William E. Spevack
[subhead] Noting and commenting on a band’s every album and song involves a lot of facts but how much fun can you squeeze in too? Fiona Hutchings checks out the new addition to the Sonicbond Publishing libraryon Green Day.
David Paton
Fiona Hutchings has no idea if David Paton’s life story will be magic or not but she gives it a go anyway,
Soup Dragons
Fiona Hutchings checks out Precious records’ four latest 10 inch classic BBC radio sessions. This time it’s The Soup Dragons on the turntable
Professor Elemental
Professor Elemental always likes to keep it eclectic but even mega fan Fiona Hutchings is surprised by the number of plans he has bubbling away at the moment, which include collaborationss to a boardgame to working with a neuroscientist via a dark techno fetish night,
Prolapse
When is a reissue worth buying? Fiona Hutchings isn’t entirely sure. as she reflects upon the new vinyl version of Prolapse's 1994 debut album 'Pointless Walks To Dismal Places'.
Peter Adams and Matt Pooler
Despite there already being a mass of books on Britpop, Fiona Hutchings finds the latest book in Sonicbond Publishing's 'Decades' series to be compulsory reading.
Tommy Gunnarsson
Pennyblack’s own Tommy Gunnarsson takes on The Smiths and Morrissey’s entire back catalogue. in his first book Fiona Hutchings rolls up her sleeves and dives in.
John van der Kiste
Will a book about twelve months in music work or will there be too much waffle? Fiona Hutchings finds out.
Baxter Dury
Fiona Hutchings finds that Baxter Dury's new memoir about his childhood and father Ian Dury promises but does not fully deliver
Attila the Stockbroker
Fiona Hutchings generally finds poetry a bit hit or miss and now she has Attila The Stockbroker in her sights.
Miscellaneous
Nick Assirati sets out to make the music of The Clash accessible to newcomers and/or younger fans. Fiona Hutchings investigates whether he succeeds.
JB Morrison
Following the success of his memoir last year, JB Morrison, the former frontman of Carter USM, is back with his fifth novel. Fiona Hutchings ponders whether 'Stranger Things coming to Brixton' is a good thing.
Miscellaneous
Proud Sheffielder Fiona Hutchings checks out the latest curated collection from Cherry Red Records promising plenty of punk and post punk gems, including twelve previously unreleased tracks.
Lee Thompson
Madness fan Fiona Hutchings enjoys 'One Man's Madness', a very different type of documentary focusing on the band's idiosyncratic saxophonist, Lee Thompson.
Miscellaneous
The 27 Club has its own sort of exclusivity but what does it take to end up a member? Fiona Hutchings is left wondering where we place the blame in Simon Napier-Bell's new documentary film, '27: Gone Too Soon'.
Miscellaneous
Donald Brackett's new book might claim to focus on Amy Winehouse but Fiona Hutchings fears his attempts at context just cloud the issue
UB40
Just like the history of the band themselves, Fiona Hutchings finds 'UB40 Featuring Ali, Mickey & Astro Unplugged' paired with the original band's greatest hits a complicated and sometimes challenging combination
Del Amitri
Fiona Hutchings reflects on the history of Scottish rock/pop act Del Amitri, who, to coincide with their first tour in a decade, are about to have three of their albums, 1989's 'Waking Hours', 1992's 'Change Eveything' and 1995's 'Twisted', re-released in double CD editions
Chris Haddon
Fiona Hutchings enjoys Sam Peckinpah's 1978 Country and Western/trucker saga 'Convoy', which has just been re-released on DVD
Miscellaneous
Fiona Hutchings examines new Marilyn Monroe documentary 'Love, Marilyn', which drawing on never before seen papers, letters and diaries is told from the perspective of several contemporary actresses including Glenn Close and Uma Thurman
Miscellaneous
Fiona Hutchings finds groundbreaking Lucy O’ Brien’s history on women in popular music, ‘She Bop’, which has just been published in a third edition
Nirvana
Fiona Hutchings reflects upon Seattle-based journalist Gillian G. Gaar's meticulously researched and fantastic new biography on Nirvana's early years
Selecter
Fiona Hutchinhs finds Selecter frontwoman Pauline Black has lost none of her uncompromising edge in her brutally, but refreshingly honest autobiography, 'Black By Design'
Miscellaneous
Fiona Hutchings finds the contents of the short list of 8th Annual Indie Video Music Festival, which is currently touring and will shortly be released on DVD, to be a decidely mixed bag