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Caroline Sullivan

Caroline Sullivan

Caroline Sullivan (pictured with a thrilled-looking Shakin' Stevens) started at Melody Maker and currently writes for The Guardian. Caroline also occasionally appears on TV and various outposts of BBC Radio. She has also written for The Times, The Independent, The Telegraph and various women's magazines.

Caroline Sullivan on the RBP podcast

603 articles

List of articles in the library

By date | By artist | Most recently added

Boomtown Rats: Dominion Theatre, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 16 March 1985

IT'S INTERESTING to speculate how responsible Geldof's recent visibility is for landing the Rats two sold-out nights at this 2,000-seater.  ...

Boyd Rice, Frank Tovey, Sonic Youth: Sonic Youth/Frank Tovey & Boyd Rice

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, New Musical Express, 30 March 1985

AAAAH! CATHARSIS time again! ...

Stewart Copeland, The Police: Stewart Copeland: The Rhythm Method

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 25 May 1985

STEWART COPELAND has been using his holiday from The Police to go exploring in Africa and make a video and LP called The Rhythmatist. Caroline ...

Agnes Bernelle, Elvis Costello: Agnes Bernelle: Cabaret in Exile

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 1 June 1985

The first time AGNES BERNELLE met Elvis Costello she thought he was an accountant. She's also met Marlene Dietrich and Adolf Hitler, nearly. Now, at ...

Marilyn: Despite Straight Lines (Mercury)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 29 June 1985

Praying for sunshine ...

'Til Tuesday: Voices Carry (Epic)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 29 June 1985

THE PRECISE analogy for 'Til Tuesday eludes me, but stating that I thought that this sort of album only got an American release should convey ...

George Clinton, Thomas Dolby: George Clinton and Thomas Dolby: The Nut & The Nerd

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 20 July 1985

We're known as The Nut and The Nerd say George Clinton and Thomas Dolby, now together as DOLBY'S CUBE. Caroline Sullivan met this unlikely pair ...

Samantha Fox: The Best Girls Are Always In The Maker!

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 20 July 1985

Dumb blonde or shrewd businesswoman? Whatever your viewpoint, you've got to envy Sun Page Three girl SAMANTHA FOX. Still a teenager, she stands to earn ...

Amazulu: The Exciters

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 24 August 1985

At last AMAZULU have a hit. But can they hang on to their sanity? Caroline Sullivan talks to Claire and Nardo ...

Sheila E.: Sheila E: Romance 1600 (Paisley Park/WB)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 7 September 1985

Fun and games ...

George Clinton: Some Of My Best Jokes Are Friends (Capitol)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 14 September 1985

The joke's on you ...

The Fat Boys, The Weather Girls: Weather Girls: Big Girls Don't Cry (CBS); Fat Boys: Fat Boys Are Back (WEA)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 21 September 1985

Fat is a feminine issue ...

Hüsker Dü: Hüdü Gurus

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 28 September 1985

"WHAT KIND of strings do you use on your axe, man?" ...

Julie Burchill: The 'Sweetest Girl'

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 2 November 1985

JULIE BURCHILL has torpedoed more sacred cows than a pop star has brain cells, though she likes (among other things) Sade and the Maker. Caroline Sullivan ...

Cameo: Single Life (Club)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 11 January 1986

THE MANDATORY credit to God is featured in the small print on the sleeve of Cameo's eleventh album and, when you consider how many cruddy ...

Ozzy Osbourne: The Ultimate Sin (Epic)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 22 February 1986

WHEN I MET the editor of Kerrang! the other week, I asked him why he liked heavy metal, assuming that here, at last, was someone ...

Zodiac Mindwarp & The Love Reaction: Gossips, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 19 April 1986

MIND BENDERS ...

Imagination: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 7 June 1986

FOR ME, the high point of the set by this precision-dancing disco collective was the moment when Leee slipped off his gold lame jacket to ...

Curiosity Killed The Cat: Ronnie Scott's, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 2 August 1986

BLACK 501s and Joseph sweatwear. London popsoul that sounds kinda like latter-day Animal Nightlife or early Wham! or one of those other clubland consortiums. A ...

Curiosity Killed The Cat: Glamour Pussies

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 9 August 1986

Just when you thought the charts revolved around aging old crones, and the drab indie circuit offered the only alternative, along come CURIOSITY KILLED THE ...

