iPod Recently Played for the last week

Motown 50 (Album)
Maxou - Vanessa Paradis
Barcode - Mongrel
The Menace (Adrian Sherwood On-U Sound Dub) - Mongrel
The Show - Girls Aloud
Phonebill Song - Hole
On Your Own - Blur
Canary Bay - Indochine
So What - Pink
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
The Man Who Can't Be Moved - The Script
Wire To Wire - Razorlight
5 Years Time - Noah And The Whale
Never Miss A Beat - Kaiser Chiefs
Love Is Noise - The Verve
Spiralling - Keane
Boyfriend - Alphabeat
Mountains - Biffy Clyro
I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked - Ida Maria
The World Should Revolve Around Me - Little Jackie
Cookie Jar - Gym Class Heroes
Girlfriend (Japanese Version) - Avril Lavigne
The Menace - Mongrel
See You Again - Miley Cyrus
Malibu - Hole
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
Light Up My Room - Barenaked Ladies
It's All Coming Back To Me Now - Celine Dion
Shut Your Mouth - Garbage
Chasing Rainbows - Shed Seven
Some Fantastic - Barenaked Ladies
Walking Alone - Green Day
You Make Me Wanna - Blue
Perfect Pizza - Killjoys
Lucky Number - Rialto
Monsters Of The New Wave - Rachel Stamp
Lay Low - Alisha's Attic
Crush - Jennifer Paige
Flavor Of The Week - American Hi-Fi
He's On The Phone - Saint Etienne
Angel Of The Morning - The Pretenders
Till Death Do Us Part - Madonna
Disposable Teens - Marilyn Manson
Always Come Back To Your Love (with Rap) - Samantha Mumba
I Can Only Disappoint U (LP Mix) - Mansun
Ready Or Not - The Fugees
Set It Off - Peaches
Vicious Cycle - Northern State
Dizzy - Orgy
My Favorite Mistake - Sheryl Crow
I Write Sins Not Tradgedies - Panic! At The Disco
500 (Shake Baby Shake) - Lush
These Days - Bon Jovi
Pretty On The Inside - Hole
Hang-Up - Killjoys
Attitude - Suede

iPod Recently Played for the last week

Girlfriend (Japanese Version) - Avril Lavigne
Rats - The Automatic
Seventeen (Original Mix) - Ladytron
Romeo And Juliet - Dire Straits
Last Cup Of Sorrow - Faith No More
Best Of My Love - The Emotions
Anywhere - Beth Orton
Electra - Human Waste Project
Rocks - Primal Scream
Wow - Kate Bush
Wait And Bleed (Terry Date Mix) - Slipknot
It Don't Get Better - Meredith Brooks
Shakespeare's Sister - The Smiths
Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Seriously... I Hate You Guys - The Automatic
Mary Jane - Alanis Morissette
Don't Speak ("L-A's" Speechless Radio Mix) - Clueless
Get Down On It (Put Your Arms In The Air) (Denny Shaft Club Cut) - Supermotorfunk
School Spirit Skit 2 - Kanye West
Helicopters - Barenaked Ladies
Down On The Street - Down Boyz
Shoplifters Of The World Unite - The Smiths
Sophia - Nerina Pallot
Removables - Manic Street Preachers
Born To Be Sold - Transvision Vamp
Spotlight (UK Radio Edit) - Jennifer Hudson
A Galaxy Of Scars - Third Eye Foundation
Maxou - Vanessa Paradis
Radio Jolly (Adult. De-funked Remix) - Jolly Music
The Sweetest Condition - Depeche Mode
Save Your Kisses For Me - Kenickie
Taken Out - Ash
Sleeping In My Car (Single Edit) - Roxette
La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh) - Manic Street Preachers
Oops!...I Did It Again (Riprock 'N' Alex G. Oops! We Remixed Again! Club Mix) - Britney Spears
Bet On - Last Stop China Town
King Of My Castle (Original Radio Edit) - Wamdue Project
Dancing With Myself - Nouvelle Vague
Smash (Live Version) - The Offspring
You Cut Her Hair - Tom McRae
Hot Love - Marc Bolan & T.Rex
Crazee Horse - Apollo Four Forty
#1 Crush - Garbage
Guaglione - Perez Prado
Fade Away And Radiate - Blondie
Red Eyes And Tears - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Bingo Bango (Choo Choo's Apple Jaxx Mix) - Basement Jaxx
Piss Factory (Track) - Patti Smith
Riot Girl - Good Charlotte
Push (Acoustic) - Matchbox 20
Possibly Maybe - Bjork
Little Mama - Big Brovaz
Sassafras Roots - Green Day
Lay Low - Alisha's Attic

iPod Recently Played for the last week

Submission - Sex Pistols
House Of God 2000 (DHS Remix) - DHS
Hallelujah - Paramore
You've Got It Bad - Ocean Colour Scene
That's They Way (I Like It) - Clock
Been A Son (Live) - Nirvana
Let Me In - R.E.M.
Under Construction - No Doubt
Always By My Baby (Reggae Soul Mix) - Mariah Carey feat Lil' Vicious
Mkk3 - These New Puritans
I Am Not A Virgin - Miss Black America
Noise Brigade (Live) - Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Human Traffic Theme - Matthew Herbert & Robert Mello
Mouth - Bush
Good Luck Olivia - The Dawn Parade
Party Action - The Donnas
Surrender - Absence Of Faith
By The Light Of The Magical Moon - Marc Bolan & T.Rex
El Matador - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Penitent - Suzanne Vega
New York, New York - Ryan Adams
Dance Commander - Electric Six
Slave Boy - Lolita Storm
Kick Some Dirt Pt.2 - Alec Empire
Sunset Gun - The Damage Manual
How She Lied By Living - The Posies
You And Me Song - The Wannadies
Medusa's Path - The Prodigy
Indian Strings - Suede
Hate To Say I Told You So - The Hives
Envy - Ash
Lights - Editors
Turn Around - Phats & Small
Razor Sharp - Collide
Dreamer - Cast
Gimme That Body - Q Tee
Walk On By - Miss Kittin & The Hacker
Just A Girl (Radio 1 Live Acoustic Version) - No Doubt
Revolution Baby - Transvision Vamp
Hold Me (Radio Edit) - Savage Garden
Forbidden Colors - David Sylvian
More Than This - Roxy Music
Rape This Day - Tomahawk
Pyrotechnician - Sleeper
Pavane - Wimbledon Choral Society
The Everlasting (Stealth Sonic Orchestra Remix) - Manic Street Preachers
Tu dis rien - Louise Attaque
Nature's Law - Embrace
Bobby James - N*E*R*D
Am I Loud Enough - bis
Wild And Untamed Thing - Rocky Horror Picture Show Original Film Soundtrack
I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top - Kevin Rowland
Heal The World - Michael Jackson
Fans (Radio 1 Live Lounge) - Kings Of Leon
Hypnotise - Les Rythmes Digitales
Bleach - Easyworld
Crucifix Kiss - Manic Street Preachers
Psychosis Safari - The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
Let Robeson Sing - Manic Street Preachers
Use Me - Garbage
Anyone Else But You (Live At Trash) - The Moldy Peaches
Walking On Sunshine - Rockers Revenge feat Donnie Calvin
I Used To Love Him - Lauryn Hill
What Do I Do Now? - Sleeper
Tout pour ma cherie - Pascal Obispo
Good Morning Sunshine - Lauren Laverne
Careful - Hot Chip
Alphabet St. - Prince
Panic In Detroit - David Bowie
Girls On Pills - The Droyds
Garden Of Love - My Scarlet Life
Something In The Way (MTV Unplugged) - Nirvana
Lilac Wine - Jeff Buckley
Pug - Smashing Pumpkins
Flee Fly Flo - Fe-m@il
Life On MTV - Miss Kittin & The Hacker
You Give Me Love (Time Ladies Please Mix) - Clock
Coeur De Loup - Philippe Lafontaine
All The Things She Said - t.A.T.u
Shadow Play - Joy Division
Sing For The Moment - Eminem
Je n'embrasse pas - Indochine
Accused (Distention Mix) - Raudive Voices
Out Of Control - M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy
Cookie Cutter Kid - bis
Father And Son - The Enemy
Dark Serenade - Ophelia's Sweet Demise
Heartbreak (Working Hard Mix) - Mrs Wood feat Eve Gallagher
Ride A White Swan - Marc Bolan & T.Rex
Times Like These (Radio 1 Live Lounge) - Foo Fighters
The Winners Song - Geraldine McQueen
It's Over - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
Absolutely Happy - Melanie Doane
Over Again - Catch
Avenging Angels - Space
The Girls (Radio 1 Live Lounge) - Calvin Harris
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive - Johnny Mercer
Stop - Matchbox 20
Little Girl - The Banned
Whatever - Oasis
Faut se le dire - Louise Attaque
Protection (7" Edit) - Massive Attack
For Reasons Unknown - The Killers
Much Finer - Le Tigre
I'm Not Feeling You - Yvette Michelle
Day In Day Out - David Bowie
A Girl Like You - Edwyn Collins
Found That Soul - Manic Street Preachers
Big Distraction - No Doubt
If You Buy This Record Your Life Will Be Better - The Tamperer feat Maya
Frank Sinatra 2001 - Miss Kittin & The Hacker
Interlude - My Chemical Romance
There She Goes - The La's
At The Symphony, I Could Be - Jack Drag
Beat Mama - Cast
Burn The Suit - bis
Hundredweight - Easyworld
Here Comes Your Man - The Pixies
Buddy-X - The Dreem Team Vs Neneh Cherry
Shut Up (And Sleep With Me) - Sin With Sebastian
Simple Kind Of Life - No Doubt
No Regrets - Robbie Williams
Don't You Know Who I Think I Am? - Fall Out Boy
Bohemian Like You - The Dandy Warhols
One Touch - Sugababes
G Funk Intro - Snoop Dogg
I'm Every Woman (Remix Edit) - Chaka Khan
London - The Smiths
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
You Won't Be Mine - Matchbox 20

