Hi Everyone
Its time to get back on the horse…it’s a new dawn, it’s a new light, it’s a new day and I’m feeling….well more likely I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour but heaven knows and all that…
Christmas was descent enough in the shop…very much the same as last year give or take a few euro.
Had a few days off over the period which were nice, got a few books from Santa….got the Brian O Driscoll one as probably a third of the men in the country did.
Not to give out about our Brian (as I have the utmost respect for the man, a pure warrior on the pitch, he would have put his head where most of us would not put our kitchen sink) but it was a very safe book, enjoyable enough read but he certainly did not piss to many people off….safe safe safe.
I suppose he is still involved in punditry and did not want to be giving out about ex team mates, coaches or opponents’, so that must be respected I suppose.
It was a pity himself and Paul Kimmage could not get the book done together as Kimmage is a great sports writer and the book would have being all the better for it.
I had a bar stool conversation with a few of my friends over Christmas and one maybe cynical opinion was that Kimmage and O Driscoll went separate ways because Kimmage was trying to the dig the dirt on drugs in the game….more likely is I feel that Kimmage was just not getting enough juicy bits from Drico….although he is fairly obsessed with the drugs in sport issue, so who knows maybe there is a bit of truth to the first opinion also.
I also read Sean Kelly’s autobiography (in Kimmage’s drug filled sport cycling) and it was a very insightful and enjoyable read.
Man, drugs or no drugs and I don’t have a clue which, he was one tough hombre on the bike….it is such a pity it’s not a clean sport as it is certainly one of the toughest.
But where there is huge money involved in sports these days, and every tiny percentage of improvement can be crucial, I suppose one has to constantly question the use of drugs in sport, or men like Paul Kimmage will do it anyway, and that’s needed also I feel.
Last in the book reviews (I shall get done to business very soon), and I saved the best wine till last, I am reading the ALAN MCGEE autobiography (he was the founder of the Creation record label as most of ye will know who was home to THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN, PRIMAL SCREAM (bobby Gillespie being his oldest and closest friend) and off course OASIS.
Even though I am only 3 chapters in….it is a fascinating read, funny, open, mad and sad (what a horrible upbringing the man had) ….i shall keep ye posted but a serious thumps up so far.
Irvine Welsh amongst others had some comments at the start and he said “essential reading for anyone interested in music and culture in the 90’s before it was all swamped by the surgical spirit sterility of the global marketplace”.
Ooh I did like that!….gone is my beasts in the sky analogy, thank you Mr. Welsh I will be using the surgical spirit sterility of the global marketplace instead!!
Ok so,
Sony has the new Mark Ronson CD out on the 16th Jan and it will be one of the biggest releases for the start of the year.
Most of you have probably heard the excellent BRUNO MARS tune as the first single from the record…its a cracker.
But there are collaborations also with STEVIE WONDER (twice) and KEVIN PARKER from TAME IMPALA fame (three times) amongst others….so it looks like it could a very interesting record….hopefully says he!
The LP version was due to come out on the 23rd of January, but it seems to have slipped off the release schedule, but I will keep ye posted on its arrival.
The New Year with the Vinyl records seems to be and will continue to be strewn with delays….this record the first of many to be delayed.
I read an article earlier about OPTIMAL pressing plant in Germany about 90 kms from Berlin, one of the biggest and probably the best record pressing plant out there.
They pressed records 24 hours a day for 364 days last year….doing about 50,000 records a day, but there is a lack of working machinery out there so plants are struggling to keep up with the demand.
Chart LP was a let down at Christmas…yes you heard me right….chart LP!!
We couldn’t get stock of some/most of the chart topping titles.
Ed Shearan was the biggest selling CD by a bit and we had no stock on LP from early December, Hozier was another stock issue on LP as well as Royal Blood and War on Drugs…..i suppose in one sense that’s a great complaint for an unsterile, unsurgical yet spirited independent record shop….but not ideal either in the quest of the important dollars at Christmas!!
The link is below for anyone interested in reading it.
There is a picture in it and if you super imposed Walter White into it, you would think it is one of his makeshift meth labs!
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jan/07/-sp-vinyls-difficult-comeback
Universal has new releases and debut I think by Dublin duo HUDSON TAYLOR and they also have a new FALL OUT BOY album on CD only for now it appears.
(The latest Universal Vinyl listing has a few nice price reductions.)
Warner does not have very much to talk about for next Friday in my opinion except maybe LUPE FIASCO’s new one
Music on Vinyl (MOV) has a few nice reissues for the end of the month including ELVIS COSTELLO, THE ISLEY BROTHERS and Curtis Mayfield.
Proper have the new WATERBOYS ALBUM OUT ON FRIDAY next.
Looking forward to a listen to that one….I was only a young fella when I saw them in the city hall 25 years ago!
An unforgettable night for reasons best not mentioned on this page.
Proper also have the new ALAN KELLY GANG CD (TOP QUALITY TRAD)
New releases also from REPUBLIC OF MUSIC for next few weeks which include new albums by AQUALUNG and THE CHARLATANS.
Plastichead have limited edition live LPs (349 of each only pressed, aimed at collectors….saucy on the pocket but on lovely splattered colored Vinyl if you are into that kind of thing…..let me know if interested as don’t think I will take the plunge and buy otherwise)by JOY DIVISION, BAUHAUS, DEVO and THE RAMONES.
PLASTICHEAD also have reissues by THE ANIMALS, ENTOMBED AND PROCOL HAREM.
Just a quick side note here, being listening to the new TIM WHEELER album ( ASH) for the last few days after hearing a lot of good things about it and really enjoying it, it is very mature and emotional, spine tingling at times when you know the whole album is about his fathers battle and ultimate demise caused by dementia.
I’m sure your dear old man George would be, or is incredibly proud of his son, wherever he is……it’s a beautiful record Tim.
Some nice piano by your dear old man also.
Pias for today have two KINKS reissues, village green and Arthur……in store now!!
Pias for next Friday have quite a few to mention, the new BELLE AND SEBASTIAN will be here, ENTER SHIKARI is out, queens of rock SLEATER- KINNEY have a new one and THE DECEMBERISTS have their seventh offering as well as a debut album by MENACE BEACH who some of the UK music press are tipping for good things including being close to the top of most of the end of year lists for 2015…way to far ahead for this brain to compute for one.
PIAS FOR THE 23RD OF JAN have reissues from ANN PEEBLES, MOTORHEAD on CD reissues, NICK CAVE CD/DVD reissues and an interesting new one from KITTY,DAISY AND LEWIS THE THIRD… produced by MICK JONES.
ON THE LOCAL SCENE, STEVIE G’s cracking new single is out featuring the gorgeous vocals of CHRISTINA UNDERWOOD….check it out below….if you can get BRUNO to duet with Christina on the next single or maybe STEVIE WONDER..!!
Stevie has been and always will be I suspect, a great supporter of the local music scene in this city.
Stevie G featuring Christiana Underwood & Walshy “Not about that” (single and video)
Stevie G and Christiana Underwood have just released the follow up to their “Deep down south” single on soul jamz records, a cork independent music label. “Not about that” is again co-produced by Ian Ring and features Walshy on keys, bass and guitar.
The video was shot live by Damien Murphy of Limbo Media and is a celebration of vinyl culture and vintage stores. Stevie and Christiana did 7 pop up shows in various Cork locations on Culture night, joined by some of their friends from other local acts
there’s a vinyl 45 out with both of the labels two singles so far on one record.
Check out the Music Zone website for what’s coming in and hopefully going out!
Sin e for this week,
Happy New Year to ye all,
Thanks for listening,
Ray.