Songs Of My Life #29 - Toto - Africa - 1982

Songs Of My Life #29.

This us another of those songs that brings back so many memories of my younger years. When this was released I desperately wanted to get the album (Toto's IV) but I was too young to be able to, and birthdays were too far away. So I fell back to the old standard of taping it into a mixed cassette from American Top 40 on Sunday night with Kasey Casem.

Regrettably I love singing this song but do it no justice whatsoever.

Photo of the Day #29

Photo of the Day #29. Yep. It's End of Month time once again. And here I am, with all of my co-workers all at home enjoying their afternoons while I wait for useless data to collate so I can do more calculations and reports. Yay for bookkeeping. Hope you are all choking on your beer.

A photo posted by @westkiama on Feb 28, 2016 at 9:51pm PST

Songs Of My Life #28 - Lawnmower Deth - Kids In America - 1991

Songs Of My Life #28.

Everyone of my generation, and thus the kids of those people, all know the hit song "Kids in America" by Kim Wilde. It was one of those catchy songs that stuck in your head, and that you couldn't help singing along to when it was on, especially the part after the chorus that went "La la la la-la-la la"! It was also a thing of us when kids to be somewhat patriotic about the lyrics, and insist on singing "We're the Kids in Australia!"

What many people don't know is that there is a definitive version of this song, one that was the only single released by that fine example of a band, Lawnmower Deth. So, here in all of its glory, is the cover version of "Kids in America" by British thrash band Lawnmower Deth. Enjoy!

Photo of the Day #28

Photo of the Day #28. At least I didn't forget.

A photo posted by @westkiama on Feb 27, 2016 at 9:41pm PST

Photo of the Day #27

Photo of the Day #27. The Walkers & Talkers set up at Shellharbour's Relay For Life.

A photo posted by @westkiama on Feb 26, 2016 at 10:09pm PST

Songs Of My Life #27 - Queen - Breakthru - 1989

Songs Of My Life #27.

In October 1989 I made my highest 1st Grade score at the age of 20, which looking back now is prehaps somewhat of a disappointment. At the time though, getting to 97 was, I felt, an achievement in itself. The most amusing part about it (for some) was that I actually did it while playing for Jamberoo, against my former club Kiama. Some have never let me forget that, especially the fact that I was never able to repeat such a high score for Kiama 1st Grade upon my return.

As I waited to bat, I was sitting in my car, listening to Queen's The Miracle album, and I had fixated on this song, as I played it and rewound it and played it again for about half an hour before the third wicket fell and I went in to bat. Thus it was in my head for the entire innings, and it is something I have never forgotten. Nor did I ever repeat that pre-innings routine ever again. Hmmmm... perhaps that was a failing on my part...

Photo of the Day #26

Photo of the Day #26. Setting up the tents for tomorrow's Relay For Life at Albion Park. As you can see the rain is not far away. Right on schedule.

A photo posted by @westkiama on Feb 25, 2016 at 10:53pm PST

Songs Of My Life #26 - Last In Line - Martyr - 2016

Songs Of My Life #26.

A couple of years ago there was a great reformation as such of the band lineup that recorded the first three Dio albums - minus of course the sadly departed Ronnie James Dio. After some gigs playing those great songs, the line up of guitarist Vivian Campbell, bass guitarist Jimmy Bain, drummer Vinny Appice and keyboardist Claude Schnell, along with new lead vocalist Andrew Freeman decided to go the next step and record an album of new material.

The album Heavy Crown was released last week. One of the songs of it is here, Martyr, which to me contains the best of that old sound and the new attitude. It's well worth a listen.

Photo of the Day #25

Photo of the Day #25. This is Albion Park's version of the Running of the Bulls. The Running of the Cows!

A video posted by @westkiama on Feb 24, 2016 at 6:05pm PST

Songs Of My Life #25 - The Police - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - 1981

Songs Of My Life #25

This was my first memory of The Police, though it is more than possible that I had heard other singles on the radio before this was released and didn't realise it or just don't remember it. I do know that this song flooded the airwaves during my final weeks at Minnamurra Primary School, which in my head then got ties in with the girl I liked at the time, Stephanie Hill (no, she had absolutely zero interest in me, but then that wasn't unusual...).

My strongest memory of this song is when my sister Angela and I went to school holiday activities at the school, and on the final day we went on a bus trip to Foxground to the animal park there. Justin Anderson and I had spent a lot of the week together, and as we sat together on the bus taking us down, this song came on the radio, and we both began singing it together, thus discovering our mutual love of the song and, presumably the band. Which we then proceeded to sing together for the rest of the day.
Why has that stuck in my head for 37 years? I really couldn't tell you, except that one of us went on to be a pretty handy musician and vocalist, and the other did not.

Revisiting The Twilight Zone: S1 E22: The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

Revisiting The Twilight Zone: S1 E22: The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

One of the giants of the genre, this is the episode more than any other that draws people in to the Twilight Zone and makes them fans of the series. It is the one that contains the best of everything that makes this series the top shelf that it is.

It’s a simple idea in concept, but the way it is written from start to finish, twining and intertwining the characters and relationships along with their actions based on what is happening around them is just brilliant. You can see the fear and anger that builds from within as each piece of the story falls into place, switching from one person or family to another at the drop of a hat. Right up until the very end of the episode, when all is revealed and the viewer finally understands exactly what is happening and why it is happening, this holds your attention and keeps you questioning the reality of what is occurring.

