Christmas List 2009

[aggienaut]

   Christmas always sneaks up on me and suddenly I have to dredge the depths of my mind for some material thing I actually want. Last year I couldn't come up with anything and just asked for donations to be made in support of the San Diego harbour seal rookery (which some people want to turn (back) into a children's beach).

   Well this year I've come up with something that wouldn't even cost you money. You see, being a pirate isn't as easy as it used to be back in those easy early days of internet buccaneership. I've tried this whole bittorrent thing but don't seem to have much luck, and nothing's on limewire anymore. As such, there are a number of songs I would really like to have on my computer but I simply can't find them .. at least not for free, and I refuse to support the RIAA on principal.

   So if you have skillz at finding songs on the internet, if you could find me the following buried treasure for christmas I would very greatly appreciate it.


Songs I'd Rather Like to Have
Motormark - Note to Self
Darren Hayman and the Secondary Modern – Amy And Rachel
Gram Rabbit - Devil's Playground
Hotrod Frankie - Arising from My Grave
Hotrod Frankie - Alone in the Woods
Hotrod Frankie - Parts From Which I'm Made
(and/or the entire Hotrod Frankie "My Father Was A Madman" album, really)

Clem Snide - Jews for Jesus Blues got it, thanks impoetry!
Clem Snide - I Love the Unknown got it, thanks ilovegravy!

And memeworrywort found all the following! Thanks!!!
Client - Here and Now
Old 97s - Designs on You
Deer Tick - These Old Shoes
Corb Lund Band - There Are No Roads Here
Crooked Fingers - You Can Never Leave
The Cloud Room - Beautiful Mess
Scissor Sisters - I Can't Decide
Blanche - I'm Sure of It
The Wave Pictures – Just Like A Drummer
Two Gallants - Despite What You've Been Told
Corb Lund - Student Visas



Books
   Not that I expect any of you to go out and get me something real but if only as a note to self here are some notes on books I think sound interesting:

• Patrick O'brian's historical fiction about the royal navy during the napoleonic wars
  
• Walter Scott's Rob Roy or Waverley (historical fiction set during 18th century Scottish rebellions)
  
• Hail, Colombia! - I forget who wrote it but it's about the actual Lady Washington. I got to page 238 reading it during the brief moments I wasn't doing something else on the boat, would rather like to finish.
  
• George Leonardos' historical fiction about the end of the Byzantine Empire
  
• Dark North by Gillian Bradshaw, set in Roman Britian in 208 AD
  
• And.. any other historical fiction set during times of political turmoil in the premodern history of Europe. Suggestions welcome.

Unrelated Picture of the Day

View from the deck of the Lady Washington at 02:49 in Aberdeen


The Best of LJ Idol Season 6?
   Having been gone almost the entirety of the season thus far, I haven't really gotten to read any entries other than those of my closest friends. I'd be interested in hearing about any particularly good entries I may have missed.

Comments

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

I can get the Scissor Sisters track for you, I just need to wait for a friend to pop on because I know she has it. I used to, but that computer died. I also might have some O'Brien at the farm when I get back up there.

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Woohoo!

There were a lot of references to the O'Brian books by people on the boat so I gather they're popular with the tallship folks, and therefore I'd probably like them too (:

And the Scissor Sisters song, while itself has nothing to do with sailing, was on the ipod that music for the galley/hold was played off often, so it reminds me of the boat too. (:

[impoetry.livejournal.com]

I found Clem Snide - Jews for Jesus Blues for you. Let me know how you want it!

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Hmmm does it fit in an email? If so, winged_snail [at] yahoo.com is my email address. Otherwise yousendit.com has worked well for me for sending songs.

Thanks!! (:

[impoetry.livejournal.com]

Cool, sent!

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Thanks again. Any similar songs you recommend?

[heethen-crone.livejournal.com]

Can't help with the songs or books but that picture is beautiful with the fog or mist on the bridge.

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Thanks! (:

[bitchencamaro.livejournal.com]

I really enjoy Bernard Cornwell's historical fiction (although I have not read his Sharpe books (naval history) because I can never figure out which ones are first). He seems to write a book every week. I like his king arthur series, the harlequin sereis was okay, but the one that really stood out was Lords of the North, about the founding of 'modern' England in response to Viking invasions.

