Finally... The Best Records of 2010! Part One!

This took me long enough, didn't it? Read, disagree, post your own lists in the comment box!

20. 'Manimals' by VRGNS (Released on 31/8/2010 on Kiss of Death Records)

Hailing from Orlando, Florida, VRGNS don't have any vowels in their name and play orgcore punk with gruff, gravelly vocals that some people might term 'whiskey soaked' but I'm sceptical about the actual effects of whiskey on vocal chords, since I drink a fair bit of the stuff and can't sing with a gravelly voice without getting a sore throat. Each song on Manimals has solid hooks and sing along choruses, with stand out track 'No Longer Entertainment' recalling From Here To Infirmary-era Alkaline Trio, musically if not quite captruing the Trio's lyrical brilliance. One of the great things about this album is that it's available for free from Kiss of Death Records (yes, completely legally!), so I won't bang on about it too much. It clocks in at just over 25 minutes, so never outstays its welcome and is definitely worth a try.

Download Manimals here!

19. 'The Speakeasy' by Smoke Or Fire (Released on 9/11/2010 on Fat Wreck Chords. BUY IT at Amazon!)

In recent years, Fat Mike has bemoaned the decline in slaes of records put out on his Fat Wreck Chords imprint. Well, Mike, if you keep putting out records of this quality rather than whatever boring retread No Use For A Name have recorded, the good people of the world will start buying your records in vast (ok, maybe not vast, but definitely significant quantities) again. This is simply Smoke or Fire's finest release to date, although I'm sure you could find many opinions that would contend otherwise. The choruses on this record are huge, with melodies that will not leave your head for days. I've read some comments that criticise this album for its lack of hooks and I don't think that this could be any further from the truth. Highly recommended.

Fat Wreck Chords page for The Speakeasy, including links for MP3 downloads of 'Monsters Among Us' and 'Neon Light'.


18. 'Brothers' by The Black Keys (Released on 18/5/2010 on Nonesuch Records. BUY IT at Amazon!)

Brothers is my first experience of the Black Keys, which I can't quite believe as it's their sixth album. An album of classic blues rock numbers, at times raucous and hedonistic, but also moody, soulful and reflective. The Holy Trinity of songs 'Next Girl', 'Tighten Up', and 'Howlin' For You' grabbed my attention and made sure that this album has been on heavy rotation since I picked it up a few months ago. One of the great things about Brothers is the band's ability to seemingly twist different genres to fit their bluesy niche, with some songs having a real glam rock stomp to them. It helps the album to constantly feel fresh and never derivative, which is a major accomplishment considering so many of the songs rely on the music of the past for their inspiration. I'm definitely going to dig further into the Black Keys' past and look forward to their future too. This is a mean, dirty, gutsy record and one that you need if you haven't already got it.

Watch the official video for 'Tighten Up', from the album Brothers.


17. 'Cavalcade' by The Flatliners (Released on 13/4/2010 on Fat Wreck Chords. BUY IT at Amazon!)

I first became aware of the Flatliners after seeing them support NOFX at the o2 academy in Leeds in 2009, and was impressed enough that I got their two albums The Great Awake and Destroy to Create. There were good moments on each, particularly The Great Awake which showed signs that the band were looking to get away from a ska punk sound that had seen them likened to the Suicide Machines, amongst others. Cavalcade is the culmination of that process. A hulking, head banging modern punk record with only a hint at their off beat past (on 'He Was A Jazzman'), it's a hugely impressive album and affords the band a seat at the table with the Big Boys of the genre. If I have any criticisms of this album, it is purely that it's opening group of songs, particularly first track 'The Calming Collection', set a standard that the rest of the songs only just fail to meet but that really is nit picking and shouldn't distract from what is a stormer of an album. They recently had to cancel their upcoming UK tour but make sure you check them out next time they hit these shores.

Fat Wreck Chords page for Cavalcade, including links for MP3 downloads of 'Carry The Banner' and 'Monumental'


Watch the official video for 'Carry The Banner' from the album Cavalcade



16. 'The Chaos' by The Futureheads (Released on 26/4/2010 on Nul Records. BUY IT at Amazon!)


I love The Futureheads. I bought their first album in my first year of Uni when I was an awkward, weird 18 year old who was trying to get 'with it' and listen to all the cool indie bands that everyone was going mental for at the time. Now that I'm an awkward, weird 24 year old, I still love them and they're just about the only band I got in to around that time that I still have any time for. I was really looking forward to The Chaos being released and when I got my copy on the day of release (always a sign of being really excited about a record), I wasn't disappointed. Opening with the typicallty jerky and frenetic title track and singles 'Struck Dumb' and 'The Heartbeat Song', it's classic Futureheads from the get go. Replete with Mackem accents, angular guitars (whatever that means) and a finely honed pop sensibility, they continue to prove with The Chaos that they have never been about just that Kate Bush cover, and in closer 'Jupiter' they have written perhaps their best ever track. Brilliant stuff.

Watch the official video for 'I Can Do That', from the album The Chaos.



15. 'The Suburbs' by Arcade Fire (Released 2/8/10 on Mercury Records. BUY IT at Amazon!)


Simply put, this is Arcade Fire's finest album to date. Debuting at #1 in the UK album charts, it has been critically acclaimed and nominated for numerous awards. So why does it only place at #15 in my list? Well firstly, I'd like to say that being ranked at #15 does not make it one of the worst albums of the year. Remember that this is a list of the 20 best albums of the year so for it place at all is a compliment. Secondly, I'm something of a newcomer to the band. Yes, where have I been? No idea. I only got their previous two albums late last year and I first listened to this effort on the 1st of this month. I was quick to recognise that The Suburbs is a genius album and although it only places toward the bottom of my top 20, I am sure that it is a work of substantial depth and is definitely an album that I will be returning to over the coming months and years.

Watch the official video for 'Ready to Start', from the album The Suburbs.


14. 'The Monitor' by Titus Andronicus (Released 9/3/2010 on XL Recordings. BUY IT at Amazon!)


Upholding New Jersey's tradition of brilliant music, Titus Andronicus's second full length, The Monitor, is another release that probably deserves a better ranking than I'm giving it but again, I must say that being included at all shows how much I like this album. This is a wonderfully eccentric album, at times indie rock, at times punk rock, flecked throughout with elements of funk and, of course, the mandatory Springsteen influences (you didn't think that the Gaslight Anthem had cornered the market there, did you?). It is as life affirming as it is melancholy and reflective. The album follows a loose concept based on the American Civil War, which is perhaps what prompted me to listen to it at first since I'm interested in American history and this period in particular. it's an unusual area for an indie/punk band to draw inspiration but it definitely paid off and might even spawn a sideshoot genre of it's own. Gettysburgcore anyone? If I were to compare this album to a vegetable, it would be an onion because it has many layers for you to peel away. I seem to notice some new element every time I put it on. Definitely worth your money and your time.

Watch the official video for (a truncated version of) 'A More Perfect Union', from the album The Monitor.



13. 'Rebellion' by The Riot Before (Released on 27/4/2010 on Paper and Plastick Records. DOWNLOAD IT at Amazon!)


Ah, the Riot Before. Another band hampered by comparisons to Against Me! It's not as if the comparisons aren't justified (and simply put, The Riot Before aren't as good as AM!) but I've always felt that this band had more to them than simply wanting to create their own 'Walking Is Still Honest' or 'Pints of Guiness'. With the release of Rebellion, The Riot Before have shown that they can plow their own furrow. Rousing folk-punk tunes (although the balance has tipped even further in favour of punk than ever before) like 'Backstage Rooms', 'Uncharted Lands', 'The Oregon Trail' and instant classic 'Tinnitus' benefit from repeated plays, as this album has proven to be a real grower with me. A lot of the time, the more you listen to an album, the more stale it can become in your own mind but Rebellion defies this. This could be put down to the band's knack for writing a winning tune becoming stronger than ever before. Unfortunately, I never caught them on their recent UK tour but I really hope that they'll be back around soon, hopefully with another top record under their belts.

