THREE OF A KIND – “Babycakes”
A Summer gets the anthems it deserves. And this humble, cloudy weather fits “Babycakes” so well – the sudden return of Garage, but shyer, more tentative, and much more tender. Twee-ste[…]

Tharg The Mighty’s Mega Plan was first announced in 2000AD sometime in 1982 or 1983, in amidst the usual upcoming new story hypes. Judge Anderson was getting her own strip – exciting stuff! A new Nemesis saga – excellent! But what w[…]

This is from an article about the charts published in the NME for June 19 1982, by Paul Morley. The article had a big impact on me when I read it – not in 1982 (no prodigy I!) but when I happened on the issue for 10p in a second hand shop, some[…]

Friday Trivia Quiz: thought it might be a larf to go back and excerpt the FIRST EVER POSTS from some prominent-ish blogs, both ancient and recent. Wag of the finger to those whose archives don’t work, though. Some obvious candidates have been a[…]

I have zero interest in cricket as a rule. But this Robert Key bloke has captured my attention a little while I procrastinate over editing a particularly fatuous press release. I have to applaud when someone who is frankly a bit tubby excels in sport[…]

Jack Kirby fans reprazent: very very glad to see this back on the web. Also much more terrific old material at I Want A Blog. “No one saw the old man’s GRIM SMILE.”[…]

Facts about The Lyric on Great Windmill Street.
1) It is one of the emptiest pubs in Soho on most nights.
2) Despite being rather nice inside in a trad dingy style, and having friendly bar staff.
3) And a juker.
4) It has “Endless Art” on[…]

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that I did leave my bag of new CDs on the tube on Wednesday night. This is some kind of karmic payback for either a) picking up and keeping the dropped £20 note outside the Streets ‘gig’ som[…]

Pop Factor: 807 Controversy Score: 153
A little cold, a little forbidding, perhaps even a little too well-drilled: typical Girls Aloud. Their singles are design objects: beautiful, impeccably put together, never neglecting the practical (i.e. you c[…]

Quick Question: what was the first pop song to introduce the idea of jealous people/haters envious of the artist’s success? Does this particular ‘meme’ have a pre-80s or pre-hip-hop life? I’m sure it must but can’t think[…]