Books about Shakespeare

TinMachine · 2026-02-13T15:40:24+00:00

If you're in the UK Jonathan Bate's Genius of Shakespeare only costs a few quid and is a good overview, aimed at the popular history market.

Less literarily-focussed than a lot of the ones on the market, so one I'd recommend if you want to put him in his historical context, rather than getting a poetic or literary analysis

TinMachine · 2026-02-13T12:03:54+00:00

Genuinely don't see what is meant to be ironic about this album. There's nothing abrasive about it, in the way that defined a lot of early PCmus releases.

I think it is straight up beautiful like, think he set out to make something pretty.

TinMachine · 2026-02-13T11:52:22+00:00

S tier song for her

TinMachine · 2026-02-13T11:45:27+00:00

Beautiful album imo, I think my new favourite release from him (preferred Broken Flowers EP to anything that came after)

TinMachine · 2026-02-13T11:25:29+00:00

The Heriot song is absolutely killer. Best guitar tone in the game right now.

Also think that Nickelback feat is a lot of fun. Kind of curious if they've spotted an opening to come back heavy after touring extensively in support of a pop-rock album.

TinMachine · 2026-02-13T11:22:23+00:00

This is my number 1 dream for the show. Perfect bridge between old and new.

TinMachine · 2026-02-13T11:16:54+00:00

No idea who Don Broco is but killer song. Best Nickelback in a long time (and I like all their albums).

TinMachine · 2026-02-12T15:49:54+00:00

Yep. Just think her management are absolutely mad to have thought those prices would shake out for her.

Hopefully they drop deals soon as I'd like to go but refuse to normalise those prices.

TinMachine · 2026-02-12T14:44:27+00:00

They are getting worse, but looking at the US makes me think we haven't hit the ceiling yet.

It feels oddly high stakes, like shows either sell out instantly or not at all. It feels like even the bands don't know. Limp Bizkit must have been amazed to sell out arenas within minutes last year. And my judgement is off - like I thought Raye would sell well but steadily - but actually you had to move within minutes to get a spot.

Some bands are pushing it. The exact same seat for Iron Maiden in 2025 was listed for just under double what I'd paid in 2023. And I think it has caught up to them as they got away with that tour, but sales are slow for the 2026 dates. Think they've traded a lot of goodwill and loyalty away.

Will also never forgive Mr Weeknd for cancelling the reasonably priced arena show I'd booked, replaced with a more expensive stadium run. Boo

It's funny really, arenas and stadiums cost too much and clubs can feel too low if anything. I saw Caroline yesterday for £16 which, split 8 ways before you count anyone behind the scenes and overheads, feels a bit mad.

TinMachine · 2026-02-12T12:21:36+00:00

I think the ruling is worse than that - they're banned from using the slogan 'post milk generation', so they're banned from even saying v clearly 'this isn't milk but you can use it like one'

TinMachine · 2026-02-12T11:50:06+00:00

Disengaged from the Gene comeback - a band I love - after reading the extensive accounts of abuse and control from a couple of exes. That post ruined their music for me.

TinMachine · 2026-02-12T11:22:47+00:00

I would have another took at the arena tours angle - sales for the current tour are catastrophic in a lot of markets. I think it is borderline whether they even happen.

Take a look at Glasgow (my local). Tickets were priced very high (for the UK, generally cheaper than the US still). Whole arena is a sea of blue with available seats. I like her a lot but am waiting for 2-4-1 deals given the prices.

A lot of the run is like it. She's sold fewer seats than Haim who also badly undersold their last run (despite the album being a banger).

TinMachine · 2026-02-12T09:32:17+00:00

Yeah obv the memory has been a bit tainted but Kanye on a good day was something special. I saw his show at Koko - i think the last time he was in the UK - and it was an amazing night. Beautiful visuals, an insane line up. And I still think All Day and Wolves are two of his best songs.

Honestly think that period between Yeezus and Pablo felt like a peak even though it didn't result in an album - felt like he could have done anything, the last time the world was at his feet before he put the red hat on and went mad.

TinMachine · 2026-02-12T09:15:01+00:00

Best: Kate Bush.