Rod Serling has written some brilliant episodes, but this is perhaps his masterpiece given the message that it sends amongst all that is occurring within it. The performances of everyone involved also promote it to genuine brilliant status. I can argue for any number of episodes to be in my list of favourites. I don’t think I can argue any of them to be ranked above this one.

Rating: The best. 5/5

Photo of the Day #24

Photo of the Day #24. Josh has just ducked under a full toss delivered by his sister Madeleine, and been bowled middle stump (you can see the stumps rocked back). He protested that it was a no ball for over the waist. It gave me great pleasure to inform him what he and his siblings usually throw at me - "It's Backyard Cricket rules". There are no no-balls, and Josh was very reluctantly on his way.

A photo posted by @westkiama on Feb 23, 2016 at 5:31pm PST

Songs Of My Life #24 - Crowded House - Fall At Your Feet - 1991

Songs Of My Life #24.

I loved Woodface when it was released, as it marked the coming (albeit for a very short time) of Tim Finn into the Crowded House fold. I was hoping for utter brilliance as the majority of the songs were written by the Finn brothers together, which we didn't immediately get from the first single from the album, "Chocolate Cake".

However, this was the song, the one that started the train of singles from the album that should all have been top ten singles, but were pushed out by the crap that was being released in the early 1990's. Neil Finn's amazing vocals along with the harmonies through the chorus are simply superb.
I taught myself this on the bass in recent years, and still enjoy playing and singing (both poorly) it when I put it on.

Photo of the Day #23

Photo of the Day #23. A bit tangy, a bit tingly. Lunch today provided by Hunger Busters with extra meat and cheese and chilli and BBQ sauce.

A photo posted by @westkiama on Feb 22, 2016 at 5:35pm PST

Songs Of My Life #23 - Cliff Richard & The Young Ones - Living Doll - 1986

Songs Of My Life #23

None of us that grew up in the 1980's would have missed nor could forget that wonderful anarchic TV series from England called The Young Ones. It's hard to believe only 12 episodes were made, as the shows provided so much laughter and entertainment that entire episodes were committed to memory line for line.

This song was released to raise money for Red Nose Day, incorporating as it did (P)Rik's hero for the series Cliff Richard and one of his most famous songs, re-done in a way only The Young Ones could have done. For those too young to have watched, nag your parents to be able to see it. For those of us too old, watch again and reminisce.

Revisiting The Twilight Zone: S1 E21: Mirror Image

Revisiting The Twilight Zone: S1 E21: Mirror Image

I love Mirror Image. It’s another brilliant one room staged story, with minimal characters and a lovely creepy middle of the night setting in a storm. What better way to have something happen like occurs in this episode?

Millicent Barnes faces a conundrum that completely freaks her out. In the almost deserted bus station while waiting for her bus, she is faced with several occurrences that don’t make sense. She asks the man behind the counter how long the bus will be, and he informs her she has already asked that twice before – which she hasn’t. Then she sees her bag in with the tagged bags, but she has her bag next to her at the bench she has been sitting on – but it is now gone. Finally, when she goes to the bathroom and looks in the mirror while the door begins to close, she sees herself sitting at that same bench, while she is standing in the bathroom. What the hell is going on?

The episode moves along from here in fashion. Millicent begins to question her sanity, which is what others around her are doing as well. Slowly she comes to form an opinion of what may be happening to her, but can she convince everyone else it is true?

This is a terrific episode, creepy and inconclusive once again until the final scene seals the story plot line for everyone. It’s yet another example of one of the best types of Twilight Zone episodes.

Rating: My doppelganger is knocking at the door. 5/5

Photo of the Day #22

Photo of the Day #22. Invasion of the Killer Cows!

A photo posted by @westkiama on Feb 21, 2016 at 7:52pm PST

Songs Of My Life #22 - John Cooper Clarke - Evidently Chickentown - 1980

Songs Of My Life #22.

For those of you who have been following these wonderful series of songs, you will be familiar with yesterday's post, which included the story of the 90 minutes of punk spectacular songs and bands that was distributed to our school group by one Greg Mould, the elder brother of Lee.

This was another of the memorable songs that came from that tape, the ebullient John Cooper Clarke, whose song "Evidently Chickentown" tickled the funnybone of our 15 year old selves back in the day. All I knew is that you don't want to get stuck in Chickentown...

Review: Career of Evil

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another cracking story from Galbraith/Rowling, extending the relationship between private investigator Cormoran Strike and his secretary/partner Robin Ellacott to new boundaries, as both are entwined in a serial killer's plot to do away with both of them in different manners for different reasons.
Rowling's writing and narrative is just superb. Her ability to flesh out her characters, to keep the several strings of the story flowing without interrupting the story as a whole, and to give enough clues as to the finale of the book without giving it away completely is just magnificent.
In Cormoran Strike we have a wonderful modern detective, and in Robin we have the perfect foil. I hope there are many more of these books to come, because they keep getting better.

View all my reviews

Songs Of My Life #21 - Forward to Death - Dead Kennedys - 1980

Songs Of My Life #21

My real introduction to punk music (apart from pieces of The Clash that had filtered through to radio via the single "Rock the Casbah") was via a mixed 90 minute mixed tape of various bands that came to most of our group from our mate Lee Mould, whose brother compiled it for him for education purposes.

This was one of the two songs on it from a band called Dead Kennedys (the other being "Kill the Poor"), and it was the song that encouraged me to seek them out further, which led to me getting their truly magnificent "Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables" album. Dead Kennedys had no fear in their lyrical bombardment of those things that really pissed them off, and their wonderful punk accompaniment sets it of brilliantly.