Mol's Sound Words

The Sad Death of a Lioness

2012-01-29T11:26:00.000-08:00

I don’t know about the rest of you, but is your wife/husband/affectionate other one of those people who doesn’t open their Christmas presents until the Christmas period has well and truly passed? Mine is! It’s not a bad thing like, but it ‘niggles’ me

Anyway, the Christmas present in question (that I bought her) is the Amy Winehouse album she, sorry, her record company hurriedly released on news of her premature and tragic death.

The album is entitled ‘Lioness – Hidden Gems’ and, as I always do in these cases, have a few issues with the title and indeed the content

Firstly, these are not ‘hidden gems’ – they are simply shoddy out-takes that have been given to some hot shot producer to try and ‘polish up’ (a bit like when you watch 24 and Jack Bauer is trying to recover data from a lap top that been blew up). There are also a load of re-takes of old songs that appeared on Back to Black (most people call them demos), which kind of pisses me off as the words money for old rope spring to mind!

I remember watching No Cure for Cancer years ago by Bill Hicks … sorry … Denis Leary. In the routine he does a sketch about Elvis dying on the bog and comes up with the idea of shooting Elvis dead in 1959 when he was young, good looking and, most of all, talented so people can remember him that way! Instead, they wheel him out every week fat, bloated and high on drink and drugs onto a stage in Las Vegas making a tit out of himself!

When I think of that sketch I think of this latest album released by Winehouse’s record company when I listen to some of the songs! You can also see that it won’t be the first of these out-take albums courtesy of Winehouse’s record company in a way similar to Elvis! A ‘new Elvis’ you could say. Personally I think that’s pretty sad and a blemish to a singing legacy that was, in my opinion, truly inspirational

But, once again, money talks and bullshit walks! Death sells! Famous dead people sell! I know I previously wrote about this at the time, but look at the death of Michael Jackson! Within a week of his death he had numerous albums at number one on both sides of the Atlantic with a film in the pipe line (a demo film, I suppose you could say due to the quality of it). Ring any bells?

I personally see these actions as extremely ghoulish and very creepy especially if you are close friends and relatives of Winehouse (who have probably gained financially no doubt)

So, to be blunt, who wants to listen to a bunch out-takes and demos from a young girl who was off her head on drink and drugs? Not me that’s for sure! Sadly, my wife does. But that’s her choice I suppose

Then again, when is Adele’s new album out?

Mol

Album of the Year 2011

2011-12-28T03:21:00.000-08:00

Through a Crooked Sunset by Rich Robinson

I love Rich Robinson; he’s such a wonderfully simple, down-to-earth Rock Star! In fact, he probably doesn’t put Rock Star down when filling out a form for something; he probably puts Farmer or Dad as his occupation

Another thing I love about Rich is his singing voice. Like his Brother Chris its plain to hear there’s no way on earth he has the greatest singing voice, and he clearly knows this! It could actually be best described as a voice only his mother could love! That, I greatly admire in any singer in a world of perfect and manufactured pop stars who scorn upon us mere ‘below par’ singers for not being in tune (especially one like myself – although my band members wouldn’t admit it due to the amount of love and utter respect the hold for me) Haha

So, to the album – it was hardly what I was expecting from such a seasoned Stoner like Rich and nothing like his previous brilliant offering Paper From 2005. That was a very serious guitar album. Through a Crowded Sunset though is very much a more experimental album that branches further away from his guitar blues-based roots into the realms of folk-based rock and roll. I thought I’d pick a few tunes out:

“Hey Fear” is an example of this. The song starts with a lovely acoustic intro with Rich’s voice gently entering the fray followed by a background string section not too similar to The Stones’ Moonlight Mile.

“All Along the Way” is another similar song to “Hey Fear” with a strong country feel to it, almost Neil Young like in its style. It’s when listening to this track you realise how such a good lyricist Rich really is.

“Fire Around” is almost Shadows like in its intro (yes, I did mean Hank Marvin and the boys) then bursts into a kick ass hillbilly rock out! Excellent guitar work on this one showing Rich isn’t just a tender hippy, but can kick off the shackles and play with the roughest when he feels like it

So there you have it. Give it a listen as it’s a brilliant album ideal for spending a night in with your missus with a few glasses of wine with a few candles on

Chill, peace and skin up!

Have a good new year

Mol

Careful What You Wish For

2011-12-14T11:17:00.000-08:00

Isn’t it strange how things you EXPECTED to happen really do happen!

This week saw our illustrious leaders finally reveal their true allegiance towards the banking sector and Europe and, more importantly (ahem) see the X Factor Winner show their true colours

In case you didn’t know, the most famous talent show on the PLANET was won by a bunch of teenage rats called Little Mix (and no, they’re not a bunch of Irish Midgets) And, in case you didn’t know, this merry bunch of future contestants of ’16 and Pregnant’ were put together by none other than the Prince of Darkness himself – Cowell. Isn’t that a surprise?

The final of this year’s X Factor also coincided with a rather superb programme from the brilliant Charlie Brooker on Channel 4 called Fifteen Million Merits, part of the Black Mirror series. The programme was a satirical look at the future of reality TV with a sinister twist at the end (basically - everyone has a price). A superb piece of programming timing and a master stroke by Channel 4 and the perfect swipe at the failing aspirations on reality talent TV programmes

So, where does this leave the producers and so called fans of X Factor and where their die-hard loyalty lies after this obvious bout of ‘match fixing’ that would put Vladimir Putin and his merry gang of Russian Mafia bosses to shame?

Well, the truth is, exactly the same place they have always been – in the sand and in the gutter denying all knowledge that the majority of public opinion thinks its utter fucking wank!

Everyone knows my utter distain, dislike and utter disgust at the way X Factor is produced, distributed and talked about within this pathetic celebrity obsessed country/society and it will probably take my last whim and dying breath before the entire nation realises it and understands it!

But, with some public support and, above all, some publicity, we can prove to the people who watch this crap that it is nothing short of fixed, over-hyped utter shit (and I haven’t even got on to the subject of the singers yet!!!)

So, everyone, do me a favour and watch Black Mirror on Catch-Up TV and tell your friends and most of all the blerts who sit with you in work who think X Factor is sooooooo good and have a look at their faces the next day

Thats is, if they understood what it was about!

Mol

The Drugs Do Work, But We Just Don’t Know It

2011-11-29T23:34:00.000-08:00

It’s not often your beloved author gets a bee in his bonnet, but there’s an old saying in music “the best songs were written by people on drugs”.

In many cases, this statement is true (except for the odd few during the mid-nineties and mid-eighties, of course)

I’ve just been reading an article about criticism dished out to some Spastic X Factor singer who sang a cover of ‘Under the Bridge’ by Red Hot Chilli Peppers’. The criticism came as a result of the lyric contents of the song (It’s about Heroin use/abuse in a run down area of Los Angeles in case you were wondering) being sung on a family show. Truly shocking behaviour I’m sure you’ll agree (and I’m not talking about the singing). Then again, there are all types of abuse in society that are classed as unacceptable, but that’s another matter!

So, exactly who do these people come ‘under fire’ from? And, more importantly why?

The article I read was basically about singers and bands covering songs that are rather obscurely about drug use unbeknown to the covering artists. Take ‘There She Goes’ by The La’s for instance. You’d think it was a love song, but, I won’t bore you with the full story here, but its not! Take a few minutes to read into what it’s really about if you want

Another point to this whole Daily Mail inspired ‘outrage’ stems from a quote from Anthony Keidis from the RHCP when he was asked about All Saints doing a cover of ‘Under the Bridge’. His reply was “these people don’t know what their singing about”. And the truth is, he’s right

Once again, X Factor ‘contestants’ (and probably most of the ‘judges’) like their puppets to do covers of certain songs because “they sound nice” or “they appeal to the pop song buying public” (who they rely on to boost their bank balances).

It’s only when arseholes like the people who write for the Daily Moan and other Tory-based broadsheets get hold of the story that the penny finally drops with these ignorant idiots who would never go within a million miles of Heroin! And that is the real cut of my jib!

A lot of people who comment and complain on drug misuse and abuse within song lyrics are usually the type of boffins who have never been anywhere near (or ever will be) the stuff. Their standard of living will never even come close to situations the musicians who wrote the lyrics in question have lived in.

In a nut shell, there a hell of a difference with what these two types of people do with silver spoons! One is used to take drugs, and I’m sure you can guess where the other was brought up?

Finally I’d just like to talk about the whole publicity debacle surrounding this rather laughable story. There’s absolutely no doubt in the world that anyone involved in the rather seedy and murky world of pop music crave the attention from the press. Their relationship has been hand in glove since records (no pun) began. So I’d suggest the people who use the media as a tool to enhance their career to pay it a little respect as it does have the tendency to turn violently around and bite you on the arse!

Then again, there’s also another famous saying in music “any publicity is good publicity”

The way things are with X Factor at the moment, they need all the publicity they can get!

Mol

Pearl Jam - A Rare Breed

2011-11-14T10:48:00.000-08:00

Every now and then a band comes along that are truly inspiring and make a real difference

The other night I was watching the superb film about the twentieth anniversary of Pearl Jam forming and watching the whole film made me realise what an amazing band of people they were

Now, I know the film I watched was obviously about a band who were at their peak fifteen to twenty years ago, but I realised this is/was a band of principles and standards who slowly got on with their music while bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden took most of the plaudits and accolades from the so called Grunge scene formed around Seattle. I felt I had to do some sort of ‘tribute’ to them

I remember reading a review years ago about Pearl Jam when the reviewer reported that Eddie Vedder (the band’s singer) sounded like a man who was about to throw himself off a cliff! I thought this was a brilliant description so went to the nearest record shop and bout “10” (not the film with Dudley Moore and Bo Derek)

Listening to the album for the first time absolutely blew my head off! I remember listening to the pure aggression of Vedder’s voice and stunning prominence of the duel lead guitars. But realising that the album (of course a debut for an up and coming band at the time) was not over-produced! Sometimes that can mean the best sound a band of the means can produce (think Led Zep 1 and Never Mind the Bollocks for a two examples)

Of course it wasn’t just the songs that made Pearl Jam an instantly stunning band, you got the feeling they were truly on the side of the kids who went to see them and bought their records. This is prominent in their action against Ticketmaster.

At the time (and for most of today’s gig going public) people had to buy tickets for gigs from organisations like Ticketmaster. This, of course includes a barrage of un-necessary and un-wanted booking fees that generally resulted in people having to pay $30 in the USA to see bands play live. Pearl Jam decided to select venues to play in that didn’t rely on them and their management and Ticketmaster getting into bed together.

All of this I greatly applaud! Can you imagine any of the spastics from X Factor such as Alexander Burke or them four Super Queggs in Take Splatt refusing to play a concert these days due to extortionate ticket pricing? Er, I don’t think so. Chances are they’d be in serious breach of their contract (and sponsorship) and be banished to play in Butlins (then again, that’s where most of them end up anyway)

My final point comes courtesy of a mate who has genuinely superb taste in music (apart from some stuff he claims he used during his DJ years) who is also a fan of Pearl Jam. His words really do describe them to a tee – “one of the most criminally under-rated bands of all time”. Having lived in the shadow of the afore mentioned Nirvana and Soundgarden it was a bang on the money description that I have quite a few opinions on

I think I’ve done a previous Blog about bands in the mainstream who actually deserve to be there and bands who aren’t who do (if that makes sense).

Now, most bands think plaudits and accolades aren’t for them. Some of them actually shun them and refuse to attend and others such as Chumbawumba and Jarvis Cocker decide to vent their spleens in different ways that we won’t go into here.

Now i’m not talking about all the pomp and ceremony that usually go with award ceremonies as personally, in the highly unlikely scenario of being in a successful band, and i were nominated for some sort of award, I would also shun them as they are simply a load of bollocks. Pearl jam felt the same here!

But what really does disappoint me is the artistic credit some bands don’t receive compared to the tripe that is banded about these days and labelled as ‘influential’

There have been many many bands over the course of music history who have not received such accolade and praise where it is undoubtedly due, Pearl Jam are one of them bands

Their influence will have a much longer affect

Mol

Its Got To Be Perfect

2011-11-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

Has anyone else noticed the world of music, like most things in life these days, has become too nice? Too perfect? Too well presented?

The other day I was listening to The Faces ‘A Nods as Good as a Wink (to a Blind Horse) and the album, as well as being an utterly stunning album of its time, I noticed it is also cluttered with ‘mistakes’ (or ‘extras’ as I like to call them)

If it’s not Rod Stewart’s “come on” being hollered in the background followed by the occasion cough (Rod’s addiction to ciggies at the time were probably responsible for them), or Ron Wood’s sometimes flimsy ‘coats’ (that’s what we used to say when someone messed up – usually Mart or Ben) on the guitar that makes it that more enjoyable to the ear

The Stones and The Beatles were also known for adding ‘extras’ to their albums. The Beatles used to have loads of them, The White Album being one particular album and if you listen to Exile on Main Street it has loads of ‘extras’. Also, if you get a chance, listen to Dead Flowers off Sticky Fingers and listen out for a phone ringing just at in the middle of the third chorus.

Now, if you compare this to the nice, shiny, gleaming, perfect world of today’s ‘musicians’ coming straight from the conveyer belt of Simon Cowell’s house, the difference is amazing with not a single mistake in sight!

