Well, I thought I'd break my self-imposed silence just to offer some kind of review of christmas itself...
Of the two or three presents I requested, I received none. Instead I got another iPod (the 160Gb one, which is nice but superfluous), and the Laurel and Hardy box set (again, nice, but the 'Sapphire and Steel' or 'Dr Who Dalek' box sets were what I actually wanted). Ho hum.
The family was low-level ill - colds, mainly - for most of the time, so we didn't get out much. This meant we were left in the clutches of the TV, my music collection and the various toys and books my son got for christmas. TV has, in general been absolutely dreadful. The only saving grace was the Dr Who episode, but even that was pretty flat.
The saving grace, for me at least, was the radio.
Here's what I've recorded (with my HiQ software) so far this holiday:
22Dec - The Wooden Overcoat, Radio4,
24Dec - The Charles Hazlewood Christmas Show, Radio2,
24Dec - Jeeves Live, with Martin Jarvis, R4,
24Dec - The Count Arthur Strong Christmas Message on You and Yours,
24Dec - The Best of 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue', R4,
24Dec - MR James at Christmas, R4, and 25 - 28 Dec
24Dec - The Nine Tailors, R4, and will record all 10 episodes,
25Dec - News Quiz of the Year, R4, via Podcast,
25Dec - 84 Charing Cross Road, R4,
25Dec - Count Arthur Strong Radio Show, R4. Not a Christmas special, unlike last year, so rather odd scheduling,
26Dec - A Night in the Ukraine, R4, the Marx Brothers in a Chekov play,
26Dec - Current Puns, R4,
28Dec - Count Arthur Strong Radio Show, R4, the first of a new series,
28Dec - The Now Show, R4, via Podcast,
28Dec - Mark Kermode's film review of the year, R5, via Podcast, featuring the 'Pirates' rant featured here and available in glorious video here,
29Dec - Genesis Live, R2. I already have a low bit-rate recording of this, but need to use my upgraded software to creat WAVs and edit tracks,
29Dec - Dracula, Episode1, World Service. I'm not sure when Ep2 is, but probably next week.
Still to do:
30Dec - All's Well That Ends Well, R3,
4Jan - Count Arthur Strong Ep2 of the new series.
Plus, a word of warning. I saw few films this holiday, mostly kids' stuff (The Grinch, Shrek), but two in particular stayed in mind.
One, on DVD, after the GLW persuaded me, was 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' and was everybit as dreadful as Mr Kermode said it was. Unplotted, random scripting and scene-changing, just awful.
The second, at the cinema, was 'St Trinian's'. I thought we'd stopped making - and funding via the Lottery - crap such as this after the disaster that was 'Sex Lives of the Potato Men'. We only saw it because the screen for 'I Am Legend' was full. I'm booking in advance next time.
Happy New Year to all.
Sunday, 30 December 2007
Friday, 21 December 2007
Music of the Year
As with last year, here are just a few thoughts on this year's releases:
Best New releases:
Fear of a Blank Planet - Porcupine Tree. Possibly my very favourite,
The King of Cards - Tom McRae. Not quite up there with 'Just Like Blood', but very good,
Snakes and Arrows - Rush, much better than 'Vapor Trials',
Comicopera- Robert Wyatt, certainly the first two 'movements',
Person Pitch - Panda Bear, first heard on Where's The Skill In That?,
Coheed & Cambria - No World for Tomorrow,
Honourable mentions too, for Cherry Ghost, Dream Theater, Bjork, Joanna Newsom and Siouxsie.
The Marillion album, although it pains me to say it, should have been better, although '08 promises a return to form.
Other albums I've bought that I've been underwhelmed by include the new Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse, and another White Stripes album that is just too bare for my liking,
Old releases bought this year are far too numerous to mention, as I've spent a large proprtion of my time at work downloading from a variety of sources.
