all we are still saying is . . . .

positively teenage

My compilation cassette positively teenage has recently been posted on takethepills.blogspot.com. I didn't think the sound quality was quite as bad as that, I'm sure it sounded better back in 1990. When I get chance I'm going to scan the fanzine that came with it, each of the bands wrote a page for it, well most of them did, for the ones that didn't I told a few fibs.


(A01) The Love Parade - Dave Clark 5
(A02) The Gravy Train - Devil In Your Shoe
(A03) Lavender Faction - In My Mind
(A04) The Sunflowers - Sunflower Babies
(A05) St.James Infirmary - The Sun Don't Shine
(A06) The Mayfields - Out To Sea
(A07) Penny Candles - Memory Box
(A08) Regulators - Southside Johnny
(A09) Remember Fun - P.S. Elaine
(A10) Church Grims - Plaster Saint
(A11) Marc - Clearer, Brighter, Sharper
(A12) Felicity's - Why Don't You Come Round
(A13) Crimson Mints - Makes Me Want To
(A14) Mousefolk - Wishing The Summer Away
(A15) The Fat Tulips - All That Matters
(B01) The Love Parade - Eternally
(B02) The Gravy Train - All Fall Down
(B03) The Sunflowers - Sunflowers Mum
(B04) Perfect Kiss - So Many Alike
(B05) Church Grims - Seen It All
(B06) Panda Pops - Submarine
(B07) The Williams - Still Keep Coming
(B08) St.Christopher - Charmelle
(B09) The Driscolls - It's Your Daughter
(B10) The Sohfas - Thorns
(B11) The Spinning Jenny's - Gardeners Weakly
(B12) Bulldozer Clarts - Walks Away
(B13) Librarians - Stripping In The Cemetry
(B14) Strawberry Story - For The Love Of Billy
(B15) Hellfire Sermons - Down All The Days
(B16) Patrick Skelly & The Prescriptions - Land Of Tears

i will treasure you

Mike from Slumberland Records asked if I'd be interested in putting together a podcast for his site , I said yes and it's now online, you can download it from here http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/extras/podcast/20

I hope you enjoy it. I meant to embed this photo in the mp3 file but somehow forgot.



I seem to have a big blue sky obsession going on at the moment.

that summer feeling is gonna haunt you the rest of your life

It was Popklubb's second birthday a couple of weeks ago and everyone was invited to do a mix cd and swap it for one someone else had done. Mine was an unseasonal collection of summer songs, I hope who ever picked it out the box found some songs to enjoy. I'd like to thank Stretch(?) for mine which was full of great songs by Jethro Tull, Sting and the Chieftans, nice one, cheers for that. I've uploaded the songs from my CD here . . . that summer feeling and included the artwork too. Kris from Heaven Is Above Your Head also did a mix and you can read how to get a copy of that here . . . Design to Warm.


that summer feeling

1. Summer Smash / Denim 3:38
2. Summer High / Adventures In Stereo 1:53
3. Summer in the City / The Lovin' Spoonful 2:43
4. the end of the summer on bookbinder road / Cocoanut Groove 3:07
5. Here Comes The Summer / Corduroy Utd. 3:08
6. A Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill / Jens Lekman 3:28
7. That Summer Feeling / Jonathan Richman 3:57
8. Hey Sunshine / Let's Whisper 2:31
9. Indian Summer / Beat Happening 3:05
10. Summer Has Changed / Blackflower 4:19
11. Summer Babe / Pavement 3:14
12. Double Summer / The Chills 3:09
13. the summers first kiss / Celestial 3:55
14. Summershine / The Sea Urchins 4:03
15. Next Summer / Brighter 2:58
16. The Summer You Love / St. Cristopher 2:27
17. Summertime / Galaxie 500 6:00
18. Warm July / Sodastream 4:24
19. Wild Rice / Summer Cats 3:32
20. You'll Never See That Summertime again / Friends 4:47
21. Summer Is Here / Go-Kart Mozart 3:26
22. Summer Of Their Dreams / Virginia Astley 3:22

stay beneath the covers child, don't miss the dream, don't be the first to go, don't trust no one.

