Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther

This is an album that was recommended to me by Sean, thanks Sean!!

Released in June 2006, this is the second album from this 5 piece from Denton, Texas. Their sound is almost 70's folk (don't laugh) and pulls influence from Steeley Dan, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles apparently (can't say I could comment knowing none of these bands!).

You can hear from the outset that these are talented and diligent musicians with a strong songwriting ethic. Their music sounds like it does, because that how they want it to sound. I know that sounds daft, but they are not producing music like this to appease the masses. If that was the case, they be cranking up the guitars, screaming into the microphone and producing more North American rock dirge .

Having checked You Tube for some live footage, they appear to be totally into their live performance too. Lots of visuals and obvious affection for their songs.

Favourite tracks Roscoe, Young Bride, Bandits, It Covers the Hillsides.

I haven't had this off my ipod for days now and look forward to putting it on again, and again. I can often be found lying in bed, drifting off to sleep to their dreamy sound....

I totally recommed. Just check out their myspace site, check out a few of the tracks...You won't be dis-appointed. Check out their standings too in last years 2006 review. Pretty impressive.

The Onion (# 3)
Uncut (# 7)
Mojo (# 9)
Q (# 21)
NME (# 40

Why I hate January!!??

- Clearing the car of snow every morning
- Clearing the drive and wondering if I should double the workload and clear next door's too - Always a conundrum
- The effing cold has now cracked my windscreen (windshield for N.Americans!)
- Christmas and New Year is over. Sniff sniff
- Summer seems so long away
- No visitors from England for ages
- No money!!
- The TV is shit (although American Idol has started (?) Did I just say that??)
- It's dark going to work and dark coming home, is it light in the day?
- No gigs (although have booked to see Midake and Rob Dickinson in Feb)
- Work is all PLANNING, PLANNING, PLANNING!!!
- Everyone saying "we can't complain, these winters aren't as bad as they were 20 years ago". Annoying gits
- If coming home at Christmas is going to become 'the annual', then feeling homesick, deflated and missing everyone will become an even bigger reason to hate January...

....However...Reasons to look forward to life post-January!!!

- Going to see Midlake in February 2007 (review of their album to follow!!)
- Going to Deerhurst in February for Clair's B'day with Kate and Sean!! Should be fun...
- Neil, Julie and Melissa are over in May and we are going to Chicago!!
- Denise, Bill and Dan are over in August - Going to NYC again!!
- Dan Dan over again too...more Carry on!!
- Denis and Ena are over too....BABYSITTERS!!!!!
- Rache is coming too...Looking forward to the Leffe Rache!! I'll drink you under the patio table!!
- TV gets better in Spring!!
- New series of SURVIVOR!!!
- Work gets back to normal
- The sun WILL shine once more...
- Long summer evening sipping martini's on the patio
- Camping trips up North...HAVE to go more often this year
- Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving and Christmas again
- HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!! (don't do them parsnips again Denise!!!)

Book review - His Dark Materials: Book one - The Golden Compass (aka Northern Lights in UK)

To anyone whom has not read this trilogy, don't waste another second. Rush out to your nearest Borders/Chapters/Indigo and pick it up....you won't be dis-appointed.

Written as a early-teen fantasy book, the content is darker and more philosophical than might be understood. On the surface, it's a story of a child, Lyra and her desperate search for her friend Roger whom has been abducted by Gobblers and taken North (bear with me). The story is a fast paced, frenetic juggernaut hurtling along at speed whilst underneath it all, there is the subtle undertone of a young girl coming of age, gaining maturity as well as dealing with innocence, morality and sin. Quite the melting pot...

Lyra, the pivotal character is literary icon up there with the Harry Potter's of this world. She is smart, gutsy, intelligent, loyal and brave. Much in the same veign as the aforementioed Mr. Potter this also takes from LOTR and Philip Pullman's writing is excellent. Never dull, full of imagery and rich descriptive text whilst keeping the plot moving along niceley.

The cliffhanger ending is fantastic and the final chapters were real page turners. I am 1/4 through book 2: The Subtle Knife and the plot keeps turning and twisting...I truly don't know whats going to happen next...I don't want it to end.

