SOCIALISM

Our work here is...

2008-10-14T18:31:00.001+01:00

done. Bitter pill to swallow.

2008-08-12T13:17:00.002+01:00

They Buried One Of The Greats Today...

2008-06-17T20:11:00.001+01:00

Nick Sanderson was a singer in a rock band (Earl Brutus). He was a true rock 'n' roller. Check out the video and try to dig out a copy of their seminal single, "Navyhead". Rest In Peace, Nick.

2008-04-25T15:07:00.000+01:00

Well thank fuck for that.

I Drank A Jar Of Coffee... And Then I Took Some Of These...

2008-04-18T10:54:00.001+01:00

Loved the extrafts from Mark E Smith's autobiography on Monday, read again here-ah

Well, Why Not?

2008-04-15T08:43:00.000+01:00

Hit Me With Those Lazer Beams!!

2008-04-08T21:30:00.001+01:00

Great Attitude!

2008-03-31T15:37:00.000+01:00

Busy Day For St Peter

2008-03-18T23:42:00.001Z

Anthony Minghella, Mikey Dread, Arthur C Clarke and Captain Birdseye... we salute you all!

Taff Wars

2008-03-04T11:16:00.002Z

Something of a Welsh month going on here (month? fucking decade more like!) - anyways, Pete Fowler, Cardiff boyo extraordinaire, forwarded this yesterday. And it rules. "BLODWYN!!!!"

I Love Drinking

2008-02-21T16:16:00.001Z

What's Goin' On

2008-02-20T18:16:00.002Z

Sorry for the delay in the next issue of the rag... we've been working on a book which is out in October through Orion. It's about pubs, it's rolling at the moment, more news when we have it. In the meantime, we're saying that these things are all good...

Underworld's last album esp "Faxed Invitation"
John Niven's "Kill Your Friends"
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss "Raising Sand"
the Goldfrapp album (surprised ourselves there)
anything on Brown Punk Records
The Mess Hall
the new Howies catalogue
and, finally, this bit of Italian Balearic Beat from 1974...

End Of An Era

2008-02-19T11:06:00.003Z

Once DJ'd to Castro, played a Queens Of The Stone Age record ("Regular John") while he walked in the room. What a bloke. Don't think he noticed the music, but hey, the music noticed him. Socialism salutes a true rock 'n' roller!

Monday Needs A Bit Of This

2008-02-11T13:31:00.000Z

Apologies...

2008-02-04T12:27:00.000Z

for the slack service over the last month. We've been working on the first Socialism Mag related book, The Rough Pub Guide, touring the UK drinking in some of our finest hostelries (and they call it work). Full service will resume in the next week or so, with (hopefully), news of a new issue of the mag almost ready for the printers. In the meantime, we're loving

Airbourne "Stand Up For Rock N Roll"
the Welsh hammering England in the Rugby
"Stay Free" by Black Mountain
the Catcall EP
all Wetherspoons pubs pre sun-passing-yard arm
"Faxed Invitation" off the Underworld album
the Wales England match again (it was that good)
new stuff by The Vines
The Mess Hall
the return of Lost to the telly
and, fuck it, one last time - Wales 26 England 19.
We won't be so fucking smug when we lose every other match in the 6 Nations, but hey, this week's pretty good.

And Better And Better

2008-01-17T17:19:00.000Z

He Gets Better

2008-01-16T18:09:00.000Z

Honorary Socialists of 2008: No 1 - Corey Delany

2008-01-15T11:14:00.000Z

The Australian Donny Tourette, we implore you to watch the video clip here, this kid (and his mates) - total genius/

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T23:01:00.000Z

Might as well start with some sage advice from the Independent newspaper.

"Don't detox says Dr Andrew Wadge, of the Food Standards Agency

First, drink a glass or two of water (tap is fine, cheaper and more sustainable than bottled); second, get a little exercise – maybe a walk in the park – and third, enjoy some nice home-cooked food. There's a lot of nonsense about "detoxing" and most people seem to forget that we are born with a built-in detox mechanism. It's called the liver. So my advice would be to ditch the detox diets and supplements and buy yourself something nice with the money you've saved. I recommend the new Neil Young and Steve Earle albums."

We'll drink to that. Cheers!

Sorry for lack of updates...

2007-12-16T20:30:00.000Z

Socialism is on holiday at the moment - we'll getting a few bits together for an end of year round up, check back next week, we'll be posting like crazy... hopefully.

Mayor Of the Merseysippi

2007-12-04T12:04:00.000Z

Just a little reminder of the on-going genius of Mr Edgar Jones (nee Summertyme) whose debut album with
The Stairs, 'Mexican R'n'B' remains an 'Ism favourite to this day (have you checked out 'Right In The Back Of Your Mind' lately?). Anyway, here he is seventeen years on with a track from his latest album -and his previous one, all at the same time!

