Apologies for the lack of posting of late, it's been a busy week.

Another musical "hero" of mine passed away this week. I guess he was getting on, but I didn't think he'd actually ever die. Thank you John Peel. Although I was a somewhat irregular (and a both surprised and equally disturbed) listener to his best known radio show, I was an avid follower of Home Truths (sad admission though that is). Purely by accident I discovered this delightful programme when it woke me one Saturday morning. It's not even that the stories people sent in were particularly interesting, but the way Mr Peel treated them was amazing...he could make the most mundane thing (and believe me many of the stories were pretty boring on paper) actually fairly interesting and amusing and made people feel like they were wanted. The best radio voice ever - comforting. I also admired his restless nature, always looking for new sounds and new music. 'Being stuck in a rut' is not a phrase you could use about the man. I hope I'm like that in my 60s (if I ever get there). I wish I'd listened more now.

Anyway that's my 2 pence to add to the overwhelming praise for the man.

Everybody knows that I only have myself to blame

Hello once again nonsense seekers.
On Tuesday Andy and I arrived back to the flat to discover a tracksuited ned rifling through the detritus in my room. With a few shouts and some adrenaline-fuelled menancing walking towards him said boyo threw himself out of my now unlocked window, falling a height of around 2m to the ground (I expected to see him lying unconscious under the window), thumping his legs against my blind and bending it in half before running off round the corner. Several minutes later the police arrived, having been called by some of our neighbours who heard the breaking of the window in the utility room. I was unable to identify them and although Andy had a better idea, he couldn't be much more definite. So that was a bit of excitement for us. More worringly we're unable to find our large, fairly sharp, knife from the kitchen...

But anyway, nothing was taken.

The Frames - Burn the Maps is getting better with every listen - it certainly is different from For the Birds and Dance the Devil, even Glen Hansard's voice sounds more raw and the whole thing is an emotional experience. Livening up my morning walks.

Just got Elliott Smith's From A Basement on the Hill today, which seems pretty good; some interesting production noises (never completely getting away from The Beatles) and a slightly heavier sound on some tracks. Quite fitting that I got it today as it is a year to the day from his death. I don't feel sad listening to this album; certainly I couldn't listen to his music for a couple of weeks after his death - this is an unusual thing for me, the deaths of people I've never met have never affected me before - but this album is different, new and seen in a retrospective light; perhaps I merely feel regret and disappointment at this being his final work. His lyrics suggested that he was aware that he losing the struggle against the inevitable. It still felt untimely. One of the greatest tunesmiths of this era.
Also The Delgados - Universal Audio. I am a little apprehensive at this point, feel it could take a fair amount of listening to appreciate this album as much as their previous work.

Hope all is well with you in innernet land.

Walking with Thee

Good evening. Some short and unrelated and underdeveloped points for you:
I slept in today. It felt pretty good, but think I'll go to bed early too. Ah this rock and roll lifestyle of mine.
My last week of General Surgery this week. It has been pretty good as a block - apparently I'll not get to do too much in the other blocks so I should take all the opportunities I can get, which I feel I have thus far.
This weekend is the Stirling Tune Up ultimate frisbee tournament . The first tournament of the year - the weather's not looking too good at the moment, but it is a whole 5 days away (still time for it to get worse).
I've ordered The Frames' new album - apparently not being released in the UK until next February but available in the Emerald Isle for a few weeks now. I am very much looking forward to hearing it, needless to say.
Lastly, I am still to think of a name for the blog, any ideas?
Night.

You're a slave to money then you die

Further to my last post about cynical cash-ins, I see that the predictable Christmas Greatest Hits compilations have started to appear. Travis, The Verve and Placebo are all releasing "Singles" compilations, all with the now mandatory "previously unreleased" track or two and tie-in DVD. Again, it's difficult for me to see the appeal, but I dislike most of the work of said groups (Urban Hymns was, however, an integral part of my teenage years, which I refuse to apolgise for, despite the cringe factor now), perhaps if Radiohead were releasing a compilation - this seems a rather unlikely proposition - I'd be slightly more considerate, although I do already have all their albums; perhaps the DVD would hold more water with me.

Did you say, no this can't happen to me?

Just back from lunch with (the rather nice) Helen at the rather nice Howie's restaurant in Dundee. It was great to have an hour and a half of relaxing and eating satisfying food; satisfying rather than over filling. My days of thinking of a massive plate of food as enjoyable eating are nearing an end. Perhaps this is what growing up is about; quality over quantity. Perhaps this should be more relevant in the things I choose to spend my time on. I am amazed at how quickly this week has passed and how many things still remain to be done. How many things I would have done; still I don't want to plan every second of my time. What kind of a life is that? (I thrive on danger).
Music of the day:
Jeff Buckley - Grace. I see that an expanded version of this album has just been released. Now I like the original version of the album and I think he was a good singer - perhaps a little grandiose at times (maybe this is merely a reaction to the number of pale copy-cat voices - Matt Bellamy J'accuse (quote from Punk icons NOFX - "I think Radiohead would be really good if they were good. Because when they have a good song it’s really nice, and there’s like two per album. I think Muse is way better than Radiohead, way better. Better songwriting." It's always good to see some intelligent criticism out there)) - but do we really need to hear any more "previously unreleased" material? The words "cynical cash-in" spring to mind. I can't really see myself buying a new version of an album I already own (although I hear they're going to re-release Pavement's Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain much in the way they did with Slanted & Enchanted [thanks Ross]), but maybe some people are more obsessive - in saying that if there was a 10 year anniversary edition of The Bends with something significantly new, it would be hard to resist.

(Just in case - the danger thing was a joke).