Haven’t listened to this in an age; forgot how good it was. Meanwhile, Back In Communist Russia’s Indian Ink; sonically somewhere between Arab Strap and Mogwai, with Emily Gray’s bleak, darkly sexual sprechgesang. Like nothing else. #5debutalbums0004

2003 was another relatively thin year for debut albums, for me at least. A few on there that I’ve not listened too in a long while. Looking forward to revisiting them. #5debutalbums0004

Probably not a top 5 finisher, but I thoroughly enjoyed singing along to this during the work commute. The Hold Steady’s Almost Killed Me. #5debutalbums0004

Always pleasing to see the return of Lidl’s Oktoberfest box - an absolute bargain at £24.99.

A joy to see Cassels’ final gig in Oxford last night. Also loved that they rejected convention and played their final LP, Tracked In Mud from start to finish.

Thoroughly enjoyed the This Is What You Get exhibition at Oxford’s @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social yesterday.

I always felt Saloon were a little overlooked. (This Is) What We Call Progress is a lovely debut album, in the style of Broadcast and Stereolab. #5debutalbums0004

A fine debut from the much missed Broken Family Band. #5debutalbums0004

I seem to have bought fewer debut albums in 2002. A couple of contenders, some lost classics and a couple of pretty forgettable albums here. I’ll let you decide which is which. #5debutalbums0004

Another fine debut from 2001; Rival Schools’ fantastic United By Fate. A fine slice of post-hardcore emo (whatever that means). #5debutalbums0004

This may well make my #5debutalbums0004 top five. Life Without Buildings’ stunning debut and only album, Any Other City still sounds startling and unique.

Another fine north-west debut from 2001. Elbow’s Asleep In The Back arrived fully formed, beautiful and strange. #5debutalbums0004

2001 is also going to be tough to pick one or two debut albums from. #5debutalbums0004

Another #5debutalbums0004 contender. The Cedar Room alone makes it worthy of consideration. Doves at their finest.

Finally caught up with the Meet Me In The Bathroom Film tonight. Thoroughly enjoyable - the Yeah Yeah Yeahs footage is particularly fabulous.

This is going to be tough. This is JUST 2000! #5debutalbums0004

I’m guessing this counts as their debut album proper? Broadcast’s sublime The Noise Made By People #5debutalbums0004

My super-talented friend, former colleague (and former student!) Adam Gillett has just published his first book, focusing on “nurture the wellbeing of staff to retain valuable educators and create positive learning environments, ensure academic success and address student needs.” amzn.eu/d/dMKlJBK

a few @greenmanfest.bsky.social highlights. Underworld, Perfume Genius, Alan Sparhawk and Ditz.

The old Stones brewery, Kelham Island at dusk. #sheffield #kelhamisland

My current obsession. Especially when it does THAT at 3.18. Very much looking forward to their @greenmanfest.bsky.social set. youtu.be/cwUapT421Xs?...

What's the opposite of clickbait?

Kennedy Curse Sure Taking Its Sweet Time With RFK Jr.

From this month's edition of The Onion.

Just picked up Tracked In Mud, the most recent, and by the looks of it final, for the time being at least, Cassels album, released on @humanworth.bsky.social. It is a fine, fine record; brilliant quiet-loud-louder dynamics. Hard to believe they’re a two piece. Highly recommended.

A slightly less tardy July 2025 albums of the Month. Only three albums this month (so far). 1. Panic Shack - Panic Shack 2. Gwenno - Utopia 3. Wet Leg - Moisturizer #chopsfives

A hugely late Friday Top 5: June albums of the month (I blame work) 1. The Young Gods - Appear Disappear 2. Pulp - More 3. Half Man Half Biscuit - All Asimov and No Fresh Air 4. Haress - Skylarks 5. Lower Slaughter - Deep Living #chopsfives #topfive

Every so often I’ll come across a band I completely missed at the time and then realise that they were brilliant. The latest of these, Ballboy.

