The Cat

Big record labels are the kings. They decide when, what and how bands release stuff. They do deals to get their artists on to playlists and to appear at the best events. They hire super producers then run the music through machines and focus groups which tell them whether it will be a hit or not before throwing a wedge of money at promotion. They are less interested in the actual music or integrity of their artist, merely the amount of profit they make. This is why most of the best and most progressive music is often found on small labels where bands try to do things differently and produce music with feeling that they love. Sometimes these bands throw their lot in with a major label and regret it. Sometimes they become accustomed to their new found fame and wealth and run with it. That's not to say that all bands on major labels are bad, just that often their creativity becomes stifled and their output predictable. It's a tough industry.

It's almost as if their record company asked them to go a bit Snow Patrol due to the current lack of actual Snow Patrol.

Over 4000 at Reading tonight. They were struggling to get that many turn up for home games 5 years ago.

I'm up for it. The honeymoon will take place in Rotterdam when we play Feyenoord in that friendly. You're all invited.

Thee Oh Sees new album out soon. I truly love these guys (and girl) [video=youtube;FpakQW8-_zA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpakQW8-_zA

More garage/psych. There's a lot of it about at the moment:

One of my friends won the chance to play. She got to the last 8 of the Emerging Talent competition and will be on the Avalon stage at some point. http://lucykitchen.com/

Looking forward to a trip down there. It's near, there will be a good atmosphere. What's not to like?

Keep him, sell next summer. Another season with Koeman and more European experience in the Europa League will make him an even better player. He knows the drill.

The most important decision you made is getting married in the summer. I can't stand the thoughtlessness of people who arrange their wedding on a Saturday during the football season.

I liked it when he turned their defender inside out 4 times when he didn't need to. Nothing came of it but so what? It was a lovely bit of skill.

Seems like plenty of people come along just for a moan. I'm moving seats next season due to needing an extra ticket and won't miss the negativity of the old chap a couple of rows back. He threw a mega stop in the first half at Schneiderlin for not shooting from 20 yards despite their being 3 defenders close by between him and the goal. The problem is I know there will be someone equally annoying near me in the new seats.

That save in the second half was excellent. Looked like his body shape was initially going the other way but he readjusted and got down sharply to palm it away. He must be loving it playing in the top flight behind such a tight, well organised defence.

Someone should have given him a slap. Useless ****.

Monkou was a complete legend. He used to hang out in Videotheque on Bedford Place quite a bit and once made a point of coming into Virgin to thank me for recommending him the first Leftfield album. There's a recent interview with him here: http://www.thefa.com/news/2015/mar/ken-monkou-from-making-pancakes-to-getting-on-the-board-190315

I vividly remember a league cup game at Priestfield when Dixon and Speedie gave 2 of the most abject performances I've ever seen in a Saints shirt. Dixon missed an open goal from 2 yards and Speedie spent most of the game moaning at whoever happened to be nearest to him. About 7 years later I happened to be at a non-league match where Speedie was playing for Hendon. He spent all his time following the ref around and complaining about every decision before the ref booked him. He finally shut up and got subbed a few minutes after. He was total gash.

Whatever happened to the Big Society? You couldn't turn on a news channel in the last campaign without hearing it mentioned.

I'll probably go. Missed pretty much all the youth games at St Mary's this season due to them often clashing with my nippers's football training on a Thursday.

I cant believe this news has come just hours after I renewed. As soon as my physical tickets arrive I will take them straight down to the stadium and hand them back. I will not put up with another season of mediocrity and demand the club show more more ambition.

Has there? I was under the impression the number of non-doms increased under the last Labour government? The problem with non-doms is surely not that they are being screwed by higher rates, more that some pay no tax at all.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/shortcuts/2014/nov/17/call-me-dave-name-that-ukip-loves

A field day for Merton and Hislop plus no doubt a spike in viewing figures. I'm reasonably surprised Clarkson agreed to it.

Whenever I see the username Charlie Wayman followed by anything over 2 short sentences I don't bother to read any further. I take it his post was something along the lines of "wahhh, wahhh we're not top 4, there's no ambition, I'm not going to renew"