Beyond local football one thing we’re proud of at Abbey is local music. The team runs out to a Manchester anthem and rightly so. With that in mind, this week I’m going to talk about a Manchester music legend’s latest album.
I’ve purposely left it two months since the release date to chew it over and let it sink in. After all it has been five years in the making. I am of course talking about World Peace Is None Of Your Business, the new Morrissey LP.
The Pope of Mope is the musical equivalent of Marmite and splits people down the middle. But when haters accuse him of being maudlin, they completely miss the point. Morrissey lyrics have always dripped with sarcasm, wit and an unrivaled wryness.
Take track 10, Kick The Bride Down The Aisle, for example: “Kick the bride down the aisle, look at that cow......in the field, it knows more than the bride knows.” A sardonic take on what Moz deems to be an outdated alien practise. Fair play.
And as for bringing current affairs to the table goes there’s no braver man in the pop world at the minute. On the title track World Peace Is None Of Your Business he belts out: “Brazil and Bahrain, Egypt, Ukraine, so many people in pain.” So much more valid than singing about nightclubs and bling.
The Bullfighter Dies too provides a worthy platform for Moz’s strong beliefs, this time on the animal rights front: “Hooray, hooray, the bullfighter dies, and nobody cries, because we all want the bull to survive.” Rightly or wrongly you can’t accuse the man of sitting on the fence.
Away from the lyrics, the music on this release is absolutely superb. Production levels are top notch and a nod to Morrissey’s substantial Hispanic fanbase is evident with lovely flamenco interludes.
Texan guitarist Jesse Tobias has been part of the band for nine years now and on this album comes to the fore more than ever in the song-writing department being credited for five of the 12 tunes.
All in all World Peace doesn’t really touch the heights set by 1994’s Vauxhall And I or 2004’s You Are The Quarry but make no mistake, this would still be a worthy purchase for any Manchester music aficionado.
Wednesday 24 September 2014
Wednesday 17 September 2014
West Didsbury and Chorlton (NWCFL Premier Division)
Our good friends at Shotts Bon Accord go to the polls on Thursday to determine their country’s future. A momentous day for Scottish history and one that got me thinking.
Just imagine if us North Westerners were offered a similar opportunity.
The late Mancunian innovator Anthony H Wilson had clearly thought about it while he was still with us and even commissioned the Factory Records’ designer Peter Saville to come up with a North West flag (the top left corner of an existing St Georges flag).
And he wasn’t wrong about much. In terms of popular and social culture the North West has always been leaps and bounds ahead of other non-London regions of the UK.
Just look at the music Manchester and Liverpool have given the world for a start. From The Beatles to The Smiths, from Mersey Beat to Acid House, we’re the pioneers. No one comes close.
Football too. We invented the game here for heaven’s sake. Manchester United and Liverpool are the two biggest and most successful clubs in British football boasting an honours list and history that others can only dream of.
The civic rivalry between the two cities though would mean that in the event of independence we might have to follow the lead of Australia and base our Canberra between rivals Sydney and Melbourne. Which in our case would probably be Warrington. Imagine that.
Our own North West Counties Football League would already be in place as our national league which could be expanded to accommodate the other North West clubs. 75,000 attendances for cup games against United at Brookburn Road and the AbbeyStad? Better get some temporary stands, Derek.
As for a national anthem who could argue with the Coronation Street theme? Synonymous with North West life for decades it would be a fitting choice.
So tonight at the thinking man’s Manchester derby cast an eye over the back of the covered stand towards town to Beetham Tower and beyond and ponder. This land could be truly ours. What a wonderful thought.
Just imagine if us North Westerners were offered a similar opportunity.
The late Mancunian innovator Anthony H Wilson had clearly thought about it while he was still with us and even commissioned the Factory Records’ designer Peter Saville to come up with a North West flag (the top left corner of an existing St Georges flag).
And he wasn’t wrong about much. In terms of popular and social culture the North West has always been leaps and bounds ahead of other non-London regions of the UK.
Just look at the music Manchester and Liverpool have given the world for a start. From The Beatles to The Smiths, from Mersey Beat to Acid House, we’re the pioneers. No one comes close.
Football too. We invented the game here for heaven’s sake. Manchester United and Liverpool are the two biggest and most successful clubs in British football boasting an honours list and history that others can only dream of.
The civic rivalry between the two cities though would mean that in the event of independence we might have to follow the lead of Australia and base our Canberra between rivals Sydney and Melbourne. Which in our case would probably be Warrington. Imagine that.
Our own North West Counties Football League would already be in place as our national league which could be expanded to accommodate the other North West clubs. 75,000 attendances for cup games against United at Brookburn Road and the AbbeyStad? Better get some temporary stands, Derek.
As for a national anthem who could argue with the Coronation Street theme? Synonymous with North West life for decades it would be a fitting choice.
So tonight at the thinking man’s Manchester derby cast an eye over the back of the covered stand towards town to Beetham Tower and beyond and ponder. This land could be truly ours. What a wonderful thought.
Sunday 7 September 2014
Bootle (NWCFL Premier Division)
In the absence of a full-time kit man, our management team recently took it upon themselves to design this season’s home strip.
And to be fair to them they did a good job. The sponsor is legible from 20 yards away which is one up on last season’s black type on red shirt effort. The crest appears on the socks too, nice touch. There is just one snag though. Instead of being red and black it’s purple.
The kitmaker defended its work explaining that it’s actually a dark shade of red but there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s most definitely purple.
The colour change was so stark that the club has actually had to register the news with the league.
I’m going to be honest here. I like it. It has a European feel. The sort of kit an Italian second division club would wear.
The colour too, whilst being the product of an accident, represents a mixture of blue and red. A bit like Gorton.
If we are to persevere with it though I think it’s only fair the teams run out to either Jimi Hendrix Purple Haze or Prince’s Purple Rain.
Speaking of Purple Rain, last Saturday the lads embarked on what we hope will be the start of a purple patch.
Their second half dismantling of one of the league’s bigger boys AFC Liverpool was heartwarming. Purple veins were certainly pulsating on the temples of the opposition coaches as a Jon Hardy opener, a Brandon Zibaka brace and a Des Flanagan winner sealed the points in a remarkable 4-2 win.
Let’s hope the lads can put on a repeat performance against the other Merseyside club this afternoon.
And to be fair to them they did a good job. The sponsor is legible from 20 yards away which is one up on last season’s black type on red shirt effort. The crest appears on the socks too, nice touch. There is just one snag though. Instead of being red and black it’s purple.
The kitmaker defended its work explaining that it’s actually a dark shade of red but there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s most definitely purple.
The colour change was so stark that the club has actually had to register the news with the league.
I’m going to be honest here. I like it. It has a European feel. The sort of kit an Italian second division club would wear.
The colour too, whilst being the product of an accident, represents a mixture of blue and red. A bit like Gorton.
If we are to persevere with it though I think it’s only fair the teams run out to either Jimi Hendrix Purple Haze or Prince’s Purple Rain.
Speaking of Purple Rain, last Saturday the lads embarked on what we hope will be the start of a purple patch.
Their second half dismantling of one of the league’s bigger boys AFC Liverpool was heartwarming. Purple veins were certainly pulsating on the temples of the opposition coaches as a Jon Hardy opener, a Brandon Zibaka brace and a Des Flanagan winner sealed the points in a remarkable 4-2 win.
Let’s hope the lads can put on a repeat performance against the other Merseyside club this afternoon.
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