One Of The All Time Greats - Rest In Peace

2007-11-30T23:21:00.000Z

Sweet Home Alabama...

2007-11-29T22:15:00.000Z

Where The Skies Are So Blue...

Late November And We're Listening To...

2007-11-28T22:58:00.001Z

Tunng "Engine Room" (off "Comments Of The Inner Chorus")
Fujiya & Miyagi "Ankle Injuries" (off "Transparent Things", contender for our album of the year even though it... er... came out in 2006)
Catcall "Diss" (demo, amazing)
Tricky "Strugglin'" ("They labeled me insane!")
Girls Aloud 'Biology"
Flight Of The Conchords "Foux Da Fa Fa"
Mum "Marmalade Fires" (ace)
Felt "Primitive Painters"

Caribou "She's The One" (Hot Chip mix and Kelley Polar remix - absolutely off it's nut)
Neon Neon "Trick For Treat" (Hot Chip mix - them again)
Iron & Winee "Wolves (Song Of The Shepherd's Dog" (Is it cod reggae? If so, good attitude)
Battles "Tonto" (video is awesome too)
Cat Power "Song For Bobby" (we would still marry Cat Power if she was up for it)
Morrissey "Come Back To Camden" (another year, another Moz is a racist story... how very dreary)
Underworld "Faxed Invitation"
and, obviously, Thin Lizzy "Sarah"

Great To Hear About The Further Adventures Of Last Issue's Honorary Socialist...

2007-11-28T19:34:00.000Z

From NME.com "Bryan Ferry's son Otis Ferry is currently in court facing charges of criminal damage, after he took a set of car keys from a paparazzo's ignition in February.

The paparazzi were pursuing Sienna Miller after she left the Boujis nightclub in South Kensington in London when they stopped at a traffic light.

Ferry is then alleged to have got out of his car and walked towards the paparazzo's vehicle, where he then snatched the keys from their ignition when they wound their window down, soon after disposing of them.

The vehicle was then stuck at the traffic lights for two hours, creating considerable inconvenience for motorists.

Ferry is charged with causing criminal damage worth £180 (for replacement of the keys) as well as an additional £500, reports BBC News.

The trial continues next Wednesday (December 5)"

Heavy Rock Mourning

2007-11-27T10:54:00.000Z

And finally in our unholy trilogy, we bid farewell to Quiet Riot's lead screamer Kevin DuBrow. Here he is, playing the definitive version of "Cum On Feel The Noize", putting the Manchester Monobrow brothers to pitiful shame. Rest In Peace, Dude!

Heavy Rock Morning

2007-11-27T10:52:00.000Z

Thought you all might apprecaite a bit of Gary Holton - the British Bon Scott at his best. We're having us a a 'Heavy Rock Morning' on Socialism FM. Time for a quick Tequila Sunrise, throw on that medallion and leather pants combo and think about booking a Virgin Galactic high speed flight to Sunset Strip. As Alice Cooper once said: "Do I believe in the aliens? The question is, do they believe in me?"

The Greatest Band, Their Best Line Up, In The Greatest City In The World

2007-11-27T09:09:00.001Z

Finally...

2007-11-27T08:27:00.001Z

Watch Jack White get his ass kicked by a bull. The song is crap but at least he gets smashed up.

Honorary Socialist - Paul Danan

2007-11-23T16:38:00.000Z

Some are born great. Others have greatness thrust upon them. Such is the case with Paul Danan, who having had a role in (I think) Hollyoaks, made his name on Celebrity Love Island the other year, thanks to a string of late night altercations with his fellow zelebs brought on by one too many vodka cocktails (most memorable being his brutally accurate character assassinations of both Fran Cosgrove and Callum Best: “You’re Nothing!” ). Lately, Paul has sadly been out of the spotlight, with long term fans having to be content wit his starring role in Street Mate, where Paul turns up in provincial high streets and persuades a couple of local teens to go on a date whilst togged out in his best pastel rave wear. Outwardly friendly as he is, every inch of him (from the bleach blonde crop to the tips of his chequer-board Vans) screams that he is bored shitless out in the sticks, and will someone please get him back into town like, now – capeesh? All of which makes today’s news that he has been banned from performing in panto in (de)Preston after hurling out a torrent of enthusiastic abuse at a crowd of children and pensioners whilst turning on the town's Xmas lights. “Make some motherfucking noise!” berated Danan of the baffled crowd of pram-pushing mums and aging Christmas shoppers, clearly sozzled out of his box from five hours tucking into the hotel mini-bar. Mate, we’re with you all the way. Who needs four weeks as the lead player in Gak and the Beans Talk? Hope to see you back in civilisation soon.

