twoinchreview

[twoinchreview]

2024 gigs. Scores based only on artist performance. 2d2s = too drunk to score.

25/01 DEADLETTER Bedford Esquires 7

30/01 CVC Bedford Esquires 9

31/01 CVC Mash, Cambs 9

02/02 CVC Soundhouse, Leics 9

08/02 Jimeoin Core, Corby 6

11/02 The Scratch Bodega, Notts 7

02/04 Divorce / Everything Everything Junction Cambs 7 7

18/04 Velcro / Yasmin Coe / Adore / TTSSFU Windmill Brixton 7 7 7 7

28/04 Dog Unit / Prima Queen / Chartreuse / 86TVs Omeara, London 8 7 7 7

03/05 Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard / CVC Village Underground 7 2d2s

12/05 Miya Folick Lafayette 7

14/05 Dog Race / Gia Ford / Francis of Delirium Oslo 8 7 8

15/05 Cruush / Pale Blue Eyes Bedford Esquires 7 7

17/05 Hurray for the Riff Raff Electric Brixton 6

24/05 Sprints Bedford Esquires 6

29/05 Mary in the Junkyard / English Teacher Electric Brixton 7 8

01/06 Ceremony 4: The itch / Cosmorat / Clt Drp / Dutch Mustard / Benefits / Dog Race / Hot Wax Bedford Esquires 8 7 7 7 5 8 7

05/06 Jodie Nicholson The Lower Third 6

06/06 King Hannah Rough Trade East 8

20/06 Angie McMahon Lafayette 8

22/06 Courtney Barnet / Hot Milk / Foo Fighters London Stadium 7 2d2s 2d2s

04/07 The Snuts / Self Esteem / Kings of Leon Silverstone 7 8 8

08/08 Ghostwoman The Dome 7

27/08 Adeem / S.G Goodman Lexington 6 8

11/09 Green Star / Better Joy / C Turtle The Social 6 7 8

18/09 King Hannah Lafayette 7

20/09 Meute The Troxy 7

01/10 Absolutely Anytime / Fiona Lee / Wings of Desire Shepherd's Bush Hall 7 7 7

09/10 Wishbone Ash The Drill, Lincoln 7

12/10 Highschool / Wunderhorse UEA 7 2d2s

28/10 Man of Moon The Lower Third 7

29/10 Wand Moth Club 8

05/11 Langkamer / Slow Fiction Omeara 8 6

07/11 Holy Youth Movement Bedford Esquires 7

15/11 Chantel McGregor Mama Liz's 7

19/11 The Howl and The Hum Lafayette 8

21/11 Enjoyable Listens / Desperate Journalists Bedford Esquires 7 8

22/11 The Barbican Estate / Dog Unit The Lower Third 8 7

26/11 The Umlauts / Porridge Radio Electric Brixton 7 8

03/12 Gglum / Honeyglaze Village Underground 7 8

04/12 Lemondaze/ Our Girl Portland Arms 8 8

09/12 The Deep Blue Portland Arms 8

11/12 Frank Wloyd Left / Charlemagne/ Ladylike / Flip Top Head Windmill Brixton 6 8 8 8

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2023 gigs.

A list rather than a review but there will be the odd descriptive comment when warranted. The list will include accompanying fine dining.

13.1 Harry Hill. New Theatre, 'Boro. Nuts. Funny af, but nuts.

23.1 Frank Turner, Lottery Winners, Wildwood Buoys. O2 Academy, Leicester. The Marquis Wellington.

26.1 Francis of Delirium, Sloe Noon, Collars. Bedford Esquires. McDs. Great gig. 1st support, quirky (the drummer was also the guitarist), 2nd were superb, reminded me of Slothrust and FoD are always excellent.

2.2 Sprints, Langkamer, Eades. Bedford Esquires. Herd. Amazing, just brilliant. Missed Eades (fucked off 'bout that), Langkamer got me well in the mood and Sprints nailed it. Burger at Herd was one of the best I have ever eaten. Top night.

14.2 Mogwai, Brainiac. Rock City. Horn in the Hand. Brainiac are odd, Mogwai were fucking loud. HitH always delivers when it comes to burgers.

17.2 Doors Alive. Roadmender. Oriental Garden. Great tribute act. Great Chinese meal.

18.2 Dr. Feelgood, Dois Padres. Bedford Esquires. McDs. So glad I made the effort.

22.2 Hotel Lux, Average Life Complaints, The Barratts. The Craufurd Arms, MK. 81 The Original Diner. Three good bands. ALC stood out, HL were so interesting to watch. Burger was just 'good'.

