Won't you cut through the clouds?

I went for a massive walk the other day, along the Brighton seafront, and i must say, it was one of the best walks i've ever been on. I was listening to 'Plans' by 'Death Cab For Cutie' and everything was so peaceful and beautiful. The sun was shining, the water was glistening, and everyone held smiles on their faces as if it were their last. I found an amazing ice cream parlour/bar hidden behind a few buildings, called 'Morocco's', i didn't go in as i want to hang out there with my lady or a group of friends and pretend we're characters from the 'Rum Diary'. Not exactly how i imagine the bar to be in that novel, but 'Morocco's' has character, and is run down enough to be written about by an author from the beat generation.

Last night i got pretty drunk, went to see an extremely twee band (i enjoyed them), caught up with some good people, came home with a couple of friends, sank a few more brews and watched the 'Inbetweeners'. I don't go out all that much in Brighton which is a shame, as there are some fantastic places to go, but i just don't have that urge to go out like i used to. I think being in a band has dampened my spirits on going out. I spend most of my life in dark clubs/bars/venues... and drink most nights, weather it be 1 beer or a heavy session, and the idea of hanging out in a club when i don't have to be there just seems a little silly. I enjoy hanging out in pubs and cafes with friends when we're not on tour, but give me a good film, a healthy amount of coffee, nice food, and i'll be more than content with my life.

Tonight i will watch 'Into The Wild' and continue reading 'Pulp' by Bukowski.

Sometimes i watch you when you're sleeping.

I spent this evening at a radio station, eating good food, watching Louis Theroux on the tellybox, and learning the 'loving kind' by Girls aloud. I'm going to attempt to turn an electro pop hit into a down-beat, 'American Analog Set' style acoustic number. It's an amazing song, so hopefully i'll be able to do it justice........fuck justice, my main aim is for Cheryl Cole to hear the rendition, fall in love with me, leave Ashley, and we'll live happily ever after. Sure we'll have a couple of arguments over her wanting me to get some sweet tribal along my hand, but we can work something out. Actually, i'd get some sweet tribal anywhere on my body if Cheryl Cole was my girlfriend.

I just watched the new Conor Oberst documentary, 'One Of My Kind', and i must say i rather enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for band documentary's, but this is a really inspiring wee film. They go about their business in such a traditional way. It's great to see a band who love writing, touring, and recording songs together, especially in this day and age where all you need is a bedroom and a computer. Not that i'm knocking bedroom pop, as i have a few very talented friends who work like that, but my friends aren't lazy songwriters like so many of these 'artists'.




I love this photo.

My head is an empty house when you're not around.

I haven't written any words on this for quite a while now, and I feel like i've been neglecting my blogging duties, but in reality, i've been a pretty busy boy since the release of my band's album. We did a few in-store appearances, and i was stunned at the reaction we got. It seems the album is being pretty well perceived, which is amazing, i don't think i could have asked for anything more. Reviews have been great, people are writing me lovely messages saying how much they enjoy it, and most of all, people from school are digging it!! I never thought i'd see the day, people from my school, buying my album! You may not think it's a big deal, but trust me, it is. Whenever i'm home, i bump into some prick from school i really dislike, and he/she will ask me if we're still playing Blink 182 covers.....come the fuck on. These are the same people that will point out my jeans are 'quite tight', and will ask me if i've heard the new Fall Out Boy album. I've done a shit load of growing up since school, and i think it's about time they did some too.

As soon as we finished the tour, my girlfriend came down to stay with me for a week, which was grand. The fact she wants to go out with me even though i'm on the road all the time, is miraculous. I should present her with a medal or a trophy. Beach, cinema, photos, coffee, tea, vegetarian burritos, drink, friends, sleep (lots of), wandering around the lanes, cupcakes, wrestling, bed hugs, Fred Perry sneaks, ice cream, me feeling hella weird after a smoke (note to self: cut down on caffeine intake), her feeling hella weird from getting a blocked nose, The Inbetweeners S2 Ep2, 1 Bubble chocolate bar, vanilla flavoured wafers, 3 members of Foals, Now Now Every Children canceling on us, goodbyes at the train station. Win.

