Frisky And Mannish: Extra Curricular Activities @ Assembly Hall ★★★ Review by Lorna Irvine | 31 Aug 2012 Since 2008, Frisky & Mannish have climbed the glitter trail to stadium pop via the Fringe – they have earned their stripes.This is their greatest hits package. They know the transformative power of a pop anthem andContinue reading “From The Skinny Archive: Frisky And Mannish”
Tag Archives: Pop
Album Review: Nadine Shah- Filthy Underneath
I wouldn’t mess with Nadine Shah. There’s a toughness to the Geordie singer songwriter, and a raw honesty in everything she does. She’s am outspoken advocate for feminism, fiercely anti-racist, and has spoken out for mental health awareness and artists receiving fair pay. So it’s hardly surprising that this, her fifth studio album, is anContinue reading “Album Review: Nadine Shah- Filthy Underneath”
Lost In Music: The Sugarcubes-Planet
Bjork’s breakthrough band in the UK and USA (she’d made work with Kukl,Spit and Snot and various others) were a funny hybrid of indie and pop: sometimes,they were on the wrong side of wacky, a la The B52s around the time of Love Shack. Sometimes, as with the gloriously dark Mama, Cold Sweat or Sick ForContinue reading “Lost In Music: The Sugarcubes-Planet”
The Trouble With Irony
In the first part of this millenium, it seems you couldn’t move for irony. Arched of brow,barbed of zinger, pop culture was dominated by irony. It gave us nu-rave, refurbished arcade games, vintage style, the Burlesque and cabaret revival, and- arguably most prominently – comedy that to many was just plain offensive. I get it,Continue reading “The Trouble With Irony”
MALKA Makes Hopscotch Pop
Can we all agree that MALKA, aka Tamara Schlesinger, is making some of the best pop out there? It’s warm, catchy and inventive, with a little of everything thrown into the cocktail mix, in terms of genre… As well as forming the collaborative Hen Hoose, she continues to tread her own original path. This newContinue reading “MALKA Makes Hopscotch Pop”
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”
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”
Lost In Music: Sinead O’Connor – Troy
It was a ‘meh’ kind of summer in rural Scotland – the kind of sticky oppressive day of boredom and heat that induced ennui in anyone, let alone adolescents in a drab town. I was sitting in my cousin’s living room with her. She’s brilliant,no-nonsense and funny, the closest to a sister I’ve had. WeContinue reading “Lost In Music: Sinead O’Connor – Troy”
Worst. Music. Documentary. Ever.
What a howler music documentary Madonna: The Name Of The Game, from 1993, is. Presented by Troy McClure alike (albeit with Ned Flanders’ stylist) Mark Bego, it’s got all the insight of a tabloid article, and the production values of an Alan Partridge corporate video. And nothing says Madonna like an ABBA hit for aContinue reading “Worst. Music. Documentary. Ever.”
Lawrence: Perennial Pop Genius
Not found in the usual outlets, Lawrence is, as I may have previously stated, a pop genius. At the start of 2023, to little fanfare, Mozart Estate (previously Go-Kart Mozart) released the singular ‘Pop-Up! Kerching!And The Possibilities of Modern Shopping’. Lawrence has crafted THE austerity era album here,bar none. Mr Hayward, the Brummie maverick behindContinue reading “Lawrence: Perennial Pop Genius”
Hit The North 