Diz blog on Absolute Radio

Paul McCartney on X Factor

Diz — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:06:25 +0000

When I got the call to 'come and have a look at this' and saw one of my musical heroes, Paul McCartney, performing on X Factor, it felt like I was witnessing the last nail being driven into what we once lovingly referred to as 'Rock n Roll'. It's been bad enough in recent years seeing Johnny Rotton aka Lydon, degrade himself, firstly in that celebrity jungle rubbish and then selling butter for christsake. Or witnessing Foxton and Buckler drag the name of the greatest band of my life, The Jam, into shoddy tribute-band-land. But I suppose it is fitting in a bizarre way that the man given the task of rinsing away the last vestiges of Rock n Roll's credibility should be Paul McCartney, Beatle Supreme. I walked out before the camera had a chance to pan onto Simon Cowell's smug 'cat that got all the cream' face, as it surely must have.

In recent weeks this programme has come in for deserved criticism from Sting and Ray Davies, who between them know more about writing and performing hit records than most. They rightly pointed out that this excuse for a 'talent show' is little more than a glorified Karaoke contest which is, contrary to whatever Cowell might say, stifling real creative talent in this country. A show where the contestants are moulded into identikit versions of boybands gone by, or Maria/Whitney copyists, devoid of originality. I came across a classic example of just how it is holding back real artists when someone sent me an excellent review of Liam Frost's recent album the other day. ‘Liam who?’ you may ask. Well exactly. Liam Frost is a talented singer/songwriter from Manchester who has built up a decent local following but is struggling to break out beyond the borders of his home city because he can’t get the exposure. The reviewer of his album sums it up neatly:

“Maybe it's a sad indictment of the current state of the music industry that one of the finest singer-songwriters in the land can release his second album to a decidedly underwhelming response…
But what else can you expect in these days of instant, X-Factor sponsored gratification? In a world where Cheryl Cole can guarantee a number one by miming to the masses on a Sunday night, what hope is there for an artist whose work defines the words slow-burning? For that is what you get with Liam Frost. At first his songs may sound no more memorable than all the other identikit troubadours readily available on your radio. But the difference is in the detail. Whereas after ten plays of a James Morrison record you're thoroughly sick of the man, after ten plays of a Liam Frost song you're only just getting to know it. After 20 plays, you're smitten. Something thrilling and fresh is revealed on each listen, and as every musical subtlety and lyrical twist burns itself into your memory you start to see every cut as a masterpiece of strangely uplifting melancholy.”

He concludes with this:

“...`Orchestra of Love' concludes the album. It's the kind of song that could be a Christmas number one, but maybe in another world, a world in which that honour hadn't already been stitched up by Simon Cowell years ago. It's the kind of song that could make its creator famous, providing more people had the chance to hear his music. But Frost's live performances seem to be largely limited to his native Manchester. If only more people had the opportunity to appreciate the man, then perhaps this album wouldn't be destined to be loved and adored by a mere handful of diehards. But at least we know who we are.”

Part of the problem you see is that Simon Cowell’s grip goes beyond what the nation watches on a Saturday night, or who has the Xmas No.1. What chance do young artists have of securing a record deal these days? Who’s going to invest time and money in a band who might be fresh and exciting and original, yet are unproven and unheard of, when they can repackage George Michael’s Greatest Hits and sell it to the masses once again, on the back of his appearance on X Factor. And for those that have record deals, usually on those now rare independent labels, how do they get them played? Radio stations, when presented with the new release by Liam Frost, a song that he will have sweated and toiled over, carefully picking out each note on his guitar and crafting them to his deeply thought lyrics, or a cover of a song that’s already been a hit for someone else but happens to be sung by Joe Whatsisname, winner of the X Factor, are going to choose to play Whatsisname’s song because it’s the safe option and everybody already knows it and everybody loves Joe because he’s become part of their lives with his cheeky little smile and pleasant but bland voice. But is Joe really more deserving than Liam? What exactly has Joe done? Has he ever written a song? Can he play an instrument? Who knows and who cares? He can sing other people’s songs and he can sing them ok, pretty much note perfect in fact. But where’s the creativeness? Struggling to get a gig in the pubs and clubs of Manchester, Birmingham, Portsmouth, or Joe’s home town of Newcastle, that’s where. And I’m not just on about Liam Frost. There’s hundreds of singers and bands up and down the country struggling just as much, and with as much, maybe even more, creative talent than him, and definitely bucketloads more than Joe, or Ollie or Stacy, or Alexandra Burke, or even the nation’s apparent darling Leona Lewis come to that. Check out a group called Stornoway from Oxford if you don’t believe me. Multi-talented musicians with pitch-perfect harmonies and exquisitely crafted self-penned tunes. Recently seen playing to about 100 people in a little club in Middlesbrough. Or Pete Molinairi, an amazing singer from Chatham in Kent, or Steve Pilgrim from Liverpool, another multi-talented musician. People who have been inspired to pick up a guitar and learn to play it and write songs by listening to greats from the past. As Ray Davies said, who's going to be inspired in the same way by listening to Leona?

