Bossa Nova Baby

So how do we feel after reading Mick Mercer's review of our ep? Maybe this clip of Elvis playing Lieber and Stoller's tune captures the feeling.

Animals and Men ep reviewed!

First review for our new vinyl 12 inch by Mick Mercer. Read it here.

Animals and Men ep out Friday

We're pretty excited. Our 12 inch ep is available for sale this Friday. Get it from Academy (Annex)Records Brooklyn or order it from

Convulsiverecords(atsign)gmail.com

Tracks are:

John of the Sword

Sugartown

Dreaming of Babylon

I

It's Hip

Driving Stupid

Hope you all rush out and buy it!

Charley Patton

What will you be playing on the 21st December 2012? Time to make up your end of the world playlist. Got to have some Charley Patton in there.

2012 - bring it on...

Are you ready for the end of the world? Pretty heavy tag-line for a movie but I believe it - but then we are gloomy people. When have the Mayans been wrong? We already wrote a song with 21st December 2012 as its chorus for Mike Ology and the Funguys. This movie by the Emmerich's - out in November will make people aware of this date - maybe we should enjoy what little time we have left. 2012 in fiction
More here at http://thisistheend.com/

Woolly Bully 'Sam the Sham'

dragonfly crop circle

This amazing image has appeared in Wiltshire over the last couple of days. Also a Jellyfish in Oxford. What's next? More here
The bizarre revival of crop circles

New look Animals and Men

No not us - the band - the magazine - journal of the Centre for Cryptozoology has a new look and new format. Worth subscribing to if you like strange animals.

Fanny 'Charity Ball'

Another thing I saw on tv last night was an old OGWT episode that featured all girl rock band Fanny. I must admit I wasn't aware of their work but I did enjoy it a lot - they seem like they were the inspiration behind Meyer's Carrie Nations but who knows?

The Truth 'Hey Gyp'

A song to celebrate the collapse of General Motors to. Actually I only heard this song for the first time yesterday - it is on the John Lennon Jukebox collection and Susan and I had one of those 'where have you been all my life' moments. Track down the Donovan version if you like funky harmonica.

Mamas and the Papas 'Monday Monday'

Having nothing better to do I watched a documentary on this band last night on the tragic lantern. It's hard to know how I feel about this folkrock entity that sits somewhere between Sonny and Cher and the Beach Boys - I kind of like them but also kind of don't. They sort of bring back memories of seaside holidays as a child - holidays I generally hated - listening to the car radio was one of the pleasures. For some reason nowadays they remind me of Yo La Tengo.

Città di Ferrara

I haven't posted anything about the Great War for a while but this is an interesting picture. It's an Italian dirigible - the only country other than Germany to use them for bombing purposes. Shot down by an Austrian Seaplane. Like something out of Porco Rosso.

Pierrot le Fou (1965)

OK I'm going to do a short season of movies you should have seen by now if we lived in a perfect world. I used to really like Godard and this is one of his sunny best and was pretty influential on films that came after it.

I am Frank The Fall

We've been trying to learn the fife - here's a flute that sounds like its in the wrong key - great song though.

The Fall 'Squid Lord' Peel Session

Cracking version of this song.

Beefheart Band 'Electricity', 'Sho Nuff and Yes I do'

Great clip from 68 on French tv. I'm not a huge Beefheart fan but this is top notch.

More blues fife and drum

I must admit I am getting a little obsessed with this genre of music. This is another great piece - this time from the Newport Folk Festival in the mid 60s.

More Othar Turner

I really fancy having my own fife and drum band - could it be as good as this though? Probably not. Archival fife and drum music here
Blues fife and drum wiki

Othar Turner

We all know Othar Turner from the Gangs of New York soundtrack - the fife and drum track Shimmy She Wobble accompanies one of the scenes at the beginning of the movie - but this film will tell you a little more about the man who produced one of the best album titles ever 'Everybody Hollerin' Goat' - wiki entry.

Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick 'Byker Hill'

Most folk music I do not like apart from some exceptions and these are two musicians who my brother Neil turned me onto back in the good old days and I can't help but love this stuff. Lyrics here. A traditional north-east song of Colliers played with amazing sympathy and dexterity - give it a go and see if you like it. I find myself getting all misty eyed as I do about anything to do with mining but that's my problem OK? Carthy is probably the most important figure in British folk music. Martin Carthy wiki
Watch them play the classic 'Begging Song'

Chuck Berry 'Go Johnny Go'

We're having a bit of a revival of Chuck Berry in our house - not sure why I haven't played any for years but now I am kind of enjoying them again. I thought this credit sequence interesting. Why did they chop his head off on the opening shot? Maybe they didn't want a black face to scare the squares, I don't know, but it is a credit sequence worth watching and playing spot the stars who will utimately have tragic ends and who won't.

Old picture of Whitelands

Interesting old postcard view of chez nous. Sad to see that there was once a very large and developed wood (on the right of the picture) that's no longer there. Just a field.

Charge of the Light Brigade 1968 trailer

Lovely trailer for a brilliant film. Probably the best British historical epic ever this classic from Tony Richardson manages to capture the period and also make a great 60s film too. Everything is right about this film. I saw it at the pictures when I was about 9 and I remember falling in love with Vanessa Redgrave. When I was a teenager I was in the youth section of the WRP and my folks used to say it was because I wanted to meet her. Not true of course but funny nonetheless. For some reason I don't own a copy of this movie yet...maybe it's time to invest.

Doo Rag

Clip from 96 by the great blues and noise duo. Susan's getting her drum kit back from loan to a neighbour today so if you can imagine us in the kitchen trying in our own small way to try and 'do a doo rag' you won't be far wrong.

'Forever Young' Bob Dylan 1976

Followed by a spirited rendition of 'Baby Let Me Follow You Down'. It's Red's birthday today so I thought I'd post something he might like - this clip from the Last Waltz seems a good choice. They had a great time at Devo by the way...I think the band were on great form but I will find out more when they get back.

The Collins Kids 'Hoy Hoy Hoy'

Henry of the Bad Detectives first showed me this...it's great... Collins Kids Wikipedia entry

Devo

Bea and Red are getting excited about going to see Devo on wednesday - up in London - a place apparently that has hot water and lots of people...anyway this video is pretty cool - rocking through the song Mongoloid on French tv in their classic phase.

F&I in Wiltshire

It's a national holiday in the UK and though I don't reenact much these days I do like to watch the odd display and this weekend managed to persuade my family to go with me to a local attraction, the Bison Farm to watch a small event. (If you're in the south-west the farm near Warminster is well worth a visit - they have Red deer, Elk ...and you can eat the exhibits). But it wasn't the Bison burgers that dragged me out but the chance to see the UK's newest 18thc reenactors the 60th Royal Americans of New France and Old England - the UK F&I society. They were pretty impressive as these photos show and I hope they do well. The 60th have been a popular choice in the US but this is a first for Britain. Led by Colin Spicer they are currently getting quite a lot of attention so if F&I is your bag, and you're inspired by the new Galloping Major figures or similar - get in touch with them. Photos Celia and Bea.

Timewave theorists got it right?