This is mainly down to the restraints on musicians these days guaranteeing a nice lovely mistake free album that makes a commercial success and guarantees advertisement and investment from massive corporations like Pepsi, Sony, McDonalds and Sayers. A far cry from the dark days of corporate-free Sixties and Seventies when musicians released albums followed up by a tour when image wasn’t everything and the likes of hard living, drinking and taking drugs were pretty much the norm!

And that’s what everything is all about in music these days – image!

If you don’t have nice shining teeth that don’t look like a Witch Doctor’s Necklace or you have a face that takes eighteen hours in make up to cover even the slightest little zitt – the chances are you will not being making it in today’s music industry. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at the transformation that Susan Boyle undertook after she won Britain’s (Not) Got Talent!

One other thing missing these days is I get the feeling that when you listen to the likes of The Faces, The Stones and The Beatles, etc, etc, they were genuinely enjoying themselves instead of having to work in some sort of factory conditions (like X Factor) constantly churning out new ways to re-invent old songs and (rarely) writing original shit! The culture of “they’re song was raggedy and messy, ours is sooooooooomuch nicer” – gimme a break!!

So, as I think the world of music has gone completely mad and obsessed with quantity, greed and, of course, image, I thought I’d finish with a line from Pink Floyd’s ‘Have a Cigar’ (a tongue-in-cheek cynical look at the Music Business) ….

You gotta get an another album out, you owe it to the people, we’re so happy we can hardly count!

Perfect for today’s music lovers i think!

Mol

The Axe of The X And the Fall of The West

2011-10-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

Isn’t it amazing how the shit always sinks to the bottom? Strange world isn’t it?

This week we’ve seen the return of The Stone Roses, the hilarious demise of Take Splatt courtesy of Robbie Williams doing yet another runner from his bum chums and Noel Gallagher at the top of the album pile.

All of the above I can take or leave to be honest as Take Splatt are nothing short of an over-camp cabaret act hell bent on creating an entire arena full of damp crotches (male and female underwear applies by the way), Noel Gallagher has always been good for a quick, witty quote, but in my opinion has always had something ‘of the night’ about him (maybe he is a grumpy arld git after all) and The Stones Roses I could take or leave so I wasn’t really jumping through hoops about there inevitable (cash inspired) reunion.

By the way, if you’ve just bought a ticket for six million pounds to see them play when they eventually embark on their rather ambitious World Tour, have a look on YouTube at some of their liver performances. The words terrible, out of key and out of time spring to mind! But, maybe it is a victory for Indie Music so the best of luck to the Mancs on that one!

But, (and it’s a real massive BUT) most pleasing to myself had to be the rather splendid news about the death of Westlife (sadly not violent) and, most funny of all, X Factor slipping into obscurity and (hopefully) off country’s psyche for good!

First off, I’d like to mention the picture at the top of this blog. YES! It is a poster I put up over my desk in word! An NO! It hasn’t worked!

But, the most significant result about Westlife and X Factor decaying into the bowels of history is that people are maybe becoming pretty sick of people singing cover versions which, basically, is what the two of these entities have lived off for the last decade and a bit!

Another (far fetched) theory I have with regards people turning off from X Factor to turn over to watch a bag of shit period drama such as Downton Abbey is that there has been a lot of tension simmering in this country since our beloved gang of merry millionaires ceased control of the country last year. You only have to look at last years ……..

But, I’m afraid it’s not all good news! A few months back when X Factor started up with the ferocious Gary Barlow, the ever increasing camp Louis Walsh and two other birds I’ve never heard of in my like, I commented to Mrs Mol that if (even when) their ratings goes down, Cowell will be immediately on the blower to Ms Cheryl (“ah luv ye”) Cole-Tweedy to boost the ratings! And, there is even the chance the Prince of Darkness Cowell will make an appearance himself! In a sense, I think it’s very clever if that is what he resorts to as one thing it’ll guarantee is that it’ll boost his TV ratings

Then again, you really can’t polish a turd can ye?

Mol

Balmy Bono And His Shady Lyrics

2011-10-14T12:17:00.001-07:00

As well as music being extremely enjoyable, I’ve always took a keen interest in what people are actually singing about. Whether they are about love, hate, war or good old seedy shag, I’ve always enjoyed lyrics

So, having rather bizarrely got back into U2 in a sort of biggish way lately as I used to be quite into them when I was in school, (and yes, I did have a Bono-style mullet minus the sideys) I have, as you can guess, been questioning the forever young Bono and his rather outrageous lyrics and asked myself one question:

Have U2 made a career out of nonsense?

Now I know all bands that have spanned a good few decades during their careers do go on to develop and ‘experiment’ with their music (unless you are AC/DC of course). It’s their right of course, but in the case of U2 it seems they are either running out of ideas or having a mid-life crisis (no doubt Bono is browsing through a Porsche catalogue as we speak)

Now, as most avid readers of Mol’s Sound Words know, Bono isn’t really my favourite person in the world. This is mainly down to the fact that he still insists on wearing leather kex and his sunglasses in doors even though he is shaking hands with the Pope or other worldly dignitaries (I’ve often wondered if he wears them while he’s having a Michael Knight, but the less said about that the better). But, in the early eighties U2 were without doubt a fine band with their main topic of lyrics obviously about the troubles that surrounded Ireland/Northern Ireland. Very interesting stuff I’m sure we all agree

“And so we're told this is the golden age and gold is the reason for the wars we wage” – New Years Day

“And the battle's just begun, There's many lost, but tell me who has won, the trench is dug within our heart, and mothers, children, brothers, sisters Torn apart” - Sunday Bloody Sunday

Now, if you compare some of the above older lyrics to these examples you can see what I mean when I say the art of writing good lyrics have sadly (in U2’s case) gone by the wayside!!

“The future needs a big kiss, wind blows with a twist” - Get on your Boots

“Scorch the earth, set fire to the sky, and you reach so low, to reach so high – Red Hill Mining Town”

“Car alarm won't let ya back to sleep, You're kept awake dreaming someone else's dream Coffee is cold, but it'll get you through Compromise, that's nothing new to you” - Electrical storm

So, as I said before, have they ran out of ideas is or are they, quite frankly, not arsed any more? I personally think they have become ‘too big’ and instead of taking their time in writing deep and meaningful lyrics like they did in the early days, they have resorted to what can only be described as something you’d expect from a fat and bloated Elvis in his latter Las Vegas days with pathetic offerings such as Sexy Boots and other assorted crap from their last offering! (and yes, I do have thoughts of Bono dying on the bog while he’s strangling a massive fucking brown one!!)

But it’s not all bad!

Which bring me to what I would regard as U2’s finest album – The Joshua Tree. Now don’t get me wrong here, it is, as I have said, a damn fine album.

Musically it really can’t be faulted! Not just because of the more famous hits like Where the Streets Have No Name, With or Without You and I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, but more of the songs on the B Side like Red Hill Mining Town, One Tree Hill and Tripped Through Your Wires. They are fantastic songs.

BUT! As the topic of this blog states, the lyrics on The Joshua Tree are utter and total nonsense!! Maybe Bono had spent too much time in The Joshua Tree searching for the soul of Gram Parsons or Jim Morrison while drinking the juice from a few moody cactus trees! Who knows!

What I do know is this: some people you’d expect to write utterly shit lyrics, their usually the pathetic factory-processed pop stars who finish 18^th on X Factor, not the likes of seasoned pro’s like U2

They are capable of much better

So, Bono, see me after school!

And take them stupid FUCKING shades off!!

Mol

There Ain't No Sex Without the Sax!

2011-10-10T10:54:00.001-07:00

Having recently been on my honeymoon (or holiday as I liked to call it) I have had to, sometimes during rare spells indoors nursing a hangover (and a semi), had to endure the rather unpleasant foreign music channels that play songs by the likes of Katie Perry, that annoying beaut from The Black eyed Peas (Will-I-Am-A-Knob-head) and Lady Gag Gag

But, one thing I noticed when a certain song by Sade appeared is that there seems to be no place these days in modern pop or rock music for the humble Saxophone!

This is an outrage!!!!

Now, as I have mentioned, my ‘holiday’ was of course supposed to be about romance and stuff like that (that doesn’t of course my eyes being pre-occupied by certain Swedish Ladies scantily dressed in bikinis that resemble a handkerchief), but I couldn’t help thinking about the instrument of love (and I’m not talking about my Carrots and Onions)

So, in honour of the SEX-aphone, here are a few beauties for you to listen to (with your bird/fella, of course) to maybe re-ignite your deep rooted (ahem) affection with the wonderful brass section carthorse to help you along during a hot session of sexy time with your nearest and dearest

Miss You – the Stones

Money – Pink Floyd

Never tear us apart - INXS

Avalon – Roxy Music

Modern Love – David Bowie

We don’t need another hero – Tina Turn-Off

So, there you have it. All hail the marvellous Saxophone! The most alluring, under-rated, sexy and sometimes downright outrageous instrument to ever grace music!

Better than playing the double bass any day of the week

Mol

X-Rated Dirty Gary

2011-09-29T12:25:00.001-07:00

So, Gary Barlow is the new ‘Hard Man’ of pop! So hard, in fact, that you’d think he was the new Ken Barlow throwing a few punches at Mike Baldwin in the Rovers Return Inn!!

Barlow, in case you didn’t know, has taken over from the tight-kex-wearing Simon Cowell (big trousers to fill as well) and turned into the nasty one who rips into the occasional X Factor spastic who sings like Chewbacca having his shells waxed! (All for the cameras, no doubt)

This one time Softy and all round raging quilt of a Manc who you would gladly take home to your while she was watching Downton abbey has now developed a tough shell (and attitude) with a good old Chuck Norris beard to boot!

Personally I think he’s about a scary as a gerbil wearing a skin-tight pink nappy!

But what gets me about this new ‘image’ Barlow has suddenly developed is, in my opinion, to maybe score a few brownie points with the Indie and Rock crowd as x Factor has always had some sort of ‘Rock Act’ within the ranks of the afore mentioned spastics desperate for fame!

So, what suddenly prompts these pop stars to shed their teeny bopper skin and turn into a raging grizzly bear? No doubt money and sponsorship are behind these decisions taken by them (and their team of advisors). Just look at Iggy Pop for example with his rather embarrassing Swift Cover adverts, Ozzy Osborne with his even more ridiculous series recorded for MTV a few years back, and, as I noticed a few weeks back in Madrid Airport, Julian Casablancas’ after shave called ‘decibel’

Personally, I think if you have an image that millions of your adoring fans love, I think you should stick to it as the words “sell out” will hover over you for the rest of your career no matter how successful you go on to be

So, do us a favour, Gaz, put away the new found ‘act’ you’re putting on as we all know you’re a big pussy cat deep down and we simply don’t buy it for one minute as we all know: “Everything changes but you”

Anyone?

Oh well, at least get a shave ... Chuck!

Mol

Good Gigs, Bad Gigs

2011-08-12T11:02:00.001-07:00

Before I go on, the title of this Blog is not about a certain Man United Player’s performances between the sheets with certain members of his family. Ahem!

Just read a super article about bad gig experiences from musicians and journalists around the world. Funniest one by far had to be the story about The Loves tragic end. If you don’t know about it, have a read here. It’s rather superb. As for the story about Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull, I can only imagine how arse-splittingly funny it must have been to see someone throw piss over the old hippy

So, I thought I’d share a few intimate ‘moment’s we had during our days in Intermajic. Enjoy

The Pit, Duke Street, Early 1999

This place really did live up to its name! I think it was the old Pink Parrot. What a fucking hole! Amongst our list of songs we used to do a slow-ish number called ‘Rest Your Head’ and needless to say it was going down a storm! (hahaha, extreme sarcasm).

Half way through the aforementioned song a member of the audience approached me (luckily I knew her so her chances of being booted in the head were minimal) and said “Dave, drop it man, its shit”. I actually took note and cut the song half way through much to the relief of my co-members. The song never re-surfaced again, thank fuck.

After that the small matter of electrocuting myself, fusing the microphone and having a hairy debate with ‘the owner’ of the club for not paying us topped off a pretty grim night!

Needless to say we never returned! Blessing in disguise really as I’ve never walked up such a steep, dangerous, slippery flight of stairs in my life!

The Cavern, Liverpool, 1990-something

We used to enjoy playing The Cavern as they supplied you with super amps and we were quite friendly with the Norwegian guy who did the sound even though he was making rather un-wanted (homo)sexual advances towards Ben (must have thought he was a fellow Nordic/Teutonic)

Anyway the day started with us arriving early with The Cavern shut! As we’re waiting outside we were approached by an old Chap of The Street looking for a ciggie! What he really need though was a place to have a burst as we noticed that he had holes in his shoes with the vilest BROWN piss trickling down his leg and gushing out of them! The day was obviously doomed to failure!

When The Cavern finally opened its doors we we’re befriended by a superb bunch of chaps who went by the name of Llama. After chatting for a bit, their rather ‘colourful front man, Ralph decided to skin up and pass a spliff around. St this point, the strange Norwegian chap managed to avert his eyes away from Ben’s Buns and notice Ralph’s spliff. Llama we’re off the bill and told to leave. We managed to stay thanks to some marvellous diplomacy courtesy of yours truly! So we went the pub to take stock!

