My favourite albums of 2010

My favourite movies of 2010

I won't bore you this year with my thoughts on each of my favourite movies this time, I'll simply post the list  but I will say that, unlike 2009, this year hasn't been the greatest for films that appealed to me, in fact there were very few I fell in love with. But anyway, here it is, from 1 to 10.

1. Winter's Bone

2. Inception

3. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

4. Toy Story 3

5. Crazy Heart

6. Shutter Island

7. The Road

8. The Other Guys

9. Hachi: A Dog's Tale

10. Whip It

Merry Christmas!

Best gigs of 2010

This year I don't think I've ever been so many seated gigs but I have to say it's been pretty nice to not only have a guaranteed place and not be pushed around but also have a nice little sit down during the show. I guess I'm getting old because I used to measure how good a concert was by the amount of bruises I sustained throughout. Maybe because of this there wasn't as many shows that blew me away (aside from the first three) but I have to say that overall I've seen some fantastic gigs this year and got to see a few legends in the process. So, in descending order, here's my 10 favourite shows from 2010 (with links to the original write-ups). Let's hope 2011 has just as many great concerts to look forward to.

10. Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses at Bush Hall

9. Robert Plant & The Band Of Joy at The Forum

8. She & Him at Koko

7. Crosby, Stills & Nash at Royal Albert Hall

6. Jeff Tweedy at Union Chapel

5. Elvis Costello at Royal Festival Hall

4. Joanna Newsom at Royal Festival Hall

3. Rickie Lee Jones at Union Chapel

2. Iggy & The Stooges at Hammersmith Apollo

1. Kris Kristofferson at Cadogan Hall

Jenny And Johnny interview

I was lucky enough to interview Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice for Hive Mag regarding their new duo Jenny And Johnny at the sadly closing Luminaire (one of London's best venues, due to close at the beginning of January). They were lovely to talk to and a hugely fun interview. You can read the results below.

Arriving in the UK just as the snow brought the country to a standstill, Jenny And Johnny (that’s Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley fame and her boyfriend singer-songwriter Johnathan Rice) brought a little California sunshine with them to the wintery skies with their fun, clever power-pop, as heard on their debut album together We’re Having Fun Now. We caught up with them at their last UK show at London’s Luminaire where they were in high spirits about their new project together.

Jenny, you’re from California, how have you been coping with the cold and all the snow?

Jenny: It’s been cold but it’s been nice. I was raised in the valley outside of Los Angeles which is quite warm, so yeah, I’m not accustomed to the snow but I bought a pair of ugly wellies and they’ve been my best friend. I think if you have proper footwear you can get through anything. It’s a lesson that’s taken me 20 years to learn.

Jenny & Johnny at Bush Hall

Jenny & Johnny
La Sera

Bush Hall, 8 December 2010

I'm not going to lie to you, my main reason for going to this show was Jenny rather than Johnny. Jenny being Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley fame, who between playing witty, infectious pop with her old band also released two country rock-influenced solo albums and stole my heart along the way. I'm probably too old to adore her the way girls in their teens do, since I'm around the same age as Ms Lewis, but I do admit feeling a little awed when she walks on stage in a wow-inducing tight white polka dot dress, looking every inch the glamorous, sexy pop star (albeit it in the alternative world).

Mark Olson at The Slaughtered Lamb

Mark Olson + Ingunn Ringvold

Dean Owens

The Slaughtered Lamb, 7 December 2010

When I heard Mark Olson, one of the voices of under-appreciated alternative country pioneers The Jayhawks, was playing The Slaughtered Lamb, I pictured some old creaky pub, filled with work-hardened men nursing their beers, much like its namesake in the horror film An American Werewolf In London. The truth is, while the name is a homage to that film (check out the pentagram on the wall in the picture above, as in the classic pub scene), it's really a trendy bar with a small living room-like venue in its basement. In fact as I first walked in people were sitting comfortably in the large sofas filling the room, facing the stage, and listening to suitably soothing acoustic music fitting the coffeehouse atmosphere.

I Am The Rock Biography Queen, Part II

More music books I've read this year...

