Steve Rudd page 7.

Steve Rudd has been writing for thisisUll.com for some time and has proved himself to be one of our most talented writers. Steve's contributions are listed below.. Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11.

Reviews, Books - Book Recommendations by Steve Rudd
	Here are some short and sweet book recommendations in place of the usual fully-fledged reviews, quite simply because I haven't had time to write up these reviews in more detail. The fact is that there are too many great books, and far too little time to read them - let alone write about them in gushing retrospect. Anyway, here's some mention of some of the books I've recently been Read more...

Single Reviews - The Fallout Trust - Washout (At Large) Release date: Feb 13th 2006 Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	At just over three minutes long, the latest single from the London sextet in Washout perfectly showcases just how talented this band is. Given that there are six members, the music naturally has immense depth, and fortunately no elements are drowned out in the mix. The guitars ring especially proudly, as band frontman Joe Winter sings out his pretty little heart. Come the sublime Read more...

Reviews, Books - Complicity by Nick Quantrill Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	The rain refused to ease as Coleman made his way through Queens Gardens and on towards King Edward Street. He pulled his collar up and hurried his pace... This is a staggeringly enthralling showcase for Hull-based writer Nick Quantrill's unmistakable talent for writing fiction - and crime fiction, to be more precise. He has written a fair few short stories that revolve around crime Read more...

Single Reviews - Fallout Boy - Sugar, We're Going Down (Mercury) Release Date: Feb 7th 2006 Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	A chart-friendly anthem for the masses, the wall-of-sound vibrancy that blasts out of this beauty of a single release is the ultimate wake-up call for anybody who even remotely finds their ears attracted to high-calibre Pop-Punk music. Sugar, We're Going Down is melody and harmony-saturated to the hilt, thus ensuring that it's ludicrously catchy in the extreme, as the energy Read more...

Single Reviews - Cherubs - Paper Cut Moon (Cargo) Release Date: Feb 6th 2006 Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	You might already have caught this extraordinary outfit during one of their 2005 festival appearances... perhaps at the Carling Weekend or T in the Park for starters. The widespread consensus seems to be that to hear them is to love them, and there's no wonder if this attention-demanding single is anything to go by. Paper Cut Moon pits beautifully rousing guitar Read more...

Single Reviews - Jeffron - Dance Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Having started playing the piano at five years old, Jeffron was something of a child prodigy when it came to music, and he is a self-taught guitarist, keyboardist and vocal arranger. After he left school he started to indulge in the twin arts of song production and song arrangement, and he's worked with the high-profile likes of the Sugarbabes, Liberty X and Errol Brown. Now, though, he's trying to make a Read more...

Places to Visit - Skiing In Bulgaria - Part Two By Steve Rudd
	Giant Christmas trees loomed as far as the eye could see below, as I marvelled at the extraordinary engineering it must take to make a gondola a reality. After the thirty-minute ride to the top we were immediately greeted by a stunning panorama of the surrounding countryside which was beautiful beyond words. So pristine and so serene. Well, serene if you can discount the Read more...

Single Reviews - Boy Kill Boy - Back Again (Vertigo) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	When a DJ like Zane Lowe pronounces that a particular song is the 'hottest track in the world today,' the nation tends to sit up and listen. Well, that's what he had to say about Back Again, and he does have a point - for this tune is an overwhelming example of how melodic rock bands should write chart-hungry anthems. Chris Peck leads the band as they mean to go on, as he strikes a mesmerising barrage of Read more...

Single Reviews - Imperial Vipers - Promised Land (Eminence) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Here's another homegrown UK rock band with its heart pumping hard in the realm of Classic Rock music, with this Limited Edition single release being almost overwhelmed by the monolithic guitar riff that's the perfect foil for the supersize vocals of band frontman Ash Simmons. This single is available on 7" vinyl and from various download sites, taken as it is from their debut LP Read more...

