Another letter that didn't take long to get through... but quite a few 'Very Best Of' in there!
Valhalla Dancefloor - British Sea Power
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Vehicles & Animals - Athlete
Very Best of Elvis Costello - Elvis Costello
The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac (Disc 1 & 2) - Fleetwood Mac
The Very Best of Kris Kristofferson - Kris Kristofferson
The Very Best of The Eagles - The Eagles
Very Best of The Jam - The Jam
Very Best of The Smiths - The Smiths
Very Best of Woody Guthrie - Woody Guthrie
Vexations - Get Well Soon
Viva la Vida or Death and all His Friends - Coldplay
Voice of the Seven Woods - Voice of the Seven Woods
Athlete were ok - bit 'Snow Patrol' lite and ended up sounding a bit derivative. I enjoyed Vexations - quite melodic but lots of different styles in there so you never knew what was going to come next. Mixed it up a bit which was interesting. Viva la Vida has to be Coldplay's worst album - just a bit dull really. British Sea Power are always good :-).
Short but sweet letter, but lots of old faves in the 'Very Best Of's so I quite enjoyed it.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
A trip to East Yorkshire...
Not the nicest bit of the county to go to... but it is where my friend Dawn lives so off I went. Got the train to Hull although she actually lives in Beverley. Not much of note to say about Hull as we didn't spend any time there - although it was where the poet Philip Larkin lived, and there was a very nice statue of him at the train station - I particularly liked the inscription :-).
Saturday we went over to Helmsley and visited Rievaulx Abbey which was really quite spectacular. Also interesting to visit having finished Wolf Hall recently. One of the many Abbey's that Henry VIII had stripped to get their wealth. Gives you a bit of a different perspective on history!
It was a lovely weekend - and as always it was great to get out of London and see the countryside! Photos below, and more on Flickr :-).
Saturday we went over to Helmsley and visited Rievaulx Abbey which was really quite spectacular. Also interesting to visit having finished Wolf Hall recently. One of the many Abbey's that Henry VIII had stripped to get their wealth. Gives you a bit of a different perspective on history!
It was a lovely weekend - and as always it was great to get out of London and see the countryside! Photos below, and more on Flickr :-).
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
London prepares...
I went out and checked out the London-Surrey Cycle Classic today - fortuitiously the route went through Kingston!
There were loads of people out watching, and it was a great atmosphere. As soon as the police came through people started cheering and clapping them. I'm pretty sure that was a direct result of the riots and looting of last week, and it was lovely to be able to show them some appreciation as they've been getting beaten up a bit from the press and the politicians recently. I don't think that people would normally be quite so keen to 'clap the cops'. And they loved it! At various points as they had to stop to wait for the cyclists, they were chatting away to the crowd, they were waving, acknowledging the claps and cheers, tooting their horns, putting their sirens on etc. Brilliant!
As for the cyclists, a bit like when I went to see the Tour de France come through London they were past in a flash! As you can see from the only two photos I managed to get of the cyclists!!
Good fun though - am really pleased I went and did it.
There were loads of people out watching, and it was a great atmosphere. As soon as the police came through people started cheering and clapping them. I'm pretty sure that was a direct result of the riots and looting of last week, and it was lovely to be able to show them some appreciation as they've been getting beaten up a bit from the press and the politicians recently. I don't think that people would normally be quite so keen to 'clap the cops'. And they loved it! At various points as they had to stop to wait for the cyclists, they were chatting away to the crowd, they were waving, acknowledging the claps and cheers, tooting their horns, putting their sirens on etc. Brilliant!
As for the cyclists, a bit like when I went to see the Tour de France come through London they were past in a flash! As you can see from the only two photos I managed to get of the cyclists!!
Good fun though - am really pleased I went and did it.
The front runners
The front runners
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
These were the first two through - the rest of the pack were a good bit behind them.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Two very interesting blog posts...
These are both good - the first one was linked to in the Guardian (it is worth reading through the comments below as well), and the second one I got to through the comments on the first post.
The press and the radio are full of people talking about how and why this happened/is happening - debates on whether they are protesting (general consensus is that they aren't - the BBC won't refer to the looting as protesting), rioting, or looting. I'm firmly in the looting category it has to be said...
Walworth Road
Power of One
And another recording as well of 'yoof' from Manchester talking about their looting - let me know if it doesn't play and I'll describe it in a separate post. The Guardian also had this bit from Kevin Sampson about his role in the Toxteth riots - hard to argue with the logic in it. It is essentially a Wii game come to life for a lot of them, with the bonus of free stuff thrown in...
The press and the radio are full of people talking about how and why this happened/is happening - debates on whether they are protesting (general consensus is that they aren't - the BBC won't refer to the looting as protesting), rioting, or looting. I'm firmly in the looting category it has to be said...