Debbie Harry: Rockbird (Chrysalis)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 22 November 1986

FIVE YEARS is nigh on an eternity in pop, and Debbie Harry has returned to a changed world — a world in which the Lower ...

Womack And Womack: Starbright (Manhattan)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 10 January 1987

Rhyming Couplets ...

Anita Baker: Heaven Can Wait

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 31 January 1987

ANITA BAKER, the new queen of soul, discusses the dos and dont's of the bigtime with a sympathetic Caroline Sullivan. ...

The Judds: Give A Little Love (RCA)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 7 February 1987

GIVEN THE choice between listening to a country LP — any country LP — or one by some exceeding obscure indie outfit who are distinguished ...

Luther Vandross: The Language of Love

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 14 February 1987

So what does LUTHER VANDROSS, sex god to millions, do on a date? Does he even date at all? And what the hell happened when ...

Swing Out Sister: It's Better To Travel (Phonogram)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 16 May 1987

HOW DELICIOUS that a wee sleakit trio like Swing Out Sister can elicit such rage from the young sociologists of rock criticism. And for what? ...

Cookie Crew, The Three Wise Men: The Three Wise Men, Cookie Crew: Rhythm and Bruise

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 16 May 1987

SOMETHING IS STIRRING IN DEEPEST SOUTH LONDON IN THE SHAPE OF RHYTHM KING RECORD LABEL ARTISTS THE COOKIE CREW, WHO FORM THE FEMALE HIP-HOP ASSAULT ...

The Fat Boys: Crushin' (Urban/Polydor)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 26 September 1987

EVEN IN their days as a one-gag band, playing Sham 69 to Run DMC's Pistols, the Fat Boys were immensely (and I do mean immensely) ...

INXS: The Kick Inside

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 2 January 1988

THEY'VE CONQUERED THE WORLD BUT STILL CAN'T WOO THE CRITICS. INXS ARE AN ENIGMA. CAROLINE SULLIVAN PONDERS THE RIDDLE WITH MICHAEL HUTCHENCE,'THE SEXIEST MAN IN ...

Marc Almond: The Astoria, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 2 January 1988

WHERE HAVE these vulpine goths acquired their taste for this Brechtian melodrama? A brush with The Collected Isherwood? ...

Scarlet Fantastic: Phantasmagoria

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 16 January 1988

ARE SCARLET FANTASTIC LEADERS OF THE NEW GLAM MOVEMENT OR MERELY HIPPIES DRESSED IN SATIN AND SEQUINS? CAROLINE SULLIVAN SEPARATES THE MAGIC FROM THE MANIFESTO. ...

Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, MC Shan: Cold Chillin' Records: The Big Chill

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 16 April 1988

COLD CHILLIN' HAVE COMPILED A ROSTER TO CHALLENGE DEF JAM'S HIP HOP SUPREMACY. CAROLINE SULLIVAN MEETS A TRIO ON THE WAY TO THE TOP ...

Fairground Attraction: The Human Touch

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 7 May 1988

WITH THEIR DEBUT SINGLE, 'PERFECT', STORMING INTO THE CHARTS, FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION AREN'T QUITE THE OVERNIGHT SENSATIONS THEY MIGHT APPEAR. CAROLINE SULLIVAN CHARTS THEIR PROGRESS ...

Voice of the Beehive: Girls at our best

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 7 May 1988

IF VOICE OF THE BEEHIVE ARE THE LAST WORD IN GIRLY POP, HOW COME THEY CALL EACH OTHER RAY? CAROLINE SULLIVAN SETS OUT TO SCRAP ...

Ofra Haza: Yemen They Couldn't Hang

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 14 May 1988

AFTER ERIC B AND RAKIM ABDUCTED HER EXOTIC VOICE FOR THEIR HIT SINGLE 'PAID IN FULL', EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT OFRA HAZA SOUNDS LIKE. CAROLINE SULLIVAN ...

Bros: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 16 July 1988

"I NEED a drink," my fellow Brosette whimpers urgently. It's the deafening interval 'tween set-end and encore. For an hour he'd gamely stood his ground, ...

Was (Not Was): Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 16 July 1988

TWO JEWISH comedians backed by the JBs. There — that's as close as anyone will ever come to describing the Wases in seven words. Unless ...