When it was our slot to go on we had been in the pub for a lot longer that we anticipated and were pretty pissed! So, we went on … pissed! During our set or maybe backstage (I’m not really sure what happened, you’ll have to ask Mart) Mart got into some sort of ‘disagreement’ with some Peninsula Wools who were drafted in place of the aforementioned Llama. So, what does Mart do on stage? That’s right; he offers them all out (including their fans that outnumbered ours)

The night ended in failure, put a possible war between The Wirral and the rest on the Sane World of Merseyside was thankfully averted! Funny day even though the war rages on!

King George’s Playing Fields, 2000-something

We’d been asked by some nuttier who worked for Knowsley Council (Dave Something) to do a gig to try and save The Georgies from having houses built on them. God knows why as it was probably them who approved the planning permission!!

Anyway, we ended up doing this out side gig to the great and the good people of Huyton. The sun was shining and reflecting of the millions of Lacoste Trackies scattered amongst the field (Kidda Stock, if you will). Stuey’s arld fella even turned up (“Hello Dave! Nervous!!?? Chin up lad, chin up”)

Don’t really remember much about the gig itself except an old mate of mine called ‘Dec’ turning up and giving me a little bit of acceptable abuse (banter). As it was a long day and the free cans of Skol were flowing down nicely I was feeling rather pissed. After another bout of banter from Dec I decided to get my own back and shouted “alright Dec lad, you look dead skinny mate, you haven’t got AIDS have ye?”

Now the people of Huyton are very tolerant to political correctness, sadly the council isn’t. That was the last time we did anything from Knowlsey council. I personally think the chaps should have thanked me for that!

Either way, tumble weeds were flowing and the look of dissatisfaction and head shaking from Stuey’s dad towards me sealed a pretty bad day at the office for us

Then again, at least the locals from The Quiet Man didn’t turn up

There are many more stories I can’t think of right now, but if they spring to mind I’m sure I can bring them to the wonders of the world wide web some day

Night night children

Mol

Geek Yanks Love Chic The Mancs

2011-08-04T13:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry it’s been a while chaps. Been sorting out my pre-nuptials! (My missus is gonna be made up with my CD collection if we ever divorce!!) hahaha

Anyhow, just been reading yet another glamorous story about The Smiths and certain peoples continuing fascination with them! Yawn yawn fucking yawn!

The article in question is about a bunch of American publishers who have decided to write about (what they interpret) The Smiths’ songs were about. Really baffles me about what some hack from across the pond really knows what Morrissey and Marr were writing about! It also got me wondering of our dear ‘cousins’ across the pond really knew what ‘The Boy With the Thorn in His Side’ or ‘Panic’ was really about?

The story continued depicting the likes of Morrissey and Marr as some sort of bizarre super hero comic book characters. Batman meets Mozza, I suppose you could say? Either way, it sounds like a bunch of Yank geeks who have randomly picked out The Smiths from one of their mate’s CD collection to gain notoriety

But, what really got me about this article is obviously how interested the general public in the old U S and A are in this band from ‘Plucky Old En-ger-land’? Could they really give a shit about The Smiths singing about a cold and wet Manchester during the Thatcher era or The Singer’s opinions on Vegetarianism or subversive homosexuality while they’re sat on their big fat arses in their chequered three quarter length shorts tucking into a giant Burger King the size of their heads in thirty degree heat? Yeah, gonna be a real big seller in Stateside that is it?

But, going back to it, is it me or do some people still fucking bang on about Manchester bands like The Stone Roses and The Smiths with a degree of ‘romance’ that strangely enough (IMO) borders on stalking and over fantasising? You’d think at times they were talking about The Messiah or (sorry about the pun) the second coming of Christ the way some people still ‘hold a flame’ for them

If it’s not some manc from Wythenshawe called Gary (or Gaz) rabbiting on about how culturally important Salford Boys Club was (to Morrissey’s ‘alternative’ fantasies, of course) it’s some other blert from Whalley Range banging on about how great The Hacienda (or “Haciendo!!) was!

1^ST hypocritical moment:

Now, I know most people may well be reading this and calling me a hypocrite with my fierce association and defence of all things to do with The Stones, Led Zep, AC/DC, Bowie, etc, etc, but, I think there is a rather partisan attitude towards the likes of The Smiths and The Stone Roses that sort of makes me wonder if these people do realise that there are other regional bands and sounds out there that could easily be explored instead of burying your head in all things that were once ‘great’ about Manchester!

2^nd hypocritical moment:

Everyone knows my home town is Liverpool and pretty much everyone on the planet is aware of a certain rock n roll sensation at the start of the sixties called The Beatles. These four chaps went onto claim the title as one of the most influential bands of all time ALL AROUND the world (including America, not just Liverpool). And that’s my point: America is a big place and everyone who lives there has, at some point in their lives, heard their music …

… Unlike The Smiths.

Then again, what difference does it make?

Ahem!

Mol

Glastonbury Headliners and their Lack of Tax

2011-07-02T05:32:00.000-07:00

Really sorry to bang on about this, and I know it’s been finished for about a week, but Glastonbury this year has seriously grinded on my fucking balls in a rather special way!!!

As for the headliners, Jesus fucking wept! I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a dreary bunch if miserable bastards in my life! I’d rather watch Ken fucking Barlow scratch his left ear all night while drinking half a bitter ... “Deidre”

Number one: U Fucking 2. As a mate of mine text me the other day: If only god was watching and decided to conjure up a mix of bad luck, rain and a live stage! Bonio’s kex would have blew off and ended up on the Weymouth coast! As for their music, i can only describe it as being nothing short of drab! And you can’t put that down to nerves as U2 have played in every venue under the sun across the globe! Maybe they have finally realised how fucking gash and middle-of-the-road they really are and decided to not give a shit anymore! Here hoping anyway!

Number 2: Warmplay. I don’t know if anyone noticed, but the end of their set was a stroke of pure marketing genius! Fix You was the obvious choice for last song, but, straight afterwards when you expected them to do their completely embarrassing bow, they went straight into a “new song” at which point the hands were no longer waving in the air and everyone was looking at each other with ‘what the fuck’ looks all over their Chevvy Chases saying “is this a new one?”After that, most people decided to fuck off back to their tents for a spliff and a shag no doubt. Very un-Warmplay like if you ask me!

And finally about Warmplay, why is it they feel they have to have Jay Z at the front of the stage for every time they play? Yet more examples of a band caring too much about who they are seen with instead of actually (trying) to entertain!

Number 3: Beyonce. This really did make me laugh. You could almost imagine the clientele for her crowd now: Sunglasses the size of wind farms, eye lashes the size of a golden eagle’s wing, wooden high heels 18ft tall and Wayne Rooney walking behind all seventeen of them (on a lead, of course) while they are screaming “eeeeeeeeeee, gerroutdefuckingwayyefuckinghippyd’youknowwhoiam???” .

As for her music, if there was ever an artist that didn’t belong on the Glastonbury stage, I’m afraid its her. Her set reminded me of Kylie Minougue a few years back: good pop music, but just not the right place to be singing it! It’s also a good that she actually played when the sun went down as there was probably a good chance her arse would have blocked the sun out! Oooh! Ye bitch!

Number 4: Celebrities! Jesus fucking Christ on a unicycle! Why the fuck do these people matter and why do other people think they are so important to modern day society that they must have fifteen camera crews following them with one camera crew actually filming the bands??? It’s really becoming an obsession of mine to the point that I can’t look at one without feeling the urge to gip everywhere!

Finally, Number 5: Michael Eavis. Here is a man who pledged before the festival started that he would “get back in touch with grass roots fans” of Glastonbury and do away with the likes of Kate Moss and all the other flunkies I mentioned in my previous blog. So, what does up-side-head do? That’s right; he creates their own little village! Celebrityville (as it might have been called) was created (under top secret, of course) to cater for the needs of the great and the good and other Z-list bell ends so they didn’t have to mix with the great un-washed and could lord it safe in the knowledge their £2000 bottle of champagne didn’t fall into the wrong hands

This, for me, shows that Eavis is a complete hypocrite!

And while we’re on the subject of hypocrisy, I’d just like to point out another boo boo from Mr Eavis. For years he has stood behind campaign groups who stand up for people’s right such as the likes of Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. So, why is it when a group like UK Uncut decide to put up a banner protesting against U2’s alleged tax evasion, he sends in the heavies and has it removed! Can’t be upsetting Bonio and his gang of sunglass wearing whoppers now can we Michael

I think it’s really time you did get back to the basics of what a festival should be mate:

Music, people and fun!

Fuck the money, hype and the bleeding celebrities!

Mol

Greedy Pigs Wallowing in the Mud

2011-06-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

I watched a superb documentary the other night on BBC18 about the history of British Music Festivals and it has to be said, they have a tainted past and a pretty dark future

From the early days of Glastonbury to today’s version there is an absolute world of difference between the two and once again, yes, you’ve guessed it: they’ve been ruined by money!

Gone are the days when people only cared about the quality of the music compared to today’s uber-rich and over pampered Z List celebrities comparing how much they spent on their brand new Luis Vitton welleys!

Rolling around in the mud twenty or thirty years ago was basically down to the fact that the people doing it were out of their faces on some serious acid and had an outlook for peace and love. Today’s crowd do it to gain personal notoriety with a good chance of gaining a bed in the following year’s Big Brother household!

The music seems like a mere back drop to the money making machine as the organisers are quicker to sort out sponsorship deals quicker than they are to book the bands! But of course, the organisers will never tell you that as they don’t want to lose face with the ‘old guard’ who still see it as a last bastion of hippyism!

As for today’s bands, none of them really grind on my balls that much, but one thing about festival appearances really does: stage invasions!

A good few years ago at one of our gigs in The Picket, Liverpool, there was a sort of stage invasion led by a good mate (you know who you are, Jones) and the truth is it was a fucking right laugh! When you see it done now on the likes of Glastonbury or the V Festival by the likes of Iggy “Sell-Out” Pop and The Kaiser Chiefs, you can’t help but think it’s a load of pre-planned carefully orchestrated bollocks!

Now I know the festival scene of today has obviously changed a lot since the dark days of Altamont and Woodstock with regards to safety and the lack of knife-wielding maniac Hells Angels, but you really can’t help but think they have had their hearts and soul ripped out and replaced with corporate bank-rolled by big companies (who also avoid paying tax, no doubt) who really don’t have anything in common with music apart from the fact that they’re there to promote their product! You scrub my back, I’ll do an encore!

Now I know it’s not all doom and gloom at most festivals as some people do actually love going to them and they do generally have a good time. Good for them! But things do need to change as, the truth is the world of music and, to a certain extent, light entertainment is slowly but surely losing its integrity and respect from the public who buys their records and attend their concerts/festivals as the public ARE being ripped off by the companies who supply them with over-priced food, drink and above all tickets and shows from musicians who are simply in it for the money who gladly produce half-arsed performances in a country that is already blighted by constant shit weather!

Doesn’t sound like a good weekend to me!

No wonder people go on caravanning holidays with their guitars and a crate of Carling!

Mol

Back in the Saddle

2011-06-19T04:49:00.000-07:00

Many of you avid readers of Mol’s Sound Words may have noticed my absence from the rather murky world of internet blogging of late! The truth is I’ve been busier than Ryan Giggs at a family party!

As well as having to plan my forthcoming wedding, trying stop my nearest and dearest friends from skinning my arse bald on my stag night and having to endure the possibility of having to work somewhere else than my home town, I’m also back in the saddle of the music world!

Watch out kids, The Outriders are coming to a town near you!

A few months back Mart, Ben, Stuart, Me and Dr Mark Slade MBE made a decision to form a new super group from Huyton’s finest musicians and do a few decent covers and the truth is over the last few months we have a had a fucking ball!

Being together again and practicing in Crash not only breaks up what can a pretty boring normal working week, but gives you a true sense of male camaraderie.

Taking the piss out of each, ripping each other, putting up with the contents of my arse and having a general good laugh is a lot less hassle and ten times more enjoyable than being in an original band and the hassles that come with that (writing songs, choosing what songs to do, etc, etc).

Basically the whole vibe is better and the songs come quicker as everybody knows them! It’s just then down to the case of how good you actually perform them and the truth is that we actually are pretty fucking good

As yet, we haven’t done any gigs, but we’ll soon be ready to play. Just need two or three more songs and we’re all yours. Numerous venues have been mentioned and the possibility of seeing us play before I am wed is a very good one!

So, next time you’re out and you see a bunch of slightly old fellas playing covers in a pub and it doesn’t exactly ‘float your boat’, don’t just dismiss them and think “they’re fucking shit” or “silly arld bastards, go and put ye slippers on and smoke ye pipe”– take into account that they are a bunch of fellas doing what they enjoy = having fun

That is, and should be, the way of all things

Mol

Smart Arses or Tight arses?

2011-06-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

This week sees the much anticipated release of the new album by the Kaiser Chiefs called The Future is Medieval! ... Yawn!

