on vacation

I'll be back in a week's time. So don't fret.

My Last FM Top 20 (week 7)

Again, this list is somewhat weighted by the fact I've been writing about many of these for other folk. Again, there's an R listed next to those ones, for that reason. Again, there's a gigantic dust cloud outside my window, fucking with my brain.

Vivian Girls in Australia.

See also Three More Reasons Why I'm Cooler Than You.

oh, whatever

I've started writing for The Vine.

Great trainwrecks of our time – 9: Take That vs Nirvana

Whoa, Bangs! I can't believe no one's pointed me in the direction of this before... Thanks to the ever-vigilant AMP for alerting me to this one. (I do wish he'd change that abbreviation, though. It keeps me thinking of a certain Plan B writer.)

Great trainwrecks of our time – 9: Take That vs Nirvana

Whoa, Bangs! I can't believe no one's pointed me in the direction of this before... Thanks to the ever-vigilant AMP for alerting me to this one. (I do wish he'd change that abbreviation, though. It keeps me thinking of a certain Plan B writer.)

The Greatest Moment in Recorded History...

...in case you were wondering, and thinking that it's a competition, and perhaps felt lonely and bored and in need of succour or something...

My new Spanish blog

Obviously, I'm aware that going from English-Spanish-English, you're going to lose something in the translation. I wasn't so aware that occasionally you gain...

ET Recommends - 32: Pens (the immediate fallout)

All of the following is taken from responses to a link on Stevie Chick's Facebook page, linking to my previous blog entry on the mighty Pens. (If you're one of the participants and object to your words being appropriated here, please let me know.)

ET Recommends - 32: Pens (update)

Bangs wept, but this band have just been lifted from the realms of the merely great (which anyone can be) to being the coolest in the UK!

Three More Reasons Why I'm Cooler Than You.

Another very short list.

Dave Graney vs Triple J's Hottest 100 Of All Time

This is worth a look at - Dave Graney giving Triple J listeners a much-deserved slapping over at Mess And Noise. Here are a couple of samples...

Join The Dots - 3: The Sugababes + The Pipettes

This one is straightforward enough.

Join The Dots - 2: Blur + Wings

This is a belated continuation of an old series that never took off. Can't imagine it will after this entry either. Oh well...

ET Recommends - 32: Pens

Q. How can I resist a description like "Pens are the British girl No Age, but maybe even better" from Jessica Hopper on Twitter?

How to compile a mix CD (part three)

This one was compiled for a French friend who stayed with us a few months back. It's specifically designed to fit onto one CD, and is long overdue. It clearly reflects both of our tastes. Maybe putting this up here will spur me into sending it...

My Last FM Top 20 (week 6)

Ah yes. It's all change now. I've actually been commissioned to write a bunch of reviews and features for the first time since I can remember when. I'll make it easy for you. I'll shove an R next to the ones I've been listening to for that reason...

ET Recommends - 31: Witch Hats

Where are my home-boys now I need them gathered around me? Where are Stevie Chick, Ben Myers, Steve Gullick, John Robb? Where are my home-girls? Where's Jennifer Maerz, Kathleen Wilson, Jessica Hopper, Cathi Unsworth? I want to shout this band's name from the treetops, proclaim in every fetid barroom and unfinished street in the land, bow down to their vicious, sullen beauty and insouciant swagger, fuck with the dregs of humanity and call it a new religion. I want to roll through the crowds, ducking weaving, belly-punching and scowling, pushing aside the chaff. I want to dance naked in the fire-light, calling and carousing, giggling insane as the house comes collapsing round my feet. I want to lie, sprawled out on the stairs at The Venue, silence pounding a rhythm to my brain. I want everyone to know, everyone to know about The Majesty That Is Phill Calvert. I want to roll, roll, roll. I don't ever want this feeling to die away again.

Lady Gaga acoustic

What's going on? Is it just me, or is this version occupying the precise middle ground between Amy Winehouse and Kate Nash?

Pavement to reunite

Um. Apparently. After a solid decade of rumour. I blame these guys myself. Smug, self-centered, music-hating dorks.

Great trainwrecks of our time – 8: Snow Patrol cover 'Teenage Kicks'

Thanks to Rapturous Solo for this.

Twitter tales 3

And so we plough gamely on. Got a few for you this time, story ideas suggested by fellow Tweeters...

new Rammstein video

On one level, I find this morbidly fascinating.

my new favourite site (2)

There's something about the simplicity and directness of this site that really appeals.

Three Reasons Why I Am Cooler Than You.

A very short list.

Twitter tales 2

Don't worry about me. I'm quite happy here. No, really.

Jad Fair (pt 2)

The man is a genius.

