Andy Baptiste

Stranglers Sounding Sweet

Andy — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:22:36 +0000

The Stranglers released their 17th studio album yesterday, and after 17 albums they could be forgiven for going through the motions, however they are sounding as amazing as ever.

I’m sure alot of people discount the band purely because of their age or their name, or a combination of the two, but they are missing out on some really beautiful, accomplished work.

1. Another Camden Afternoon

This is an instrumental track driven by the bass, but mainly comprising of intertwined “telecastery” guitar and some very sleazy keyboards.

So sleazy that I had to take a shower afterwards. Great track.

2. Freedom Is Insane

An epic song that’s both melancholy and rocky. JJ sings this one.

3. Giants

JJ takes the vocal on this song again and does a great job as ever, melodic and threatening.

4. Lowlands

Spiky keyboards and Baz on the telecaster sounding great. Baz takes the lead vocal on this one.

5. Boom Boom

One of my personal favorites. Another Baz sung track.

6. My Fickle Resolve

Beautifully wistful song with a slight jazz feel to it due to Jet using brushes.

7. Time Was Once On My Side

Great song and penciled in as the first single.

8. Mercury Rising

This has a quite commercial sound to it which takes a little getting over, but once you do it’s a cracking song.

9. Adios (Tango)

JJ sings this vocal in Spanish. Well why not?

10. 15 steps

The final song is a Baz sung track and a great ending to a great album

You can’t suppress if you adore, they’ll always keep you wanting more. You see my problem? Well it’s yours too…

9/10 Go buy it people, you know you want to!

I get the wooden spoon.

Andy — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:57:44 +0000

I’ve had a few dates over the last couple of months with a lovely Italian girl that lives in York.

She doesn’t give anything away so I’m as in the dark about how I’m doing as anyone, but I do have a few clues that she is not quite as impressed with me as I am with her.

Her ex-husband is a web developer and has earned £200-300 per day on occasions during his career, so she is far from impressed by my rates at Jezebel Design.

The previous time I saw her went ok, although she did go a little shy on me when I asked for a kiss goodnight, which came as a bit of a shock as she is the most confident person I’ve ever met. In fact, shortly after I got my peck on the cheek she noticed a man at a second floor window baring his buttocks and proceeded to whistle so loudly I think most builders would be put to shame.

And the last time we met up we went to the cinema in York and then on to a pub to have something to eat. It was one of those places where you get given a wooden spoon to take to your table. Everything seemed to be going ok despite me beating her, in a very ungentlemanly way, in an arm wrestle, but then I suddenly became conscious of the fact she was hitting me with the wooden spoon. I had half a mind to ask if she was affectionately hitting me with a wooden spoon or just hitting me with a wooden spoon, but I thought I might not like the answer.

Anyway, this is my cowardly way of saying “I may have to put my prices up a little“, but don’t worry, only very slightly and I’m still one of the cheapest you’ll find!!

WordPress

Andy — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:11:32 +0000

Welcome to my WordPress blog!

Jezebel will now also be offering WordPress blogs as standalone blogging sites or as blog add-ons to existing Jezebel Design created sites.

These are simple wordpress sites with your main site’s design propagated into it.

Please enquire for details.