The Frantic Life Of The Music Obsessive

"How do you have time to listen to all of this?" Ros asked the other day. "Do you never sleep, eat or work?" Well, in order: a) not as much as I should, b) only when listening to music and c) see previous responses. (There's a less interesting, more serious reply underneath Ros' original comment.)

I thought it might be interesting to show my workings. This is what happens when you take along a stack of newspapers and music magazines to read while providing moral support during your beloved's extended dental appointment. Well, it's what happens when you're a music obsessive anyway.

I had a pen in my pocket, but I'd have borrowed one if I didn't. No notepad, so I chose the newspaper with the greatest expanse of available white space (or in this case, green space). Yeah, I could have dog-eared all the relevant pages of the magazines concerned, but lists are much more satisfying.

Couldn't I just have remembered the names? Doubtful. I do this kind of thing, one way or another (this list is a little longer than average), on a weekly basis. Maybe one or two of them turn out to be interesting for a while. What keeps me going is the odd one, every month or so, that has greater longevity.

I wouldn't normally photograph this kind of ephemera. Even I'm not that self-obsessed. However, in this case I liked the relationship between the printed newspaper and my notes. This is my behind the scenes view of how I go searching for treasure. And I love the giraffe, checkin' out the sounds.

Posted by Hg on Thursday 31 January 2008 at 21:35.
Received 7 comments so far.

I'm similar. If I read or hear of a band I'll email myself the name or, if I have pen and paper handy I'll scribble it down.

I'm now trying to decipher your handwriting...

Comment by Gordon on Thursday 31 January 2008 at 22:42.

Yeah, it's a bit scrawly unless I have a firm surface to lean on (which I didn't).

Simon Breed, Adrian Crowley, Vampire Weekend, David Thomas Broughton, Matthew Sawyer, Lightspeed Champion, Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man, Late Of The Pier, British Sea Power, Black Mountain.

Plus an 80s back catalogue album that I saw reviewed (hence its position set apart from the others): Band Of Holy Joy's Leaves That Fall In Spring.

Comment by Hg on Thursday 31 January 2008 at 22:49.

Vampire Weekend, British Sea Power, Black Mountain, hooray! And you might like Glasvegas.

Comment by mike on Friday 01 February 2008 at 00:53.

I still haven't got round to checking out all of these artists. However, I've been listening to the Vampire Weekend album for the past couple of days. I was a bit underwhelmed to begin with, but now it's starting to make sense.

Been aware of British Sea Power for ages, but they've never really appealed. However, on the basis of several good reviews I tried the new album. Still not convinced - I want to like it more, but it's not doing it for me.

Black Mountain... gosh, aren't there a lot of Black [Something] bands around at the moment? Black Mountain, Black Kids, Black Lips, Black Strobe, Black Keys. Haven't heard Black Mountain yet.

Of the remainder: Simon Breed & Adrian Crowley have intrigued on their MySpace pages, but I haven't taken things any further. Lightspeed Champion disappointed on a first listen (didn't like Test Icicles either).

Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man and Late Of The Pier are hangovers from last year, who I've finally listened to and who have impressed in both cases. Haven't checked out David Thomas Broughton or Matthew Sawyer yet.

I think I listened to some Glasvegas tracks on MySpace after they were in the NME's Bands We Will Love In 2008 Until We Decide To Hate Them list. Didn't grab me, but I'll give them another go.

Comment by Hg on Friday 01 February 2008 at 11:44.

Of the stuff you have mentioned, I've seen British Sea Power live a couple of times (once in the Carling tent at Reading Festival) and liked them enough to buy their albums, but the albums actually didn't live up to them live. Not sure to bother with their latest. I want to check out new/different things these days.

Comment by Paul on Friday 01 February 2008 at 15:54.

Well, I think that the Vampire Weekend is exceptionally instant in its appeal - so if you're not yet fully feeling it, maybe it's not for you.

BSP on the other hand took me an age to get into, partly because I had to overcome my natural antipathy towards Big And Important. Stick with it; it's worth it.

Similarly underwhelmed by Lightspeed Champion. Glasvegas probably work best live; those home demos don't show them at their best.

Comment by mike on Saturday 02 February 2008 at 02:04.

No, really starting to like Vampire Weekend now. I think I was a bit wary of the potential gimmick factor - New York white boys play African music - and comparing them obliquely to Beirut, who I loved for a while but whose appeal wore very thin after a few months.

Also a certain element of been-there-done-that with regard to 80s favourites Red Guitars (whose Slow To Fade album is a forgotten classic). But I heard the single on the radio a couple of days ago and it all clicked - it doesn't have to be "art", it's just great pop music.

Comment by Hg on Saturday 02 February 2008 at 11:46.

http://www.hydragenic.com/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hydragen/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1972

The previous post was links for 2008-01-30.

The next post is links for 2008-01-31.

All original material on this site is © Hydragenic, 2002-2008. Extracts of other people's work are used for the purpose of criticism, review or news reporting, in line with the "fair dealing" (or "fair use") principle.