Ed’s note: Bloody hell, 2 Chevrons, that’s an understated link to the news scoop of the month! In case anyone hasn’t realised, that could be the first spot of the new album out in the wild. No appearance yet on the Probe Plus site though.
Vendor’s link shows a release date of September 19. Hopefully the good people at Probe Plus might have some news before long but all the signs are that the wait is almost over.
Bisodol – indigestion relief tablets with a unique triple active formula which quickly and effectively neutralise excess acid in the stomach, it says here. Featured in the lyrics of “Tommy Walsh’s Eco House”: I’ve taken ninety Bisodol/I’ve had a bellyful of Tommy Walsh’s Eco House.
Crimond – hymn tune best known for its use with The Lord’s My Shepherd (Psalm 23). The tune titles are often put in brackets after the name of a psalm or hymn to let the congregation know what, er, tune it’s going to be sung to. So you see “The Lord’s My Shepherd (Crimond)“.
16 August 2011
Mr Larrington
Not in time for my holibobs chiz
16 August 2011
chesneywold
Just wanna woo some hoo at the news. I’m sure miss jean brodie utters ‘(summat) crimond!’ to a man on a piano in a glass smithering voice in the near-eponymous film.
16 August 2011
Neil G
At last! I’m having fun already, just looking at the song titles (assuming they’re all for real). Rock and Roll is full of bad wools. What the heck is that all about? No, please don’t tell me your theories, Charles. I’d like to have a listen to it first and work it out for myself.
A little joy has found its way into my otherwise dark and depressed heart. Hurrah!
16 August 2011
John Burscough
Woo, as you say, hoo.
(Wool, on the other hand, presumably refers to woollybacks, natives of Cheshire + Lancashire, much like my good self).
Just gave the new LP 5 out of 5 stars on Virgin Media.
I don’t have an advance copy or anything, simply down to the fact I’m more excited than a monkey with 2 dicks.
16 August 2011
Strumski
I recall buying the last album at Ulverston which was a week before release if I remember correctly so may be a decent chance of picking it up in Leamington Spa.
16 August 2011
Dave F.
Excellent news, made my day.
Do you think that track 1 could be a typographical error?
Could it be bank instead of back?
Crimond is also a village in Scotland, but i’m sure refers to the hymn in this context.
16 August 2011
Charles Exford
I’ll try not to spoil your fun Neil, though I’m pretty sure others will post their own particular refinements on John’s info about the dialect term. But if nobody gets it spot-on within a few weeks (including full etymology and differences in use between L’pool and Wirral), I might then, reluctantly you understand, have to step in.
I will just point out that NB57 has used the phrase “bad wools” live at least once (see if memory serves that Leeds 2009 Youtube version of A Country Practice that Chris posted in the Lux Cup Final thread).
16 August 2011
toffo 78 huyton
Only HMHB can get me reaching for the good book. (psalms 23). A bad day at the office just got suddenly better………….
16 August 2011
Third Rate Les
Woo hoo!
Well done to the Information Service.
16 August 2011
Third Rate Les
That Crimond thing’s quite an obscure reference. I play in a church band and I didn’t get it. Maybe it’s more of a C of E thing.
Still, like I said, woo hoo!
16 August 2011
Charles Exford
Far from rare to see “Psalm 23 (Crimond)” appear on the screen during Songs of Praise and suchlike.
Those three words also seem to be one of,the most common listings on the orders of service at funerals.
16 August 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Crimond is the name of the hymn tune that the 23rd Psalm is usually sung along to by English speaking congregations. It is the tune that most of us will recognise as that ‘Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want’ song which is mumbled in draughty crematoria from Wick to Zeal Monachorum on a daily basis. The reason that the name of the tune is often appended is that the Psalm can be sung to alternate tunes, such as the Brother James Air, which is a somewhat more groovy and up-tempo treatment, probably lacking the solemnity needed whilst entrusting unto God the souls of those who have, for example, recently jumped off the roof of Dignitas or inadvertently consumed anti-freeze. It would, no doubt, cause mourners unnecessary embarrassment if faced with 23rd Psalm (No Tune Given) they launched into entirely the wrong version. I can see the cheeks reddening to a rosy glow as the result of such an Ecclesiastical faux pas. Hence the brackets.
17 August 2011
TWO FAT FEET
I have seen some fairly rotten things at the back of Iceland, usually with Bernard Matthews’ name on.
17 August 2011
Third Rate Les
So Crimond is the usual one that goes “The Looooord’s my-y sheeeeepher-erd Iiiii’ll not waaaant” whereas the Brother James one is presumably the one that goes “THEEE lord’s my SHEEEPherd I’LL not WANT” – you gotta wonder about the scanning when the initial “The” is stressed.
The “Something’s Rotten” line is a corker and generally it’s fun to imagine the songs just from the title. “Fix it so she dreams of me” is a cracker of a title, while I had to look up “Stiperstones” (and one to add to the HMHB List of Hills & Mountains as a matter of urgency)
17 August 2011
bobbin
ooh listed on vinyl on amazon too
about bloody time
first since trouble over bridgwater lp?
17 August 2011
Charles Exford
Love the way some of these phrases and snippets start to emerge up to two years before the songs, like when a song at Shrewsbury about 18 months ago (not a new one) was introduced with “this is a song about descending the Stiperstones.”
Added to the list of ‘Blackwells’ to ascend & then descend they shall be, with who knows what other Moels and trig points.
18 August 2011
DT
Don’t know how fresh this is but Amazon has 30 second samplers. I don’t remember seeing this last night.
18 August 2011
TEA FOR TOXTETH
It sure does feel something of a priveledge to be able to “get on” the “bad wool” reference without thinking it was about a misbehaving sheep or a dodgy aran cardi. It’s like I’ve just stumbled upon a private party and been made to feel welcome. Sometimes you just can’t beat a bit of regional phrasing.
18 August 2011
Just Sayin’
The Lord is my shepherd….And he’s a bad wool!
18 August 2011
Chris The Siteowner
SPOILER ALERT
Good spot, DT: go to the Amazon page and the “samples” links give you 30 seconds of each song. Kinda spoils the surprise in a way. But who can resist?
Tantalising “spoken bit” hinted at in “Descent Of The Stiperstones”…
18 August 2011
Charles Exford
I’ve never been a lad likely to want to watch a match that’s already finished without knowing the result, but I know there are many such out there. So I too will say THIS POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!
Anyway it seems from the sample that track 12 is indeed an extension of the scenario laid out in the fourth minute of that Leeds ’09 version of A Country Practice on that YouTube clip. As one who doesn’t have Sky but is aware enough of the horrors of the offending programme, I chuckled loudly to myself (CLTM) last week when I noticed the official Tranmere website was appealing for eight misguided souls to represent the club on last Saturday’s edition. I don’t doubt they found eight particularly bad wools. Anyone see it?
And apropos of my comment above, “Gok Wan Acolytes” is another phrase that had some live outings a year or two ago.
18 August 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
It’s coming home
It’s coming home
It’s coming
Korfball’s coming home
Although with the possible exception of 1991, it never went away.
18 August 2011
Charles Exford
Why do I get the feeling that the lyrics on this album will leave us with very little to quibble over beyond a few days after its release?
So should we maximise the quibbling over the 6 Music session versions while we can? It _is_ “she hangs about the laurel walk” by the way.
And in order to guarantee the maximum amount of quibbling, I intend to botch together an incomplete and probably almost totally inaccurate transcription of that terrible live recording of ‘Excavating Rita’ sometime soon. Probably tomorrow, when I more or less break up for Xmas.
I notice that the sample from that track on Amazon is the only bit that was already clear in the live version, which is all good for the quibbling of course.
18 August 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
I see your Laurel Walk and I’ll raise you a pair of Long Walks.
Asda & Tesco have it as 19th Sep. In time for my hol’s on 22nd, cracking!
18 August 2011
Charles Exford
But can we just stress – do not order through such corporate links but please order it direct from Probe, so Geoff and the lads get virtually all the money instead of virtually not much of it ??? We’ll get this confirmed very soon, but as Chris has said it WILL be available first through Probe.
18 August 2011
S.G.D A SHROPSHIRE LAD
Little to quibble over lyricwise maybe, but which is the best way from Snailbeach car park to Montgomery? do you go Bentlawnt,Fishpool,Hyssington or even Priest Weston?
18 August 2011
renny
much rather buy it from probe plus. we need details ! lol
18 August 2011
Steve N
Not sure if any of the links above have got this, but the Amazon site now has those 30sec samples attached (+ artwork) http://amzn.to/ob8FLt
18 August 2011
Richard
I would love to get it from Probe, providing they can guarantee it arrives before I fly away on 22nd, I’m not leaving the country without it!
If not I’ll probably by 2 anyway, 1 form whoever can get it to me quickest, and the 2nd from probe (so the lads get their fair share), oh and probably on download form iTunes as well, just for good measure.
18 August 2011
The Black Rat
Looking forward to driving my wife even more bonkers than she already is. Apparently HMHB ‘don’t play proper music’. She’d much rather listen to Shane Richie. I don’t mind irking the purists, but that’s several steps too far.
18 August 2011
John Burscough
I notice there’s no catalogue number against the listing for ’90B (C)’ (as I propose to refer to it) at the top of the page. For what it’s worth, the CD release info on the Japanese website above (post 161) gives the number as Probe65.
19 August 2011
Gregg Z
I’d like to add my voice to the chorus beseeching everyone to buy from Probe Plus. I’ve no problem with sending my greasy foreign money to Geoff and the lads. ‘Course I’ll gladly keep the Amazon song samples on a continuous loop ’til 19th Sept.
Near as I can tell from the truncated bits I’ve heard (coupled with the radio sessions), looks like a very solid effort, possibly spectacular. 9 of the 12 tracks sound like First Division efforts (the only ones on first listen that didn’t stick were “Excavating Rita”, “Fun Day in the Park” and “The Coroner’s Footnote”), but I can hang.
Difficult to compare anything new to the DHSS-era stuff, but I’m predicting “90 Bisodol” will fit in only behind “Achtung Bono” & “Cammell Laird S.C.”. Hardly feint praise, as those are about the two greatest LPs ever made.
19 August 2011
Gregg Z
While we’re at it, those Amazon samples feel less like 30 seconds and more like ten seconds.
I can hear the sniggering already…
19 August 2011
Richard
A mention on Gez’s Half Man Half Biscuit Home Page now, nothing about availability though
19 August 2011
Strumski
Been a while since i saw HMHB so have decided to travel from Scotland for the Leamington gig, hopefully album will be on sale then )
Any of the new ones been played at any of the recent gigs?
21 August 2011
TWO FAT FEET
Excavating Rita was played at Shepherds Bush, all the ones on last year’s 6Music session have also been played live at least once since the broadcast.
21 August 2011
Norbert D
Very, very flat/dry sound on those samples. This album seems to have been produced like an early 80s Fall LP, which is no bad thing (and a nice change after the rockin’ pomp of the last record) except it seems to suck some of the power out of the stompers. “Tommy Walsh’s Eco House” sounds a bit cardboardy on the Amazon site compared to the session version, doesn’t it? Hopefully it’ll work when you listen to the whole thing in one go.
23 August 2011
Webbster
Just wandered past the Probe Plus online store and it says:
**STOP PRESS!!!
Brand new HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT album ’90 Bisodol (Crimond)’ is out 26th September!!
The album will be released on CD & Limited Edition vinyl & CD package. Please e-mail us for more info:
Good spot. Looks like a bit of a “work in progress”. I’ve emailed them to ask for details on ordering as soon as possible and will push them out to everyone who’s on our own mailing list here as soon as I’ve got them.
24 August 2011
Mal Practice
A tisket, a tasket, I added it to my basket
But the £2.10 shipping fee was also added, despite the promise of free delivery, so I emptied the basket and sent Probe Plus a cheque instead.
24 August 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Yep, they still haven’t got this new-fangled inter web thingy right. It’s programmed not to add any postage, then the system doesn’t allow that and insists on adding £2.10 right at the death. I’ve emailed Geoff about it, although if anyone has a hotline to the source, please make the same point. Once this is fixed, we can all put our orders in. According to Gez via the HMHB Yahoo! Group Mailing List, “release date is 26 Sept, although (Geoff) should be taking delivery of them around the middle of next week” (1st September?) so we’ll get our copies quickest through the Probe Plus Store. Stay tuned.
If they don’t fix it tomorrow, I shall join Mal (above) and just send ‘em a cheque.
24 August 2011
Toffo
Think I’ll pop into Probe on the 26th. Then a few pints in the ‘Post Office’ pub to celebrate this special occasion.
25 August 2011
Mr Larrington
Probe’s webby SCIENCE has never been particularly impressive. It took me ages to persuade it that I wanted a copy of “CSI: Ambleside” though at least when it did drop onto my doormat it had a hand-written note scribbled on the packaging – Geoff checking that I knew about the SBE gig. He then e-mailed a few days later to make sure I’d got it. You don’t get that from the boss of EMI…
25 August 2011
Richard
I ordered it anyway and paid the P&P, can’t be arsed to quibble over £2.10 or send a cheque (who still owns a cheque book?), just hope it arrives before 22nd when depart this country
25 August 2011
Ceri
Zeitgeist line at Cardiff last night was definitely “capturing the zeitgeist,… widening the motorway”.
Shame really, I kind of liked “wankening” as a new verb.
26 August 2011
Charles Exford
Oh dear, I am by instinct an educationalist, so confusion and misinformation has forced my hand earlier than I had hoped. So as not to spoil things for Neil G., I have published an explanation of “Bad Wools” in Another Place.
26 August 2011
Richard
I feel like I’ve cheated myself by listening to all the samples on Amazon. I’d actually gotten so used to the Marc Riley versions, like the slightly inferior recorded garage rock style was actually a part of it.
28 August 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Right, they’ve done the smart thing and reduced the price at the Probe Plus Online Store, so when the system adds on the postage, it now comes to the price they wanted to charge with free postage, which is £9.25.
As of this morning, it said there were 126 copies in stock, but it also said they wouldn’t be despatched until 23 September. With the last album, however, they came earlier from Probe Plus than the promised delivery date.
As Charles has already mentioned (above), it can only be assumed that the band make more money from CDs bought through the Probe Plus store than they do through any other outlet, so you might feel that’s the best place to get your copy (as well as potentially the one from where you’ll get it earliest). Payment is through PayPal, and the system appears to work, as I just got the instant email confirmation of my order.
And a CD is just a lot nicer thing to have than an MP3, don’t you agree? Think of it as a permanent MP3 backup.
Later today I’m mailing the information above to everyone who’s on this site’s mailing list, as well as a few refuseniks who’ve contributed here but never joined the email list. As that’s well over 500 people, the 126 copies may go fast. Apologies.
28 August 2011
Charles Exford
Good work, Chris.Looks like you’ve sold 20 of those already in less than 2 hours !
Pobe Plus Emloyee of the Month?
28 August 2011
S.G.D A SHROPSHIRE LAD
“Pobe Plus Emloyee “?
Left letters in the practise room or a heavy night?
28 August 2011
S.G.D A SHROPSHIRE LAD
oops practice.
Does anyone have any more information on the vinyl version?
28 August 2011
Dave Wiggins
“Permanent MP3 backup”. *doffs cap……….
29 August 2011
Little Frank
The artwork on the Probe store has gone white, rather than black…
29 August 2011
Charles Exford
Looks the same to me but I suppose if it was deep snow when you got to Dignitas then Bisodol wouldn’t do the job at all.
90 slices of burnt toast maybe.
29 August 2011
Little Frank
Hmm, gone back again! How odd. It was like a negative version of the black artwork.
30 August 2011
PROBLEM CHIMP
Ordered…
Already counting down the days until it arrives (hopefully early!!)
1 September 2011
Charles Exford
I make it 165 copies ordered on that particular online system since Chris posted out about it 7 days ago. Not bad for word-of-mouth & e-mail.
I’m reliably informed Geoff has finally taken delivery of the finished product within the last few days, though his comrades in the shop denied it yesterday when I popped in. They just knew there had been some sort of tyical having-to-print-all-the-covers-again-type last-minute delay.
4 September 2011
2 Chevrons
And 1 more copy for me to add to the list. Also bought a copy of McIntyre, Treadmore and Davitt and a Trouble Over Bridgewater t-shirt. Looking forward to receiving my package in the post – I’ll look for a trail of elastic bands dropped by the postman.
4 September 2011
gordo
I’ve ordered my copy even though it will arrive about the same time I’ll be up home on the Wirral for a few days. For once I’ll be looking forward to going back to that London
4 September 2011
Mark
Ordered my copy – only 27 left apparently.
6 September 2011
Nick Walters
Help! I’m trying to order it but the Probe Plus site won’t let me.
I add it to the basket, but when I click “view basket” it tells me “Your shopping cart is currently empty.”
Yet when I hit Back I find that there are 3 copies in my basket!
I’ve registered, but that does nothing to help.
Any ideas?!
Nick W
6 September 2011
Nick Walters
Please disregard previous post – managed to order it now. The Internet clearly hates me, it knew I asked for help and wanted me to look a foole.
Nick W
6 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
Don’t worry, it’s not just you that had that problem! At one point I had two copies of Bisodol and two copies of Bridgewater in separate baskets (Bridgewater wasn’t entirely by accident, I lost my copy years ago in mysterious and potentially embarrassing circumstances and have never got round to replacing it with a physical copy. What this means is that I have now bought Visitor For Mr Edmonds three times).
6 September 2011
Paul F
I had the same problem but got there eventually.
7 September 2011
John Burscough
A tisket, a tasket, a Biscuit in a basket…
7 September 2011
Charles Exford
Exciting! I’m as excited as a great big old thing that used to be cited. Hope we get Excavating Rita. As i’ve given up on anything but a partial transcription of the Shepherd’s Bush version, I can only comment on the music so far. Reminscent of Pixies meets Boz Boorer I thought. One of Neil Crossley’s finest?
7 September 2011
Charles Exford
Oh, sh*t. Is it that time already? It was ‘Fun day in the Park’ and I’d already missed it when I switched over.
What time is the listen again listenable?
7 September 2011
Charles Exford
Looking at Gid’s pages and had my first ever look at that twitter. can see it does have its uses then. Did notice Gid only replied to pop star Eddie about the album release date, not to the plebs.
Exquisite. The posh Parr Street production on that final refrain definitely worth waiting all these months for.
I’m off to bombard the Boy Lard with requests for Excavating Rita. Anyone care to join me?
8 September 2011
Charles Exford
The album is showing out of stock at the moment because Geoff, bless him, doesn’t know how to tell the computer it’s sitting on top of boxes of about 5,000 copies.
The junior clerk should be able to sort things out before Lard further increases demand this evening!
8 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
If he’s got all these copies, and Gid’n'Lard can have theirs, why can’t we have ours? (He said, looking once again forlornly at the measly post which arrived this morning)
8 September 2011
Simon
Any word on whether it’ll be on sale at Leamington next week?
8 September 2011
Charles Exford
It’s a contractual thing with the distributors, apparently.
Yes it’s better if we all order through Probe, but they can’t piss off the distributors & other suppliers by sending out those copies early.
So officially there’s no way to get hold of it before release date … but let’s say (if this was a forum I’d go into that dead funny invisibly tiny font and you’d all have to press C++ or something) I’d be surprised if there wasn’t a bit of a leak somewhere in the Warwickshire area next week.
Incidentally the vinyl edition at £16.95 with P&P includes yer CD as well and will make a lovely obviously LP-shaped bulge in someone’s Xmas stocking.
8 September 2011
Gregg Z
This proves I should never judge a new HMHB LP by 10-second samples on Amazon. After hearing these snippets, I reckoned 9 of the 12 songs were gems, and that “Fun Day in the Park” was not among them.
Well after hearing the full song on Gideon Coe’s show, my shame is immeasurable. Superb stuff, as usual.
Reminds me of a sort of a one-eyed “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite”.
8 September 2011
Gregg Z
While we’re on it, wonder if Geoff could ship my copy right away, as there’s zero chance of pissing off any retail outfits here in the US, with such leakage.
Why not give the Yank a pre-release fortnight to take a wack at figuring out the lyrics? Think of the comedic potential for all involved.
Come on, no sympathy for Uncle Gregg?
8 September 2011
Charles Exford
Band apparently not best pleased with the samples on Amazon either. But all part of the distribution cartel thing. For those who like their trade rough and all that.
Lard’s probably chosen his track for the 7pm show by now, but anyone else want to e-mail and tell him the we-couldn’t-hear-the-lyrics-at-Shepherd’s-Bush-and-we’ve -been-waiting-3-months sob story? marc.6music@bbc.co.uk
8 September 2011
Peter Gandy
The campaign for Excavating Rita worked then Charles.
8 September 2011
Charles Exford
Yes, here at Exford Towers we’re quietly celebrating 35 years of DJs who secretly knew all along that all the correspondence was from the same person, but it suited their purposes to go along with apparent popular demand.
Anyway – hooray, the lyrics aren’t all going to be that easy after all – even the bits I still don’t get are exactly the same bits they already were from the Shepherd’s Bush bootleg
8 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
“Excavating Rita” …10 minutes in. Preceded by Exxo referring to his alter ego (q.v.)
8 September 2011
Third Rate Les
“My mate Charlie”? From “Nigel”? Ah – the one in Leeds.
That’s a belter – “Subterranean lovesick blues” indeed.
9 September 2011
poolio
Ordered… dribbling with giddyness…
Note to self: do not listen to excerpts / read lyrics from internet… live in box for next 17 days…
10 September 2011
Flint
A tenner, or perhaps £9.25, says there’s No Hiding Place.
I’ll track you down and sing the lyrics outside your bedroom/office. I have sandwich boards and unlimited access to a photocopier. I’m prepared to charter an ancient Tiger Moth for as much sky-writing as it takes. You’ll never make it through to the 26th.
11 September 2011
John Burscough
Good on you, Poolio. You’ll have to do me too, Flint. Back To Waiting For LPs To Come Out!
