Notebook Letters 11

L and H beat Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin is only revered by the chattering classes for his so-called conscience. Laurel and Hardy succeeded in both the silent and talkie genres due to their mastery of verbal and physical comedy. J Garrrett, Lurgan

Re: Brad Dourif. Not one Vortex fan has even mentioned his fantastic portrayal of Billy Bibbitt in the awesome One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Hard to watch at times but also funny and very moving. Dave, London

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 17th of April, 2009; 6/6.

Noisettes/ Wild Young Hearts

Reviews by John Earls

Don't Upset The Rhythm happily proves more typical of their second albums brash pop than their debut's punk.

Proving adept at creating infectious carefree tunes, there are a good handful of songs like the title track, 24 Hours and Cheap Kick that should prevent one-hit wonder status.

Ballads like Atticus are a little too po-faced to be of similar quality, but it's a vibrant effort. 7/10

1/8.

The Hours/ See The Light

It's hard to argue with the duo's claim that their age (late 30s) is all that's stopped them getting radio airplay.

Younger bands would kill for rock with the driving energy of Big Black Hole, or the hard-won wisdom and belief that surges through the coruscating Come On.

Antony Genn sings with the testifying, shamanic conviction who knows what life can offer, backed by melodies worthy of as much faith. Impressive again. 8/10

2/8.

Tiga/ Ciao!

James Murphy, Soulwax, Jake Shears and Gonzales guest on the pioneer's first album in three years.

Although superficially poppier than usual, it's also flatter. The leering humour now seems forced, so that the decadence in his disco is now more tacky nightclub than Studio 54.

The whiplash grooves of S*x O'Clock and Shoes apart, it's too mechanical to have much spontaneous fun. 5/10

3/8.

Camera Obscura/ My Maudlin Career

Although Tracyanne Campbell says this is the Scots heartbreak album, the lavish production means it could be mistaken for a celebratory listen.

While there's a classic '60s girlgroup sweep to Away With Murder and the title track, elsewhere Honey In The Sun stomps like Geno-era Dexys while French Navy is a huge swaying singalong.

Timeless magic, it's proof they do make them like they used to after all. 8/10

4/8.

The Virgins/ The Virgins

Considering their achingly cool past- singer Donald Cumming was a model- the New Yorkers have a surprising charm.

Sounding more like Squeeze than The Strokes, One Week of Danger and She's Expensive breeze out of the speaker with the same itchy New wave rush as Cool For Cats and Pump It Up.

Fernando Pando adds a touch of Wham's superior cheese and only the gloopy formulaic ballads let them down. 7/10

5/8.

Booker T/ Potato Hole

The first album from the MGs' leader in 20 years, with Neil Young guesting.

Wholly instrumental, Booker's keyboards often create riffs worthy of Green Onions and Test Match Special- Pound It Out is s*xy film noir, while Warped Sister is superbly sleazy rock & roll.

A cover of Hey Ya is pointless, and Native New Yorker cries out for a party singer, but it's a lively and lewd comeback. 7/10

7/8.

Liam McKahey & The Bodies/ Lovely Road

One of the great last voices of our time, Cousteau's old singer solo, four years after their last album.

McKahey's dramatic baritone always gave the impression he was at the end of a very rough day, but there's more of a traditional romance on offer gere.

Luckily, his classy gravitas is just as suited to tender love songs. Not all is hearts and flowers, but strings add to the vocals' luxury. 8/10

8/8.

Teletext page 823; 17th of April, 2009.

By John Earls

Quotations of the week

"Without him, they're a funk band. They'll be the real rolling stones when they get bill back." Bob Dylan sticks up for bill wyman's bass playing.

"Maybe it'll be apprecaited more, now there are people going through rough times." Lady GaGa reckons Just Dance was a hit because "it's so happy".

"There's less stigma attached to us being posh." Tom Chaplin says Keane may concentrate on the US soon.

1/6.

The week ahead in radio

pj harvey is on Colin Murray (Radio 1, Mon- Thu, 10pm), while The Maccabees do zane lowe (Mon- Thu, 7pm), Deer Tracks are on Rob Da Bank (Mon, 12am) and Elephants do Huw Stephens (Wed, 9pm).

Sandy Denny is the subject of a Radio 2 documentary (Sat, 10pm) while Radio 4 has a bootlegs documentary (Sat, 8pm).

Camera Obscura are on jonathan ross (R2, Sat, 10am) and Graham Coxon is on Radcliffe & Maconie (Mon- Thu, 8pm).

2/6.

The week ahead in TV

Lady GaGa is on jonathan ross (BBC1, Fri, 10.35pm).

Calvin Harris is on Sound (BBC2, Sat, 1.15pm), with The Hours (Mon, 1.10am) and Camera Obscura (Tue, 12.55am) on C4's 4 Play.

Madness, Bat For Lashes, Yusuf, Hockey and William Elliott Whitmore do Later Live (BBC2, Tue, 10pm). Charlie Parker is the subject of this week's Legends (BBC4, Sat, 8pm).

3/6.

The week ahead in gigs

Yeah Yeah Yeahs tour from Thursday, while Papa Roach play a one-pff London gig on Friday.

