scaryblog

Continuing my trip forward in time through the album charts 25/09/26 : Pylon - beabadoobee  Our second visit with beabadoobee - last time I apparently really liked it, but I don't remember it in the slightest. So I'm wondering if this is going to stick in there any better... In my head, I always think her music is more left-field than it really is - this is very reminiscent of Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish or similar. And not obviously in a lower league, so it's done pretty well and  I liked it OK enough - but I'm not sure it's going to get any further opportunities to impress me. Those that love this sort of thing (and there are many of them) will have listened to it multiple times already though and I suspect they'll continue to do so. And once again, we're at #1 with a new entry (our twelfth in a row) and the rest of the top five are Michael Jackson    (I'm amazed this is hanging in there - someone is gaming the system somehow) ,  Olivia Rodrigo , Si...

The latest in an occasional series of theatre reviews... Man To Man : Royal Court This was something new - a trip to the theatre with the lovely Mrs Reed. And even more unusually, it was to a theatre neither of us had been to before to see something that neither of us knew the faintest thing about because this was a present from the lovely Mrs Davies (my youngest sister). She's a proper theatrical luvvie (which she'll read and think "NO! I'm not a luvvie!! Oh, hang on...") so we knew there would be something pretty special about it, but apart from knowing that it had Tilda Swinton in it, we were going in blind. Yes, we could have done some research but that would spoil all the fun - I had a sneaking suspicion that it might not have helped (and I suspect we might come back to this point later). And a very nice theatre in a very nice part of town it is too! Because I had proper company that likes to eat proper food, we went to a proper restaurant beforehand (rather ...

Continuing my trip forward in time through the album charts 18/09/26 : Here Because Of Hope - Ezra Collective  We've met EC once in passing as a new entry and I said it was surprisingly stylish, but I struggled to understand why anyone would listen to it - let's see if the mystery resolves itself with a proper listen. Hmmm. Well. Yes and no. It's all very stylish and well played and it has an interesting mix of various global rhythms and sounds to it, so I'd go as far as saying I did enjoy it. But I really can't say I'd ever actively choose to listen to it - it was too lively to be described as musical wallpaper, but it still kinda drifted by me and I don't remember any of it. I also imagine there are plenty of other musical groups who can do this sort of thing just as well, so quite how they managed to hit the heights isn't clear to me. But hit the heights they have because they're at #1 with a new entry in the charts this week, so well done to the ...

Continuing my trip forward in time through the album charts 11/09/26 : Act III  - Kasabian  Our sixth visit with Kasabian (the 35th artist to reach this milestone) and it's their eighth #1, so they haven't finished with us yet - I suspect it will be fine if you like that sort of thing, but I only ever really go as far as not minding it. Yeah, I don't mind it and I'm sure Kasabianites will love it (although I suspect some might consider whether they absolutely need it in their lives), but I really struggle to see it's going to get them any new fans. And I think that's pretty much all I have to say on the matter - you're welcome to it if you want it, but there's absolutely no chance of me revisiting it. As previously stated, we're at #1 in the charts this week with a new entry and the rest of the top five are Adela (another new entry),  Olivia Rodrigo , Michael Jackson and President (another new entry) - and boy do we have a load of new entries for you...

Some old songs in a new (for me) venue! If you've been paying any attention at all, you'll know that R.E.M. are probably my favouritest ever group and I've only ever seen them live once on the Monster tour, none of which was anyone's finest hour - but they (and Michael Stipe in particular) seemed to have an adverse reaction to the Milton Keynes Bowl which meant that everyone who was there remembers Blur's support set much more fondly. Also, having called it a day a mere 15 years ago, the chances of them reforming for the money seem to be extremely remote - they still all do some sporadic music-based stuff these days but they really couldn't be bothered going back on tour (and it's not clear they actually like each other enough to do so). So what's an R.E.M. fan supposed to do these days if they need a live hit?!? Obviously many tribute bands are available (who are probably playing in your local pub as I write this), but one of the more curiously success...

Continuing my trip forward in time through the album charts 04/09/26 : WILDCHILD  - Alex Warren  Our second visit with Mr Warren and last time he was "perfectly fine" - I strongly suspect that's where we are again. Hmmm - well. Taken one song at a time, I think it just about qualifies as pf but a whole album of it just gets a bit too much. Every song is aimed to pull at someone's heartstrings or deliver a message (dead dad, lost love, etc, etc, etc) and it all just gets a bit much, without any great variety between tracks. Actually, let me take that back because, on reflection, a whole album of it got far too much - I will not be revisiting this ever. I am somewhat intrigued as to what's going on with the album cover though. And so, obviously, we're at #1 in the charts with a new entry (our tenth in a row), aren't we? The rest of the top five are The Courteeners (another new entry), Michael Jackson,  Olivia Rodrigo  and a Dolly Parton best-of - and boy do...

Continuing my trip forward in time through the album charts 28/08/26 : Jenius - Paul Heaton  We've met Mr Heaton once with The Housemartins, three times with The Beautiful South, twice with Jacqui Abbott and now twice solo - I suspect he's the front man we've met in the most different guises across the years. And I'll be amazed if this isn't well written tunes with intelligent lyrics... Yup - that's exactly where we are. I particularly liked "Favourite Kind Of Idiot", "I Want The Job" (which is a beautiful love song) and "A Son A Father" (which is nicely spiky), but they're all pretty decent with more variety than I was expecting (although I'm not sure we need 15 tracks) and they'd certainly benefit from multiple listens. He's a proper national treasure that Paul Heaton and that should be more widely recognised - this is well worth a look if you've not seen it. I'm pleased to say we're at #1 with a new e...