Thinking: about how I do radio

Again I dip into the wisdom of the English music magazines (I plan to do a head-to-head comparison of my two favourites - The Word and Uncut - sometime soon). I wish there was an Oz equivalent but alas, I'm yet to find it. Rolling Stone has its moments but there is something just not quite there about it for me. (Although I do note that they say that leaked tracks from the new Guns and Roses album Chinese Democracy "suck")



Annnnyyywaaaays, I came across this competition where a Word reader can guest programme an hour on a digital radio station over there called The Arrow. I've sometimes thought it would be cool to get 2XXfm listeners to guest programme - the Pussycat had a bit of a go for her birthday which worked pretty well. We could potentially even get people to come in and do a bit of announcing if they were so inclined, telling stories about their selections.

I see that Rage has just closed entries to a similar scheme called Invade Rage, celebrating their 20th birthday.

I'll give this a little more thought once the 2XXfm website is up and running.

One of the things I found particularly interesting in the Word competition was that they spoke to one of the station DJs who offered some tips on putting a good selection together and other things to consider.

• Putting a selection together is known as "building a clock"


• People might tune in at any time so don't put everything in blocks


• Forward sell the music that is coming up - listeners might be more likely to wait through an average song if they know one they like is next


• "Hammocking" is placing unfamiliar music between more familiar tracks


• Unfamiliar music should be less that 50% of the show


• Open with something that gives you a lift and brings out your enthusiasm


• Intrigue, inform and entertain with your chat - experiences tied up with songs can be good stories

Now I'm bearing in mind that this is a more commercially oriented type of station but a lot of these points ring true. The most common feedback I get (not that there is a lot of it but it's always nice when there is) is about songs that I have played that are old favourites that people haven't heard for years.

One of the things that gets me excited about radio is hearing the stuff that I've never heard before. Listening to community radio (or public radio as it was known back then) in Melbourne with iconic stations like RRR and PBS brought me out of my musically malnourished adolescence and I've never looked back.

I think though that the point about people liking a healthy dose of the familiar is probably quite right - you only have to look at the way mainstream radio endlessly cycles through the same limited playlist to see that. The question is though, do people grow to love songs because they are good songs or because they are trained to?

To simply claim it's all the latter is probably a little arrogant and doesn't give people credit for knowing their own minds but then again, you see repetition over and over in commercial media and they spend millions analysing the psychology of the audience so it's bound to be a bit of both.

I think in part it's about the difference between whether people enjoy (or want to be) thinking about what they are listening to (which you have to do when it's something new) or just want to be relaxed and comfortable.

I tried this new approach, using a number of more familiar tunes (in a 2XX/less-mainstream sense) on last Mondays show (4 - 6pm 2XXfm 98.3) and I have to say, it did feel a little more balanced, while maintaining the esoteric nature I like.

I also got some fantastic feedback which doesn't always come up and maybe I'll share it so you don't think it's just me that thinks I'm fantastic :)

I listened to part of your sunset show last night: loved the bits I heard, especially the Dolly Parton/Motorhead/Flaming Lips/ Breakfast Club tunes. Brilliant, funny, unexpected and great music.

You can check out the playlists for the programme on the (slightly neglected) Monday Sunset blog here.

Looking at: funky doodles

This is an ad I found in one of my English music mags for Samaritans, an organisation something like Lifeline in Australia. Samaritans focuses on offering people a non-judgmental ear to talk to when they are distressed, in despair or suicidal. (Click image for full sized version)



Mostly I was taken by the artwork here - I've been known to idly doodle away during a meeting or three and I've always thought that doodling (particularly blue pen on "work" paper) deserves more of a place in the art scene than it currently has.

It would be great to see an online gallery that people can submit idle scribblings to. (I'd Google doodles but I'm afraid of what might appear - being on a work computer and all :)

Heading: off to Melbourne

I have a mates wedding this weekend and the Pussycat and I are going to have a bit of a weekend away.

Have a great one, back on Tuesday.

Watching: Miss Potter

Miss Potter isn't the type of film that I'd expect to be blogging about but I saw it the other night and enjoyed it so there you go.

It tells the story of Beatrix Potter, creator of an immensely popular series of childrens books at the turn of the last century including Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck. (Check out her bio on Wikipedia here - though it contains spoilers if you plan on seeing the film).



The film itself is just beautiful - girly but beautiful. Renee Zellwegger puts in a great performance as Miss Potter, Ewan McGregor is equally likeable as her publisher/suitor, life in Edwardian England (at least if you were quite well-to-do) seems pretty nice and it is shot in a way that gives it a real lushness. (Or I guess that could have been done in post-production but you know what I mean).

It does tend to follow the classic Hollywood 3 act structure, so you know that something significant will happen about at the 1/3 and 2/3 points but even that didn't seem forced and what surprises there were in the plot were completely unexpected and a little sad. (I may have even gotten lumpy throat at one point but if you repeat that I'll deny it :)

The Potter characters were used in a really nice way as well - animated to give them extra character and to highlight the relationship that Miss Potter (being all so very Edwardian it seems almost improper to call her Beatrix) had established with them in her extraordinarily cute imagination.

Here's the trailer.



(Ooh, nearly forgot about Emily Watson - who I've liked ever since I saw her in the Lars Von Trier heartbreaker Breaking the Waves - who also rocks in this film)

Making III: the walkthrough video of the lamest FPS game ever.

Ok, this is probably the last post on my first FPS game (though I'll let you know when I make something a little more exciting).

I used another nifty programme called Fraps to take a screen-capture of walking through the game last night and have squished it down to a suitable size for YouTube. As a result, the sharpness of the image is gone but based on the screenshots that I put up here the other day, you should still have some idea of what it's like.

(Here's an example of one of them - click on it for a full-sized version)



Here's the video.




I also realised last night that the background image I used in the second question was taken from the third level. Oh well.

Watching: short::seasons Autumn'007

Ok, so this was a couple of weeks ago now but I've been busy alright - sheesh :)



short::seasons is a quarterly short film screening held in Canberra, showcasing some of the things that have been made locally in the past few months.

This screening was pretty well attended - though I'm guessing that by the carry on when most of the films started that a healthy proportion of the audience had been involved in the films in one way or another.

Kudos to everyone for getting out there and having a go - the quality of films varied greatly but it was an interesting bunch. (Unfortunately none of the filmmakers or organisers appears to have heard of YouTube)

Here are the things I liked about them. (It's too easy to be critical and mean online and frankly it's a bit boring. The wannabe film maker in me has a few opinions though so maybe I'll add - what I would have done - recognising that I didn't)


Love, War and Auditions
Comedy 7.00 mins
Produced, Directed & Written by: Patrick J Gallagher
Auditioning for the first time in a new town, a young actress meets her nemesis.

Simple idea well performed and competently made.
I would have: quickened the pace a little


Scott the Phone
Drama 7.00 mins
Produced, Directed & Written by: Benoit McCullough
The relationship of Rob & Jill is tested by the actions of their phone.

Nifty idea with lots of potential and some good gags.
I would have: expanded on the phone gags a little more (call waiting?) and made the end clearer.


All Sorts
Comedy 7.00 mins
Produced & Written by: Hana Tow & Clare Martin Directed by: Hana Tow
When driving a cab, you meet all sorts of people

Well edited and an ambitious idea in some ways. Credit for making it in 10 days.
I would have: focussed more on the whimsical and the cabby


Lucy's List
Drama 6.00 mins
Produced by: Jess Camilleri & Andrew Babington Directed by: Andrew Babington Written by: Jess Camilleri
Welcome to Lucy's world. It's one not indifferent to that of your own. She is a normal girl with normal everyday routines. A routine to which she keeps a list. Yet, this list is different; this list is beyond everyday thoughts and imaginings however simple it may first perceive.

Really liked the concept, the use of depth of field in camerawork and the slightly emo mood.
I would have:not changed much at all


Canvas
Drama 7.00 mins
Produced, Directed by: Bobby Farquhar & Ben Patrick , Written by Bobby Farquhar
What price is freedom, are any of us ever free? Should we be responsible for our own actions or are we all victims of our own confines?

Ambitious and technically well made (nice digital effects).
I would have: made the point more clearly to avoid seeming like a showreel piece


Next Try Wins
Drama 7.00 mins
Produced by: The Holgate Brothers & Ian Thomson Directed & Written by: The Holgate Brothers
"Next Try Wins" centres on two brothers trying to escape a discouraging family life through Australia's favourite sport, Rugby League.

Simple timeless story, well shot, edited and performed. Very Australian in it's slightly aimless drifting quality.
I would have: made more of the Dad and/or made it about AFL :)


Only He Knows
Drama 17.00 mins
Produced, Directed & Written by: Dallas Bland
In one dark night, Paul confronts his own demons and faces the truth about himself he has buried for so long.

Dark and well paced, some good intense performances, great blood makeup.
I would have: tightened the story a little, made the end clearer. (Pussycat thought this was great as it was)


The Butterfly Quilt
Drama 16.00 mins
Produced by: Matthew Fallon Directed by: Marisa Martin Written by: Geraldine Martin
A film about creativity, friendship and new beginnings.

Professionally made, nice quilts, interesting performances.
I would have: worked on the dialogue more and perhaps the story. (Pussycat was worried I thought she liked it as it's about craft stuff - she felt it was quite anti-men, which I didn't particularly get)


Tinfoil Hats
Drama 4.50 mins
Produced, Directed & Written by: Sebastian Becher Miles Nicholls Eddie Telfer
People in Canberra are going missing

Some interesting ideas and a bold attempt at quirky. Made in 10 days.
I would have: spent more time on the story


The Swordsman
Drama 11.00 mins
Produced by: Alex Chapman Directed & Written by: James Lane
A dark fairytale exploring the wages of human emotion upon the desire for spiritual harmony

Stylish and very well shot, nicely edited, good low-key performances.
I would have: trimmed some of the slightly repetitive "mystical Eastern" dialogue and included an actual swordfight


Rig & Mortis
Animation 3.75 mins
Produced, Directed & Written by: David Doepel
Who says hate is just a human emotion?

When I realised that this was made in 1996, I was more impressed with the CGI animation. Cute story, good music.
I would have: not overplayed the same gags


KeyTROP30
Comedy 1.00 mins
Produced & Directed by: Belinda Barancewicz Simon Cadman Written by: Belinda Barancewicz
Two commercial directors resort to desperate measures

Visually speccy and some funny ideas
I would have: made the point of the thing clearer - perhaps with voice over.


Blind Love
Comedy 9.00 mins
Produced by: Joe Kisch Directed by: Bruce Davie Written by: Joe Kisch & Bruce Davie
Donna and Andy, told by the fertility Doctor to conceive immediately, get stuck in a lift for two hours with a Blind Man. Do they or don't they take the chance for a quiet shag?

Nicely performed and shot/edited.
I would have: gone with a slightly less cliched punchline.

Reading: about Neighbours

People mock me for my love of Neighbours but I don't care. It's good clean schlock with distinctly tongue in cheek undertones that gently takes the piss out of modern suburbia while simultaneously celebrating it.

Nice to see Catherine Deveny in The Age today taking up the cause.

I WASN'T LOOKING forward to watching Neighbours. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I have undergone chemotherapy and given birth without drugs, so watching three episodes of Neighbours should be pretty similar. But with more fake tan.

I psyched myself up by chanting, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!"

And I kept reminding myself that it was my duty as a reviewer and as self-appointed Fairfax-funded ambassador for truth. It was going to be like pulling off a Band-Aid. Commit to it, make it fast and do it in the bath so it hurts less.

