tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36396235451914532282024-02-07T22:37:37.537+00:00Dust In The SpotlightNeilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-28748029669087181212010-10-24T22:36:00.000+01:002010-10-24T22:36:42.119+01:00RainHaving just finished reading 'Rain' by Don Patterson I'm left with the all too familiar, slightly bemused, 10,000 yard stare and asking myself what the hell was that. A far more eloquent view of the experience can be found <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/sep/19/rain-don-paterson-review">here</a>. However let it not be said that I didn't appreciate it, its just that I'm left feeling incredibly confused (think slowly turning gears and nothing happening).<br />
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Speaking of the under appreciated, Kings of Leon have a new album out and it seems to be taking a fair amount of stick. Fair enough the video for Radioactive is incredibly dodge on a Herculean scale dodge but if any other band around produced something like this they would be lauded from a height. I think its half decent and as good as anything this year. Damn the begrudgers!<br />
<object width="400" height="280"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aq0tMOpKmgs?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aq0tMOpKmgs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="300"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-52601822710687551772010-10-17T18:57:00.000+01:002010-10-17T18:57:55.406+01:00Islands24 months behind as usual. Can't stand the haircuts or the look but the music is class.<br />
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<object width="350" height="250"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PElhV8z7I60?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PElhV8z7I60?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="450" height="280"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-47019475687842414122010-10-15T22:38:00.000+01:002010-10-15T22:38:42.665+01:00She SaidAfter over a year of using Spotify and also with this new iTunes Ping yoke (it sounds like a putter if you ask me) I have began to wonder does anybody find music the old fashioned way anymore i.e. listen to the radio followed by what the fuck was that, not get the name of the band, wait patiently for another two weeks till the song is played again, finally catch the name of the band and then off to Golden Discs!! Very simple process.<br />
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Now our music tastes are decided by A] what other people who have listened to this track have also listened to (this is not good damn Amazon) and B] how proficient the DBA who is after creating the system is at linking tables (and this is not an ACCESS tutorial either). Neither options are very satisfactory really.<br />
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Below is some good old fashioned music that was once tracked down via the first process outlined above.<br />
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<object height="200" width="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/F0dowFS--gE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/F0dowFS--gE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-40519561225093806422010-07-26T21:49:00.000+01:002010-07-26T21:49:37.537+01:00Money for NothingWell I have read it all now, apparently that giant debt clock in New York is a figment of everyone's imagination and all everyone in the U.S of A has to do is take out a large order from Viking Direct and order a few truck loads of photocopying paper and head off down to the nearest mint. According to Ellen Brown this is an actual solution (well with my hyperbole Irish slanted take on the article removed).<br />
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</div><blockquote><i>Market jitters may be a hazard, but if the U.S. finds itself with government bonds and no buyers, it will no doubt resort to quantitative easing again, just as it has in the past -- not necessarily overtly, but by buying bonds through offshore entities, swapping government debt for agency debt, and other sleights of hand. The mechanics may vary, but so long as "Helicopter Ben" is at the helm, dollars are liable to appear as needed.</i></blockquote>Now I've read the post (see <b><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-brown/why-the-us-need-not-fear_b_656177.html">here</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">) three or four times and I still can't make head no tail of it. Is it possible to wrack up that much debt and then use monopoly money to pay the person who holds risk off with it? Surely there is something amiss.</span></b><br />
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</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">That being said some of the commentators are capable of <a href="http://blogs.ft.com/martin-wolf-exchange/2010/07/25/the-political-genius-of-supply-side-economics/">making sense</a> (popular politics take note!). Anyways it will all probably be traced back to Breton Woods and something to do with the whole supply and demand thing. But as in all things Dire Straits know best......Money for Nothing.</span></b><br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/VsnA0ix9hZU&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/VsnA0ix9hZU&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="300" height="280"></embed></object><br />
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And just cause I like the song....<br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/jhdFe3evXpk&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/jhdFe3evXpk&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="300" height="280"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-25693326468377588522010-07-25T22:07:00.000+01:002010-07-25T22:07:07.233+01:00Movie HighlightTo close the weekend, the finest five minutes of cinema from the last twelve months... genius.<br />