I've nearly finished writing a Doo Wop song which i'm pretty excited about. I felt inspired after watching an old Mickey Rourke film called 'Diner' which is set in the 50's. I've always been quite skeptical of writing a Doo Wop song, in case it came out sounding horribly cheesy, but i've come to terms with the fact it will inevitably sound a bit cheesy. I may set up a myspace account, and put it on the page with a few other bits and bobs i've got which don't fit into The Xcerts repertoire. We shall see.

Happy Easter by the way! I spent the weekend alone, with some rotten films and a pot of coffee. Actually, there were a couple of treats on the tellybox for me.
Groundhog Day - Bill Murray rules. Willy Wonka (Tim Burton remake) - forgot how much i enjoyed this film. Blow - great story, great film. Johny Depp rules.

x

P.S. I haven't heard the new fall Out Boy album.

My only faith's in the broken bones and bruises I display .

Today is the release of my bands debut album, and i can't quite describe how i'm feeling. Nerves and excitement are probably the easiest feelings to identify, but there are a few other feelings lurking around that i can't quite put my finger on. People have been writing wonderful words about it, and i'm just so thankful it's finally getting released. It was an emotional album to write, and it feels like a few demons have been killed in the process which can only be a good thing.

The camera makes you seasick.

These photos are so winner, literally! Insight/dopamine just won a Sony World Photography Award for these photos. You can find more over at - http://www.worldphotographyawards.org/2009winners-procom_advertising.asp
Brownie points for putting Jack Kerouac along one of the crosses!

Hangouts, coffee, burritos, slacker pop, album reviews, catch ups, photographs, writing, memories of Japan, phone conversations,....It's been a good day.

I'm not surprised you've been kicking yourself to sleep.

Recently i've been thinking about the choices i've made in my life and how they have affected myself and others. I also wander how different my life would be had i not pursued a career in music. Would i still be living with my folks in Aberdeen? Would i still be working at the Hilton hotel? Would i become content with the fact i would never 'make it' as a musician, and get a depressingly boring desk job? Would i go to university? Would i still have the same girlfriend? Would i be a completely different person? Would i still be close with certain people, who i wish i hadn't lost contact with..? Does anyone from Aberdeen truly miss me, and if they do, would they care for me as much if i was still living in Aberdeen? The list goes on and on. Aberdeen is a great place, so great in fact, all i do is complain about it when i'm there. So many wonderful things have happened to me in Aberdeen, but terrible things have also occurred there. I think i would have lost my mind had i decided to stay. I'm appreciating Aberdeen alot more now though. Since visiting more shit hole towns than i care to remember, it really has opened my eyes and shown me that Aberdeen ain't so bad. I tend not to ponder over these thoughts too much, as they scare the shit out of me. I do however give much thought to weather or not, I could have kept someone the way they used to be. From an outsider's point of view, seeing someone so obviously change is a strange and horrid thing. Thinking you know someone so well, only to find/figure out, you don't know one another at all, is cruel and saddening. Maybe leaving Aberdeen was the best and worst thing i have ever done.


I don't think i could be more psyched for the release of Manchester Orchestra's new album, Mean Everything to Nothing. I've heard 4 songs (studio quality), and they are all glorious. The Right Away Great Captain record is also phenomenal! The fact that Andy Hull is my age and can write songs more mature than a 60 year old crooner, makes me a little bit sick! Looking up to David Bazan certainly hasn't been a bad thing on Andy Hull, so I will continue to do the same.

I Must Be Scared Of Something.

100 Broken Windows v The Remote Part.

I truly believe i will never decide which album i prefer. Some people question the meaning of life, god, aliens, conspiracies....I however, choose to debate which Idlewild album i prefer. If you have ever heard these albums, you will know how hard it is deciding which one you prefer. There are days when i'm certain i've made up my mind, and then there are days when i wish my dad had never recommended them to me. My best friend says there is no debate, and Hope Is Important is their best album. He is wrong. Both 100 Broken Windows and The Remote Part are full of beautiful, poetic rock songs, many of which have brought me to tears. If you haven't heard either of these albums, i suggest you sort your life out.