Best New releases:
Fear of a Blank Planet - Porcupine Tree. Possibly my very favourite,
The King of Cards - Tom McRae. Not quite up there with 'Just Like Blood', but very good,
Snakes and Arrows - Rush, much better than 'Vapor Trials',
Comicopera- Robert Wyatt, certainly the first two 'movements',
Person Pitch - Panda Bear, first heard on Where's The Skill In That?,
Coheed & Cambria - No World for Tomorrow,
Honourable mentions too, for Cherry Ghost, Dream Theater, Bjork, Joanna Newsom and Siouxsie.
The Marillion album, although it pains me to say it, should have been better, although '08 promises a return to form.
Other albums I've bought that I've been underwhelmed by include the new Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse, and another White Stripes album that is just too bare for my liking,
Old releases bought this year are far too numerous to mention, as I've spent a large proprtion of my time at work downloading from a variety of sources.
Mr 9 'Til 5
Final day until Jan 3rd. I might keep the blog going if anything interesting happens of the festive period, but for now I'lll sign off with today's playlist and my thoughts on this year's music.
As I was in no rush to get to work early, my son and I were mucking around at home with my guitar and listening to some PFM, mainly 'Maestro della Voce', which on the 'pfmpfm.it' CD is superb.
The rest of my commute was just more PFM. Not particularly festive, but splendid nonetheless:
Sei, from pfmpfm.it,
Jet Lag, from Jet Lag,
Passpartú and Le Trame Blu, both from Passpartú,
Is My Face On Straight, from L'Isola di Niente,
La carrozza di Hans, from pfmpfm.it, and
Paper Charms, from Chocolate Kings.
T - 3; M - 4; D - 3
As I was in no rush to get to work early, my son and I were mucking around at home with my guitar and listening to some PFM, mainly 'Maestro della Voce', which on the 'pfmpfm.it' CD is superb.
The rest of my commute was just more PFM. Not particularly festive, but splendid nonetheless:
Sei, from pfmpfm.it,
Jet Lag, from Jet Lag,
Passpartú and Le Trame Blu, both from Passpartú,
Is My Face On Straight, from L'Isola di Niente,
La carrozza di Hans, from pfmpfm.it, and
Paper Charms, from Chocolate Kings.
T - 3; M - 4; D - 3
Thursday, 20 December 2007
Xmas Radio
Not much on telly over the festive period (apart from Dr Who, although Catherine Tate fills me with dread), but radio might be the answer...
Almost exclusively BBC Radio 2 and 4:
The Saturday Play on the 22nd with David Tennant,
MR James at Xmas from the 24th for 5 episodes,
Jeeves Live on the 24th,
Best of ISIHAC on the 24th, too,
Lord Peter Wimsey for 10 episodes from 24th,
News Quiz of the Year on the 25th,
Humph in Wonderland on the 25th,
Count Arthur Strong on the 25th,
A Stephen Fry investigation of puns on the 26th,
A new series of Count Arthur Strong (?) from the 28th,
The Now Show on the 28th,
plus all sorts of festive music on R2 and R3
I think Listen Again and my Hi-Q software will come into play at some point.
Mmmmm..... Nice...
Almost exclusively BBC Radio 2 and 4:
The Saturday Play on the 22nd with David Tennant,
MR James at Xmas from the 24th for 5 episodes,
Jeeves Live on the 24th,
Best of ISIHAC on the 24th, too,
Lord Peter Wimsey for 10 episodes from 24th,
News Quiz of the Year on the 25th,
Humph in Wonderland on the 25th,
Count Arthur Strong on the 25th,
A Stephen Fry investigation of puns on the 26th,
A new series of Count Arthur Strong (?) from the 28th,
The Now Show on the 28th,
plus all sorts of festive music on R2 and R3
I think Listen Again and my Hi-Q software will come into play at some point.
Mmmmm..... Nice...
Gentle Blues
Two days and counting...
No blog yesterday, as I was at my son's nursery nativity thing. Splendid fun.