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<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/GroDErHIM_0&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/GroDErHIM_0&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="300" height="280"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-525120574502224832010-07-25T15:56:00.000+01:002010-07-25T15:56:06.777+01:00Ruby are you contemplating?A typical Sunday afternoon, sitting next to the window listening to the world go by below. It must be symptomatic of a recession that all you can think of is whether traders are charging <a href="http://www.irishfarmersmarkets.ie/stallholders/conditionspdf1.pdf">VAT</a> after you have been to a farmers market and whether all forms of local entrepreneurship are supporting the economy as a whole (especially within the vital cottage industry sector). Of course the <a href="http://www.revenue.ie/en/index.html">revenue</a> may have had officials investigating but I doubt they would have their house that much in order.<br />
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All these thoughts of business were brought about after finishing reading my weekends fill of the The Sunday Times. I know its old hat but who on earth thought it was a good idea to charge for online content, it appears that someone really has to sit the Australian down and explain to him the concept of the internet. From what I can see very few people are going to splash out the extra cash just to see <a href="http://www.davidcoulthard.co.uk/">David Coulthard</a> drive a very quick car admittedly very quickly around an island where there are no speed limits.Then again maybe I could be wrong and this all very clever with thoughts being to reader demographic, disposable income and possibly some sort offer reminiscent to the chapter in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Predictably-Irrational-Hidden-Forces-Decisions/dp/006135323X">Predictably Irrational</a>.<br />
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I always thought any internet site was going to be driven by an advertising lead business model while punters will only pay for specific content, usually in the form of a Forrester Report or The Wall Street Journal. I find it hard to believe that any of the insights provided by the Sunday Times demand an RSS feed into an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_information_system">Executive Information System</a>. Anyway doesn't everyone buy the paper for the magazine type inserts, the presentation cultural material in a fashion that can never be fully captured in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0">Web 2.0 </a>environment. Although no doubt <a href="http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20100331/apple-ipad-review/">iPad lovers</a> out there will claim that the device provides an unparalleled user experience and my views are dated and out of sync with the obvious progress being made.<br />
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That is enough out loud wondering for one day. In honour of Sunday radio where you are forcibly transported back in the region of three to four decades ala Marty McFly here is the beard himself Kenny Roger and Ruby leave the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.22_Long_Rifle">.22</a> at home.<br />
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<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/TprfUdSAHgM&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/TprfUdSAHgM&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="300" height="280"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-15401274806115026232010-07-23T21:03:00.000+01:002010-07-23T21:03:07.962+01:00Something For The WeekendThis weekend everyone should be listening to the newish Brendan Benson album. Already looking forward to the gig coming up in September. It is amazing that the views are just under 4,000 but there is no counting for taste I suppose.<br />
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<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/9dm81WyfS_c&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/9dm81WyfS_c&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="300" height="280"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-72131752531016491862010-07-22T20:58:00.000+01:002010-07-22T20:58:50.836+01:00Europe<div style="text-align: justify;">Europe, no not that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYDvrPAILMU&feature=avmsc2">Europe</a>, this <a href="http://books.google.ie/books?id=jrVW9W9eiYMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=europe+norman+davies&source=bl&ots=NyHxAqMWEF&sig=hVwMU_-lnJxif79MnVk649-th8Y&hl=en&ei=uJxITKqkKpi60gSm8c24DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false">Europe</a>, and there is quite the difference too I can. One an eighties throw back while the other is the heaviest book (not in the metaphorical sense) I've read since <a href="http://books.google.ie/books?id=X85J8ipMpZEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Handbook+of+Qualitative+Research+(Denzin+%26+Lincoln,+1994)&hl=en&ei=Zp1ITOLADceOjAefxfG2Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Handbook%20of%20Qualitative%20Research%20(Denzin%20%26%20Lincoln%2C%201994)&f=false">Denzien and Lincoln</a> and there love of all things question related. There are times I wonder why history as a subject never progressed for me beyond third year (I think formal education stopped somewhere between the Romans and The Easter Rising) but on other more lucid occasions I realise that an inability of mine to remember dates would have been a hindrance in the pursuit of gainful employment in the field of history (<a href="http://www.timelinemaker.com/">or else I could have just purchased this software</a>). Of course that piece of software assumes by definition that time is linear but I think someone famous and kinda clever <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/apr/15/spaceexploration.universe">disproved that</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyways I digress, back to the enormous tome in which a man (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Davies">Norman Davies</a>) who seems to know everything about everything (seriously the breadth of material is insane from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQcq-ExRSxM">Punk Rock</a> to the <a href="http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=20302">War of Independance</a>(British Pathé what a site)) charts a fasinating journey through European history with enough crammed in a single paragraph to keep you going for an age. In honour of all things historical and even though the lyrics are a bit on the mad side here is <a href="http://www.lowanthem.com/home.html">The Low Anthem</a> and Charlie Darwin.</div><br />