Creative original talent is being pushed to the back of the queue by X Factor and the Cowell Empire. That’s why it so saddened me to see Macca on there. By performing on the show he is effectively endorsing it. It’s just as well he’s already had his career, because if he and his fellow Beatles had been relying on it in 1962 if it had existed, they wouldn’t have got very far. A Simon Cowell sent back in time to change history by the machines would’ve sat there his hand aloft after about 10 seconds of their audition saying ‘Guys, put down the instruments, we’re not interested in people who can play their own instruments. And stop playing your own songs, no-one’s interested in songwriters here. Come back next year when you’ve worked out a dance routine and you’ve got a song you can cover on Big Band night!’

My Sons Band Pt2

Diz — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:44:06 +0100

Hi, would very much appreciate it if you could click on the myspace link below and give my son's band Chromatones a listen. They have 2 songs up including their new one Fall Tactics. They're a young new band playing in the Portsmouth/Southampton area. If you happen to live near there and fancy seeing a top live band, they're headlining at The Joiners in Southampton on Thurs 24th Sept (a link for this is also below). Thanks.

http://www.myspace.com/chromatonesuk

http://www.joinerslive.co.uk/product.php?xProd=216&xSec=1

My Son's Band...

Diz — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:17:26 +0100

If you're a lover of Muse, Radiohead, White Stripes, Raconteurs, Dead Weather, Audioslave, Rage Against The Machine, Queens Of The Stone Age, ...with maybe a little bit of Arctic Monkeys guitar work also thrown in... you might enjoy listening to my son's band, Chromatones.

They've only been together 3 or 4 months, and less than 2 when they recorded this (it's taken a while to get out due to producer problems) and are all 18-19yr olds. My son is the lead guitarist on this particular track and it's him you can hear on the intro. He wrote the main riff with the singer adding the lyrics.

Their very first gig was a Battle Of The Bands which they entered purely for the gigging experience - and subsequently won!

Please let me know what you think...

http://www.myspace.com/chromatonesuk

UK's Very Own Fleet Foxes

Diz — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:34:30 +0100

...Well not exactly but there's certainly a similarity in their folky sounds and amazing vocal harmonies. They are called Stornoway and they come from Oxford. I saw them on Sunday at the Middlesbrough Music Live festival and they completely blew me away. Imagine Fleet Foxes harmonies put to Get Cape Wear Cape beats and you'll get some idea. Check out their single 'Zorbing' and I assure you, you'll be stunned. Check them out live and you'll realise that what you've heard on record is only the tip of the iceburg. Charming, stunning, beautiful, inspiring, moving. I've been going to gigs for 30+ years and love many different types of music. These were as good as anything I've ever seen & heard.

VOTE PAUL WELLER IN THE MOJO AWARDS!

Diz — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:02:25 +0100

Let's make it a tribute in memory of his late Father, John, who put in so much hard work over the years as Paul's Manager.

Paul has been nominated in 2 categories, Best Album & Best Live Act. Wouldn't it be fitting if he won these in this of all years, when his dear Dad has just passed away. I'm sure he'd dedicate it to his Father, esp the Live Act award after the years they spent on the road together.

Please Vote!

Thank you.

http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2009/05/mojo_honours_list_2009_nominee.html

Desert Island 20

Diz — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:39:57 +0000

What would be the 20 songs you would take with you to a desert island? Songs you never get bored of no matter how often you listen to them.

The drill:

Create a new blog.
Copy and paste my blog.
Delete my answers and insert your own.
Leave a comment on all your friends profiles who you want to play.

Right, let's go...

