So…later in the day didn’t happen. Sorry, very sorry, but this time of year is pretty frantic in the world of It jounalism you know. More issues, less weeks, pretty solid excuses.
Anywho, I happen to work in the vicinity of the BT Tower and so on my walk to work I occasionally see (or should that be on my occasional walk to work I see?) this brick wall, pebbledashed and hidden behind some very sharply defended gates. Not too sharp for London’s intrepid Banksy however, who one evening or morning, who knows, provided the world with another piece of his stenciled genius. Not that I think it’s genius, I’m not even a massive fan, I just happened to like the fore and backgrounds involved in this particular photo. Because, you see what he’s done don’t you? ‘One nation under CCTV, is a change to the phrase ‘One Nation Under God’ (which is American in origin, so I don’t much see the relevance, but anyway). He’s clearly saying that CCTV is our God and that we’re being watched evermore until our very freedom is at stake, and that BT is a huge corporation corroborating with the government in the expansion of the CCTV deity and the ever shrinking of our personal freedom.
Or not. Like I say, I don’t much care for Banksy, nor for this piece of his work, rather I like the photo as a whole, If that makes sense.
Reviewy Bits
I’ve been a little busy of late as well, and that’s the main reason behind my lack of updating here. I’ve had a couple of film reviews published on Den of Geek for both Lakeview Terrace (Samuel L. Jackson’s new film) and Inkheart (Brendan Fraser’s), so if you want to check those out…well please do :)
Finally, I’ve written the first chapter of brand spanking new novel. Oh yes. In one week. The next one is due this week, the next one the week after, the one after that, the weeke after that and so on for 27 of the buggers. One week in, and I’m feeling optimistic. But it is only one week in. Wish me luck, and more snippits on the work as it happens.
Ta ra for now though, take it easy :)
Kevin
A New England investigated
Firstly “Hi” if you’ve come here via my review of FAQ About Time Travel on Den of Geek. I do write for the website fairly regularly I’m proud to say, so look out for more scribblings from me there. Anyhow, it’s nice to have you here, and I hope you enjoy reading DoG as much as I do. Right, onto other business:
Regular visitors will know that occasionally I post a YouTube pick of the week, and that once or twice before I’ve delved into the world of musical covers. Well I’ve decided to combine the two today, as a whim earlier on made me head to the trusty Tube of You and look for an unreleased and little known cover by Jamie T of Billy Bragg’s classic, ‘A New England’. In some ways Jamie T can be compared to a modern day Billy Bragg (‘working class hero’, though I’m not a fan of that overwrought phrase), and in fact he has many, many times. Yet it’s in the covering of Bragg’s track – which, I think I’m right in saying, is a result of rather than the reason for the comparison – that the similarities become legitimate.
Neither are particularly ‘honed’ vocalists yet it’s the tonal style and attitude of each of them which fits the content and genre of their respective musics. I’m getting a bit carried away though, because where I want this comparison to lead us is to Jamie T’s cover of ‘A New England’ , which, though the ‘T one’ has been quiet in releases since his 2007 album Panic Prevention, is a fine demonstration of the style he brings to his music.
A double header for today then, because it would be criminal not to include Bragg himself in this post. The question is though, which incarnation of his famed track? The answer: Two of them. The first is the collaboration with the late, great Kirsty MacColl (yes, she of A Fairy Tale In New York fame), which signals the coming together of two very fine artists.
The second, a more recent creation, forged from the talents of Bragg and Kate ‘because I am so bittaa’ Nash (I say that affectionately, I’ve seen and enjoyed her live music and poetry, [and she's a bit of a looker as well y'know]).
So, are you thoroughly ‘A New England’ outed? No? Me neither, cracking isn’t it?
That about wraps this up for today and leaves me only tosay that if you didn’t come here via a link from Den of Geek, allow me to offer to direct you over there to check out my look at good debut for a new British feature-length writer.