But, I may have to hold back the “yawns” here as there’s a bit of a catch to it by our smart arse Indie popsters as it’s quite unique in the way that there has been no advertising or promotion in the run up to the release for the album at all. There’s also another interesting factor to this album

When you go on line (to the Kaiser’s own website, of course) to buy the album, the consumer is given the option to buy (rather bizarrely) ten songs from the choice of twenty for the princely sum of £7.50

Then, once you’ve created your ‘playlist’ the website then gives you the option to create your own album cover. It’s like a mix between Play School and an ipod

Bargain? I don’t think so

Although it does come across as being a bit of a smart arse idea from an ever changing industry, it also wreaks of being yet another gimmick from what sounds like another desperate attempt to boost sales and interest in a band struggling to come to terms with what to do with their money (they bought their own studio in case you were wondering)

But, the implications of the latest round of “my ideas is better than yours” in the ever competitive fields of Indie music could well be taking things to promote your new album just that little bit too far in my opinion

What next?

· Guess the title of the album?

· Guess the title of the song?

· Make up your own song/album title?

· Name the band?

· Name the band members?

But, I’m afraid the Kaisers have had their parades well and truly pissed on as a few weeks prior to the release of The Future is Medieval (which no one was supposed to know about) some naughty internet hacker leaked the album on line for the whole world to listen to and the Kaisers hopes of creating a totally unique way of releasing album were well and truly fucked! Bugger!

So, what happened next: That’s right, they did an interview and started kicking up a massive fuss about how people who leak albums are wrecking the music of music (bullshit) and, of course the real reason they are so pissed off is that they are losing their hard earned money from people obtaining the album for free courtesy of some geeky hacker called Derek who spends all day in his bedroom/loft conversion wanking off over series 6 of Doctor Who and of course finding ways to download albums that haven’t been released yet

On a person note, if I were in a very successful band like the Kaiser Chiefs, if I wanted to release a secret album, I’d certainly go the very extreme measures to make sure the likes of ‘Derek’ didn’t get his grubby little hands on it and invest a lot of my hard earned money to prevent that happening!

So, instead of thinking up such elaborate ways to release an album and thus guaranteeing applause and all-round pats on the back from your smart arse geeky mates, I’d suggest you look more into guaranteeing your future releases are NOT leaked on-line for the whole world to listen to and NOT to buy as frankly it’s not big and it’s not clever!

Either that or I predict a riot!

Mol

Mad For It? Calm Down Lad!!

2011-05-20T11:49:00.000-07:00

I don’t know about you, but I’m fucking sick to the back teeth of hearing about all things Manchester lately! (Sorry Neil)

So, being a true Scouser, I’ve decided to sit as (bias) judge and jury on the matter. Maybe its sour grapes about the recent footballing achievements of our ‘friends’down the M62, but when I spout my shit compared to Lord Ferg and his Pet Rat Neville, it ,makes me feel so much better about the city I love and proud of loving

I was watching a documentary the other day about Manchester music and, like most programmes about music on BBC4, it was pretty good

Now, to be brutally honest with you here, after watching the above programme, I really don’t see what all the hoo haa was about the Manchester music scene of the early nineties! Some was good, and some was utter rank!

The more ‘famous’ bands such as The Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses were more (in my opinion) a glorified cabaret band! – don’t worry, I’m not gonna mention Oasis in this Blog (for a change)

I always thought the more creditable Manchester bands were the likes of Massive Attack, Inspiral Carpets, The Charlatans* and The Fall. They had a lot more class in the way they were and the way the crafted their songs!

*I know The Charlatans were from Knutsford or some other ‘outer-wool’ area, but their music certainly fitted the style of Manchester for the time

But, what really got my goat about the programme was one thing – where was the programme about music from Liverpool???????

Liverpool has always had a fine music past obviously famous throughout the world, so why did the BBC decide to celebration about our lovely neighbours? Where’s our programme celebrating Liverpool music?

Liverpool’s two main bands of the nineties were without doubt Space & Cast. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but they did come up with some decent pop tunes for the time with (the exception of Space) some superb guitar licks that still makes the hairs stand on end to this day!

Manchester music, in my opinion, always lived in the past I thought: Candy Flip, The Charlatans and Inspiral Carpets always used to mimic the sixties freak-out era with over the top psychedelic videos with trippy lyrics “can you dig it” being an example of the typical hippy idealism from The Mock Turtles. As for the shaking of their bowl heard haircuts – I think the less said about that the better!

I always felt the lyrics and music approach in general from the likes of Space and Cast had a more gritty edge to it. Take the lyrics of ‘Neighbourhood’ by Space for an example. Highly fictional, of course, but strangely eerie and a little bit ‘odd’ “he’s a local vicar and a serial killer”

The La’s also portrayed a certain degree of ‘rough n ready’ with their lyrics about suburban boredom and the realities of drug use in a poverty-driven society. Pretty grim I’m sure most people would agree. Compare this to the rather glorified and ‘nice’ use of drugs by The Happy Mondays and The Inspiral Carpets and you’ll notice the world of difference.

Liverpool music tended to tell the truth about drugs, Manchester covered it over and over-glorified it! Hardly romantic, but very very true to the sense those drugs actually were bad, not good!

(Compare: Can You Dig It by The Mock Turtles to Failure/Doledrum by The La’s for a point of reference)

Manchester also coined the phrase “the summer of love”. What complete and utter bollocks!

I was a young man in the early nineties/late eighties and I can guarantee there wasn’t much “love” around in the north of England ate the time (especially in Liverpool). Anyone who had the naivety to actually believe should have had a look at the size of their bell bottoms at the time and thought “shit! I really did too many garys”

As for anthems, Manchester’s ‘flag ship’ anthem was without doubt Live Forever by Oasis. But, as Oasis proved some many times during their illustrious career they (and their songs) were not original. As for the song it self being an anthem for the nineties was it really or a glorified sound track to a cocky coke head’s lifestyle? (Mimicked by their lead singer no doubt)

Now, I know this all may sound like a rather partisan opinion towards my home town, which I am extremely proud of by the way, but I think pride in ones city is not a crime. The only crime I feel being committed is by the programme makers who are obviously showing a certain degree of biasness towards Manchester

Finally, Manchester’s greatest achievement in music has to be five young chaps who started life as glorified strippers and ended their careers as glorified camp strippers

I think you know who I’m talking about?

Take that and stick it in your pipe and smoke it, Manchester

Mol

Come Back, Baby Come Back!

2011-05-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

So, The Icicle Works have announced a 30^th anniversary concert! What a crock of shit!

Has anyone else failed to notice that for a large chunk of the thirty years, The Icicle Works have NOT been together? Maybe they should have called it the 30^th Anniversary (with a bit if a gap in the middle because we split up as we hated each other quite a lot Tour)

Once again, as most of my readers will know, I hate all this money spinning bullshit about bands re-forming!

A few weeks back I was watching Sky Arts and they had a programme on about Duran Duran. They too were also celebrating their thirty-something years ‘together’.

But, during the inevitable boring arse-kissing interview afterwards they never once mentioned the stories about their fights and inevitable break up! And, as the whole subject of this Blog is about – the large gap they had in the wilderness not writing, playing or touring together was the main topic of the interview! All very nice and all very savvy (to guarantee people go to the gigs and buy the album no doubt?)

All they talked about was “getting back on the road” and taking their “great new songs” to their fans (that will never ever come close to the quality of their mid-eighties hits by the way). What they did talk about was the “good times” they had with their model girlfriends and other celebrity “friends”. How very fake!

So, why is it these bands call these comebacks anniversaries? It’s probably a bit along the lines of the culture we have in this country to simply re-name a thing that has become tedious and unsavoury.

The one band I used to have a lot of respect for was The Sex Pistols until they did their ‘reunion’ a few years back. Asked why they were doing it, John Lydon snarled “well we’re not doing it because we like each other, we don’t, and we actually hate each other! We’re only doing it for one thing - the money!” In a rather bizarre way I kind of I admired Lydon for saying that. He was hardly like Simon Le Bon Bon and his nice, sweet answers about his bezzy mates he shares a band with! Then again, the less said about Lydon and his Country Life Butter commercials ………

Recently, some of you may well know that I’ve re-joined the band with Stu, Mart and Ben. We have also recruited the services of a good mate of mine called Dr Mark Slade (who also does Gynaecology part-time)

Now, during our lengthy career together many years ago, we played well over one hundred gigs and released a good few half decent demos. You could say we had a pretty good acceptable slice of success for a band that was never signed to a record label. So, when we decided to get back together (albeit to sing cover versions as the slightly balding hairlines, grey hair and beer guts aren’t really appealing to many record labels these days) we didn’t call it a reunion or an anniversary! We just did it! Simple as that

So, why can’t these bands like Duran Duran and Icicle Works simply just announce that they’re getting back together instead of calling it a bleeding anniversary or a reunion? While their also at it maybe they could take a leaf out of John Lydon’s book and admit their real reasons for getting back together and tell us its simply for the money as to be brutally honest here: anniversaries are celebrations of certain events like weddings or birthdays.

I don’t think they should apply to bands getting back together

And finally the less said about a certain Dad Band from Manchester who has recently re-employed the services of a fat dancer the better!

Ch-ching!

Mol

The Re-Birth of the Independent Music Shops

2011-04-16T02:14:00.001-07:00

Every now and again a little off-the-radar story pops up that makes you do one of the rather embarrassing actions involving a clenched fist with a scrunched up face followed by a “YES” – this is one of them stories

Independent Record Stores have sadly been on the decline over the last decade. This is mainly due to the rise of the rather ridiculously named Music Mega Store. The like of HMV and Virgin have basically monopolised high street music sales since the birth of (what I call) Uber Commerce. The Independent Record Shop hasn’t had a look in and many shops were forced to close … until now

I remember a few years ago many of you avid readers may remember a Blog I did about the smelly record stores of old in Liverpool from the likes of Probe to Hairy Records and my personal favourite The Vynal Frontier.

The good news is now they are back on the rise!

I loved these shops and most of all I loved the casual approach from the ‘staff’ who worked there. But most of all I loved their knowledge of music. You really could ask them anything and without searching the mega computer that many staff at Virgin or HMV had to rely on to see if a certain record was in stock they’d know off the top of their head!

I always thought how amazing it was to have such memory about music as it was clearly obvious they had been smoking copious amounts of weed whilst reading a copy of The Socialist Worker behind the counter for a good eight hours!

The article I was reading also had a superb quote from Spencer Hickman, founder of Rough Trade Records and the person behind UK Independent Record Store Day:

"People are waking up to the fact that all towns across the country are becoming identikit, and the small indie retailers are disappearing. They don't want this anymore and are finally saying 'No, enough is enough'."

Mr Hickman also came out with a quote that, again, made me feel very proud to be a listener or good music:

"People across the board are now fed up with the music coming from television shows

How ‘on the money’ he was with that quote! (After reading this it was when I did the clenched fist!)

I know there is still a hell of a long way to go for Independent Record Store as the industry (if you can call it that) has been badly damaged by the recession and of course the ever changing way people now ‘buy’ their music, but the (very) early signs really are good.

Green shoots are appearing and the possible re-birth of the small record shop is on the rise, but (and it’s a big but) they must also slightly change their ways if they are to remain in competition with ‘the big boys’ and get people back in through the door.

Another thing that also brought a smile to my face was the consumer research carried out by people who actually bought CD’s compared to the buying of random ‘hit’ songs. Again, as I previously Blogged about, this will once again promote the fruits of listening to a whole album instead of the ones that had a hit video to it!

Now I’m not saying the small Indie Music Shops should suddenly have to sell their souls to Lucifer and turn into corporate slags and greet customers with a cheesy smile followed by “how can I help you today?” and finish with “would you like one of our store cards? Ok, you have a nice day now”, but they will certainly have to innovate and re-engage with the public who will obviously be used to dealing with above plastic clones who know more about fake tans and thongs than Led Zep III and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

So, next time your out and about in town and your missus is in Primark buying a multi-pack of budgie smugglers for your uncle knobhead’s birthday, try your best to slope off for half an hour to your local Independent Music Shop, chat to the hippy shop assistant about the best of Sly Stone, have a friendly chat and a laugh …

… And skin up!

Mol

The Misguided Strokes of Genius

2011-04-12T13:45:00.001-07:00

Pardon the pun, but whatever happened to The Strokes?

Cast your mind back ten years to 2001 when an album was released by an unknown New York band called The Strokes. The album was called ‘Is This It’ and it has to be said – was one of the finest debuts I’ve ever heard. I still listen to it today as it’s still that good

The Strokes had it all, good looks, celebrity girlfriends, style and most of all – they could play! They could really play! The chord structure alone on their songs were superb (I should know as we cover a version of ‘Last Nite’)

Is This It created a new wave of cool across the music world and everyone wanted a piece of The Strokes. Sad thing, they did! Implosion (probably caused by drugs, alcohol and other excesses that go with the rock star life style that they became so fond of) happened and the sad, predictable spiral out of control came like a bolt!

Now, take the clock forward from 2001 ten years and another three albums later to 2011 and The Strokes have released ‘Angels’, and it has to be said here, it’s a pretty tame effort

But, The Strokes have done what they have done with all three albums that have followed ‘Is This It’ with ‘Room on Fire’, ‘First Impressions of Earth’ and ‘Angels’ – they have released a killer single before releasing a pretty drab album.

Take Whatever Happened off Room on Fire, You Only Live Once off First Impressions of Earth and, the latest song Under cover of Darkness off Angels -= they are all very very impressive songs!

