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”
Tag Archives: Punk
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”
Film Review: Boom For Real
Anyone who’s ever seen Julian Schnabel’s good but flawed film Basquiat knows where this documentary gets its name from: a news report that artist Jean – Michel Basquiat sampled this anguished line from, and turned into an artwork. Sara Driver’s documentary, from 2018, subtitled The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat , takes a muchContinue reading “Film Review: Boom For Real”
Film Review: Meet Me In The Bathroom
Of course, the title’s a drugs reference as well as a song, but this vivid and compelling film by Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern, based on Lizzy Goodman’s book, focuses on the dizzying rise of early 2000s bands The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs Interpol, and many others, with rare footage of wild early club gigsContinue reading “Film Review: Meet Me In The Bathroom”
Stay Beautiful: A Post For Richey Edwards
It was 1992, and I was immune to the charms of Manic Street Preachers. I thought they were just rock posturing. My partner at the time, A, loved them. So, since we both made a little fanzine, we managed to get an interview in Dundee with Richey Edwards. I was determined to give them aContinue reading “Stay Beautiful: A Post For Richey Edwards”
Overlooked Classics: Santogold
Artists who change their names mid-career often confuse me, but I can make exceptions. Santi White, whose eponymous debut solo album came out in 2008 under the name Santogold, is a bit of a musical genius, I think.She’s now better known as Santigold. What a debut it is. She’d been part of the millennial neo-Continue reading “Overlooked Classics: Santogold”
Frank Kozik Was Bad-Ass
The American artist, best known for Kidrobot, Labbit the smoking rabbit and his wild, colour- saturated poster designs and graphics has unexpectedly passed away on May 6th at 61. If you grew up in the 90s, you’ll likely be familiar with his band poster images and magazine covers, with a plethora of cheeky, devilish characters.Continue reading “Frank Kozik Was Bad-Ass”
Overlooked Classics: Ezra Furman- Day Of The Dog (2013)
What a doozie. Ezra Furman ‘s second studio album after her work with The Harpoons is absolutely sublime. Inspired as much by punk rock as gospel, doo-wop and rock ‘n’ roll, the song writing was kicked up several notches into something really special. Fusing her spiritual side with And Maybe God Is A Train, withContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Ezra Furman- Day Of The Dog (2013)”
Shonen Knife are 40!
Once described by uber-fan Kurt Cobain as “pop, pop, pop music” , the legendary Osaka trio Shonen Knife are celebrating forty years in the business. Naoko Yamano, sister Atsuko Yamano and Risa Kawano are the current line-up, with the most recent album Our Best Place garnering huge acclaim. Often described as “the Osaka Ramones”, theContinue reading “Shonen Knife are 40!”
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”
Hit The North 