Bloodsports- Suede

The new comeback album by Suede is out. If you read this Blog you will already know that I am a big fan of Suede. 

Bands reforming and making new material have become a commonplace thing  over the last few years. Not very rock n roll, but then again bands ( e.g. The Wedding Present, The Fall etc.) hanging around for 25 plus years isn't very rock n roll either. I mean in my younger Punk days I used to mock bands like  Status Quo because they were old and had been around for years doing the same thing.

Times and perspectives have changed now that I  am 52.

Anyway this new Suede album is everything you would want from the band. Great sound, slightly surreal and sleazy lyrics and Brett's Bowie- like vocals. It Starts and Ends With You is my favourite song but there is some really good stuff on this album.

If they tour I am going this time- definitely.

It's Spring!

Yes it is now Spring and the days are flying by in a blur. The weather is still cold and snowy and depressing. But today the sun has come out and is shining. There is a proper warmth to it as well. Spring is on its way, really. Almost time to to plant my potatoes out and get the tomato plants started in my mini greenhouse.

Running has been going well although I have a slight hamstring twinge so am taking it easy this week and walking not running until my long run on Sunday. I don’t need any problems six weeks away from the Half Marathon in Sunderland.

The welfare reform changes start in less than two weeks and we are  planning changes to deal with the predicted 100% + increase in workload for housing officers dealing with rent and rehousing enquiries and related work in collecting the rent. The rent notifications have dropped through the doors and we are busy telling people that they have to pay rent now..

Worst case scenario is that we will lose £4m in revenue as people struggle to pay their bills. That’s  a lot of jobs. The "bedroom tax" ( or "spare room subsidy" depending on your political view) has featured in the national and local news. Worst case scenarios are being touted as fact and Housing pundits ( yes there are some) are  mostly against it.

Its a one size fits all approach to dealing with the soaring Housing Benefit bill  and will have some unintended consequences which could lead to an actual increase in the benefit bill as people move out to (smaller) private rented properties as private rents tend to be higher. But the principle is right, its the detail that's wrong.

Posh Update and Cloud Cult

I went to see Posh last week. Another 2-2 draw this time against Charlton. Another draw (0-0  on Saturday against Ipswich and again on Tuesday against Leeds (1-1) means we' re running out of time and games to turn this round. The Leeds game was our game in hand.

We are almost certainly down, unless that is Wolves really do completely lose the plot as they look like doing.

Cloud Cult have released a new album. It is as always rather good. Here is a link to their website where you can learn more about this excellent band. I have written about them before and how I discovered them via another music blog.

Reg Presley R.I.P.

I know this is about 1 month late but four Reg Presley songs have been part of the soundtrack of my life for as long as I can remember. The four songs being Wild Thing, Love Is All Around . With A Girl Like You and I Can't Control Myself.

The Teenbeats' 1979 version of the latter song is a particular favourite of mine and reminds me of London Pubs and clubs I saw them performing it in at the time. 

RIP, Reg.