My Top Ten

Friday, 11 September 2026

Listening Post #50: Joe & Aimee

Joe Pernice has a new album out, and he appears to have left his brothers to go and do their own things for a while as this one is a solo record. That said, it sounds like all the other Pernice Brothers recordings… quite lovely.

Best of all, he’s roped a few friends in to sing backing vocals, including the divine Ms. Aimee Mann on this, which is my favourite track on the album… at the moment.

Wednesday, 9 September 2026

Neverending Top Ten #7.8: Thirteen

Today is the day I've quietly been dreading for the last 13 years. Today is the day Sam undergoes... THE TRANSFORMATION.

To be fair, it's already started. It doesn't happen overnight like it did to Kevin. It creeps up on you.

And nothing will ever be the same again.

Happy birthday, Sam. Try not to become a complete stranger.

Tuesday, 8 September 2026

Namesakes #205: Magazine

Remember the humble magazine, that thing we all used to read before some bozo invented the interweb? Here are some bands that remember it...

MAGAZINE #1

When Howard Devoto left The Buzzcocks in 1977, he went all arty. Actually, iffypedia says "Devoto decided to create a more progressive rock band"... but I'm not sure you could really call Magazine "prog", could you? Post-punk, certainly. Art rock, definitely. Prog? I'll let George be the judge of that...

Magazine - Shot By Both Sides

MAGAZINE #2

Next, a Brazilian new wave Magazine from 1983... as seen on "Mofo TV".

Magazine - Sou Boy

MAGAZINE #3

Followed by an Italian electro-pop group from 1988 who had one single in 1988 named after an Italian TV show about the lives of English miners in the 1920s. I couldn't find the track online, so here's an episode of the TV show. I expect George to watch the whole thing and give me his feedback.

E Le Stelle Stanno A Guardare

MAGAZINES #4

Possibly of minor interest to Ernie, some Kenyan Magazines, also known as The Magazines Band, from 1997...

Magazines - Chico Cha Tzawe

THE MAGAZINES #5

These guys came from Des Moines, Iowa, in 2009. They are included today because I liked the opening line of this song... a message to everyone voting on this feature today.

The Magazines - Tomorrow

MAGAZINE #6

Abstract, experimental, ambient Dub Techno from Germany in 2011... although the song title sounds a bit Yorkshire to me.

Magazine - Happen Nearly

MAGAZINES #7

Philly-based Magazines, though they were singing about New Jersey in 2013...

Magazines - New Jersey, Keep Me Safe

MAGAZINES #8

Also in 2013, these Magazines are "the son of Lucille (née Collins), a mail room clerk, and Edward Joseph II, a lumber salesman."

Magazines - Kansas City

MAGAZINES #9

Some Dublin-based lo-fi indie Magazines from 2020...

Magazines - Pink And Blue

MAGAZINES #10

From last year, here are some Belgian Magazines. "With a high-energy sound full of attitude, they channel the same youthful freedom that once lived in CDs, comics and magazines; a form of escapism where anything feels possible."

Magazines - Hollywood

MAGAZINES #11

And finally, couple of weirdoes (and I mean that as a compliment) from Massachusetts, from the year they'll call 2026...

Magazines - The Beast Is Right Behind You

Which ones will you be asking your local newsagent to stock up on?

Monday, 7 September 2026

Another Day #18: Cop Co-op

Monday the 7th of September is the International Day of Police Co-Operation. So if Sting pops round your gaff, be nicer to him than you normally would, even if he proposes some tantric yoga.

No Police today though - just a load of cops.

Bo Diddley - Cops & Robbers

The Strokes - New York City Cops

The Model Rockets - Tell The Kids The Cops Are Here

Fred Thomas - Cops Don't Care Pt. II

Heavy Metal Kids - The Cops Are Coming

Inner Circle - Bad Boys