It was only when I realised I'd forgotten my PIN number for the bank that I realised what was happening. When was the last time I actually went to the bank? The keypad made me stay away, fearing what might happen if I touched it after all those other fingers. I assumed the threat of… Continue reading Lost In Space (A Diary)
Nu-Metal was terrible, according to critics. It was masculine, posturing, witless, joyless rock that allowed everyone into the hermetically sealed world of metal. Actually, it did allow metal to crossover into the mainstream. In the early 2000s, it wasn't unusual to see a Limp Bizkit song in the Top Ten or hear Linkin Park's Hybrid… Continue reading One Inch God by Defenestration
Way back in 2001 when I was skinny and trying to find my way in the world, I used the freedom of my student loan to buy books and music and clothes. Really, that was my entire existence. Through these things and the newness of college, I was able to become...me, or a version of… Continue reading Sonic Jihad by Snake River Conspiracy
Juvenilia is an EP by Liz Phair released in 1995 by Matador Records. Ostensibly a single for Jealousy, a track taken from her second album Whip-Smart (which I still listen to quite often), it also shows a more playful side to a singer/songwriter often written off by male journalists because she never quite became what… Continue reading Juvenilia by Liz Phair
Originally serialised in Playboy Magazine (in Japan) between May to October of 1968, Life For Sale wasn’t available to read in The UK for decades. Thankfully Penguin Classics decided to turn Yukio Mishima’s stories into a novel and, with the help of Stephen Dodd’s translation which makes the story accelerate along, this classic by is… Continue reading Life For Sale by Yukio Mishima
Last week while cleaning out my Cupboard of Crap, where all the junk and clutter fits even when there's no space left, I suddenly remembered something I'd forgot about for years. There I stood with a pair of gloves and a mask, trying not to breathe in years of dormant dust, when a box marked… Continue reading Nemesisters by Babes In Toyland
Happiness Is Wasted On Me was meant to be released on 28th May but having had a chat with the publisher this morning, we both agreed to postpone it. With bookshops being closed, it seemed like a bad idea to put the book out next month. I actually requested the delay, so I could have… Continue reading News about my book
Lockdown is tough on everyone. All of our freedoms have been snatched from us, our TV sets and streaming services help a little, but the more adverts I see telling me to #StayAtHome the more I want to scream. No-one wants to overwhelm our NHS, but of course if The Tories hadn't slashed it to… Continue reading Things That Make Me Happy During Lockdown
Nancy Drew is many things to many people, yet across the decades there have been several consistent elements in her characterisation. For one thing, she's deceptively resourceful. A brilliant brain. A crime busting teen queen. And she owns a wardrobe full of fierce fashions that she's not shy about showcasing. Basically, Nancy Drew likes to… Continue reading Nancy Drew: Sleuth of Style
Dear Shirley Manson, I'm writing this because I want to apologise to you. I've always admired your power, your supreme fierceness, your talent. In the '90s, you were a huge part of my life. You and the band were a soundtrack for voluntary self-distancing. I listened to your voice, took in your words, studied interviews… Continue reading beautifulgarbage by Garbage (an apology)
