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Charlotte RobinsonFeatures
So Tough: The Boy Behind the Sid Vicious MythThe punk rock version of James Dean, Vicious solidified his fame by dying young, leaving behind memories of his notorious behavior and the mystery of girlfriend Nancy Spungen's murder. Although he contributed little to punk music, Vicious remains its most famous name, and his cult has only grown. [9 August 2006] Genevieve Waite, Romance Is on the Rise (1974)After the Mamas and the Papas, John Phillips found his muse in this South African model-actress and indulged her wish to become a singer. The result? This rarely heard record of campy cabaret. [9 February 2006] The Weird Trilogy: Iggy Pop’s Arista RecordingsThe chance to revisit these albums is not likely to result in any critical reevaluation, but at least it's a chance to enjoy a boldly experimental phase in the career of one of rock's most intriguing artists. [5 February 2003] Eight Years After: A Remembrance of Kurt Cobain’s Troubles and the Music They InspiredAt the start of the '90s, Kurt Cobain appeared to be the savior of rock 'n' roll. He was a beacon of hope to the black and flannel set, who saw him emerge from the fog of macho groups like Guns N' Roses as the only guy who could wear liberalism on his sleeve, begging sexist, racist, and homophobic rednecks not to buy his records, while still gaining their admiration by rocking fucking hard. [4 April 2002] 25 Up: Punk’s Silver Jubilee: So Tough: The Boy Behind the Sid Vicious MythThe punk rock version of James Dean, Vicious solidified his fame by dying young, leaving behind memories of his notorious behavior and the mystery of girlfriend Nancy Spungen's murder. Although he contributed little to punk music, Vicious remains its most famous name, and his cult has only grown. [8 November 2001] 25 Up: Punk’s Silver Jubilee: Atypical GirlsPunk produced a larger number of influential female artists than most any other pop movement [but] most female punk artists either denied their feminism or avoided the issue altogether. The result was one of punk's greatest contradictions: While playing music without a blatant feminist agenda, female artists made real inroads in the male-dominated music world. [2 November 2001] Tish and Snooky’s Manic PanicTish and Snooky are the Bronx-bred sisters who have been making the world more colorful with Manic Panic cosmetics for nearly twenty-five years. Although they started out with just a few hundred dollars and a single shop in New York City, today the sisters are at the helm of a thriving worldwide wholesale business. [1 March 2001] She Just Takes PicturesRoberta Bayley interview [30 August 2000] Everybody Likes TV: An Interview with TV Party Host Glenn O’BrienPopMatters talks with NYC rennassaince man Glenn O'Brien about Warhol, Basquiat, Italian financiers, and getting TV on the mayoral ballot. [1 January 1995] Don LettsThe term 'Renaissance man' could well have been invented for . Hitting the Beachhead and Coming on Strong: An Interview With the Fleshtones’ Peter ZarembaZaremba looks back on three decades of 'super rock' and finds the landscape littered with obscure Humphrey Bogart movies, Fleetwood Mac parties, early Tom Hanks comedies, and the evolution of the 'power stance'. Howard Devoto: Interview with a Resurfacing Should-Have-Been Musical LegendHoward Devoto is one of those musicians who, if there were any justice at all in the world, would be hugely famous. Bagel Western and the Manfred Mann Sound: Interview with Graham CoxonThe ex-Blur guitarist discusses his first post-Blur disc and his arrival as a solo artist. Buzzcocks: The Buzz ContinuesBuzzcocks fans might be surprised to find that the group's new self-titled effort, its first of the new millennium, is a return to its hard-rocking roots. Fresh from some live dates in Australia, Shelley recently spoke to PopMatters about his recent projects and the Buzzcocks' plans for the future. Reviews
New York Dolls: One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even ThisA band that is only one-third New York Dolls -- no matter how good their intentions -- still sounds like it. [25 July 2006] 
Blondie: Greatest Hits: Sound & VisionListening to all these songs in a row provides a reminder of what a great band Blondie was in its heyday, blessed with well-constructed songs, powerful vocals, concise playing, and great production. [5 May 2006] 
The Velvet Underground: Under Review [DVD]Yes, it would have been nice if the Velvet Underground had made 10 million dollars, but it's even better that they made music that still influences people today. [24 April 2006] 
Buzzcocks: Flat-Pack PhilosophyThe new record from the British pop-punk legends largely trades in the darkness and aggression of its predecessor for a poppier, more melodic approach. [9 March 2006] 
