Dean Fleischer Camp and Jenny Slate’s mockumentary is one of the most lovely family films I’ve ever seen. In the hands of Disney, it probably would have been a treacly exercise in trite sentimentality, but leave it to independent filmmakers to create something pithy, poignant and rather beautiful. Marcel (adorably voiced by Slate) is indeedContinue reading “Film Review: Marcel The Shell With Shoes On”
Category Archives: Pop culture
Young
And just like that, I’m catapulted back in time, back into the mid-nineties. Social media means phoning your friends to talk about films, clubbing is still the preferred choice of our weekends, and we can handle drinking culture and the occasional pill or spliff. Pulp, Bjork and Husker Du ring out on the dancefloor. It’sContinue reading “Young”
Bad Cover Versions: The Damned- See Emily Play
Oh… Dear. The Damned have always been a huge source of joy and affection for me, as they were the first live band I ever saw, back in their ‘Phantasmagoria’ era. They were great, even though they were already past their best by then. And I love the original version of this by Pink Floyd,Continue reading “Bad Cover Versions: The Damned- See Emily Play”
Overlooked Classics: Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
Years before ‘Trainspotting’ cemented its place in literature and film history, auteur Gus Van Sant, along with screenwriter Daniel Yost, created a brilliant film about a bunch of junkies and the rigmarole of fixing. Here, the setting is Portland and the decade, the early seventies. Matt Dillon is the lead character, Bob, putting his broodingContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Drugstore Cowboy (1989)”
Favourite Cover Versions: Radiohead Homage The Smiths
Two of the greatest British bands of all time feature in this post today… What’s not to like? Radiohead covering The Smiths ‘ peerless, typically arch song ‘The Headmaster Ritual’ is a glorious thing to behold indeed. Here it is. Notice how lovely Thom cracks up and can’t get through the line, “spineless bastards, all”.Continue reading “Favourite Cover Versions: Radiohead Homage The Smiths”
Legacy Acts
At the end of last year , I was unfortunate enough to hear the most recent single from David Byrne, ‘T Shirt’. It’s made of thin material indeed, and I say that as someone who likes some Talking Heads work and his projects with Eno and St Vincent. Likewise Kylie and her insipid Christmas single,Continue reading “Legacy Acts”
Lost In Music: Alt Blk Era
Nottingham sisters Nyrobi and Cheya Becket-Messam are kicking a hole through musical genres and expectations. The dynamic pair make music that straddles EDM, indie and metal, and their sparky debut album ‘Rave Immortal ‘,which was released last year, earned much critical and fan acclaim. Their outspoken attitude on issues like Black culture and disability, cheekyContinue reading “Lost In Music: Alt Blk Era”
Fallen To Earth, Low But Not Down
“It’s very, very sad… Very romantic” , David Bowie explained to a bemused Russell Harty in one of their many infamous awkward chatshow exchanges, after of course the pompous host remained fixated on the aesthetics and not substance, yet again. He was of course referring to The Man Who Fall To Earth. Low, the albumContinue reading “Fallen To Earth, Low But Not Down”
Ten Years Gone…
And missed every day. Bowie was the best. It’s the dawn of 2026, and Trump has ICE agents firing at cars. Where are we now?
Documentary Review: Bowie- The Final Act
Sadly, it’s been almost a decade since the passing of the Thin White Duke. This documentary, which aired last night on Channel 4 in the UK, is a bit lopsided. Essentially, Bowie: The Final Act, directed by James Stiasny, initially comes across as a greatest hits of Bowie information, aiming for the gravitas and inventionContinue reading “Documentary Review: Bowie- The Final Act”
Hit The North 