MARY CONWAY applauds the revival of a tense, and extremely funny, study of men, money and playing cards
Album reviews
Latest releases from Hiss Golden Messenger, Joao Selva and Veronica Swift
MEHDI ACHOUCHE explores the constant fascination of cinema with Marxist alienation from Fritz Lang and Chaplin to Bong Joon Ho
FIONA O’CONNOR steps warily through a novel that skewers many of the exposed flanks of the over-privileged
MARY CONWAY applauds the study of a dysfunctional family set in an Ireland that could be anywhere
MICK MCSHANE is roused by a band whose socialism laces every line of every song with commitment and raw passion
New releases from Mountain, Soul Asylum and Michael McDermott
ALEX HALL is disgusted by the misuse of ‘emotional narratives’ to justify uninformed geo-political prejudice
Hiss Golden Messenger
Quietly Blowing It
(Merge)
★★
I REALLY don’t understand all the acclaim Hiss Golden Messenger — aka North Carolina-based singer-songwriter MC Taylor — gets from critics and his peers.
At his best, he creates Southern-fried alt-country with an emotional and musical punch — check out the bright-eyed single Sanctuary on this, his 12th studio record written and recorded between March and July last year.
More from this author
Despite liberal whining that Trump threatens the ‘international rules-based order,’ the historical record shows Western nations have repeatedly overthrown democracies, backed genocides and violated sovereignty, writes IAN SINCLAIR
IAN SINCLAIR draws attention to the powerful role that literature plays in foreseeing the way humanity will deal with climate crisis
Detailing the deluge of delusion and dishonesty pushed by the pro-war camp, IAN SINCLAIR identifies four key tactics corporate journalists use to confuse audiences and suppress opposition to the proxy war in the east
New releases from Black Country, New Road, Anouar Brahem, and Jaywalkers
