Morning you ‘orrible lot. My wench is away being important once more. She said to me the other day when she was trying to skive off work due to a hangover: ‘I can’t go into work in a bad state, I handle money.’ Haha, what bollocks. I love it when financial people get all delusional like that, so don’t worry I set her straight. I calmly pointed out to her that if I fucked up my last job someone might have found a small metal implant buried in their spinal column. This means dead or paralysed. She stopped, fortunately.

‘I handle money though.’ Yeah well, I handle my penis and every last little sperm is a potential human life, so don’t gimme that. The frustration’s setting in again, can’t you tell? This podcast has some news and some current things, and then explores the randomiser on my music library, doffing my cap to the recent Contrast Podcast episode which I was too slow to participate in. Gah.

It is also my birthday on Monday, thirty-two since you ask, and we will be down in London to celebrate the occasion with our Southern friends, so there’s a couple of birthday thingies in there too, most screamingly obviously the first track of course. Enjoy Toadlings, enjoy.

Toadcast #16 – The Birthday Podcast

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01. Clem Snide – Happy Birthday (02.18)
02. The Courteeners – Acrylic (08.56)
03. Joe Lean & the Jing Jang Jong – Sleazy Hughes (12.46)
04. Cloud Atlas – Cigarettes & Apricots (15.54)
05. Arab Strap – There is No Ending (24.04)
06. Malcolm Middleton – The Devil & the Angel (29.32)
07. Down the Tiny Steps – Photosynth (37.29)
08. Eef Barzelay – Make Another Tree (42.19)
09. Loch Lomond – Northern, Knees, Trees & Lights (51.35)
10. The Pogues – Bolero Del Perro Listo (59.23)
11. Crash Test Dummies – Sonnet #3 (The Cold is Here) (66.52)
12. Ben Folds – You’ve Got to Learn to Live With What You Are (68.44)
13. Cold War Kids – Hair Down (81.39)
14. The Hold Steady – The Party Pit (90.22)
15. Tom Waits – Diamonds & Gold (94.11)
16. Skuobhie Dubh Orchestra – Monsieur Le Charmant (100.18)

I can’t in all honesty say that I have been swept away by any of these three EPs.  They do all have bits on that I have really liked though, and as they are all by small groups I thought it only fair that I pop them up here and let you guys decide for yourselves.  I sometimes wonder what to do with things like these. I never want to have a go at new and emerging groups because I think that’s a bit harsh, but if I’m not entirely convinced what do I do, especially if there are good bits?  Mind you, with the samples being available, my opinion is largely irrelevant anyway – you can listen to the songs and decide for yourselves.

Newspapers – Lakeview There are traces of 50s rock ‘n’ roll as well as straightforward indie on this one.  It’s probably my favourite of the three, and I think it’s the guitar that does it for me.  Barely a single track fails to have a memorable bit of guitar work on it, no matter how subtle, although a couple of them may lack a little as overall songs.  And guess where they’re from?  Yup, Portland, Oregon.  Where else.

Newspapers – Devil’s Dance Blues This is superb – just listen to that guitar – brilliant!

myspace | hype | buy from cdbaby

Cloud Atlas – No-one is Sad Up Here At their best these guys can remind me of The Indelicates, with choppy boy-girl interchanges and slightly glam guitar surfacing from time to time.  It can be a bit close to the bog-standard indie template, but there are some very good things here and there.  The EP can be bought from them at gigs, and if you get in touch via MySpace I’m sure there should be some way to figure out an internet purchase.  Paypal is your friend, people.

Cloud Atlas – Cigarettes & Apricots

myspace | hype

House of Brothers -  Deadman The title track off this sugar-sweet slice of pop lushness is really rather good.  As for the rest, well I suggest it slightly loses its zip a little but I get the impression more than a couple of you will like this one.  The CD is available to pre-order though, so if you like what you hear you know what to do.

House of Brothers – Deadman

myspace | hype | pre-order the EP here