iPod Recently Played for the last week

Illegal Attacks - Ian Brown
If You Phone - Lauren Laverne
Don't Call Me Baby - Madison Avenue
Bedhead - Sleeper
Womanizer - Britney Spears
Propane Nightmares - Pendulum
Another Way To Die - Jack White & Alicia Keys
Love Me Or Hate Me - Lady Sovereign
Now 71 (Album)
Day & Age - The Killers (Album)
Swagga Like Us - Jay-Z & T.I. feat Kanye West & Lil Wayne
Misery Business (Single Version) - Paramore
The Artist In The Ambulance - Thrice
Adolescent Sex - Japan
We Are Your Friends (Radio Edit) - Justice Vs Simian
Lights & Music - Cut Copy
Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend
Free Things For Poor People - Infadels
Young Love - Mystery Jets feat Laura Marling
Standing Next To Me - The Last Shadow Puppets
Shine On - The Kooks
Beggin' (Pilooski Re-Edit) - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked (Single Mix) - Ida Maria
Watch Me Fall Apart - Hard-Fi
Elevator - Flo Rida feat Timbaland
LOL - Little Jackie
Under The Thumb - Amy Studt
Sam's Town - The Killers (Album)
Street Symphony - Monica
Debbie Loves Joey - Helen Love
What Up Man - The Cool Kids
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Everything Sounds Like Coldplay Now - Mitch Benn & The Distractions
Dancing With Myself - Nouvelle Vague
Baby One More Time - Travis
I'd Like It Like That - Pete C. Rodriguez
I Like It Like That (Aaron Jerome Remix) - Pete Rodriguez
Big Bang Theory Theme - Barenaked Ladies
Stand Up - Flobots
So Sick - Ne-Yo
Hate That I Love You - Rihanna
Set The Fire To The Third Bar - Snow Patrol & Martha Wainwright
21st Century Girls (Acoustic) - 21st Century Girls
Masochrist - My Ruin
My Son Mystic - Gay Dad
For The Dead - Gene
Push It (Real Good) - Harry
Intuition (Ford's Radio Mix) - Jewel
Pretend We're Dead - L7
For Want Of - Rites Of Spring
Can't Stand Losing You - Feeder
Motown Junk - Manic Street Preachers
Valley - Harry
Flying Without Wings - Soulwax
Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) - The Delfonics
And Dream Of Sheep - Kate Bush
Digital Hardcore - Atari Teenage Riot
Spending My Time - Roxette
Mi Gente (Louie Vega Elements Of Life Remix) - Hector Lavoe
Do You Know (Linslee Remix) - Michelle Gayle
Drag - Hole
In The Death Car - Iggy Pop
The Trouble With Me - Black Legend
I'm Comin' Down - Primal Scream
A Nanny In Manhattan - Lilys
Dream Of The Hollow Fishes - Deathwatch Beetle Repairman
Mary Mary (Stigmatic Mix) - Chumbawamba
Wuthering Heights (New Vocal) - Kate Bush
Madam Your Carriage Awaits - Bentley Rhythm Ace
You Were Meant For Me - Jewel
A Doodle New - Mokita
A New Beginning - Good Charlotte
The Great Mystery - Steve Poltz
The Minstrel Boy (Instrumental) - The Corrs
Born Slippy (Nuxx Edit) - Underworld
£4 - These New Puritans
Mercury (Herve Is In Disarray Remix) - Bloc Party
Postcards (Rewritten Mix) - Faithless
Fever (Live Acoustic) - Starsailor
Handlebars (UK Radio Edit) - Flobots
I've Got All This Ringing In My Ears And None On My Fingers - Fall Out Boy
The Anchor Song - Bjork
Desert Song - Exploding Thumbs
Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Saint Etienne
You Love Us - Manic Street Preachers
Loaded (Terry Farley Remix) - Primal Scream
More And More - Captain Hollywood Project
I Want You To Want Me - Letters To Cleo
Distant Fingers (Demo) - Patti Smith
Soguni Coun - Madou Djembe
Spin Spin Sugar (Armand's Dark Garage Mix) - Sneaker Pimps
Girls - Sugababes
It Just Won't Do - Tim Deluxe feat Sam Obernik
Simple Kind Of Life - No Doubt
London Calling - The Clash
A Batman Overture - Elliot Goldenthal
I've Been Thinking About You - Londonbeat
Hollaback Girl - Gwen Stefani
Whipping Tree - The Dandy Warhols
Take A Walk (Youngsters Bass Remix) - Bolz Bolz
Lush Life - Sugababes
Leaving On A Jet Plane - Chantal Kreviazuk
Heart Of Glass - Blondie
Navigate-Colours - These New Puritans
Heaven Is A Place On Earth - Belinda Carlisle
A Quai - Yann Tiersen
Rez - Underworld
Time Is A Healer - Caroldene
Every Guy - Take That
Soul Love - David Bowie

iPod Recently Played for the last week

Lea - Louise Attaque
Tu dis rien - Louise Attaque
Under Pressure - Queen & David Bowie
Over My Shoulder - Mike & The Mechanics
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - Bon Jovi
Christmas Everyday - Holy Ghost Revival
Natural Blues - Moby
Snow Day - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
Finest Worksong (Other Mix) - R.E.M.
Hanging On The Telephone - Blondie
Look Into My Eyes - Bone Thugs N Harmony
The Backdoor Payoff - Manchild
L'Union du son - Alliance Ethnik
The Big Sky - Kate Bush
Lament - Evita Original Soundtrack
Perfect Game - Thompson Twins
Satellite Of Love - Lou Reed
Caramel - Suzanne Vega
Rock'n'roll Star - Saez
Kung-Fu (Original 187 Mix) - 187 Lockdown
Ready Or Not - Manbreak
All I Have To Give - Backstreet Boys
Master And Servant - Depeche Mode
You Love Us - Manic Street Preachers
Yeah! New York - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Spark - Tori Amos
Starbirth In The Triffid Nebula - Rachel Stamp
Paths That Cross - Patti Smith
Heart-Shaped Box (LP Version) - Nirvana
Peek-A-Boo - Daphne & Celeste
Bitch - Meredith Brooks
Me In Honey - R.E.M.
I Love Your Sushi - Daphne & Celeste
I Got Nothin' - Moisture
Hey Baby (Fabian Mix) - No Doubt
Endless, Nameless - Nirvana
All Star - Smash Mouth
Inaction - We Are Scientists
D'amour en amour - Louise Attaque
Blue - Elastica
Heart Of Gold (Live) - Stereophonics
Message To Crommie - Planet 4 Folk Quartet
Barbarella - Capri
Girls And Boys - Blur
At The Party - Northern State
Too Dead For Me - Atari Teenage Riot
Slide - Human Waste Project
Crazy Love - MJ Cole
Simon Says - Catch
Soul-Crusher - White Zombie
On Passing Lilac Urine - Half Man Half Biscuit
Check Out - Joy Zipper
Again - Janet Jackson
In My Time Of Need - Ryan Adams
What Up Man - The Cool Kids
Tower Of Song - Marianne Faithfull
Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis
Playboy - Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi
August 7, 4:15 - Jon Bon Jovi
You Lied To Me - Cathy Dennis
Royale With Cheese - Pulp Fiction OST
We've Got It Goin' On - Backstreet Boys
Ready For The Floor - Hot Chip
(It's Hard) Letting You Go - Bon Jovi
Hello - Courtney Love
Waterloo - Bananarama
Reward - The Teardrop Explodes
White Lines (Don't Do It) - Duran Duran feat Melle Mel & Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Spin The Bottle - The Juliana Hatfield 3
Cruel Summer - Ace Of Base
Return Of The Mack - Mark Morrison
Best Friend - Brandy
Polaroid - Richmond Fontaine
For Tonight You're Only Here To Know - The Distillers
Everybody Be Somebody - Ruffneck feat Yavahn
If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
Cellophane - Amanda Ghost
Mercutura - Mark Snow
The Day We Find Love - 911
You Do - McAlmont & Butler
Five Fathoms (Original Mix Radio Edit) - Everything But The Girl
As Sure As The Sun - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

iPod Recently Played for the last week

Just to let everyone know, Searching For Soul is on at the Horseshoe Inn, Sheep Street, Wellingborough on Thursday from 9pm. It's a night of soul, funk, rhythm & blues etc with my other half Pete as a resident DJ so please feel free to come check it out.

