Detroit’s Marshall Crenshaw started playing the guitar at age ten. At high school he started the band Astigfa – an acronym for “a splendid time is guaranteed for all”, a lyric from The Beatles’ /Being For The Benefit of Mr…
This might be the worst collection of album art I’ve ever featured in this column. Addison Rae’s debut has passable art, but Bruce Springsteen and Tyler’s art directors both mailed it in this week. Bruce Springsteen Inyo 2025, 6.5/10Disc five…
Every New Zealand #1 single… Kenny Loggins Loggins was born in Everett, Washington, 40 km north of Seattle. He started his career as a folkie, playing in the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Loggins and Messina. During the 1980s, he became…
Can you complete the 1950s song title with a picture? I’m less versed in 1950s music than most of my regular readers, but I still puzzled my way to full marks. But you can probably beat my time. I…
In the 1980s hair-metal and synth-infusions represented the mainstream of rock, and a scrappy rock ‘n roll band from Minneapolis was relegated to cult status. Shortly after The Replacements broke up, Nirvana took aspects of their sound to the mainstream,…
Stuart MacKay and David MacTavish met at the dole office, and named their band after a Wordsworth poem. Credits 4 VACUUM CLEANER – Tintern Abbey (U.K.)(David MacTavish) PERSONNEL/DAVID MacTAVISH: vocals * DAN SMITH: lead guitar * STUART MacKAY: bass *…
History remembers The Honeycombs for one song. ‘Have I The Right?’ was a worldwide hit, and female drummer Honey Lantree attracted media interest. The band split in 1967, after producer Joe Meek’s death. The Honeycombs The Honeycombs formed in North…
Can you complete the album name with a picture? Big Black aren’t featured this week – I thought my guess was legitimate…. I scored 19/20 – can you score 20? Congratulations to Tony, who scored the fastest time in…
Swindon’s XTC formed in the early 1970s, initially playing glam rock. The original band featured singer/guitarist Andy Partridge, singer/bassist Colin Moulding, and drummer Terry Chambers. The band’s early work was nervy new wave – they transitioned towards more mainstream pop/rock…
This week Hotline TNT go power pop, Springsteen goes country, and Stereolab keep on sounding like Stereolab. Read on for details. Bruce Springsteen Somewhere North of Nashville 2025, 4/10Disc four on Springsteen’s Tracks II set was recorded in 1995, at…
