<Post my Indie Dragon>

Not sure if this kind of indie is up your alley, but it's from <Chris Laffner> who goes by <Wise Blood>.

His audience is tiny, yet as mentioned, he managed to get on to the superb soundtrack to the zombie film <The Battery>.

Apart from that success, he can be found mostly on <bandcamp> or on youtube, where he has generously posted most of his stuff.

This video is much my favorite:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cC...

-------------

This is my favorite track from <The Parlor>, as featured on the superb horror love story <After Midnight>:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxF...

+500 for beautiful New Testament references in aid of a love song:

"You will bear all my fruit,
And you will dress all my wounds"

--------------

<The Battery>: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt227235...

I can see those tracks fitting rather well into a movie soundtrack, but no, in terms of something I could listen seriously to, there’s a certain American ‘flavour’ that I think many of us Brits just don’t get.

Sadly, I could count the US bands I have liked on one hand – The Doors, REM, Throwing Muses, Pixies, and The Lost Patrol. I don't fully understand it. Usually it's the vocals that I can't quite live with, but sometimes an undercurrent of <folk or bluegrass>, or something. There must be others I like ... maybe Interpol and Blondfire. Yes. they are definitely good. <Garbage>? Love them too, but I never know whether to call them American, since Shirley is a large component.

Regarding Genesis, I completely agree. <Wind and Wuthering> was the last of their offerings that captured something of their true essence. After that, it became somewhat the Phil Collins show and there was a rapid move towards a more populist sound. Not awful, but losing Gabriel’s vocal meant losing much of the band’s darker, more supernatural side. He could do theatrical, playful, and other-worldly, in a way that Collins couldn’t.

As I briefly mentioned before, <Scandinavian music> has been the bigger part of my salvation since the death knell of UK indie. It feels to me like they took indie and moved it on, when the UK got stuck in a rut. And it has it’s own qualities besides.

I especially like <Kent>, but also Mew, The Soundtrack of our Lives, and <The Storm> …

<Partisan my Norwegian>

Still digesting, but it struck me yesterday that there is something similar between <Norswegian Indie> and the old <Genesis>.

What, exactly, I have yet to put my finger on.

On <Reds> Gary Neville just about had a heart attack commentating the match v <Hammers>.

So ManU cannot win at home, and cannot lose on the road.

On every road game, they do their utmost to go down 10-15 goals by the half, usually frustrated by the opposition's inability to finish on over 900 easy chances.

Then they play like <Bayern Munich> for say, 15 or 20 minutes in the second half.

Is something very, very wrong, or very, very right?

<Still digesting, but it struck me yesterday that there is something similar between <Norswegian Indie> and the old <Genesis>>

Intriguing. You may have a point there. I’m also struggling to think what it is, but for some reason the word ‘enchantment’ springs to mind. Hmmm.

Any enchantment with the <Red Devils> on the other hand, needs to be tempered with a large dose of nail-biting frustration. It was exactly as you postulated ( - I cover your ‘fulminated’, and raise you a ‘postulated’) and probably the worst example yet. Absolutely no-one bothered to stretch their legs for the entire first half. I mean, we could have sunk without trace.

And as is now normal, <Saltshaker> was clueless on how to put it right. He brought off <Eddie’s son the Caveman> and pushed <Martial Law> up front, but then remembered that Martial Law hasn’t scored for months and hooked him off a short while later. How pea-brained was that? If <Broono> hadn’t risen to the challenge, Olly would have been proper shafted.

<Lee> !!!!

I had no idea: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show...

I feel bad for the disappointed <Mrs. pgp>, but I feel I should point out that David Nobbs didn't get where he is today by including the first 26 pages of his autobiographies.

Here is a consolation Christmas gift for the long suffering <Mrs. pgp>:

<Potted Plant>

I was going to suggest "supernatural" but I have not done enough research yet. Might you help out with some suggestions of <Norwegian Death Metal> no that can't be right hang on...

<Norwegian Indians>

Yes! Remembered it in one. Then I can more easily investigate our latest crackpot theory. I have already begun by investigating <Genesis> even though I have already memorized every word and bar of their catalogue.

"The note he left, was signed Old Father Thames, it seems he's drowned..."

=========

I just finished watching "Return of the Special Bun" and that had to be the most "Merinho" win ever. Only he could have gaffed such an improbable game. In fact only he would have thought it was a good idea to begin with.

What place for <Gareth Bale> in this calculus? He doesn't seem unhappy though. Maybe he likes getting paid 5,000,000 pounds a match for sitting around and smiling.

Spurs feel like a more steely side of late … do you think the addition of <Sergio Regulation> and <Pierre-Emile Hoi Polloi> has toughened them up and stiffened the resolve? That’s the impression I’m getting.

<Gareth SouthPark> also likes sitting around watching the action and being paid in gold bullion. These days, we might even count <Gareth Kasparov> in that number. There's obviously something inherently materialistic and voyeuristic about people called Gareth.

Another chance for <Ole, Ole> to impress in Europe tonight. Let’s hope there’s some fire in their bellies and devil in their souls.

<Pointilliste mon Dada>

Yes, I do think that and nice spot. In support of your theory, <Pierre-Emile Hamburger> was awarded "man of the match" by <Gary Neville>.

I am trying to find the <Reds v Europe> match online but no luck so far- it should turnip somewhere soon though.

Yes well said again- I prefer to do my own lethargic journoing, as opposed to relying on "professionals." I always feel very English when I sniff at "professionals." But for <Gary Neville> I'll make an exception.

