A Message to You, Christmas

 

Well tomorrow is the big day. No...not my wedding silly... Christmas. Have you heard of it? Have you been good? What is Santa Bringing you? Normally I would write a post right at the end of the year but expect to hear nothing more until the new year when I will be uber busy and may not get round to anything anyway...

It's been an odd year, normally I exclaim at this point that the year has gone over quickly but this year hasn't. I can't remember what happened at the beginning, or the middle and I can just about remember the end. I was reminded by a poster that I have stored at uni;

that I went to see the Lucid Dream. It feels like ages ago. Well it was ten months but I should have a better memory than that. I have been to see them guys (the Lucid Dream melted my face as did Purple Heart Parade), Sleaford Mods (great live w/two awesome supports), Courtney Barnett (I still have a crush on her w/two awesome supports), The Computers & Colt 45 (awesome), The Strypes (w/a support act better than they were), Kazabian (alright) & Resurrection (not great). We have had some amazing albums (see two posts ago for that run down).

In terms of events, two really effected me. Personally, was the floods in Carlisle it meant I could not get to uni or go anywhere in close proximity to the outskirts. As well as, mentally, the Paris attacks knocked me for six, that weekend I had gone home and that was buzzing in my head. I knew no one effected, but innocent people being shot while listening and dancing and enjoying themselves to the music they loved, hurts on a deep level.

Click the link to raise money for those effected by buying covers of the EODM song "I love you all the time; http://playitforwardeodm.com/

I saw my brother play his first gig as well as go off to uni. He doesn't know it or may not understand how proud I am of him. He has gone through; a death in the family, the stress of moving away and the nerve to stand in a room of his peers and raise the roof.  He has been through a lot more in previous years too so if you are reading this; YOUR BROTHER THINKS YOU ARE GREAT!

I went to another foreign country that I have wanted to visit for a while. Italy is a marvelous place; beautiful, hot and sunny. We went to visit the pope but he wasn't in so we had to admire the architecture of his house instead. As usual we had to find a record shop so got two punk bootlegs; of course I did. that's normal, right? It will be harder to visit next time if the brexit happens (if being the key word).

Crate digging in Rome turns out 2 Punk Bootlegs #Warsaw #JoyDivision #SexPistols

A photo posted by JamesAlexander Reay (@jamuggins) on Jun 30, 2015 at 5:57am PDT

I think thats all i needed to cover in this brief overeview of the year; more highlights include; Moved uni house, went too NME, Mourned the death of NME,bought lots of LP's, drunk lots of beer, ate pizza. Have a great Christmas and see you on the other side of the new year.

Wednesday's Weekly Write Down; JCC

 An ode to the bard of Salford. JCC, is a talent. A true original. Poetry at the speed of light. With wit as sharp as a nail. He leaves everyone in his set to fail. You can copy this man and it will be obvious, your not as good as his royal highness. I am not sure why I am writing this but to tell you people the good word of John Cooper Clarke. Poetry without pretension. Writing as an outsider, what do you think of the human race.

Far from the 3 chord wonders of punk made him the true punk. A bare voice. Nothing to hide behind. No chords to help you guide where this is going. No melody to carry the message. Words mouth to ear. Words on Sci Fi, words on death, words on love, words till he runs out of breath. This man ranks among one of the best lyricists/poets in popular culture. Poetry was a high art, until it married a monster from out of space, thanks to JCC. Bringing it to punks and then the masses rather than the cultured few. Like the beat poets before him; it mattered how it was said, not simply how it was read.

