Synthesizer Patel

Well Germany declared war on USSR in June 1941 with Operation Barbarossa and USA entered the war in Dec of the same year, so they aren't that far apart. However, us Brits, Australia and France were actually there from the start in 1939, or rather we were there from the point when the Nazi's entered Poland. Certainly more people were mobalised on the Russian front because they had more men, but that's hardly what won us the war. Really it was won in the air and that battle was mainly between Britain and Germany. I saw a program on tv the other week which showed how terrified they were that the

That's ok. I am listening to it again this morning.

Yeah, it's called Texas Troubadour. It was released as one of those large boxsets first, which goes for a lot of money now, but then they did it again with cardboard covers etc... and made it cheap to buy. I think it was only released in England, which is why it's a little harder to find in America, but certainly not impossible and also it's pretty quick and easy these days to import it from here (I normally have to do it the other way around, and never have to wait long or have a problem). Also, if anyone is having a problem buying Live at The Old Quarter, that too is cheap and easy to fin

Yeah, that's it. Thanks. That link also led me to watching a dodgy video of Don't Go Near The Water very good - I love Al's singing in this.

Is there a version floating around when he played on tv to Leonard Bernstein, who was kind enough to say he liked it or some such thing? Maybe they are talking about that. I remember seeing it on some documentary and it had an impact enough that I remember it now, so it must have been pretty good. The version on the Good Vibrations boxset is very enjoyable, but I actually prefer the version on Surf's Up - what do pitchfork know, anyway?

They are all available and pretty cheap as a boxset, as I pointed out earlier (

My favourite too. It was apparently written about Janis Joplin - someone I don't really like, but at least she inspired a great song.

I assume you live in america, so you'll have to wait a bit for this to arrive, but just get this: Boxset It's got his first 7 albums plus a few bonus cuts and some live tracks from the Live at the Old Quarter Houston Texas album. Although it's a little bit more than purchasing one album, you'll thank me in the long run as they are all great. If you don't want to do this then go for what rghammo said - my favourite album is High, Low and Inbetween, and The Late Great Townes Van Zandt is another great one too. EDIT: You can get this from Amazon in America, but it is $39, so make sure you get i

Sorry, Canada! That explains why it was posted so quickly. I prefer this to the first album myself, although I certainly like it too. I have Porcella as mp3 and never really got into too much - I might give it another try, but Andre's solo work just has a better feel to me, it's the type of sound I like from my music. Piano, drums and acoustic guitar, with a little electric every now and again.

It's Andre Ethier (he used to be in The Deadly Snakes, who I wasn't too keen on). Give me a bit and I'll PM you

That doesn't mean that if Pitchfork had given them a 9.x that they would be over-hyped. Sometimes, even pitchfork can get it right too. Calling someone hyped nowadays simply means that you've heard more than one person (probably a one of them dirty hipster types) say they are good, but you don't like them yourself. Obviously if you said you didn't like them to the hipster they'd not understand you, but they accutely understand and respond to the 'hype' claim - no hipster of any worth wants to ever believe the 'hype'. This is how to confuse hipsters and stop them listening to the music they mig

Didn't Robbie Williams copy Woody Guthrie's lyrics on a track recently, so seeing as he's influenced by Guthrie that must make him great, right? Or do these debts only work one way? NP Got this in the post this morning straight from the USA! That would be me. I agree. Anyway, I suppose if people hear it and don't like it, that's fair enough, but it's not going to stop me recommending it to people because I think more people will like it than won't.

No. He's invited . . . . (this joke only makes sense if you've seen the wickerman, and if you haven't I don't want to explain the joke as it will ruin the film)

I grew up in a village called Kingswood which was the King's Wood (obviously) around Leeds Castle. My back garden went straight out onto this wood, and this may be why I like this album. I never dressed up like woodland animals though.

We Gathered In Spring is certainly the first song that clicked with me, but the reason I like the album so much now is that I enjoy every song on it within the album's setting - they might not all be strong outside of that, but within it they all work. No other release this year, that I've heard, works quite so well as an album. NP

Very true. It should be in print too though, just as much as any other old album. I like the idea that they've come up with now of making rare cd's on demand, so that they only make them when you make the order, almost like cdr's, but better quality. This should mean that even the rarest stuff is accessible to people in the future, just as it should be, rather than simply amongst a few collectors. Peer to peer kind of broke down that barrier a bit, but seeing as how the music industry wants all the money they can get, but don't want to spend money taking chances on producing a large amount of

I think he's afraid of something about them for sure, but I can't put my finger on what it is. Fear takes on so many forms these days.

You know, I might actually just play some more Midlake simply just to annoy Rich. NP Andre Ethier - Secondathallam

Yeah it's on remastered cd. If I stick to the original question which is - to put an album that I initially didn't like, but now do, in front of my peers; then I'll go for Swordfishtrombone. I didn't like it at first, but now do, and think others should like it too. If it's just albums that everyone should have heard then I'll go for The Band.

Definately. I don't know why he feels he should wear that silly hat a lot though, or he wears a terrible baseball hat - I want to watch his hands, but am always drawn to the top of his head. A few more guitar players of note: mississippi john hurt neil young and devo

Alright I've found some music videos now: betty boo - doin the do derek b - bad young brother derek b - we got the juice

These aren't music videos, but live performances: fotheringay - too much of nothing joanna newsom - the book of right on

I doubt that, but it's interesting that after Mohammed Abdul Kahar was shot by British police in an anti-terror raid a couple of months ago, and was found to be completely innocent of any terror charges, the police and politians reguarly spoke of how they reguarly stopped major terrorist threats on a monthly basis, but that the public just doesn't hear about them. I would be interested to find out why this raid and the one involving the two brothers are both news worthy whilst other major threats aren't - now on this occassion they apparently have uncovered a plot to blow up a number of aircra

Nixon is on a different level really. It's pretty much perfect. Also I'd recommend What Another Man Spills and Is A Woman too. Yeah exactly. No it's not as good as Nixon, but I don't think they are ever going to match that album.

They have attacked Red Cross vans haven't they? They put the big Red Cross on the side not as a target, by the way. If they can see these vans good enough to hit them then they can see the cross on the side, or maybe that damn fog of war got in the way again. Of course it is essential that they win, whatever the cost. So a few Red Cross Vans are fair game, there could be some of those injured terrorist dogs getting treatment. They must be hunted down just like every drug baron and sex pervert that stalks our pure earth. The State of Israel has been around for nearly 60 years now, damn it! Th