Watch the official video for 'Backstage Rooms', from the album Rebellion.



Download their 2007 EP, So Long, The Lighthouse for free from Quote Unquote Records.

12. 'Volatile Molotov' by The Arrivals (Released on 5/10/2010 on Recess Records. BUY IT from Amazon!)


This album was always going to be a winner with me before I even heard a note of the 13 songs it contains, wasn't it? Clash references and D4's Paddy Costello on bass? No brainer. Taking its name from a lyric of The Clash's 'Straight To Hell', Volatile Molotov is unlucky not to be in my top ten releases of 2010. With brilliantly crafted lyrics that focus on the shitty side of life, but that still find reason for optimism moving forward as well as undeniable tunes, this is an album that you need. 'New Gold Standard' and 'Frontline' are possibly two of my favourite songs of the last year and with another 11 of a similar standard (see what I did there?) to discover, you won't be dissappointed. Closer 'Simple Pleasures in America' is simple, unrestrained hedonism and makes sure that Volatile Molotov ends as is starts, on a very fucking high note. One message board punter described it as 'God-like', and that's only slightly over stating things. The Arrivals have Arrived. Fnar fnar.

Watch a not very official video for 'Two Years', from the album Volatile Molotov.




11. 'Not Like This' by Iron Chic (Released on 1/9/2010 on Dead Broke Rekerds)


The Latterman family tree must be getting big enough to rival anything that Slapstick have grown by now, surely? Following on from 2009's Shitty Rambo E.P, Not Like This saw punk rock enthusiasts all over the world sit up and take notice. The opening line of the album on 'Cutesy Monster Man' ("I want to smash my face into that god damn radio") will grab you from the get go if, like me, you loathe pretty much everything you hear on the radio. 10 songs of pure, proper pop punk gold, blasting through your speakers in just over half an hour, Not Like This is a brilliant of example of just how good pop punk can be and shows doubters that the genre is not defined by cynical boy bands in punks clothes like All Time Low. The pay off of 'Time Keeps On Slipping Into The (Cosmic) Future' has to be a live favourite, it demands to be sung arm in sweaty arm with your best mates and is followed up by another absolute classic in 'Timecop. Really though, picking any tracks as standouts above the rest is harsh, as they're all beauts. As with VRGNS, Iron Chic have made this record available on a 'pay what you want' (free, in other words) basis from their band camp page.
Get it here!

Numbers 10 to 1 will follow on later on today or tomorrow! I'll also include honourable mentions and that sort of shizzle. Fizzle. Thanks for reading!

End of Year Contender: "Chamberlain Waits" by The Menzingers

I can't remember when I first came across the Menzingers, but I do remember it was someone on the Against Me! Forum who turned me onto them and I started with their EP Hold On, Dodge. Now, I'm not one of those people who enjoys listening to records that sound like crap, so the first thing I noticed about Hold On, Dodge was that the mix is horrible but I kept with it and I was really glad I did because the strength of the songs made up for the lack of audio excellence and now I barely even notice (or care) about the way the EP sounds. Hold On, Dodge made it onto a lot of End of Year lists last year so the pressure was on for the Menzingers to deliver what was one of the most hotly anticipated punk rock records of 2010. Recorded at Atlas Studios in Chicago with punk rock uber-producer Matt Allison and using the Lawrence Arms' gear, Chamberlain Waits is everything that we hoped for and a little bit more.


Opening up with 'Who's Your Partner', you knew on first listen that you were in for something special. The solid gold hooks that we all came to expect are there and thankfully I can have no complaints about Allison's production. If anything has changed over the Menzingers' short career it's that their lyrics have started to sound world weary. The lyrics on songs like 'Home Outgrown' and the album's standout cut 'Timetables' see the band's dual vocalled frontmen Greg Barnett and Tom May in reflective mood, looking back at a past that they find no longer seems to fit them quite like it did when it was the present. As well as vocal duties, Barnett and May handle the six strings for the band and they really excell on Chamberlain Waits. One of the first things you'll notice is that, much like NOFX, the guitarists are constantly playing seperate lines, alternating brilliantly between lead and rhythm work. If you stripped away the lead lines to leave just chords, the songs would still stick in your head but the riffs really help to cement them in position and ensure that every song feels like an old favourite but remain fresh. Pop punk hasn't sounded this infectious since the Descendents released Eveything Sucks, way back in 1996. 'Male Call', the album's midway point is a nice change of pace. Coming across like the Yankee love child of Billy Bragg, it is a lament for the fate of a girl that May cannot help, no matter how much he might want to:

I'd buy your soul but I can't afford to pay girl, They say that you get nothing for free. Your lipstick adorns my collar, While these thoughts of fire wrestle with me.

One of the great things about this record is that it has no weak period. Clocking in at around half an hour, if there was a poor song on this collection it could really derail things but there just isn't one, no matter how hard you look to find fault, you can't. It makes for an engaging listen, and even after 20-odd plays (thanks itunes), I have to listen to it all back to back. Sure, taken apart all the songs stand up individually but together, the sum of their parts is greater than any single can track can manage. To sum up, the Menzingers have seriously upped the game for any punk rock band out there. Chamberlain Waits ticks all the boxes. Energetic, catchy, and lyrically brilliant. Lyrics are a huge part of my enjoying any record and on Chamberlain Waits, The Menzingers have put themselves up alongside other lyrical geniuses (plural?) like the Larry Arms and AM!. If you haven't heard this record yet, I can only ask why not?! If you're a fan of anything loud, fast and fucking brilliant then do yourself a favour and pick this up. I promise that you won't regret it.





The Official video for 'I Was Born' from the album Chamberlain Waits.

Buy Chamberlain Waits from Amazon

Note: I kind of rushed this entry because I have things to do before I go to work and I don't have as much time as I'd like to write about this record. Sorry, but it is nearly Christmas so... you know, it's a busy time!

Stop The World

Joe Strummer 1952 -2002

Today marks the 8th anniversary of Joe Strummer's death from an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. I'll be playing London Calling tonight, and whatever your favourite song or album by Joe or The Clash, i'd suggest you do the same.

Thanks for the music, Joe. Let it roll!


In other news, since the band are Clash disciples, I am currently drafting (yes, really) my views on 'Chamberlain Waits' by The Menzingers. it will be up tonight or tomorrow, I promise. That should keep the impatient (and non-existent) hordes at bay.

I could procrastinate all day, but I can't be bothered.

Hey! God, has it really been over a week since I promised to write some stuff that no one will read about albums no one will buy? Yeah, it has been. I've been busy with work and just generally doing other things like making my gameface for FIFA 11 and have been distracted from writing. I've had a bad day at work today, but tomorrow is a day off and I will, absolutely will, write about at least two albums tomorrow. You might have read my tweet (in the box opposite, and HEY, follow me on Twitter @rwalkerdotcom) saying that I'm only going to write long articles on my top 10. I have trouble seeing things through so it's best that I do things this way, but I will write a little on the best of the rest and add links as to where you can hear samples or legally download that stuff. After I've completed my wordy stream-of-consciousness musings, I'll reveal my final standings for 2010's record of the year. That's an exclusive to this blog, you won't read it in your latest copy of Smash Hits magazine. What a scoop!

Next Up

This is just a quick check in to say that next up in my review fest will be Chamberlain Waits by the Menzingers and The Speakeasy by Smoke or Fire. If you don't own these albums, then I assume that you all know how to use the internet and itunes and what have you. Consider listening to them your homework. See you tomorrow or the next day or the day after that.

