I checked out the long awaited James Cameron movie a few hours ago and, as you guessed, I’m moved to flood it out of my system before bed. Even more so because I saw it entirely without company to say ‘wow’ to.

For starters (and I’m echoing every present and future review on it so far), it is unarguably one of the most lavish looking films you’ll ever see. The ludicrous budget was not at all wasted.
My eyes couldn’t help wandering away from core foreground action because lots of little interesting things were grabbing my attention around the screen. I didn’t even see the 3D version and found it very immersive. The CGI is also top notch as you do forget that these blue humanoids in a detailed world are just film magic.

The plot however is slightly cheesy (as is some dialogue) and has a very thinly veiled eco message, but the whole movie package is so well done that this fact really can’t retract any points.

Also as a straight male (I could be alone on this observation now) I was surprised by how good looking 60yr old Sigourney Weaver looked. Some of her flesh is shown, in a tasteful way. Alien fans will also note a nod to her Alien trilogy in that she wakes up from a hi-tec bed.

Directorially, it’s very easy to spot Cameron trademarks as they’ve not changed too much (thankfully). One example is the contrast between the smallness of humans and the largeness of the machines (some reminiscent of the rebirthed Cain from Robocop 2) around them, and the array of colourful information devices (The Abyss).
There’s also the fesity females (not Sigourney here): One is Sam Worthington’s love interest and another is a latino gun toter who nods to Vasquez from Aliens. Speaking of which, one of the villains – Parker Selfridge – could easily be related to Paul Reiser’s character from said film. A beast in the film also enters and resembles that film’s mother alien, somewhat.
Also, the end has a big engaging show down after a seat gripping series of battles, rolled into action by a Braveheart style war cry (maybe I’m comparing face paint now…). Blockbuster movie 101 done right.

I can’t help pulling out old movie observations as I’ve been a fan of Cameron since the first Terminator film as a child. The second 18 certificate film I saw while still in a single figure age…Speaking of which, aircraft from this film remind me of that from The Terminators.
And speaking further, this is miles better than Terminator 3 or Salvation and makes you almost want to cry that Cameron never bothered to helm them (although wise to let a told story lie).

One thing that was a let down is that the blue aliens aren’t very alien. Sure they were meant to be humanoid (and it’s not implausible that aliens like us out there), but their look, clothing style, speech, language and behaviour was really just largely stereotypical African. I’m not saying I was hoping for Star Trek like race differentiation but it didn’t seem well cooked.

More unoriginality stems from the fact that entering the alien environment is virtually similar to exiting the false real world of The Matrix. But as so much sci-fi ideas have already been milked I can’t blame Cameron for going for a relatively new, underused one.
I also wish there were more black people in the film. Not that I think Cameron has a hidden agenda. But there are usually only a couple of black characters in a film of his, and even T4 managed to represent a global cast united against robots.

That aside, the 3hr film (first one I’ve seen with an intermission) didn’t make me pull my jumper sleeves back to check the time. It was a stunning looking film with a sustainable plot.
It doesn’t cut new ground for Cameron but it keeps his legacy alive. And I shall surely be looking out for the DVD.

Oh, but unlike The Terminators or Aliens this is a film where you cheer when the humans lose!

I know it’s early but my scant blogging habits (opposed to my needless tweeting) means I’m better off greeting people now while I’ve taken the time to sit down and write.

Anyway, let’s see (I always write this – must change)…

The first thing is as well as continuing laborious editing work on my novel I’ve recently started a few handwritten brainstorms on a book about vitamin D; I have a title, chapter names and a list of what I should be squeezing into them.
I had planned to do a dedicated blog on the subject but I’ve concluded that what I’ve written in my two related blog posts would only really be repeated in detail, making it not an eye opening read.
That’s not to say I may not regardless decide to create a dedicated blog in the near future but since my goal is now focussed on promotion than investigation, I feel another book on vitamin D would be very helpful. So, unlike past promises I am actually now following up my posts in some way.
This would be my second writing project and first non-fiction one.

I’m not a published author but that should not be a reason to not try. Not only will creating a book encourage me to juggle with two writing projects of different kinds, but it will keep my writing streak running.

Though I’m not a medical professional there’s nothing stopping me from sharing my theories (and expanded thinking on existing theories) and personal perspective. Though a Dr. title would help before my name it need not be a major disability. I have after all had the blessing of my words – indirectly – by Dr. Uffe Ravnskov, Dr. John Cannell and Dr. David Grimes.
Whether I can publish it or not doesn’t really matter until I complete it. If not, the contents could easily be serialised freely on a dedicated blog, and even if I can sell it, some material could be shared as a sample.

