Two distinctive artistic visions this week. Enjoy the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach of British neo-soul singer Raye, and the arty precision of Wendy Eisenberg. Wendy Eisenberg Wendy Eisenberg 2026, 7.5/10Wendy Eisenberg combines country instrumentation like banjo and pedal steel with the precise…
If you see a faded sign at the side of the road that says fifteen miles to the …. Looove …. SHACK! The B-52’s In 1976, Cindy Wilson, her older brother Ricky Wilson, Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland, and Fred Schneider…
Welcome back for another week of quizzing. Can you identify these songs with highfalutin’ vocabulary? I scored 25/25 with 52 seconds to spare. I was on a train, so I bet you can beat my time. Congratulations to Tony,…
Japanese-American indie-rock musician Mitski is one of the most interesting figures currently working in popular music – Iggy Pop famously labelled her as “the most advanced American songwriter that I know”. While guitar rock can sometimes feel stale in the…
My 11-year-old daughter is obsessed with Olivia Rodrigo. She’s been her favourite pop artist for three years. She’s helped me write this article – we voted for ten songs each, and she helped write the blurbs. Her 2023 single ‘Bad…
Two future members of 10CC languished in 1960s’ obscurity with The Mockingbirds. Credits 1 YOU STOLE MY LOVE – The Mockingbirds (U.K.)(Graham Gouldman) PERSONNEL/GRAHAM GOULDMAN: vocals, guitar * STEVE JACOBSON: guitar * BERNARD BASSO: bass * KEVIN GODLEY: drums, vocals…
Welcome back for another week of quizzing. Can you link these albums to their #1 hit singles? I scored 20/20, but forgot to record my time. Can you beat me? Congratulations to Tony, who scored the 10/14 in last…
Background Californian folk-rock band The Byrds enjoyed immediate success in 1965 with their first single, a cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Mr Tambourine Man’. The song was a watershed moment in pop music – combining Dylan’s poetic, creative lyrics with Roger…
Split Enz first reached New Zealand’s attention with an appearance on the New Faces talent show in 1973, where they finished second-to-last. Their early material was too weird for the mainstream, comparable to early Genesis or Roxy Music, and Phil…
I’m weirdly short of new releases to cover at the moment – it’s been a quiet few weeks. Enjoy the retro sounds of The Lemon Twigs and the late-night chill of Arlo Parks. Arlo Parks Ambiguous Desire 2026, 7/10From Nigerian…