End of Year Contender: "In Desolation" by Off With Their Heads

Off With Their Heads is weird. There. I said it. Right off the bat. They are the weirdest band. But the thing that makes them weird is also the thing that makes them great. If you were just to read their lyrics without knowing what type of music they played you'd think that they were a miserable, depressing, mopey shoegaze band but couple their lyrics with the devestatingly simple but well crafted punk rock tunes and they take on a completely different dimension and somehow the lyrics aren't so downbeat. They become almost a celebration of the fucked up world we live in and the mundane crap that we have to live with. I've only seen Off With Their Heads live once, but it wasn't a depressing affair at all, it was riotous and fun (and very, very LOUD) and that speaks volumes for their prowess as a band.

And so onto the record. In Desolation is Off With Their Heads second full length proper, following on from 2008's From The Bottom, and a glut of 7 inches released over their 8 year span as a band. It is also their debut for Epitaph, that onetime punk rock powerhouse label that has latterly been releasing all manner of long fringed rubbish. Hopefully, In Desolation will see the label head back to its roots. Lasting just over half an hour, this album is 12 tracks of almost triumphant self-loathing. Kicking off with the anthemic 'Drive', you get the feeling that this album is a bit special. This song captures Off With Their Heads approach brilliantly. Young takes the listener out with him for a ride as he tries to escape his demons and ultimately himself, telling us he'll give over "everything I have if you got the right words to say," before not-so-reassuringly adding "If I can just get away from my shadow I'm in the clear."

Next up is 'Their Own Medicine' which roars out of the gate, looking to settle old scores and pick at scabs, with Young declaring 'I know it's fucked up but I can't forget all of the shit that happened in the past,' and then inviting the listener to join him as he gives his tormentors 'some of their own medicine.' By the time you reach 'Trying To Breathe', you realise that the formula for each new song isn't going to stray too far from the one for the last. Simple, bold as brass power chords played at speed over a solid rhythm section. Young himself has called OWTH's brand of punk "high school music" but there are no 17 year olds singing like this, at least not convincingly believe me. You can feel the frustration through your speakers when Young blasts "I hate every second of the goddamn day, gimme anything you got, I don't care. It's all the same." 'ZZYZX' is perhaps my favourite song on the record and it's the track that gives the album its title with it's catch refrain of 'for reasons, for reasons,' after which Young reiterates his desire to be completely alone, relecting the strains of the constant touring he undergoes with his band. He even goes so far as to say "I'll find myself or you'll find me dead." These deeply confessional lyrics span the length of the album, and, as I said, are alarmingly frank when read away from the music. They serve to create a great contradiction. How exactly can someone write such upliftingly ctachy punk music but at the same time be so miserable? The mirror is turned on the listener with 'Spare Time', as Young asks:

"How do you spend your spare time,
what do you do to pass the day?
do you focus on the bad times and how you never get your way"

The album closes with two of its strongest songs, 'My Episodes' and 'Clear The Air.' The latter, Young has admitted, is musically inspired by 'Joy' by Against Me! (from the album Searching For A Former Clarity). It is perhaps the most achingly open of all the album's tracks, the sparse arrangement leaving the lyrics bare whereas in other tracks they are surrounded by noise and aggression. 'Clear The Air' sees the band provide an overview for the entire album. It opens almost like a letter, with Young stating "I wanted to tell you, I wanted to share, Some important details that you're unaware of, I want you to listen, I want you to care,I'll choke to death if I don't clear the air." Although the album might seem depressing in its themes Young implores the listener "
Don't leave yet, I haven't got to the part that explains at all. Don't leave yet, I need some body there to catch me before I fall," before bookending the song the same way it began.

In Desolation is a fantastic album by a great band. I know I've made it sound like it should be hard work, but it really isn't. It's strangely uplifting and so catchy you'll need a vaccine to stop listening to it. Please don't take the lyrics out of the context of the music too much because that can detract from the overall feel of the album. This album is a must for fans of Dillinger Four and other 'beard punk' bands. Do yourself a favour and check it out. It's one of those that'll stay with you when you need it most.


Off With Their Heads' Epitaph music player, featuring tracks from In Desolation



The official video for 'Drive' from the album In Desolation

Get In Desolation from Amazon!

End of Year Contender: "White Crosses" by Against Me!

Against Me! is a band that divides opinion like no other. Whenever an article appears about them on Punknews.org, the comments section is filled with clashing opinions and raised internet voices. (Check out this recent thread of comments reacting to the news that the band had left Sire to see what I mean: http://www.punknews.org/article/40752) See what I mean? It's all so boring now, isn't it? Everyone under the sun has had the same conversation about them. It's not hard to understand why they draw so much attention, affection, devotion, spite and hatred when listening to their back catalogue. Powerful punk rock jams with wordy lyrics that nailed singer/guitarist Tom Gabel's colours firmly to the mast. It's easy to see why he became a standard for people to rally behind and then a figure of fun and ridicule for others. But I'm not here to chat about a well worn topic. It's a long and difficult history and with countless opinions online about Gabel and his band, I won't get drawn into it.

Safe to say, I'm a big fan of Against Me!. I never used to be, but thankfully a couple of my friends showed me the error of my ways and now I would count them as one of my top 3 favourite bands. 2010 saw them release their fifth full length, and second for Sire/Warner, White Crosses. Clocking in at just over 35 minutes in length, White Crosses sees AM! developing the aural themes they started on 2007's excellent New Wave. Opening with the catchy pro-choice title track, the album grabs you from the word go. You can also tell immediately that the production is slicker than on anything that the band has previously released, with many fans complaining that Butch Vig's work had 'ruined' the album but, for me, the production doesn't detract from Gabel's songwriting at all. Yes, it does sound more radio friendly than Reinventing Axl Rose, but you don't get pop songs with lyrics like "7 missiles flying over the sea of japan. Tales of feral children sleeping in wolf dens. And the pious preacher commands. I hold my breath in anticipation. Into the shelter of the jungle noble savages run. Vestal virgins triumph over life long inhibitions. And I wonder, what is real? What is fiction?" as on 'High Pressure Low'. First single 'I Was A Teenage Anarchist' sees Gabel address his past and hit back at those who had accused him of selling out his ideals. The message is clear: Tom Gabel is older, wiser and doesn't need doctrines or movements to tell him who he is anymore. He marches to his own drum beat. The chorus is undeniably catchy, with Vig's soaring production complementing it brilliantly. 'Beacuse of The Shame' found it's origins in New Wave's 'Thrash Unreal', with Gabel speaking directly to a deceased friend who mistakenly thought the song had been penned about her. The chorus is another example of Gabel's skill when penning a lyric and his knack for fitting lines that just shouldn't work into a catchy tune:

"Because of the shame I associate with vulnerability I am numbing myself completely.
Can you hear me right now?
I watched your mother bury you today, with tears in her eyes.
It wasn’t her words that shook me, it was the resemblance you shared."

The pace drops a little as the band head into 'Suffocation', a lament about the modern way of life. Yes, that is a dog toy you can hear in the chorus and the accompanying "Huh!" is one of the most unashamedly playful things you'll ever hear on AM! track. The following song 'We're Breaking Up' seems to deal with a past relationship that Gabel has had with a woman but fans of the band recognised it as a farewell to departed drummer and bearded rhythm machine Warren Oakes. Gabel expresses his regret that things have ended whilst recognising that fault lies with all parties. The final line "I'm not giving up on us" expresses hope at a reconciliation that would see many fans begin growing heroic beards in celebration. Even the girls. Whilst it is a cryptic lyric, it doesn't sound too much like a typical Against Me! song and I feel that the record would have been better served had they replaced this track with 'One By One' or 'Bitter Divisions', both tracks included on the deluxe edition of the release.

'High Pressure Low' is a lyric that jumps from place to place, opening with Andrew Seward's insanely catchy bass riff. Starting off like a weather report, wrapped in cold war anxiety, it is one of the album's stand out cuts. It also contains another classic Against Me! lyric when Gabel lambasts Robert Strange McNamara, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, for his part in the U.S.A's involvement in the Vietnam war, surely the first time McNamara has ever been immortalised in song. Gabel has admitted in interviews that the song's lyric was written in a motel room whilst on tour and deals with whatever was on TV at the time.

