

  One thing that did bug me was the amount of sex in the film, not in a prudish way but it did make it seem like a much higher concentration of sex than the book (ie.all the sex is kept in when other parts are left out). The other aspect of this is the gay sex, something that in the film is right there wheras in the book is more subtley suggested or alluded to.

  These are relatively minor criticisms though when they got so much right. Particularly the feel and themes of the book, it's not a non-stop party like many seem to think, Sal & Dean are slowly drifting apart almost from the moment they meet and becoming more desperate as they go. The environments look authentic, not the usual pristine, neat, polished world of so many 1950's period pieces - it's dirty, sweaty and real. The cinematography is beautiful, filmed I have since discovered by Eric Gautier who also filmed Into The wild, the use of handheld camera's for when sal is hitchhiking is a good touch
and there's a warm, nostalgic graininess to the whole movie.

  Importantly I felt the cast was very good, Salles chose very well picking young up & coming actors for the key roles. Sam Riley is very good as Sal Paradise, pitching him perfectly as the quiet observer & confidant to the stronger characters. Kristen Stewart was quite a revelation as Marylou, an amplified version of the character on the page, more energetic, sexier & more sympathetic. Garrett Hedlund however, is stunning as Dean, he doesn't start the movie all maniacal energy, rather building his madness through the film after each little setback or argument, a feat all the more impressive when you consider that it wouldn't have been filmed in order.

  It was a joy to see this book brought vividly to life before my eyes after years imagining it. Nervous? I needn't have been, now I can't wait to watch it again without those nerves.

Listening #3

James Yorkston I was a Cat from a Book (2012)

Domino Records www.jamesyorkston.co.uk

James Yorkston is another one of those artists I’ve always intended to listen to but not got round to, well I’m glad I did at last. Yorkston, for the uninitiated is a singer-songwriter hailing from Fife in Scotland, as well as his own songs he also sings & records traditional folk songs. I was a Cat from a Book comprises all his own compositions, for the most part beautiful lilting ballads and simple charming folky songs with pretty harmonies, which are a delight to listen to. Which make the two more upbeat, driving songs ‘Just as Scared’ and ‘I Can Take All This’ stand out all the more, the latter of which provides a stirring conclusion to a fine album.

Highlights: Catch, Border Song, Just as Scared, I Can Take All This

Liars WIXIW (2012)

Mute www.liarsliarsliars.com

For some reason I missed Liars 5th album Sisterworld, so I’ve missed a step in this constantly evolving band’s development. Perhaps that explains why I haven’t managed to connect with or find a way into this album yet, because if you had told me "Liars experiment more with electronica" I’d have thought YES! this sounds like it’s going to be right up my alley. For once it feels like Liars sounding like other music that already exists. It’s when they create that otherworldly sound that the album really comes alive as on ‘Flood To Flood’ which sounds simultaneously new AND like Liars, ‘Brats’ is a totally unexpected off-kilter dancefloor filler that puts everything else on this album in the shade.

Highlights: A Ring On Every Finger, WIXIW, Flood To Flood, Brats

Dan Deacon America (2012)

Domino Records www.dandeacon.com

Dan Deacon’s America, as an idea doesn’t sound like it should work, an artist known for bonkers techno, creating a concept album. The first 5 tracks a reaction against the economic crisis, and polarisation of US politics, the 2nd half one long paen (split into 4 parts) to the landscapes of North America. But work it does, gloriously well, what you get is a far more joyful outcome than some of the more topographical electronica out there. Deacon takes you on an adrenaline fuelled tour of America with fizzes and crashes sitting perfectly on top of grandiose orchestral arrangements that create a feeling of wind in your hair whether you’re in a convertible flying down US-50, or not.

Highlights: True Thrush, Crash Jam, Is A Monster, Manifest

 

Animal Collective Centipede Hz (2012)

Domino Records www.myanimalhome.net

I’ve been a fan of Animal Collective’s awkward avant-garde noise-pop since 2007’s Strawberry Jam. Their throw everything at it and see what emerges approach can make for exciting listening as it balances on a tightrope with everything trying to make the songs fall off into unlistenable noise. Unfortunately all too often this album seems to fall off that tightrope, it’s so densely layered that it turns into a musical mush where nothing can come to the fore and drag the song forward. Infact my main problem with this record is that it all sounds too similar, too formulaic, just well, dull.