25.2 Total Stone Roses, Oaysis. Met Lounge 'Boro. The College Arms. decent tributes, decent pub-grub katsu curry.

28.2 Young Fathers, Callum Easter. O2 Academy Leeds. Almost Famous. Wow. What a midweek trek, what a gig! YF did not disappoint and CE was intriguing - he played with YF also. And, the best burger I have EVER eaten. EVER.

3.3 Emily Breeze, Andrea Kenny. The Donkey, Leicester. Heritage India. EB was fabulous. The restaurant front of house thought I was a food critic, I am sure of it.

5.3 Grade 2, Clobber, Kings of Pigs. Voodoo Lounge, Stamford. McDs. Sunday gig, G2 were really good.

10.3 Suede, Desperate Journalists. Rock City. Horn in the Hand. DJ were fucking excellent. Also, saw great singer in the Lilly Langtrees pub after the gig....see 06.07 entry.

13.3 Self Esteem, Campbell King, Tom Rasmussen. Cambridge Corn Exchange. Honest Burger. SE was wonderful - great show, great songs, great voice, great live.

14.3 Slow Readers Club, Andrew Cushin. Lafayette, King's Cross. Cut and Grind. I loved this gig. SRC in a small venue - place was bouncing. Katsu chicken burger was good.

16.3 Mike Wozniak. The Core at Corby Cube. Nando's. Wonderful, laugh out loud ramblings.

21.3 Death Cab for Cutie, Slow Pulp. O2 Institute, Brum. Manzils. SP stole the show, DCFC were 'alright'. Great veg madras but with fucking mushrooms.

22.3 The Orielles, Pale Blue Eyes. MASH, Cambridge. Butch Annie's. Brilliant gig. TO were a different band live and PBE will play arenas one day, I'm sure of it. Marvellous burger, marvellous gaff.

24.3 Black Honey, The Howlers. Bedford Esquires. Herd. Bloody excellent night for food and music.

28.3 Anna B. Savage. Village Underground. McDs.

30.3 Jadu Heart, Gglum. Assembly Rooms, Islington. MEATLiquor, GDK. Gglum stole the show. She rocked, actually. I had a balcony ticket but snuck downstairs during a technical hitch with JH's kit; the upstairs bar ran out of beer (wtf?) so I went in search of booze only to find I could walk into the main hall unchallenged! Great burger followed by a really great kebab. 04.04 Gretel Hänlyn, Mary in the Junkyard. The Moth Club. McDs. Great little venue and MitJ were excellent (brilliant drumming and drummer) and GH was fantastic. No overground afterwards but jumped in an Uber to Finsbury Park with two fellas who'd been to the gig #lifesavers

11.04 Big Thief. Hammersmith Apollo. Chicago Grill. I found BT disjointed and out of tune at first, came good toward the end. Burger was fucking huge and beat me. Plus I had to use cutlery to eat it.

14.04 Joe Rooney., A Celebration of Father Ted. The Key Theatre, Peterborough. Interesting evening with the chap that was in one episode of Father Ted as Father Damo. 18.04 Waxahatchee, Indigo Sparks. Earth. GDK. No overground, walked there and back and still made GDK and caught the 23.00 train. 20.04 Fenne Lily, Naima Bock. Islington Assembly hall. GDK. Last minute gig (thanks to ReTickin') and I am glad I made the effort FL and her band (esp. the guitarist) was most impressive - great live sound. 21.04 Lemondaze, Treeboy & Arc. Portland Arms, Cambridge. Butch Annie's. Brilliant live sets from both and a flipping excellent burger.

04.05 Yard Act. Troxy.

05.05 Big Country, Spear of Destiny. Islington Assembly hall.

08.05 Haley Blais, Katie Tupper, Georgia Harmer. Bush Hall. Tiger's Diner. Three great artists and HB's voice is one of the best I have ever heard. Burger was a treat...I shovelled it down!

11.05 Foals. Pryzm Kingston. The first of two shows for the band on the night presented by Banquet Records and they were on top form.

