A knot in my heart: The Raincoats at the Feminist Library Summer Benefit, London, 2 July 2016
Photo by Amber Bateup. It’s hard to talk about The Raincoats. I’m writing this from a teahouse in London, trying to figure out why that is. I can’t find the right phrase to describe the knot in my heart that tightens when I think about them. It’s the kind of knot that holds you together. […]
Martha – Blisters In The Pit Of My Heart (Fortuna POP!)
I fell in love with Martha because she had sunburned shoulders, just like my girlfriend. Their downbeat admission that “the autumn forecast’s looking dismal again” somehow proved irresistible. And when ‘Ice Cream and Sunscreen’ suddenly sped up, my heart did the same, singing along to all band members of Martha bursting out in unison: “I […]
Hannah Golightly meets ILL, pt. 2: Ari Up, homophobia at home, and definitely no mandolins
Photo by Greta Buitkute. From left to right: Whitney, Hannah, Harri, Fiona. Missed part 1? Backtrack here. Transcribed by Lee Adcock. The original plan was to interview ILL for ten minutes. But where’s the fun in that when there are four like-minded people gathering together to discuss the things that matter to them musically one […]
Ardent Mythology: Following The Libertines
By Alexis Late A lot of well-worshipped musicians tend to have a web of mythology encompassing them. Sometimes it’s created by scandal loving press and is, not surprisingly, flawed or exaggerated; sometimes it’s unearthed by fans through intimate obsession, or woven by the artists themselves, as they make their manifestos public. The Libertines were a […]
The Singles Club: The Libertines / Velociraptor
The Libertines – Gunga Din Justin Edwards: I could always understand the appeal of The Libertines in 2002/03 but also considered that they managed to peak between albums with the post-first album Don’t Look Back into the Sun and the pre-second album Can’t Stand Me Now. In 2014 I can’t really understand the appeal of […]
Ex Hex – Rips (Merge)
Oh, yes. Hell yes. These gals are talkin’ my language. Two minute tunes, beefy riffs, catchy tunes, handclaps. A local critic penned the quip “Thin Lizzy all up in yr grill” and I concur. To an extent. Can ya feel it? The heart and soul and power [pop] of rock and roll at its diamond […]
So. That NME List. Let’s Talk.
As we all know, I’m just a hack when it comes to music criticism. Not one of those professional, illustrious NME editors at all. However, I can say that I know a thing or two more about sample selection and “science” than the self-righteous blokes ($10 wager that they’re ALL blokes) who compiled this so-called […]
Micachu And The Shapes – Never (Rough Trade)
This is what it feels like to be alive in 2012 — connected to everything and more isolated than ever.
Eleven records I’m embarrassed about liking
I can only put my liking for this down to some kind of sadomasochistic sexual attraction towards Dolores; her personality and her voice. I really can’t account for it otherwise
Scott Creney reacts to Pitchfork’s reaction to M.I.A.’s Finger
Ryan Schreiber should be, if not ashamed, then more than a little embarrassed at the moment. Calling someone an asshole for raising a middle finger to a Super Bowl camera when you run a website and a music festival that has no problem promoting songs about rape, misogyny, and homophobia is empty and pathetic.
