You know how it is – you wait for a Metallica cover and two come along at once. Phoebe Bridgers has recently released a cover of Nothing Else Matters. But I prefer Dave Gahan from Depeche Mode and his solo version. There’s nothing as affected in the delivery here (sorry James Hetfield, I know it’sContinue reading “Favourite Cover Versions: Dave Gahan – Nothing Else Matters”
Category Archives: Music
Favourite Cover Versions: Lianne La Havas- Weird Fishes
A cover version is always going to divide people, but I’ve got a feeling that Lianne La Havas, the glorious London soul singer, met with approval from Thom Yorke here. Weird Fishes from the Radiohead album In Rainbows is transformed . Her powerful vibrato is beautiful, and you know straight off the bat that it’sContinue reading “Favourite Cover Versions: Lianne La Havas- Weird Fishes”
New Release: Brontez Purnell: Stay Monkey
This new single, a riotous cover of the Julie Ruin song, Stay Monkey, is absolutely badass. I’m so grateful every day for Indies like Upset The Rhythm, because they’re genuinely alternative, excited about music that’s completely out of the mainstream playlist of curated crap, designed for algorithms. They kow-tow to no -one. As for Brontez,Continue reading “New Release: Brontez Purnell: Stay Monkey”
Another Song for Barbie: Shonen Knife- Twist Barbie
Forget Nicki Minaj or even Aqua, there’s only one song about Barbie that I’ve time for, the ultimate anthem for the famous doll, IMO, and it’s the mighty Shonen Knife with Twist Barbie. The lyrics are so cheeky, a satire of western beauty standards : ” Blue eyes, blond hair, tight body, long legs…Bam bamContinue reading “Another Song for Barbie: Shonen Knife- Twist Barbie”
Just Step Sideways: Pom Poko- Birthday
I considered this for “Overlooked Classics”, but then thought better of it. It’s not perfect – the title track isn’t great – but holy shit,otherwise… what a debut from the Norwegian quartet who Dstudied jazz composition at music school. It’s fierce, quirky and beautiful. Like a mash -up of Lykke Li and Battles, the mathContinue reading “Just Step Sideways: Pom Poko- Birthday”
Lost In Music: The Fall- Edinburgh Man
It’s that time of the year, when the Edinburgh Festivals engulf the whole city like a tidal wave of culture, so this seems like the ideal anthem. As I’ve heard over the years, Mark E Smith was a fan of the gorgeous architecture, but mostly the drinking establishments, of the fair city. I know aContinue reading “Lost In Music: The Fall- Edinburgh Man”
New Release: The Kills- LA Hex
The Kills are back. Alison Mossheart and Jamie Hince ‘s new single, L A Hex , out now through Domino, is more low-key than before, with a little gospel backing, and I’m really liking it. It’s still unmistakably The Kills, with the trademark sense of sex, murkiness and danger, just more subdued. It follows previousContinue reading “New Release: The Kills- LA Hex”
Lost In Music: The Smiths- Paint A Vulgar Picture
Since Sinead O’Connor sadly passed away last week, I’ve been thinking about her a lot, as so many of us have. This strong but fragile, beautiful and tough woman, so troubled with so much shit and abuse from her childhood, casting a long shadow. Gifted people are often the most troubled – a cliche becauseContinue reading “Lost In Music: The Smiths- Paint A Vulgar Picture”
Lost In Music: The Cramps- Off The Bone
Produced alongside The Box Tops and Big Star’s singer Alex Chilton, Off The Bone is a 1983 compilation of songs by The Cramps. Well, okay, it’s mostly cover versions, but the band make them very much their own. From a pounding take on Sam Phillips’ Domino, to the cartoonish libido running feral on Charlie FeathersContinue reading “Lost In Music: The Cramps- Off The Bone”
Mercury Prize 2023
What does everyone reckon to this year’s Mercury Prize nominations then? I’m pleased at the diversity this year, as I like a wide range of music. It’d be excellent to see Shygirl win for Nymph , as she bends beats into interesting shapes, and Sega Bodega are superb producers.Lankum are great, but I can’t imagineContinue reading “Mercury Prize 2023”
Hit The North 