Along the way we have aready met witches, armoured bears, huge flying bats, gobblers, daemons I can't wait to see how this is going to look on the big screen. Did I not mention?

THE MOVIE IS IN PRODUCTION and already filming for release in Nov 2007!! A big budget box office spectacular is promised and Daniel Craig (new James Bond is Lord Asriel and Nicole Kidman is Mrs. Coulter) . I just hope they don't eff it up with cheap FX and scale back on some of the scenes (Iorek Byrnison and Iofur Raknisson stand-off springs to mind). I can't wait to see how Svalbard is going to look....Which is why I urge you to read it now. Before you lose the images your mind creates of this magical world before it's too late....

Enjoy.

6 weeks today

...till we return to the UK!!!

I can't believe it's upon us...just around the corner!!

We've already had the "What are you doing that second Thursday", type conversations with everyone...fact is, can't wait to see everyone again whether it's "that", Thursday or not!!!

Looking forward to so many things:-

M&S food, The chippy, Walkers crisps, real beans, The Two Ronnies at Christmas, Sitting in Bill & Denise's house in front of a crackling fire quaffing endless bottles of red, the conversation, the sights and sounds of home, friends & family, New Year at The Crown...did I forget anything??

Lots probably...We are Sooooo excited. It was Hallowe'en tonight, it's all downhill from now (I always saw Bonfire night as the start of the Xmas season anyway)...

6 weeks (stomach wrenches with excitement again!!)

Summer 2006!!!

Ok, so I know it's been a while, it's been a ker-azey last couple of months. We've had Jason, Yvonne and Asia visit from Ottawa, Dan Dan over for a week during gay pride in Toronto, Andrea and Darrell here for 2 weeks with their 2 kids, Clair's Mum and Dad for a month and yesterday we had Lynne, Ang, Gabe, Lucas, Suzanne and Nicole leave after their 2 week stay - a revolving door and no mistake....

We've also had 2 x trips to cottages up North, 2 nights camping in Algonquin, a weekend to NYC and countless other summer excursions with our guests...

I'll attempt to story-board as we go....

Lucy and Asia at Toronto Zoo...

Post Wonderland - Nazi Storm Trooper style!! Great day though Jay!!




Like a scene from the Playboy mansion...




Splashing about around the lake in Haliburton...




Tom, Luce, Poppy and Ben - Take a bow!!




The folks enjoying an ice cream...




Tom and his Grandad in the sand at Wasaga beach (that's NOT me and Clair in the background!!!!)...




...a day out at the splash park...




Toasting marshmallows in Algonquin park...




Messing about on the river...love this shot...




Carrie, sorry, Clair at Brooklyn Bridge, NYC...




Gabe on the jetty...




..in a rare moment of dryness at the end of the same jetty!!




...Clair and Suze looking all casual-like...



...and finally, he who laughs last laughs loudest!! In another rare moment, captured on film forever, me, drunk (yes, can you believe it?!)

Quite a summer and I had a blast re-living it through compiling this post. Thanks to everyone who came over this summer. We have so many great, great memories of the last few months and trust there will be many more like them...

England expects.......too much

Devastated. Fucking devastated.

England expects...

...Well, it's less than 3 hours to go until the whistle blows in GelsenKirchen, Germany for England's quarter final with Portugal.

England expects....

I've had to get up early, nervous anxiety go the better of me and after waking around 6.30am, I couldn't get back to sleep...

Ok, so we have had some results. It's not been attractive, but effective at getting us this far. I long for the day when we get an England manager that excites the fans. Look at what Klinsmann has done with Germany. The Germans, once slow in build up and often boring are now rampant, tearing forward in numbers and producing some exciting players too, look at Klose/Podowlski/Ballack...

We have, on paper, the best team in the tournament - Period.

Just read the team sheet, every one a superstar, we just haven't seen them perform as a team. Yes, we've seen flashes of brilliance (Cole / Gerrard / Beckham) but we just haven't gelled and had our full impact. Owen out of the equation, what has Crouch / Rooney actually done? Poor Walcott hasn't even had a run out and the further we progress, the less likely that is to happening - poor sod. We have a huge strike problem. When I think of where the goals are going to come from, I just don't even think about our attack...

