General Public
'The John Hughes Mixtapes' box set's best inclusions & most glaring omissions
The just-announced ‘The John Hughes Mixtapes’ box set is loaded with hits and long-sought-after rarities from his classic ’80s films. Here’s what we were glad made the cut and disappointed didn’t.
Indie Basement (5/20): the week in classic indie, college rock, and more
This week in Indie Basement: reviews of new albums by Porridge Radio, Weird Nightmare (METZ’s Alex Edkins), Cola (ex-Ought) and Poster Paints (Frightened Rabbit), plus a lost Clash/Ranking Roger collab
Bill's Indie Basement (8/30): the week in classic indie, college rock, and more
This week: reviews of new records by Whitney, Parsnip, and The Vacant Lots, plus Catherine Wheel’s ’Adam & Eve’ gets a vinyl reissue, and ’90s Britpop act Salad release their first album in 22 years.
Bill's Indie Basement (3/29): the week in classic indie, college rock, and more
This week: a tribute to Ranking Roger, reviews of new albums from onetime Orange Juice frontman Edwyn Collins, French dreampop act Marble Arch, and Chicago’s pitch-black FACS, and more.
Ranking Roger (The English Beat, General Public), dead at 56
Read tributes from Dave Wakeling, The Specials, Jerry Dammers, Billy Bragg, REM’s Mike Mills, UB40, and more.
The English Beat saxophonist Saxa, RIP
Born Lionel Augustus Martin, Saxa was 50 years old and already an established Jamaican session musician when he was recruited by The Beat. His melodic style was a crucial part of their sound, maybe the the most distinctive part…
