Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

After reading every night for over two weeks I finally finished this book, and I found it particularly slow and slightly boring. The 'added mayhem of zombies' didn't really add much to the story, in fact I was surprised how little the zombies, or unmentionables as they are constantly referred to in the novel, were actually mentioned. Despite this, only one part of the story stands out, and it involves Elizabeth Bennet and some ninjas. In which she eats a still beating heart. Lovely.

Still, I'm very happy to have finished this book, I can go back to reading my favourite genre, Scandinavian Crime Fiction. I read Stieg Larsson first, then Norwegian author Jo Nesbo came onto the scene described as 'the new Stieg Larsson' which is quite a good review, I guess. And I enjoyed his story The Snowman. And then I tried out Henning Mankell and decided that the whole thing was great. Still got a few authors to try out, obviously, but I'm loving what I've read so far. Next on my list is Håkan Nesser, The Return, which I have previously began and enjoyed what I read so far. It's quite an old novel, the original Swedish novel dating back from 1995, but only quite recently translated to English.

live a little lustful life

hello everyone. i've been getting quiet again, which i do not like at all. i am also very lazy today and am finding i cannot be bothered to used the caps lock at the start of sentences. let's seen what this turns into...

i recently, well in the last few months anyway, compiled a list of my favourite 10 albums of 2000-2010 but today i am unable to find the document on my laptop, i hope i haven't lost it as it was all journalistic and good as well as inspiring for my career as a shit-hot radio dj. but here is a sneak preview of the albums i remember being on there...

the datsuns - the datsuns (2002)
hurricane bar - mando diao (2004)
hot fuss - the killers (2004)
hopes and fears - keane (2004)
with love and squalor - we are scientists (2005)
waterloo to anywhere - dirty pretty things (2006)
ode to ochrasy - mando diao (2006)
first round first minute - sugarplum fairy (2006)
scars on broadway - scars on broadway (2008)
vivarium - twin atlantic (2009)

i think that's it. now at least i have them saved so i can remember to do proper mini-reviews again. coming up soon...

Quiet days

So we've had rioter's making the whole of Britain look like a bunch of cocks and before that a killing spree in Norway as well as a polar bear attack in Svalbard. Which has made the last couple of months a pile of shit. So I've been avoiding just about everything for a few weeks. But I laughed at the picture of the guy who got the wrong impression when they said they were looting Curry's.

In the time I've been away I've visited Stockholm, which is by far the best place I ever saw. It's beautiful and amazing and definitely worth a visit. It's on my list for a second visit, which will hopefully be soon, what with the riots and stuff it'll be good to get out of the UK again.

So what else has happened? Björn Dixgård cut his hair. At first it was strange, because I am used to his floppy fringe and how he waved it around. Here is a picture.
The change sprouted a massive discussion up at md.com. Now I've posted this picture I can't stop looking! Will be off, for a general stare.

J-Pop

This stuff is actually amazing. I just discovered a station called animeAMAZE which is playing sweet, sweet music. Please go to their website and donate because they could close down in November which would not be good.

What a nugget

So it seems I saw dear Peter at exactly the right time, any later and I'd be screwed.
He's been jailed for six months because he's been a bit of a tit.
That would explain why people were chucking bras at him at the gig last week.

When I entered the Academy there was a fat Glaswegian fuck doing 'stand-up'. I thought I was at the wrong show at first but then he started talking about Peter before insulting half the north east and proceeding to undo his shirt. Lucky for my eyes he had a vest on underneath.

First support proper was just a Doherty cover man with same voice and guitar. But his own songs. He came on around half 8 and was on stage for almost an hour. And then there was a long wait. I asked some girls I was stood near if Peter was always this late coming on stage, we'd been expecting him for half an hour. Apparently not, he was on time last time he visited the city. He finally shows up about 10ish, smoking fag after fag (which I thought had been outlawed or something). So it turns out it's solely Peter on stage with an acoustic guitar accompanied by backing DANCERS for the occasional song. The whole affair was so much different to the show put on by other ex-Libertine Carl Barat who had a full band going in a tiny venue (very sweaty). I imagined Peter would had suited something smaller as well, the Academy is a little pretentious, I don't care how popular someone is but they do need to suit the stage.

Most of the crowd were twats, ripping their shirts off and swinging them around viciously. What were they trying to prove? I positioned myself by the fire exit in case of a problem and ended up with a load of those drunk twats asking me if the toilet was in the corridor beyond. No, follow the signs.