I really do need to sit down and do some proper blogging but as I've been busy at work and haven't been too well of late, it seems to keep being neglected. In the meantime...

U.S. Fade Out - Atari Teenage Riot
Most Girls (X.Men Vocal Mix) - Pink
She Cries Your Name - Beth Orton
Karmacoma (Ventom Dub Special) - Massive Attack
Beetlebum - Blur
Conspiracy Of One - The Offspring
Big Bang Theory Theme - Barenaked Ladies
Cars That Go Boom - L'Trimm
Touch Me (All Night Long) - Cathy Dennis
Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control) - Groove Armada feat Mutya
Chick Fit - All Saints
Everyone Nose (All The Girls Standing In The Line For The Bathroom) - N.E.R.D.
Tears Don't Fall - Bullet For My Valentine
Mono - Courtney Love
Rooftops - Lostprophets
Wings Of A Butterfly - HIM
Chop Suey! - System Of A Down
Pretend We're Dead - L7
Nothing - A
Girl All The Bad Guys Want - Bowling For Soup
Beat It - Fall Out Boy feat John Mayer
Sunset Strip - Courtney Love
Get Me Home (Edit) - Foxy Brown feat Blackstreet
Cup Of Coffee - Garbage
Back For Good - Take That
Due South Theme - Jay Semko
Red Alert - Basement Jaxx
Propane Nightmares - Pendulum
Another Way To Die - Jack White & Alicia Keys
Black Steel - Tricky
Love Me Or Hate Me - Lady Sovereign
Blinded By The Lights - The Streets
So Sick - Ne-Yo
Hate That I Love You - Rihanna
Set The Fire To The Third Bar - Snow Patrol & Martha Wainwright
The Winners Song - Geraldine McQueen
Secretly Jealous - Coyote Shivers
Good Thing - Eternal
The Irony Of It All - The Streets
Little Girl Blue - Janis Joplin
Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus
Midnight At The Oasis - The Brand New Heavies
The Ghost Of You - My Chemical Romance
Kissing You (Love Theme From Romeo + Juliet) (Instrumental) - Nellee Hooper
OK (Rock Remix) - Big Brovaz
Huckleberry Grove - Ocean Colour Scene
Run For Cover - Sugababes
Darwa Interlude - Alliance Ethnik with Gad Elmaleh & Djamel)
More Than A Woman (Album Version) - Aaliyah
Never Ever - All Saints
When Doves Cry - Patti Smith
Natural (Single Version) - S Club 7
Nothing Compares 2 U - Stereophonics
Quelqu'un nous appelle - Pascal Obispo
La plume - Louise Attaque

iPod Recently Played for the last week

Everyone Nose - N.E.R.D.
Moi... Lolita (Single Version) - Alizee
Rifles - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
It's A Girl Thing - My Life Story
Make Mistakes - Infadels
Secretly Jealous - Coyote Shivers
Dying - Hole
Disarm - Smashing Pumpkins
Comes As No Surprise - Mansun
Crazy For You - Madonna
Shiver - Maroon 5
Buffalo Stance - Neneh Cherry
Do I Lie? - Alisha's Attic
Payback Time (Nellee Hooper Master Mix) - The Dysfunctional Psychedelic Waltons
If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
Taking On The World - Gun
The Winners Song - Geraldine McQueen
Cars That Go Boom - L'Trimm
Set The Fire To The Third Bar - Snow Patrol & Martha Wainwright
Hate That I Love You - Rihanna
So Sick - Ne-Yo
Under The Thumb - Amy Studt
LOL - Little Jackie
The Hill, The View & The Lights - Cajun Dance Party
Ain't No Rest For The Wicked - Cage The Elephant

iPod Recently Played for the last week

On The Attack And More - 20 Fingers feat Gillette (Album)
Kala - MIA (Album)
Empire Records OST (Album)
Don't Trust The Ones You Love - King Adora
Littlest Things - Lily Allen
Keep Your Hands Off My Girl - Good Charlotte
Another Night - MC Sar & The Real McCoy
Runaway - Lush
Don't Mess With My Man (Album Version) - Lucy Pearl
Debbie Loves Joey - Helen Love
Big Bang Theory Theme - Barenaked Ladies
Boyfriend - Alphabeat
Joga - Bjork
Secret Smile - Semisonic
Don't Call Me Baby (Original Mix Edit) - Madison Avenue
Forget Your False Mess'iahs - Ciccone
Push - Matchbox 20
Wings Of A Butterfly - HIM
Shut Up And Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
Ready To Go (Radio Edit) - Republica
2:1 - Elastica
Burn Black - Hole
500 (Shake Baby Shake) - Lush
Guiding Star - Cast
Turpentine - Hole
Off The Hook - CSS
You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) - Dead Or Alive
Free - DJ Quicksilver
Everything Is Good For You - Crowded House
Antmusic - Adam Ant
The Eternal - Joy Division
Bedtime Story - Madonna
In The End - Green Day
The Happy End (The Drunk Room) - Mercury Rev
Hold On - Razorlight
State Of Grace - Caprice
Lost Horizons - Gin Blossoms
Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner - Fall Out Boy
Black Pearl - MN8
I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow
Cock In My Pocket - Passenger To Nowhere
Work (Freemasons Radio Edit) - Kelly Rowland
Bubblegun - Placebo
M+M's - Blink-182
On Days Like These (Instrumental) - Italian Job Original Score
We Are Detective - Thompson Twins
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
Time Of My Life - H-Blockx
Naked (Garden Of Eden Vocal Mix) - Louise
Ain't That A Lot Of Love (Phats & Small Mutant Disco Edit) - Simply Red
Death Disco - P.i.L.
Nightclub People [pas serieux] (Alternate Take) - Ex-Rental
Baby - Brandy
Breathe - Depeche Mode
Polly (Live) - Nirvana
Played-A-Live (The Bongo Song) - Safri Duo
Many Bars And No Money - Alec Empire
Come Home - James
Dub Be Good To Me - Beats International
Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft - Klaatu
5 Minutes - The Stranglers
Valerie - The Zutons
Papa Don't Preach - Kelly Osbourne
Space Odyssey - I Against I
Bom Digi Bom - Ice MC
The Day We Caught The Train (Glastonbury 97) - Ocean Colour Scene
A Brief High - The Free French
Children - Robert Miles
Autosuggestion - Joy Division
Fillip - Muse
New Generation - Suede

Nice weather for ducks

Yesterday, given the unseasonally sunny weather, me and Pete went to Barnwell Country Park to feed the ducks. I hadn't been there since my parents used to drag me out for some exercise and family bonding so that was some years ago. This meant I just got Pete to drive in the general direction of where I thought it might be, with the instruction that if we hit Norfolk, we'd gone too far. It was further than I thought (well, I knew it was near Oundle, I just didn't have much of an idea where Oundle was) but we got there about 4.15 and it was still warm enough. We had a wander round for half an hour, feeding ducks. I did find the seagulls lurking about slightly unnerving in a Hitchcock kind of way, but I ignored this and enjoyed the late afternoon sun. I think geese have got smaller than they were when I was a kid. I used to find them terrifying. I remember my grandmother chasing them away a lot.

I don't know why I like feeding ducks so much. I used to have a tradition of returning to Geneva for my birthdays up until I turned 18, and I always use to go round the lake to Versoix to feed the ducks. Mallards, mandarins, the ubiquitous Canada geese, coots... I could happily spend hours throwing bread at them (to them, surely?) and staring out over the water. Maybe it's a Pisces thing. The marshy waters of Barnwell Country Park aren't quite the same as looking out over Lac Leman with the mountains lurking in the background, Mont Blanc appearing on a clear day, but it felt a little similar. The fact that some people passed us speaking French did help with the ambiance.