Wet Wet Wet: The Memphis Sessions (Phonogram)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 12 November 1988

IN A RECENT Wx3 feature in The Observer's Section 5, Simon Reynolds concluded that the Wets' perpetuation of soul music's traditional values is "an unhelpful ...

The La's: The Marquee, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 17 December 1988

THURSDAY, A PACKED Marquee. Onstage, four anoraky boys with jangling guitars. Mick Mercer's idea of Nirvana; my idea of no good reason to miss Neil ...

Rick Astley: Wembley Arena

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 24 December 1988

POOR LITTLE PUP. So keen to please, yet so reviled by the over-15's. Some bleak midnights, he must wonder: "What did I ever do to ...

Hot House: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 18 March 1989

THERE ARE, oh, a thousand or so people in London who know that Hot House have nothing to do with Chicago, or with Liam O'Maonlai ...

Swing Out Sister: Dog Day Afternoon

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 1 April 1989

TWO YEARS AGO THEY HAD TWO TOP 10 SINGLES AND A NUMBER 1 ALBUM. THEN THE TRIO OF SUAVE POPSTERS DISAPPEARED. CAROLINE SULLIVAN REPORTS ON ...

Yazz: City Hall, Sheffield

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 6 May 1989

THE NEWS Of The World was uppermost in my mind as a deafening, amphetamined version of the Batman theme presaged Yazz's arrival. Did you see ...

Bonnie Raitt: Nick Of Time (Capitol)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 13 May 1989

BONNIE RAITT was a compatriot of Janis Joplin's; the pair were the Sixties' premier hard-drinking, hard-loving white blues chicks. Raitts's music has continued in this ...

Dolly Parton: White Limozeen (CBS)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 29 July 1989

IF YOU NEED proof that we're dealing not with a mere singer, but a legend — nay, an icon — here it is: thrashy Class ...

Wendy And Lisa: Wendy & Lisa: Satisfy Yourself

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 5 August 1989

AFTER THEIR JUICY FRUIT AT THE BOTTOM LP GOT THE ECSTATIC REVIEWS IT SO RICHLY DESERVED, IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WENDY AND LISA ...

Bros, Debbie Gibson: Wembley Stadium, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 26 August 1989

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT ...

Grace Jones: "Born To F*** — I should get a tee-shirt saying that"

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 7 April 1990

THE ICE QUEEN MAY BE MAKING A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO MELT HER IMAGE AND BECOME MORE FEMININE, BUT SHE WAS STILL HARD ENOUGH TO BURY ...

Salt-N-Pepa: Salt 'N' Pepa: Short Back and Asides

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 28 April 1990

SALT 'N' PEPA are about to curl up and dye. The first of their chain of Salt 'N' Pepa beauty salons will soon open at ...

808 State, Adamski, Black Box, Guru Josh, Orbital, The Shamen: Black Box, Guru Josh, Orbital, 808 State et al: Energy, Docklands Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Smash Hits, 2 May 1990

TYPICAL SO-called "raves" (i.e. those massive dance parties held in cornfields off the M2S) don't usually start 'til gone midnight. Energy, which bills itself as ...

Bobby Brown: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 June 1990

Coming over lewd and clear ...

Bananarama: Girls Together Outrageously

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 28 July 1990

Ten years on from their ramshackle beginnings, BANANARAMA are the most successful female pop group in the world. They've got wit, flair and great shoulders. ...

Adamski, Electribe 101, Erasure, Was (Not Was): Erasure, Was (Not Was), Adamski, Electribe 101: Milton Keynes Bowl

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Smash Hits, 19 September 1990

THE FINAL date of Erasure's world tour, "The Wild Party", takes place on a windswept grassy slope so the atmosphere's not especially "partylike", but everyone ...

Jason Donovan: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 September 1990

IT MUST have been sheer devilry that inspired someone to play Prince over the PA directly before Jason Donovan came on stage. Even Jason, awaiting ...

Monie Love: Down To Earth (Cooltempo)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Smash Hits, 17 October 1990

RAPPERS ARE always rambling on about themselves in their songs — how completely "slammin'" they are and how laughably "wack" everyone else is. How pleasant, ...