Musically, Peter was great. He knows have to write, we can give him that, and that's something I respect about him. It's just a shame he's had to let himself down.

What more can I say?

Mando Diao Street Team Blog

The Mando Diao street team gets up to loads of cool stuff to promote Mando Diao. Check it out here to find out what the world gets up to in the name of Mando Diao ...

Peter and Carlos

Been listening to Pete and Carl all day so what better than to post up a fancy schmancy new poll about what Pete and Carl era/solo/new band project thingys you prefer and it's just there ---------------->
Just interested. FYI, I'm quite impressed by Peter's solo album, Grace/Wastelands, I was loving it before I'd got through the first 20 seconds! He's been getting a lot of shit in recent years and people have refused him musically because of it. I haven't. I wouldn't really say he was a legend (even though he is) and a genius (he is really this too) but he's a bloody good songwriter despite everything. Seeing him live in a few weeks, celebratory end of exams ever gig. I'll be in my Carlos shirt, yah.
Now, who wants The Libertines on tour?

Mystery Exit for Giers =(

Mando Diao announced the loss of drummer Samuel Giers last week, after he missed some shows during the fall. The last show he played was at Berlin for an MTV Unplugged event on September 2nd.

This is the second time the band have lost a member, following previous keyboardist Daniel Haglund who was asked to leave the band back in 2003, shortly after the release of their debut album, Bring 'em In. Both were initial members of Mando Diao.

Giers is stated as saying the release was not his decision and to speak to the rest of the band who have refused to give any more details at present. A spokesman for Mando Diao is asking fans to refer to their website for more infomation.

Stockholm and McFly

In the space of six months and I am pretty damn excited!! I'm just a big kid really and don't want to grow up!! Not in a Peter Pan way though, that's gay. Disney is gay. Anywhooooo... I'll check back in after McFly, if I make it hehe.

Kirk out. Hehe.

Day 8 - A Song I Know All The Words To

Well, there can only be one song, and it needs no introduction...

Day 7 - A Song That Reminds You Of A Certain Event

2008 and I'm at Middlesbrough Music Live where I'm stuck at the front of the crowd for almost the entire day, lungs crushing on the barrier. This was the highlight of that day. It's Ash with Twilight Of The Innocents.

Day 6 - A Song That Reminds You Of Somewhere

It can only be one song. Deutschland Über Alles.



Fantastic.

Day 5 - a song that reminds you of someone

Oh Yeah by Ash was kind of adopted by me and my boy as our tune when we started going out, so this one goes out to him.

Day 4 - a song which makes me sad

Bit of a hard choice this one, seeing as I generally listen to happy music (or Crap, as Mr. Badam puts it, the slimy little sodbag).

Always by Blink 182 was my final choice. And I don't know why...

Day 3 - A Song That Makes You Happy

I chose Marigold my them 5 Swedes Sugarplum Fairy. It's a cute little song and video collective and I was in the habit of playing the song on repeat for up to 2 hours if it came up on shuffle on mein iPod.

Here it is, enjoy!

Day 2 - Least favourite song

Not even worth posting a video today because it's trollops and crap. I chose You're Beautiful by James Blunt. I don't care what any one says, it is rhyming slang. Now this song for some reason went to number 1. Shows how disagreeable me and the British public are. They have no taste. Crappy crappy crappy pile of crap.

30 Day Music Challenge

Came across this, good way of getting across useless info no one cares about.

Day 1 - Favourite song.

I picked Dance With Somebody by Mando Diao because it always gets me in a good mood, it's fantastic when it comes on anywhere. And I think that's a good enough excuse! Despite doing a journalism degree I'm crap at doing little reviews.

It was hard to pick a favourite song as I have so many from different bands that I adore. But at the minute this just tops the lot. Fans love it or hate it, as it showed a new side of Mando Diao that people were a bit insecure about. Then there's our group who love them for everything they have done.

So to stop me from blabbing on, here's the video. Courtesy of Mando Diao VEVO.


Would love to see something along the lines of 'I'm falling in love with your favourite song'

Japan

No one reads this blog but hey ho!!

Went to Travelling Man today, found they actually had t-shirts my size, Totoro on one and a random 'Rah!' dino on the other, super-cute. Also some rare stuff you can only get in Japan at Hello Kitty land (I'll be off there soon!!!!!!).

I'll be doing some proper pieces of writing at some point, it's too much of a sodding diary of my shit life so far. Thanks Frankie.