when the war is over you can read the papers;

I just had to send a very embarassing email apologising for something that wasn’t my fault in the first place. Waaaargh. I love the chaotic nature of this bit of my job, but sometimes it makes me want to beat my head off a wall until my brain starts spraying out of my ears.

I’m so very, very behind. If anybody sees me online tonight please kill me.

The twin wants me to tell her seven songs I’m listening to at the moment and as I’m a sucker for being tagged I cannot help but comply:

Liz Phair – Polyester Bride I have a very general rule of thumb in that if I wake up with a song in my head it’s the first thing I’ll listen to in the morning. Obviously this does not apply on those mornings I wake up singing jingles from TV adverts.

Paul Westerberg – Dyslexic Heart Now I know somebody who would argue that Paul Westerberg is a greater lyricist than John Darnielle. And since I’m never going to concede that one EVER it’s lucky that I really just love this one for the na-na-na-nas at the beginning.

The Young Playthings – Yr So Fit (For Me) This is just ACE. I love this band because 1. They toured with the Pipettes (indeed, my girlcrush du jour Rose sings on the b-side to this single); 2. They actually take the time to talk to you on gheyspace; 3. They sound like Blink-182 being covered by a bunch of maths teachers who grew up listening to the ‘Mats (indeed, I think one of them is a maths teacher); 4. The single itself is a thing of beauty and wonder; 5. I’ll shut up now.

The Cure – Just Like Heaven It’s funny cause it makes me think of someone who doesn’t even like the Cure.

Regina Spektor – On The Radio Lead single from an album I’m not completely convinced by as a little of the stripped-down kookiness of Regina live is lost on record, but this one works. And it’s out as a single this week, you lucky pups.

Lily Allen – LDN No, I didn’t think I was going to like this either but it’s just so summery and fun.

Paolo Nutini – These Streets Now when it comes to singer-songwriter boys I think it’s fair to say that I’m something of an expert. That’s why I have to say nice voice (WHAT a voice), shame about the lyrics.

And seven people to tag: Jay, Nic, Amber, David, Stevie, Lola and Heather (I totally meant to text you for your birthday and I forgot, sorry lovely, hope yr day was ace).

iPods are evil. No really, they are. Sure, I can skip to the song I most want to hear at any given time but I’m missing out on the album experience, and it’s something I keep meaning to sort and never quite getting around to. On Friday night I was driving around Glasgow with a friend of mine listening to In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, and Jacksonville City Nights, and I realised that particularly where the latter is concerned I don’t even know those songs that aren’t “the last five and the first three” anymore.

Sometimes I wish I could drive because I’d love a little car that was completely my own space, and where I could play things for people as I gave them lifts that I knew that they simply, absolutely, needed to hear in that moment. Saving it all up to YSI when I get home isn’t the same, and people get freaked out when you press your earphones onto them and squeal, “just shut up and listen!”

Anyway. Elsewhere, as the Sleater-Kinney news sinks in the bare shock of the announcement gives way to some reflections that are actually worth reading. I liked this from the Village Voice:

I only spent two days talking to them, so I could be wrong here, but I don’t think they’re breaking up because they don’t like being around each other. It’s more likely that they’re tired of the grind of being in an actively touring indie-rock band, which is pretty sane when you sit down and think about it.

And the Rolling Stone has Ten Sleater-Kinney Songs That Make Them the Best American Punk Band Ever. Really.

(both from Tiny Suns Infused With Sour)

New Mountain Goats, courtesy of GloNo. It’s… meh. I worry that we’re in for another particularly unimpressive album. It makes me sad, because Tallahasee is like nearly my favourite album by anybody EVER, but nothing they’ve released then has even come close. The last time I fell in love with a “new” Mountain Goats song it turned out to be a Trembling Blue Stars cover.

La Woomble is releasing a solo album. And I didn’t know about it. Well really, Lis.

I know that there’s millions of things I should be writing about but since everybody out there in interwebland is so clever they’ve all worked it out anyway – and since I’m too stressed to do it properly – I’m not going to. Ha ha. Seriously though, I will write properly soon – I just wanted to post these links before they got really stale. And I know I owe people email and I know I said I’d phone you tonight Kez but… meh. My head really is about to explode.

PS Cheer my team on tonight, you know you want to.