Categories
James Poole reflection

An on-form Weller takes some beating

‘Musically relevant’ doesn’t quite capture it. There are not many artists who’ve had a career with the longevity, the creative reinvention, the stylistic shifts, and the consistency of Paul Weller. The norm for an artist who’s been recording for nearly 40 years would be to kick into a live set with familiar material. The fans […]

Categories
defining freethinking James Poole reflection

Dear Kate, thanks for everything, Love Florence

I’ll be honest, I’m a bit down on Florence. And her Machine. When I was first introduced to her, and her Machine, I was blown away. My initial reaction was to tweet that I’d just seen the offspring of Siouxsie Sioux, Bjork and Kate Bush up on stage. Her voice was primal – it deserved […]

Categories
James Poole reflection

2012: The Second Summer of Madchester

So 2012 looks like it’s the summer of Madchester Revisited. Bring it on, I say. While I’ve already waxed lyrical about the Resurrection of the Stone Roses, the news that there are other Manchester heavyweights getting back on the road is ‘banging’, as MC Tunes might have had it. It’s not the first reformation for […]

Categories
reflection

Enough with the Ageist Commentary: Madonna is NOT an over the hill Icon

Enough. Seriously. Did you really think the original Material Girl would go all Bette Midler, start wearing sequin gowns (though I know, she has) and sing Wind Beneath My Wings sentimental bumph? Yes? Obviously you have had your head under a rock. Madge is about to release a new album and head out on a […]

Categories
defining freethinking reflection

GSH and MLK

Today we remember Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a freethinker of the highest order. He was someone for whom freedom became a life’s work. He changed the world. In 1963 he had a dream. Thank you Gil Scott-Heron. Thank you Stevie Wonder. Thank you for making sure that we will always remember. Thank you […]

Categories
recommendations reflection

Happy vibes in the direction of Rick Rubin

The chunky ZZ-Topping Roadie in Jay Z’s 99 Problems video. He’s Rick Rubin. You know him. You just don’t know how much. Beastie Boys:’ “You’ve got to fight for your right to party”. Johnny Cash: “Hurt”. Chili Peppers: “Under the bridge” & “Give it Away”. Run DMC:  “It’s Tricky” & “Walk this Way”. Adele, JayZ, Metallica, […]

Categories
James Poole recommendations reflection

Elbow: Restoring the intimacy

Even the most casual reader of these pages will know that I’m a bit of an Elbow fan. I feel that I need to put that out there straight from the off, so you know what you’re dealing with, here. That said, I’ve largely held back on commentary around ‘Build A Rocket Boys!’, save for […]

Categories
James Poole reflection

If The Stone Roses reform, you can count me in

You remember where you were when you heard about Princess Diana’s unfortunate demise. Or, where you were as tragedy unfolded on 9/11. Or, if you’re a certain age, where you were when you heard that JFK had been shot. For me, I add another to the list: I remember where I was when The Stone […]

Categories
James Poole recommendations reflection

‘To Each…’, a Factory classic

My daily commute takes me from Manhattan out to deepest, darkest New Jersey, taking in the industrial wasteland bordering Newark airport, before finally landing in the greenery of ‘The Garden State’. The journey takes me through East Orange. And so, as I sat in my car last week, surrounded by SUVs, pick-up trucks, and knackered […]

Categories
James Poole reflection

Nickolas Ashford.

You’re All I Need To Get By Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing The Onion Song Bourgie, Bourgie Reach Out And Touch (Somebody’s Hand) Street Corner California Soul I’m Every Woman Ain’t No Mountain High Enough Nickolas Ashford: he made the world a better place.

Categories
James Poole reflection

Coldplay. They weren’t always bobbins.

I’ve got a difficult relationship with Coldplay. Actually, let me correct that: I was clear on Coldplay, then it became difficult, but now it’s gone back to being crystal clear. The turn of events is as follows: First album: brilliant. Properly brilliant. Second album: ‘iffy’. Difficult relationship begins and continues in a straight line through […]

Categories
James Poole reflection

Latitude 2011

Let’s get the headliners out of the way. The National: singularly uninspiring. Like seeing a Joy Division covers band try to nail an Interpol set. Paolo Nutini: I couldn’t tell you, as I wouldn’t have been seen dead near to any stage with him on it. Suede: totally bobbins. I never liked them, and it […]