Eventually, lots of stuff here about my current raves in life, my loves, hates, and things to make. In the mean time it's just a list of things I think are cool and the rest of the world has yet to hear about. |
- Barenaked Ladies
- A Canadian band, strenuously resisting many attempts to compartmentalise and categorise them, they create music in a wide variety of styles from a huge variety of influences. Mainly lumped in the big bargain bucket labelled "Pop" their music is catchy, clever and diverse, with accompanying sharp, often witty lyrics. By far my favourite band.
- the Blessing
- Unfortunately no longer a band, especially after such a tragically short time, the Blessing were a combination of rock and soul, with a cunning talent for creating soaring ballads and down and dirty rock numbers in the same song. After releasing one album, and a single from a promised second, they disappeared off the face of the music world.
- ABC
- An eighties band, their music may not be flavour of the month in any quarter except mine. But their songs range from cheery to heart-rending and are all very listenable. Especially as deep inside I am an incurable romantic.
- The Wolfgang Press
- Found tucked away under "Alternative" in major record stores, they are one of the lesser known bands on the 4AD label, responsible for many excellent bands which are not mainstream enough to otherwise gain much exposure. Their work varies wildly from album to album, from almost industrial to soft pop.
- Improvisation
- I have been doing Impro since January 1996, and have already become somewhat addicted to it. When done properly, Impro is utterly watchable and very entertaining. When done badly it is still at least funny. And when done simply for laughs, Impro is the funniest thing on the planet.
- The Fast Show
- One of the funnier BBC television comedies to be produced in a long time, this sketch show blended long running characters and characterisations with one-off gags and sketches. Mainly based around putting the same characters in varying situations each week, the whole ensemble was either loved or hated - sometimes depending on whether or not you got the joke, other times as to whether you found the original joke funny the first time. Certain characters did wear thin quite quickly, whereas others you could watch for hours. But essentially an intelligent and very funny programme.
Last updated: Mon, Apr 14 1997
Norman McBride ยท
norm@mono.org