CHRIS MILLS: HEAVY YEARS 2000 - 2010

I only spotted this had been released the other week, which says something about how much publicity a new Chris Mills album gets. A crying shame because he is one of the most original, talented singer songwriters around.

I guess this release is intended to introduce Chris to a new audience, however I can't help but feel they've missed a trick by not including anything off the first two releases (Nobody's Favourite, Every Night Fight For Your Life) or from the superb 2003 Tell It Like It Isn't covers EP. Still it's a good introduction to an artist who defies description. This set covers Americana, Folk, Power Pop, Rock, you name it, it's in there somewhere. You go from acoustic songs, to full live band with brass, orchestra, strings, the lot.

I have been fortunate to catch Chris live twice over the years, I've even got a home made bootleg of the New Roscoe, Leeds back in February 2001, and I can vouch for what a great live performer Chris is, both solo and with a band. He's over in the UK for some shows in September, alas nothing in Leeds, so I guess I'll be going to the Sheffield show on the 12th September.

The tracklisting features songs from his four albums released across the last decade with the addition of two new excellent songs. Given that we've not had anything new in three years, it's great to hear Chris on form on these two songs. He is apparently working on new material, hopefully for release later in the year.

If you've got nothing by Chris Mills, get this, you won't regret it.

Tracklisting:

1. All Out Days and Nights [New]

2. Atom Smashers [4]

3. A Farewell To Arms [3]

4. Such A Beautiful Thing [4]

5. Sleeptalkin' [2]

6. You Are My Favourite Song [3]

7. Diamond [2]

8. All You Ever Do [1]

9. Suicide Note [2]

10. Nightmare at 20,000 feet [4]

11. Heavy Years [New]

12. Watch Chain [1]

13. Escape From New York [3]

14. Signal / Noise [1]

Key:

[1] Kiss It Goodbye - 2000

[2] The Silver Line - 2002

[3] The Wall to Wall Sessions - 2005

[4] Living In The Aftermath - 2008

UK Tour:

07.09.11 - Labour Club, Northampton

09.09.11 - The Briton's Protection, Manchester

10.09.11 - The Chattery, Swansea

11.09.11 - The Maze, Nottingham

12.09.11 - The Greystones, Sheffield

14.09.11 - 12 Bar Club, London

16.09.11 - ACE Space, Newbury

THE BOXER REBELLION - LIVE IN TENNESSEE

I've been looking forward to this release all week, The Boxer Rebellion - Live In Tennessee from last years USA tour on the 12th October at the Clayton Centre for the Performing Arts in Maryville. Me and Digger caught this show in Leeds at the Cockpit and TBR were simply magnificent. This album is only available in digital download from the bands website. It features the full show (16 tracks) with songs from all three albums. An absolute steal for £7.99 (wav) or £5.99 (mp3).

Real uplifting life affirming stuff, capturing TBR at their very best. I spoke to Todd Howe (guitarist) after the Leeds show to ask how he achieves that chiming guitar sound, turns out he has 2 sometimes 3 delay pedals running to layer the guitar sounds. Check out Semi-Automatic for an example of this. The other key to TBR's live sound is Nathan Nicholson's superb vocals. A really great live album.

Still wish they would stick this out on vinyl or even CD, I really can't get my head around a download only release. Guess I am a Luddite.

Track listing:

1. These Walls Are Thin

2. Evacuate

3. Semi-Automatic

4. We Have This Place Surrounded

5. Flashing Red Light Means Go

6. Step Out Of The Car

7. Spitting Fire

8. Misplaced

9. Soviets

10. Cowboys & Engines

11. If You Run

12. The Runner

13. Forces

14. Silent Movie

15. The Gospel Of Goro Adachi

16. Watermelon

PUDSEY 10K

When I started running a few weeks back, my goal was to complete the Pudsey 10k in under one hour. Given that this race is widely advertised as the toughest 10k in the north (it features six hills, two of which are killers), this was no easy task.

Well on a hot day I managed to get round in 57 minutes and 36 seconds. Mission accomplished!

My next running goal is the Guy Fawkes 10 mile race in November, with several other races in the meantime (Idle 10k, Horsforth 10k, Park Run's, Leeds Country Way relay).

