www.youtube.com/watch?v=L53gjP-TtGE

There’s something I find bit (erm) unloveable about Kanye -- I think it’s ever since I saw him live and there was a cringe-to-death drawn out theatrical rant praising god and jesus and stuff. GRIM viewing.

THAT SAID -- I am really enjoying POWER. And this new teaser video is bee-u-t-iful! Obvious Michelangelo Sistene styling but also Henry Darger and Rider-Waite Tarot - I Swoon -- to death!

As another new Manic Street Preachers album looms on the horizon (Postcards From A Young Man is out in September) and I find myself yet again having to defend this once so vital and fiercely intelligent band to haters, I thought I might as well just get it out here once and for all.

So below are just a few reasons why I followed MSP obsessively around the country as a teenager and tracked down every b-side, why I thought it was wise to scrawl ‘Repeat After Me Fuck Queen and Country‘ on the back of my green army jacket and walk around Manchester town centre on a Saturday afternoon and why they could make a million more new records, all deathly bad, and I would still love them forever for what they once were.

1. It wasn’t Just 17, a gal pal or even my mum that did it, MSP taught me how to put on eyeliner:

‘Stay Beautiful’

2. My peers spent hours getting wasted, laid and then blathering on about it. I was a dweeb and preferred a good book. MSP taught me the power of words, to gain strength from knowledge and along the way introduced me to some of the world’s most influential writers:

‘Faster’

3. MSP showed me that provoking people could be loads of fun:

‘You Love Us’

‘Love’s Sweet Exile’

4. In the nineties it felt to me like thugs with guitars ruled British mainstream music. MSP were a safe haven from all of that:

‘Little Baby Nothing’

5. Confused and angsty? MSP said it was ok to be sad, they even sang about it:

‘La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh)‘ (embedding disabled)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKgZNsRerG8

6. And finally, and perhaps most importantly, I was heavily into politics at school, much to the derision of my classmates. I didn’t really care though, MSP showed me that it was ok to be a geek:

‘Revol’

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7BRraVMZzc

Gene Pitney -- Town Without Pity (swoon!)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xQXFWxJ8fQ

Amazing scenes of surprise gayness in  Male Bonding -- Year’s Not Long video.  Is this the year of alternative gay men? LETS HOPE SO!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcxNaktX0Ug

♫ The Nightblooms -- Crystal Eyes (MP3)

Dreamy grungey lo-fi from the 90s which sounds like it could have been produced by femme-fronted-lofi-noise-makers of current days (bar a few 90s guitar extravagances early in the track). Actually, this sound is atypical of the rest of the Nightbloom’s music unfortunately -- ‘why?’ is the question I ask -- the answer? WHO KNOWS! Ha!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFsiaMUyHtE

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZCUtnuAXg8

www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0HHQ7s2R3w

AMAZING SCENES from 1980s Top of the pops — this is a totally breathe-taking song and performance from Sue Wilkinson.

I’ve bought ‘You’ve got to be a hustler if you want to get on‘ on 7 inch (the only format and which disappointingly wasn’t ever released in a picture sleeve) so when we get the needle on our rekkid player fixed I’ll post an MP3.

Until then, enjoy the video my little creeps!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyv4bPwUJws

Us Creeps are freaking out with excitement about seeing HUNX & HIS PUNX this Thursday -- if you haven’t got your ticket yet be sure and pick one up here! It’s surely going to be a gay old time!

Even though it’s probably a nod to The Cramps we’re hoping he doesn’t wear the thong at the show though! It’s TOO MUCH! Haha!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syu-pmAHDFE

Pink project’s Disco Project is A STRANGE AFFAIR INDEED! Love how the children clearly don’t speak English during the lip-sync. Also find their album cover art a strange and beautiful thing! Enjoy!