Prone to distraction

25 years since The Sopranos remade our collective TV consciousness.

The show's mould breaking run altered pop-culture and empowered a new generation of critical connoisseurs to take the lowly box extremely seriously.

Jan 17, 2024 • 

Barry Bracken

April 2023

What happened to Martin Brest?

The once lauded director has long been locked out of Hollywood. His fascinating and under-appreciated filmography speaks to an originality squeezed from…

Apr 19, 2023 • 

Barry Bracken

March 2023

Elliot Smith and his Oscars tipping point 25 years on

Why the singer-songwriter's solo performance at the 1998 Academy Awards remains a beautiful but poignant inflection point in his career.

Mar 20, 2023 • 

Barry Bracken

The best movie of 2022 you haven't seen (and the one you probably have) and why it matters

The Wonder is an impeccable film. But it got lost between The Banshees of Inisherin and Netflix squeezing its audience.

Mar 9, 2023 • 

Barry Bracken

January 2023

Opting out of Hero Worship

It's 25 years since In the Aeroplane Over the Sea turned Neutral Milk Hotel into the quintessential modern cult band.

Jan 26, 2023 • 

Barry Bracken

The Stay In Your Lane Power of Ben Gibbard

Talisman or Journeyman: Is the Death Cab For Cutie and Postal Service frontman ageing out or ageing gracefully as both acts hit milestone anniversaries…

Jan 17, 2023 • 

Barry Bracken

Coming soon

This is Prone to distraction .

Jan 17, 2023 • 

Barry Bracken