Maybe it’s a marketing ploy (as I have previously Blogged about) by were their management have pushed them for one superb single, release that, wet the appetites of their adoring public, guarantee pre-orders into the millions and release a shit album.

All of this equals one thing of course = money in the bank followed by a tour that contains a selection of their earlier (better) hits to appease their fans at their gigs.

To be honest, this really does (if it’s true or course) disappoint me as, without making them appear like Nobel Peace Prize nominees here, I thought The Strokes possess integrity and intellect and most of all – they cared about what they released

Seems I’m wrong as the evidence is in the selection of album fillers the band have released since Is This It

A quite appropriately named album if there ever was such a thing

Mol

Birds Might Fly but the Cameras Never Lie

2011-04-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

Been listening to a lot of Jefferson Airplane this week just for a bit of a change and one thing really struck me about them – the female singer in the band Grace Slick has got one of the most outstanding voices I’ve ever had the pleasure to hear!

So, in comparison to a lot of today’s female offerings, it got me thinking: what makes a decent female vocalist?

Much has been documented lately with regards to the female vocalist from this country and beyond. To be perfectly honest, if you put them all together in a room and got them to sing the same song, I really don’t think you could tell the difference between them! That also goes for the subject of most their songs as well (it’s usually about some sort of marriage break up or broken heart), and if you think about it, it’s pretty fucking pathetic!

Take my mate the lovely Cheryl “Ah luv ye” Cole for example. England’s New Queen of Hearts (replacing Diana) has made a career out of being seen as ‘the victim’ after her rather pathetic and damn right embarrassing marriage to a certain footballer (who earns way in excess of one hundred grand a week might i add)

Now a days female vocalists have several pampered fingers in several pies including TV work, fashion advertising and of course reality TV programmes! Add to that their ability to play on the heart strings of the nation by ‘exposing’ their insecurities and vulnerabilities equals, in my opinion, a pretty sad and pathetic money making machine that sadly a lot of people believe! You only have to watch an episode of Piers Morgan’s (fake) Life Stories for example!

Other things that really gets my back up (and I’m gonna be pretty controversial here) are female vocalists who ‘play’ on their illness. Cheryl Cole’s Malaria aside here take Kylie Minogue’s Cancer scare for example. Now, don’t get me wrong here as I’m not being horrible, but the amount of sympathy that flooded in for the Little Aussie was pretty un-needed in my opinion as I’m sure she has the rather perfect amount of money to obtain the best cancer treatment money can buy! Compare that to the thousands of people living in a working class city in the north of England who can’t afford the same health care Ms Minogue had and the difference is amazing! The level of sympathy is also amazing if you think about it!

And, seeing as I’m in full moaning mode here, why do so many female vocalists these days insist on marrying or going out with someone who is also famous?

Why can’t the likes of Katy Perry or Beyoncè Knowles seek the affections of a normal run of the mill chap of working class creed? Be great wouldn’t it? Imagine turning up for a bevy in The Crofters on Saturday night with say Katy Perry or Pixie Lott and bragging that your gonna be ‘hangin’ out of their arse’ when you get home? A visit to The Gold Star would be swiftly jibbed off for the quickest taxi in Huyton!

Now, if you compare most of the above to the likes of Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and, to a certain extent, Tina Turner. These were strong women who would command their audience and make them sit up, take note, and listen to what they had to sing about instead of people reading about it in OK or Hello magazine!

In other words – they concentrated and focused on one thing and one thing only = being a singer! Not being famous or selling their story to some Red Top or celebrity gossip magazine just so they could squeeze and extra million into their already over-stuffed bank account!

Now I’m not saying all female vocalists should suddenly turn into alcoholic drug addicts with a tendency for under arm hair that would put a Russian Javelin thrower to shame, but I think a small slice of in-decency and a small dose of ‘the street’ is actually quite attractive in a woman and shows they actually care more about what music they release instead of how they look!

As for that rather important point of most of them to actually possess the ability to sing – that’s a totally different matter as it’s certainly not gonna happen in my lifetime anyway!

Prepare the world for a lifetime of Female Vocal Monotony!

Mol

Rockin’ all Over the World

2011-03-26T05:51:00.000-07:00

I’ve just been reading an article about the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his love for British Rock Music such as Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin.

And it got me thinking about that rather embarrassing and damn right scary prospect of this rather powerful head of state prancing around the Kremlin doing air guitar with one hand on ‘the button’ whilst listening to “War Pigs”. I don’t know about you, but even worse than Ozzy singing it, the thought of Medvedev singing it petrifies me!

So, with that rather disturbing thought stuck in your heads, I was thinking about other Heads of State and appropriate songs that they could be given in honour of the sterling work they do to keep the world turning in the right direction

First up you could assign Iran’s Beardy Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with his country’s (alleged) secret nuclear programme – Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Apart From Me and My Monkey by The Beatles

Libya’s Ned Murphy Look-a-like Colonel Gaddafi could have WAR by The Average White Band or We Gotta Get Out of This Place by Animals is also quite appropriate. Bang and Blame by REM is also pretty well suited to the strange Colonel

Seeing as Barack Obama is permanently in the spotlight as the most powerful man in the world (yawn), he understandably has a rather large selection of tracks given to him. Keep on Running – The Spencer Davis Group due to the ‘sitting duck’ status he currently possess, but best of all for our ‘friend’ across the pond would have to be Born in the USA by Springsteen. Controversially “?” following USA of course

North Korea’s Kim Jong Ill could have Go West by the Pet Shop Boys. Then again, maybe that is the deep craving of the population he rules over. Who knows? Then again, Rocking in the Free World by Neil Young is also quite appropriate for the short-crust despot

Good old Silvio Berlusconi from Italy could also have a multitude of sleazy songs given to the Brylcreem boy from Milan. Most perfect of all could be Girls Talk by Dave Edmunds. Then again, Fight for your Right to (have an under-age) Party by The Beastie Boys would be right up his street (if you pardon the expression). And, courtesy of Mr S Pugh from The Dogs – It Wasn’t Me by Shaggy for the over-tanned Italian Stallion

The pint-sized Nicholas Sarkozy of France with his rather glamorous model wife/girlfriend could have Never Tear us Apart by INXS. Then again, Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division could be the end game of his political career judging by the way the French are currently voting! (The French don’t like their politicians to be seen as celebrities – unlike the UK)

And finally we have ‘Our’ Dave Cameron and his cabinet of millionaires. Very tough one this I thought as what is really on my mind could well result in some sort of libel action against your truly, so I’ve decided the most perfect song would have to be The Long and Winding Road by The Beatles.

Then again, this is mainly directed and dedicated to the long suffering people of the UK as this is the path most of us (without money, wealth and privilege of course) will be on for at least the next four years of Tory rule.

Then again, Road to Nowhere by Talking Heads

Anyone?

Sing up Dave, “well we know where were goin‘ ..........

Mol

The Needle and the Damage Done

2011-03-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

Just been reading the rather tragic story of Bass Player Mike Starr from ‘Nine Inch Nails’ who recently died of a heroin overdose, I’m sure most of you are thinking “who?”, and you’d be right to think that as he was hardly a household name! Still, never mind eh.

The article went onto to describe/explain the tragedy behind Grunge music and its affect on its ‘famous deaths’. To be brutally honest with you – I thought it was a crop of shit as no matter what genre of music – there will always be fatalities, but the only thing that differs is the way the person dies!

Hip Hop/Rap music has always long been associated with gun crime compared to the rather reckless self debauched hedonistic lifestyles of certain rock musicians. So, it’s pretty un-fair to singe out Grunge for being associated with a couple of ‘wrongn’s’

So, why does/did Grunge attract so much negative press, doom and gloom and damn right miserable bastards? The simple answer may well be the way the main ‘stars’ of the Grunge scene acted, but the main, more honest explanation may well be Heroin! It was the true dark cloud that followed Grunge around!

Heroin was pretty rife in young Grunge musicians of the late eighties and early nineties. It was born of frustration after Reagan introduced a new welfare to work reform in the USA (in short, if you had no job, you got NO financial help). Now if you add into the mix disaffected young men and women with nowhere to go and nothing to do except sit in your bed sit all day, the music that will follow will hardly be ‘Shiny Happy Fucking People’ will it?

With regards to Grunge in general, I personally I think the Grunge ‘style’ (ripped jeans, t-shirt worn underneath chequered shirt, greasy hair and loads of acne) was an image tool much like the Glam Rock Style of the early seventies and New Romantic style of the mid eighties. Obviously not the same but an instant association with that genre of music no doubt.

Now, I’m not applauding the use of heroin in any way here, but have you noticed that the one, sad thing missing from mainstream pop these days IS heroin! A good few high profile deaths instead of the odd underground musician popping his clogs would also be very welcome news (I think you can probably guess who I’m thinking of the police finding dead in a bathtub with a syringe hanging out of their cocks would definitely raise a smile from me!)

But to be honest here and ‘fight the corner’ of heroin, music over the years DID sound better when played under the influence of hard drugs such as scagg. Take Gram Parsons, Keith Richards, Janis Joplin, and Lou Reed for examples. They’re music was great when they were on the gear, but, sadly not so great when they were straight! Sad, but you really can’t compensate for true creative inspiration! If you don’t believe me, have a trawl through the afore mentioned back-catalogues and you’ll see what I mean!

(Also see title of Black Grape’s debut for sarcastic take on this subject by the way)

But, in all seriousness, music aside for one minute, you really can’t compensate for an early grave can you?

Live fast die young?

The legend should go: Live fast (Take smack, make sweet music), die young more like!

Mol

Street Fighting Man Takes on the Cuddly Fan

2011-03-01T11:32:00.000-08:00

Has anyone ever noticed something about today’s music = There no confrontation! There’s no controversy! And, most important of all = there’s no swearing! Hahaha, nah didn’t mean the bit about swearing!

But I do believe that maybe the fact that society is so controlled and ‘safe’ these days is down to the fact that music is so nice, cuddly and, well, safe!

During the seventies and eighties there were bands around like The Sex Pistols, The Clash and (don’t laugh here) Frankie Goes to Hollywood!

Frankie Goes to Hollywood, for me, perfectly summed up the times in two of the best songs of the eighties.

Two Tribes, although the video was based on a mock-scrap between Ronald Reagan and Mickael Gorbachov, was no doubt quietly attributed to the Miners strike that (supposedly) threatened to bring the country to a halt. The lyrics sum it up brilliantly “ship it out-out! Working for the black gas”

Another great line from Two Tribes is the bit just before the end when Holly Johnson says (in what I can only assume to be a moment of impromptu controversy) “Are we living in a land where sex and horror are the new Gods”. This is yet another example of how FGTH gained the rightly reputation on how to shock the audience! You can almost imagine Mary Whitehouse and the rest of the Tory cabinet ministers choking on their Pimms can’t you?

As for Relax, this was obviously a controversial take on how to avoid (or indeed contract) the AIDS virus! Cutting edge stuff with not a single “I love you” or “I wanna be with you forever and ever and” in sight! “Relax! Don’t do it! When you wanna suck to it”. You could say they could have been offering advice for people to have oral sex instead of the more dangerous gay sex that was mainly associated with homosexuality at the time (a public advice message and a superb pop song all mixed into one I supposed you could say)

Now, I’m not gonna bang on about FGTH all day here, but I do firmly believe that popular culture these days has, sadly, become obsessed with fashion, celebrity, money and most of all: image! The days of Sid Vicious and other reputable rapscallions sneering into a camera and swearing on telly are sadly thrown into the rubbish bin of music history! And the chances of a top ten song about war or AIDS are pretty much zero! In other words = popular culture would simply find it far too offensive and not ‘sexy’ enough that does not define a product that could sell!

In short – no one has the balls to ‘stand up to the man’ anymore in case they come across as being nasty and horrible in the eyes of the all powerful press! A certain matter of incurring the wrath of the music executives who run the labels they work for is also a defining attribute in keeping their nice cuddly pop stars in check and on the never ending path to financial glory! (Which is what they all seek, no doubt)

So, is it any wonder that the public have kept a ‘lid on things’ during this current government’s current slash and burn policy towards the public sector? The comparisons with the 80’s and 70’s are almost mirror-like! Take the rise of capitalism and bankers under the tenure of Thatcher and, as I’ve mentioned, her brutal approach towards the miners! You could say Cameron and his cronies are doing the same thing today if you think about it.

Thankfully, for them, they have the likes of Take That, Will Young, JLS (Just Lousy Singers) and Snore Patrol to deal with compared to the likes of The Sex Pistols and The Clash that Thatcher was up against. Maybe that’s why people (and the miners) attacked the powers that be compared to our pathetic approach these days. They had the belief and attitude of these radical bands standing with them in their hour of need! No chance of that today!

So, do we need a ‘saviour’ of The Left in the style of a modern day Billy Bragg or Joe Strummer? I think we do as the truth is this about modern pop culture – it’s fucking boring as hell!!! And the small matter of true role models to inspire and support the disaffected youth of today is just as important!

Rocks and stones we’re thrown then, but now if someone gets angry, they’ll write a rather irate letter to the Daily Mail and brag about it in Twitter!

And on a final note, I would also be very interesting to know what people in Libya, Egypt and Tunisia have been listening to lately?