11 September 2011
Norbert D
Had a sneaky listen to the whole LP the other night (round at the house of a mate “in the biz” who has an advance copy). Shan’t spoiler, except to say that a.) it’s very good, b.) the Amazon samples really don’t reflect the sound of the LP, it sounds much nicer and less demo-like than that, c.) “Excavating Rita” is totally brilliant, but you already knew that, d.) all three of us in the room were on the verge of standing to applaud after “Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools”, another anti-musician rant which is probably the angriest and most menacing HMHB and NB in particular have ever sounded on record. Hope they do it live.
I didn’t hear a “National Shite Day”, by which I mean an obvious classic of epic proportions. But the quality is very high all the way through and even the throwaway tracks like “Fun Day In The Park” are done so nicely they’re not really throwaways, so it’s probably more consistent than any previous Biscuits LP. The weakest tracks are probably the songs from the 6Music session, which gives you some idea. In fact the only (relative) disappointment for me was “Tommy Walsh”, which sounded much less powerful than the session version and seems to have been chucked away a bit, considering what a great song it is. Although he gets all the words right this time. And yeah, it’s “laurel walk”.
12 September 2011
Norbert D
Oh, and so as not to get anyone into trouble, I should point out that “a sneaky listen” means just that, and the CD was filed away immediately afterwards. I’m now waiting until release date for my next go just like everyone else… and it’s going to be a long wait, because what I remember of “Joy In Leeuwarden” has been going round my head ever since and WILL NOT go away. Pretty frustrating when you can’t remember any of the words so you’ve just got the chorus going round and round in your head on a loop, soundtracking your insomnia…
12 September 2011
Charles Exford
Well if advance copies go out to be played on the radio, etc., I can’t see you getting anyone into trouble with any amount of hyping it up and whetting the appetite there, Norb. Geoff told me the other day that this this album is getting about three times as much interest as ‘CSI Ambleside’ at the same stage by the way. But as of about a week ago NB57 himself hadn’t actually heard or got hold of the album yet, which should make the rest of us feel better.
And talking of promotional hyping, can I quote you anonymously all over the interweb, about “R&RIFOBW” ?
12 September 2011
Norbert D
Yeah, I was just being paranoid on my lunch break. I do it a lot. Quote me all over the place (it couldn’t help but be anonymous anyway, really).
12 September 2011
Charles Exford
Pish and tish and tarnation. I knew it would be Lamacq’s turn today so I mithered him for ‘Bad Wools.’
And I think he’s just compared the general feel of the album to that of ‘This Leaden Pall’ !
12 September 2011
Charles Exford
Now Lard playing Tommy Walsh (13 minutes into the programme)… says he spoke Geoff and the lads don’t want to do another session ‘cos it wouldn’t be different enough from the last one.
12 September 2011
Charles Exford
2 tracks within one hour then yesterday evening – that’s quite a tribute, and indeed they might even get their wrists slapped for that. Gideon says it’s his turn again tonight.
13 September 2011
Dave F.
I have to say I’m a mite disappointed that, even on 6music, HMHB are still considered to be ‘evening radio’.
Maybe a line should be dropped to Radcliffe & Maconie (& the others) to persuade them to finally play a track or two since the pair mentioning them so often.
When someone next bumps into Geoff or the band could they ask if they’re doing any promotion at all for this record please?
It would seem a bit weird if they didn’t; that last session was 13 months ago.
13 September 2011
Dave F.
Having said that I assume it will be 6 music’s album of the day nearer the release date.
13 September 2011
Charles Exford
@ Dave F.
Three of the 6Music presenters excitedly played tracks on their shows within 24 hours of getting their CDs in the post from Geoff, and 2 of them have already played 2 songs each in less than a week. And unless it does become album of the day or get a ‘single’ playlisted, there are limits as to how many times the station can favour one artiste over the course of a day. Informal rules which I think they broke yesterday in fact by playing 2 tracks in an hour.
I’d expect Radcliffe & Maconie to get onto it in due course. I’ve already sent a couple of e-mithers to them meself, eg when they mentioned the old Matthew Street Probe shop in a discussion of the whole Eric’s scene on last Friday’s show.
Overall it’s been very impressive support from 6Music, with the (unrequited) offer of a session and all.
As an aside, I note that Lamacq got the label name wrong yesterday, despite trying to show off by citing ‘This Leaden Pall.’ If I didn’t know he was a proper Colchester United supporter I’d have him down as a Bad Wool.
13 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
If the weakest tracks are those from the 6Music session, ergo there must be eight tracks on there which are better than RSVP. That would be worth listening to, because I don’t think there have previously been eight tracks better than RSVP across their entire recorded output.
13 September 2011
Norbert D
Your mileage may etc etc. Never been much of a fan of “RSVP” myself, so there you go. I did think the album version was much better than the session, though. They’ve given it a proper folky arrangement, which sounded fantastic.
And “Tommy Walsh’s Eco House” is obviously a brilliant song, even if the LP version is a bit underwhelming. But “Left Lyrics” and “L’Enfer”, coming one after the other, really did seem like a bit of a drop-off, and I don’t think either of them is a bad song. But they come in between that run of “Excavating Rita”, “Fun Day In The Park” and “Descent Of The Stiperstones” (which is a long spoken-word job with a big sweeping Hammond organ arrangement, and it’s a bit special), and before “Fix It So She Dreams Of Me”, which definitely stood out as another highlight.
That’s pretty much wrung the last few drops from my memory of the album, anyway. Order placed, waiting.
13 September 2011
Charles Exford
‘Something’s Rotten in the Back of Iceland’ about 44 and a half minutes into Gideon’s show here, although don’t forget these links will self-destruct in 7 days.
14 September 2011
John Burscough
Let’s hope we have our own permanent MP3 back-ups by then.
14 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
My thanks to Paddy Shennan of the Liverpool Echo, for allowing us to reproduce today’s column below. Warning: lots of spoilers, so if you’d rather the first time you heard that XXXXXX was mentioned in a song was when you heard that song, look away now.
THE BARD OF BIRKENHEAD STRIKES AGAIN
Paddy Shennan column, Liverpool Echo, Wed September 14
I BUMPED into Father Christmas on Saturday night.
It was the perfect end to a perfect day – barring Aston Villa’s late equalizer and a truly embarrassing piece of anti-journalism by Martin Samuel in the Daily Mail, which must have encouraged many to join the Blue Union march outside Goodison Park.
But Lancashire County Cricket Club had enjoyed a thrilling victory at Aigburth and I was in The Caledonia, nearing the end of a magnificent mini-pub crawl, where a thoughtful member of the bar staff was playing an album by The Fall in its entirety.
And then Geoff Davies, the godfather of Merseyside’s independent music scene, walked over and gave me a present.
Yes, let joy be unconfined because, after more than three long years, a new Half Man Half Biscuit album – 90 Bisodol (Crimond) – will hit the shops in 12 days time.
Life truly is worth living!
Eight years ago, ECHO readers voted the Birkenhead band’s singer, Nigel Blackwell, the 57th Greatest Merseysider Of All Time, which was good recognition (or maybe not) for our greatest living lyricist, who once told the ECHO: “Anonymity is everything.”
90 Bisodol is – no surprise – another masterpiece, packed with delicious lines and deranged flights of fancy.
There is talk of taking a TGV to Zurich to jump off the roof of Dignitas; bricking up Jim Beglin and of a pub band, confusingly called Curry Night – “They do two sets and then take requests . . . ‘Play one the drummer knows’”.
There’s also a magical meeting with Crossroads actress Lynette McMorrough, who played Glenda Brownlow/Banks, and a nod to Glenda’s dad in the line “The crazy world of Arthur Brownlow”.
We’re also treated to a delightful demolition of certain rock star guests on Soccer AM (in Rock and Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools – which also includes the intriguing line “Hey hey, my my, Lipa groups will never die.”)
Then there’s a reflection on the selfishness of train track suicides in The Coroner’s Footnote: “He thought of a love unrequited/He thought of a life full of pain/It’s a pity he didn’t spare a thought for/The poor b*****d driving the train.”
The late, great John Peel said Nigel rejoiced in the use of language – and he was right.
So thanks again Father Christmas.
14 September 2011
Gregg Z
Had a listen to “Something’s Rotten in the Back of Iceland” (courtesy Gideon Coe) and I’ve been grinning like a schoolgirl for a few days now.
Massive. Although it makes me tremendously sad I have almost no chance of ever seeing them live.
In the words of Mark E. Smith, “If we were smart, we’d emigrate…”
I’d have quite a job explaining to the wife and kids we’re moving to England so that Dad can see HMHB on a regular basis. Might take some more planning.
15 September 2011
Dave F.
@Charles
Your points kind of prove mine.
There’s been many plays, but all in the same time slot – the latter part of the day which is like preaching to the converted. Even 6music has a different demographic for day time listeners. (they probably watch that awful ‘Black or Red’ instead of listening to Gid.). Spreading the plays across the day might hook a new fan or two.
15 September 2011
Dave Cooper
CD was on sale at Leamington, getting it’s first proper listen now.
Joy in Leeuwarden is genuinely laugh out loud funny.
On just one play this is up there with anything they have done, marvellous.
16 September 2011
Mac
SPOILER:
Heard it once now,
The actress that plays Glenda from Crossroads recreating her on screen life in the back of chandlers????? WTF? lol
16 September 2011
Little Frank
Has anyone counted how many people die during the course of the LP?
17 September 2011
Third Rate Les
I’ve managed to figure out every word of “Descending The Stiperstones” except for the Welsh doormat – I’ve transcribed as “coddeuch Llewllyn” but that’s a complete guess. Anyone know? Or should I just wait for the lyrics debate? What a cracking song too – starts as a bit of whimsy but then gradually builds up the unsettling weirdness until it turns deeply nightmarish.
17 September 2011
Alan K
@ Third Rate Les. I’ve not heard it yet, but at a guess [well, more than a guess, I'm a Welsh Learner] I would say it sounds like ‘codwch’.
‘Codi’ is the Welsh verb get up, awake or raise. the ‘-wch’ but after the verb is a Welsh command [we don't have this in English, its not rude, its just the way it is..] so it would follow that “Codwch Llewelyn” would mean Llewelyn raise/awake!!
I’ll wait until I hear it though, which could be this coming week!
18 September 2011
Third Rate Les
Alan K – that sounds right (and I’m quite pleased I nearly got it too!).
So that’s it – checked it again and pretty sure I’ve got all the lyrics. Not that I’m trying to pre-empt the debate once Chris posts them up, you understand.
18 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
I think the whole album’s going to have been dissected on this thread before we get a chance to take our time and do the songs one at a time. Serves me right for making an “album” thread, which I hadn’t done before.
Just had a call from Geoff Davies at Probe Plus (you cannot imagine what a thrill that was) to say thanks for the unprecedented advance orders for the new album (that’s thanks to pass on to everyone here, not to me, I didn’t buy them all myself). He now has a house full of the things waiting to go out next week. I don’t think it’s giving away any commercial confidences to relay the news that the advance orders are several times anything which albums like the last one managed, and everyone involved is bowled over with what’s happening.
Apparently Geoff had a few computer problems last week, it had to go in for repair, so bear this in mind if you emailed him directly last week. He seems to have recovered the emails (mine, at least). so all should be well.
Enjoying all the discussion on here, it makes my job so much easier Leeuwarden is going to need a website of its own…
21 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
A quick namecheck for the site, and we get described as “strange people”, in this brief review at Ear I Am.
21 September 2011
micky (the hoss)
Bentleys Roof “Fun Day in the Park” YouTube Video, Guilty as charged I afraid
21 September 2011
Charles Exford
Not all press is good press, Chris. Enjoyed that less than almost any piece I’ve ever read about a Biscuits gig or record. I still find it odd that people need to diss certain songs when expressing their personal favourites (yes, I’m still bitter about the whole Lux Familiar relative merits thing, I suppose). Just seems disloyal to me. And anyway it’s by a man who’s just tweeted the virtues of a media conference at which Terry f*cking Christian is a keynote speaker.
I do wonder, though, what message boards there ae out there dissing the brilliant RSVP ? I didn’t know there were HMHB message boards…
21 September 2011
Norbert D
I think he might mean me saying I wasn’t that keen on “RSVP”, on here the other day. Sterling research, that.
21 September 2011
Dave Wiggins
Without sounding like a suck’ole, may I heartily agree with Exxo there. These wretched HMHB ‘Message Boards’ eh, with their plethora of “strange people”. Come again?
21 September 2011
Gregg Z
If we’re the ‘strange people’, I’ll have to assume those dear folks who post on Coldplay message boards are the normal ones.
I’ll gladly go down with the ship…
21 September 2011
Martin
Ooooh, how exciting. 90 Bisodol arrived today… what a day to not get home until gone 9pm.
21 September 2011
Third Rate Les
I was a little disappointed when I read the so-called b-b-b-b-bad review. He loves the album, and seems to especially love the “all of our songs sound the same” ballads, which are indeed great songs (not sure I’ve seen anyone disagree). Not sure I mind being called “strange” and anyway, he’s got a point.
Hardly grounds to warn him off approaching Stroud, I feel.
21 September 2011
Dave Wiggins
He sounded a bit of a bad wool to me, TLR. Not that I could care (‘course I don’t).
22 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
Yes, and a CD too.
23 September 2011
Petrovic
CD just arrived in the post – and on the day I have to ‘work at home’ because the trains are buggered! Joy in Leeuwarden indeed.
23 September 2011
dagenham dave
hoorah mine’s just arrived! This is going to be a great drive to work
23 September 2011
Norbert D
The joys of working part-time… got two lyrics transcribed by lunchtime. And only had to Google once, too, to confirm my suspicions that “Loggerheads” and “Hope” in “we made our way from Loggerheads to Hope” should be capped-up, as they’re both towns in Wales. After a while, you start to spot the patterns, don’t you?
23 September 2011
Geordie Paul
I got mine today too. Thanks Geoff. Descent of the Stiperstones sounds Monster.
23 September 2011
2 Chevrons
No delivery yet …
Postman may be in his local waiting for ‘the music round’. Hope he’s having elastic bands fired at him !
23 September 2011
Alan K
Got mine to day!! Did anyone else get a message of “dal dy dir” on the back of the brown envelope??
23 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
No, but there was the conspicuous absence of the other part of my order (permanent MP3 backup of Bridgewater)
23 September 2011
aiwacat
I’m minded to forgive my postie his elastic band habits after he spotted me at the bus stop and crossed the road to deliver my copy to me then and there. Meant I had a joyous day of surreptitious workplace listening, rather than having to wait eight hours.
23 September 2011
SIMON P
Mine came this morning. Fun journey to work, apart from trying to concentrate on the M1 and fiddle with the CD player at the same time. Multi-tasking? Pah. Am loving “Iceland”, “Fix It..” and “Bad Wools”. The line in Leeuwarden also made me sneeze with laughter.
23 September 2011
DESMON
Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful…. I think this may be my favourite album. Got it on Wednesday!
Love AIWACAT’s postie story
Please Mr. Postman, look and see
Is there a CD in your bag for me
got to love postmen (well, would rather love a postwoman)
23 September 2011
Jon
Sadly I’m still waiting for my copy to make it’s way to New Zealand. Will have to resort to buying it on iTunes tomorrow whilst waiting for it to arrive.
24 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
Plot thickens. Still no Bridgewater but I did have the vinyl copy of Bisodol (without the CD, presumably because it came yesterday) delivered by the postman this morning. I didn’t order it on vinyl because although I do have a record player in the loft, I don’t have a compatible amplifier at the moment.
I did get a handwritten “Hi Folks” on the back of the envelope though.
24 September 2011
Diggler
Took delivery of mine this lunchtime. I was tipped off by Narberther last night who found his waiting for him on the mat when he got home from work. I asked for “no spoilers”, then got sick of the Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC4 and demanded his highlights so far. I need some time to take this in as too many plus-points to mention at this stage.
A run on the fells and i’ll be set up to take it all in.
Cheers Geoff for the first class distribution
24 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
anyway, early impressions : definitely more consistently good than Ambleside. RSVP disappointing compared to the session version (but that was probably inevitable, and it’s no trouble to swap them over on my iTunes library); Coroner’s Footnote is unexpectedly good and Stiperstones actually had me fearing for Nigel’s sanity, becoming more and more deranged as the song progresses. Fix It So She Dreams Of Me is probably the only actual disappointment. I suspect that Fun Day In The Park may be based on a true story, rather more so than the Leeuwarden explanation.
Opinions may be amended once I’m able to concentrate on it properly amid the household chaos.
24 September 2011
Mark
Mine dropped through the post box this morning. Haven’t listened yet … it’s in the car to soften the blow of a drive to Ipswich this afternoon …. should get to listen to it twice on the way ….. stuidly excited …..
24 September 2011
BrumBiscuit
Mine too arrived today. Put it on in the kitchen peeling spuds whilst with the nipper. That last track’s a bit rude for a 6-year-old!
I’m off to the Stiperstones next weekend. A good reason to play it several times en-route.
24 September 2011
renny
staying up till midnight to see if the download comes live on amazon….
24 September 2011
renny
success !!
25 September 2011
Jon
Yep, at approximately five past midnight UK time down it came from iTunes. Currently enjoying third listen of it – greatly improving a dismal day in Wellington
25 September 2011
Gregg Z
iTunes has determined at 12:03am (Eastern USA) that things have been made brighter here. Just coming to end of first track, so I’ve made it through about 7 1/2 Bisodol, I reckon.
25 September 2011
Martin
The new album is very dark, innit? Chalk body outlines, Dignitas suicides, Excavating Rita, mass murder during RSVP, footnotes left by coroners… thank god for a cheery game of korfball and the joy of bricking up Jim Beglin.
@Jon Which Wellington? If Herefordshire, then I was there today watching my local footy team play away in the FA Vase (cos I’m not a Bad Wool). Very scenic drive down from West Brom to there, and then a nice little ground on arrival too. If not that Wellington then… oh well.
Oh, and we won 5-0. We’re the famous Tivi army and we’re going to Wem-ber-ley!!
25 September 2011
Jon
@Martin Wellington, New Zealand! It’s been a while since I saw an FA Vase game – used to go to my local team in Kent as well as supporting a team from the other end of the country (not a current Premier League team I hasten to add!)
25 September 2011
Earwig O’Dowd
I spent all of Saturday waiting for the postie and it was a no show. Thinking I might have to see if I can “work” from home Monday am, just in case it arrives.
@ Exxo – he’s an Udders fan. Nice bloke nonetheless
25 September 2011
Gregg Z
After about 4 or 5 airings, I’ve come to the conclusion that “90 Bisodol” will number amongst the top 3 HMHB discs (with “Cammell Laird” and “Achtung Bono”). It might well be their most consistently good disc yet, as I’ve not found a song that doesn’t make the cut for me.
If I were to be boldly critical, the only bits that I lament are perhaps a bit of over-production on “RSVP”, and, um, that’s about it.
The melding of wit and terror works just right for me (viz. “Bad Wools”, “Rita” and “Stiperstones”). By the way, I agree that “a jar of language pills” is a superb lyric.
Again, being a Yank, I only get about 38% of the references, but that just makes me keen to dig. Very rewarding, that.
The disc is a corker in my opinion. Well worth the wait.
26 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
“To death, drunkenness, desperate poverty, diabolical dealings, incest, murder and abandonment, we can now add exhumation and necrophilia” …review from regular contributor Drunken Madman.
26 September 2011
Poolio
Ordered on-line (Probe Plus) a few weeks since… the parcel arrived this weekend!!
Check this out for discipline… I have resisted any spoilers – I know no lyrics, have heard no snippets (sounds almost like a lyric!!) I didn’t allow myself to attempt a listen at home, what with the distractions of family life ever present!
No… I popped into into my iTunes library, downloaded the album artwork, uploaded onto my iPod and now I have it in my hands about to press play… it’s 09:39 26/09/11… and I’m sitting in “work” grinning like a Birkenhead Badger – let the acoustic pleasures commence..
26 September 2011
Poolio
10:27… pleasantly surprised… time for listen No.2…
There ain’t no stink!
26 September 2011
John Burscough
CD arrove Sat, non-Biscuit friends visiting at weekend, but…this week off! Hoorah!
26 September 2011
Littlegrafter
Landed on the mat at 10:40
One play in, and a worrying sign is the lack of the usual sense of disappointment that I’ve had over the last few albums. This always gets swept away over the forthcoming plays of course. But this time, sounds great all the way through. Stiperstones, Bad Wools and Joy so far, but then I am working at the mo, so its harder to concentrate. I’ll be in the car for a few hours this afternoon so will be able to have a fuller assessment then.
26 September 2011
John Anderson
Mine arrived today. Worth the entrance fee alone for rhyming “Roots Hall” with “fuckall”, and “The Crazy World Of Arthur Brownlow.”
Also noticed that when the CD is downloaded onto itunes the genre is Spoken & Audio. Is this a deliberate joke I wonder?
Eerily, as I was listening to the LP while browsing the CD racks in my local charity shop, I came across an album by Kathleen Ferrier.
Wasn’t tempted but got a rather nice Sly & the Family Stone comp.
26 September 2011
Chigley Skin
Just enjoyed my first proper belly laugh, nine minutes into my first listen-through. Joy In Leeuwarden has conjured up a bit of joy in Lancaster!
26 September 2011
Kingsbeef
Had to wait a couple of days because I went for the vinyl and CD option and it didn’t fit through my letterbox. My “usual sense of disappointment” was tempered by the almost forgotten excitement of a new LP. Last time I bought one was This Leaden Pall. Now where’s me stylus?
26 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
“Fiercely principled, highly literate, sometimes very close to angry, these are songs of open defiance; their real targets, more often than not, are stupidity as a leisure option, the hollowing-out of British culture, the slow death of the post-war settlement.”
Mine was waiting on the mat when I got home from Abroad (where the FOREIGNS come from) on Saturday afternoon. I have managed to hold off listening to it – saving it for the drive home in approximately 15 minutes time…
26 September 2011
Third Rate Les
That’s a belter of an article by Taylor Parkes there. Chapeau.
I think he overstates his “bitter anger” case a little though. I think you miss a lot of the colour if you interpret, for example, Problem Chimp as a class rant.
