This week is Christmas for authors, really. I've been stuck in my house seething at the Covid-19 lockdown that's keeping its heel on our throats, but still trying to keep busy. A few weeks ago I had my live digital launch, which mostly went rather well, if you ignore the bit at the start where… Continue reading Book Week Scotland!
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
Tape Loop is a downtempo masterpiece of mood and atmosphere. I say that with complete confidence. Whenever I listen to it, I reckon it sounds like the most ‘90s song ever. Yet other times, it sounds like a time we haven’t quite reached. It melds so many elements into one track, yet it sounds unfussy.… Continue reading Songs To Lose Your Wig Over: Tape Loop by Morcheeba
Years before Prodigy released their seminal Fat Of The Land, there was Atari Teenage Riot making a racket with their acerbic digital punk. The Future of War, their second album, was the logical conclusion of the futuristic fusion of aggressive guitar riffs and skull-caving beats. Atari Teenage Riot's original incarnation - Alec Empire, Hanin Elias,… Continue reading The Future Of War by Atari Teenage Riot
Some records are defiantly underground. Others are absolutely mainstream. Then there's Goo by Sonic Youth. Though released on a major label (Geffen), it looks and sounds like the work of artists hellbent on confusing the listener. Sonic Youth always had the reputation of confounding expectations; they were serious about what they did but had a… Continue reading Goo by Sonic Youth
Certain albums need a little 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… Continue reading Hall Of Fame: 1.Outside by David Bowie
Mortal Kombat II is still the best game in the franchise. I became a disciple of it back in the 90s...and I still love it today.
Decades after being released to mixed reviews and a good showing at the box office, The Craft continues to be revered and relevant, a preciously guarded artefact for an entire generation of teens who have now grown up into adulthood. An argument could - and probably has on a billion other blogs - be made… Continue reading Years Later, The Craft Continues To Cast A Spell On Me
As things change, things also stay the same. A mystery assailant with a grudge against high-profile officials sends bombs in the US Mail. Sabrina The Teenage Witch gets up to silly magical hi-jinks with the help of her two kooky old aunts. RuPaul hosts a chat show crammed with celebrity guests. You might think I'm… Continue reading Being A Teenager In The ’90s
