Five go mad in Wales

[kingandy]

Back.  Struggling to read mountain of mail and LJ backlog before away again tomorrow to Maelstrom.  Wheee!

Weeding reports have been posted about the place, so I'll let that be.  It was great, and lovely.  (I will add that gowhonker seemed a little whistful throughout the day.  Perhaps it was sinking in that he was losing arwel forever.)  There are also links to the pictures here and there, so I'll just provide a link direct to the most important one. (ETA: Oh, and this is the lovely Owain (sp - Owein?), arwel's brother and cause of many a distracted moment. Apparently I missed a treat on Friday as he was wearing a T-shirt and his arms are "quite nice". I have been promised pictures.)

Wales post-wedding was fun also.  Mountains and castles and markets, lots of sun and only a little rain.  We must do that again some time; Scotland has been mooted for next year.  Sounds like fun.

The Five in the title are myself, anne_l_davies, samharber, mrssshhh and bacony, all of whom shared a flat and went on day trips.  renniek and Sue (XLJ) had the flat next door - which actually shared a porch with ours - but they went on day trips by themselves so they were not ONE OF US.  Though we did socialise in the evenings with dinner parties and movies.  The genius sleeping arrangements had Sam and Anne (exes) in the same room, Neil and Katy (complicated) in another, and me all by myself - which I suppose makes sense given that I've never slept with anyone else in the flat (except in the platonic sense). mrssshhh cooked so much and so well. He would be quite a catch.

bacony mentioned very firmly that she did not sleep with mrssshhh.  I just thought I'd mention that.

At the wedding, mrssshhh went around gathering his cronies and telling them all how much I hated The Pixies.  This was not entirely accurate.  It's true that I initially commented that they appeared to be a derivative guitar band, but this was upon coming to the album ("Death To The Pixies") cold, while driving.  I was unaware, at the time, that the Pixies are the band from which all guitar bands were derived - which makes my statement no less true, in fact all the more true for it.  But in this light, they gain points for it rather than losing them.  Defining a genre is more impressive than falling into one.  After talking Neil down from his murderous rage, we entered into a reasoned discussion on the band and I came away from it able to appreciate them a little more.  I am still not a fan of the ROARING brand of music that is popular amoung the youth these days, though.  And some of the songs on that album were ROARers alright.

I feel it's worth reiterating:  I've listened to the album once while driving.  Those were first impressions.  Italicising something makes it true.  I was looking to solicit discussion on the band, not condemn them for all time with a final verdict.

I wish to further clarify that I am only making my position clear, not backpedalling or changing my mind.  My opinions are my own and I do not hide them.  The Good Charlottes have written several songs that are actually quite good!  The Busteds' first album has artistic merit beyond the artists' roguish good looks!  The Keanes are just another piano band and while several of their songs are quite catchy I would not want to listen to a whole album!  Rarr!

ADDITIONAL: Have just been rang by work to say that I will not be going to Norwich on Sunday - apparently it's more involved than I thought, an actual presentation rather than just a stand at an exhibition. So I don't have to worry about what time I leave Malestrom. Hooray!

Comments

[myki.livejournal.com]

I agree… the pixies are rubbish

That's not what I said at all

[kingandy]

They have some merits, the music is quite well arranged and nicely played. There are harmonies and such. It's obvious that the lead is quite a capable singer when he's not intentionally whining or roaring.

Re: That's not what I said at all

[myki.livejournal.com]

Yep... can't agree more...

Also Indie is just for bands that aren;t good enough to get a decent recording contract.

[mrssshhh.livejournal.com]

Going to Wales was the second time I've heard The Pixies in your car. They were on as we returned from NWO, too. And, if I'm not mistaken, it's your CD.

So how have you only listened to them once.

And ignore myki, he's just vainly trying to be contentious in an attempt to regain his popularity. What little of it there was, anyway.

;)

[kingandy]

Alright then, it was the first time I've consciously listened to them as the Pixies rather than as random backbround noise. It's a CD I got off Nook, and has about ten other bands on it...

Besides, on the NWO trips we had the volume down low so you could hear what we were saying in the front, which meant I could not hear the music. So nah.