Somehow I don’t think Its JLS

Mol

Flame Grilled Beeber in a Box, anyone?

2011-02-21T12:28:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or does anyone else find Justin Beeber extremely fucking distasteful?

Now, I’m not talking about the little fop-haired Canadian chap here in a bad way personally as I’m sure he might well be a very nice young chap, but you know what? ... Fuck it, I’m not gonna say nice things about him as, well, it just simply wouldn’t be me now would it?

I was browsing through one of the red tops the other day when I noticed some people who had queued for sixteen weeks to catch a glimpse of the afore mentioned Ewok. These ‘people’ were holding up placards with all kinds of rather embarrassing and, in some instances, perverse messages from mostly rotund women like “Justin, I might be old, but I still need a kiss” – it really did border on child molestation!

I really don’t understand what these people’s agendas are? (especially if they do get to have their ‘wicked way’ with this little chap?)

Are they going to take him home and do all kinds of horrible things to him like make him apple pie and custard? Make him some warm soup? Mollycoddle him? Breast feed him? Poor fucking bastard!

But, I also couldn’t help but think about the people behind the Stuey-Haired Munchkin who ‘pull the strings’ who have got him to such a massive stage at such a small age.

Do these people really look after him or do they simply treat the little fella like some sort of gimp? Beeber in a Box I suppose you could say? (sound a bit like the latest offer on the go at McDonalds or Burger King doesn’t it?) after which they simply give him a packet of monster munch and a bottle of Vimto to keep him happy while they count the gate receipts!

Then again, I’m sure there are far worse crimes against humanity other people can think of than locking this young geek in a box with a couple of chains and a gimp mask

By the way, I write this piece without ever actually listening to any of his so called music, so, give us a minute while I get onto the tinterweb and give this pube-less phenomena a listen.

I’ll be back in a tick .......................

** two minutes and ten seconds later **

................... yeah, just as I thought – he’s a pile of pre-pubescent fucking horse wank who really does deserve to be locked in a fucking box with a gimp mask for the rest of his sorry fucking existence!

Bring out the gimp!

Mol

Ben Pod-Cast

2011-02-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

The great city of Madrid was the setting for a rather unfamiliar show of romance on my behalf and the knee was bent and the question was popped. Thankfully my missus did say yes (after saying “get up ye tit, ye making a show of me!”)

So, my dear readers, I know you’re thinking what the fuck has this got to do with music? Well, I’m coming to that

At my planned wedding in September I will have the rather splendid DJ (and all round complete bastard) Benjamin Edward Owens spinning some discs with plenty of Ray Von Style “Shabba’s” and not a single “New York, New York” in sight

So, in a shameless bout of advertisement/promotion for the afore mentioned ‘hit slayer’, he has done a pod cast for you to ‘sample his wares’. If anyone wants to have a listen, give him a shout. I’m sure most of you have his number and don’t be perturbed about him being as tight as two coats of gloss!

I’ll guarantee there will be plenty of sack rocking tunes for you to shake you bollocks to without a single Jive Bunny or Black Lace mega-mix version of “here comes the bride” in sight

And in a second bout of shameless advertising, I would like to inform anyone who is interested that I have joined up with the afore mentioned Spin Doctor in a new joint-venture to bring our music to the masses. Our debut DJ-ing set will take place in The Zanzibar on Seel Street in Liverpool on 26^th February 2011. Pop down if you wish.

You know what you have to do

Mol

Everything Counts in Large Cash Amounts

2011-01-29T03:05:00.000-08:00

Now i'm not taliking about a certain Ex-Blonde Centre Forward who plays for LFC her, but it seems everyone really does have a price ... especially in music!

I was watching the telly the other night when a mate of mine text me and told me that one of the greatest Rock Front Men of all time – Steve Tyler from Aerosmith - was appearing in place of the great all-powerful Simon Cowell as a judge on ... wait for it ... American Idol! Hahaha, I nearly spat my fucking tea out!

Tyler, as we all know, recently ‘fell off the wagon’ and back into the dark clutches of hard drugs, drink and, of course, mainstream light entertainment television! I don’t know which is worse!!

Anyway, it got me wondering = everyone really does have a price as its plain to see that Tyler is obviously doing it for the money as there is obviously no kudos attached to appearing on some shit television programme ‘judging’ some pathetic spastic on their abilities to sing! Especially by a true Rock Legend

Now, if you add this rather absurd act by Tyler to the other rather absurd acts from Iggy Pop and his annoying latex alter ego puppet in the Swift cover adverts and Biffy Clyro’s allowance for one of their hit songs to be used by some biff from X Factor, its plain to see that financial gain has sadly replaced any form of musical licence or respect that artists used to wish for many many years ago. In all honesty, it makes me feel sick!

I remember reading a biography once about the late great Janis Joplin. In her own scatty way, she was something of a true, original great. She would regularly get lost drinking alone in bars, miss important appointments and gigs, and most precious of all – lose ALL her money somewhere. Now, when I say ALL of her money, I do mean thousands of dollars. But, it was shrugged off, replaced and simply forgotten about as in those days her music was the most important ‘factor’ not how many dollars she had in her bank account .

Can you imagine if someone like Coldplay, Girls Aloud or Take Splat lost thousands of pounds today? There would be a financial version of world war three! The stock markets would go into free fall and shares in the record company who represent the artists in question would fall so low the only way out would be bankruptcy (or thousands of job losses – starting at the bottom, of course)

So, have our ‘great’ artists of today taken more inspiration from out ‘great’ bankers and other spivs who feast on the anxieties of the poor and third world countries instead of the heroes of yester year that actually inspired their ability to take up/play music in the first place?

You bet your ass

As for Tyler, if he was ever offered the part in a film, the way he’s been action lately, I can see him playing an on screen version of Gordon Gekko instead of a washed-up old burnt out rocker

If the (begging) cap fits.............

Mol

The iPod Generation - An Idiot or Bored?

2011-01-17T04:32:00.001-08:00

I often write about things and certain individuals who ‘ruin’ music, my beef this time is iPods and people’s use of them

I remember when I was a kid (and no, it wasn’t when telly was in black and white) and I bought myself a Sony Walkman to play my cassettes on (stop laughing!!). I was fucking made up as I’d walk to school listening to Guns N Roses or Maiden made up with my brand new music player the size of a house brick and earphone that looked like giants yellow versions of Ernie & Bert’s nose off Sesame Street! The dog’s bollocks – it really was. It was a pity though that I had a rather dreadful mullet to go with the headphones! The less said about my eighties hairstyles the better!

But, what was great about the Sony Walkman was that you could only ‘Fast Forward’ and not rewind. Another genius factor about it was that once the tape had finished it automatically switched to play the other side! Brilliant

Now, I’m not here to give you a walk down memory lane in a music nostalgia moment, but compare the rather beautifully simplistic world of the Sony Walkman to the rather annoying and complicated world of the iPod. There is a massive gulf! And, like the Guitar Hero and X Factor that I have previously Blogged about = its damaging music

Why? Well I’ll tell ye

Does anybody remember the last time they bought a CD? I do. It was a few weeks ago and I absolutely loved listening to every song on it! And I do mean EVERY song on the album

The problem with iPods is that people will skip the little ‘gems’ you find on albums at say track 8 or track 6 as people are too obsessed with what single was brought out from the album they just bought! Some people play the same single off the album over and over again time after time and simply forget about listening to any other song on the album. Apart from being extremely ignorant to the artist(s), in question, I also see it as a terrible waste of money on behalf of the consumer by just buying the album on the strength of the ‘famous’ single in question!

I feel the music buying public no longer have an opinion of their own anymore when it comes to what music they like. It’s a bit like going into a pub that (is lucky enough) has a jukebox and playing the most popular song by a certain band instead of putting something no one has ever heard of before!

And while we’re on the subject of opinions, I think Rich Hall summed it perfect a few nights back when I watched one of this marvellous programmes about country music. He mentioned the film ‘Walk the Line’ about Johnny cash and the people who said “it’s done a hell of a lot of good publicity for the music of Johnny Cash”. Hall went onto to say “if you’ve never bothered to go and search out the music of Johnny Cash YOURSELF, it’s not much good seeking it out after hearing about it in a Hollywood Blockbuster film is it” – I think he was right on the money with that reply I reckon

So, do me a favour next time you turn your iPod on? Turn off the ‘shuffle’ button and listen to a whole album in its entirety and listen out for the not so famous songs as I’m sure the artist(s) put just as much an effort into writing and recording it as much as the famous hit it sits along side

And, of course pending you pay for your music in a proper legal way, it’ll be a terrible waste of money if you don’t

Mol

Is The La’s The Best Album Ever?

2011-01-06T13:02:00.000-08:00

Don’t you just love it when you re-discover a band?

I think I’ve come to a point in my life when I have finally realised there is actually a better album than Exile on Main Street – that album is The La’s one and only debut album

Maybe it is just a strong sense of local identity, fierce passion for true scouse music or Mavers’ ‘obsession’ on having Sixties dust inside his guitar amp? Who knows, I know that this gem is full of absolute classics, and worth blogging about

Son of a Gun – god knows who this song is about, but I get the feeling Mavers is writing a semi-autobiography here. “He was born to live like a mercenary” – it has been well documented that Mavers wrote EVERYTHING with regards to La’s songs. “Better run, rabbit run” – is this a message to anyone willing to challenge his song writing authority? You bet you are!

I can’t Sleep – is this a reference to drugs? God knows. What I do know is that this song has one of the most brilliant intros in music. Think “Start Me Up” by The Stones. Mavers’ voice in the background at the start of this song is simply stunning!! And that includes the “la la la la la la la la la la” in the background during the intro. He sounds like he’s just had twenty Lambert & Butler followed by a bottle of Bells! The only thing that gets me about this song is the fake “boom” from the drums that have obviously been over-dubbed (no doubt from the producer and possibly the constantly frustrated record executives, not the La’s)

Timeless Melody – “a melody always finds me” – is this Mavers’ way of saying he can write a song with his eyes shut? You bet your fucking life it is. Brilliant songwriter and a true great lyricist

Freedom Song – “I am the captain of the love you gave” – absolute no idea what Mavers is harping on about here. Power’s backing vocals are superb though on this track. Cast were always gonna be in fine company from here on in

There She Goes has quite possibly got one of the most recognisable intros in the history of music that is right up there with Whole Lotta Love, Satisfaction and Paranoid. The lyrics are very debatable with regards whether the song is about heroin or a young lady. “She calls my name, pulls my train” I personally think it has sexual content although many music ‘expert’ may well disagree

Doledrum is typical scouse humour about living a pretty shit post-Thatcher society ‘up north’ and brilliantly summed up in Mavers’ lyrics “oh no, don’t go down to Doledrum”. I personally think he’s issuing a message to all people who are willing to travel to Huyton. In other words – stay away! Utterly wonderful stuff!!

On Feelin’ Mavers sings “Woke up with a feelin’” – is Mavers talking about the possibility of having a good day or has he simply got an erection? Either way, this is a wonderful song with a massive Beatles influence and brilliant guitar work. Feel good factor of ten here i reckon

Way Out is another song with similar feelings to ‘Doledrum’ “a need a way outta this” “give it all ye got now” – desperate lyrics that yet again portrays a man who is either in a loveless relationship with a woman or needs a “way out” of that town he lives in that he doesn’t really like?

IOU = definite drug reference here. “On the street the knowledge, you must eat your porridge” – what is the porridge her? Is it drugs? It’s certainly not Quaker’s finest! “There’s no harm in greasing your neighbour’s palm” – yet another reference to local identity and also paying for your ‘gear’. One of the the best lines in the entire album

Every time I hear Failure I think of a mate of mine from years ago. He and his brother had just been nicked for stealing a few days before Christmas. On Christmas day they were both banished to the back room to eat their Christmas dinner (put the 2 potheads in the back room for sake of embarrassment). “So you open the door with that look on your face with, with your hands in your pockets with your family to face” – you just KNOW Mavers was busted by his parents when he was a kid don’t ye? Everyone – you can feel your childhood guilt can’t ye as I’m sure we all remember the first time we we’re collared smoking weed by ye ma’ can’t ye?

Looking Glass is without doubt one of the finest love songs ever written. I’m sure Mavers wouldn’t agree with this statement, but if you really listen to the song and its lyrics, it is utterly stunning “I’ve seen everybody, everybody’s seen me”. But Mavers goes off on a tangent with regards the 2^nd verse “oh tell me where I’m going, tear the pages open, turn the world around” – you could say he’s become a lost soul from the rather cock-sure worldly man from the start of the album. Almost an epitaph and a rather fitting ending to a great song and a great album

Sixties dust? Nah, more like late 80’s and early 90’s brilliance!!!!

Mol

Album & Song of the Year

2010-12-19T07:01:00.001-08:00

What a very odd year

2010 seen The first coalition government since the first world war, rioting in the streets by students who missed out on Jeremy Kyle for the first time in years and of course the year I proposed to my missus (its a wonder what Rohipnol can do these days isn’t it?)

