Well hello there. Thought I'd join in with some gig reporting back/album musings. This will probably be my only post for another year or however long it's been, so forgive me if it's long... Just to add to Fiona's memories of Brighton: - very disappointing to have Lazy Line Painter Jane (still my favourite track live) snatched away at the last minute due to misjudged audience participation. I remember sitting there thinking 'oh I know all the bloody words, get off woman and let me have a go' but then realising that a) I was in the circle a few dozen feet above the stage and b) I probably WOULDN'T remember the words once on stage and being hugged by Stuart. Sadly she turned out not to know the words to The State I Am In either, so Stuart kindly gave her a tambourine to bang instead like a small left-out child. - Your Cover's Blown is, as chris has said, amazing live. Better than any of the numbers they've supposedly had ten years to perfect... (though it was quite endearing to see Stuart STILL forgetting the lyrics to Slow Graffiti). - on being asked what team he supported (original!) Stuart claimed that he only supported 'half a team - Hove Albion, but not Brighton' because he liked his big posh houses by the sea to be pristine rock star pads rather than delapidated crack dens. Or something. - there was discussion of the Strokes gig down the road, and as Fiona said, a short and suspiciously perfect blast of 'Last Night'. 'I wish I was in the Strokes...' said Stuart wistfully. - daring death-defying handrail walking during Electronic Renaissance was definitely a highlight. Stuart seems to be much more of a showman these days (stooping down to shake people's hands!), also much more in control of the rest of the band somehow. As for the album: I have only listened to it at work so far, meaning that I haven't had the chance to crank it up to full volume. But listening to B&S slightly muted while daydreaming at a desk is maybe as good a way as any... Act of the Apostles a strange choice for an opener; too generic indie, and not as catchy as it thinks it is. Another Sunny Day is great - could have almost come from IYFS if it wasn't for the tighter production and prominent keyboards, and probably at its best listened to in the summer. Can't wait! White Collar Boy isn't as good as the similarly glam rock stuff on DCW, a bit aggressive and obvious for my taste. Not the lyrics though, they are fab. In The Blues Are Still Blue (like White Collar Boy) the production has the vocals far too much below everything else, I think, but I love the chorus (songs about laundrettes are always winners in my book). Dress Up In You sounds like something from TBWTAS (maybe a quieter, weedier Dirty Dream No 2) and as such isn't really doing it for me yet (though the horns are nice). Andrew is right that Sukie In The Graveyard could have popped out of a B&S song generator (guitar solos excepted perhaps). I like it, but it seems like Stuart (if it is he) struggles with the speed so his voice sounds a bit bland. We Are The Sleepyheads hasn't made much of an impact on me at all, could be any guitar band bar the voice really :( I love the dreamy chorus of Song For Sunshine, all very late-sixties trippy. Most 'different' song on the album in a way. Funny Little Frog despite the awful name totally justifies its selection as the first single, I reckon. Beautiful soaring, catchy melody, perfect 'new' B&S. Another one for summer. Just get rid of the frog... To Be Myself Completely was great live, but then it's always a pleasure to watch Stevie jerking around behind the mic in his nice suit and Stuart momentarily turning into Bez... on record it loses something, but I do love the intro with the tambourine etc. Falls over a bit in the chorus much like another Wrong Girl... Act of the Apostle II starts SO QUIET and continues a bit wavery and pointless, though the plinky plonk piano just about saves it and it seems to have turned into a whole new song by the end. Reminded me somewhat of the Kinks. Sadly I will not now be able to listen to For The Price Of A Cup of Tea without thinking of Adrian Evans' acid reflux, but apart from that I rather like it - nice twiddly bits. AND FINALLY, Mornington Cesecent. It sounds like an Oasis B-side, tedious percussion and ballady guitar solo and all. Of course Oasis would never title a song Mornington Crescent, and the lyrics are quite nice, but is that enough for your closing song? No. I often have a problem with the final songs on B&S albums. Some of my least favourite tracks are Judy and the Dream of Horse and Rollercoaster Ride. Not fade away! So overall, that's 4 good songs, 5 not sures and 3 turkeys. Not what I could have hoped my reaction would be but hey, after the greatness of the Brighton gig I am prepared to forgive a lot. And I've always got my copies of Tigermilk and IYFS... (not that I would EVER have the 'their early stuff is better' fight becase that is just stupid). Love to all, Archel xxx +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo@missprint.org. 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