Pop
Why do we always beat up on drummers?
It’s rare that I see a piece about music that makes me want to cheer from the rafters and shake…
Ringo's no joke. He was a genius and the Beatles were lucky to have him
Ringo’s no joke, says James Woodall. He was a genius and the Beatles were lucky to have him
Michael Eavis has brought more joy to more people than almost any Englishman alive
I had meant to write a dispassionate account of this year’s Glastonbury, really I had. But I’m afraid my plans…
Masterly and heartbreaking: Amy reviewed
Asif Kapadia’s documentary about Amy Winehouse, whom Tony Bennett describes as ‘one of the truest jazz singers that ever lived’,…
Steve Hilton's model for policy reform: Glastonbury (yes, really)
Glastonbury is a model for radical policy reform, says Steve Hilton
Three tiny cheers for Mumford & Sons’ new album
Like a lot of essentially cautious people, I like my music to take some risks, play with fire and damn…
The real contest at Eurovision: worst lyric
Like a reluctantly remembered nightmare, last week’s Eurovision Song Contest already seems very distant. But, in the manner of the…
Why you should never trust songwriting credits
Songwriting credits are, as we know, not always to be trusted. Since the dawn of music publishing, there has always…
Why Yes are still the funniest rock band in the world (although Radiohead are catching up)
My favourite comment about the Scottish referendum came from the eminent comedian and novelist David Baddiel. ‘What if Yes wins,…
Prefab Sprout's comeback gives hope to the over-50s
Every musical career has its own narrative, and most of them include at least one comeback. To come back, you…
All I want next Christmas is new Christmas songs
Three months until spring. Four months until the start of the cricket season. And only nine months until the radio…
Morrissey can't even moan properly — here's a frontman who can
There is much to be said for Schadenfreude. (If it was edible, it would be a meal in a very…
Talk Talk bears repetition
First impressions always count, and they are almost always wrong. This is particularly pertinent if you review albums for a…
Hell is other people’s taste in music
‘I don’t really like most of the music you play,’ said the tall blonde woman with whom I share my…