Walkin' Blues - Robert Johnson,
Story of a Man a Woman, Pt. 1: She Thought I Was Stanley Clarke - Stanley Clarke,
Emergency 72 - Turin Brakes,
Höga Berg Och DJupa Dalar (High Mountains And Low Valleys) - Ranarim,
The Easy Blues (Jelly Roll Blues/Gentle Blues) - John Martyn,
Beyond The Seventh Galaxy - Return To Forever,
Babylon Sisters - Steely Dan,
Highway Song - James Taylor,
Never Any Good - Leonard Cohen,
Hallucinations - Tim Buckley,
Hazey Jane I - Nick Drake,
Cucumber Slumber - Weather Report,
Poor Boy - Nick Drake.
T - 3; M -4; D -3
No blog yesterday, as I was at my son's nursery nativity thing. Splendid fun.
Walkin' Blues - Robert Johnson,
Story of a Man a Woman, Pt. 1: She Thought I Was Stanley Clarke - Stanley Clarke,
Emergency 72 - Turin Brakes,
Höga Berg Och DJupa Dalar (High Mountains And Low Valleys) - Ranarim,
The Easy Blues (Jelly Roll Blues/Gentle Blues) - John Martyn,
Beyond The Seventh Galaxy - Return To Forever,
Babylon Sisters - Steely Dan,
Highway Song - James Taylor,
Never Any Good - Leonard Cohen,
Hallucinations - Tim Buckley,
Hazey Jane I - Nick Drake,
Cucumber Slumber - Weather Report,
Poor Boy - Nick Drake.
T - 3; M -4; D -3
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
Let Me Take You Down
Well, only four days to go, one of which I have off anyway, so just keeping my head down and turning up.
Captain Carter's Fathoms - Pepé Deluxe,
A Smart Kid - Porcupine Tree,
The Chant - Jelly Roll Morton,
Access Denied - Porcupine Tree,
Terminal Frost - Pink Floyd,
Winter Song - Chris Rea,
La Petite Fille De La Mer - Vangelis,
There Was Sun - Devendra Banhart,
Shrink - Notwist,
Cooltide - John Martyn,
When You`re In - Pink Floyd,
Café Europa - David Sylvian.
The Wippit/ADBS fallout continues, with the monorail salesman claiming contract exclusivity and DB just shrugging. A sad (although inevitable) end.
T - 4; M - 3.5; D - 2
Captain Carter's Fathoms - Pepé Deluxe,
A Smart Kid - Porcupine Tree,
The Chant - Jelly Roll Morton,
Access Denied - Porcupine Tree,
Terminal Frost - Pink Floyd,
Winter Song - Chris Rea,
La Petite Fille De La Mer - Vangelis,
There Was Sun - Devendra Banhart,
Shrink - Notwist,
Cooltide - John Martyn,
When You`re In - Pink Floyd,
Café Europa - David Sylvian.
The Wippit/ADBS fallout continues, with the monorail salesman claiming contract exclusivity and DB just shrugging. A sad (although inevitable) end.
T - 4; M - 3.5; D - 2
Monday, 17 December 2007
ADBS Crash and Burn
OK, the central heating boiler packed in at the weekend, and, as my home computer is in a peripheral part of my house away from fires, I missed the breaking news of the Danny Baker and Wippit fall-out.
Turmoil indeed. "... and you're standing, crushed, on the sweaty Northern Line every day"
I've followed the genesis, initial euphoria, and stumbling first footsteps, then through delay and return, and then subscription and meltdown...
"Knowing my luck, it'll all go tits up in the New Year and I'll have paid a year's subs for nowt..."
Several problems:
1. Wippit is rubbish. Dreadful user interface, patronising tone, 'shiny new servers' dropping out regularly, useless support,
2. Danny was unaware that Wippit subscribers could get the ADBS for nowt,
3. Very poor feedback during the whole Autumn hiatus coupled with ridiculous comments from Paul Wippit on the Treehouse board. Danny's not above blame on this one, either,
4. The lack of the 'live' element definitely affected the ADBS and B/K, the latter more than the former, and the fact that DB was continuing the BBC London led to odd overlaps.