'Ache With Me' slows the pace of the reocrd again for another mournful look at the state of the world, with Gabel concluding that he has "no judgement for you. Come on and ache with me." Life is tough, yes, but that's the way it is and ultimately we're in it together. It also contains what might be construed as another thinly veiled dig at the punk scene when Gabel sings "Ideals turn to resentment, open minds close up with cynicism." Next up is the brilliant 'Spanish Moss' with its catchy as fuck backing vocals, and Who-like opening verse. It sees Gabel yearn for simpler times, whilst acknowledging the ultimate irrelevance of anything he has achieved with his music. He seems to be saying that the fact that he is in a reasonably successful and popular rock band does not define him as a person, and he could as easily walk away from it all as carry on.

The album's penultimate track 'Rapid Decompression' is classic AM! Fast, punchy, and filled with reckless abandon, it is another dig at the scores of people who have tried to hold the band back. Gabel spits the lyrics spitefully at a nameless 'you,' tearing them to pieces. The band set stheir stall out, and the track almost acts as a mission statement for Against Me!'s future, the opening line states that Gabel, Seward, Bowman and Rebelo are tired of 'predicting to lose', and they want to take this thing as far as they can, before calling out the listener on any judgements they might make about this: "But before you point your finger, before you cast your stones, take a look at yourself." It's a worthy member in AM!'s cannon and stands up against anything in their back catalogue. Brilliant.

Closing cut 'Bamboo Bones' sees Gabel continuing the album's over riding theme of defiance coupled with regret. Rebelo's beats provide this song with a jerky, schizophrenic feel in places, complenting Gabel's lyrics brilliantly to maintain the theme of inner turmoil they set out. At the end of it all, the band is triumphant, having come through adversity with the conclusion that "What god doesn’t give to you, you’ve got to go and get for yourself."

And so ends White Crosses. Sure, it's not AM!'s strongest release. It's definitely a transitional one, as the band seem keen to tackle their past whilst looking to the future. Musically, they have married the best poppy punk rock of the Replacements to Tom Petty, with a pinch of Springsteen in some tracks. It will be exciting to see where Against Me! head next. Having left Sire, will they cast off the supposed shackles of major label employment and head back into the realms of honest punk rock or will they carry on down the path they have made with their last two releases? Either way, I'll be with them for the ride as will many, many others. After all, if this is, as some will have you believe, Against Me! off form just imagine what they could do if they rediscover what they have supposedly lost. As the boys themselves have told us already, even at their worst, they're better than most.

White Crosses on Wikipedia


The Official video for 'I Was A Teenage Anarchist' from the album White Crosses


The Official video for 'Rapid Decompression' from the album White Crosses

Grab Against Me's daytrotter.com session here! Features 'White Crosses' and 'Ache With Me' from White Crosses, as well as covers of Cock Sparrer's 'Because You're Young' and the Dead Kennedys' 'Moon Over Marin'. And best of all, it's completely free and legal!

Get White Crosses at Amazon!

Up next for review is In Desolation by Off With Their Heads.

And now the end is near...

Only 30 days remain of the year. 2010 has seen 2009 and raised it. 2010 has called 2009 out on it's musical output and is ready to throw down. Yes, yes, YES! It's the time of year where music geeks like me (and you Flynny, yes!) get excited because we get to put all our favourite music from the year into a list and argue about what was the best album, song, cover etc etc ad nauseum. It's already started, months ago probably, on countless forums, twitter feeds and facebook status updates. I'm going to wade in with my thoughts on this weighty matter and, in the run up to (and probably beyond) the dawn of the new year, I'm going to write a piece on each album that has made my own personal shortlist, in no particular order. Once I accomlish this noble, lengthy and utterly pointless task, I will reveal the standings for best record of the year 2010.

So here's the not-so-shortlist (in alphabetical order as the appear on my iTunes library):

1. "We Live On Cliffs" by Adam Haworth Stephens
2. "White Crosses" by Against Me!
3. "This Addiction" by Alkaline Trio
4. "The Suburbs" by Arcade Fire
5. "Volatile Molatov" by The Arrivals
6. "The Dissent of Man" by Bad Religion
7. "Brothers" by The Black Keys
8. "I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone" by Crime In Stereo
9. "Real Ghosts Caught On Tape" by Fake Problems
10. "Cavalcade" by The Flatliners
11. "The Chaos" by The Futureheads
12. "American Slang" by The Gaslight Anthem
13. "Heaven is Whenever" by The Hold Steady
14. "Not Like This" by Iron Chic
15. "Notes" by The Measure [SA]
16. "Chamberlain Waits" by The Menzingers
17. "Good Morning, Magpie" by Murder By Death
18. "High Violet" by The National
19. "Icons" by None More Black
20. "In Desolation" by Off With Their Heads
21. "Rebellion" by The Riot Before
22. "LP" by RVIVR
23. "The Speakeasy" by Smoke or Fire
24. "We Chase The Waves" by Sundowner
25. "The Monitor" by Titus Andronicus
26. "Manimals" by VRGNS

I think I'll probably start with Against Me! Look out, stomach, here it comes!

I Fought The (Offside) Law returns next week.

Starting with a report of Hull City's trip to Millwall, a look at City's new boys James Harper, Nobby Solano and Robert Koren, as well as a few other bits.

Here Is The City

I'm going to be writing some articles for Here Is The City from now on. The content will always be different from what I post here so it's well worth checking out. My first article has just been made available to read online and you can do so by clicking the following link:
Attack Is The Best Form Of Defence - Here Is The City
There's also a lot more football opinion, both for City and just in general so give that a read too whilst you're there!

Reaction: Everton 5 -1 City

Mikel Arteta celebrates after opening the floodgates at Goodison Park with his first of the season. It was not to be his last.

Yesterday was rotten, wasn't it? A horrible 90 minutes with few bright spots for the travelling City fans. Tucked into the ramshackle away section at Goodison Park, a section of the ground offering only the very worst of views, we were subjected to a performance the likes of which have become all too frequent since December 2008. We travelled to Merseyside buoyed by Manchester United's scrappy win over Wolves as well as the images of Sam Vokes skying a possible season changing chance. We knew that even a point against Everton would be enough to lift us out of the relegation zone. We also knew that City had gone a full calendar year without an away win, and would be hard pressed to end that run against an Everton side that has really just started to get into its stride.

City's line up held a few surprises. Gone was Andy Dawson for Kevin Kilbane, fitting reward we thought considering Dawson's white booted Upton Park nightmare. We later learned that Dawson had actually suffered from a bad asthma attack and was unfit to play, with Brown hinting that he would've played had he been available. Jimmy Bullard made his long anticipated return to Premier League action in the middle of a five man midfield that also included Nick Barmby and Richard Garcia and Amr Zaki started on his own up front. Everton, meanwhile, boasted a wealth of talent in their line up. Yakubu, Osman, Arteta, Jagielka, and Pienaar as well as Landon Donovan, Diniyar Bilyatedinov, Dan Gosling and Jack Rodwell amongst the substitutes. We'd've snatched your right arm off, never mind your hand, if you'd offered us a point before kick off. The opening minutes of the game were watched by a strangely muted crowd, but it was hardly stirring stuff. Even when Arteta put the Toffees ahead, the Goodison crowd's response was swift, half interested. We knew it was coming and, apparently, so did they. Yakubu had already hit the post, after Osman had robbed Boateng to feed the Yak. The men in amber and black did not heed the warning though, as only minutes later it was 1-0. Yakubu, given far too much time by Paul McShane, floated a lovely ball to the back post with Mikel Arteta arriving on cue to guide the ball past Myhill. Arteta motored past Barmby in the midfield to find himself in a prime position. Tracking runners from deep has long been a problem for us, and so it would prove again as the game wore on. Yakubu again showed himself to be unusually profligate in front of goal when he missed a penalty. Having been brought down by Zayatte, the Nigerian dusted himself off and took the resultant spot kick himself only for it to be turned away by Myhill. This was the start of City's best period in the game. We hardly had time to draw breath and City were level. Tom Cairney, a revelation in recent weeks, but understandably struggling to convince in this particular game popped up with an absolute worldie of strike. Waiting on the edge of the area to pick up any scraps from a set piece, Cairney unleashed a beautifully struck left foot volley past the desparing dive of Tim Howard. A sweet moment for Cairney, and probably a satisfactory one for the men who brought him through to first time level; Billy Russel and Neil Mann Mann Mann. Having clawed level against the run of play, City could count themselves lucky and you always felt that Everton would score again. That feeling proved correct when just six minutes later, Arteta bagged his second of the match. Running onto Steven Pienaar's cute drag back, the Spaniard passed the ball low into the net. City's midfield again failed to give adequate protection the goal, as Cairney, Bullard and Boateng were all bypassed easily. There were no further incidents of note in the first half and City went in behind knowing it would be a huge task to find a second equaliser.