Still, it’s a wonderfully well-written, passionate article with some great extracts to illustrate it.
26 September 2011
Martin
@Jon Wow… THAT Wellington?
26 September 2011
I’m a mate of pat o
9 o clock tonight I shall settle down, roll a number, lock the door, headphones on and have myself a beautiful time. Friendly bob reserved a copy in probe after I rang this morning, ’twas a good job for none were left on the shelves by the time I finished my paper round. Happy!
26 September 2011
Dave (Or I Could Be Mike)
As today happens to be my birthday, I decided to give myself an extra present to unwrap. First belly laugh before the CD even made it into the tray – anyone else think that F1 photo should be on the front cover rather than buried inside? This is gonna be good…
26 September 2011
Webbster
Have now listened the entire album four times in a row now, soon to be five. The stand outs for me: Descent Of The Stiperstones, Fix It So She Dreams Of Me, The Coroner’s Footnote (with the middle guitar break from Chigley perhaps ?) and Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools.
But overall. Superb.
26 September 2011
iguana andy
Themes recurring:
graveyards (and their worms)
band rehearsals
tribute acts
goalkeepers
Shropshire
suicide
Black Sabbath
weddings
… anymore..?
(I did wonder who would be the first Lyrics Project contributor to adopt the pseudonym Iguana Andy. Didn’t expect it to be me, though)
26 September 2011
Gregg Z
The disc is of such consistent quality, I’ll wager if we asked all pedants to name a favorite track, we’d probably have every song represented in no time.
Since my top choice has changed already from “Iceland” to “Stiperstones” to “Les Autres” to “TWEH” to “Fun Day in the Park”, I may have to rethink the whole proposition.
Still haven’t received the “MP3 backup” proper. Postman is swimming very slowly.
27 September 2011
Mark
Fifth listen this morning and it really is a very strongalbum. Somewhat surprised to find myself thinking Rita is the weak point …..
27 September 2011
James
The album has been in my car stereo since the Leamington gig and I just love it so much. As I stated before I really think ‘Stiperstones’ is genius and is my favorite track, but there are a few very close behind it. Joy In Leeuwarden, TWEH, The Coroner’s Footnote, in fact the rest of the album. Have to agree with Mark, Rita is a great song but the weakest among such other gems.
The Birkenhead band’s ramshackle musical stylings and junk culture lyrics have lost none lost of their lustre in 25 years. Tommy Walsh’s Eco House perhaps takes pride of place in this latest collection, but the ramble up Scotland’s west coast in Something’s Rotten In The Back Of Iceland is comically inspired. Lyrics like “When it’s too late for drunks but too early for milkmen,” on Excavating Rita, show that Nigel Blackwell has lost none of his instinct for novelty noir. Download this: Something’s Rotten In The Back Of Iceland, Tommy Walsh’s Eco House
27 September 2011
Charles Exford
Can I be the first to request that when we get to the closing track, the lupine howl before the final refrain is included in the lyrics, perhaps in brackets. Perhaps better as just a ‘howl’ in brackets, rather than an
‘Aooowh !’ sort of thing.
We’re speculating here that it’s included as a studio in-joke for anyone who, despite the title of the track, still believes that they are hearing “bad wolves’, as one reviewer of that version of ‘A Country Practice’ in Leeds did.
27 September 2011
Chief Exec
Random disorganised thoughts:
Great album – top 3.
Not sure if the 6Music session is just etched into my brain now but I kind of prefer the session versions in every instance, particular for Tommy Walsh.
Definitely Laurel Walk.
Bad Wools doesn’t have a set definition. That’s the beauty of it. If I were to try I’d say it’s someone who lacks credibility in some way – but it’s very much in the eye of the beholder and what they regard as credible. Scousers will claim that Wirralians are wools – but its because they think that fashion and general ‘cool’ is lacking a few miles away.
27 September 2011
Jeff Dreadnought
Chris: Three stars? “Novelty noir”?? Who the hell does Scotsman Critics think he is?
27 September 2011
Peter Gandy
Is anyone else still waiting for their copy?
I’m desperately forcing myself not to read any of the non 6 music lyric threads until I’ve heard the song first, but I don’t know if I can hold out for much longer.
27 September 2011
Cardinal Richelieu
Is it just me, or is anyone quite disappointed at the loss of “Man up” from Left Lyrics, and its replacement with “Rock up” (which I’ve never heard before – mind you, I’m not on the rock scene).
27 September 2011
Norbert D
I’m trying to convince myself he actually says “buck up, you’re from Ilfracombe” which would be a very good line (it’s a lovely town). I don’t think he does though…
27 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
I’d contact Probe Plus, unless you’ve only just ordered it, because as of last Friday they’d despatched all of the orders (a superhuman effort, by the way).
27 September 2011
Chigley Skin
Re: “rock up”,
Urban Dictionary has it defined as “to arrive without any prior planning, or specific materials”. Perhaps the implication is that young Chris from Future Doom should spend less time scribbling his angst onto a sheet of paper, and instead use his practice session to get acquainted with that wonderful musical tradition, having a jam?
27 September 2011
Peter Gandy
Thanks Chris. Ordered on the 6th September. Hopefully will arrive tomorrow.
27 September 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
@ Peter.
I’ve just contacted Probe ‘cos mine never arrived either. Geoff confirmed that it’d been dispatched last Tuesday so GPO/Consignia/Royal Mail have lost it. However their compliance dept. don’t consider mail lost until at least 15 working days after dispatch! I have lots of elastic bands that I shall be firing at their employees at random whilst waiting for this period to pass.
On a brighter (and much more efficient note) Geoff emailed that he’d post out a new copy tomorrow.
27 September 2011
Sheridan
Does anyone else think the overall sound, especially the guitars, is far more reminiscent of Editor’s Recommendation (specifically Bob Wilson and Lilac Urine) than it is of the last two albums? An essentially pointless observation, but one which is of interest to those of us who are bothered about these things.
27 September 2011
Smackmy pitchup
Wow fame at last for Cardiff Bus station making the inside cover of the new album its my bus stop after all just had it delivered today and am half way through already a classic
27 September 2011
Cardinal Richelieu
On a more positive note, good to hear some more Scottish “menshies”; Oban, The Knoydart and The Highlands jump out. Good work fellas.
27 September 2011
DislocatedMTB
Subtle road cycling reference on the inside of the cover insert – Dirk Hofman motorhomes!
28 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
I really should have thought of putting that in the header at the top of this page, for a laugh.
By the way, the scan I used was from the vinyl version, because it’s bigger. I’ve only just noticed the images on the CD and vinyl are quite different. Here it is, if anyone wants to identify it.
28 September 2011
Charles Exford
@Chris – aha – noticed your Dirk-sign-wielder above was not the same fella off the CD and did wonder. I almost think I might have seen that one while searching Google images for the one from the CD. But then again, most Entries of Christ into Jerusalem are even more standard than most Victorian melodramas.
@SmackMyPitchUp – ah thanks that clears that one up.
28 September 2011
Petrovic
@ Chris – thanks for the image link
@ Exxo – see what you mean; it’s very similar to this which you may have already googled, and looks as if it was taken from an older version (possibly a painting)?
28 September 2011
Gregg Z
All this talk of cover art has got me worked up, as my CD (hard copy) has not yet arrived in the greater Philadelphia, USA area. I can’t wait to get my soft, sincere hands on the disc itself. Blessings to iTunes and all, but there’s nowt like the genuine article in your mitts.
Oh, by the way, Two Fat Feet, not only did I dislike “Blade Runner”, I thought “Inception” was a pile of fertiliser.
Just me, though, I’m sure.
28 September 2011
Matt Lee
Waiting for the vinyl+CD to come from Geoff, I downloaded a copy from the net.
Fix It is my fave track so far. Apparently Gok Wan passed me by all this time.
28 September 2011
John Anderson
@Cardinal Richelieu
No, your eminence, you’re not the only one disappointed with the loss of “man up” from Left Lyrics.
I actually hear it as “rock off” rather than “rock up” but, either way, I think “man up” is far superior.
28 September 2011
gordo
About 57 minutes in, Fix It So She Dreams Of Me on BBC Radio Wales on a show mostly about new Welsh music, but the presenter uses Birkenhead being ‘almost Wales’ and Nigel’s references to Welsh places as an excuse to play it.
28 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
Having briefly slipped back into time-warp mode earlier today, I found that despite this site once again reverting to 7th July, the Dirk Hofman pic was nevertheless at the top of the screen. Song count was 167 though.
Boring but true.
28 September 2011
nigeyb
“Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools’ is my current favourite track. I love it when Nigel lets rip on things that vex him. The first verse, in particular, continues to delight and amuse me. Jeffing brilliant.
29 September 2011
John Burscough
R&RIFOBW comes the closest yet to pure grunge (“complaining, set to a drop D tuning”). I’ve had a smile on my face since I first heard “Rotterdam is cock-a-hoop”.
29 September 2011
Nick Walters
“I did think I’d made it fairly clear that I did try rather a lot of something stronger with deadly intent on occasions, and did come fairly within feet of the train option. Yourself?”
Yes, but I thought it would upset the driver so I didn’t.
29 September 2011
nigeyb
I’ve just transcribed the lyrics to “Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools”, and emailed them over, such is my love for this song. One question, I’ve never heard the term “Bad Wools” before, is it made up? Or have any of you lovely people ever heard it before? The meaning appears pretty self-explanatory but I’d be interested to read any other thoughts or info on the phrase.
Thanks Jeff. Splendid. And thanks Exxo – that is very, very helpful, and I found myself nodding enthusiastically at all the Good Wool behaviour and shaking my head wearily at the tedious conduct of the Bad Wools. Brilliant. I say to myself, what a wonderful world.
29 September 2011
Gregg Z
“90 Bisodol” is already in my top 3 HMHB discs, but I must admit that Side Two is threatening to take on “Abbey Road”-esque proportions for me.
Laughing out loud to “Stiperstones” on the drive to work– the last bit sort of reminds me of the end of “What You Need” by the Fall. I can only wonder how much more enjoyable it would be if I understood any of the references. (I’m waiting patiently for lyrics, lads. You’ve got another day or two. Believe me, you don’t want the Yank trying his hand at deciphering the words. It won’t be pretty…)
“Fix It So She Dreams of Me” is already one of my favorite HMHB tracks. I love Crossley’s “Numanoid”-ish bass-work, and of course, Nigel’s lyrical dexterity is unmatched.
As for the aforementioned “Coroner’s Footnote”, I can only say that, here, Nigel’s use of dramatic irony, sarcasm (metaphor, bathos, satire, etc) would put the Piranha Brothers to shame.
I think we can safely say that the next “Lux Familiar Cup” (whenever that might occur) will look very different.
(By the way, the Quietus article, in which Neil Crossley is described as “midfield general” is quite impressive, if anyone hasn’t yet read).
Still haven’t received the disc yet, though.
29 September 2011
Sheridan
This album has well and truly got under my skin. On probably my last bicycling jaunt of the summer around Wirral and Cheshire, I found myself facing a cow on the other side of the Shropshire Union Canal. Before I knew what was happening, I’d started serenading her with the chorus of Excavating Rita, quite involuntarily.
(I’m on Shimano Deore. It’s shit).
Far be it from me to overplay the significance of this website, but it’s amazing how many reviews are, shall we say, picking up on the sentiments made on this page over the past couple of weeks. A big hi to everyone researching their own 250 words for publication.
30 September 2011
Richard
Back from holiday today, and CD not arrived, most upset! Going onto Itunes now, bet the CD will turn up tomorrow now! Bit late though, anybody else still not got theirs from Geoff?
30 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
“…likely to leave many either puzzled or even disturbed, but its refreshing unwillingness to compromise and wholly original way with words should further their case as one of the U.K. music scene’s alternative national treasures.” – Jon O’Brien on AllMusic
30 September 2011
Luke Slater
Been following this thread to keep up on the 90 Bisodol news and lyrics and whatnot and visiting the website for a while. Not strictly research-based, mind. Thanks for the link. I’m not sure there’s much more to be said about HMHB that hasn’t been said already but Taylor Parkes did a good job.
Don’t think you should downplay the significance of the site either, it’s been invaluable for many of my HMHB discoveries since I…”discovered” them.
Also the line “To pick up a…to pick up a, to pick up a, to pick up a, to pick up a jar of Swarfega” is something I cannot rid from my head. Mind you, there’s plenty of competition. Might be my favourite song of the lot.
30 September 2011
bomaya
Genius as usual.
1 October 2011
andy
hiya….
long time reader, first time poster
I reckon fun day in the park is the hmhb answer to “for the benefit of mr kite” which is mr lennon reading out a circus poster.
and i was always told that ,way back when, woolyback was a term used for dock strike breakers (like scab is now)
1 October 2011
neilthechimp
One for Chris,
For reasons beyond my ken I can’t make the ‘click here’ bit work for submitting transcriptions.
Being fluent in French already translated into engerlish I’ve chosen Death is Other People and I’ve got the full hit primed and ready. Is it not the done thing to ask for your email address to pass it on?
On a more general note I’m in awe of 90 Bisodol. I’ve had my copy for a while as I’m lucky that my missus works with Neil so I haven’t had to put up with the distribution issues Probe Plus have had so I must’ve heard it 30 times by now. Every listen reveals another gem like the little Crossroads tinkle on Stiperstones and I’ve got the bin lids singing along to Joy in Leeuwarden already. The crock of shit took some explaining but they’re going into school with my full support.
Haven’t looked forward to the 17th day of December so much since the last time.
Anyway, Chris, if you let me know how I can send them I’ll get the lyrics off to you mate.
All praise to Geoff at Probe Plus. I ordered the vinyl version on Wednesday and it arrived on Friday. Only slight disappointment was that the free CD copy included was just in a clear plastic sleeve. Still, packaging isn’t everything. Is it?
2 October 2011
Mr Galbraith
Now had the album for 9 days (from Probe directly, natch!) and have listened to it, oooh I don’t know how many times! The album gets better with every hearing and is bursting with NB57 nuggets of genius. I’m finding Excavating Rita difficult to love at the moment, though the final repeated line does make me smile. I’ll warm to it I’m sure! R&RIFOBW will surely become the new live favourite and I hope it gets a play when I go from London to see them on 17th December with my now Biscuit-loving girlfriend! It’ll be my first HMHB gig in my home county and her home town. I think we can both safely claim to be good wools… (Thanks to Exxo for an absorbing explanation of the term.)
2 October 2011
Dave Wiggins
Oh, the irony. Driving home earlier and, just as ‘Excavating Rita’ came on, I espied ‘our’ Betaware Man sitting on a bench, in the rain, reading the Sunday paper. Couldn’t resist winding the window down to advise him that I was still his number one fan. He just looked surprised, though, like the front of an Anglia.
2 October 2011
Nick Walters
Is this the album with the most swearing?
“Crock of shit” in Leeuwarden;
“Pissed” in L’Enfer;
“To you that means fuck all” in Bad Wools.
?
Can’t think of any other instances of swearing in HMHB songs apart from the obvious (Fred Titmus and Vatican Broadside).
2 October 2011
S.G.D A SHROPSHIRE LAD
“Is your child hyperactive?
Or is he perhaps a twat?”
“Bastard slip of a sub’s ruined my weekend”
“Bastard son of…”
“National Shite day”
2 October 2011
Third Rate Les
Stavanger Toestub beats it though.
2 October 2011
SIMON P
Achtung Bono is probably the most sweary, the above mentioned “or is he perhaps a twat?” plus
“Shit Arm Bad Tattoo”
“Indicate then you stupid bastard”
“I don’t give a fuck about your missing cat”
“Local groups called Fuck Your Conglomerate”
But slightly behind Doris Day’s brand new Greatest Hits And More. I might ring up the record company to ask about the ‘More’.
2 October 2011
Charles Exford
Who was born in a house full of pain?
Who was trained not to worry the fans?
Who was told what to do by the man?
Who was marketed by trained personnel?
Who was fitted with collar and chain?
Who was given a pat on the back?
Who never broke away from the pack?
Who was only a stranger at home?
Who was repackaged a hundred times?
But this time only entered the charts Three places below the Biscuits?
Dragged down by the Stiperstones?
Eh?
2 October 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
A lot of their other stuff did a bit better this week though.
Loving the new album…definitely a grower. The stream of consciousness at the end of Stiperstones is quite marvellous…triffid seeds anyone?
Also @Jon in Wellington. Good lord, another HMHB fan in this part of NZ. Miracles will never cease!
3 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Hmm, number 85? It makes you wonder how the returns to the album chart compilers work nowadays. Adele’s albums might still be stuffed into every Tesco carrier bag, but I can’t believe 84 albums sold more than 90 Bisodol. Anyone know what sort of volumes you normally need to shift in a week to make the top 10, top 40, etc? I read that 10,000 would get you into the top ten, and although 90 Bisodol won’t have sold that many, I assume, it would surely have sold enough to get higher than no.85.
no 85 is their first entry on the top 100 albums since 1987 and whilst many many more retailers are linked to the charts since the 80′s(when it was around 200 shops) I’d be suprised if the ones bought straight from Probe would be included in the chart figures.
3 October 2011
Ferenc Puskás to you
90 B(C) just landed in my mailbox over here in Colorado. Great work by those Probe chappies in getting it over here so quickly and for the 2.65 quid postage.
Headphones on…..
4 October 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Les, what I’ve heard is that a lot of money has changed hands in order to hush the t-shirt issue up. Apparently something is going to be revealed but it won’t be beneath a DPAK or indeed any other shirt. No one is quite sure which T it was by the way anyhow. Anyway all I’m saying is watch the trial closely. Something will happen and be revealed. Can’t say too much more. You know it makes sense.
4 October 2011
John Burscough
Bit worrying that some of the keywords to this stock image are cool, criminal, dead, guy, hit, murder and justice.
4 October 2011
Charles Exford
…which reminds me to wonder whether the idea of the image came before the title, and if the line about jumping off the roof of Dignitas therefore came before the line about the Bisodol?
I mean the idea of jumping off the roof could evoke a visual joke about creating your own chalk circle if you’d taken a huge overdose of Bisodol…
Pointles specualtion about process over product perhaps.
4 October 2011
neilthechimp
Exxo,
I believe the idea of the outline in powder is one Nigel had from years back, dredged up from his memory for this album. Whilst pondering how long it might take for the forensics team to actually construct the lines around bodies in the perfect shapes he thought it’d make it easier if criminals were injected with a powder so that when they expired the powder would puff out of them and thereby leave a ready made template. Whether or not the powder in question was Bisodol back then isn’t known by this correspondent.
Something very much like that anyway.
4 October 2011
Charles Exford
Some great pondering there Neil and some interesting pedantry.
But just as weather can be miserable or not, I also think a match can be both triumphant, disastrous, etc, depending on the point of view. One meaning of ‘match’ in sports jargon is ‘how someone performed during the match’, as in I could say ‘I had a decent match today, but you had a positively triumphant match’.
But as for the chalk outline I have to reluctantly pull the ‘Nigel told me’ card.
He (the character in the song, and indeed a lot of characters on the album) has had a bellyful (of everything he’s moaning about), he’s had enough, he’s taken 90 Bisodol, so many that when he jumps off the roof he’ll helpfully form his own chalk circle.Beautiful.
I was just wondering about the order of the creative process, not the meaning of the product, just for once.
With tongue firmly in cheek, we could have called it a ‘concept album’ if it wasn’t (as Nigel would self-deprecatingly have it) the same concept as the entire career: moaning.
4 October 2011
Jon
Scoff Cruddle – likewise, I’ve wondered if there were any other HMHB fans in NZ! Are you in Wellington too? I’m assuming that you’re a Brit, and if so, have you converted any Kiwis to HMHB? I’ve occasionally thought of playing some to friends when they come round and I have to select the music but struggle to think of a song that they would ‘get’ – any suggestions?!
5 October 2011
John Burscough
How about M-6-ster? Ivan Mauger’s a Kiwi isn’t he?
5 October 2011
John Anderson
So is Dick Quax.
5 October 2011
Charles Exford
@ Neil the Chimp again – I noticed on all this morning’s news bulletins that there were “gloomy economic figures.” I wonder what we can do to cheer the poor figures up? Gradually get them doing more adventurous outdoor activity, I reckon.
5 October 2011
Rusty Spanner
Apologies if this has already been done, but does anyone know where the photo on the rear of the CD is from or where it was taken?
5 October 2011
neilthechimp
@ Exxo
Quite.
Perhaps the gloomy figures should be encouraged to participate in triumphant bowls tournaments or to jump off the roof of Dignitas en masse with a Silver Cup (as won by Arthur Brownlow for said bowls triumph) awarded for the most creative pavement outline? At least then they wouldn’t have to worry about becoming the victim of a hit and run.
If you’re pulling the Nigel card then you leave me no choice but to play my Bass Joker. NC reckons the idea comes from something NB originally came up with donkeys years ago. He was using it as an example to explain how good a memory NB has got when attempting to explain their songwriting process to my wife with whom he works (and I use the term loosely). i.e. the ideas can come from anywhere and are often born from previously abandoned musings.
Let’s call it a draw and conclude matters with a handshake.
5 October 2011
John Burscough
@Rusty Spanner: See posts 304-306 above for the pictures from the CD cover.
5 October 2011
Dave Wiggins
Like other doyens of Biscuitry, I can see myself on one of those Channel 4 documentaries on people with obsessive compulsions soon. I have spent the entire day in work, singing Leeuwarden under my breath. Gordo knows where I am at, as, indeed, do we all. I haven’t had it this bad since “see also Mary Hopkin” swam round and round my brain for an entire week back in ’05………
5 October 2011
Rusty Spanner
Thanks Mr Burscough, but I’m trying to establish the location of the black & white landscape shot on the back of the CD.
Any ideas?
6 October 2011
nickinko
While the highs are terrific, I’m a bit disappointed by this album. Perhaps the previous two albums have set unrealistic standards but I just find this one hasn’t got the same depth.
I would put RSVP, L’Enfer C’est Les Autres, Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools and the sublime Fix It So She Dreams Of Me on the top tier, but some of the other tracks, whilst still good, just seem a bit slight. Then there’s ‘The Coroner’s Footnote’ and ‘Excavating Rita’, which I’m afraid I don’;t really like much at the moment.