16.05 Lael Neale, Guy Blakeslea. Lexington, Islington. McDs, GDK. LN was simply wonderful. 2-4-1 GDK is always a treat! 08.06 Crawlers. Omeara, Borough. The Kebab Shop. Last minute ReTickin' gig and I am very glad I made the effort. Lamb Shawarma was amazing. 10.06 Diane Cluck, Johanna Warren. Cafe OTO, Dalston. Only went to see JH and it was a performance workshop, so no singing. Not what I expected.

16.06 Arctic Monkeys, The Hives, The Mysterines. Emirates Stadium. 22.06 The Sherlocks. Bedford Esquires. Herd. Last minute gig 'cos Dara O Briain was cancelled due to flooding. TS were cracking.

26.06 Indigo de Souza, Rosie Alena. Village Underground. Fat Hippo, Shoreditch. IdS, and her band, flippin' rocked. I like it when the live performance is a real step up from studio. FH was also cracking.

06.07 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Girl Band. Craufurd Arms. GB were excellent - saw the guitarist/lead singer, Georgie, after the Suede gig 10.03 - chatting after their set, she remembered me! GCWCF lost the plot with the chatting, rowdy audience...it was embarrassing.

07.07 Breanna Barbara, Memory of Speke. Moth Club. Burke's Warehouse. BB was so good, fantastic. MoS were very good. Burger & chips were excellent.

19.09 My Baby. MK11 MB were really good value - rock enthused dance music and the lead singer's voice is exemplary.

22.08 Boygenius, Ethal Cain. Piece Hall, Halifax. 242 mile round trip was just about worth it. Both acts were OK. Venue is special, though.

28.08 Karen Jonas. Great Easton Village Hall. 29/08 Future Islands. Cambridge Corn Exchange. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. FI are so good live. Cajun chicken burger was fine.

05.09 Samia, Art School Girlfriend. Kentish Town Forum. One of the best gigs this year.

23.09 Flock of Seagulls, Enjoyable Listens. Bedford Esquires. Brewhouse & Kitchen. FoS were good value, EL were excellent as always and the burger was fine.

26.09 The National. Ally Pally. Views from the venue were spectacular.

04.10 Sprints. Scala. Ballache getting to the gig 'cos of the train strike, but well worth it. Aftershow gathering at The Lexington warranted an overnight stay!

05.10 Hard-Fi, Tom A. Smith. The Junction. Impressed with HF, even more impressed with TAS and his band.

06.10 The Undertones, Tom Robinson Band. The Junction. TRB were amazing. He is a great entertainer and his guitarist was superb.

18.10 Treeboy & Arc, Bo Gritz. The Moth Club. T&A are seriously good live.

23.10 Lande Hekt, Charley Stone's Actual Band. The Lexington. 26.10 Yumi and the Weather, Sunny Gym. The Craufurd Arms. Only caught the final song from SG but it was excellent. YatW were banging.

30.10 Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, James P. Honey. The Lexington. CSatLD were amazing. The violinist pulled out one of the best live solos of any instrument I have even witnessed.

08.11 Deadletter, The Joy Hotel. The Craufurd Arms. TJH were bloody good...including bass, 5 guitars! D were superb - great front man.

09.11 Nothing But Thieves. World Resorts Arena, Brum (old NEC). £7.50 a fucking pint. NBT is about right.

12.11 This Is The Kit, Gina Birch. The Glee Club, Brum.

15.11 The Murder Capital. Electric Ballroom. Mental gig. Haven't seena mosh pit like it since the 80s. Thoroughly enjoyed this gig.

16.11 Bleach Lab, Wings of Desire. Scala. WoD were right down my street and delivered - a nice surprise as I'd not heard of them before. One of those gigs where support > headliner.

23.11 Bdrmm, Damefrisor. Bedford Esquires. I flipping enjoyed this. B drummer cracked open a bottle of beer with the end of his drumstick which was the coolest thing I have ever seen.

03.12 The Rural Alberta Advantage, Zoon. Lafayette. I was not in the mood for travelling down to this on a Monday night. However, it was well worth it. RAA were every bit as 9, or so, years ago when I first saw them.

04.12 Coach Party, Bedroom High Club, House of Women. O'Meara. A free gig put on by Beavertown brewery and I'd have gladly paid. Each band were great. BHC were brand new to me and were the pick of a fantastic bunch. I will definitely catch all 3 live again.

12.12 Rahill The Lower Third

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Lucero. A band. A fantastic band.

Spotify and its wonderful curated playlists is a thing of musical discovery beauty. And one such discovery is the band Lucero. The latest album, When You Found Me is wonderfully entitled since that's when I found them (there's another 11 to catch up on as well, all are great).