So I set up the laptop and hopped in the bath. That's right, I was watching Neighbours naked and wet. You want the truth? You can't handle the truth. It was time to brace myself.

As the credits rolled and that familiar music excreted, I was very afraid.

But the show is hilarious. It's an absolute ball-tearer. This shouldn't have a Logie nomination for most popular drama, it should be cleaning up the comedy awards.

With episode titles such as Look Who's Stalking, Just What The Doctor Frauded, Quack Of Beyond, Give Priest A Chance and Assault And Pepper, this is the funniest thing that I have seen on Australian TV since they chained up a nana in a nursing home on Today Tonight.

Making II: the lamest First Person Shooter ever.

On Friday I mentioned that I'm using a very nifty piece of software called FPS Creator to build a game as part of an assignment for Interactive Multimedia Design.

It's been a bit of a learning curve and there may have been the odd moment or 12 of despair but at around 2am this morning, it was all done. (Technically it was all done at around 12.30am but that's the time of day when you forget that you haven't saved your work for about 2 hours, isn't it).

I'm mildly concerned that the game doesn't want to play on the work computer but given the way the IT people here lock everything down, I'm assuming that something crucial has been deactivated in the machine. (Assuming is the same as praying, right?)

I can show you some screenshots at least - these are images that appear when the player walks over certain points.

The purpose of the "game" is to test knowledge that the player has developed in another learning object that I developed previously. It's basically a multichoice quiz, with 3D action as well as audio.

I toyed with the idea of adding monsters/enemies and the ability/need to shoot them but couldn't quite work out if they should pop up when you got an answer right or wrong. In the end, some problems with having a level that was apparently too big which slowed the game down to an unplayable 3 frames per second (as opposed to the normal 30) made the decision for me. I stripped out everything I could and now it runs very smoothly.

Anyways, here are the shots - when they appear in the game, my dulcet tones kick in as well, reading out the text. (Click on the pics to see the full sized version)


(Beginning instructions)(Click here for the audio)


(Question 1)


(Question 2)


(Question 3)


(Question 4)


(Wrap up statement)

Ok, so just a supporting statement to come and it's all sorted. When I get the chance (and assuming you want to see the world's lamest first-person-shooter in all it's educational glory), I'll take a screen capture of the game too. Stay tuned.

LOLing: The Daily Show - new plans for Iraq

There's really nothing to be said here, just enjoy the clip :)

Making: games with FPS Creator

Sometimes I love my job/field of study. FPS Creator is a fairly easy to use piece of software that you can use to create basic 3D First Person Shooter (FPS) computer games.

The FPS genre includes seminal titles including Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, Quake, Half-Life, Duke Nukem Forever :), Counter-strike, Halo, Call of Duty and GoldenEye 007.

It is characterized by an on-screen view that simulates the in-game character's point of view and a focus on the use of handheld ranged weapons. (wikipedia)

Interestingly, the genre itself dates back more than 30 years to the first FPS game Spasim (which interestingly, was also a networked game), created in 1974.

In using FPS Creator, you don't need to know how to create 3D models or how to write any code, it's all done in a click and drag visual interface.

Here's a promo video for the software - it's from 2004 so things have moved on a little since then but you'll get the gist. (There's also a stack of other video guides on YouTube if you search for FPS Creator)



I bought this software a while ago now and it's always been on the list as a project to get around to - but I never have.

Now though I have an assignment for Interactive Multimedia Design where I have to create a learning object and I'm thinking this could be perfect.

Oooookkkaayyyy I hear you drawl, how does that work exactly? Where is the learning in running about blowing stuff up and killing zombies? (Well if you don't know that then don't come crying to me when there is no more room in Hell and the dead walk the Earth)

Actually, the theory at this stage is to make use of a decision tree structure used in teaching correct responses for first aiders arriving at an accident. This sets up a scenario and offers several options to choose from at each decision point. These decision points could just as easily be represented as doors or corridors in a maze in a 3D space. (Only one option is the correct one and feedback as to why is offered)

I just need to find a way to incorporate text (I suspect as a texture on a wall or in audio form) at the decision points and off we go. Whether to include weapons and monsters/enemies is unclear at the moment - seems like it would be more fun this way though.

Ok, well I'm going to get stuck in now, I'll update this when I've done something worth seeing.

Watching: The Amen Break

I came across a really interesting video a little while ago (pretty well just audio really) about the history of the Amen break. It's a six second drumbeat (a.k.a breakbeat a.k.a break) from the song Amen Brother by The Winstons, recorded in 1969.

This video looks at the way it became almost a standard sample in hiphop tracks through the 80's and 90's (including NWA's Straight out of Compton) and then as sampling got more sophisticated became the foundation for almost all Jungle music and was eventually taken over and used by big business in advertising. Lots of really interesting stuff about copyright as well.

It's about 18 minutes long but it's really worth checking out. It was made by Nate Harrison in 2004.

Studying: Working on assignments

I've got a fair slab of work to do today - 3 heuristics about different aspects of learning theory and I also need to get stuck into a multimedia learning object that I've been tinkering around the edges of.

I've been reading a lot of interesting articles on different aspects of education - if you're interested (or chronically bored, insane or in need of a good laugh), check out my thoughts at http://elearningnews.edublogs.org

Watching: Nazi Robot Attack

Robots are cool (but also potentially a little scary).



Bec from work pointed me to this amazing CGI animation of robots in World War II made by Marco Spitoni from Cee Gee.
It looks like a cutscene from an incredibly cool computer game.

Check it out here - http://www.e-motionaldesign.com/blog/nazi-robot-attack/

Reading: John Peel's all-time favourite records

In the course of taking a stroll down memory lane, I've been reading about John Peel's record box.

If you don't know who John Peel is (or have heard of the Peel sessions), he was probably the best music loving radio DJ of all time. (Read up on him here)

The Pussycat was working for the BBC in Wales at the time of his death and she tells me that the whole institution mourned him.

