"Is this Christmas?" by The Wombats Scouse jangly indie that is considerably less serious than most scouse jangly indie, The Wombats can definitely put out a good tune and this original ode to Chrimbo hits all the hallmarks of their inimitable style. Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts by...

"Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)" by The Darkness Dismissed as a joke, The Darkness are actually a bunch of extremely talented folks with an ear for a banging tune. This is no exception. Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts by sending me an email: rss@thomasrigby.com.

Retro Bar in Manchester has closed. I wasn't the most regular bar fly but it was a constant venue in my decades living in Manchester; known for a decent club night or two and as a cracking venue for seeing bands of a certain size/popularity/fame. For example, I remember seeing Frank Turner there on one of his first...

"I Want an Alien for Christmas" by Fountains of Wayne Twee but not saccharine, this ode to an imaginary interstellar Christmas gift drips with childhood fantasy and earnest awe. Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts by sending me an email: rss@thomasrigby.com.

"Do they know it's Christmas?" Far (feat. Chino Moreno and Grady Avenell) A bunch of Sacramento bands put out a Christmas covers album to support a school music program and inadvertently created the greatest version of this song — mostly because it's not got Bono on it. I wish this supergroup had released more...

I have a kettle that allows for different temperature hot water; 70°, 80°, 90°, or the traditional 100°C. I like to use the 70°C to make coffee so it's immediately drinkable but still hot and doesn't burn the grounds leaving a bitter taste. Unfortunately, the kettle has developed an intermittent failure. Sometimes,...

"All I Want for Christmas is You" by My Chemical Romance My Chemical Romance are exactly the right sort of outlandish camp emo for this cover. Who else could do Mariah justice?! Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts by sending me an email: rss@thomasrigby.com.

About a third of the way into this film I realised two very important things; 1) this isn't a Christmas Film and 2) that guy is not James McAvoy. The absolute worst kind of cosplay Irish stereotype –how Americans think Ireland is– because sure it's a wall-to-wall stout drinkin', jig dancin', sheep shearin' country...

Happy December! Here are a few photos from my phone from the last month with neither rhyme nor reason to the theme. Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts by sending me an email: rss@thomasrigby.com.

"Lonely This Christmas" by ¡Los Campesinos! Originally by Mud, this laconic miseryfest was an ideal candidate for a Los Camp cover. Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts by sending me an email: rss@thomasrigby.com.

24th November - 30th November It's mid week. The temperature is skirting zero and the skies are clear and bright. Everything has a slightly ethereal tinge of frost and that wintery haze from evaporating ground frost. I've done the school run, dropped my wife at the station, and I'm stood in the driveway just looking...

Let the Dark Harvest begin! Giant Furby Sparkling dialogue throughout this animated adventure elevates this from a "Kids Movie" to something for the whole family. I know a load of childless adults who would love this film. Tongue firmly in cheek, this brainchild of former Gravity Falls alum (Michael Rianda, Creative...