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Featured Writers |
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Reviews, Books - The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac Reviewed by Steve Rudd
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He doesn't need any money... all he needs is his rucksack.
There really was no end to Jack's writing talents after all! This is the fifth book of his that I've had the pleasure of reading, and it is by far and away my favourite.
When you get to the top of a mountain, keep climbing.
Packed with all the excitement of his classic masterpiece On The Road
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Reviews, Books - In The Winter Dark by Tim Winton Reviewed by Steve Rudd
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A menacing short story from the ever-interesting Australian writer Tim Winton,
this is a thrilling venture into dark and macabre territory that focuses on a few
people who live in a secluded valley that seems to also be inhabited by a mysterious
creature that preys both on their animals and their worst fears.
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Reviews, Books - The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan Reviewed by Steve Rudd
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First published way, way back in 1915, this is the story that inspired the infamous movie of
the same name that was directed by the king of noir, old Alfred Hitchcock.
I have it on good authority that the film version does in fact differ to quite a large extent to this novel, but what the hell.
I can't imagine the book being any less suspenseful or tense
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Album Reviews - Emma Rugg - Oceans / Depart EP By Steve Rudd
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Since Hull singer-songwriter Emma released her fabulous debut album
Isolated Impression, her song writing style has changed somewhat,
with this five-track EP being the perfect showcase for two brand new
songs (in Oceans and Depart), along with appearances from her older
tunes When I Looked At You and Prelude To The End
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Single Reviews - Morning Runner - Gone Up In Flames (Parlophone) By Steve Rudd
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Morning Runner are fast-becoming one of the nation's most exciting rock bands, and here
they follow-up their fabulous Drawing Shapes EP with yet another masterpiece of a
tune that is in truth an epic anthem.
Their second single Gone Up In Flames is an upbeat and fast-paced pop-rock cut
of staggering and mesmerising proportions, and their sublime and emotion-toiling
sound might remind some folk of Terris.
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Single Reviews - The Blue Van - Revelation of Love (TVT) By Steve Rudd
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It isn't every day that a quality rock band sails across the North Sea with such
bold and ambitious intentions as Denmark outfit The Blue Van.
This is their debut single which is taken from their Art Of Rolling album, with this
tune being unflinchingly propelled by a rock hard angular guitar riff that attacks
the senses like a sledgehammer to the groin.
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Single Reviews - Idlewild - El Capitan (EMI) By Steve Rudd
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Idlewild have been strutting their rock wares now for the best
part of ten years, and yet their music is still constantly surprising and genuinely thrilling.
This single release comes from the quintet's latest, and arguably greatest, album
in Warnings/ Promises, and is even more of a sad, sad song than their
Love Steals us From Loneliness anthem that has
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Album Reviews - Screaming Tarts Compilation Album By Steve Rudd
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A genuinely thrilling compilation album can often be impossible to find, so this refreshing
blast of largely Glam-garnished rock 'n' roll action is welcome relief indeed.
Especially in this day and age when so many people still think that the pop-pouting
Now releases are the ultimate be-all and end-all of compilation albums.
This 17-track wonder,
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Places to Visit - Greetings From Amsterdam Part One By Steve Rudd
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As the blazing red sunset slowly but surely cast Hull into shadow, the P&O ferry was ready,
and so were the passengers.
I'd never travelled by ferry across to the Netherlands, and thus was naturally overwhelmed
by the sheer scale of the ferry and the wealth of entertainment on board, what with
two cinemas, a kids play area, a restaurant and casino
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Places to Visit - On The Pennine Way Part Two By Steve Rudd
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After surviving the nightmare of Kinder Scout's mountainous bulk and getting back on track,
the next 'hill' of worth en-route along the Pennine Way is called Bleaklow.
Just like its predecessor, it could quite potentially be the death of you if
you're not careful in negotiating the peaty wastes as you go up and over and
onwards towards the tiny hamlet of
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Poetry - Roadside Angels By Steve Rudd
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Once you've heard one story, you'll want to hear more
That's the beauty of American folklore,
Entranced by the people emerging from the South,
Telling stories in the morning, living mouth to hand to mouth.
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Fiction - Kat Out of the Bag Chapter Seven By Steve Rudd
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Time spent away from the daily grind forces you to assess where, in life, you have been - and
where you would like to go.
Back in England, perversely, I had always wanted to return here to Nepal, but now I was back here,
I wanted
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Single Reviews - Be There (Freezer Recordings) By Steve Rudd
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This single is heart-warming indie-pop music of the highest order, from a fresh quartet
that is fronted by the naturally talented singer and guitarist Leon Black.
The band's chirpy Be There anthem is a perfect summer-suited tune for the masses
to smile along to, being an electro-edged gem - and hugely commercial to boot.
B-side Prozac Generation is just as poppy, while the Dirty Blue Gene
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Single Reviews - Tsar - Band-Girls-Money (TVT) By Steve Rudd
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This cracking single is taken from the band's latest album, the follow-up to their debut LP that came out some five years ago, back in the year 2000.