2007-11-22T17:16:00.000Z

thanks to Raf for alerting us to this...

No Music Day - Tomorrow (Nov 20th)

2007-11-20T14:43:00.000Z

No Music Day

Still Loving The Conchords...

2007-11-16T09:39:00.000Z

Hey!

2007-11-16T09:35:00.000Z

sorry not really updated with much this week, been recovering from Cardiff fest and shuddering from the bitter cold. Anyways, talking of said Cardiff thing, we got some sets of Socialism pin badges made for Swn Fest last weekend. If you want a set, mail robin@heavenlyrecordings.com with a decent excuse as to why - got about 10 sets I can get rid of. Hey, this is the kind of thing proper magazines do!

Something for the weekend...

2007-11-09T08:58:00.001Z

2007-11-09T08:54:00.001Z

Record Of The Day...

Anyone in sunny Cardiff this weekend...

2007-11-08T12:35:00.001Z

Hey there

anyone happening to be in Cardiff over the weekend, Socialism Magazine will be down in the homeland helping to put on a Heavenly day as part of the city wide Swn Festival put on by Radio 1's very top Huw Stephens. We're at the Chapter Arts Centre in Canton and we've got Edwyn Collins, Cherry Ghost, Jaymay playing live, Richard Fearless & Richard Norris DJing, Pete Fowler decorating the bar area, a cinema programme featuring films by Saint Etienne and loads of freebie stuff (or, if yr feeling generous, there's some stuff to buy - One Heavenly Saxon stall is set up for their very fine Heavenly t shirts & coats).

We're running all day Saturday - entry free with a wristband or £9 on the door. Actually the bar area is free all weekend so half the stuff we're doing we're giving away.

Hopefully see you there - come down and say hello/buy us a pint.

Current Socialism Top 10 records...

Underworld "Beautiful Burnout"
Tunng "Take"
Panda Bear "Take Pills"
Black Moth Super Rainbow "Forever Heavy"
Caribou "Melody Day" (Four Tet/Adem remix)
Teardrop Explodes "The Great Dominions"
Lawrence Arabia "The Mystery Lair"
David Cross "Shut Up You Fucking Baby" (LP)
Black Mountain "In The Future" (LP)
R Kelly "Real Talk"

2007-11-07T11:33:00.000Z

Following the continuing adventures of Lil Ghost...

"Jimmy's Fantasy" feat My Name Is Earl - what a number!!

2007-11-07T08:14:00.000Z

Our New Favourite Band. Ever. Volume 2.

2007-11-06T16:52:00.000Z

Thanks to Jimi and Doves Band for alerting us to that.

From the Socialism album of the year so far...

2007-10-31T09:39:00.000Z

Check out the rest of the tracks too - as psych as you like...

2007-10-30T15:45:00.001Z

2007-10-30T08:15:00.000Z

So someone from the New Yorker makes a valid point that the most preposterous, pretentious band around at the moment are not what one could call 'funky'...

...so, said band decide to post some crazed MP3 bootmash of their stuff juxtaposed with the tracks by artists-of-black-origin that they were 'inspired' by to prove their spurious point. Dudes, give it up - you are The Arcade Fire. Your singer is the son of a Texan oil billionaire (OFFICIAL CORRECTION - his dad is apparently a geologist) who went to the most expensive school in the United States. Fucking get over yourselves. Yes, U2 & Springsteen are strangely absent. Also, I'm not sure that The Beatles really helps your argument, you fucking humourless dimwits.

For Anyone Outside The UK

2007-10-29T16:24:00.000Z

This was the highlight of Saturday night's shit parade of TV, headed up by the X Factor, a moron fest of the highest order. There's a Welsh fruitcake called Rhydian who blew our minds doing a frankly completely fucking bonkers version of the 'Phantom Of The Opera' theme... sadly, the rest of the show was the usual parade of imbeciles who looked like they'd have difficulty tying their own shoelaces... actually there was a brother and sister who looked like they were banging each other, that might get interesting...

Neu in Concert

2007-10-29T16:21:00.000Z

Feeling a bit Neu! today...

Sometimes You Think A Week Can't Get Any Better...

2007-10-25T16:49:00.001+01:00

...then along comes R Kelly to rock your world...

Loving The New Black Mountain...

