Never Too Old
Good news, people. This year’s Mercury Prize shortlist has a light sprinkling of musicians over forty. Now there’s been a lot of fuss over 52-year-old Paul Weller’s album, Wake Up the Nation, but as far as I’m concerned the best thing about it is guest drummer Glem Cattini. This 72-year-old percussionist played on Benny Hill’s 1971 hit single Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West), a song I loved as a wee child. ‘He may be old,’ says Weller, 52, ‘but two takes and he was fucking sorted.’
Anyhow, enough of the moodiest man in pop, let’s get back to the shortlist. Three cheers for Manchester band I Am Kloot who’ve come up with a breakthrough album in their mid-forties after 10 years of hard graft. That’s Not My Age has a penchant for a heavy northern accent – Mark E Smith, Alex Turner, John Lennon, John Bramwell – and hence has seen the band more than once. Mr TNMA (a southerner) has grown to love them too. After hearing The Sky at Night, produced by Elbow’s Guy Garvey and Craig Potter, The Blog Widower rushed to the computer to buy tickets for their next London gig. Who can believe then that this sumptuous album was downgraded from five stars to three in the Observer Music Monthly (RIP) reviews for being ‘too northern for our readers?’ As if. Excuse me while I put on my a flat cap and take the whippet for a walk.
Click here to see a fabulous I Am Kloot video starring ace northen thesp, and Manchester United fan, Christopher Eccleston
Photo: I Am Kloot
Paul Weller quote from Q magazine, February 2010
Discussion (11 Comments)
I am Spanish, but my husband is from newcastle.
Love your post, always fresh an inspiring.
Un abrazo
sacramentoToo northern? Hysterical! Almost as funny as Paul Weller calling his drummer old.
And I was/am a huge Smiths fan too. The idea of anything musical being too northern does not compute.
I was a big Smiths fan too and New Order and Echo & The Bunnymen – I won't go on, but Mr TNMA (a huge Rolling Stones' fan) has told me I should have said Ian McCulloch, not John Lennon!
In the words of Mark E Smith, perhaps the Observer team should 'Hit the north!'
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
A lady after my own heart! I adore a Northern accent. The Smiths were my favourite band of all time.
How the heck can anything sound "too Northern?" only a London publication could say such a thing, bloomin' Southern softies!
Interesting about Weller's drummer and anything featuring the divine Christopher Eccleston's got my vote. xx