And might I mean that quite literally.  Not ‘probably functional’, it’s still all very much up in the air, but it’s plausible I might be back in something resembling the land of the living.

I think the work which had to be done pretty much immediately has had the effect of jump-starting a spluttering brain.  The Josh T. Pearson Toad Session is finished and ready to publish next weekend (assuming he’s happy with it), and Ian and I have been plotting this year’s Song, by Toad Records er, strategy, if you can call it that (just listen to tomorrow’s podcast if you’re interested).

We’re also working on this year’s Song, by Toad Records free sampler, which is going to be excellent.  A little different from last year’s of course, but then I suppose that’s the point.

Anyhow, welcome to the first Friday Five of 2012.  Why not delurk, just for shits and giggles, and say hello.  I promise the questions won’t be challenging.

1. A New Year’s resolution you might keep.
2. One you’ll make but will probably break.
3. One you wouldn’t be naive enough to even make in the first place.
4. One someone else should make.
5. One other people might make for you but they can fuck off.

The Dirtbombs – Livin’ For the City

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Modey Lemon – Loch Ness Monster

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Joy Zipper – 33X

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Sly & the Family Stone – Life

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The Wipers – 07

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This may be the limpest of all excuses I’ve ever had for naming a podcast.  You know why it’s called the Jeffcast?  Because I kinda mention Jeffrey Lewis a couple of times.  Oooh, yes, that makes sense.  Still, sorry, I couldn’t think of anything else really, off the top of my head.

I suppose I am off to see Jeffrey Lewis directly after recording this, so I guess it sort of counts.  He is playing a secret gig at Henry’s Cellar Bar after sneaking out of the Beggars Banquet Christmas Party at the Picture House over the road.  It’s one of the things I love about the anti-folk crowd: you genuinely get the impression that they’d rather be playing to an appreciative crowd of their mates, rather than a bigger crowd of anonymous punters who may stand there and demand entertainment.

So there you go, that’s the deal for tonight.  For the rest of the weekend we’re putting together Meursault albums, ready for the official (re)launch of their record next Friday at the Song, by Toad Christmas Party.  So, after folding and screen-printing a thousand of the bastards we’ll all be well ready for Gimme Shelter in the Caves on Saturday and a spot of Candythief action in the Jazz Bar on Sunday.  Enjoy the 48th Toadcast.

Toadcast #48 – The Jeffcast

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01. Yo La Tengo – Double Dare (04.12)
02. Wolf Parade – Call it a Ritual (07.29)
03. Modey Lemon – Loch Ness Monster (11.25)
04. Sly & the Family Stone – Life (17.09)
05. The Velcro Quartet – The Love Song of Little Cosmo Nostradamus (20.03)
06. The Pernice Brothers – The Ballad of Bjorn Borg (25.57)
07. Caramel Jack – The Lincoln Jackson Incident (34.37)
08. The Magnetic Fields – All the Umbrellas in London (38.29)
09. Sparklehorse – Happy Man (Memphis Version) (44.46)
10. The Veils – Birthday Present (49.44)
11. Grandaddy – Miner at the Dial-A-View (54.24)