The Neverending Meme

Happy New Meme! Stolen, as these things usually are, from Sunday Stealing.

1. Song that always makes you sad?

I've mentioned this many times before, but it never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

2. Last thing you bought?

The "new" single from the reborn Ultrasound.

3. Last person you argued with?

Probably Louise. I'm sure I was in the wrong.

4. Do you put butter on before putting peanut butter on?

No, I stop at the butter. Peanut butter is the work of the devil.

5. One of your stuffed animals’ names as a kid?

Huggy Bear.

6. Did you ever at one time own a Barenaked Ladies CD?

Still do.

7. Favourite day of the week?

Saturday looks good to me.

8. Favourite sundae topping?

I'm pretty happy with just the ice cream, but I like a splash of raspberry vinegar on my 99.

9. Did you take piano lessons?

Yes. For about ten years. Can I play the piano? Sadly, not.

10. Most frequent song played?

Impossible to answer. At the moment, I'm rather taken by Vermillion by Guillemots.

11. T.V. show you secretly enjoy?

Deal Or No Deal. At one point I watched it every day. I'm on the wagon now though, I haven't touched a drop in 4 or 5 years, and I'm staying away from the boxes.

12. Would you rather play basketball or hockey?

I'd like a hockey stick for everyday use.

13. Date someone older or younger?

Louise is my younger woman.

14. One place you could travel right now?

Anywhere warm, quiet and green.

15. Do you use umbrellas?

No. I'm a hard northerner.

16. Do you know all the words to the Canadian national anthem?

Eh?

17. Favourite cheese?

Can't beat a nice bit of Cheddar.

18. The Smiths or The Cure?

Sorry, Bob.

19. Do you prefer blondes or brunettes?

Gentlemen Prefer Brunettes.

20. Best job you ever had?

All the ones that never paid me any money. As soon as you start earning money for a job, you know it's gonna be a pain in the arse.

Keeping It Peel: My Top Ten John Peel Songs

Today is the day we celebrate the great John Peel, without whom all our record collections would be much the sadder. Find out more about Keeping It Peel here. Over on The Mixtape Lives On, I'm playing one of my favourite Peel sessions. And here at SOS... it's my Top Ten Songs About John Peel.

10. CLSM - John Peel Is Not Enough

9. Jeffrey Lewis - The Legend Of The Fall

DJ John Peel says they're his favourite band
Because they're always different and always the same.

8. James - Ten Below

I'm at the bottom of my bed
Headphones on my head
John Peel's show
Feels like ten below

7. Television Personalities - Part-Time Punks

Then they go to Rough Trade to buy Siouxsie & the Banshees
They heard John Peel play it just the other night

6. Helen Love - John Peel Roadshow

And I gotta give my demo to John Peel
I hope he loves my band
And I gotta give my demo to John Peel
I hope he understands

5. Carter USM - Rubbish

"What do you think of the programme so far?"

4. Mitch Benn - A Minute's Noise For John

He soundtracked all our misspent youths
From Teenage Kicks to Home Truths...

3. Bis - We Love John Peel

2. Paul Burch - John Peel

Now he spent time in Dallas
And he told a tall tale
Met John & Jackie on the campaign trail
And he was there in the room
When Oswald was led away
Newsreel footage, taken at the scene
Oswald and Peel 11/24/63

It's time to fold the tent
The empire's no more
Tell your majesty it's over
John Peel sailed on

1. Shirley Lee - An Old Cricketer

What I'm Listening To This Week...

I'm going to try to do a weekly current music review feature. (Well, music that's currently on my player. It won't all be new.) Come back next week and watch me fail!

Honey from Portland band Sunbeam is one of the best summer singles I've heard in donkey's years. I want to say it reminds me of Terry Hall's Colourfield, but only in the way it makes me feel... like the sun is shining even though it's pouring with rain outside my window. I know very little about this band, but I liked the two samples they kindly sent me so much that I had to buy the rest of their debut album, Sunbeam And The Lovely Ghost. You can listen to Honey and download a free track, Bulldog, from their website. I think you'll find that once you do... you'll end up wanting the rest of the album too.



The first time I listened to the debut album by The Vaccines, I thought it was a pretty racket that I'd probably lose interest in very soon. I had no idea how much these short, spiky songs with a touch of Jesus & Mary Chain distortion would hook in my head. The album has been on constant rotation ever since. But unlike most of the artists I rave about, I'm not really drawn to The Vaccines by their lyrics. I couldn't really tell you what any of their songs are about (one's about a wetsuit, that's all) but they have that rare and elusive quality that makes a hit record: catchiness. Their new single is Nordgaard (haven't a clue!): try not to hate them for the fashionista video.





A far more interesting lyrical prospect are Band Of Horses, whose song Factory features one of the finest opening lines I've heard in a dog's age (puppies not included).

The elevator in the hotel lobby has a lazy door...

If that was the opening line of a novel or short story, I'd have to read on. Thankfully, the rest of the tale is just as well written - beautifully sung and melodically played too. If the rest of the album Infinite Arms is as affecting as the opening track, Band Of Horses will have a fan for life.





Spearmint mainman Shirley Lee is back with his second solo album - and this time it's a double. I approach double albums with some trepidation, wary of padding, but Shirley has helpfully divided this one into four easily-digestible parts. The first disc is Winter / Autumn, the second Summer / Spring. This made perfect sense as Shirley's songs are always wonderfully evocative of time and place. They're like snapshot stories from his life - a great night out with friends, the last time he spoke to his father, dancing to a song that made everything seem right. I think of Shirley's songs as his personal audio scrapbook and they're always fascinating, engaging and often deeply moving. Given the time of year I've been listening to the second disc first, and it's here we find his tribute to John Peel (above), When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease.





During my rare public appearance at last weekend's Caption Comics Festival I found myself chatting with a bloke called Nick, husband of cartoonist Francesca Cassavetti. It was one of those weird coincidences where I'd driven all the way to Oxford and ended up sitting next to someone whose dad came from just over the hill from my home - Golcar, the next village on from Slawit. I enjoyed talking to Nick, he was a friendly and interesting fella. I had no idea... until much later... that I'd actually been talking to the former lead singer of The Members, Nicky Tesco. It's probably a good idea nobody told me: I'd only have been starstruck.