Part of me finds it very bold to envision, but I’ve learnt from recent events that if I don’t think bold I will never even attempt bold.

In the meantime though, since I can’t find a single vitamin D only message board I thought I’d create one. I’ll add this to my two relevant posts soon, but maybe this can be a definitive one?

Okay, let’s move away from vitamin D.

Like most people I’m pretty bad with New Year’s Resolutions but regardless they’re fun to think of and can provide goals that you might be lucky enough to see through. I might’ve succeeded in my 2009 resolutions without me knowing as I can’t remember them!
I’m not going to create a long list as so much is hard to manage.

1) Complete both my writing projects so that they can start being offered to agents by Summer.

2) Be more a planner than an opportunity waiter and vocalise thoughts more. (I recently had an event I’d call as perhaps a brief rehab style character assessment that triggered this, and I realise my laid back attitude and lack of interest in being a big talker has been detrimental in different ways to different people)
3) Finish the remainder recordings of songs in my music project by February and aim to start playing gigs by Summer. Part of the onus is down to my partner learning lyrics and finishing writing his entirely own portion of songs.

I think three is enough…I’ll try and come back to this post next year and see how I did.

So, the only thing left to say is Merry Xmas & Happy New Year to all who’ve ever read, followed and made contact with me. Please keep coming. I like the attention!

Cholesterol, AIDS, climate change, illegal wars…Big topics.

In the last few years I’ve become more of a questioning person. This can be clearly pinpointed from when vitamin D and holes in the cholesterol/heart hypothesis grabbed my attention.

Perhaps the event has made me more paranoid or it has actually created a truly healthy balance. I find myself admiring sceptic groups and individuals who present arguments with at least a grain of plausibility. And even those who make claims that I find too outlandish still impress me with their daring to take on orthodoxies that are as tough as steel and fortified by guards ready to shoot them down.

For example, as an advocate of vitamin D I do not agree on dissenting information about it, but those who question my siding help me to look at my argument and see if I can strengthen it. If I cannot, then my ‘enemy’ (I can’t find a better, more subtle word at this moment) may actually be a saviour. And that is why I would refrain from ad hominem attacks because I do not want to destroy opposition; I want to remain challenged. By focusing on what matters, everybody ‘wins’ and no one’s character is assassinated.

There is just half an hour left until World AIDS Day ends and I admit that I am a sceptic on HIV (but not immunodeficiency). I am not a denialist as I don’t believe I possess enough knowledge, or indeed have the personal insight to be absolute.
While some people might find this abhorrent, I do not push my belief on others because of my uncertain fence sitting. I do hope though that people respect it as an opinion which helps to generate discussion on what is clearly a major health problem.
I believe orthodox opinion is losing and for a love of humanity I cling to what I think are appropriate reappraisals.

But health isn’t the only thing to be sceptical on. I’m going to be showing some neutrality now, but most can’t have failed to notice that climate change (as in being human caused rather than natural global warming) sceptics aren’t that much the pariahs they used to be. An email breach concerning documents on it has tallied with, for example, TV news segments which seem to have retracted from the position of absolute doom.

And then there’s also the Iraq war. It’s been recently stated that it’s not ‘illegal’ but of ‘questionable legitimacy’. Though what this implies is that the UN most probably would have sanctioned the war through proper channels, the two quoted terms pretty much mean the same thing – that they were based on an erroneous belief of WMDs as a means to create a plot for war.

What I ideally want most people to do is think. We live in a nation where most people seem to be interested in reality TV shows than they are in studying party policies and bothering to put an x on ballot papers come election day.

Perhaps I’m turning into a grump but I’m dismayed that less people think and questioning is seen as a bad thing. The blame could be laid on schooling where you are told from day one what is, than allowed to find out what is.

A popular orthodoxy is not necessarily a correct one. And as I progress I’m hoping to challenge more of my established opinions. Because being an irritant to myself and others is actually a very noble thing.

When I was witnessing Live At The Apollo from my allocated seat a few weeks ago, one of the comedians made a joke about a silent studio member in stating the most exciting thing in his life was probably the anticipation of Windows 7.

This got some laughs. But of course a new operating system somehow arouses a mental erection in almost every computer user, even if just a little.

