with folded arms, you occupy the bench like toothache...

Earworms of the Week

“Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit” – Fedde Le Grand

One of my colleagues walked into the office this week and was in the middle of singing this song.  Not all that remarkable, perhaps, except that this is a 50-odd year old geordie that we're talking about here.  Mick likes to sit at his desk with great big headphones on too, and he's not above sitting there pushing up the sky and doing big-box-little-box, lost in his own world as he listens to something fantastically inappropriate like David Guetta.  His ringtone is "Fog on the Tyne" by Lindisfarne, mind.  You can take the man out of Newcastle, etc. etc.  As an aside, this song always makes me think of the chant that Liverpool football fans used to have for their former Dutch international Dirk Kuyt.  "Put your hands up for Dirk Kuyt.  He loves this city".  Quite amusing really, for football fans.

“Books From Boxes” – Maximo Park

I like Maximo Park, but to be honest I haven't listened to any of their albums all the way through for some time. I usually have a few of their songs on my various playlists, but I've noticed a change in my listening habits, and I tend to put together playlists and then listen to them all the time instead of just popping on an album and working through it.  It's a shame really.  I do try and put any new albums that I buy onto a "listen to me" playlist, and then make a point of listening to them in full.  But it's so tempting just to pop on a favourite selection, isn't it?  No wonder people say the album is dying as a format.  You can just cherry pick the songs you like.  Well, I still buy CDs, so perhaps I'm not the best person to ask.  I occasionally wonder if I might buy myself a record player too.  It would be the first one I've ever owned, but I quite like the idea of getting some vinyl, and most now come with the MP3 downloads anyway, so....

“Daydream Believer” – The Monkees

This was played on the radio one morning, and within the first few notes I was hooked.  I didn't even hear more than the first few lines before I had to switch off and head to work, but who doesn't know the rest of words to this one, eh?

“Chelsea Dagger” – The Fratellis
“Save Your Kisses for Me” – Brotherhood of Man

I'm not going to say any more about these in case they start the whole sorry earworm up again in my head.  Not worth the risk.

“Master Hunter” – Laura Marling

I'll be honest with you, I've had "Once I Was an Eagle" for a little while, and I just can't get into it.  The songs all seem to blend into one and, after a while, I find it a little bit irritating and turn it off to listen to something else.  I gave it a fair old go the other day though.  I like Laura Marling's earlier stuff, and it's only fair to give this a fair crack of the whip.  It sounded better, and this song emerged as a decent song in it's own right.  It's a little hard to think about a tiny little slip of a girl like this being any kind of a sexual predator, but hey... why not?

a-ha – “I’ve Been Losing You”

"Scoundrel Days" is an excellent album.  Did I ever mention that?

“Pink Rabbits” – The National

Take one glass (pretty), and add:

Spilt Jack & Coke
Squeeze of lemon (from Lemonworld)
Pinch of salt (lived in)
Wine (all the)
Paper umbrella (orange)
Serve post-coitally whilst sitting in chair

....or a fantastic song from the new album by the National. Awesome.

“Clocks” – Coldplay

I actually really like Coldplay, but I've found myself drifting away from them over the course of their last couple of albums.  The last one in particular did nothing for me.  I've listened to some of their older stuff over the last week or so, and although they're clearly a bit wet and quite under-powered as bands go, they have written some excellent songs.  I think the trigger to digging them out again was hearing the refrain from "Clocks" somewhere, and it planted the seed.  It's a good song, for sure, and that piano riff is earworm heaven.  I've also been listening to "Talk" too, although I do tend to see it as less of a good song since I've started listening to more Kraftwerk, because "Computer Love" is a better song.  Good band though, certainly not worth all the scorn they get.

“Crying Lightning” – The Arctic Monkeys

I'm a couple of albums behind now, but you can't argue with some of their lyrics.

And my thoughts got rude as you talked and chewed
On the last of your pick and mix
Said you're mistaken if you're thinkin' that
I haven't been caught cold before as you bit into your strawberry lace
And then a flip in your attention in the form of a gobstopper
Is all you have left and it was goin' to waste

Ouch!  A gobstopper going to waste.  What are you trying to say, Alex?

Right.  That's your lot.  Have a good weekend, y'all.  Sun's out, cricket is on.  What more could you want?