MCNABB TO RECORD AND TOUR WITH CRAZY HORSE

I don't know where the cash has come from but Ian McNabb has got his wish again and is going to record a new album with Crazy Horse (sans Poncho) in San Francisco next Jan / Feb to be followed by a UK and possibly European tour.

This is fantastic news, the last tour back in June 1994 following the Head Like A Rock album were superb and Crazy Horse were on top form. I guess they've got sick of waiting for a call from Neil to tour, which now looks like it will never happen.

I'm really pleased for Ian as this will put him back in the spotlight again, which is fully deserved. If anything his last album, Great Things, was a return to form, with him wilfully going his own way to stunning effect.

Lets hope nothing happens to scupper the plans, who knows Neil might get jealous and make a right turn when he hears the news.

Blogging

[Spot the difference]

I've been a bit lazy on the blogging front over the last few months, but put that down to being busy trying to lose some weight, the time I was usually spending in front of the computer have been replaced with rowing and running.

Since February I've completed 400,000 metres on my Concept2 rowing machine, which helped me lose 20 pounds in weight. Subsequent to that I joined Pudsey Pacers Running Club about eight weeks ago. My brother Digger has been running with them for years. For someone with a self confessed loathing of running, I've really surprised myself and actually look forward to running with the club on a Tuesday and Thursday. I've now completed a few races (which you can see a log of here) and have lost another 18 pounds. I'm now weighing less than any time in my adult life and feel great.

In terms of weight loss the vast majority of it has been due to exercise, however I have changed my eating habits. I am eating smaller portions at every meal, have cut out snacking and take a salad to work for lunch. If anything cutting back on bread has probably been the biggest change I have made.

So 2011 has been the year when I got fit, it's actually probably some form of mid life crisis :-)

... in a good way!

EELS - ACADEMY, LEEDS, 12TH JULY 2011

Eels have been one of my favourite bands for years, way back to the first time I heard Novocaine For the Soul in 1996. I saw them on that 1st UK tour at Nottingham Rock City and it's always been a favourite gig. I've since seen them a few more times, probably most memorably supporting The Who at Harewood House in Leeds on a great bill with The Zutons and The Flaming Lips. Last year I saw Eels play a great gig to a subdued crowd in Manchester. However, this now goes to the top of the list as the best gig I've seen by Eels.

In 100 minutes they blasted through 26 songs, probably none more than 4 minutes long and produced a stunning rock show. Pulling tracks from throughout the Eels career (I've got 17 albums on the shelf!) they played pretty much all my favourite tracks. For a change E really seemed to be enjoying himself and backed by a six piece band of top class musicians the show never lost momentum. Some really funny banter with the crowd, especially on the band introduction section showed that E can connect with his audience and is a great front man.

Gig of the year so far.

Set list.

[Intro] La Marseillaise

That's Not Really Funny

Flyswatter

Saturday Morning

Somebody's Watching You

Grace Kelly Blues

Packing Blankets

Prizefighter

My Beloved Monster

Fresh Feeling

That's Not Her Way

Tremendous Dynamite

Love Of The Loveless

I Like The Way This Is Going

This Is Where It Gets Good

That Look You Give That Guy

Hot Fun In The Summertime

[Band Introduction]

Talkin' Bout Knuckles

Novocaine For The Soul

Souljacker part I

I Like Birds

Beginner's Luck

Losing Streak

[Encore 1]

It's a Motherfucker

P.S. You Rock My World

[Encore 2]

Fresh Blood

Looking Up

THE HORRORS - SKYING

I bought this album after seeing a couple of tracks from The Horrors on the Glastonbury coverage, what really struck me was lead singer Faris Badwans brooding vocal and how much they reminded me of early Psychedelic Furs or maybe even Talk Talk. The track that really hooked me was Moving Further Away which is a long mesmeric song which breaks down midway with crunching guitar then starts up again.

Apparently The Horrors featured as the house band on an old episode of The Mighty Boosh, they're an odd looking bunch, judging by the Glasto coverage, so can see how they would fit into the Boosh's world.

Overall this is an excellent album, I've had it on rotation for a couple of days now and it's still delivering new hooks. What I like about the overall sound is the mixture of heavily effected rock guitar mixed with big synth riffs. Stand out tracks for me are Moving Further Away, Still Life and Monica Gems. The Horrors are playing the Cockpit in Leeds in November, I'll definitely be there.