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Ooh that sounds right up my alley.

[cookie-chef.livejournal.com]

Merry Christmas, dear. D that entire Patrick O'Brian series but I don't think he'll part with them. It's one of the few sets he wanted to keep during our move. I'll be glad to ask him if he might have some other recommendations though.

[ilovegravy.livejournal.com]

I'm a big Clem Snide fan (I have Jews for Jesus Blues [a favorite!] but I see you already have it). Anyhoo, I have I Love The Unknown (I KNEW I had it, but I had some difficulty locating it in itunes because I forgot it's actually just Eef Barzelay and not with Clem Snide, as he did the song for the Rocket Science soundtrack edit: whooops nevermind. haha I was looking at the wrong screen. It was off his solo album, Lose Big) I'm not able to send it at the moment but I can UL it and send you a link tomorrow!

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Sounds good! Thanks! (:

[ilovegravy.livejournal.com]

here you go! https://www.yousendit.com/download/VGllL0dGUnI4Q1JMWEE9PQ

when I auto loaded the track names, it listed it as "Love the Unknown", and I was too lazy to fix it. haha

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Any other similar songs you recommend?

[ilovegravy.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm. I suck at making recommendations, haha (I'm always hesitant because I often praise stuff so highly that people get their hopes up and are subsequently disappointed, or vice versa, and are like, "geez, it wasn't THAT bad.") but the album that Jews for Jesus Blues is on, End of Love, is one of my all time favorite albums and definitely my favorite Clem Snide one. There's a lot songs similar in style to the ones you requested (at least, I think. haha) They have the full tracks available to listen to on Last.fm, and if you want a copy of any of the songs, let me know! :)

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

Idol wise, anything by joeymichaels' is worth reading, if you haven't already. Karmasoup's reprobate entry was one of the most original. ask_a_sup is funny and original, jack_batelin is doing a running story that I'm enjoying and douchejuice is very talented, although I haven't read all of his entries. zia_narratora does great cartoons.

Those are just off the top of my head - I don't keep a spreadsheet or log so may have forgotten a few.

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Thanks! (: I feel like I've been so absent so far this season d:

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

Erm... because you have?! :oP

[memeworrywort.livejournal.com]

I can get you the majority of these tracks. Just give me a minute.

[emosnail.livejournal.com]

Sweet I'd really appreciate that!

Merry Christmas

[memeworrywort.livejournal.com]

Client - Here and Now
Old 97s - Designs on You
Deer Tick - These Old Shoes
Corb Lund Band - Are No Roads Here
Crooked Fingers - You Can Never Leave
The Cloud Room - Beautiful Mess
Scissor Sisters - I Can't Decide
Blanche - I'm Sure of It
The Wave Pictures – Just Like A Drummer
Corb Lund - Student Visas
Two Gallants - Despite What You've Been Told

Re: Merry Christmas

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

HOLY SHIT thanks!!!!

Re: Merry Christmas

[memeworrywort.livejournal.com]

No problemo dude.

[niora.livejournal.com]

Patrick O'Brian is divine. The thing to remember about reading The Aubreyad though is that it's basically a chronicle, not so much a set or series of novels which tell definite stories. But they're absolutely wonderful, and the better-rounded you are in history and culture the more you constantly get out of those books.

(Incidentally, I've read the entire 20-part series through twice and I still don't understand practically anything re: the naval jargon, tall ships and/or principles and concepts of sailing. It doesn't matter all that much.)

Re: historical fiction set during times of political turmoil in the premodern history of Europe, have you read any of Mika Waltari's historical fiction? His most famous work, The Egyptian, doesn't really qualify (excellent novel though), but several others probably do and are available as English translations. You could try The Adventurer and its sequel The Wanderer (set in 16th century Europe), The Dark Angel (the fall of the Byzantine Empire in the 15th century), possibly also The Secret of the Kingdom and The Roman (set in 1st century Roman Empire) and The Etruscan (5th century BC).

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Yeah the more I hear about it the more I get the impression I really must read some Patrick O'Brian.

Thanks for the advice on historical fiction (: