Music critics should be suspicious of consensus. When the same two or three indie-shmindie albums end up in year end top fives you can only wonder whether in fact these items objectively contain the best music of the year? Do writers who evangelise these albums really care that much about them or are they just following a trail of breadcrumbs dropped by noted tastemakers such as pitchfork ? That M83 album is as phoney as a nine bob note [...]
In the late 1980s, I relocated to Scotland. It was a good time to go. Scots economic priorities were not like English one, a fact that came ever more apparent each time I returned south of the border. Ugly, garish retail outlets seemed to have sprung up at random throughout the countryside. Town centres were being deserted. Commerce was bold and vulgar, and people seemed to actually like it. It was a bit like that post-drug experience you get where you stare at the grot beneath your fingernails, aghast that such a thing can [...]
This year's #keepingitpeel marks the seventh anniversary of John Peel's passing, and for the second year running the John Peel Day for bloggers is taking place. Peel was probably the most influential radio DJ in history and had a huge influence on fans of music and bands alike. His love of, and attitude toward music made him [...]
Does anyone remember Mr Benn? Emerging from 52 Festive Road to embark on an adventure in his new guise. As I vaguely recall, many of the Mr Benn tales had a strong moral undertone. Everything always turned out well if Mr Benn was there, with his kind and reassuring avuncular manner. Good old Mr Benn. Old things, gold things. Just like friends. Saw some goldies but goodies this week. Friends that see you through the good times, the fat times and the nobody loves me times. R&J, Big Sare, Bingley D, Polly Pocket and Movie Mate, you are [...]
For over two decades Half Man Half Biscuit have inhabited a unique musical space where nobody else could possibly reside. Satirical, sardonic and sometimes surreal, always witty and sardonic, to dismiss HMHB as a novelty act would be doing them a massive injustice. 90 Bisodol (Crimond) is another album (their 12th in fact) full of acerbic wit [...]
This is pretty much the complete Half Man Half Biscuit Peel Sessions. I think there is probably a couple of tracks missing here and there but nobody's perfect. If you're not familiar with Half Man Half Biscuit, and I've heard that such beings exist then this is a great place to start. Nigel Blackwell - Guitar/Vocals Simon Blackwell - Lead Guitar [...]
Half Man Half Biscuit -star jump tragedy I remember They Might Be Giants slightly resignedly announcing to a festival crowd that they were about to play a new song – another of their wacky songs about death and misery. Half Man Half Biscuit share more than you might think with TMBG (not least an unwieldy moniker). But of course, they come from a completely different cultural context. Are there any bands more British? A cloud [...]
You know what the best thing is about the first day of September? Neither do I. The days are about to get shorter, and next summer is staggeringly distant. Let's celebrate anyway, shall we? Half Man, Half Biscuit - National Shite Day (mp3)
Yep, I am off down to London to schmooze like a lickspittle get plastered and see some excellent bands. And to catch up with one of my best and oldest friends. Good times. And to watch the Champions League final. Possibly slightly less good times. I am running the gauntlet of the British Rail ticketing system as well. For those who aren't familiar with this particular challenge, in the UK they try and make it as difficult as possible for you to buy a/ the cheap tickets which they advertise so aggressively (£35 London-Edinburgh return, aye right!) or [...]
Pris - " hotter than Debbie Harry in camiknickers feeding a beef vindaloo to Pan's People in a sauna in Bangkok." 'The Better You Look The More You See " By Pris. Here's the forthcoming debut single from Pris who we have featured a fair few times on The VPME this year ( interview here) Not only do they play power packed, post punk, snot pop with a vengeance, they also spend their spare time pissing off fans of 'serious' bands on twitter. It's [...]
Have a Happy Christmas folks, I'll leave you with a couple of old favourites and a new favourite . . . "It's Clichéd To Be Cynical At Christmas" By Half Man Half Biscuit . 'Merry Christmas Baby, Please Don't Die' By Dum Dum Girls & Crocodiles. And new for 2010, which is rather wonderful. . [...]
Today's Christmas tune from Half Man Half Biscuit fondly recalls the wonderful world of Subbuteo.
The idea is... This idea came to me as I was getting sunburnt on holiday. Yes that's right whilst everybody else was enjoying the weather I was deep in thought about football and music. I never stop. Yes you are also correct, I am a bit of a sad bastard. It is partly influenced by Half Man Half Biscuit, who are the patron saints of footie & music. I was lying there on the beach listening to the [...]
Pagan Wanderer Lu From: Cardiff/Bolton, United Kingdom Pagan Wanderer Lu is Andy Regan (born in Bolton) a one-man 'Indietronica' band originally formed in Aberystwyth but now based in Cardiff. As Pagan Wanderer Lu Andy, who also passes his time playing bass in Silence At Sea , has self released countless albums and EPs of world weary, witty ditties. He is a uniquely British, razor sharp commentator [...]
Very special episode of Danger Radio. We play the legendary and rarely found C86 album in it's entirety in order. Along the way we discuss the bands and what it all means to myself and my co-host Jake Ryan. This is one of about 5 albums I can point to that shaped my musical tastes and I'm proud to say that it sits at the top of that list. PLAYLIST: Velocity Girl – Primal Scream Happy Head – The Mighty Lemon Drops Pleasantly Surprised – The [...]
Right muchachos time for some reflection of sorts. So I've kept up this blogging malarkey for over two months now and I'm enjoying sharing my musical (and other) views and discoveries with you all. Traffic to the blog has been growing steadily and I would like to thank you all for continuing to listen to [...]
PLAYLIST: Los Campesinos - In Medias Res The Morning After Girls - Shadows Evolve Atlas Sound - Walkabout Metric - Gimme Sympathy Doves - Blue Water Comet Gain - Why I Try To Look So Bad McCarthy - The Well of Loneliness Velocity Girl - I Can't Stop Smiling The Soup Dragons - Hang Ten British Sea Power - Waving Flags Half Man Half Biscuit - Dickie Davies Eyes Gliss - 29 Acts of Love Apples In Stereo - Sun Is Out MIA - Born Free [...]
Asleep on the compost heap
Doklands
barrygruff
Mad Mackerel's Blog
Burning World
SoundsXP
The Smudge of Ashen Fluff
A Town Full of Losers
Song, by Toad
The VPME
4fortyfour
Football and Music
The Devil Has The Best Tuna
Your Music Is Awful.com
The Hood Internet “When The Night Knows (Whitney Houston x Chromeo)”
The Weeknd – Balloons of Haus (Remix Tape by ChiDuly)
Skrillex Uses Satanic and Homosexual Influence to Win Grammys