2007-10-25T14:23:00.000+01:00

The new Black Mountain album found it's way to Socialism Towers this week - it's brilliant. Betraying a love of Deep Purple seems like a deeply insane thing to do in 2007, but hey, they do it and it works. It features "Stay Free", the brilliant mellow as you like track they did for the soundtrack of Spiderman 3 (no, I never heard it on there either, might have been too busy sleeping through it though). It's got what looks like a fucking ziggurat on the cover (very good attitude there). It's very heavy. We're loving it.

VIP Party Night!!!

2007-10-24T16:25:00.000+01:00

Saw these chaps at the Social last night. Off any kind of scale that we know of. Genius.

Ain't no party like a VIP party!

Like We Need An Excuse...

2007-10-24T16:18:00.000+01:00

Ted found this today, the cover of Kerrang that coincided with the release of the titanic rock opus that was Hear 'N' Aid's "Stars", the Metal Band Aid. So we thought, why not give the video another airing? This shit never gets tired, never stops rockin'...

"I'm jamming out with the Mick Jaggernauts!"

2007-10-22T10:52:00.000+01:00

Apple Day this Sunday

2007-10-19T14:49:00.000+01:00

Check over at the brilliant Common Ground site for more info and get out cidering...

2007-10-19T09:18:00.000+01:00

How good was "Songs From A Black Hole" going to be...

2007-10-18T12:38:00.000+01:00

Wow...

2007-10-18T11:03:00.000+01:00

Saw the ever brilliant Tunng last night in London town, they finished with a particularly ace acousto-rave (just making this genre shit up now) cover of "Naked In The Rain" by Blue Pearl... digging round on the intraweb, I found it here... not sure how legal it is, who gives a toss, it's ace anyway...

Black Moth Super Rainbow video...

2007-10-18T00:30:00.000+01:00

...do we have to tell you how much this band rules? Thought not...

2007-10-17T16:11:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Neil for this...

Very Very Into Black Metal Over Here Today

2007-10-17T16:02:00.000+01:00

From Wikipedia - "A distinct harsh vocal style, often a very guttural rasp or a high-pitched shriek. This vocal style is nearly universal in the black metal genre. It is distinct from death metal in this respect, as death metal bands employ low-pitched, growling vocals. Often there is a reverberation effect to make vocals sound cavernous and atmospheric." Not sure why but we're loving these chaps over at Socialism towers, but this is the best video we've seen all year...

As Manowar (obviously not Black Metal) put it so succinctly, "Heavy metal or no metal at all/Wimps and posers leave the hall

Thanks to Ted for the links!

Thirty days in the county jail...

2007-10-17T09:37:00.000+01:00

Thought For The Day - "What Is Rock?" by Turbonegro

2007-10-16T17:24:00.000+01:00

What is rock?
Rock is the area between the balls and the anus of a dog or of a man
What is rock?
Rock is the possibility of choking on your own vomit in the back of a rapist’s van
What is rock?
Denim clad Satanists making love in the sewers of Birmingham during Maggie Thatcher’s prime
What is Rock?
Rock is meeting the grim reaper in a sports arena stampede at the tender age of nine

We keep on trucking why oh why?
Spreading like cancer my oh my

What is rock?
Backwards messages to boys and girls, to bring machines guns to the schools
What is rock?
No I’m not talking about Canadian producer and 5th Metallica Bob Rock you fool
What is rock?
Oh AC/DC, Cleveland, Ohio, Well basically it’s harder and heaver and slightly more blues based than pop.
What is rock?
Historians keep nagging about Funhouse but me? I think Kill City is where it’s at.

After decades of Indian house
6 cats from Oslo killed the mouse

We saved rock n roll, all on our own, and forced the toll on rock and roll
We saved rock n roll, with our bare hands, we saved that god damned rock n roll. So skull!

But it ain’t for free, we gotta group that are our employees
They need to be catered, got their own nice bus
They got worthy lives thanks to us

And this wait at the airport to pick up my bags
Feelin' so tired, I could lay down and die
Runes walkin’ on stage and plays the wrong chord
Roadies laughin’ so hard they're wiping their eyes
Many of them skilled musicians, multiracial and tattooed
But we're the main attraction goddamn it those guys ain’t got a clue

After the show sometime on Friday nights, together in the talkback lounge
Pat each other's shoulders try to groove on a feeling, digging the old school sounds
We ride and ride into the night and the temperatures getting hot
But somehow the chemistry's ain’t that right
Coz we're doin' blow and they smoke pot!

