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John Dover

Recent

Music

No Age: Nouns

Never has so much kaleidoscopic noise been produced from such meagre resources: one guitar and one drum kit.

Music

Nada Surf: Lucky

A solid, if unspectacular, set of indie-pop tunes from the New York trio perennially trying to shake off the "one-hit wonder" tag.

John Dover

Music

Morrissey: Greatest Hits

A greatest hits compilation that draws heavily on the fruits of Morrissey's 'second coming'. The result? A vulgar picture.

Music

The Aliens: Astronomy for Dogs

From the ashes of the late great Beta Band come the Aliens, though they rarely scale the same heights.

Music

Von Südenfed: Tromatic Reflexxions

This collaboration between the Fall's Mark E. Smith and Mouse on Mars is all over the place, but mostly in a good way.

Music

Bill Callahan: Woke on a Whaleheart

Callahan ditches the Smog moniker and delivers a surprisingly upbeat collection, though one that in the end feels a little slight.

Reviews

Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow (2005)

A fine, moving and illuminating account of a writer who used the bleak, harrowing circumstances of his life to forge a unique style that addressed concerns and characters often absent from the literature of his time.

Reviews

Dinosaur Jr.: Dinosaur Jr. [DVD]

Dinosaur Jr.'s original line-up is back together and this live document from 2005 proves age has not diminished the power of the original trio.

Music

The Beach Boys: The Warmth of the Sun

Another 'Best Of..' from one of the most anthologised bands ever but at least this one looks beyond the 'hits'.

Music

The Alternate Routes: Good and Reckless and True

Audibly straining to please everyone and offend no-one it offers only bland platitudes and forgettable tunes to the extent that you really have to wonder why they bothered.

Music

The Horrors: Strange House

Raucous garage rock debut from justifiably hyped goth-themed English troublemakers.

John Dover

Music

Various: Black Snake Moan

The soundtrack of Craig Brewer's latest film is a solid selection of old and new blues music, though Samuel Jackson's vocals suggest he shouldn't think about quitting his day job anytime soon.

John Dover

Music

The Fall: Reformation Post T.L.C

Mark E. Smith has previously thrived on conflict and controversy, but this time the fallout from yet another dramatic line-up change has resulted in one of the Fall's more disappointing releases.

Reviews

Various Artists: American Hardcore [DVD]

Based on the book by Steven Blush this is an excellent, exhilarating and near-definitive account of the American Hardcore Punk scene.

Music

Up, Bustle & Out: Mexican Sessions (Our Simple Sensational Sound)

Genre pushing Bristol duo continue their exploration of global beats, but could have done with narrowing their focus.

Music

The View: Hats Off to the Buskers

Hugely hyped debut from young Scottish four-piece is short on originality, but just about makes it on punky exuberance.

Reviews

Various Artists: Destroy All Rational Thought [DVD]

From its premise of no new innovators, no literary outlaws, and no risk takers left alive comes a DVD of no historical foundation, no informative narration, and no visual or audible quality.

John Dover

Music

Seafood: Paper Crown King

British indie rock survivors deliver pleasant but uninspiring fourth album.

Music

Suburban Kids with Biblical Names: #Three

Ecclectic DIY Swedish pop packed with great tunes and witty lyrics.

Reviews

Cream: Cream: Classic Artists [DVD]

Dreary and unedifying career overview of '60s blues trio marred by its lack of live footage.

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Never has so much kaleidoscopic noise been produced from such meagre resources: one guitar and one drum kit.

A solid, if unspectacular, set of indie-pop tunes from the New York trio perennially trying to shake off the "one-hit wonder" tag.

A greatest hits compilation that draws heavily on the fruits of Morrissey's 'second coming'. The result? A vulgar picture.

From the ashes of the late great Beta Band come the Aliens, though they rarely scale the same heights.

This collaboration between the Fall's Mark E. Smith and Mouse on Mars is all over the place, but mostly in a good way.

Callahan ditches the Smog moniker and delivers a surprisingly upbeat collection, though one that in the end feels a little slight.

A fine, moving and illuminating account of a writer who used the bleak, harrowing circumstances of his life to forge a unique style that addressed concerns and characters often absent from the literature of his time.

A chance for a band to reclaim a reputation that, where it exists at all, is based solely on THAT song.

Dinosaur Jr.'s original line-up is back together and this live document from 2005 proves age has not diminished the power of the original trio.

Another 'Best Of..' from one of the most anthologised bands ever but at least this one looks beyond the 'hits'.

Audibly straining to please everyone and offend no-one it offers only bland platitudes and forgettable tunes to the extent that you really have to wonder why they bothered.

Raucous garage rock debut from justifiably hyped goth-themed English troublemakers.

The soundtrack of Craig Brewer's latest film is a solid selection of old and new blues music, though Samuel Jackson's vocals suggest he shouldn't think about quitting his day job anytime soon.

Mark E. Smith has previously thrived on conflict and controversy, but this time the fallout from yet another dramatic line-up change has resulted in one of the Fall's more disappointing releases.

Based on the book by Steven Blush this is an excellent, exhilarating and near-definitive account of the American Hardcore Punk scene.

Genre pushing Bristol duo continue their exploration of global beats, but could have done with narrowing their focus.

Hugely hyped debut from young Scottish four-piece is short on originality, but just about makes it on punky exuberance.

From its premise of no new innovators, no literary outlaws, and no risk takers left alive comes a DVD of no historical foundation, no informative narration, and no visual or audible quality.

British indie rock survivors deliver pleasant but uninspiring fourth album.

Ecclectic DIY Swedish pop packed with great tunes and witty lyrics.

Dreary and unedifying career overview of '60s blues trio marred by its lack of live footage.

Disappointing and derivative riot-rock from the son of the late, great Steve Marriott.

Hugely eclectic tribute to troubled songwriter and artist whose star, finally, seems to be on the rise.