New P*rnographers singer AC Newman does a solo tour from Sunday, with Trail of Dead touring from Friday.

Basement Jaxx tour from Monday, while tours already on the road include 1990s, Brakes, Loney Dear, Taking Back Sunday, Gomez, pj harvey & John Parish, The Wailers & Camera Obscura.

4/6.

Champs of the week

Ben Folds In a moment of typical eccentricity, he's produced an album of university choirs doing acapella versions of his songs, after finding out via YouTube that they were a staple of the college choral circuit.

Starsailor The last band to work with phil spector, they'd had the grace to issie a low-key statement about it, rather than do a raft of "Our spector h*ll!" interviews with the press to promote their new album.

5/6.

Chumps of the week

Leonard Cohen After charming everyone at Glastonbury last year, where is his festival show this time? Mercedes-Benz World in that rock hotbed of Weybridge, Surrey. This isn't an ironic statement or generic mischief, or anything his apologists might like to claim, it's undignified corporate wh*redom.

Arctic Monkeys Partying with p diddy? No, no, no! No matter how nice his yacht is, there's no excuse to hang out with such a talentless poltroom.

6/6.

Teletext page 824; 17th of April, 2009.

I was fairly indifferent to the s*xless Taylor Swift and her wholesome pop. But then I read that she graduated from a Christian college in the Deep South, and used to date one of those purity ring wearers from The Jonas Brothers. Sorry, Taylor, but there's the door. Disco Stu

I disagree with Chris calling Prince's new album poor. Ol' Skool Company rivals any of his '80s funk, and the whole set is better than safe albums like 3121 and Musicology. Matt Dodwell

The Void; Teletext page 825; 18th of April, 2009; 1/7.

I'm disappointed with Blur's choice of support acts for their Hyde Park gigs. It's as if they've chosen them for the dual purposes of looking cool and being able to blow them off stage. Croydonian

Most remote Voider? Hull is my nearest town, and it rarely gets any bands playing there as its Arena is an awful venue. For gigs, I have to go to Sheffield or Manchester, which involves an overnight hotel stay. Some people don't know when they have it good. Duck

The Void; Teletext page 825; 18th of April, 2009; 2/7.

I feel ambivalent, to say the least, about songs being used on adverts. But, every so often, one uses a song that catches the ear. One recent ad has led me to rediscover Blancmange's Living On The Ceiling- the bald businessman dancing to "I'm so tall, I'm so tall." Superb. Simon Ellis

On bands using ukeleles, MJ Hibbert made an album called A Million Ukeleles and, for its gigs, did a rendition of Leaning On A Lamppost. Sleepy Sealion

The Void; Teletext page 825; 18th of April, 2009; 2/7.

Maroon 5's It Won't Be Soon Before Long is an album I like by a band I can't normally stand. It has some fantastic singles, making a definite nod to The Police on Nothing Lasts Forever and Can't Stop Those who hated Songs About Jane should investigate. New Rave Snail

Attilathehood rants at Madonna? What a surprise. It's like Groundhog Day. Such hatred towards a woman who wants to adopt a child makes her sound like a tabloid editor.

The Void; Teletext page 825; 18th of April, 2009; 4/7.

Have any Voiders changed their minds over any albums of 2008? Metallica's Death Magnetic is still my favourite, a near-perfect masterclass in metal and their best since Black. But Goldfrapp's Seventh Tree is my big grower, and I now like it as much as their other albums. Shane Damien

I've only just got Fleet Foxes, and I've blown away by its sheer beauty. It's an album that's moved me. Al Bundy

The Void; Teletext page 825; 18th of April, 2009; 5/7.

Most remote Voider? I live in Croeserw, deep in the Welsh valleys. It's a music wasteland populated by chavs, and there's no chance of me missing an encore to catch the last train- there's no train service. Aaron S

The Gallaghers were a spent force long ago. It's tantamount to treason to buy any of their sludge now. Ask yourself why you believed anything the lads did was worth bothering with any more. Neiltay

The Void; Teletext page 825; 18th of April, 2009; 6/7.

Super Furry Animals' new album Dark Days/ Light Years is brilliant, their best since Phantom Power. I hope the new Depeche Mode album Sounds of The Universe that's out this week is just as good. Paul Lowe

Australia's finest The Hard Ons playing with Skatecore Brats made for an awesome couple of shows. Both bands are in their 40s now, but are still light years ahead of anything else around. "Yah, dude", indeed. Tony Grant

The Void; Teletext page 825; 20th of April, 2009; 1/7.

Just because Les Vegas likes experimental music, it doesn't mean that others can't have their opinions of it. I'm sure that's just the sort of snobbery and petty name-calling that Radiohead themselves can't stand. Learn to accept criticism, and stop being so narrow-minded. Garcia

Like Hackney Rob, I took up the guitar in a bid to stop smoking. Alas, I was so pathetic that I started smoking again. Negative Creep

The Void; Teletext page 825; 20th of April, 2009; 2/7.

