My nomination.

Step forward Mr Gerard Love ex of Teenage Fanclub. Gerry was in the Fannies for 29 years. It’s true that they released 10 albums during that time which is not bad going (though 7 of those came during the first 10 years). But due to them fortuitously having three songwriters in the band he only had to supply around 35 of those album tracks, slightly more than one a year, and enough for 3 albums on their own. He also released a solo album as Lightships in 2012.

So that makes for 4 albums worth of material in 29 years. That’s Blue Nile levels of inactivity. Since leaving the Fannies 7 years ago – reportedly over his disagreement with their (not very heavy) touring commitments – he’s released precisely zero new music. So that’s 4 albums worth of music in 36 years and counting.

A quick Google shows he’s played 9 gigs in the last 4 years – 6 of them in his hometown of Glasgow. He’s clearly decided it was time to take it easier after those strenuous TFC years.

To declare an interest, he’s my favourite songwriter, and taking it easy has meant he’s kept » Continue Reading.

The Guardian has many faults but is still by far the best of a bad bunch IMHO, speaking as a middle-aged woolly liberal. But I’ve long wondered who on earth they think is the target audience for their music coverage.

I reckon this list would imply they’re after the, no doubt rather niche, Quietus demographic. Can’t imagine it crosses over to much of the readership of the rest of the paper.

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/jun/10/the-best-albums-of-2025-so-far

With their first album in 24 years in June. And sounding very good if the single is anything to go by. That was unexpected. Vídeo in comments.

My knowledge of Mr Ferrari and Roxy Music doesn’t go much further than the hits, which I like, but the song in the comments popped up in my Spotify release radar playlist recently and after ignoring it for a while, I clicked. Blimey, I thought. What’s Byron (and Amelia Barratt) up to here? It’s rather good.

The album Loose Talk came out last week and I’ve listened to it plenty since and I like it a lot, despite my usual aversion to spoken word. Ferry/Roxy backing tracks from the vaults, some updated, with received English recital over the top. Is that selling it to you…?

Not reviewing it as I don’t have enough Roxy/Ferry/spoken word references to do it justice but thought it was worth highlighting as something very interesting for a bloke of 79/80 (not forgetting Amelia Barratt) to be releasing. Also be interested to hear what those with greater knowledge of the man and his music think.

Not sure to what extent it will stay the course for me – I really do struggle with spoken word and while the words are intriguing I’m not sure how much repeat listening they’ll stand – but for the last » Continue Reading.

All 14 of Philip Kerr’s wonderful Bernie Gunther novels going for 3.99 of your British pounds on Kindle. I make that about 29 pence each for one of the finest series of crime novels ever written. Snap it up before they realise they’ve cocked up. You’re welcome.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philip-Kerr-Complete-Bernie-Gunther-ebook/dp/B0BT4JMJBM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=LKE0CMF487ML&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.uyYoeeRSJa89qmj_GVnD0ItLLmuio-LQk_Hl9IkSplZCNxg7gzSiiZ1Zrg3qDAFiT2aG1g006GT74oX25LUQrBgNc4MW5UNSO3iVwtMCHMho9bzOf9ZBm0wQY6eiKGfuCNf3QEMiwoaW80UtbUASeyDsIm6rYGg0cj3BA61KCvdTFLN1yapaDZJdK3uPo1cYCXWwmAIhyPsKe_IDgNj9SQ.XhswSESHrKILTsS_dtKaEvGpcSSyXWlNPTrENUnXiV4&dib_tag=se&keywords=philip+kerr&qid=1740811551&sprefix=philip+kerr%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-1

New album out today from a group I’ve loved for more than 30 years. It’s very good. And very happy to see them, after all this time, getting the lead review in the Guardian from Alexis Patredis. Also saves me reviewing it myself.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/12/tindersticks-soft-tissue-review-abundant-with-lovely-subtle-details

And yes, Stuart Staples does maybe occasionally sound like Vic Reeves’ club singer, just to get that out of the way.

