Sinister: I'm a kung fu hippy from gangsta city, I'm a rappin' surfer you the fool I pity.

[Lawrence Mikkelsen]

Been a long time. Miss me? Astute readers may recall me whining about all
the time I spent tarting up my website in preparation for a job interview
the lst time I posted. Anyway, I got the job. it is my dream job. I'll be in
the Flash animation team for Wendy Pye limited, which make subscriber
educational websites for children. It is my dream job and I have been
buzzing all week. I've been seriously underemployed for the last 10 months
so I was getting to the end of my tether.

Anyway ... onward!

***THE CHALET LINES***
I'm assuming that  chalet line is a line of chalets. You know how they're
normally laid out in long rows.

***NOW, MY TURN TO ASK A SILLY QUESTION***
Was listening to Jeff Buckley's "Grace" - a real evergreen of an album if
you ask me.
Anyone know what a "Mojo Pin" is though? I have *no* idea.

***SILLY QUESTION #2***
(Always mean to submit this to the FAQ page on the Jeepster site) Do B&S
have a publishing deal? Virtually every band has one. For example, songs on
REM albums are credited Buck/Berry/Mills/Stipe, and are published by Night
Garden music. B&S are the only band I'm aware of who lack both writing
credits or publishing information on their sleeves. Anyone know why?

***NME***
Felt a bit sad that Wayne from The Flaming Lips was slagging off B&S. I
could kinda see his point. But then, B&S are a pretty straightforward pop
band. They write poppy songs which, alas, the general populous generally
doesn't care less about. As opposed to The Flaming Lips, who release
multidisc albums which are meant to be played *simultaneously*, cover
"Somewhere over the rainbow" and come on stage with fake blood pouring out
of
their foreheads. So ... umm ... which of those two are more entrenched in
their indie ghetto?

which brings me to .....

***STUART DAVID***
Seems to be trying as hard as possible to sever all ties with the B&S camp.
I wonder if he and Struan are still mates? I wonder if his tour with the
above mentioned Flaming Lips has made him wary of being associated with B&S.
Shame about him leaving Jeepster though. I wonder if Jeepster plan on
signing any new bands soon?

***AMERICA***
A lot has been said about this country lately. So why not have my two cents
or so.

America is great. I've travelled around there a lot. The scenery is
breathtaking (mmm ... Mojave Desert ... most amazing place in the world) and
the people are almost unanimously friendly. I guess what irks me though, is
that the majority of the people I have met whilst travelling there (GROSS
GENERALISATION TO FOLLOW ...) have little knowledge, care or regard for
anything outside of the US.
example .....
"Where are you from?"
"New Zealand"
" ........ is that in America?"
Or the American girl I met who was unaware of the fact that there was a
"First World War" She'd heard of the Second World War, but didn't know there
was one before it. I guess that combination in insularity and mild arrogance
(if it doesn't directly involve the US it's not worth mentioning) really
bugs me. Or how American publishing houses change British novels to make
them more palatable to the "American market". Or how they bollix up UK
albums (like Mansun's "Six") by rearranging the track order or removing
tracks to make them more "commercial" or less difficult or something. It's
insulting. Now I'm sure that these are isolated examples but they've really
bugged me, and have coloured my views on the subject.

Like I said, I REALLY enjoy travelling in The States. Goodness ... it really
sounds like I'm slagging the US, doesn't it. Umm .. like I said, I really
like. I've been there six times. By choice. I've visited about seven states.
American politics bugs me too. Like you only seem to have two choices. A or
B. Black or White. I don't know whether you can really have *true* democracy
when there are two choices, even if you don't like either choice. That being
said, New Zealand has elected a Socialist government under our rather
complex proportional representation system, and they're doing a really good
job of ballsing up our economy and turning us into a Third World Country.

***PEOPLE WHO HIDE B&S RECORDS***
See Wayne Coyne's comments about B&S. Indie ghettos are crap. Beautiful
music is beautiful music. I attempt to inflict Belle & Sebastian on everyone
I meet, because I love their music, and the way it makes me feel, and I'd
like everyone to experience that. I'm certain they won't but the couple of
people who have ended up liking them are now hooked for all the right
reasons. And I can't see what's wrong with that. Exclusive little clubs
really bug me ... it's so fourth form. If you're ever in a record store in
Auckland and you see B&S records on all the shelves, that was me who put
them there.

Anyway, I'm expecting to get crucified for this one ......

Take care, all. And sleep well, where ever you are.

Lawrence Mikkelsen
http://www.akn.quik.co.nz/mikelsen/aboutme


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