(no subject)
Yes, it's that time of year again where I write a series of pointless lists that no-one actually cares about! Huzzah!
My Top 5 Gigs of the Year:
1. The Cribs at the Great Escape - a truly manic gig. I sweated like a bitch and loved every single second. They are just the best band to see live, they are electric.
2. The Cribs at the Concorde - the first gig I was brave enough to go to the front at risk of passing out (and I didn't!). Plus Giant Drag were awesome, and I enjoyed Jeff and Jack Lewis too.
3. Milburn at the Concorde - the support band (Hot Club de Paris) were amazing, and I'm really looking forward to seeing them again. Milburn were also really good, but it was the crowd that made it. Proper camraderie, it was really heart-warming to see.
4. The NME Awards tour - I went for Arctic Monkeys, who weren't as brilliant I was expecting, but was blown away by We Are Scientists and Maximo Park. They were truly brilliant, and deserved my accolade last year of having the best album of 2005.
5. Arab Strap at Audio - Their farewell tour, and one of the most heart-breaking gigs I've ever been to. I loved them, and only regret that I never had a chance to see them before.
Close contenders for the top-spots: Little Man Tate at the Pressure Point, The Fratellis at the Concorde, the Long Blondes at the Concorde, Guillemots at Audio.
My Top 5 Albums of the Year:
1. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not: Arctic Monkeys - It couldn't really be anything else, could it? When you think about how much hype there was surrounding them, it really could have been a crash and burn experience, but the only weak tracks on the album are Riot Van and Red Light Indicates Doors are Secure, which isn't bad for a 13 track album.
2. Someone To Drive You Home: The Long Blondes - Superb from beginning to end. High points obviously Giddy Stratospheres and Separated by Motorways.
3. Costello Music: The Fratellis - Any album that can start with a track like Henrietta has got to be a winner in my book.
4. Drop It Like It's Hot: Hot Club de Paris - An amazing album that lasts all of half an hour, but completely jam packed with tunes.
5. The Eraser: Thom Yorke - To be fair, had to include something Radiohead related...it wouldn't be a Clog-authored list otherwise.
Close contender for the top spot: Back to Earth by Battle (although only a mini-album).
Clog's Highlights of 2006:
1. Going backstage with Little Man Tate after their Pressure Point gig. They were such nice guys, although I turn into a goon when face to face with people I admire, so became a gibbering wreck embarrassed by everything that was going on.
2. Getting my new job. Its not really new anymore, but I'm still learning loads and it is all going to look excellent on my CV if I choose to move on.
3. The Great Escape. Thank fuck someone realised Brighton was ripe for a festival, and one of such quality.
4. Watching Brighton vs Gillingham. My first football match that didn't involve teenagers.
5. Liverpool winning the FA cup. Such a good day. Shame I had to drink too much and flash my breasts at a group of guys, but still, can't win them all.
6. Meeting my part-time lodger was pretty good too, although I'm not going to tell him that as it will just go to his head.
7. I suppose meeting Hooper face to face was alright, with hindsight. At the time, I was a bit of a twat, but I appreciate it was a necessary thing in the scheme of things.
Clog's Low Points of the Year:
1. Grandpa's lung cancer coming back and it being terminal. Well, he is 80, and he did used to smoke shed loads, so I suppose it is good to have got this far. Still pretty hard to deal with though.
2. England getting knocked out in the quarter finals of the World Cup. Not a great surprise, but still gutting.
3. My enormous heartbreak. Took a long time to get over, but I did and I'm still standing and I'm better than ever. I'm almost at the stage where I cringe about it now.
My New Year's Resolutions:
1. Quit smoking
2. Start saving money properly
3. Lose weight (me and my part time lodger are going to join a gym together, apparently)
4. Get better at the guitar - I need to increase my repertoire from the 3 songs I can play
5. Stop whinging so much
6. Be nicer to my part time lodger
Yay! Roll on 2007!