First listen...

For those who don't know, NPR's website offers an exclusive first listen to some albums prior to their release date. Last week, they began streaming The Swell Season's second album 'Strict Joy' in full.

Strict Joy is a follow-up to their self-titled debut release in 2006. It is sad that none of the press around the new album mentions this cd, focusing on the soundtrack to Once instead (which features a number of the same songs). I would encourage anyone who liked Once or intends to buy Strict Joy, to buy The Swell Season too. You won't regret it.

My first impression of the record was that I had been reacquanited with an old friend, (or I was sitting with two people as they sang about their experience of life) The lyric of the album are so genuine. As in their debut record, the lyrics are laid on a foundation of acoustic guitar, strings (mostly).

Glen Hansard has a beautful way of communicating emotion and connecting to experience. The tracks Fantasy Man and I Have Loved You Wrong, give Marketa opportunity to sing the lead vocal. The album is a sparkling gem and has grown on each listen. The album is released on October 23rd. (via Spunk Records).

One more on the World Cup - Qualifiers

According to FIFA's website there's just about 240 days to the next Football World Cup. Thursday morning is one of the key days. Thursday will see most of the qualifers finalised Here's an overview of the possibilities, (and more helpfully probabilities).(from the BBC). The full list of teams will be determined after the playoffs end on the 18th. (Then the real build-up can begin).

Update: Here are the qualifers at October 14.

90 minutes (or so) to go

While Australia has qualified for the next world cup already, New Zealand faces a two legged play off against Bahrain to get there. The first leg was played in Bahrain in the early hours of this morning, it seems NZ acquitted themselves well (the game finished 0-0). On Nov 14, in Wellington, the All Whites play their most significant football match since 1982.

If they win this match, they will join Australia (and others) at South Africa 2010, and if they lose the road starts again in 2012 (and maybe with Australia in the Asian confederation).