I know it's well out of date now,but I was going to use this review in the next fanzine, but I'm not sure when that will appear so I thought I'd best put the review up here instead. . . . . . .

Indietracks Festival Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July, 2008

saturday
I couldn't believe it, getting stuck on the bloody steam train for nearly three quarters of an hour and just making it to the church to hear the final strains of Still Corners last song of their set, not a great start to the festival, I was gutted that I'd missed them playing one my favourite songs of the year History Of Love live. Silverdrop were the first band of the weekend that I was to fall for. They certainly have a star in their main man Bjorn, a cross between the dance moves of Ian Curtis and the mannerisms of Wayne Coyne. The music really caught my ear, so I had to buy a CD_R from them that came wrapped in some lovely wallpaper for only £2.














I only caught the last two tracks by the Paralellograms one of which was a cover of Steamin Train and I swear if you closed your eyes you may well have thought you were listening to Tallulah Gosh. The Kabeedies were angular but very bouncy too and did well despite only having three strings on the bass guitar.

The Lodger were wonderful, I nearly managed to miss them while i was sweating every bit of water out of my body in the church watching Darren Hayman, I'd heard him do my favourite - Caravan Song so when Neave phoned to say "Night, Night" and I walked outside into the still shining bright sun and the pure pop sound of My Finest Hour I was never going back in the church. The Lodger were brilliant with those disco guitars pretending they were Chic just like Orange Juice they can't help themselves. Highlight was The Good Old Days especially those falsetto "Alright, alright" , I hope no one is ever subjected to my version as I sing along to them .

The ageless Harvey Williams played about 5 songs on his keyboard before he put a smile on everyone's face and picked up his guitar and treated the audience to some classic Another Sunny Day. He almost lifted the roof off the church when he did Anorak City changing the words to fit , I'm nearly sure he rhymed Swanwick Junction with serving luncheon .


(Harvey Williams - Anorak City)

sunday
After a nice lie in until 10 in my comfy Travelodge bed, I headed towards Swanwick Junction once more, on arrival I picked up a couple of presents for Neave from the gift shop including a train whistle that I'm sure she will annoy her mother with.

Brontosaurus Chorus (best or worst named band of the weekend? The jury is still out on that one.) were the first band for me on the morning , there was about 7 or 8 people on stage making true summery pop sounds. The Middle Ones were laughing, smiling , giggling and totally excited to be playing their songs in the church, and what lovely indie folk pop songs they were, those harmonies were a delight to listen to.

A band that for me stood head and shoulders above almost every one else today were A Classic Education. Songs that at times were anthemic in a similar way that Hurrah!'s were. If Esurient Communications were still alive I feel almost certain that this would be the label for them. Best song was a new one inspired in part by the Grandad of the singer with Elliot Gould's eyes. I would have bought a copy of the bands 12" but I was afraid that it would warp in the tremendous heat, so I will have to try and order it online when I get back home. Just like the festival compilation which sold out before I could nab myself a copy.


(a classic education - wartimes )[the grandad song I mention]

All the band's start times were somehow messed up today so I didn't catch the start of the Rosie Taylor Project's set, so I'm not sure if I missed them doing Maps for Lovers, it was made up for a little bit when they did Black and White Films.

Strawberry Story said that this was to be their last ever gig as they were too old and were retiring, which is a great shame as Hayley had the biggest and nicest smile of any of the bands playing. One of the bands I was really looking forward to seeing was The Wave Pictures and they didn't disappoint. Playing my favourites, the singles from the last album, which had a great punky edge to them.

I thought I had missed the Dierdres but because of line up changes I managed to catch them, they were jumping around like crazy people, I'm not sure if it was the heat of the day that had got to them, but they were certainly excitable and lots of fun. Until today I had ignored the Manhattan Love Suicides, they looked the part and all their songs were fuzzed up bubblegum overdosed guitar pop, I must buy something by them now!

Another great weekend with only one regret, I forgot all about Gregory Webster playing on the train at 3.15, maybe I'll catch him another time.


