Blog 2: MAN

Song I'm Listening To At The Start Of This Blog: Without You by The Adorkables

Recently I've been listening to the song Sat In Vicky Park by London punk rock band Apologies, I Have None. There is a particular lyric in that song thats really got me thinking. That lyric is a "man cannot be measured by the number of people he's fucked." I'm now wandering how do you measure a man? A friend suggested with a tape measure, he was being fashious. A way many men my age seem to use to prove that they are a man is by getting something they've done on the truelad website. This website is a place where "LADS" can post things they've done which they deem to be impressive and other users of the site vote yes or no on whether they agree on the impressiveness of the act. You can also post photos of "LAD" acts and hope for approval. I'll admit I have found the odd post amusing but the majority of the time I've always thought "what a dick." I assume if you get the most likes that makes you more of a "LAD." This seems like the worst way of measuring a man.

I've always felt the best way of being a man is by setting yourself a list of principles and sticking to them. This list is what I think being a man is all about.

• Always being yourself and not changing to suit others
• Treating others how I expect to be treated
• Treat all people with the same respect despite there age, race, sexuality, beliefs, which football team they support
• Stand up for what you believe in regardless of the outcome
• Always look out for your loved ones. If someone you love needs you, be there for them as best you possibly can
• If you feel you've wronged someone, apologise as soon as possible 
• Be comfortable with your standing in groups.Don't feel the need to be alpha male. The person who thinks they are the alpha usully is the person in the group who has the least respect. 

This is what I think makes a person with a penis a man.

BRAP!

Song Playing At The End Of This Blog: Burn Burn by LostProphets

CD Review: The Story So Far...

Song I'm Listening To At The Start Of This Blog: Give It A Try by (Spunge)

 On my previous post I started to review my top 5 albums ever. This is number 2 in the series.

(Spunge) - The Story So Far...

The first time I ever heard (Spunge) was on Steve Lamacq's evening show on Radio 1. That song was the favourite Roots. Not long after I received my first ever pay cheque from work and quickly rushed out and brought the album. It cost me £15 but I didn't care because I was in love. I can honestly say 'The Story So Far' changed my life. Not because of the strong political messages (there isn't any) or the high level of musicianship (sarcasm). Through falling in love with this album it forced me to open my eyes and discover more bands who playing a similar style of music. I found the American big boys such as Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. I found UK underground heroes like Lightyear, 4ft Fingers (who I'm seeing soon and I can't fudging wait!) and Capdown. This was the first time I'd ever had such a love and quite frankly obsession with anything and my CD collection quickly grew. It still grows to this day and I'll always remember The Story So Far started me off.

Now for a bit on the actual content of the album. The opening track takes its name from the album title and is a biographical account of the bands history. It starts of with a slow ska style with lead singer Al tunefully telling the history above it. Halfway through the song the picks up a gear and the smooth ska sounds has developed into a rock and roll onslaught and the tuneful singing has gone and replaced with some passionate shouting of "this is the story so far, can't wait for the next chaper." A great way to open an album. Up next is the single Roots. Roots is as the name suggests about not forgetting where it all started from despite how successful you may become in life. This song incorporates one of my favourite things you can do in a song when its played live. The old stop dead during the song, wait for a few seconds and then kick straight back in. I love it. 

Track 4 on the album is the great Change Of Scene. A song about a girl wanting to become a lesbian. A topic it seems only ska bands seem to write about. The lyric "now she's found herself a lover endowed just like her mother" brings a smile to my face every time I hear it. Next is a (Spunge) classic. Of course I'm talking about Skanking Song. They use the standard ska punk style guitars underneath verses about various haircuts people in the "scene." The chorus of "this is a skanking song, it's a skanking song, and you can't go wrong if you see along" is just an instruction for the crowd to "skank along." (As if they wouldn't be already. To be honest the song is a big pile of nonsense, which is not a bad thing because its so much fun!

The album continues with the song Ego. Ego can also be found on the bands previous album "Room For Abuse." I find Ego to be a dig at rock stars who get to big for their boots. Ironically (Spunge) have never struck me as a band who are big headed at all and see themselves as the same level as the fans who put them where they are. The next song is (Spunge)'s biggest hit, Jump On Demand. Got to number 39 in the UK charts you know. A another song with the great message about all people being equal despite there wealth. This song amused me a lot when I saw them play it live, everyone in the building was jumping when told to when the song itself is about not understand why people 'jump on demand.'

Friend Called Fred is an interesting song. Its about the little devil who sits on your shoulder and gets you into trouble and how frustrating it is. Its shows great lyrical skill to be able to write a deep song like this as well as songs about lesbians and skanking. Finishing up is the almost anthem-like Too Little, Too Late. It's about about learning to take advice from others and not be stubborn. Again a very unique subject for a song, one I've rarely heard. 

The Story So Far has everything I could ever want in an album. A mix of fun and serious songs, great sing-along's and it makes me want to dance. Go listen now!

Song Listening To At The End Of This Blog: Too Little Too Late by (Spunge)

BRAP!

CD Review: How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Date 29/8/2012

Song listening to at the start of this blog: Cretin Hop by The Ramones

 I've decided to start my new blogging hobby by reviewing 5 of my favourite albums. This is the first.

The Bouncing Souls - How I Spent My Summer Vacation.

