I am hoping David H allows this. 90 percent of the time I listen to my IPOD I do so on shuffle. Occasionally I can get a whole wad of songs I don't recognise or even artists I don't recognise.So I thought it would be fun to take five random songs and identify the artist, the song title and the album giving 1 point for each correct answer. Maximum 15 points, minimum a big fat zero. Same rules apply, no cheating etc:-

Can't get you outta my head (1), Julian Cope (1), You got a problem with me (1)
Over the hill (0), Loudon wainwright (1), Unrequited (0)
Winter birds (0), Ray LaMontagne (1), Gossip in the grain (0)
King of Rock and Roll (1) Prefab Sprout (1) 38 Carat collection (1)
Ophelia (1) Natalie Merchant (1) Ophelia (1)

Total score 11 which is higher than the next 2 goes I had and probably higher than my average.

It must be difficult to review a new album release. How many times do you listen to it before committing pen to paper? 5? 1? Just a partial listen?
The reason I ask is because i strongly disagree with the review in Word of Peter Gabriels Scratch my back release. However, had I have listened just once my conclusion would have been pretty similar to the review. It is a strange album for Gabriel as there is no percussion. Strange because he is an artist I most associate with rhythm in popular music. Taking that aside he has done a brilliant job of reinterpreting some pretty unusual choices of song to cover.For example Paul Simons The boy in the bubble. One of my favourite songs from Graceland I could never reconcile the lyrics with the jauntiness of the tune. Gabriel has slowed it right down and allowed the menace in the words to come to the fore. He does an equally impressive job with Randy Newman's I think its going to rain today and does an excellent impersonation of Guy Garvey elsewhere.
So my question is 'does the reviewer still believe this album doesn't cut it? or is there a re-evaluation of its merits? And if so, what other albums have reviewers changed their mind about?

Up until very recently I have not really downloaded too much music. Certainly not from Amazon or ITunes - never saw the point - physical product was always more attractive and still is in most instance.Some pricing doesnt make sense. Following the recent blog about Steely Dan I decided to update my IPOD with all the Dan/Fagen stuff not on there. Unfortunately it appears my 'Countdown to Ecstacy' has gone walkabouts. The choice on Amazon is £4.99 to buy it and over £7 to download it. Er guys, it is a no-brainer.
Anyway cut a long story short I found by accident there are bargains to be had - the latest David Ford album not even released here yet is available for download at £4.49 and for sale at over £13 - another no brainer. Sun Ra - Space is the place for less than £4.00. I ordered the latest Bobby Charles cd from Amazon and the bloody thing hasn't arrived yet - could have got the download instantly for half the price.
I think we should have an alert system when bargains become available so that we can all take advantage of them should we so wish.

So far we have had London, Glasgow and Manchester shindigs arranged for the massive. I really would like to attend the London one but as it would necessitate an overnight stay and it is a week before a holiday I have to decline. In the interests of serving the Midlands community.I propose a Birmingham bash for late April or early May. Since we have the opportunity of an erstwhile ex guitarist of a Scottish punk band promising attendance if we hold it on a thursday night this is the night I am proposing unless the massive have objections to this night.
Lets show the rest of the country what a real knees up should look like. There will be a prize for the best 'Funky moped' impression.

Recently I sought out on cd the first 2 Peter Case albums that long ago I had on cassette (remember them little plastic things that got clogged up in the car stereo?).These albums are over 20 years old but still sound fresh and valid. It is a crime that he wasn't more prominent and at the time I had the impression it was something to do with the fact that he had split from Victoria Williams who got the sympathy vote because of her illness. Whatever, he was an under appreciated talent.

Our very own Carl Parker got me a copy of the Matraca Berg album South of Heaven because I stupidly failed to buy it at the Wine,women and song tour last year. Put simply, it was the best album I heard by a female artist last year. She can't even get it released in this country. Another case of talent being suppressed. Who else should get nominated for the 'travesty of justice' awards?

Stumbled across King Curtis while listening to Allen Toussaint linked artists on Last FM. Really liked what I heard and then checked him out on Spotify - there was a pretty extensive choice of stuff to listen to. In fact it was pretty daunting. Anyone care to recommend any specific albums of his - my preference would be to veer away from the lighter side of his catalogue.

My 10 year old daughter has been putting a lot of effort in at school in preparation for her Sats and as a result I rewarded her with the chance to buy a couple of cd's in the 2 for £10 promotion at HMV at the weekend.
Naturally she was eager to play them in my car. Never usually fills me with avid anticipation and the weekends choices of The Saturdays and Beyonce were not going to increase my excitement levels.
However she was adamant I had to listen to one song in particular by Beyonce called Halo. It has become completely addictive and I consider it a perfect pop song. I am sure many amongst the massive will think it complete tripe but occasionally it feels good to be guided by your kids.

The Whole of the moon was playing on radio 2 this am and although I have heard the song a million times before I stopped and thought about one line in particular and this morning more than any other morning I was really taken with the line:-

'I saw the rain dirty valley,
You saw Brigadoon
I saw the crescent,
you saw the whole of the moon'

Is the glass half full or half empty in poetry.

Lovely stuff.

Can someone please explain to me what Dubstep is and who in this new genre is worthy of my attention no matter how fleeting. I seem to have missed this one when it emerged onto the scene.

and other Leeds fans - FANTASTIC RESULT!!!!
It is great to see the Manc Prima donnas get stuffed - especially on their own turf.

Just heard that Vic Chesnutt passed away from a suspected overdose on Christmas day. He was a talented songwriter and an intrinsic part of the Athens GA scene back in the day when REM were vibrant. He will be sadly missed - a couple of his cd's received frequent plays in this household.

I was a big fan of Michelle Shocked around the time of 'Anchorage' and the Short,sharp shocked album. I saw her live a couple of times and she was an engaging performer. Clearly a good songsmith too it is something of a surprise that she disappeared almost as quickly as she burst on the scene. There are many other bands around that seem to be edging to a wider audience and then disappear sometimes without trace but more usually to releasing albums on their own label almost as a cottage industry. Martin Stephenson for one, Grand Drive too. I assume it is not by choice but there many artists apparently cut down in their prime. Any others?

The Amazon page has 24 reviews of the Mumford and sons album. 23 of them are 5 star reviews and 1 is a 4 star review. I have never seen an album with such Universally acclaimed reviews. The preview on the site sounds great - anyone able to expand on that?

Went to see Paranormal Activity last night. Without any exaggeration it is possibly the worse film I have ever seen. Totally unconvincing and less suspense than a regular episode of Coronation Street. Susannah Reid on BBC news said that she had to walk out of a viewing of the film because it was too scary. I found the film laughably amateurish and I am really surprised that it even got a release. Still I suppose the hype will help recoup the outlay which I guess was next to nothing judging by the jerky handheld camcorder quality. Dreadful.

Chris Difford played the first of 2 sold out nights at the Garden Cafe in Birmingham last night - capacity circa 100!! He played solo with just an acoustic guitar and a side projector showing slides relevant to the various songs played from his solo and Squeeze back catalogue. He is an engaging performer and seemed utterly charming. Highlight was when the projector packed up during 'Tempted' and he asked the audience to sing the song whilst he fixed the screen. It was a beguiling performance from another one of our national treasures.
If he plays in a town near you it is worth making the effort!!