Why don’t I like U2? Because Bono is a dick? Well, maybe, but why is he a dick? What particular quality of theirs is it that stops their rockin’ monumentalism working for me? I think it’s this: rather than just be about bigness in a[…]

Screen Cuisine: Done well, lists are writing tapas.[…]

We’re back from Bilbao. It was terrific – big thanks to the organisers, who handled the inevitable logistical nightmare of 14 thirsty Brit blokes with aplomb. There will no doubt be several holiday-inspired posts. This is one of them. It&[…]

Firkin Pubs: Classic Or Dud? – I must shamefacedly admit to becoming nostalgic for Firkin pubs. There seem to be so few of them around now. In their pomp they were certainly the enemy, buying up and homogenizing a variety of venues. But later i[…]

ILM At Its Finest: The collective knowledge of 200 music heads pooled for the common good – this is more like it![…]

Do You Hear? I just found on [file-sharing network] the BBC’s Lord Of The Rings dramatisation, first broadcast when I was 8 or 9 and unheard (by me) since. Much though I like the films this is my LOTR, and the opening theme still makes me quive[…]

Bubblegum Machine: “If it’s on K-Tel or Ronco, it’s in!” (where does that leave the Germs, hmmm?) 2 songs per week, plus archives, plus very nice design.[…]

EARLY RAP IN THE UK TOP 40 (not a definitive list cos I’m doing it quickly and haven’t heard everything)
Dec 79: Sugarhill Gang – Rappers Delight #3
Dec 79: Kurtis Blow – Christmas Rappin #30
Jan 81: Blondie – Rapture #5[…]

More Bandwidth Than Sense: This is a neat concept (original vocals over R’n’B ringtones) and it’s not the creators’ fault that it sounds mostly really horrible. Having spent 4 solid weeks poring over mobile phone websites for […]

TEJO, BLACK ALIEN, SPEED – “Follow Follow” / “Quem Que Caguetou”
This is another new record I like a lot. It’s the music from a recent Nissan advert, which had very violent Latinish dance music playing in the backg[…]