Hello!
It's about two hours til 2009, so I'll quickly give my musical (and otherwise) overview of the year.
In about an hour I will be screaming at the TV while Jools Holland plays boogie woogie piano with Kraftwerk, or someone equally inappropriate, so I'll make it quick.
It's not been a bad year. Obama secured his place in history, and we all felt very positive.....for about a fortnight. Then he began selecting his team, and it began to get depressing. Time will tell. Let's hope he can do in the White House what he promised at the hustings.
Israel ignores the protests of the world and gets on with its obscene, murderous agenda. Where is that self proclaimed minister for the Middle East, Tony Blair when he's needed? And the rest of the world gets to grips with the ramifications of capitalism. Boo Hoo.! Hey Ho!
Sorry folks. This is meant to be about ART!!!.....but c'mon!!!
Musically, you should believe all the stuff written about The Fleet Foxes LP, What a beautiful world it suggests. Elbow's "The Seldom Seen Kid" needs your time people. I won't waste any more of your time banging on about those, or The Hold Steady's "Stay Positive". Seasick Steve's new LP "I Started Out With Nothing, And I Still Got Most Of It Left" is fantastic, and in the song "Walkin' Man" he has written a modern classic, to stand beside Hank. The Tindersticks LP "The Hungry Saw" confirmed that the majesty remains, despite the change of line up. Nick Cave continues to make records that I buy, listen to approvingly, then never listen to again. The Dylan Bootleg Series continues to throw up gems like "Red River Shore" and the long awaited Dennis Wilson re-release "Pacific Ocean Blue" was gorgeous. Or is it "Ocean Pacific Blue"?
Paul Simmonds, chief songwriter with The Men They Couldn't Hang made a beautifully soulful LP called "The Rising Road". It made me sad about Johnny Cash's leaving us, all over again, as there are a few tracks on this that the master could have shed some further darkness on! "My Side Of The Bed" in particular, and "The Snow Is Falling". If you get the chance, check out his site and get hold of this CD. An understated masterpiece.
Also, fans of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys should really listen to Gavin Steven's CD "Angels Falling Down". This is a gorgeous creation. Rich with close harmonies and a delicate musical styling. I still listen to this in one hit. It's a song cycle that really lifts the spirit. Time will be its witness. Greatness is amongst us!
Also "That Lucky Old Sun" LP by Mr Wilson was a lot less painfull than I had anticipated.
In fact listen to all my TOP FRIENDS!
As far as gigs go............... I vowed to go to less gigs in 08............but. Madness at The Hackney Empire were awesome, as were The Tindersticks at The Royal Festival Hall, Beck and Morrissey at Hyde Park were great, so were The New York Dolls, The Jim Jones Revue at Madame Jo-Jo's were explosive, and The Men They Couldn't Hang at The 100 Club were a great end of the year blast.
But the greatest musical moment for me was Leonard Cohen at the O2. We saw the first night and the man was bowled over by the response he recieved. Three hours of pure beauty. I saw Len 20 years ago at The Albert Hall, but this was something else. I can't do it justice with a quick revue, so take my freakin' word!
I love the fact that pop snobs like me are getting so upset that Simon Cowell has taken one of our holy tracts and made it available to mere mortals! "Hallelujah" remains a great song no matter who is singing it! I think there is some cynicism going on, as far as Cowell goes. but a song is a song and nothing can dilute its power. It's strange .. when I saw Cohen in 1987, I don't think he even played that song..but it has taken on mythical status. Like Johnny Cash, I think Cohen is going to end his career on a high, and prove once again that the world of song is not the exclusive domain of the infantile.
Happy New Year Friends, Keep in Touch
Paul XXX