Order on the Horizon

Thought I’d put the songs on U2’s No Line on the Horizon in order of favourites. This was harder than I thought. I’ll Go Crazy, Breathe and Stand up comedy are all competing for the honour of being my least favourite song on the album. I don’t mind I’ll Go Crazy, but I know I’ll go off it fairly soon and I may come to appreciate Breathe or Stand up comedy, despite the rock leaning.

  1. Moment of Surrender
  2. Cedars of Lebanon
  3. No Line on the Horizon
  4. FEZ-Being Born
  5. Magnificent
  6. White as Snow
  7. Unknown Caller
  8. Get On Your Boots
  9. I’ll Go Crazy if I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
  10. Breathe
  11. Stand up comedy

I didn’t at first but now I’ve heard the album a few times, I’m starting to hear the influences that were mentioned to me over the last few months. Kraftwerk (Being Born particularly, but No Line as well) more so than Portishead. Bits and pieces remind me of the Babel-soundtrack, but that’s obviously the band’s recording sessions in North-Africa paying off. A lot of the songs feature piano, which always reminds of Bowie.

Moment of Surrender takes me to a similar place as Kite did, but darker, more raw. It works on the tear ducts even if I’m not sure why. Must be something in the vocal.

A propos of nothing… I don’t think I’ve ever heard a rockband’s lyrics been picked on quite as much as U2’s. So Bono’s King of Clunk. You know, they do advise newsreaders to speak with a quirk. Why? Because it makes you listen.

I’m clearly in full U2-apologist mode and thus no fun anymore. Hey, I used to write in to the NME’s reader’s column to defend them. At least I gave up on that in the 80s.

Joss Whedon calls for enlightened activism

Joss Whedon, in an impassioned post on community weblog Whedonesque.com, condemns the underlying attitude that led to the ‘honour-killing’ of Dua Khalil in Iraq and films such as the upcoming torture-porn film Captivity in the U.S.A.

He writes: ‘It’s no longer enough to shake our heads and make concerned grimaces at the news. True enlightened activism is the only thing that can save humanity from itself.’

Joss Whedon is the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly,

See also:

Hell yeah, you will

– Been obsessed with new Neil Diamond album 12 songs, ‘Captain of a shipwreck’ and ‘Evermore’ in particular. If Diamond hadn’t gone so Vegas in the 70s, he’d probably have near-Dylan status. He’s got the G-d issues that go with the honour. And the ego. ‘Evermore’ is Bonoesque in its grandiosity. Also check out ‘Hell yes’, a fabulous ‘My way’ for old folkies.
– I’m listening to the new Madonna album. Disco = Punk? C’mon, that’s an Iggy Pop riff in ‘I love New York’, ain’t it? I don’t drive, but this album sounds like the sound track to a great road trip.
– Thank heavens I’ll be in Dublin this Thursday and Friday.
– Traipsing around with Mr Hg, natch.
– To see Mr G at the O’Reilly Theatre…
– … and other Mr G at the Solomon Gallery…
– … and have swanky lunch.
– So, I really want to go back to New York and am also keen to see Rome or Florence.
– I should tell you all about the funeral, but don’t know how without being irreverent. Maybe later.

Serenity premiere

Summer Glau (River Tam in Serenity) is very pretty. I attended the
premiere in Amsterdam on Tuesday evening, where Summer and Nathan
Fillion (Captain Mal Reynolds) were guests of honour. Quite a few good shots
even though the red carpet thing was a nightmare. But every time I do
this kind of thing, I get hungry for more, and hungrier for better
equipment, although you definitely learn to make do with what you have.
An L-series 28-300 (dream on) would come in very, very handy. Or a second body.

This is my favourite one of the evening.

Mother and Child reunion

(probably taken with a Voigtlander Vitomatic)

Today’s challenge at Photo Friday is ‘mother’ (which seems a little tired after ‘father’ a few weeks ago, but anyway). I only have one picture I took of my mother and grandparents when I was 11 or so, and I can’t find it. I’ve no other shot that fits, so I’m not competing in the challenge. But I’ll honour the theme with this shot that my father must have taken. Mum with red bag, me with white hat and toy camera. With apologies for the quality, I really need a better scanner. (Click to enlarge)