Ryan Bingham at Bush Hall

Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses
Liam Gerner
Bush Hall, 15 November 2010
I've been waiting to see Ryan Bingham for a few years now having bought his first album, Mescalito days after his first London gig at The Borderline, unfortunately for me he hasn't been back since. Not that he's been idle, Bingham has recorded two more albums since then, toured the States and won an Oscar for the song The Weary Kind, written for the movie Crazy Heart. After all that, at last he's back in the grand yet intimate setting of Bush Hall, and obviously I'm pretty excited to be finally seeing him live.

Lissie at Heaven

Lissie
Ramona
Heaven, 1 November 2010

So it's been over a month since I went to my last gig, which is unlike me but October seemed bereft of cool, affordable shows. But thankfully gig oblivion came to a welcome end thanks to the lovely Lissie who was playing the famous Heaven nightclub, handily just outside Charing Cross station.

I Am The Rock Biography Queen

Although I've always read rock biographies, music books and autobiographies (interspersed with my usual fictional faves) in the past year I seem to have gone rock biography crazy. I've read loads, one after the other, and a great majority of them are tragic tales for some reason. Part of it is without a doubt because I enjoy increasing my rock and roll expertise but maybe, given the sad endings many have, part of it may be down to discovering that even those who seem to live impossibly cool and glamorous lives are not so impossibly cool afterall. Just like the rest of us in fact.
Whatever the reason, since I've read so many in the past 12 months I thought I've give a round-up of the music books I've read this year, and write a few things about each. Brace yourself, this is going to be long.

Caitlin Rose interview

I had the chance to sit down and chat with the wonderful Nashville singer-songwriter Miss Caitlin Rose before her show at Cargo the other night for Hive Magazine, where we discussed Linda Ronstadt, George Jones, country music and her new album Own Side Now. You can also read the results below: 

How’s the tour been going, you seem to have played a lot of shows in the UK so far. 

Yeah, it’s been going really well. I’m enjoying it. 

 

People have been calling your new record country but it seems more diverse than that. 

I don’t think the record is all that country. It’s got pedal steel on it but I wouldn’t call it country. But I don’t care what anybody else calls it. I don’t want to box myself into anything because I’ll be writing that for the rest of my life and I don’t want to do that. I’d rather change as much as I can and create something new. The whole point for me, is good songwriting. That’s all I care about. 

Deer Tick and Caitlin Rose at Cargo

Deer Tick
Caitlin Rose
Cargo, 28 September 2010

My second time seeing Caitlin Rose this month was just as delightful and charmingly different. This time she was without a band, just backed up on pedal steel by a chap named Spencer with the very occasional support of Deer Tick’s keyboard player. But really the petite Nashville native doesn’t even need that because she has the songs, the voice and the charisma to carry the show on her own.

Wilco at the Royal Festival Hall

Wilco
Philip Selway
Royal Festival Hall, 14 September 2010
Surprisingly, given Radiohead’s status as one of the biggest and best bands in the world today, when I arrive at the Festival Hall in time to see support act Philip Selway (aka Radiohead’s drummer), there are a worrying amount of empty seats. Maybe it’s because the shows here start early at 7.30pm on the dot and the bar is outside the theatre in the foyer or that Phil Selway isn’t exactly the most famous name in Radiohead (I tend to subscribe to the booze theory though), but for whatever reason those folks who only turned up to see Wilco definitely missed out.

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan at the Barbican

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan

Willy Mason
Barbican, 10 September 2010
I swear I’m not stalking Mark Lanegan, I know it seems like it, this is my third time seeing him this year after all. But then Lanegan has become something of a tour animal of late, whether by himself or with his numerous side projects and it’s hard to resist going to see him and hearing that amazing voice of his in the flesh.

Phosphorescent and Caitlin Rose at Scala

Phosphorescent
Timber Timbre
Caitlin Rose
Scala, September 8 2010
There’s something special about Caitlin Rose. Here she is, a petite 23-year-old from Nashville with Linda Ronstadt circa 1969 hair, in the cool surroundings of the Scala, wearing cowboy boots, demin shirt and a Western-style belt (belonging to her dad) and playing country music to a bunch of trendy young Londoners and they are absolutely captivated. It’s a joy to see and a testament to her power as a songwriter and storyteller.