I wrote a lot of poems when I was younger. There was one I wrote at school in Balsall Common, aged about 7 or 8, called Ducks. I have no idea what this was related to, other than I remember the brother of a girl in my class used to breed and show ducks and occasionally brought them in to assemblies and such, so maybe that's the link. People seemed to like the poem and a lot of fuss was made (by 7 or 8 I was already a bit blase when people got worked up over my writing... how times change!). My mother still refers to it. I think she can see the influence of the Ogden Nash book she had bought me. I know it off by heart and am almost tempted to type it up here for posterity. But I won't. I think 26 year old me is a bit resentful of having reached her creative peak at 7 or 8.

Still, I find ducks very soothing. And feeding them bread can be considered responsible waste manangement. Ducks are eco friendly.

Lazy blogging to prove I still exist

Thanks to the amazing organisation powers of Sky, I will be without the internet at home for another week or so yet. So in the meantime, I pinched this off Lucy.

- last cigarette: About 10.20pm on 6th July
- last alcoholic drink: I had a JD & diet coke in the Shoe on Monday.
- last car ride: Becky drove me back from the Barge at lunch
- last kiss: This morning
- last good cry: Last good cry? Probably sometime last week when we'd just moved house.
- last library book checked out: I think it was a sociology book in the Weavers school library
- last movie seen in theater: Transformers ages and ages ago
- last book read: Last one I finished was Auto Fiction by Hitomi Kanehara
- last movie rented: It was about 2 years ago, and it was Click, which I never got round to watching because my grandfather died that evening. Not been to Blockbuster since!
- last cuss word uttered: It was probably 'shit'. I try not to swear at work so that would be as bad as it would have got, I think.
- last crush: Hmmm... Pete? Beyond him, I honestly don't know! Oh god, that's tragic!
- last tv show watched: GMTV this morning before work
- last time showered: Monday night I think
- last shoes worn: I have my New Rocks on now... battered as they are.
- last CD played: I mainly use the iPod now. Last CD was Gourmandises by Alizee I think.
- last item bought: Did the shopping last night and the last thing through the till was Heat magazine so that would be it.
- last download: The Flobots single of the week on iTunes a few weeks ago.
- last annoyance: The print drivers playing up at work
- last disappointment: Probably in myself that I'm doing this instead of the many other things I should be doing!
- last soda: I don't really do soda... it probably would have been the diet coke in the aforementioned drink on Monday
- last thing written: A VAT receipt cover letter for a client
- last key used: my office key
- last word(s) spoken: "What was that about?"
- last sleep: Last night until 6.30 this morning
- last IM: Probably a video conference with my Dad for work
- last sexual fantasy: LOL... about 10 minutes ago?
- last weird encounter: Woman on the street this morning asking me about a cat
- last ice cream eaten: Don't think I've had ice cream since I last went to Chi Chi's and that was months ago
- last time amused: This morning
- last time wanting to die: Oh, every 10 minutes. I'm melodramatic.
- last time hugged: This morning
- last time scolded: Probably last night for being to strict to my diet
- last time resentful: Constantly. I'm working on it.
- last chair sat in: The one at my desk I'm in now. It's a big black leather thing that looks far more important that I am.
- last underwear worn: Red ones
- last bra worn: Silver... I'm mismatched
- last shirt worn: I have a sleeveless crepe black thing on. I don't like it. It's a work top. I don't wear stuff I like for work.
- last webpage visited: Facebook

Faith in humanity

At lunchtime today I popped into M&S at Kingston, Milton Keynes to grab some lunch, as I frequently do. I chastised myself as I walked from the car for walking with my head down, but decided that since I was feeling a bit miserable, I might as well. I got in there, sighing as I had to dodge a carelessly abandoned toddler, grabbed a salad and a box of fruit, noticed the 5 items or less checkouts were closed, and joined the nearest queue.

There were 2 people in front of me, both with medium sized loads of shopping. When the women immediately in front of me finished loading hers onto the belt, she turned around to put her basket in the rack, and saw me, clutching my two items. She then insisted I go in front of her, shoving her shopping back a bit to make space, and putting in an extra 'next customer please' divider for me. I was touched, and thanked her profusely. About 30 seconds later, I realised I was standing in line smiling to myself still. Then, the woman working at the checkout greeted me with great ethusiasm (I go in there fairly regularly, but still, it was appreciated) and as I left wished me a good day with such sincerety I could have wept. I continued smiling all the way back to my car, ignoring how embarassing smiling at nothing while walking through a car park made me.

The lesson is thus... even when you lose faith in humanity, there's always M&S. Comforting to know.

Refreshingly honest approach

more the engrish!


more the engrish!

iPod Recently Played for the last week

Between working and moving house I've not really been blogging much. Oh, and my increasing misanthropy probably doesn't help!

Break Me Gently - Doves
Keep On, Keepin' On - MC Lyte
Pluto - Bjork
Go On Move - Reel 2 Real feat The Mad Stuntman
Suffocate - Feeder
Ain't No Player - Jay-Z feat Foxy Brown
Coming Right Along - The Posies
Numb (Live Lounge) - Jamelia
Circles, Squares And Lines (Live) - Symposium
Soul-Crusher - White Zombie
Only In Dreams - Ash
Wide Open Space - Mansun
Day & Night - Billie Piper
Serial Killa - Snoop Dogg
What's The Reason - John Trower
Sandstorm (Radio Edit) - Darude
Kiss Kiss (Stargate R&B Mix) - Holly Valance
At My Most Beautiful - R.E.M.
Bound 4 Da Reload (Casualty) - Oxide & Neutrino
Taste In Men (Alpinestars Kamikaze Skimix) - Placebo
Wannabe (Motiv 8 Vocal Slam Mix) - Spice Girls
It Don't Hurt - Sheryl Crow
Don't Chase Your Demons - Vigilance Black Special
Gotta Get Thru This - Daniel Bedingfield
Substance (Felix Da Housecat Remix) - Dot Allison with Miss Kittin
Team Theme - bis
Friday I'm In Love - The Cure
Much Love - Shola Ama
A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More "Touch Me" - Fall Out Boy
Swigging Echinacea - The Free French
Homer's Barbershop Quartet (Medley) - The Simpsons
Robotic (Adult. Almost Instrumental Mix) - bis
Dept. Of Her Ways - Fake Brain
I Am Hell - White Zombie
This Scene Is Dead - We Are Scientists
Easy (Album Version) - Emiliana Torrini
For Your Eyes Only - Blondie
This Year's Love (Strings Remix) - David Gray
Hanging On The Telephone - Blondie
Untitled (Live In LA) - Blink-182
One More Thing - Richard Gibbs
Do You Sleep? - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
L'Amoureuse - Indochine
Downer - Nirvana
Fly Away (Bye Bye) (Radio Oooooooh Edit) - Eyes Cream
Big Bang Theory Theme - Barenaked Ladies
We Are Your Friends (Radio Edit) - Justice vs Simian
Kick Out The Jams - MC5
Don't Think I'm Not (Hip Hop Remix) - Kandi
Nakasaki (I Need A Lover Tonight) - Ken Doh
Pretty In Pink - Psychedelic Furs
All Day & All Of The Night - Ex-Rental
I Love You Suzanne - Lou Reed
B.R.A.S.S.Y. - Brassy
All Black - Good Charlotte
London Calling - The Clash
Hour Of Need - Faithless
No Regrets - Robbie Williams
Hold Me (Radio Edit) - Savage Garden
Short Dick Man (Insane Mix) - 20 Fingers
Not Fade Away (Live) - Jon Bon Jovi
Bad Babysitter - Princess Superstar feat High & Mighty
Goodbye Suzie - John Howard
Come Around - M.I.A. feat Timbaland
All Star - Smash Mouth
Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want - Muse
Sun Goes Down - David Jordan
You Don't Care About Us (Radio Edit) - Placebo
The Anthem - Good Charlotte
Until The Time Is Through - Five
The Kill - 30 Seconds To Mars
Lay Low - Alisha's Attic
Here Comes The Sun - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
Paper Planes - M.I.A.
Love Like Ours - Elastica
Satellite - Smash Mouth
Come Fly With Me - Frank Sinatra
Acquiesce - Oasis
Party Hard - Andrew WK
Where Love Lives (Dancing Divaz Mix) - Alison Limerick
Target - Pi
Apollo 9 - Adam Ant
Resuscitation - Sheryl Crow
Come Together (Hypnotone Brain Machine Mix) - Primal Scream
The Man Who Sold The World - Nirvana
If I... - Natty
Canary Bay - Indochine
Glorious - Andreas Johnson
It's My Life - Dr Alban
Thank You For The Venom - My Chemical Romance
It Feels So Good - Sonique
Ladykillers - Lush
Faster - Manic Street Preachers
Ain't No Rest For The Wicked - Cage The Elephant
The Hill, The View & The Lights - Cajun Dance Party
Young Love - Mystery Jets feat Laura Marling
I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked (Single Mix) - Ida Maria
Watch Me Fall Apart - Hard-Fi
Elevator - Flo Rida feat Timbaland
LOL - Little Jackie
Under The Thumb - Amy Studt
Uncle Jonny - The Killers
Boyfriend - Alphabeat

