The List.

Music has value.

Please note: this list is not in any particular order, I couldn't do that to myself or these albums. I rate them all with such high regard.

Bob Dylan: Blood On The Tracks


With the first strum of the guitar you can tell Dylan has something very special to share with you. Like all great artists, tragic events can create things of beauty and although he claims this had nothing to do with his (then) recent divorce, you are very aware it must have had some major influence. He need never admit it, you can hear it all echoing in his voice, his words and with every painful note.
I’ll listen to this album regardless of my mood; it’ll always give me a strange sense of belonging.

Nirvana: Unplugged In New York


A brilliantly crafted piece of perfection, which I couldn’t fault even if I tried. There’s not a single note in this entire album that isn’t out of place, everything is just perfectly placed in a pristine way. Every word sung, every strum played never fails to send a shiver down my spine. A beautiful album, of which shows us a slight glimpse of where this talent may have headed. A tragic swansong that I will gladly take with me to the grave, and beyond.

Smashing Pumpkins: Siamese Dream


Along with ‘Dark Side of the Moon’, I feel this album belongs in nearly every household. Anyone that doesn’t yet own this album should hang their heads in shame, go now and buy it, you will not regret it. The Gods themselves listen to this very album. Smashing Pumpkins, oh how I owe you many thanks for writing one of the most beautiful albums my ears will ever have had the privilege of listening to.

Radiohead: Ok Computer


The toughest decision I had to make when creating this list was picking which Radiohead album meant the most to me. As much as I tried to kid myself, Ok Computer won every time. One of the greatest albums ever to be recorded, it not only contains some of my favourite Radiohead songs but my all time favourite songs. My only hope is that this album is playing on my way to the pearly gates.

The Libertines: The Libertines


I don’t care what anyone says about this band. I highly recommend this album; it’s as raw as any of The Libertines’ followers. They made a great team and a great couple of albums. It’s just a shame that all that’s left in their wake is a zillion awful imitations and a lot of headline articles about a drugged up musician who fails time and time again to realise his potential.

Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes


One of the best albums I’ve heard in the last couple of years. Seems to me like Sub-Pop has struck gold again. Listening to this album makes me feel a great hope for modern music and for the future of folk music. It’s pure, honest music that’ll send you diving into the back catalog of the old greats now lost in a sea of anger and noise.
I will gladly carry on watching this group with great interest and if this album is anything to go by then their future looks very bright indeed.

Gray Matter: Food For Thought + Take It Back


Forget ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’; this is by far a much more fast-paced, powerful punk record. Imagine The Ramones on heat, with more chords. Contains one of the best Beatles covers I have ever heard. Often wonder where I’d be without a punk version of ‘I am the Walrus’. This album is basically a skater’s wet dream, full of teenage angst and noise. Listen, love and scream it out loud to your hearts content.

The Doors: Best Of


For all of his flaws and narcotics abuse, Jim Morrison certainly knew his poetry. Entering the scene when Dylan and The Beatles were all the rage, The Doors were unlike anything. Even to this day I can’t think of a band that contains as much mystic and sex as The Doors. As much as I love their self titled debut album and ‘L.A. Woman’, their 2003 edition of ‘The Best Of’ is a collection of the finest poetry you shall ever hear this side of the 20th century.

Deerhunter: Microcastle


I remember when I first stumbled upon Deerhunter; it was like finding gold amongst a pile of coal. I could never imagine myself having so much admiration for a modern-day band. It’s a mix of every genre of music I’ve ever loved; shoegaze, noise, ambient, alternative etc. Listening to this album compares to staring out of a train window looking out at the amber glow of the sun glistening over a field of tall green grass. I recommend this album of every inch of my soul.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Fever To Tell


One of the most promising debut albums I have ever heard. The noise, the screams, the sexual innuendos’, and the pounding of every drum-beat are just pure brilliance to my ears. Next to the EP ‘Is Is’ this is the best of their back catalogue. Every word that echoes’ out of Karen O’s lungs make me fall for her more and more, such a mesmerising, passionate voice. Never has an album made me want to pick up a guitar more than this.

A Plan.