But, I seem to be in a minority of one – perhaps it will grow on me.
Thanks to Chris, and to everyone who contributes to this brilliant site though. It certainly adds another dimension to my enjoyment of the music.
6 October 2011
Matt Lee
Vinyl finally arrived.
6 October 2011
Gregg Z
Interesting stuff, Nickinko. We tend to rave on this site, so I appreciate a bit of temperance…
I do agree that “Coroner’s” and “Rita” are the two weakest tracks, but for me, they don’t sink below the level of League One in the scheme of things.
Maybe it’s the freshness and excitement of a new LP, but the remaining tracks are all Premier League material in my book.
I did love the LP right away, and it has only grown richer since, particularly “Leeuwarden”, “Fix It” and “Bad Wools”.
6 October 2011
neilthechimp
Does anyone else think the bass line in Fix it…. sounds like the theme tune to HOW?
@Jon…yes in Wellington (well Lower Hutt)…and I have occasionally played HMHB to Kiwis whilst in the car, usually resulting in bemusement (although all things are relative…low level bemusement compared to when I subject them to Cardiacs)
Album definitely still growing well…especially JiL. Definitely agree on the I love Korfball t-shirt for gigs!
7 October 2011
Mr Larrington
@nickinko: You are not alone. I too think it to be a bit below par in comparison with Achtung Bono & CSI Ambleside.
7 October 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
I’m not disappointed in one tiny, infinitesimal part by this album at all. However I am finding that I have split it into two mini albums (EPs in old money). Obviously the tracks introduced on the 6Music session over a year ago are as familiar and comfortable to me as a well worn, sole graffitioed pair of slippers. Whilst the tracks premièred via 90B(C) are fresh, eager, willing and as excited as a young puppy, new to the wonder of life and bursting with enthusiasm, awe and wonder over the world into which they’ve just been thrust.
What? Really? Just me then?
7 October 2011
Third Rate Les
I’ve been trying to let it sink in before commenting but I think it might be their best album. I can’t get enough of it and I don’t think there’s a single weak link (which I’m not sure you can say for any of their others), even if RSVP and Coroner fall squarely into the “all of our songs sound the same” category. It also feels like an ideal balance of whimsy, humour, ranting and real darkness.
Just flicking through this …and having never (knowingly) seen the Echo beach cover til it was posted on here last week, how strange that it should appear on here at #4, followed at #5 by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown(low), Synchronity or what? Maybe someone at the NME still appreciates good music after all.
8 October 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
I’ve just mailed in an attempt at 173 (Stiperstones).
As there was already a Paul Rodgers here with the same spelling, I have decided to replace my nickname ‘medodgers’ with the bracketed ‘Crimond’ to distingquish myself from the others.
9 October 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
I will also be using poor typing to set myself apart.
9 October 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
Regarding chart positions I’m surprised no-one has mentioned it being number one in the charts.
In numerical order here are HMHB’s chart positions for the week ending 8 October 2011:
1 Indie Breakers UK Album chart
11 UK vinyl Album chart
14 Indie album chart
85 National Album chart
94 National Album downloads chart
Source UK Charts Plus magazine
Incidentally CSI Ambleside managed a debut and peak of 123 on the national album chart (the top 200 is published) dated 10 May 2008 whilst simultaneously peaking at 10 on the indie chart.
Joy Division Oven Gloves was a one week wonder at 56 in the singles chart on 17 April 2010, as you probably all know. Music Week’s website is being rubbish today and won’t tell me if it appeared in the indie chart too. However a quick browse of that week’s digital edition of the mag tells me the ‘single’ sold 3,791 copies. It is a lot harder to get a hit single these days than the nay sayers would have you believe. That earned it number 3 on the indie singles chart and number one with a bullet on the indie breakers singles chart.
That same week you’d have only got to number 11 with 16,589
Speaking of the Music Week website being rubbish, on Sunday of last week they published a top 75 as per usual, apart from it being over an hour before 7. In this chart 90B(C) was shown as a new entry at number 71. Sadly further research led me to the explanation that that was its position on Saturday morning on sales of up to 23.59 Friday.
As far as I know Geoff’s direct sales DO count towards the charts. The rules are here, although they may be a little out of date. All it refers to is: “All sales information used to compile the Chart must be recorded as a result of a genuine purchase by a genuine consumer.” which is rule 1.1.
The vinyl plus CD is eligible under rule 8 referring to Deluxe Vinyl Formats on page 15.
As you may have guessed I am a bit of what’s become known round my way as a boffin wanker when it comes to the charts.
Music Week publishes selected sales figures for albums and singles, but there is no precise science regarding how many you need to go top ten, top twenty etc. as it varies from week to week.
Saucy Haulage Ballads debuted in the indie singles chart at 8 on 16 August 2003.
Lastly I am sure you all know the main road to Crimond is the A90, which means the album could be referred to as A90B(C) if we wanted.
Let’s see that bloke on that website accuse you lot of being weirdos now I’m here!
The only ones I’m still stumbling on lyrics wise are
- “all the (?) of watching Barca”. Barrel?
- the “spume” bit from Future Doom.
I also listened to the 6 Sessions version of Left Lyrics again and I can see that “man up” seems to make more sense. However, it does make you realise how nicely recorded the album is. Hard to see we’re going to have too many arguments over lyrics.
10 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
“The biennial-ish, imperishable joy of a new Half Man Half Biscuit album”.
Nice full-page review from Stuart Maconie, no less, in November’s issue of The Word magazine (Noel Gallagher cover). Out now in all good newsagents, as they say.
10 October 2011
Norbert D
TRL: It’s “all the band love watching Barca” and “Cackling hag astride the broom, what dread this upon the spume?” respectively.
10 October 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
You can always rely on Word to give them good coverage, every album since the magazine was launched has been featured at least once on the free CD. Pity about the number of errors in Maconie’s review, but at least it was (mostly) limited to getting track titles wrong, even if it does take him half the review to get onto the actual album.
10 October 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
Just out of interest have we decided whether Spencer The Halfwit refers to Frank from Some Mother’s Do Have ‘Em’ or Spencer from Phoenix Nights? I could spend all day looking around the site for the answer or I could just hit here and ask.
By the way Bad Wools’ may have presented me with a PBR. I’m off to check it out.
10 October 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
@ Spencer The Halfwit: I have it on good authority that The Word is “two men’s mid-life crisis in print”. Having been at their first ever gig night at The Lexington, opposite their office, I have to say I agree.
There’s certainly an element of attempting to stay vital, an impossible task as it went under years ago.
Did the HMHB get a track on the covermount?
10 October 2011
Charles Exford
Be very grateful if someone could scan Maconie’s effort when they have a minute. Been a long while since periodicals fell within my ‘can afford’ column.
(Oh except WSC, which plops faithfully every month, but often gets left by the door in its plastic wrapper for weeks these days. I really should cancel, but it would feel like a betrayal after a quarter of a decade)
10 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Only a quarter of a decade, Charles? Doesn’t take long to inspire devotion on your part, clearly.
Love the “mid-life crisis” description, Paul. Nailed on. Tommy Walsh is on the cover CD.
10 October 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
I’m neither, it’s the name I was given under the witness protection programme. Seems I know too much about one particular man’s involvement in a disembodied head found in Scotland, acts of necrophilia, shoplifting and the apparently motiveless shooting of a man in Tesco, among other things.
10 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
This thread has got so long that we’re covering old ground a bit! I promise we will do all the songs eventually, and we’ll sort things out then.
10 October 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
@ Micky Brilliant, thanks. What Vendor said plus Warden Hodges (who must be cacking himself now).
For those wholike statistics here’s the latest lot of chart positions:
National indie chart (albums) 45 down from 14
Indie albums breakers 13 down from number one
National vinyl albums chart 14 down from 11
Geoff will be pleased with that last position as hopefully the majority of vinyl sales are going via Probe.
Two things – like the chap above said, the start of
Left lyrics sounds just like california sun.
Secondly, glenda from crossroads came to my school fete once and gave me a prize, my mom was thrilled.
14 October 2011
Gregg Z
Just posted Nigel’s name on Wikipedia’s “List of Satirists”. He joins other “top, top players” such as Swift, Wilde, Huxley, George Carlin, Lewis Black & Sacha Baron Cohen.
Roll on, October!
14 October 2011
Mr Larrington
I think you’ve got nb57 a bit too old; by my reckoning he was born c. 1964.
14 October 2011
Dave Wiggins
Mr L. But he was sending ‘Merseysound’ fanzine snippets of lyrics from the prototype Half Man Half Biscuit around 1982 (which would have made him a youthful 18, back then, had he been born ‘as late as’ 1964). It’s a showbiz mystery and no mistake.
14 October 2011
Charles Exford
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again
Nigel Blackwell? He began
In July 1963.
Between the naming of the 3rd Man
And the Great Train Robbery.
Yep Deano would have had to be 7 and a half, so the joke was most definitely on the poor arithmetic of NB57′s classmates.
14 October 2011
John Burscough
Having re-read the Scotsman article above, I have a question: which of these statements is most likely to be true:
1) HMHB are known as “Biscuit” to the cognoscenti;
2) HMHB had a hit in Norway with Stavanger Töestub;
3) Blackwell’s wife is called Denise?
Discuss.
14 October 2011
Gregg Z
My eternal apologies, and thanks for spotting my error.
I’ve amended Nigel’s DOB on the Wikipedia site. Methinks I was misled by the oft-used handle “NB57″ into thinking that our spiritual leader was born in 1957 (although, Billy Bragg was born in 1957). Owing to the dearth of biographical info on Mr. Blackwell, I’m not surprised by my mistake.
A box of crucifixion nails is on its way to my abode, I’m certain..
14 October 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Interested to see Exxo paraphrasing Philip Larkin’s Annus Mirabilis, because I’ve often seen connections between Nigel at his poetic best and the miserablist Librarian. Both of them have an eye for observing the ordinary and mundane elements of life and writing about them beautifully, although admittedly Nigel has more of a tendency to fly off at a tangent. Try reading the first half of Soft Verges purely as a poem, then read Church Going.
OK, not so much the subject matter but the similarity is of the inner voice dealing with the here and now of the world in a reflective and slightly anxious way.
I’ve also harboured a sick fancy, since the first time I heard it, that I Went To A Wedding… is about the evening do of one of the couplings encountered in The Whitsun Weddings, albeit with the necessary intervention of a time machine. I’m sure that Larkin would have been proud to have written IWTAW, up to perhaps ‘Oh you can’t put your foot up in Europe’. He was a big cricket fan but having lived most of his life in Coventry and Hull, rarely got to see any football.
In this week’s indie album breakers chart A90B(C) is down from 13 to 17. This will appear online at the Official Chart Company, when the lazy useless buggers over there update the page.
Enough.
17 October 2011
Joke Shop Excrement
Can anyone tell me what ‘sound like Mart Poom’ in Left Lyrics?
Final 4 songs are high art indeed, among the best I’ve heard for a while.
‘Fix it’ should be booking its seat on the bus for ‘Lux Final 2012′ and Blackwell Vs Cash on outro of L’Enfer is playful, hypnotic and brutal rolled into one.
10/10 – Jockey Slut
20 October 2011
One Skinny Indie Kid
Listening to ‘Lenfer’ on the old jog-proof iPod has opened my eyes to other pedestrians’ walking habits and as a result I no longer walk in the road.
Yet to encounter a pissed, boring bloke who has recently discovered Johnny Cash. If I do, I will shoot him dead in Tesco – just to watch him die.
20 October 2011
Norbert D
Vendor – on a Larkin tip, have you also noticed the (probably unintentional) similarity between “Show Saturday” and “Fun Day In The Park”? Of course, “Show Saturday” doesn’t have a joke at the end of it, but you can’t have everything.
20 October 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Norbert – No I hadn’t but having re-read Show Saturday I can see where you are coming from, although as you say, it’s almost certainly unintentional. “Bead-stalls, balloon-men, a Bank; a beer-marquee that half-screens a canvas Gents” could easily slip in there alongside Iguana Andy. Larkin wrote this poem about a visit he made to Bellingham Show with his long term partner, who had bought a holiday cottage in Haydon Bridge. (Not Hebden Bridge, which would have been too perfect). I wonder if Nigel had an actual ‘Fun day in the park’ in mind.
Show Saturday doesn’t end with a joke admittedly, but I find ‘mug-faced middle-aged wives glaring at jellies’ a wonderfully funny image. Having reluctantly attended a few country fairs in my time, I’ve seen several over-competitive Women’s Institute types of that ilk.
The back of the new T-shirt should put an end to any remaining controversy over this line… (picture from Gez’s website)
21 October 2011
Argieuk
Speaking of T-shirts, someone has created HMHB T-shirts for characters in “The Sims”- not particularly relevant for this section- but not sure where else it would go- possibly HMHB in the media…..
I’m sure this information is of no use to anyone, but felt had to share.
Four star review in December issue of Mojo (page 96). Mentions Nigel and Neil first meeting in 1979 with reference to “Horseshoe Pass railway station”.
21 October 2011
2 Chevrons
@ ARGIEUK
Hopefully in addition to SIMS T-Shirts, some bright spark could develop a SIMS game at a HMHB inspired theme park. Characters wandering round wearing Joy Division Oven Gloves being mildly impressed when they meet Brad Friedel – I’d buy that sort of thing.
21 October 2011
2 Chevrons
Would be keen on seeing Jim Beglin being bricked up on the new t-shirt or possibly some or the delights available from Bunners.
21 October 2011
Charles Exford
In simple terms then, please, what is SIMS? Nothing I can see on the internet about it makes any sense.
21 October 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
The Sims. Interactive game, particularly popular among Facebook mums.
22 October 2011
Charles Exford
Ah, OK. I saw those T-shirts a few months ago and thought they were actual jarg merchandise efforts. That site linked above says they’re amazed so many people downloaded them, but I wonder how many did it thinking they were real t-shirts?
So basically they’re virtual t-shirts for dressing up your virtual dolls? It’s all very Gok Wan meets the Brownlows, really isn’t it? And no, I didn’t know who either of them were till recently either. I’m sure this ignorance of popular culture should qualify me to be an Old Bailey judge or something. Somebody gave me an i-Pod a few years ago but as yet I have no inclination to find out how it works – pleeeeease can I be a judge now?
22 October 2011
Lee’s Twenty First
So, now I know that NB57 has checked out the new single, I wonder what sort of confirming / correcting activities he carried out in the Quantocks (whilst wearing his Joy Division Oven Gloves).
23 October 2011
Charles Exford
@ Lee’s:
When modelling his & hers outdoor wear such as the ubiquitous JDOG, it is traditional to look at maps and point as if checking out whether the cartography is correct:
“ooh look, it says there should be an elephant-shaped hill over there but the work experience kid at OS has bloody made it up.”
That sort of thing.
But seriously, why should the line in question from JDOG not also be making the same point as the ‘Bad Wools’ line – stupid things that people say? (I don’t necessarily think it is myself, but I’ll fight for its right to).
24 October 2011
TOMMY
was at a HR meeting today & she said you can lead a horse to water but failed to add a pencil must be lead mate, couldn’t be arsed pointing out her mistake.
24 October 2011
Jim Wickham
Help! Can anyone out there get the Probe Plus website Shopping Basket to actually fill up when you try to order stuff.
It’s driving me crazy. Technically I have now bought 26 “Bisodol” T-shirts, but the basket remains empty. Worse, no response from the panicky email sent a few days ago.
Please help a fashion-unconscious Aussie to get decked out in the latest HMHB summer-ware…..
27 October 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
If I remember rightly I found I had to enter the item codes on the checkout page, rather than adding to the basket from each item’s individual page.
27 October 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Gez’s site is reporting that Probe Plus will be ‘closed’ 27th-31st Oct. Suggest you try again after that.
27 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
It’s worth a try…
Geoff Davies at Probe Plus has been struggling to find someone who can help him sort out the online store, which looks to me as if it needs the whole engine updating, never mind some of the product details. You never know, there might be a regular here who knows their way around this sort of technology? Obviously the project can’t justify major expenditure, but if anyone can help out (perhaps in exchange for goodies), I’m sure Geoff would be very keen to talk. In case you’re wondering, he has asked me! However, although I can maintain a site like this one here, e-commerce sites are a little beyond my experience. Email me with your phone number and I’ll pass it on.
28 October 2011
Dave Cooper
Chris, stick this on the front page of your site rather than having it hidden away here. There will be someone who can help, but they might not necessarily scroll down to the bottom of this thread.
29 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Funnily enough Dave, I was thinking the same thing myself …and then I received an email from someone who’d read it and might be able to help! We’ll see how that goes.
Gawd, I hope said newsagent isn’t spending his twilight years browsing such sites. Still it’s not as if he knows where I live and anyway I cut that caper back in 1976.
8 November 2011
Mr Galbraith
Apologies for the double-mention on this site (see also the media references section), but did anyone else hear Chris Hawkins play Descent of the Stiperstones on his 6 Music brekkie programme this week? An unusual choice from the album for radio airplay. Things are often bleak in midweek, but even I had a smile upon my face.
12 November 2011
s.g.d
Chris is a Shropshire Lad,he grew up in Loppington so he has probably had to steer clear of Duff-leg Bryn in the past.
12 November 2011
Paul F
Without wishing to reopen the “Enschede” debate, I could be pedantic and point out that Oranjeboom isn’t pronounced the way it was in the iconic Van der Valk themed advert. A Dutch colleague once ordered us a couple of glasses of what sounded to me like “Oran-yeah-bom”.
22 November 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
Tardy 3-star review in Uncut. Obviously wasn’t going to trouble the compilers for the top 50 albums of the year.
26 November 2011
ds
I had a fairly anal moment recently while looking at the “Satisfying the bloodlust…” graphic. I’m a bit of a typographic and graphics nerd and while the poster’s great (and I wanted the t-shirt, but it’s not available in my size – you can guess why), it bothered me that the fonts weren’t quite right, and the graphics weren’t the *actual* road sign ones. So I’ve done a version that is, as near as dammit… (It’s only there cos I can’t upload it here).
I’ll get me coat.
16 December 2011
Chris The Siteowner
DS, that is quite awesome. (OK, I’ll come out. I am also a typographic and graphics nerd. There. I’ve said it.)
If I ever get around to redesigning this site properly, which has been on the to-do list for about two years, I shall be straight round for permission to use that!
I’m impressed, sent a PO on Friday before Xmas Eve with my order for the CD (mainly because I’m crap at getting round to things). Expecting to get CD at some point in New Year. Geoff had indicated on website all was closed until then but in my disorganised life that was fine. Yet here I am listening. A personal note about the T-shirt i ordered being out of stock. Not a problem, will sort via a letter or mail. But looking forward to Bilston. Sometimes I think though, don’t analyse, just enjoy
30 December 2011
James Dunn
and sometimes the very stuff i’ve read on here is what is ranted about…..
30 December 2011
ACIDIC REGULATOR
Psalm 23 is quoted in He Who Would Valium Take (as already noted in that comment thread).
There are 12 Half Man Half Biscuit albums, plus an early compilation, as well as 4 EPs and a handful of one-off songs. Indulge yourself by starting here.
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There are now an incredible 10,232 comments on this site. Here's what's new.
TWO FAT FEET
The way this is going, it’ll be touch and go whether it’s out before the next Blue Nile album.
31 July 2011
2 Chevrons
A link that might be of interest.
Ed’s note: Bloody hell, 2 Chevrons, that’s an understated link to the news scoop of the month! In case anyone hasn’t realised, that could be the first spot of the new album out in the wild. No appearance yet on the Probe Plus site though.
15 August 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Gosh, I’m getting all over-excited.
Further Interweb evidence here. Don’t think much of the artwork though.
15 August 2011
quality janitor
breathing into paper bag as we speak
15 August 2011
Matt
Album cover
http://twitpic.com/64g3re
16 August 2011
2 Chevrons
Vendor’s link shows a release date of September 19. Hopefully the good people at Probe Plus might have some news before long but all the signs are that the wait is almost over.
16 August 2011
renny
hooray ! just in time for my holiday.
16 August 2011
Mac
Would be good if sold at the Leamington gig
16 August 2011
Chris The Siteowner
In best Gez’s site style:
Bisodol – indigestion relief tablets with a unique triple active formula which quickly and effectively neutralise excess acid in the stomach, it says here. Featured in the lyrics of “Tommy Walsh’s Eco House”: I’ve taken ninety Bisodol/I’ve had a bellyful of Tommy Walsh’s Eco House.
Crimond – hymn tune best known for its use with The Lord’s My Shepherd (Psalm 23). The tune titles are often put in brackets after the name of a psalm or hymn to let the congregation know what, er, tune it’s going to be sung to. So you see “The Lord’s My Shepherd (Crimond)“.
16 August 2011
Mr Larrington
Not in time for my holibobs chiz
16 August 2011
chesneywold
Just wanna woo some hoo at the news. I’m sure miss jean brodie utters ‘(summat) crimond!’ to a man on a piano in a glass smithering voice in the near-eponymous film.
16 August 2011
Neil G
At last! I’m having fun already, just looking at the song titles (assuming they’re all for real). Rock and Roll is full of bad wools. What the heck is that all about? No, please don’t tell me your theories, Charles. I’d like to have a listen to it first and work it out for myself.
A little joy has found its way into my otherwise dark and depressed heart. Hurrah!
16 August 2011
John Burscough
Woo, as you say, hoo.
(Wool, on the other hand, presumably refers to woollybacks, natives of Cheshire + Lancashire, much like my good self).
Sorry, Neil.
16 August 2011
John Burscough
Would it be any quicker to order it from Japan?
http://www.bk1.jp/product/84184708
16 August 2011
Gregg Z
Just gave the new LP 5 out of 5 stars on Virgin Media.
I don’t have an advance copy or anything, simply down to the fact I’m more excited than a monkey with 2 dicks.
16 August 2011
Strumski
I recall buying the last album at Ulverston which was a week before release if I remember correctly so may be a decent chance of picking it up in Leamington Spa.