In his collection of more than 25000 albums, he kept a special box of his current all-time favourites - the box to grab if the house caught on fire.

Obviously everyone's favourites change over time and no doubt this box reflects his favourites at the time of his death - had it been a week or a month earlier or later, the list could be quite different but it's pretty interesting to see who Peel rated.

There's a great article here about the 142 songs that lived in this box - here's a short quote.

The first thing that strikes you about the full list is how little of the grinding dark-core, impenetrable electronica and twisted ultra-noise that he loved to champion — “The unpleasant and disorientating racket”, as he once described it — actually found its way into his heart.

There’s a lot of old-school soul there, such as Eddie & Ernie, OV Wright, Johnnie Taylor and Ann Peebles, and plenty of reggae: Lee Perry, Andy Capp, Blood Fire Posse and Izzy Royal. Indeed, if a theme emerges, it’s that he truly loved music that was simple.

He seems to have had a bit of a thing about two-piece outfits, or raw, basic tracks with straightforward lyrics: Al Casey’s Surfin’ Hootenanny, five Charlie Feathers singles, Don French’s Lonely Saturday Night and an astonishing 12 tracks by the White Stripes.

Rather than hunt through this slightly hard to navigate website, here is the complete list.

1. Al Casey - Surfin' Hootenanny + Easy Pickin (PIE INTERNATIONAL) 1963

2. Al Ferrier - I'm Not Drinking More + Don't Play Blue Eyes' (MASTER TRAK) 1980

3. Alan Price Set - I Put a Spell on You (DECCA)

4. Andy Capp - Popatop + Reco - The Lion Speaks (TREASURE ISLAND) 1969

5. Anemic Boyfriends - Guys Are Not Proud + Bad Girls in Love (RED SWEATER RECORDS) 1980

6. Ann Peebles - I can't stand the rain + i've been there before (LONDON) 1972

7. Anti-Social - Traffic lights + teacher, teacher (DYNAMITE RECORDS) 1977

8. Arthur K Adams - Wildwood flower + It's a wild, wild, wild, wild wildwood flower (JETSTAR)

9. Big Stick - Drag racing + Hell on earth (RECESS RECORDS) 1985

10. Bill Oddie - Harry krishna + on ilkla moor baht'at (DANDELION) 1970

11. Boards of Canada - Aquarius + Chinook (SKAM)

12. Bobby Lee Trammell - If you ever get it once + Don't you know I love you (ALLEY RECORDS)

13. Cat Power - Headlights + Darling said sir (THE MAKING OF AMERICANS)

14. Charlie Feathers - Deep elm blues + Nobody's darling' (HOLIDAY INN RECORDS)

15. Charlie Feathers - Nobody's women + When you decide (KING) 2x copies

17. Charlie Feathers - Today and tomorrow + Wild wild party' (MEMPHIS RECORDINGS)

18. Charlie Feathers - Tongue-tied Jill + Get with it' (METEOR RECORDS)

19. Charlie Feathers - When you come around + Too much alike' (KING)

20. Cheeze - Dancin With The Dead - Dancin queen + Direwolf 1989 (BOB RECORDS) 1989

21. Clague - The stride + I wonder where (DANDELION) 1969

22. Clefs of Lavender Hill - Stop! - Get a ticket + First tell me why (DATE)

23. Cleveland Crochet - Sugar bee + Drunkards dream (GOLDBAND)

24. Don Covay - It's better to have + Leave him (MERCURY) 1973

25. Don French - Lonely saturday night + Goldilocks (QUALITY) (LANCER) 2x copies



27. Dreamland Express - Groovy + u.f.o (EMI)

28. Easy Teeth - Car noise + Her blade (DENTAL RECORDS) 1980

29. Eddie & Ernie - I believe she will + We try harder (CHESS) 1984

30. Eddie & Ernie - I'm gonna always love you + Outcast (EASTERN)

31. Eddie & Ernie - Time waits for no one + That's the way it is (EASTERN)

32. Electro Hippies - Mega-armageddon death (STRANGE FRUIT) Peel session

33. Elmore James - The sky is crying + Standing at the crossroads (FLASHBACK RECORDS)

34. Firemen - Old smokie + Louie's theme (LE CAM)

35. Freshmen - You never heard anything like it + Bombing run (RELEASE RECORDS) 1979

36. G L Crockett - It's a man down there + Every hour, every day (4 BROTHERS)

37. G L Crockett - Look out Mabel + Did you ever love somebody (CHECKER)

38. Geater Davis - For your precious love + Wrapped up in you (HOUSE OF ORANGE)

39. Gene Dozier & The United Front - Give the women what they want + The best girl I ever had (MERCURY) 1974

40. Golinski Brothers - Bloody + Toy (BADGE RECORDS) 1980 2x copies

42. Green Hornes - Stayed up last night (ITALY RECORDS)

43. Hooten 3 Car - Danny + Numena (RUMBLESTRIP RECORDS)

44. Idle Race - Here we go round the lemon tree + My father's son (LIBERTY) 45. Izzy Royal - Coronation St (WEA) 1983

46. Jane Bond and The Undercover Men - Hot rod Lincoln + Come on up (EAR MOVIES RECORDS) 1982

47. Jerry Byro - Memories of Maria + Invitation (MONUMENT) 1961 2x copies - different labels

48. Jody Reynolds - Endless sleep + Western movies (LIBERTY)

49. Johnnie Taylor - I've been born again + At night time (STAX) 1974

50. Johnny Adams - You're a lady + I wish it would rain (ATLANTIC) 1972

51. Johnny Fortune - Dragster + Soul surfer (SONET) 1964

52. Ken Colyers Jazzmen (TEMPO RECORDS) 1953

53. La Peste - Black + Better off dead (BLACK RECORDS) 1978

54. Larry Bright - Mojo workout + I'll change my ways (TIDE)

55. Laurie Anderson - O Superman + Walk the dog (ONE TEN RECORDS) 1981

56. Lee Perry - Bafflin' smoke signal + Black smoke signal (BLACK ARC) 1978

57. Lightnin Hopkins - Mojo hand + Glory be (FLASHBACK RECORDS)

58. Marc Bolan - Marc Bolan talking to Stevie Dixon, 1973. Jennifer Sharp, Steve Harley & John Peel talking to Stevie Dixon 1977. (CUBE/PYE RECORDS)