We were waiting for April 2009 to come round in our house to see whether Novelty theorists were right about it being a significant date - it seems to be - what do you think? Novelty theory wiki

Animals and Men 'John of the Sword'

This is Susan's film of one of the tracks off our forthcoming ep on Convulsive.
John of the Sword

We dedicate this to John Michell

John Michell

This month's Fortean Times has a special feature on this English writer who has since the 60s covered many topics in his books such as numerology, UFOs, megaliths, Glastonbury...and much more. Basically before Michell Glastonbury was another Somerset town - actually that's a bit of an exaggeration but you get my drift. I learnt quite a few things about this great writer I didn't know - he was once a friend of the Rolling Stones for example - and named the UFO club for Pink Floyd. So if you have a liking for this original thinker maybe you should try and get hold of Fortean Times before it sells out.
In a way reading John Michell makes you into a bit of a dreamer - a 'normal person' would scoff at some of his ideas but even a rationalist reductionist would find it hard to argue with some of the strength of his notions and how convincing they are. My favourite book is 'Twelve Tribe Nations' which argues a literal 'enchantment' when perpetual choirs chanted and the world was divided along astrological lines. I can't really explain it in a few lines - you have to read the book and consider the evidence before judging it a fancy. Michell is no fake or fakir - he's a true English visionary and eccentric with a great writing style. I recommend you give him a read. Whether he's writing about Crop Circles, Glastonbury, strange phenomena or whatever it's hard to put him down - his ideas intoxicate the mind. Wiki

Loads more stuff at the Butts Bugle

Lots of interesting local news stories from the Frome area are up to read at the Butts Bugle.

Robert Wilkins 'Rollin' Stone'

This mournful but very catchy tune has been on our stereo this last week. Give it a go - you might succumb to its hypnotic melancholic charms - it might be from 1928 but it still manages to captivate. Robert Wilkins wiki. And if you are wondering what a biscuit roller is you can find out at this language of the blues site that tells you the meaning of all the obscure references in the lexicon of blues suggestion. It's an excellent site that will have you smiling and learning the language at the same time. Wilkins illustrated discography

Bath's Day of Heritage

The City Bath is getting excited ready to have a visit from the Ermine Street Guard - Britain's longest established Imperial Roman military display group. Here's a list of Bath World Heritage Day events this saturday the 18th.
Image search Ermine Street Guard

The Tu-Tones 'Natural Born Lover'

I was searching Jimmy Reed on youtube and found this Texas duo - a pretty damn good sound that manages to be authentic sounding but they're own thing. Excellent stuff.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs 'Zero'

I missed this on telly the other night - not that I watch much but this is a great performance and a great song and I think you might enjoy watching it too.

Count Five 'Double Decker Bus'

Susan and I were thinking this might be a good one to cover - not sure of the rave up bit - it does break the song up a bit rythmically...great lyrics and riff. I suspect loads of people have done versions of it though but what the heck, it's the thought that counts. I've always had a strong liking for the Count V - maybe it's the crappy punk harp... the thumping punky bass - what's not to like?

Paranoid Time

Paranoid Time is a fanzine/blog and a radio show every tuesday night from Lyon France. Listen to it Tuesdays at 11pm (10 pm if you're in the UK with our time) at http://www.radiocanut.org/. They play punk music from all over the world and even music from Radstock! Last week they played a track off our forthcoming vinyl 12 inch ep on Convulsive Records 'Songs from the Somerset Coalfield' so they must be good guys don't you think? This is a track they have been playing - a 1984 song by the Big Boys 'We're not in it to lose' There is a couple of hours worth of streaming stuff if you want to give it a listen. It's a mix to please all punk fans I would say.

The Clovers 'Lovey Dovey'

Inspirational doo-wop from one of the greats at the top of their game. Am I not good to you?

Banshees 'Make up to Break up'

Great clip from 77 when the Banshees were a punk band. This song isn't one of their best from that era but it serves as an illustration as to what they were like on stage in those days.

Daughter Bea in the local paper!

Bea works for a local independent toy retailer Snooks. You might have seen her Gorilla in a toy shop video. Anyway they're gearing up for the comedy festival. Also here on the online version of the Bath Chronicle.

Best friends for the day!

This is a mad and great idea. Paul Good and his mates will be your best friends for the day. Here's the ebay page so start bidding.
Here's what they say

How would you like lots of new best friends?
Well now you can for a whole day thanks to this great offer.
We will spend the day being your best friend, doing what
best friends do. Shopping, dancing, ice skating. You decide!
Because as your new best friends we want you to be happy!