Tsar hail from LA where they have a strong following, but more and more people over here in the UK are fast -tracking their passions in favour of Tsar and their quest for worldwide domination.
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Single Reviews - Kate Aumonier - Much Like Yesterday (Sanctuary) By Steve Rudd
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Things are looking bright for this pretty young thing, and surely to goodness this fresh-faced singer-songwriter will wind up remembering this year fondly, given the potential fame and fortune that could very well edge her way on the back of this superb release.
Much Like Yesterday (which, interestingly, was co-composed by
Jez Ashurst - the cheeky front man of pop-rockers Farrah)
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Single Reviews - Hey Negrita - Devil In My Shoes (Fat Fox) By Steve Rudd
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Truly a mighty tune to help you breathe more easily, the anthemic vibes therein are born out of a monstrously angular guitar riff being creatively pinned up against a wicked dance beat. The resulting high octane energy levels more than mean business, and there isn't one dull
second of
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Reviews, Books - Junky by William S. Burroughs Reviewed by Steve Rudd
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Where to start with a man of William's legendary literary standing?
Born in 1914, in his own time he came to be regarded as one of the most
important American writers of the Sixties Beat generation - during which
time his writing was revered in the same way that the work of
Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg was.
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Reviews, Books - The Long Rain by Peter Gadol Reviewed By Steve Rudd
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After I had walked around the winery, I climbed back in my truck and continued driving farther up
into the foothills, and some nights I did make it as far as the mountain road.
I wanted to cross the Diablo range.
I wanted to keep driving clear across the state and into the desert, deep into the American
vastness, where I knew no one and no one knew me.
Read more...
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Reviews, Books - Jack Ruby's Kitchen Sink by Tom Miller Reviewed by Steve Rudd
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I have long longed to visit the South-Western states of the USA, and the beautifully majestic Arizona in particular.
In this fascinating and factual book, Tom - who himself lives in Tucson, Arizona - recounts
all sorts of weird and wonderful tales from the region, and also presents tall tales from
California
Read more...
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Articles - Shall We Dance? UK Movie Premiere, Wednesday Feb 16th 2005, Leicester Square, London By Steve Rudd
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The weather might have been bitterly cold, but still the most entertaining Square in all of
London was relatively packed for the UK movie premiere of Shall We Dance?,
which was in aid of charity - and the Asia Tsunami appeal in particular.
Shall We Dance? is the latest movie
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Single Reviews - Beach - Burning Up (Sliding Vinyl) By Steve Rudd
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Truly a mighty tune to help you breathe more easily, the anthemic vibes therein are born out of a monstrously angular guitar riff being creatively pinned up against a wicked dance beat. The resulting high octane energy levels more than mean business, and there isn't one dull
second of
Read more...
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Places to Visit - On The Pennine Way Part One By Steve Rudd
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Why on earth would anyone want to go walking on their week off work? That's the question that most people would routinely ask anybody who would do exactly that, as though walking - and long distance walking in particular - is something simply not to be indulged in.
I always argue that there is very little more
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Places to Visit - Down South By Steve Rudd
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Brighton has always been one hell of a popular place, but until one freezing cold
day in February of this year I had never before spent anytime whatsoever there
in my twenty-four years in this forever-overwhelming world.
I thought it was high time I paid the place a visit, and seeing as though
I was down in London anyway - and a return National Express coach ticket
down
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Single Reviews - Hal - Play The Hits (Rough Trade) By Steve Rudd
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Following up their chirpy What A Lovely Dance hit, Play The Hits' is quite frankly a
fabulous tune from this refreshing Irish four-piece. These fellows go all out to hit upon
classic melodies and harmonies that burrow their way into the hearts and minds of their
listeners - and that Brian Wilson would die for.
This song has been written by band front man David Allen
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Single Reviews - Hood - The Negatives (Domino) By Steve Rudd
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Well, there's nothing quite like being positive - even if they're Hood and they're playing
The Negatives. For starters, this band's music is certainly intriguing and thoroughly fascinating, not least because they refuse to conform when it comes to writing conventionally structured songs.
The two b-sides that are tagged on the back of this single release, just
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Single Reviews - Bodyrockers - I Like The Way (Mercury) By Steve Rudd
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The type of tune that you either love or loathe, this latest anthem from this
troupe of Dance-dazed musicians is taking the nation by storm regardless, and
the Top 40 really cannot resist a tune of this calibre.
This release heaves with some epic remixes of the song, but rarely do remixes
compare
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Single Reviews - Wherewithal - Sixth Form Poetry (Foolproof) By Steve Rudd
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This fem-fronted quintet sure isn't taking any prisoners, ballsily bursting out of the
Farnborough area with gusto. Stacy Hart is the singer, and what a singer she is.