I am so glad I did. That glad that I immediately checked out upcoming live shows and booked (Lafayette, KGX, London).

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Saint Cloud. An album by Waxahatchee

While this is a review for Waxahatchee's (Kate Crutchfield) 5th album, it is also a review of the artist herself. The album is wonderful. A fascinating collection of songs that are original and satisfying. There's an obvious root in country but it's beyond that, beyond categorising other than 'damn good'. I love it and I love the fact that, a the point I came across her on Spotify, she has 4 other albums under her belt for me to dive into; dive, I have, and it's fine swimming.

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Thoroughbreds. A film.

Released in 2017 before Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy were the household names that they are now (especially the latter), these two give acting peformances by which the most seasoned thespian would, most surely, be impressed. Stunning. The acting spearheads a marvellous film. It’s brimming with quality throughout. A masterclass in the art. A dark, brooding masterpiece.

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Hanna. The Amazon Drama. S2.

When I reviewed S1 I wrote the following: “Unlike many other series that are guilty of blatant cliff hanging to try and secure a second season, this one set that up while leaving no unsatisfying loose ends. I look forward to more of the same.”

Well, I was right to look forward to another season. Same excellent standard and a well developed story. And, guess what? The same well rounded conclusion at the end of ep. 8 but with a teasing opportunity for more. I love it! 

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The Heist of the Century. A heist film.

This is an Argentinian film about six characters of fairly assorted, sordid backgrounds, but likeable enough, who come together to rob a bank.  This film seemingly owes a lot to Sodebergh’s excellent Ocean trilogy for two main reasons: the soundtrack is very David Holmes like and, secondly, the way the story comes together and the heist is planned down to every clever detail. This is all the mastermind of the Danny Ocean character. But, he’s no George Clooney. Far from it. He’s a rough-round-the-edges pot smoker. But he’s a genius. Another huge difference between the franchise (itself a remake) and this film is the latter is based on a true story. And it’s quite simply brilliant. When a law abiding citizen such as myself ;-) roots for the criminals, you know is a good yarn. This film is just that.

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The Beatles

A band I obviously know of, heard a lot of but never listened to seriously. I had access to their Live at Hollywood Bowl album when I was a kid, it’s the only record of theirs that I’d ever listened to in earnest.  So, I decided to listen to all their studio albums one after the other in chronological order. I’m glad I did. I enjoyed them more as I progressed, such is my general music bent. I can only imagine what it would have been like to grow with The Beatles - to be a teenager when Please Please Me was released - how new, different and exciting.

And to follow their career - it was all so ground breaking. I know it’s clichéd but where would the broad spectrum of music I enjoy right now be without The Beatles? As I went on this short but monumental musical trip, I kept finding The Beatles remind me of music I am more accustomed to listening to - ‘this band’ or ‘that artist’ or ‘that song’ or ‘that musical style’ or ‘that guitar riff’ or ‘that bass line’ or ‘that sound effect’ or ..... the list of similarities is extensive. And it covers so many bands, artists and genres. Then it dawned on me; I’m not reminded of all these things by The Beatles, all those things remind me of The Beatles. It’s quite the revelation even if I am so late to that particular party! Artists that I thought wholly original (Bowie, Zeppelin, Floyd are just three examples) all owe influence to The Beatles, even if they don’t know it (I’m sure they do/did). You may all know of the six degrees of separation theory - well, I think that all popular western music genres we listen to - and I do mean all - can have their influences, no matter how small, traced back to The Beatles under the same theory - most probably less than the stipulated steps.

Such was the enormity of this band. And I am so pleased I took myself on this listening journey. I enjoyed every minute of it and I discovered how so very grateful I am to The Beatles. Thanks John, Paul, George and Ringo.

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One Man, Two Guvnors

A live recording streamed by the National Theatre during the Covid-19 2020 UK lockdown.

I am gobsmacked by this production. It is truly excellent live entertainment. The format, the interaction with the audience, the content, the players, the setting, the scenery, the script, the songs. A absolute delight.

During a time of lockdown, this was a much welcomed and surprising treat but, had I watched it any other time, I’d have reviewed equally enthusiastically. I am so jealous of the people in the audience! Seek it out! 

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1985 Albums

Friday 20th March 2020.

