jayen aitch and many a thing
Goodness, I'm ever-so-sleepish, but it's been overly long since an update, so I thought I would write some words in here. It’s going to be a long one I’m afraid.
Are you sitting comfortably?
Then...
Saturday night at the movies
Typecast, moi?
Earlier tonight I saw that Troy movie with my house-mates and house-friend Tom. I’m really glad Tom came because he was the only one who could see sense. It was not a good filum.
Oh, it was pretty enough and full of shiny action sequences and the like, but I was expecting more. I think I was right to have expectations for this one, they had one of the most amazing stories, directed by the man who gave the world The Neverending “Bastian, say my name” Story.
Unfortunately they gave the tale a lethal injection of Hollywood and that, for me at least, killed it.
I’m pretty sympathetic to the Greeks, who were made to look… well, not-so-good. I especially disliked their Menelaus, I played him in a uni production of Trojan Women a while ago, and I really don’t think he should have been portrayed as such a bastard.
My major objection though, was that, although they’ve credited Homer as being the original author, there seems to have been an excess of poetic “license” used.
Would everyone stop dying in the wrong places please?
And Orlando, could you do something different?
On the plus side, I liked the take on Odysseus, and he is one of my favourite characters.
I’m just praying they don’t try to do the Odyssey now, or even worse the Aeneid, I love that story and should hate to see it receive a similarly shoddy treatment. 2/5
WORK
At the moment I’m wading through my course-work, trying to get my feature done… it’s due in at six on Monday, and after that it’s into practical exams… which will probably be quite interesting.
I have finished my academic-esque ones though, which is very nice.
It’s scary to think that the end of it all is approaching, I hope I find a job soon, a good one.
In Other News
My placements were, all said and done, uberpeachy. The week I spent at the Yorkshire Post was as good as I could have hoped.
I had precisely no time sitting around and wondering what to do. It shows in that I have a very good haul of cuttings from the week, including one from the front page.
They make me about as happy as a boy can be made by pieces of paper, unless those pieces are a lot of money, and perhaps even then.
The only downside is that they don’t seem to have a job to offer, which is a shame because I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather work. But it was still very good experience.
It’s party for you
Rushing back to the house-party here in Cardiff (after my last day at the YP) was quite the best idea I’ve had in a while. While some of my friends knew I was coming, none of my house-mates did, they were all more than a little surprised, but I hope the grins on their faces mean pleasantly so.
It’s a bitch of a train journey from Leeds to Caerdydd when you’ve done a full day’s work. But I had a great chat with a girl on her way back to India about pretty much everything.
On arrival at half midnight, the party was in full swing and everyone was beaming (or steaming, depending on who you looked at).
Big thanks to my house-mates for organising the whole thing (yey) and to Stuart for saving me a cake, how thoughtful is that?
I think I probably enjoyed it more after my shocking four weeks of not going out, but I know I’d have had a great time anyway. I’d have been gutted to miss it.
Lip them?
I should say yey for my sis-a-ter Claire getting herself a livejournal, after some badgering. Go her. You should all go and read it…
…No wait! Not yet, finish mine first.
Music
Recently my CD collection has been swelling again, and about time too. The most notable addition (especially for those who read this journal, although in an ideal world lots of other people would believe it so too) is Restless Revolution Day by Day
”Self help is no help”
This is the first full album fromPagan Wanderer Lu’s. Now, I’m sure you all read Andy’s journal and probably already know he has an album out. What you might not know, if you haven’t had a listen yet, is that it’s really good
I for one should like to congratulate him on a superb debut.
Some of the tracks, Molly’s Lips, Based On A True Story, Vote With Yr Feet, and definitely Straight to Video, will be old friends to those who are familiar with the work of Mr Lu. The last of these, which is a long-standing favourite of mine, has been lovingly reworked. I have to say I’m very pleased to see how it’s developed (and that it’s still making the cut).
The stand-out-track though is (You & Me and) Winston Churchill which may actually usurp Straight…’s place. It’s a very well rounded mellow-pop song with fantastic lyrics and a playful sweetness. It’s definitely a summer song too.
Other high points include Believe Everything You Read, an old Fire Action song with a lot more grrr than Andy usually delivers and Hypersanity (Kiss & Refrain) which looks Ibiza-wards musically as well as lyrically with its dance chorus, all done with enough bitterness and a nod and a wink which prompts thoughts of Brave Captain. Telling Stories is an utterly sweet love song written for his person/lady/girfriend/fiancee Sian (who I’m sure you’ll also know). It’s enough to melt frozen hearts and remind anyone listening of the good side of love.