I've also been learning the guitar a bit later than most people, and I'd recommend the book 501 Guitar Chords by Phil Capone. It teaches you how to play in any genre you can think of. I learned the cello at 15, and don't regret that, but I wish I'd learned the guitar at the same time. Nina L

I don't care about Later's new series. Yet again, it will totally ignore metal and Levellers, in favour of the usual boring indie drivel. Caernarfon Jez

The Void; Teletext page 825; 20th of April, 2009; 3/7.

I was lucky enough to get a pair of tickets for Blur's fanclub gig at Goldsmith's College in June. To beat touts, I have to collect my tickets from the box office on the night.

That's fair enough. But how can Ticketmaster justify charging me an extra £8.25 for "service and collection fee"? Their postage charges are exorbitant, but to hold me to ransom like this- it was the only place to buy tickets- is a disgrace. TaDa

The Void; Teletext page 825; 20th of April, 2009; 4/7.

Hip hop is 30 years old this year. Like anything that's lasted so long, it's been a mercurial time. Your adolescence determines which era of hip hop you like best, and for me it's the mid '80s to the mid '90s.

Modern acts like Flo Rida and TI's music is so attenuated, it no longer resembles rap. A few years back, the scene was moribund, but there are ace acts like Elzhi, John Robinson and Ramson Badbonez. Rich Barrett

The Void; Teletext page 825; 20th of April, 2009; 5/7.

As a Scot who's daft about T in the Park, I'm gutted that Reading festival has got Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys headlining. I'd much rather have them than The killers and Blur. Beatnic Prestige

Sea Without A Sea by The Horrors is so pretty. My Blo*dy Valentine's sonic waves lap about it, and you can tell Faris Badwan was hurt. There's a piercing calmness to his game. Why did he date Peaches Geldof? Jade Webster

The Void; Teletext page 825; 20th of April, 2009; 6/7.

* Baboons can recognise four-letter words.

* Ants inoculate themselves by licking each other.

* People typically wear a half to a third as much sunscreen as they need.

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 13th of April, 2012; 1/3.

* To join the fbi, men must complete at least 38 situps in a minute and perform 30 untimed pushups.

* Lightning can contain enough energy to boil eight million cups of tea.

* Holding a gun makes someone look taller.

* Rangoon has an underground punk scene.

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 13th of April, 2012; 2/3.

* In Rome, 7, 575 streets are named after men while 580 are named after women.

* A tweet by Jamie Oliver is worth $3, 250 (£2, 044).

* Male pandas are only at their reproductive peak 24 days a year.

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 13th of April, 2012; 3/3.

* Chris Hoy's first bike was a girl's.

* A dog can be a best man at a wedding.

* You can be arrested for entering a mannequin in an election.

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 20th of April, 2012; 1/3.

* The polar bear is 450, 000 years older than previously thought.

* Being yourself at work is bad for your career.

* Swans cannot break your arm.

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 20th of April, 2012; 3/3.

I'm saddened at Earls' bashing of Jeffrey Lewis' new album. Em Are I It's The Ones Who've Cracked That Let The Light Shine Through is at once validating, hi;arious and profound- one of my all-time favourite albums. Then again, I'm only 17, so what do I know? Jazz Monroe

I agree with Earls over Twisted Wheel. Rudimentary? No. It's like Oasis in their pomp, especially the thumping We Are Us. Aberdareblue

The Void; Teletext page 825; 21st of April, 2009; 1/7.

I've tried to get into Doves, but it's impossible. While they're musically great, Jimi Goodwin has the most boring voice I've ever heard and they lose me as soon as he starts droning. Shame. Also, where is DJ Rhimes now? Ramsay

The charts are the stuff of nightmares now, with Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift the worst horrors. As a result, I'm withdrawing from society and heading for a deserted island with only a Nortt album for company. Snowdog

The Void; Teletext page 825; 21st of April, 2009; 2/7.

Fleet Foxes' album is overrated, a contrived pastiche of CSN&Y and Smile-era Beach Boys, with suspect vocal tuning. Retro is seldom as good as the original article. Jonno

What's all the fuss about Britain's Got Talent's Susan Boyle? She's no better than Jane McDonald, If, as tabloids claim, she's bigger than Britney, it confirms what I've suspected: the net hasn't been as good for music as it first promised. Dionne Jones

The Void; Teletext page 825; 21st of April, 2009; 3/7.

Earls is out of order for attacking Leonard Cohen's decision to play at Mercedes-Benz World. As is well known, he was ripped off by an old manager and lost most of his money. Whilst we'd like our heroes to be above such things, I don't begrudge Cohen a chance to decoup lost earnings. Stuart White

Disco needs to learn some manners and respect other religions, slating Taylor Swift's Purity Ring beliefs. He let himself down there. Ralgexface

The Void; Teletext page 825; 21st of April, 2009; 4/7.

I'm not sure where people have got the idea that Nine Inch Nails aren't going to tour any more. What Trent Reznor actually said was that, as the 20th anniversary of Pretty Hate Machine approaches, "I've been thinking for some time to make NIN disappear for a while."

With a run of four albums since 2005, I think the poor guy needs rest. But not before I've had the chance to see them in July! Arctangent

The Void; Teletext page 825; 21st of April, 2009; 6/7.