Yet again, I’m in the minority, it seems. Most sequels, albeit with a few exceptions, are not very successful. The recent Todd Phillips ‘ Joker sequel and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice weren’t blazing triumphs, although I liked the former very much, as I felt it explored the nature of celebrity earned through notoriety very well, and IContinue reading “The Film Surprise Of 2025”
Category Archives: Profile
The Gentle Subversion of ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’
People often misunderstand Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film It’s A Wonderful Life. Released in 1946, it didn’t do very well initially in the United States. People found it too dark. Nowadays, many people find it too sentimental. I think both of these appraisals are a little wide of the mark. It’s both dark and sentimental,Continue reading “The Gentle Subversion of ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’”
Farewell, Our Scottish Goddess
Pam Hogg has passed away. England had Dame Viv Westwood, Alexander McQueen was half Scots and half English, but Pamela was a true Scottish fashion goddess. It’s extremely sad news. Hogg was a true icon, a trailblazer of style. She has a lasting iconoclastic legacy and unique sensibility, v punk rock and sexy. She reinventedContinue reading “Farewell, Our Scottish Goddess”
Lucifer Over Lanarkshire: Wet Leg
Look at this clip. Are Wet Leg for real? I had the misfortune to recently review their latest album, Moisturizer, for The Wee Review, and gave it two stars. The music is incredibly watered down indie, with vapid, adolescent lyrics. And the way they present themselves is cloying, as insincere as the sound they make.Continue reading “Lucifer Over Lanarkshire: Wet Leg”
Accessing The Fringe
Navigating the Edinburgh Fringe can be a Sisyphean task at the best of times, as the population of Edinburgh doubles and almost every available space transforms into a venue or site specific performance space. So it can be an altogether different kind of nightmare for disabled people, in terms of accessibility. Old buildings generally haveContinue reading “Accessing The Fringe”
The Rise- But Not Quite Fall- Of The People’s Pervert
A still from the film Pulp: A Film About Life,Death And Supermarkets Once again, Pulp find themselves positioned as the indie outsiders. While their recent reunion and album garnered much enthusiasm (despite being a little disappointing) it’s Oasis who yet again get the headlines, playing to thousands. I wonder how Jarvis, Candida, Nick and MarkContinue reading “The Rise- But Not Quite Fall- Of The People’s Pervert”
Happy 80th Birthday, Debbie Harry!
How’s it possible? How can it be? Angela Trimble, better known as Debbie Harry, turned 80 on the 1st of July. Belated birthday greetings to a true icon, the NYC goddess with sun in her hair, fiery attitude, intelligence and an incredible voice. She has it all, and she’s influenced countless artists. We’re always touchedContinue reading “Happy 80th Birthday, Debbie Harry!”
Peace, Love and Keir Starmer
Glastonbury 2025 has finished for another year, but vapour trails of outrage remain in the air. Sir Keir Starmer, our UK prime minister, is currently embroiled in a row about the broadcast of Bob Vylan, the punk duo and their chants of ” Death to the IDF”. Politically incendiary playlists? Not on his watch. AsContinue reading “Peace, Love and Keir Starmer”
Sometimes, More Is Less
Pulp’s reunion has been all over the press here, and understandably so- they’ve not made a studio album in twenty four years. I was so excited to hear the latest fruits of their labour, as Jarvis Cocker is one of the UK’s most astute frontmen and waspish wits. I love the outsiders; the oddballs, theContinue reading “Sometimes, More Is Less”
The Future’s Here Today: Stratford Rise
And they look like such sweet boys! Belfast noise punks Stratford Rise played a blistering session for Deb and Tom’s New Music Fix last night on BBC 6. The band have a plethora of influences, such as Deerhoof, Captain Beefheart and XTC, all chopped up and stuck in a blender, and have garnered a greatContinue reading “The Future’s Here Today: Stratford Rise”
Hit The North 