Big Fun, Jason Donovan, Kylie Minogue, New Kids On The Block: Kylie Minogue et al: Mild at heart

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 October 1990

Today's pop idols seem so insipid that fans are turning to turtles for thrills. Caroline Sullivan on the Kylie/Jason phenomenon. ...

Depeche Mode: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Smash Hits, 25 December 1990

A "STOCKY" BLOKE in white jeans and perv-o-sparkle glitter jacket! A fright-wigged blonde bloke in a chain-mail mini skirt! A bespectacled bloke who stands grimly ...

Belinda Carlisle, The Go-Go's: Belinda Carlisle!

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, Smash Hits, 23 January 1991

• She used to live in the untidiest house in Hollywood!• She plays music to her plants!• She's had about half an hour's holiday to ...

Unsound Moves in the Print Trade

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 April 1991

Caroline Sullivan investigates the long-standing malaise afflicting the weekly music press after last week's closure of Sounds and the merger of Record Mirror with Music ...

Alexander O'Neal: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 April 1991

ALEXANDER O'NEAL'S last British tour was famed for the moment during the concert when a double bed was wheeled on stage and a young laydee ...

Banderas: Plain unfair

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 7 May 1991

In the precious and profitable world of pop, how you look, it seems, is more important than how you sound, Caroline Sullivan reports ...

Vanilla Ice: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 June 1991

THE TOUTS on Empire Way were peevish. Entire blocks of seats for Vanilla Ice's London debut were still empty and no one was buying. Much ...

Vanilla Ice: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 6 July 1991

WHAT IS IT that makes Vanilla Ice simultaneously a great among pop's icons and one of its classic punchlines? I suspect it's the Robert Van ...

Cher: Love Hurts (Geffen)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Smash Hits, 10 July 1991

THIS ALBUM, earthlings, is one exhausting experience. ...

Deee-Lite: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 July 1991

LAST YEAR, Deee-Lite's fusion of hip-hop beats and hippy good vibes supposedly presaged a kinder, gentler era in pop. Nothing much changed, but Deee-Lite still ...

Milli Vanilli: The Award Sinners

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 August 1991

The Milli Vanilli affair rocked the secretive world of pop. CAROLINE SULLIVAN on the scandal of stars who don't sing — and the judge with ...

Voice Of The Beehive: Town & Country Club, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 20 September 1991

Bumble Bees ...

Wet Wet Wet: Ronnie Scott's, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 4 November 1991

FOR WET Wet Wet's first British date for two years their record company was taking no chances. An audience of Radio One competition winners was ...

Salt-N-Pepa: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 7 December 1991

MEN, ACCORDING to the rapteuses, Salt 'n' Pepa, are good for one thing. "And sometimes they're not even good for that," Salt observed, on stage ...

Cookie Crew, Salt-N-Pepa, Sister Souljah: Sisters Are Rapping It For Themselves

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 January 1992

In the misogynistic world of rap, anybody who's not one of the boys is a whore or more genially a bitch. But even the female ...

Daisy Chainsaw, The Nymphs, Shakespears Sister: Rock's Savage Sorority

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 February 1992

Caroline Sullivan on how women are using music to cope with rape, abortion, drugs. ...

Barry White: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 12 March 1992

Lurve and kisses: Caroline Sullivan on the night Barry White made the earth move ...

Lisa Stansfield: Soul of Discretion in a Hotel Laundry

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 March 1992

'If I've a hole in my tights, I'll sew it up. You can wear them under trousers.' Caroline Sullivan on Rochdale's most ordinary export, Lisa ...

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Tom Petty: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 March 1992

IS TOM PETTY thrashing out a mid-life crisis or has he always been this way? His current show certainly leaves you wondering. American rock is ...

Barry White: Hammersmith Odeon, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Melody Maker, 28 March 1992

BARRY WHITE has based an entire career on his notion of himself as a 100-horsepower love machine. ...

Curve, Primal Scream: Curve: Town and Country Club; Primal Scream: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 March 1992

THE TRADITIONAL concert is being supplanted in some surprising quarters by the rave — anything from an all-nighter in which the group are just one ...

Julian Lennon: Kensal Dock, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 April 1992

IT IS DIFFICULT to contain a sneaking compassion for Julian Lennon. Unwelcome comparisons, rarely in his favour, continue to dog his career. They surfaced even ...

