 |
|
31 Songs by Nick Hornby
Good read but the old man shows through
This is an interesting read, and though I have heard few of the
songs he talks about, he inparts his enthusiasum and interest
to the reader. However it is obvious that he is a middle aged
man with middle aged taste and his dismissal of dance/electronic
music as unable to impart emotion is 1. wrong and 2. missing the
point. Why does every song need to put you though an emotional
rollercoaster? Is it not possible to
enjoy music for the pleasure of music alone? His admiting to listen
to music day in day out, every minute of the day suggests a lover
of musical wallpaper. Never-the-less worth reading.
[Click here to view at Amazon]
Prince - The Hits Collection [1993]
Flawed Warner Bros release but Prince
shines!
These were the videos I saw as a kid and wanted to see more, it
is so great to have them complete! Some are rather poor as "I
would die 4 U" is taken from a concert. But the others are
the great genuine article and do well to document Prince right
from his first hits. If you are a fan it is totally unmissable,
if you just like some of his tunes it
isn't bad either. What shows best here is the man's tallent.
[Click here to view at Amazon]
Overtaken by Alexei Sayle
Not his best but enjoyable
I have read his short story books which were much better than
this novel. The dark humour tending towards sickness was a plaything
for him in the short stories but here it seems he doesn't want
nasty stuff to happen to his charactors, and when he does it isn't
as nasty as in the past. It is a clever book with a good story,
well thought out and a good read but you can tell this is the
book his contact obliged him to write.
[Click here to view at Amazon]
Building Your Own Business: How to Be
Your Own Boss by Creating Your
Own Business or Going Freelance by John Hawkins
Very good
There is much detail in this book and it is very handy for reference,
better than most, recommended.
[Click here to view at Amazon]
The "Which?" Guide to Starting
Your Own Business: How to Make a
Success of Going It Alone ("Which?" Consumer Guides)
by Which? Books
Save your money, there are better
This book seems to lack the real info you need. There is a distinct
lack of detail, so often you are refered to a leaflet your should
go and get. It is very lacking, there are much better books out
there.
[Click here to view at Amazon]
Subduing Demons (In South Yorkshire) ~
Blackworld
Richard H Kirk under another name.
This is Kirk in fine form, a melodic
techno stormer. The usual impecable programming and great selection
of samples with his clever use of beats which avoid the trap of
using just a repetative beat. Kirk is the master and this proves
it again. You need to own this CD.
[Click here to view at Amazon]
Hong Kong and Macau (Lonely Planet City
Guides S.) by Steve Fallon
Rather disappointing but useful
I found this book very misleading in places. The maps should not
be relied on as they can send you in the wrong direction. Some
of the areas have very little information i.e. north point. Finding
resturants with this book is quite hard. On the plus side there
are
some very good tips i.e. get an octopus card on arrival. It gives
good advice on getting places i.e. Lantau Island (the big seated
buddha) and for advice on transport it is very usefull. Most of
the time if I needed information on where I was it came up with
a few don't miss this sugestions. I would say: take this book
along for advice, keep it
with you when traveling... but don't really on it entirely: take
along a second guide book and a better map for backup.
[Click here to view at Amazon]
The Rainbow Children ~ Prince
It's ok but I wouldn't get too excited
Many say that this is the purple ones return to good music. Unfortunately
it is not a return to his great stuff. I am not saying that it
is not a pleasant listen, 'She loves me 4 me' is a really good
song and has to be my favourite on the album. However the first
9 or 10 tracks are good but slightly annoying and you start to
wonder if catch phrases 'sensual ever-after', 'digital garden',
'the rainbow children' are not prince having very little to say
and going off into his little fantasy world. I find myself not
really caring about the 'decontruction of the digital garden'
and thinking more: 'what is he on about?'
This is music that is made by a middle aged man,
where as his stuff when I was young used to speak to me I now
find that prince really has nothing left to say. It is a pleasant
enough listen but then perhaps that is the problem. I used to
look to him for an exciting listen, not a go to sleep listen.
There is some good music here and he can do very clever stuff
with his guitar and sampler, but somehow I am not dragged
back to the CD time and time again. I good try Prince but I know,
sadly, that the dream is over.
[Click here to view at Amazon]