I have yet to make it out to a gig this year, though that should
change come Sunday when Simple Plan are at The Electric Ballroom in
Camden.

During this gig free time I've been listening to the new CD's I've
acquired - not to mention working my way through the boxed sets of
both series of Life On Mars, which has to be the best new progs on
telly in absolutely ages.

I've bought a couple of albums on the strength of hearing a track on
the radio that has really taken my fancy. The first one was Magic by
Bruce Springsteen, having heard the fabulous Radio Nowhere on Radio
2. Can't say I was ever a huge fan though I'm sure I've got a
greatest hits album somewhere. The album isn't at all bad, though I
it's still Radio Nowhere that I really like. The second album bought
as a result of hearing a track on the radio is This Is The Life by
Amy MacDonald. It only arrived today so I haven't yet had a chance
to play it but I think it's the first album I've ever bought by a
solo female artist, which must mean something !

One album which I've been playing over and over again is Street
Poetry by Hanoi Rocks. The single Fashion came out last autumn but
it's taken a while to be able to find the album over here. Still it
was well worth the wait as each and every track is great and the more
I hear the album, the more I love it. Can't wait to catch them at
the Astoria 2 in March.

I've also bought Yesterday Is No Tomorrow by New York group Stalkers
following a recommendation on Amazon and a quick listen to their
stuff on My Space. Amongst their influences they mention Slade,
Beach Boys, Buzzcocks, Bay City Rollers, Alice Cooper and Gary
Glitter so there is a 70's connection, though they sound a bit like
The Ramones to me on some songs. It's another album that is being
played over and over - take a listen to Let's Get It Together on My
Spae and see what you think - www.myspace.com/stalkers