Practical Criticism II: There were two serious questions/points lurking behind yesterday’s (somewhat sarcastic) proposals.
1/ Assuming that the tiny-review model for published music criticism is likely to dominate for at least a while, how best[…]

GIRLS ALOUD – “Love Machine”
SKIFFLE IS BACK!!
Yrs, Easily Pleased, Tooting.[…]

Pop Factor: 400
At Glastonbury, Goldie Lookin’ Chain were enormous; the dance tent was flooded with people trying to cram themselves in and catch a glimpse of the comedy Welsh rap troupe. You wouldn’t have got that sort of crowd for MC M[…]

A dark tower, or two or three or more — I heard about them, tower blocks, I forget where at first. Didn’t actually see any until I came to London, though, and now that I think about it, probably not actually until my second time there in[…]

Autocrat of all the Russian histories — If I had my way (eight mansions worldwide, moving whenever the weather gets unpleasant, well stocked libraries for each one, etc.), there’d have to be a huge history section in said library and ther[…]

Let yourself be loved down — ILX greatheart Velveteen Bingo (the latest of his many incarnations) recently offered up a two-disc CDR mix of a collage of songs from the height of New Jack Swing — not just that, though! — called Velve[…]

Mmm tomato sauce I love you — the next step in my continuing adventures with regard to tomato prep involved making my first sauce. The recipe itself (thank ya to Lalitree!) is wonderfully simple:
* Three fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes — d[…]

How Dr Who Made Me A Liberal
“Inside the party, more than a few people know I’m a fan, so when a set of Doctor Who-related questions came in to party HQ from a fan group during the 2001 British General Election campaign, I was given the r[…]

Christianity + Marketing = DOOMSDAY
(I’m assuming they’re Christians.)[…]

Once upon a time New Left Review was in the vanguard of UK film culture, and once in a while it’s still capable of engaging. This piece on cultural tensions in Taiwan includes an interview with Hou Hsiao-Hsien which helps illuminate the backgro[…]