I’m however not that fussed. Not out being a killjoy, it’s just as I’ve gotten older I’ve realised that all I want is for my computer to work and the programs I want to run on it.

I’ve only had three desktop (therefore primary) PC’s in 16yrs (I juice the life out of them). The reason I had to replace the first was due to it giving up the ghost, the second was replaced because a lot of useful programs flatly weren’t designed for my ageing machine.
However my current machine which I’ve had for 6yrs doesn’t look set to be replaced unless it has an electronic coronary event.

The reason why this is is simply that a lot of programs I’ve wanted to install have met requirements whereas before chip/RAM requirements changed in months (even though I’m now at the margins), so I haven’t been forced to upgrade. On top of which XP has never caused me major problems; I’ve never had to reformat my hard drive unlike my older PC’s where they needed to be at least once in their lives.
So, stability and lack of necessity is not only keeping my OAPC alive, but Windows 7 isn’t being considered for it as though it may look nicer and offer new benefits, it’s probably just not worth making my machine struggle.

I’ve never used Windows Vista but I think where it’s failed in comparison to 7 is perhaps publicity. I remember a number of Vista reviews coming out that stated problems getting a mouse by Microsoft to work with it – and this kind of snowballed. Windows 7 was made sure to be born onto a silk mattress, on top of which low priced promotional offers helped.

I’ve often considered a Mac but what has continually put me off is the price, not really gelling with things like a single mouse button and a lack of some particular software and hardware that I can only find for the PC, or is at least cheaper and easier to find.
Mac users who criticise the PC were probably right at one point. Those who used it in the 80’s, where Mac OS gave a graphical user interface first and better multimedia capabilities have continued to push the cool, whereas in all honesty now, both platforms are very capable that it’s become as sad as a Dyson owner laughing at his bagless Hoover neighbour.

Slightly veering off topic now: I’m lamenting the lack of Linux powered netbooks recently. It has become evident that Microsoft has done deals with manufacturers and capitalised on some consumer fears over Linux.
I think my one year old Ubuntu netbook is great, and I have not needed to do anything confusing with it. It’s a consumer friendly operating system. Sure it doesn’t have all the programs you can get for Windows but I think the first wave netbook charm was that it reminded me a bit of the 80’s where there was a bit of individualism when you had the Amstrad/Atari/Commodore/Spectrum crowd and you were miffed that a certain computer game was better on another platform or just not available on yours.

Anyway, I won’t be getting Windows 7 until I get a new PC (maybe it’ll even be replaced by then) and I think most people who are not running into difficulties in using their software will be the same like me. 7 will do better than Vista but will not dislodge XP for at least a couple of more years.

I’m a fan of Gordon Brown’s govt. and I’ve no shame in that, but the sacking of the chief drugs adviser Prof. David Nutt drew my fingers to a keyboard.

Prof. Nutt has made comments that are steeped in common sense but when skewed make him appear as some kind of demon.
He’s alleged that tobacco and alcohol are more dangerous than certain hard drugs such as ecstasy and LSD.

If you have a knee-jerk reaction, which some people do, it looks absurd, but when you you look at it realistically, he’s right.
Why?
The simple fact is that tobacco and alcohol are drugs too – legal ones that earn the govt. money and because they’re legal there’s less taboo about their consumption.
I neither drink, smoke or take recreational drugs (I’m as boring as they get), but I  know that statistically the smoker or the drinker is more likely to die which is why there’s been aggressive campaigns at getting people to quit smoking and consume alcohol in moderation if they must.

While I’m no expert on LSD or ecstasy, the number of stories about deaths on these that have reached the news or indeed just local community gossip is far smaller.
I don’t think Prof. Nutt was that interested in comparing the like-for-like chemistry of chemicals rather than being very open about the risk of drink and cigarettes due to how socially acceptable they are and the fact that responsible drinking for those who do is becoming a minority.

Prof. Nutt also alleged that taking ecstasy was more safer than horse riding. Again, I’m no expert on horse riding but the numbers are there to show that the latter, due to its legality and popularity, means it’s more likely to take a life. That’s not to say people shouldn’t horse ride but they shouldn’t be in the dark about the risk.

Nowhere did Prof. Nutt endorse any drug, but he made valid comments that it’s pointless hunting for cannabis users whose risk for mental illness is in general minuscule than that of the ‘happy’ big weekend drinker. The key word that describes Prof. Nutt’s stance is perspective.