First time I heard The Bouncing Souls was on a cheap Epitaph Records Punk-O-Rama compilation CD. I listened to the whole CD enjoyed the Souls song on it and thought to myself I'll check them out again in the future. That song was Sing Along Forever from the Anchors Away record. Eventually I went into town to pick up that album but HMV didn't have it in stock but they did have How I Spent My Summer Vacation so I figured I'll check that out instead. I got home, stuck it in the CD player and was very quickly blown away. The album kicks off with a one-two punch with 'That Song' and 'Private Radio.' Both thumping anthems about how music getting people through hard times and keeping people together. Next up is not just one of my favourite Souls songs but one of my all time favourite songs. I am of course talking about the classic 'True Believers.' The lyrics "We live our life in our own way, Never really listened to what they say, The kind of faith that doesn't fade away, We are the true believers" really have inspired me and given me the confidence to do the same. The album flows along brilliantly with songs such as 'That Something Special' and 'Broken Record.' These songs are a more mid-tempo song but still delivery a great punch with there big chorus'. Track 8 is a real gem, 'Manthem' is a classic anthem about friendship. For me there is no better song about friendship and camaraderie. This song has everything I love in a song. A pounding drum intro, great sing along sections, gang vocals and a fantastic message. Few things have made me happier than putting my arm round a stranger, one fist in the air and screaming along with The Souls. The album closes with another classic track. The song 'Gone' is another mid-tempo song with a huge sing along chorus. A song that the most hardcore punks and the cool kids who listen to the radio will enjoy.

 Here is a live video of 'True Believers.' I love it, you should to!

BRAP!

Song Listening To At The End Of This Blog: Its Okay To Hate Me by The Ergs!
 

Blog 1: Introduction

Date: 29/8/2012

Song listening to at the start of this blog: Lava Twilight by Inme.

Just over a year ago I had the proudest moment of my life. My was given the honour of giving the best man speech at one of my best friends weddings. I took this job extremely seriously as I did not want to let him down by delivering a terrible speech, plus I didn't want to look stupid in front of a room full of people. I started preparing early, everytime I had an idea I wrote it down somewhere so I didn't forget it. The week of the wedding arrived and I started to put all of my ideas together, typed it all out and printed it off to get the other best man to prove read it to check it was all appropriate. The day of the wedding arrived, the brides dad and the groom delivered there speeches and then it was my turn. I can honestly say I've never been more nervous for anything in my life. To my amazement the speech couldn't have gone better. I even manage to deal with some heckling and turn some stuttering into part of a joke. When I'd finished my oldest friend and his wife came rushing over to me and told me what a good job I'd done and how proud they were of me. I was buzzing. Throughout the rest of the evening many of my close friends and a lot more strangers came upto me and praised me for my efforts. I thought things can't get much better than this. Then it did. A lady who it turned out was the brides godmother started talking to me about the speech. She started to ask me whether I write a lot and was amazed when I told her this was the first creative thing I'd written since leaving school in 2002. She then began to tell me I had a great way with words, had brilliant comic timing, I was very gifted and that I should write more. I've never had this much praise for any work I'd done before ever. 

Now just over a year later I have decided to do this blog to give this creative writing stuff ago. Should be easy for someone who is as gifted as me.......right?

I guess I should start by writing something about me.

My name is Colin Richard Clark. I was born on 21st January 1986 in Colchester. My mum gave birth to me. She deserves a high five for that. I usually answer to the nicknames Double C, Clarkey or Cripple (affectionately given to me after I broke my leg). I went to school and met my three best friends. I am closer to them than I am anybody else in the world, including my family. It amazes me that after all these years we are still best friends despite all growing up and going in different directions with our lives and locations.

When I finished school I got a job at my local supermarket pushing trolleys. Somehow I am still there today. Sounds like I've wasted my life slightly and I can see how someone could thing that. But for some deranged reason I really enjoy myself there. There is rarely a day where I don't find something very funny, I work with a grear bunch of fellas and have a boss who despite us bickering like a married couple a lot of the time has been a complete hero during difficult times for me and is very supportive when I've wanted time off for various reasons.

Also during my time at work I have been blessed to make friends with another great group of people who I can safely say have changed my life and made it a lot more fun. I didn't think I could ever get another group of friends who I love as much as my old school mates. I'm extremely lucky. So to the people who do look down on what I do for a living, I say screw you, I'm happy, I'm winning.

Outside of work I, like everyone else have interests. I love playing football and am a die hard Crystal Palace fan. However I main interest, passion and love is music. Namely punk rock and ska music. The first time I heard punk music was hearing The Offsprings Americana album but the album that probably changed my life forever was The Story So Far by UK Ska-Punk heroes (Spunge). After hearing that I was hooked. Punk rock has definitely changed my life. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum and done things my way but somehow punk rock gave me the confidence to be more outspoken about things I don't agree with. It's also great fun to sing and dance to.

That's pretty much me in a four paragraph nutshell. I don't really know what this blog will be about. I'd imagine it will be my observations on the world, things I find amusing and gig and CD reviews. It will probably only be slightly amusing to me.

I'll end by posting a picture of me at the wedding that inspired all this.

BRAP!

Song Listening To At The End Of This Blog: All Right by Agnostic Front