Virgin denies ‘racism’ jibe after axing rap: “Does anyone still not like hip-hop and R&B”, I asked on ILM last week. Here’s one answer. The ‘racism’ stuff is playing into Virgin’s hands though.[…]

RICK WAKEMAN’S 1975 FOLLOW-UP PROJECT
How do you follow The Six Wives Of Henry The Eighth and King Arthur And The Nights Of The Round Table On Ice. Well this is a sorry tale and one which explains his scraggly beard and red faced gait. Rick Wak[…]

Scroll down a bit to “Great moments in rock critic bluffing Part 2” and you’ll see M.Matos’ fine dissection of one Robert B. Ray’s theories of “critical overcomprehension” – which summarises as: critics[…]

How to ruin Ryan Adams’ day – and get your money back![…]

Send In The Clowns: fifty versions of this fine song reviewed, one by one. (So far Van Morrison and Stan Kenton). I was/am actually planning to do a similar piece with another song so I hope Mike won’t think I’m bitin’ his ideas![…]

AVRIL LAVIGNE – “Sk8er Boi”
First seven seconds: pretty much perfect. That’s handy if you’re on a slow dial-up, plus it means you can imagine what the rest of the song is like. It is kind of what you’re imagining b[…]

The Golden Triumph Of Naked Hostility: HYPER HYPER! Oh wait wrong hardcore. My introductory skillz are somewhat lacking for this new FT piece, where Jess Harvell rewinds the 90s hardcore scene, because I know nothing about any of the bands he even me[…]

Rock Me, Powerhouse: music blog. I’m not sure how much I actually like this style but I like that it’s there, and after all you might like it more, so here it is.[…]

“B-but nothing could be better than ‘Convenience’ by Bob!”: The Focus Group write-in votes are up – see voters’ individual enthusiasms and bugbears. In the main group, Anthony Easton and Sean Carruthers’ comm[…]

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER – Tarkus
Sometimes I despair for the online company I keep. “Ho ho ho” – went the people over on the much despised in Headon Towers I Love Music.” Isn’t Tarkus funny. Its a tank, its an […]