Thank Fuck it's the cricket season

We must have all been there reading, the latest transfer news in the various media outlets, on twitter and the various Utd forums, hoping to try and find out what's really going on with United on the transfer front. Yet fuck knows why we bother, what will happen, will happen. Does Woodward know what he's doing, are we likely to look with favour on the list that Van Gaal has supposedly given him? I'm not really sure on both counts. Thank fuck it's the cricket season, and that England have been surprisingly very good. Hope that continues now the main event is about to commence, bring on the Aussies!

Music

Cats Eyes - The Duke of Burgundy: I enjoed the duo's first album, but wasn't sure what to expect from this soundtrack album. I ended up really liking it. Whereas you would hardly have known that she was an opera singer from the first album, you defintiely know it on this very disparate affair.

Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit: This album from the Aussie seemed to be all the rage a few months back, finally got around to it and it very much lives up to the hype, it's excellent.

Laura Marling - Short Movie: Another fine album from the UK singer/songwriter, maybe it's me, musically a bit loose, rocks out a little more.

Matthew E White - Fresh Blood: I absolutely loved his belated debut album and this is another fine album, maybe not quite as good, but still a very fine record. The penultimate track Vision is a belter, below,

Prince and 3RDEYEGIRL - Plectrumelectrum: This got some pretty tasty reviews when it came out and it doesn't disappoint. Very 80's rock meets some serious 70's funk equals seriously good stuff.

The Cribs - For All My Sisters: One of the better UK indie acts around, they make consistently good catchy loud indie guitar rock and this is another fine album.

THEEsatisfaction - EarthEE: The debut album from this US female leftfield hip hop act was a bit of a corker and this follow up is it's equal. They are never desribed as trip hop, but I always hear that in their music amongst other things. That's a good thing by the way.

Heading for warmer climes!

United fans seem to be getting a bit of a pickle over the impending loss of our Spanish goalie, De Gea that is! I'm not sure why, this was always likely to happen. I've always presumed he would head back if Real or Barca came a calling.
As I've said a few times before, I don't class him as highly as other reds do. Yes he's a great shot stopper, but he doesn't command his penalty area as dominantly as I would like and he doesn't seem to be able to organise his back four as well as Schmeichel or Van Der Sar did.
Of course there's also the small matter of a Manchester United team not having to rely on it's goalkeeper to the extent that we have this season. Hopefully that won't be the case next season, because if that doesn't improve we aren't that likely to improve on fourth position

Music

Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady: I enjoyed her debut album and this follow up is even better, musically and lyrically it follows a similar path, but it's a little bit more consistent. The Funky Prince type numbers really work.

Lightning Bolt - Fantasy Empire: On first listen, I didn't think this would be my type of thing, but on second listen, it started to grow on me. I wouldn't have known how to categorise their sound, but according to their Wikipedia site, they're noise rock. Obviously it's loud guitar rock, but the rhythm kept reminding me of drum and bass.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Chasing Yesterday: His debut solo album was surprisingly good, given how little I've cared for Oasis since the first two albums. This is at least the equal of that very good effort, good to hear he's no plans to resurrect Oasis.

Songhoy Blues - Music in Exile: An excellent slice of Malian desert blues, thank fuck the religious fundamentalists got pushed back north. For such a big sparsely populated country, Mali has a fantastic musical pedigree.

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell: I've only heard one of his albums, which was completely atypical electronic album, so I can finally see what the fuss was about with him. An excellent singer/songwriter album that got better with every listen.

Susanne Sundfor - Ten Love Songs: A Norwegian singer/songwriter whose influences seem to take in Join Mitchell, Kate Bush, classical and 80's electro pop. And it works a treat, she has a pretty unique sound, she won't be everybody's cup of tea, but I'll enjoy a cuppa or two.

The Bad Plus - Never stop: I'm no expert on modern jazz, but those groups I have heard and like, I find myself trying to hear as much of their stuff as I can. I like these and this effort from about five years ago more than does the job.

The Charlatans - Modern Nature: Their first album since the drummer Jon Brookes died a couple of years back. I like it, but it seems a bit more soulful, maybe a little funky at times. Not really what I would have associated with them. I do like it, but I think I'd have a liked a couple of tracks to rock a bit more.