A catchup post!

[annathepiper]

Here are things I have been catching up on lately:

* Listening to Albannach, a group strongly recommended to me by one of my off-LJ and on-OKP beta readers. Very cool-sounding Scottish-flavored group here, with heavy drumming and nifty bagpipes. I may have to see about picking up a copy of their album.

* Currently working on checking out some freebie downloads by Show of Hands, recommended to me by fleetfootmike! Not sure if they click with me yet. I do like their "Tall Ships" track, though, and "The Oak" was neat.

* The Murkworks watched the first episode of Torchwood last night. Not sure if this clicks with me, either. I'm torn--part of me thinks I really ought to like Captain Jack, just because that "I'm so fabulous" smugness he's got going on is certainly something that endears me to oh, say, Han Solo, or Captain Mal over on Firefly. Problem is, with Jack (and with the first Torchwood episode in general, so far), I get a vibe of trying too hard with that "I'm so fabulous" attitude. Way too much emphasis in the episode on the slick, hip music and slick, hip camera shots. And what the hell was up with those repeated shots of cast members standing around on buildings? Sorry, Jack fans, the first thing I thought of when we saw him up on top of the building was a monologue by the Tick, and somehow I think this isn't quite what the Torchwood writers have in mind. ;)

All that said, I did rather like the continuity tie-ins to Jack's prior appearances in Doctor Who, and I'm intrigued enough by wondering what's up with Jack's current status as well as his prior history that I'm willing to give this show a few more tries to see if it gets its feet under it.

* I am also now caught up on Lost. To wit, meep, Sawyer!

* I nuked a whole bunch of ancient unanswered LJ comments out of my inbox, because clearly if I haven't answered them after a month, I'm not getting to 'em. If I skipped anything to which someone is desperately hoping I'll reply, sing out.

* I am also now caught up on balancing the checkbooks, but that's not nearly as entertaining as music and TV.

Thursday through Sunday miles: 9.5
Miles out of Hobbiton: 1493.35
Miles out of Rauros Falls: 184.35
Miles to Isengard: 299.65

Comments

[selandra.livejournal.com]

ooh, did someone mention bagpipes :D

[annathepiper]

There are bagpipes aplenty on that album by Albannach! You might check the link in my post--they've got a live stream of their album that you can play over the net, so if you have software capable of doing so, you might give it a listen.

[ariaflame.livejournal.com]

Haven't heard of Albannach (which translates to 'Scottish' basically :) ) but I do like celtic rock so I probably would. My celtic rock group of choice currently is Runrig, with Clannad & Capercaille coming in shortly behind.

[annathepiper]

Yeah, I knew about that translation. :) And the group is fairly new, I think, so they're still trying to get heard of! They've got a link to a live stream of their album that you can play over the net, so if you want to check 'em out and have software capable of playing a live stream, you might give that a shot.

And I have heard tell of all three of those other groups. I've got a Clannad album, actually, but haven't played it in a while. I believe several of its tracks are queued up on my Not Played Yet playlist!

[branwyn32.livejournal.com]

OMFG ALBANNACH/CLANN AN DRUMMA AND SHOW OF HANDS! They're both fantastic! Look up Show of Hands on MySpace and listen to Roots, or I can send you a couple more of their songs too.

[annathepiper]

I really liked Albannach's album--Eirian on the OKP pointed me at their site, and I listened to the live-streaming version they've got available. I'm seriously considering when I can buy it. I suppose I'll have to order it online, since they're not on iTunes. :)

Thinking about whether Show of Hands is clicking for me, though. I gotta give that some more thought and maybe another listen or three on the freebie downloads I scarfed off their site.