Like Nick Hornby, Scott and I have always been a big fan of lists.
I’ve lost count of the number of pretend album track listings we’ve emailed each other with. Some classic titles, brilliant ideas for legendary album covers and of course, groups of songs that really work together man. I think in 2002 we had written enough songs and planned three albums. Total pie in the sky. We didn’t have a clue how to make them and certainly didn’t have the budget. We were totally into all of the songs though.
I’m looking at my little notes bit of software which houses lists, lyrics, and some random notes from work in 2009 that I daren’t delete. Here are the names of the lists within:
- Double Album Tracklisting (YES)
- discography (complete make-believe, but replete with release dates)
- ideas for album (misguided)
- this is the one youve dreamed about (dedicated to the women on the train)
- Master Song List (important)
- molly’s gig setlist (local pub gig from 2001, a transient list)
- Jingle-jangle songs (songs that go jingle jangle)
- The Honey Ants Are Live (songs that the new band can play)
That there’s a really short list of lists, I promise you. There’s dozens of others hiding in both our inboxes. As for the contents of these lists: can’t decide if it’ll ruin future plans by allowing literally some people to read them here on this blog. We’re serious artists you know…
Release the ants! was an easy favourite from the list of titles we came up with. I think the options were The Honey Ants EP, or Mister Sunlight EP. Neither of which really cut the mustard. All in all, a most disappointing list. No depth. No surprise. We decided on the track listing in June 2010 but changed the order of the tracks about seven times. Mister Sunlight was the first track, but we felt I Can’t Escape is more ‘us’, at least for an opener.
Isn’t the artwork fab? A massively talented friend Zoe Barker created it for us. You should check out her other work at zoebarkerdraws.com, it’s ace.
But back to lists. We’ve got some nice new lists for future EPs, which is way cool. Lists are awesome.
I think my absolute favourite list has always been the debut double-album. How completely frickin’ brilliant would that be. A debut double album. Blow people away with your sense of pop writing on the first CD, and then draw them into your world of pain throughout the second. Important lists, need to be just right. The sort of list that demands days of attention and many, many glorious revisions. Trouble is though, how do you follow a double album? Difficult. You’d probably have to summer in India and winter in Hawaii for at least two years to get the right levels of inspiration for at least one more double.
The first double album, now there’s an easy one. Been writing for over ten years, got sack loads of songs? Easy. Difficult second double-album though, steady on. Neither of us are into druuuuugs (I think that was said in a disapproving Southern-American tone), so maybe the answer would be to write one CD hammered on wine and the second one high as kites on (quality) coffee. I think Scott is trying to give up coffee. Futile. I’m trying to give up cigarettes. Hollow. Any artist worth his or her salt must have one quality vice. Maybe I’ll get a typewriter.
I’m on revision number seven of EP#2′s track listing, which is a totally brilliant revision. I think it’s the one. It all depends on this idea for a song I’ve got brewing, which would work really well on EP#2. Ep#2. ep#2.
Which looks better?
- EP
- Ep
- ep
A short, but pleasing list, I think you’ll agree.