anklesandwrists

Having wanted to do something different with my hair for a while, I was spurred into action when seeing the dramatic change of style undertaken by all-round top dude and sender of ace gifts, Laura.

So. Did I get a smart, modern style in keeping with my status as a man in his early 30s and a representative of Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs? Ha....
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Hello. I'm back.

I feel rather ashamed that I've only just learned of the untimely death of Phantom Dan Federici.

Certain people in my small circle of friends find it amusing that I always insist on mentioning the E Street Band at all times when discussing Springsteen, but it's an important fucking distinction. He's only actually ever made one good album without them and they're...
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As I sit here in my squalid apartment, surrounded by dirty tissues and empty Pot Noodles, I am musing on the many reasons to rejoice in the coming months. Forthcoming musical delights include tours by Siouxsie, The Breeders, The Drellas and a long-awaited string of dates by the mighty Whitehouse. While I have no desire to attend ANY of these events, preferring instead to sit...
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It's been a good year for books in 2007, the undoubted highlight being Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar. Mr Millar has been one of my favourite writers for years now, but his last novel did nothing for me at all - to be blunt, I thought it was awful. However, it was the only the first Millar book that I had judged as anything...
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Those of us at a certain age will, no doubt, recall the sheer horror of the early 90's shoegazing scene. For those of you shaking your heads, this was a collection of aural sacks of shite going by names such as 'Chapterhouse' & 'Swervedriver', producing the kind of drivel that made life worth living again for legions of Smiths fans. It was a terrible time...
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[12 May 2007|06:14pm]
While I don't consider myself to be a heartless person, I'm getting increasingly pissed off about this news story.

Firstly, there are the circumstances in which she disappeared. The child had been left alone by her parents while they dined and made merry in a local tavern. I can't help thinking that, had this been a working-class family, more would have been...
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'................the fucked up ones always write the best lyrics'

The line above was spoken to me by a nurse outside York District Hospital in 1999 as we both stood smoking outside the staff restaurant, whilst discussing the post-Richey James fate of the Manic Street Preachers. It's a line that I recall now as I listen to 'Oar', the only solo album recorded by Alexander 'Skip'...
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The latest issue of the fetish magazine 'Skin Two' arrived on my doormat this morning. I'm not a regular purchaser of said magazine (although some of the photography in the current issue is simply stunning), but as this issue contains a story by one of my favourite contemporary writers, Martin Millar, it's an essential purchase.

I've been a fan of Millar's since I read 'Dreams...
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A very good night was had last night by myself and my good friend Joe at Liverpool Barfly attending a concert by the mighty Luke Haines. As anyone with any taste knows, Haines is the brains behind The Auteurs, Black Box Recorder and a number of solo projects. This was Luke's second tour in support of his excellent new solo album.

The night...
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What's it like to wet your foot in a cold swimming pool?
What does your voice sound like underwater?
At night?
Can you do the chickenskin swim?
Can you do the chlorine gargoyle?
Can you wriggle like an eel?

I don't know why you'd be proud
Of your 33 hours' lack of need
You're another shut-in freak
Living off the burn of boy's own razzled...
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Today, along with my beloved, I took a trip to <a href="http://www.tate.org.uk/liverpool/">Tate Liverpool</a> to see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_and_Dinos_Chapman">Jake & Dinos Chapman</a> exhibition <a href="http://www.tate.org.uk/liverpool/exhibitions/jakeanddinoschapman/guide/default.shtm">'Bad Art for Bad People'</a>. Tate Liverpool is becoming a force to be reckoned with these days - no longer the poor cousin of Tate's <a href="http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/">London</a> & <a href="http://www.tate.org.uk/stives/">St. Ives</a> galleries, it's forthcoming attractions, including the <a href="http://www.tate.org.uk/about/pressoffice/pressreleases/2006/7449.htm">2007 Turner Prize</a>, are...
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