Black Sky Thinking

Is The Daily Show America’s Saviour?

Big Ben Myers casts his jaded eye over coverage of the US presidential elections and finds only The Daily Show comes up smelling of roses.

Taking The Peth: Rhys Ifans vs. Paddy Considine As Rock ‘N’ Roll Singers

Welsh "shagger" Rhys Ifans of The Peth and "workman like" Midlands bloke Paddy Considine of Riding The Low go head to head in our one hundred percent spurious battle of the bands. (Which was tested with good humour by Jeremy Allen.)

The Cure: Selecting The Best For One Side Of A C90

To celebrate the release of their 13th album, permanently teenage Cure fan John Doran recommends a primer to get you in the mood for crimping and back combing, culled solely from album tracks.

Peter Kay, Pre-Op: A Look Back At The Comic’s Career Before ‘Geraldine’

With Peter Kay's transsexual popstar alter-ego still riding high in the Top Ten, Alex Denney looks at the career of the much-maligned comedian.

Bring The Ruckus: Country & Western Versus Krautrock, Our Writers Rage

Quietus writers David Stubbs and Andrew Mueller square up to resolve one of the the great unanswered questions of our time

We Should Rejoice In, Not Mourn, The Destruction Of The London Astoria

This week it was confirmed that the London Astoria is to be knocked down. Luke Turner volunteers to place the charges.

Would The Shit Slim Shady Please Fuck Off?

Four years? Just to come back with this mad man's breakfast of a single? Eminem's not keeping it real. But there again, he never was, says John Doran

Uncle Agony Aidan Moffat: Prophylactic For Your Conjugal Woes

Aidan Moffat's back from holiday to solve more of your depraved and peculiar carnal habits

Jarvis Cocker’s Songwriting 101 And The Worst Lyrics Ever . . .

Recently at In The City, Jarvis Cocker proved the main attraction with his lecture on lyrics. Here is our guide how not to write 'em . . . featuring Bob Dylan, Bono, Morrissey and more.

What’s So Independent About American Independent Films?

The current crop of American independent films have indie style but a Hollywood soul. Where's the integrity asks David Moats?

A Cellarfull Of Noise: A Racket Of A Blog With Footnotes, By Stevie Chick

The Quietus Digs Out Our Walkman For A Faith No More Mixtape

In the first of a new Quietus series, David McNamee creates the ultimate Faith No More mix - to fit on one side of a C90 cassette

Mr Agreeable: Like Ten Thousand Spoons When All He Needs Is A Gun

Over a breakfast of lightly grilled kippers Mr Agreeable casts his sparkling eye over news concerning Razorlight, Oasis and My Bloody Valentine.

Why Cliff Richard Is The Epitome And Saviour Of Rock & Roll

Forget Liam Gallagher, Richard Ashcroft or Paul Weller - Sir Cliff is the best rock star we have, says John 'We Don't Talk Any More' Doran

How The Beta Male Got His Revenge On Hollywood

The Geek Shall Inherit The Earth: Darren Lee looks back on how the beta male took his revenge on Hollywood

Rage Against The Machine – The Return Of Riot And Resistance

After a series of adrenalizing return gigs, Shane Glackin recalls seeing RATM at the Battle Of Los Angeles and explains why we need them now more than ever.

Ice Cube: AmeriKKKa’s Least Revolutionary

Actor, rapper, director, player, industry mogul… whatever Ice Cube is, he ain’t no revolutionary no more, says Joel McIver

Reggae Fans Are Idle Scum, Says Spurious Report. The Quietus Wades In…

How do you get the BBC to report on anything you feel like? Wipe your shitty arse on a sheet of paper and call it a report, says Adam Narkiewicz.

Manchester, So Much To Answer For. A City Accused

Any day now a horde of parka wearing divs will pile out off various National Express coaches clutching new reissues by The Smiths, New Order and the Inspirals, on their way to Uni in Manchester. Let it fucking go already says Austin Collings

This Ain’t Rock & Roll: A Tour Diary By Andrew Mueller – Part 3

After years of following artists such as Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen and U2 round the globe, our man Mueller has decided to turn his attention on his own tour. From his vantage point in York he plans a solo assault of Scotland.

Los Campesinos! First Against Wall In TWAT! (The War Against Twee)

The world stands, yet again, on the brink of the nuclear war, while simultaneously frying, blowing, flooding and burning to a premature end. How do twee band respond? By jumping up and down, shouting 'Yay!' and drinking Cherryade. Swells is unimpressed.

David Stubbs Remembers Getting Arrested With The KLF Back In 1991

Uncle Agony Aidan Moffat: Back To Fix Your Weeping Sores

Aidan Moffat returns with the second installment of his all-new sex and love advice column, I'm No Expert.

Digga Please! The Quietus Says Happy Birthday To Vinyl

This week saw vinyl's 131st birthday. Unreconstructed disc hoarder John Doran tries vainly to explain why for him record collecting will never die. In 333 words.

This Ain’t Rock & Roll: A Tour Diary by Andrew Mueller part 2

After years of following artists such as Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen and U2 round the globe, our man Mueller has decided to turn his attention on his own tour. This week the 'carnage' reaches Brighton and beyond.

Remixing, Bootlegging and The Cure by 65daysofstatic man Paul Wolinski

The front man of 65daysofstatic got pissed off waiting for The Quietus to ring him and wrote us an article instead. Good man, say we. Pictures by Steve Gullick and Scott Bartlett.

Grinderman & Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos On The Brilliant Malevolence Of Suicide

Jim Sclavunos recalls how in late 1970s New York, Suicide were the only band who'd give the infamous Teenage Jesus & The Jerks a show. But, he writes, it was Suicide who really pushed the boundaries.

Mr. Agreeable: A Ball Bearing In The Vas Deferens Of Life

Kippers for breakfast and rage for tea, Mr Agreeable takes his good natured soul to the unmasking of Burial, Morrissey's album delay, and Slipknot's new masks.

When The Single Is A Jingle: Artists Forced To Take The Ad Man’s Dollar

With record sales plummeting, more and more musicians are being forced to look to to advertising to pay the bills. Adam Narkiewicz investigates

Dub Be Good To Me. Why Burial’s Identity Could Have Stayed Secret . . .

Under Cover Love – Saint Saviour and the Joy Division Cover Version

New band see Joy Division shaped bear trap. Run straight into it. Escape relatively unscathed. Other bands – Paul Young included – not so lucky.

This Ain’t Rock & Roll: A Tour Diary by Andrew Mueller part one

After years of following artists such as Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen and U2 round the globe, our man Mueller has decided to turn his attention on his own tour. A book tour.