Thursday, April 23, 2009

The secret of a good journalist, by a taxi driver

At an apt moment today, the Deputy Editor of the newspaper I am working for passed on to me the three secrets of being a good journalist as shared with her by a London cabbie in the late 70's.

1) There is no excuse for not getting a story (because there is always someone to talk to).

2) There are two sides to every story.

3) Never discard a phone number.

She said this at the very moment I was starting a new note book, which I saw as a sign so wrote them down on the first page. Wisdom.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Five albums that changed my life

Blur: The Great Escape
The first album I ever got was ‘The Great Escape’ by Blur. It came in a Christmas stocking along with Actua Soccer and Formula One for the playstation. The year I imagine was 1995, and Euro 96 was the most important thing in my life.

Everyone remembers their first album with fondness, but the Great Escape was especially powerful for me because it started me off on the whole Brit Pop thing. Within two weeks I had bought Parklife and Morning Glory, and didn’t wait much longer before getting Definitely Maybe. I was hooked.

Some of my friends favoured Oasis over Blur, and seeking individuality I backed Blur in the epic war. But I couldn’t lie to myself forever and eventually switched sides. Blur are brilliant but Oasis are the band that define my music taste.

Favourite song: The Universal.



The Beatles: Abbey Road
I got the Beatles blue album first which I thought was good. But it took me a while to move past that.

That was until one day when I was looking aimlessly for a CD. I must have been 15. I saw Abbey Road and was attracted by the picture. It was one I had seen before.

I couldn’t believe how good it was. It sounded like an album that had just been made, only ten times better. Undoubtedly the medley of songs that dominates the second half of the album is what makes it stand out. People just don’t pull stuff like that off these days.

From there I got really into the Beatles, both music and history. It was just in time to feel genuine sadness when George Harrison died and to spend a few hours reflecting at the John Lennon peace gardens in Central Park. If you don’t have it already, then snap it up now before it’s made illegal!

Favourite song(s): The Medley.



Radiohead: The Bends
I initially ruled out Radiohead. I thought they were a bit weird without ever listening to them. But one sleepy afternoon watching MTV I saw the video for ‘High and Dry’ and my life has never been the same again. It is still my favourite song.

I borrowed the Bends from a friend. Within a day I returned it and bought it for myself. I wasn’t going to live for a day longer without that bad boy sitting on my shelf.

Such was my appreciation for Radiohead, I bought tickets for a gig in Newcastle in 2003 when every other venue was sold out. Distances were irrelevant. John Young (a man that features in many epic music moments) and myself travelled up there and stayed the night. It was worth every penny. Legendary.

Favourite song: High and Dry.



The Stone Roses: The Best of…
I downloaded ‘I am the resurrection’ during my Brit pop craze, but didn’t really take to it.

But whilst living in Canada my Yorkshire friend Todd Buchanan re-introduced me. I bought the ‘The Best of…’ from a Vancouver Virgin megastore and listened to it daily on my way to work in an ice cream parlour. I always got to ‘Fools Gold’ on my (not so) portable CD player. They were easily the best band I had ever heard.

Todd and I then started frequenting clubs in Vancouver that had ‘Best of British’ nights. As a 19-year-old new to boozing and new to the Stone Roses, the combination of them together didn’t always bring out the best in me. Images of ‘I wanna be adored’ followed by high fiving and dodgy dancing come to mind. But to me…at the time…it was the stuff dreams are made of.

Favourite song: Elephant Stone

Frank Turner: Love Ire and Song
I discovered Frank at Reading 2008 accidently and think I have listened to him at least once a week ever since.

The man is a poet. I imagine his songs describe the thoughts of millions of British people my age and younger. But when I listen to him, I feel like he is talking to me.

I saw him a few weeks ago at the last ever gig at the London Astoria. He covered ‘Dancing Queen’ and had the whole crowd singing along. You can’t argue with a man of that calibre.

Favourite song: Love Ire and song.



What are your five albums?