Fundamentally, though, it seems to me that the vast majority of the blame lies with Wippit.
It's all a bit late for this analysis, I know, and this blog isn't supposed to be about the ADBS at all - it just kind of happened...
I've blown £50 on a crappy service; Paul Wippit will become even more of an internet millionaire; DB will, in the short term at least, become increasingly bitter; and I'll have nothing to accompany my commute other than my fabulous music collection.
Turmoil indeed. "... and you're standing, crushed, on the sweaty Northern Line every day"
I've followed the genesis, initial euphoria, and stumbling first footsteps, then through delay and return, and then subscription and meltdown...
"Knowing my luck, it'll all go tits up in the New Year and I'll have paid a year's subs for nowt..."
Several problems:
1. Wippit is rubbish. Dreadful user interface, patronising tone, 'shiny new servers' dropping out regularly, useless support,
2. Danny was unaware that Wippit subscribers could get the ADBS for nowt,
3. Very poor feedback during the whole Autumn hiatus coupled with ridiculous comments from Paul Wippit on the Treehouse board. Danny's not above blame on this one, either,
4. The lack of the 'live' element definitely affected the ADBS and B/K, the latter more than the former, and the fact that DB was continuing the BBC London led to odd overlaps.
Fundamentally, though, it seems to me that the vast majority of the blame lies with Wippit.
It's all a bit late for this analysis, I know, and this blog isn't supposed to be about the ADBS at all - it just kind of happened...
I've blown £50 on a crappy service; Paul Wippit will become even more of an internet millionaire; DB will, in the short term at least, become increasingly bitter; and I'll have nothing to accompany my commute other than my fabulous music collection.
Disappointment Can Wear You Thin
I was away from my computer all weekend, so missed the 'All Day Breakfast Show' announcement HERE. And HERE.
FWIW, I'll add my thoughts in a later post, and just get the tracklist for this morning out of the way:
Telegraph Road - Dire Straits,
Got A Suitcase, Got Regrets - Tom McRae,
Let's Split - Syd Barrett,
Paperback Writer - The Beatles,
Sunny Goodge Street - Donovan,
Ring Out Solstice Bells - Jethro Tull,
Cry From The Street - David Gilmour,
Only Time Will Tell - Asia,
Jack Of Speed - Steely Dan, the best track from a pretty formulaic return album,
Hounds Of Love - Kate Bush,
Birth From Earth - Epsilon Indi,
Photos of Ghosts - Premiata Forneria Marconi. I'd forgotten just how great this is...
Trio And Group Dancers - Charles Mingus. I'd forgotten just how mad this is...
T - 3; M - 4; D - 3
FWIW, I'll add my thoughts in a later post, and just get the tracklist for this morning out of the way:
Telegraph Road - Dire Straits,
Got A Suitcase, Got Regrets - Tom McRae,
Let's Split - Syd Barrett,
Paperback Writer - The Beatles,
Sunny Goodge Street - Donovan,
Ring Out Solstice Bells - Jethro Tull,
Cry From The Street - David Gilmour,
Only Time Will Tell - Asia,
Jack Of Speed - Steely Dan, the best track from a pretty formulaic return album,
Hounds Of Love - Kate Bush,
Birth From Earth - Epsilon Indi,
Photos of Ghosts - Premiata Forneria Marconi. I'd forgotten just how great this is...
Trio And Group Dancers - Charles Mingus. I'd forgotten just how mad this is...
T - 3; M - 4; D - 3
Friday, 14 December 2007
How It Hits You
I feel absolutely dreadful. This blog has taken a rather self-pitying tone lately, I appreciate, but I really do feel awful - cold, tired and generally 'ill'.