<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/PiRXJ2rxqtU&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/PiRXJ2rxqtU&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="300"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-69449099940783022072010-01-29T22:40:00.001+00:002010-07-23T13:00:20.191+01:00Its Been A While<div style="text-align: justify;">To quote good old Staind and some mid 00's emotional rock. Anyways to get back into the whole thing I've decided an acoustic version of <i>Magazines</i> by who else but the <b>Hold Steady</b>. Only six hundred views, sometimes you gotta question the internet's taste in music. But then again sanity is in short supply these days as we all know global warming/climate change isn't <a href="http://www.america.gov/publications/ejournalusa/0909.html">actually happening</a> because scientists had an argument over methodology.</div><br />
<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JBYfItfBSYI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JBYfItfBSYI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="300" height="280"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-91514675789667232732009-10-18T22:13:00.000+01:002009-10-18T22:13:20.700+01:00Realisation<div style="text-align: justify;">As always, I am a bit slow on the uptake but the sentiment expressed in <b>Radiohead's</b> song <i>Like Spinning Plates</i> is remarkably similar to the poetry of <b><a href="http://www.poemhunter.com/siegfried-sassoon/biography/">Seigfried Sassoon</a></b>. Both written with the same sense of disillusionment, however one draws from experience while the other from observation, but who says modern artists can't write.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IGWSy1YnhNI&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IGWSy1YnhNI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object></span>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-42332306092522249222009-10-16T22:42:00.001+01:002009-10-16T23:26:11.946+01:00Lion and the Lamb With Ghosts In The Hall<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Beat Radio</b> have their new album out now for a few weeks. As mentioned before on this blog they are in my humble opinion one of those great internet finds. Their new album <a href="http://www.beatradio.org/"><b>safe inside the sound</b></a> sees a more layered approach when compared to the previous EP. Its been mentioned elsewhere that a few years ago this music would have appeared on every tv teen drama (<b>The Hills</b> to the sound of Beat Radio is wrong on about six levels). However lucrative this maybe for the band, it would be doing the album a disservice, it should and indeed deserves multiple listens and not be categorised with that throw away pop type stuff. More immediate than its predecessor with the opening track (f<i>ollow you around</i>) a proper stand out tune along with <a href="http://beatradio.org/Safe%20Inside%20the%20Sound/08%20the%20lion%20and%20the%20lamb.mp3">the lion and the lamb</a>. This is just real quality independent music that deserves all the success it achieves.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So as not to spoil the album, here is a live performance of <i>Elegy</i>, and people just go and enjoy being safe inside the sound!<br />
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<object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dji0K9o4btc&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dji0K9o4btc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-6228753034586212822009-10-12T22:04:00.000+01:002009-10-12T22:04:06.401+01:00Another List<div style="text-align: justify;">So after a long drawn out i-tunes catalogue tagging operation I can now finally compile a top 5 songs of 2009 list or a top 5 songs of whatever year you like list. What is it about that essential Apple application that causes one to so obsessively rate and re-rate songs like they were never intended to be. What is the baseline for a 5 star effort, is it something of t<b>he Jam's</b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZj4NglEPUI"><i>All Mod Cons</i></a> album or can a new, freshly heard song just jump from nowhere to float in the rarified air of a classic from the vaults? So many questions and so few answers as the goal posts swirl around in never ending motion. Anyways 2009 has been a slow year in terms of cd buying/downloading with releases from the legendary <b>Bruce Spingsteen</b> to the mighty <b>Wilco</b>.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The case for <b>The Yeah Yeah Yeahs</b> producing the greatest album of all time appears to be dimming with each listening despite the protestations of one more cultured/Q influenced listener may think. As with all things dustinthespotlight related this is a poorly thought out and half assed attempt at list creation that was entered on the spur of the moment egged on by boredom. The lack of completeness is more than likely down to the absence cold hard cash and aversion to all things torrent related. However pleading both ignorance and forgiveness here is the.... <b>Three Quarter's of the Way Through The Year Top 5 Songs of 2009 (The Hits of Needing Something to Write About)</b>.