Alan Neilson
with contributions from Lynette Neilson, Martin Taylor, Mark Clarke, Jai J Brierley, Jo Staples, Ian Cole, Charles and Minnie Allen, Roland, Ricky, Les, Tel, Maud, Joe, Alice and Mac.
Influences
Elliott Smith; Paul Simon; The Sundays; Sex Pistols; Belle & Sebastian; Ronnie Lane; Talk Talk; Billy Bragg; David Bowie; Frank Black; Ed Harcourt; P.i.L; The Mekano Set; Jo Stapleton; The Clash; Arcade Fire; Aimee Mann; Sam Cooke; Steve Marriot; Liverpool FC; Bright Eyes; The Smiths; Ultrasound; Aqualung; Jeff Buckley; Eg and Alice; Talking Heads; Joy Division; Bobby Conn; Echobelly; Theatre of Hate; Tricky; Sufjan Stevens; Charles and Minnie Allen; CRASS; Creedence Clearwater Revival; Buddy Holly; Del Amitri and Justin Currie; Prince (pre-1990); Jai James B; The Shins; Bauhaus; Otis Redding; Blondie; Albert Hammond; and Andrew C. Neilson
Sounds Like
Bright Eyes; Elliott Smith; Billy Bragg; Justin Currie
ALAN NEILSON'S "The Birthday e.p." IS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD FROM iTUNES.
BUY ONE AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO BUY ONE TOO
ALSO READ MY BOOK "Touching Wood: The Woman's Complete Guide to the Kid Inside Their Man - Part One, Stories for boys" AT THIS ADDRESS.... http://www.schvtrn.com/elementary/blog/
IN FEBRUARY 2008 ALAN NEILSON IS AWARDED GARAGEBAND ARTIST OF THE DAY FOR HIS DELIGHTFUL SONG "THE LONGTERM FORECAST". CHECK OUT GARAGEBAND FOR YOURSELF:
"I could tell you a load of stuff about me; you know, a list of where, when and why, but who cares?
You just need to know that although sometimes I sing as if I'm unhappy, I am fundamentally a happy optimist... at worst, a realist who only believes in chaos.
A lot of my songs tend to be based around love and relationships. My philsophy is this: nothing is certain.. don't take anything for granted.. love and live life.
I just think that this world is all we've got.. when you understand that you are born on your birthday, you are alive, and then you are not alive, it makes everything very clear... don't waste a second...tick, tick"
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ALAN NEILSON:
DAMO OF THE FRAMES: "sounds like jimi hendrix beating and biting pete townsend to a pulp...then giving him a little kiss for his troubles"
MARTIN TAYLOR OF THE MEKANO SET, CRACKERDOG AND MILK: "Like a peeled plumb, potentially bad idea in theory, but tastes great!"
J. LEE DANBY (FAMOUS NORTHERN ARTIST): "Your music reminds me of green glass chips they use in cemetaries... not quite blue and not quite stone..."
Misc. facts about a neilson:
Favourite drink: Strawberry Nesquik
Favourite song: Tin Solder by Small Faces
Favourite Food: Chicken Dhansak or Steak Flavoured Roysters or Caramacs or Wispas
Favourite Word: Poo
Favourite Films: Star Wars; The Apartment; Amelie; Broadway Danny Rose; Withnail and I; Naked; Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, Quadrophenia; It Happened One Night
Hope the sun is shining over there!? I'll be coming to the UK with Kevin Montgomery in late May/June. I think the nearest date to you would be Leicester on June 3rd. I hope you can make it out.
Take care,
Tommy Allsup
thesixtyone. com - actually it's quite fun. Yup, same here (re: warm thoughts) You know, I have a birthday card here for you that's been sitting here not being sent- I'm so sorry, I will stop being crap. Things have been busy (it's all boring work as opposed to exciting music endeavours. I've just been given a new job at work, that brings in a little more money- but loads more responsibility. Bah.) lots of love to you and a proper catch up is round the corner. ;-)
Ohh fair enough then :) and fill us in if you get more info :)
and in all fairness i havent really tried writing any songs as of yet The two bands ive been in over the last 2 years have turend out to be flops so im concentrating on my GCSE's Now
I do know it has been your Birthday- I'm very sorry not to have been on the ball about it, I will gradually make amends... I hope you had a great day. And you have a very groovy year. love Jai
Excellent video maaaan. A maze ing. Must of done alot of CGI to make me look like a sexy singer. Although that's Sians opinion not mine = D
Looking forward to Saturday. Will do some sandwiches & crack open a pack of wagon wheels for our video shoot. There maybe a bit of acting going on methinks.
That is the mighty (high frequencied) power of Chevron my friend. We invade the senses. And damage them!
Dread to think what we looked like on the film!! Was thinking we could maybe do an interview or something easier next time. And then maybe a sitcom. Then a blockbuster. Then sink into obscurity. We're well practised at that = )
Thank you once again Mr Bear. Now stop wanking & concentrate on the future.
have just listened back through 'You and Amy's Lover' and realise you can easily hear your interpretation of the chorus (the 'not' sounds a bit like 'now') - and now officially have changed it to what you thought it was- and it's a much improved song ;-)
Thank you for the instant commments- I've only just uploaded it- though the song is deliberately misleading - yes, it sounds uplifting but the chorus is 'NOT everyone can be a big star' but I suppose could be interpreted either way. It's an ambiguous song. And you're right about the messy vocals. I'd better rerecord a couple of the lines. (I thought the songs would be too folky for you!)
Enjoying this new version of Longterm Forecast - 'tis filling me with a melancholic kind of hope.
Currently I am debating with myself about the purchase of a Baritone guitar... for chimey bass end and not having to carry a guitar and a bass to gigs. I'm getting some lovely noise from the fretless bass I was given a while ago, but to play that and sing is maybe a bit too much for my tiny hands... Have been getting more offers for gigs for the more Milk-centric stuff but still not sure how to pull it off. Got to be just right. Although I might see how it sounds with the beats playing through tape on a ghetto blaster! All this pretentious instrumentation used to play just a couple of notes. Irony?
Not a good sign to be thinking more about gear than ideas though I guess. I have enough toys.
Al - I just found out that that Milk film has also got the delicious SPC-ECO on the soundtrack (it's Dean from Curve's new band). They're one of me faves. I've seen them live a few times and they are bloody brilliant!
I had quick look this morning 'cause I'd seen the mention on your updated profile about the track of the day prize. I will have a more detailed look later.
No, you've misunderstood (not that I was very clear) - he owns a kit but he's in Rome and his kit is in the UK. And he won't be back in the UK until summer. And in any case - you may have had band called the Gentlemen's Club before us- but as far as I'm concerned that was just a bunch of impostors whereas we were the real thing ;-)
Had a chat on the blower with our very own richie rich over the weekend. Told him about our Bagman adventure. He was up for playing drums on it- but hasn't got a kit at the mo' and won't be back in UK till the Summer... but anyway - something for later?
Well that's the thing isn't? It's called FUN. Without concern for 'coolness', 'commercialism' etc. Mr T's useful to have around- keeps you on your toes - and someone with as much integrity as is possible to have, I reckon (and I mean that). (Actually I was listening to your initial version of Bagman again this morning and it's certainly raw and immediate. I love both versions.)
Holey dodgy production values Batman, what's all that about then? Noodling? Trills? Dodgy reverb? Bah-bah-bah backing vocals? Crisis of faith? No! It was great - clear AND rough - why mess with it?
