The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

Menu

Navigation

But a few hours to go

by 8 Comments

…before The 2020 Album Of The year closes. Without giving anything away the race for the Number 2 spot is down to a couple of votes. Far be it for me to try and influence any late voter but A G**l C***e” E**y needs you NOW!!

Let’s show those Quietus people what a proper list looks like!

by 429 Comments

It’s 1st December 2020 and time for our Album of the Year Poll. Cue trumpets or cue disinterest, whatever. Let’s find out who is going to fill the coveted No4 spot behind Bob, Bruce and Taylor. Same rules as ever – a maximum of twenty new albums released this year (no re-mastered lost masterpieces, no live concerts from back in the day). All albums over the twenty cut-off figure will be discarded. First on your list gets twenty points, next nineteen and so on. If you choose to post in ascending order instead then I’ll simply scoff at your silliness and stick to my rules ie first on list is your No 1. If you struggle to name twenty albums (like what I will, IMHO there have been some belting albums released this year but they are pretty thin on the ground) then just list as many or as few as you like, Only thing I ask is Artist Name first followed by Album Title. “Cressida Rising – Heartbreak Hotel” means nothing to me. Voting closes midnight 31st December – as we ain’t goin’ nowhere this Christmas there is every chance I will have ample time to double and triple » Continue Reading.

Jingsabloody roonie!!

by 63 Comments

I’m by no means the world’s biggest David Bowie fan and have long regarded Glastonbury as Music For The Home Counties but last night’s iPlayer relay of the Bowie 2000 concert was simply astounding! Just one of the best things I have ever ever seen. The clip attached is not from the BBC but I urge all you people scattered around the globe to get yourself a VPN or whatever and settle down for majestic musical glory.

OMG!! IT’S HERE!!! IT’S HERE!!!! THE RESULTS ARE IN!!!!!

by 212 Comments

First a disclaimer (where disclaimer = excuse). The votes have been tabulated in four different countries, on a laptop, a phone and a tablet. Sometimes the spreadsheet has been opened late at night and ample refreshments may well have been taken beforehand. Whilst I am certain that the major placings are correct (within the normal statistical deviance of plus or minus 50%) there may indeed be some minor mistakes towards the bottom edges of the leader board where a combination of very silly band names and even sillier album titles may have led to a confused nay befuddled Little Gary inadvertently making the tiniest of errors. So apologies to Swidt, a hip hop collective from Onehunga, New Zealand and oft we jolly well go.

ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTE – IT’S THE 2019 AFTERWORD ALBUM OF THE YEAR POLL!!!!

by 419 Comments

After a few false starts the engine has finally coughed into life, there’s gas in the car and those people down the hall most certainly know who you are. So, hop on board and let’s see where we end up on this Highway of Hits, this Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Loosen those waistbands and if it’s your thing settle down with a bottle of Jack, a spliff the size of Gary’s salsiccia, a sharp pencil and several sheets of paper. If that’s not your thing then just make yourself a nice cup of herbal tea, make sure the curtains are tightly shut, forget about last night’s office party (nobody will remember, just keep saying nobody will remember) and try and remember what’s got you excited this year (Moose, remember your keyword is restraint) We already know the Top 3 Albums of The Year (Lana, Bruce and Michael, duh) but c’mon the whole point of this exercise is to discover new lands, to boldly go where nobody has boldly gone boldly before and to wonder if Duco1 actually exists or is he just Danny Baker havin’ a right laugh.

Right, some rules. You are allowed a maximum of 20 nominations. Be » Continue Reading.

For a Friend

by 17 Comments

An awkward and confusing album when it came out, given the phenomenal success of its predecessor ‘The Lexicon of Love’.

‘Beauty Stab’ is almost a 180 degree turn. What were they thinking? They were thinking ‘Bowie’. Only the track ‘SOS’ seemed comfortingly reassuringly familiar. BUT, this album is chock full of riffs and great songs. Ladies and gentlemen I proffer for your judgement, ‘Beauty Stab’

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mXqUziNpkCjS9Vo6Aq6dOfC23UKLu272Y

This one’s for Gary

by 15 Comments

See you in the bar, G

https://www.npr.org/2019/10/16/770318649/taylor-swift-tiny-desk-concert?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20191019&utm_campaign=music&utm_id=46841276&orgid=&jwsource=cl