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I went to see ‘No Distance Left to Run’, the documentary about Blur, at the cinema last night and was absolutely blown away. Even if you’re not a big Blur fan, I think it’s worth getting hold of the DVD – out in a month, I think – and finding as big a screen as possible to watch it. Visually, it’s stunning, and as a story, it’s compelling, surprisingly funny in places, and poignant.

It’s not simply a history of the band. It’s the true story of how a friendship fell apart through unfortunate circumstances and miscommunication, but was strong enough to be repaired, to have a positive effect beyond the two people directly involved. It’s also about not being afraid to rebuild relationships before it’s too late, because life’s too short to hold grudges. In my youth, I used to be proud of the fact that I could hold a grudge. Now that I’m older and wiser, I can see what an idiotic thing that is. ‘No Distance Left To Run’ has inspired me to make even more of an effort to rebuild bridges with people I’ve lost touch with.

And that’s yet another reason why Blur are more than just a band for me. I love the music, obviously, but I also love the attitude that’s guided it. The style (such that it exists) of my clothes and hair since 1993 is a direct result of the anti-grunge, pro-British, Mod-inspired ’Modern Life Is Rubbish’ Blur. I learnt to play guitar by playing along to ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’. Even the fact that my work occasionally involves me striking out Americanisms from copy meant for a British readership has its roots in the rallying against ‘coca-colonisation’¹ of British culture.

I don’t pretend that Blur are unique in that sense. They just happen to be my band, and I love that even now, 17 years after I first saw them and fell in love with the whole package, they can still influence me in such a positive way.

1. ‘coca-colonisation’ is still a phrase I still trot out from time to time [↩]

White Russian Doll, the latest single by my slight obsession and favourite independent band, Lucky Soul, has been voted Record of the Week on my favourite radio programme, Radcliffe and Maconie.

From the latest Lucky Soul email:

Thank you, thank you and thank you again to everyone who voted for ‘White Russian Doll’ for the ‘Pick ‘n’ Mix’ Single of the Week slot on Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie’s BBC Radio 2 show. We’ll be on every night this week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/the-radcliffe-and-maconie-show/

You can now hear ‘Cryin in the Morning’ the rousing b-side to ‘WRD’ on our myspace and order the digital bundle here: www.itunes.com/luckysoul/whiterussiandoll-single Why not write a review while you’re there?

And barring ill fortune or injury we’ll be in session on Absolute Radio, on the Geoff Lloyd show on Feburary 2nd.

I thought I was too old to be thrilled when ’small’ bands I love get picked up on national radio, but I’m not – I’m chuffed to pieces for the band.

(Yes, I’m aware that, at the time of writing, the video is spilling outside this post’s container. I still need to tweak the design here.) 20/1: Fixed by not relying on the WordPress auto-embed function.

There’s just so much to love about Little Boots and this video.

I found out about Little Boots via the fabulous Talia Kranes’ blog Karinski.net.  Head on over to Talia’s write-up of Little Boots to find out more (and while you’re there, subscribe to her RSS feed).

Found via B3ta newsletter: “Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff is famed for having had enormous mitts and writing piano music to match. So how do small-handed pianists get around playing it? Here’s an ingenious solution.”

Weezer’s video for Pork and Beans is the ultimate in link bait.