The Best Music - from Liverpool to Beyond

Category: Opinion

Features Opinion

Master of Reality: Remembering Ozzy Osbourne

Post author By Simon Kirk
Post date August 1, 2025
1 Comment on Master of Reality: Remembering Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne (photo: from the linear notes of 'Vol. 4)'

Live Opinion

Flower-Corsano Duo, Jonathan Raisin & Nick Branton @ House Show, Liverpool – 17/07/2025

Post author By Simon Kirk
Post date July 21, 2025
1 Comment on Flower-Corsano Duo, Jonathan Raisin & Nick Branton @ House Show, Liverpool – 17/07/2025

Flower-Corsano Duo (photo: Simon Kirk)

Tags Bill Orcutt, Chris Corsano, Ex-Easter Island Head, Fire Nearby, Flower-Corsano Duo, Haress, Mercury Rev, Michael Flower, Quarry, Six Organs of Admittance, Yann Tiersen

Features Opinion

The Power and the Glory: How Arne Slot Guided Liverpool Football Club to the Promised Land

Post author By Simon Kirk
Post date May 30, 2025
5 Comments on The Power and the Glory: How Arne Slot Guided Liverpool Football Club to the Promised Land

Liverpool Football Club (artwork: Sam Gill - IG @samgill82)

Features Opinion

The Horizon Divides You: Exploring Ambient Country

Post author By Sam Gill
Post date June 28, 2024
8 Comments on The Horizon Divides You: Exploring Ambient Country

Lee Underwood (photo: Sonia Crespi)

Tags Al Perkins, Andrew Tuttle, Beachwood Sparks, BJ Cole, Blind Willie Johnson, Blue Lakes, Brewer & Shipley, Brian Eno, Buddy Emmons, Chas Smith, Chuck Johnson, CSNY, Daniel Lanois, Dave Easley, Don Helms, Drag City, Drifting Cowboys, Elvis, Everly Brothers, Ezra Feinberg, Farmer Dave Scher, Fleetwood Mac, Fred Rose, Graham Lee, Grateful Dead, Hank Williams, Heather Leigh, Helms, Jefferson Airplane, Jerry Byrd, Jerry Garcia, John Cage, John Dopyera, Kleinow, KLF, Lambchop, Lee Underwood, Luke Schneider, Martin, Merge Records, Merle Haggard, Mitternacht, Mojave 3, New Riders of the Purple Sage, North Americans, Paul Bigsby, Pauline Oliveros, Peter Brötzmann, Prefab Sprout, Ralph Mooney The Strangers, Raymond Richards, Rocco Deluca, Ry Cooder, Santo and Johnny, Satie, Scorsese, Scott Marmion, Silver Jews, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Sonny Curtis, Spencer Cullum, spiritualized, Steve Reich, Susan Alcorn, Suss, Tampa Red, Terry Riley, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Project Club, The Sand Band, The Triffids, Tim Buckley, Tom Brumley, William Tyler

Features Opinion

Bringing the Noise: Remembering Steve Albini

Post author By Simon Kirk
Post date May 17, 2024
18 Comments on Bringing the Noise: Remembering Steve Albini

Steve Albini (photo: Brian Cassella / Getty Images)

Books Opinion

Sleepwalking into the Abyss: Dave Eggers’ ‘The Every’

Post author By Simon Kirk
Post date January 12, 2024
1 Comment on Sleepwalking into the Abyss: Dave Eggers’ ‘The Every’

Dave Eggers (photo: Brecht von Maele)

Tags Dave Eggers, Emma Watson, George Orwell

Features Opinion

Articulate Silences: Remembering Brian McBride

Post author By Simon Kirk
Post date August 31, 2023
11 Comments on Articulate Silences: Remembering Brian McBride

Brian McBride (photo: Steve Molter)

Tags A Winged Victory for the Sullen, Adam Wiltzie, Aix Em Klemm, All Tomorrow's Parties, Bell Gardens, Brian Eno, Brian McBride, Explosions In The Sky, Kenneth James Gibson, Kranky, Labdraford, Rick Froberg, Robert Donne, Stars of the Lid, Steve Reich

Features Opinion

Light Up the Stars: Remembering Rick Froberg

Post author By Simon Kirk
Post date July 6, 2023
7 Comments on Light Up the Stars: Remembering Rick Froberg

Rick Froberg

Tags All Tomorrow’s Parties, Barry Hogan, Cormac McCarthy, Drive Like Jehu, Froberg, Hot Snakes, John Reis, Mimi Parker, Obits, Pitchfork, Rick Froberg, Slint, Sub Pop, Warped Tour

Album Reviews Opinion

Ultimate Reset: The Return of The Mars Volta

Post author By Simon Kirk
Post date September 26, 2022
3 Comments on Ultimate Reset: The Return of The Mars Volta

The Mars Volta (photo credit: Fat Bob)

Tags At the Drive-In, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Omar Rodriguez-López, The Mars Volta

Features Opinion

Bob Marley: “None but ourselves can free our minds”

Post author By richierockertomlinson
Post date May 11, 2021
1 Comment on Bob Marley: “None but ourselves can free our minds”

Bob Marley

Tags Bob Marley, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Bunny Wailer, Chris Blackwell, Culture, Don Letts, Island Records, Jake Burns, john peel, Lee Perry, Neville ‘Bunny’ Livingstone, Peter Tosh, Stiff Little Fingers, U Roy, Wailing Wailers

Opinion

The Perfect Storm?

Tags Blue Dot, Cirque du Soleil, cream, Download, Elton John, Foo Fighters, glastonbury, Invisible Wind Factory, Live Nation, O2 Academy, sound city, The Rolling Stones, Wemakeevents, Zanzibar

Opinion Television

End of an era as we say goodbye to The Affair – an afterword

Post author By Simon Kirk
Post date August 23, 2020
2 Comments on End of an era as we say goodbye to The Affair – an afterword

With The Affair finally reaching its conclusion, we assess its importance in the current standing of modern day television.

Tags Breaking Bad, Carmelo Soprano, Dominic West, Hagai Levi, House Of Cards, In Treatment, Julia Goldani Telles, Mad Men, Maura Tierney, Max Flower, Omar Metwally, Our Boys, Ruth Wilson, Sarah Treem, Showtime, Six Feet Under, The Affair, The Sopranos, The Wire

Opinion

The Mercury Prize 2019 reflection – poisoned chalices, industry back-slapping and Sleaford Mods

Post author By Simon Kirk
Post date July 17, 2020
3 Comments on The Mercury Prize 2019 reflection – poisoned chalices, industry back-slapping and Sleaford Mods

We look at the relevance of the Mercury Prize and whether winning the award is all it’s cracked up to be.

Tags dave, elbow, mercury prize, pj harvey, sleaford mods

Opinion

David Berman – dead aged 52: an afterword

Post author By Simon Kirk
Post date July 16, 2020
18 Comments on David Berman – dead aged 52: an afterword

We reflect on the illustrious career of David Berman, the poet, cartoonist and musical mastermind behind Silver Jews and Purple Mountains.

Tags David Berman, Pavement, Purple Mountains, Silver Jews