13 from 13... My most read posts of the year.

It's not been a vintage year for me, from a blogging point of view, but none the less, here's a Top Ten Thirteen of pieces written and read this year, based on Google Analytics' reading stats...

At 13 - and from all the way back in January - an Open Letter to Nick Clegg on Secret Courts.

In February the world was shocked at the murder of Oscar Pistorius' girlfriend and the idea that a superstar athlete could be a possible murderer... No one seemed interested in Reeva Steenkamp herself, or her family.

At numbers 11 and 10, another two pieces from January: first my review of the film of Les Misérables and, more seriously, an unusually personal piece in response to Steve Chalke's considered article on the Church's approach to the equal marriage debate.

In August, I was critical of the party leadership's response (or lack thereof) to the detention of David Miranda: it was a classic case of Too Little, Too Late.

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune, my still unfinished series of a song from each of the NOW! albums, scored a hit in January with number 65: Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars.

At 7; with the publication of the agenda for Lib Dem Conference, many were surprised to see a motion calling for default blocking of online porn... this was my response.

Next up, it's another unfinished series - A Journey Through Texas - which commenced in March with this review of their first album, Southside.

Back to politics and in May, Bristol Lib Dems were smarting after a bruising local election campaign - here was my raw response, although I was keen to accentuate the positive.

In August, I was accused by some of naivety over this piece... you can judge for yourself.

And so we reach the Top Three... Ooooh, the excitement!

In July, I took the party slogan and used it a basis for a couple of Twitter hashtags, which I still use occasionally - do feel free to follow course... 

In second place, the great Radio 4/World Service/Open University programme, More or Less, crunched the numbers on Gay Footballers, calculating the chances on there being none. It turned out the odds were very low. (Of course, since then, Robbie Rogers has come out - and is still playing, with a contract at LA Galaxy.)

But top of my list of pieces written this year: my review of Texas' new album, The Conversation.

So there you have it... my year in 13 posts as determined by you, the reader.

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 77 - The New Year's Resolutions Edition...

Today's song came up in conversation with my father the other day but it strikes me that the sentiment of this song should be borne in mind whilst setting New Year's Resolutions, if you are so inclined to do...

Andrew

Texas at Bristol's Colston Hall

Tonight I went to see Texas at the Colston Hall in Bristol, on their first proper tour for years.

It was exactly what was required from a band in their position: a mix of songs from the new album, with old favourites from the past. A solid set, without any messing around or gimmicks. 

Of course, there were also omissions; nothing from Mothers Heaven (although it is a lower key album) nor, perhaps more surprisingly, The Red Book - Getaway would have fitted in well, for example. And, of course, there was nothing from Careful What You Wish For... 

The Support Act was Girl Called Johnny, who you can find on You Tube here. A nice touch was their singer, Karen Overton, joining Sharleen for the encore to sing The Conversation on which she has a writing credit.

Anyway, here are my tweets from the night, handily Storified for you:

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 76 - The Stormy Weather edition

As I type, the outlying rain heralding the coming of Storm St. Jude is steadily drumming on the windows of my attic room...

...so here, is a musical tribute to The Great Storm of 2013, as Jude is bound to be known in future years*, is Ethel Waters with Stormy Weather from 1933. Enjoy:

Andrew

*obviously this assumes the Met Office hasn't over-egged the forecast.

Going, Going, Gone

Over the past couple of months, the former PwC offices in Bristol City Centre have been demolished. Or, at least the modern extension to the side and rear of the Georgian-fronted building in the North Eastern corner of Queen Square has gone.

Here are some pictures from various stages in the process: 

I've also found some pictures what is set to replace the demolished building. Whilst I can see what is being attempted (a design that attempts to marry the scale and classic style of the Georgian frontage with the older architecture of King Street which the rear gives onto), I remain to be convinced:

(c) Skanska

(c) Skanska

You can find more information about the development here.

Andrew