Intro: With it being a desert island list I'd want to go for a bit of variety and try to spread the choices across genres & time, so I'd have something for different moods and different memories, tho' I HAVE to have a Weller song from each of his careers of course!. But lots of obvious favourites get missed out, sometimes even for lesser songs where maybe the memories are greater, + it's impossible to condense your faves down to just 20 anyway. Also, I'd always have to pick a song that would remind me of my wife and this time I've avoided the obvious sentimental choices and gone for Reef's 'Place Your Hands' so that I'd be able to play it and smile, picturing her on the dancefloor hands raised aloft singing at the top of her voice!

So here's mine...

The Jam - Town Called Malice
Style Council - My Ever Changing Moods
Paul Weller - Strange Museum
The Dells - Wear It On Our Face
Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up
Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness
Lonnie Liston Smith - Expansions
Richard 'Groove' Holmes - Groovin For Mr G
Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston
Nick Drake - Day Is Done
Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
The Who - My Generation
The Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows
The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog
The Damned - New Rose
The Smiths - Big Mouth Strikes Again
Stone Roses - Waterfall
Reef - Place Your Hands
Kings of Leon - Trani
Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

Pete Molinari - Tip for The Top

Diz — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:22:59 +0000

Quite simply this man has one of the most amazing voices I've heard in a long time. A true talent! It makes you wonder what it takes to 'make it' in this business if this guy can't. He's got an album out, which I ommitted from my Top albums of 2008 list simply because I haven't heard it yet since I've only just discovered him. And the reason for that is that so far he just hasn't been given the exposure. But then I heard a song of his on a compilation and went and checked out some of his other stuff on YouTube and am now a fully committed fan.

So come on Absolute Radio, you've been a breath of fresh air on our airwaves but now you need to step up to the next level and be the sort of radio station that introduces new talent like this. Don't rely on Songbook surveys to tell you what you should and shouldn't play, have DJ's & Producers with the courage of their own convictions to say "This is bloody good - have a listen!" That's the sort of radio I want to listen to!

Anyway draw a line from Woody Guthrie & Bob Dylan, but also Buddy Holly & Ray Charles and here you'll find Pete Molinari...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM9VZ32Wxs0

Also check out One Stolen Moment, Love Lies Bleeding & Sweet Louise.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Albums of the Year 2008

Diz — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:32:53 +0000

Yes it's that time of the year as you may have noticed, when all those 'Best of The Year' lists come out and this blog is no exception. So without further ado here are the eagerly awaited and prestigious "Dizzies 2008"...

Beach Boys meets Simon & Garfunkel and travel back in time to discover Ye Olde English Choral Hamonies of Yore, all the while listening to The Zombies 'Odessey & Oracle' on their ipods. The resultant love child is born in modern day Seattle, home of Nirvana. It is...

The Diz Gold Medal Album of the Year 2008:

FLEET FOXES

The Oh So Close Silver Medal Runner-Up:

PAUL WELLER - 22 DREAMS

The Modfather proves beyond all doubt that the creative juices, and indeed the fire, burns as brightly as ever inside him. How many artists have sustained a virtually uninterrupted 30+ year career and still be so vitally current as this man at the age of 50? Folk, Soul, Rock, Psych, Jazz, Orchestral, Electronica and even Tango, and all on one 21 track long album! it's about time this man's true artistry was fully acknowledged! Tho' I expect he's gutted to have just missed out on this 'Dizzie' to add to his mantlepiece ;-)

Bronze Medal Award:

LAST SHADOW PUPPETS - AGE OF THE UNDERSTATEMENT

The first time I saw Alex Turner I recognised a worthy contender to the Weller throne and so far he hasn't disappointed. This team up with with Miles Kane shows his versatility. Sounds like it was written after they spent a long weekend watching Sean Connery era Bond films while rummaging thru their parents Bert Bacharach and Scott Walker albums, and is all the better for it.

Best of the rest:

ELI 'PAPERBOY' REED & THE TRUE LOVES - ROLL WITH YOU

The modern day son of Otis Redding, James Brown, Wilson Pickett & Little Richard brings Rock n Soul to the 21st Century.

TRIO VELORE - RETURN OF THE IRON MONKEY

An album of intrumentals will not be everyone's cuppa tea but who needs vocals getting in the way of these gorgeous Hammond Organ vibes? Not me! Steve White, Damon Minchella & Seamus Beaghan at their funky best.

FLOW DYNAMICS

...And talking of FUNK, who'd've thought such dynamic dancable modern funk grooves would be coming out of Australia? Probably not many who have heard of these but a mate put me onto them and it was foot-tappin' love at first listen!

