I Used To Be Carried In The Arms Of Cheerleaders

1999 was a piss-poor year for records. I remember having to compile my top ten records of the year list and finding it difficult coming up with over 5 albums that I liked. For an album to get in the top ten in 1999, I had to have tolerated it and to have listened more than once.
I adored 13 by Blur (their best album in my opinion), but that was about it. I went to V99 that year and recall thinking the same thoughts sat in a field watching the bungee jumping. I can't think of any band I saw and enjoyed at that festival that had any new music out that year.
Was 'Head Music' by Suede out in 1999? If so, that wasn't their best.
Anyway, the point of this blog is that 2005 is shaping up to be the anti-1999. We're virtually halfway through the year and I already have more records than I can fit into my top ten. With new albums yet to come by perennial favourites such as the Super Furry Animals, as well as the expected shit-hot album by The Crimea finally materialising, the end of year poll is going to be nigh on impossible to get right.
In purchase order (!), here are my recommendations from the year so far…

Roots Manuva - Awfully Deep
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Low - The Great Destroyer
Brendan Benson - Alternative To Love
The National - Alligator
Herman Dune - Not On Top
British Sea Power - Open Season
Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
The Tears - Here Come The Tears
Joy Zipper - The Heartlight Set
Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman

You see, that's 11 already. I've not even included The Arcade Fire, as I've not quite decided what year 'Funeral' came out yet. It came out last year in America, but this year in blighty.
Also missing are records from bands that I usually love, but have had trouble getting fully into their latest work. I'm probably misjudging them because of my own pre-release hype, but maybe the new albums from Doves, Idlewild and The White Stripes will make an appearance in the end of year list.
Jesus, I have four or five other records that I'm currently getting to know. Congratulations 2005, you've done okay so far.

Game of choice has moved from CIV 3 to The Sims 2.
It's pretty much like the first one, but with better graphics and some tweaking of the game engine. What I have noticed is that there seems to be rather a lot of sex in it. Each character has some desires that he wants to fulfil in a day, and my character (Chester Winkywash) on one day wanted to
a) Make-out with a Sim called Nina
b) Have woohoo with three different Sims.
c) Have woohoo in a public place
d) Eat some cereal
I don't know what d) actually means in context with the other things, but I'm guessing that it's probably some sort of Viagra laced cornflakes.
I checked the box and found out the game is aimed at kids over 7. Now, you don't actually see penetration but it's pretty obvious from what happens (sheets move and bed bounces around) that some vigorous bangie-bang is taking place. Is this appropriate for kids of 7?

Mum: What's that game you're playing Timmy? Is it little Mario?
Timmy: No mum, it's The Sims. I have to bang three different bitches by the end of the day.
Mum: What?!?
Timmy: Yeah, it's tough. This one won't put out so I'm trying to download the rohypnol buttplug off the internet.

Chester Winkywash has two women on the go. They both seem to have fallen in love with him but Chester is an immoral man. He's scored with one of a set of sisters (and has the other in his sights), and is currently leading the maid along. It's rather sinister how she will scrub the bathroom clean and then be easily led into the bedroom. I think Chester is hoping that she won't charge as much for her cleaning job if she is getting extras. Chester is a very bad man.
You may think that is wrong for me to slate the actions of a computer character that I fully control. But, Chester has red hair and I'm finding it odd that he can have so much luck with the ladies. I'm doing proper scientific research here.
It's no wonder that Chester keeps wandering out into the street in just his underwear. He's just checking to see who is next for the lovin'.
One of the teenage girls in the neighbourhood keeps hanging around as well. I keep asking her to leave, but notice that I have options for "hugs". Is there no end to the depravity? Will Chester's desires soon become
a) Have woohoo with three different generations of the same family
b) Have woohoo with a lady in front of her child's crying face
c) Pay the repairman in fuckdollars
d) Have mutual fellatio with a bozz-eyed chimpanzee

It's heading that way; as I turned it off last night, Chester's desires included owing a hot tub, and one of his fears (that lose points and reduce his lifespan) was to get engaged to Nina.

Chester is a paramedic with access to various substances. He's training to become a doctor - a doctor with the ability to write his own prescriptions. God help those poor Sims.