i could have sold a lot of records...

Cat Power...someone I'd never paid much attention to in the past, until this:

Cat Power - The Greatest

The new single, that promises to mutate into Moon River but pulls back from the precipice at the last moment and turns into something even better. Trust me it's that wonderful.

Today's header from 'I Am The Greatest' by A House. From the album of the same name, if you see a copy cheap somewhere buy it and i'll personally refund your money if you're not satisfied

about a dose of thrush you got while you were licking railings

Well Ben Folds was top notch on Monday, playing a solo show as his drummer had food poisoning. The NIA is a strange cavernous venue but he coped admirably, even treating us to some drumming and funky bass guitar when the piano had to be repaired. And as if his own tunes weren't great enough he played his version of Dr Dre's 'Bitches Ain't Shit' again to much amusement and general awe.

So as we spiral helplessly to the end of the year it's time for a list.

Top 20 albums of 2005
1. Malcolm Middleton - Into The Woods
2. Antony & the Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now
3. Rufus Wainwright - Want Two
4. Sigur Ros - Takk
5. Clem Snide - End Of Love
6. The Decemberists - Picaresque
7. Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
8. Silver Sun - Dissapear Here
9. Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - 3
10. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
11. The Lucksmiths - Warmer Corners
12. Andrew Bird - & The Mysterious Production of Eggs
13. Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman
14. King Creosote - KC Rules OK
15. Grandaddy - Excerpts from the Diary Of Todd Zilla
16. Bright Eyes - Digital Ash In A Digital Urn
17. Half Man Half Biscuit - Achtung Bono
18. Martha Wainwright - Martha Wainwright
19. Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous
20. Saint Etienne - Tales From Turnpike House

Top 3 Compilation albums of 2005
1. Luke Haines - Is Dead
2. Fountains Of Wayne - Out Of State Plates
3. Belle & Sebastian - Push Barman To Open Old Wounds

And finally today's header is from 'Lazy Line Painter Jane' by Belle and Sebastian

nero fiddles while gordon burns

God I'm so slack, two weeks without a post! So what's been happening I hear you cry? Somebody is reading this I presume? Well briefly I've been to see a wonderful gig in Sheffield City Hall featuring the splendid Rufus Wainwright and the equally wonderful Guillemots, saw part of Antony & the Johnsons set at Bristol Academy before departing for the hospital, seen Helen receive two cool pieces of news (firstly she's exhibiting her photographs at the Little Gallery in Oxford Feb 20 to Mar 5 2006 and secondly she has an interview on Tuesday for her teacher training course), I've booked tickets to see the Research and Death Cab for Cutie next year, reviewed Silver Sun and * Armstrong CDs, released and sold lots of copies of the undertheigloo album, went to the Nightshift Xmas meal and met lots of people who write under pseudonyms, interviewed James Broad from Silver Sun and been for two job interviews.
Tomorrow I go to see Ben Folds at the NIA in Birmingham which is very exciting indeed. Here's hoping for less audience chatter and general toing and froing in the seated venue we saw him in Southampton earlier in the year.
Finally if you want to go and buy something music wise tomorrow, I can heartedly recommend 'Mountains' by the Spinto Band (7" only), 'Alas Agnes' by the Mystery Jets and if you're really quick go and get one of the remaining copies 'Trains To Brazil' by Guillemots.

Today's header is from 'Joy Division Oven Gloves' by Half Man Half Biscuit