iPod Recently Played for the last week

Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Disgusting - Mansun
You Don't Understand Me - Roxette
Slackerbitch - Placebo
Stutter - Elastica
I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You - Evita Original Soundtrack
Swords Of Truth - These New Puritans
My My Metrocard - Le Tigre
Wishing Heart - Lisa Loeb
Je t'attends - Axelle Red
Air & Angels - Alisha's Attic
Song 2 - My Chemical Romance
Frankly, Mr Shankly - The Smiths
Rien Que D'Y Penser - Axelle Red
Stretch Out And Wait - The Smiths
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Something That You Said - The Bangles
I'd Never Write A Song About You - Wheatus
Push It All Aside - Alisha's Attic
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - The Slits
Aeroplane - Bjork
I Can't Help Myself - Lucid
Shotgun - The Charlatans
Boogaloo De Johnny (Quantic Remix) - Johnny Pacheco
London - The Smiths
Everywhere All Over - Lali Puna
Wondering - Good Charlotte
Maxou - Vanessa Paradis
Underneath It All - No Doubt feat Lady Saw
Special Kind Of Something - Kavana
Think Twice - Celine Dion
She's Got Issues - The Offspring
Kiddy Grinder - Marilyn Manson
Moonlight Shadow - Mike Oldfield
No Letting Go - Wayne Wonder
Freak Like Me - Sugababes
Secret Smile (Live) - Semisonic
Enola Gay - OMD
Leavin' Again - Steve Poltz
Pieces Of The Night - Gin Blossoms
Waterfalls - TLC
Galapogos - The Smashing Pumpkins
A Thousand Words - Northern State
I'm Not Down - The Clash
Mexicola (Live) - Queens Of The Stone Age
Thief Of Hearts - Madonna
Nat West-Barclays-Midlands-Lloyds - Manic Street Preachers
New Sensation - The Guy Behind The Guy
Skinny Love - Bon Iver
Someday I'll Find You - Shola Ama with Craig Armstrong
If You Want Me Back (Live & Acoustic From The Kashmir Klub) - Alisha's Attic
Oxygen (Live At The 100 Club, London) - JJ72
Fell In Love With A Girl - Diff'rent Stripes
Golden Lights - The Smiths
Rippin' Kittin (Ellen Allien Remix) - Goldenboy with Miss Kittin
Going Missing (Live Lounge) - Maximo Park
We Are The Boys - Mansun
The Drowners - Suede
Take What You Take - Lily Allen
Cold Rock The Mic - Apollo 440
Left Of Centre - Suzanne Vega
If You Only Knew - California Dreams
40 Past Midnight - Ocean Colour Scene
Little Arithmetics - dEUS
Elephant Love Medley - Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor & Jamie Allen
Don't Wait Up - Catch
The Hallway - Pi
A Doodle New - Mokita
Tom's Diner (Original Version) - Suzanne Vega
Sophia - Nerina Pallot
The Model - Kraftwerk
Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac
Guacamole (Live) - Super Furry Animals
Ladyflash - The Go! Team
Kevin Carter - Manic Street Preachers
Get With It - Human Waste Project
Who's Gonna Kiss That Man - Marisa Turner
The Battle - Gladiator Original Score
Heaven - Talking Heads
Shame For You - Lily Allen
For Every Lie - The Starfirefive
Playboy - Mo-Ho-Bish-O-Pi
Making A List - The Free French
Action Figure - Lambchop
Zealots - The Fugees
Columbia - Oasis
"Would You...?" (Homewreckers Mix) - Touch And Go
Circles - DON-e
Big Isn't Beautiful - King Adora
About Funk - Les Rythmes Digitales
Long Gone - Goatsnake
Electric Demons In Love - Electric Six
Sing A Song (187 Lockdown's Vocal Mix) - Byron Stingily
Right Here - SWV
Daddy - Jewel
An End Has A Start (Live Lounge) - Editors
It's A Fast Drivin' Rave Up With The Dandy Warhols Sixteen Minutes (Live) - The Dandy Warhols
I Can Only Disappoint U (LP Mix) - Mansun
Here Comes Your Man - Pixies
Twisty Bass - Neil Finn
M.E.X.I.C.O. - The Kills
The Backdoor Payoff - Manchild
Outrageous - Artful Dodger
Short Dick Man (Bass Mix) - 20 Fingers
I'm Outta Love (Radio Edit) - Anastacia
Candy - Iggy Pop & Kate Pierson
Agoraphobic Tendencies - TICOIA
Weak - Skunk Anansie
Dimstar - Gay Dad
School's Out - Soul Asylum
More Than This - Roxy Music
Miracle - Paramore
Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops - Cocteau Twins
Easy (Tore Johansson Mix) - Emiliana Torrini

Emo LOLCat

more animals

Conversation Snippet #1

Boyfriend's Mum: I'm surprised you don't make him shave it all off. [referring to my boyfriend's hair]
Boyfriend: She doesn't want me to do that
Boyfriend's Mum: But your dad doesn't have any hair, does he?
Me: But I don't want to go out with someone who looks like my dad!

I have always joked about inbreeding in Wellingborough. I am now seriously concerned.

iPod Recently Played for the last week

I've just downloaded some salsa remixes... I'm diversifying. Anyway, this week....

Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Waiting For Wednesday - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
You Got Nothing On Me - The Glitterati
The Way You Wear Your Head - Nada Surf
It's A Girl Thing - My Life Story
Next Time Round - Lokomotiv
Make Mistakes - Infadels
Gas 126 - Kiki
I Wanna Be The Only One - Eternal with Bebe Winans
Where Has The Love Gone? - Kylie Minogue
Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant
The Ballad Of Tom Jones (Sound 5 Mix) - Space & Cerys Matthews
Sexy Boy - The Kinky Boyz feat Kia
Pinch Me - Barenaked Ladies
Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Saint Etienne
Barrel Of A Gun - Depeche Mode
Ocean Spray - Manic Street Preachers
Sartre On The Stage - Astariel
Wake Up - Alanis Morissette
Freaking Out - Graham Coxon
Suedehead - Morrissey
Celebrity Skin (LP Version) - Hole
My Prerogative - Bobby Brown
Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler
Short, Short Man - 20 Fingers feat Gillette
Happiness/The Gondola Man - Elliott Smith
Get Along With You (Bump & Flex Radio Edit) - Kelis
Give Me Rhythm - Black Connection
Love Will Tear Us Apart (Permanent Mix) - Joy Division
Pretty Baby - Blondie
How Bizarre - OMC
Elephant Man - Suede
Word Love - Rhianna
Against All Odds (Definitive Mix) - Deja Vu feat Tasmin
Un Ete Pour Rien - Axelle Red
When You Come Back To Me - Jason Donovan
Crosstown Traffic - Jimi Hendrix
The Theme From Get Carter - Tyler Bates
Love Is Power - Metrosexuality Cast
Bellissima - DJ Quicksilver
Ce Soir - Kyo
Baby Boy - Beyonce feat Sean Paul
Isolation - Joy Division
Put 'Em High - Stonebridge feat Therese
Slow Down - Smashing Pumpkins
Strung Out - Wendy & Lisa
So In Love With You (Full Intention Mix) - Duke
Rape Me - Nirvana
Gramarye - Remy Zero
Feel The Beat (Radio Edit) - Darude
Take A Bow - Madonna
Little Fluffy Clouds - The Orb
Bongos, Bleeps & Basslines - Zero dB
Sunshine Superman - SpaceStation
Days Before You Came - Placebo
It's So Easy (Live) - Manic Street Preachers
Hideaway (187 Lockdown's Hidden Vocal Dub) - De'Lacy
Happyland - Pi
The Time Warp - Rocky Horror Picture Show Original Cast
Under Pressure - David Bowie & Queen
Try (Just A Little Bit Harder) (Live) - Janis Joplin
Once Around The Block (Andy Votel Remix) - Badly Drawn Boy
Flipside - The Panda Gang
Running Away - DumDums
Dreamer - Livin' Joy
Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know - Britney Spears
Push (Acoustic) - Matchbox 20
My Sweet Rose - Rachel Stamp
Hands Of Death (Burn Baby Burn) - Rob Zombie & Alice Cooper
Not The Doctor - Alanis Morissette
Don't Trust The Ones You Love - King Adora
Intro - Eve
The Only One I Know - The Charlatans
The End... - Pfilbryte
Stay With Me Till Dawn - Judy Tzuke
I'm Coming Out - Amerie
Dive In - Catch
A Constant Looming Uncertainty - The Unquiet Void
Dead Cell (Live Radio 1 Evening Session) - Papa Roach
Les Dessous Chics - Jane Birkin
Don't Fight It, Feel It - Primal Scream
Sandstorm - Darude
Three MC's And One DJ - Beastie Boys
Come Out Swinging - The Offspring
Myself - Taproot
A Change Would Do You Good - Sheryl Crow
Easily - Red Hot Chili Peppers
He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss) - Hole
Son Of A Gun - Nirvana
She's A Star - James
Waltzing Along - James
Cruel To Be Kind - Letters To Cleo
Hot Topic - Le Tigre
Kissing My Song - Indochine
Jesus Says - Ash
Be My Yoko Ono - Barenaked Ladies
Take It Easy Chicken - Mansun
Baby One More Time - Travis

