Whether you want to bow down and call her a “Queen” or not, there’s simply no denying that Nicki Miniaj is one of the most technically accomplished rappers of all time. She came to most people’s atten…
Album Review: Parliament – “Medicaid Fraud Dogg”
The best band of the 1970s – the only close rival I can think of is Neil Young & Crazy Horse, who match them in depth of expression if not in range – was Parliament/Funkadelic, a.k.a. the P-Funk c…
From the Record Crate: New York Dolls – “New York Dolls” (1973)
It’s hard to overestimate the importance of this album. Despite racking up less than 500,000 sales on its release in 1973, reaching a dismal 116 in the US Billboard 200 album chart, and failing to cha…
Album Review: Shame – “Songs of Praise”
The “next big thing” is such a sorry cliché in the music press that it’s enough to make you suspicious of a band from the off – just how fresh and exciting can a new guitar band be, especially one com…
Album Review: Deafheaven – “Ordinary Corrupt Human Love”
Black metal is a genre that appears more repugnant than most to outsiders who (gratefully) exist outside of its cult – a quick look at the Wikipedia page lets us know as much as we would ever need to …
Album Review: Nine Inch Nails – “Bad Witch”
This is the third in a trilogy of EPs from Nine Inch Nails that started with 2016’s forgettable Not the Actual Events and continued with 2017’s also forgettable Add Violence. As global events have pro…
Album Review: Lily Allen – “No Shame”
If Sheezus was Lily Allen’s Yeezus (it wasn’t, but never mind), then No Shame is her 808s & Heartbreak, the sound of a hugely talented and ferociously funny pop star collapsing in on herself perso…