Sinister: I wonder if I know you...

[marisa stroud]

I didn't just spend a summer wasting, I spent a whole year. Well, 10 months.

I was in Glasgow from September to July. And I never knew you, sweet 
Sinister. Now that I've found you and am reading your posts, particularly 
those from the folk in Glasgow, I'm feeling more homesick than I think I 
ever have been. Except maybe during the few trips I've made to the States. 
For whatever reason, going 'down south' makes me desperate to get back to 
the wilds of Canada. But now my feet long to trip lightly down the 
cobblestone road of Ashton Lane and down a glass of orange juice in a oner 
at the Grovesnor. But I only had toast there. I didn't know any better, you 
see?

I want to go back. I want to ignore the scary man who lurkes in the alleyway 
out to Byres Rd between Iceland and Roots&Fruits. I want to stand waiting 
for the train in the Hillhead underground and think about the story on the 
back of Tigermilk and smile.

Do you realize that The Tap is less than ten seconds from my boyfriend's 
flat? Oh yeah. He lives on Radnor St, that little bit road that separates 
Sauchihall and Argyll. I sang 'Dyland in the Movies' to myself every time I 
had to go down Kelvin Way to get to his flat from the uni. Due to the 
mankiness of my flatmate, I spent most of the year there, walking from 
Havelock St through the hospital to get to his. I walked past you every day. 
Maybe I even squeezed by you to get a drink from the bar. But I didn't say 
hi. How could I have known? Ignorance is lame.

I'm coming home. I decided I'm going back to Glasgow, one way or another. So 
please, please please keep the Winchester Club going until I get there! 
It'll be August at the latest before I can come. I've always dreamed of 
going somewhere I would actually want to dance! I want to see Struan flail 
his arms of sex and dance like no one's watching, especially not those with 
sinister intentions. That would very probably make my year. I found out 
about the Win far too late. I didn't hear about it till the B&S gig at the 
QMU in June. I was there. You probably were, too. But I didn't know you 
then.

Mummy Honey (well, her computer, anyway) just gave me the nudge out of the 
nest, but I think it'll take awhile to get used to these wings. I feel like 
I should provide some content, at least the first time. So I'll talk about 
the new Reindeer Section album, although I know a couple of other people 
have already ventured on the subject.

I may be biased, cause this is one of my new favourite albums. It's slower 
and sweeter than the first one, though. Broken hearts beware: there are a 
lot of "you packed your things and took my heart" songs here, but there are 
also some celebrations of love to keep the bipolarity interest factor up. 
There's even a very Arab Strap-y track, but he keeps his ramblings pretty 
well with the beat of the underlying melody. I like Arab Strap, but I also 
really like melody, so I enjoy this track quite a bit. If you liked Y'all 
get scared... this one's a pretty safe bet, providing you don't mind your 
songs a wee bit on the quiet side. It's definitely worth a listen, 
especially if you know someone you can nick it from for a few days.

Content? Check.

Hearbreak songs seem to be all the rage this year, when I'm finally in love. 
But Sloan's new(ish) album Pretty Together has something for everyone: 
Chris' 'man on the side' songs, Patrick's 'you love me, I love me, everyone 
loves me' songs, Jay's 'are you giving me back my love?' songs (such an 
important theme that he used that as a whole song idea/title), and Andrew's 
usual 'I've been dating Fi so long I don't write love songs anymore, even 
though I'm a dad now' avant-gardish tracks. There, now I promise not to 
mention Sloan again for a good while.

I've heard some rumblings that Sinister isn't as twee as it used to be; some 
darker elements are starting to show beneath the happy bucolic veneer. But 
from what I've read (and it's quite a bit, I'm embarrased to say), it's 
better to talk and to disagree than to never have a voice. I can't wait to 
get back home to Glasgow, and already I think of you when I list the reasons 
why. I know I've just begun, but I feel like Sinister's something pretty 
special, and I'm glad I have a chance to be a part of it.

marisa

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