Album Review - Life's Story by Javelin Boot (1991) (Self Released under No Duh Records)

Janglepop in the late 1980's and early 1990's was a 'bag load of lad'. Bands such as R.E.M and McCarthy were busy politicizing anything that remotely upset them as they held aloft the flag for 'angry young men' on both sides of their pond. 

Similarly testosterone was injected into the natural beauty of the genre by virtue of the fact that bands such as The Smiths, Thousand Yard Stare, The Railway Children and Milltown Brothers were popping up from the UK's less affluent towns. Thus all manner of floppy haired university types could support their cause safe in the knowledge that they were now forging the illusion of being part of the 'council estate chic' that pervaded an era where it was considered 'cool' to be poor.

Album Review - Ringleaders of the Tormentors by Morrissey (Attack)

After over two decades of trying to persuade anyone who would listen that he lives a veritable monk-like, celibate existence, in which flighty, fluffy concepts such as love were ill-conceived notions of the common-man and sexual lust the mere constraints of those unable to intellectually conquer our more basic instincts, Morrissey finally has his Doris Day meets Hugh Hefner moment in this album, as he accepts love and lust into his life. It is a bizarre volte-face as the Pope of Mope turns into an inconceivable 'Love God' right before our ears.

Album Review - London 0 v Hull 4 by The Housemartins (1987) (Go! Discs)

The Housemartins were largely ignored upon the release of their first two singles. Both Flag Day and the ultimate ear-worm Sheep failed to break the UK top 40 . However the third single from this album rectified this, with Happy Hour (see below) charting at number 3 and cementing both the commercial and critical acclaim for this album and forcing 'all things Hull' into the public consciousness, just as The Smiths were starting to implode internally.

Album Review - The Greatest Living Englishman by Martin Newell (1993) (Humbug)

I started this blog on the 2nd of December 2017. I have been lucky enough to get a surprising number of regular followers, some of whom might recall that I am something of a 'fanboy' of Martin Newell, both in his solo capacity and his The Cleaners From Venus output. So forgive me another Newell indulgence !

Album Review - Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds (1965) (Columbia Records)

As a twenty something I was the definitive music snob. If one of my favourite 'unknown' bands dared to even consider courting a bit of critical acclaim, I could, and often would, devote my attention elsewhere. Similarly if the same band even momentarily considered leaving my current favourite little known 'tiny records' label and sign for a major...well they were literally dead to me.

Album Review: The Coldest Winter for a Hundred Years by The Wild Swans (2011) (Occultation Recordings)

My Dad died last year aged 76. He was a good man. Or so I thought, until I reached pub age, where alcohol would loosen his tongue to reveal a character that was only 'saved' by meeting my mother. I used to love his stories though. It was precious male bonding time, the sort that only alcohol can truly secure.