Walworth Road
Power of One
And another recording as well of 'yoof' from Manchester talking about their looting - let me know if it doesn't play and I'll describe it in a separate post. The Guardian also had this bit from Kevin Sampson about his role in the Toxteth riots - hard to argue with the logic in it. It is essentially a Wii game come to life for a lot of them, with the bonus of free stuff thrown in...
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Well 'U' didn't take long...
And here I am - back again with another letter completed! Easy when there aren't many albums!!
Ugly Beautiful - Babybird
The Ugly People vs The Beautiful People - The Czars
The Ultimate Bill Withers Collection - Bill Withers
Unchained - Johnny Cash
Under Cold Blue Stars - Josh Rouse
Under the Blacklight - Rilo Kiley
The Unforgettable Fire - U2
Up - REM
Urban Hymns - The Verve
Us - Mull Historical Society
Not much not to like in this short list. Babybird was fun to listen to again after a very long time. Can't go past a bit of Johnny Cash either! Mull Historical Society and The Verve - both wee strolls down memory lane. All good fun.
Ugly Beautiful - Babybird
The Ugly People vs The Beautiful People - The Czars
The Ultimate Bill Withers Collection - Bill Withers
Unchained - Johnny Cash
Under Cold Blue Stars - Josh Rouse
Under the Blacklight - Rilo Kiley
The Unforgettable Fire - U2
Up - REM
Urban Hymns - The Verve
Us - Mull Historical Society
Not much not to like in this short list. Babybird was fun to listen to again after a very long time. Can't go past a bit of Johnny Cash either! Mull Historical Society and The Verve - both wee strolls down memory lane. All good fun.
Panic on the streets of London...
Or Manchester or Birmingham or....
It has been a surreal few days in London town - probably right up there for me with the few days immediately after the July 7 bombing. Right now it appears fairly calm across London but its all starting to kick off up in Manchester.
Still loads of people referring to it as 'rioting'. This isn't rioting - this is pure outright looting. The mob mentality takes over and off they go. The worst thing about it is the effect it is having on small local businesses and people who live in these areas. Homes are being burnt out as fires are started in the shops they live above, whole businesses are being destroyed - and they aren't the big multi-nationals either.
This clip is interesting - not sure if non-UK readers will be able to listen to it, but essentially two girls talking about what a laugh all this rioting is, and how they're attacking businesses as 'they are rich' and they are showing the rich they can do what they want. They're drinking looted rose wine at 9am in the morning, hoping it all kicks off again that evening. So awful - so stupid and so so awful. I've heard and seen so many truly heartbreaking stories over the last couple of days and to hear this sort of stupid commentary just makes it worse.
And of course it is also bringing out some interesting attitudes as well - my favourite facebook comment so far has been from someone suggesting that we bring the army back from Iraq and ship all of the looters out there... Hmm - not sure that would work.
Hopefully this will all start to calm down now - the police have taken a battering (both literally and in the press/from the public) but if nothing else London is only reaping the results of the cuts the Met has had to make recently.
Interesting times we live in...
It has been a surreal few days in London town - probably right up there for me with the few days immediately after the July 7 bombing. Right now it appears fairly calm across London but its all starting to kick off up in Manchester.
Still loads of people referring to it as 'rioting'. This isn't rioting - this is pure outright looting. The mob mentality takes over and off they go. The worst thing about it is the effect it is having on small local businesses and people who live in these areas. Homes are being burnt out as fires are started in the shops they live above, whole businesses are being destroyed - and they aren't the big multi-nationals either.
This clip is interesting - not sure if non-UK readers will be able to listen to it, but essentially two girls talking about what a laugh all this rioting is, and how they're attacking businesses as 'they are rich' and they are showing the rich they can do what they want. They're drinking looted rose wine at 9am in the morning, hoping it all kicks off again that evening. So awful - so stupid and so so awful. I've heard and seen so many truly heartbreaking stories over the last couple of days and to hear this sort of stupid commentary just makes it worse.
And of course it is also bringing out some interesting attitudes as well - my favourite facebook comment so far has been from someone suggesting that we bring the army back from Iraq and ship all of the looters out there... Hmm - not sure that would work.
Hopefully this will all start to calm down now - the police have taken a battering (both literally and in the press/from the public) but if nothing else London is only reaping the results of the cuts the Met has had to make recently.
Interesting times we live in...
Saturday, August 06, 2011
And still falling...
This year Megan comes in at 23 in the most popular names list. Was 20th last year, and 15th the year before! There were 2223 girls named Megan in the UK in 2010...
Maya comes in at 57th (up from 66 last year with 1061), while Lucy pips me (again!) coming in at 21st (down from 16th last year with 2544). No Leigh, Louisa or Tracey, but Elizabeth comes in at 49th. Interestingly Erin comes in at 35th for girls with 1621.
Thomas comes in at 6th with 5307 - no change from last year. William is 7th with 5256. Alex is at 52 with 1359 (down from 50 last year) and Sam is at 93 with 692 (down from 88 last year).
