Christmas Tombola 004: After Life by Pictish Trail

This December, I’m sharing 31 things that I like. This is number 04.

While I’m on the subject, Johnny’s new video for “After Life” is an absolute banger and gets a spot in my Christmas Tombola (which I got 3 days into before neglecting).

The 3rd single from his phenomenal Future Echoes album (seriously, buy it, it’s the best thing he’s ever done), “After Life” was recently playlisted by BBC 6 Music and it comes on fairly regularly while I’m working. Hearing your pals on the radio is cool as hell. That bass, man.

For the video, Hankin Films went appropriately nuts. Johnny can be silly on-camera in a really unselfconscious way that’s fun to watch. He reminds me of Adam Buxton in that respect. Loads of great wee moments - finger-guns in time to the handclaps at 1:54 is my fav bit.

Christmas Tombola 003: Kendra

issue wi males that think it's acceptable to comment on how a girl looks when she's mwi am no oot tae be stunnin am oot tae cut mad shapes

— kendra (@auntiekenny_) 3 February 2015

This December, I’m sharing 31 things that I like. This is number 03.

Kendra is probably my favourite person on Twitter. I don’t know her and I don’t know anything about her, but she makes me laugh more often than anyone else in my feed.

To ruin the joke a little, you need to read everything in a Glaswegian accent. I just realised that her tweets might be incomprehensible without that starting point.

To ruin it completely:

lit = like
a = I
am = I'm
mwi = mad with it

Christmas Tombola 002: Jerry Hsu

This December, I’m sharing 31 things that I like. This is number 02.

Jerry Hsu is probably my favourite skateboarder. This October, he had a part in Emerica's Made Chapter Two, his first since 2010 and kinda-sorta his first full part since 2006's Bag of Suck (he's been battling injuries and, as a result, the 2010 clips all favoured his irregular foot). It's good to see him back.

While the actual part is too new to share, these "b-sides" (alternative attempts / different angles / raw footage etc.) are just as good. I slacked off my board pretty badly in 2016 but, come the good weather, I'm up for a schralp.

Christmas Tombola 001: Smell the Audi

This December, I’m sharing 31 things that I like. This is number 01.

Glasgow's MC Almond Milk (aka my pal Jamie, aka James Scott) & Jay Rolex (aka Jamie's pal Jay who I've met a couple of times and is very nice) released their first album, Smell the Audi, a couple of weeks ago and it's a belter. Listen to / buy it.

I first saw Jamie (aka James Scott / MC Almond Milk) supporting his big brother, Jonnie Common, in 2011 whilst performing as The Japanese War Effort (aka Martin Moog), a side project alongside his day-job as one half of Conquering Animal Sound. Like Jonnie, Jamie (aka James / MC Almond Milk / The Japanese War Effort / Martin Moog / one half of Conquering Animal Sound) has a gift for converting spectators into die-hard fans. Catch him live if you get the chance.

More recently, the Jonnie and Jamie (aka James / MC Almond Milk / The Japanese War Effort / Martin Moog / one half of Conquering Animal Sound) collab, CARBS, let Jamie (aka James / MC Almond Milk / The Japanese War Effort / Martin Moog / one half of Conquering Animal Sound / one half of CARBS) stretch his MC-ing legs. Their album, Joyous Material Failure, was one of 2015’s goodies. With Smell the Audi, Jamie (aka James / MC Almond Milk / The Japanese War Effort / Martin Moog / one half of Conquering Animal Sound / one half of CARBS) is off to MC-Donalds, declaring himself Scotland’s Best Rapper*.

Glaswegian hip-hop is a funny one, in that it’s not funny. The scene's proclivity to social commentary is great but has an earnestness that I can’t really stomach. Alex and I once caught a performance by an act so toe-curling that we’re still not over it.

Scotland ya bass

None of that from MC Almond Milk (aka James / Jamie / The Japanese War Effort / Martin Moog / one half of Conquering Animal Sound / one half of CARBS) and Jay Rolex, though. The boys understand how not to be a pure embarrassment and Smell the Audi is one of the best albums of the year.

A music video for “Studz Up” is imminent. I’ll share that too. How great is that album teaser at the top of the page? Both directed by Ciaran Lyons (who’s also nice).

* also Scotland’s Worst Rapper