Elbow – New York Morning

The latest single from one of my favourite bands ever:

Madness: A Memoir

I first heard of Madness: A Memoir on an episode of First Tuesday Bookclub where Toni Jordan was talking up her friends book. It sounded fascinating. One woman’s battle with mental illness. I’ve been long fascinated with what’s really going on in people’s brains. And never so much as when it comes to people battling horrible ailments.

The book was gritty. I don’t think I was prepared for it emotionally. I remember being horrified by the first chapter as Kate revealed on one night she had a brush with the voices in her head and how they were imploring her to sever her own arm off completely. It was gnarly story to begin with. The remainder of the book is her struggle, to realise how sick she really is, and to find a counselor that cared enough to help her. I remember getting off the bus one day after reading a few chapters and feeling ill.

She said she hoped people would be less likely to judge a “crazy” they saw in the street. Hopefully to make people aware of what people might be experiencing. Not just there to terrorise you when you’re walking the streets. They might need some serious help.

If you can handle this book I say it’s a must. What an eye-opener!

Hottest 100 – prediction…

And the song I think will take out the number one position in today’s Triple J Hottest 100 countdown:

Hottest 100 – my pick – day X

And just before voting ends I give you my number one of 2013 – Arcade Fire’s Reflektor. I’m pretty sad that their own gig in my state is today at Big Day Out on the Gold Coast. Sorry guys, I’m not going to mingle with those folks, even for you. Don’t worry, I still love you:

Hottest 100 – my pick – day IX

For today’s pick a little ditty I picked up and couldn’t stop listening once I’d heard it on JJJ. Grouplove with Borderlines and Aliens:

 

Hottest 100 – my pick – day VIII

I don’t know what it is about this song but it puts me in a trance and pretty soon I’m reaching for the repeat button. I present Big Scary’s Phil Collins:

Hottest 100 – my pick – day VII

That album cover of The National has been seared into my brain by the incessant talk about this band. The wonderful shot of the mirror with the head. It’s too hard to describe so this is it:

So finally after being worn down for so long I decided to give their album a listen and lo and behold, it does live up to the hype. Here is Demons:

Hottest 100 – my pick – day VI

And we are back to Vampire Weekend as they have been delighting me so much this past year. Here is Obvious Bicycle:

Hottest 100 – my pick – day V

I remember when I first heard Lost Coastlines by Okkervil River a few years ago and being so smitten with their sound I had it on repeat for months. I eventually got to see them live and the day after I rushed out and bought pretty much their entire back catalogue. Now they are apart of my “must rush out and buy anything new from them” list. They are fantastic. This album was a treat, a personal journey of the lead singer Will Sheff and here is It Was Our Season:

Hottest 100 – my pick – day IV

I think alot of people have been surprised about the third offering from Vampire Weekend. They have always mae such fun albums, but this is something else again. So much more proficient.

It’s probably the album I’ve had on the most frequent repeat over the year. Today’s pick, Step: