Welsh Rich

Mirror Ball is really good - I read an article on it recently, a kind of "hidden gem" piece, saying it was overlooked when it came out. I remember a lot of press around it though when it was released, so not sure it's really "hidden". Some of the songs on it are really good - certainly has some of his best plugged in work is on it. Also interesting is that the albums will be part of the Archive... that's going to be an expensive box set. Glad I haven't ordered Massey Hall yet then... better start saving the pennies.

Maybe... I can't remember... actually, yes, it was the Brit Awards nomination that was stuck in my head. No matter though, a good album that. For me:

One of the best "pop" albums of the year - think she's got a great voice and an ear for a tune or two...

Excellent - that mean my tired old vinyl copy of the first album can be retired to the dusty cupboard!

It's brilliant...

The Floyd always did my favourite concept albums, The Wall and Dark Side of the Moon are my favourites.

I thought that too - however, that album does rock... it's the first truely essential album of 2007 along with the Arcade Fire I reckon...

Heh heh

Oh yeah! There's still plenty of space for buying stuff with daft names and cool covers! When I was in Rough Trade the other weekend I picked up a random album by a band I'd never heard of with a cool cover that I bought... but hey, that's an expensive way of building a record collection if they're all shit!

Managed the first couple of songs from Voxtrot before I got bored... sorry... think this is going to be my Midlake for 2007

So how would you encounter new music? That's not an attack! I'm just curious? If I didn't read websites like Dis, Pitchfork I wouldn't know where to begin, there's so much out there, they just raise your awareness of certain bands that I might not have encountered before.

So I know the columnists at Pitchfork can trot out some absolutely shite at times, but reading their column about music spoilers and the accessibility of music was actually really interesting: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feat...umn_Poptimist_2 The fact that many of us hear can get hold of anything so quickly does take some of the mystique out of things. Plus there's enough people on here who write about the stuff that try to create something that you can read and then appreciate and make you want to check out the band/album/single but without spoiling the actual thrill of listening

That touring duo has to be one of the best of the last couple of years... looking forward to catching The thermals at ATP...

I think Voxtrot are over-rated and the album just serves to confirm this... NP:

Yes - I've not ordered it though, I wasn't sure if it was worth it. What was up with the live show? I was kinda worried that it would lack their energy...

That BRMC is really good - think the production is spot on, the guitars sound awesome.