RACONTEURS - CONSOLERS OF THE LONELY

Jack White is one of the true modern greats in my opinion and proves it once more with this album. Check out the great storytelling of closing track Carolina Drama if you don't believe me!

KINGS OF LEON - ONLY BY THE NIGHT

I have to confess I prefer the early sound of these Southern brothers & cousin, when they were raw and dirty. But it's good to see them finally enjoying the mass attention they deserve, and tho' they've cleaned up their sound for the masses, it's still pretty damn good!

And finally, 2 albums I missed last year but have fallen in love with in 2008...

THE CORAL - ROOTS & ECHOES

Quite simply the Mersey scally's finest album by far! Every track's a blinder and if you haven't got it in your collection you're missing out.

BENCH CONNECTION - AROUND THE HOUSE IN 80 DAYS

Another that it's likely most have not heard of. Former Acid Jazz maestro, Matt Deighton of Mother Earth fame (if you've never heard Mother Earth get The People Tree as a matter of urgency!) trawls thru his Nick Drake collection and comes up with a beautiful modern folk album. A real grower.

(I dare say there's a few classics from this year that i've yet to hear that otherwise would have made the list. Some I plan to get include... Adele - 19, James Hunter - The Hard Way and Seasick Steve - I Started Out With Nothin ... all of which i have high hopes for).

Over to you...

Is There Anyway of Listening To Paul Weller's Live Performance From Friday Again?

Diz — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:45:44 +0000

I missed it! (Great idea broadcasting it same time as the Weller/Adele gig on Radio6/BBC Digital - not!)

Is there anyway of listening to it again on here, could anyone tell me please?

Cheers.

EDIT: Thanks for the replies below and sorry for my confusing post. I SAW the BBC one but came on here hoping to find a link to the ABSOLUTE gig that was broadcast at the same time!

Cheers!

PPS: Thanks Llia!!!! You're a star!!!

So Far So Good!

Diz — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:22:43 +0100

Well I gotta say I'm very impressed so far with Absolute Radio! I've tuned in a few times since getting an email telling me about the no-repeat policy and quite liked what I was hearing, so today I've gone the whole hog and had it on all day.

Surely no-one could complain about a day that's included Wings (as I type), Stone Roses, Bob Marley, The Kinks, Killers, Kings of Leon, The Jam and Style Council amongst others?!

Absolute class if you ask me! ;-)

Keep up the good work guys!!!

Well Well Well!!! No Repeat 10-5!

Diz — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:47:04 +0100

So Virgin or I suppose I should say 'Absolute' now, have finally seen the light!?!?!!!! A year or more after our campaign to bring back the no repeat working day they've decided we might have been right after all. Well forgive me for that little gloat but that's great news!

I was quite instrumental on here in campaigning for that if I may say so, getting firmly behind Iain Baker's petition - well done Iain, you must be well pleased, if you're still here that is! In fact I was so strongly behind it that i actually got PM's from Virgin staff telling me to stop being a trouble maker LOL! I expect Ian got the same. But here we are with the brand new Absolute and it's 'No Repeat 10-5'! Wonder where they got that idea from? ;-) Seriously tho' - well done for someone for listening to your listeners. Who knows i might even be tempted to give you a listen again after giving up last year.

If you want to see what I'm on about have a look at page 2 of my blogs. In addition to the ones about the repetition I also had some quite opiniated views on other aspects of Virgin Radio's direction over the last 2-3 years. I even found this on one of my blogs ('Christian's Opportunitey Knocks'), stating my ideal Virgin Radio Show...

" It would be a show for real music lovers, people who don't just want their music to be 'wallpaper' in the background but are interested in finding out about new artists from now and from the past, as well as the established Virgin acts. "

Is it just me or does that sound vaguely similar to what Absolute are now claiming is their new directon? :-)

Ahh I'm wasted here! LOL! ;-)

Weller on Virgin

Diz — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:23:07 +0100

I'm pleased to hear that Virgin haven't totally forgotten 'The Modfather' and have an interview with the man tomorrow night. It means I'll be tuning in to Virgin for the first time in approximately 7 months.

Can anyone tell me if they've been playing his brilliant new single? One of the reasons I stopped listening to VR is that they ignored both of Weller's singles last year - the other reason being the utter repetitiveness of the playlist. But I am curious whether Virgin are giving their listeners a chance to make up their mind on the new single (pardon the pun!)......?