Album Reviews - Torso Horse - No Going Back (2 Track Sampler/Wanted 4 Murder) By Steve Rudd
	No sooner are we in to 2006, and Torso Horse sound to be back on the scene with a fresh slab of prime meat in new song Eye On The Goal. Yet another heady anthem that is explosively dominated by the band's trademark Goth-swathed heavy-metal guitar riffage, pounding drums and blood-curdling bass-lines that bust out of nowhere, the swaggering leer Read more...

Single Reviews - At The Lake - These Days (Pop Fiction) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Most definitely not to be confused with the decade-old Bon Jovi anthem of the same name, At The Lake's life-affirming These Days tune is a rock masterpiece - and the London quintet's debut single release to boot. Highly emotive and vibrant, the two band guitarists in Tim Buckland and James Machin duel away to Coldplay-esque degrees. They somehow make Read more...

Places to Visit - Skiing In Bulgaria - Part One By Steve Rudd
	I could have thought of worst places to be, seeing in the New Year, as the last second of 2005 ticked over into 2006. Happy New Year indeed. For the best part of the past ten years myself and my friends have contented ourselves with heading into the town centre of Driffield every December 31st for one of the few nights of the year when it genuinely hustles and bustles. To drink Read more...

Reviews, Books - East Of The Mountains By David Guterson Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	Alright, so you might not have heard of the author before, but you might actually be already familiar with some of his 'work,' as his debut novel was called Snow Falling On Cedars... a staggering bestseller that came to be made into a Hollywood movie starring Ethan Hawke. Such a debut made it apparent that Guterson is one hell of a story teller who goes to great Read more...

Single Reviews - The Fallout Trust - Before The Light Goes (At Large) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Pin back your ears, one and all, and listen hard. Busting out of an East London warehouse, here the nation has a band in The Fallout Trust to be proud of. They are making thoroughly exciting music, and hopefully they'll break into the big-time during 2006. Before The Light Goes is their second single, developing as it does from its groovy mid-paced Read more...

Reviews, Books - Scott Phillips - The Walkaway Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	It is imperative that you keep your wits about when reading this novel more than with almost any other mighty slab of fiction ever published. If you've never read Phillips' awesome debut novel The Ice Harvest, then there's actually little point whatsoever you even making a beeline for The Walkaway, for this mesmerisingly cool epic crime-drama is the incredible Read more...

Album Reviews - Screaming Tarts (Limited Edition 18 Track Compilation Album) By Steve Rudd
	The superb second release from Mr Martyn at www.screamingtarts.com , this is a rare rock compilation album that comes packed with eighteen fresh cuts of Glam-infused rock action that are all genuinely brilliant. Teenage Casket Company headily kick-start proceedings with their catchy Dial It Up riff, before Electric Eel Shock liven affairs up Read more...

Album Reviews - Ellenby - Run Away EP (Levelsound) By Steve Rudd
	Ellenby are an exciting London-anchored duo, producing an intoxicating blend of Folk, Pop and Rock. Their debut album is forthcoming, and provisionally titled All You Need To Know. This four-track EP, however, is titled Runaway, which is also the name of the first track that proves to be the perfect introduction to the music of Ellenby. Liz Young is the singer, while multi-instrumentalist Read more...

Album Reviews - Jethro Tull - Aqualung Live (RandM) By Steve Rudd
	Over thirty years on from the release of Jethro Tull's classic Aqualung album, Aqualung Live is an amazing album in its own right, that captures a live performance of all the songs that featured on the original masterpiece. Only legendary band front man, Ian Anderson and ace guitarist Martin Barre remain from the original band line-up, but the Read more...

Fiction - Kat Out of the Bag Chapter Twelve By Steve Rudd
	Dinner-time came and went, and on us four hardy men trekked. I hadn't been feeling too well for the past couple of days, so I hadn't been eating all that much. The reason I was probably feeling so down and out was no doubt due to the lack of food that I'd consumed, so it was bit of a Catch-22 situation all round. Read more...