Maya comes in at 57th (up from 66 last year with 1061), while Lucy pips me (again!) coming in at 21st (down from 16th last year with 2544). No Leigh, Louisa or Tracey, but Elizabeth comes in at 49th. Interestingly Erin comes in at 35th for girls with 1621.
Thomas comes in at 6th with 5307 - no change from last year. William is 7th with 5256. Alex is at 52 with 1359 (down from 50 last year) and Sam is at 93 with 692 (down from 88 last year).
Torn through the 'T's
Well not quite actually, as there are a lot of albums beginning with the letter T!
Takk - Sigur Ros
Tallulah - The Go Betweens
Tanglewood Numbers - Silver Jews
Technique - New Order
Teenager - The Thrills
The Tennessee Fire - My Morning Jacket
Theology Disc 1 - Sinead O'Connor
There is no Enemy - Built to Spill
There is Nothing Left to Lose - Foo Fighters
There Will Be A Light - Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama
Think Before You Speak - Good Shoes
Thirst for Romance - Cherry Ghost
This Hungry Life - Tanya Donnelly
This Is Hope - Mull Historical Society
This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours - Manic Street Preachers
This Old Road - Kris Kristofferson
Thriller - Lambchop
Through the Window Pane - Guillemots
Throw Down Your Arms - Sinead O'Connor
Time on Earth - Crowded House
Tired of Hanging Around - The Zutons
To See The Lights - Gene
Tonight At The Arizona - The Felice Brothers
Too-Rye-Ay - Dexy's Midnight Runners
Topless Women Talk About Their Lives - Soundtrack
Totally 2 Tone - Various Artists
Tourist - Athlete
Treasury Library Canada c/w Houndstooth Europa - Woodpigeon
Trees Outside the Academy - Thurston Moore
Trompe-L'oeil - Malajube
Trouble - Ray LaMontagne
True - TrinityRoots
True Love Cast Out All Evil - Roky Ericcson & Okkervil River
Trust the DJ: GP05 - Eclectic, Vol 2 - Various Artists
Tuatara: A Flying Nun Compilation - Various Artists
Turn on the Bright Lights - Interpol
Lots of NZ music in this letter which was great. Revisited a few old fave songs which I hadn't heard for a while. Other thoughts - Crowded House. Musical torture - soooo dull and boring. Their greatest hits are ok, but how anyone listens to their albums is beyond me... Blast from the past with Too-Rye-Ay as well - great fun! The Go-Betweens - also always great. Thurston Moore I enjoyed as well - weird to hear 'Sonic Youth' but it wasn't like Sonic Youth. Mull Historical Society I quite enjoyed as well - hadn't listened to them for years. Sinead - dull as well. Especially the Theology album - bit too ridiculous for this listener...
Takk - Sigur Ros
Tallulah - The Go Betweens
Tanglewood Numbers - Silver Jews
Technique - New Order
Teenager - The Thrills
The Tennessee Fire - My Morning Jacket
Theology Disc 1 - Sinead O'Connor
There is no Enemy - Built to Spill
There is Nothing Left to Lose - Foo Fighters
There Will Be A Light - Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama
Think Before You Speak - Good Shoes
Thirst for Romance - Cherry Ghost
This Hungry Life - Tanya Donnelly
This Is Hope - Mull Historical Society
This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours - Manic Street Preachers
This Old Road - Kris Kristofferson
Thriller - Lambchop
Through the Window Pane - Guillemots
Throw Down Your Arms - Sinead O'Connor
Time on Earth - Crowded House
Tired of Hanging Around - The Zutons
To See The Lights - Gene
Tonight At The Arizona - The Felice Brothers
Too-Rye-Ay - Dexy's Midnight Runners
Topless Women Talk About Their Lives - Soundtrack
Totally 2 Tone - Various Artists
Tourist - Athlete
Treasury Library Canada c/w Houndstooth Europa - Woodpigeon
Trees Outside the Academy - Thurston Moore
Trompe-L'oeil - Malajube
Trouble - Ray LaMontagne
True - TrinityRoots
True Love Cast Out All Evil - Roky Ericcson & Okkervil River
Trust the DJ: GP05 - Eclectic, Vol 2 - Various Artists
Tuatara: A Flying Nun Compilation - Various Artists
Turn on the Bright Lights - Interpol
Lots of NZ music in this letter which was great. Revisited a few old fave songs which I hadn't heard for a while. Other thoughts - Crowded House. Musical torture - soooo dull and boring. Their greatest hits are ok, but how anyone listens to their albums is beyond me... Blast from the past with Too-Rye-Ay as well - great fun! The Go-Betweens - also always great. Thurston Moore I enjoyed as well - weird to hear 'Sonic Youth' but it wasn't like Sonic Youth. Mull Historical Society I quite enjoyed as well - hadn't listened to them for years. Sinead - dull as well. Especially the Theology album - bit too ridiculous for this listener...
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