Mel Hutchwright

Got round to reading it, and despite my reservations really enjoyed it. I actually started it thinking that, if as I suspected, it wasn't really going to appeal, I would just put it down and read something else; I used to soldier on with books that I wasn't really enjoying, but recently came to the conclusion that lifes to short for that nonsense. However, I actually found it a really absorbing, and as you say, somewhat unnerving read. The ending slightly confused me mind you but, that said, I found it strangely moving.

I'm heading out in a moment to see wacky, Canadian funster Leonard Cohen at Edinburgh Castle.

Young Stalin ~ Simon Sebag Montefiore This is a prequal to the same authors acclaimed biography Stalin: The Court Of The Reds Tsar, and covers the period from his birth up until the Bolshevik seizure power in the the 1917 October Revolution. It's a truly wonderful book which follows Stalin (or Soso or Koba as he was more commonly known at the time) through his childhood in Georgia where he trained as a priest, and follows him as he develops into an underground revolutionary and gangster right up until he finds himself, along with Trotsky, at Lenin's right hand in the Council Of People's Commisars. Apparently, he had a lovely singing voice and was a bit of a ladies favourite. It's a thoroughly entertaining page turner and, despite the fact he became one of the 20th Centuries greatest tyrants, those early years actually read look a rollicking, good old fashioned boys own adventure. It's a book that more than deserves all the plaudits and awards that have come it's way. I'm going to have to read Stalin: The Court Of The Red Tsar soon to see how the story develops. Hopefully he and Trotsky can stop their petty bickering, they want their heads knocking together that pair, and, should he land the top job, I really hope he doesn't do anything daft.

Gillian Welch ~ Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor

The Specials ~ Hey, Little Rich Girl

Phyllis Dillon ~ Perfidia Bloody marvellous

Leonard Cohen ~ Famous Blue Raincoat

That's actually the only one of his I haven't read and, again, I kind of shyed away from it after reading the reviews, as it seemed to differ from his usual style and sounded a wee bit daunting. I have actually bought it, but it's still in my ever growing pile of books I've yet to read. Despite it's challenging nature, is it still a rewarding read?

A book that I've recommended to a few people, and with some degree of success, is Never Let Me Go by the Anglo-Japanese author Kazuo Ishiguro. He wrote the Booker prize winning The Remains Of A Day (later adapted into a film I've no desire to see) , and I liked his earlier Japanese set novels (A Pale View Of The Hills & An Artist Of The Floating World), but I actually held off reading this one as, reading the reviews, it appeared that this was a break from his usual style of novel and contained elements of magical realism, verging on science fiction, which is not something I'm generally a fan off at all. However, once I took the plunge and gave it a bash I found it to be a haunting and moving novel which stayed in the memory. I found it really quite affecting, as have many of those I passed it on to.

Tom Waits ~ Baby Gonna Leave Me He's a belligerent old rascal.

That was a novel I really enjoyed. Ian McEwan was someone I used to find a bit hit and miss but he's been in a rich vein of form from this book onwards (haven't read Amsterdam mind you which, despite winning the Booker, I've heard is a bit disapointing), with Atonement and On Chesil Beach* being his crowning achievements in my opinion. *Nice reference to this book on Peep Show the other week when Mark was in the stationary cupboard with Dobby.

Richard Ford ~ Wildlife This is a short novel, a novella if you will, set in Montana at the turn of the 60's. The narrator is a sixteen year boy who, due to the itinerant nature of his folks, is something of a loner, and who finds himself witnessing the unravelling of his parents marriage after his father loses his job. I think Ford is a magnificent novelist, although he's unlikely to be to everyones tastes. He's certainly not an author to turn to if you like your books to be action packed or full of spectacular plot twists. Rather, he has an understated, almost meandering style of prose more concerned with capturing the human frailties of ordinary people.

Barry Adamson ~ Still I Rise Angry, angry song.

Brilliant song with some heroic fret wankery. Gillian Welch ~ April The 14th Part 1

Revelator ~ Gillian Welch Gorgeous.

Mark E Smith ~ Renegade: The Lives And Tales Of Mark E Smith. Suffice it to say, the curmudgeonly Fall leaders musings isn't really your usual autobiography, but rather, it reads more like the rantings of an embittered, cantankerous so and so. It is all the better for this. Some of it is laugh out loud funny and, rather concerningly, I found myself agreeing with many of his gripes about modern society.

Leonard Cohen at Edinburgh Castle in July is next in the pipeline. I really am intrigued as to what this is going to be like. Went to see Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at the Carling Academy and Willie Nelson at the Clyde Auditorium over the last week or so, and both were great. Nick Caves new album hadn't grabbed me particularly, but the songs from it really were great live. Warren Ellis is now more beard than man.

Have you heard the version they do with Jimmy Somerville? It's orchestral, it has a choir and it has Russell and Jimmy falsetto duelling. It's heroically camp and is quite, quite magnificent.

I remember when the album came out that a couple of reviews panned that song a bit, but I think it's great too. Nancy Sinatra ~ So Long Babe

Barry Adamson ~ Psycho_Sexual Enjoying his new album, although it's more jazzy and less eclectic than a lot of his stuff.

Barry Adamson at the Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh on Tuesday. He's a former member of Magazine and The Bad Seeds and has relased some really good solo albums of a sort of soundtracky type nature.

Alternatively, you could see if there's any seats on the supporters bus and just have the drive to Arbroath on your lonesome. I did that a couple of times over the years when we were playing up in Dingwall and it was proving a logistical nightmare to go under my own steam. I think it would be for the best if we politely decline Stuart's attempts to matchmake us, as it may prove very awkward should we attempt to travel together. On the other hand we may end up being like a lower league Scottish football version of Thelma and Louise.

Assuming there's nothing to be back sharp for, I really quite enjoy the long hauls to the likes of Elgin and Stranraer. It's a prepsterously long day, particularly since I have to get the train, but I return to my flat feeling a sadder but wiser man for the experience. It's a pretty big game as well, bear in mind we're both battling it out for the coverted 7th worst team in Scotland award and the play off spot that comes with it.

I haven't done it for a few seasons, but I had been known to go to Morton games with friends when Arbroath were up in places like Elgin and I didn't have the time or finances to go. Can't say I felt as if I betrayed them, although I did spend the whole afternoon nervously wondering how they're getting on. Edited to add that I'd highly recommend the trip to Elgin as it's a nice town with a great wee ground. The football will almost certainly be lousy mind you.

Settled down about half an hour ago to watch the magnificent Curb Your Enthusiasm on More 4, only to find they're showing repeats of bloody Phoenix Nights instead. It was bumped from last weeks schedules as well. I'm not impressed.