'Rock Academics'

Time Magazine's 100 Best Albums is now available as a series of podcasts through the iTunes store. Chin stroking rock academia at it's worst and all the regular suspects get rolled out yet again but it's still worth a listen.

Love Love

Anyone's who's interested has already heard the new Beatles issue, 'Love', and already knows it's fantastic. I heard comments on the radio that it's 'like painting a moustache on the Mona Lisa' but that's just stupid. Can you spot where all the samples come from? Who cares! It’s there to be enjoyed as the fine record that it is and I think it makes George Harrison's contributions shine brighter than ever while confirming the fact the Paul McCartney is the most talented man to ever even hold a bass guitar. Am I gonna post a Beatles track? Don't be daft. I don't want the Newtonian like forces of Apple Corp coming down on my head (Did you see what I did there?)
Instead enjoy this rather great version of McCartney's 'My Love' by Ken Boothe from the wonderful 'A Reggae Tribute To The Beatles - Mellow Dubmarine'

Wella!

Ahead of the much anticipated Weller gig in the Olympia tonight, which Murtagh isn't allowed to go to, here's some footage of the main man.

Hire 'Em Bono

A great home made video for the new U2 Song 'Window In The Skies'. Let's see if the official one is half as good. Bono should be spending his money hiring this guy rather than throwing it away on getting back an old hat.

Return Of The Band Who Never Left

The Beatles' remix album, 'Love', has been released, I've got my hands on a copy which has been on heavy rotation here at H.Q. I'll post a full review soon but suffice to say it's a breath taking work of genius. Let's celebrate with a bit of 'Hey Bulldog';

Utter Bollocks

A question I have often asked myself is what would have happened if Keith Richards had been in the Fantastic Four instead of The Stones, well, here's the answer.

Willie Nelson on the BBC

Part one of Outlaw: The Willie Nelson Story is available to stream from the always excellent BBC Radio 2 website. The BBC tend to leave these things up for about a week so check it out quick. As if more encouragement was needed, it's narrated by Kris Kristofferson.

The Lizzy Down The Pub

Jaysus they're all here

All the usual suspects for the new Video for Johnny Cash's 'God's Gonna Cut You Down'. How does Kid Rock keep getting in?

The Mighty Toots!

Don't like Radiohead? I'm with you on that one - unlistenable, pretentious art-rock bollocks. But a good song can be found anywhere. Here's the mighty Toots Hibbert covering Radiohead's 'Let Down'. My thanks go to the great 'The Word' magazine for pointing me in the direction of this one.

Song Of The Week

The new Bob Dylan album got some great reviews and, in truth, it's not bad but hardly another 'Time Out Of Mind' One of the stand out tracks for me is 'Working Man's Blues#2' which, at a stretch, is a lyrical update of this Merle Haggard classic from 1969.

Jumpin' Jack Flash

Ever seen the great Stones video for 'Jumpin' Jack Flash'? Sure you have but have you ever seen the black and white alternative shot the same day? Neither had I until recently but, through the magic o' the web, we can all see it now.

Bob Dylan Radio Show

The Bob Dylan Theme Time Radio hour is just as great as the title would suggest. A complete treasure trove of blues, soul, country and everything in between. Available on subscription in the States which isn't great news for the rest of us, unless you go to Croz's excellent Bob Dylan Radio Archive. The files are available as one long mp3 or as individual files which will save you looking for material which, in a lot of cases, just isn't available out there anymore. Enjoy.




The link above is gone but the shows are currently available here

Window In The Skies - U2

Click here to stream the new U2 song

Great, as always. Bastards.

Coming Up

Reports and, if I can get them, pictures from Paul Weller at the Olympia on Friday night and Bruce Springsteen at the Point on Sunday. There will be a lot of drink involved so forgive me if these reports are a tad garbled.

Beginnings

This is only to kick it all off, here is the place where I hope to recommend anything I notice going on and talk about the things that are worth a nod. Photos and files of the various adventures will also be featured here.