16 August 2011
Dave F.
Excellent news, made my day.
Do you think that track 1 could be a typographical error?
Could it be bank instead of back?
Crimond is also a village in Scotland, but i’m sure refers to the hymn in this context.
16 August 2011
Charles Exford
I’ll try not to spoil your fun Neil, though I’m pretty sure others will post their own particular refinements on John’s info about the dialect term. But if nobody gets it spot-on within a few weeks (including full etymology and differences in use between L’pool and Wirral), I might then, reluctantly you understand, have to step in.
I will just point out that NB57 has used the phrase “bad wools” live at least once (see if memory serves that Leeds 2009 Youtube version of A Country Practice that Chris posted in the Lux Cup Final thread).
16 August 2011
toffo 78 huyton
Only HMHB can get me reaching for the good book. (psalms 23). A bad day at the office just got suddenly better………….
16 August 2011
Third Rate Les
Woo hoo!
Well done to the Information Service.
16 August 2011
Third Rate Les
That Crimond thing’s quite an obscure reference. I play in a church band and I didn’t get it. Maybe it’s more of a C of E thing.
Still, like I said, woo hoo!
16 August 2011
Charles Exford
Far from rare to see “Psalm 23 (Crimond)” appear on the screen during Songs of Praise and suchlike.
Those three words also seem to be one of,the most common listings on the orders of service at funerals.
16 August 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Crimond is the name of the hymn tune that the 23rd Psalm is usually sung along to by English speaking congregations. It is the tune that most of us will recognise as that ‘Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want’ song which is mumbled in draughty crematoria from Wick to Zeal Monachorum on a daily basis. The reason that the name of the tune is often appended is that the Psalm can be sung to alternate tunes, such as the Brother James Air, which is a somewhat more groovy and up-tempo treatment, probably lacking the solemnity needed whilst entrusting unto God the souls of those who have, for example, recently jumped off the roof of Dignitas or inadvertently consumed anti-freeze. It would, no doubt, cause mourners unnecessary embarrassment if faced with 23rd Psalm (No Tune Given) they launched into entirely the wrong version. I can see the cheeks reddening to a rosy glow as the result of such an Ecclesiastical faux pas. Hence the brackets.
17 August 2011
TWO FAT FEET
I have seen some fairly rotten things at the back of Iceland, usually with Bernard Matthews’ name on.
17 August 2011
Third Rate Les
So Crimond is the usual one that goes “The Looooord’s my-y sheeeeepher-erd Iiiii’ll not waaaant” whereas the Brother James one is presumably the one that goes “THEEE lord’s my SHEEEPherd I’LL not WANT” – you gotta wonder about the scanning when the initial “The” is stressed.
The “Something’s Rotten” line is a corker and generally it’s fun to imagine the songs just from the title. “Fix it so she dreams of me” is a cracker of a title, while I had to look up “Stiperstones” (and one to add to the HMHB List of Hills & Mountains as a matter of urgency)
17 August 2011
bobbin
ooh listed on vinyl on amazon too
about bloody time
first since trouble over bridgwater lp?
17 August 2011
Charles Exford
Love the way some of these phrases and snippets start to emerge up to two years before the songs, like when a song at Shrewsbury about 18 months ago (not a new one) was introduced with “this is a song about descending the Stiperstones.”
Added to the list of ‘Blackwells’ to ascend & then descend they shall be, with who knows what other Moels and trig points.
18 August 2011
DT
Don’t know how fresh this is but Amazon has 30 second samplers. I don’t remember seeing this last night.
18 August 2011
TEA FOR TOXTETH
It sure does feel something of a priveledge to be able to “get on” the “bad wool” reference without thinking it was about a misbehaving sheep or a dodgy aran cardi. It’s like I’ve just stumbled upon a private party and been made to feel welcome. Sometimes you just can’t beat a bit of regional phrasing.
18 August 2011
Just Sayin’
The Lord is my shepherd….And he’s a bad wool!
18 August 2011
Chris The Siteowner
SPOILER ALERT
Good spot, DT: go to the Amazon page and the “samples” links give you 30 seconds of each song. Kinda spoils the surprise in a way. But who can resist?
Tantalising “spoken bit” hinted at in “Descent Of The Stiperstones”…
18 August 2011
Charles Exford
I’ve never been a lad likely to want to watch a match that’s already finished without knowing the result, but I know there are many such out there. So I too will say THIS POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!
Anyway it seems from the sample that track 12 is indeed an extension of the scenario laid out in the fourth minute of that Leeds ’09 version of A Country Practice on that YouTube clip. As one who doesn’t have Sky but is aware enough of the horrors of the offending programme, I chuckled loudly to myself (CLTM) last week when I noticed the official Tranmere website was appealing for eight misguided souls to represent the club on last Saturday’s edition. I don’t doubt they found eight particularly bad wools. Anyone see it?
And apropos of my comment above, “Gok Wan Acolytes” is another phrase that had some live outings a year or two ago.
18 August 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
It’s coming home
It’s coming home
It’s coming
Korfball’s coming home
Although with the possible exception of 1991, it never went away.
18 August 2011
Charles Exford
Why do I get the feeling that the lyrics on this album will leave us with very little to quibble over beyond a few days after its release?
So should we maximise the quibbling over the 6 Music session versions while we can? It _is_ “she hangs about the laurel walk” by the way.
And in order to guarantee the maximum amount of quibbling, I intend to botch together an incomplete and probably almost totally inaccurate transcription of that terrible live recording of ‘Excavating Rita’ sometime soon. Probably tomorrow, when I more or less break up for Xmas.
I notice that the sample from that track on Amazon is the only bit that was already clear in the live version, which is all good for the quibbling of course.
18 August 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
I see your Laurel Walk and I’ll raise you a pair of Long Walks.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2010/dec/15/national-trust-uk-winter-walks-gibside
http://www.thamesweb.co.uk/windsor/greatpark/longwalk.html
18 August 2011
Richard
Asda & Tesco have it as 19th Sep. In time for my hol’s on 22nd, cracking!
18 August 2011
Charles Exford
But can we just stress – do not order through such corporate links but please order it direct from Probe, so Geoff and the lads get virtually all the money instead of virtually not much of it ??? We’ll get this confirmed very soon, but as Chris has said it WILL be available first through Probe.
18 August 2011
S.G.D A SHROPSHIRE LAD
Little to quibble over lyricwise maybe, but which is the best way from Snailbeach car park to Montgomery? do you go Bentlawnt,Fishpool,Hyssington or even Priest Weston?
18 August 2011
renny
much rather buy it from probe plus. we need details ! lol
18 August 2011
Steve N
Not sure if any of the links above have got this, but the Amazon site now has those 30sec samples attached (+ artwork)
http://amzn.to/ob8FLt
18 August 2011
Richard
I would love to get it from Probe, providing they can guarantee it arrives before I fly away on 22nd, I’m not leaving the country without it!
If not I’ll probably by 2 anyway, 1 form whoever can get it to me quickest, and the 2nd from probe (so the lads get their fair share), oh and probably on download form iTunes as well, just for good measure.
18 August 2011
The Black Rat
Looking forward to driving my wife even more bonkers than she already is. Apparently HMHB ‘don’t play proper music’. She’d much rather listen to Shane Richie. I don’t mind irking the purists, but that’s several steps too far.
18 August 2011
John Burscough
I notice there’s no catalogue number against the listing for ’90B (C)’ (as I propose to refer to it) at the top of the page. For what it’s worth, the CD release info on the Japanese website above (post 161) gives the number as Probe65.
19 August 2011
Gregg Z
I’d like to add my voice to the chorus beseeching everyone to buy from Probe Plus. I’ve no problem with sending my greasy foreign money to Geoff and the lads. ‘Course I’ll gladly keep the Amazon song samples on a continuous loop ’til 19th Sept.
Near as I can tell from the truncated bits I’ve heard (coupled with the radio sessions), looks like a very solid effort, possibly spectacular. 9 of the 12 tracks sound like First Division efforts (the only ones on first listen that didn’t stick were “Excavating Rita”, “Fun Day in the Park” and “The Coroner’s Footnote”), but I can hang.
Difficult to compare anything new to the DHSS-era stuff, but I’m predicting “90 Bisodol” will fit in only behind “Achtung Bono” & “Cammell Laird S.C.”. Hardly feint praise, as those are about the two greatest LPs ever made.
19 August 2011
Gregg Z
While we’re at it, those Amazon samples feel less like 30 seconds and more like ten seconds.
I can hear the sniggering already…
19 August 2011
Richard
A mention on Gez’s Half Man Half Biscuit Home Page now, nothing about availability though
19 August 2011
Strumski
Been a while since i saw HMHB so have decided to travel from Scotland for the Leamington gig, hopefully album will be on sale then
)
Any of the new ones been played at any of the recent gigs?
21 August 2011
TWO FAT FEET
Excavating Rita was played at Shepherds Bush, all the ones on last year’s 6Music session have also been played live at least once since the broadcast.
21 August 2011
Norbert D
Very, very flat/dry sound on those samples. This album seems to have been produced like an early 80s Fall LP, which is no bad thing (and a nice change after the rockin’ pomp of the last record) except it seems to suck some of the power out of the stompers. “Tommy Walsh’s Eco House” sounds a bit cardboardy on the Amazon site compared to the session version, doesn’t it? Hopefully it’ll work when you listen to the whole thing in one go.
23 August 2011
Webbster
Just wandered past the Probe Plus online store and it says:
**STOP PRESS!!!
Brand new HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT album ’90 Bisodol (Crimond)’ is out 26th September!!
The album will be released on CD & Limited Edition vinyl & CD package. Please e-mail us for more info:
geoff@probeplus.co.uk
PRE-ORDER YOURS NOW!! ***
24 August 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Good spot. Looks like a bit of a “work in progress”. I’ve emailed them to ask for details on ordering as soon as possible and will push them out to everyone who’s on our own mailing list here as soon as I’ve got them.
24 August 2011
Mal Practice
A tisket, a tasket, I added it to my basket
But the £2.10 shipping fee was also added, despite the promise of free delivery, so I emptied the basket and sent Probe Plus a cheque instead.
24 August 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Yep, they still haven’t got this new-fangled inter web thingy right. It’s programmed not to add any postage, then the system doesn’t allow that and insists on adding £2.10 right at the death. I’ve emailed Geoff about it, although if anyone has a hotline to the source, please make the same point. Once this is fixed, we can all put our orders in. According to Gez via the HMHB Yahoo! Group Mailing List, “release date is 26 Sept, although (Geoff) should be taking delivery of them around the middle of next week” (1st September?) so we’ll get our copies quickest through the Probe Plus Store. Stay tuned.
If they don’t fix it tomorrow, I shall join Mal (above) and just send ‘em a cheque.
24 August 2011
Toffo
Think I’ll pop into Probe on the 26th. Then a few pints in the ‘Post Office’ pub to celebrate this special occasion.
25 August 2011
Mr Larrington
Probe’s webby SCIENCE has never been particularly impressive. It took me ages to persuade it that I wanted a copy of “CSI: Ambleside” though at least when it did drop onto my doormat it had a hand-written note scribbled on the packaging – Geoff checking that I knew about the SBE gig. He then e-mailed a few days later to make sure I’d got it. You don’t get that from the boss of EMI…
25 August 2011
Richard
I ordered it anyway and paid the P&P, can’t be arsed to quibble over £2.10 or send a cheque (who still owns a cheque book?), just hope it arrives before 22nd when depart this country
25 August 2011
Ceri
Zeitgeist line at Cardiff last night was definitely “capturing the zeitgeist,… widening the motorway”.
Shame really, I kind of liked “wankening” as a new verb.
26 August 2011
Charles Exford
Oh dear, I am by instinct an educationalist, so confusion and misinformation has forced my hand earlier than I had hoped. So as not to spoil things for Neil G., I have published an explanation of “Bad Wools” in Another Place.
26 August 2011
Richard
I feel like I’ve cheated myself by listening to all the samples on Amazon. I’d actually gotten so used to the Marc Riley versions, like the slightly inferior recorded garage rock style was actually a part of it.
28 August 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Right, they’ve done the smart thing and reduced the price at the Probe Plus Online Store, so when the system adds on the postage, it now comes to the price they wanted to charge with free postage, which is £9.25.
As of this morning, it said there were 126 copies in stock, but it also said they wouldn’t be despatched until 23 September. With the last album, however, they came earlier from Probe Plus than the promised delivery date.
As Charles has already mentioned (above), it can only be assumed that the band make more money from CDs bought through the Probe Plus store than they do through any other outlet, so you might feel that’s the best place to get your copy (as well as potentially the one from where you’ll get it earliest). Payment is through PayPal, and the system appears to work, as I just got the instant email confirmation of my order.
And a CD is just a lot nicer thing to have than an MP3, don’t you agree? Think of it as a permanent MP3 backup.
90 Bisodol (Crimond) at the Probe Plus Online Store
Later today I’m mailing the information above to everyone who’s on this site’s mailing list, as well as a few refuseniks who’ve contributed here but never joined the email list. As that’s well over 500 people, the 126 copies may go fast. Apologies.
28 August 2011
Charles Exford
Good work, Chris.Looks like you’ve sold 20 of those already in less than 2 hours !
Pobe Plus Emloyee of the Month?
28 August 2011
S.G.D A SHROPSHIRE LAD
“Pobe Plus Emloyee “?
Left letters in the practise room or a heavy night?
28 August 2011
S.G.D A SHROPSHIRE LAD
oops practice.
Does anyone have any more information on the vinyl version?
28 August 2011
Dave Wiggins
“Permanent MP3 backup”. *doffs cap……….
29 August 2011
Little Frank
The artwork on the Probe store has gone white, rather than black…
29 August 2011
Charles Exford
Looks the same to me but I suppose if it was deep snow when you got to Dignitas then Bisodol wouldn’t do the job at all.
90 slices of burnt toast maybe.
29 August 2011
Little Frank
Hmm, gone back again! How odd. It was like a negative version of the black artwork.
30 August 2011
PROBLEM CHIMP
Ordered…
Already counting down the days until it arrives (hopefully early!!)
1 September 2011
Charles Exford
I make it 165 copies ordered on that particular online system since Chris posted out about it 7 days ago. Not bad for word-of-mouth & e-mail.
I’m reliably informed Geoff has finally taken delivery of the finished product within the last few days, though his comrades in the shop denied it yesterday when I popped in. They just knew there had been some sort of tyical having-to-print-all-the-covers-again-type last-minute delay.
4 September 2011
2 Chevrons
And 1 more copy for me to add to the list. Also bought a copy of McIntyre, Treadmore and Davitt and a Trouble Over Bridgewater t-shirt. Looking forward to receiving my package in the post – I’ll look for a trail of elastic bands dropped by the postman.
4 September 2011
gordo
I’ve ordered my copy even though it will arrive about the same time I’ll be up home on the Wirral for a few days. For once I’ll be looking forward to going back to that London
4 September 2011
Mark
Ordered my copy – only 27 left apparently.
6 September 2011
Nick Walters
Help! I’m trying to order it but the Probe Plus site won’t let me.
I add it to the basket, but when I click “view basket” it tells me “Your shopping cart is currently empty.”
Yet when I hit Back I find that there are 3 copies in my basket!
I’ve registered, but that does nothing to help.
Any ideas?!
Nick W
6 September 2011
Nick Walters
Please disregard previous post – managed to order it now. The Internet clearly hates me, it knew I asked for help and wanted me to look a foole.
Nick W
6 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
Don’t worry, it’s not just you that had that problem! At one point I had two copies of Bisodol and two copies of Bridgewater in separate baskets (Bridgewater wasn’t entirely by accident, I lost my copy years ago in mysterious and potentially embarrassing circumstances and have never got round to replacing it with a physical copy. What this means is that I have now bought Visitor For Mr Edmonds three times).
6 September 2011
Paul F
I had the same problem but got there eventually.
7 September 2011
John Burscough
A tisket, a tasket, a Biscuit in a basket…
7 September 2011
Charles Exford
Exciting! I’m as excited as a great big old thing that used to be cited. Hope we get Excavating Rita. As i’ve given up on anything but a partial transcription of the Shepherd’s Bush version, I can only comment on the music so far. Reminscent of Pixies meets Boz Boorer I thought. One of Neil Crossley’s finest?
7 September 2011
Charles Exford
Oh, sh*t. Is it that time already? It was ‘Fun day in the Park’ and I’d already missed it when I switched over.
What time is the listen again listenable?
7 September 2011
Charles Exford
Looking at Gid’s pages and had my first ever look at that twitter. can see it does have its uses then. Did notice Gid only replied to pop star Eddie about the album release date, not to the plebs.
7 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
“Fun Day In The Park” …23mins 30secs in.
8 September 2011
Charles Exford
Exquisite. The posh Parr Street production on that final refrain definitely worth waiting all these months for.
I’m off to bombard the Boy Lard with requests for Excavating Rita. Anyone care to join me?
8 September 2011
Charles Exford
The album is showing out of stock at the moment because Geoff, bless him, doesn’t know how to tell the computer it’s sitting on top of boxes of about 5,000 copies.
The junior clerk should be able to sort things out before Lard further increases demand this evening!
8 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
If he’s got all these copies, and Gid’n'Lard can have theirs, why can’t we have ours? (He said, looking once again forlornly at the measly post which arrived this morning)
8 September 2011
Simon
Any word on whether it’ll be on sale at Leamington next week?
8 September 2011
Charles Exford
It’s a contractual thing with the distributors, apparently.
Yes it’s better if we all order through Probe, but they can’t piss off the distributors & other suppliers by sending out those copies early.
So officially there’s no way to get hold of it before release date … but let’s say (if this was a forum I’d go into that dead funny invisibly tiny font and you’d all have to press C++ or something) I’d be surprised if there wasn’t a bit of a leak somewhere in the Warwickshire area next week.
Incidentally the vinyl edition at £16.95 with P&P includes yer CD as well and will make a lovely obviously LP-shaped bulge in someone’s Xmas stocking.
8 September 2011
Gregg Z
This proves I should never judge a new HMHB LP by 10-second samples on Amazon. After hearing these snippets, I reckoned 9 of the 12 songs were gems, and that “Fun Day in the Park” was not among them.
Well after hearing the full song on Gideon Coe’s show, my shame is immeasurable. Superb stuff, as usual.
Reminds me of a sort of a one-eyed “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite”.
8 September 2011
Gregg Z
While we’re on it, wonder if Geoff could ship my copy right away, as there’s zero chance of pissing off any retail outfits here in the US, with such leakage.
Why not give the Yank a pre-release fortnight to take a wack at figuring out the lyrics? Think of the comedic potential for all involved.
Come on, no sympathy for Uncle Gregg?
8 September 2011
Charles Exford
Band apparently not best pleased with the samples on Amazon either. But all part of the distribution cartel thing. For those who like their trade rough and all that.
Lard’s probably chosen his track for the 7pm show by now, but anyone else want to e-mail and tell him the we-couldn’t-hear-the-lyrics-at-Shepherd’s-Bush-and-we’ve -been-waiting-3-months sob story?
marc.6music@bbc.co.uk
8 September 2011
Peter Gandy
The campaign for Excavating Rita worked then Charles.
8 September 2011
Charles Exford
Yes, here at Exford Towers we’re quietly celebrating 35 years of DJs who secretly knew all along that all the correspondence was from the same person, but it suited their purposes to go along with apparent popular demand.
Anyway – hooray, the lyrics aren’t all going to be that easy after all – even the bits I still don’t get are exactly the same bits they already were from the Shepherd’s Bush bootleg
8 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
“Excavating Rita” …10 minutes in. Preceded by Exxo referring to his alter ego (q.v.)
8 September 2011
Third Rate Les
“My mate Charlie”? From “Nigel”? Ah – the one in Leeds.
That’s a belter – “Subterranean lovesick blues” indeed.
9 September 2011
poolio
Ordered… dribbling with giddyness…
Note to self: do not listen to excerpts / read lyrics from internet… live in box for next 17 days…
10 September 2011
Flint
A tenner, or perhaps £9.25, says there’s No Hiding Place.
I’ll track you down and sing the lyrics outside your bedroom/office. I have sandwich boards and unlimited access to a photocopier. I’m prepared to charter an ancient Tiger Moth for as much sky-writing as it takes. You’ll never make it through to the 26th.
11 September 2011
John Burscough
Good on you, Poolio. You’ll have to do me too, Flint. Back To Waiting For LPs To Come Out!
11 September 2011
Norbert D
Had a sneaky listen to the whole LP the other night (round at the house of a mate “in the biz” who has an advance copy). Shan’t spoiler, except to say that a.) it’s very good, b.) the Amazon samples really don’t reflect the sound of the LP, it sounds much nicer and less demo-like than that, c.) “Excavating Rita” is totally brilliant, but you already knew that, d.) all three of us in the room were on the verge of standing to applaud after “Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools”, another anti-musician rant which is probably the angriest and most menacing HMHB and NB in particular have ever sounded on record. Hope they do it live.
I didn’t hear a “National Shite Day”, by which I mean an obvious classic of epic proportions. But the quality is very high all the way through and even the throwaway tracks like “Fun Day In The Park” are done so nicely they’re not really throwaways, so it’s probably more consistent than any previous Biscuits LP. The weakest tracks are probably the songs from the 6Music session, which gives you some idea. In fact the only (relative) disappointment for me was “Tommy Walsh”, which sounded much less powerful than the session version and seems to have been chucked away a bit, considering what a great song it is. Although he gets all the words right this time. And yeah, it’s “laurel walk”.
12 September 2011
Norbert D
Oh, and so as not to get anyone into trouble, I should point out that “a sneaky listen” means just that, and the CD was filed away immediately afterwards. I’m now waiting until release date for my next go just like everyone else… and it’s going to be a long wait, because what I remember of “Joy In Leeuwarden” has been going round my head ever since and WILL NOT go away. Pretty frustrating when you can’t remember any of the words so you’ve just got the chorus going round and round in your head on a loop, soundtracking your insomnia…
12 September 2011
Charles Exford
Well if advance copies go out to be played on the radio, etc., I can’t see you getting anyone into trouble with any amount of hyping it up and whetting the appetite there, Norb. Geoff told me the other day that this this album is getting about three times as much interest as ‘CSI Ambleside’ at the same stage by the way. But as of about a week ago NB57 himself hadn’t actually heard or got hold of the album yet, which should make the rest of us feel better.
