Arts & Entertainment
The latest arts and entertainment highlights, previews, reviews, music and film features and opinion pieces from The Skinny writers.
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MusicWild Flag – Wild Flag
The latest noteworthy outfit to emerge from the US Pacific Northwest are something of a supergroup, combining members of Sleater-Kinney, Helium, Quasi and th... Read more »| 22 Sep 2011 -
BooksThe Tree That Bleeds
In 2001 Nick Holdstock travelled to Yining, a city in China’s largest province – the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region – to ‘teach En... Read more »| 22 Sep 2011 -
BooksThe Darkest Walk, by Malcom Archibald
The workers are revolting – and not just because they haven’t had a wash. Insurrection is in the air, and only one man can save the respectable... Read more »| 22 Sep 2011 -
BooksGood Offices by Evelio Rosero
Evelio Rosero won his first literary award in 1979, and it would come as no surprise if he were given another honour for new novel Good Offices. Set in Ros... Read more »| 22 Sep 2011 -
Books
Gioconda by Lucille Turner
Gioconda – a study of the life of Leonardo da Vinci – is a first novel by Lucille Turner, imagining thelife of the artist, from his humble beginn... Read more »| 22 Sep 2011 -
Books
Ragnarok: The End of the Gods by AS Byatt
One of the most distinguished contributors to Canongate's 'Myths' series, AS Byatt has long been fascinated by the nihilistic glamour of Ragnarok, where, in ... Read more »| 22 Sep 2011
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Music
Patrick Kelleher and His Cold Dead Hands – Golden Syrup
This Dublin-based quintet have forged an industrial-tinged synthpop that brings to mind Robert Rental or early Depeche Mode. Despite the unmistakeable stamp ... Read more »| 21 Sep 2011 -
Music
Machine Head – Unto The Locust
For a band who’ve been given their fair share of flak for changing with the times, you have to at least hand it to Machine Head for continuing their un... Read more »| 21 Sep 2011 -
Music
Screaming Trees – Last Words: The Final Recordings
Having bookended the ‘grunge era’ with the albums Sweet Oblivion and Dust, yet failing to capitalise on the situation, Screaming Trees officially... Read more »| 21 Sep 2011 -
Music
Wake the President – Zumutung!
Channelling their Josef K, Orange Juice and Arab Strap infused sound through an increasingly discordant frequency, Wake the President to and fro between thri... Read more »| 21 Sep 2011 -
Music
Big Troubles – Romantic Comedy
New Jersey boys Big Troubles are bang on trend, sharing space with the likes of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and surf-pop darlings The Drums, taking ins... Read more »| 21 Sep 2011 -
Music
Howling Bells / Cold Specks @ Òran Mór, 19 September
Canada's Cold Specks (****) is something of a pleasant surprise; 23-year-old singer Al Spx has one of those powerful old (but young) soul voices that can st... Read more »| 21 Sep 2011 -
Music
We Were Promised Jetpacks – In the Pit of the Stomach
If you name your second album In The Pit Of The Stomach, anything less than gut-punching is going to disappoint. Opener Circles And Squares is a long way fro... Read more »| 21 Sep 2011 -
Music
Blueflint – Maudy Tree
Blueflint's debut album, High Bright Morning, was deservedly lauded for its assured rustic charm. Maudy Tree draws, like its predecessor, upon bluegrass and ... Read more »| 21 Sep 2011 -
FilmCrazy, Stupid, Love
There's a moment in Crazy, Stupid, Love where a plot revelation is so beautifully timed it almost redeems the sheer phoniness of what has gone before, but th... Read more »| 20 Sep 2011