Brilliant.

Frome record shop on the telly!

Frome record shop Raves from the Grave was featured in an article on the disappearing independent music emporium on Breakfast tv this morning. Well done. Use it or lose it folks.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs 'Zero'

We're enjoying the new YYYs album 'It's Blitz' - they seem to be keeping up the quality on their releases...lasting the course.

Planxty 'The Good Ship Kangaroo'

I picked up a copy of the book 'The humours of Planxty' by Leagues O'Toole today and it being St Patrick's Day thought I'd post this classic song from the 'After the Break' lp. I don't really like Folk music but I like Planxty...give it a whirl...you might like it.

Animals and Men t-shirt

Hey there music lovers...want to look cool? Why not get yourself one of these fine Animals and Men t-shirts? If you want one email carynep@yahoo.co.uk - do it quickly while stocks last.

New Goth book 'Music to Die For'

Mick Mercer is someone who was in at the start of the movement known nowadays as Goth - he was one of the only people who gave our band Animals and Men serious attention back in the early 80s so I know he was in at the beginning and knows his Goth onions.

The blurb reads

'My fifth book concerning Goth has now arrived. It is 624 pages long, containing individual entries on 3,581 different bands, from 70 countries, with 183 photos. It covers bands from the beginning of these scenes to the present day and wherever possible contains full line-up details and discographies as well as unusual facts revealed by many of the bands. This is the biggest guide ever printed about the underground scenes in which Goth, Post-Punk and all things noir co-exist with equal splendour. http://www.myspace.com/musictodieforbymickmercer

You can find this on Amazon, Barnes & Noble (etc) but if possible please use the link below to buy direct from the publisher http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/musictodiefor.php. This time around I am delighted to have discovered details on many countries I had never been able to infiltrate before.

Musically we have representatives from these distinct and Goth-related genres:‘Alt’ (covering a multitude of sins) – 336, Ambient – 71, Classical/Ethereal – 33, Comedy – 1, Deathrock – 12, Electro – 99, Electronic(a) – 79, Folk/Country – 67, Glam – 11, Gothic – 1042, Gothic/Metal – 449, Historical – 4, Horror – 25, Indie – 99, Industrial – 117, Other/Exp/Minimalist – 135, Post-Punk – 356, Psychobilly – 93, Punk/New Wave – 234, Rock – 238, Shoegaze/Psychedelic – 36 and Surf/Garage – 44.'

Animals and Men live in London tonight

Just a quick reminder to anyone who is in the capital tonight to get down to the Less Club at the Hub in Shoreditch to see some great bands... and us! We will have some of our snazzy t-shirts on sale and copies of our vinyl lp 'Never Bought Never Sold'. See ya there music lovers!

Saturday Morning Watchmen

If the hype around this film is getting you down - or is that just me - then check out this genius interpretation of the concept. I am well appreciating Bea showing it to me - well worth my 2,000th posting.

The 'real' Frome news

If you are interested in the real news stories that concern Frome - the ones the Somerset Standard won't print, then surf on over to the Butts Bugle to see what's really going on. It just might make you laugh.

Sue's Dad in Motorcycle News!

Something to be proud of - if you're a Frome resident the name Difazio is well known ...nice to see Malc flying the flag for local engineering! Article was written by Andy Westlake - a name familiar to any of you who might have worked at Butlers and Tanners - what a talented town!

Dr Ross - harmonica boss

I've been trying to get to grips with the art of playing harp in a rack while playing the guitar ready for our gig in London next tuesday - not as easy as it looks - it requires practice - so I thought I'd view one of the great one man bands of all time Dr Ross. Ross made some great boogies for Sun Records and elsewhere and I heartily recommend him to y'all. One man bands are having a resurgence these days - it's not just a question of having no mates - playing solo can give you a brilliant locked in boogie sound that would probably bore backing musicians causing them to overload the primitive toe tapping synchronisation. Hear more here

Booker White 'Special Streamline'

This year marks the centenary of the birth of this great bluesman - and this is a great video to go with one of his classic recordings from 1940. 'Make it lonesome cos I'm a hobo myself sometime'.