And talking of promotional hyping, can I quote you anonymously all over the interweb, about “R&RIFOBW” ?
12 September 2011
Norbert D
Yeah, I was just being paranoid on my lunch break. I do it a lot. Quote me all over the place (it couldn’t help but be anonymous anyway, really).
12 September 2011
Charles Exford
Pish and tish and tarnation. I knew it would be Lamacq’s turn today so I mithered him for ‘Bad Wools.’
But he’s just played ‘Left Lyrics’ (about 2 hours 14 mins into the show).
And I think he’s just compared the general feel of the album to that of ‘This Leaden Pall’ !
12 September 2011
Charles Exford
Now Lard playing Tommy Walsh (13 minutes into the programme)… says he spoke Geoff and the lads don’t want to do another session ‘cos it wouldn’t be different enough from the last one.
12 September 2011
Charles Exford
2 tracks within one hour then yesterday evening – that’s quite a tribute, and indeed they might even get their wrists slapped for that. Gideon says it’s his turn again tonight.
13 September 2011
Dave F.
I have to say I’m a mite disappointed that, even on 6music, HMHB are still considered to be ‘evening radio’.
Maybe a line should be dropped to Radcliffe & Maconie (& the others) to persuade them to finally play a track or two since the pair mentioning them so often.
When someone next bumps into Geoff or the band could they ask if they’re doing any promotion at all for this record please?
It would seem a bit weird if they didn’t; that last session was 13 months ago.
13 September 2011
Dave F.
Having said that I assume it will be 6 music’s album of the day nearer the release date.
13 September 2011
Charles Exford
@ Dave F.
Three of the 6Music presenters excitedly played tracks on their shows within 24 hours of getting their CDs in the post from Geoff, and 2 of them have already played 2 songs each in less than a week. And unless it does become album of the day or get a ‘single’ playlisted, there are limits as to how many times the station can favour one artiste over the course of a day. Informal rules which I think they broke yesterday in fact by playing 2 tracks in an hour.
I’d expect Radcliffe & Maconie to get onto it in due course. I’ve already sent a couple of e-mithers to them meself, eg when they mentioned the old Matthew Street Probe shop in a discussion of the whole Eric’s scene on last Friday’s show.
Overall it’s been very impressive support from 6Music, with the (unrequited) offer of a session and all.
As an aside, I note that Lamacq got the label name wrong yesterday, despite trying to show off by citing ‘This Leaden Pall.’ If I didn’t know he was a proper Colchester United supporter I’d have him down as a Bad Wool.
13 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
If the weakest tracks are those from the 6Music session, ergo there must be eight tracks on there which are better than RSVP. That would be worth listening to, because I don’t think there have previously been eight tracks better than RSVP across their entire recorded output.
13 September 2011
Norbert D
Your mileage may etc etc. Never been much of a fan of “RSVP” myself, so there you go. I did think the album version was much better than the session, though. They’ve given it a proper folky arrangement, which sounded fantastic.
And “Tommy Walsh’s Eco House” is obviously a brilliant song, even if the LP version is a bit underwhelming. But “Left Lyrics” and “L’Enfer”, coming one after the other, really did seem like a bit of a drop-off, and I don’t think either of them is a bad song. But they come in between that run of “Excavating Rita”, “Fun Day In The Park” and “Descent Of The Stiperstones” (which is a long spoken-word job with a big sweeping Hammond organ arrangement, and it’s a bit special), and before “Fix It So She Dreams Of Me”, which definitely stood out as another highlight.
That’s pretty much wrung the last few drops from my memory of the album, anyway. Order placed, waiting.
13 September 2011
Charles Exford
‘Something’s Rotten in the Back of Iceland’ about 44 and a half minutes into Gideon’s show here, although don’t forget these links will self-destruct in 7 days.
14 September 2011
John Burscough
Let’s hope we have our own permanent MP3 back-ups by then.
14 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
My thanks to Paddy Shennan of the Liverpool Echo, for allowing us to reproduce today’s column below. Warning: lots of spoilers, so if you’d rather the first time you heard that XXXXXX was mentioned in a song was when you heard that song, look away now.
THE BARD OF BIRKENHEAD STRIKES AGAIN
Paddy Shennan column, Liverpool Echo, Wed September 14
I BUMPED into Father Christmas on Saturday night.
It was the perfect end to a perfect day – barring Aston Villa’s late equalizer and a truly embarrassing piece of anti-journalism by Martin Samuel in the Daily Mail, which must have encouraged many to join the Blue Union march outside Goodison Park.
But Lancashire County Cricket Club had enjoyed a thrilling victory at Aigburth and I was in The Caledonia, nearing the end of a magnificent mini-pub crawl, where a thoughtful member of the bar staff was playing an album by The Fall in its entirety.
And then Geoff Davies, the godfather of Merseyside’s independent music scene, walked over and gave me a present.
Yes, let joy be unconfined because, after more than three long years, a new Half Man Half Biscuit album – 90 Bisodol (Crimond) – will hit the shops in 12 days time.
Life truly is worth living!
Eight years ago, ECHO readers voted the Birkenhead band’s singer, Nigel Blackwell, the 57th Greatest Merseysider Of All Time, which was good recognition (or maybe not) for our greatest living lyricist, who once told the ECHO: “Anonymity is everything.”
90 Bisodol is – no surprise – another masterpiece, packed with delicious lines and deranged flights of fancy.
There is talk of taking a TGV to Zurich to jump off the roof of Dignitas; bricking up Jim Beglin and of a pub band, confusingly called Curry Night – “They do two sets and then take requests . . . ‘Play one the drummer knows’”.
There’s also a magical meeting with Crossroads actress Lynette McMorrough, who played Glenda Brownlow/Banks, and a nod to Glenda’s dad in the line “The crazy world of Arthur Brownlow”.
We’re also treated to a delightful demolition of certain rock star guests on Soccer AM (in Rock and Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools – which also includes the intriguing line “Hey hey, my my, Lipa groups will never die.”)
Then there’s a reflection on the selfishness of train track suicides in The Coroner’s Footnote: “He thought of a love unrequited/He thought of a life full of pain/It’s a pity he didn’t spare a thought for/The poor b*****d driving the train.”
The late, great John Peel said Nigel rejoiced in the use of language – and he was right.
So thanks again Father Christmas.
14 September 2011
Gregg Z
Had a listen to “Something’s Rotten in the Back of Iceland” (courtesy Gideon Coe) and I’ve been grinning like a schoolgirl for a few days now.
Massive. Although it makes me tremendously sad I have almost no chance of ever seeing them live.
In the words of Mark E. Smith, “If we were smart, we’d emigrate…”
I’d have quite a job explaining to the wife and kids we’re moving to England so that Dad can see HMHB on a regular basis. Might take some more planning.
15 September 2011
Dave F.
@Charles
Your points kind of prove mine.
There’s been many plays, but all in the same time slot – the latter part of the day which is like preaching to the converted. Even 6music has a different demographic for day time listeners. (they probably watch that awful ‘Black or Red’ instead of listening to Gid.). Spreading the plays across the day might hook a new fan or two.
15 September 2011
Dave Cooper
CD was on sale at Leamington, getting it’s first proper listen now.
Joy in Leeuwarden is genuinely laugh out loud funny.
On just one play this is up there with anything they have done, marvellous.
16 September 2011
Mac
SPOILER:
Heard it once now,
The actress that plays Glenda from Crossroads recreating her on screen life in the back of chandlers????? WTF? lol
16 September 2011
Little Frank
Has anyone counted how many people die during the course of the LP?
17 September 2011
Third Rate Les
I’ve managed to figure out every word of “Descending The Stiperstones” except for the Welsh doormat – I’ve transcribed as “coddeuch Llewllyn” but that’s a complete guess. Anyone know? Or should I just wait for the lyrics debate? What a cracking song too – starts as a bit of whimsy but then gradually builds up the unsettling weirdness until it turns deeply nightmarish.
17 September 2011
Alan K
@ Third Rate Les. I’ve not heard it yet, but at a guess [well, more than a guess, I'm a Welsh Learner] I would say it sounds like ‘codwch’.
‘Codi’ is the Welsh verb get up, awake or raise. the ‘-wch’ but after the verb is a Welsh command [we don't have this in English, its not rude, its just the way it is..] so it would follow that “Codwch Llewelyn” would mean Llewelyn raise/awake!!
I’ll wait until I hear it though, which could be this coming week!
18 September 2011
Third Rate Les
Alan K – that sounds right (and I’m quite pleased I nearly got it too!).
So that’s it – checked it again and pretty sure I’ve got all the lyrics. Not that I’m trying to pre-empt the debate once Chris posts them up, you understand.
18 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
I think the whole album’s going to have been dissected on this thread before we get a chance to take our time and do the songs one at a time. Serves me right for making an “album” thread, which I hadn’t done before.
Just had a call from Geoff Davies at Probe Plus (you cannot imagine what a thrill that was) to say thanks for the unprecedented advance orders for the new album (that’s thanks to pass on to everyone here, not to me, I didn’t buy them all myself). He now has a house full of the things waiting to go out next week. I don’t think it’s giving away any commercial confidences to relay the news that the advance orders are several times anything which albums like the last one managed, and everyone involved is bowled over with what’s happening.
18 September 2011
Charles Exford
Perhaps surprising to see a Youtube video for ‘Fun Day in the Park’ already? Recognise the bloke-who-made-it’s face from last week’s gig. Respect.
Freeze frame the poster to avoid disappointment.
20 September 2011
Gez
Apparently Geoff had a few computer problems last week, it had to go in for repair, so bear this in mind if you emailed him directly last week. He seems to have recovered the emails (mine, at least). so all should be well.
Enjoying all the discussion on here, it makes my job so much easier
Leeuwarden is going to need a website of its own…
21 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
A quick namecheck for the site, and we get described as “strange people”, in this brief review at Ear I Am.
21 September 2011
micky (the hoss)
Bentleys Roof “Fun Day in the Park” YouTube Video, Guilty as charged I afraid
21 September 2011
Charles Exford
Not all press is good press, Chris. Enjoyed that less than almost any piece I’ve ever read about a Biscuits gig or record. I still find it odd that people need to diss certain songs when expressing their personal favourites (yes, I’m still bitter about the whole Lux Familiar relative merits thing, I suppose). Just seems disloyal to me. And anyway it’s by a man who’s just tweeted the virtues of a media conference at which Terry f*cking Christian is a keynote speaker.
I do wonder, though, what message boards there ae out there dissing the brilliant RSVP ? I didn’t know there were HMHB message boards…
21 September 2011
Norbert D
I think he might mean me saying I wasn’t that keen on “RSVP”, on here the other day. Sterling research, that.
21 September 2011
Dave Wiggins
Without sounding like a suck’ole, may I heartily agree with Exxo there. These wretched HMHB ‘Message Boards’ eh, with their plethora of “strange people”. Come again?
21 September 2011
Gregg Z
If we’re the ‘strange people’, I’ll have to assume those dear folks who post on Coldplay message boards are the normal ones.
I’ll gladly go down with the ship…
21 September 2011
Martin
Ooooh, how exciting. 90 Bisodol arrived today… what a day to not get home until gone 9pm.
21 September 2011
Third Rate Les
I was a little disappointed when I read the so-called b-b-b-b-bad review. He loves the album, and seems to especially love the “all of our songs sound the same” ballads, which are indeed great songs (not sure I’ve seen anyone disagree). Not sure I mind being called “strange” and anyway, he’s got a point.
Hardly grounds to warn him off approaching Stroud, I feel.
21 September 2011
Dave Wiggins
He sounded a bit of a bad wool to me, TLR. Not that I could care (‘course I don’t).
22 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
Yes, and a CD too.
23 September 2011
Petrovic
CD just arrived in the post – and on the day I have to ‘work at home’ because the trains are buggered! Joy in Leeuwarden indeed.
23 September 2011
dagenham dave
hoorah mine’s just arrived! This is going to be a great drive to work
23 September 2011
Norbert D
The joys of working part-time… got two lyrics transcribed by lunchtime. And only had to Google once, too, to confirm my suspicions that “Loggerheads” and “Hope” in “we made our way from Loggerheads to Hope” should be capped-up, as they’re both towns in Wales. After a while, you start to spot the patterns, don’t you?
23 September 2011
Geordie Paul
I got mine today too. Thanks Geoff. Descent of the Stiperstones sounds Monster.
23 September 2011
2 Chevrons
No delivery yet …
Postman may be in his local waiting for ‘the music round’. Hope he’s having elastic bands fired at him !
23 September 2011
Alan K
Got mine to day!! Did anyone else get a message of “dal dy dir” on the back of the brown envelope??
23 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
No, but there was the conspicuous absence of the other part of my order (permanent MP3 backup of Bridgewater)
23 September 2011
aiwacat
I’m minded to forgive my postie his elastic band habits after he spotted me at the bus stop and crossed the road to deliver my copy to me then and there. Meant I had a joyous day of surreptitious workplace listening, rather than having to wait eight hours.
23 September 2011
SIMON P
Mine came this morning. Fun journey to work, apart from trying to concentrate on the M1 and fiddle with the CD player at the same time. Multi-tasking? Pah. Am loving “Iceland”, “Fix It..” and “Bad Wools”. The line in Leeuwarden also made me sneeze with laughter.
23 September 2011
DESMON
Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful…. I think this may be my favourite album. Got it on Wednesday!
Love AIWACAT’s postie story
Please Mr. Postman, look and see
Is there a CD in your bag for me
got to love postmen (well, would rather love a postwoman)
23 September 2011
Jon
Sadly I’m still waiting for my copy to make it’s way to New Zealand. Will have to resort to buying it on iTunes tomorrow whilst waiting for it to arrive.
24 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
Plot thickens. Still no Bridgewater but I did have the vinyl copy of Bisodol (without the CD, presumably because it came yesterday) delivered by the postman this morning. I didn’t order it on vinyl because although I do have a record player in the loft, I don’t have a compatible amplifier at the moment.
I did get a handwritten “Hi Folks” on the back of the envelope though.
24 September 2011
Diggler
Took delivery of mine this lunchtime. I was tipped off by Narberther last night who found his waiting for him on the mat when he got home from work. I asked for “no spoilers”, then got sick of the Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC4 and demanded his highlights so far. I need some time to take this in as too many plus-points to mention at this stage.
A run on the fells and i’ll be set up to take it all in.
Cheers Geoff for the first class distribution
24 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
anyway, early impressions : definitely more consistently good than Ambleside. RSVP disappointing compared to the session version (but that was probably inevitable, and it’s no trouble to swap them over on my iTunes library); Coroner’s Footnote is unexpectedly good and Stiperstones actually had me fearing for Nigel’s sanity, becoming more and more deranged as the song progresses. Fix It So She Dreams Of Me is probably the only actual disappointment. I suspect that Fun Day In The Park may be based on a true story, rather more so than the Leeuwarden explanation.
Opinions may be amended once I’m able to concentrate on it properly amid the household chaos.
24 September 2011
Mark
Mine dropped through the post box this morning. Haven’t listened yet … it’s in the car to soften the blow of a drive to Ipswich this afternoon …. should get to listen to it twice on the way ….. stuidly excited …..
24 September 2011
BrumBiscuit
Mine too arrived today. Put it on in the kitchen peeling spuds whilst with the nipper. That last track’s a bit rude for a 6-year-old!
I’m off to the Stiperstones next weekend. A good reason to play it several times en-route.
24 September 2011
renny
staying up till midnight to see if the download comes live on amazon….
24 September 2011
renny
success !!
25 September 2011
Jon
Yep, at approximately five past midnight UK time down it came from iTunes. Currently enjoying third listen of it – greatly improving a dismal day in Wellington
25 September 2011
Gregg Z
iTunes has determined at 12:03am (Eastern USA) that things have been made brighter here. Just coming to end of first track, so I’ve made it through about 7 1/2 Bisodol, I reckon.
25 September 2011
Martin
The new album is very dark, innit? Chalk body outlines, Dignitas suicides, Excavating Rita, mass murder during RSVP, footnotes left by coroners… thank god for a cheery game of korfball and the joy of bricking up Jim Beglin.
@Jon Which Wellington? If Herefordshire, then I was there today watching my local footy team play away in the FA Vase (cos I’m not a Bad Wool). Very scenic drive down from West Brom to there, and then a nice little ground on arrival too. If not that Wellington then… oh well.
Oh, and we won 5-0. We’re the famous Tivi army and we’re going to Wem-ber-ley!!
25 September 2011
Jon
@Martin Wellington, New Zealand! It’s been a while since I saw an FA Vase game – used to go to my local team in Kent as well as supporting a team from the other end of the country (not a current Premier League team I hasten to add!)
25 September 2011
Earwig O’Dowd
I spent all of Saturday waiting for the postie and it was a no show. Thinking I might have to see if I can “work” from home Monday am, just in case it arrives.
@ Exxo – he’s an Udders fan. Nice bloke nonetheless
25 September 2011
Gregg Z
After about 4 or 5 airings, I’ve come to the conclusion that “90 Bisodol” will number amongst the top 3 HMHB discs (with “Cammell Laird” and “Achtung Bono”). It might well be their most consistently good disc yet, as I’ve not found a song that doesn’t make the cut for me.
If I were to be boldly critical, the only bits that I lament are perhaps a bit of over-production on “RSVP”, and, um, that’s about it.
The melding of wit and terror works just right for me (viz. “Bad Wools”, “Rita” and “Stiperstones”). By the way, I agree that “a jar of language pills” is a superb lyric.
Again, being a Yank, I only get about 38% of the references, but that just makes me keen to dig. Very rewarding, that.
The disc is a corker in my opinion. Well worth the wait.
26 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
“To death, drunkenness, desperate poverty, diabolical dealings, incest, murder and abandonment, we can now add exhumation and necrophilia” …review from regular contributor Drunken Madman.
26 September 2011
Poolio
Ordered on-line (Probe Plus) a few weeks since… the parcel arrived this weekend!!
Check this out for discipline… I have resisted any spoilers – I know no lyrics, have heard no snippets (sounds almost like a lyric!!) I didn’t allow myself to attempt a listen at home, what with the distractions of family life ever present!
No… I popped into into my iTunes library, downloaded the album artwork, uploaded onto my iPod and now I have it in my hands about to press play… it’s 09:39 26/09/11… and I’m sitting in “work” grinning like a Birkenhead Badger – let the acoustic pleasures commence..
26 September 2011
Poolio
10:27… pleasantly surprised… time for listen No.2…
There ain’t no stink!
26 September 2011
John Burscough
CD arrove Sat, non-Biscuit friends visiting at weekend, but…this week off! Hoorah!
26 September 2011
Littlegrafter
Landed on the mat at 10:40
One play in, and a worrying sign is the lack of the usual sense of disappointment that I’ve had over the last few albums. This always gets swept away over the forthcoming plays of course. But this time, sounds great all the way through. Stiperstones, Bad Wools and Joy so far, but then I am working at the mo, so its harder to concentrate. I’ll be in the car for a few hours this afternoon so will be able to have a fuller assessment then.
26 September 2011
John Anderson
Mine arrived today. Worth the entrance fee alone for rhyming “Roots Hall” with “fuckall”, and “The Crazy World Of Arthur Brownlow.”
Also noticed that when the CD is downloaded onto itunes the genre is Spoken & Audio. Is this a deliberate joke I wonder?
Eerily, as I was listening to the LP while browsing the CD racks in my local charity shop, I came across an album by Kathleen Ferrier.
Wasn’t tempted but got a rather nice Sly & the Family Stone comp.
26 September 2011
Chigley Skin
Just enjoyed my first proper belly laugh, nine minutes into my first listen-through. Joy In Leeuwarden has conjured up a bit of joy in Lancaster!
26 September 2011
Kingsbeef
Had to wait a couple of days because I went for the vinyl and CD option and it didn’t fit through my letterbox. My “usual sense of disappointment” was tempered by the almost forgotten excitement of a new LP. Last time I bought one was This Leaden Pall. Now where’s me stylus?
26 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
“Fiercely principled, highly literate, sometimes very close to angry, these are songs of open defiance; their real targets, more often than not, are stupidity as a leisure option, the hollowing-out of British culture, the slow death of the post-war settlement.”
Taylor Parkes: The Continuing Brilliance Of Half Man Half Biscuit.
…very good.
26 September 2011
Mr Larrington
Mine was waiting on the mat when I got home from Abroad (where the FOREIGNS come from) on Saturday afternoon. I have managed to hold off listening to it – saving it for the drive home in approximately 15 minutes time…
26 September 2011
Third Rate Les
That’s a belter of an article by Taylor Parkes there. Chapeau.
I think he overstates his “bitter anger” case a little though. I think you miss a lot of the colour if you interpret, for example, Problem Chimp as a class rant.
Still, it’s a wonderfully well-written, passionate article with some great extracts to illustrate it.
26 September 2011
Martin
@Jon Wow… THAT Wellington?
26 September 2011
I’m a mate of pat o
9 o clock tonight I shall settle down, roll a number, lock the door, headphones on and have myself a beautiful time. Friendly bob reserved a copy in probe after I rang this morning, ’twas a good job for none were left on the shelves by the time I finished my paper round. Happy!
26 September 2011
Dave (Or I Could Be Mike)
As today happens to be my birthday, I decided to give myself an extra present to unwrap. First belly laugh before the CD even made it into the tray – anyone else think that F1 photo should be on the front cover rather than buried inside? This is gonna be good…
26 September 2011
Webbster
Have now listened the entire album four times in a row now, soon to be five. The stand outs for me: Descent Of The Stiperstones, Fix It So She Dreams Of Me, The Coroner’s Footnote (with the middle guitar break from Chigley perhaps ?) and Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools.
But overall. Superb.
26 September 2011
iguana andy
Themes recurring:
graveyards (and their worms)
band rehearsals
tribute acts
goalkeepers
Shropshire
suicide
Black Sabbath
weddings
… anymore..?