I really hope we play Lennon and Carrick at some point today too. We at least look like we want to win when they are on the field and Lennon causes no end of problems on the right...

We often perform like the Itlalian team of GQ models, all prima donnas and like a team of individuals, not an individual team. This is where Mourinho has seen success in achieving the above...

I'm being harsh I know. We're in the quarters and a mouth-watering game lies in prospect. Time to shine lads, time to step up to the plate, time to walk-the-talk.

Dave expects.....

Woody Allen - Genius or class 'A' pervert?

Having only recently discovered Mr. Allen (recently watched and thoroughly enjoyed Match Point) I bought 3 classics from his back catalogue - The Purple Rose of Cairo, Manhattan and Annie Hall and was wondering if anyone has a favourite or previously enjoyed Woody Allen film they could recommend?

Ok, so he married his step-daughter Soon-Yi Previn (adopted daugter of Mia Farrow and Andre Previn) and yes, there was the scandal surrounding this, mainly because of the age difference (his 62 to her 27 years) but you can't deny, he's made some absolute classics....

Thoughts?

SPECIAL - MEW

Ok, so those of your who care to take any notice of my blog will now that at the moment, I am all wrapped up in a certain Danish prog-rock outfit called Mew. This band should be huge. No if's, but's or maybe's - they are special, very special.

So special in fact that we are heading to NYC this July to see them in their first US tour (supporting Bloc Party). Yes, we are driving 10 hours (with friends - Kate/Sean - CAN'T WAIT!!!) they are THAT good....

They recently won an award at the CADS06 Music Video Awards for 'Special' from their most recent album '...And The Glass Handed Kites'. The video is stunning (check it out at their website http://www.mewsite.com/site_fr.html ) and beat Coldplay (directed by Anton Corbijn no less!!!), Gwen S, James Blunt to the best cinematography gong....

Their songs are excellently crafted, delicately pieced together little slices of audio perfection. Just listen to the searing falsetto vocals, the crushing guitars that are peppered throughout proceedings along with crisp, clean production. The dynamics this band creates with just 4 members and this only their 2nd album offering is first rate and hopefully, an indication of what's to come...

Just the 'difficult 3rd album', to record next, with which to conquer the world. Word has it, this mini-support tour is in preparation for a full blown N.American tour later in the year, we live in hope...

Remember the name, it's hard to forget really. Mew will be a band to watch and show huge promise....

If you clicked on the link, listened and watched and would like to pontificate about how great they are too - I'd like to see what you think....surely it's not just me??!! Is it?

World Cup Germany 2006

Well, we are just 1 short, sweet week away from the greatest tournment on earth - The Football World Cup 2006.

This time next week, at time of posting we will be 25 minutes away from England's first game against Paraguay. I'm sure the excitement is brewing just nicely in blighty, or the 'old world', as it's referred to here by certain people (Kevin!)

I'm sure England's media is full of Rooney's broken metatarsal, Eriksson's formation, Beckham's golden balls and Gerrard's supposed dive (probably been forgotten now. Tomorrow is our last friendly - Jamaica (World beaters and no mistake!) and it will be interesting to see if he does revert back to a 4-4-2 and play Crouch with Owen.

Personally, I love the idea of playing a packed 5 man midfield in a 4-5-1 formation with Gerrard and Lampard allowed to play in advanced forward roles leaving Owen as predator in the box where he is best.

Either way, it makes for a great next 4 weeks and I'm pleased to say, Canada is bouncing with anticipation too (the Hockey season end very soon which could be a good reason for this!!). I've already had our visiting friends Andrea and Darrell bring me over some car flags and a nice little England shirt for car and Lynne and Ang have very kindly also sent me over a Liverpool T-Shirt celebrating the 7th FA cup win for the reds (thanks guys!!).

You can take the man out of England, you can't the the English out of the man!!!!!

"3 LIONS ON THE SHIRT, JULES REMET STILL GLEAMING!!!!!!"

Favourite Album cover (s)

1. Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien - Classic Marvel comics Silver Surfer in Satriani's 2nd album offering. His later albums don't compare (musically, not so) to this. All later albums merely have some arty shots of Joe, guitar in hand, looking all pensive with light drenched behind him.....still looks good though!!

