It’s been Oasis’ summer. A barnstorming return to live performances, universal acclaim, even a revival of Britpop fashion. And seeing the brother reunite at Wemlbey was one of my 2025 highlights – and honestly, it might even rank as the best gig I’ve ever attended. The band’s focus on the early years in those concertsContinue reading “The 30 best Oasis songs…definitely maybe”
Category Archives: Music
Mad for it! The triumphant return of Oasis
As Oasis mania sweeps Britain like it’s 1995 and the opening gig of a reunion tour we thought would never happen gets wall to wall five star reviews, it must be a tough time to be one of the peculiar obsessives who take every opportunity to diss the most successful band of the 1990s. FlashContinue reading “Mad for it! The triumphant return of Oasis”
Are podcasts for people who don’t love music?
I love music. Listening to it – getting lost in its mood, its way of telling us things about ourselves, its ability to take us to a different place – is one of the very greatest pleasures in my life. And while my preference is very much ‘popular’ over classical music, I appreciate that bothContinue reading “Are podcasts for people who don’t love music?”
David Bowie’s 60 best songs – just for one day
Ok, I said I would never do this. It’s exceptionally difficult as such a huge Bowie fan to rank his best songs for three reasons. First, the sheer number of brilliant, life affirming, life changing songs that you have to leave out of what I have decided is a top 60. I’m already feeling sadContinue reading “David Bowie’s 60 best songs – just for one day”
Best of the best: Beatles albums ranked
It’s not as remarkable as it seems that The Beatles continue to top ‘best band of all time’ polls over 60 years since they first burst on to the scene. Not only were they the first real rock band, they also set the tone for what came afterwards, moving from blinding rock n roll songsContinue reading “Best of the best: Beatles albums ranked”
Whamageddon is for killjoys
“Ugh. I was in my favourite cappucino bar, reading Dostoevsky and enjoying my oatmilk latte, when it happened. Last Christmas came on the radio. It’s not even December yet, and I’m out.” Is there any dullard greater than people who play Whamageddon? I mean, probably there are. But the combination of pretentiousness, musical snobbery, desperationContinue reading “Whamageddon is for killjoys”
Soft Cell: best band of the 80s
I had the huge pleasure of seeing 1980s icons Soft Cell at Hampton Court Palace this week. And what a joy it was. Marc Almond in magnificent voice exuding energy and charisma in abundance, Dave Ball (performing in a wheelchair following his fractured vertebrae last year) in every sense the straight man. From classics likeContinue reading “Soft Cell: best band of the 80s”
Don’t look back in anger: Oasis were fabulous
Historically, Oasis are underrated. I can hear the music snobs and try-hards laugh aloud at that. I accept many of the criticisms of the Oasis as a band: they were derivative, increasingly samey and over-hyped. But that doesn’t mean they weren’t brilliant. There was a period around 1995/6 when it seemed there was a consensus:Continue reading “Don’t look back in anger: Oasis were fabulous”
Ranked: David Bowie’s studio albums
I’ve written before of my love of all things Bowie. Here’s my latest attempt to rank his 26 studio albums in reverse order. 26. David Bowie (1967). Easy to forget that the great man started his career as a purveyor of novelty pop, sounding like a cross between Anthony Newley and Tommy Steele. We’re meantContinue reading “Ranked: David Bowie’s studio albums”
Was 1977 the peak year for music?
I recently took part in a Twitter poll to vote for the best 5 albums of 1977. (Quick plug: these polls are run fortnightly for different years by Richard Shaw – @RichardS7370 – and are both fun and sometimes educational). Beyond the explosion of punk – which felt like a defining moment even at theContinue reading “Was 1977 the peak year for music?”
Rory writes 