Rock – Rocknerd

Richard Syrett on Theodor Adorno, the Beatles, conspiracy theorists and … me.

6 June, 20186 June, 2018 Esoterica, Opinion, Pop, Radio, Rock 0

Did you know that Frankfurt School philosopher Theodor Adorno wrote all the Beatles songs? I sure didn’t! In fact, I still don’t.

Mark Rye: Inside Looking Out: More Rock’n’Roll tales from inside the British music business (2017).

6 May, 20186 May, 2018 Pop, Rock, Writing 0

First-hand tales from the people down in the engine room.

Ryder: For What It’s Worth (Live) (2018).

4 May, 20184 May, 2018 Record, Rock 0

Buttrock band.

Links: High-Definition Vinyl, Brian Hooper RIP, Eventbrite’s we-take-all ticketing contract.

21 April, 201821 April, 2018 Audio, Indie, Industry, Links, Rock 0

At least Twitter reaps a bountiful harvest these days.

Andrew W. K.: You’re Not Alone (2018).

2 March, 2018 Metal, Record, Rock 0

How do you feel about relentless positivity and good cheer? I’m a bit cynical about it myself, but once in a while something comes by that slaps a smile on your face and won’t get out of your head.

Links: The grunge gold rush, the Lester Bangs play, headphone jacks, Chandra, the first Velvets gig.

17 February, 2018 Audio, Links, Post-Punk, Rock, Writing 0

A pile of writing.

Reviews: Dboy, Distant Stars, Cherry Heaven (2017, 2018).

4 February, 2018 Indie, Industrial, Record, Rock 0

Doing it yourself with trashy rock’n’roll, minimal synth and shoegazy indie.

Links: Rasa Didzpetris Davies genius of The Kinks, Milli Vanilli, Arthur Baker, Children of Satoshi.

30 January, 201831 January, 2018 Dance, Links, Pop, R'n'B, Rock 0

Planet Rock. Nicht halt. Raza DIdzpetris is why the Kinks were that good.

Reviews: The Glass Eyes, Elektrostaub, Stolen Apple (2016, 2017).

16 December, 201718 December, 2017 Industrial, Pop, Record, Rock 0

Two indie rock, one industrial bleep.

Diplomatic escort for David Bowie and Iggy Pop, 1976.

8 October, 2017 Drugs, Punk, Rock 0

Letters to the Editor, Financial Times, 2 October 2017.

Links: Piracy doesn’t affect sales, DC hardcore, Bowie and Cale, early proto-blues.

2 October, 2017 Links, Punk, R'n'B, Rock, Your rights 0

Und Sisters gegen Nazis.

King Snake Roost: Things That Play Themselves (1988). Vale Charlie Tolnay.

19 September, 201720 September, 2017 Indie, Record, Rock 3

Charlie Tolnay died a few days ago. Here’s a career rundown and a long bit from a 1990 Party Fears about my very favourite record of his. The correct hideous racket from freaks.

Links: The failed hi-res audio of the 1990s, the risks of piracy, Simon Reynolds’ glam faves.

20 July, 20179 May, 2018 Audio, Links, mp3, Rock, Your rights 0

And the Blockchain Robot!

Links: Denuvo suck and are thieves, Andrew Hickey’s Beach Boys books, Jimmy Webb.

5 June, 20175 June, 2017 Games, Links, Pop, Rock, Your rights 1

DRM bad, classic rock vastly better.

Ringo Starr is a dick.

1 June, 2017 Pop, Rock, Writing 14

“But thanks julian lennon for stopping me from becoming a supervillain hellbent on destroying the entire nation of britain for good.”

Links: Frank Zappa 1967, audiobook recording, Jim Jarmusch’s Sqürl.

31 May, 201731 May, 2017 Links, Punk, Rock 0

Today is all about the listening, now that I can listen to things again.

Links: a critic turned artist, the soothing power of noise, Kim Dotcom outdone, Herman’s Hermits.

15 May, 201715 May, 2017 Links, Metal, mp3, Rock, Writing 0

A pretty chill selection on the joy of art. And some schadenfreude for Kim Dotcom.

Alixandrea Corvyn, Amongst Animals, Near Death Experience, Tangerinecat — Dublin Castle, Camden, Thu 4 May 2017.

5 May, 201710 May, 2017 Esoterica, Goth, Indie, Live, Rock 1

I automatically staked out my life-long spot at stage right, leaning on the PA. I grabbed this spot in 1985 and shall not relinquish it.

The Glass Eyes: Prime Record (2016); The Oceans Over There (2017).

28 April, 201728 April, 2017 Record, Rock 0

Folky songwriter guitar rock that’s excessively fond of Neil Young and knows it.

Links: Spotify to reduce convenience, the Velvets’ banana, Cosey Fanni Tutti goes establishment.

17 March, 201717 March, 2017 Industrial, Industry, Links, mp3, Punk, Rock 0

Never interrupt the music industry when it is making a mistake.

Followups: laser-burnt records, that Beatles live album, Depeche Mode vs the Nazis.

14 March, 201714 March, 2017 Audio, Links, Pop, Rock 0

Further on previous stories. Reach out and punch face.

Reviews: 5TimesZero, Post War Glamour Girls, Vassals (2017).

8 March, 201730 April, 2017 Indie, Industrial, Pop, Post-Punk, Punk, Record, Rock 0

Record reviews at last! Synthpop, shouty post-punk and grungy ’90s guitar pop. Some good stuff coming out over the next month.

Reviews: Artefact, Ritual Howls, La Orden (2016, 2017).

15 February, 201715 February, 2017 Goth, Post-Punk, Punk, Record, Rock 0

Guitar post-punk in black and grey.

John Cale: Music For A New Society/M:FANS (1982, 2016).

28 January, 201712 April, 2017 Record, Rock 0

Music For A New Society was written and recorded over a few weeks in 1982. Cale basically pulled out handfuls of his guts and shoved them into the piano and the vocal mic as hard as he could. It’s a perfectly captured moment, and one of the best things Cale ever did.

The 2016 rerecording is … completely different.