Fiction - Kat Out of the Bag Chapter Eleven By Steve Rudd
	As the cunning midday sun burned my retinas to a blinding crisp, I slyly slipped on my designer sunglasses, hoping that my three so-called companions might not notice. I looked out of place amidst such blatant wonders of the world, with the horizon-hogging mountains looking down on my little life like the hard-hitting rock above pitied me in some inhuman way. I understood perfectly, for I Read more...

Single Reviews - Coldplay - Talk (Parlophone) Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	First there was Speed Of Sound. Then these guys returned to literally haunt us and to Fix You. Now all Coldplay wanna do is Talk. And if they want to talk, the masses will sure as hell listen. This is the third single to have thus far been swiped from their stupendously successful X & Y album, and - as always - it is an anthem dominated by both frontman Chris Martin Read more...

Album Reviews - The Raindogs - The Adventures Of The Raindogs (Three Track Demo) By Steve Rudd
	Hull-based quartet The Raindogs are understandably turning ears in their direction with their uniquely spirited brand of indie-fied rock 'n' roll, that magically manages to be damn catchy come the choruses of all these three songs. Stop Smiling is up first, and straight away band front man Martin Clappison stuns the senses with his extraordinary voice: a voice that is Read more...

Single Reviews - Silversun - Immediate (Invisible Hands) Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	God, no! The 'Sun front man in James Broad was recently injured whilst making the accompanying video to Immediate... or so it has been alleged, when Mr. Broad thought that he was James Bond for a while and went hell for leather to emulate some of the secret agent's stunning stunts for the aforementioned video. Long story short, he injured himself. Details are Read more...

Music Reviews - Bob Geldof at Hull City Hall - Thursday 1st December 05 By Steve Rudd
	December 1st 2005, in my mind, has gone down in history as an unforgettable day. It was the day I met my biggest hero. And whoever said that to meet your hero is usually a disappointing affair was wrong in this instance, and since meeting Bob Geldof (twice in one night!), I'm filled with even more respect for the man ... the god. I never ever thought I'd get the chance to meet Read more...

Single Reviews - Patrolman Pete - Ready To Roll (MX3) Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	Bob the Builder has effectively already been here and done this, but this twee novelty single release still has its wide-eyed and wholly innocent charms, and - at the time of writing - seems destined to scale the charts in leaps and bounds, with the odds on it being 2005's Christmas Number One literally increasing day by day. The AA-affiliated, two and a half minute song Read more...

Single Reviews - Athlete - Twenty Four Hours (Parlophone) Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	Ever since these four guys released their Vehicles And Animals album, they've been an exciting band to watch, but since the release of their more recent Tourist long-player, this quartet has rightfully became very well known indeed. This stunning single release follows on from their hugely popular Wires and Half Light singles, with this mid-paced anthem in Read more...

Album Reviews - The Peasants - Champagne Lifestyle On A Lemonade Budget (Our True Records) By Steve Rudd
	Whatever you do, don't you dare judge this CD by its cover, that shows the two young guys who make up this musically gifted duo - Jody McKenna and Dave Saxby. They both look like mean-spirited rockers, and both were brought up on the biggest council estate in Britain - Hull's Bransholme estate. Yet, the style of music that these two make together is in fact sweet harmony. Read more...

Album Reviews - Paparazzi Whore - I'd Rather Be Infamous Than Famous (DV8 Productions) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	There aren't many bands around that allow their sound to be dominated by a bass-driven whirlwind of noise. Paparazzi Whore are something of a unique band, in that there is no lead guitar melody in the mix, but just bass guitar and rhythm guitar... both played by Chris Oaten, who is one of the four talented band members. Fronted by the feisty Micci Oaten (who also plays Read more...

Album Reviews - Four Square - Industry At Home (Bad Taste) By Steve Rudd
	A truly magnificent album from start to finish, first impressions don't last as the beautifully chilled-out 'Intro' (that combines piano, vocals and a lilting string arrangement to subtly rousing effect) couldn't be any more different from the brand of rock that swiftly follows with a bang. Ah yes. Please Don't Go immediately hears the band Read more...