59. Mary Monday - I gave my punk jacket to Richie + Popgun (MALICIOUS PRODUCTIONS)

60. Max Romeo - Sipple out deh' Lee Perry + Revelation (UPSETTER)

61. MC5 - Looking at you + Borderline (A-SQUARE RECORDS) 2x copies

63. Medicine Head - Coast to coast + All for tomorrow (DANDELION) 1970

64. Medicine Head - His guiding hand + This love of old (DANDELION) 1969 2x copies

66. Mel and Tim - Starting all over again + It hurts to want it so bad (STAX) 1972

67. Meow - Kat nip + One night stand + Anthem + Kill kill kill + Catastrophe + Boy groupies (TWIST LIKE THIS RECORDS)

68. Mickey Lee Lane - Tuitti Fruitti + With your love (MALA)

69. Mike Spencer and the Cannibals - Good guys + Nothing takes the place of you (BIG COCK RECORDS)

70. Nice - The thoughts of Emerlist Davjack (IMMEDIATE)

71. Nilsson - Everybody's talkin' (RCA)

72. Nilsson - Kojak Columbo (RCA)

73. Nilsson - Without you (RCA)

74. O V Wright - That's how strong my love is + There goes my used to be (GOLDWAX)

75. Paul Blake & The Blood Fire Posse - Every posse get flat + Flat out (STUDIO WORK) 1984

76. Paul Revere & The Raiders - Him or me - what's it gonna be? + Legend of Paul Revere (CBS) 1967

77. Pavement - Demolition Plot J-7 (DRAG CITY) 1990

78. Pocket Fishrmen (sic) - Yr story + The leader is burning (NOISEVILLE) 1989

79. Quads - You've gotta jive + There must be thousands (BIG BEAR RECORDS) 1979

80. Ray Martin - Blue tango + Bell of the ball (COLUMBIA) 81. Revelino - Step on high (MUSIDISC)

82. Rod Bernard - This should go on forever

83. Roshell Anderson - The grapevine will lie sometimes + Such a beautiful thing (CONTEMPO) 1974

84. Roy Head - Treat her right + So long, my love (VOCALION) 1965

85. Sam & Dave - I can't stand up for falling down + Soothe me (STAX)

86. Sasha Caro - Grade 3 section 2 + Little maid's song (DECCA) 1967

87. Scrugg - Will the real Geraldine please stand up and be countered + Only George' (PIE) 1969

88. Sheena Easton - 9 to 5 + Moody (EMI) 1980 2x Copies

90. Sipho Bhengu - Tickey dopies + I saluti (INKONKONI) 1971

91. Soledad Brothers - Sugar & spice + Johnny's death letter, with Jack White (ITALY RECORDS)

92. Some Chicken - New religion + Blood on the wall (RAW RECORDS) 1977 2x copies

94. Spit Out - O from I + Tan + Rot'n'roll' (MA FROG RECORDS) 1996

95. Stanley Winston - No more ghettos in America + It's alright (JEWEL)

96. Status Quo - Down down (VERTIGO) 1974

97. Super Sister - No tree will grow + She was naked (DANDELION) 1971

98. The Beatles - Come together + Octopus's garden + Something (foreign pressing, country unknown)

99. The Big Three - You've gotta keep her under hand + If you ever change your mind (DECCA) 1964

100. The Buzzcocks -­ Ever fallen in love (UNITED ARTISTS) 1978

101. The Factory - Path through the forest + Gone (MGM) 1968

102. The Galactic Symposium - Y.M.C.A + Money (VAGUE RECORDS) 1978

103. The Legion of Super-Heroes - The great name dropper part 1 + The great name dropper part 2 (AMY RECORDS)

104. The Mark Four - Hurt me if you will + I'm leaving (DECCA) 1965

105. The Mighty Avengers - So much in love + Something they say (DECCA) 1964

106. The Misunderstood - I can take you to the sun + Who do you love (FONTANA) 1966

107. The Move - I can hear the grass grow + Wave the flag and stop the train (DERAM) 1967

108. The Negatives - Love is not real + Stakeout (LOOK) 1979

109. The Nightcaps - Wine wine wine + Nightcap rock (MUSICOR)

110. The Ramrods - Zig zag + Riders in the sky (LONDON AMERICAN) 1960

111. The Smoke - My friend Jack + We can take it (COLUMBIA) 1966

112. The Squirrels - Oz on 45 + Alone again (POPLLAMA PROD) 1988

113. The Undertones ­- Teenage kicks (GOOD VIBRATIONS RECORDS) 1978 3x copies

116. The Upholsterers - Makers of high grade suites (SYMPATHY FOR THE RECORD INDUSTRY)

117. The Upsetters - Bucky skank + Yucky skank (DOWN TOWN)

118. The Upsetters - Key card + Domino game (DL INTERNATIONAL)

119. The Users - Sick on you + I'm in love with today (RAW RECORDS) 1977 2x copies



121. The Versalites - Cutting rasor + Black belt Jones (DL INTERNATIONAL) 122. The White Stripes - Lafayette blues + Sugar never tasted so good (ITALY Records)

