“If ever there’s an obscene noise to be made on an instrument, it’s going to come out of a guitar… That’s why I like it… The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar: now that’s my idea of good time.” Frank Zappa An Introduction to Baroque n Roll. First things first, I hate Frank Zappa…
Indie Moans And The Raiders Of The Pop Charts. Or, ‘Don’t Pop’: How The Stone Roses Killed Indie And The Problem With Populism.
There’s a lot in the papers about populism and how it’s a bad thing. And maybe it is. Primarily relating to the Brexit thing because more people voted to leave the EU than remain in it. And the rise in popularity of right wing politics around the world. Boris Johnson. Donald Trump. these are all…
The Gift Of The Fab(s). Or, Here Comes The Son(s Of God, allegedly): Why The Beatles Are Underrated.
When I wrote the last post, about The Stone Roses’ Second Coming debacle, I mentioned that I felt I might have been a bit hard on them and possibly I might do well to redress the balance of having a big old moan by being enthusiastic about something for a change. As it is, I’m…
Tense Tory Love Songs, The Stone Roses’ Second Coming. Or, Great Gestations.
I’ve written a couple of posts about The Stone Roses before, and they’ve mainly been celebratory which is right because they were important to me at that formative age. I’ve mentioned that I might write about how I went off them but I’ve been putting it off because, well, it seems a bit harsh. You…
Dave: A Prayer. Or, The Tragedy Of (Steven) King Fear.
This post is about the best friend I ever had. That and fear. We’re not mates anymore because he doesn’t want to know and I don’t really blame him. It’s also about the usual sorts of things I write about: being confused; being stupid; not knowing how to put things right; not knowing how…
Some People Are On The Bitch; They Think it’s all over. It isn’t yet… Or, There Go Goes The Fear.
“When it comes to life’s penalties and pressure points, Lane suggests thinking of the critical inner voice as “the yobbo in the crowd shouting at you. If you present it that way, [the player] will say: ‘Well, they don’t affect me.’ Sometimes [it helps to] see your own thoughts as a third person and, when…
Nicola: Bleu. Or, Land Of 000 Chances.
“And the lion will lie down with the lamb, but the lamb won’t get much sleep…” Woody Allen. I’m not a believer in fate, but nor am I entirely convinced that, for most of us, free will also is limitless. I think the ideas that we live in a meritocracy and that hard work will reap dividends…