Such a joy to catch Kim Deal at Manchester’s New Century Hall. We were treated to the new album form start to finish and then some highlights from her remarkable back catalogue.

May 2025 albums of the month • Alan Sparhawk - With Trampled By Turtles • Kathryn Joseph - WE WERE MADE PREY. • Stereolab - Instant Holograms On Metal Film • Swans - Birthing • Car Seat Headrest - The Scholars #chopsfive #topfive

McLusky were absolutely on top form at Electric Bristol last night. Such a great live band; new album sounding great too.

Lovely walk on Dartmoor. Rippon Tor, Top Tor, Pil Tor and Buckland Beacon.

This is excellent, if fairly depressing open.substack.com/pub/louispis...

Second night on the bounce at Yellow Arch, this time to see the ever more brilliant Panic Shack. First time since their Hull Loud In Libraries gig a couple of years ago; new material sounding fab - can’t wait for the album. Sorry to miss The Pill- excellent by all accounts.

Thoroughly enjoyed @selfesteem.music-social.com.ap.brid.gy at Leeds Beckett/Met/Poly (delete according to age). A 40 minute ‘out-store’ set from a stripped down version of the band. Rebecca Lucy Taylor can hold the room like no other performer I know; proper star power.

A cracking walk across the Long Mynd from Church Stretton yesterday, in bright sunshine.

Beresford and Wolfscote Dales from Hartington makes for a very Good Friday. With near compulsory visit to the Hartington cheese shop. 🧀

Just finished this. Very enjoyable - an event that I had never heard of before.

Splendid day in the Dark Peak; hiked to the Shelf Stones (site of a B29 crash) and Bleaklow Head from Old Glossop with the second born plus friend. Blue skies but chilly throughout. Two more Ethels ticked ✅.

Read the @pitchfork.com review of Unrest’s reissue of Perfect Teeth earlier this week and had to dig it outa s give it a play. Still wonderful.

The Peak District looking immaculate today. Long steady run from Birchover. Was going to start from Calton Lees car park but no way was I paying £10 for parking!

January 2025: Albums of the Month (belatedly) • Ditz- Never Exhale • Mogwai - The Bad Fire • FKA Twigs - Eusexua Bit of a slow start for me - still catching up on 2024 stuff I’d missed. #chopsfives #topfive (ish)

February Albums of the Month (belatedly) • Adwaith - Solas • bdrmm - Microtonic • Rich(ard) Dawson - End of the Middle • Squid - Cowards • Horsegirl - Phonetics On and On #chopsfive #topfive

March 2025 Albums of the Month • Snapped Ankles - Hard Times Furious Dancing • Jeffrey Lewis - The Even More Freewheelin’ Jeffrey Lewis • Benefits - Constant Noise • Pale Blue Eyes - New Place • The Horrors - Night Life #chopsfives #topfive

🪨 Terry Howard’s A Moorland Notebook blends history, landscape, and memoir, charting lost rights-of-way & enclosures, and containing 10 Peak District "trespass" rambles: www.kickstarter.com/projects/dan... #RightToRoam #HikingUK #PeakDistrict #KinderTrespass #NatureWriting

Define your music taste in 6 artists. Joy Division Sonic Youth The Cure Underworld Radiohead PJ Harvey

One last night of the @smellybdrmm.bsky.social tour, our fourth in three countries. What a way to finish with another great set at the legendary @melkwegamsterdam.bsky.social.

An excellent day in Brussels; some beer, some sightseeing and some @smellybdrmm.bsky.social at Le Botanique. 🇧🇪

Oh goody! Thirty minutes on Fat Dog; the story so far on Six Music. *sets fire to DAB radio* 🔥

I’m done with this @teamlabouruk.bsky.social government. Any hopes that they’d campaign from the centre but govern from the left have proved hopelessly optimistic. Instead they endlessly appease those on the populist right. Shameful.