Post | Date | Excerpt | Holger Czukay – Der Osten Ist Rot | 02/23/2024 | In 1984 former CAN member and co-founder Holger Czukay released his third solo album. The story of Der Osten Ist Rot! |
Pavement gains true steam on Crooked Rain Crooked Rain | 02/14/2024 | On Valentine's Day 1994 Pavement release their second album. The story of the superb Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain! |
In 1974 Eno debuts with Here Come The Warm Jets | 02/08/2024 | In 1974 Eno debuted as a solo artist with Here Come The Warm Jets, a unique, unconventional and varied piece of work. |
Stiff Little Fingers releases a punk classic: Inflammable Material | 02/02/2024 | 1979 saw the release of one of the best punk albums of all time: Stiff Little Fingers' Inflammable Material. |
Frank Zappa at the Hammersmith Odeon London 1978 | 02/28/2023 | In 1978 Frank Zappa performed in London. The recordings were released posthumously on his 70th birthday. Another impressive release! |
Cat Power – You Are Free | 02/18/2023 | In 2003 Cat Power released an album with her own material. It was called You Are Free, an impressive collection of haunting songs. |
Carmen Electra debuts on Paisley Park | 02/09/2023 | In 1993 the Carmen Electra album was released on Paisley Park Records, was it a worthy release by a Prince satellite act? |
Max Romeo’s classic War Ina Babylon | 02/24/2021 | In 1976 the first part of Lee "Scratch" Perry's "holy trinity" was released: Max Romeo's great War Ina Babylon! |
Crass, Freud and feminism: Penis Envy | 02/14/2021 | In 1981 Crass released their third album, the anarcho punk feminist Penis Envy. A look back at a brilliant album! |
J Dilla – Donuts | 02/07/2021 | Three days before his untimely death, J Dilla released the influential Donuts. A look back at an important hip-hop album! |
Prince – Google’s most searched guitar solo | 02/29/2020 | Google announced "the most searched" results in honor of Black History Month. A look at Black History Month, Google's findings and Prince's guitar prowess. |
Tröckener Kecks, from punk to new wave to rock | 02/21/2020 | Tröckener Kecks was my favorite rock band in the early 1980s to sing in the Dutch language. The story of the Amsterdam band following their discography. |
The Black Crowes Present $hake Your Money Maker | 02/13/2020 | Seemingly out of nowhere a great rock & roll debut album was released in 1990: The Black Crowes Present $hake Your Money Maker. A look back |
The Smiths release their second masterpiece: Meat Is Murder | 02/11/2020 | Early 1985 The Smiths release their second masterpiece. Meat Is Murder turns out to be a beautiful album that contains a number of timeless Smiths classics. A look back. |
U.K. Subs – Crash Course | 02/01/2020 | In 1980 U.K. Subs released their live album Crash Course. It would be their biggest success. The story behind the band and the album! |
Mark Hollis 1955-2019 | 02/25/2019 | And suddenly news broke that Mark Hollis had passed away. Twenty years after withdrawing from the limelights it was still world (music) news. A tribute. |
Van Hunt debuts | 02/24/2019 | In 2004 Van Hunt makes his debut. A promising new artist, who makes 'real' soul and can do everything by himself. A look back at his first album. |
Thomas Dolby – The Flat Earth | 02/18/2019 | In 1984 Thomas Dolby released his second album. Was it just as good as his fantastic debut and She Blinded Me With Science? A look back. |
David Bowie – Serious Moonlight (live ’83) | 02/15/2019 | Yet another great David Bowie release. The Serious Moonlight Tour, which catapulted Bowie's career into the stratosphere. Finally available as an audio release! |
New photo’s Prince & The Revolution Live 1986 | 02/10/2019 | An A Pop Life exclusive. Twenty photos, which have never been published before, of Prince & The Revolution live in Ahoy Rotterdam in 1986! |
LCD Soundsystem – Electric Lady Sessions | 02/08/2019 | Today the latest album by LCD Soundsystem was released: Electric Lady Sessions. A live album containing three covers. Is it a good one (yet again)? A review. |
Crass – The Feeding Of The 5000 | 02/02/2019 | At the end of the 1970's Crass started her full-on attack on society. The Feeding Of The 5000 was their first feat. An anarchopunk classic! |
Madonna – Ray Of Light | 02/22/2018 | Madonna's Ray Of Light made sure that Madonna could be taken seriously. Was it that good an album? Yes, it most definitely was! |