We saved rock ‘n’ roll, all on our own, and forced the toll on rock n roll
We saved rock ‘n’ roll, with our bare hands, we saved that goddamned rock n roll

Where do we go from here, what can we do?
We can go left, we can go right?
Or you can go down on me
What are we doin’ here? What’s important in life?
My generation? My wife? Wowwwww what is rock? I don't care!
Where’s the cash, Where’s the cash
The money/The money/The money/Money/Money
The money/The money/The money/Money/Money

Turbonegro website

2007-10-16T16:05:00.000+01:00

"On a muggy August afternoon in Baltimore, trash scuttle down Guilford Avenue, the breeze smelling like rain and asphalt. It was the last week of shooting for the fifth and final season of the HBO drama “The Wire"... great New Yorker piece on The Wire creator David Simon here

Brandy Snaps

2007-10-16T12:10:00.000+01:00

Friend of Socialism Pete Fowler (and friend of Pete Fowler, DJ Cherrystones) have a podcast type thing going - click here to access it...

The Recycled House

2007-10-15T15:37:00.000+01:00

Went to The Recycled House yesterday, which is down a leafy sidestreet in Sydenham, near Crystal Palace. The house is completely furnished and decorated with salvaged items and materials collected from skips, roadsides, car boot sales and markets. The aim is to illustrate the possibility of living elegantly with minimal environmental impact, as well as being an anti-consumerist statement. What this means in reality is that you arrive at a semi-detached house from the 1930s where the door is wide open and friendly looking types nod approval as you pass.

As you go up the stairs you discover the heavy flock wallpaper has been painted over in watercolours to make it feel less like the set of 'Keep The Aspidistra Flying'. On the walls are over thirty discoloured mirrors of various shapes and sizes, arranged in a manner which is strangley comforting. The front room, meanwhile, features a crimson Ottoman sofa salvaged from a Belgian car boot fair, a car bonnet on the wall, a stuffed eagle in a jar and – yes, I peeked - a copy of Kula Shaker’s second album amongst the CDs. I didn’t want to leave. The kitchen, meanwhile, had pages from a French novel as wallpaper (sourced from a junk shop in Hay On Wye), an old door as a dining table (complete with brass knocker) and walls stripped of wallpaper to show off the letters - rescued from a printers - all over the fridge.

The owners, artist Mark Hill and Kate ship, explained that recycling comes in various shapes and sizes. With the mad rush to get what’s new, people are missing out on the beauty of the past. They’re off on aroad trip to Eastern Europe in November. “We’re going in that rusty caravan outside” laughed Mark, gesturing to a charabanc straight out of 'Please Sir', the movie.

Hats off.

Monday, Monday

2007-10-15T14:42:00.000+01:00

First up, we're loving the Socialism Map Of The World. Great to know there are people in places as far afield as Brazil, Florida and Billericay logging on... hopefully we'll fill in some more gaps in the next few days, thanks for yr time anyway.

Secondly, this...

Third thing - records we're currently loving - Caribou "Andorra" (esp "Niobe", 9 minute throb trance baroque pop crossover); Black Moth Super Rainbow; Catcall; the Black Mountain track off the Spiderman film (film was crap tho wasn't it?); Martin Denny and all Tiki music; the new Underworld record; Rush; Turbonegro; Stereolab; Lawrence Arabia and Flight Of The Conchords.

Lastly... last week it was Radiohead and The Charlatans. Now there's news that Ocean Colour Scene are to offer their next single as a free download. We're just sat here wondering whether we are about to get to the stage where people can’t even give their music away anymore?

Burn, Baby Burn...

2007-10-14T10:20:00.000+01:00

When Good Interviews Go Bad

2007-10-12T17:26:00.000+01:00

Natural gibberish

2007-10-11T11:55:00.000+01:00

From the Guardian Arts Blog - very good point

They Totally Lied To Us When They Said Free Beer, Dude

2007-10-09T23:05:00.000+01:00

Great Poster on Hanway Street...

2007-10-05T22:39:00.000+01:00

Anyone got any idea who/why ? Great attitude!

Land Of My Fathers

2007-10-02T16:17:00.000+01:00

Last Saturday, Wales lost out to Fiji in the Rugby World Cup. Pretty sad day for myself and my fellow countrymen, every Welshie I've spoken to since has been weirdly maudlin about the whole thing. Personally, I've come down from my insanity rage, caused by the ITV commentary on the match, which was disrespectful and borderline racist. Like to hear them talk about Scotland, Ireland or England the same way and not get Ofcom complaints. Anyways, not going to crap on too much, just wanted to alert any saddened Taffs out there to Rick Smith from Underworld's spectral take on a traditional Welsh hymn... brought a tear to the eye and a hefty dose of hiraeth to the heart...

underworldlive.com

Growing Up Gonzo

2007-09-26T14:51:00.002+01:00

Unsurprisingly, we here at Socialism are suckers for anything written about the late, very great Hunter S. Thompson. The latest edition of Rolling Stone has extracts from a new oral history/biography that's been put together by his collegues over at Rolling Stone - obviously it's brilliant... and I quote from his friend Bob Bone...