On the way home from work (for the last time in a while I think, thanks Covid-19) Radio 2 played The Whole of the Moon by The Waterboys. I loved and love that song from their album, This is the Sea. I knew the album was released in 1985. It’s a year I won’t forget in a hurry for lots of reasons; the main, unbearably sad one is losing my mum, but, also, for other reasons that were not at all sad. The aforementioned album being one, another being another album - Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love. (Another was Knebworth opening its gates to music for the first time in a few years….what a gig that was!) So, did I listen to any other albums that year? I seriously couldn’t tell you, for certain, the name of any other album released in that year….with aging memory it seems to me my turntable’s time was equally divided by Mike Scott and Kate - six months apiece. I decided to check it out. A quick search on Google and the first hit I clicked was this one from the NME that lists 50 albums.

I decided to listen to each in turn, from its count of 50 down to 1. I posted a one line review on each on FB. Here are those one-liners below, with supplementary comments as and when.

50.  ABC, How to be a Zillionaire. I didn't learn that actual trick but I did learn to love Martin Fry's delivery once again.

49.  Sade, Promise. Smoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooth.

48.  Sheila E – Romance 1600. One I missed posting about of FB, probably because it was that forgettable. I can’t remember one track from it and it was only a couple of weeks ago!

47.  Alex Chilton, Feudalist Tarts. Who knew? Seriously never heard of him before!

46.  George Clinton, Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends. Funky. Another new one on me.

45. The Replacements, Tim. Never heard or heard of them b4 today. Shan't bother again!

44.  Run DMC, King of Rock. Dunno why I like this album, just do. It's like that and that's the way it is.

43.  Cameo, Single Life. I've already forgotten about it.

42.  New Order, Low Life. The first album on NME's 1985 list that properly rocks all thru. 

It’s a proper ‘of its time’ album and yet timeless. This gets the bold review ‘cos I would definitely take time out to listen to this again. First one of the NME list!

41.  Robert Wyatt, Old Rottenhat. Out there. A defo doob album.

40.  The Style Council, Our Favourite Shop. I recall this album & it's better than it was.  Weller has a voice that sometimes sounds like it’s going to break at the sterner test but then he carries it off. It adds to the originality.

39.  Sonic Youth, Bad Moon Rising. Proper industrial punk. I like it.

38.  Dexys Midnight Runners, Don't Stand Me Down. Not one track had I heard before. Fab.

I really enjoyed this. I like the fact it’s a real deviation from what I remember Dexys for - all denim and oddly-antifashion fashionable. This album showed real confidence in their own ability, quite rightly.

37.  Husker Du, New Day Rising. 'Salright.

36.  Bobby Womack, So Many Rivers. “Let Me Kiss You Where It Hurts.” 😂😂😂 Yep - the only thing I wanted to post about this album, having listened to it (like so many others, for the first time) was the name of one track which still, as I type, makes be chuckle like a school boy. Sorry Bobby.

35.  The Fall, This Nation's Saving Grace. I never really got The Fall. This album doesn't help. This post on FB attracted some comment - Ralph White (fellow Posh and music fan) was, I sensed, a little perplexed at my opinion. But, I can’t lie, the band, and Mark E Smith, just didn’t, and still don’t, do it for me. I’m too old and long in the tooth to persist. Sorry Ralph.

34.  Propaganda, A secret Wish. If you had to guess the time of this album's release from its sound, it couldn't be anything other than slap bang middle of the 80s. I mean it is sooooo eighties. It’s the sort of record that will be used for educational purposes - in history lessons.

33. Scritti Politti, Cupid & Psyche 85. I feel I should be more impressed than I am.

32.  The Pogues, Rum, Sodomy and the Lash. What an album, what a fucking album.

I listened to this while out walking and it really took me by surprise just how much I enjoyed it. Of course, I’d heard a lot of the songs before but, as a collection, along with the tracks new to me, it really stands out.  

31.  The Cure, Head on the Door. The Cure does easy listening.

30.  The Cult, Love. What's there not to love? No sudden death, just love.

Contains one of my favourite all time tracks. Can you guess?

29.  Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Firstborn is Dead. Interesting. Definitely a band you have to be in the right mood before the needle hits the record.

28.  David Sylvian, Alchemy: An Index Of Possibilities. Music to have acupuncture to.

By that, I mean it was very, very, very Japanese-y.

27.  Suzanne Vega, Suzanne Vega. Singer song writing by numbers.

To be perfectly blunt, I found it boring.