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Push The Sky Away | 02/18/2018 | Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' 2013 Push The Sky Away album finds Nick Cave still being relevant. He delivers a great album, which contains two all time Nick Cave classics. Impressive! |
Van Halen – The best debut album of all time? | 02/10/2018 | 40 years ago one of the best debut albums of all time was released: the first album by Van Halen. The savior of hard rock and a new standard for guitar players. A look back. |
Iggy And The Stooges – Raw Power | 02/07/2018 | By 1972 The Stooges and Iggy Pop were in shambles. As a long time fan, David Bowie helped out. It would result in the ultimate template for punk: Iggy And The Stooges - Raw Power! |
The best Australian songs | 02/24/2017 | In light of an upcoming emigration, the 10 best songs from artists with Australian ties. From AC/DC to Olivia Newton John! |
Prince – Sign O The Times – single – 30 years old | 02/18/2017 | 30 years ago today the single Sign O´ The Times was released! |
Simon And Garfunkel – The Concert In Central Park | 02/16/2017 | Early 1980's New York's Central Park was in chaos. The solution came in the form of a concert by legendary duo Simon And Garfunkel. How an improbable reunion grew out to be a triumph. |
Pavement – Brighten The Corners | 02/11/2017 | 20 years ago Pavement's Brighten The Corners was released, their finest album. The re-release in particular, turned out to be a real treasure. From Denmark, no less! |
Divine – My First Album | 02/05/2017 | Drag queen Divine got into music 35 years ago and emerged with My First Album: a great dance album! |
Concert | Date | Excerpt | U.K. Subs, 02/15/2020 | 02/15/2020 | 3½/5: Very entertaining show by U.K. Subs, who raced through their set within an hour. Great evening! |
Jacob Collier, 02/13/2019 | 02/13/2019 | 3½/5: After a truly amazing and perfect first hour, the concert collapsed and we were subjected to community singing. Pity. |
The Revolution, 02/10/2019 | 02/10/2019 | 4/5: The Revolution in Paradiso became a wake of Prince, The Revolution, the Minneapolis Sound and the past. And all of that in a former church. |
Massive Attack, 02/01/2019 | 02/01/2019 | 2½/5: It was disappointing. Can Mezzanine be less good than we thought? Highlight was a Cure cover and Angel. Teardrop (with Liz Fraser!) definitely was not. |
Kendrick Lamar, 02/27/2018 | 02/27/2018 | 5/5: Kendrick Lamar brought his DAMN. tour to Europe. Could he live up to all the expectations? Yes, seemingly effortless. King Kendrick! |
Belle & Sebastian, 02/19/2018 | 02/19/2018 | 2/5: The slide-show was a highlight. Enough said. |
Foxygen, 02/22/2017 | 02/22/2017 | 4/5: Very sympathetic show by Foxygen. Foxygen turned it into a great evening: inventive songs with sixties influences. |
Massive Attack, 02/25/2016 | 02/25/2016 | 3½/5: At times an impressive show. Political message fit the music perfectly. |
Kula Shaker, 02/21/2016 | 02/21/2016 | 3/5: Much more fun than I expected. Energetic, despite voice problems. |
Sezen Aksu, 02/15/2016 | 02/15/2016 | 4½/5: I am very happy I got to know Sezen Aksu. I have seen her multiple times and this last one was the most moving. |
alt-J, 02/05/2015 | 02/05/2015 | 3/5: Good show, yet a little distant and static. It seemed the band had taken on the challenge of reproducing the albums versions as perfectly as possible. |
Bootsy Collins’ Funk Unity Band, 02/21/2014 | 02/21/2014 | 3½/5: Top funk with über cool bass player Bootsy! |
Doe Maar, 02/12/2013 | 02/12/2013 | 3½/5: Very, very nice show. All in all, they did write a lot of really great songs! |
D’Angelo, 02/10/2012 | 02/10/2012 | 4/5: Night concert; concert started at 2 AM. Together with my son Rachid, his first concert ever. Waiting in line for a long time outside of Paradiso (on one of the coldest nights of the year). And (once again) an incredible show! |
Kardes Türküler, 02/24/2007 | 02/24/2007 | 3½/5: Seeing Kardes Turkuler in such a beautiful environment. Can't go wrong, and it didn't. |
The Family Stand, 02/10/2007 | 02/10/2007 | 4½/5: And suddenly news broke that The Family Stand would play in Heerhugowaard. With around 25 people present, the band played a great show that went on for 2 hours straight. A very special evening! |
The Red Hot Chili Peppers, 02/20/1988 | 02/20/1988 | 3/5: I remember not being too thrilled about the concert. |
Tröckener Kecks, 02/05/1984 | 02/05/1984 | 5/5: Brilliant concert of what was my favorite Dutch band at the time! |