As the second hlaf began, it was clear to all watching that Arteta was enjoying his afternoon and wasn't ready to stop playing the role of the Tigers' tormentor-in-chief. Six minutes after the break and the game was dead and buried, and there was to be no pet cemetary style comebacks. Arteta dinked a cross towards the back post from the left hand side of the area, having again been given too much room to play the ball. Myhill inexplicably failed to deal with it, and the ball crossed the line having hit Richard Garcia's head. Garcia had every reason to be surprised at having to deal with the cross as to all watching Myhill should've done so himself. Everton had squeezed the life out of the game with more than a third of it to go. Bullard was withdrawn on the hour for Altidore, possibly to save him exerting himself in a game that was lost, with Nick Barmby preceding him, Goodison's least popular man being replaced by Geovanni. With City defending so poorly, there were always likely to be more goals and Everton did not let their fans down, with substitues Donovan and Rodwell providing the final goals. And so ended another painful afternoon watching City away from home. The Tigers' performance has been branded 'pathetic', 'unacceptable', 'tame' and 'tepid' by various media outlets. All fair comment. It was an afternoon never likely to see us gain any reward from our efforts, even before kick off, but it was the manner of defeat that really sticks in the throat. Much had been made in the run up to the game of City needing to go back to basics and make things more difficult for their oppenents but they did anything but. Our five man midfield was always wide open, with Everton running rampant down the middle and out wide. The central midfielders did not protect that centre backs and the keeper well enough and Garcia and Barmby did not offer enough help to their full backs. Amr Zaki was a largely frustrated figure. A willing runner, the Egyptian had to feed on scraps all afternoon and was given little support by his team mates. Much had been made of Jimmy Bullard's comeback, but in his first Premier League game since December, he appeared to be struggling to keep up with the pace of the game and rarely got himself in the kind of positions he needed to to affect the game.

So where next for City? Arsenal come to the KC next week in front of the ESPN cameras. The Gunners form of late has been frightening and a repeat of this performance will surely see us on the hand of another thrashing. Phil Brown has much work to do between now and Saturday, but the games all City fans have their eyes on come after this coming weekend. An inviting run of fixtures could see the Tigers push themselves out of the drop zone. Coming to the KC in the weeks to come are Fulham, Burnley and Sunderland. Three winnable fixtures. Burnley's away day woes extend back nearly as far as our own, Fulham have struggled for consistency away from Craven Cottage since time immemorial and Sunderland are busy performing a passable impression of City's 2008-09 collapse. But we really need to start picking up points away from East Yorkshire to complement our decent home form. Trips to Portsmouth, Stoke, Birmingham and Wigan must yield points if we are to avoid a return to the Championship.

Gulp.

Further reading:
Brown Going Down - Sky Sports.com
Second Half Collapse Unacceptable - Hull City OWS
Liverpool Echo match report


Soundtrack to this post:

'Sigh No More' - Mumford & Sons
(Island)(2009) Rating 9/10

and


'The Draft - Digital EP' - The Draft
(Epitaph) (2007) Rating 7/10

Blackburn Rovers vs Hull City

Sam Allardyce during his pre-match press conference

So after the unbridled pessimism that was my last post comes optimism! Having taken just a point when three were expected against Wolves, City went into fixtures against Chelsea, top of the league and Champions elect and the richest club in the world, Manchester City. Many, including myself, expected City to gain no points from the Chelsea fixture and perhaps scrape a point against Abu Dhabi Citeh. How wrong can you be? Confident attacking displays coupled with stout defending brought four points from those two games and so we can now look towards tonight's trip to Ewood Park with a degree of confidence and hopes of claiming a first away win of the season. Sam Allardyce and Phil Brown, as we all know by now, spent many years working alongside each other at Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers and both men have been in the media recently with cautionary words for their teams. (Phil Brown: Sky Sports. Sam Allardyce: Also Sky Sports.) Blackburn's home form this season has been solid, losing just once in their last eleven home games and twice all season. These defeats were at the hands of Manchester City and Tottenham though, so it would appear that they are no slouches on home soil. The statistics back this up. Of twelve league home games this season, Blackburn have won six, drawn four and lost the aforementioned two. When you take into account that the Tigers have claimed only four points on the road this season, the prospects of claiming anything tonight look bleak. Or do they? Examining their home record further shows a goalless draws with West Ham, Stoke and Liverpool as well as a 2-2 draw with Sunderland. Added to this narrow victories over Wigan, Burnley and Aston Villa are hardly convincing. In all, Blackburn have scored a respectable 17 goals at Ewood Park this season and conceded 12, so it would seem that the first goal tonight will be key. City don't net much on their travels, just 7 all season, and have conceded 30 goals in that time.

But statistics can only tell you so much. This last week has seen City look revived, thanks in no small part to strength of the spine of the side. Stephen Mouyokolo and Tony Gardner have quickly formed a very good centre half pairing, so much so that cult hero Kamil Zayatte is having to play back up. Up front, Jan Venegoor of Hesselink and Jozy Altidore look to be developing an understanding that has seen each man lay the other on for superb goals in recent games. Altidore provided the assist for big Jan's superb goal against Wolves and the Dutchman happily returned the favour against Man City on Saturday, holding the ball up before passing into Altidore's path, then standing to admire the American's lovely finish. You always have to save the best for last. don't you? And so in that spirit, we come to the midfield. How good have George Boateng and Tom Cairney been? I criticised Boateng last week for his rash challenge on Anelka that led to Didier Drogba's goal, but to write his general performance off for that daft mistake would've been stupid. He carried on in this rich vein of form against Man City, and scored an absolute worldie of a goal, his first for City and well deserved. The news that he's facing a fight to make the game is a blow. Suffering with cramp, if Boateng does miss out expect Seyi Olofinjana to deputise. Alongside The Boat, Tom Cairney has played three Premier League games in a week and looks like he's played another 200 more. City fans must remember though that Cairney is still only a young lad and his form will have peaks and troughs but if Brown and the backroom staff can nurture his talent over the coming months, we look to have a player who can play a vital role in our survival fight. Assuming he starts, tonight will be another big test for him. His only league games have come at the KC and a trip to Ewood Park will be another rite of passage for the youngster.

Other team news reports that Andy Dawson may miss out too. I'm always quick to criticise Dawson when I think he's made a mistake or had a poor game, but credit where it's due, Dawson has been magnificent in recent games. He was excellent against Chelsea, coping with Drogba's constant sojourns out to his wing for Chelsea goal kicks and with the marauding threat of Ivanovic. Against Manchester City he also dealt capably with first Stephen Ireland and then the changing threats of Adam Johnson and Martin Petrov, as well as Zabaleta's runs from right back. Expect Kevin Kilbane to fill in if Dawson does miss out. Kilbane should slot straight in, especially as he bags of experience in this position for the Republic of Ireland.

