What's the problem? Biffy are as Pop as Matt Cardle anyway.... 

I can hear the sharpening of knives now. The crackle and hiss of flint and spark combining to ignite the soaked rag of a Motolov cocktail. But I beg of you, grant me a chance to defend myself against such a headline to the hardcore Biffy Clyro fans out there. Because to jump to a conclusion about such a headline is to make a misinformed presumption - the age old opinion that pop music is lowest common dominator trash that's not fit to whistle let alone record.

Simon Niel of Biffy Clyro has dismissed
 the X Factor cover of his bands song

The past few years has seen a change in the meaning of the word pop. Many artists and bands have showcased pop music at its idiosyncratic best, from Hot Chip to La Roux, from Lady Gaga to well....Biffy Clyro. The 2007 album Puzzle marked a permanent departure from their heavy roots and set in a stone the path which saw them collide (eh? see what I did there?) with X-Factor winner Matt Cardle. Puzzle not only had some pop moments mixed in amongst the guitar riff driven tracks, but some ludicrously brilliant pop moments which showcased the band as one of the finest and biggest British bands of recent years.There was something about matches and fire? Followed up with something about mountains and what not? Ridiculously brilliant and pop at the same time. And from then on Biffy have always been at their best when they come up with more pop-based peculiarities.

"The problem shouldn't come from the fact he covered Biffy, but that he hasn't done justice to their pop legacy - by producing an averagley listenable pop song and not the bombastic, kicking the boundries in the nuts singalongs that Biffy are so good at."

Enter X-Factor winner Matt Cardle. The undeniably likeable if somewhat bland Essex lad has covered "Many of Horror". Pretty much everyone has put the boot in whilst sitting on top of the highest of high horses.This misses the point,  and perpetuates hate between "snobby indie types" and teeny-boppers. The problem shouldn't come from the fact he covered Biffy, but that he hasn't done justice to their pop legacy - by producing an averagley listenable pop song and not the bombastic, kicking the boundries in the nuts singalongs that Biffy are so good at. Cynical as the song choice by Simon Cowell may be, he has merely shot himself in the foot by highlighting the limitation of his, and his artists, creativity. No anger, just sorrow is necessary, safe in the knowledge that the Scottish band possess pop credibility - something X-factor contestants can only dream of.

Matt Cardle. Remarkably calm considering his house is
on fire behind him.

Pop is not a dirty word. It is popular for a reason -  It's just that some do it better than others, and it's ruined by some. Are all football fans hooligans? Are all My Chemical Romance fans emo whiners? (Don't answer that). Not all pop musicians are cynical mass produced cardboard cut-outs. The beauty of pop is that it can be interpreted in so many different ways, as Biffy have shown, and can have other elements of styles while maintaining the melody and scream along at the top of your voice qualities that made pop music fucking great in the first place. I for one am not ashamed to be a fan of pop. Now, have I done a good enough job or do I have to start ducking and change my name?

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The Beatles out of tune with Itunes


The partnership made in heaven finally happened; cash cow meets money spinner; The Beatles back catalogue finally appeared on Itunes to a fanfare of......very few people.The long running absence from Itunes, arising from a dispute between Apple and Apple Corps. (The Beatles label) was resolved for the benefit of both parties (and probably some fans) last week and I couldn't help but question the thinking behind this decision. The problem is that as more and more greatest hits are released and the saturation of the bands merchandise increases, their reputation and legacy decreases. Anyway,  Hands up who doesn't already own the majority of the Fab Four's material already? Hmmmm, the majority of people I see.

 "Quite what he (Lennon) would make of the latest development in The Beatles story we will never know, but I'm willing to put my neck on the line and say it wasn't part of his plan for world peace." 


Poor taste (or cynical marketing?) also dictated that the launch of The Beatles on Itunes also roughly coincided with the anniversary of the murder of arguably their most influential member, John Lennon. Quite what he would make of the latest development in The Beatles story we will never know, but I'm willing to put my neck on the line and say it wasn't part of his plan for world peace. 


An interesting point was made in the excellent film "The Social network". Why compromise the newly created sparks of Facebook with advertising "Mark Zuckerberg" pondered. Why lose the "cool" - the most defining characteristic the site had at that time - for the sake of an admittedly lucrative revenue stream? The team in charge of The Beatles legacy would do well to heed this lesson. Surely enough money has been made from The Beatles Brand to   pass this opportunity up and create an allure and reason for future fans to dig around and discover the band on their own? The current TV advertisement for Itunes shows black and white stills of The Beatles in their prime with "Let it be" subtly playing over the top. Who said Irony was lost on Apple?

England consider bowling replacements for injured Broad

If the second test match in Adelaide was one of the most comprehensive English victories over Australia, then the injury to Stuart Broad was the fly in the ointment. England were dealt a blow on the penultimate day of the Adelaide Test as an abdominal tear ruled Broad out for the remainder of The Ashes tour. Broad, who had bowled with ample pace and aggression while lacking luck, was crucial to the balance of a resurgent England and took the new ball with skill that his series figures of two wickets at an average of 80.50 do not suggest.

England are assesing replacements for the injured Broad, above.

The England Selectors now face a tough decision as to who should replace the Notinghamshire seamer, although the problem of having to choose from three more than adequate replacements is a welcome one. All three of Broad's potential replacements bowled excellently in the warm up match against Australia A in Hobart: Ajmal Shahzad swung the bowl dangerously and consistently with the notoriously swing-unfriendly Kookuburra ball, Chris Tremlett probed away with a nagging length Broad himself would have been proud of and took the statistical honours at least, and Tim Bresnan was as consistent as ever.

