I started the year with some quite easy ones as I'm sure you're all feeling depressed about returning to work / normality after your Christmas excesses. But be warned... there are some stinkers coming up in the next few weeks!
10. Do you remember a Danish boardgame? It's incomprehensible.
In Danish "Hüsker Dü?" (meaning “Do you remember?") is a children's memory board game. Apparently. I will rely on Chris to tell me if this is not the case.
The first rule of Saturday Snapshots is: you do not talk about Saturday Snapshots.
The second rule of Saturday Snapshots is: you DO NOT talk about Saturday Snapshots!
Third rule of Saturday Snapshots: if someone yells “stop!”, goes limp, or taps out, Saturday Snapshots is over.
Fourth rule: only two guesses to a Snapshot.
Fifth rule: one Snapshot at a time, ladies & gents.
Sixth rule: you must try to identify artist AND title from the clues below.
Seventh rule: Snapshots will go on as long as it has to. Or at least until tomorrow morning, when I'll reveal the answers.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Saturday Snapshots, you have to guess... fast! Or one of the old pros will beat you to all the answers.
10. Do you remember a Danish boardgame? It's incomprehensible.
9. Ex? Ha ha - the jokes on you!
8. Butterflies and sleepless nights in a reeky mill.
7. Rice, meat and a clump of conqueror's hair.
6. Lift streaks the sky.
5. Mum's curry for Action Men.
4. McCartney braggs about his affair with Grace.
3. If you don't turn that radiator off, a Scottish valley will sizzle.
2. Dante's contraception.
1. Comparable with Dylan? There's just no pleasing some people.
This is your life and it’s ending one minute at a time. But hopefully not before I post the answers, tomorrow morning.
This is it, then. A pretty shitty year, all told, both on the world stage and closer to home. Still, we must press on and concentrate on the things that do still bring us joy. For me, that's my boy, a constant source of fun, pride and love. And music... always there, always something to cling onto in the wreckage. Here's the best of this year's offerings, in my humble opinion, with no obvious surprise at the top...
4. Craig Finn - I Need A New War
The Hold Steady released their first album in five years, Thrashing Thru The Passion, and a fine record it was too. However, their frontman appears to have transcended the trappings of his own band, and his solo albums continue to rise into another league altogether. I Need Another War was another great example of why Craig Finn is probably the best short story writer in contemporary rock. The Raymond Carver comparison still holds true.
When they swept up all the empties the parties always seemed like such a waste
3. Jenny Lewis - On The Line
Having said all that about Craig Finn, here's someone who can actually challenge him to that short story crown... and in this case, I guess she takes the prize. Another artist who has transcended her former band (the excellent Rilo Kiley) and continues to develop in new and exciting directions. She's more musical than Craig - shades of Tom Petty, Aimee Mann and even the Shangri-Las on this record - which is why she places one step higher. But it was a close call.
I had tickets to see Jenny Lewis this summer - my only gig of the year. Then I ended up having to move house and missed the gig. Dag-nabbit.
2. Lukas Nelson - Turn Off The News And Build A Garden
Song of the year right here. The rest of the album was pretty bloody amazing too, showing a diversity of styles most country / Americana artists would struggle to display. All those years gigging with Neil Young, and his dad, have obviously paid off for Willie's boy. There's even a bit of Jeff Lynne in this record. Stylish and poppy - a difficult trick to pull off these days.
My Top Three Bruce Springsteen Albums are, in ever-changing order: Born To Run, Nebraska and Tunnel of Love. Who's have thought that thirty-plus years after the most recent of those, he'd have delivered a challenger for the coveted Number Four position? But if you're gonna go draw new water from the well, choosing a well in Jimmy Webb's backyard is a masterstroke...
Top Track: Are you kidding me? I could sit here all night trying to work that one out. Here's this week's favourite...
Happy New Year, everyone. I'd like to hope 2020 will be better than 2019, but I've reached the age where I realise that's pretty unlikely. Still, humanity may yet prove me wrong.
Thank you to the good people who read this blog, who keep me company in the darkness. Your visits are always much appreciated. Be well.
It points at all the problems that it don't understand
It points at Parisians across the sea
It points at anybody who thinks different than me
If you're marching to your own drum or kneelin' in the news
My wild pointy finger prob'ly pointin' right at you
Best lyrical explanation this year of why the world's going to hell in a handbasket...
6. Tullycraft - The Railway Prince Hotel
Thanks go to Brian for turning me on to this lot in a big way this year. Witty, literate lyrics and poppy harmonies made this an irresistible summer listen. Plus, they steal part of Paradise By The Dashboard Light in the song below, so bonus points for that.
They shot their disapproving glances like a gatling gun
I couldn't vocalize the words that rested on my tongue
You never let yourself forget that this was passing
I'm sure you're not the only one
5. The Divine Comedy - Office Politics
Edit out three wearisome gag tracks which outstay their welcome after the first couple of listens and this is another great Divine Comedy album... though not quite as inspirational as Neil's last, Foreverland. It's a concept album set in an office... yet peek below the sitcom facade and it has quite a bit to say about Little England and the workaday world that inspired Brexit. Morrissey should give it a listen.
