Pennyblackmusic Presents: Johny Brown (Band of Holy Joy) - With Hector Gannet and Andy Thompson @The Water Rats, London, Saturday 25, May, 2024
Jesus And Mary Chain
In our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' column in which our writers describe the personal impact of music in their lives, Anthony Strutt writes of discovering the Jesus and Mary Chain in the mid 1980s
Icicle Works
In the latest in our series, in which our writers write about the importance of music at memorable times in their lives, Anthony Strutt tells of meeting the Icicle Works and happy times with their 1984 self-titled debut album as a backdrop
Miscellaneous
Liverpool-based early 80's band the Room featured Dave Jackson and Becky Stringer, who would go on to form Benny Profane. Anthony Strutt looks at their two LPs,'Indoor Fireworks' and 'In Evil Hour', which have recently been released with extra tracks
Can
Mute Records, in a second batch of reissues, have remastered and re-released four of German experimentalists Can's latter albums. Anthony Strutt profiles them
Depeche Mode
To celebrate their 25th anniversary, Depeche Mode have had three of their albums, ,'Speak and Spell' from 1981,'Music for the Masses' from 1987 and 'Violator' from 1991, re-released. Anthony Strutt profiles them all
Gorillaz
Anthony Strutt profiles Gorillaz's new live DVD 'Demon Days', which was filmed at a concert in Manchester last year
John Lennon
Most of John Lennon's solo work has already been remastered . With the final two albums 'Walls and Bridges' and 'Sometime in New York City' being released to coincide with the 25th anniversary of his death, Anthony Strutt examines their abiding impact
Kylie Minogue
Anthony Strutt profiles Kylie Minogue's new live DVD, which shows a full show from London's Earl Court on her 'Showgirl' tour earlier this year
Miscellaneous
Anthony Strutt examines Dutch punk label Hellcat's new DVD 'Give 'Em the Boot', which features footage of some of the best bands on their roster including Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, Rancid, Horrorpops and the Dropkick Murphys
Miscellaneous
The daughter of Italian horror film director Dario Argento, Asia Argento is a talented actress, director and a musician. Anthony Strutt examines her career to date
Film
'9 Songs' has created much controversy as it is the first UK made film to be passed uncut to feature full-on hardcore sex. Anthony Strutt argues, however, that it is equally important as it is the first to depict the indie music lifestyle
Departure
The Departure's 'Dirty Words' will be one of the most important releases of the year. While it is not due out until June, Anthony Strutt gives it an early preview
Graham Coxon
Graham Coxon has come a long way since leaving Blur. Anthony Strutt examines his new DVD, which was filmed at an Oxford gig and showcases all four of his four solo albums
Suicide
New York punk duo Suicide have just had their third and fourth albums, 'A Way of Life' and 'Why Be Blue' remastered and released with special live recordings. Anthony Strutt examines and looks at both
Virgin Prunes
In the conclusive part of our two part feature on the experimental Irish art rockers the Virgin Prunes, Anthony Strutt looks at their three of their latter albums,'...If I Die, I Die', 'Heresie' and 'The Moon Looked Down and Laughed'
Le Orme
Controversially surreal Austrians Laibach have just released on DVD a package of promo videos to celebrate their 25 years of making music. Anthony Strutt discovers it to be compelling viewing
Miscellaneous
When the Residents 'Commercial Album' came out in 1980, it featured 40 one minute tracks. Anthony Strutt finds the DVD, which has been released to coincide with the album's reissue, to be a fine visual assistant to the album
Can
The first four albums by 70's German experimentalists Can have recently been remastered. Anthony Strutt examines them 30 years on
Virgin Prunes
In the first part of a two part series, Anthony Strutt profiles Irish new wave art collective the Virgin prunes and examines their debut album, 'A New Form of Beauty'
Cabaret Voltaire
First released in 1982, 'Doublevision Presents Cabaret Voltaire' was one of indiedom's first long form videos. Transferred to DVD, Anthony Strutt explains why the Sheffield art rockers' film proves to be "not for the light hearted and very hard work"
Mojave 3
Slowdive and Mojave 3 member Rachel Goswell has just released her overdue first solo EP, 'The Sleep Shelter', and album, 'Waves are Universal'. Far different than anything she has ever done before, Anthony Strutt finds them worth the long wait
Hate Fuck Trio
The Cure recently released 'Join the Dots', a four CD collection of B-sides and rarities. Anthony Strutt details each of its 70 tracks
Cure
The Cure have recently released 'Trilogy', a film of a lengthy, but powerful concert performed in Berlin last year. Anthony Strutt finds it essential viewing for fans
Inspiral Carpets
The reformed Inspiral Carpets recently toured Britain, and also have an excellent new box set 'Cool as...' out soon . Anthony Strutt reflects back on their history, and profiles this new retrospective
Electric Prunes
One of the ultimate 60's psychedelia acts, the Electric Prunes recently released their first album in over thirty years, 'Artifact', and also toured Britain. Anthony Strutt examines their new concert DVD, 'Rewired'
Lou Reed
Lou Reed's latest double album 'The Raven' is a musical tribute to the horror writer Edgar Allan Poe, and has proved typically controversial, being seen by many critics to be pretentious. Anthony Strutt, however, believes that there is more to it
Raveonettes
After profiling the original version of the Raveonettes 'Whip it On' last month which came out on Crunchy Frog , Anthony Strutt now looks at the new version of the album which has been released on Columbia, and concludes that it is even better
Teen Idols / Spread
....while in our second film review of the month, he examines French director Claire Denis's oddball arthouse horror curiosity 'Trouble Every Day', which has been scored by Tindersticks
Miscellaneous
In the first of two film reviews this month, non rap fan Anthony Strutt writes about the definite merits of Eminem's blockbuster new movie, '8 Mile'....
Raveonettes
Denmark's the Raveonettes mix the energy and passion of the young Jesus and Mary Chain with the garage stomp of the Cramps on their debut album 'Whip it On'. Anthony Strutt profiles what he sees to be already one of the great indie releases of the year
Bjork
One of the world's finest artistes, Bjork has never been anything if not unpredictable. Long term fan Anthony Strutt finds her once again pushing back boundaries with her new box set, 'Family Tree'
Ian Mcnabb
'The Gentleman Adventurer' is Ian McNabb's 7th solo album, and is being self-released as an internet only release. Anthony Strutt examines a prolific record by one of Liverpool's "most important and under rated songwriters"