Rebel Music

In preparation for the treat of seeing Linton Kwesi Johnson tomorrow I've been listening to a lot of his songs. As you'd expect from a poet, his words are strong. His themes are political, both black politics and class politics, telling of his life and times and explaining why 'Inglan Is A Bitch'. The music veers from heavy dub to reggae-tinged jazz.

Despite the politics and heavy dub he can also pen a tender courtship song in 'Lorraine' who he meets standing in the rain at the bus-stop one day. The heavy skies outside suggest rain today so maybe I'll watch out for her and any shy, courting couples at the bus-stop.

The Temptations on Ross

The Temptations have just been on Jonathon Ross, the original and best boy band ever. Only Otis is still in the group from the original Temps but the spirit is there, and the music. They're old men but still make the sound and do the moves, just not quite as energetically. And those marvellous songs.

Coo! The Temptations!

The Lovely Amanda

All turn west and pray to Boston please. Amanda has survived her throat surgery but a few prayers might help her recover sooner. I was pleased to read that Brian turned up at 5.25am yesterday morning to drive her to the hospital (isn't that sweet?). She was done and is back home now, creating mischief probably. She's been eating ice cream and watching 'Twin Peaks' and googling art and arguing whether Madonna is a feminist (you *need* to know these things).

I love what she says about Brian drumming on the latest Nine Inch Nails album, "i'm so proud of him i can't tell you. he is a force of nature." That's lovely.

Just as importantly, it seems like her concerts with the Boston Pops orchestra in June might be filmed (a DVD?) and that she's planning an extensive tour to promote her solo album, 'Who Killed Amanda Palmer?'. Just show me the way to the ticket booth!

Get well soon, Amanda!

Do I Look Stupid?

Well, do I? Or do I write stupid? I made a complaint to Barclays Bank on 9 February and I've just received a response today. Great customer care. Basically, my debit card expired on me before I had a replacement and I only found out when it was refused in a shop (it had, in theory, not yet expired by the date on the card). When I rang up to find out what the problem was I was told that a new card had been issued in January and that my current one automatically expires after 28 days, irrespective of whether I've received the new one apparently.I suggested cards should expire when there's activity on the new card.

The reply today tells me that the delivery agent tried to deliver it and then wrote to me. Um, did they? News to me. SMS delivery have done this to me before, saying they've tried to deliver stuff when I'm at work and not leaving a card or anything so it's then me that has to run around trying to get something delivered. So irritating.

I'm just not sure I can be bothered pursuing this. What will I get from it? Barclays clearly don't care, it's just crap service from a large multinational so why should it bother? Gggrrrrr...

I've just sent the following message through the offending bank's website - yes, I *am* angry!

Your Ref: XXXXX

I received your letter today and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Your letter didn't address all my comments which is rather disappointing. Lots of expressions of sincere apologies and passing my comments to your management team instantly make me not believe any of it. Is it worth using your complaints process to then wait 4 weeks for a response that simply fobs you off? I've been with Barclays for nearly 30 years and this is the first time I've complained about anything and I get a fob-off letter? That's designed to make me angry rather than anything else.

If SMS tried to deliver the card they why didn't they leave a card asking me to contact them? If SMS wrote to me then why didn't I receive a letter? My card was delivered only after I'd spoken to someone in your call centre who helpfully gave me their number so I could arrange delivery myself.

I am, quite frankly, appalled that anyone could think your letter was even vaguely acceptable. My initial response was to think you were calling me stupid. A second reading made me think you didn't mean that simply because you didn't mean anything by sending me a letter so long after I contacted you. You don't care. What else can I assume? You've happily taken my money for nearly 30 years but you can't even provide a decent explanation that addresses my points and gives me a believable apology.

Please send me details of your formal complaints procedure and any form I have to fill in. I will also write separately to the Ombudsman.

Thank you.

Brian Viglione and Nine Inch Nails

Brian Viglione, one half of the Dresden Dolls, has been doing some guest-drumming on the latest Nine Inch Nails album, 'Ghosts I-IV', available now to download from nin.com.

Brian features on tracks 19 and 22. On one he plays a 'drum kit' he made from waste bins and water coolers and the other features a full, traditional rock drum kit. I was mighty impressed when I saw Brian drumming for Jesse Malin last year so the NIN tracks will be worth a listen when they're available individually (at the moment it's a case of downloading the whole album).

As the man himself says,

When I got back home from the afternoon of recording,Trent mentioned that he liked the sound of the junk kit recordings from the day before and would I mind doing a little more. So I went back into the room and put on the headphones and they said to me, "We're just going to give you a tempo on the click, play whatever comes into your head and improvise on it after you establish the basic groove."