123. The White Stripes - Party of special things to do + China pig + Ashtray heart (SUB POP)

124. The White Stripes ­- Merry Christmas from.... (XL)

125. The White Stripes - It takes two, baby + Fell in love with a girl (SYMPATHY FOR THE RECORD COMPANY)

126. The White Stripes -­ Dead leaves and the dirty ground (XL) 2001

127. The White Stripes - Hand springs (EXTRA BALL RECORDS)

128. The White Stripes - Hotel Yorba (XL) 2001

129. The White Stripes - Lord, send me an angel (SYMPATHY FOR THE RECORD INDUSTRY) 2x copies

131. The White Stripes - Hello operator + Jolene (SYMPATHY FOR THE RECORD INDUSTRY) 2000

132. The White Stripes - The big three killed my baby (SYMPATHY FOR THE RECORD INDUSTRY) 2x copies

134. The Henchmen featuring Jack White - Some other guy + Psycho daisies (ITALY RECORDS)

135. 2 Star Tabernacle - Ramblin man' (BLOODSHOT RECORDS) 1998 cover photo by Jack White

136. The Wildbunch - Danger - Jack White backing vocals (FLYING BOMB)

137. Surprise Package vol 2 featuring White Stripes, Rocket 455 and the Blowtops (FLYING BOMB)

138. Surprise Package vol 3 featuring The Real Pills, MHz, The Dirtbombs (FLYING BOMB)

139. Travis Wammack - Fire fly + Scratchy (ARA) 140. XL-Capris - My city of Sydney + Dead bugies (AXLE)

141. Yami Bolo - Richer than Cory (JAMAICA INTERNATIONAL)

142. Yardbirds - Happenings ten years time ago + Psycho diaries (COLUMBIA) 1966


I was going to bold the albums that I've heard but there are very few, looks like there is work to be done here.

When Peel appeared on the famous Desert Island Discs programme in 1990, these were his selections.

* Handel's Zadok the Priest as recorded at the coronation of George VI
* Roy Orbison – "It's Over"
* Jimmy Reed – "Too Much"
* Misty in Roots – "Mankind"
* The Undertones – "Teenage Kicks" (choice if only allowed one record)
* Rachmaninoff's 2nd piano concerto
* The Fall – "Eat Y'self Fitter"
* Four Brothers – "Pasi pano pane zviedzo"
* Book: A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell
* Luxury: A football, and a wall to kick it against.

Watching: Nothing

That'd be the film called Nothing, obviously.

Reasons to check it out:

1. Directed by Vincenzo Natali, the legend behind Cube (and thankfully not Cube 2)
2. Original, creative, humourous and quirky (not in the bad way either)
3. Bouncing heads
4. Tofu
5. Based on a true story (we assure you)

In short, two guys suddenly end up (with their house) in a big wide empty nothing, just after it looks like their lives couldn't get much worse. Then they discover why they're there and a pretty amazing new power they have. A little weird but very wonderful.

I could go into more detail here but the concept of this film is really what makes it - so enjoy.
I found it at Civic Video in Braddon in the comedy section, so it's out there.

Quote: (from IMDB)

(A cop on a horse has just knocked on their door)

Mounted Police Officer:Dave Johnson?
Dave:Yes?
Mounted Police Officer:You're under arrest. For embezzlement
Dave:[closing door] Oh, hang on a sec, let me just get my horse.

Apparently the trailer makes the film look much more like a horror film (there are certainly unsettling moments but it's much more a weird comedy) but you can find a bunch of clips by searching on YouTube if you want to get some idea of what you are in for. Here's the opening part - but things get progressively stranger and funnier as the movie progresses.

Updating: the amazing coincidence

For those who came in late, a few weeks ago I posted a story here about a pretty spectacular coincidence that my new girlfriend/main-squeeze/pussycat Rachel discovered with our families.

PC and I met fairly randomly through a net dating site called RSVP but it turns out that we actually met each other nearly 30 years ago. PC's dad briefly shared a flat in London with my dad and her mum studied nursing with mine and they have kept in touch (more or less) ever since. They even came down to Melbourne on a holiday and stopped by for a visit, sometime around 1979 as far as we can work out.

Now there is even photographic evidence - sadly I'm not in it, I was probably around 8 and presumably far too cool to hang out with some "babies" or girls or something. My sister Penny is there though - and sooooo cute with those chubby chubby bigger-than-Arnold's-from-Diff'rent-Strokes chubby cheeks. You can also see our height of fashion 70's wallpaper.

(This pic is a scan from a black and white negative - click on it for a larger version)



(Here's a pic of the Diff'rent Strokes kids - Arnold in the middle - just for comparison)

Cooking: Pumpkin and sweet potato soup

I tend not to cook very much when it's just for me - the time and effort seems to outweigh the time spent enjoying the food. I'm happy to cook when it's to share but on the whole my cuisine is mainly steamed veg and tuna (when I'm being healthy) or packet food (when I'm not). (And a fair bit of dining out which I guess is closer to healthy than not but a drain on the wallet).

Now that I've decided to a) eat more healthily and b)get serious about saving money, I've launched into trying some new things. Most of my cooking to now has been some variant on a pasta, curry or chilli - hearty, comforting one pan foods. For some reason I've never quite done the soup (from scratch) thing, which is odd as I like a bit of soup.

Anyways, I broke my soup cherry last night with a pumpkin and sweet potato soup. (I was going to add some broccoli but there was no room in the steamer).

(I'm sure that right now there are at least a couple of people rolling their eyes at the song and dance that I'm making about cooking something which is probably one of the simplest things in the cookbook - that's ok, you have to start somewhere)

Now from what I've been told all you really need to do with soup is boil up your chosen vegies in some stock (vegie or chicken) until they are mushy then stick it all in the blender, add in your herbs/spices of choice and put it back on the stove to let it simmer for a while.

Well of course that was far too simple for me, so I figured that I'd steam the vegies instead (I would have steamed them over the stock but didn't have enough) and also fry/sautee up some onions to add for a bit of extra taste. (I don't know why but I seem to be obsessed with adding onions to pretty well everything I cook - and this is usually the first thing I add. Do you have a staple ingredient that seems to end up in almost everything you make?)