Some Christmas music to cheer me up and, whilst it went better than last year, it didn't really alter my mood.
Winter - Paul O'Reilly,
Once In Royal David's City - Gauntlett, from a Classic FM freebie CD,
A Christmas Song - Jethro Tull,
I Wish it Could Be Christmas Every Day - Wizzard,
2000 Years - Jon Anderson,
Gaudette - Steeleye Span,
As With Gladness Men of Old - Kocher,
How It Hits You - Jon Anderson,
Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen (A Spotless Rose is growing) - Praetorius,
Concerto grosso in G Minor: Op. 6/8, 'Christmas Concerto' - Vivace/Grave; Allegro; Adagio/Allegro/Adagio; Vivace; Allegro; Pastorale - Corelli,
The Holly And The Ivy - Jon Anderson,
The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Snowflakes - Tchaikovsky,
Jack Frost And The Hooded Crow - Jethro Tull.
I need a week of sleeping, and less Southern Comfort...
T - 2; M -3.5; D - 3
Some Christmas music to cheer me up and, whilst it went better than last year, it didn't really alter my mood.
Winter - Paul O'Reilly,
Once In Royal David's City - Gauntlett, from a Classic FM freebie CD,
A Christmas Song - Jethro Tull,
I Wish it Could Be Christmas Every Day - Wizzard,
2000 Years - Jon Anderson,
Gaudette - Steeleye Span,
As With Gladness Men of Old - Kocher,
How It Hits You - Jon Anderson,
Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen (A Spotless Rose is growing) - Praetorius,
Concerto grosso in G Minor: Op. 6/8, 'Christmas Concerto' - Vivace/Grave; Allegro; Adagio/Allegro/Adagio; Vivace; Allegro; Pastorale - Corelli,
The Holly And The Ivy - Jon Anderson,
The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Snowflakes - Tchaikovsky,
Jack Frost And The Hooded Crow - Jethro Tull.
I need a week of sleeping, and less Southern Comfort...
T - 2; M -3.5; D - 3
Thursday, 13 December 2007
High Vibration Go On
Well, back to 'work'.
I spent most of yesterday recording old cassettes to WAV files using Hi-Q and Nero, including old tapes of various bands I was in in my youth, and a couple of treasured BBC recordings.
1 - Pink Floyd, live at the time of Atom Heart Mother, including the rare-ish 'Embryo' as well as 'Careful With that Axe, Eugene', 'If' and 'Fat Old Sun'. One of my favourite PF albums, AHM.
2 - Yes live in 1978. There's a 'Big Medley' of Time and a Word, The Fish, Perpetual Change and Soon which seems to have been used in the 'Word Is Live' boxset. Definitely my favourite tape.
The commute was filled with the Yes concert. I think I know every note by now...
Circus of Heaven,
The Big Medley,
Don't Kill The Whale,
Clap,
Starship Troopers,
On the Silent Wings of Freedom,
Awaken,
Your Move,
Roundabout.
T - 4; M - 5; D - 4
I spent most of yesterday recording old cassettes to WAV files using Hi-Q and Nero, including old tapes of various bands I was in in my youth, and a couple of treasured BBC recordings.
1 - Pink Floyd, live at the time of Atom Heart Mother, including the rare-ish 'Embryo' as well as 'Careful With that Axe, Eugene', 'If' and 'Fat Old Sun'. One of my favourite PF albums, AHM.
2 - Yes live in 1978. There's a 'Big Medley' of Time and a Word, The Fish, Perpetual Change and Soon which seems to have been used in the 'Word Is Live' boxset. Definitely my favourite tape.
The commute was filled with the Yes concert. I think I know every note by now...
Circus of Heaven,
The Big Medley,
Don't Kill The Whale,
Clap,
Starship Troopers,
On the Silent Wings of Freedom,
Awaken,
Your Move,
Roundabout.
T - 4; M - 5; D - 4
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