26.  The Smiths, Meat is Murder. The Smiths are an enigma to me. Good music, good musicians but, that condescension. Morrissey, Geldof, Thunberg....peas in a high & mighty pod.

All that being said a few days ago now, I’m sure I’ll listen to this (and maybe other a records of theirs) again. I fucking hate that it was that good.

25.  Bryan Ferry, Boys and Girls. Slick as you like. Is he the coolest man in music? I think he is.

24.  10000 Maniacs, The Wishing Chair. I can take this or leave it. When I posted this on FB there were a couple of posters encouraging me to try In My Tribe - it’s on as I type and it’s a little better.

23.  Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston. I like this debut album. What a voice she had!

22.  A-Ha, Hunting High and Low. Not bad song writing in a second language.

Nice enough album...but this band will always just be ‘nice’ and, memorable for a video, not much else. 

21.  Grace Jones, Slave to the Rhythm. A mess of an album.

Worst one on the list so far even if it has got David Gilmour playing on it.

20.  Simple Minds, Once Upon a Time. I always felt, & feel, this band are wannabes to U2's crown. Nice enough album though.

19.  The Colourfield, Virgins and Philistines. A gem of an album. 

Terry Hall reminds me of Bowie. So talented, so prolific.

18.  Everything but the Girl, Love not Money. Pleasant enough but won't be on repeat. 

17. Loose Ends, So Where Are You? Hmmmm, not quite Color Me Badd. Very Delia Smith. The Delia Smith comment was because I found this album was an embarrassment much like Delia that fateful night at Carrow Road. If you don’t know to what I am referring, Google it.

16. Killing Joke, Night Time. Great album, cracking band.

15. Tears for Fears, Songs from the Big Chair. A big collection of comfortably accomplished songs. 

The first album on the list I had definitely played, in its entirety, before...just not in 1985. 

14. Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms. By no means their best. Tbf, you’d have to go some to best a debut or 3rd or 4th albums of the quality Dire Straits had under their belt. And, a side note, I think probably the best name for a band, ever. 

13. The Sisters of Mercy, First and Last and Always. A moody, gothic masterpiece. I reckon the growling vocals are the stuff of genius and nightmares.  12.  Prince, Around the World In A Day. Prince is brilliant, this album isn't. Like a few on this list, the decade’s half-way point didn’t see his finest hour.

11. Felt, Ignite the Seven Canons. I've never heard of this band before, nor heard a single track from this album, until now. I like them, I like it.

And I reached the Top Ten....I found myself really looking forward to the next 6-7 hours of the supposed mid-80s finest.... 

10. The Jesus and The Mary Chain, Psychocandy. Mentally sweet. 

It is a great album by a seminal band but I didn’t really get on the band wagon back then, and I don’t have the time nor the inclination to now. That’s gonna piss some people off, I’m sure! 9. Microdisney, The Clock Comes Down The Stairs. Never heard of them before, probably never listen to them again.

This album left me feeling nothing. It’s the most nondescript one of the list thus far and I doubt that will change.

8. REM, Fables of Reconstruction. This band were good before they got massive. 

Fucking brilliant. I had never listened to this album before and it’s such a precursor - we all know how massive they became and one or two of their later albums were residence, for a time, in my CD player. I reckon this one could become a real favourite of mine. Not just of REM stuff but in general.

7.  Lloyd Cole & The Commotions, Easy Pieces. Easy listening and first rate easy listening, at that. 

‘Brand New Friend’ is the stand out track.   

6.  Prefab Sprout, Steve McQueen. I don’t switch the radio off if this band are played, but I never play them. This album doesn’t alter that.

5. Madness, Mad not Mad. Who'd thought the stalwart rude boys would be so innovative? Another cracker from this list. It really stood out for me, they way the band changed things up a notch with this record. I can imagine some long-time fans would have baulked at this at the time of release but now, 35 years on, it smacks of progression. I’ve just asked Alexa to play it as I’m typing. 

4.  Talking Heads, Little Creatures. A wonderful, totally original band and album. This album reminded me that I do not spend enough time listening to Talking Heads. 

3. The Waterboys, This Is the Sea. Marvellous. This is an album I know and love. So, here it is, one of the aforementioned two. It’s is still one of my favourite albums, definitely, but, just a little bit, the metaphors grate - there’s enough of the fuckers on this album - the sea, the moon, the spirit. But I will always love this album and I will revisit many more times, I wager (and hope).

