{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "title": "music on Paul McCafferty", "icon": "https://avatars.micro.blog/avatars/2026/14/51598.jpg", "home_page_url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/", "feed_url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/feed.json", "items": [ { "id": "http://paulmccafferty.micro.blog/2026/05/09/styrofoam-winos-just-dropped-in.html", "content_html": "

Styrofoam Winos, 02-05-26, Just Dropped In Records, Coventry 🎵

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Setlist

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Spotify playlist of the set. Missing 2 tracks not currently available on Spotify

\n\n", "date_published": "2026-05-09T15:06:33+01:00", "url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/2026/05/09/styrofoam-winos-just-dropped-in.html", "tags": ["music","photos"] }, { "id": "http://paulmccafferty.micro.blog/2026/05/09/the-smyths-th-may-queens.html", "content_html": "

The Smyths, 08-05-2026, Queens Hall, Nuneaton 🎵

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Setlist

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Spotify playlist of the originals of the songs in the set

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\n", "date_published": "2026-05-09T14:48:55+01:00", "url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/2026/05/09/the-smyths-th-may-queens.html", "tags": ["music","photos"] }, { "id": "http://paulmccafferty.micro.blog/2025/10/13/070512.html", "title": "14 Iced Bears", "content_html": "\n", "date_published": "2025-10-13T07:05:12+01:00", "url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/2025/10/13/070512.html", "tags": ["music","photos"] }, { "id": "http://paulmccafferty.micro.blog/2024/06/04/theres-a-northern.html", "content_html": "

There’s a Northern Irish blues singer mentioned in Louise Kennedy’s novel Trespasses, Ottilie Patterson. I decided to check out some of her music on Spotify and it’s really good.

\n", "date_published": "2024-06-04T21:58:17+01:00", "url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/2024/06/04/theres-a-northern.html", "tags": ["music"] }, { "id": "http://paulmccafferty.micro.blog/2024/06/02/today-i-was.html", "content_html": "

Today I was reminded just how much music can move me. On my son’s recommendation I listened to Jeff Buckley’s recording of the Smiths' song “I Know It’s Over”\nWow!

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youtu.be/_5a708Eqf…

\n", "date_published": "2024-06-02T20:54:17+01:00", "url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/2024/06/02/today-i-was.html", "tags": ["music"] }, { "id": "http://paulmccafferty.micro.blog/2024/05/29/today-i-learned.html", "content_html": "

Today I learned Albinoni’s Adagio wasn’t written by Albinoni 🎵

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adagio_in_G_minor?wprov=sfti1

\n", "date_published": "2024-05-29T21:52:50+01:00", "url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/2024/05/29/today-i-learned.html", "tags": ["music"] }, { "id": "http://paulmccafferty.micro.blog/2024/05/11/another-article-on.html", "content_html": "

Another article on the harsh reality of how difficult it is for musicians to earn money from touring. As someone to whom live music has meant a great deal over the years, I find it very sad. I guess the best we can do is try to support small venues whenever we can 🎵

\n", "date_published": "2024-05-11T14:09:30+01:00", "url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/2024/05/11/another-article-on.html", "tags": ["music"] }, { "id": "http://paulmccafferty.micro.blog/2024/04/29/digital-scaffolding.html", "title": "Digital Scaffold", "content_html": "

For some time now and almost without realising it, I’ve been building a digital scaffold for my memories.

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Social media is one example, but I’ve barely been using this in recent years and prefer to add what little I do share to Micro.blog.

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But there are more subtle aspects. My IMDb lists hold a record of all the films I’ve watched since 2004. My (more recent) Letterboxd account also includes the date and with whom I watched the film. Last.fm captures music I’ve listened to, and concerts I’ve attended are kept in Setlist.fm. All the books I’ve read are catalogued in LibraryThing, which I’ve written about before.

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The more I think about it, the more scaffolding boards I discover. This is a topic I will be returning to…

\n", "date_published": "2024-04-29T13:00:00+01:00", "url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/2024/04/29/digital-scaffolding.html", "tags": ["movies","cataloguing","books","music"] }, { "id": "http://paulmccafferty.micro.blog/2023/07/27/when-i-heard.html", "content_html": "

When I heard the news about SinĂ©ad O’Connor, I was immediately transported back to 1987, living at my grandmother’s, listening to The Lion and the Cobra on cassette.

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It was one of a small number of albums that meant a great deal to me then. Her vocal performance was mesmerising and the standout track for me was always Troy.

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A few years later, when I got my first CD player I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got was my first CD. She was hugely talented, shamefully underrated and a true trailblazer.

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I agree with very little of what Morrissey says these days, though I continue to enjoy his music. But this is powerful.