The kindle version of the brand-new and much-praised 2 Tone story by Daniel Rachel is going for 99p or 99 cents, depending on geography, on Amazon. Dive in. I have.

Messrs Hepworth and Ellen broached an interesting topic in the latest Word podcast. Which bands will last, and which will fade away. Good subject I thought.

Who would have thought a decade ago that Queen (48th) and Fleetwood Mac (103rd) would seem to be down with the kids and be higher up in the most listened to artists on Spotify lists than the Beatles (128th) and Stones (179th)? Or 20 years ago that Coldplay (14th) or Arctic Monkeys (53rd wtf!?) would not only still be around but still be weirdly huge.

I’m not convinced with the H&E theory that it’s all about the ‘story’ – the Doors (nowhere to be seen) seem to be all story but does anyone still care about them? I’m not sure it’s films either. OK, Elton John (44th!) had Rocketman and Queen had Bohemian Rhapsody but Baz Lurman’s Elvis doesn’t seem to have done the same for Elvis (347th) and Oliver Stone’s The Doors arguably finished them off way back when. And while my children enjoyed Yesterday it didn’t make them start listening to the Beatles, but they love Queen and Fleetwood Mac – you could say that they’d rather Fleetwood Mac than Jack. » Continue Reading.

First single: King – Love & Pride (ouch)

First album: Now That’s What I Call Music 5

First individual artist album: Bryan Adams – Reckless

So, no, I didn’t start out cool. I hope some of you can do better.

My beloved Fannies have a new album Nothing Lasts Forever coming September. I’m delighted. Just two years after Endless Arcade. So hopefully an end to 5/6 year gaps between albums.

Since Jerry left they’ve really upped the workload so maybe it becomes clearer what the tensions were behind him leaving.

New song is a decent enough Norman effort. Not an instant classic methinks. But all the Endless Arcade singles sounded better in the context of the album so I’m quietly confident.

Just wonderful to have them back so quickly.

Not much music or culture in this post I’m afraid.

Since I turned 45 I’ve literally forgotten how to sleep. Never very good at it before but never bothered me. Late night, early morning, bit knackered but fine.

But last 5 years it’s taken on its own personality. Dogs me through the day “no way you’re sleeping tonight” and is proved right. Tried booze, but that led to other issues. Now pills, but even near overdose numbers don’t work. Healthier attempts too. Regular to bed early to rise. No screen time of an evening. Physical activity. Pilates. Breathing activities.No nicotine. Herbal teas. All bollocks.

Three or four nights a week are basically sleep free zones. And my brain, body and career are feeling its effects. And all that late night thinking produces many darkest hours. Not to mention a thankfully sympathetic partner who often just heads for the sofa when the tossing and turning starts. When she sleeps she actually looks likes she’s enjoying it!

So any of you grizzled but wise types out there have any experience? Or things that worked. Doctors tell me pill use has to come to end. And then what?

Yours tiredly

Or: How to make a book sound as unappealing as possible…

The long-awaited, candid memoir from Peter Doherty, whose talent as a musician has more often been eclipsed by a Herculean appetite for selfdestruction: drugs, prison, prostitution, court, murder, death, robbery, car crashes and hospital emergencies.

Peter Doherty’s is the last of the great rock ‘n’ roll stories. As an icon, he is on par with the early Rolling Stones and Sid Vicious – bad boy and public enemy. To his devoted fans, he is a cult hero, a modern-day Rimbaud. Musically, there is no doubt he has defined the past twenty years of British rock ‘n’ roll with his sound, lyrics, lifestyle and aesthetic. Since The Libertines rose to international fame, Doherty has proved endlessly fascinating. A whirlwind of controversy and scandal has tailed him since his first spell in prison in 2003. He divides critics; for every award and accolade, there is a scathing review. All too often his talents as a songwriter and performer have been over-looked. Hard drugs, tiny gigs on the hoof, huge stadium shows, collaborations, obliterations, gangsters and groupies, Doherty has led a life of huge highs and incredible lows.

In A Likely » Continue Reading.