Another note on Ian Leslie's 'John & Paul', one that was just too long for X: duncandriver.tumblr.com/post/778042759…

Another (slightly) long note on Ian Leslie's 'John & Paul: a Lover Story in Songs'. This one's about 'Penny Lane'. duncandriver.tumblr.com/post/778122098…

A short note today on Lennon's meandering melodies. He didn't just write one note diatribes, and Ian Leslie identifies a great example. duncandriver.tumblr.com/post/778395771…

Why was John Lennon such an 'all or nothing' person? Ian Leslie may have the answer... duncandriver.tumblr.com/post/778713578…

With new ‘Pulp’ and ‘Divine Comedy’ singles released this week, it feels like 1995, not 2025. Pass me my Adidas track suit and Oakley sunglasses, would you? I’ll see you all at Knebworth. youtu.be/-27a1ugJX8U?si…

I know that happiness is relative, but I never thought it would be a can opener that works.

Oasis don’t seem as ‘mad for it’ as they once were.

I can’t get this German rap song out of my head, now, neither will you. youtu.be/ZYkBf0dbs5I?si…

30 years later, and the song finally sounds like it should. It's no exaggeration to say that there is still something magical about the Beatles that sets them apart from everyone else. youtube.com/watch?v=Vatsae…

Hyacinth has kicked the bouquet. Thank you for teaching us that snobbery can sometimes be quite an amiable vice.

This time last year, I wrote a review of Ian Leslie's "John & Paul." The wheels of academic journals turn slowly, but the piece is now up: liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/10.3828/jb… I can't think of a better stocking filler that this book. Read it, laugh, cry and clutch it to your heart.

It’s two years old, but this review of ‘The Yellow Bittern’ (a London restaurant) is brilliant and hilarious. I love Jay Rayner. theguardian.com/food/2024/nov/…