Here is a recent scientific study that should shed further light on the matter:

A solid two days of Christmas shopping. What a drag. I might not go out again until Xmas Day! These box-sets don’t watch themselves!!

Thanks for the <Son of Neville Neville> footy reel. It took me back to a time when our defenders started the game in the first half and were able to shut down the opponents’ wing play. I wonder if he’s still got a pair of boots?

Yes, Tuesday night was the latest episode of ‘can’t run, won’t run’ … until we’re a goal or three behind. To be honest we were never going to be able to compete with the big guns in the latter stages, so a return to the <Europa> is not such a bad thing. It felt like the players were aiming for that to happen. Why else would they be so inept against a team they had already defeated so comfortably? Typical though - that the most sincere Twitter apology came from Fernandes – the one person who could hold his head up high.

Generally, Leipzig were playing far too freely on the wings, and that tells me that young Williams is still too lightweight and <Wan-Moussaka> … well, he seems to be the latest recruit of the ‘sleep til half-time’ posse.

Watching it back, I would say that the criticism being levelled at <The Magwitch> is way too harsh. I understand he has the big price tag, and that makes him the prime target. But when he flounders and gets out of position, it’s usually because he’s on his own, trying to do the job of both centre-backs. Not to mention covering for absent midfielders, who should be dropping back and filling the gaps.

Nobody ever acknowledges Maguire's determination to get up the park and add to the attack. He’s scored several times in dire situations and came close the other night. The real problem lies elsewhere ...

Olly is on very dangerous ground right now. <Paul Dogma> (and his agent) are like a cancer that’s spreading through the ranks. I’d lock old Poggers out of the dressing room and try to instill some work effort and discipline. Sell him in the next window, and bring in someone more defensive – a replacement for Matic. United have enough midfield flair with the likes of Rashford, <Mason Dreamgood> and Fernandes. They simply must sort out the defensive frailties.

And for heavens’ sake, why isn't <Dean Henderson> in goal? <De Gea> has now taken his ‘stay upright and stick out a foot’ technique to a ridiculous extreme. It’s like watching 5 a-side footy.

<Matt> Thank you so much for the updated <Hollie Fullbrook> page!

https://www.audioculture.co.nz/peop...

What a unique voice she has, from the first note it could only ever be her.

I had not heard this track before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCE...

I hadn't heard this one either, much the best of the new tracks I listened to today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEt...

So much drama in such a haunting voice.

<Paint of No Return>

I was appalled by Reds bowing out of the <Euros> in that fashion.

Of particular note was the sudden shift in <Wan Nutsacka> from perennial best defender on the field to worst player on the field.

That speaks volumes and it says to me that the gaffer has to be sacked forthwith. I will no longer type his name out. I can't copy and paste it either, because my spelling of his name changes each time. He is dead to me, unless he can fashion a Christmas miracle that lasts longer than a day or two. I understand though that it can take a long time to actually sack a gaffer. It was staggering how long it took them to sack the worst manager in Reds history <Louis Van Had a lot of Gall>. That was an appalling chapter.

Reds salvaged some pride in their virtual replay of the recent <Spurs/Chelsea> match.

That said, all could have saved time by staying home and just re-broadcasting the <Spurs/Chelsea> match.

I wouldn't say either or both matches were painful to watch, and likely even more painful for the neutral punter- but I would indeed say that.

Well said. <Van Gall> had real gall. He never looked perturbed or apologetic after a dismal performance, but relied on the aura that his previous successes had given him. A shameless, unshakable attitude – and it was fairly obvious that he had no particular passion for ManU.

Olly is the opposite in many ways. A huge passion for the club from his playing days, and fans that once adored him. His management legacy though, still at the fledgling stage. A big fall is going to hurt him a lot.

I’m not quite sure how he nips this player apathy in the bud, but he must find a way. He should have dealt with the Pogba situation a long time ago. <Poggers> and his agent are playing the club. Always talking about leaving in order to attract offers … yet on the pitch, I see a lot of fake effort and I’ll be surprised if prospective buyers haven’t noticed it too. Always just missing the tackle or interception, the flailing arms and legs designed to make you think he tried hard. Even when on the ball, it’s hit or miss whether he uses it intelligently. Add into the mix his flashy off-the-pitch behaviour and you can see why he might de-motivate his teammates.

Oh dear. I said I was done with the ranting. That didn’t last long.

Yeah, the <Utd/City> encounter was a bit confusing for me. A yawn of a scoreline, and everyone gave it a ‘snoozefest’ rating overall, and yet … the highlights were quite jolly. Hah! One of those instances where the highlights give a thoroughly false impression.

Some remarkable performances by Leicester and Southampton lately. The title race has a way to go, but the usual suspects are well off the pace. Who will push those <Harry Hotspurs> for the ultimate honours?

Time for some Wild Swans …

But I am out of my depth when trying to say something intelligent about the music of Tiny Ruins, though I like her heaps, and like you, just love her voice. The thing is, I'm twice the age of her target demographic. Paul Simon rightly said that "Every generation puts a hero on the pop charts". Each generation sweeps away the last and that's how it *should* be. I'm still going back, by choice, to the songs of my youth and tracks like this one:

<Jess> I posted this Neil Finn pop masterpiece once before. That's Neil's son Elroy on the bass and the choir is packed with local talent. That's the Southern Light, SJD, with the beard closest to the camera. Sean's collaborator Sandy Mill is on the right hand side, whilst Holly Fulbrook is partnered with US born Reb Fountain, who is finally getting some recognition after years of hard slog.