(gregory webster - the world keeps on turning )

welcome, welcome we've been waiting for you, come on over you know we all adore you

Click on the words above and listen to "It's time" my favourite song this week.

www.thisalmightypop.com

i tried to laugh about it, cover it all up with lies, I tried to laugh about it, hiding the tears in my eyes

flower and chocolate

Neave's guinea pigs.

she carved his name into a tree , etched a heart t.l.f.e.

could this be the start of something? could it be the end of a phase? could it be the start of the future? could it be the good old days?

I know you really shouldn't take months to write a fanzine, but it's been 18 years and I was a little rusty around the edges. Finally it's here though, this almighty pop! number five, I hope someone enjoys it and my spelling mistakes and bad grammar don't spoil it too much. It comes with what I think is an excellent compilation CD, and is on my this almighty pop record label, which I am about to start this month. The first band on the label is Play People and you should be able to buy their CD single by the end of next week. I will also be selling the last bunch I have of the first four issues of this almighty pop as a package deal, as much as I have liked them hanging around in my garage for the last 18 years it's time for them to find new homes, thats if anyone will have them. For details on the new fanzine, the record label and the old fanzines head on over to www.thisalmightypop.com

this almighty pop! number five .... about bloody time!

I found this amongst the this almighty pop original photocopies, I can't remember but maybe it was meant to go in number one. I just wish I could find the tape Kevin Pearce sent me with those songs on.

Where's Clare Grogan Now?

I share my birthday with a silver beatle

the winter turns to springtime,
and the springtime turns to summer,
we discover how we've lost another year


And your lips were warm your hands were cold
I never thought I'd feel this old
Isn't grey hair just the first light of a new dawn?

all words © withered hand new dawn

sunny day and i'm looking for her you see

I'm not normally the gloating type but I had to mention the wonderful little pop artifact that dropped through my letterbox the other day. It's a small 3" cd-r , lovingly put together by Kris of Heaven Is Above Your Head and who is also the ace guitarist with A Smile And A Ribbon. I really didn't want to break into to it, but I had to, I managed to loosen the red thread that was holding it together and place the mini cd into the player, there is a great selection of songs on it, some I'd heard, some I hadn't and some I'd forgotten all about like Po!'s "Sunday Never Comes Around".


Sweet Sixteen by A Smile And A Ribbon gets mentioned in an earlier post below and it's nice to hear it again after the bands triumphant UK tour. Once I get This Almighty Pop! number five finished, my next silly idea is to start a cd-r record label and I want to release something by A Smile And A Ribbon but I fear by the time I get around to it they will be just too big or just say no when I ask them.

Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam

I'm on a mission to expose my 4 year old daughter to what I think is good music, before it was bedtime tonight her favourite two songs were Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam by the Vaselines and Doing It Right by the Go Team, . Not a bad start.

In return she's promised to teach me some new chords.

apples are good

I am forever downloading songs from other peoples blogs so I thought it only fair that I start and do a few play lists myself. I've been bringing in the odd crate or two of my 7"s out of the garage and these songs are the ones that caught my eye and needed to be played. They are all a bit crackly as in their time they were played quite a lot and it seems I didn't look after them as I thought I had. No real theme to them but I have noticed quite a few scottish and north east connections.


Speak to me Rochelle always reminded me of Orange Juice. Oranges and Lemons is from the Prescriptions one and only 7", it is an organ led garage theme from 1960's Hartlepool. For some time Jesse Garon and the Desperadoes were one my favourite bands and The Adam Faith Experience was one in a line of perfect singles. Me and Michael were just talking about Prefab Sprout the other night on the way to the Jens Lekman gig at the Cluny so Lions in my own garden (exit someone) needed a play. Freak Storm was (i think?)the first Hellfire Sermons single, I've just ordered their compilation CD from Bus Stop I wish it was here now. Make It Better was co-written by Terry Gibson who I put my first gig on with. I wish there was a Gravy Train compilation I could order from Bus Stop or any label come to that. Honey Trap were a band that I saw at the Broken Doll and I seem to remember their music reminded me of Felt, Make Me Happy has guitars that could almost be from Poem of River, Riding the Equator in particular. Cincinnati brings to mind Strawberry Wine MBV ,even though I can't remember thinking that at the time. I Remember Caroline is from a test pressing of Watercolour 3 (was it ever properly released?) it sounds a little warped and has some terrible surface noise, sorry. Ain't That Always The Way, I've got a tape of Paul Quinn and Edwyn doing this and Pale Blue Eyes live on radio one but I've no idea where I might find that. I love the way they released Little Things even though Terry Hall is pissing his back off and swearing halfway though.