There is a need in this country. There is something that Britain lacks, which is a need for those who don’t have their voices heard. This country and its government has crashed in on itself. Other countries are looking in on us and seeing us as a repressed nation. An Orwellian state. Is this how we want to be seen? I’m pretty sure George Orwell was saying more than most people are lead to believing.
I have hopes that things can and will change, but we need to make it happen. For too long the people in this country have sat and complained, and sadly as last year showed, voted for a group who sends out the wrong message. Of course now they’re going back on themselves. But despite what they now state, it’s still the wrong message.
I want change as much as the next guy. But there’s a difference, I don’t plan on sitting down and complaining and not doing a damn thing about it. Maybe I’m more ambitious than the next guy. I’d like to think that’s not true.
I’m hoping to take the first of what will be many, hard steps. I don’t plan on taking one step forward and two steps back. I plan on continuing. But I can’t do it alone. I’m not politically minded enough, so I'm going to need support. I’m in need of like-minded people. Smart people with as just a big a need to want change in this country as me.
I plan to create a magazine and a website to start the momentum off, mainly for image reasons. But it’s not going to be enough, and without like minded people on board to help me I’m going to fail and I don’t plan to.

Changes need to happen.

So far I’ve watched a good number of ‘The West Wing’ seasons, and I’m not sure why but I like it and I’ll stand by my position no matter who argues. I like the style of which it is shot, the stories and characters are well written and above all believable and I like the fact that despite the subject matter (of which I would normally not consider watching) the dialogue is very well written and easy enough to understand even for the simpletons out there who prefer to watch celebrities make a tit of themselves on reality shows everyday. By watching this I’m even considering breaking into political journalism. Hell Hunter S. Thompson did it, and I consider him a pretty big fucking legend in the journalistic world. Of course the big issue created in today’s society is no-one gives a shit about politics anymore.
This country needs a Hunter S. Thompson following the next general election. Not that I mean to blow my own horn, but I just wish I was better qualified to take on this mission. I want to bring journalism and politics into the public eye again. Now I'm very a where journalism is in the public eye, but when I say journalism I’m talking about REAL journalism, not 100 words spread out over two pages about what celebrity couple are considering divorce this season. I’m talking about well researched, well written news about real situations and real issues. We've come too far in evolution to be now living in the 'celebrity decade'. So you could say I’m a man on a real fucking tough mission. It’s going to be hard and I might even fail but come hell or high water I’m gonna try. I just need to get there, wish me luck.

Realists?

A dark cloud descends on the west
The east has no sense of sorrow, lose or pain for its fellow brothers
The beast of Britain rises out of its cave and tells us all we are not one
Violence and chaos will consume the streets
Friends and families will be torn apart
This country will die on its back
Fighters for peace will surely be forgotten
Their images covered in excrement, bile and puss
The ‘only’ choice is most definitely not the right choice
There’s no freedom of speech when there’s talk of hate
The only colour that truly matters is the colour of blood

Those Last Seconds

My questions are never asked
My mind not spoken for
Lies leak out of a box
Mesmerized sheep nod along
Sex takes over truth
Death floats down from above
While ovals turn into cubes
Powerless preachers stop and stare
The smart cheer as they create tombs
Have we not moved on?
Are you pleased with your decisions?
I guess I’ll just cremate instead

Unsung Heroes

1. Jeffrey Lewis:
In my eyes the best singer/songwriter/one man/one guitar greats since Dylan.


2. Bill Hicks:
Not only one of THE best comedians that ever will live, but also the best philosopher that ever will. It's just a shame he didn't have a chance to leave more material behind.


3. Jeffrey Brown:
Every piece of work he's produced so far has somehow managed to tap into every thought that's ever gone through my head. Truly I am not alone


4. Daniel Johnston:
Just like Jeffrey Lewis, not just another great musician but also the one of the greatest souls we’ll ever know. Living prove that drugs ARE bad.


5. Paul Giamatti:
This actor for some unknown reason is brilliant in everything he’s been in. I personally feel he will be the only guy to pull off Bill Hicks if ever they made a film, god forbid.


6. Dead Leaves:
An absolutely amazing Manga film, definitely in the same league as Akira, Perfect Blue, My Neighbour Totoro and Ghost in the Shell.


7. Monkey Dust:
Only on here because, come on! BBC pull your finger out and release the rest, stop telling us what we can and can not watch. Look what you did to Dennis The Menace. Weirdo's.


8. Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job!:
Just because it’s funny as hell, teaches us all that every now and then we just enjoy a joint, because why not, you don’t have to smoke it all the time, and come on these guys know what they’re doing.


9. Deerhunter:
Most definitely one of the best bands going today. A brilliant twist on shoe gaze, ambient, pre 90’s indie music (the good indie music). Great band to see live.


10. Charles Chaplin:
I could go on and on about how much love and respect I have for this legendary clown. Every movie he made was just beautifully crafted and perfectly unique in it’s own way. The sad fact is, it’s very hard to get a hold of his films now. Why I have no idea, I mean you can still get a hold of the Laurel & Hardy collection, so why not his?