For Alan Johnson to sack him may appease some people and make Labour look like moral saviours, but the fact of the matter is they’ve just brushed the issue under the carpet.

In my network of friends and their friends and family I can count quite easily the mortalities of those on drink and tobacco. And I can count too those on hard drugs, but it’s much less because less people do them. Public education has informed most people not to try them, and if they do, with caution.

Too much of anything is bad for you, and unless the govt. recognise this (what were they thinking when they allowed 24/7 pubs and putting large health warnings on cigarettes but ’still’ selling them? Oh, cash, of course.) they’re just going to go round and round in circles.

Another tragedy – that I agree with a Lib Dem MP on – is that even if Prof. Nutt was indeed ‘wrong’ (science evolves anyway) and universally abhorrent, he still shouldn’t have been sacked as he’s meant to be independent. The politicization of the role is wrong in itself. Debate is the order of the day. And we won’t have anymore if we now get a yes man.

As you might’ve guessed I’m back home in strangely mild (but initially cold) London. I came back a fortnight ago.
Though I enjoyed myself in the latter half of my stay, I was happy to see a black cab again (which took me home) and big red buses.

Why am I writing today? Well, just a few things. First of all, to those biting their nails about my vitamin D result (I like to think people have nothing better to do ), I’m still waiting on that. The result was delivered to my GP but not to me. I aim to get and post it on the relevant part 2 post next week.

I also noticed recently that the site in Portobello road that used to be a Woolies (Woolworths, if you want to be formal), and then briefly the shoddy ‘Bello Market’ (replete with cloth banner sign in a tacky fuzzy font) is now a Poundland.
I have no idea why this excited me (I admit it did to a fair degree), but when I walked in I became further glad it took over ‘Bello Market’ as it kind of resumes where the old Woolies finished by stocking many similar items, some different, and all for just one golden coin. So, yeah woo Poundland!

Now, to rescue my credibility, I’m going to share a brief review of  Live At The (HMV) Apollo last night with two friends. It was free gig of 2 recorded-for-TV shows that are to be televised on the BBC and Dave. It was the first time I’d been to the venue, which was nice and comfy (had a regal red theme that reminded me of the Royal Albert Hall) save for a big glaring light between performances.

And it was my first comedy gig. The show featured an on-form Al Murray as the Pub Landlord introducing the first two acts. The first one I thought was a bit funny, but didn’t hold my attention that well (and I haven’t registered his name – sorry, mate). The second was Tim Vine whose jokes bordered on cheesy but were so rapid fire that he really did win me over.
The next show after an interval featured a different host and then Michael McIntyre who just stole the night with all his material, voice and moves.

Some celebs were there too: The footballer Lee Dixon (who got loads of boos), Esther Rantzen and The Hamiltons (“cash for questions” Neil and his wife Christine).

Also, though I needed the toilet once myself, I noticed two mass exoduses of rows (to quote my friend) for either the toilets or the bar – which looked and sounded strange all at once (the clacking of chairs etc.).

I’d like to see more comedy events in future, so I’m glad I broke the ice there. One day I’ll see Harry Hill as I love his TV Burp. It’s perhaps the only thing on TV I will watch other than the news.

I’ll leave you with one Tim Vine joke I can remember off-hand (hope he doesn’t mind this?):
“I saw a sign saying ‘hairdressing for men’ (as it’s spoken). Inside I saw a rabbit (hare) trying on clothes saying ‘do I look good in this?’ and the men nodding and saying yes.”

Oh, and one last thing. Anyone who was offered the music software Sonar LE 8.5 was initially asked to pay between, it seems $10-30, depending on their location. But it was found out the software was meant to be free, which explained ordering problems for many.
Before I found this out before an email from them as after a futile order attempt I noticed Cakewalk’s e-store having links for it from 0, $2 or $10…Very strange.
But hey, I love the software they make and will forgive this booboo – but will point it out, as I have!

I’m not in India (and even so Bombay is now called Mumbai), but I think various cities in Pakistan could compete for taking the former name, modified as per my subject.

Of course what’s been happening here hasn’t been funny, particularly for those involved. But I can’t take too seriously that a number of blasts happened when I finally arrived here. Firstly Islamabad while I was in Lahore, then Lahore when in Islamabad. And no this wasn’t my doing. Either way I saw nothing first hand and things looked more terrifying on TV news.

