Can’t even think of one to be honest. Er, not even ‘that one’ which I always thought monotonous and overrated.

A few years ago I struck up a very basic conversation with a couple of Japanese people in Lapland (go figure!). They said my Japanese was very good. I knew it wasn’t of course but I was still thrilled. When I got […]

Apparently Gruff Rhys was edited put of the TV version due to adverse reactions. Have to say it wasn’t his finest moment and it was probably for the best. It really did sound as if he’d never heard Living in the Past before.

‘Look for your Mind’ by the Lemon Twigs is the only new album that has filled me with anything remotely joyous so far this year. Melodic, crafted and with great hair.

It would be a very brave person indeed who ever called Frank their ‘guest singer’…

Yes obviously I get that. It would have been a brave choice to get Hammill to perform A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers for example. But, having said that, for a ‘prog’ event, it was a bit on the safe side.

Yeah, it’s not great. Sinatra’s ‘team’ thought he needed to be a bit more of a credible artist with ‘the kids’ and this was the patchy and uncharismatic result. If people tell you this is the best Sinatra album […]

Avoid the dreadful Watertown (which even Sinatra hated- and with reason). In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning is excellent as is Frank Sinatra Sings for the Lonely. Most of his 50s Capitol albums are worth a […]

Love Dylan but live he’s really awful. I’m personally happy to stick to the records (as I am with most artists tbh.)

All equally horrendous though. Had a quick listen on Spotify. Didn’t seem as strong as Hackney Diamonds but is number one in the midweek chart. As with all these current chart placings however (especially for […]

The song isn’t really worthy of the Count but, despite this, I think we’re all on the side of the Oxford-educated intergalactic metallic receptacle aren’t we? Even if he doesn’t win, reducing Farage’s majority and […]

Terrible cover.

I interviewed her at her fairy story castle on the Gower peninsula once. I’d been warned that her partner was, er, ‘well connected’ in a Goodfellas kind of way so I was on my best behaviour when the man walked […]

Nice interview. But I preferred the NME when it was rude about everybody.

Yet another good reason to stick to records.

I love the lyrics and the wit. Such a shame they’re often buried in the mix and that the music seems to be an afterthought.

Agreed. I’m just not terribly interested on the whole. One or two bands/artists make it past my radar but vanishingly few these days. If I can’t hum it I take a pass. I have possibly become the resurrection of […]

Try it out on a record which you don’t particularly care about first. This is what I did before hearing the results and then taking the plunge on my mono first pressing of Pepper. I do it sparingly these days […]