Listening to: Simon Dupree & The Big Sound - Kites

Greetings Blogworld. So what's new I hear you ask?
Well, Summer has gone into recession again.... but then you know by now that this ain't exactly news where I come from, so what else?....
Ok, The White Stripes. I've personally been a big fan of this particular 2-some since I heard The Big 3 (Killed My Baby). I'd say my fanboy-dom peaked with the White Blood cells album, and got a little less commited though Elephant and Get Thee Behind Me Satan. Not that these were bad offerings to my ears, I still bought 'em ... just less crucial somehow.

So I have to say that for me, the new single Icky Thump sees the pretend bro & sis right back on form. 4 minutes fifteen of gloriously messed-up off-the-wall punk-prog (if you will) featuring what sounds like a Stylophone strained through a fuzz-pedal. Really looking forward to the album now, even though it's title means I'll never shake off the mental image of Bill Oddie in an outsize flat-cap brandishing a similarly outsized black-pudding (U.S. readers: blood-sausage) Bruce Lee-style. It's part of my past and I'll just have to live with it.

Something else I'm giving a lot of thought to at present is the 21 London dates Prince is undertaking from August 1st. I need to see at least one of these shows, but naturally haven't joined in with the feeding-frenzy where tickets are concerned. This is where I need to reach out to friends in high places to secure an invitation (+1) to the Purple par-tay. Apparently His Royal Purpleness has rehearsed around 150 songs to give each of the proposed 21 dates maximum scope and eclectic-osity.
150 songs....most artistes/bands whatever never get to write that many.

Personally, I could live without seeing anyone play at the 02 Arena, neé Millenium Dome (how acoustically geared-up for live music could that place be?) but would kill to catch one or more of the alleged secret club gigs. He was well known for those back in the 80's.
Whatever the case, it's great to see that the passing of years (and even hitching his wagon to Jehovah's star) hasn't diminished his attention to detail in any way. £31.21 admission to each show, including a copy of the 3121 album? Serious bargain!
What with all this and the New Cold War hotting up, this could be one helluva summer pop-kids. Sit tight.....