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Brevity was never a strong point.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">5. The Chapters: <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hqtPfyJp3s">Perfect Stranger</a></i> (The ever so slightly <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swunpZMkZAk"><b>The Cars</b></a> influenced title track... now if only I could find a line, so those clicking will be listening to <i>Videotapes</i>, its along the same lines)<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. Regina Spektor:<i> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DLp-vE3AKg">The Calculation</a></i> (Pop piano type music with word play a plenty, she is a lyricst after all I suppose so I should have expected it)<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. Camera Obscura: <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3CkfvYMCWM">French Navy</a></i> (And to think I thought they might sound like a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bif32jO5MiM">Roddy Frame</a> cover act!)<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">AND<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. White Lies (NME have a lot to answer for and I know its played off the radio but shur I'm a populist)<br />
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<object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qZ2uJcETFhQ&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qZ2uJcETFhQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-42550231442697034972009-10-06T22:37:00.000+01:002009-10-06T22:37:51.284+01:00Help!<div style="text-align: justify;">I am currently torn between whether or not to purchase that giant <b>Beatles</b> box set yokey. So in true Irish fashion I have decided to implement a far more expensive/short term solution by buying the back catalogue one by one. So first up was the soundtrack to the film Help!, having watched it recently (thank you <b>BBC4</b> and Kerstin for sitting through it with me), I decided that it was far better than my memory had served me. So off to planet <a href="http://www.cdwow.ie/">cdwow</a> to purchase said same cd. The stand out track was the Lennon penned <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz7IjXu0DfQ">You've Gotta Hide You're Love Away</a>. Also the other thing that stands out from repeated listening is how amazingly solid and brilliant a <b>Beatles'</b> album is.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyways to keep Apple Corp from tracking me down today's video is a cover of the song mentioned above from Eddie Vedder of <a href="http://www.pearljam.com/">Pearl Jam</a> fame.<br />
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Oh and the new Editors album is out in the near future, here is the new song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq4tyDRhU_4">Papillon</a>, and also one quick question, why is there a Goran Ivanisevic look a like running??Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-86770386584135898122009-09-22T23:24:00.003+01:002009-09-22T23:36:06.968+01:00Doctor Leaves<div style="text-align: justify;">This is the internet, and the wonders never cease. Using an array of talents to produce an E.P. of quirkiness and all round self deprecation. A winning combination. I'm still not sure on the business model (indoctrination of business courses is hard to shake) but its great great music. <a href="http://www.doctorleaves.com/DoctorLeaves2/music.php">Doctor Leaves</a> deserves to be heard and also possibly an award for website design!<br /></div><br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k2nWKyL1Zps&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k2nWKyL1Zps&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-5930928101242795282009-09-22T23:10:00.000+01:002009-09-22T23:10:34.329+01:00An Old Fashioned CD Buying Expedition<div style="text-align: justify;">In the past few weeks there has been an upsurge in all things music related. A splurge of the CD buying variety. First up the new Arctic Monkeys one Humbug which is decent and not as poor as some recent reviews would suggest. I suppose if songs don't win people over within the first two listens it will be consigned to the bin labeled "ill-advised trip to the U.S.", a label which one will never find a Cat Steven's album. In typical fashion the first single picked is slightly left of centre, but <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_G9RRY7SS0">Crying Lightening</a> is a quality tune with perfectly weighted and observed lyrics. The rest of the album just gets better with each listen. A return to listening to albums ala the eighties is required (or else some proper reviewing, the Q review of the debut Interpol album always springs to mind), and I doubt a Smith's album is best appreciated after one/two listen then scribble a review.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Next up is the gang how drove me mad every time never mind in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8YCSJpF4g4">Five Year's Time</a>, however this album is a little gem. Noah and the Whale with their <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/realnoahandthewhale?blend=1&ob=4">First Days of Spring</a>, full of strings and madness with just the right pitch. Just buy it, simple as.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As we would say as gaeilge.... sin sin (for the phoenetically minded, shin shin).<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally just because I can, The Byrd's and a unique take on Dylan.<br />
