God Save This Country: An Essay on Not Seeing the Sense in Patriotism
Maybe its because I was born in Germany (yes, with the war and the football) or because I'm just bitter and cynical but the country I live in gets on my tits sometimes.
Its the contradictions.
A nation of aloof repressed types with a legacy of sophistication and charm who obsess over the sordid affairs of larger than life celebrities. We frown on outspoken loudmouths but give us some juicy gossip or enough alcohol and we turn into one. We allow the tabloids to dictate us yet despise all other forms of control
The British sense of humour is renowned globally yet have you ever seen anyone smile on a bus recently. In fact I'm amazed foreigners bother to come over as the mere sight of one seems to drain the goodwill from our bodies. We pride ourselves on organisation and scoff at other countries yet can't run our railways or get a drink past 11pm. Can you believe that it was us polite bunch that invented the swinging 60s and its morals or lack of them and it appears these hippy liberals have spawned the offspring we see today prancing around like spoilt brats ruining everything.
We created a truly international language, the language of business, yet find it hard to use sometimes (I refer you to the mirthless bus example earlier). A nation which cultivated one of the largest and bloodiest empires in the world, now protest in their millions against another country's attempts. We hate America but we ape their neurosis and the resulting bloodlust. We are their poodles, so less of the snootiness. At least France made a stand and they're
French!
It's cold and wet and everyone's miserable. What a fucking shithole.
I love it
Something Uplifting
It's time I told you what is getting me excited, seeing as I have the 'privilage' of working in a record shop and able to listen to 'music' nearly every single minute of every single day.
1. The Hunches
Ramshackle yet abrasive indie noise band from Seattle (what are the chances). Don't be put off by the 'The' as they're really good at submerging what would be great pop tunes under distorted guitar and wailing. The rest of the time they like to be melancholy and tender but its just a precusor of the impending din. The album is a refreshing mixed bag that doesn't sound like much else these days.
2. Hot Snakes
Like a angry cobra they will sink menacing riffs into your veins and paralyse you with fear. In fact nearly every song is a variation on the same riff but it doesn't matter coz they play it
sooo well. On their latest
Audit in Progress they are paticularily grouchy, so grouchy, that they don't slow down until half way through and that's only so they can work themselves up for the last songs. In conclusion this album goes fast, fast, slow, very fast.
3. Alice Donut
One of those bands that I'd heard stuff by and liked but never checked out. Definitely regret that now. New album
3 Sisters is badass. Its also the name of my semi-local pub. Amazingly they sound like one of those catchy adolescent punk bands but mix it with intelligence and hard riffs, hence preventing you from wanting to punch them. The result is unique, quirky pop songs that you'd sing along to if only you knew the lyrics.
4. Comets on Fire
These SoCal dudes probably listen to a load of shit Seventies bands but somehow they manage to make all that retro-pysch-garage rock exciting. Some songs descend into long jams but they seem to be enjoying it so who's to argue. At one point they seem to be trying to converse with druids by going all Medieval on our asses but they redeem themselves with feedback.
more coming ...