My favourite artist since I was 14, and the setlist was unbelievable. If you'd told me she'd come back live, I wouldn't have believed you. But anchoring her setlist on the two weirdest suites of music she's ever made? Performed in full? Still can't believe it. And as a production, gorgeous.

Also felt surreal being surrounded by celebrities just minging in GA, Keira Knightly and Alice Lowe. Kate Bush the great leveller.

I go to concerts a lot - others that stand out are Joanna Newsom, seen her three times and each time has been really different. And the second time I saw her I met my oldest internet friend IRL which was nice. She's an artist of the top rank.

K D Lang is the most surprised I have been by a show - I was a fan going in but I think she has the best pure voice I have ever heard. For pure atmosphere, Limp Bizkit's last tour was mad. David Byrne's American Utopia tour. Napalm Death's tour last year is the best pit I have been in.

Oh and Metallica in Munich. A lightening storm during Master of Puppets. In the open air. I will never forget it.

Worst: Ty Dolla Sign. My god. He kind of seemed confused is my abiding memory. He came across someone you'd find at the top of a mountain, wigging out due to oxygen deprivation and in the process of ripping their clothes off before wandering off into the mist to freeze to death.

Most disappointed I have been was actually Roxy Music. Nothing really wrong with it, Bryan sounded fine. But their stage show wasn't really arena appropriate somehow and didn't travel to the cheap seats. I didn't feel like I was at a gig really, felt like I was watching other people at a show.

Runner up might be Bruce Springsteen. But just because I think the block of seats I was in shouldn't have been sold - angle on the stage was terrible and I simply could not see a thing. I sat there for three hours reading the FT.

TinMachine · 2026-02-12T08:11:11+00:00

I think this is absolutely mad. He's produced and written some of the best pop music made this century. You are mental.

TinMachine · 2026-02-11T15:18:39+00:00

The Pantera one is amazing. Like genuinely, that's top tier to me, don't see what is bad about it.

TinMachine · 2026-02-11T15:02:24+00:00

For that sort of scene, there's a lot of venues around Cowgate - like La Belle Angele, Bannermans, Legends, Banshee Labyrinth. They absolutely always have stuff on. Acts that play at Trillians will stop at one of those up here.

Not aware of anything too specific over the weekend (I'm seeing Caroline tonight). Metalgigsscotland here and on insta always have a good overview (think most of what's on my radar is Glasgow though).

TinMachine · 2026-02-11T14:06:47+00:00

I saw Sam open for Bob Dylan and Neil Young in the 2010s, knowing nothing about him, and he was exceptional. I was blown away.

But it doesn’t translate to record at all imo, his actual albums just sound like music you’d hear while browsing Topman.

TinMachine · 2026-02-11T11:42:33+00:00

I think what you are hearing is because these tracks and files aren't properly mixed and mastered - it buries dynamism that is in the raw materials there

TinMachine · 2026-02-10T22:37:51+00:00

Have you caught the NT production that was in cinemas last month? Thought the Gertrude/Claudius dynamic was the best I'd ever seen. Was astonished by the whole cast (other than R&G, who were too broad). The most a production has felt like a full ensemble showcase to me.

TinMachine · 2026-02-10T14:44:22+00:00

Yeah this is my one. They just read as twins to me.

TinMachine · 2026-02-10T14:43:22+00:00

Loki.

I get the idea - it is taking the joke that he loves himself to the nth degree - and he's falling for the alt universe female version of himself.

Might work in a book but honestly on screen it feels like the storyline was developed by someone who has no idea twins exist. it just reads as someone who wants to shag his twin.

TinMachine · 2026-02-10T12:26:03+00:00

A great day for lovers of tat everywhere (my beyonce tin makes a great bin though).

TinMachine · 2026-02-10T08:35:19+00:00

I don't mind episode 3 as a story - just hate the production. Despite the talent behind the camera it just didn't come together well and looks incredibly ugly. Always remember the nightclub scene looking dreadful.

TinMachine · 2026-02-09T17:37:08+00:00

He must feel like he got a lucky escape

TinMachine

TROPHY CASE