All in all, I'm confident of coming away with something. I had predicted earlier in the week on KCFM that CITY would win 2-0 but truth be told I'd be delighted with a point. Enjoy the game.

Don't forget to leave a comment below!

Soundtrack to this post:
This Is Not The World by The Futureheads

(Nul Records) (2008)
Rating: 9/10

Wolves reaction

So with the transfer window securely shut for another few months, City can reflect on decent work off the pitch but definitely not on it. The visit of Wolves to the KC was a chance for the Tigers to pick up a much needed win a propel themselves above our visitors from the Black Country. Unfortunately City were twice pegged back and squandered a great chance to make some headway in the relegation tussle. It was a poor game in truth and although City did look to have more quality, it was Wolves who finished the game the stronger side with Bo Myhill called into action a few times to preserve a point. Brown made 5 changes from the side who lost to Wayne Rooney a week ago, with Mendy, Mouyoklo, Cairney, Venegoor of Hesselink and Altidore all being restored to the lineup. Cairney was making his Premier League debut and put in a performance that belied his relative lack of experience, looking much closer to being a complete player than his crab like youth counterpart Nicky Featherstone (crab-like in that he appears able to only move sideways and he's a little irritant who is difficult to get rid of and you're not particularly proud of telling anyone that you have him). Things started well for us when Big Jan fired City into the lead after great work from Altidore, who held off his marker's attention strongly and laid the Dutchman on for a well taken goal. City looked fairly comfortable for the remainder of the first half, although former Man United youngster David Jones troubled the defence with his delivery from corners on several occasions. When the sides emerged fro the second half, Wolves quickly restored parity. Actually that's not true. Anthony Gardner restored parity by parodying Kamil Zayatte and slicing grotesquely into his own net. A horrible error from a normally resolute and classy centre half. Gardner was quickly redeemed though when Wolves right back Zubar mistook Jozy Altidore for a ladder in the penalty area. Mike Dean didn't hesitate in awarding the penalty, which man of the moment Hunt dispatched with consumate ease. I'll confess that at this point I thought it was job done, City would go on to close out the game and seal a vital victory. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, WRONG! Wolves equalised after yet more slack defending, as player after player was allowed too much time to pick out a pass and the Old Gold (disguised for the afternoon in White) creaked towards a goal with Matt Jarvis applying the finishing touch to a move that seemed to be going nowhere. The rest of the game was played out as if in a dream, with both teams appearing to settle for a point. Disappointing to say the least, and definitely two points dropped. Our lack of care when in the lead against Wolves this season may cost us dear, as we have been in winning positions 3 times over the 2 games and have claimed only a point from each. How vital would another 4 be?

Close the door on your way out

What looked like being a quiet day for City has become quite the opposite with several fringe players leaving the club, aiding Adam Pearson's quest to slash the club's wage bill. Peter Halmosi, Tony Warner and Daniel Cousin have all left the KC, either on loan or permanently. Having seen off Wolves's attempts to sign Stephen Hunt earlier in the day, Transfer Deadline Day looks like being a successful one for the Tigers. Hungarian flop Halmosi has left the club on loan to sign for unpronouncable Hungarian side Szombathelyi Haladas until the end of the season. We had high hopes for Hungarian Halmosi having (aliteration!) brought him to Hull from Plymouth in the close season of 2008, but he didn't show the sort of form that caught the eye whilst plying his trade in the green of Plymouth Argyle and nobody at the KC will really miss his presence on the bench. Another disappointing signing was Daniel Cousin who has, as reported earlier joined Greek club Larissa on loan until the end of the season, with a view to making the deal permanent should Cousin bother his arse to put some effort in. Warner, meanwhile, leaves the club having made only two first team appearances in 18 months. The Scouse shot stopper never really looked like replacing Bo Myhill as number 1 or Matt Duke as number 2 and so City were happy to cancel the rest of his deal.

Whilst we're talking about players who spent disappointing periods plying their trade in black and amber, Scottish flop Darryl Duffy has signed a three month loan deal at Carlisle United. Duffy, who is permanently contracted to Bristol Rovers, signed for City in January 2006 as Peter Taylor put together a Little and Large partnership of him and Jon Parkin, and later departed to Swansea City, after scoring just 3 times in 24 outings.

Larissa Explains It All?

Striking enigma Daniel Cousin continues to be linked with a move to pastures new as City look to reduce thier wage bill further, following the release of both Bryan Hughes and Tony Warner. IMScouting.com reports that Cousin will seal a move to Greek outfit Larissa this afternoon.

But with Phil Brown stating on Radio Humberside that this deal had fallen through and with Cousin looking to be lining up a move to an unnamed Turkish club instead, i this just lazy journalism? Yeah, probably. And afterall, when dealing with Cousin, lazy journalism is probably appropriate (budumtish!). I don't expect to see him sign for anyone today, and I think he'll be hanging around in the reserves until he goes somewhere new in the summer. Shame.

In other news, former City right winger Jason Price has left Millwall, signing for Oldham on a month's loan. I wouldn't fancy playing at Oldham for any longer than a month either. Boundary Park freezing at the best of times.

Edit: I've just read on the BBC's excellent Transfer Deadline Day page (which you can find here) that BBC Radio 5 live's senior football reporter Ian Dennis has just said made the following the report on air: "I understand striker Daniel Cousin will be leaving Hull City with Greek side Larissa his likely destination." Let's hope he's right!

Transfer Deadline Day

City fans celebrate the news that Stephen Hunt isn't going anywhere!

12.46
It's difficult to avoid the cloud of hyperbole, hype, disappointment and wasted time that is transfer deadline day. Thanks to Sky Sports News we know all about every deal that might be about to happen, has happened, won't happen, they want to happen and we love it don't we? I couldn't tell you why, but it's ace. Managers hate it, agents love it and the fans, starved of transfer activity for most of the season can't get enough of it. City have so far only done one piece of business of note, with Zaki joining the ranks and their only involvement on deadline day so far has been to allow Will Atkinson to extend his loan at Rochdale (link) and to tell Wolves to stick their £5 million offer for Stephen Hunt up their arse (link). Great news for the Tiger Nation. Selling Hunt would've been a hammer blow to our chances of survival, with the diminutive Irish winger scoring 6 goals and providing assists for a further 4. City have scored only 22 league goals this season, with Hunt critically involved in nearly half of them. The facts speak for themselves don't they?

I'll be posting throughout the day on any City related news or just on stories that catch my eye. Reaction to the frustrating draw with Wolves and a preview of tomorrow's game at Chelsea will follow later on tonight.

Spurs vs City reaction/ Amr Zaki/ 6 a Side

Tottenham Hotspur 0 - 0 Hull City.

Anyone who predicted that result ahead of the weekend's game was probably just taking a wild guess. City hadn't kept a clean sheet away from the KC all season and Spurs had scored 11 in their last 5 games. They probably would've added at least another 3 or 4 to that total had it been for Boaz Myhill. Now, to the Tiger Nation, Myhill has always been highly regarded and we've known for a long time that he is a top shot stopper, but his performance at White Hart Lane on Saturday was something else. 7 times Spurs tried to breach his goal. 7 times Myhill stood firm, Gandalf-like between the sticks, his every save crying out "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" Spurs, like the Balrog in Tolkien's 'Lord Of The Rings' had met their match and City's figurative sheet remained clean, pristine and unsullied. Myhill deserved nothing less after what was a truly fantastic display. He'll never play better again in his life, and I, for one, feel privileged to have witnessed such a display from a man who has been a great servant to our football club. Thanks Bo.

