It often amazes me why Death Cab For Cutie are not more famous over here. Over t’other side of pond, they are pretty huge – or are the fans just louder? Appearances on the likes of the OC will no doubt ease their accessibility… what would it take for Radio 1 to start playing them – being as they are so much better than all these “best newly discovered band by radio 1” type bands… would you want Radio 1 to discover them? Would you want the sheer talent drowned by the hype-wave?

Anyway, for all you real fans, dcfc are gigging right here in the lovely Glasgow Garage. Book your tickets online… Glasgow seems to be half decent for gigs just now… the decemberists, clap your hands say yeah, black mountain, the new pornographers … all recently appearing on a stage nearby. Nice.

Everything is chart-tastic mate…

Said the Gramaphone reviews his top 22 of 2005! All tracks available for download for a limited time – move it… Particularly like the review of Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens. Sweet.

Those with a little too much spare time have listed the 20 Best Movie Mistakes of 2005. Can you make a best mistake?

Everybody – well not literally everybody – … Quite a few people are publishing music charts. Top 37 UK bands of the year, that sort of thing. If you had a chart and no-one else would publish it, maybe you could call … what would it be?

Gorilla vs Bear Chart

33 Best Bands in Canada ever (in 2005)

47 Best UK bands now

So, decided to ask Brother Phil (he’s not a monk, he is my brother) if he could compile a chart of best bands he hasn’t heard on Radio 1. He could, easily, as he never listens to Radio 1! Ok, not helpful then… maybe a best current Welsh bands list will be winding it’s way to these pages soon.

As part of Simon’s stag day, we went to our local, convenient, Scotkart! Was a bit of a rally experience to get there, racing through the nether regions of South East Glasgow. Fun! What we didn’t know until we got there was that we’d been entered into a two hour endurance race. Imagine jazzed up bumper cars – 20 minutes of fun – but two hours? It was good though. Some pretty tasty overtaking resulting in many warning flags – and a black flag for my team! Ooops. We all left tired and with sore left shoulder blades! A slight flaw in the seat design then?

I like Scott. I like his wife and son too. I think his son also likes me! Anyway, Scott and myself went once more to the easy-as-ABC to see Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! Good gig. Very different than the last one I went to, but it is hard not to compare. This band lacked the stage presence of the decemberists, but their music was quality. If you haven’t heard them, there are plenty of downloads out there, including some at their website.

The music is fantastic. They played all the hits – they probably played all their songs, as being a new band they don’t have many! The vocals are, well how shall we put it, being kind – distinctive; being cruel – a vic n bob pub singer on helium. If you can see (or should that be hear) past the vocals then you will encounter an extremely creative and energetic band. Being big on t’internet has certainly aided their cause. It’s amazing how quick the hype/word spreads. Definitely worth it though.

Little Britain Series 3. Not sure. How much of a good thing can you have before it becomes stale? I think the introduction of a few new characters will help the series once it gets going, but have they become victims of their own success? Expectation levels are sky high. We do like their lake on life, mostly because we know that there is so much truth in it!

(A fix in between episodes)

Even after 12 years of loyal service, some “fans” are having ago at Roy Keane for leaving Man Utd. That sort of commitment and loyalty is rarely seen anymore, with the modern superstars of football happy to sit in the stand – let alone the bench- if the price is right. He has been an inspiration, hated by opposition fans, but isn’t that the sign of a true great? Hailed as the new Bryan Robson way back when, who will ascend in his place? Respect is due. Soon to be a bhoy?

Am currently listening to the new Bell X1 album Flock. According to amazon it’s not out in the UK until February 2006. You can get it from HMV online now.

I like it. It is good. Similar to the likes of Eve the apple of my eye on Music in Mouth. Less attitude but the same (if not better) quality lyrics. I love them. They seem complex but completely accessible. Poetic, fun, strange, true, cryptic…

coming up at ABC (I should be on commission)…

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Sunday 20th
Black Mountain with Wolf Parade – Friday 25th

Behold. Indie cometh from across the ocean.

It’s November. Perfect time to watch the Decemberists. Brother Phil – he really is my brother not a member of a Holy Order – accompanied me to this fantastic ‘show’. It was a show. So much more than a gig. Crowd involvement, interaction and rapport was at its best. The new and shiney ABC (2) venue is ideal for a gig. Good size, nice layout, good bar, good sofas. It has air conditioning that works. This was a revelation for me. You didn’t end up roasting and passive smoking the night away. Anyway, back to the band, who played a good combination of tracks from their new album interspersed with older favourites. It was all to climax in the epic stage show that is The Mariner’s Revenge Song (oh no it’s not). Just to say – you had to be there to understand. Good fun and good music. Plus they are another one of these great new bands with loads of members who play loads of different instruments (arcade fire, broken social scene etc.).