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<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wkIhuiDBYRA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wkIhuiDBYRA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-62250459897860272192009-08-17T21:07:00.000+01:002009-08-17T21:07:05.125+01:00From American to Local Townland<div style="text-align: justify;">In days of yore it was once something akin to The Electric Picnic with stars such as <a href="http://www.vanmorrison.com/">Van Morrison</a> in Astral Week pomp and <a href="http://www.rorygallagher.com/news.htm">Rory Gallagher</a> headlining what was then the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dollerosa/3368595230/">Mountain Dew</a> festival (the first outdoor festival of it's type in Ireland). History such as that highlights the gaping hole that requires filling and finally this has come about. The first step on the road to artistic recovery see's Macroom host the <a href="http://lughnasamacroom.com/">Lughnasa festival</a>. The line up includes the previously posted Interference and <a href="http://www.directormusic.co.uk/">Director</a>(snazzy site by the way). Also to ensure the local connection is not lost <a href="http://www.fredtheband.com/framepage.htm">Fred</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/remmamusic">Remma</a> are just part of the line-up that will ensure the festival will continue for years to come. (This has been a public service blog posting!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The days of yore.</div><br />
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And of now.<br />
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<object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AcGqW_T558Q&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AcGqW_T558Q&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-13060762169210802402009-08-13T23:31:00.000+01:002009-08-13T23:31:48.760+01:00American Townland<div style="text-align: justify;">A quick visit to the archives (can 2002 be filed under archived, christ I'm getting old). Anyways this is an excellent live recording taken from a music series <i>Other Voices </i>recorded within an old church in Dingle of the County Kerry. Introduced by <b>Glenn Hansard </b>(I will forgive em that) and probably known most for their track on that Oscar winning soundtrack yoke of his <i>Once.</i> This is <b>Interference</b> are their opening track <i>American Townland</i> is a joy to behold.</div><br />
<object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AZEY8UYji84&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AZEY8UYji84&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object><br />
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<object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u4CnT2fZk54&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u4CnT2fZk54&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-4727203565857211602009-08-13T21:25:00.000+01:002009-08-13T21:25:14.470+01:00Random Thoughts Like The Google<div style="text-align: justify;">The wonders of modern technology unfortunately do know some bounds. Take for instance the wonderful google ad app that appears on the right hand side of this blog appears to generate based on the content of the site. I'm kinda fuzzy on how the whole thing works but I imagine its a mixture of meta tags and wonderful algorithm (more than likely a <b>Lucky 8 Ball</b> placed on the coffee machine of the <a href="http://www.viz.co.uk/strips.html"><b>Viz</b></a> inspired <b>Google</b> open plan workspace). So this has lead to the wild and wacky world of randomly generated ads that I for one do not endorse. Why not uninstall I hear people shout, well 38 cent over three months is reason enough not to and also for the head shaking and giggles the whole thing has provided.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyways back to matters more important, the outstanding indie machine that is the Hold Steady return to these shores in September in the county of Clare of all places on the <a href="http://theholdsteady.net/shows/">12th of September</a>. Worth the festival price alone and more festival <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRpEN5L5gpQ">classics</a> than the proverbial stick can be shuck at.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To finish, as a fan of slightly off kilter cover versions, this is one of the more bizarre I have stumbled across recently (well the man can definitely sing).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Frank Sinatra</b>: <i>For Once In My Life</i></div><br />
<object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lLKoDV8Ap6Y&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lLKoDV8Ap6Y&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-68687987454765962522009-08-10T21:57:00.000+01:002009-08-10T21:57:08.174+01:00Cosmic LoveI'm never the biggest fans of more or less home movies at gigs but this one those highlight the talent of <b>Florence and The Machine</b>. Of course this song has the unfortunate link to all things mobile phone, but still its floats above it like those bubbles in the ad for the same company. She is mad as a box of frogs and as according to every other media source on the planet has a passing resemblance to a certain <b>Kate Bush</b>. In a previous posting not a million miles away from this post she helps <b>Glasvegas</b> create a classic cover, here she shows quirky lyrics with an amazing voice and some crowd motivating arm swinging. <i>Cosmic Love</i> for the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KluhWi8-CuQ">21st Century</a>, on another note reading the Ascent of Money, so far its depressing, that is all!<br />
