NORTHERN PLANNER

One of the better aspects of getting older is not having to bother with what other people think.

I don't mean mean inconsiderate or ignoring other people's feelings mind, in fact, I can honestly say that's improved with age.

I mean not worrying what other people think of your preferences and choices. I really enjoyed Submarine for example and I think I understand it's supposed to be something middle class, Guardian reading people like me 'should like'.

But I don't care. I just like it very much, it reminds me what it's like to be a boy who is at once fascinated and terrified by girls. I also like how it breathes and resists the urge to rush anything. Too many films rush to the action or the obvious plot device or inciting incident, mostly because the focus groups told them to. And if you're a planner, you know collective focus group wisdom has shit for brains.

On the other hand, I'm at once excited and deflated to be imminently watching the final season of Battlestar Galactica (the new one, not the one with Face from the A Team). It's not as clever as it thinks it is, but I really like multiple plot strands and the embracing of ambiguity. I know this makes you think I'm a Sci Fi geek, but I'm old enough not to care.

I'm also mortified to note it's 20 years since Achtung Baby. That makes me feel old, but it also makes me rather wistful for being 17. I'm supposed to hate U2, aren't I? I hate THEM, of course, I really mean I hate BONO. The hypocrisy, and sheer self importance. But I love this record. I know much is inspired/stolen from Primal Scream and Sonic Youth to name but two, but I don't care. It's still dark, brutal, confused and unsure and makes me feel something (at least it's not Queen). 

I wonder if that's really why kids find their parents so embarassing. It's not what they like, it's that the allow themselves to like it.