Whilst Myhill deservedly took the plaudits the rest of the side should be congratulated too. Let us not forget that this was only City's third point on the road this season and, as I mentioned before, the first clean sheet the Tigers have kept away from home this term. That City took anything from this game is testament to the work rate and commitment shown by each and every player wearing City's blue away strip. Craig Fagan led from the front, as always. His desire to chase lost causes was as great as ever and he worked Tottenham's centre backs whenever he could, tirelessly chasing down lost causes and hassling Bassong and the excellent Michael Dawson. Nick Barmby and Stephen Hunt provided the quality in midfield, linking up in the second half to provide City with their only real chance of note, which Barmby lashed into the side netting. Much of City's travelling contingent, myself included, leapt to celebrate an unlikely lead as soon as the ball left Barmby's boot. Unfortunately we had been deceived and quietly sat back down as the home fans hooted derision. George Boateng did an important job in front of the back four, breaking up countless attacks but when asked to produce with the ball at his feet often fell short. 'The Boat' looked knackered with half an hour to play and that he remained on the field for the remainder of the game highlights his character and desire. Geovanni didn't have his best day creatively either but the diminutive Brazilian worked tirelessly, playing a sort of game that must be entirely foreign to him. This was good to see, as it makes a case for including him in the side when he is not at his attacking best. The back four must take credit too, particularly the centre backs. Kamil Zayatte and former Spur Anthony Gardner were outstanding, displaying a willingness to put their bodies on the line in support of Myhill's quest to keep Spurs' glittering attack at bay. Anthony Gardner has always looked a classy player, but now that he has managed a run of games he is really beginning to look the part and is, in my opinion, the equal of former defensive partner Michael Turner. He'll be off to Sunderland in cut price deal soon then. Well, either that or he'll suffer a freak injury whilst tieing his shoelaces.
Spurs will feel hard done by not to have claimed more than a point from this fixture, and with the chances they created, you would really have expected them to have won comfortably but anything but a clean sheet and point would've been equally hard on Bo Myhill. A draw was a fair result in the end, and it temporarily lifted City out of the drop zone until West Ham's goalless draw at Villa Park the following day dragged them back in. But if this sort of fight and defensive discipline can be shown on a regular basis, City have every chance of pulling themselves clear. We just need a touch more quality up front.


Which is where this bloke comes in. Hull City confirmed this week the signing of powerhouse Egyptian striker Amr Zaki on loan for the remainder of the season. Voices within the media have been quick to condemn the decision to sign the challenging striker but to most City fans, it looks a good decision. What the media have failed to realise is that with the club sitting in the relegation zone and suffering financial troubles, we will not be able to bring in players without baggage. Beggars can't be choosers, after all. This is a deal that could benefit both club and player though. After impressing in the first few months of his loan spell at Wigan last season and being linked with a host of top clubs, including Chelsea and Real Madrid, things went sour for Zaki. After repeatedly arriving back to Wigan late from international duty, leading to Steve Bruce, the man who must be every rhinoplastic surgeon's wet dream, branding him the most "unprofessional player" he had ever worked with. Bruce seemed perfectly happy with Zaki when he was banging in goals for the Latics, and bang them in he did. Who can forget his magnificent volley at Anfield? So having seen his star rise and fall so quickly, Zaki went back to the wilderness with Zamalek and must now see the next few months at City as a chance to redeem himself. If he is able to score the goals that help to push City out of relegation trouble, he may get the move to a top club that he desires. If this deal proves to be a success, it can only be good for both club and player.

Finally, I'd like to end this post by wishing my good friend Ian a speedy recovery. Ian fractured his fibula last night in a freak accident after going in for a tackle during one of our 6-a-side football matches and will be in plaster for the next 6 weeks. Hopefully we'll be able to get Ian back in our line up soon, and as league champions as our team, West Hull United, is currently gunning for the league title. Whilst Ian waited for an ambulance, we were forced to carry on with the game a man light, with the game deadlocked 0-0. We demolished our opponents 5-1 in a fantastic display of counter attacking football and quality possession play. Ian's injury was not the only disappointing thing about the game though, as our opponent's goal keeper shouted a disgusting comment to his team mate during the 2nd half. In our league, slide tackling is forbidden as the astro turf is unforgiving and sliding in is dangerous to yourself and your opponent. During the second half, one of our opponent's defenders slid instinctively in an honest attempt at winning the ball but, realising his error, pulled out and missed both ball and man. A free kick was awarded anyway, prompting their keeper to shout "If you're going to slide, at least fucking hit him." Why, in a Monday night game of 6-a-side do some people feel compelled to inflict injury on people who are just trying to get some exercise and play a bit of honest competitive football with their friends? Idiotic, childish and utterly deplorable, especially as he'd seen Ian helped to the side of the pitch in the first half where he sat, awaiting an ambulance. Anyway, following our fifth goal, I reminded him of his fuckwitted comment, saying "If you're going to dive, at least fucking save it."

Thanks for reading, and if you feel you have anything to contribute please leave a comment!

Soundtrack for this post:
Gold Country by Chuck Ragan

(SideOneDummy) (2009)
Rating: 8/10

and

Build & Burn by The Loved Ones

(Fat Wreck Chords) (2008)
Rating: 8/10

Brian Laws Is A Wan.... Premier League Manger?!

Anyone for chicken?

The football world was stunned today when Brian Laws was appointed Burnley mangager. It looks a baffling appointment to the outsider and to most Burnley fans too, I'd imagine. A BBC poll taken today shows that 65% of those polled felt that Laws was the wrong man to preserve the Clarets' Premier League status, with only 16% backing the former Scunny boss. Having taken Shefield Wednesday into a releagtion fight Laws was sacked on the 13th of December last year, but a month later finds himself in the hotseat at Turf Moor. This is definitely a leftfield appointment but perhaps, when looked at a little closer. it's not as confusing as first appears. Laws did a fantastic job at Scunthorpe United, leading them to promotion from the Football League's basement division twice, with relegation in between. He left the Iron in a good position in League One to manage Wednesday and although Laws tenure saw the club slide back towards the Championship relegation zone this season, he was hampered by massive debts. Having proved himself able to work within the constraints of a small budget at Scunthorpe, Laws has been asked to do the same at Burnley. It's also a prudent appointment on Burnley's part. Clearly, Laws impressed their board otherwise he would not have been given the job but it's a low risk appointment as Laws will not command the same wages as other big name managers linked with the job. Having signed a two and a half year deal, should the need arise to sack Laws, Burnley will not be worried about the financial implications of his departure. But the Premier League is a whole different animal to the lower leagues and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be successful. Personally, I think it's only a matter of time before the man not-so-affectionately referred to as Pissy Pants by some City fans leads Burnley back to the Championship. Needless to say I can't wait to see how many food fights he instigates between now and May, and of course the chance to chant "BRIAN LAWS IS A WANKER" at the KC again is something I'm looking forward to greatly.

Incidentally, the BBC's Paul Fletcher has posted a blog concerning Laws's appointment that is well worth your time. You can read it here.

African Cup Of Nations Roundup
So the first round of group fixtures in the ACN has come and gone and it's time to look at how the City contingent has fared in their nation's opening games.
Seyi Olofinjana was an unused substitute as Nigeria limped to a 3-1 defeat to defending champions Egypt and outcast striker Daniel Cousin scored Gabon's winner in an unlikely victory against highly rated Cameroon, in an entertaining and open game. Cousin's goal brought Gabon only their second ever victory in the tournament's finals and guarantees Cousin hero status in his homeland. Unless of course he follows up his heroics with a year's worth of lazy display and only showing occasional flashes of his undoubted talent a la last season, post Arsenal. Then his international repution might be a bit more like the one he has at the KC.

That's it today. I wasn't panning on blogging until after the Tottenham game so it might be that I'm back unexpectedly tomorrow or it might be next week. It just depends on what stories break between now and the weekend! Thanks for reading, and please leave a comment if you feel that you have anything to add. It'd be nice to get a discussion going on some of the stories I've written about so far!

Soundtrack for this post:
'New Brains for Everyone' by The Brokedowns

(THICK Records) (2007)
Rating: 7/10

Preview: Spurs vs City/The African Cup Of Nations/Robbie Savage

There's a few things I'd like to cover with this entry, and I've outlined them in the title so I'll start with Robbie Savage's fantastic and, in my opinion, justified rant at a BBC Radio Derby reporter. If you've not heard it, please listen here before reading the rest of my post. It's a ten minute piece, so just take a moment or two to familiarise yourself with the story.