Anyways, this all worked out pretty well but two onions were probably 1.5 too many, as I have a pumpkin and sweet potato soup texture and a strong onion taste. (Lucky I like onions so much :)

So there's a lesson learnt. I also learnt that the handful of coriander that I added made almost no difference - hard to say whether it's just drowned out by the onion or whether much more is needed. Things to try.

Next on the agenda - less useful as a take to work and save money kind of thing - is baked fish. PC made this the other night and it was superb - and reaaaaalllly simple.

(My first - and I thought last - attempt at cooking fish was such a disaster that the kitchen stank of overcooked, possibly slightly off fish for the better part of a week.)

Update: I sent the above photo to my gmail account from my phone, simply labelled soup. This was the first of the "context-sensitive" Google adsense ads that appeared next to it. Everyone's a critic :) (Click on the image for a full size version - it says Urine Odor Remover Recipe)

Listening: ABC NewsRadio

The radio that you listen to in the morning often sets the tone of your day. I've been through various stages, from the light classical of Classic FM (wonderfully gentle way to wake up but they do tend to prattle a bit between songs) to JJJ (Adam and Will, not the current jokers) and RRR/PBS (Melbourne's finest), finally settling on my very own 2XXfm. (Which is always diverse and interesting)



The PussyCat on the other hand likes a bit of NewsRadio first thing and so for the last week or so this has been the station of choice and I have to say, for an info junkie like me, it's pretty damned good.

NewsRadio is exactly what you would expect, wall-to-wall news. No ads, the bare minimum of station promos, just news bulletins on the quarter-hour with traffic, weather, sport and finance tacked on. (In the morning at least).

In between all this, they manage to sandwich in at least one more in-depth look at the story of the minute, so while you might think it could get a little repetitive, there's enough variety to keep you listening. (It's generally a different in-depth story each time).

There are occasional technical hiccups, which you would expect on a station that doesn't stop talking (they usually involve stories not starting on cue), but these are always handled smoothly. (These are encouraging for a community radio hack like me as it shows that it's more about how you handle them than the fact that they happen at all).

NewsRadio is also the station that broadcasts Parliament when it is sitting and looking on the website, I see that they also have podcasts of Questiontime available.

Nice to see our tax dollars being well spent. Click here to listen to NewsRadio now.

Listening: Standing on the outside (Songs of Cold Chisel)

Standing on the outside (The Songs of Cold Chisel) is a bold attempt to restore some musical cool (whatever that means) to Cold Chisel, an iconic Australian band of the 70's and early 80's.

Cold Chisel featured some great performers and songwriters (Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss and Don Walker) but massive overplaying on commercial radio and wholehearted adoration in bogan (i.e redneck/white-trash) circles has meant that they don't get their dues today among "hip" types.

I grew up in outer suburbia at the time of their success and might come back to my varied (sometimes snobby) love/hate relationship with the band another time but lets just say that my ears pricked up when I read that a bunch of Oz music notables were putting a tribute/cover album together.

Here's my take on it, track by track.

(You can listen to full versions of each song on the official website here)

Rising Sun (The Living End) - the original has a certain rockabilly quality to it but The Living End really emphasise this - perhaps over-emphasise it. When they do their rockabilly thing, you get the feeling that they only have two or three basic songs in their repertoire. It's a lively song none the less.

(I've added a YouTube video of this track at the bottom)

Standing on the outside (Dallas Crane) - you get the sense that Dallas Crane are in many ways the inheritors of the pub rock crown from Cold Chisel, it's different but the same. Singer Dave Larkin puts all the passion and scratchy-voicedness into this song that he can muster.

This is the song that I've had floating around my mind for the last few days, particularly the line "I had a friend broke through illegally, pulled a job on a small-town TAB, five grand down on his own little piece of Eden". This comes back to my appreciation of the fact that Chisel songs seem to be more grounded in real life (and not how hard it is to be a musician on tour).

Forever now (Pete Murray) - a slightly updated version that keeps the basic feeling but centers around Murray's voice. I'm less of a fan of these pretty-boy singer types than most, it's nice enough I guess but is neither far enough away or close enough to the original to really impact

No sense (Ben Lee) - sounds like more of a new song, but in a good way. I've always had some kind of respect for Ben Lee though. For some reason this sounds like it might have been a Crowded House song circa 1987. Highlights the strength of the song writing and doesn't sound like a vehicle for Lee as much as Murray's one.

Water into wine (Evermore) - A Chisel song from their comeback album (The Last Wave of Summer) that I really haven't listened to so it's interesting to examine it as a song in it's own right. Not being able to compare it to the Chisel delivery is a shame though, as while the structure of the song feels right, the delivery is a little wussy. Don't really know that much about Evermore either. Overall, it's a little soft. Nice but soft.

My Baby (Thirsty Merc) - Respectful and lively version with some funky keyboard and nice fat fuzzy guitar, vocals very Barnesesque (without the rasp). I've had an image of TM as a bit of a JJJ band, somewhat inoffensive but maybe I'll give them a go.
(I welcome the return of keyboard to rock)

Khe Sanh (Paul Kelly) - As a bit of an alternative Oz anthem, this would be a daunting task for most bands so it makes sense that it was handed over to an equally iconic Oz muso in Paul Kelly. He puts a slight bluegrass/country spin on it - which is interesting, it's hard to ever dislike a PK song really and I guess it's nice to hear the lyrics a little more clearly on this one. The lyrics still hold their power, in spite of nearly three decades of maniacal thrashing from commercial radio. This is the song (above all others) that has given Chisel their bogan associations - my image is of redfaced drunk guys with arms around shoulders half singing half shouting this one.

Bow River (Troy Cassar Daley) - Troy gives this song a distinctly (and unsurprisingly) stripped back country sound, in some ways it seems a little slow but he's made an effort to make the song his own. The rockier nature of the original makes this song suffer a little in comparison, I generally don't mind a little bit of country but it seems to lack a little passion. The use of banjo on two songs in a row distracts a little too.

