Darren Hayman, a former John Peel favorite adept at addictive indie-jangles and precise writerly nuggets, has released thirty-one tracks, written and recorded at the rate of one a day throughout last January.
The double CD is stripped of the tang of arrogance by Hayman’s obvious talent, and relative low-profile. Sleeve notes paint the punishing project as an attempt “to reject the creative spark” and focus on “hard work, resourcefulness and intelligence”, but January Songs’ vast smorgasboard of tasteful and literate art pop merely emphasises Hayman’s direct line to the muses.
The massed chorale “We’re Tired Of Getting Dicked Around” is a “We Shall Not Be Moved” for the Occupy generation.
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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John Robins, Comedian
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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FBC, finalgear.com
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com