Ill fares the land

The great Tony Judt's last book, a passionate defence of a politics based on equality, justice, and social democratic values, even this old cynic was temporarily geed up when reading it. A review from a sensible Tory here.

Aviva Stadium

Formerly Lansdowne Stadium, the new and improved home of the Irish international Rugby and Football teams.

The Middle East

Bree Tranter from the band, The Middle East. They played the Sugar Club, Leeson St, Dublin on Saturday, June 26.

Here's the gorgeous video for their song 'Blood', one of my favourite tracks of the last few years.

Rufus at the Grand Canal Theatre

This photo was taken at Dublin's new Grand Canal Theatre a few hours ago. Rufus is in the early stages of his tour for new album All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu.

For this tour he's having venues make an announcement pre-show requesting no applause during the first half while he plays the new record in its entirety. The audience are also asked to note that Rufus' walking on and off stage is considered part of the performance. Tonight, they very nearly managed to pull off the feat of quietness but then one over enthusiastic punter sitting near the edge of the venue couldn't contain their accumulated store of pent up clapping, letting rip as Rufus had almost completed his theatrically slow exit.

The new album was recorded with the knowledge that Rufus's mother, the fine singer songwriter Kate Mc Garrigle, had little time left to live. It is sombre, dark, deliberately harsh, sometimes unmelodious. It occupies a place in Rufus's canon similar to Sinatra's desolate, inconsolable 'Only the Lonely.' The theatrical presentation of the new material and his decision to present it as one piece is spot on; most of these songs wouldn't work inter-spliced with his back catalogue. The first half worked well for me initially through songs like 'Martha' addressed to his arguably equally talented sister, but after a while the unrelenting gloom becomes wearying, particularly through the batch of Shakespeare sonnets adapted to music. Still, Rufus can't be faulted for staying true to his vision and where his heart is at the moment; he is still, clearly, naturally, in mourning.

I enjoyed the second half of the show a lot more, where Rufus, still alone at the piano, played a selection of songs from his previous five albums. Even during this section, it was the sad (but this time beautiful and wistful) tracks like Dinner at Eight, Leaving for Paris, and Memphis Skyline that he played the best.

This, the fifth time I've seen him live was a stark contrast to the joyful showmanship of his Oxygen performance in 2007. I've been lucky enough to see him play Vicar Street with his mom and Aunt Anna McGarrigle, and Martha, and also to see mesmerising shows at Vicar Street during the Want One and Two tours. I'll be back for more next time he's in Dublin. The man is truly a musical treasure to be cherished.

Oh and the new venue Grand Canal Theatre? Very impressive.

Great photo of Rufus and really interesting article here.

The Swell Season @ Vicar St. Dec 15

Super gig from Glen, Marketa et al. Really loving their second album, Strict Joy, think it's one of the best things they've done including the Frames albums.

Lisa Hannigan @ Vicar Street, December 3

A fine gig from Lisa Hannigan with excellent covers of Dylan, John Martyn and most incongrously Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus. And the new songs she played bode well for the second album.

Matured 2009 Albums of the Year List

The final, final albums of the year list with late entries from Bradford Cox's very trippy Atlas Sound album, Dave Rawlings' heartwarming 'Friend of a Friend', to tide us Gillian Welch nuts over till she comes out of her extended hibernation. Also added Fanfarlo, recommended on Nialler 9's blog - very Arcade Fire meets Beirut meets Ra Ra Riot. Another late entry coming from the Swell Season's 'Strict Joy', plenty of sturdy songwriting on there. And i've also added Devendra Banhart's enjoyable if not essential new album.

Plus there's been a bit of rejigging in the order mainly to reflect how deeply Local Natives and Alela Diane have burrowed under my skin.

As for the top ten, it's been a great year for America again, hasn't it?


1.Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest



2.Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca


3.Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavillion
4. Local Natives, Gorilla Manor

5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It's Blitz!
6.Anthony and the Johnsons, The Crying Light
7. The Swell Season, Strict Joy
8.Passion Pitt, Manners
9.Alela Diane, To Be Still
10.Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
11.Florence and the Machine, Lungs
12.Bruce Springsteen, Working on a Dream
13.Doves, Kingdom of Rust
14.Wilco, Wilco the Album
15.Atlas Sound, Logos
16.Julie Feeney, Pages

17.Bat for Lashes, Two Suns
18.Andrew Bird, Noble Beast
19.Patrick Watson, Wooden Arms
20. Fanfarlo, Reservoir
21.Dave Rawlings Machine, A Friend of a Friend
22.David Kitt, the Nightsaver
23. Dangermouse and Sparklehorse, Dark Night of the Soul
24.Devendra Banhart, What Will We Be
25. Vetiver, Tight Knit
26. Friendly Fires, Friendly Fires
27. K'Naan, Troubador
28. The Dodos, Time to Die
29. Mos Def, The Ecstatic
30. Arctic Monkeys, Humbug
31. St Vincent, Actor

Rodrigo y Gabriela @ the Olympia

Grizzly Bear @ Vicar Street

Another premature Albums of 2009 list

Following Q magazine's ridiculously early albums of the year list (in October) and the bizarre spectacle of Kasabian winning their Album of the Year, here's my premature albums of the year - haven't heard Devendra Banhart, Flaming Lips or Edan's new albums yet though.

1. Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest



2. Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca




3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It's Blitz!
4. Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavillion
5. Florence and the Machine, Lungs
6. Passion Pitt, Manners
7. Anthony and the Johnsons, The Crying Light

8. Local Natives, Gorilla Manor



9. Julie Feeney, Pages




10. Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
11. Bruce Springsteen, Working on a Dream
12. Doves, Kingdom of Rust

13. Wilco, Wilco the Album


14. Bat for Lashes, Two Suns
15. Andrew Bird, Noble Beast
16. Patrick Watson, Wooden Arms
17. Alela Diane, To Be Still
18. David Kitt, the Nightsaver
19. Dangermouse and Sparklehorse, Dark Night of the Soul
20. Friendly Fires, Friendly Fires