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<embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-545930454338776455&hl=en&fs=true" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-58301731465479312402009-07-09T22:52:00.000+01:002009-07-09T22:52:51.890+01:00Beat Radio: Safe Inside The Sound<div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks to a chance encounter facilitated by the elbo.ws blog aggregator I first listened to New York band <b>Beat Radio</b>, now as an acknowledged fan of said same band, I was delighted to see that they are streaming their second EP on the blog <a href="http://www.beatradio.blogspot.com/">cinema of sunshine</a> (you're off-line for a few weeks and this happens... typical). Continuing on that upward curve this EP takes off from where in my mind where <i>Elegy</i> left us. The songs strike deep and anything that drops some Neil Young references <i>(<a href="http://www.beatradio.org/safe%20inside%20the%20sound/02%20memoir%20of%20a%20lightning%20bolt.mp3">Memoir of a Lightening Bolt</a>)</i> is all good with me. The distinctive sound remains <i>(<a href="http://beatradio.org/safe%20inside%20the%20sound/05%20hard%20times%20for%20dreamers.mp3">Hard Times For Dreamers</a>)</i> though and well worth a listen. Now let's hope Beat Radio get more of the credit the album richly deserves.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Below a demo version of their song Mexico with accompanying video. The gift of an on-line community.</div><br />
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<object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OXuAUjZnaA4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OXuAUjZnaA4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com1Republic of Ireland51.895477892529932 -8.4594726562550.200208892529929 -12.19482415625 53.590746892529936 -4.72412115625tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-50357898132619775492009-07-09T20:01:00.001+01:002009-07-09T20:03:09.674+01:00The DrumsQuick post. This <a href="http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/The_Drums/music">crowd</a> are worth checking out.Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-41061755995587963592009-07-09T19:28:00.000+01:002009-07-09T19:28:39.055+01:00The RiverIts been a long break since the last post. A time to reflect and basically gather some more music together. A new Wilco album imaginatively titled Wilco (The Album) has been released and its pretty decent. Nothing outstanding but solid. Thanks to spotify this album listening to lark has become both an easier and cheaper past-time.<br />
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However this week I've decided after much reflection to go back to five tunes that keep me blogging..<br />
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5. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUlU105lkgs">The Jags: Back of My Hand</a><br />
4. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxhzxBLksK8">The Police: So Lonely</a><br />
3. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmWdVSzT8ZU">Mick Flannery: Wish You Well</a><br />
2. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_SiHmAN6qs">The Hold Steady: Stuck Between Stations</a><br />
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1. Mainly cause he is playing here Sunday night, I can really only go with the Boss and one of the greatest songs of all time and song in the style of Nebraksa.<br />
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<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7HxZKa4NwGo&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7HxZKa4NwGo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-35074454823536544672009-06-24T22:01:00.000+01:002009-06-24T22:01:10.124+01:00Buy The Album<div style="text-align: justify;">A week without writing on the blog means that the sun and work have taken too strong a hold. This past week though I have been mainly listening to Eels. New album is a solid contribution to an already excellent back catalogue. Unusually for one of the more popular artists all the video's are able to be directly embedded on a blog post, ergo, it has to be played.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><br />
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<object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wREjT7DlI7M&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wREjT7DlI7M&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-6163160234394798332009-06-17T23:32:00.004+01:002009-06-18T00:48:15.741+01:00Check The Meaning<div style="text-align: justify;">The wonders of google ad sense. I was on my google mail for a while today and one of those predictive ad type things appeared (all that information stored somewhere on a server, well its probably data rather than information but lets not get into that argument), low and behold I'm told thanks to the wonder of the t-internet that <b>Diabetes</b> is reversible even Type 1. This came as news to me and they even have a fupping youtube <a href="http://www.diabetesreversed.com/curediabetes.php?gclid=CO6m66qvkpsCFWIB4wodyjp3pg">video</a> to 'prove' their claims. A doctor Nick type tells me its true so it has to be. Stop using insulin completely while your pancreas still doesn't work. If I follow this advice I can see it all ending badly (minus some limbs and eyesight). Hope is the cure but this is ridiculous.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well after getting a good laugh out of that, I went in search of some music that should give us all some hope and I came up with this. I reckon insulin and listening to this might be a slightly more pragmatic solution. Strings and <b>Sigur Ros</b> is just a winning combination even if I haven't a notion what the song is about, but it sure as hell isn't stop with the insulin.</div><br /><br /><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_sUVm77WjE0&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_sUVm77WjE0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639623545191453228.post-57159595913289881052009-06-16T23:37:00.002+01:002009-06-17T00:10:23.107+01:00Loud Noises<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://avondale.typepad.com/indesignupdate/2005/08/what_the_heck_i.html">Interchange formats</a> for desktop publishing should be held accountable. Well mainly for wasting my time. Loud noises required.<br /></div><br /><object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8uhatY70Acs&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8uhatY70Acs&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="265" width="320"></embed></object>Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11853240104114309787noreply@blogger.com0