"I was driving an old M.G. convertible aling Copacabana Beach in Brazil and I suddenly saw Hunter loping along. I picked him up, he was a little drunk, but he said 'That's nothing, The thing that's drunk is in my pocket.' He had a drunk monkey in his pocket. The way he explained it was that he got off the plane in Rio with the monkey and went to a bar, and somebody said they would buy him a drink as long as the they could buy the monkey a drink at the same time. It probably was a bit of an exaggeration but back in the MG, the monkey had thrown up in his pocket and he was kind of smelly.
The monkey eventually committed suicide - we figured it had the D.T.'s. The maid saw it jump of the tenth-storey balcony of the apartment."

Growing Up Gonzo

John Lydon on Judge Judy

2007-09-26T13:53:00.000+01:00

The world has, officially, gone mad.

Not sure why it's annoying me today, but...

2007-09-25T12:58:00.000+01:00

...is it just me that thinks Devendra Banhart looks like the kind of horrible greaser that you'd cross the road (i.e. a fucking motorway at rush hour) to avoid, all horrible Special Brew breath, yellow pointed teeth and heavily matted/virtual dreadlock filth hair... the kind of dirty hippy you'd shield your children's eyes from in case he cast some horrible sex power spell on them, all the while, keeping your eyes on him in case he takes on more crazed, demonic forms... his whimsical savant songs about spiders and wasps and turtles don't give you much hope for the future of music either, esp booming out from mobile phone ads (right on, soul brother!). Maybe I got out of bed the wrong side but today, that guy is scaring me like a modern day, really fey Charles Manson might do. Must we throw this filth at our kids?????

Underworld "Oblivion With Bells"

2007-09-25T10:49:00.000+01:00

Don't normally do this kind of thing here, but here goes.

It's been a while since the last proper Underworld album, not sure why that's been, must have been something going on out there in the wilds of Essex that's been keeping them occupied. Anyways, the fifth Underworld studio album, "Oblivion With Bells" landed on the doorstep over at Socialism towers last week. We've listened to pretty much nothing since. The record is brilliantly, uniquely Underworld - one of the few records released this year that actually sounds like it's been influenced by the fact we're living in the 21st century and not a post Sham 69 1979. Lyrically as oblique as ever, musically it's like a walk through the nightclub you wish someone would tip you off about, some perfect place where the records played actually make you want to dance rather than hail the first mini-cab out of there. A couple of tracks take on a Morales bounce (the single "Crocodile" has a proper Def Mix sway to it), a couple of others nod towards Brian Eno's "Apollo" album (possibly influenced by the band's work on soundtrack to the movie "Sunshine") and a couple ("Beautiful Burnout" and "Faxed Invitation") sound like fuzzy headed 5am drives through the city, returning from said perfect club, while the sun lazily breaks through on the horizon, somehow blissed out and mellow with an ominous, foreboding sense of dread at the same time. Used to be a time when every weekend was like that round here for us.

Anyways, the record is out in the middle of October, it doesn't get much better this year. Awesome stuff.

London Last Night

2007-09-24T21:44:00.000+01:00

Farewell to the New Piccadilly

2007-09-21T14:43:00.001+01:00

This weekend sees one of London’s most famous greasy spoons, The New Piccadilly, close it’s doors for the final time.
The place has been serving up low cost grub to students, bohos, office workers and pensioners since the 1950s, a classic formica clad time warp of a place where the waiters dress as sailors and shout at each other, a place stubbornly untouched by the creeping dread that is ‘human progress’, right there, just outside the door.
We went down yesterday for a Socialism editorial meeting to say goodbye to the New Piccadilly, somewhere that’s been a safe haven for so many for so long, tucked away as it is from the Mc-High Street, doing it’s own thing. I don't want us to come across all dewy eyed about how things will never be the same, but surely a place like this can co-exist with all those chains selling you two shot soya foaming skinny lattes. Surely somewhere serving just about drinkable coffee in glass cups has a place in our society in 2007???
Anyways, our meals, in case you were wondering were - starter - 4 slices of bread and margarine. Mains - ham and mushroom omelette and chips/steak pie, chips and peas, cup of coffee/coke. Change from twenty quid for two. It was both reassuring and disappointing to have to queue up because it was so packed - if it had been this busy once or twice a week, maybe it would have survived? In the end, we were just glad to be able to say goodbye. We’ll miss it, what a shame.

Bidder scoops a Hirst painting for £200 at anonymous auction

2007-09-21T12:09:00.000+01:00

From yesterday’s Independent.