Peter John and Bjorn 'Nothing to Worry About'

Can't embed this but I do recommend you watch it - it features Japanese rockers at Harajuko park dancing and posing - they're really cool and I salute their dedication. Songs not bad - might become an anthem of our time...

The Fall 'Free Range'

'What is your favourite Fall single?' I was asked once...it's a difficult one to answer - there's been a lot of 45s but I suppose this one resonates with me a lot as it was with what I consider the best line-up and it was also around this time that I used to go and see them live at every opportunity. The album that this is from 'Code Selfish' is a classic and I have fond memories hearing it and playing it to death. 'Insect posse will be crushed!'

Klimt

Well I didn't know this film existed - John Malkovich as the famous Austrian artist - looks worth tracking down. I do like Malkovich - maybe it's because he's bald and manages to still get good roles...

The Asteroids 'The Sun Ain't Shining No More'

Latest sensation from Copenhagen. I like this pumping piece of pop - give it a spin and see what you think. More here

'John of the Sword' Animals and Men

Here's a track off our forthcoming ep for Convulsive Records. This new video was made by Felix.

Animals and Men gig in London

10th March in E1. Look forward to seeing you all there. Also on the bill Wetdog, Miss Something and Le horla. Tickets from here.

The Cramps 'Most Exalted Potentate of Love'

What can you say?

Death of Lux Interior

We're shocked and saddened to hear of the death of one of rock and roll's greatest performers, Lux Interior. Wiki here Below is a clip from the Tube a tv show from the 80s with the Cramps doing 'What's Inside a Girl?'

Pierrot le fou (1965) trailer

My son was watching Bonnie and Clyde and I said 'have you seen Pierrot le fou' by Godard? One of the best films ever made. So here is the trailer.

Quiet Flows the Don (1957)

All the parts are up of this classic story of Cossacks at the time of the Revolution and Civil War based on the novel by Mikhail Sholokhov. So if you have an interest in this sort of thing you might enjoy it.

Interesting Animals and Men review

'understated humdrum homemade music about the travails of their quotidian lives' - wow - spot-on and intelligent review on Shit-fi dot.com

The Buzzards 'You got me down'

This is a great song and video - I am only sorry it took me so long to hear it but what the hell I live in North Somerset fer goodness sake. Anyway they are from Detroit and you won't regret giving them a spin, believe me. Their myspace

The Fall (2008) trailer

Nothing to do with M E Smith - this is a fantast movie that looks worth watching. 'In a hospital on the outskirts of 1920s Los Angeles, an injured stuntman begins to tell a fellow patient, a little girl with a broken arm, a fantastical story about 5 mythical heroes. Thanks to his fractured state of mind and her vivid imagination, the line between fiction and reality starts to blur as the tale advances.'

Jimmy Reed 'I'm Goin' New York'

This is really great - blues legend Jimmy Reed talking about his hit song and then followed by it...brilliant. Make this old person happy and listen to it.

Terraplanes Evil Going On artwork

I love this artwork. Hope you do too. I'd like a t-shirt with it on, but I would look horrible in it. From here on Superfake.net

Doin' the Jaguar Bo Diddley

We got this new record deck at the end of last year (I recommend this Ministry of Sound deck - about 40 quid - search dj decks on ebay) and we decided to do one of those 'filming the record going round' videos...but what song? It had to be Bo Diddley - this 45 on the PYE RnB label was one of my first real records - bought for about 20p from a junk shop in Frome in about 74. It has one of the best guitar solos ever recorded. Backing vocals by girl group the Impalas and recorded in 61 - more details here in a book on doo wop.