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RIP Shuhada' Sadaqat

\n", "date_published": "2023-07-27T20:04:15+01:00", "url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/2023/07/27/when-i-heard.html", "tags": ["music"] }, { "id": "http://paulmccafferty.micro.blog/2022/11/12/as-a-lifelong.html", "content_html": "

As a lifelong music fan, some of my happiest and most vivid memories are from live music events. It saddens me to think that this is the reality facing musicians today Lorde: “Touring Has Become a Demented Struggle to Break Even”

\n", "date_published": "2022-11-12T21:19:20+01:00", "url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/2022/11/12/as-a-lifelong.html", "tags": ["music"] }, { "id": "http://paulmccafferty.micro.blog/2022/10/29/top-songs.html", "title": "Top 100 Songs", "content_html": "

I first published a list of my 100 favourite songs on my old Wordpress site back in 2010.

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I revisit the list often and wrestle with the quality of my choices. Sometimes I think it needs updating, but honestly it’s hard to identify what could be replaced. So here’s my list, in no particular order:

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    \n
  1. The Prodigy – No Good Start The Dance
    2. \n
  2. The Beatles – In My Life
    3. \n
  3. Radiohead – The Bends
    4. \n
  4. The Smiths – Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
    5. \n
  5. Prefab Sprout – Faron Young
    6. \n
  6. Jay Z & Lincoln Park – Numb
    7. \n
  7. Everything But The Girl – Missing
    8. \n
  8. Arctic Monkeys – When The Sun Goes Down
    9. \n
  9. Bright Eyes – First Day Of My Life
    10. \n
  10. James – Hymn From A Village
    11. \n
  11. The Proclaimers – The First Attack
    12. \n
  12. Simple Minds – Speed Your Love
    13. \n
  13. The Passengers – Miss Sarajevo
    14. \n
  14. Dr Dre – Forget About Dre
    15. \n
  15. Eminem – Stan
    16. \n
  16. House Of Pain – Jump Around
    17. \n
  17. Des’ree – Kissing you
    18. \n
  18. Portishead – Numb
    19. \n
  19. Oasis – Live Forever
    20. \n
  20. Hue & Cry – Labour Of Love
    21. \n
  21. Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel – White Lines
    22. \n
  22. Don McLean – American Pie
    23. \n
  23. The Cure – In Between Days
    24. \n
  24. The Streets – Never Been To Church
    25. \n
  25. The Libertines – Don’t Look Back Into The Sun
    26. \n
  26. Paolo Nutini – Candy
    27. \n
  27. Cowboy Junkies – You Will Be Loved
    28. \n
  28. The Avalanches – Frontier Psychiatrist
    29. \n
  29. Justin Timberlake – Cry Me A River
    30. \n
  30. Belle & Sebastian – Dirty Dream Number Two
    31. \n
  31. The Specials – Message To You Rudy
    32. \n
  32. Faithless – Insomnia
    33. \n
  33. Amy Winehouse – You Know I’m No Good
    34. \n
  34. David Bowie – Starman
    35. \n
  35. Cake – I Will Survive
    36. \n
  36. Soft Cell – Tainted Love
    37. \n
  37. George Michael – Jesus To A Child
    38. \n
  38. The Verve – The Drugs Don’t Work
    39. \n
  39. Coldplay – In My Place
    40. \n
  40. The Rolling Stones – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
    41. \n
  41. Smokey Robinson – Tears Of A Clown
    42. \n
  42. Michael Jackson – Give In To Me
    43. \n
  43. The Killers – When We Were Young
    44. \n
  44. The Strokes – Hard To Explain
    45. \n
  45. Snow Patrol – Run
    46. \n
  46. The Coral – Dreaming Of You
    47. \n
  47. Prince – When Doves Cry
    48. \n
  48. Roberta Flack – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
    49. \n
  49. The Beatles – Hey Jude
    50. \n
  50. Dolly Parton – I Will Always Love You
    51. \n
  51. Johnny Cash – Hurt
    52. \n
  52. Paul Weller – You Do Something To Me
    53. \n
  53. The Kinks – Lola
    54. \n
  54. Bob Marley – Redemption Song
    55. \n
  55. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
    56. \n
  56. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
    57. \n
  57. Joy Division – She’s Lost Control
    58. \n
  58. The Clash – Should I Stay Or Should I Go
    59. \n
  59. The Undertones – Teenage Kicks
    60. \n
  60. REM – Losing My Religion
    61. \n
  61. The Pixies – Hey
    62. \n
  62. The Pogues – The Old Main Drag
    63. \n
  63. The Stone Roses – I Am The Resurrection
    64. \n
  64. The Jam – Beat Surrender
    65. \n
  65. The Who – My Generation
    66. \n
  66. Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Scar Tissue
    67. \n
  67. Ouklast – Hey Ya
    68. \n
  68. Jimi Hendrix – All Along The Watchtower
    69. \n
  69. Lou Reed – Perfect Day
    70. \n
  70. ABBA – Lay All Your Love On Me
    71. \n
  71. Jay Z – Lucifer
    72. \n
  72. The Kings Of Leon – Sex On Fire
    73. \n
  73. The Waterboys – Fisherman’s Blues
    74. \n
  74. Travis – Sing
    75. \n
  75. Cameo – Word Up
    76. \n
  76. Air – All I Need
    77. \n
  77. Violent Femmes – Blister In The Sun
    78. \n
  78. Simply Red – Stars
    79. \n
  79. Muse – Plug In Baby
    80. \n
  80. Ian Brown – F.E.A.R
    81. \n
  81. Underworld – Born Slippy
    82. \n
  82. Pulp – Sorted
    83. \n
  83. Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
    84. \n
  84. Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
    85. \n
  85. Stevie Wonder – Superstition
    86. \n
  86. The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
    87. \n
  87. Morrissey – First Of The Gang To Die
    88. \n
  88. The Smiths – Handsome Devil
    89. \n
  89. The Clash – Should I Stay Or Should I Go
    90. \n
  90. Kraftwerk – The Model
    91. \n
  91. Blondie – Denis
    92. \n
  92. The Zombies – Time Of The Season
    93. \n
  93. Radiohead – Exit Music (For A Film)
    94. \n
  94. Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Beggin’
    95. \n
  95. Lauryn Hill – Sweetest Thing
    96. \n
  96. The Fugees – Ready Or Not
    97. \n
  97. Kate Bush – Cloudbursting
    98. \n
  98. New Order – Shellshock
    99. \n
  99. Panjabi MC – Jogi
    100. \n
  100. Badly Drawn Boy – Shining
    101. \n
\n", "date_published": "2022-10-30T23:17:21+01:00", "url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/2022/10/29/top-songs.html", "tags": ["music"] }, { "id": "http://paulmccafferty.micro.blog/2022/10/16/how-i-catalogue.html", "title": "How I Catalogue My Music", "content_html": "