L7: University of London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 April 1992

L7: THE FIRST artistically-credible female heavy metalists, or rock vixens with more decibels than sense? The question divided the electorate at Thursday's sold out show. ...

Desmond Child, Diane Warren: Tracks Of Their Tears

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 May 1992

Caroline Sullivan hunts down the US songwriters responsible for the junk ballad ...

Natalie Cole, Nat King Cole: Natalie Cole: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 May 1992

'UNFORGETTABLE', Natalie Cole's "duet" with her father, Nat "King", cleaned up this year's Grammy awards. The song, wherein Natalie's voice was grafted onto Pop's 1951 ...

Erasure, Right Said Fred: When the flirting stops

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 9 July 1992

Sex is back in the charts. But it doesn't seem to be using a condom. Caroline Sullivan reports ...

Throwing Muses: Kristin Hersh: Tortured by the Muse

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 September 1992

Caroline Sullivan on the nightmare illness which drives singer-songwriter Kristin Hersh ...

ABBA, Bjorn Again: ABBA: The High Priests of Euro-naff

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 September 1992

The sateen-flared Swedes are back again. Caroline Sullivan on Abba — The Revival ...

Happy Mondays: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 October 1992

THESE ARE troubled times for the Happy Mondays. Their new album, Yes, Please!, reputedly went over budget and has not had the sales to compensate. ...

Suede: SW1 Club, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 October 1992

BARELY six months old, Suede are attracting extravagant hyperbole. The London foursome have been deemed the best British guitar band since the Smiths, and their ...

Bon Jovi: Search for a New Faith

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 November 1992

Jon Bon Jovi jumped off rock's roller-coaster and started to look around. What he saw has changed what he is ...

Rock Till They Drop

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 November 1992

Most senior citizens hate pop. But a few still thrill to the sound of a synthesiser ...

Shonen Knife: ULU, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 December 1992

TOKYO APPARENTLY has a flourishing indie scene, and female trio Shonen Knife are its stars. Their popularity certainly emphasises the cultural gap between East and ...

Boney M: The Fridge, Brixton, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 January 1993

WHAT MIXTURE of whimsy and misanthropy persuaded Arista Records to release a "Boney M megamix"? It appears to be part of a bizarre masterplan to ...

Cornershop: Camden Underworld, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 8 February 1993

WERE IT not for the fact that two members are Punjabi Sikhs, Leicester's Cornershop would be just another dinful grunge unit. Camden's Underworld club was ...

Belly: Happy days in hell

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 February 1993

Airy melodies and nightmare lyrics make Belly a surprise hit ...

Ice Cube: Murder Rap

Profile by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 March 1993

He's armed and he's dangerous: Ice Cube's lyrics are about race hate, the Los Angeles gangs and the glory of the gun. He's America's worst ...

Apache Indian, Cornershop, Fun-Da-Mental: Real Lives: Rock of Asians

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 March 1993

Britain's Asian community has long hosted a thriving pop scene, operating in a lucrative parallel universe to the chart mainstream. Now, CAROLINE SULLIVAN reports, radical ...

Bikini Kill, Huggy Bear: University of London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 March 1993

RIOT GRRRL, a radical feminist frock movement originating in Washington state, is generating much controversy in the US. Even the New York Times has published a chin-stroking ...

Arrested Development: Town and Country Club, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 March 1993

ATLANTA hip hoppers Arrested Development are the very antithesis of Ice Cube, whose tour they follow by just a few days. They counter Cube's scatter-gun ...

Huggy Bear: Angry Young Women

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 March 1993

Take the in-yer-face spirit of punk, add a dash of Mom's best feminist cant. Born in the USA, now raising hell here, Riot Grrrls are ...

The Auteurs: Camden Underworld, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 March 1993

Bound for a kind of glory Caroline Sullivan joined the crush to hear The Auteurs ...

The Lemonheads: National Ballroom, Kilburn, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 7 April 1993

Pop's tangy new taste ...

The Orb: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 20 April 1993

PIONEERS OF neo-progressive pop or appalling hippy throwbacks? That both descriptions apply to the Orb indicates the scale of the changes occurring in rock music. ...

PJ Harvey: Rid Of Me (Island CID8002/514 696-2)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 April 1993

Somerset psyche ...