(I did wonder who would be the first Lyrics Project contributor to adopt the pseudonym Iguana Andy. Didn’t expect it to be me, though)
26 September 2011
Gregg Z
The disc is of such consistent quality, I’ll wager if we asked all pedants to name a favorite track, we’d probably have every song represented in no time.
Since my top choice has changed already from “Iceland” to “Stiperstones” to “Les Autres” to “TWEH” to “Fun Day in the Park”, I may have to rethink the whole proposition.
Still haven’t received the “MP3 backup” proper. Postman is swimming very slowly.
27 September 2011
Mark
Fifth listen this morning and it really is a very strongalbum. Somewhat surprised to find myself thinking Rita is the weak point …..
27 September 2011
James
The album has been in my car stereo since the Leamington gig and I just love it so much. As I stated before I really think ‘Stiperstones’ is genius and is my favorite track, but there are a few very close behind it. Joy In Leeuwarden, TWEH, The Coroner’s Footnote, in fact the rest of the album. Have to agree with Mark, Rita is a great song but the weakest among such other gems.
27 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Three stars in The Scotsman
The Birkenhead band’s ramshackle musical stylings and junk culture lyrics have lost none lost of their lustre in 25 years. Tommy Walsh’s Eco House perhaps takes pride of place in this latest collection, but the ramble up Scotland’s west coast in Something’s Rotten In The Back Of Iceland is comically inspired. Lyrics like “When it’s too late for drunks but too early for milkmen,” on Excavating Rita, show that Nigel Blackwell has lost none of his instinct for novelty noir. Download this: Something’s Rotten In The Back Of Iceland, Tommy Walsh’s Eco House
27 September 2011
Charles Exford
Can I be the first to request that when we get to the closing track, the lupine howl before the final refrain is included in the lyrics, perhaps in brackets. Perhaps better as just a ‘howl’ in brackets, rather than an
‘Aooowh !’ sort of thing.
We’re speculating here that it’s included as a studio in-joke for anyone who, despite the title of the track, still believes that they are hearing “bad wolves’, as one reviewer of that version of ‘A Country Practice’ in Leeds did.
27 September 2011
Chief Exec
Random disorganised thoughts:
Great album – top 3.
Not sure if the 6Music session is just etched into my brain now but I kind of prefer the session versions in every instance, particular for Tommy Walsh.
Definitely Laurel Walk.
Bad Wools doesn’t have a set definition. That’s the beauty of it. If I were to try I’d say it’s someone who lacks credibility in some way – but it’s very much in the eye of the beholder and what they regard as credible. Scousers will claim that Wirralians are wools – but its because they think that fashion and general ‘cool’ is lacking a few miles away.
27 September 2011
Jeff Dreadnought
Chris: Three stars? “Novelty noir”?? Who the hell does Scotsman Critics think he is?
27 September 2011
Peter Gandy
Is anyone else still waiting for their copy?
I’m desperately forcing myself not to read any of the non 6 music lyric threads until I’ve heard the song first, but I don’t know if I can hold out for much longer.
27 September 2011
Cardinal Richelieu
Is it just me, or is anyone quite disappointed at the loss of “Man up” from Left Lyrics, and its replacement with “Rock up” (which I’ve never heard before – mind you, I’m not on the rock scene).
27 September 2011
Norbert D
I’m trying to convince myself he actually says “buck up, you’re from Ilfracombe” which would be a very good line (it’s a lovely town). I don’t think he does though…
27 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
I’d contact Probe Plus, unless you’ve only just ordered it, because as of last Friday they’d despatched all of the orders (a superhuman effort, by the way).
27 September 2011
Chigley Skin
Re: “rock up”,
Urban Dictionary has it defined as “to arrive without any prior planning, or specific materials”. Perhaps the implication is that young Chris from Future Doom should spend less time scribbling his angst onto a sheet of paper, and instead use his practice session to get acquainted with that wonderful musical tradition, having a jam?
27 September 2011
Peter Gandy
Thanks Chris. Ordered on the 6th September. Hopefully will arrive tomorrow.
27 September 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
@ Peter.
I’ve just contacted Probe ‘cos mine never arrived either. Geoff confirmed that it’d been dispatched last Tuesday so GPO/Consignia/Royal Mail have lost it. However their compliance dept. don’t consider mail lost until at least 15 working days after dispatch! I have lots of elastic bands that I shall be firing at their employees at random whilst waiting for this period to pass.
On a brighter (and much more efficient note) Geoff emailed that he’d post out a new copy tomorrow.
27 September 2011
Sheridan
Does anyone else think the overall sound, especially the guitars, is far more reminiscent of Editor’s Recommendation (specifically Bob Wilson and Lilac Urine) than it is of the last two albums? An essentially pointless observation, but one which is of interest to those of us who are bothered about these things.
27 September 2011
Smackmy pitchup
Wow fame at last for Cardiff Bus station making the inside cover of the new album its my bus stop after all just had it delivered today and am half way through already a classic
27 September 2011
Cardinal Richelieu
On a more positive note, good to hear some more Scottish “menshies”; Oban, The Knoydart and The Highlands jump out. Good work fellas.
27 September 2011
DislocatedMTB
Subtle road cycling reference on the inside of the cover insert – Dirk Hofman motorhomes!
28 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
I really should have thought of putting that in the header at the top of this page, for a laugh.
By the way, the scan I used was from the vinyl version, because it’s bigger. I’ve only just noticed the images on the CD and vinyl are quite different. Here it is, if anyone wants to identify it.
28 September 2011
Charles Exford
@Chris – aha – noticed your Dirk-sign-wielder above was not the same fella off the CD and did wonder. I almost think I might have seen that one while searching Google images for the one from the CD. But then again, most Entries of Christ into Jerusalem are even more standard than most Victorian melodramas.
@SmackMyPitchUp – ah thanks that clears that one up.
28 September 2011
Petrovic
@ Chris – thanks for the image link
@ Exxo – see what you mean; it’s very similar to this which you may have already googled, and looks as if it was taken from an older version (possibly a painting)?
28 September 2011
Gregg Z
All this talk of cover art has got me worked up, as my CD (hard copy) has not yet arrived in the greater Philadelphia, USA area. I can’t wait to get my soft, sincere hands on the disc itself. Blessings to iTunes and all, but there’s nowt like the genuine article in your mitts.
Oh, by the way, Two Fat Feet, not only did I dislike “Blade Runner”, I thought “Inception” was a pile of fertiliser.
Just me, though, I’m sure.
28 September 2011
Matt Lee
Waiting for the vinyl+CD to come from Geoff, I downloaded a copy from the net.
Fix It is my fave track so far. Apparently Gok Wan passed me by all this time.
28 September 2011
John Anderson
@Cardinal Richelieu
No, your eminence, you’re not the only one disappointed with the loss of “man up” from Left Lyrics.
I actually hear it as “rock off” rather than “rock up” but, either way, I think “man up” is far superior.
28 September 2011
gordo
About 57 minutes in, Fix It So She Dreams Of Me on BBC Radio Wales on a show mostly about new Welsh music, but the presenter uses Birkenhead being ‘almost Wales’ and Nigel’s references to Welsh places as an excuse to play it.
28 September 2011
TWO FAT FEET
Having briefly slipped back into time-warp mode earlier today, I found that despite this site once again reverting to 7th July, the Dirk Hofman pic was nevertheless at the top of the screen. Song count was 167 though.
Boring but true.
28 September 2011
nigeyb
“Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools’ is my current favourite track. I love it when Nigel lets rip on things that vex him. The first verse, in particular, continues to delight and amuse me. Jeffing brilliant.
29 September 2011
John Burscough
R&RIFOBW comes the closest yet to pure grunge (“complaining, set to a drop D tuning”). I’ve had a smile on my face since I first heard “Rotterdam is cock-a-hoop”.
29 September 2011
Nick Walters
“I did think I’d made it fairly clear that I did try rather a lot of something stronger with deadly intent on occasions, and did come fairly within feet of the train option. Yourself?”
Yes, but I thought it would upset the driver so I didn’t.
29 September 2011
nigeyb
I’ve just transcribed the lyrics to “Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools”, and emailed them over, such is my love for this song. One question, I’ve never heard the term “Bad Wools” before, is it made up? Or have any of you lovely people ever heard it before? The meaning appears pretty self-explanatory but I’d be interested to read any other thoughts or info on the phrase.
29 September 2011
Jeff Dreadnought
Hey NigeyB, on the song’s discussion page there’s a wonderful essay by Exxo explaining the origins of the term.
29 September 2011
nigeyb
Thanks Jeff. Splendid. And thanks Exxo – that is very, very helpful, and I found myself nodding enthusiastically at all the Good Wool behaviour and shaking my head wearily at the tedious conduct of the Bad Wools. Brilliant. I say to myself, what a wonderful world.
29 September 2011
Gregg Z
“90 Bisodol” is already in my top 3 HMHB discs, but I must admit that Side Two is threatening to take on “Abbey Road”-esque proportions for me.
Laughing out loud to “Stiperstones” on the drive to work– the last bit sort of reminds me of the end of “What You Need” by the Fall. I can only wonder how much more enjoyable it would be if I understood any of the references. (I’m waiting patiently for lyrics, lads. You’ve got another day or two. Believe me, you don’t want the Yank trying his hand at deciphering the words. It won’t be pretty…)
“Fix It So She Dreams of Me” is already one of my favorite HMHB tracks. I love Crossley’s “Numanoid”-ish bass-work, and of course, Nigel’s lyrical dexterity is unmatched.
As for the aforementioned “Coroner’s Footnote”, I can only say that, here, Nigel’s use of dramatic irony, sarcasm (metaphor, bathos, satire, etc) would put the Piranha Brothers to shame.
I think we can safely say that the next “Lux Familiar Cup” (whenever that might occur) will look very different.
(By the way, the Quietus article, in which Neil Crossley is described as “midfield general” is quite impressive, if anyone hasn’t yet read).
Still haven’t received the disc yet, though.
29 September 2011
Sheridan
This album has well and truly got under my skin. On probably my last bicycling jaunt of the summer around Wirral and Cheshire, I found myself facing a cow on the other side of the Shropshire Union Canal. Before I knew what was happening, I’d started serenading her with the chorus of Excavating Rita, quite involuntarily.
(I’m on Shimano Deore. It’s shit).
29 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
“90 Bisodol (Crimond) might be Blackwell and company’s most consistently brilliant work yet” – fair review by Luke Slater on the BBC website.
Far be it from me to overplay the significance of this website, but it’s amazing how many reviews are, shall we say, picking up on the sentiments made on this page over the past couple of weeks. A big hi to everyone researching their own 250 words for publication.
30 September 2011
Richard
Back from holiday today, and CD not arrived, most upset! Going onto Itunes now, bet the CD will turn up tomorrow now! Bit late though, anybody else still not got theirs from Geoff?
30 September 2011
Chris The Siteowner
“…likely to leave many either puzzled or even disturbed, but its refreshing unwillingness to compromise and wholly original way with words should further their case as one of the U.K. music scene’s alternative national treasures.” – Jon O’Brien on AllMusic
30 September 2011
Luke Slater
Been following this thread to keep up on the 90 Bisodol news and lyrics and whatnot and visiting the website for a while. Not strictly research-based, mind. Thanks for the link. I’m not sure there’s much more to be said about HMHB that hasn’t been said already but Taylor Parkes did a good job.
Don’t think you should downplay the significance of the site either, it’s been invaluable for many of my HMHB discoveries since I…”discovered” them.
Also the line “To pick up a…to pick up a, to pick up a, to pick up a, to pick up a jar of Swarfega” is something I cannot rid from my head. Mind you, there’s plenty of competition. Might be my favourite song of the lot.
30 September 2011
bomaya
Genius as usual.
1 October 2011
andy
hiya….
long time reader, first time poster
I reckon fun day in the park is the hmhb answer to “for the benefit of mr kite” which is mr lennon reading out a circus poster.
and i was always told that ,way back when, woolyback was a term used for dock strike breakers (like scab is now)
1 October 2011
neilthechimp
One for Chris,
For reasons beyond my ken I can’t make the ‘click here’ bit work for submitting transcriptions.
Being fluent in French already translated into engerlish I’ve chosen Death is Other People and I’ve got the full hit primed and ready. Is it not the done thing to ask for your email address to pass it on?
On a more general note I’m in awe of 90 Bisodol. I’ve had my copy for a while as I’m lucky that my missus works with Neil so I haven’t had to put up with the distribution issues Probe Plus have had so I must’ve heard it 30 times by now. Every listen reveals another gem like the little Crossroads tinkle on Stiperstones and I’ve got the bin lids singing along to Joy in Leeuwarden already. The crock of shit took some explaining but they’re going into school with my full support.
Haven’t looked forward to the 17th day of December so much since the last time.
Anyway, Chris, if you let me know how I can send them I’ll get the lyrics off to you mate.
It’s chris@chrisrand.com – Ed
1 October 2011
Mike Morris
All praise to Geoff at Probe Plus. I ordered the vinyl version on Wednesday and it arrived on Friday. Only slight disappointment was that the free CD copy included was just in a clear plastic sleeve. Still, packaging isn’t everything. Is it?
2 October 2011
Mr Galbraith
Now had the album for 9 days (from Probe directly, natch!) and have listened to it, oooh I don’t know how many times! The album gets better with every hearing and is bursting with NB57 nuggets of genius. I’m finding Excavating Rita difficult to love at the moment, though the final repeated line does make me smile. I’ll warm to it I’m sure! R&RIFOBW will surely become the new live favourite and I hope it gets a play when I go from London to see them on 17th December with my now Biscuit-loving girlfriend! It’ll be my first HMHB gig in my home county and her home town. I think we can both safely claim to be good wools… (Thanks to Exxo for an absorbing explanation of the term.)
2 October 2011
Dave Wiggins
Oh, the irony. Driving home earlier and, just as ‘Excavating Rita’ came on, I espied ‘our’ Betaware Man sitting on a bench, in the rain, reading the Sunday paper. Couldn’t resist winding the window down to advise him that I was still his number one fan. He just looked surprised, though, like the front of an Anglia.
2 October 2011
Nick Walters
Is this the album with the most swearing?
“Crock of shit” in Leeuwarden;
“Pissed” in L’Enfer;
“To you that means fuck all” in Bad Wools.
?
Can’t think of any other instances of swearing in HMHB songs apart from the obvious (Fred Titmus and Vatican Broadside).
2 October 2011
S.G.D A SHROPSHIRE LAD
“Is your child hyperactive?
Or is he perhaps a twat?”
“Bastard slip of a sub’s ruined my weekend”
“Bastard son of…”
“National Shite day”
2 October 2011
Third Rate Les
Stavanger Toestub beats it though.
2 October 2011
SIMON P
Achtung Bono is probably the most sweary, the above mentioned “or is he perhaps a twat?” plus
“Shit Arm Bad Tattoo”
“Indicate then you stupid bastard”
“I don’t give a fuck about your missing cat”
“Local groups called Fuck Your Conglomerate”
2 October 2011
SIMON P
… oh, and “Nick fucking Knowles” as well
2 October 2011
chris from future doom
Great news, there it is at number 85…
2 October 2011
Hagerty F.
Lovely. Right above ‘Will Young – The Hits’.
2 October 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
That should read “The Hits (anag.)”
2 October 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
But slightly behind Doris Day’s brand new Greatest Hits And More. I might ring up the record company to ask about the ‘More’.
2 October 2011
Charles Exford
Who was born in a house full of pain?
Who was trained not to worry the fans?
Who was told what to do by the man?
Who was marketed by trained personnel?
Who was fitted with collar and chain?
Who was given a pat on the back?
Who never broke away from the pack?
Who was only a stranger at home?
Who was repackaged a hundred times?
But this time only entered the charts
Three places below the Biscuits?
Dragged down by the Stiperstones?
Eh?
2 October 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
A lot of their other stuff did a bit better this week though.
2 October 2011
Hagerty F.
And look – no. 14 on the Indie Chart!
2 October 2011
Scoff Cruddle
Loving the new album…definitely a grower. The stream of consciousness at the end of Stiperstones is quite marvellous…triffid seeds anyone?
Also @Jon in Wellington. Good lord, another HMHB fan in this part of NZ. Miracles will never cease!
3 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Hmm, number 85? It makes you wonder how the returns to the album chart compilers work nowadays. Adele’s albums might still be stuffed into every Tesco carrier bag, but I can’t believe 84 albums sold more than 90 Bisodol. Anyone know what sort of volumes you normally need to shift in a week to make the top 10, top 40, etc? I read that 10,000 would get you into the top ten, and although 90 Bisodol won’t have sold that many, I assume, it would surely have sold enough to get higher than no.85.
3 October 2011
John Burscough
Here’s the “Christ’s Entry Into Jersualem” from the CD cover: it’s by the Pre-Raphaelite William Gale (1823-1909). Anyone else think the Nazz seems to be riding a llama?
3 October 2011
John Burscough
…and the article from which the picture of the Dignitas office in Zurich probably came…
3 October 2011
John Burscough
…and the Cardiff Central Bus Station image from PhotoEverywhere.
3 October 2011
Charles Exford
Sterling work, John. Silver Biscuit 2011 contender?
3 October 2011
gordo
no 85 is their first entry on the top 100 albums since 1987 and whilst many many more retailers are linked to the charts since the 80′s(when it was around 200 shops) I’d be suprised if the ones bought straight from Probe would be included in the chart figures.
3 October 2011
Ferenc Puskás to you
90 B(C) just landed in my mailbox over here in Colorado. Great work by those Probe chappies in getting it over here so quickly and for the 2.65 quid postage.
Headphones on…..
4 October 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Les, what I’ve heard is that a lot of money has changed hands in order to hush the t-shirt issue up. Apparently something is going to be revealed but it won’t be beneath a DPAK or indeed any other shirt. No one is quite sure which T it was by the way anyhow. Anyway all I’m saying is watch the trial closely. Something will happen and be revealed. Can’t say too much more. You know it makes sense.
4 October 2011
John Burscough
Bit worrying that some of the keywords to this stock image are cool, criminal, dead, guy, hit, murder and justice.
4 October 2011
Charles Exford
…which reminds me to wonder whether the idea of the image came before the title, and if the line about jumping off the roof of Dignitas therefore came before the line about the Bisodol?
I mean the idea of jumping off the roof could evoke a visual joke about creating your own chalk circle if you’d taken a huge overdose of Bisodol…
Pointles specualtion about process over product perhaps.
4 October 2011
neilthechimp
Exxo,
I believe the idea of the outline in powder is one Nigel had from years back, dredged up from his memory for this album. Whilst pondering how long it might take for the forensics team to actually construct the lines around bodies in the perfect shapes he thought it’d make it easier if criminals were injected with a powder so that when they expired the powder would puff out of them and thereby leave a ready made template. Whether or not the powder in question was Bisodol back then isn’t known by this correspondent.
Something very much like that anyway.
4 October 2011
Charles Exford
Some great pondering there Neil and some interesting pedantry.
But just as weather can be miserable or not, I also think a match can be both triumphant, disastrous, etc, depending on the point of view. One meaning of ‘match’ in sports jargon is ‘how someone performed during the match’, as in I could say ‘I had a decent match today, but you had a positively triumphant match’.
But as for the chalk outline I have to reluctantly pull the ‘Nigel told me’ card.
He (the character in the song, and indeed a lot of characters on the album) has had a bellyful (of everything he’s moaning about), he’s had enough, he’s taken 90 Bisodol, so many that when he jumps off the roof he’ll helpfully form his own chalk circle.Beautiful.
I was just wondering about the order of the creative process, not the meaning of the product, just for once.
With tongue firmly in cheek, we could have called it a ‘concept album’ if it wasn’t (as Nigel would self-deprecatingly have it) the same concept as the entire career: moaning.
4 October 2011
Jon
Scoff Cruddle – likewise, I’ve wondered if there were any other HMHB fans in NZ! Are you in Wellington too? I’m assuming that you’re a Brit, and if so, have you converted any Kiwis to HMHB? I’ve occasionally thought of playing some to friends when they come round and I have to select the music but struggle to think of a song that they would ‘get’ – any suggestions?!
5 October 2011
John Burscough
How about M-6-ster? Ivan Mauger’s a Kiwi isn’t he?
5 October 2011
John Anderson
So is Dick Quax.
5 October 2011
Charles Exford
@ Neil the Chimp again – I noticed on all this morning’s news bulletins that there were “gloomy economic figures.” I wonder what we can do to cheer the poor figures up? Gradually get them doing more adventurous outdoor activity, I reckon.
5 October 2011
Rusty Spanner
Apologies if this has already been done, but does anyone know where the photo on the rear of the CD is from or where it was taken?
5 October 2011
neilthechimp
@ Exxo
Quite.
Perhaps the gloomy figures should be encouraged to participate in triumphant bowls tournaments or to jump off the roof of Dignitas en masse with a Silver Cup (as won by Arthur Brownlow for said bowls triumph) awarded for the most creative pavement outline? At least then they wouldn’t have to worry about becoming the victim of a hit and run.
If you’re pulling the Nigel card then you leave me no choice but to play my Bass Joker. NC reckons the idea comes from something NB originally came up with donkeys years ago. He was using it as an example to explain how good a memory NB has got when attempting to explain their songwriting process to my wife with whom he works (and I use the term loosely). i.e. the ideas can come from anywhere and are often born from previously abandoned musings.
Let’s call it a draw and conclude matters with a handshake.
5 October 2011
John Burscough
@Rusty Spanner: See posts 304-306 above for the pictures from the CD cover.
5 October 2011
Dave Wiggins
Like other doyens of Biscuitry, I can see myself on one of those Channel 4 documentaries on people with obsessive compulsions soon. I have spent the entire day in work, singing Leeuwarden under my breath. Gordo knows where I am at, as, indeed, do we all. I haven’t had it this bad since “see also Mary Hopkin” swam round and round my brain for an entire week back in ’05………
5 October 2011
Rusty Spanner
Thanks Mr Burscough, but I’m trying to establish the location of the black & white landscape shot on the back of the CD.
