A difficult one this, as a member of another rock band writes asking me to criticise a group I have never actually heard. Where is the sense of musicianly community, I ask you? I write back, pointing out that my ears have remained happily unsullied b[…]

If Semisonic were indeed semi-sonic, that would mean that they would be barely audible, and that could only be an improvement. Semisonic, in their skittish reconstructed way released a song called “Secret Smile” which was all about a woma[…]

Of all the foul inventions – a poll which forces me to choose between two behemoths of mediocrity like The Stereophonics and Travis, the least defensible acts doing the rounds in Britain. A poll which saw the swift exit of REM and the even swif[…]

If there’s one thing I hate, and obviously there’s more than one or I wouldn’t be doing this, it’s Musical Chameleons. You know the type: those musicians who either ride the bucking bronco of the sonic zeitgeist, or defy the s[…]

Piano Magic’s Artists Rifles: I don’t think it’s the greatest review in the world, but I’m very pleased to have bashed out a vaguely substantial piece for the first time in a month or so. (Not that a lot of the blogstuff isn&#[…]

DUEL! – Quarter Finals: the other two Duel! Quarter-Finals. Hurry, hurry, hurry as they won’t be up for long! Stereophonics vs Travis and Embrace vs Moby.[…]

SoYouWanna fake being an indie rock expert? (link via Amp To Rock): I’m in two minds about this one. First off it tackles the indie scene with refreshing cynicism. But second off it actually seems semi-serious, and a lot of its musical judgemen[…]

Thanks to Tim H for a list of releases by The Clientele. The first link has MP3s and .wavs and things to make your life nicer. (And Tim, no, you probably wouldn’t like Piano Magic – they’re quite cold and intellectual. But I might b[…]

DUEL! – Quarter Finals: nerve-racking excitement, oh yes. Two bouts today: Kid Rock vs Skunk Anansie, and the Smashing Pumpkins vs Richard Ashcroft.[…]

For the hordes arriving from Jejune, Us Vs Them, and Amplified To Rock to see the Guide To Dating Indie Rock Girls – might I suggest checking out Tanya’s piece on going out with a record collector if you’ve not done so already?
Us V[…]