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Playlist from Sept. 12th

Black Box Recorder -- The English Motorway System (Facts of Life)
Cocteau Twins -- Calfskin Smack (Milk and Kisses)
Slowdive -- Alison (Souvlaki)
My Bloody Valentine -- Only Shallow (Loveless)
Ballboy -- Avant Garde Music (Guide for the Daylight Hours)
British Sea Power -- Fear of Drowning (The Decline of...)
Eurythmics -- Thorn in My Side (Revenge)
Magic Numbers -- Take a Chance (Those the Brokes)
Morrissey -- Now My Heart Is Full (Vauxhall and I)
XTC -- Life Begins at the Hop (Drums and Wires)
Libertines -- Time for Heroes (Up The Bracket)
Kingmaker -- Queen Jane (Sleepwalking)
Jakob Dylan and Dhani Harrison -- Gimme Some Truth (Instant Karma)
Sean Lennon -- Headlights (Friendly Fire)
Delgados -- Coming in from the Cold (Hate)
Beth Orton -- I Wish I Never Saw the Sun (Trailer Park)
Flotation Toy Warning -- Popstar Researching Oblivion (Bluffer's Guide to the Flight Deck)
Kate Bush -- How to be Invisible (Aerial)
Futureheads -- Hounds of Love (Futureheads)
Editors -- Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors (An End Has a Start)
Ed Harcourt -- Fireflies Take Flight (From Every Sphere)
Belle and Sebastian -- Take Your Carriage CLock and Shove It (Push Barman to Open Old Wounds)
Amy Winehouse -- Tears Dry on Their Own (Back to Black)
Passengers, feat. Luciano Pavarotti -- Miss Sarajevo (Orignal Soundtracks, Vol. 1)

At Long Last: The Much Anticipated Marmite Post

Whenever I tell someone I'm British, it seems that convsersation invariably turns to either Monty Python (complete with their extensive recitations of memorized sketches, performed in a dodgy English accent) or Marmite. I don't think anyone needs Python explained to them, so let's have a little background on that manna of the gods, Marmite.

What is Marmite? Well, as the jar says, it's Yeast Extract. That means it's...some sort of thing...extracted from yeast. Or something. Wikipedia described it as a "sticky, dark brown paste with a distinctive, powerful taste," and I guess I'd agree with that, although I'd probably add the word 'salty.' It's very much an acquired taste, but if you go about it in the right way, it's impossible not to acquire.

I think the problem with many Americans' introduction to Marmite is that they have no idea to go about using it. They slather it on way too thickly and stagger away after half a bite, with the (perfectly understandable) feeling that the stuff is overpoweringly nauseating. Here's a foolproof way to introducce yourself to Marmite:

1) Get your hands on a jar of Marmite. (If you live in Champaign-Urbana, they sell it at Schnucks, World Market, World Harvest, Euromart...)
2) Also needed: one very good crusty white baguette (again, for C-U residents, I recommend getting yer bread from Pekara or Strawberry Fields), some butter, and a toaster.
3) Cut your baguette lengthwise and cut off some toaster-sized slices. Toast the bread until it is well browned but not burned.
4) Add butter almost immediately, while the toast it still very hot. Use a bit more butter than you would usually -- it should be flowing around quite liberally.
5) Open the Marmite -- resist the urge to sniff too deeply from the jar, as the strong taste might put you off. Dip the tip of a knife into the Marmite (just a half inch or so, remembering that with Marmite, 'less is more'), and spread it thinly throughout the butter.
6) Eat while hot, preferably with a cup of tea. (P.G. Tips, for maximum authenticity)

Another cracking serving suggestion is to spread a lot of cream cheese on some bread, add a thin wash of Marmite, and then top with sliced cucumber. There aren't too many other ways to use it (although there is a cookbook), but there aren't too many ways to use peanut butter and nobody seems to hold that against it...

Give it a try. Then leave a comment.

Wake Up Boo!

Scientists, gawd bless 'em, have apparently developed a formula for the perfect feel-good song. The study explored how upbeat songs create the feel-good factor, and after much careful consideration and lots of experiments with bunsen burners and pipettes and plastic eye protectors, a winner was announced.

Ladies and gentlemen, scientifically proven to be the most cheerful upbeat song ever recorded (and frequently played on my humble show): "Wake Up, Boo!" by the Boo Radleys!



(Of course, regular listeners would know that my choice would be "Pure" by the Lightning Seeds:

Playlist From August 29th

8/29
James – Ring the Bells (Seven)
Beth Orton – Concrete Sky (Daybreaker)
Magic Numbers – Undecided (Those the Brokes)
Beautiful South – You Play Glockenspiel, I’ll Play Drums (0898)
Amy Winehouse – You Know I’m No Good (Back to Black)
Eurythmics – When Tomorrow Comes (Revenge)
Smiths – What Difference Does It Make? (The Smiths)
U2 – Acrobat (Achtung Baby)
Prefab Sprout – Goodbye Lucille (Steve McQueen, Reissued)
Prefab Sprout – Desire As… (Steve McQueen, Reissued)
Elbow – Great Expectations (Leaders of the Free World)
Snow Patrol – Set the Fire to the Third Bar (Eyes Open)
Maps – To the Sky (We Can Create)
Editors – Escape the Nest (An End Has A Beginning)
The Go! Team – We Just Won’t Be Defeated (Thunder, Lightning, Strike)
Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Let’s Make This Precious (Too Rye Ay)
Mclusky – To Hell With Good Intentions (Mclusky Do Dallas)
Ride – Twisterella (Going Blank Again)
Lloyd Cole – She’s a Girl, I’m a Man (Don’t Get Weird on Me, Babe)
Art Brut – I Will Survive (It’s A Bit Complicated)
Suede – Moving (Suede)
McAlmont and Butler – Yes (The Sound of…)
Guillemots – Trains to Brazil (From the Cliffs)

Playlist From August 15th

8/15
The Kinks – Waterloo Sunset (Something Else By…)
Badly Drawn Boy – You Were Right (Have You Fed The Fish?)
Divine Comedy – In Pursuit of Happiness (A Short Album About Love)
Elvis Costello – Sulky Girl (Brutal Youth)
Pipettes – Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me (We Are The Pipettes)
Traveling Wilburys – Handle With Care (Volume I)
Teenage Fanclub – Near You (Howdy!)
Beth Orton – Concrete Sky (Daybreaker)
Joss Stone – Jet Lag (Mind, Body, and Soul)
Editors – Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors (An End Has A Beginning)
Maps – Elouise (We Can Create)
The View – Superstar Tradesmen (Hats Off To The Buskers)
Jamiroquai – Blow Your Mind (High Times: The Best Of…)
Art Brut – Sounds of Summer (It’s A Bit Complicated)
Magic Numbers – Take a Chance (Those the Brokes)
James – Born of Frustration (Seven)
David Bowie – New Killer Star (Reality)
Maccabees – First Love (Colour It In)
Travis – Selfish Jean (The Boy With No Name)
Manic Street Preachers – Your Love Alone Is Not Enough (Send Away The Tigers)
Fields – Feathers (Everything Last Winter)
Horrors – Count In Fives (Strange House)
Maximo Park – Our Velocity (Our Earthly Pleasures)
Placebo – Every You, Every Me (Without You I’m Nothing)
Snow Patrol – Spitting Games (Final Straw)
Pulp – Do You Remember The First Time? (His and Hers)