- Jul 31, 2020
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: RECOMMEND A FRIEND
As one with an innate suspicion about algorithms and their effects on modern living, I usually don’t pay too much attention to ‘recommended for you’ internet prompts. Like much of the advertising that pops up unrequested as you browse, these are often wildly off the mark, commonly insensitive and even bizarre. To quote a much-shared example of a ‘malgorithm’, no, I really don’t want tampons to be endorsed as I await Slayer’s “Raining Blood” on YouTube. Yet, to dispel any impr
- Jul 24, 2020
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: OUTRANKING
The Hyundai Mercury Prize ‘Albums of the Year’ proudly set out to ‘celebrate and promote the best of British music, recognising artistic achievement across a range of contemporary music genres.’ These are noble intentions though no doubt the sponsor also wishes to flog a few cars. This year’s shortlist of 12 top albums, chosen by a judging panel which was probably as good as it gets in terms of representing both creatives and critics, was revealed on Lauren Laverne’s show on
- Jul 23, 2020
A TRACK BY TRACK GUIDE TO HOPEFULS BY THE HARRIETS
Hopefuls is the keenly awaited debut long player from Leeds four-piece, The Harriets. As regular readers will know, I first encountered The Harriets when they entered the Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition last year and I chose the band as one of just three acts I could put through to the longlist. I am especially pleased that Hopefuls finally lands tomorrow as it is the culmination of a great deal of hard work and self-endeavour by frontmen Daniel Parker-Smith (guitar,v
- Jul 17, 2020
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: THE TRAIN ARRIVING
‘Highly anticipated’ might easily rank alongside ‘critically acclaimed’ in the lexicon of over-used music PR phrases. However, both seem appropriate when considering the new single, “We the People”, from Kristina Train and then her fine debut album back in 2009, Spilt Milk. I recall reviewing that album for ConsequenceofSound and being impressed by the maturity and range of the Savannah, Georgia-raised singer. You can still find the review here, sans imagery. Sadly, the recor
- Jul 10, 2020
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: MONEY FOR NOTHING
You stop and give a homeless man a fiver. Does he: a). thank you kindly. b). appreciate it but ask if you could run to a tenner. c). say it’s way too little and anyhow he could have really done with it last month. Music venues have a similar dilemma over the Government’s £1.57bn support package for the Arts. Who will get a slice? How much will they get? And the all-important when? The devil, as ever, is in the detail and, alike with most Government announcements during the cr
- Jul 3, 2020
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: OUT OF THE BLUE
One of the privileges of having a platform on which to write about music is the thrill of show and tell. New artistes can come seemingly out of nowhere and so amaze you with what they’ve got that you simply have to pass on the lead. A.A. Williams was pretty much unknown, only making her stage debut in April last year at Roadburn Festival, the signature heavy music gathering in Holland, following the release of a self-titled EP on Holy Roar. Out today, her debut album for Bell