Elvis Costello Fan Forum

I am sorry to digress from this stellar debate on religion & it's free pass to hate your neighbour more than he hates you. But the beginnings of this thread brought up some interesting ideas about music & politics & how little or great there influence can be when combined. I am not refer...

The two that have held my attention for the last twelve months or so (so not as new as the thread deserves perhaps) are; The Shins - Two albums in, you would think they would be unlistenable after all the hype, Garden State soundtrack & all. Both their debut Oh, Inverted World & the follow-u...

Otis, I would hate you to think that there is a distinct lack of interest in Magazine. Honestly I have avoided throwing in my two cents here just because it is so predictably right up my alley. My brother had a copy of the Spiral Scratch ep, back when even to have heard it was a rare event. That suc...

As a disgruntled ticket-holder for the St Paul no-show, was calming to read the full story from Elvis. Thanks for posting this.

There are gaps in my Dylan knowledge, but here are my favorites from what I know. 1. Blonde On Blonde I love the 'wild mercury sound' description of this album, even if I don't know what it means. Visions of Johanna could be my favorite Dylan track. 2. The Basement Tapes Chaotic & ramshacle at t...

I didn't make it as far as the venue, a phone-call from my wife saved me that hassle. Still I was pretty bummed out. Last saw him on the WIWC tour in Chicago & I was thrilled at the thought of seeing the Delovery Man material live. To not even consider a rescheduled date just seems wrong. That a...

How strange to transpose the opening line of Sound Of Music where Dead Souls should have been! Julie Andrews or Gogol? I'll stand by Dead Souls. The reduction in the drumming workload for Steve Morris as New Order's career progressed was a crime. They created some wonderful sounds with a drum-machin...

Mike, I love your description of Joy Division's music being 'direct from someone's soul'. That in a nutshell seems to be why so many of their followers have been unable to create anything even close to what Joy Division achieved. Otis, where could they have gone after Closer? Obviously the synthesis...

Great lists Otis, Jackson & Who Shot! I think 1979 is good enough to get another five! Public Image Ltd - Metal box Talking Heads - Fear Of Music The Specials - The Specials Wire - 154 The Fall - Dragnet Ok, maybe 1980 deserves more too; Dexy's Midnight Runners - Searching For The Young Soul Reb...

I am not sure where I stand on the US version just yet. Seems they used the first episode as a jumping off point. Keeping to that original script. I will keep watching, & am hopeful it can find it's own voice. It does surprise me how many people here refer to the UK version as being funny. My fi...

Otis, In my opinion Pink Flag is more of a nostalgia piece, bar the classic 12XU. Chairs Missing heads in the right direction. The one that still delights is 154. Listening to this they are obvious contempories of Joy Division & Public Image circa Metal Box. Wire never got into my conciousness t...

Guided By Voices, don't be put off by Anthrax. It is a track that has grown on me over the many years since it was released,but is by no means representative of either sound or the quality of the rest of Entertainment! Although if those first three Wire albums did leave you cold, I don't know what t...

Entertainment! should be required listening for anyone interested in popular music. The Gang Of Four may have inspired many bands, but no-one has come close to matching the greatness of this debut. The copy I have on CD includes Outside The Trains Don't Run On Time, He'd Send In The Army & It's ...

It has taken me a while to get to this thread. I was fortunate enough that my older brother was in England at the beginning of the 80s. Being the avid NME reader he was he returned with a swag of the Postcard singles. I cherished a beat-up cassettes worth of these for about 12 years, until on one of...

Not usually good at making lists, but what the hey. USA Mexico Australia New Zealand Thailand Singapore Hong Kong Tahiti South Africa England Wales Ireland Scotland Netherlands Belgium Luxembourg France Germany Austria Switzerland Czech Republic Poland Denmark Sweden Finland USSR (As it was then) It...

What a great thread. What a great band. My introduction to the Fall was as a teenager & Totally Wired & Lie Dream Of A Casino Soul sounded like they should have been hit singles. What an introduction! I then used all my available cash (ok, pocket money) & bought Grotesque (after the gram...

El Vez - The comic companion to Kavalier is fun. It recreates the stories of the Escapist, Luna Moth etc. as they were described in the novel. Tries to continue the conceit that Kavalier & lay did exist. The highpoints are a 1 pager by the great Chris Ware & the origin story by Chabon. The r...

Wow, this is a thread I have sadly neglected. Well no time to catch-up now so I shall just dive in head first. Miss.Buenos Aires. Your dissection of Pynchon et al brought back memories of reading The Runaway Soul by Harold Brodkey. A much anticipated publication, but what a turgid read. The experien...

Yes - Manchurian Candidate!

Now who gets to ask?

Yes - The Ladykillers (1955)

Yes - The Stepford Wives (1975)

The third one I was thinking of has still not been mentioned. I hadn't even thought of 'Around the World..'

I wouldn't presume to be the entitled to ask...but I'll throw out an easy question to keep the ball rolling: Name the three movies that have been released this year that were remakes of well-known old movies. One from the 50s, one 60s & 1 70s. Not TV remakes but movies. There may be more than 3,...

'Panic on the streets of london
Panic on the streets of Birmingham'
The Smiths

Panic On the Streets
Dir.Elia Kazan

I don't recall who starred in it, but I recall the plot being the one you describe.

Perhaps someone else can complete the puzzle & take the glory?

Thanks, El Vez.

Thanks for quoting those lyrics from The Streets. I haven't heard the band, but if they are half as entertaining as those you quoted I might just make the effort. Love that wry observational style.

Looking forward to more of your reviews. Is music reviewing your career? If not, please consider.

2004 is proving to be a satisfying year for buying music. A lot of great stuff already mentioned. I enjoy Franz Ferdinand, but even as I listen to them I don't see them having a long term place in my listening. Nothing wrong with that, some of the best music is nothing if not disposible. Best new ba...