"A shoot-out in the upcoming tour match in Melbourne is likely to provide a good indication of the direction England are likely to go in"

The name on most peoples lips is Chris Tremlett – the Surrey paceman has the height, pace and bounce to replicate the qualities Broad bought so ably to the English bowling attack -however his first class batting average of 18.29 is solid rather than spectacular and so he cannot be considered a true like for like replacement for Broad. Bresnan has had modest success during his time with the England team but is a viable, If somewhat negative, option. While he cannot bring the bowling prowess of Broad or his two rivals he is a consistent performer who can shore up an end while adding depth to the batting line up. Shahzad is an exciting young bowler, and although he isn’t particularly suited to the fast, bouncy conditions of Perth, as James Anderson has excelled so far Flower and Strauss would have nothing to worry about were he the chosen one. He's also likely to be considered if the precious Steven Finn is promoted to take the new ball, although the selectors should be wary of doing so.

With England in the ascendancy and runs coming freely from batsmen in form, the selectors shouldn’t take a backwards step by trying to close out the series so early on with a negative selection like Bresnan. Depth of batting is not an issue with Swann and Prior both capable of scoring test match runs, and the focus should be on the ongoing problem of taking twenty wickets in a test match, something both teams have struggled with (albeit the Australians decidedly more than England). A shoot-out in the upcoming tour match in Melbourne is likely to provide a good indication of the direction England are likely to go in, and although Flower remains tight lipped on the issue, the possibility of retaining The Ashes in third Test in Perth means the balance of the England team is unlikely to be upset. Tremlett is able to replicate Broad's attributes so closely, so it would seem he is the just the man for the job.

A Tangerine Dream

Ian Holloway is an interesting character. As large an understatement as the hole in Blackpool's defence and as large as the heart they continue to show. The scope of what he has achieved so far with the plucky seasiders cannot be underestimated, but while the fate of his team will be decided across a 38 game season, Holloway's own may be bought to an altogether more untimely end, and all because he has his finger on the trigger, and is aiming squarely at his own head.

Blackpool are most certainly formed in the image of the eccentric Bristonian. His desire to succeed courses through the veins of the side and has driven Blackpool onto results most thought impossible. He is without doubt the heart of the team, and if his threat to quit if charged by the F.A over fielding a weakened team becomes a reality, Holloway may just be confirming his caricature as a joke figure rather than an accomplished manager, and rip the heart out of everyone's second favourite club.

"He has his finger on the trigger, and is aiming squarely at his own head"

Harry Redknapp recently said; “even Jose Mourinho would struggle to do better than Ian Holloway has done”. Most will agree with this but a glance into his checkered past casts doubt over his credibility. The three month spell at Plymouth and relegation with QPR do not hint at a successful Premier League manager, although it seems he has found a home at Blackpool, a place where he can put his coaching skills to practice. However it is not his coaching skills which are in doubt, but his managerial skills - and he must balance both to ultimately succeed. It seems it's now time to lose the eccentric interviews and the outlandish comments. Holloway is a man who cannot now hide behind his personality - in the Premier League he will rightly be judged on the results he achieved.

Quitting would not only hurt his career but put Blackpool in serious jeopardy. Holloway should, no needs, to learn the lessons of Mick McCarthy and Wolves and move on to complete the job he has started. As much as most can agree that the F.A charge is ridiculous, most will agree that Holloway's response bears the same hallmark. To undo the hard work and to jump off the roller-coaster mid-loop would be sheer lunacy, the act of a mad man. Oh dear.......

The Cockerel and the Cannon

North London has always been about more than eleven men and two nets - It would never allow itself to be so crude. Style is as deeply embedded in the aesthetic of the area's leading teams as the piercings of the punks sat on Camden lock. And, after all, what self respecting scenester would be seen dead strutting around Chalk Farm in last season's away shirt? Perhaps the last remaining English purveyors of footballing style over substance are to be found here, and Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have more in common than most rivals.

"Both teams are set on not only putting the ball in the net as many times as possible, but looking damn good doing it."

Ten days before the two teams meet and the fixture is distorted into an hateful, petty cacophony of soundbites and sideswipes, it pays to realise what the fixture is really all about. The swagger of two confident teams on an upward trajectory. The sheer quality of some of the talent on display, genuine world class talent. Both Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp have shaped the clubs in the image of themselves (somewhat unfortunate for Spurs fans – sorry Harry) and drawn on the past to put together teams set on not only putting the ball in the net as many times as possible, but looking damn good doing it – and this binds the teams together inexplicably.

Many may look on Spurs as inferior neighbours just as much as they look upon Arsenal as lacking the killer instinct to mark themselves truly as a great team, but that is to miss the point. More is at stake here than three points. In a game of ankles and shins shattering at the merest look from Lee Cattermole , the likes of Jack Wilshere, Cesc Fabregas, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale provide light where there is mostly dark. And in the money driven, modern footballing era of win at all costs, teams who want to win looking good are a rare and precious commodity. Even the current champions are known for their clinical efficiency more than astounding audiences for crying out loud.

Both teams are blighted, flawed and carry an element of unfulfilled potential, of that there is no doubt. Tottenham carry the weight of a glorious past around their necks more than most and only now look capable of shaking it loose. Arsenal are all too often reminded of the trophyless seasons since 2004 which blight Wenger's record. Inconsistent form and recent unpredictable goal laden meetings only serves to add to the mystery and intrigue of the fixture. But after the adoring crowd witness Rafael Van der Vart's laser guided left foot, Samir Nasri's winding runs, or Robin van Persie's deft first touch and the final whistle blows, more than just a football game will have been won, lost or drawn. The beautiful game will most likely have been reconfirmed as just that. And I can't wait to see it.