There are of course all kinds of differences between live albums and studio ones. Within rock and some other genres, notions of a primacy attached to the live experience exist, ideas of greater authenticity, that it’s where a band really show t[…]

There are some lovely spaces in London institutions. The Turbine Hall in the Tate Modern has rarely been filled, but feels majestic in its own right – almost as if to cleanse your art palate before hitting the galleries. Big opening halls in cl[…]

Or do they. A nicely entertaining discussion of Superman #149 where Superman gets hit up for $1,000,000,000 of unpaid tax. Which in the fifties was a lot of money. This seems a surprisingly round number, but like many Superman stories of the age the […]

Here’s my third Poptimist column for Pitchfork. It’s about pop, but mostly about 2000AD and the concept of thrill-power.
The notorious “giant scorpions” cover which I cite in the piece was drawn by Massimo Belardinelli, who I […]

GOOD CHARLOTTE – “Keep Your Hands Off My Girl” – Score: 4.18 (12th) – Controversy: 2.83 (8th)
(Females: 12th. Males: 12th. Under 30s: 11th. Over 30s: 13th.)
Most like: MIA. Most unlike: JoJo. (But not significantly like […]

Idiocracy is Mike Judge’s follow up to the under-marketed and thus cult DVD hit Office Space. In many ways Idiocracy shares Office Space’s occasional flashes of brilliance padded around a dullish romantic central point, and is never quite[…]

the who ep on sat (“gridlock”) has divided the fans sharply (er WARNING — portals to LJ): — i really really genuinely enjoyed it start-to-finish and was initially totally surprised that anyone else didn’t: except on refl[…]

Going drinking in Shoreditch is rarely a straightforward process. Our original chosen pub being closed for a family funeral, we found ourselves in The Barley Mow, a small and noisy boozer which initially seemed to offer a common-sensical safe option.[…]

I have recently been informed that a sallow faced group of youths have fallen into what can only be called The Cult of Knitler. Seeking a method to pluck the fevered dream of N4zi knitting techniques from the ethereal to the corporeal, they face the […]

KAISER CHIEFS – “Ruby” – Score: 4.10 (13th) – Controversy: 2.56 (15th)
(Females: 6th. Males: 18th. Under 30s: 15th. Over 30s: 9th)
Most like: Take That. Most unlike: MIA. (more…)[…]