2. Tom Waits, Rain Dogs. Not really a musical masterpiece, more a lyrical one.

I found this a unusual choice for number 2. That’s subjectivity for you, I’d have picked many others before this one for the runner’s up slot.

1. Kate Bush, Hounds of Love. One of my favourite ever albums. The best of 1985, maybe of the 80s, very close to of all time. It’s number 1 for the NME and it most certainly is for me.

So, I listened to all of these NME listed albums in turn and it was, in the main, an enjoyable musical journey

And I reminded myself that, in 1985, I did indeed only put two albums, that first saw the light of day in that year, on my turntable (Kate Bush and The Waterboys). Any other releases didn't get a look in. 

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Since I (favourably) review I’m Not OK With This.....here’s the main star. It better get renewed....it really better had.

Entertainment Spotlight: Sophia Lillis, I Am Not Okay With This

Brooklyn born actress Sophia Lillis stars as Sid in I Am Not Okay With This. Sophia started her acting career at the age of seven, when her stepfather encouraged her to take acting classes at Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Manhattan. You probably recognize her from her role as Beverly Marsh in IT and IT Chapter Two. Additional film credits include Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase, and the recently released Gretel & Hansel. Sophia took the time to answer some of our extremely hard hitting questions:

Is there a moment from your childhood that you would’ve loved to have had superpowers for?

I’ve always wanted to be able to travel through time because I was the most embarrassing child growing up (still am) but I was worse as a kid and I always wanted to travel through time and give myself a good slap on the face. And also I wanted to teleport because I hate transit to school, and subways. I hate the A, C train.

If you suddenly had Sid’s powers, how would you react, and how would you use them once you got them under control?

A cool party trick!

You’re putting together a montage scene about your experience making of I Am Not Okay With This. What’s in that scene?

All of us break out laughing, sleeping, and eating.

Thanks, Sophia! Season One of I Am Not Okay With This is now streaming on Netflix!

Photo: Josh Telles

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I’m Not OK With This

An indie teen comedy on Netflix. Great acting, quirky premise, great soundtrack and excellent young actors. I really enjoyed this series of 7 20-something-minute episodes. I do hope it’s commissioned for more.... ….Stanley Barber (Wyatt Oleff) has got the hairiest armpits ever. 

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Ripples. An album by Ian Brown.

10 years is a fucking long time between albums but that’s how long Ian Brown has kept us waiting since his last solo effort (2009′s My Way).

Ripples is well worth the wait. In fact, it’s a fucking masterpiece. I’d gladly exercise 10 year stints of patience for music of this quality. Good stuff, Monkey Man, good stuff indeed. EDIT: It’s a shame you’re a Covid-19 denier Ian, ‘cos that makes you a fucking cunt.

[twoinchreview]

The Irishman. A Scorsese film.

209 minutes of trade-mark Scorsese. What’s not to like? Indeed, it is a cracking film. However, if you’ve seen Goodfellas, if you’ve seen Casino, if you’ve seem The Iceman, then you’ve seen it all before. So, you know it’s well worth a watch despite the negative connotation of my comparisons.

[twoinchreview]

Sam Fender Hypersonic Missiles

Sam Fender’s debut album is a cracker. When I saw him on the second stage at the 2018 Community Festival (pic), hungover to shit, he brought me out of my dejection for 30 mins. I’ve been looking forward to this album ever since.

On first listen, my immediate reaction was “one man The Killers” but, on reflection, many more listens later, it’s better than that. It’s actually a modern day masterpiece. And that’s where I become disheartened. It’s an album that ably voices the disillusionment of today’s youth, quite rightly. I agree with the sentiment completely but, as a 53 year old man (at time of typing), I’d feel an imposter at one of his gigs now, such is how he feels my generation has let his down. I rate the album but wish Sam Fender hadn’t felt compelled to write it.

[twoinchreview]

Chronicle. A super power film.

Upon it’s release in 2012 this stood out for me as a film about growing up as teenagers, but with the kind of super powers I dreamt about as a teenager.

It tells a story of the diffiulties we all go through and some don’t get through as unscathed as others. It’s an age old generational angst-ridden tale given a unique twist. Not all super powers create super heroes.

[twoinchreview]

The Great Hack. A Netflix documentary.

Fucking hell. You have to watch this. Like all documentaries, it's not everyone's point of view or everyone's side of the story. However, it's very comprehensive, informative, well made and scary. Fucking scary.