Barney Hoskyns co-founded and editorially directs Rock’s Backpages. He is the author of, among other books, Across the Great Divide: The Band & America (1993), Waiting for the Sun: Strange Days, Weird Scenes & the Sound of Los Angeles (1996), Hotel California: Singer-Songwriters & Cocaine Cowboys in the LA Canyons (2006) and the Tom Waits biography Lowside of the Road (2009). Formerly US correspondent for MOJO, he resides in London's leafy East Sheen, the birthplace of rock and roll.
Below is the best musical news I’ve heard all week. If you are unacquainted with this shadowy individual’s first two albums, you are missing out on music of incontrovertible genius… and I do not use that term lightly. The guy’s … Continue reading
Much as I did not like her debut effort – you can read my rather scathing review in the RBP Library, if you so wish – I cannot currently get Ms. Adkins’ chart-topping single (‘Rolling in the Deep’) out of … Continue reading
I’ve been meaning to say this for several weeks but almost couldn’t be bothered. The King’s Speech isn’t a terrible film but it really IS another calculated exercise in luvvie nostalgia, precision-tooled to seduce Oscar voters who still cannot resist … Continue reading
A truly abysmal performance by CFC at Stamford Bridge today; Liverpool the deserved winners. The Torres soap opera clearly didn’t help, but it was no excuse. Headless chickens to a man, with Terry the usual exception. Sweet timing for Carragher … Continue reading
From Chris Charlesworth’s personal back pages: a lineup of Melody Maker staff, circa 1971, taken by photographer Barrie Wentzell, on the flat roof outside the MM‘s offices on Fleet Street. Left to right are staff writer Roy ‘Hollybush’ Hollingworth, news … Continue reading
With apologies to George Michael… But just to say, am I alone in feeling distinctly underwhelmed by the massively hyped and feted Franzen novel? As with The Corrections, I thought it started compellingly, but by the time we got to … Continue reading
THIS JUST IN… perhaps not altogether surprising but sad news nonetheless. Arguably the most exciting and interesting act to come out of America in the last decade… The White Stripes have finally announced that they have split up, almost four … Continue reading
Neil fucking Diamond? And still no Laura Nyro?! Still, plaudits for Waits, Rupe, Holzman, Rebennack… – The US Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has announced that Neil Diamond, Tom Waits, Alice Cooper, Dr John, Darlene Love, Jac Holzman, Art … Continue reading
Kickstarter >> New CD from Stewart Francke by Stewart Francke kck.st Stewart Francke is raising funds for New CD from Stewart Francke on Kickstarter! Seeking funds to finish, manufacture and promote my new cd (12th), out in early 2011 and … Continue reading
If you haven’t seen this – and you’re a fan (ironic or otherwise) of the smooth-AOR genre of the late 70s/early 80s (‘What a Fool Believes’ and beyond) – then you simply must: Yacht Rock
I have no comment other than a long slow groan… the mutton king of dadrock strikes again. At least Ucunt redeems itself by making Joanna Newsom its album of the year.
This just in from Paid Content… Get them luvverly Lightspeed Champion tracks while you still can! * As eMusic prepares to add 250,000 songs from Universal Music Group’s catalogue to its sizeable online music store—and make a major overhaul to … Continue reading
Love this story on CMU Daily. Is the dome-headed king of 90s arena-grunge still seething at Steve Malkmus’ hilarious diss of Smashing Pupkins and Stone Temple Junkies in “Range Life”, a song that’s over 16 years old?! (Let me, meanwhile, … Continue reading
Just our luck to catch Liverpool rising from the dead, fresh off the back of three wins and Torres back to his best (the first goal was electrifying; the second a moment of genius). Plus Essien missing, Lampard still out … Continue reading
As seen on Slate.com… NOTE: On a recent morning, the journalist Bill Wyman received a UPS package containing a typed manuscript. On reading it, he saw that it seemed to be the thoughts, at some length, of singer Mick Jagger … Continue reading
About to finish Pynchon’s INHERENT VICE and really don’t want to – want it to go on & on & on. To my slight surprise – I guess I thought TP must be too ancient now to sustain the SoCal … Continue reading
Am encouraged by reviews of Lisa Cholodenko’s opening-in-UK-this-weekend THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT to believe that the great Mark Ruffalo may have given his first great screen perf since the magnificent turn in Ken Lonergan’s YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, … Continue reading
Animal Collective to curate ATP in May 2011 We are very excited to announce the news that Animal Collective will be curating ATP at Butlins in Minehead which runs from 13th – 15th May 2011. (This will be the only … Continue reading
PAUL MORLEY TO PEN TONY WILSON BOOK Journalist Paul Morley has announced that he is writing a book about legendary Factory Records boss Tony Wilson. He revealed the news on Wednesday at an event at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall – … Continue reading
Was listening to Rickie Lee Jones’ heartbreaking ‘Company’ yesterday – and suddenly in my mind heard the late Luther Vandross singing it in a lush and immaculate version with Marcus Miller on bass and Yogi Horton on drums (etc. etc.). … Continue reading
The short list is out for the next batch of inductees into the US’s Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame. And on it are Alice Cooper, Beastie Boys, Bon Jovi, Chic, Neil Diamond, Donovan, Dr John, J Geils Band, LL … Continue reading
BLACK HOLE – A compilation of California Punk by Jon Savage, released November 15th 2010 Domino is proud to announce the release of Black Hole, a compilation celebrating the first wave of California Punk that briefly flourished between 1976 and … Continue reading
Having lived with it now for a month, I can now offer a properly considered response to THE SUBURBS and declare that it is indeed magnificent – barring a few dips like the two “Half Light” tracks. The first four … Continue reading
Mega-exciting news that the complete Larry Sanders Show will be on DVD early November. Shandling’s brilliant show was the grandfather of everything from Curb Yr Enthusiasm to 30 Rock, with genius support from Artie and Hank. Unmissable for all box-set … Continue reading
I guess we knew it was coming, but the news that Robert Sandall has succumbed to his cancer is none the less heartbreaking for that. I knew him a little, but I knew him over many years and always liked … Continue reading
