A Trip On A Train

We have a couple of new records for you today.

The first is "Tried To Do's", the new album by Trippers & Askers. That is the nom de plume of Jay Hammond, a college professor and cultural anthropologist who has been making music under this name on and off since 2009.  

Prof. Trippers records for the Sleepy Cat label based in Durham, North Carolina and there are some similarities to other acts from the local scene down there - the likes of Iron & Wine and Hiss Golden Messenger.

According to the blurb "The songs deal with the quotidian themes of love, family and loss through the prism of both Buddhist and Christian ways of mourning. Through stories of loss in relation to Hammond's upbringing in the bible belt U.S. South, it sets up a productive tension between Buddhist and Christian rituals and beliefs about mourning".

To be honest I didn't really pick up on any of that productive tension but that didn't prevent me enjoying "Tried To Do's" a great deal. It does not get released until May but you can pre-order it from the Trippers & Askers Bandcamp page (and make sure to check out his back catalogue while you're there). For now you'll have to make do with the lead single which came out yesterday.

On to the second record. If you have ever wondered what indie-poppers would sound like when they got old enough to qualify for subsidised public transport, Railcard and their recently released self-titled debut album are here to provide the answer. 

With former members of Dolly Mixture and Heavenly in the line-up there is quite a lot of jangle and jauntiness as you would expect, but with an added pinch of wistfulness as on the song I've selected and the excellent title track. 

"Kin" - Trippers & Askers

"Slow Train" - Railcard

Pun Fun 4: The Contenders

Voting is now open for Pun Fun 4. Readers were challenged to insert a pun related to a part of the hum an body into a popular song title. 

They have risen to the challenge like Frankenstein's monster rising from its slab - fittingly, as that was very probably the last time such a ragbag of random body parts was assembled in one place.

Thanks to everyone who submitted an entry and a very warm welcome to Steve and Mr SDS who are joining us for the first time. With them on board we have the highest number of entries to date.

Voting is open to all readers not just those who entered. Let me know your top five in order of preference. I'll award 7 points for every first choice, 5 for second and then 3, 2 and 1 for the rest.

You can either submit your votes in the comments section below or by email to leggies27@hotmail.co.uk if you would rather preserve the sanctity of the secret ballot. 

The deadline is next Sunday (8 March). We will announce the results a week today. 

Here are the contenders, listed alphabetically by artist. 

1. Dirty Feet Done Dirt Cheap - AC/DC

2. God's Only Nose - The Beach Boys

3. Livers Of Babylon - Boney M

4. Fortunate Thumb - Creedence Clearwater Revival

5. Just The Humerus - Grover Washington Jr

6. Ulna - The Kinks

7. There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Pelvis - Kirsty MacColl

8. I'm Just A Finger In A Rock 'n Roll Hand – The Moody Blues

9. Touch Me I’m Coccyx – Mudhoney

10. Uterus And Them – Pink Floyd

11. Wood Beez (Pray Like Urethra Franklin) – Scritti Politti

12. God Save The Spleen - Sex Pistols

13. Holidays In The Bum - Sex Pistols

14. Dis Arm - The Smashing Plump-Limbs

15. Pulling Muscles From A Shell - Squeeze

16. Simply The Breast - Tina Turner

17. Penis In Furs – The Velvet Underground

If you are thinking about assembling your own monster this instructional video may be of some assistance.