The Sugarcubes: The DVD [DVD] / Live Zabor [DVD]With her pixie-like looks, dazzling vocal range, and mesmerizing stage presence, it was hard not to focus on Björk. [20 February 2006] 
Buzzcocks: Live at Shepherds Bush Empire 2003 [DVD]Shelley and Diggle themselves prove this point, portraying themselves as regular blokes who enjoy a night at the pub while making some of the finest music around. [24 January 2006] 
New York Dolls: All Dolled Up [DVD]Bob Gruen and then-wife Nadya Beck logged over 40 hours of film of the Dolls, and from this footage comes this new documentary. [6 January 2006] 
Maximum Joy: Unlimited (1979-1983)The group's use of complex percussion, horns, danceable bass lines, and overtly English female vocals built a bridge between the worlds of Afrobeat, reggae, avant-garde jazz, funk, and pop. [8 December 2005] 
The Dick Cavett Show: John & Yoko CollectionThe DVD set reminds us that John Lennon and Yoko Ono played a significant role in these issues while producing art and maintaining a sense of humor. [2 December 2005] 
Thunders, Kane & Nolan: You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory [DVD]It is a don't-miss DVD for fans of the Dolls or the Heartbreakers. [1 November 2005] 
Various Artists: Grlz: Women Ahead of Their TimeThis is a fine collection that will shed light on many of post-punk's unjustly forgotten artists. [12 October 2005] 
Various Artists: The Motown BoxA testament to the label's great achievements, and an absolute joy to hear. [10 October 2005] 
Various Artists: Swinging MademoisellesThe British certainly didn't have a monopoly on the vibrant youth culture of the 1960s. The French certainly played their part in the so-called youthquake. [29 September 2005] 
Various Artists: The Best of Shel Silverstein: His Words, His Songs, His FriendsThose who approach the material with an open mind and a sense of humor will find a treasure trove of great American storytelling here. [23 September 2005] 
Chelsea: Urban Kids: A Punk Rock AnthologyThe band's music is competent, often fun, and likely laid the groundwork for more than a few oi bands to follow. [16 September 2005] 
Thee Shams: Sign the LineThee Shams have expanded their sound to include traces of psychedelia, Southern rock, the British invasion, Led Zeppelin, and '70s AM radio. [15 September 2005] 
The English Beat: In Concert at the Royal Festival Hall [DVD]Although usually lumped in with the ska revival bands, the English Beat's exhilarating blend of pop hooks, reggae rhythms, jazzy sax breaks, and punky attitude is difficult enough to categorize that they wouldn't stand a chance on today's genre-driven radio or MTV. [12 September 2005] 
Iggy Pop: A Million in Prizes: The Iggy Pop AnthologyIggy Pop is the godfather of punk, the world's forgotten boy, a streetwalking cheetah with a heart full of napalm, Bowie sidekick, and generally fucked-up rock 'n' roll lunatic who should have died in a gutter 30 years ago. [2 September 2005] 
Brian Setzer: Rockabilly Riot! Volume One: A Tribute to Sun RecordsThis album is a labor of love, plain and simple, that will appeal to fans of the artist and the material. [1 September 2005] 
A Certain Ratio: Live America 1985A Certain Ratio firmly is one of the pioneering, genre-mixing wave of bands that led the way for the dance-oriented artists of the '80s. [18 July 2005] 
Various Artists: Marty Thau Presents 2 x 5Music impresario Marty Thau, known for his associations with Blondie and the New York Dolls, selected five New York bands to record two songs each for release on his Red Star label. [13 July 2005] 
The Nomi Song (2004)It is the footage of Klaus Nomi that best demonstrates the immense talent and heart that lie beneath what could have been nothing more than nightclub kitsch. [10 June 2005] 
The Vibrators: Live Energized: CBGB 2004 [DVD]The poor Vibrators get a bad rap. On the surface, they seem to have a great punk pedigree, but as ubiquitous as they've been, the Vibrators are one of the most derided bands of British punk. [6 June 2005] 
The Stranglers: Live 1978 in San Francisco [DVD]There must be some better vintage live footage of the Stranglers out there somewhere. [31 May 2005] 
The Clash: The Essential ClashWhere Essential fails, though—and it fails spectacularly on this count—is in the mix. [22 April 2003]
Madonna: Greatest Hits Volume 2As it stands, it’s the best summary of Madonna’s second decade as a performer we’re going to get—at least until a massive box set appears. [13 November 2001]
Green Day: WarningReal old school punks know that punk is about following your own path, and that’s just what Green Day are doing. [3 October 2000]St. Etiennehas never garnered more than modest record sales in the U.S., the British trio has earned a dedicated cult following. [28 September 2000] 
Prince: Dirty MindWhile Prince has made several groundbreaking albums, 1980’s Dirty Mind, which was only a minor commercial success, still provides the most satisfying listen. |
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