Q Awards Nominations

Well, the Q Awards shortlists are out and voting has started on their website. It boils down thus:

Best New Act
Fleet Foxes
Glasvegas
The Ting Tings
The Last Shadow Puppets
Vampire Weekend

For me, this one had Vampire Weekend in third place, The Last Shadow Puppets in second, and The Ting Tings in first. See, I know that LSP are far more credible, and their work is pretty damn genius and beautiful. But The Ting Tings are so damn catchy. Wouldn't lose sleep if LSP won though. The muso part of my brain tells me they should. It's my inner 10 year old voting Ting Tings.

Best Track
Spiralling - Keane
Mercy - Duffy
Violet Hill - Coldplay
I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry
That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings

Process of elimination this one, for me. Not heard the Keane track, and doubt it's that exciting. Coldplay's Violet Hill doesn't really do a lot for me. Katy Perry should be shot and I have no idea how she ended up on this list. So that leaves Duffy and The Ting Tings, both of which I bought as singles, both of which have been played to death so I'm slightly bored of them but loved originally, therefore I had to use another factor for determining the winner in my book. So The Ting Tings won because Duffy looks like one of the leprechauns off Live & Kicking.

Breakthrough Artist
Duffy
Adele
Santogold
Bon Iver
Gabriella Cilmi

To be honest, I didn't jump up and down excitedly at this list. I like all of the candidates but it's just 'like'. Gabriella Cilmi has an air about her that's somehow unnerving for one so young (a bit like a 15 year old hooker who's already an old pro). Bon Iver... it's ok. Adele has an amazing voice, and has brough out some great tracks, but does look like she was created by Jim Henson. Duffy's presence, talented as she is and much as I love the retro kitsch of her music, is starting to annoy. Santogold is innovative and probably should win. And I probably should give Duffy another chance, so one of those two would be fine by me. Who would I like to have seen in this list? I've never been clear on what constitutes 'Breakthrough'... I like Little Jackie. It's all very pop though. Has there been no good new indie or rock bands coming through?

Best Video
Ready To The Floor - Hot Chip
Violet Hill - Coldplay
That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings
A-Punk - Vampire Weekend
Happiness - Goldfrapp

I struggle with music videos as I don't watch music television. I have my favourites (Mansun's Taxloss, OK Go's Here It Comes Again, Prodigy's Smack My Bitch Up, MCR's I'm Not Okay, Pascal Obispo's Fan) but most of them I find to be boring. It's like album covers. You have ones you notice, ones that are classics, ones that appeal to you as more than a promo shot, but the majority are just there. Anyway, on this one I'm going for Hot Chip... simply because I like watching them as they don't look like they make the music they make (if that makes sense).

Best Album
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends - Coldplay
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
The Age Of The Understatement - The Last Shadow Puppets
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!! - Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds

To cut a long story short, I haven't heard Fleet Foxes, or any of Nick Cave's new stuff. I consider Coldplay to be musical wallpaper, pleasant enough in the background, and despite a fondness for the title track, I'm not that enthused. Vampire Weekend have grown on me considerably, but I think fair's fair and Last Shadow Puppets have to have this one.

Best Live Act
Kaiser Chiefs
Kings Of Leon
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
The Verve
Rage Against The Machine

I have watched live footage of all of these, but not seen any of them live that I can recall. So I'm basing this on BBC2 and Channel 4's portrayal of things. Kings Of Leon would be my favourite, with RATM a close second. If we were talking The Verve a few years back, then maybe, but there's no point giving them the award anyway as they'll have split up again by the time we get to the actual event (until one of them runs up their overdraft again and then it'll be new album time).

Best Act In The World Today
Coldplay
Oasis
Muse
Metallica
Kings Of Leon

Now, I'm not sure any one of these is what I would choose, but hey. Given that Metallica have sucked ass for quite some time now, I think it's a shame that they and Oasis only seem to feature due to past glories rather than any current signs of brilliance. Kings Of Leon and Muse however have been consistently good so I pick them, maybe with Muse edging slightly ahead because I rediscovered Showbiz the other day (yes, that would be past glory, but they've managed to maintain it, in my defence).

I remember when these sort of awards ceremonies were packed with bands and artists I liked... now, I just feel mildly indifferent. I would say I'm getting old and out of touch, but a lot of the bands nominated have members who could still be my dad, so that line doesn't work. I want something more exciting than middle aged white guys whining behind their guitars (I should take comfort in the Breakthrough nominees then, so maybe that's something).

Looking ahead, anyone got any tips for next year? What should be on this list in 12 months time?

Do you wanna be in my gang?

Not another Gary Glitter rant, I promise.

Today the government has published guidelines to parents on how to spot whether your child is in a gang. I have always been a big fan of generalised checklists, ever since I was a teenager and, in the post-Columbine hysteria, The Sun newspaper printed one that seemed to 'prove' I was going to carry out a high school shooting based on my taste in music and clothes. This was quite blatantly rubbish, as I never indiscriminately massacred my classmates. I didn't have access to a gun. I did, however, start wearing a long black coat in order to freak everyone out.

Anyway, these guidelines can be found on the DirectGov website here so feel free to peruse. My personal favourites are:

has your child seemed distant or detached from the family?

Holy crap! It's a teenager!

have they started to use new slang words?

Have you considered your child may just be an illiterate moron?

do they have a new nickname?

"Nah mum, it's not Thomas, from now on I wanna be called G-Dawg"

do they have aggressive or intimidating views towards other young people – even old friends?

Oh please, I have that.

has there been a sudden change in appearance – like dressing in a particular style or colour similar to all the other people they hang around with?

Once again, this would differ from every teenager on earth how?

have there been any unexplained physical injuries?

Hey, I went to Weavers. I had unexplained physical injuries all the time. If I'd been in a gang, this would probably have been less likely, not more.

have they started displaying signs of group behaviour: ways of talking and acting in line with other members of the group, or perhaps using hand signs?

Oh yeah, those sign language students, they're badass.

chat rooms and texts can also be used to organise crime or violence

This is a bit like saying 'speaking can be used to organise violence', ignoring the fact it can also be used for a million other things and usually is. Ban your child from speaking, just to be on the safe side. Or listening. That's equally dangerous.

My ideas for reducing gang crime? I accept this may not be 100% foolproof, but as a suggestion, don't raise your kids to be conformist sheep, don't let them wander about wherever they like at all hours, and make them very aware just how much you will make their life hell if they disobey you. If a kid can be bullied into a gang by a peer, it follows they should be able to be bullied out of it by a parent.

