Signing off

Rocket Records in Redwood City first opened its doors in 1964 at the height of Beatlemania. And, after Amoeba (twenty-four miles up the Interstate in San Francisco), was the second biggest record outlet in the state of California. However, news has just come in that, a couple of months shy of its fifty first birthday, they've shut up shop for the last time.
One of the many things that set Rocket apart from its competitors was its visitors' book: everyone who walked through their bright red front door (irrespective of whether they'd made a purchase or not) was encouraged to sign their book. I say book, when the receivers came in last week they took control of fifty A4 bound volumes - one for every year. Rumour has it that the Frank Zappa and Jim Morrison signatures in there are for real; though probably not the Mick Jagger or (several) John Lennons.

Don't forget the Joker(s)

My dad knows one card trick. He's very proud of it. He'll shuffle a complete deck of cards, offer you them face down and ask you to pick a card, any card. He will then proceed to tell you which card you've just picked. 'The Joker', he'll say, smilingly. And, sure enough, it is the Joker. However, considering this pack comprises fifty-two Jokers, it's hardly magic. But it keeps my dad amused.

I'd like to think Lemmy would have liked it too.

Lemmy: b. 24 December 1945, d. 28 December 2015

James Medd rounds up 2015 (2)

James Medd - he's listening

1. Hurtin Class - King Khan (feat. Ian Svenonius)

2. Don’t Wanna Fight - Alabama Shakes

3. Alright - Kendrick Lamar

4. On Fire Tonight - Blackalicious

5. Cockeyed Rabbit Wrapped in Plastic - SLUG

6. The Night Josh Tillman Came To Our Apt. - Father John Misty

7. Pretty Pimpin’ - Kurt Vile

8. 20/20 - Gaz Coombes

9. Beautiful Blue Sky - Ought

10. Breaker - Deerhunter

11. Fractals - Keep Shelly In Athens

12. Don’t Breath Out- Roots Manuva

13. Come Home Baby - The Charlatans

It probably won't surprise you to hear that The Number One Son listens to far more new music than his old man these days. Anyone on the receiving end of one of my Best Ofs this year doesn't have to be Sherlock Holmes to work out that precious little contained therein was made this year; precious little of it was made this century.

James asked if I'd listen to his 2015 round up and tell him what I thought of it. Like he does every year. But he already knows that Come Home Baby (track 13) was voted my Single of the Year way back in March and that Father John Misty (track 5) can do no wrong. So, instead of a conventional review, here's my pick of the rest. Each one comes with its own concise (some may say lazy) one word synopsis.

Gaz Coombes

'20/20'

Dreamy

Ought
'Beautiful Blue Sky'
Hypnotic



Roots Manuva
'Don't Breathe Out'
Majestic



Keep Shelly in Athens
'Fractals'
Soaring



SLUG
'Cockeyed Rabbit Wrapped in Plastic'
Tenebrous

Older? Yep. Wiser? Probably not

The card from The Number One Son

The cake

The baker

It had to happen. You can't stay in your early fifties forever. I was born on a Wednesday, so I really am trying not to be full of woe. Being surrounded by family helps; that and having my birthday cake delivered, personally, earlier this morning by the baker. A few beers and a curry later and I'm sure the idea of reaching my Britvic birthday will sink in. Life must go on.

No excuses

in the games room: hours of endless fun c/o the freaky deaky Dutch

Last night's Boxing Day celebrations at Medd Towers will live long in the memory. A veritable feast was laid on for this invite only event, straddling, as it does, Christmas Day and my birthday; all washed down with (among other concoctions) several Black & Tans and a rather nice Port (poured direct from the freezer, for reasons nobody can quite remember). The entertainment included a few rounds of Sjoelbakken - a spectacular game from The Netherlands that has been played in Medds' residences up and down the UK for at least three generations.

The lovely Adele came bearing gifts: I was presented with a beautiful note book - it's got lines and perforations and everything. And in the bottom right hand corner of each page sits an outline drawing of an acoustic guitar. Now I have absolutely no excuse for not using the opportunity of a few days' down time to write a new song. Have I?