the need for b-sides on cd singles

Many bands sadly fill their singles with pointless remixes of the single track, where as a few see it as a chance to do somehting a little different and release songs that they woudn't normally put on an album, eg a cover or a classic song or perhaps a song that's not representitive of their normal style, they might try a totally different style and the CD single is the perfect place to put it. I'm an obsessive about buying singles by certain bands, because I know they'll give something good as an extra bonus to their fans. The Wildhearts record songs specifically for their singles, and some of their best songs are actually b-sides, eg '29 x the Pain' or 'SIN (In Sin)'. Singles are a showcase for the band's musical talent and should encourage the casual fan to want to buy the album because the single's good and the b-sides aren't terrible, alas too many bands treat their singles as an excuse to make a rubbish video and flood the radio with irritating songs that make me want to tune in to another station.

additional
I've just bought the new Nickleback single 'Gotta Be Someone' and it includes a wonderful cover of Elton John's 'Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)' as the b-side. This just goes to prove what I was rabbiting on about above :)

Can you ever have too many skirts?

I currently have only eight, with another one ordered, and is that really enough? I'm not sure it is, is there a maximum number of skirts you can own before it becomes impossible to ever wear all you own? Maybe ten million, but if you were determined then it could be possible to wear them all (albiet briefly) within a lifetime. However I only have two dresses (boo-hoo) as I find they're not that really suit me in my size and budget. Maybe I'll have to win the lottery and go on a dress buying binge ;) I just hope there isn't another error with their networky gizmo thingy like yesterday, still I saved a quid for my new dress fund.

Four to Doomsday

Peter Davison's first story (production wise) and it's a simple story to get him used to playing the Doctor and the commentary is just hilarious as he and his fellow stars rip into everything, most of it justified too. The story is quite simple, a variant of the mad scientist, this one wants to travel faster than light, go back in time to before the big bang where he'll meet himself because he's god! Honestly! The Doctor is resplendant in his crickety cricket gear and decorative vegetable, and Adric, Nyssa and Tegan also have their costumes on too. I say costumes because that's what they are. They're not remotely like real clothes, they look like they've stepped out of four different theatre plays onto the set of a sci-fi b movie. Still it could be worse, they at least have a half decent set for once and some good mood lighting. One of the better designed and directed stories of the era imo, but it never gets past the simplicity of the script.

200 Days to Harry Potter

Of course it SHOULD have been released already, but the company moved it back to a summer release, it would have had virtually no opposition this winter, instead it's being put into a crowded summer that includes movies like Star Trek (which I am SO looking forward to) Transformers 2 & Terminator 4.

German Power Metal

I'm a huge fan of Helloween and Gamma Ray, they both combine crunching metal riffs with catchy vocal melodies but in their own way. I'm currently listening to Gamma Ray's latest studio CD, Land of the Free II, a thematic sequel to their 4th CD.