Anyways, I thought I’d give my opinion on what I see as album and single of the year for 2010. Here goes

Album of the year

My choice for album of the year has to go to the debut album by Them Crooked Vultures

TCV brought back to music the ‘Super Group’. Sadly missing from music since, er, Audioslave! Messer’s Grohl, Jones and Homme jumped onto the scene with the ferocity of a sex starved panther with a bottle of rush shoved up his snout. I believe songs such as “Elephants”, "Scumbag Blues" and "No One Loves Me & Neither Do” optimised the true essence of pure hard rock

In all honesty I don’t think the album has that many really stunning songs, but what really does stand out is the reason behind their decision to record this superb album. John Paul Jones is old enough to be Homme & Grohl’s dad, yet he has stamped his style all over this album and ‘took the reigns’ to show these two fine musicians a thing or two about song writing.

Guitar wise, Homme is simply stunning. He has not bothered changing his own style and started where he left off with (my personal favourite band) Queens of the Stone Age.

As for the drummer (Groh) there’s not really much you can say about a fella who has John Bonham’s Led Zep 4 Sign tattooed onto his arm. As they would say in The Lisbon’s Bog - WHAT a skin pounder

Not really heard anything about TCR following up this brilliant album, but I really do hope they do. Well done chaps

Single of the year

Without a shadow of doubt it has to go to a rather stunning new rock band called Foxy Shazam with their debut sing ‘Oh Lord’.

I usually leave the likes of reviewing music to my Balding Bison friend Neil in Manchester, but in this instance, I simply have to speak about them

Remember 2003 when The Darkness first came on the scene and everyone couldn’t make their minds up to decide if they were a joke band or serious? I get the same feeling with Foxy Shazam.

Tight trousers, hard rocking guitar, massive choruses and extremely high-pitched vocals are gladly in abundance on this song. Its one of them songs that gives you a tingle down your spine when you hear it, bit of a cliché, but so, in a likeable kind of way, is this song

In my opinion it has everything (including a brass section at the beginning that explodes into joyous rock splendour)

As for the chorus, I absolutely love the lyrics

“And there is always a wrong to your right/and there is always a war somewhere to fight” – brave lyrics from a band originating from North America. Political message? Maybe, but in the true spirit of rock music - Who fucking gives a shit!

So, there you have it. I know most of you have, but if you’ve not heard any of the above, give them a listen

All the best

Abby Titmus and a Happy New Rear

Mol

Keith’s Dead Flowers

2010-12-14T12:30:00.000-08:00

I’ve just been reading a rather hilarious (and bizarre) article about Keith Richard, an orchid, and a library! Hard to believe, I know, but I just had to tell you all about it in a blog

Anyway, the other day Keith Richard was in New York promoting his autobiography (appropriately named ‘life’) and was speaking to students in a library

After his speech he was allowed to sit ‘back stage’ in the owner’s office while waiting for whatever rock stars do after speaking to the congregation of a library and, as most internationally famous rock stars do, lit up a ciggie in there to pass the time and the boredom of what can only sound like a rather dull setting to spend your time in

Now, Keith being Keith, decided to open a window (as he’s certainly may now know the law after several brushes with it in the past), in order to let his smoke out

But, that is where the good Keith finishes and the bad one come to the fray as what did he does with his ciggie stub? That’s right; he stubs it out in the water tray of a rather rare and delicate orchid that was resting on the owner’s desk... And there it lay in rest ... forever

The owner = not happy

Keith’s reaction = the usually gravelly voice followed by the odd “babe” and of course a healthy donation towards the running (and survival) of the library

Pity you couldn’t say the same thing about the plant.

Then again, maybe Keith is still holding a grudge against plant life after he fell out that tree a few years back!

Dead Flowers, anyone?

Let’s hope he doesn’t forget to put roses on its grave

Mol

The Golden God with the Touch of Class

2010-12-08T11:01:00.000-08:00

Sorry it’s been a while chaps. I’ve been too busy emptying the contents of my stomach (and arse) at the sight of Take Splatt and Simon Cowell and his X Factor bastards shoved into my face twenty four seven! You just can’t escape it sometime can you?

Ayways, there’s a saying banded about quite a lot lately when it comes to people of a ‘certain age’ – “too old to cut the mustard, but I can still lick the jar”

Maybe it’s down to new antidiscrimination laws to do with ageism, but there’s also a saying that’s a bit better known – “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”

This is certainly not the case with Robert Plant

Now i know many of you avid readers will know that a few years ago i had a bit of a dig at good old Percy, i would like to take it all back

In case you didn’t know, Planty is enjoying resurgence in his long and glittering career with the rather aptly titled Band of Joy and before that with Alison Krauss and his award winning Raising Sand album

But, there’s one thing that has always been present in Bob’s career that has sadly been missing from many others of his age bracket and of course (without sounding like an arld bastard) today’s youth – class!

I get the feeling these days that fame is, well, cheap! Anyone can be famous. Just look at the talentless twats who grace X Factor and the likes of Big Brother (those two biffs Jedwood and that fucking mong who ‘had’ tourettes syndrome)! People who would sells their Nan’s teeth in exchange for fame and fortune in other words.

This is not the case with people like Planty

Apart from a rather brief excursion during the eighties when he banded about his ‘Big Log’ (oo er missus), I can’t really remember Planty doing anything cringe worthy enough to say “that was fucking shit”. That was his one ‘Tin Machine’ moment)

Even the Led Zeppelin reunion gig at the O2 a few years back was pretty much against his will as he knew ages ago that Zeppelin dies when his best mate Bonham died. But, he never once slagged it off. He got on with it and soldiered on in the name of (true) show business as a favour to Elmert OOOOOO (the fella who signed Zeppelin to Atlantic)

So, good on ye Planty, you’ll always be a true (talented) legend in mine, and many other people’s eyes

Keep up the good work (and the blonde locks)

Mol

Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Subo

2010-11-19T11:19:00.000-08:00

John Lennon would be turning in his grave!

It was announced this week that Susan Boyle has chalked up number one albums in the UK and across the pond with our dear cousins in the U S and A. it!

A superb achievement I’m sure we all agree

Before we go any further, I’d just like to mention a rather funny quip my brother came out with yesterday: “imagine if Susan Boyle’s first name was Les” ... think about

Anyhow, what really do annoy me about this whole affair are two main deciding factors. 1. Susan Boyle does not write he own songs to be honest, she probably struggles to write her own fucking name). 2. The story and coverage about this whole thing in the press

Ridiculous words and phrases such as “better than The Beatles” and “breaking the record held by The Beatles” are really starting to fucking annoy me!

The Beatles were, and many say still are, probably the most influential band of all time that inspired thousands of artists not just in the sixties, but in the five decades that passed their heyday! They have also influenced a sub culture not just associated with pop music, but with film, literature and fashion.

They have also single-handedly boosted the fortunes and image of a city that was almost flung into the dark ages by a certain iron lady and her gang of millionaire cronies in the Tory party many decades ago

So, compare these achievements to a woman who resembles some rag-arsed Bricky who works on a building site and has done more for facial hair than Brian Blessed!

Here is a woman who swims with the likes of Simon Cowell and the other tax-dodging bean-counters whose real allegiance lies with a certain shit talent show that is plastered across our screens morning, noon and fucking night twenty four fucking seven!!!

To me, to compare anyone, whether that is Susan Boyle or any other talentless twat who doesn’t write their own music, to The Beatles is nothing short of utter blasphemy!!!

It really is a sad country we live in!! The quicker Subo (and her army of adoring fans in the press) fucks off into the arms of the celebrity loving Americans the better!

Mol

There Aint No Place Like The U S and A

2010-11-05T09:21:00.000-07:00

Now, everyone knows my levels of distain and anger when it comes to all things American with regards the level of influence they sometimes have over our culture, sport and of course: food!

But I did notice one thing the other day when it comes to their ‘style’ of writing songs and it was this: they really are obsessed with their own country!

Now, I’m sure most of you know our cousins across the pond do possess a rather large chunk of land and that many of them (about 90-odd %) don’t own a passport (that’s usually down to that fact that they don’t know the rest of the world exists), but, this is what I noticed the other day: they love writing songs and naming bands about places in their country.

Self gratifying I’m sure you’d agree?

Here are a few rather eye-watering examples:

Bands:

Boston

LA Guns

New York Dolls

The Miami Sound Machine (that was Gloria Rest-her-fanny’s band by the way)

MC5 (Motor City 5) – named after Detroit

Buffalo Springfield

Chicago

Songs:

Route 66

If you’re going to San Francisco

New York New York

New York City Cops

California Girls

California Dreaming

Pacific Ocean Blue

Born in the USA

Sweet Home Alabama

Hotel California

Now I don’t mean to sound disrespectful to these rather cherished national places on the old U S and A here, but don’t you think they can sometimes be rather too sentimental about these places of heritage? Bruce Springsteen wrote about the USA all his fucking life and he’s still boring the tits off us to this day! Republican sentimentality you might say? Who knows

Now, compare this to the English and our rather plucky stiff upper lips, cups of tea and fish and chips. You don’t really hear of us singing so affectionately about such cities as Norwich, Sunderland or Watford. You don’t hear us constantly banging on about such world famous land marks as Battersea Power Station, The Angel of the North or Page Moss Chippy in the same way our friends across the Atlantic do now do you?

Now, you make think I’m being silly here (and yes, I am), but I’m pretty much at a loss as to why people would want to have such a partisan opinion about their own country that they suddenly feel the need to burst into song or name a band after it as, in my humble opinion, music should be about something that’s stirs your emotion and inspires you and your personal feelings

Maybe a bridge, a monument or indeed a city does do that for most Americans.

Sadly it doesn’t for me

I’ll stick to writing songs about paranoia, lost love and death if you don’t mind

As for Page Moss Chippy: they do make great onion gravy

Hardly worth a song though

Mol

More Than Just a One Trick Pony?

2010-10-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

I was reading through the papers the other day whilst sat in the pub (on my own – sad bastard) whilst the missus was shopping (for a change) and started reading the tour dates adverts at the back. You know the ones advertising Joe Longthorne and Daniel O’Donnell in some sleepy town’s Plaza Suite or something shit like Southport.

Anyway, on the same page was an advert for Roger Waters doing yet another stage rendition of ‘The Wall’ in various European Cities. And it got me thinking – why is this man and many other artists still subjecting the public to this repetitive crap?

In this rather sad, repetitive case of Roger Waters, it’s quite hard to believe someone who has such an array of musical talent and released a wide selection of albums that are firmly edged into Original British Music History should rely so heavily on resurrecting one of Pink Floyd’s ‘less’ famous and, dare I say, mediocre albums (The Wall) and turning into some over-the-top rock musical extravaganza time after time. I get the feeling his creative talents have simply drifted away or dried up and he’s hanging onto some sort of fame by the tips of his fingers

Now, don’t get me wrong here, bands like The Stones and The Eagles have been ‘hanging on’ for many years now and, of course, they have resurrected famous albums by re-mastering them, but, and it’s a big but, they have released the odd original album in between these ‘re-mastered’ examples. For a bunch of chaps with a combined age of one hundred thousand, that’s no mean feat

Another example of the ‘one trick pony’ came courtesy of a chance meeting I had a few months back with Lee Mavers from The La’s. Well, I say chance meeting, he actually blanked me! Cheeky C*nt! I had to mention this by the way as a few of my so called mates buzzed off after i told them

Mavers though, for all his talent, is still living off one good album and one famous song that is still used to advertise sofa companies and holidays firms to this day! Doesn’t give him the right to blank me though! Blert!

But the really annoying part of all this is that these ‘one trick ponies’ demand respect from their peers because of their previous (track) records.

In my opinion it’s high time they did something that would guarantee respect – it’s called writing something new!

As for blanking me, that’s pretty understandable

I’d do the same if i were in their shoes

Mol

More Songs for Tom and George

2010-10-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

So, Tom and George are packing up their cowboy boots and riding off back to Texas with a (quite appropriate) loss of £80 Million each saddled to their trusty steeds.

So, in true time honoured tradition of Mol’s Sound Words, its time for another bout of appropriate songs for our two favourite Texans

Here’s what my dear readers have come up with this time.

Walk Away – Cast

Bye Bye Bad Man – The Stone Roses

Cash in My Pocket – Daniel Merryweather

Last Goodbye – Jeff Buckley

I Fought the Law and the Law Won – The Clash

Hit the Road Jack – Buster Poindexter

Give me Just a Little More Time – Chairman of the Board

Walls come tumbling down – The Style council

Miss You – The Rolling Stones

Leaving on a jet plane – John Denver

Goodbye cruel world – Pink Floyd

The end – The Doors

Leash – Pearl Jam (lyrics: “drop the leash, drop the leash, get outta my fucking face”)

Go west – Pet Shop Boys

Fight the power – Public Enemy

Celebration Day – Led Zeppelin

I’m so bored with the USA – The Clash

So, Messer’s Hicks and Gillett, if indeed there is the slightest chance (in hell) you are reading this, I’d just like to leave you with one though – remember the end of the film Trading Places when Randolph and Mortimer end up on the streets? ................