How I catalogue my music has evolved since I first started doing it over 10 years ago. In this article I’ll share how I started and how things have changed.

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My first compact disc player was a 21st birthday gift from my parents. The first album I listened to, also a gift, was I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got by Sinéad O’Connor.

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Music was one of the first things I started cataloguing and there were several aspects to it.

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First there was my collection of CDs. In 2009 I found a simple Windows application – Orange CD – which did the job well. The application made it easy to enter albums by barcode, by scanning the disc in the drive or manually. It also allowed the collection to be published online. At the time of writing my collection is still there.

\n

Even before I finished cataloguing my CDs I’d begun to rip them to my PC’s hard disk. This was the 2nd aspect to cataloguing my music. Once all my CDs had been ripped, I had a digital version of the collection. I didn’t give much thought to how my digital collection was organised. By default albums are ripped to folders of the same name. Album folders sit inside artist folders. Doing something other than this default would simply have created more work.

\n

When you have enough of them even compressed MP3 files take up too much space. I moved them over to the cloud after taking out my first Dropbox subscription in 2016. More recently I’ve moved all my files and folders to iCloud.

\n

The 3rd aspect to my music cataloguing was certainly the easiest. Around the same time I started cataloguing my physical music collection, I also started to track my listening. The iPod Touch was already 2 years old and listening via apps was common. To begin with I “scrobbled” music using a custom app. In time Last FM was able to link to streaming services and track the music I listened to on those services.

\n

It’s interesting to look at my listening trends over 12 years as a Last FM member. At the moment I don’t listen to much of anything. But there have been times when I’ve been a heavy user of streaming services. Anyone taking a close look will see a strangely eclectic library.

\n

These days I still have physical CDs. But really I hold on to them as mementos. Before getting rid of more than half my collection I made playlists on Spotify of all the albums I owned. Whenever I want to enjoy the album in full I can now do so from my Spotify library.

\n

Of course Spotify doesn’t have everything. So for those albums I owned that weren’t available I used an app called Cloudbeats. It’s a simple media player for cloud music files. Although it links to most of the main services when I moved to iCloud recently I discovered it wasn’t supported. I’ll need to find another solution to this in time but for now it’s not a big issue.

\n

How I catalogue my music may have changed significantly since I started. But I continue to enjoy it and I remain on the lookout for improvements I can make.

\n", "date_published": "2022-10-16T19:37:45+01:00", "url": "https://paulmccafferty.net/2022/10/16/how-i-catalogue.html", "tags": ["cataloguing","music"] } ] }