They rushed down the street together, digging everything in the early way they had, which later became so much sadder and perceptive and blank. But then they danced down the streets like dingledodies, and I shambled after as I’ve been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!”

- Jack Kerouac, On The Road

I still have no idea what "dingledodies" are, but otherwise: welcome to my life.

all hail what will be revealed today

So the list of music that I need to get this month is huge, and my coffers are shallow, but it was payday yesterday meaning I needed to pick up something. I was very tempted by Dizzee Rascal and the Gossip, but though they're very definitely on the list, they're not what I'm in the mood for right now, and I came very close to deciding to wait for the Outkast and Neptunes releases still to come... and then I saw The New Pornographers' Electric Version selling on the cheap on Berwick Street.



It was only right to buy it - it is, after all, allegedly the record that started a movement (joycore, obviously).

And it's really good. Joycore is the word. It seems like ages since I heard an album of this sort of music that I could actually listen to and enjoy pretty much all the way through (I know it's heresy to some, but I find the Flaming Lips only quite good, not godlike). So many bands try to make power pop which is sunny and breezy (and other adjectives to do with weather), and the music press tells you it's great and it sounds like the Beach Boys and Abbey Road-era Beatles, and when you finally hear it it's just so uninspiring and lazy and fucking dull. This album is not like that. This album is a whole bundle of music-critic cliches being renewed and made true, for once. It's a joyous explosion of harmonies - see?

I think my three immediate favourites are 'Loose Translation', 'It's Only Divine Right' and 'The Laws Have Changed', with the title track lagging in fourth place. All three of those songs have the kind of vocal or guitar hooks that stick in your head so quickly you almost feel as if you've known them for years. I completely agree with what has been said about the classic status of 'The Laws Have Changed'. It puts a spring in my step. I wish I could remember who this song reminded me of, Neko Case singing "all hail" seems really reminiscent of another band, one whom I haven't listened to in ages - but I have no idea who, or if this is just my imagination.

Although I did like Destroyer's 'The Bad Arts', Dan Bejar's songs are probably my least favourite on the album at the moment, but that may change. I do quite like the fact that his vocals really suit his 'secret member', no-sleeve-photo role though. And I suppose I like 'Chump Change' a fair bit, it's just - I think I have to be in a predisposed mood to like Bejar's stuff, y'know? Whereas something like 'The Laws...' is just going to put you in that mood conveyed by the song every time, I reckon.

Highly recommended, especially to Tom and Sam if you're reading this...

sharing different heartbeats in one night

The weekends continue to speed by (yes, ICFTS#06 part 3 is on the way, so is a thing about Pottymouth which will include telling you all to come on Friday if possible). This one just gone was my sweetheart's birthday party, which was a lot of fun and as a result of which I now have both a Jenny Everywhere badge and, even better, a Redman* badge - not just any Redman badge either, but a still from the 'Dirrty' video, about three seconds before he punches the giant furry bunny. It is possibly the coolest thing** ever.

*No connection to Red as in the codename for my better half, other than the tenuous connection that one was in said video and the other one just wishes she was. And really should have been.

**Although the no frills 'Joycore!' badge that Red now sports must surely come close, if I say so myself.