Robert Plant & The Band Of Joy at The Forum

Robert Plant & The Band Of Joy
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara
The Forum, 2 September 2010

Thinking back Led Zeppelin was one of the first bands I fell in love with. I remember waking up early before school just so I could listen to them in order to get my Zep fix for the day and sleeping under an enormous, almost wall-sized, poster of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page that I had got free with some magazine. And, although I moved on to other bands, I actually never stopped loving the Zep so really, all these years on, I don't know why I had never seen Robert Plant live. Sure, like millions of others, I had applied for tickets for the one-off Led Zeppelin reunion but, as recently as 1998, I could have seen him play with Jimmy Page. But for whatever reasons, despite having seen him numerous times out and about in London, this was the first time I had ever attempted to see him in concert and fortunately for me it was a fairly small gig at the Forum in Kentish Town.

The plight of the support band

Duke Garwood

Years ago, when I first started going to gigs, it seemed every show I went to had this three-piece band called Drugstore in support. Drugstore were a London band led by a feisty, bass-playing Brazilian singer called Isabel Monteiro and, fair play to them, through persistence or good management or good connections or just pure luck, I don't know, managed to get themselves on some pretty big tours (including one with Radiohead) and, for a time, it seemed at least, nearly every show I had tickets for.

Lament for a late stranger's record collection...

Some of my father's old records and tapes. I treasure them.

It always makes me sad when I see someone selling a record collection they inherited. I realise it’s good for me and other collectors out there and I know for the person who inherited those old records it may not be the kind of music that interests them, so maybe it's better it goes to someone who appreciates them. It's also true that record collections, especially large ones, do take up a lot of room and are a opportunity to make a little money out of something unwanted and space consuming. But, practicalities aside, those records, without a doubt, meant a lot to the person who once owned them. A well gathered record collection probably took years to find and collect, were lovingly cared for, played and enjoyed. To the person they belonged to they were much more than just pieces of plastic, those records provided a soundtrack to the good and bad times in their lives, the teenage angst, the first kiss, the wedding dance, the anniversaries, birthdays and family gatherings, as well as the tears, the sadnesses and the small incidental moments that make up our lives. As any music lover knows, a song can bring back those memories in an instant and can come to symbolise much more than just a mere pop song would suggest. I realise material possessions are ultimately meaningless but I still feel sad when I see those who inherited that lovingly complied collection sell off, with seemingly little thought, what is ultimately a little reflection of someone who is now gone.

Neil Young's Le Noise

Obviously I'm stupidly excited to hear that Neil Young's new album, Le Noise, produced by the incredible Daniel Lanois (the man who turned around Emmylou Harris' career with the stunning Wrecking Ball) has been announced to be released next month on September 28.

From the man himself (on Facebook):

“Le Noise” is complete. It is a solo record. Playbacks are happening now. Release date is September 28th. It will be available in Vinyl, CD and I tunes in the first edition, followed by Blu-Ray, and an APP for I-Phone and I-Pad a month or so later. The app will be free. It gives you an interactive album cover. Forgive my use of the word “album”. I am old school. When you buy the songs/movies from I- tunes they show up in your APP. Peace ny"

Thanks Neil. Can't wait!

Mark Lanegan at the Union Chapel

Mark Lanegan
Duke Garwood
Union Chapel, 18 August 2010

It's funny how certain artists can constantly surprise you. On the surface Mark Lanegan certainly wouldn't be the most obvious candidate for this: he hardly moves while performing, rarely says a word and sings his songs with little improvisation. Yet, having seen Lanegan 17 times now, twice on this solo tour alone, I can honestly say each show I've seen has been a unique and beautiful experience.

Kris Kristofferson at Cadogan Hall

Kris Kristofferson
Cadogan Hall, 29 July 2010

"That's a depressing song to be singing at my age," quips 74-year-old country legend Kris Kristofferson on a song he's just sung about going down to the river's edge to die. But, despite his advancing years and song subjects that run the gamut from lonesome laments to political statements to alcohol and the devil (of course, he is a country star after all), this was anything but a depressing show, rather a joyous celebration of a great man and his work.

Goodbye Ben Keith

I was upset to hear today that Ben Keith, the man who played beautiful pedal steel on so many classic Neil Young albums and toured with him on almost every non-Crazy Horse tour, has passed away at the age of 73. That’s him above playing with Neil during the Harvest sessions in 1972.

