Two Weeks

Dear Daniel,

It looks like I've been away from here for a bit, but I think it's been less than 2 weeks. I've been spending my time constructively, though, and listening to the likes of Grizzly Bear and the new album by Smog's Bill Callahan - beautiful. I won a music quiz in the new Leeds music venue the Nation of Shopkeepers, but I didn't know the answer to the question "Which American group were originally called the Pendletones?" I've attended an anti-BNP demonstration. I've met a german man who has more control of my life than I really appreciate.

By the way, in reference to your post on christian rock below, you may like to know that since you have been away from these shores Songs of Praise has become a lot like a Petra gig. Do you know Songs of Praise reminds me of you dad's front room in where-everhelived?

By the other way:



Since we last spoke, Little Boots has gone from strength to strength, debuting at number 13 in the UK charts with the above song. I hear it at least twice a day on our radio station and I still love it. I don't like the video, though, with it's ironic "dance of the destitute". Clearly, Victoria's success is testament to the tastemaker-like power of this blog, which posted about her ooo ages ago. Equally clearly, it's testament to the power I have to make people I am acquainted with become successful by doing - precisely - nothing and speaking to them - at most - rarely.

When are you going to become a successful sitcom writer?



Dear James?

What do you mean, when am I going to become a successful sitcom writer? I already am one. The whole success lies in getting the job in the first place. The rest is just sitting around, drinking tea and cashing cheques.

That would have been my dad's front room in Bramhall, although all his front rooms look the same to me. He has to move every 3 years to be whether the trendiest part of West Stockport is. He's now in Cheadle Hulme. You'll be glad to hear he's finished his conservatoire.

Am I allowed not to be impressed by that Little Boots song? I mean, are you very good friends with her or did you just kind of meet her once and want to give off the impression that you know her? Either way, it strikes me that you take away her piano and her tenori-on and you're left with something very ordinary. But don't tell her I said that, she seems like a nice girl.

I was into Grizzly Bear years before you were. Well, Karo the Norwegian sent me an MP3 of one of their songs in 2006, I downloaded the album for free and then never listened to it, same thing.

Here's some Songs of Praise for those poor souls who've never seen it.



Dear Daniel,

Do you know that Adam from Adam and Joe made that as part of a sketch show which the BBC decided not to commission? I would like to point commissioning editors to the shows "2 pints of lager and a packet of crisps" and "The Horne and Corden show" and say: "Shame on you"...

As for being allowed to criticise something, when did proximity to me stop you from saying you weren't keen? You told me you didn't like my last album...

(Although you were very nice about it...)

Dear James,

Fair enough. So when's your solo album coming out?

God Gave Rock and Roll To You

Dear James,

Where would the world be without Christian Rock? Probably where it is now, but with a bit less comedy. In fact, being from the barren shores of Indie World, you may not even be aware of the existence of the Christian rock genre (and its sub-genres of Christian metal, Christian thrash, Christian grindcore). This is because outside of certain states of America, Christian Rock only gets a brief mention on late night rock programs such as those savoured in my youth and the odd feature in Kerrang!!! (punctuations Kerrang!!!'s own).

The above video magically summarises the main elements of Christian Rock: a man who looks like your uncle, only wearing red jogging bottoms, trying to throw what we call "rock-shapes" but ending up like a man who looks like your uncle nodding his head; an up-tempo version of a rock standard with an added Christian edge; an over-reliance on keyboards that are not too church organ-like but not too Satanic. Petra add an extra gospel touch to their rock, thanks to the vocal acrobatics of the singer. Don't switch it off before the 2:02 mark, you'll miss the best bit. Although my favourite part is "Another one!". Here's Petra's original recording, with my favourite moment in prog rock, the two-minute build-up.

GGRNRTY was of course originally recorded by Argent, featuring Rod Argent of the Zombies. I'd often wondered how Argent went from all the pretty songs on Oracle and Odyssey to this. It turns out GGRNRTY was written by Russ Ballard, who also wrote Colin Blumstone's I Don't Believe in Miracles.



Although our younger readers may be more familiar with Sinitta's cover.