Hall Of Fame: The Real Ramona by Throwing Muses

  Throwing Muses made everything better. Their music, all awkward patterns, assumed a disordered beauty once you fully immersed yourself in their world, an introverted and often surreal place full of drama, horror, beauty, and wonder. I lived there quite a lot during my years at school. What set them apart from other bands during…

All About Kittie: Remembering Spit

I swore to everyone in my circle of friends that the future of rock music could be found on an album named Spit. Kittie, a feminine word that belied a decidedly loud band, were the new Hole. They would bent and bash inflexible Metal into exciting new shapes; they were IT and I loved them.…

Hall Of Fame: 1.Outside by David Bowie

Certain albums need help in order to work better. In theory, it’s simply a case of buying a record/downloading an album/sticking on a CD and listening to your music. And for most albums, that’s exactly how the transaction works. But not 1.Outside. Released in the 90s, years after last having any substantial hit songs in…

Hall Of Fame: Adore by Smashing Pumpkins

There are certain opinions enshrined in music journalism by music journalists. For the most part their thoughts remain unchallenged, unchanged. These edicts have been chipped into the rock of rock music itself. You know what I’m talking about, of course. Nevermind is the best Nirvana album. Blur won the battle, Oasis won the war. Sgt…

Banana Yoshimoto Is Good For You

When my mother took a nervous breakdown (her fourth in a week), she was prescribed a book by her GP. “Fuck reading the book,” she snarled. “I want Valium.” In theory, the NHS scheme of giving patients a list of books to make them feel better is a worthy thing to do. In practice, most…

Songs To Lose Your Wig Over #1: Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland by The B-52’s

Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland is the best B-52’s song that isn’t Rock Lobster or Channel Z. This is a fact that can’t be denied. Any denial should immediately result in a slow and painful deaf. Taken from Bouncing off the Satellites, the group’s darkest and most melancholic album, Girl From Ipanema is a…

Hall Of Fame: Bed by Juliana Hatfield

The truth is I listened to 'college rock' before I ever went to college. I'd already decided what life was going to be like based on some CDs and movies, all of which were from America. Britain was going through a post-Britpop hangover and for the most part, I favoured alternative American bands. I had…