1. Speak To Me Rochelle / The Desert Wolves 2:27
2. Oranges And Lemons / The Prescriptions 3:20
3. The Adam Faith Experience / Jesse Garon and The Desperadoes 3:06
4. Lions In My Own Garden (Exit Someone) / Prefab Sprout 2:35
5. Freak Storm / Hellfire Sermons 3:33
6. Make It Better / The Gravy Train 3:38
7. Make Me Happy / Honeytrap 2:38
8. Cincinnati / Holidaymakers 2:26
9. I Remember Caroline / The Sweetest Ache 3:04
10. Ain't That Always The Way / Paul Quinn 3:07
11. Little Things / The Colourfield

download apples are good

i fell in love with a girl

It was mine and Michael's first Popklubb experience on Saturday night, we've arrived at the party late , seeing as it has been going since 2006. The venue is really nice, not sure but it must be some sort of working mens club , a really nice big hall, it had to be for the amount of people who turned up. The live music was provided by one of my favourite Swedish bands A Smile And A Ribbon, they played a storming set. Quite a few new songs I'd not heard before but I wanted to hear again straight away, like Sweet Sixteen. There were six in the band this time as they were joined by a saxophonist who embellished some of the songs beautifully , especially when he picked up the flute. He did have a flute didn't he? They also feature on guitar my joint favourite blogger Kris from Heaven Is Above Your Head, it seems such a long time since someone has wrote so enthusiastically about the music that they love. Kris told me that not all of the band are into indie music and infact the drummer is a guitarist in a hardcore thrash band. They all wore Black Flag t-shirts at the gig before this one.

Just before they played their last song The Boy I Wish I Never Met, Kris dedicated a song to an old band called Bulldozer Crash, which made me smile a lot. The rest of the band as well as the crowd looked puzzled and bemused as I think only me and Kris had heard of them, still it made my night as I've not had a song played for me since the Love Parade gigs all those years ago.

I also fell love (again!) on Saturday night, she had the nicest smile I have seen, no really she did, she danced nearly all night with her friend and her friends boyfriend, but I just sat, cos I can't dance for toffee, anyone know of anywhere I can I get indie dance lessons in the north east? I guess it goes without saying that of course I didn't even talk to her, I don't even think she noticed I was there. She might be at Jens Lekman tomorrow night, fingers crossed!(She wasn't but her friend and boyfriend were) Not that I'll speak to her then either. Dear me, I'm sounding like a daft teenager instead of a forty year old, ahhh... so fuck!

I run to her house like it's all downhill

If only I had someone's house to run to like it's all downhill. Actually maybe I don't as I'm not as fit as I was when I was 19, and I'd probably have a heart attack before I made it half way. Reading parts of Fresh Air last night reminded me to give this Waltones track a spin . I just recently added it to my iTunes library so I thought I would share it. I first heard a song called Bold by them on a flexi-disc with the fanzine Irresponsible Spirit and it has remained a favourite, even the crackly whirry flexi version that I have also recently ripped. There is a compilation of everything they did available from Cherry Red called You've Gotta Hand It To 'Em. As much as I love my crackly vinyl it might be nice to have them all in one place , there is also a few unreleased songs on it. The Corn Dollies were another band who were on Medium Cool who I really liked, I must dig out Forever Steven and Be Small Again two more perfect songs. One of which was produced by Robert Forster but I can't remember which one. Here is the Waltones songs , enjoy the static.....
Bold
Downhill

remember arthur seaton said he wouldn't be beaten

This was in amongst my fanzine originals. I once had it printed onto a t-shirt and thought I looked cool as fuck. When I look at it now I'm not sure I got the words right. Was it "wouldn't" or "won't"? Time to find that Pale Fountains LP in the garage, I hope those mice can't eat their way through my plastic record cases.