Before I continue then, I'll assume that you've listened to Savage's defence of his manager, Nigel Clough, and his criticism of BBC Radio Derby journalist Colin Gibson's post match coverage of Derby County's 1-4 defeat at the hands of the Scunts. Clearly, losing by 4 goals to 1 at home in any game is not good enough. Losing by 4 goals to 1 at home to Scunthorpe United is shocking. Scunthorpe United had, until the weekend's game at Pride Park won only once away from home, a 4-0 victory at Crystal Palace back in September, scoring only 9 times in 12 outings away from Glanford Shoebox. So Derby's defeat to the Iron would rankle with anyone connected with the Rams, none moreso than Robbie Savage, the club captain. Savage took umbrage with Gibson's comments after the game and decided to take him to task at a press conference. The Soccer AM favourite criticised Gibson for commenting on rumours that members of the Derby changing room did not back the capabilities of the backroom team and, in Savage's opinion, encouraging listeners to attack Derby County and spread further the feelings of dissatisfaction that are rumbling around the stands at Pride Park.
The reason I bring this up is because too many times journalists, in pursuit of a story, are able to get away with lazy journalism. Perhaps Gibson did hear rumours that Derby players were unhappy with Clough and his staff, but the correct thing to do would be to investigate these rumours and try to establish whether or not the rumours had any grounding in fact before the broadcast. You would expect better of a BBC journalist than to comment on hearsay and pupport it as fact. As Savage states in his diatribe, he would expect such a thing from the Sun or the Daily Mail, but not from the local media, who can play a huge role in encouraging support and generating goodwill towards the club's players and staff. So I say good on Robbie Savage for defending his manager and hitting out at boo happy fans. Okay, it's easy to criticise, and as somebody who unfortunately succumbed to booing the Tigers following our dismal 5-1 defeat to Colchester back in November 2006, I can understand the Derby fans' feelings but it really accomplishes nothing. It only creates more pressure and further reduces the confidence of a struggling team. Get behind the team, in good times and bad. Nobody wants to see them fail so give them a helping hand and back them to the hilt. Booing your team's players are what the opposition fans are for so to do it yourself is counter-productive.

It can't have escaped your attention that the Togo national team were attacked by terrorists on their way to their base for the African Cup of Nations in the Angolan province of Cabinda. It's easy to forget in the post-attack talk of World Cup safety and Togo's withdrawal from the tournament that three of the people who were injured on the bus have reportedly died. Football should not really be the issue, and the importance of a victory in a game is put starkly into perspective by the events of last week. Sadly the 2010 ACN will forever be remembered and tainted by this incident, but let's hope that it will also offer up positive memories, such as Mali's stunning fightback against Angola in the tournament's opening game, with Stephen Keshi's side exhibiting possibly the greatest comeback since Lazarus, or maybe even Elvis, to turn around a 4-0 deficit to draw 4 apiece and claim a vital point. Amazingly, Angola led by 4 goals as late as the 79th minute of the game. Seydou Keita's goal proved to be the turning point and sparked a fantastic revival that was capped by Mustapha Yatabare's goal that came deep into stoppage time. Even more bizarre than this though was seeing former City loanee and generally rubbish footballer Manucho score. Yes, it was a penalty but those of us who were unfortunate enough to see Manucho doing a barely passable impression of a footballer in a City shirt will realise just what an achievement this was for him.

And so we move onto the real meat and potatoes of this entry. This weekend sees City travel to deepest, darkest North London and White Hart Lane, home of Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham are still the best team I've seen this season. They visited the KC for City's first home game of the season and were devestating. Jermaine Defoe was in fantastic form and showed exactly why he will be a key member of Fabio Capello's World Cup squad this summer. He was brilliant and was joy to watch, unfortunately. He claimed a hat trick that night. Hopefully this Saturday will see Defoe in abject, listless form but that doesn't look likely. The striker has got two goals in his last two games, carrying on his great season so far. Tottenham sit in 5th place in the Premier League on the back of a blinding opening half of the season and look well placed to push all the way for a Champions League spot. Including the routine win against Peterborough United in the FA Cup 3rd Round, Tottenham's recent results point towards a team at the peak of their powers. They are without defeat in their last five games, winning each one except their fixture away at Fulham which was a goalless draw. Looking at the bigger picture, they have lost only once in the Premier League since the start of November, a 1-0 home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. In that time they have recorded eye catching victories against Manchester City (3-0) and of course Wigan Athletic (9-1). Impressively, they haven't conceded since December the 12th, with Kevin Doyle being the last player to breach their defence in that Wolves victory. This can be put down in part to Michael Dawson's recent impressive run of form, a run which has seen him emerge as contender for a seat on England's plane to Sith Ifrica.

This all makes rather bleak reading for City fans. Our own form has, somewhat predictably, suffered since Jimmy Bullard's latest injury at Villa Park. But with Bullard's return in sight, is there reason to be hopeful for the Tiger Nation? Well, yes, actually, I think there is. Ignoring the Reserves' appalling 2nd half display away to Wigan in the Cup and concentrating solely on league form, City's performances of late haven't been rewarded with the points many feel that they merited. The performance against Bolton on the 29th of December was an abject one for 70 minutes, and then Stephen Hunt decided to start playing. His two quick goals in the 71st and 78th minutes salvaged a point for the Tigers and City actually finished that game the stronger side and wouldn't have been bad value for a win that looked unlikely following Ivan Klasnic's opener and Kevin Davies's 61st minute header. The listless nature of the performance is perhaps understandable given that the team remained unchanged after the 3-1 home defeat to champions Manchester United. Looking at the result doesn't tell the full story as the herculean effort that City put into that game went unrewarded. For 90 plus minutes, they gave United no peace. The outstanding Craig Fagan led from the front as he gave Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic and torrid time and deservedly got on the score sheet as he kept his cool to net a penalty that he had played no small part in winning. Wayne Rooney, a striker who cost United more than City's entire squad, was the difference that day and City were once again left to reflect on glorious defeat. The trip to Arsenal also ended in similar circumstances, with the 3-0 scoreline again not telling the full story. For much of that game, Phil Brown got his tactics spot on and City gave their illustrious opponents a difficult time. Unfortunately, this game was a tale of poor refereeing decisions and missed opportunities. Arsenal's opener came from a beautifully struck Denilson free kick after referee Steve Bennett generously awarded Arsenal a free kick for an alleged foul on Abou Diaby. Under challenge from George Boateng, Diaby went down easier than an Amsterdam prostitute and Denilson only added to our anger by duly scoring. The second half saw City handed a similar stroke of luck when Bennett ridiculously judged that Craig Fagan had been fouled by Silvestre and awarded a penalty. But the chance to draw level was spurned, as Geovanni saw his tame effort saved by wannabe Englishman Manuel Almunia. Arsenal made the most of their luck, City didn't and were made to pay for their profligacy only moments later when Eduardo's easy finish rounded off a slick passing move. The Gooners ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in the end. On other days, City might've taken more than they got from their last three games but they didn't and this serves only to highlight the lack of quality in our ranks. With reports of Wolves firming up their interest for Stephen Hunt, this transfer window could see that situation worsen but as long as City continue to exhibit the spirit, determination and fighting qualities they have shown of late (and providing we can get the most out of Jimmy Bullard!) then they will give themselves every chance of staying in the Premier League for another seemingly unlikely season of top flight football.

So what, then, will be the outcome of the visit to White Hart Lane? Another 1-0 victory with a piece of Goevanni magic? Perhaps, but probably not. I'll go for a home win. Enjoy the game, and thanks for reading

Soundtrack for this post:
'To The Confusion Of Our Enemies' by The Riverboat Gamblers

(Volcom Entertainment/No Idea) (2006)
Rating: 5.5/10