Rickie Lee Jones at the Union Chapel

Photo by Katja, as posted on Rickie's Facebook page

Rickie Lee Jones
Union Chapel, 9 July 2010

“I tend to play really long shows these days and I don’t even realise,” says Rickie Lee Jones, beaming that unmistakable smile of hers, after someone wandered on stage to whisper in her ear that she had almost reached the curfew. “Years ago I’d only play for an hour and 15 minutes and I couldn’t wait to get off!”

Crosby, Stills & Nash at the Royal Albert Hall

Crosby, Stills & Nash
Royal Albert Hall, 3 July 2010

Almost a year to the day that I first saw Crosby, Stills & Nash in the suitably magnificent setting of the Royal Albert Hall, I was back in the same place to see them again. This time I didn’t have quite as impressive seats (last time I was practically at the front), but was pleasantly surprised to find I was still quite near the stage but in the side stalls this time. I always forget just what an incredibly beautiful place the Royal Albert Hall is and how perfectly designed it is as a music venue, and to be fair I imagine no matter where you were sitting you would get a good view. But I must admit it is nice to be fairly close to your heroes where you can even hear their off-microphone banter on stage (my favourite being when Crosby responded to requests from the crowd saying “I’ll do all the ones I can remember” playing on his notorious drug-fuelled reputation and earning a huge laugh, to which Stills, off mike, pointed to Crosby’s tele-prompter and said “But you have that!”) .

Jeff Tweedy at the Union Chapel

Photo of Jeff and Bill Fay by Marianne (catgirl) via Songkick

Jeff Tweedy

Union Chapel, 30 June 2010

About five years ago I saw Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy play solo at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire and despite it being a magical show, stuck somewhere in the middle, I could hardly see a thing. This time, at the far more intimate Union Chapel, a much more suitable venue for an acoustic show, I wanted to make sure I had a good view and, after turning up early, it paid off and I scored a prime position in the front pew. But before I could enjoy this perfect seat, there was a rather bizarre opening act to endure.

Pearl Jam at Hyde Park

Hard Rock Calling 2010:
Pearl Jam
Ben Harper & The Relentless 7
The Hives
The Gaslight Anthem
Hyde Park, 25 June 2010

For my annual summer festival experience I returned to the scene of one of my favourite gigs of last year (Neil Young), Hard Rock Calling at Hyde Park aka the festival for people who don’t like festivals (camping out and being stuck in mud for a weekend doesn’t appeal much to me these days and getting to go home at the end of the night is a big bonus).

Elvis Costello at the Royal Festival Hall

Elvis Costello
Kami Thompson
Royal Festival Hall, 20 June 2010

Looking a cross between a 30s gangster and a vaudeville man, Elvis Costello seems glad to be back in London despite showing a reluctance in recent years to return home. Bouncing onto the stage full of energy, his surprisingly booming voice fills the Royal Festival Hall and it becomes quickly apparent that this is to be the loudest acoustic show I’ve ever been to.

Flight Of The Conchords at Hammersmith Apollo

Flight Of The Conchords
Arj Barker
Hammersmith Apollo, 17 May 2010

I must admit I've never gone to see a stand-up comedian before, let alone a comedy band. The nearest I have ever come to that is seeing Steve Martin and his bluegrass band last year, but that was "serious" music although there were jokes between the songs. At this show, however, I was getting my first taste of both a stand-up and a comedy band live and it proved to be a pretty great experience.

Joanna Newsom at the Royal Festival Hall

Joanna Newsom
Roy Harper
Royal Festival Hall, 12 May 2010

There’s obviously a mutual appreciation society going on between Joanna Newsom and Roy Harper because the last time I saw her live Roy was also there playing support. He obviously hasn’t played live since then because he tells us it was Joanna who coaxed him out of retirement to play these two shows at the Royal Festival Hall, his first in three years.

Pavement at Brixton Academy

Pavement
Brixton Academy, 11 May 2010

Every year there seems to be another big reunion making the indie world abandon their cool to squeal in excitement and this year there's been two, Soundgarden and Pavement. While the Seattle grunge rockers comeback is still in its early stages (they've only played one show so far), the far hipper Pavement have already played shows down under, in Japan and in the States. These are their first London shows though in a decade and they haven't been stingy with them either, playing a week-long residency at Brixton Academy.

