Okay, we are getting into list season here, and it is time not just for me to be preparing my own lists, but for you to be considering yours as well.  Last year we had a vote on the fives which I failed to count properly, but this time I promise to keep a running tally as we go along, so we will hopefully end up with an actual Song, by Toad Readers’ Champion.. or something like that anyway.

So, between now and next week (10th) give some thought to your five favourite songs of the year, and for the following week (Friday 17th) your five favourite albums of the year and we can add them all up and find out who we all love the mostest.

I will as per usual be doing a Top Twenty albums and a Festive Fifty, but not until a little closer to Christmas, but this will help me start thinking properly about it as well.  I’ve shortlisted about twenty-five albums, so I’m nearly there, but I haven’t even started my Festive Fifty, so that should make for a bit of a marathon one of these evenings.

So, one last random five before the end of the year.  And random it shall be.

1. Favourite dessert.
2. Favourite trainwreck celebrity.
3. Best sort of apple.
4. Favourite movie spaceship.
5. Cutest non-bunny, non-kitten, non-Durex puppy kind of animal.

This week’s five songs are from a Punk compilation I bought about eight years ago.

The Adverts – Gary Gilmore’s Eyes

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The Rezillos – Top of the Pops

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Wreckless Eric – Whole Wide World

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Blondie – Rip Her to Shreds

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The Vibrators – Automatic Lover

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You won’t see much of me at gigs this week, because my little brother is visiting. I am gutted at having to miss the Major Matt Mason gig last night, but I just ended up being too tired and having too much to do in too little time.

Samamidon is playing in Edinburgh next Monday, so that needs to be publicised. He’s a bit good, and Meursault are doing an acoustic slot in support, so it promises to be an amazing night. The gig is going to be at the Bowery, which is the new venue that my friend Ruth and her friend Jane are opening up. The opening party is on Saturday, for those interested in a bit of intrigue and a splash of free champagne.

Tuesday 4th November 2008: Jackie-O Motherfucker at the Voodoo Rooms.
I missed their last visit to Edinburgh but alt-folk pioneers Jackie-O Motherfucker, yet another excellent Portland band, make their way here again at last. Because Ben is visiting it might not be possible to get to this one, but I’ll do what I can to persuade him.
Jackie-O Motherfucker – Valley of Fire

Thursday 6th November: Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
My ignorance of Wreckless Eric is pretty complete, but I do have two songs by him which I really like, and he was something of a minor hero in his time as far as I am aware. I also inadvertently busted someone at an open-mic night here in Edinburgh last year, on the basis of Wreckless Eric. It is a strictly ‘no covers’ night and a certain gentleman played Reconnez Cherie on the assumption that no-one would recognise it. He counted without the music obsessive at the back, however, and at about the line about ‘nights in my Zodiac’ I leaned over to my mate, who ran the night at the time, and said ‘Fuck me, that’s a Wreckless Eric song.’ What did I learn from that evening? That no-one, absolutely no-one it seems, likes a smart arse.
Wreckless Eric – Reconnez Cherie

Saturday 8th November: Greenbelt Collective, The Second Hand Marching Band, White Heath & The Occasional Flickers at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
I don’t know the Greenbelt Collective, but TSHMB and The Occasional Flickers are both excellent, so as ways to round off your week go, this couldn’t be much better. I’ll be expecting a good sweep of the territory between folk and pop and back again.
The Occasional Flickers – A Medal Won in ’84

Saturday 8th November: The Bowery Opening Party, at the Bowery Bar.
Quite which bands will be playing is somewhat up in the air at the moment but this will be the official opening party for Edinburgh’s newest live music and arts venue. Personally I’m more interested in the music side of course, but there will be fine bands, free champagne and candles. Check out the website, designed by yours truly and featuring the photos of a certain Dylan from Blueback Hotrod. The place is really lovely, so I do recommend you get along if you can because this place could be fantastic if we all get behind it.
Lydia Lunch – Bowery Blues

Sunday 9th November: Marcus Mumford & Rags & Feathers at 99 Hannover Street.
This is a charity gig, held in one of Edinburgh’s snazzier bars, generally full of wannabe-WAGs. On Sunday, however, there’s be soulful folk-pop, so the place should be a much nicer place to be, and I am really looking forward to seeing what Marcus Mumford is like as a solo act. [Edit: this is now at Bannerman's on the Cowgate]
Rags & Feathers – Silent Movie Starlets