Oct
18
Madge to do a Prince or a Radiohead?
October 18, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Bloggers with an ‘I-told-you-so’ attitude are smug and annoying but I can’t help but link Madonna’s latest deal with Live Nation with my post of March 2007. Mrs Ritchie has done almost exactly what I predicted. She’s signed up for a monster touring, merchandise and album deal with the very people I had so much […]
Sep
28
Dan pursues CBS aggressively
September 28, 2007 | 1 Comment
I’ve been following the Dan Rather saga ever since my news intake of the 2004 US elections was rudely interrupted by this weird thingy called blog opinion. I followed it so much that I even did a dissertation on what has since become known as Rathergate and followed that up with an exclusive interview with the […]
Sep
22
Long tail economics . . .
September 22, 2007 | 1 Comment
I won these boots a few months ago. They are one of 100 pairs made for Formula 1 driver Kimi Raikkonnen as part of his 100th race celebrations when he was with McLaren. Now 20years ago what would you have done with such boots if you were me? If you’re an F1 freak you might […]
Sep
19
Auntie’s Musical Tastes
September 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment
It’s not often you see something interesting on Facebook, but this caught my eye:  I’m not sure how this list is calculated but what does it say about BBC tastes & demographics? That we’ve a penchant for US pomp-rock, sensitive indie for bed-wetters ((c) Liam Gallagher), preachy posh-rock, introspective drone-rock or past-their-best dad rock? Or […]
Sep
17
The Litigation Machine Has Landed
September 17, 2007 | 3 Comments
Many moons ago I described SCO as a free falling litigation machine. Well, the thump has now been heard around the world. As I said back in my 2004 piece, it’s the employees of SCO I feel sorry for. Taken on a hellish helter-skelter ride by a management determined to bank everything on […]
Aug
31
Little Dragon
August 31, 2007 | 1 Comment
To say Little Dragon sound like Morcheeba is of course lazy journalism, but such comparisons are no small compliment to this interesting Swedish four-piece. Japanese Vocalist Yukimi Nagano delivers breathy R n’ B vocals with wonderfully piercing cut-glass clarity and quirky ticks in a manner that would pacify even the most ardent Bjork-hater. Â I don’t […]
Aug
26
Krautpod#2 . . . Die Toten Hosen
August 26, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Issue number #2 in my occasional series of podcasts is out now is out now: Krautpod#2 – Die Toten Hosen. Special thanks to all at deutsche-in-london.net for the kind words, and especially to Frankie who bought some Helden CDs on the strength of Krautpod#1.
Aug
22
The Displacements, Water Rats, 21st August
August 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment
These days when bands are described as making tunes that appeal to parents and kids alike, it’s meant as a put down. Not so with The Displacements, who are more than aware that 40 years ago a certain bunch of scousers dealt rather well with similar ‘criticism’.