"A Film Without Thrill"

An effortless stroll through the dirt and the trees
Brothers in arms just prodding at the queen bees
Lost in sepia tones colouring in the passing sky
The last of an ancient brigade, let’s see if the boat’s still sinking

The drama’s done, karma cracked, soothing spots, in a summer of spills
Play with scenes before they stop, juxtaposed with what we now have
With what we now have, a film without thrill

A trembling ghost dreams of directing the matinee
Or an unfinished verse that remains a generation’s curse away
Don’t regret the days when you’re singing from the rooftops
So near yet so far from sensation to see through

The drama’s done, karma cracked, soothing spots, in a summer of spills
Play with scenes beneath the stars, sound the alarm, where are we now?
Where have we landed?
A film without thrill

We’ll roll up the roads and crash cars in the past
As we returned our brains to a summer of spills

The drama’s done, karma cracked, soothing spots, cast aversions
Play with scenes smiling back, before they release a film without thrill
It’s what we’re part of, a film without thrill

David Laley January 2010

"The End Is Almost In Sight"

Can they see you through the fog?
It’s best not mention your prosaic world
And don’t burden me with a hopeful stare
Countries filled with complexities that just don’t care
A felony of criminal respite
Can you hear the screams from your negligent denial?
Have you learnt anything from the education?
Pillage and drag everyone through a bottomless coffin
Are your dreams almost in sight?
In sight, in sight
Or are you seeking our surprise disguised as lies?


Are your dreams almost in sight?
Have you heard yourself bury and smother them?
All the wonder in your words won’t heal the facts
Will you have the time to even honour them?
Tell them you’ll pull through, tell them you’ll have proof
Tell them you’ll stand up and be counted for choking
Just tear up the papers bereft of your statements
Bleed and grieve for those men and women who you’ll not see
What’s left to reprise?
Reprise, reprise
Don’t assume you can push anyone else aside
Pushed aside, aside, aside
Are you expecting our surprise to be disguised as lies?


David Laley January 2010

Flashes: Top Ten Music Lists 2009

It's that time of year again where I expend all my energy divulging the wonderous and not so wonderous sounds my ears have caught a token glimpse of in 2009....Happy listening, gig-ing and festival-ing in 2010.

Top Ten Albums:

1. Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plague Lovers
2. Metric - Fantasies
3. Idlewild - Post Electric Blues
4. Frank Turner- Poetry Of The Deed
5. Placebo - Battle For The Sun
6. The XX - XX
7. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing
8. Twin Atlantic - Vivarium
9. Doves - Kingdom Of Rust
10. The Xcerts - In The Cold Wind We Smile

Top Ten Singles:

1. Cribs - We Share The Same Skies
2. Sad Day For Puppets - Marble Gods
3. Exlovers - You Forget So Easily
4. Doves - Kingdom Of Rust
5. Metric - Gimme Sympathy
6. Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch
7. Placebo - For What It's Worth
8. New Rhodes - Joys Of Finding And Losing That Girl
9. Frank Turner - The Road
10. Metric - Sick Muse

Top Ten Performances:

1. Manic Street Preachers - HMV Forum, London
2. Manchester Orchestra - The Duchess, York
3. Rival Schools - Lock Up Tent, Leeds Festival
4. The Joy Formidable - Festival Republic Tent, Leeds Festival
5. Placebo - Bridlington Spa
6. Metric - NME Tent, Leeds Festival
7. Twin Atlantic - Fibbers, York
8. Jack Penate - NME Tent, Leeds Festival
9. Wintersleep - Fibbers, York
10. Silversun Pickups - Bridlington Spa

Just Say No...... To Snow Patrol - Top Ten Worst Singles:

1. Snow Patrol - Just Say Yes
2. Mika - We Are Golden
3. Preston - Dressed To Kill
4. Metro Station - Shake It
5. Fall Out Boy - America's Sweethearts
6. David Gray - Fugitive
7. The Big Pink - Dominos
8. Little Boots - New In Town
9. The Virgins - Rich Girls
10. Muse - United States of Eurasia

David Laley January 2010