Having been reading some Miss Marple novels I rented on a whim the 1980s Joan Hickson-starring adaptation of one of them (The Body In The Library). I remember being quite an avid fan of this series when small – watching it again, while knowing […]

Modern kids read Moomin and Asterix comics: “very interesting and very strange, in a good way”.[…]

The theme this week is DEATH. If you want to vote in the Pop Open, go here. And please don’t reveal what the tracks are yet (if you know)![…]

This week’s theme is INJUSTICE. If you want to join in with the voting and discussion, go here. If you know what a track is, please don’t let on![…]

Mysteries Of Pop #38715 – Who are the chorus on Leader of the Pack?
The backing vocalists on monumental deathpop masterpiece “Leader Of The Pack” are a gaggle of interested parties who first appear in the spoken-word section that op[…]

The news of Cadbury’s job cuts has (quite understandably!) focussed on the human cost of redundancies at the ailing chocmakers.
However there is another side of the story – one captured in the Marketing Week headline – “CADBUR[…]

My parents played it incessantly in my youth. They had some kind of clockwork machine to help them which fascinated me.
My in-laws also played it a lot.
My Aunt still does.
What is it? (more…)[…]

Week 2 of the Pop Open brings us five tracks on the theme of MONEY.
[ROUND OVER – TRACKS UNLINKED]
Please DON’T spoil what the tracks are in the comments box, and if you want to join in the voting then you have only to go here (and join […]

Here’s my latest Pitchfork column – a piece on ABBA!
I deliberately wrote it as a quite ‘old school’ bit of music criticism – heavy focus on lyrical meaning, artistic themes, privileging of maturity and meaningfulness et[…]

Right, ANY DREAM WILL DO. I only actually watched the final of this TV reality show (aim: cast lead of new production of Joseph + Dreamcoat) tho I was aware of it cos Isabel was keen. I was disappointed by the pick for winner – a tousled smooth[…]