Saturday Night (Grinspoon) - Grinspoon launch themselves headlong into this song with an enthusiasm that puts a smile on the face, trying to outdo Barnesy in the sing/screaming stakes but there's a slight desperation in the over-the-topness of the track which seems to miss the slightly laid back sense of cool that came from the original. The vocals behind the main lyrics just seem slightly strained, like they are the class swots desperately trying to impress teacher. Definite points for energy and balls-out cheesy guitar.

Hound Dog (You Am I) - Putting aside my You Am I issues for a moment (I get what they are doing, it's just not quite the sound for me), I'm impressed with this take on a less well known Chisel track. (Which I guess is the kind of track you would choose if you were trying to be a little cool about it all). It's true to the sound of the original but has updated the rock sound a little (mainly in stripping back some of the guitar flourishes and throwing in a little more distortion).

Listening back to the Chisel original though really emphasises the power and emotion that Barnes is able to put into his voice. One comparison that popped into my mind (a little surprisingly I might add) was Kurt Cobain. Tim Rogers by comparison sounds a little too proper and pronounced, like he learnt how to sing this song at a rock finishing school. (But as I say, Hourly Daily aside, not such a You Am I fan)

Choir Girl (Katie Noonan) - As this song started, I was cringing, it just seemed so out of whack and so much more like a vehicle for Katie Noonan's (impressive) cocktail lounge stylings. It's just her and a sparse piano backing and just at the point when I thought it was definitely going all wrong, the goosebumps kicked in. It seemed as though the rhythm and phrasing were completely out but somehow she manages to hold the notes/lyrics and/or pauses until the last possible moment before they would be wrong and make them even more powerful than the original.

For a song about a girl going in for an abortion, it makes a real difference to hear it sung by a woman and each line has added oomph and meaning. Beautiful.

You got nothing I want (Alex Lloyd) - I was a little surprised by Lloyd's version of this at first. It's an energetic country jam which kind of springs on you after you have been lulled a little by Katie Noonan's Choir Girl. At first, you just think WTF? but then you realise that this approach to what was originally a relatively shouty rock song actually works quite well. It clearly suits Lloyds voice much more than a faithful cover of the original would have and it becomes kind of fun. The instrumentation kicks along as well and really complements the vocals.

When the war is over (Something for Kate) - Twenty plus years of rock/pop history are on display right from the opening line of this version, Paul Dempsey's near whisper butts up against a very 80s "everybody sing" harmonised take on it that you just couldn't do in rock these days. (Well of course you could, it's just that noone does). This version again pays its respects to the original but creates a much thicker, rockier sound where the vocals aren't as prominent but still generate a similar level of emotion. It misses Ian Moss's soaring guitar and Don Walkers understated keyboards but hacks out its own uniqueness.

Four Walls (The Waifs) - another lesser known Chisel track, this one is again fairly true to the original. What is the frackin' obsession with banjo is one question that pops into my mind though. A little bit of a nothing track I'm afraid to say, very stripped back, the singer sounds a little tired perhaps and the plinky backing is a little distracting. I actually tend to tune out when listening to this one.

Cheap Wine (Shane Nicholson) - You often find that when someone puts a tribute album like this together, they take the opportunity to put themselves (or some friends) on amongst all of the other more impressive acts, often cherrypicking one of the bands more popular songs. This track has this feel.

Shane Nicholson's main claim to fame appears to be as a member of Kasey Chambers band and the mixture of his slightly insipid whiny vocals with the twangy country style slide guitar call out for the attention of whitebread adult oriented rock radio stations that still find the original a little too rocky.

Shipping Steel (The Flairz featuring Dave Larkin) - Another lesser known Chisel song but a good rockin truck driving one. As it begins, the guitar is promising but the vocals seem a little off - like a girl rock band but a little tamer perhaps, a little unconvincing. Dave Larkin (Dallas Crane) chimes in to strengthen up the chorus with but the contrast between his rockin vocals and the lead vocals is too much. The guitar and drums drive the song fairly well, even with it's slight tendency towards cheese.

Now because I haven't heard of these guys either I was on the verge of putting them into the above category of (possible) friends of the producer/label but I just googled them and damned if these guys aren't talented little bloody overachievers. A West Australian band consisting of 3 x 14 year olds who released their first EP in 2004. Bearing this in mind, it makes more sense now - it's not a girl on vocals, it's a teenage boy. This song is a brave experiment and it'll be interesting to see where the band goes (other songs on their MySpace page are interesting/cute). I get the feeling that this may still be a favour to the label but how can you knock the kids really.

Janelle (Augie March) - This song has been one of my favourites for a long time and I've also been an admirer of Augie March for a while now (though the sameness of recent efforts and onstage antics/sulkery have put me off a little) so I was particularly interested to hear this version.

The good news is that Augie March have done a nice job - it is perhaps a little overdone at the start, the original begins with a lonely feeling of sitting listening to the blues in a darkened bar at 1am and then builds in intensity whereas this one peaks sooner but overall the emotion is there and the song doesn't just sound like any other Augie March song. They've added bits to it, I can't explain why but a visual that I get is a gypsy caravan or perhaps the Speigeltent, something vaguely circusy anyway. Keeping the keyboard was a must and adding something accordionlike works pretty well.

Flame Trees (Sarah Blasko) - This starts well (there's something about Sarah Blasko's voice that is kind of hot) but before long you get the sense that this version is just a little too melancholy, a little too reflective. There is certainly a sense of nostalgia tinged with sadness in the original (which is why it is one of the most beautiful and popular non-rockin Chisel songs) but also a sense of movement, which just doesn't quite come across in the Blasko version. By the time it does ratchet the pace up a notch, it's too late.

Here's The Living End version of Rising Sun

Feeling: a little poorly

Off sick today. Back tomorrow most likely