I am have little authority as a designer to do reviews on areas I have little knowledge of, but he is my favourite poet and one of my favourite people in general terms (never met the bloke as with everyone on this imaginary list inside my list, but he's just someone you'd expect to be awesome). Although I have seen him live. It would be hard to choose a poem to end this rant on but here it goes

Wednesday's Weekly Write Down; 2015 in Music

So it's list time of the year and you guys know how much I love lists. So I thought it would be good to combine my love of music and lists for the years run down. Here is the 15 best albums and tracks of the year;

Top Albums
1. Sometimes I Sit and think, Sometimes I just Sit – Courtney Barnett
2. To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar
3. No Cities to Love - Sleater Kinney
4. FFS -FFS
5. Highest Point in Cliff Town - Hooton Tennis Club
6. Are You Satisfied? - Slaves
7. In Colour - Jamie xx
8. Currents – Tame Impala
9. Why Make Sense? – Hot Chip
10. Key Markets - Sleaford Mods
11. Fading Frontier – Deerhunter
12. Short Movie - Laura Marling
13. Multi-Love - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
14. Get To Heaven - Everything Everything
15. La Di Da Di - Battles

Top Tracks
1) Elevator Operator – Courtney Barnett
2) Huarache Lights – Hot Chip
3) No Cities to Love – Sleater Kinney
4) King Kunta – Kendrick Lamar
5) False Hope – Laura Marling
6) Mystery – Boxed in
7) Distant Past – Everything Everything
8) Ship to Wreck – Florence & the Machine
9) Chateau Lobby #4 – Father John Misty
10) Burning For No One – The Cribs
11) Jasper – Hooton Tennis Club
12) Come Home Baby - The Charlatans
13) Anna – Will Butler
14) Gunga Din – The Libertines
15) Bronx in a Six – Sleaford Mods

Wednesday's Weekly Write Down; Imitation Blame

I have watched the "Imitation Game" the other week and it broke my heart. It is an amazing film, staring one of the people I admire the most Benedict Cumberbatch starring as Alan Turing. This man halted the second world war by two years and was convicted of homosexuality! He was convicted of being Gay. What were the police thinking? Sexuality was never and is not a crime. Murder is. Robbery is. Rape is. But not sexuality.

The way we as a country treated the war hero is shameful. This man saved millions of lives by breaking enigma and he should of been celebrated but instead he was left to his own devices via medical castration to survive. He ended up taking his own life of which we should be ashamed of. A war hero made to kill himself.



It's not just this guy who was convicted, many thousands were so; I hate you police, whom prosecuted this man. I hate the police who convicted all them other people. I hate you who think homosexuality is against nature. It is natural to love who you do. Science says so.

Poetic Verse for the Flood Victims

Tonight we are surrounded by water
& people out there are someones son or daughter
All innocent of crime but all victims of the storm
Whoever you are; man, women or Child, seek the warm
Warmth of heart and of a heater
Just to make the pain feel less bitter
Things are replaceable, you, you are not
So stay safe with the friends or family you've got

A Year to the Day

So, its been a year. 365 days. 52 weeks. Since one of the most important people in my life past away and went to heaven. I don't know how to feel. It feels longer. But it isn't.

I miss her daily. Every morning, I put on my cross, bought to remember her by. So that she journeys with me everyday at uni, everywhere. She is still a part of my life. I talk to her every so often. Ask her how things are up there. And tell her my news. People may think I am mad but I love her so much to just move on.

I was wondering, how would be suitable to remember her, so I am gonna share the demo of the song I wrote after her passing.

Today at lunch time we are going to have a cuppa and a ginger snap for you.

Wednesday's Weekly Write Down; Give it a Squeeze

Singles 45's and Under is one of the finest pop albums of all time. If you disagree you are wrong. Glen Tilbrook and Chris Difford at the height of their powers complied in one single album. Side one when then had one of the best pianist/ TV presenters in the band and the second without but the songs have no less merit. They are some of the most perfect songs ever written since the Beatles. Having come out of time with so much anger and political upheaval (Punk), they sound timeless. I am not sure if its bias because one of my favourite songs ever is on it but wow. I am inclined to explain why ever track is so good but just listen. Harmonies, smooth piano lines, funky guitars, powerful bass and choppy drum patterns. The best part was I spent £1 for this gorgeous LP and its one of the most played albums I own.