Like everyone else at Word Towers (except for The Hep, who has been to Australia) I am eagerly awaiting my pre-ordered season 5 of the Wire and can announce for those not in the know that Steve Earl (who guested as Bubbles' drug counciller in season 2) is doing the theme. Great. Here it here first.

BUT! Supposing you are David Simon - who would you commission a theme from?For my money the song is screaming for a Nick Cave treatment. The bad seed's rough loving would squeeze the last black drops of bible out of this excellent tune.

If I was being mischevious I would like to hear5 a punky mangling by the Wedding Present, or now I think about it, how about a kick in the Balkans from Beirut?

On our podcast (www.classicalbums.libsyn.com) this fortnight my mate Gary & I would like to talk about the unsung albums of the 80s and maybe review a couple. What are we missing?

Mr Hepworth has forgotten his kit. He has given me the keys to the gym. Form an orderly queue and let's have an evening of quiet dancing without the discraceful displays of last week!

How's this for starters?

Je voudrais boogie!

As someone suggested a couple of weeks back, is there any chance of a website link list for great podcasts, or even better, a regular feature in the magazine pointing us in the direction. Many word subscribers also create podcast content (I do myself). What do we think staff? You can find me at www.classicalbums.libsyn.com

I am half way throught the first season of "Teh Wire" (sic) on DVD, and loving every goddam perfect second of it!

The word brought me here - what other cultural necessitiesd has the Word brought into your lives?

We're all familiar with the sex, drugs & rock n' roll lifestyle and how many bands and artists queue up to snort, shag and riff their way through life, but what of the gentler sorts, the sheltered plants, the wallflowers of rock and pop.

Who are the innocent milksops of rock and what is the most extreme Walter-the-Softy anecdote?

This is Advice for young mothers to be by the very good Veils, featuring a delectable lady bassist!

Whether it's Kim Deal of the Pixies, or Debbie Googe from My Bloody Valentine, girl bassists are HOT! Why should this be and who are the hottest?

Go on then. If not Thatcher, if not Blair - who should we elect Prime Minister, and why?

I suggest Terry Hall because he has broad shoulders and a political conscience. He'd have to have Jerry Dammers write his speeches though.

Is the Word taking the piss?

So, you're listening to a song and the entry of a sudden unexpected instrument makes your day. For me it is the mandolin or violin. The violin in Nick Cave's Jesus of the Moon creams my strawbs and the mandolin solo in Primal Scream's Country Girl makes my heart shine. For this reason Warren Ellis (Bad Seeds, violin) Isobel Campbell (cello, Belle & Sebastian) and Megan Childs (violin Gorky's Zygotic Mynci) are my favourite unsung conributers.

What does it for you?

I recently saw Nick Cave for the 1st time live and he blew my mind. I'm glad I've seen him as he is now in his 50s and it left me musing about the ones who got away. I've seen Morrissey, but never seen the Smiths. I will never see XTC live (as they don't tour) and just missed Gorky's before they broke up.

What are your nearly made-its, gig-wise?

Be honest. What are the tracks you have come to skip EVERY TIME? Fess up now fellows of the Royal Society of Word. For me it is the chronic Song for the Sunshine on the otherwise perfect The Life Pursuit by Belle & Sebastian. I tend to skip Yellow Submarine too...

The more classic the album, the better the gossip.

Ok. What music do you guys cook to and what is your special dish. I bake to the Wedding Present's "Tommy" and my piece de resistance is Fruitcake, or maybe a nice apple pie. I like a bit of Tindersticks when I'm making the pasta and sauce on a rainy evening but breakfast has to be Miles Davis. Well?

I re. of what David, Mark and the Gang were saying on the 'cast about modern production techniques, can we cast our mind back to the days when the quirks and the botches stayed on the record?

In other words, which Acts Of God on LPs or tracks make your hair stand on end? Two for me would be Bob Dylan laughing on "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" off of the incomparable Blonde on Blonde and David Gedge (for Prime Minister please) cocking up his whistle solo on "Everyone thinks he looks daft" which kicks off George Best. So, bloggers, nostalgia time, where does it all go right when it all goes wrong?