2. Sonic Temple - The Cult (Billy Duffy just looks "The Man", we've all practiced this pose before!! Haven't we?

3. Arise - Sepultura - Okay, so it's a blast from the past, but great artwork from Dan Seagrave


Thoughts and your fave cover(s)

Nintendo Wii - Let battle commence

I love Nintendo let's get that clear.

I admire their vision, their spirit and their desire to innovate in an otherwise bland market driven by cash hungry, multi-national corporate organisations. These huge businesses (M'soft and Sony in case you were wondering!) are simply built on stripping kids (and parents) of their hard earned cash for second rate games and hardware that is merely a poor improvement on the last...

Nintendo on the other hand offer something different. Everytime.

Whilst Gay-station and X-Bollocks merely improve the graphics on their new system, Nintendo fire things up with a totally new controller (again!) and offer gamers the opportunity to take a blast from the past and induldge in all the retro games we love from Snes / N64 and Gamecube via and online portal.

The new control system alone looks fascinating. Game designers are buzzing with ideas on how it can further enhance the gaming experience and bring the human / computer interface a further step closer. Nintendo creates gaming systems, not a "jack of all trades, master of none", like the "so called", competition. DVD players play DVD's, Stereo's play music, gaming systems play games?! It's a simple concept. You'd think.

At E3 last week, queues for Wii were 4 hours long compared to less that 20 minutes for PS3 and X-Box 360 - The word is out, the word is Wii and the future is bright...

...and I didn't even mention The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess once. That's a thread all of it's own...

Arsenal 1 Barcelona 2

Firstly, I am not an Arsenal fan.

However, I was dis-appointed to see the cup leave to a non-British club. What was Lehman thinking?

After last year in Istanbul to this years spectacle in the Stade de France, I think the UK is breaking into the big time again. We are a growing force to be reckoned with and we maintain it. How long has it been since 2 British clubs made the final on consecutive years?

My only hope is that the bloody Mancs don't get there next year.

My good spirit only goes so far.

Current top 5 albums:-

1) Mew - Frengers (Danish demi-gods debut album and an absolute corker. Comforting Sounds is a masterpiece)

2) Mew - And The Glass Handed Kites (2nd album, and in places batters the predecessor. Some great singles and can't wait for the US tour, hopefully coming to Toronto too!!!)

3) Pink Floyd - The Division Bell (the last studio album from them. Stunning guitar work from Dave Gilmour, great Friday afternoon drive home music)

4) The Open - Statues (just had brought over from the UK - Thanks Denise!!! Sounding very good, a far cry from 2004's The Silent Hours but very cool - A band clearly going places)

5) The Delays - You See Colours (A far stronger and more muscular album than Faded Seaside Glamour. Less padded too and a lot more stronger tracks than much of the pap on their debut)

Thoughts and your current Top 5 Albums?

Liverpool 3 West Ham 3 (L'pool win 3-1 on Penalties AET)

Remember when all we talked about was how shit it was to be a red fan? Wasn't that long ago either I might add...We'd reminisce about the glory years gone by and how we'd cling onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, that win at against a permiership B team at the weekend was the start of a new era?

How things have changed.

The miracle in Istanbul and all the emotion wrapped up in that day came flooding back. Joy, despair, more joy, anguish, torment, exhilaration and final relief. Even Thomas (a red fan, but still discovering the beaitiful game) was captivated. Lucy on the flipside, spent most of the second half, extra time and penalties in tears due to the sudden screams and hollering!! She was cheering at the end though

Steven Gerrard is without doubt, the greatest modern day English footballer I have ever witnessed. His ability to lead by example and drag the team to victory when it matters most is outstanding.

This cup final brought all the feelings of being a kid and watching the FA Cup on a Saturday afternoon flooding back. The excitement the week leading up to the game, the build-up on a Saturday morning, right up to KO at 3.00pm. My only regret is that again, I can't be there in Liverpool to see the lads bring the cup home. I missed the Champions league parade and now I've missed the FA Cup. More despair.

The future looks good for us reds now though. Progression each and every campaign. Rafa the Gaffer? You better believe it.

YNWA