When a buyer from the back of a crowded auction room put a bid in for lot 15, no one matched his modest offer of £200 for a painting filled with concentric circles.
The bidders, which included some of Ireland's foremost art dealers and media personalities, were at an anonymous auction at which a Damien Hirst painting was being sold alongside 41 others, but no one knew which one until after it was bought.
So the gasps of astonishment from the audience were understandable when lot 15 was revealed to an original work by Hirst, Britain's most bankable artist, which was created to feature in his famous "spin" series.
Some of the paintings which bidders had wrongly guessed to be a Hirst had sold for up to £5,000. Among them was a sculpture entitled Two Rats in a Drainpipe, made by three A-Level students from Hammersmith, west London.
The artist had donated the work, also titled Spin, to the auction at Flatlake Arts and Literary Festival, at Hilton Park, in County Monaghan. The festival organiser, Kevin Allen, who is a film director and brother of actor Keith, said the atmosphere was "electric".
"I had devised the idea and I had framed Damien's work myself on an oblong mount to put people off the scent. The works of art, which were anonymous and numbered, were brought out for a three-minute quick view, like a horse is at a ring.
"Five of Ireland's most prominent art dealers were standing at the front. When the bidding started, it was the best theatre I had ever seen," he said.
The work was bought by the film producer Allan Maloney, who already owns two Hirst Spin paintings, according to Allen, and so recognised the work straight away. But many were confused by other works in the auction that had been done deliberately in Hirst's style.
"Some kids who had donated works did spot paintings which Damien is known for and some did other spin paintings," Allen said.
Mr Maloney agreed to have his bargain-buy auctioned again. It was bought for £95,000 by Kevin Spillane, an Irish gallery owner.
Allen said Hirst had donated the painting in hope that it would go to a worthwhile owner. "He said if I give you this thing, I don't want it to be sold frivolously. I want someone to buy it because they like the painting," he added.

Best Band We Saw All Summer...

2007-09-19T16:12:00.001+01:00

New Underworld single, very good...

2007-09-17T12:20:00.000+01:00

Festival season is over again...

2007-09-17T12:00:00.000+01:00

Finally, someone says it like it is...

2007-09-12T08:28:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Andy Kelly for this, we have a new Socialism hero in Chris Crocker.

September and we are

2007-09-07T13:17:00.001+01:00

Feeling heavy mellow at the moment, finishing off the written stuff for issue 5 of the ragazine… it’s going to be the best one by far… obviously we’ve missed every deadline we’ve set ourselves so far… way we see it, no-one’s counting the days now the sun is shining… as it stands, we’re currently loving…

Gravenhurst “The Western Lands”
Tunng “Good Arrows”
Japrock sampler by Julian Cope
“Andorra” by Caribou
Meantime beers (all of them)
Blades Of Glory
Maggie Gyllenhaal for Agent Provocateur
Pete Fowler’s exhibtion at the new Rough Trade shop
Edwyn Collins “Home Again”
Klaxons pill dealer
“LSD” by Pink Grease
Clark & Michael

Robert McFarlane’s book “The Wild Places”
And, finally, knowing full well that the festival season is over for us… no more fucking mud til next year.

Erm… with that said… Socialism is also heavily involved in an indoor festival that’s due to happen in our old stomping ground of Cardiff – Heavenly at the Swn Festival takes place at Chapter on November 10th, we should have some kind of crazed stall-type presence down there… come on down and meet the folks!

And may we say a belated rest in peace to one of the all time great UK beer writers, Michael Jackson, who passed away last week.

Can We Be The First...

2007-09-05T07:47:00.000+01:00

...to congratulate Klaxons on being the most pilled up people ever to be shown on live television? Their Mercury Prize scoop last night was like an episode of Skins being played at half speed. Hats off to those dudes, they really are livin' the dream. Wih I'd put 20 quid on it when I called it yesterday morning.

It's Tuesday, Why The Fuck Not?

2007-09-04T11:00:00.001+01:00

Service Providings

2007-08-28T16:24:00.000+01:00

Currently obsessed with Fonejacker, esp this.

Click here to see a git load more of them

A Riot Of My Own

2007-08-21T12:05:00.000+01:00

Joe Meek Space Orgy

2007-08-21T11:33:00.000+01:00

2007-08-20T15:26:00.000+01:00

There is a very real danger that this site may just become an advert for the life and works of R Kelly. "Trapped In The Closet" part 2 is out today. Enough said.

