Never mind Nevermind: for me, the albums that signified that the 90s were going to be musically exciting were by Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine and Pixies…amongst others. Everyone raves about Doolittle and it’s perfectly fine, but for me, Surfer Rosa is still perfection. Originally, it was to be titled Gigantic after the glorious songContinue reading “Why ‘Surfer Rosa’ is still the tits!”
Category Archives: Classic albums
Aladdin Sane at 50
If Ziggy was Cary Grant, Aladdin Sane was Peter Fonda. Recorded between December 1972 and January 1973, this iconic album, Bowie’s sixth, still feels like a deconstruction of fame and the American Dream from an outsider’s perspective. It’s experimental, as exemplified by Mike Garson’s wayward jazz piano on the wild title track. He goes maniacallyContinue reading “Aladdin Sane at 50”
Overlooked Classics: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- Your Funeral, My Trial
The fourth album from Nick and the dapper chaps, released in 1986, remains a little bit sidelined, as far as I’m concerned. It’s Cave ‘s Grand Guignol, one of his most macabre and sexually charged… And that’s going some for someone who is often criticised for the violence of his lyrics. ‘The Carny’ is aContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- Your Funeral, My Trial”
Overlooked Classics: The Fall- Dragnet (1979)
The Fall were starting to implode. Martin and Karl were out, replaced by the Scanlon brothers, Craig and Steve, pals of Marc Riley. It’s this line-up that’s the secret to their brilliant, often overlooked second album, Dragnet. Dragnet is excellent, a brooding, murky record, albeit with MES’ typically esoteric lyricism. He had already proved whatContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: The Fall- Dragnet (1979)”
Lost In Music: AR Kane: i
I have a particular interest in bands who occupy liminal spaces, and do their own unique thing, apart from hype machines and trends. A R Kane are one such band. They were dream pop before it attained that definition, proto – shoegazing, or avant-pop way ahead of the curve. I adore their second album, ‘i’.Continue reading “Lost In Music: AR Kane: i”
Review: Sonic Symbolism Podcast
Bjork has never been one for indulging in nostalgia, so this podcast, alongside friends, writer and philosopher Oddny Eir and music historian Asi Jonsson, is a welcome deep dive into the influences and creative process behind each of her solo albums. From the shy newcomer of Debut, who had to get the songs bursting outContinue reading “Review: Sonic Symbolism Podcast”
Overlooked Classics:Summer Camp- Welcome To Condale
Ninety nine red balloons burst in the air. Polaroids are taken, curfews rejected and the Veronicas have taken over the prom, armed with little more than Harmony hairspray and sarcasm . If you recognise these references, chances are you’re in your forties or fifties. Married pop duo Summer Camp and their 2011 album Welcome toContinue reading “Overlooked Classics:Summer Camp- Welcome To Condale”
Overlooked Classics: Gus Gus- Polydistortion
Why do so many people still not know about Gus Gus? The Icelandic collective are pretty much superstars in their native country, like Hot Chip or Chemical Brothers, but much stranger and sexier. From the bruised vulnerable Why? performed by Emiliana Torrini, to Believe, a squelchy sinister banger, Polydistortion, which came out in 1997, seemedContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Gus Gus- Polydistortion”
Overlooked Classics: Babes In Toyland- Spanking Machine
Everybody cites Hole as fine purveyors of pure feminine rage, and rightly so, but for me, Babes In Toyland did it better, and with more eloquent ferocity. I first heard Dust Cake Boy where else but on John Peel’s peerless late night radio show on Radio 1. His son Tom Ravenscroft recently spoke on 6MusicContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Babes In Toyland- Spanking Machine”
OK Computer Is 25
An unexpected alarm call. To be better. To try harder. To push further. Pre- mobile phones; smart devices, stupider voices. To rail against complacency, the government and mass consumption. Do you trust your leaders? The sleeping leading the half-asleep. Choices, barcodes, receipts. A graveyard of technology, rapid fire jump cuts. A need for something simpler,Continue reading “OK Computer Is 25”
