September 25th, 2007
The Polaris Prize - Bad luck Lesley
What a pity Lesley Feist didn’t win last night’s Polaris Prize. The Canadian equivalent of the shambolic Mercury or Ireland’s very own Choice Music Prize, went to Patrick Watson. He played the Sugar Club last Saturday and a friend tried to drag me along as I sat falling asleep in Grogan’s. She said he was amazing. Bugger. Still, it’s better than Arcade “the most over-rated band of recent years” Fire winning.
Feist’s The Reminder is one of the best releases of the year and I think 2007, in album terms, has been dominated by great, memorable releases by women. So bad luck Ms. Feist. Still, I’m sure the royalties from that iPod Nano ad are some small comfort. ‘My Moon My Man’ is still my favourite though and I can’t wait for the gig tonight in Tripod, which is sold out.
Speaking of the Choice Prize, Niall has a where-we’re-at post about the best Irish albums of the year and I have to agree that so much of this year’s good crop were released in EP form (which, unless it’s 33 minutes long, is ineligible for the Choice Prize).
September 25th, 2007 at 8:04 am
See you there so! Heading up this morning to Dublin
September 25th, 2007 at 8:12 am
Yay! Let’s meet after. Have a meeting beforehand.
September 25th, 2007 at 8:47 am
Never fear, Patrick Watson’s back on October 30th, as support to Cold War Kids in the Ambassador. Should be a cracking night.
Very excited for Feist tonight!
September 25th, 2007 at 9:24 am
That’s a pity. It’s a great album. I’ve got all the family into the album by now, which is ununusual.
Looking forward to the gig!
September 25th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Have to agree with the Arcade Fire comment. ‘Funeral’ was/is brilliant, Electric Picnic two years ago was one of the best gigs I’ve ever seen, but since then they released the abysmal ‘Neon Bible’ (the only good track being ‘No Cars Go’ which is an old one anyway) and the band has become Win Butler’s baby.
So, onwards and upwards - forget the Phoenix Park - the bands I’m going to see next month are The National and Iron & Wine.
September 25th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Catherine, good to hear that, thanks.
Niall, that’s fantastic, you definitely should have introduced me to ma and pa nialler9 at Os Mutantes - we could’ve bonded over a mutual love of Feist.
Catch up with you later in Tripod?
Tony, thanks for your comment. Glad to hear I have a comrade in arms who is SICK of AF. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Funeral and they were great at EP (2005) was great, but I really don’t understand the orgasms people have over them. Keep the Car Running was one of the most tedious singles of the year.
I’ll also be at The National - make sure you catch the support act, St. Vincent, she’s fab.
September 25th, 2007 at 10:40 am
For some reason I’m out of step with everyone on Feist; I can’t stand her stuff at all. ah well, more tickets for the rest of yis I suppose.
On the other hand, I totally agree on Arcade Fire.
September 25th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Justin, I feel like I’m out of step with St. Vincent. I love her but lots of people don’t. (See the comments here: http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2007/09/10/september-the-month-of-great-albums/)
*Picks up torch and pitchfork* Let’s start a facebook group about our mutual mehness about Arcade Fire!
How’s daddyhood going?
September 25th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Back in the 80’s people nicknamed Simple Minds ‘U3′ when they went pompous and overblown. Now I feel the same applies to AF - I’m afraid the adulation of Bono was the kiss of death for them. And, if I want to listen to Springsteen, I’ll listen to him, and not the watered down Win Butler version. But what does it for me are the ABBA piano chords on one of the ‘Spring-a-like’ songs - I just can’t get past that particular musical image.
Maybe Funeral was the beginning and end of it all ….
September 25th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Hi Sinead,
Delighted you’re back, you’re a blogging inspiration! Looking forward to Feist tonight myself. I have to say I prefer Let it Die to the last two albums - nothing tops Mushaboom for me. Have you seen her performance of 1,2,3,4 on Letterman with a whole host of indie background singers?! Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDoIefGowZk
Becs
September 25th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
They’ll be at Feist too! Second concert of the year for them - they are cool see. See you later so.
Regarding AF, They are not that bad. Neon Bible is not that bad either. Sure it’s a bit overblown and over-produced but hardly abysmal. I don’t however, understand how they got so big.
I heard “Keep the car running” at a wedding recently. It was strange and kinda good in that setting.
September 25th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
“They’ll be at Feist too!” Excellent! I wasn’t quite sure of her to begin with either Justin…. a definite grower for me… addicted now. So much so that to make it along tonight I’ll have to turn up in a suit. The shame.
September 25th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
yeah, looking forward to this lots tonight too, bought tickets for my sister and my fella. for some reason they’re not terribly keen on going, go figure. disown them, i say! and that after playing for over 7 hours at her birthday last saturday, the ungrateful wench!
September 25th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
im with you guys on AF. I’m still going to see them in teh big top, but i can’t understand the crazy build up of God like proportions.
we’ll see i suppose
September 26th, 2007 at 10:48 am
She rocked!