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Dead cool albums pt II & and other ramblings!

We're back again! Off work for a week and plenty of time to write a blog.

As for my previous blog then... I had just finished my description of the latest Johnny cash album. Now the other two albums that I wanted to talk about are -

Ali farke toure & Toumani Diabate. (self titled) and Jimi Hendrix (valleys of neptune)

The Ali Farke Toure is one that no many people will have heard of as it classed under world music. Now sadly Ali Farke Toure died about two years ago. And left a rather large back catalogue How ever this album was recorded about three years ago but Toumani Diabate had other things to do and so the release was held back. Unfortunately I don't really think it was worth the wait. I'm not really keen on much world music anyway but its an alright album. It does get better with each listen.

Now the Jimi Hendrix I haven't heard, so I really can't review it can I! But the original point was dead people releasing albums!

In other news - if you know me then you will know that I drink rather a lot of diet coke. But a benefit of this has just presented itself! With each bottle or pack that you buy, you can earn these coke zone points! Now at first I thought it was a bit lame. 100 points get you a coke hand towel or a stupid ring tone. But as i've built up my point better things have come up. And yesterday I spent 150 points on a DVD that is worth £15! (I'm not going to say what it is, because its a gift for Kristina!) Now thats a bargain in my book. And yes I know what you're going to say, "how much did you spend on coke to get that?" Well I don't care I would have bought the coke anyway, so this is a bonus!

Well thats about it for today, thanks for reading!

Dead cool albums from beyond the grave!

Salutations reader, Sorry it's been so long since my last blog. I hope you can forgive me!

Right, with house keeping out of the way let me start with the subject of this blog, albums by dead people. This month has seen the release of three albums from recording artist that are no longer part of the world. Not on the mortal coil! Dead, basically.

But apparently death just isn't what it used to be! Take Michael Jackson for example, apparently taken more money after his death than in his whole career! (between you and me I don't think this can be true!)

Anyways, The first release from beyond the grave is the late, great Johnny Cash. Now for all those who don't know me i'm a huge Johnny Cash fan. So it very difficult for me to say that his new album (American recording VI) is just terrible. I was so disappointed. American V was truly Johnny swan song, a masterpiece and a perfect end to a brilliant career. But this new thing shouldn't have been made. One or two song are pretty great but the rest is just filler! It's also only 30 minutes long. And there are so many better unreleased songs from the american sessions that could have been used, but weren't.

Damn, i've ran out of time again, so part II of this blog will follow shortly!

Thanks for reading!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Elementary...

Hello one and all.

I have finally given in to public demand and here it is for all to see, my first blog of 2010! So first things first, i'm actually on holiday from the good ship basement so I have some time to right this! So this week, Kristina and I went to see the new Sherlock Holmes.

I was really looking forward to seeing it and it didn't disappoint. Robert Downey Jr was awesome and his accent didn't annoy me at all! He is actually fast becoming one of my favourite actors. Even Jude law was pretty good. (The only other good role i've seen him in was in "Wilde". ) They clearly work really well together and the direction wasn't bad either.

Now unlike most people I like Guy Ritchie films, which might also surprise you. But this is unlike all of his other films clearly because of the time it's set.

It's quite odd to write about something I like. And do you know why I liked it? Because Diana Krall had absolutely nothing to do with this movie!

I'm sorry this isn't more interesting but hopefully i'll right some more during my time off.

Until next time

If I'm going down I'm taking you with me!

Good evening ladies and gentlemen,

and first let me apologise for the rather large gap between blogs. Don't worry though this will be a good one as I'm about to rip apart Barbra Streisand's latest attempt at an album.

Hence the title of this blog! (What did you think I meant?) If you weren't aware of the fact Diana Krall is the producer of the album. I illustrate what I think of this album I will transcribe the conversation that Barbra and Diana.

Barbra Streisand: (Answers phone) Hello?

Diana Krall: Hi Barbra, it's Diana Krall.

BS: Oh, I know you, aren't you Elvis Costello's wife?

DK: Well yes, but I also sing very boring, very dull Jazz.

BS: That's right, I read a review of your last album on a blog called Craig's basement.

DK: Well anyway, I was wondering if I could produce your next album?

BS: hmmm, not really.

DK: Oh go on, it will be really good. I think we could make an album just like mine, but with your name on the front.

BS: So I would sing in a really depressed way and not really do anything worth while.

DK: That's right, just like my album. My style will suite your voice anyway, as you're so old now you can't reach those high notes.

BS: Well ok, I think I've got a couple of hours free somewhere.

DK: Oh it won't take that long, we don't want it to sound like we put any effort in to it do we?

So there we are, hope you enjoyed that! I think she might have produced the new portico quartet album too! (Sorry Axl!)

Hopefully it would be to long until the next blog.

Until next time...

x

I want to ride my...

Good day to you all, sorry it's been so long since my last post. Sadly I suffer from bloggers block.
But something happened to me the other day (actually about two weeks ago) and I've wanted to talk about it. So as I'm sure some of you are aware some times I cycle into work from time to time. Now I'm sure there are lots of people who have feelings about cycling in Oxford but generally I feel I stick to the rules of the road (Always wear a helmet, working lights etc, etc). So it really annoys me when we all get tarred with the same brush. I was cycling back from work, I stopped at a red light and a man in a car driving past shouted "Why don't you pay some road tax!"
As you can imagine I got off my bike and keyed his car. Well actually that didn't happen. But this got me thinking about how much we judge people. Because I though as he drove by "Why don't you pay some car insurance, you chav twat."
Still perhaps this guy doesn't like cyclist in general and I can sympathise, because generally cyclist can be incredibly annoying. I know, I am one.
I feel that there are some rules that should be followed, if you live in a village or somewhere quiet and cycle down to the shop for the paper and ride on the path with out a helmet I don't see a problem with that. What does get on my goat is when people cycling into Oxford centre, clearly on a commute to work, with out a helmet, running red light and on the phone. Not talking, but texting someone! (I actually saw someone do this last week!)

Anyway I think that enough for one day.
As always comments and criticisms are greatly received.

Now we can really begin!

Good evening ladies and gentlemen,
sorry it's been a while since my last blog but I have been busy! I've have now moved out and have my very own bungalow with my lovely girlfriend. But sadly we couldn't get online until now. But there we are.
Now we're up and running so blogs will be coming thick and fast as long as I can think of enough things to talk about! I also have the rest of the week off work so I'm sure I'll come up with some more.
For now...
Goodnight

x