I’m due to fly back home to London on Monday. I did have some big problems adjusting (heat, poor local language adaption, stomach problems attributed to what I thought would be good for me: mineral water (stick with fruit juices here)) and homesickness, but right now I’m comfortable in my room on my netbook.

I achieved what was needed here (boring personal stuff I won’t go into) and also came to enjoy the sights and sounds. Islamabad was easier to deal with as it’s a very modern city which is also more cooler, weather wise, than Lahore. But I haven’t taken any video or photo here (yet) as there’s not much to document.

In Lahore however I went to four main historical sites: Shahid Mazjid (the first time I’ve ever been to a mosque as I’m not from a very religious family) which is a spectacular structure, the super-regal Mughal era Shalimar Gardens, Minar-e-Pakistan which is a tower structure so old that it has pre-partition Hindu scripture on it. Not far from it is where Sikhs come for their pilgrimage.

The sight I liked most though was the India-Pakistan border ceremony at Wagah. Compared to London’s changing of the guard, this is much better. More drama in it and it commanded a packed crowd. VIP seating meant I was just a stone’s throw away from India. I recorded the whole 30mins on my portable vid cam and will put that up on YouTube or something soon. A very good video if I say so myself.

I also met some relatives who should’ve been Indians were it it not for the partition. Always nice to meet family. I didn’t make any new friends (or enemies) but I found people here friendly, maybe overly so.
Though I didn’t venture in poverty stricken areas I was saddened to learn how little some people work for, and how cheap many things are.

I’ll be returning here (that is, Pakistan) next year and now that my stomach has hardened and I’m not so terrified by the difference to England (in some ways it’s been liberating) I actually like it. I regret loosening up a bit late. I didn’t need any malaria things too.

Anyway, approx. 500 words is enough to write. I’m well aware that I bored someone with a very long email about my sightseeing a few days ago; sorry!
So, that’s it. I’ll amend this post with photo and vid next week as it would take too long right now…But I’ll leave you with one from the border ceremony.

21 October 2009: My top 40 snaps are on Flickr.
26 October 2009 (last update): Video of the entire border ceremony (30mins) on YouTube. Also look here for one Lahore/Islamabad montage:

Perhaps Dishonesty is an apt name for a music project I’m in because it seems my last post before flying isn’t actually.
This certainly will be as there won’t be time tomorrow.

This post really is just to vaguely promote that page as I’ve paid a bit of money to make it a pro profile for a little while so we can host all six of our demo tracks.

Since the profile was first made, earlier tracks have been re-uploaded with their levels tweaked a bit. However, there is a small disparity between the volume levels so you will need to fiddle with the volume dial. I’m also ashamed to say that the waveforms are brickwalled but they however don’t feature unwanted levels of distortion, at least to my worn out ears.

The six tracks were completed over six weeks, which was a short amount of time but they seem decent. The actual sounds are good and I can only excuse the allowable bits of sloppiness as adding to a live feel. I can’t say that we’re 100% proud of this but we think it’s better than a lot of well made stuff we hear even if I do say so myself.

All tracks are free to stream and download. It’s the only way to compete and my musical partner agrees it’s better a lot of people can hear and keep our tracks than having a few friends generate £5 for us and not getting it across further.

We haven’t really done a lot of promoting of this, so if you like it send us a comment good or bad and pass the link on.
When I return, we plan to start considering live shows and perhaps recording the 5 remaining songs of our album’s worth.

So I’m leaving you with this before I leave.

And vitamin D fans – unless I get my vitamin D result tomorrow it won’t be up for a while unless my local hospital generously email the figure. But anyway, I’m sure it’s more than 76nmol/L and that’s fine.

During October, novel editing will be what keeps me busy when not doing other things.

It’s 12:34 AM on October 4 2009 and I’m two days away from heading to Heathrow to go far, far away from here.

This is possibly my last post for a little while, or maybe not (definitely from here anyway).  So I’m saying goodbye but not for forever.
I’ve found out I can get broadband in the hotel, although you’d think I’d fret more about sightseeing…And WiFi(?)

My subject is a title of a song I got from the solo album of an ex-drummer of a famous band from the 80’s. A kind of early childhood hero in fact. He’s even signed and sent copies of his first (or sort of second) album to all purchasers, so even though I expected it, it was nice to get a very personalised copy of the album.

It’s a decent album. I’d reserve it for more relaxing occasions but it’s certainly well crafted in rhythm (majorly so) and melody. And I think the title in my subject will be the song for when I touch down in Lahore then Islamabad.

