Review: Stereophonics - Graffiti on the Train

Originally published on www.soundblab.com

Being Welsh I was brought up on the likes of Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers and Catatonia. So when I found out the 'Phonics were releasing their first album in nearly four years, the biggest gap between any of their album releases, I was pretty excited. As a massive fan, I was a bit dubious about listening to the album at first because, let's be honest, the first two singles from the album, 'Indian Summer' and the title track, didn't exactly set the charts alight. Also, you can pretty much guess what the album sounds like as they've been around for ages. You know what to expect.

Of course, album number eight doesn't buck this assumption, but with Kelly Jones' vocals sounding as strong and gravelly as ever, coupled with their mix of sadness and upbeat melancholy, the record isn't entirely rubbish. Despite the first two singles bombing, there are some really good tracks on the album, such as 'Catacomb', 'Roll the Dice' and 'We Share the Same Sun', which try to recapture the best of the 'Phonics back-catalogue. However, this is counteracted by some pretty Goddamn awful tracks, like 'Take Me' and 'Violins and Tambourines', which are just dribbling messes of moping and tedium.

Although the album isn't the best one they've made, it is something you can listen to and enjoy. The band mix it up between complete depression, happy-yet-sad songs and angst-ridden, guitar-driven tracks. The vocals from Kelly are the highpoint but there isn't a stand out song at all, which is disappointing. Overall, an alright listen.

Is a Minimum Price Really a Good Idea?

Originally published on www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

With the announcement that the government is proposing a minimum price on alcohol in England and Wales in order to tackle problem drinking, and in turn reduce the levels of alcohol related crime and ill health you have to wonder, is it actually a good idea?

There are many people that will say it is a good idea and some research carried out by Sheffield University shows that a minimum price would reduce alcohol consumption by 4.3%, which in turn could lead to 2,000 fewer deaths and 66,000 fewer hospital admissions within 10 years of implementing the scheme.

However you only have to look at the smoking ban and the increase in the price of cigarettes in recent years to see how this could work. Yes there will be many who have quit smoking because of the price rise and I'm sure there are those who rejoice in the fact that they no longer smell like an ashtray after a night out, but the fact of the matter is people still smoke and young people are still beginning to smoke at a young age.

Those who enjoy smoking or are addicted to it will go out of their way to find a cigarette often turning to a cheaper cigarettes or a roll ups, or in some cases buying cigarettes instead of items they need such as food. So it makes you wonder, will the same thing happen with alcohol? Will people just go to a cheaper alternative such as booze cruises in the same way that people stock up on as many duty free cigarettes as they can on their return home from a holiday, to either smoke them or sell them.

On the issue of cheaper alternatives there are also those that are much more dangerous than the odd booze cruise or suitcase filled with duty free. Ten years ago who would have imagined that we would be reading stories about people using bath salts as a drug in order to get high? Will an increase in alcohol turn people to these alternatives? Probably not but it is obviously going to be a risk that is always present and maybe a little more so if alcohol becomes unaffordable to many.

On a more positive note the increase isn't expected to affect drinks in many pubs, which could be a good thing due the decrease in people visiting their local pub since the smoking ban was introduced with people opting to stay in with a cheaper alternative. However where as pubs may get a little more custom, remember people don't really have the money to go crazy down the pub all the time at the moment. Also many shops may get less and less custom as they rely on drinks offers to secure customers, which could have a negative effect on employment if these shops where to subsequently go out of business.

But lets not forget one of the key points; this raising of the alcohol price will hurt responsible drinkers the most. Whereas a significant amount, nearly 25% of the population are drinking excessively, there is still that other 75% who aren't drinking irresponsibly and are subsequently being punished for the behaviour of others.

A minimum pricing on alcohol doesn't look as though it will have as big an effect as the government are hoping for, because as it has been proved in the past if an individual wants something then they will find a way of getting hold of it, even if it means going hungry for a little while. Yes they do have a tricky situation on their hands and some will no doubt accuse them of trying to implement a nanny state. But this is a time when most people can't afford many luxuries due to unemployment or being part of the working poor. For many the odd trip to the pub has now become a rare treat, so they've had to opt for a few drinks at home, which now looks like it may become a very rare treat for many and another of life's few luxuries they can't afford.

The Valleys ... It isn't actually like that you know

Unless you've been living under a rock or the middle of a forest for the last few years then you've definitely heard of the abundance of so called reality television series that have been hitting the headlines, from The Only Way is Essex to Geordie and Jersey Shore its been pretty hard to avoid these headline grabbing shows.

Last week yet another of these shows burst onto our screens in the shape of the MTV show The Valleys, and all I can say is that I was shocked and disgusted by what I saw on my screen.

As someone who comes from the valleys of South Wales I sat and watched in horror as a group of fame hungry wannabes sauntered their way onto the screen declaring that they were going to be the next big thing.

Like I said, as someone who comes from the valleys I just wanted to point out that we aren't all like that, some of us are trying to forge a career the hard way by making our way up from the bottom and not sticking dead fish down our swimsuits or a dead octopus on our heads.

There were a few other points about the show that really got to me, firstly most of them aren't from the valleys, if what I've read is true then some of them live about a 10 minute train journey away from Cardiff. Secondly the way that MTV has tried to make out that coming from the valleys means that you live amongst the sheep is a far cry from what it is really like. Fair enough there are sheep but getting to Cardiff isn't the long slog they've tried to make it out to be, there are regular buses and trains (we aren't from the dark ages.)

Also when the "stars" of the show made absolute fools of themselves in a Cardiff night club it really annoyed me, due to the fact that i was once denied entry to the same place for being "too drunk" despite the fact I hadn't really drunk much (but that's probably just a very personal annoyance.)

The fact that this group of people believe that by moving to Cardiff is going to kick start their media or modelling careers is also an absolute joke. The closest you're going to get to the paparazzi in Cardiff is someone capturing a load of drunken people spilling out of a nightclub or munching a kebab down chippy alley on their mobile phone.

Overall it appears that MTV are making a joke out the valleys and using these poor deluded souls as fodder for their latest reality show. After seeing it I now take back anything I've ever said about the other similar shows on TV, as it is clear they just pick a group of people that they can take advantage of.

The second episode is currently sat recorded on my Sky box and I'm debating whether to watch it as I fear I may get too angry and shout at the TV, which is never good. The show almost makes me feel like denying the fact I come from the valleys as I may be tarnished with the same brush as these people, which really drives me insane.

All I can say is that the valleys aren't really like that and all MTV has done is select a few people that will clearly act up to the camera and give them some decent ratings. But then again we may have found the new Beyonce so it's all good (is say this with utmost sarcasm.)