The weak point on the album is probably Billie Holiday which is fine musically, but doesn’t do anything special. Unfortunately it manages to rhyme Holiday with holiday. That’s fine though, it’s almost a rule that an album this good has one “hmmm” track on it.
He’s clearly never been on the Aberyswyth Cliff Railway. 4/5
”You seemed to be, in love with me, that wasn’t very realistic”
Stephin Merrit and co’s new album does nothing to dent that Magnetic Fields magic. i is the band’s seventh release and the follow up to the three-disc-epic 69 Love Songs which sits proudly in some of the world’s finest indie collections, but hides in record shops like a wall flower.
i like 69 is made up of ubermellow fey indie with a lyrical deftness that other bands just can’t find.
It is, in, places a sad album, tracks like I Was Born and Infinately Late At Night set such a slow and melancholic pace that you wonder if you’ll ever be happy again.
Thankfully other tracks on the album have precisely the opposite effect. I Wish I Had An Evil Twin is funny, light and hypergay, which is something the Fields have always done very well. It’s also concerned with love above all else, which isn’t always what’s needed.
I’m slightly put off by the gimmicky idea of every track’s title starting with an “i”. Primary school poetry anyone?
The artwork is lovely though…. And writing i with italic html tags on either side of it is oh-so-much fun too. 4/5
”Breaking the Rubik’s Cube”
Ben Kweller, ex-frontman of Radish, released his second solo album, On My Way about a month ago to little noise.
It’s not as fastasmic as Sha Sha and none of the tracks grab you by the hand quite so endearingly and pull you to the dance floor, but it’s still quirkily fun, up-beat and highly infectious.
Ben’s lyrics can at times can be a little cringe-worthy.
“I need you back” he sings on the opening track “I need you here, to take away all of my pain, and then my fear.”
Well, it might have worked when you were twelve, but can you not give us something more now?
Down is probably the strongest track on the album, starting quite light, and building up the chorus of “When I’m in your arms, nothing can bring me down” until it’s utterly jammed in your head and making you feel as good as the hug he’s describing.
It’s so nice to see BK out of his box again. 3.5/5
And that concludes this over-long update.
Are you sitting comfortably?
Then...
Saturday night at the movies
Typecast, moi?
Earlier tonight I saw that Troy movie with my house-mates and house-friend Tom. I’m really glad Tom came because he was the only one who could see sense. It was not a good filum.
Oh, it was pretty enough and full of shiny action sequences and the like, but I was expecting more. I think I was right to have expectations for this one, they had one of the most amazing stories, directed by the man who gave the world The Neverending “Bastian, say my name” Story.
Unfortunately they gave the tale a lethal injection of Hollywood and that, for me at least, killed it.
I’m pretty sympathetic to the Greeks, who were made to look… well, not-so-good. I especially disliked their Menelaus, I played him in a uni production of Trojan Women a while ago, and I really don’t think he should have been portrayed as such a bastard.
My major objection though, was that, although they’ve credited Homer as being the original author, there seems to have been an excess of poetic “license” used.
Would everyone stop dying in the wrong places please?
And Orlando, could you do something different?
On the plus side, I liked the take on Odysseus, and he is one of my favourite characters.
I’m just praying they don’t try to do the Odyssey now, or even worse the Aeneid, I love that story and should hate to see it receive a similarly shoddy treatment. 2/5
WORK
At the moment I’m wading through my course-work, trying to get my feature done… it’s due in at six on Monday, and after that it’s into practical exams… which will probably be quite interesting.
I have finished my academic-esque ones though, which is very nice.
It’s scary to think that the end of it all is approaching, I hope I find a job soon, a good one.
In Other News
My placements were, all said and done, uberpeachy. The week I spent at the Yorkshire Post was as good as I could have hoped.
I had precisely no time sitting around and wondering what to do. It shows in that I have a very good haul of cuttings from the week, including one from the front page.
They make me about as happy as a boy can be made by pieces of paper, unless those pieces are a lot of money, and perhaps even then.
The only downside is that they don’t seem to have a job to offer, which is a shame because I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather work. But it was still very good experience.
It’s party for you
Rushing back to the house-party here in Cardiff (after my last day at the YP) was quite the best idea I’ve had in a while. While some of my friends knew I was coming, none of my house-mates did, they were all more than a little surprised, but I hope the grins on their faces mean pleasantly so.