Highlights: Moonjock, Applesauce

 

Dinosaur Jr. I Bet On Sky (2012)

[PIAS] www.dinosaurjr.com

I’ve seen it mentioned somewhere else, but it’s true, there’s something very comforting about Dinosaur Jr. Not in a retro, nostalgic way, they haven’t changed - they don’t need too, in J Mascis hands a guitar solo is always necessary, never over wrought. Watch the Corners isn’t just one of the best rock songs of 2012, but would stand up as one of the best at the height of gr*nge, and Almost Fare just makes me happy. Hell this whole album makes me happy, Dinosaur Jr break all the rules - reformed bands aren’t supposed to be this good.

Highlights: Watch the Corners, Almost Fare, Rude, Pierce The Morning Rain

Get Off Jack's Back

In just a few weeks the film adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s ‘On The Road’ will be released in UK cinemas, I’m currently re-reading the book in anticipation. As you would expect there have been alot of articles & blogs written about Jack Kerouac as the film approaches, many looking to make a name for themselves by accusing Kerouac sexism, racism, homophobia, being anti-semitic & a reactionary conservative - that’s not to mention the legions of comments sections frequented by people who have read the book once in school & read a few ill-informed articles.

 UK Release 12th October 2012

One such example I saw used the following quote "Several times I went to San Francisco with my gun and when a queer approached me in a bar john I took out the gun and said ‘Eh? Eh? What’s that you say?". Which of course to anyone reading it would look homophobic, but is comletely out of context, missing the remorse that follows and what could even be considered a comment on the effect guns have on people - "I’ve never understood why I did that; I knew queers all over the country. It was just the loneliness of San Francisco and the fact that I had a gun. I had to show it to someone."

This also sums up the conflict at the heart of Kerouac for me, you can look at his writing through modern eyes and see words like ‘queer’ or ‘negro’ (or worse) and be offended or you can place yourself in the time. Writers like Keroauc were born in the 1920’s, and were young men in the 1940’s when sexism, racism & homophobia were not only the social norm but in the case of racial segregation, the law.

Virtually every one of our relations alive in the same era would have used similar expressions, held similar opinions that appear wrong to our modern viewpoint. Does that make everyone else bad people aswell? Or are we just picking on him because he wrote about things the way they were? How do we know that in 70 years time there will not be people looking at us judging our society as unenlightened?

Jack Kerouac & Allen Ginsberg

One article that I thought hit alot of nails on the head comes from a suprising source, theamericanconservative website. It doesn’t try to claim Kerouac as a conservative, but points out that as a young man all of his actions show him to be non-conservative, non-conformist, infact very unpolitical in any way. He is a young writer who wants to see, hear & experience all that he can, he does not write of his gay friends like Ginsburg, Orlovsky and others with disgust but with love, respect and affection. It is only after he becomes famous, and his inablity to cope with that, when he has sought refuge in drink that he returns to the familiar, conservative reactionary roots that surrounded him as he grew up. Read the article here.

I once heard Andy Warhol say something along the lines of "As a shy person you desperately want attention, but when you get it you don’t know what to do with it". This sums up Jack perfectly, he wanted to be a famous writer but when fame arrived he couldn’t cope with the attention, couldn’t cope with the criticism, couldn’t cope with the way people politicised his writing for their own ends, couldn’t cope with the constant stream of people who would turn up at his mothers house expecting him to party with them. So he retreated from the world into alcoholism, travelled less, prefering to stay in the safety of his mother’s home and reacted against what people wanted him to be by turning to the familiarity of his conservative catholic upbringing.

The 'On The Road' Scroll

Then of course there’s the did he, didn’t he write it in 3 weeks debate. To say either is far too simplistic. Jack made copious notes about his travels and tried to write the book a couple of times, binning them as he couldn’t realise what was in his head. Then he was inspired by one of Neal Cassady’s stream of concsiousness letters, and realised that if he combined this style with his own prose-poetry he might get what he was looking for. He then wrote the infamous scroll in 3 weeks as the legend tells us, before reworking this into the book that was finally published. Can we leave the discussion behind now?

I wasn’t really intending the first blog I wrote on my passion for Kerouac’s books to be a defense, I had thought I’d write about what I love about his work, but that’s not how things have worked out I guess. I am excited to see the On The Road film which is released in just a few weeks, and to see the original scroll which I learnt a few days ago will be on display at the British Library until Christmas. Hopefully I can combine a trip to see both in one day, and I’ll doubtless write a blog about that.