a music blog
I reviewed Lily Allen’s memoir a few years back and made the case for her being one of our most underrated and overlooked artists. What a treat then to be at the end of 2025 looking back on a year when Lily resurrected her career and got the flowers she so richly deserved.
Continue reading “Album Review: Lily Allen – West End Girl”
When ‘Dreamsicle’ was released earlier this year, I decided against reviewing for a couple of different reasons. Firstly my favourite songs on the album had already been released on the ‘Intermission EP’ which I had reviewed in 2024. Secondly I wasn’t initially sold on some of the other songs on the album after that first listen.
However before I went to see Maren in November I started listening to the album properly and found myself falling in love with it, especially the last few songs. Another stand out for me was the title track ‘Dreamsicle’ a sweet ballad about appreciating what you have in life and not dreaming away the present. Even better was the fact that this was a solo write from Maren. Take away all the big producers, the songwriters and what was left was a huge talent with a vulnerable and endearing heart.
Continue reading “Album Review: Maren Morris – Dreamsicle “
I was reading some old interviews with Gillian Welch recently and in one she mentioned the important influence of her college professor Pat Pattison. Intrigued, I went on to do some further research into how this iconic songwriter learned her lyrical trade.
Continue reading “How Gillian Welch Writes Better Lyrics”
When the Grammys recently introduced a ‘Traditonal Country Album’ one of the artists who came straight to my mind was Brennen Leigh. She has regularly played at Robert’s Western World in Nashville, has a brilliant trio with Melissa Carper and Kelly Willis called Wonder Women of Country and just seems to perfectly encapsulate the vintage style of country music which gets unfairly overlooked by the mainstream.
Continue reading “Album Review: Brennen Leigh – Don’t You Ever Give Up On Love”
Hopefully I’m not the only one out there resisting Christmas music until next week and leaving my end of year lists until the end of the year. Instead I’ve been searching out lots of great new music and looking at upcoming releases for next year.
Continue reading “New Music Playlist 14/12/25”
A couple of years ago now I started to notice a buzzing, pounding and whooshing in my ears. It felt like I was in a boxing match underwater. Sometimes I would also hear a high pitched noise, like a radio frequency out of tune. Mostly it only bothered me at night, which was annoying but I could cope.
Continue reading “Dealing with Tinnitus as a Live Music Fan “
Juliana Hatfield has been hugely prolific in the period since this blog started in 2017, releasing albums Pussycat, Weird and Blood along with her cover albums of songs by Olivia Newton John, The Police and ELO. It’s been hard to keep up, even for dedicated long time fans like myself. She’s also been writing a brilliant Substack newsletter too. This new album Lightning Might Strike was recorded after she moved to the countryside and went through a difficult period in her life.
Continue reading “Album Review: Juliana Hatfield – Lighting Might Strike”
As it’s December I am beginning my end of year posts with a little round up of the most read new articles of the year.
Continue reading “Most Read Posts of the Year”
One of the most heartening stories of the year is the rise to success of Kaitlin Butts. After going viral with her song You Ain’t Gotta Die (to be Dead to Me) she got the support slot on Lainey Wilson’s tour and subsequently signed a major record label deal.
Continue reading “E.P. Review: Kaitlin Butts – Yeehaw Sessions “
Highway Queens 