Single Reviews - The Waking Eyes - Watch Your Money (Coalition) Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	Wise words indeed from this thrilling Canadian band; a band that has bust out of Winnipeg with one hell of a mission - and that mission is to rock hard! And loud!! A ball-breaking rock 'n' roll riff dominates this smile-inducing anthem, as this quartet indulges in a similar upbeat exuberance to bands like The Black Velvets and Jet, lightly stained by the wicked fun of The Hives. Watch Your Money might Read more...

Album Reviews - Torso Horse - The Creation Part 1 (DVD) By Steve Rudd
	With four classic Goth-Metal music videos at this DVD release's core, The Creation features the full-blooded intensity of the Torso Horse swan-songs in In Your Head, Dragging Me Down, The Angel You'll Never Be and Let It Out - the latter video having been shot in an exhilarating live setting, showing off the extent to which 'Horse fans get riled up at their hot Read more...

Reviews, Books - The Two-Bear Mambo By Joe R. Lansdale Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	Lansdale certainly is one hell of a prolific author, and this is something like the tenth novel of his that I have had the pleasure of reading. The vast majority of his novels follow two buddies, Hap Collins and Leonard Pine, as they manage - without fail - to get into all kinds of violent predicaments through being often overly stubborn and too-proud-by-half men. Read more...

Reviews, Books - Wobegon Boy by Garrison Keillor Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	I have a responsible job and pay my taxes and keep my lawn mowed, but because I dare to be an individual, people whisper about me behind my back. Why is life like this? This epic novel is an absolute masterpiece that is drama-driven and hugely poignant, as it follows a man called John Tollefson as he bumbles through his life over a pronounced period of time, with the Read more...

Reviews, Books - Down By The River Where The Dead Men Go by George P. Pelecanos Reviewed by Steve Rudd
	As the novel title must suggest, this is a crime thriller... and one of the highest order. I first heard of the author in Pelecanos through him heaping praise on the 'action-thriller' writing of Steve Hamilton. Like with Hamilton's work, Pelecanos weaves an engrossing story around a series of hugely believable and genuinely exciting set-pieces. Interestingly, many authors Read more...

Single Reviews - Stephen Fretwell - New York (Fiction) by Steve Rudd
	Fresh from sets at a multitude of summer festivals including Glastonbury and V2005, Stephen Fretwell is all set to hit the charts again with his stunning latest single, New York. Fans of previous releases such as Emily won't be disappointed, as the short-but-sweet excellence of New York immediately entrances the innocent listener, being as it is Read more...

Places to Visit - Walking The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path - Part One By Steve Rudd
	Get out of the city and into the country, sooner rather than later. A great many people genuinely have no idea how scenically diverse and breathtaking some swathes of countryside are in the UK, and such a fact is a great shame, because while they might be spending all their spare time in dirty and cramped urban environments, there's often fresh air and inspirational Read more...

Poetry - Shark! By Steve Rudd
	There's water on the road And even more under the bridge; So much so we cannot go Exactly where we wanted, As the sharks, they come full circle Their fattened fins full tilt Read more...

Single Reviews - The Kaiser Chiefs - Modern Way (B-Unique) by Steve Rudd
	The rise and rise and rise of the Kaiser Chiefs has enraptured the music industry at large during 2005. Only a year ago they were slogging their guts out around many of the country's toilet-venues, but even then you could tell that they were teetering on the verge of success. As soon as I Predict A Riot stormed the charts - and set excited tongues wagging Read more...

Reviews, Books - Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	You can get something out of a book, even a bad book. First published in France in 1934, this extraordinary piece of writing never saw the light of day in the United States and the wider world at large until after 1961, following a mighty legal battle that resulted in the book finally being published elsewhere. Human beings make a strange fauna and flora...More than anything Read more...