Say No To Bono

Here's the opening track to the new Readers' Wives album (remember, the positioning of that apostrophe is all important), Rachel's Apartment. It's got a harder edge than some of their previous material, but the album itself offers a nice variety of lyrically intriguing songs from one of Ireland's best contemporary rock exports. But don't take my word for it - you can download the whole album for free, direct from the Readers' Wives themselves, if you click this link before the end of June. Go on, give it a listen, and help spread the word.



My favourite band of the 21st century is back again - having previously delivered my favourite albums of 2008 and 2010, can The Indelicates make it a hat trick? Only time will tell, but they're venturing into murkier waters this time round with... dare I say it... a concept album! David Koresh: Superstar is a full on musical extravaganza based on the infamous Waco Siege of 1993, "a bitter cocktail of rebel country disco rock opera" featuring guest appearances from David Devant & His Spirit Wife, Jim Bob of Carter USM, Philip Jeays, Lily Rae and "a full Greek chorus of strapping Camdenite youth". Watch the promo film here, or play the opening single, I Am Koresh, below. Then pop over to the Corporate Records website to download the full album, and pay whatever you think it's worth.



The Lancashire Hotpots are driving down to Glastonbury this weekend to promote their new album, Achtung Gravy. They're playing the Croissant Neuf stage at the same time a bunch of narcissistic hacks are headlining the Pyramid. As a result, the Hotpots have established a Say No To Bono campaign which I wholeheartedly endorse... if you happen to be on your way to Worthy Farm this weekend, I hope you'll give them your support.

Achtung Gravy is released June 27th.

Buddy Miller is a veteran Nashville singer songwriter who's worked with Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and many others. I'll be damned if this track from his 2004 album Universal United House of Prayerdoesn't make me think of ex-Del Amitri man Justin Currie. Yes, it's that good.



Finally, here's a great song from the late Warren Zevon. Reminds me of a character we used to have on our Saturday morning radio show... 20+ years ago now (is it really that long?) The character was a rubbish magician called Bald Daniels. You can guess the rest...

I can saw a woman in two
But you won't want to look in the box when I'm through
I can make a love disappear
For my next trick, I'll need a volunteer...

(From 'Life'll Kill Ya'.)

30 Songs - Day 12

Day 12 - A Song From A Band You Hate

And no prizes for guessing who that band will be.

Oh, how do I hate U2... let me count the ways. What's worse? Their world-conquering bombast? Their self-righteous pomposity? Their smug, humourless egotism? That blasphemous Spidey musical? (Oh, the horror.) Or just the fact that Bono is such a cock?

As with many awful bands though - or at least many awful bands who have been around at least half as long as U2 - I don't hate their music quite as much as I hate them. Yes, I'll turn off the radio if I hear the opening bars of With Or Without You or Where The Streets Have No Name, but it's more for the image they bring with them - Bono's big gurning mug, those stupid red sunglasses, the stubble... and that voice. That voice that makes Bob Geldof sound like Julie Andrews. Not the singing voice: the patronising, proselytising, "I'm bigger than Jesus", Here-I-Am-At-The-UN-with-my-mate-the-new-Nazi-Pope-bow-down-before-me-you-ignorant-serfs speaking voice.

That said, if I close my eyes and try to expunge all thoughts of His Holy Smugalot from my mind... I don't abhor every single U2 song. New Year's Day, Desire, One (especially the Johnny Cash version), The Sweetest Thing, Beautiful Day... I wouldn't want them in my mp3 library, but I wouldn't tear off my ears and pour battery acid in the holes to stop me from ever hearing them again.

The track below is as close as I ever came to actually buying a U2 record. Even at the tender age of 16, common sense prevailed, but I've got to at least give them this...