Me? Not really a gang person. Don't really like other people. Much more of a lone gunman. :)

iPod Recently Played for the last week

Having an iPod compatible car stereo has greatly increased what I've been listening to... still, in the name of completion and OCD, here we go:

It Was A Very Good Beer - The Simpsons
Hunch - Sleeper
Stranded In The Jungle - Voodoo Glow Skulls
Deeper And Deeper - Madonna
Trash - Suede
Marilyn & John (Version Anglaise) - Vanessa Paradis
Grace - Jeff Buckley
Push It (Real Good) - Harry
Leave Me Alone - The Corrs
Flame Turns Blue - David Gray
Substance (Felix Da Housecat Mix) - Dot Allison
Sam's Town - The Killers (ALBUM)
Under The Thumb - Amy Studt
LOL - Little Jackie
Mercury - Bloc Party (EP)
Before The Worst - The Script
The Only Way - Gotye
Umbrella - Manic Street Preachers
Slash Dot Dash - Fatboy Slim
Elevator - Flo Rida feat Timbaland
Intelligentactile 101 - Jesca Hoop
Watch Me Fall Apart - Hard-Fi
I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked (Single Mix) - Ida Maria
Beggin' (Pilooski Re-Edit) - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Shine On - The Kooks
Standing Next To Me - The Last Shadow Puppets
Young Love - Mystery Jets feat Laura Marling
Free Things For Poor People - Infadels
Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend
His Nibs - Neil Cowley Trio
The Hill, The View & The Lights - Cajun Dance Party
Ain't No Rest For The Wicked - Cage The Elephant
Make Mistakes - Infadels
Nobody - Skindred
Symphony Of Destruction - Megadeth
Train Of Consequences - Megadeth
Halo - Soil
Duality - Slipknot
A Favor House Atlantic - Coheed & Cambria
Almost Easy - Avenged Sevenfold
Beat It - Fall Out Boy feat John Mayer
Girl All The Bad Guys Want - Bowling For Soup
Nothing - A
Pretend We're Dead - L7
Chop Suey! - System Of A Down
Wings Of A Butterfly - HIM
Rooftops - Lostprophets
Sing For Your Supper - Cathy Davey
Little Bit - Lykke Li
Audit In Progress - Hot Snakes
Shut Up And Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
Nazi Punks Fuckk Off - Dead Kennedys
Tickle Me Pink - Johnny Flynn
Lights & Music - Cut Copy
Let's Talk About It - White Denim
La belle et le bad boy - MC Solaar
I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend - The Rubinoos
I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend - Lush
Underwear Goes Inside The Pants - Lazyboy
We Are Your Friends (Radio Edit) - Justice Vs Simian
Adolescent Sex - Japan
I'll Do Anything - Courtney Love
Mono - Courtney Love
Skinny Love - Bon Iver
Tears Don't Fall - Bullet For My Valentine
The Artist In The Ambulance - Thrice
Misery Business (Single Version) - Paramore
Take Off (Digital Dog Radio Mix) - Jack Rokka Vs Betty Boo
Fuck Forever - Babyshambles
Hate (I Really Don't Like You - Plain White T's
Relax, Take It Easy (Radio Edit) - Mika
Happy Hour - Palladium
Killing Of A Flash Boy - Suede

Phew! It's been musical, man.

iPod Recently Played for the last week

DNA - Manda Rin
My Love's Your Love - Manda Rin
Debbie Loves Joey - Helen Love
Why Do I Keep Counting? - The Killers
Mercury - Bloc Party
LOL - Little Jackie
Street Symphony - Monica
Under The Thumb - Amy Studt
Bling (Confessions Of A King) - The Killers
Enterlude - The Killers
Pretender Got My Heart - Alisha's Attic
Mel's Rock Pile - Melanie Doane

Hysteric Glamour

I suppose I can be grateful that Gary Glitter has never killed anyone, otherwise I would never be able to work under the Death By Glitter banner again.

Yes, he's all over the news today. Where can he go? Does anywhere want him? What next? In light of the plane crash in Spain, does it matter that much right now? If he wasn't famous, would we be this informed?

Incensed by all of this, the masses have, as always, come to the logical conclusion that the best way to deal with the situation is by hastily starting up Facebook groups with appauling use of grammar (if any) and excessive swearing and violent fantasies (all by people who profess to want to protect children... whilst acting like foul-mouthed psychos). Because then people will take you seriously. In fact, did you know that all major acts of government globally are based the opinions of members of these groups? No? That's because they're not.

In case it needs to be said, I believe all sexual abuse of children is bad. Did that really need to be stated? Well, yeah, given the general IQ behind the hysteria, probably. It should be strictly punished by a decent amount of time in prison, potentially life for those who consistently prove they cannot be rehabilitated. This is where I stand.

One group is dedicated to protesting Glitter's return to this country, a we-don't-want-your-sort-round-here kinda thing. Fair enough, I'm not thrilled about sharing a country with him. Then again, I don't like sharing a country with Daily Mail readers, but I don't deny them the right to board their return flights from Tenerife at the end of their hols. In the end, whilst we may not want him, where else are we going to put him? He's British. He has a UK passport. He is, for better or for worse, our problem. It wouldn't be fair to force him on some other country, would it? In fact, if we'd been dealing with him properly in the first place when he was committing offences over here, he wouldn't have had the chance to go abroad and abuse children there. Also, being British, he has a right to live here, just like the rest of us.

But the argument has also been made that he gave up his rights when he chose to commit these crimes. See, that's the thing... as I understand it you have rights to many things in life, in many situations, which can be granted and revoked. However human rights is the very basics, things that cannot be taken away from a person no matter what. These are the rights that protect hapless British tourists who get locked up abroad, political prisoners, and should anything terrible happen in our lives, we all like to think these rights will protect us. They are undeniable. If any person can begin to pick and choose who human rights applies to, then we are doomed.

Honestly, the amount of injustice in the world, and this is the crap people get all fired up over because some tabloid rag told them to!

My personal favourite line comes from the creator of one of the anti-Glitter groups. He states:
"we should bring back hiltler to gas the fucking lot of them!!!"
I don't know what scares me more, the fact he can't spell Hitler properly, or that paedophiles have just been put in a category with jews, homosexuals, and the disabled.

Occasionally, I really do despair. Behind every sick and twisted man, is 300 morons demanding his head on a stick. The thing is, Gary Glitter is probably not going to have the opportunity to harm anyone in this country. The 300 morons however are free to roam at will. Now that's scary. That's worth protesting.

iPod Recently Played for the last week

Swallowed - Bush
What It Feels Like For A Girl (Tracy Young Cool Out Radio Mix) - Madonna
Perfect Day - Lou Reed
I Believe In A Thing Called Love - Lemar
Wendell Gee - R.E.M.
True To Life - Roxy Music
You Stole The Sun From My Heart (Mogwai Remix) - Manic Street Preachers
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
One More Chance - Madonna
We Have Arrived - Alec Empire
Idol - Amanda Ghost
Flying Without Wings - Soulwax
A Little Something Refreshing - No Doubt
Force - Dog
Closing Time - Hole

Sing a long songs

I made another Kat Mix. This was the soundtrack to Kat & Pete's trip up the M1 August 2008.

1. Beggin' (Pilooski Re-Edit) - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
2. I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked (Single Mix) - Ida Maria
3. Watch Me Fall Apart - Hard-Fi
4. Elevator - Flo Rida feat Timbaland
5. Slash Dot Dash - Fatboy Slim
6. Umbrella - Manic Street Preachers
7. Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend
8. Free Things For Poor People - Infadels
9. Young Love - Mystery Jets feat Laura Marling
10. Standing Next To Me - The Last Shadow Puppets
11. Shine On - The Kooks
12. Chop Suey! - System Of A Down
13. La belle et le bad boy - MC Solaar
14. I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend - Lush
15. The Anthem - Good Charlotte
16. Heroine - Suede
17. All Day & All Of The Night - Ex-Rental
18. The Impression That I Get - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
19. Baby It's You - Smith
20. A Bad Dream - Keane

Retro-Beat/Our Souls @ The Roadmender, Northampton, 18/07/08

I think I last went to the Roadmender about 4 years ago to see Electric Six. Since then, it shut down, reopened, and is now Northampton's main venue since the demise of it's sister club, The Soundhaus (which was far more to my taste).

Architecturally, the Roadmender is a giant purple concrete block. In fact, everything in the interior, from the tables to the DJ booth is made from purple painted concrete blocks. It's like a tribute to what can be created if you rob a building site. It's hideous. But hey, it's there and it serves a purpose. I'd had some good nights there in the past so off I went in my new shoes to see what was new. Which was actually very little as it looked a lot like it used to, just with less rooms open, and, sadly, less people.

Our Souls are a band from Corby. Do you see what they did with the name? How clever! *Duh* Not a big fan of "wacky" comedy band names over here. However, it is worth noting that a lot of good music is coming out of Corby (it being, spiritually speaking, somewhere between Glasgow and New Jersey). They did also give us Raging Speedhorn but I can't hold that grudge forever. They had a good sized following as well (who, in Corby tradition, drank like fish, danced like maniacs, had a punch up and got kicked out). The thing is, I have no idea what they were hearing with such enthusiasm, because I wasn't getting it. The band were nothing really to look at or listen to. The music was bland sub-Oasis tribute act, and their fans were infinitely more interesting to watch. There was the odd catchy moment, but it always sounded faintly like there was a record of a different song playing in the background. In their defence, the sound set up was bloody awful. Still, the band and their music were in no way as memorable, or as wacky, as their name.

