Articles by Sara Sayeed


Sara has written 24 articles for Nouse


How the sitcom stole Santa – and other festive stories

By — November 28, 2006

Commercialism has all but killed Christmas. Sara Sayeed looks at the festive cults being created in its wake. Let’s be honest, Christmas isn’t just one day of festivities: it’s an entire festive season that plunges us, for at least a month, into a hyped-up, commercial frenzy. Mid-November rolls around and before you know it, Starbucks [...]

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How to avoid a nightmare before Christmas: gift shopping in York

By — November 28, 2006

Christmas might not just be about the presents, but it’s definitely a lot about the shopping. If the story of Jesus’ birth was made into a modern-day narrative, the wise men wouldn’t just pop up with the gold, frankincense and myrrh – we’d see them trawling Bethlehem’s streets weeks (if not the night) before Mary’s [...]

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Singles Reviews

By and — November 28, 2006

James Morrison – The Pieces Don’t Fit Anymore

James Morrison tries to melt your brain with his new single as he replaces the upbeat soul of his previous releases with an aptly insipid ‘Christmas Number 1’-geared ballad.

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Blue October, Foiled

By — November 28, 2006

[rating:1]

Once in a while a band comes along with a genuinely innovative, exciting sound – one that prompts you to think “wow” without even a tinge of irony. Blue October are not one of these bands. The album’s derivative mediocrity simply leaves you apathetically pondering “why?”.

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An unavoidable fiscal nightmare

By — November 7, 2006

Top up fees are on their way, but Sara Sayeed examines whether there are any possibilities left for those who still want to rebel.

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The Long Blondes, Someone to Drive You Home

By — November 7, 2006

“Kooky-cool attired indie-rockers from Sheffield” – sound familiar? Fortunately or unfortunately, take your pick, the Long Blondes have managed to distance themselves from fellow Sheffield exports, such as the Arctic Monkeys, with a fresh and idiosyncratic sound. According to the album press release, “they want to be as good as Abba. Seriously, it’s not irony” (apparently their brunette-locks tick that box).

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NUS launch offensive on top-up fees

By — October 11, 2006

Students are set to converge on London on October 29 to combat the introduction of variable tuition fees.

The demonstration is the zenith of the National Union of Students “Admission: Impossible” campaign. Starting at 12pm, student activitists and supporters will commence on a march through London, culminating in a rally at Trafalger Square. Two co-covernors of the campaign, Gemma Tumelty and Wes Streeting, have already been touring the country’s universities this month in a bid to gain support.

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The Walkmen, Live at the Koko Club, London

By — October 11, 2006

The Walkmen trundled on stage about an hour late – nonchalant, with sensible haircuts and lager bottles in hand, you could easily mistake them for slightly sozzled, fumbling techies. Then a guttural wail erupts from amidst the blazed stage, some guitars screech into place and it seems it’s finally started.

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So, who are The Earlies?

By — May 26, 2006

Following their recent gig at Fibbers, Sara Sayeed talks to The Earlies about groupies, the Arctic Monkeys and the problem of making music over different sides of the Atlantic

The Earlies seem to have stumbled into something of an identity crisis. As it turns out, Transatlanticism is not just an affected title for a wistfully meditative Death Cab for Cutie album, but an uncomfortable predicament suffered by the band. Critics have wrestled with the bi-continental make-up of the band, reflecting on the line, “Take me home”, which punctuates the majority of their lyrics. Two Texans plus two Mancunians making music together seem to have caused more bafflement than the rapid spread of bird flu.

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