Sigh…

Dec 24, 2005 · 1 minute read

Okay, so with my new job (and, if I’m going to be completely honest, Mario Kart DS), this year’s run-through of my favourite songs of 2005 has been a little woeful. What I plan to do is to finish running through the songs next week, before the New Year. So consider this one of those strange Advent Calendars that runs past Christmas, so greedy children can have a few extra days of chocolate (thankfully, Cadbury’s seem to have resisted this temptation, so they still remain the Calendar of Gentlemen. And Ladies, of course).

Enjoy Christmas Eve, everyone!

Time Goes By So Quickly

Dec 21, 2005 · 1 minute read

Yes, well. Back tomorrow, I promise. For now, I leave you with action from the US Senate!

Sen. John Cornyn: "None of your civil liberties matter much after you're dead."

Sen. Russ Feingold's retort: "Give me liberty or give me death."

Grr…

Dec 19, 2005 · 1 minute read

A Short Interruption Unfortunately Follows. See You On Wednesday.

He's Our Biggest Comedy Export, Don't You Know.

Dec 18, 2005 · 1 minute read

At least I'm not gay, or a woman

Ah, Ricky Gervais. I'm sure Mr. Fry was quaking in his boots at that witty retort, but I'm glad to have another reason to shove him into the Endemol offices before the first napalm strike rains down.

I Olev 2005: Day 18

Dec 18, 2005 · 1 minute read The Cardigans — I Need Some Fine Wine, And You, You Need To Be Nicer

It would be here for the title alone of course, but a return to the sound of the My Favourite Game-era makes this a fine addition to this year's countdown (yes, I'm filling. Come back tomorrow for part one of my exciting three-part series: Songs From Pop Albums That Sold Approximately 5 Copies).

Oh, and also

Dec 17, 2005 · 1 minute read

Pete, if you’re reading: I’m getting there.

I Olve 2005: Day 17: YEAAAAAH!

Dec 17, 2005 · 2 minute read New Order — Waiting For The Sirens' Call

We need to put together a petition to stop Barney from yelling during Love Will Tear Us Apart. It really doesn't suit whoops of joy, you know.

Anyway, it would be foolish to deny that New Order haven't lost anything with the departure of Gillian from the band. It's difficult to pin it down exactly, but both Get Ready and Waiting… do seem more laddish than, say, Republic or Technique. And yes, it could be said that at this stage in their life, New Order are rearranging old songs rather than pushing boundaries like they did the 1980s.

None of that makes the final words of Waiting For The Sirens' Call any less heartbreaking. Bernard Sumner gets a lot of criticism for his lyrics, most of which is unfair (I am, of course, not going to stand up for "Here comes love/it's like honey/you can't buy/it with money"). Of course he can't compare with Ian Curtis, but then Sumner isn't trying to. New Order's lyrics are often less about how they look when written down, but how they sound when actually sung. Okay, the same could be said about pretty much any act, but New Order take it to an extreme. For them, the voice is just another instrument, and as long as it sounds right, they seem to feel that it'll all hang together in the end. Which it invariably does.

How many times must I lose my way, hey
How many words do I have to say, hey
What can I do just to make you see
That you're so good for a man like
A man like me

Words on a screen just can't convey the tired and resigned way that Barney sets off into a Peter Hook-sponsored sunset.

(Other notable New Order releases this year: Singles, which despite a few flaws, is a fine collection for people who want the hits, and the Collection, DVD set, comprising all their video promos (except True Faith '94, but that was just the original True Faith video with other New Order videos spliced in at various points, so you're not missing anything), and the documentary NewOrderStory, featuring the voiceover that I imagine Paul Morley still smiles about.)

I Evol 2005: Bootsy Collins!

Dec 16, 2005 · 1 minute read Madonna — Hung Up

Because this year's catchphrase should be: "BIGGIE! NO!"

I Lvoe 2005: Day 14: Simon Got There First

Dec 14, 2005 · 1 minute read The Dirty Three featuring Cat Power — Great Waves

our bodies are exploding / as the sky spews through our mouths

Damn him! But he has it up for download, so go and get it. The most harrowing thing that Chan Marshall has sung since You Are Free's Names. Play it at your Christmas party!

We interrupt this countdown…

Dec 13, 2005 · 1 minute read

To say that we’ve now heard JCB Song, and despite the fact that it’s so twee that even Belle & Sebastian and Heavenly regularly beat it up for its lunch money, you can’t help smile (the appearance of Optimus Prime in the video helps, of course). We wholeheartedly support buying a bootload of copies (known in the trade as “doing a Louis Walsh”, natch) to deny Westlife a 14th number one.

Also, Girls Aloud's cover of Merry Xmas Everybody is one of the most woeful things I've ever heard…