Holding the rest of the band in check with her fantastic vocal musings, Stacy
possesses a strong and distinctive voice that dominates the music, with such
music
Read more...
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Single Reviews - Ryan Adams - Let it Ride (Lost Highway) By Steve Rudd
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American Country-rocker Ryan is back on the scene, and is being backed by a
new band of friends called The Cardinals.
Let It Ride is their new single, and - true to form for Ryan - lush elements
of both Country music and rock 'n' roll are fashionably entwined
in the most sublime manner.
Read more...
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Fiction - Kat Out of the Bag Chapter Six By Steve Rudd
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Support for any given country's government can be a funny thing, but never hilarious.
The Maoist rebels in Nepal, in an ideal world, would have the government of the
landlocked country instantaneously overthrown.
Read more...
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Single Reviews - Razorlight - Somewhere Else (Vertigo) By Steve Rudd
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Face it - Razorlight front man Johnny Borrell is a total
star in his own right, even without the other three lads that make up this
tantalisingly talented band... especially when he's armed and potentially
infamous with his trusted acoustic guitar.
Still, the full band sound is hard to beat, and this tune
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Places to Visit - Up North By Steve Rudd
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So, you look forward all week - at work - to your one or two days off... right? And what do you do on such days off? Housework, no doubt. Do you ever think you should do something more worthwhile with your sacred time off? Like travel, for instance.
County Durham isn't that far a trip from East Yorkshire, and if
Read more...
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CD Reviews - Miss Machete - EP - Wanted For Murder By Steve Rudd
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For a good old all-round intense and wholly invigorating rock experience, then you ought to make
friends with Little Miss Machete, because when they cut you with their music, it doesn't so
much hurt as it simply stuns.
This fresh and frantic quartet is a fast-rising phenomenon in the Yorkshire
Read more...
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Music Reviews -
Midge Ure at Pocklington Arts Centre - Wednesday 13th April 05 By Steve Rudd
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Let me first just say that the Pocklington Arts Centre is a truly fantastic venue, and it's
quite amazing that such a quality venue graces a town that is so small.
Nestling perfectly to one side of the town's charming Market Square, this venue
is a theatre, concert hall and
Read more...
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Reviews, Books - Jack Ruby's Kitchen Sink by Tom Miller Reviewed by Steve Rudd
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I have long longed to visit the South-Western states of the USA, and the beautifully majestic Arizona in particular.
In this fascinating and factual book, Tom - who himself lives in Tucson, Arizona - recounts
all sorts of weird and wonderful tales from the region, and also presents tall tales from
California
Read more...
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Music, Album Reviews - Lola Ray - I Don't Know Why (DC Flag) By Steve Rudd
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Signed to the same label as Good Charlotte, this quartet is hitting the
world's airwaves hard with their sun-kissed brand of highly melodic and
supremely fashionable rock music for the masses, with John Balicanta chairing
proceedings
Read more...
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Single Reviews - The Departure - Lump In My Throat (Parlophone) By Steve Rudd
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These Northampton boys can't do no wrong since past singles All Mapped Out and
Be My Enemy both
crashed into the Top 40.
Likewise, this single couldn't be cooler and boasts a mesmerising chorus (I've got a bag
with no air-holes, a chair with no seat...)
Read more...
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Single Reviews - The Others - William (Mercury) Release Date: 4th April By Steve Rudd
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These guys have been nothing but a huge inspiration to hordes of people over the past year,
not least because of the band's willingness to stage impromptu guerrilla gigs - wherever
and whenever they please.
Hell, they've even produced a short film
Read more...
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Music Reviews -
The Black Velvets at Brighton Audio - 18th February 05 By Steve Rudd, Photo Gallery by Darren Rogers - Sweet n Sour at The Welly Club, Hull - 9th December 04
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What's one to do when they are bored with Brighton's infamous Pier amusements,
and has then had their fill of the plethora of fashion and food-orientated
establishments that are packed into Brighton's cosmopolitan city centre?
Aside from any shows that might be playing in the few theatres in the
Read more...
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Music Reviews - 23rd January 05 - Jesse Malin at Fibbers, York By Steve Rudd
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Young Jesse Malin, trading New York for Olde York for one night only! I could hardly contain myself
at the prospect, for Jesse is one of the most exciting singer-songwriters to have emerged from
New York City in the past few years since the release of his beautiful debut album,
Read more...
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Reviews, Books -One For New York by John A Williams Reviewed By Steve Rudd
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A remarkable novel in every respect, this is a classic piece of literature from an
incredibly gifted writer who expressed exactly how it felt to be a black man
growing up in the United States early on in the last Century.
This book focuses on his
Read more...
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Reviews, Books - Dr. Sax by Jack Kerouac Reviewed by Steve Rudd
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Even hardcore fans of this legendary author might be in two minds about how much they
like this novel of his.
Jack is best-known for his travel-trained adventures back and forth across the
USA (in On The Road, Big Sur and The Dharma Bums for example), and further
Read more...
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