Recent content by Timewriter

Well, we could debate such terminology til the cows come home, some labels being both 'open' and interchangeable.

'Proper set of wheels, Billy.' 'Sweet, ain't they. Made for an Arab Sheik, Jimmy.' I add, pressing down a button that allows the top to roll slowly back. 'Bought it from Micksy Martin two weeks ago and he's just been tagged over the Brink's Mat. Last thing I need at the moment is this wrapped...

Isn't it just what used to be called 'speculative' fiction? Not 'realism', but without the common sci-fi ingredients? Calvino's Cosmicomics are very good, by the way.

Glamour's in the eye of the beholder. To some the 'high life' of flash cars, clothes etc is glamourous, but Judas Pig certainly undermines the idea and, as you suggest, makes it all sound soiled and grotty. That's one of its strong points though.

They bought off bent cops and councillors, then. Par for the course with any sizeable criminal gang, I think.

Ah, OK.

That's supposed to be good. Recommended?

I'm curious about which institutions protected those villains. I don't know who 'the longfellow' was.

By his standards and those applicable to villainy they were minor league though, presumably? That's not 'racist', just a fact. I doubt very much that they were a threat to his 'crew'.

Yes, I've seen that. I thought he just said the Yardies weren't the force the police made them out to be. Could be misremembering though.

Billy's done 'bird' and digs Bird!

More than The Beatles? Your ears are never fresh to sounds you've lived with for decades but a revisit can still prompt a spark, at least, where once your head was set ablaze by, in the case of JB, the rhythm and voice. Whilst it's no longer fresh, at least the passing of time proves its...

I used to feel the same but it grew on me over the years and then came the revelatory Complete Jack Johnson release wherein lies some of the deepest Funk attributable to The Man due largely to Henderson's ba-a-ad bass.

Not sure if this is mainly about books or films but The Outfit (1973) is one brilliantly tough picture.

JMC was great. Mildred Pierce and Double Indemnity are also recommended if you don't know them. Surely one of the few writers to have so many bona fide classic noirs made from their novels. I wouldn't call them 'pulp' though, just great novels.