The Stranglers - Giants

For those of us who just can't help ourselves and have to check out the numerous You Tube clips of new material prior to an album's release (yes, I know, guilty as charged!), the first thing that strikes you listening to 'Giants' is how much better than expected it sounds.

No, that's not right.  That's the second thing.  The first thing that hits you is 45 seconds into track one, when the unmistakable bass growl of JJ Burnel kicks in.  It still sounds awesome.  It is awesome!

'Another Camden Afternoon' is a lazy, lolloping instrumental opener, almost as if the band are rousing themselves and flexing their muscles.  A pleasing enough start.  

Lost In Music - Mark Lanegan Band, Institute, Birmingham

You're album's riding the crest of a critical wave that already suggests 'Blues Funeral' will be recognised as one of the best of the year and demand for tickets for tonight's show has been strong enough to see the gig upgraded to the main room at the HMV Institute and yet as Mark Lanegan follows his band onstage he seems to wince in embarrassment at the roar that greets him.

Curious behaviour from a seasoned performer.  No acknowledgment to the crowd by word or deed, not even a pause to bask in the moment.  Yet this is a man with seven solo albums to his name stretching back to 1990.  And that's not even considering the plethora of collaborations, side projects and guest vocalist recordings and gigs to his name.

As has been well documented, until fairly recently, Lanegan operated in something of an 'altered state'.  James Dean Bradfield has claimed that despite having done an entire US tour together, Lanegan did not speak to him once during the course of their weeks in close proximity!

Now despite the bedraggled appearance Lanegan is clean and yet still his onstage persona is that of a man who would rather be someplace, anyplace else.

Hanging off the mike stand staring intently at a spot on the stage about a yard to his right - his default setting between songs - you almost wonder if he can go through with this.  By a cruel irony we have come to see a man seemingly crippled by nerves.

Then the magic starts.  As the band kick into 'Can't Come Down' Lanegan opens his mouth and out comes THAT voice.  That husky, death rattle barritone that seems to at once, envelope and threaten the listener.  And we know why we are here.

Killing Joke - Manchester Academy

Manchester sees Killing Joke in fine form.  As is becoming a habit with the rejuvenated Joke, early tour dates see various new songs road tested before the band settle on the ones that will become a fixture for the tour.

Perversely one of the songs that hasn't made the cut is new single 'In Cythera'. Played at Exeter and Bristol, but by Manchester it had been dropped.  But as it is a more reflective song about love and loss, it did sit a little bit at odds with the majority of the new material which sees Jaz & co raging at the ecological and economic implosion of the world.

Manchester 10/03/12 setlist - lovely!

We Watch The Sun Go Down...

 

Sunset over Smethwick. Nothing to write home about in itself, but while taking this picture I was listening to Wire's 'Pink Flag' album.  For me early Wire means 'Outdoor Miner' and 'Dot Dash' of course.  Can't say I was a massive fan at the time - probably way too much going on for a simple lad like me.  But there I was standing at the bus stop when up pops the sublime 'Mannequin'.

Music does not always stand the test of time, but remarkably this track, from 1977, seems far better now than I remember it...

See what I mean

Losing (My Religion)

Quite how a Portsmouth fan and a sometime Glasgow Rangers fan found themselves at Reading's Madejski Stadium to witness Pompey roll over and have their tummy tickled is a story almost as convoluted as how their respective clubs have become England and Scotland's 'crisis clubs'.

So leaving aside the curious experience of being guests at Reading's excellently appointed, out of town football experience, as it's no doubt described in a glossy sales brochure, not aimed at the likes of me, is another story, for another day. But things quickly became even more curious once the game got under way.

A Nice Taster...

... for the return of the Joke.

This is a fan made unofficial video of 'Rapture' from the new album, 'MMXII' due for release in April.

Well done to those involved in putting this together, far better than the minimum effort Swinefarm version!