One-minute reviews – 6: Kittie, The Very Best, Panther, El Perro Del Mar

Back, due to no demand at all. "The new low in music criticism" (trademark pending). You can be brief. You can be brutal. But can you cut the mustard when there's only 60 seconds on the clock and you've never listened to the album before?

The 10 Myths of Riot Grrrl

I'd be failing in my duty as a fading music critic if I didn't link to this Guardian article (blog entry).

Twitter tales 1

I was asked by this fellow to write a novel about how his generation killed art, using only 140 characters.

Defending the indefensible – 11: Chris de Burgh

Oh, this one is just great.

My new favourite blog (pt 3)

Oh, for Bangs' sake! I really didn't intend to turn this into an ongoing series, but I can't pretend I haven't seen this.

2001: A School Odyssey

This brought a smile to my face. It might bring one to yours, too.

The Equators & Elizabeth Archer

To celebrate the fact I've finally tracked down a version of The Equators' Hot, 28 years on, I thought I'd share this song with you. If anyone wants to point me in the direction of any more of this shit, please do. I go doolally for it, frankly.

my new favourite blog (pt 2)

Sorry to throw two at you the same day but...

ET Recommends – 29: No Anchor

I'll be blunt here. These guys praised me, so I thought I'd check their shit out.

Seems like I've been yearning for a little of this recently.

My iTunes has been flickering between Pissed Jeans and Wavves, Crocodiles, recs of the flesh, Melbourne's Witch Hats (who are Australia's greatest rock band when The Drones are out the country) and Arrington de Dionyso even (The Pop Group tangled with the occult) - not that I can usually allow it because I have a family after all, and we don't need further competition in the noise stakes, and not that No Anchor sound like any of the aforementioned.

But, as I say, it seems like there's a part of me that is forever a Jesus Lizard fan (not that I've ever listened to one of their records all the way through), who likes it when the music gets heavier and the atmosphere more humid, the guitar more distorted, the drums ricochet and rattle, and every other riff sounds like it wants to break into 'War Pigs'... that misses the camaraderie of sweat-glistening torsos and nicotine-sweet hair. That thinks perhaps Harvey Milk are pretty damn good even if they've got a stupid name.

Anyway, there's two of them in No Anchor, they're from Brisbane - and one can be seen sporting a Big Black T-shirt, which is probably an indication of something or other, damned if I can figure out what, right now.

Bring on the sludge, say I. Bring on the sludge.

(Least, I assume it was praise.)

P.S. Don't try this at home. I usually fucking despise people who praise me.

my new favourite blog

Full of fine links, and impassioned prose.

Guitar Hero debacle, continued - Kurt Cobain vs Sunny Day Real Estate

I dunno. I can't help thinking I'm missing something important here.

How to compile a mix CD (part two)

Trying to compile a second mix CD for another friend's night in London.

(an aside)

Google News Search on "Everett True" - 610 news articles and counting.

How to compile a mix CD (part one)

Trying to compile a mix CD for a friend's night in London.

My Last FM Top 20 (week 5)

Oh, all this fuss. All this fuss. Let's have some music. Here's what Last FM reckons I've been listening to over the past seven days.

Kurt Cobain vs Guitar Hero - Dave and Krist speak

Just read this over at Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Great trainwrecks of our time - 7: Kurt Cobain vs Guitar Hero pt 2

Wait a second. Now I'm reading news stories on the web about this? I'll say this once, and once only, people. I'm not that interesting.

the Mercury

I love ridiculous charts and facts and spreadsheets like this, and I feel like I'd be remiss in my duty for not sharing this one with you. Tip of the deerstalker to No Rock And Roll Fun for alerting me to it.

One-minute reviews - 5: Arctic Monkeys, The Cribs, Talk Normal, Visqueen

Right. Time for some rock. Indie rock, granted - but rock nonetheless.

Great trainwrecks of our time - 6: Kurt Cobain covers Bon Jovi

Um. Grohl and Love sanctioned this one for the new Guitar Hero. So respect due to Grohl and Love then. Fucking corporate cock-sucking memory-destroying fret-wanking MTV-supporting fame-chasing money-grabbing grave-turning publicity-loving vacuous spoiled jaded cunting rock whores.

ET Recommends - 28: Town Bike

Um. Oh. Wait a sec...

The Deadnotes (with Everett True)

The Deadnotes and Everett True (The Legend!), at an art gallery in Woolloongabba. I probably really oughtn't to post this here, but fuck it. I got on stage and did it, didn't I? Thanks to this fellow here. Now I really ought to go and lose some weight.

One-minute reviews - 4: George Pringle, Michael Jackson, Dolores O'Riordan, Tiny Vipers

Hey, listen up. Seriously. I'm open to any and all syndication offers. Could start a whole new water cooler craze.