russt68

I think the whole idea is that 'LDR' DOES actually live an empty shell of a life, like a cross between a JT Leroy book character and a David Lynch big screen tragi-starlet. At times lollipop-sucking shallow, vapid and stoopid, at others, lyrically quite profound and gorgeous. I really, really love this album, but I agree, if you're looking to find the 'person', the 'artist', then we're onto a loser because she's not there - this is a girl in character. And I like that - it's like artists have done for years, creating a whole persona, a mask...... probably most successfully achieved by Bowie as Ziggy Stardust 126 years ago. And let's not forget, Bowie killed Ziggy off onstage... so... hmm.. perhaps that live performance was Lizzie slaughtering 'Lana' for the world to see? ;)

I'm still awaiting arrival of mine... but as album artists, they're normally a bit patchy - not so with this one, then?

I'm still waiting delivery of 'Wonky'... but, like I've mentioned on another thread - surely one of THE most beautiful album covers I've ever seen..... stunning.

well done leww.... great work... and also..... HOW beautiful is the new Orbital album cover? One of the best I've seen in years - nice to see it as your sig.

The Wilson Phillips video makes me laugh... there's the two skinny ones flaunting about in skimpy clothes... whilst the dumpy one's in a big smock stranded on the beach, bless her....

10 A (by a mile) 9 D 8 J 7 B 6 F 5 H 4 C 3 I 2 E

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/blissfulignorance_2008/richardhawley.jpg

When you consider the absolute career-highlight classics the Nanas released in this eligible period (for classic pop, does it ever get any better than Preacher Man, Only Your Love, Long Train Running? Definitely not), it's quite shameful that their weakest ever single is here, britain's best ever girlband are sorely misrepresented here.... And 'Help', the other song to feature later on, really isn't much better. What a shame.

A best-ever, I reckon. Stunning.

That's a SERIOUSLY great winner this week... all the top 3, in fact, totally brilliant. :heart:

10 B 9 D 8 E 7 C 6 F 5 G 4 I 3 H

Mary's Prayer... a truly great song.... bit of an all-time classic, really....

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/blissfulignorance_2008/madonnamdma.jpg

The Vinyl Factory are releasing another of their gorgeous limited 12"s for this release...... white vinyl, seriously limited. I have to say, I'm not keen on the single mix of NLMG... the album verson packs far more of a punch, the single version sounds a bit... demo-ish?

fchd is SPOT ON..... you can try to be a gay icon..... but true 'icons' are ones who fight for their cause, not ones who desperately court it. Geri isn't sassy, classy or ballsy enough to be a gay icon - period. And she 'didn't know about Margaret Thatcher's comments'? They weren't some throwaway comment - it was a whole bill that rocked the gay community in the late 80s called Section 28, which was an incredibly homophobic and fascistic policy that basically criminalised the promotion of homosexuality (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_28). The tabloids championed it at the time saying it stopped schools promoting homosexuality (which middle England and Daily hate Mail readers absolutely lapped up)- however, the main body odf the bill was the complete cutting off of funding for any theatre productions with a whiff of a gay theme, gay bars and clubs were not allowed to publicise their events anywhere, many gay charities were cut down and funding ceased..... it was an incredibly damaging and cruel bill that Cameron has since apologised for... and one that was spearheaded by none other than Geri's 'heroine' Margaet Thatcher - and one she knew absolutely full well about unless she was living under a rock in the 80s.

The one that sneaked up on me was Off To The Races... initially I dismissed it as a bit of filler, a bit limp, too poppy by half..... but, again, lyrically, she turns a seemingly simple song into something amazing..... from a definite lowlight to one of my album favourites.

She wasn't, no..... Jill Halfpenny played Beverley, Joe Absolom played the neighbour's brutish husband, the dark curly haired girl from Two Pints of Lager played the dopey wife, and some guy from Ghost Stories played Beverley's husband.... it was a seriously great play...... and Geri seemed to love it. I was shocked how small and old she looks in real life... how old does she claim to be nowadays? As for Geri being a 'gay icon'.... no way. Yes, she recorded Its Raining Men, and yes, she fronted Britain's 2nd best ever pop girlband.... but a gay icon? Absolutely utterly not. She's done absolutely nothing for the gay movement.... and let's not forget, this is a woman who named Margaret Thatcher as her 'heroine'... the same Margaret Thatcher who attempted to criminalise being gay in the 1980s...so a gay icon? Only if you're stupid, I think.

10 C 9 B 8 E 7 A 6 F 5 I 4 H 3 D 2 G

Sex tape? SEX tape? She sucks as well as she sings....ie.... atrociously. As a good friend of mine said after watching it "It's like watching a dog eat hot chips".

Geri Halliwell sat next to me (with her GORGEOUS boyf) at the theatre last Saturday night...... watchng the brilliant Jill Halfpenny in Abigail's Party at the Chocolate Factory in London. Crikey, she's SO tiny.... and old looking.

She's released one of the worst singles of her career as a lead single...and the second single is even worse.... so casual observers will avoid like leprosy. Of course, the loons will buy it regardless (and so will I)..... but you really have to question what she's thinking with these first 2 singles... especially when there FAR FAR better tracks on the album...... :blink: :angry:

Thanks Jake... that's stunning by the way...

The album is my album of the decade so far...... but I think Blue Jeans is the weakest track on it.... National Anthem or the superb Off To The Races over Blue Jeans any day of the week. Some of the songs on the album might pass you by until you read the lyrics - lyrically, she's nothing short of fantastic. And forget Tarantino - she sounds like the best soundtrack David Lynch hasn't used yet...... shocked at folk calling her a 'one-trick pony' - perhaps they haven't listened to the album......

It could get bumpy ;)

Naaaa.... the thought of sitting through a Steps gig with a load of old camp gayers doing the routines makes me feel physically ill..... I can see Dead or Alive and Bananarama in provincial gay clubs across the land most weekends of the year ;)