Favourite Records At The Moment

2007-08-16T09:36:00.000+01:00

Just off to The Green Man to get folked off our nuts... soundtrack for the weekend - the Panda Bear album - totally obsessed with "Take Pills", one of the best singles of the year... can't find a video for it, this'll do tho...

the new Caribou record, esp the Kieran Hebden remix of this single (with Luka & Adem) - pure choral psych, could be 40 years old and unearthed by crate diggers...

the Black Moth Super Rainbow record...
and a load of other bits - "August" by Catcall, the Doves podcast, "Atlas" by Battles, new Edwyn Collins record and, obviously, the preview for the new R Kelly DVD, due end of this month..."oh shit!"

This Is How You Do It

2007-08-14T17:18:00.000+01:00

Scenes from the first aid tent at Global Gathering that happened the other week. "If I'd have known it was this kinda party I'd have stuck my dick in the mash potato..."

It's Not Just Johnny Borrell and Bob Geldof Who Care About Shit...

2007-08-13T21:07:00.000+01:00

People seem to have forgotten all about Hear 'N' Aid the metal super group who recorded this, the frankly epic-al charity number "Stars", a record that pays virtually no lip service to starving Africans but does manage to have some cod mystical bollocks from Ronnie James Dio, some heavy S&M macho crap from Rob Halford and a selection of solos that go on for the average length of a childbirth. They're about as painful too.
Anyway, Sociaism hails Hear 'N' Aid, cos at this late stage no one else is, and it's a git load better than that shit version of "Do They Know It's Christmas" with Chris Martin.

Tony Wilson, One Of The Major Reasons Why We're Doing This... Rest In Peace.

2007-08-11T01:06:00.000+01:00

A Lovely Collection Of Vintage Record Sleeves

2007-08-10T15:03:00.000+01:00

Ace artist and very good friend of Socialism, Kavel Rafferty, has started a bloody marvellous blog gallery of old 7" range bags from days gone by. The site, Record Envelope, is like rifling through the racks of Record and Tape Exchange, just without having to face down the miserable staff at the end of it all. Also, you don't need to buy some crappy old record just cos you like the sleeve, they're all up there in technicolour glory.

Check out Record Envelope here...

"People Call Me Rude, I Wish We Were All Nude..."

2007-08-08T07:56:00.000+01:00

So Socialism headed out to watch Prince roll out the hits for the last time last night... the gig was super fucking fantastic... obviously bought tickets to go again even though we know we can't afford them... the guy is ON FIRE. Made us think back to this particular moment of genius from Dave Chapelle...

Diddy Buys A Youtube Channel... The Rest Of Us Still Get It For Free

2007-08-07T12:23:00.000+01:00

This week Socialism is loving

2007-08-07T11:03:00.000+01:00

Brighton Rock / Tootsie Roll / VIP Party Boys / Pissed Jeans / Happy Tom & The Age Of Pamparius / Mingering Mike / If Everybody Had An Ocean / Omar Little / Clark and Michael / Fujiya, Miyagi / Doom Bar, Cwrw Haf & a town called Beer / sofa travelling / “Suckers” / Stop Smiling / Catcall / Ivan’s XTC / Laurence from Felt / Laurence from Domino / Adam Ant's autobiography / Jesus Urge Overkill/ David Hemmings / Sonny J / Boris'n' Pete -blonde ambition / Michael Moore / Mandy Moore / Black Moth Super Rainbow / Black Mountain / Monsterism Island / Richard Long / Psychedelic Soul / Phaseshifter / Chris Crisis / Rivers Cuomo / Cormac McCarthy / Chris Needham’s video diary / Oo Ooh Ah Aah Band / The Peth “Let’s Go Fucking Mental” & Rhys Ifans in ‘Notting Hill’ / Tales From The Forest Of The Gnomes / Holy Water Won’t Save You Now / the Bat House Project / Nicky Wire / “John Peel was a cokehead, I can relate” / Andrew Loog Oldham / Brett Smiley / Suede Anderson / Tony Ogden, George Melly, the singing Welsh soldier in Zulu who has just died - RIP / whatever happened to 2ci / Joel Gion / Howies / Jackie Treehorn / R Kelly for “Real Talk” / Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve / Cornwall / Bobby Untitled / Caught By The River / We Sell Your Kids / We Are All On Drugs / We Are The People Our Parents Warned Us Against…

2007-08-06T21:49:00.000+01:00

From today's Common Dreams - Hiroshima Peace Declaration

Lee Hazlewood, Rest In Peace

2007-08-06T08:15:00.000+01:00

Genius, esp the commentary

2007-07-30T14:28:00.001+01:00

Mike Reid, Rest In Peace

2007-07-29T21:36:00.000+01:00

Brilliant Sly Stone live clip

2007-07-27T13:09:00.000+01:00