It’s a bitch of a train journey from Leeds to Caerdydd when you’ve done a full day’s work. But I had a great chat with a girl on her way back to India about pretty much everything.
On arrival at half midnight, the party was in full swing and everyone was beaming (or steaming, depending on who you looked at).
Big thanks to my house-mates for organising the whole thing (yey) and to Stuart for saving me a cake, how thoughtful is that?
I think I probably enjoyed it more after my shocking four weeks of not going out, but I know I’d have had a great time anyway. I’d have been gutted to miss it.
Lip them?
I should say yey for my sis-a-ter Claire getting herself a livejournal, after some badgering. Go her. You should all go and read it…
…No wait! Not yet, finish mine first.
Music
Recently my CD collection has been swelling again, and about time too. The most notable addition (especially for those who read this journal, although in an ideal world lots of other people would believe it so too) is Restless Revolution Day by Day
”Self help is no help”
This is the first full album fromPagan Wanderer Lu’s. Now, I’m sure you all read Andy’s journal and probably already know he has an album out. What you might not know, if you haven’t had a listen yet, is that it’s really good
I for one should like to congratulate him on a superb debut.
Some of the tracks, Molly’s Lips, Based On A True Story, Vote With Yr Feet, and definitely Straight to Video, will be old friends to those who are familiar with the work of Mr Lu. The last of these, which is a long-standing favourite of mine, has been lovingly reworked. I have to say I’m very pleased to see how it’s developed (and that it’s still making the cut).
The stand-out-track though is (You & Me and) Winston Churchill which may actually usurp Straight…’s place. It’s a very well rounded mellow-pop song with fantastic lyrics and a playful sweetness. It’s definitely a summer song too.
Other high points include Believe Everything You Read, an old Fire Action song with a lot more grrr than Andy usually delivers and Hypersanity (Kiss & Refrain) which looks Ibiza-wards musically as well as lyrically with its dance chorus, all done with enough bitterness and a nod and a wink which prompts thoughts of Brave Captain. Telling Stories is an utterly sweet love song written for his person/lady/girfriend/fiancee Sian (who I’m sure you’ll also know). It’s enough to melt frozen hearts and remind anyone listening of the good side of love.
The weak point on the album is probably Billie Holiday which is fine musically, but doesn’t do anything special. Unfortunately it manages to rhyme Holiday with holiday. That’s fine though, it’s almost a rule that an album this good has one “hmmm” track on it.
He’s clearly never been on the Aberyswyth Cliff Railway. 4/5
”You seemed to be, in love with me, that wasn’t very realistic”
Stephin Merrit and co’s new album does nothing to dent that Magnetic Fields magic. i is the band’s seventh release and the follow up to the three-disc-epic 69 Love Songs which sits proudly in some of the world’s finest indie collections, but hides in record shops like a wall flower.
i like 69 is made up of ubermellow fey indie with a lyrical deftness that other bands just can’t find.
It is, in, places a sad album, tracks like I Was Born and Infinately Late At Night set such a slow and melancholic pace that you wonder if you’ll ever be happy again.
Thankfully other tracks on the album have precisely the opposite effect. I Wish I Had An Evil Twin is funny, light and hypergay, which is something the Fields have always done very well. It’s also concerned with love above all else, which isn’t always what’s needed.
I’m slightly put off by the gimmicky idea of every track’s title starting with an “i”. Primary school poetry anyone?
The artwork is lovely though…. And writing i with italic html tags on either side of it is oh-so-much fun too. 4/5
”Breaking the Rubik’s Cube”
Ben Kweller, ex-frontman of Radish, released his second solo album, On My Way about a month ago to little noise.
It’s not as fastasmic as Sha Sha and none of the tracks grab you by the hand quite so endearingly and pull you to the dance floor, but it’s still quirkily fun, up-beat and highly infectious.
Ben’s lyrics can at times can be a little cringe-worthy.
“I need you back” he sings on the opening track “I need you here, to take away all of my pain, and then my fear.”
Well, it might have worked when you were twelve, but can you not give us something more now?
Down is probably the strongest track on the album, starting quite light, and building up the chorus of “When I’m in your arms, nothing can bring me down” until it’s utterly jammed in your head and making you feel as good as the hug he’s describing.
It’s so nice to see BK out of his box again. 3.5/5
And that concludes this over-long update.