The Retro-Beat clubnight went on in it's usual fashion (i.e. mild chaos). When we arrived someone had quite ingeniously set it up so that the decks were wired into the mixer "backwards" i.e. the crossfader went the opposite way than you would think. Not a biggy, though, we can handle this stuff. We have Pete for that. :) I went on first and, whilst I don't remember everything I played or in what order, I know it included the following:

What Will You Do (When The Money Goes?) - Milburn
I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend - Lush
Shut Up & Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
A Life Less Ordinary - Ash
Stop Your Crying - Spiritualized
Free Things For Poor People - Infadels
Shine On - The Kooks
Faster - Manic Street Preachers
Standing Next To Me - Last Shadow Puppets

That's about all I remember. I did then start enjoying the supply of Fosters behind the DJ booth at that point so it gets a little fuzzy (and who stole my bottle opener!?!). Rock and roll people. James & Gaz did their usual one-deck-each thing. After the band, Jay (who I had never met IRL before but is in another local band thingy called The Importers) went on aided by a guy with a beard (not really the social butterfly, me). Really liked his set... quite dance-y, making its way from Madchester to Hot Chip via Reverend & The Makers (possibly... I was
reasonably merry at this stage). Then Pete did his funk/soul/mod/freakbeat thingy. This was the highlight of the night for me. Not just for Pete's excellent DJing (ahem) but more for the fact the the little dance floor more than resembled the Blue Oyster from the Police Academy films as a selection of industrial looking lads in bondage trousers threw shapes to some very un-industrial music! It was awesome.

After that it was a bit downhill as the lights behind the DJ booth got hot and set Nes's coat on fire (rather that than the records but still...), Pete burnt his thumb on said coat, Nes got mad, and just to cap it all off, the Roadmender very kindly gave us all parking tickets.

Good night? Hmm... bit of a mixed bag really. Was a bit surreal, given the the band and the clubnight were booked separately, so noone appeared to be running the night which gave it a disjointed feel, and a serious lack of finesse. I'm glad the Roadmender reopened and good to see it carrying on some of the Soundhaus' role as an alternative venue, however given the prices after 11pm for entry to most of the nights (£5.50 after 11 is pushing it) I'd expect it to at least have a bit of a refurb to justify it. Or at least make the toilets vaguely sanitary. Yuck!

Our Souls
http://www.myspace.com/oursoulsforever
Retro-Beat
http://www.myspace.com/retrobeat
The Roadmender, Northampton
http://www.purplehaus.com/

Hometown Glory aka Is my council tax paying for this junk mail?

Every so often, Wellingborough council send us round a newsletter. This time it was a celebration of Wellingborough's carnival weekend (Jason Donovan live!), and the dubious fact that Wellingborough is one of the top places to get married in the UK, beaten only by Kensington and Chelsea. This fact is later clarified to explain that Wellingborough has more bridal shops/venues/florists etc per capita then anywhere else except Kensington and Chelsea, which sounds a little more likely. They did, however, manage to use the pun 'Weddingborough' in the article so more power to them. I don't expect to see Wayne and Coleen renewing their vows here any time soon though. It also launched the new slogan for Wellingborough. Previously they had tried 'Wellingborough... It's Getting Better' but this only led to the snide follow-up of 'Because It Couldn't Get Any Bloody Worse'. Our new slogan is: 'Making Wellingborough A Place To Be Proud Of'. Which I suppose, whilst annoyingly proactive sounding, is at least, well, proactive.

Tucked into this fascinating piece of journalistic excellence were several other publications. They were Growth Area Development Fact Sheet 2 June 2008. This was an update on their rather grandiose plans to extend and redevelop Wellingborough. They intend to do this by putting Compulsory Purchase Orders on half the existing town, including our only free car park, a nursery school, a large ornate building that until recently held the British Legion, a pub or two, basically anything useful or historic. The little drawings Bovis Homes have provided showing one development by the river looks a lot like a cross between Milton Keynes (not renowned for it's beautiful architecture) and Camelot. I have a suspicion it may not look like that. Fortunately, I currently reside half a mile out of town, so I can ignore all of this rather than writing angry letters to my MP and lamenting what is to become of me.

The next booklet was Know Your Local Councillor & A-Z Of Services. In between adverts for Weavers Leisure Centre (which was the school gym when I last used it... for my GCSEs, rather than any sporting activity) and Women's Aid, there are several pages dedicated to pictures and details for all our local councillors. I don't know which mine is as Wellingborough is separated into several wards, and there hasn't been an election since I moved into this flat. Last time I voted, I lived in Castle ward, which coincidentally is the only one in Wellingborough that isn't predominantly Conservative, represented currently by 2 Labour councillors and an Independent Socialist (who looks a bit like my dad, or Penfold from Danger Mouse, either way). I think I may be in Croyland now, where I appear to be represented by 3 Tories who are a smug looking man named Martin, a woman called Lesley who looks a lot like Bella Emberg, and a 19 year-old ginger called Thomas who has one of those faces you need to stamp on, and the fact he's a 19 year old Tory councillor shows he's evidently a precocious little shit who was bullied at school (and rightly so). I despair. I would, however, like to know who took these photographs, as I would love to know how they managed to make every councillor look orange and as if they had no neck, giving the impression that we are actually being represented by orange Smarties in toupes.

Finally, there was my favourite publication, Wellingborough Partnership. This is produced by.... Wellingborough Partnership (an organisation so professional they have a residential address and a Yahoo e-mail address). They are 'the Local Strategic Partnership for Wellingborough'. Which begs the question, what do the council do all day then? They do have some admirable aims, like reducing the under 18 conception rate, reducing obesity among primary school children, and apparently encouraging random capitalisation of letters. Here are a few of my favourites:

'Increase % of people who believe that people from different background [sic] get on well together in their area'

Which basically means we're a backward bunch of racists.

'Reduce % of residents perceiving a high level of anti-social behaviour'

Note: not reducing the anti-social behaviour, just the percentage of people perceiving it. May I suggest blindfolds and headphones?

'We want Wellingborough to be the place where you want to be'.

You want Wellingborough to be a cocktail bar in the south of France? Blinding!

They then went on to state a bold and unexpected goal, one that if achieved, could really put Wellingborough on the map:

'Reduce all age all cause mortality'

That's it people, no more sarcastic comments, no more snide remarks, let's get behind this local initiative and, regardless of age or illness or circumstance, let us all join together and not die. Dying just isn't acceptable. It's not community minded. Dying is anti-social behaviour (so if you must do it, make sure noone 'perceives' it). Do not die in Wellingborough. Fortunately, Earls Barton is easily accessible by bus, and out of the Wellingborough area whilst being only 4 miles down the road. Die there instead, and help them achieve not only the reduction in mortality in Wellingborough, but also their much longed for increase in 'local bus passenger journeys originating in the Borough area'.

I do wonder, given the time and energy (and money?) that went into writing, researching, designing, printing, distributing this information, could they have maybe done some of the things they keep talking about instead of just telling us all about it?

Still, thanks for the latest publication Wellingborough Borough Council. Although I will admit, the subscription price of £100 a month for those of us in a one bed flat is nowhere near as competitive as the prices Heat magazine are offering for 12 months. And they'll throw in free hair products.

http://www.wellingboroughpartnership.org
http://www.wellingborough.gov.uk

This week I will be mostly listening to...

I've made myself a compilation to listen to on my MK commute for the week. It goes a a little something like this:

1. Let's Push Things Forward - The Streets
2. Crash - Gwen Stefani
3. Domino Dancing - Pet Shop Boys
4. Wings Of A Butterfly - HIM
5. La belle et le bad boy - MC Solaar
6. I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend - Lush
7. Down In Mexico - The Coasters
8. Machines - Biffy Clyro
9. Lapdance - N*E*R*D
10. Disarm - Smashing Pumpkins
11. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You - Black Kids
12. Just Go Away - Blondie
13. You Don't Understand Me - Roxette
14. Avalon - Roxy Music
15. In These Shoes - Kirsty MacColl
16. The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage - Panic! At The Disco
17. Last Resort - Papa Roach
18. Misery Business - Paramore
19. Fan - Pascal Obispo

It was a dull and rainy afternoon

It was a dull and rainy afternoon, and the computer said to Kat, 'Kat, tell us a story'.

So I bit the bullet and got a proper blog. Because the world needs more of those.

And this is all that's here for now.