It's still Christmas. And it's still boiling.

And I really wouldn't recommend playing this collection in front of yr family, but...

It's Christmas. Even if it is boiling

So I've got a Christmas compilation to download for anyone who wants.

How Bands Form (parts 1-14)

A recent attempt at humour. On Twitter. Late at night. Probably a bad idea.

One-minute reviews - 13: Hum, Christy & Emily, Death To Trad Rock, Knight School

It's nearly Christmas. Of course that has no relevance to anything I'm about to write whatsoever. Just thought I'd lay a little context on you. I have four minutes to spare, so I thought I'd write you four reviews.

Kitty Daisy & Lewis live @ The Zoo

Say what you like about rockabilly. It's always been fucking great live music.

Patrick Wolf live @ The Zoo

Animal Collective played Brisbane recently.

Buzzcocks live @ The Zoo

Buzzcocks were the first band I ever saw - Chelmsford Odeon, 1978.

some more Christmas playlists

My hard drive's gone down, taking all my iTunes playlists with it. Here's what I rescued.

a Polish pop party

Many thanks to Kevin Pearce for posting the original links.

Greek music

(from Facebook)

My new favourite blog - The London Nobody Sings

Actually, it's long been one of my favourite blogs, if not THE favourite. The London Nobody Sings is an absolute gem of a blog: words and passion and images and music and videos all put together with deceptive, disarming simplicity. If someone at a high-up record company had any sense, they'd even now be compiling a box-set from all the songs Kevin has unearthed...and a video...and a book (both words and pictures)...

24 More Songs for Christmas

No one demanded it, but here it is anyway. 24 more songs for Christmas. This mix CD was marked "friends".

Hugs And Kisses (September edition)

This is the first in the series of columns I wrote for Playground. I hope they commission more. I've been really enjoying writing them.

Hugs And Kisses (December edition)

This was written for Spanish website Playground a couple of days ago. I dutifully sent it off, and received a return email stating the column had been pulled, financial considerations. Damn. They could have told me that before I wrote it! Anyway. Thought it was too good to waste.

ET Recommends - 43: Peepholes

Again, I'm reminded of the section in the infamous Steve Albini article/tirade against major labels, originally printed in The Baffler, wherein he wishes that bands would try to sound more like Metal Urbain instead of The Beatles. Because, as I've written before, it seems that we've turned full circle - at least in the circles formerly known as "underground" - and bands like No Age, Crocodiles and Vivian Girls are way taking the side of the late 70s French punk experimentalists.

My Last FM (week 14)

Yep, Trio Los Panchos. Respect.

some girl bands

My research for my latest Bust column threw the following up. I only have space to feature four per issue. It seemed a shame not to share them with you...

ET Recommends - 42: The Thin Kids

Just go give them a listen.