She & Him at Koko

She & Him
The Chapin Sisters
Koko, 7 May 2010

Before they come on I overhear someone mention The Watson Twins in reference to support act The Chapin Sisters and when they finally emerge, it's apparent there's plenty of truth to the comparison beyond simply being another pair of singing siblings.

Mark Lanegan at Scala

Mark Lanegan
Duke Garwood
Tiffany Anders
Scala, 4 May 2010

Tiffany Anders is best known to me for singing backing vocals on one of my favourite ever Dinosaur Jr songs, the heart-wrenching Get Me. She was only a teen at the time and knew Dinosaur’s J Mascis through her mother, filmmaker Allison Anders, who J had worked with when he wrote the music for her film Gas, Food & Lodging.

Iggy & The Stooges at Hammersmith Apollo

Iggy & The Stooges
Suicide
Hammersmith Apollo, 3 May 2010

Iggy Pop these days seems better known for hawking car insurance on TV than his music. Sending up his image as a wild rock and roller, he appears to have become this cartoonish figure that even non-music fans would instantly recognise. It sort of makes you wonder then, if your gran knows who the weird, rubbery old man who likes to take off his shirt is, maybe his shows have become as tame as his image seems to have. Thankfully that's not the case at all, something he blasts away with certainty the moment he jumps (literally) on stage with his old comrades The Stooges at this ATP show featuring the band playing their classic album Raw Power in its entirety.

Alessi's Ark interview

So with a fantastic new EP out (the gorgeous Soul Proprietor), I popped along to see the lovely Alessi play a free in-store at the chilled and relaxed record store Pure Groove Records in London. As usual her all-too-short set was frill-free but with a three-piece band behind her, made up of members of the Sons Of Noel & Adrian, she sounded better, more complete, and perhaps best of all, louder than ever. Other than treating us to new songs from the EP and a couple of old favourites from her debut album, she also tried out a new untitled song that looks like it will be on her next release, which she is currently recording, and happily it sounds a little twangier, slightly more mature, yet still filled with her innocent charm. In short, very promising indeed.
I also had the chance to talk to the lady herself (who was responsible for my favourite album of last year) for the website Hive Magazine. You can also read it below:

You’re now on Bella Union, home of Fleet Foxes, Beach House and Midlake. Is this a new start? It seems like a perfect fit. 

Well, I’m really happy to be there. I was pretty happy to make music regardless of the label, I just felt happy to be on a label. It was nice being on Virgin but it was also nice to have a break from being on any label for a little while. And then I met up with Simon [Raymonde of the Cocteau Twins and Bella Union founder] and he’s super kind and really supportive and encouraging of the music. And I was a fan of the roster anyway. This new EP I’m pretty excited about, just to have these new songs, because, you know, even though the album only came out last year it feels pretty old to me. I’m not unexcited by it but I’m just happy to have these newer songs out because they feel fresh. 

Gig Memories: Afghan Whigs at Subterania

The Afghan Whigs
Subterania, 25 August 1998

Years back because I used to go to a lot of similar gigs I would see quite a few of the same faces at them (this still happens to a lesser degree and now they tend to be older than me for some reason!). One guy I used to chat to was a moody, quiet type who had hung out with The Breeders and met Kurt Cobain. My best friend hated him but he would always be worth talking to because he would always recommend great bands I didn't know. One time, appalled that my favourite band was Dinosaur Jr ("I can't stand that guy's voice!"), he told me I should listen to The Afghan Whigs instead.

New Alessi's Ark

So my favourite folkie Hammersmith gal is back in April with a new record deal (she's signed to the fantastic Bella Union, home of Midlake and Fleet Foxes, more fitting than her last record label Virgin methinks) and a new EP called Soul Proprietor (artwork above). Her new label has a download of one of the tracks from the new record, called Shovelling, which is short and lovely and a little more twangy than her debut album.

Have a listen here.

Richmond Fontaine at Bush Hall

Richmond Fontaine
Peter Bruntnell
Bush Hall, 4 March 2010

I have to admit I'm not sure who I'm more in love with: Willy Vlautin the songwriter or Willy Vlautin the storyteller. Willy, you see, has written three books in addition to his career fronting forlorn alt-country band Richmond Fontaine and his books are like his songs turned into sad little movies: all desert towns full of loss, regret and beautiful losers.