My local pharmacist – another Brit Asian, of course – told me that I can expect to be shocked at how European the place is. And perhaps not just due to the UK style power sockets but for for the buildings and amenities (many American contracted), which means I can also taste local cuisine like…Kentucky Fried Chicken.

I’m slightly nervous about going but also excited. Not because of news associations with the Taliban or the War On Terror etc (the modern cities there are very progressive and of course the country was never meant to be an Islamic republic but became so during the successive reign of dictators), but because I’m an Englishman through and through, so I don’t know how to behave, I think.
Of course people don’t see me as an Englishman in the Hugh Grant sense, but then they shouldn’t because that’s just an illusion you see in souvenir shops. I’m just saying, because my Newcastle based cousins got made fun of when they first went.  But that was years ago.

Anyhow, I have no idea what the plot of this post is. Time for bed. I shall return, but not too soon (or, I might).

Does anyone remember that show (and CD series) called All Back To Mine where established artists picked and discussed music that had a profound effect on them?

Well, whether you do or not, I’m not particularly famous (although I have been on Sky News for one whole second a decade ago – which might be one second more than many of you, so there!) but I was inspired to have a little fool around with creating and sharing a Spotify playlist. Click here (you’ll need the client installed and a browser that recognises the link.)

I’ve been in a nostalgic mood so I compiled a list of 10 (not chosen with a great deal of thought as that might’ve killed the enthusiasm to make one) songs that were notable in my younger years. Some substitutions had to be made as not all my choices are in the catalogue. The whole thing lasts an hour.

So, let’s discuss it: People know me primarily as a hard rock fan since my early teens and so to admit some of this stuff is a bit like flashing in public, but this is what I grew up with, so I won’t deny it.
I started with ABBA’s Chiquitita, as an ABBA hits compilation vinyl in the early 80’s borrowed by my father from a public library was one of the first records I remember dancing (i.e. spinning ’til I got dizzy) to. I preferred them over The Beatles, and still do which might be sacrilege to some. ABBA made pop music but it was good pop music. Not the soulless stuff you see now.
The next three I’m not sure which of I heard first but they were all 1987 cassettes when my mother actually purchased albums of my choice (sometimes for reasons like only knowing the lead single or liking the art). I picked Just Good Friends from Michael Jackson’s Bad as that’s not so over-picked like Man In The Mirror, and a kid in the 80’s had to own an MJ album. The man was in his prime then. I also liked Donna Summer’s Dinner With Gershwin, and Bee Gees’ You Win Again. The latter song instilled a vague interest in drums, though I didn’t try ’til much later. I just liked the sound of the simple beat. I also purchased Level 42’s poppy Running In The Family and have the dark ballad It’s Over here. That was an album I picked based on the artwork but fortunately it was a good choice. My mother had to return a few bad choices (I couldn’t stand some band called Odyssey(?)).
I also remember where I got all these records. Not names you’d hear of now: Our Price and Woolworths.

I didn’t purchase any more music until my teens when Metallica came into my radar and made me also pester for a drumkit (I didn’t care for grunge, which didn’t tick with me and even now I only like it to a casual degree), but before I bought one of their albums (tape trading saw me out for a while) I first bought Megadeth’s Youthanasia. A few of the thrash bands at this point were putting out more commercial material but for me this was an easy way to first get into what I once thought was music for Hell’s Angels and no one else. I liked the lyrics of Addicted To Chaos, so that’s here.

I wasn’t into Britpop, but the one band I did take to heart was The Verve and Bitter Sweet Symphony from an ottherwise uninspired album. If anything I liked their back catalogue more.

Then in my last academic years there was Scottish instrumental band Mogwai (I chose the 16min Mogwai Fear Satan from Mogwai Young Team) who also made me want to play guitar a bit. Depeche Mode’s Walking In My Shoes is my fave song of theirs of all time which is funny as I had previously made fun of the band but warmed to them when I first met my strayed girlfriend (who I’ve now become cordial with at least).

I end with Public Image Ltd.’s Disappointed as that’s one of the last songs that feels distant now; I got into them somewhere in ‘02 in that archaeological way. The last 6 or 7yrs of music still feels too new to me or is also most likely from the same artists as I don’t seek out new people as much as I used to.

So, yeah, that’s it. It’s perhaps a typical pop to rock trajectory, but that’s how my lot is.
I’m hoping to find other peoples’ top tens as it’s fascinating as well as good in taking me out of my own normal choices.