There's still a few things I haven't got/listened to yet like John Grant's 2nd album etc. so this is just the stuff I did actually get this year.

( read more )

I got the Transvision Vamp reissues - they did their 1st two albums, Pop Art and Velveteen as 2 CD packages and the extra CD included all the B-sides/remixes. I'm glad they finally reissued them + especially the fact they put all the extra stuff on (now if only Prince would do the same w/some of his albums!). I still liked both albums (tho' their ( Read more... )

The new issue of Classic Pop is amazing - great articles on OMD + Eurythmics + Some Bizarre record label (also giving guides to their best songs) plus reviews of the Wendy + Lisa reissue and the Fuzzbox reissue. Plus interviews w/Alison Moyet and Wendy James (hope they do a longer piece on Transvision Vamp at some point - Wendy was also one of the ( Read more... )

I quite liked the twist in the last episode of Utopia tho' for some reason the series never really caught on with me, it was OK but I didn't really love it ( Read more... )

Found out they are doing reissues of the 1st two Transvision Vamp albums, Pop Art and Velveteen but better than that, they're both going to include a bonus disc with all the B-sides/some extra remixes. (It's a shame they couldn't have included some of their live cover versions like Gimme Some Truth or the song they did for a Record Mirror giveaway ( Read more... )

Also got Classic Rock which had a big feature on Iron Maiden and a buyers guide to the Rolling Stones (they missed out a lot of their songs which I really love). They also had an article on Led Zeppelin - I never realised before reading this - they actually played their debut UK gig at Newcastle Mayfair ( Read more... )

Got new book on the history of the Riverside (this was a legendary gig/club venue in newcastle that ran from the mid 80s to about 1999 & started off as a workers co-operative). Over the years they had gigs by Sonic Youth, Henry Rollins, Hole, Nirvana (their 1st ever European gig!), Jane's Addiction, Oasis, Manic Street Preachers, Lydia Lunch, and ( Read more... )

Also got new issue of MOJO magazine which had big features on New Order, Billy Corgan and Bowie & Iggy in Berlin for the making of the 'Low' album. They also had a little bit on Cosey from Throbbing Gristle/Chris & Cosey who I've always thought deserves more credit ( Read more... )

Also got the new Westworld compilation released by Cherry Red Records (who also sent me a v. nice e-mail when I suggested they release a Honey Bane CD). Westworld were a great band, often get lumped in with Transvision Vamp, BAD and Sigue Sigue Sputnik but they had more of a straightforward 50s retro vibe (very big on a twangy guitar sound). I'm ( Read more... )