Hole at Shepherd's Bush Empire

Hole
Foxy Shazam
Little Fish
Shepherd's Bush Empire, 17 February 2010

I remember when I first saw Hole many years ago it the same week I also saw Neil Young for the first time (life-changing) and had just seen two Pearl Jam shows at Brixton Academy back to back (joyous). Hole, playing the slightly dingy Clapham Grand, were a world away from those shows: kind of disorganised, kind of ramshackle and definitely punk rock.

This Old Guitar: Neil Young and Hank Williams

Hank Williams' famous 1941 Martin D-28 acoustic guitar (pictured here being played by Hank himself to his son Hank Jr back in 1949) isn't in a museum somewhere, shut away in a glass case being stared at by visitors, or locked up safely by some rich collector, it's actually still being used to make innovative, beautiful, heart-breaking music, just like Hank did back in the 1930s and 40s. That's because Neil Young is now the proud owner of the priceless guitar.

Midlake at The Tabernacle

Midlake
The Kissaway Trail
The Tabernacle, 28 January 2010

First of all, yes that is a man playing a recorder but hey, this is a Midlake show and flutes, recorders and acoustic guitars are the order of the day.

Joe Pernice at the Union Chapel

Joe Pernice
Astrid Williamson
Union Chapel, 26 January 2010

So to my first gig of 2010. I don't know if it's a coincidence or someone is trying to tell me something but my first gig last year was also at the Union Chapel. Maybe I need to go to church more, you know, when rock music isn't the main draw. Anyway, after settling into non-gigging ways it felt strange wandering off to a show for the first time in a month and a half. Thankfully because it was in a church it was a seated, subdued affair, helping to ease me back into the swing of things.

Gig Memories: Jeff Buckley at Cambridge Junction in 1995

Jeff Buckley

Cambridge Junction, 22 June 1995

Back when I saw Jeff Buckley in June, 1995, hype was beginning to rapidly build around him: he was young and beautiful, the son of a cult legend, critically acclaimed and his album was just utterly, hauntingly beautiful. Even MTV had started to sometimes show his video for Grace (yes, this was back when MTV showed videos) and I was just desperate to see him live having missed the last time he played London, for some weird reason, at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire. So, despite living in London, when he announced a pre-Glastonbury date at the Cambridge Junction, I resolved to get there somehow and persuaded my brother to drive me there. I’m really glad I was so enthusiastic about seeing him because it turned out that, along with the Glastonbury appearance, these were Jeff’s last ever shows in the UK.

Albums of the decade

My favourite albums of the past decade. This has been a really hard task, much harder than I imagined. I've left out some really great albums that I've really enjoyed and loved but after a lot of consideration I think that this is the music that has meant the most to me over the past 10 years.

1. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
2. Mark Olson - The Salvation Blues
3. Midlake - The Trials Of Van Occupanther
4. Fleetwood Mac - Say You Will
5. The Twilight Singers - Twilight As Played By The Twilight Singers
6. Neko Case - Blacklisted
7. Lindsey Buckingham - Under The Skin
8. Ryan Adams – Heartbreaker
9. Joanna Newsom - Ys
10. At The Drive-in - Relationship Of Command
11. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co.
12. Cat Power - The Greatest
13. Neil Young - Prairie Wind
14. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
15. Rufus Wainwright - Want One
16. The Mars Volta - Deloused In The Comatorium
17. PJ Harvey - Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
18. Stevie Nicks - Trouble In Shangri-La
19. Neil Diamond - 12 Songs
20. Hawksley Workman - (Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves
21. Elvis Perkins - Ash Wednesday
22. Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers
23. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cold Roses
24. Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
25. The Snake The Cross The Crown - Cotton Teeth

Happy New Year!

The new year has already started off well for me with this news.
Oh Kim Thayil, how I've missed you, please help make Chris Cornell cool again. The news of this reunion can only be good for all involved although I wonder if drummer Matt Cameron will be joining them, since he's already got a good gig going with Pearl Jam. But if he does get back together with his old grunge pals this could potentially be as good as the Faith No More reunion last year. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. But however it turns out it can't be as bad as working with Timbaland.

The snazzy new website:

Soundgardenworld.com