[myki.livejournal.com]

I think I'm suceeding in being contentious quite adequately. As to my popularity I'm quite content with my current significant standings. I'm not as good as I used to be, and there was that disasterous Vannila Mike idea in the mid 90's but New Mike is just as good as Old Mike any day of the week.

[gowhonker.livejournal.com]

But we liked the old Mike. He was fun. We fear change, which leads to hate, so New Mike must inevitably suffer.

[lord-blipvert.livejournal.com]

Andy, do you deny describing the Pixies as "a bit nu-metal"?

(And the fact that Myki went to see Nelly Furtardo means his opinion is irelevant to this discussion.)

[myki.livejournal.com]

Yeah... but I didn't inhale.

[kingandy]

I do deny this.

[wulfboy.livejournal.com]

Pixies = bland music, like many over-rated bands. Very meh.

RE: KEane. I keep humming the chorus to "bedshaped" for no obvious reason.

[kingandy]

I dare you to say that (Pixies) to Neil's face. Some time when I have a camera handy.

[wulfboy.livejournal.com]

Hmm. He's not at Maelfroth, so I will have time to listen to some more of their dullness, and be firm in my opinion for next time I see him. I need to be careful; it wouldn't be the first time I'm talking about one band while using the name of an entirely unconnected one. But I'm reasonably sure it's the Pixies.

[mrssshhh.livejournal.com]

I suspect you're talking about the wrong band. Love them or hate them, there's little about the Pixies that could be described as "dull".

[wulfboy.livejournal.com]

I note you are wearing a badge, and am suitably impressed. Are you sure that's arwel's brother, for he does not look anywhere near gormless enough.

What's this about bacony and mrssssh? I'll be too shy to ask you at the event, mind, so I'll need an LJ update.

[kingandy]

If you look carefully you will note that Owain shares Arwel's mouth and nose. That is where the similarity ends, for where Arwel has the physique of a plum pudding, his brother's rugby-player bod apparently borders on the statuesque. Allegedly; I am awaiting the pictures.

mrssshhh and bacony share a mutual attraction and have shared a bed many a time, including a single scandalous torrid nighte of passione some moons ago. They apparently agreed not to pursue anything long-term, however, on account of them both being well aware that long distance relationships are doomed to failure. mrssshhh has further complications of his own, upon which I will not elaborate for fear of mine skin.

[bacony.livejournal.com]

Hey! I'm complicated too y'know! Oh, and thine skin is so very dead. G'night!

[kingandy]

Well, at least I'm not spreading false gossip...

[wulfboy.livejournal.com]

Gotcha. Nothing I can use to upset mrssshhh with then. Never mind.

[mrssshhh.livejournal.com]

"share a mutual attraction and have shared a bed many a time"

Well, he's a bit over the top there, to be honest. We've shared a bed once, and shared beds next to each other for a couple of nights.

And it's not that distance relationships are doomed to failure (they're not, if the people care enough), but it's the fact that I love someone else, very much. It's complicated, but safe to say that anything I do with another girl (which is in itself very rare), I don't put any of my heart into.

So there you go.

[kingandy]

You have shared beds at least twice, sirrah. Once I was there, once I was not. I realise my presence would make you forget about anybody else in the bed, but still...

[mrssshhh.livejournal.com]

Wasn't me. After Adam's birthday last year and this week are the only two times I've slept anywhere near Katie.

[kingandy]

Mufi's wedding.

Cupping.

[mrssshhh.livejournal.com]

Sleeping in the same tent as Sam does not make for anything remotely sexual or romantic.

The body parts were on autopilot, a well documented fact about me.

[kingandy]

Did I say sexual or romantic? No. I said "shared a bed". In fact I specifically noted a single night of torrid etc. You would do well to read the post, and the words in it.

[arwel.livejournal.com]

I can see you both from Oz. Please report to your nearest termination center. Have a nice day.

Owain so doesn't have my nose. I am cursed with this huge conk whereas Owain's is much sleeker. His ears stick out further than mine though. Jo is giggling something about it not being the size of his conk you'd be intrested in.

Follow the yellow brick road

[kingandy]

She is wise. You should make an honest woman of her.