5th Feb 2009

The first one of the year, and a different 7 this week. I've been really slow with thefriday7 and have considered giving it up all together but instead had a reshuffle and rethink. I get bored easily and have really got annoyed that half the songs I wanted to include have their videos locked on YouTube because record companies think embedding a video people may not have seen and therefore bringing the music to a new audience who may buy the song if they like it enough is akin to repeatedly kicking their granny in the cunt. So here's the new format friday7 which hopefully may be weekly again.

7 things I discovered this week

1: Franz Ferdinand are good again



I was let down by the last Franz Ferdinand album, but the new track has really grown on me loads. The one thing that disappointed me though was that I was hoping that it was the a cover of this


2: The NME are still shit

The announcement of the NME award nominations and how predictable and shit they are. Best British Band - Oasis? Bloc Party? Radiohead? Muse? Oh and the random new band spot goes to Last Shadow Puppets. Sexiest Female? Worst Dressed - Katy Perry, oh why not throw in Mr Motivator now he's back on GMTV while you're at it? Predictable isn't the word for it. I really hope Connor McNicholls, Editor and journalistic charlatan, dies a long drawn out death and then we can get back to the NME of old where it concentrated on music and bringing new bands to our attention rather than building up some retro tribute act only for next week to say how shit they are. I never thought I'd say this but oh I pine for the days of Steven Wells and Stuart Maconie.

3: I can't bowl

For the missus's birthday we went for Mexican food and bowling with my housemate and his bird. The last few times I've bowled has been against my sister's kids so we've had the bumpers up and I was ace. This time they weren't and I came 4th in both games, after an opening strike which looked like I was on to a winner. We however reckon we were hustled by a ringer because after three ends of hitting the occasional pin, the bird then went on a strike and spare frenzy and won both games, with a few two strike combos.

4: Lady Gaga



She may be the new Aguillara or she may not, but she's mental and we love mental pop stars. If she's still about at the end of the year expect more inflatable dolphin humping to 80s inspired raunchy pop and Bowie inspired make up.

5: Network West Midlands are useless

Not being a driver I depend upon public transport. A bit of snow and suddenly three buses an hour turns into one turning up when it feels like it. Try asking which bus this is meant to be and if you're lucky you get "the 21" Seventeen quid a week I pay em and they can't even turn up on a clear, gritted road.

6: The Civil Service is great

Sat at work on Monday watching the snow out of the window we get a building wide message: We're locking up at half two, make sure you're out of the building except for essential operational staff. We may not even open up tomorrow." And we get paid til 5. Bargain. Your tax pounds paid for me to have a snowball fight.

7: Frank Black - The Cult of Ray



Old Charlie Kittridge released a belting debut solo album and this hasn't been off Media Player in three weeks - the only thing I've listened to more in the last month is Pulp's Countdown. Men In Black is a belter and alien abduction has never sounded better. But it's one of many cracking tracks - with the weakest songs being good at worst. Even has a song about being hoofed in the knackers. After The Pixies split I expected several bad solo projects, but Cult of Ray easily stands up to both The Breeders and Pixies