Monochrome Set 'Fat Fun'

Excellent song - brilliant video...what more can I say? It's one of those circular discussions we have had every now and then over the last 28 years - why didn't the Monochrome Set become household names? Why weren't they on Top of the Pops and so on. Who knows? Listen to 1980's the Lighter Side of Dating with lyrics to see the mastery of their songwriting.

Buzzcocks

My son is off to see the Buzzcocks tonight - tomorrow they're in Bristol. Apparently the Lurkers are supporting...should be fun.

Paranoid Time

Weekly radio show playing D-i-Y punk etc from Lyon France on tonight (tuesday) at 11pm. They've written a great review of our band Animals and Men so we shall no doubt listen in.

The Would Be Goods 'Le Crocodile'

If you have been wondering what Andy Warren - one-time bass player in Adam and the Ants and latterly the Monochrome Set - has been doing then check out his band the Would Be Goods. Excellent stuff.

Buzzcocks 'What do I get?'

The Buzzcocks are touring at the moment - doing their first two lps - not sure if this one counts as it wasn't on an lp - from the days when people left off singles from albums. 'For the very first time, we will be playing our first two albums - Another Music In A Different Kitchen and Love Bites - in their entirety + other hits!' Tour dates here

Monochrome Set 'Jet Set Junta'

Another song from the 30th anniversary show at Dingwalls. See more of Bid and his band Scarlet's Well here.

AMONG THE POST-PUNK CRÈME DE LA CRÈME – ANIMALS & MEN

Nice review for our band on the Detailed Twang site. So true, so true...

Monochrome Set 'Forever Young'

Footage from the 30th anniversary gig at Dingwalls earlier this year on 08/10/08, featuring Andy Warren, Bid, Lester Square, Jennifer Denitto (drums), Sian Chaffer (keyboards) . Happy New Year to you all...

The great harmonica revival

Seems like everyone I talk to these days is talking about the harmonica. Not sure what this means but it could be that we might have a revival on our hands. Anyhoo here's a virtuoso piece for you to try out - Big Walter Horton's Little Boy Blue.

Smokestack Lightning

More Cadillac Records - this time Chester Burnett aka Howling Wolf. Not a bad facsimile in terms of visuals and sound maybe I can build up the courage to watch the whole movie. Hard to imagine the Chess story in isolation - there was a whole load of labels and artists but I suppose this is a movie not a book. Chicago Breakdown by Mike Rowe from 1973 is worth tracking down though it's long out of print - you'll need the library loan system but maybe it might get a reprint if people get interested in the Chicago Blues scene. Another book to have is Blues Records 1943-66 - a complete guide to 20 years of recorded blues by Leadbitter and Slaven. It tells all the session details, musicians, dates songs of all the post war classics. Maybe a bit trainspotterish but I found it useful.

ESG 'Moody'

Scene from a 1989 movie called the Vampire's Kiss depicting that great band in the background. It's a great way to be immortalised, being in a movie playing in the background, I wonder if there's enough for a short season of clips?

Adam and the Ants 'Press Darlings'

My sister bought us the Adam Ant autobiography on talking book so we've been enjoying - if that's the correct word - listening to him cataloguing his unusual life. It's a great opportunity to perfect the impression...

Psychotic Reaction

Before Susan starting singing and we became Animals and Men we were briefly a 3 piece called Psychotic Reaction doing a couple of covers like 'You're Gonna Miss Me' and a few self penned ones like 'I'm being Buried alive'.

Thought you might like a laugh and see Geoff me and Nigel (left) in our punk rock glory....check the strides....