I finished and hadn't even realized that I had just completed the drum part to a song that they had already finished up. The next morning they integrated my part into the song and it was a crazy feeling hear myself integrated into the music of a group who've I've been a fan of for years.

It was a great experience and hope you all enjoy the music.

Well done, Brian!

Madonna - 4 Minutes

Madonna's new single, '4 Minutes To Save The World', is starting to leak more liberally through the Internet world. I heard it through PrettyMuchAmazing and quite like it (even though it features Justin Timberlake). She sounds in good voice.

I don't know if this is the real version of the song or just one that's been leaked to start to drum up interest, but it sounds good. It'll be interesting to see how they translate it into a video.

'The Rifle' by Alela Diane

I'm pleased to report that 'The Rifle' by Alela Diane is this week's free single of the week on iTunes so go and download it. It's a track from her album, 'The Pirate's Gospel' which is now available to download with the bonus tracks previously only available on the UK CD plus an entirely new song, 'Pink Roses'.

'The Rifle' is a strange song about a dream or nightmare but beyond that I don't much care what it's about - it's a sonic poem with rich words and hypnotic finger-picking guitar. Who is coming from the woods and who wears the brown shoes?

I saw Alela play live last summer at The Luminaire and thoroughy enjoyed the evening. You can hear more of Alela's songs on her MySpace site. Go on, help yourself to a free download from iTunes and hear the marvellous Alela whenever you want. Then download the album - you know it makes sense.

Deliriously Gorgeous

Yes, that's Miss Amanda Palmer. There's a lovely new photo of her on her MySpace page so I had to steal it and show you. She's going in for surgery on her nodes on Tuesday so we must all wish her all the very best.

While she's recuperating she'll be working on two books, firstly 'The Virginia Monologues', a companion piece to 'Yes, Virginia' and 'No,Virginia' (the new record due in May) and secondly, a companion book to her first solo album (due later in the year). Such bountifulness.

Lights

It's late and I'm channel hopping and there, on telly in front of me, is the NME Awards 2008 outdoors show on some channel or other. Lads on stage with guitars and drums and a singer shouting into the mic in an out-of-tune aggressive stylee, music by numbers and lots of lights. Big spectacular lights. Lots of lights.

It makes me think of my 'Born To Boogie' DVD by Marc Bolan and T.Rex with the bonus material of the concert footage that was edited and included in the 'Born To Boogie' film. Just Marc, Mickey and the lads on stage playing and he is a mesmerising sight, eyes riveted on Marc as he moves across the stage... and no lights worth speaking of. Marc had charisma and talent and wrote and performed some of the best songs ever. A light show would probably have detracted from the Bopping Elf.

And SLADE? Have you seen any of their live footage? They didn't need lights - they still don't. It's the music and their presence and, at least back in their heyday, the sound of Nod's voice telling us to stamp our feet. Who needed lights?

Punk wasn't well lit, it was gloomy in little venues, but it had power. In their fabulous shows in November the Pistols had minimal staging and lighting. If you've got the music, the power, you don't need the lights. Lights can enhance and add excitment but don't rely on them.

Oh. It's the Kaiser Chiefs, the band on telly with the big light show. Who'dathunkit?

Two Music Telly Moments

Did you see 'Jools' last night? It was an odd show with an odd mix of acts and the Diamond Hoo Ha Men, those quirky Supergrass lads, stood head and shoulders above everyone else. They've discovered early 70s hard rock and do it loud (as is right and proper), hard rocking guitar music, fast and furious. I loved them! The rather anaemic sound of new kids on the block, Vampire Weekend, didn't even come close - Supergrass blasted them away in power chords and volume.

The new album, 'Diamond Hoo Ha' is out in a few weeks time and I think I'll be acquiring it.

Tonight saw the beginning of Eurovision 2008 where we, the great British public choose the next act to lose in the real competition. I'm not exactly a Eurovision fan but thought I'd watch it tonight. My response to the first two acts was wondering why people who couldn't sing in tune were involved in a song competition, but it came down to Michelle Gayle (songstress of yesteryear) and Andy Abrahams (from X Factor or something).

Michelle's song, 'Woo (U Make Me)', is quirky, fun and funky with a catchy chorus and nice dance moves (with hints of OutKast) so what did we do? We voted for Andy with his '90s sounding song that was a bit like Simply Red. It sounds old. Michelle was robbed!

I hope Michelle releases her song anyway - I'd buy it!