Paul Weller & Noel Gallagher Single

Diz — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:52:48 +0100

Will Virgin be playing the new single from these 2 top icons I wonder? A few years ago it would have been a dead cert to have been top of their playlist but after Virgin ignoring Weller's collaborations last year, including the one with former Blur legend Graham Coxon, I haven't much faith. Anyway, for those who want to know it's called "Echoes Round The Sun", is co-written by Weller/Gallagher and also features Gem Archer from Oasis, and is due out next month. XFM are playing it from Monday. You can catch up on all the Paul Weller news here... http://paulwellernews.blogspot.com/

Hello Campers

Diz — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:34:30 +0100

After a break of just over a month, last night I thought I'd come on and see what's happening in Virginland. Partly inspired by elleythemod's messages & one or two others, and also not able to resist having my say on The Jam forum after what I'd read there (kittykat, sorry but in my humble opinion you couldn't be more wrong!) I got really carried away and actually posted a coupla things! So here I am, back a day later to see if anyone's replied to 'em. No is the short answer. Not yet anyway. But never mind. I even tried to update my avatar by putting up a pic of me in my new whistle, but unfortunately it wouldn't work.

Not sure when I'll next be visiting this neck of the web so let me just say a quick hi to the following people:

elley of course!

AJ,

Bertiethemodboy,

britpopfan (thanks for the PM!),

Ohiogirl,

and humble appologies to any I've missed out who have kindly left me a message in my absence.

Some final points of view while I'm here...

1. 'FROM the jam' are NOT The Jam and could never be in a million years. Just as (as someone else on here pointed out) The Rolling Stones could not be so without Mick Jagger.

2. 'FROM the jam' are as far removed from what the SPIRIT of The Jam were about as it's possible to get. If you want to experience that youthful vitality go see the Arctic Monkeys or Kings of Leon or such like.

3. 'Modernism' for those who are interested, takes it's influence from the past but then moves FORWARD. Those that try to make it a revivalist movement are those who would kill it.

4. Russel Hastings can't sing. Period.

5. If Paul Weller ever went back on his word and reformed The Jam that would be the end of me being a fan. I would not be able to have any respect for him and you can't be a fan of someone for whom you have no respect. Not in my book anyway.

6. The best album I've heard this year is 'Icky Thump' by The White Stripes. Head & shoulders. That Jack White knows a thing or two about taking influence from the past and moving forward with it, believe me!

7. For those of you interested in all things Paul Weller, get hold of a copy of this months Uncut magazine.

8. The single by Paul Weller & Andy Lewis called 'Are You Trying To Be Lonely' comes out either next week or the week after. It's brilliant. You probably wont hear it on Virgin Radio but if you want to hear it (you should!) either check out their myspace or look for it on youtube.

9. You really have to question the soul of someone who describes Northern Soul as 'background music' and whatever other daft phrases people used to reply to berties blog.

10. It's good to broaden your horizons. There's so much good music out there that doesn't get a look in coz the radio playlists are controlled by a big business consortium of 4 major players who only want you to hear their nice safe inoffensive music that makes them lotsa money. Woe betide that anyone should want to listen to small independent record labels that they don't own! Check out artists on myspace & youtube etc and get out to gigs!

Diz x

See Ya Later Aligators!

Diz — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:31:18 +0100

I just don't seem to be getting out of this website what I used to, or originally hoped for. There's the occasional highlight, like elleythemod's blogs, wellerchick88, bertiethemodboy and one or two others, or the response I got from Ohiogirl a little while back, but generally too much of my time on here ends up feeling wasted. So many of the people I have connected with/had in common with, have left as well, like Lorimoz, auntiep, Glenn Hughes, Telbert, Debs44 & a few others. I was hoping with this being a music website that I would find more interaction on here based round music, checking out each others tastes etc. I'm not particularly into the other stuff that actually seems to account for about 80% of what goes on here, ie the jokes, hangman games, picture sharing etc. Nothing wrong with it, just not why I come on here. I go down the pub for that sort of interaction or use other sites.

I also find I keep getting disgruntled with Virgin Radio. The continued repetition and their ignoring of our pleas to stop it, and then not playing the latest Weller/Coxon single, esp when they play rubbish like Avril Lavertine, have added to my over all dismay at VR and this website.

So I'm knocking it on the head for a bit. Hope you all have fun. Be good!

:-)

See ya later Aligators!