Any ideas?
6 October 2011
nickinko
While the highs are terrific, I’m a bit disappointed by this album. Perhaps the previous two albums have set unrealistic standards but I just find this one hasn’t got the same depth.
I would put RSVP, L’Enfer C’est Les Autres, Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools and the sublime Fix It So She Dreams Of Me on the top tier, but some of the other tracks, whilst still good, just seem a bit slight. Then there’s ‘The Coroner’s Footnote’ and ‘Excavating Rita’, which I’m afraid I don’;t really like much at the moment.
But, I seem to be in a minority of one – perhaps it will grow on me.
Thanks to Chris, and to everyone who contributes to this brilliant site though. It certainly adds another dimension to my enjoyment of the music.
6 October 2011
Matt Lee
Vinyl finally arrived.
6 October 2011
Gregg Z
Interesting stuff, Nickinko. We tend to rave on this site, so I appreciate a bit of temperance…
I do agree that “Coroner’s” and “Rita” are the two weakest tracks, but for me, they don’t sink below the level of League One in the scheme of things.
Maybe it’s the freshness and excitement of a new LP, but the remaining tracks are all Premier League material in my book.
I did love the LP right away, and it has only grown richer since, particularly “Leeuwarden”, “Fix It” and “Bad Wools”.
6 October 2011
neilthechimp
Does anyone else think the bass line in Fix it…. sounds like the theme tune to HOW?
6 October 2011
neilthechimp
Judge for yourselves pilgrims.
6 October 2011
Scoff Cruddle
@Jon…yes in Wellington (well Lower Hutt)…and I have occasionally played HMHB to Kiwis whilst in the car, usually resulting in bemusement (although all things are relative…low level bemusement compared to when I subject them to Cardiacs)
Album definitely still growing well…especially JiL. Definitely agree on the I love Korfball t-shirt for gigs!
7 October 2011
Mr Larrington
@nickinko: You are not alone. I too think it to be a bit below par in comparison with Achtung Bono & CSI Ambleside.
7 October 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
I’m not disappointed in one tiny, infinitesimal part by this album at all. However I am finding that I have split it into two mini albums (EPs in old money). Obviously the tracks introduced on the 6Music session over a year ago are as familiar and comfortable to me as a well worn, sole graffitioed pair of slippers. Whilst the tracks premièred via 90B(C) are fresh, eager, willing and as excited as a young puppy, new to the wonder of life and bursting with enthusiasm, awe and wonder over the world into which they’ve just been thrust.
What? Really? Just me then?
7 October 2011
Third Rate Les
I’ve been trying to let it sink in before commenting but I think it might be their best album. I can’t get enough of it and I don’t think there’s a single weak link (which I’m not sure you can say for any of their others), even if RSVP and Coroner fall squarely into the “all of our songs sound the same” category. It also feels like an ideal balance of whimsy, humour, ranting and real darkness.
I think Greggz’s lyrics to Joy In Leeuwarden are right except that I’d put “van de Meer” (not one word) and “Rudi”, not the anglicised “Rudy”.
7 October 2011
Littlegrafter
Just flicking through this …and having never (knowingly) seen the Echo beach cover til it was posted on here last week, how strange that it should appear on here at #4, followed at #5 by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown(low), Synchronity or what? Maybe someone at the NME still appreciates good music after all.
8 October 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
I’ve just mailed in an attempt at 173 (Stiperstones).
As there was already a Paul Rodgers here with the same spelling, I have decided to replace my nickname ‘medodgers’ with the bracketed ‘Crimond’ to distingquish myself from the others.
9 October 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
I will also be using poor typing to set myself apart.
9 October 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
Regarding chart positions I’m surprised no-one has mentioned it being number one in the charts.
In numerical order here are HMHB’s chart positions for the week ending 8 October 2011:
1 Indie Breakers UK Album chart
11 UK vinyl Album chart
14 Indie album chart
85 National Album chart
94 National Album downloads chart
Source UK Charts Plus magazine
Incidentally CSI Ambleside managed a debut and peak of 123 on the national album chart (the top 200 is published) dated 10 May 2008 whilst simultaneously peaking at 10 on the indie chart.
Joy Division Oven Gloves was a one week wonder at 56 in the singles chart on 17 April 2010, as you probably all know. Music Week’s website is being rubbish today and won’t tell me if it appeared in the indie chart too. However a quick browse of that week’s digital edition of the mag tells me the ‘single’ sold 3,791 copies. It is a lot harder to get a hit single these days than the nay sayers would have you believe. That earned it number 3 on the indie singles chart and number one with a bullet on the indie breakers singles chart.
That same week you’d have only got to number 11 with 16,589
Speaking of the Music Week website being rubbish, on Sunday of last week they published a top 75 as per usual, apart from it being over an hour before 7. In this chart 90B(C) was shown as a new entry at number 71. Sadly further research led me to the explanation that that was its position on Saturday morning on sales of up to 23.59 Friday.
As far as I know Geoff’s direct sales DO count towards the charts. The rules are here, although they may be a little out of date. All it refers to is: “All sales information used to compile the Chart must be recorded as a result of a genuine purchase by a genuine consumer.” which is rule 1.1.
The vinyl plus CD is eligible under rule 8 referring to Deluxe Vinyl Formats on page 15.
As you may have guessed I am a bit of what’s become known round my way as a boffin wanker when it comes to the charts.
Music Week publishes selected sales figures for albums and singles, but there is no precise science regarding how many you need to go top ten, top twenty etc. as it varies from week to week.
Saucy Haulage Ballads debuted in the indie singles chart at 8 on 16 August 2003.
Lastly I am sure you all know the main road to Crimond is the A90, which means the album could be referred to as A90B(C) if we wanted.
Let’s see that bloke on that website accuse you lot of being weirdos now I’m here!
9 October 2011
Richard O’Brien
I’ve reviewed the album, talking more generally about Nigel’s lyrical style from a lit-crit perspective – sorry it’s a little wanky, and Taylor Parkes over at The Quietus has done a much better job at the same thing, but some other HMHB obsessives might be interested.
9 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Awesome stuff Paul. And top work, Richard, and thanks for the link. Another review worth reading at The Economic Voice.
9 October 2011
Jeff Dreadnought
“90 Bisodol combines gentle absurdity with spot-on jeremiads against sundry contemporary horrors’, according to Andrew Harrison’s review on eMusic.
9 October 2011
Third Rate Les
The only ones I’m still stumbling on lyrics wise are
- “all the (?) of watching Barca”. Barrel?
- the “spume” bit from Future Doom.
I also listened to the 6 Sessions version of Left Lyrics again and I can see that “man up” seems to make more sense. However, it does make you realise how nicely recorded the album is. Hard to see we’re going to have too many arguments over lyrics.
10 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
“The biennial-ish, imperishable joy of a new Half Man Half Biscuit album”.
Nice full-page review from Stuart Maconie, no less, in November’s issue of The Word magazine (Noel Gallagher cover). Out now in all good newsagents, as they say.
10 October 2011
Norbert D
TRL: It’s “all the band love watching Barca” and “Cackling hag astride the broom, what dread this upon the spume?” respectively.
10 October 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
You can always rely on Word to give them good coverage, every album since the magazine was launched has been featured at least once on the free CD. Pity about the number of errors in Maconie’s review, but at least it was (mostly) limited to getting track titles wrong, even if it does take him half the review to get onto the actual album.
10 October 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
Just out of interest have we decided whether Spencer The Halfwit refers to Frank from Some Mother’s Do Have ‘Em’ or Spencer from Phoenix Nights? I could spend all day looking around the site for the answer or I could just hit here and ask.
By the way Bad Wools’ may have presented me with a PBR. I’m off to check it out.
10 October 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
@ Spencer The Halfwit: I have it on good authority that The Word is “two men’s mid-life crisis in print”. Having been at their first ever gig night at The Lexington, opposite their office, I have to say I agree.
There’s certainly an element of attempting to stay vital, an impossible task as it went under years ago.
Did the HMHB get a track on the covermount?
10 October 2011
Charles Exford
Be very grateful if someone could scan Maconie’s effort when they have a minute. Been a long while since periodicals fell within my ‘can afford’ column.
(Oh except WSC, which plops faithfully every month, but often gets left by the door in its plastic wrapper for weeks these days. I really should cancel, but it would feel like a betrayal after a quarter of a decade)
10 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Only a quarter of a decade, Charles? Doesn’t take long to inspire devotion on your part, clearly.
Love the “mid-life crisis” description, Paul. Nailed on. Tommy Walsh is on the cover CD.
10 October 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
I’m neither, it’s the name I was given under the witness protection programme. Seems I know too much about one particular man’s involvement in a disembodied head found in Scotland, acts of necrophilia, shoplifting and the apparently motiveless shooting of a man in Tesco, among other things.
10 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
This thread has got so long that we’re covering old ground a bit! I promise we will do all the songs eventually, and we’ll sort things out then.
10 October 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
@ Micky Brilliant, thanks. What Vendor said plus Warden Hodges (who must be cacking himself now).
For those wholike statistics here’s the latest lot of chart positions:
National indie chart (albums) 45 down from 14
Indie albums breakers 13 down from number one
National vinyl albums chart 14 down from 11
Geoff will be pleased with that last position as hopefully the majority of vinyl sales are going via Probe.
I guess it’s keep telling yer mates time…
12 October 2011
micky (the hoss)
Photo of Bunners
13 October 2011
Shiftyramone
Two things – like the chap above said, the start of
Left lyrics sounds just like california sun.
Secondly, glenda from crossroads came to my school fete once and gave me a prize, my mom was thrilled.
14 October 2011
Gregg Z
Just posted Nigel’s name on Wikipedia’s “List of Satirists”. He joins other “top, top players” such as Swift, Wilde, Huxley, George Carlin, Lewis Black & Sacha Baron Cohen.
Roll on, October!
14 October 2011
Mr Larrington
I think you’ve got nb57 a bit too old; by my reckoning he was born c. 1964.
14 October 2011
Dave Wiggins
Mr L. But he was sending ‘Merseysound’ fanzine snippets of lyrics from the prototype Half Man Half Biscuit around 1982 (which would have made him a youthful 18, back then, had he been born ‘as late as’ 1964). It’s a showbiz mystery and no mistake.
14 October 2011
Charles Exford
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again
Nigel Blackwell? He began
In July 1963.
Between the naming of the 3rd Man
And the Great Train Robbery.
14 October 2011
John Burscough
Dean Friedman (dob 23.5.55) reckons he would have had to have sired NB57 at the age of 7 if TBSODF were true, which would fit.
14 October 2011
Charles Exford
Yep Deano would have had to be 7 and a half, so the joke was most definitely on the poor arithmetic of NB57′s classmates.
14 October 2011
John Burscough
Having re-read the Scotsman article above, I have a question: which of these statements is most likely to be true:
1) HMHB are known as “Biscuit” to the cognoscenti;
2) HMHB had a hit in Norway with Stavanger Töestub;
3) Blackwell’s wife is called Denise?
Discuss.
14 October 2011
Gregg Z
My eternal apologies, and thanks for spotting my error.
I’ve amended Nigel’s DOB on the Wikipedia site. Methinks I was misled by the oft-used handle “NB57″ into thinking that our spiritual leader was born in 1957 (although, Billy Bragg was born in 1957). Owing to the dearth of biographical info on Mr. Blackwell, I’m not surprised by my mistake.
A box of crucifixion nails is on its way to my abode, I’m certain..
14 October 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Interested to see Exxo paraphrasing Philip Larkin’s Annus Mirabilis, because I’ve often seen connections between Nigel at his poetic best and the miserablist Librarian. Both of them have an eye for observing the ordinary and mundane elements of life and writing about them beautifully, although admittedly Nigel has more of a tendency to fly off at a tangent. Try reading the first half of Soft Verges purely as a poem, then read Church Going.
OK, not so much the subject matter but the similarity is of the inner voice dealing with the here and now of the world in a reflective and slightly anxious way.
I’ve also harboured a sick fancy, since the first time I heard it, that I Went To A Wedding… is about the evening do of one of the couplings encountered in The Whitsun Weddings, albeit with the necessary intervention of a time machine. I’m sure that Larkin would have been proud to have written IWTAW, up to perhaps ‘Oh you can’t put your foot up in Europe’. He was a big cricket fan but having lived most of his life in Coventry and Hull, rarely got to see any football.
15 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
“A wonder product recently made available to the public which, although not a cure, can help to alleviate its symptoms and is available without prescription” – Aidan Silcocks, North-West Evening Mail, Barrow-in-Furness.
17 October 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
Sorryto be a dreadful bore, but I have found another official chart position for A90B(C):
http://www.theofficialcharts.com/coalition-albums-chart/
Indie coalition albums chart. Week one was number 3, week 2 down to number 9. Week 3 not posted yet.
And following a site redesign, those lovely people at the Official Chart Company have put up a page which defines the different charts:
http://www.theofficialcharts.com/chart-descriptions/
In this week’s indie album breakers chart A90B(C) is down from 13 to 17. This will appear online at the Official Chart Company, when the lazy useless buggers over there update the page.
Enough.
17 October 2011
Joke Shop Excrement
Can anyone tell me what ‘sound like Mart Poom’ in Left Lyrics?
18 October 2011
Charles Exford
Your jaw juts out like Mart Poom.
18 October 2011
Joke Shop Excrement
Thanks. Now it’s so obvious.
18 October 2011
John Burscough
It is a bit, isn’t it?
18 October 2011
Hartychoke
Final 4 songs are high art indeed, among the best I’ve heard for a while.
‘Fix it’ should be booking its seat on the bus for ‘Lux Final 2012′ and Blackwell Vs Cash on outro of L’Enfer is playful, hypnotic and brutal rolled into one.
10/10 – Jockey Slut
20 October 2011
One Skinny Indie Kid
Listening to ‘Lenfer’ on the old jog-proof iPod has opened my eyes to other pedestrians’ walking habits and as a result I no longer walk in the road.
Yet to encounter a pissed, boring bloke who has recently discovered Johnny Cash. If I do, I will shoot him dead in Tesco – just to watch him die.
20 October 2011
Norbert D
Vendor – on a Larkin tip, have you also noticed the (probably unintentional) similarity between “Show Saturday” and “Fun Day In The Park”? Of course, “Show Saturday” doesn’t have a joke at the end of it, but you can’t have everything.
20 October 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Norbert – No I hadn’t but having re-read Show Saturday I can see where you are coming from, although as you say, it’s almost certainly unintentional. “Bead-stalls, balloon-men, a Bank; a beer-marquee that half-screens a canvas Gents” could easily slip in there alongside Iguana Andy. Larkin wrote this poem about a visit he made to Bellingham Show with his long term partner, who had bought a holiday cottage in Haydon Bridge. (Not Hebden Bridge, which would have been too perfect). I wonder if Nigel had an actual ‘Fun day in the park’ in mind.
Show Saturday doesn’t end with a joke admittedly, but I find ‘mug-faced middle-aged wives glaring at jellies’ a wonderfully funny image. Having reluctantly attended a few country fairs in my time, I’ve seen several over-competitive Women’s Institute types of that ilk.
If anyone wants to compare FDITP with SS, then the latter is here.
20 October 2011
celery
The back of the new T-shirt should put an end to any remaining controversy over this line… (picture from Gez’s website)
21 October 2011
Argieuk
Speaking of T-shirts, someone has created HMHB T-shirts for characters in “The Sims”- not particularly relevant for this section- but not sure where else it would go- possibly HMHB in the media…..
I’m sure this information is of no use to anyone, but felt had to share.
21 October 2011
John Burscough
I want an Oooh! Rhubarb! Let’s Go! T-shirt.
(and who wouldn’t want HMHB Rock Band for the XBox 360? – Ed)
21 October 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
Four star review in December issue of Mojo (page 96). Mentions Nigel and Neil first meeting in 1979 with reference to “Horseshoe Pass railway station”.
21 October 2011
2 Chevrons
@ ARGIEUK
Hopefully in addition to SIMS T-Shirts, some bright spark could develop a SIMS game at a HMHB inspired theme park. Characters wandering round wearing Joy Division Oven Gloves being mildly impressed when they meet Brad Friedel – I’d buy that sort of thing.
21 October 2011
2 Chevrons
Would be keen on seeing Jim Beglin being bricked up on the new t-shirt or possibly some or the delights available from Bunners.
21 October 2011
Charles Exford
In simple terms then, please, what is SIMS? Nothing I can see on the internet about it makes any sense.
21 October 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
The Sims. Interactive game, particularly popular among Facebook mums.
22 October 2011
Charles Exford
Ah, OK. I saw those T-shirts a few months ago and thought they were actual jarg merchandise efforts. That site linked above says they’re amazed so many people downloaded them, but I wonder how many did it thinking they were real t-shirts?
So basically they’re virtual t-shirts for dressing up your virtual dolls? It’s all very Gok Wan meets the Brownlows, really isn’t it? And no, I didn’t know who either of them were till recently either. I’m sure this ignorance of popular culture should qualify me to be an Old Bailey judge or something. Somebody gave me an i-Pod a few years ago but as yet I have no inclination to find out how it works – pleeeeease can I be a judge now?
22 October 2011
Lee’s Twenty First
So, now I know that NB57 has checked out the new single, I wonder what sort of confirming / correcting activities he carried out in the Quantocks (whilst wearing his Joy Division Oven Gloves).
23 October 2011
Charles Exford
@ Lee’s:
When modelling his & hers outdoor wear such as the ubiquitous JDOG, it is traditional to look at maps and point as if checking out whether the cartography is correct:
“ooh look, it says there should be an elephant-shaped hill over there but the work experience kid at OS has bloody made it up.”
That sort of thing.
But seriously, why should the line in question from JDOG not also be making the same point as the ‘Bad Wools’ line – stupid things that people say? (I don’t necessarily think it is myself, but I’ll fight for its right to).
24 October 2011
TOMMY
was at a HR meeting today & she said you can lead a horse to water but failed to add a pencil must be lead mate, couldn’t be arsed pointing out her mistake.
24 October 2011
Jim Wickham
Help! Can anyone out there get the Probe Plus website Shopping Basket to actually fill up when you try to order stuff.
It’s driving me crazy. Technically I have now bought 26 “Bisodol” T-shirts, but the basket remains empty. Worse, no response from the panicky email sent a few days ago.
Please help a fashion-unconscious Aussie to get decked out in the latest HMHB summer-ware…..
27 October 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
If I remember rightly I found I had to enter the item codes on the checkout page, rather than adding to the basket from each item’s individual page.
27 October 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Gez’s site is reporting that Probe Plus will be ‘closed’ 27th-31st Oct. Suggest you try again after that.
27 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
It’s worth a try…
Geoff Davies at Probe Plus has been struggling to find someone who can help him sort out the online store, which looks to me as if it needs the whole engine updating, never mind some of the product details. You never know, there might be a regular here who knows their way around this sort of technology? Obviously the project can’t justify major expenditure, but if anyone can help out (perhaps in exchange for goodies), I’m sure Geoff would be very keen to talk. In case you’re wondering, he has asked me! However, although I can maintain a site like this one here, e-commerce sites are a little beyond my experience. Email me with your phone number and I’ll pass it on.
28 October 2011
Dave Cooper
Chris, stick this on the front page of your site rather than having it hidden away here. There will be someone who can help, but they might not necessarily scroll down to the bottom of this thread.
29 October 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Funnily enough Dave, I was thinking the same thing myself …and then I received an email from someone who’d read it and might be able to help! We’ll see how that goes.
29 October 2011
Paul F
Now they’re quoting you, Vendor!
8 November 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Gawd, I hope said newsagent isn’t spending his twilight years browsing such sites. Still it’s not as if he knows where I live and anyway I cut that caper back in 1976.
8 November 2011
Mr Galbraith
Apologies for the double-mention on this site (see also the media references section), but did anyone else hear Chris Hawkins play Descent of the Stiperstones on his 6 Music brekkie programme this week? An unusual choice from the album for radio airplay. Things are often bleak in midweek, but even I had a smile upon my face.
12 November 2011
s.g.d
Chris is a Shropshire Lad,he grew up in Loppington so he has probably had to steer clear of Duff-leg Bryn in the past.
12 November 2011
Paul F
Without wishing to reopen the “Enschede” debate, I could be pedantic and point out that Oranjeboom isn’t pronounced the way it was in the iconic Van der Valk themed advert. A Dutch colleague once ordered us a couple of glasses of what sounded to me like “Oran-yeah-bom”.
22 November 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
Tardy 3-star review in Uncut. Obviously wasn’t going to trouble the compilers for the top 50 albums of the year.
26 November 2011
ds
I had a fairly anal moment recently while looking at the “Satisfying the bloodlust…” graphic. I’m a bit of a typographic and graphics nerd and while the poster’s great (and I wanted the t-shirt, but it’s not available in my size – you can guess why), it bothered me that the fonts weren’t quite right, and the graphics weren’t the *actual* road sign ones. So I’ve done a version that is, as near as dammit… (It’s only there cos I can’t upload it here).
I’ll get me coat.
16 December 2011
Chris The Siteowner
DS, that is quite awesome. (OK, I’ll come out. I am also a typographic and graphics nerd. There. I’ve said it.)
If I ever get around to redesigning this site properly, which has been on the to-do list for about two years, I shall be straight round for permission to use that!
17 December 2011
DS
Feel free.
23 December 2011
DS
There’s also this other version of the road sign graphic too, to do with as you will.
28 December 2011
James Dunn
I’m impressed, sent a PO on Friday before Xmas Eve with my order for the CD (mainly because I’m crap at getting round to things). Expecting to get CD at some point in New Year. Geoff had indicated on website all was closed until then but in my disorganised life that was fine. Yet here I am listening. A personal note about the T-shirt i ordered being out of stock. Not a problem, will sort via a letter or mail. But looking forward to Bilston. Sometimes I think though, don’t analyse, just enjoy
30 December 2011
James Dunn
and sometimes the very stuff i’ve read on here is what is ranted about…..
30 December 2011
ACIDIC REGULATOR
Psalm 23 is quoted in He Who Would Valium Take (as already noted in that comment thread).
1 August 2012