Elvis 'Blue Christmas'

I am the least christmassy person in the universe so I am sort of the anti-christ-mas - santa is my satan - but here's my favourite festive song (after Toxic Sonic's I can't stand Christmas) as a way of wishing you a speedy return to normality. Dont forget to listen in to the Bad Detectives on Frome FM tonight

40 Days and 40 Nights

Here's a clip from the new movie Cadillac Records depicting Muddy and Little Walter recording. It's not how I imagined they would be dressed in that era but what do I know? Actually I'm sort of dreading watching this movie for some reason...

Vintage Bad Detectives photo

Image from Newton St Loe in about 79 - that's Charlie dancing...check the BDs out on the radio on Christmas Eve.

The Spirit trailer

The comic based film to see this season methinks

Faintheart

This is a new comedy movie about a Viking reenactor who loses his girlfriend and then has to win her back. Watch the trailer and see if you think it's any good.

70 Gwen Party 'The Power Elite'

Hooray! Someone has uploaded more 70 Gwen Party - we love this mid-90s band and Susan is gradually picking up their back catalogue on vinyl for silly prices on ebay - it seems really strange that such a great band is so unfashionable but we don't mind though - 99p for the Devil Wrapped and Ginsung buried' LP? Utter madness...

Bad Detectives on the radio tonight

Hopefully the Frome hit factory will be spinning their festive hit 'Cadillac under the Christmas tree' - text em email them and tell them hi from your corner of the world.

12-14-2008 22:30 at Frome FM

An internet only edition of The Bad Detectives Radio Show. Listen live at www.fromefm.co.uk from 10.30pm - midnight.

Cadillac Records

Geoff spotted this one and its my now must-see movie that's in theatres. It's simply the Chess story. Is that enough for you? It's got Beyonce in it (as Etta James) and characters like Little Walter, Muddy and the Wolf are represented in the movie. If that ain't enough for you then god save your miserable soul...wiki on the movie

Ike's Instrumentals

Maybe you're having a get-together this season and you don't know what to play... know what my suggestion is? Ike's Instrumentals by Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm on Ace - it's just the bees knees to get people moving and a grooving. I would kill to play like Ike with his spangly twanging and tremolo arm bending. The backing is top-notch too...sort of your ideal fantasy backing band. Few people can be considered geniuses in my book - it's a term too often used for plagiarists but Ike was one and we should thank Ace for delivering this perfect package for us to start popularising the cult of Ike.

animals and men in the garden

Found this old photo from about 80 - that's Geoff holding our kittens - what was going on with his hair? Navy barbers I suppose. Sue tries to duck out the photo...me looking stick thin - those were the days.

Radiators from Space 'Television Screen'

One of the great punk 45s this version from 2004 is slow enough so you can hear the lyrics, the original is much faster, I know cos I still play it on my stereo. Still excellent though.

The Residents 'I'm Not Crazy'

Our son is off to London this sunday to see the Residents - here's a sample of their live show from earlier this year - hope he has a good time.

magic hat

Our favourite Seattle radio show The World is a Drag "Tune in weekly Saturday mornings from 9-11 at rainydawg.org" sent this out image with a bulletin the other day - it's hilarious and I felt I had to share it with you lot...

Death of Odetta at 77

Someone who was synonimous with the beat generation and one who did the definitive version of the House of the Rising Sun has died. Watch her in 2005 performing it.

Rip Rig and Panic 'Go Go Go'

A sort of Bristol band - a spin off from the Pop Group they were sort of annoying and brilliant in equal parts. This features Neneh Cherry who became a big star in the late 80s. See what you think.

Ike and Tina 'Bold Soul Sister'

Lovely performance from 1970 - funny as the styles of the women are similar to what you sometimes see these days - or am I wrong? Watch them do Land of a Thousand Dances in 1969 here

'Cadillac under my Christmas tree'

Frome's own music factory The Bad Detectives have a Christmas track on the free album 'Black Christmas' available to download for free from Bizarre Mag. Also features Billy Childish and the Flaming Lips and many other people who are pretty famous and Jonathan King. Should get you in the festive spirit.