And finally, Tom and George, if you do find yourself in great financial hardship with your new £80m debt, remember these few words to keep the bailiffs from your door: You’ll Never Walk Alone

Shut the door on your way out

Mol

Weezer Geezer in Cash Squeezer

2010-10-09T01:41:00.000-07:00

Just been reading the most baffling article about Weezer and a very bizarre request from a chap who, you could say, doesn’t really like them too much

The very strange offer comes from a chap called James Burns who has set up a campaign with other ‘organisers’ who have a goal of raising $10 Million to offer Weezer to stop making albums and do the ‘decent thing’ and call it a day – so far they have raised $273.00 (just another nine and three quarter million to go then)

Mt Burns went onto to say his reasons behind this rather ludicrous offer were that Weezer have failed to ‘deliver the goods’ since there successful 1996 album ‘Pinkerton’ and have, since then, churned out a crock of shit

Personally I think this is pretty un-fair as Weezer have, in my opinion, released some rather decent albums and a few blinding singles

But, I must admit I do tire from the rather ridiculously named Rivers Cuomo’s (he’s the specky singer who looks like Morrissey on slimming pills by the way) comments that their latest album would be their “last” when it’s plain to see it quite simply isn’t!

So, without further ado, I’m starting up a campaign

Anyone who wants to contribute to the “Take That, Razorlight and Simon Cowell Retirement Campaign” is more than welcome

How much d’ye reckon we’ll raise?

Mol

I’m In a Rock N Roll Band

2010-10-05T11:31:00.001-07:00

Must admit, I have to say that I’ve really enjoyed the ‘I’m In a Rock N Roll Band’ series produced by the BBC. Caught it on the iplayer this week as well as it being repeated on BBC19, but can’t really say it’s been as impressive as the Seven Ages of Rock series. But at least the BBC have taken up the mantle of making programmes of musical interest compared to ITV’s rather shit efforts such as X Factor and Britain’s (Not) Got Talent. Hats off to the Beeb on that one

But, with regards I’m In a Rock N Band, I do (as always) have a few issues with certain elements of the show

Firstly the show that centred on Lead Guitarists was slightly flawed. My reasons are these: the main people who were interviewed on the show were Lead Guitarists. Granted the show was about them (they’d probably enjoyed the attention and the limelight so much) and they were pretty much entitled to their opinions. But, Lead Guitarists would be nothing without their esteemed colleagues on the other side of the stage that are more commonly known as Rhythm Guitarists.

Being an ex-Rhythm King myself I know all Lead guitarists will agree with me here if they have ever played in a band with two guitarists that they are ‘helped out’ greatly by their under-appreciated fellow axe wielding ‘water carriers’.

While I’m on the subject of Lead Guitarists and ‘I’m in a Rock and Roll Band’, I’d also like to add to the fact that (in case it wasn’t already common knowledge) Jeff Beck comes across as one of the biggest bell ends I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. His ego really does seem endless after listening to his comments about Rod Stewart

Finally, as I was guilty of ripping drummers a few months back in my Blog, I would like to share with you a similar jape in the direction of our temperamental cursed diamonds of the Lead guitarist world:

A band goes out one night for a good old band piss up. As the night goes on the drummer, singer, bass player and rhythm guitarist all return home and have an early night. About 4 in the morning they are all woken up by the lead guitarist. As they open the window they ask him for an explanation. He replies with “sorry, I came in with the wrong key”

To be honest, I’m I a Rock N Roll Band, although not the best the BBC has produced hasn’t been a bad series in general. It’s contained some interesting guests, but, to be a bit over critical her, most of the stories they have told aren’t really ‘news’.

Take the stories about Keith Moon driving his car into a swimming pool – old news and not really relevant to what drummers are (and should be) famed for. Other examples being Toy Iomi losing his finger in an industrial accident when he was young and Ozzy Osborne shooting a gang of chickens when he was off his head! (Pity it wasn’t his wife really)

All of these stories are firmly edged into rock folk law, but they are also old hat and, it has to be said, somewhat annoyingly repetitive. It reminds me of the Brummie Roadie from Wayne’s World telling his predictable yarn about separating different coloured M&M’s for Ozzy as he was refusing to take to the stage

Another thing that TV documentaries do that get on my nerves is the constant sunshine blowing up rock star’s arses they tend to do. The amount of waxing lyrical some of the interviewers do can sometimes border on embarrassment. The way I see it, if they want someone to conduct an interview that is credible and not cringe able, they should find someone neutral and knowledgeable. Zane Lowe would be an ideal candidate in my opinion as he has vast music knowledge and I think he is also one of the few journalists who most musicians have a lot of respect for

So, where do TV companies go from now when it comes to producing Music Documentaries? Obviously it is going to have to be something original as the over-exposure some of them show these days (especially towards the eighties) is becoming rather tedious and extremely boring

My idea would be more genuine fan’s input instead of the constant and rather tedious views of Paul Morley and Bob Mills banging on about how great The Clash were would be a perfect start!

Yawn

Mol

Lives in a house, very big house, in the country

2010-09-25T07:02:00.001-07:00

Jesus Christ! How the fuck did we get to this pretty ashamed stage were rock stars become so god awfully boring???

I’ve just finished reading (wasting a good twenty minutes of my life) an article interviewing Brain May of Queen. I’ve never really been a big fan of Queen, but I’m always willing to read any article interviewing rock’s ‘aristocracy’ and in typical true form I realised one thing – he is a true boring rock dinosaur!

I also had a read of his Blog that was mentioned in the interview boringly titled Brian’s Soapbox. In it he has a moan (as we all do) not about his dodgy Barnet or Freddie Mercury’s death, but astrology, the weather and fox and badger hunting! Fucking badger hunting! Hahaha, Jesus Christ!

Gone are the days of chasing dwarfs carrying tray loads of cocaine at Queen after show parties and landing at concerts in elaborate helicopters! These days it’s more important for him to study the stars and fret over the lack of rain his much cherished lawn isn’t receiving let alone the amount of fucking badgers there are being killed! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn!

So, what is it that suddenly turns these once lunatics into serious drab bastards? Personally I don’t know the answer as 1. I don’t know any aging rock stars and 2. I’ve never been one, but I suspect it has something to do with age.

Another example of boring rock stars has to be awarded to Chris Martin of Coldplay! This is the guy who epitomises the ‘nice guy’ of music. A true dullard! I may have mentioned this before, but does anyone actually know why this boring man actually puts different coloured tape around his fingers? Are they to remind him what bins to put out in the morning or what vegetable diet his kids are having the next day?

I remember when rock stars used to be feared creatures who wouldn’t think twice about booting a new born kitten down the stairs or throw half of South America up their noses and do the same the next day (if they could find a kitten, or course). Sadly the corporate, squeaky clean pop stars of today have taken over and it’s almost become acceptable to be a nice young chap your mum would be glad you brought home for tea! The kind of tit who spends six weeks in Simon Cowell’s (tax free) chateau learning how to sing (when he’s not tampering with their voice – allegedly)

Now, compare these ‘pussy cats’ to someone like the legendary GG Allin for example. Here was probably the biggest lunatic in music who had many songs such as Suck My Ass It Smells and I Wanna Piss On You. He used to beat his own head so much with his microphone that he used to bleed a hell of a lot. He also used to fight with the fans at his gigs and also take a shit on stage and then pick it up and throw it at them! Hahahaha

Now, I’m not asking the likes of Brian may or Chris Martin to suddenly start throwing their own shit around the O2 Arena all of a sudden, but it would be nice for them to stop being, well, so nice!

Don’t grow up chaps

Mol

Filter Distortion - A Shameless Plug

2010-09-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

A few years back a group of rather splendid chaps I know formed a band and called themselves Deconstructors

After becoming involved with them (not in a ‘physical’ way might I add) for a good time they morphed into one of Liverpool’s finest un-signed and formidable bands.

After a change in personnel they have now changed their name to Filter Distortion.

Now I know this is a shameless plug, but it has to be said here: I don’t give a fuck as they are of course, good friends and a truly stunning band and (a lot better than some of the 80’s rip offs doing the rounds today)

So, give Filter Distortion a listen and do your ears a favour

Nice one

Mol

The Death of Rock Music ... Doubt It Mate

2010-09-15T02:56:00.000-07:00

It’s amazing the amount of utter fucking shit some people spout these days isn’t it?

I’ve just been reading a rather disturbing article about Rock Music ... or the lack of Rock Music in the charts. Personally, I really don’t see what all the fuss is about!

Historically Rock Music has never really been ‘chart fodder’ as it has always firmly had its roots embedded into working class culture as most rock bands tend to shun the ‘glamour’ and ‘shit’ that comes with the singles charts and pop music culture in general.

This was mainly evident in the likes of Led Zeppelin. During the decade they ruled the planet they never once released a single in the UK – a rarity for its time and something that certainly changed the way rock acts ‘carried out they’re businesses. If there was ever a more striking example that Rock Music doesn’t need the singles chart – that was it!

Rock Music always has been and will continue to be very close to my heart. It’s a bit like that distant relative that no one else in your family likes apart from yourself. I’m not saying it wears annoyingly tanned slip on shoes and wears dodgy aftershave, but it can sometimes be cheesy and also cheer you up and make your day. In other words – it doesn’t take itself too seriously

But, as is many of the world’s problems, I personally I believe ‘the death’ of rock music (as the intrepid reporter liked to call it) is down to our dear cousins across the pond and what they did to it. Take the likes of Motley Crue, Kiss, Poison and Alice Cooper as examples. They dressed it up in lipstick, eye liner, foundation and other forms of glamorous shit that many people across the Atlantic seen as nothing more than a joke! I know I did! If they hadn’t had got their hands on it maybe it would have been a different story. If you don’t believe me – take a look at that utterly ridiculous Steel Panther. I’ll guarantee you’ll squirm in your boots!

But, with regards the future of Rock Music, there is one basic point here that the many people queuing up to condemn it to the rubbish pile of music history have missed – the people who listen to rock music really don’t give a flying fuck if they’re favourite album has sold the same amount of albums as Alexander Burke, Take That, Fucking Jed wood or any other manufactured teeny boppers! They actually see that as a form of disrespect towards the music they love dearly.

People who listen to pop music can go and fuck themselves with their glamour and money for all I care as rock music is made by the people for the people

That, quite simply, is the way of things

Long live rock, be it in the charts or out!

Mol

Groping The Limelight?

2010-09-09T06:05:00.000-07:00

I’ve just finished reading a rather ridiculous article about the lack of women ‘in Indie’ and the constant groping that goes on at some of the concerts.

The woman writing the article went on to say that it was only women who get ‘groped’ when they crowd surf. I really don’t see this woman’s beef here as if you throw into the mix = loud music, dark lighting, lots of beer and a shit load of pissed blokes (and women) they’re hardly going to throw their jacket on the floor to save the girl being carried aloft from being molested in any kind of way now are they?

The way I see it, attending gigs is an opportunity to break the daily monotony of work and shit weather so people tend to throw their inhibitions aside at events like gigs. So if a young woman (probably dressed in rather revealing clothing) is stupid enough to do a spot of crowd surfing in what is historically a male-dominated environment it serves her right if some burly, drunken chap decides to stick his middle finger up her hoop while his mates watch on in fits of laughter

As for the female axe grinding that continued, the person writing went onto ‘moan’ about the lack of women in Indie bands. A controversial point, maybe, but maybe this want to be feminist hadn’t heard of The White Stripes, The Ting Tings, The Pixies, the Breeders, Arcade Fire, Lush, Elastica and The Kills. There’s a pretty strong contingent of females in that rather impressive list of Indie bands wouldn’t you say Mrs?

So, I know I’m being a little bit daft here, but women like this really do get on my Moobs with their constant rabble sometimes. So while we’re on the subject of mouthy bra-burning feminists, I’d like to point out the lack of men in bands like Girls Aloud, the Saturdays, The Pussy Cats Dolls and Take That!

Seems only fair that I grind my axe (wound) wouldn’t you agree?

As for being groped at any of their concerts – I may as well spend the night in The Lisbon! I’d definitely get me arse grabbed there with a reach-a-round thrown in for good measure

Mol

Grow Up, Axl

2010-08-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

Guns N’ Roses returned to the fray last week with a headlining slot at Reading and Leeds’ V festival. And, as is always the case with them, they were late on stage for both occasions. No doubt this had something to do with Axl Rose’s ability to get under people’s skin just for the hell of it – he’s like that!

Axl, Real name – Bill Bailey, really is one serious fucking pain in the arse that has ruffled more than a few feathers in his time in music! He even had the nerve to wait for seventeen years before he released the follow up to Use Your Illusion with the rather pitiful Chinese Democracy (the title being rather absurd as well!) on top of this were many stories in Slash’s autobiography about the personal vendetta he took out against him on a level with Psychiatric Persecution! Can’t see why as Slash does come across as a sort of decent chap

So, to Reading and the ‘problems’ caused by Poor Little Axl. They were told by the organisers that if they didn’t go on stage within an hour they wouldn’t be paid. So, what does Axl and his gang of ‘Fake Roses’ do? That’s right – they go on after a fifty eight minute wait! What a fucking utter prick! Of course, Axl tried his best to turn the tables and blamed the promoters, but i don’t think anyone (including me) bought his story. Typical Axl if you ask me

These actions are nothing more than a silly little man who is hell bent on being awkward. There is absolutely no need for his actions what so ever and any musician who you play on the same bill with will tell you the exact same thing = you don’t run over your allotted time

Finally, I think you’d all like to know that when Guns N Roses first started, Axl changed his ‘name’ to W Axl Rose (his initials spelling out – WAR). Personally I think he should have changed it to Wholly Annoying Retard!

Whopper!

Mol