Sounds of Blackness: The Sounds of Blackness: Hammersmith Apollo, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 April 1993

IT WAS hard to believe that a gospel choir spawned the lubricious soulster, Alexander O'Neal, until you saw the ensemble in question. Minneapolis's 40-piece Sounds ...

New Order: Joyful division

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 12 May 1993

New Order have overcome the collapse of Factory Records and leapt into the charts with a number one album ...

Guns N' Roses: Chopper rock — Guns N' Roses: National Bowl, Milton Keynes

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 May 1993

Guns N' Roses, high on attitude, bring their macho moves to Milton Keynes ...

Bros, East 17, Let Loose, Take That, Worlds Apart: Pop Goes The Bubblegum

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 June 1993

Teenybopper bands were once besieged by fans wherever they went. The new generation's tame in comparison. Why? ...

Lena Fiagbe , Lenny Kravitz: Back to the future — Lenny Kravitz, Lena Fiagbe: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 June 1993

Lenny Kravitz brings a dash of sixties to the nineties at the Brixton Academy ...

Prince: My name is Prince (well it was)

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 July 1993

To criticise Prince is to reveal yourself as a musically illiterate Jason Donovan fan. But who is this workaholic, whose band call him 'sir' and ...

Prince & the New Power Generation: National Indoor Arena, Birmingham

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 July 1993

Funked up: The new PC Prince starts his British tour in fine style in Birmingham ...

Madonna: The Entertainer — Madonna: Wembley Stadium, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 September 1993

Despite attempts to write her off, Madonna's spectacular costume cabaret proved that she's not dead, just feverish. ...

PJ Harvey: Good golly, Ms Polly

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 October 1993

Screeching harridan? Feminist heroine? One thing's certain: Polly Jean Harvey's tortured song-tantrums are a far cry from Captain Beefheart. ...

Mojo: Rock of Ages

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 October 1993

Mojo, a glossy monthly aimed at ageing rockers, is the latest in a long line of minutely targeted music magazines ...

Dina Carroll: Dina delivers the soul — Dina Carroll: Hammersmith Apollo, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 12 November 1993

A triumphant London debut for Dina Carroll at the Hammersmith Apollo ...

Michael Bolton: The One Thing (Columbia 474355 2)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 November 1993

THIS IS the album Meat Loaf would make if his taste ran to easy-listening pop rather than gothic rock. He and the astonishingly coiffed Bolton ...

Paul Weller: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 November 1993

ANYONE WHO doubts that a little fatherhood can be a dangerous thing should have been at the first of Paul Weller's two sold-out London gigs. ...

Sister Sledge, Tammy Wynette: Sister Sledge: Forum, London; Tammy Wynette: Palladium, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 November 1993

Standby your sisters: Revived seventies disco queens Sister Sledge and the First Lady of country music Tammy Wynette woo London ...

Diana Ross: Miss Ross the Boss

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 December 1993

Singer, actress, businesswoman — Diana Ross has always been in control in 30 years of show business ...

Ice Cube, Snoop (Doggy) Dogg: Snoop Doggy Dogg: Doggystyle (eastwest 654492279-2); Ice Cube: Lethal Injection (4th & Broadway BRCD 609)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 3 December 1993

TWO DIFFERENT versions of the art of gangsta rap. Twenty-one-year-old Los Angeleno Snoop Doggy Dogg is about to make history by having his debut album ...

Pansy Division, RPLA, Sister George, Tongue Man: Queer to the core

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 December 1993

The pop establishment has always had a handful of gay stars — colourful, eccentric, lovable. But now there's 'queercore', a radical gay music movement with ...

Body Count, Ice-T: Ice hits meltdown — Ice-T & Body Count: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 December 1993

Macho rapper Ice-T goes all soft and squishy at Brixton Academy ...

The Cranberries, Elastica: Astoria 2, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 January 1994

AS LIMERICK pop quartet the Cranberries might warn London pop quartet Elastica, beware the tag Next Big Thing. The Irish band basked in that title ...

Snoop Doggy Dogg: Cocking a Leg at Society

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 12 February 1994

To Snoop Doggy Dogg, the hard man of rap, women are 'bitches' and 'niggaz with attitude' like him pack a pistol. CAROLINE SULLIVAN talked to ...

R Kelly: R. Kelly: Hammersmith Apollo, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 March 1994

WITH RAP the genre of choice of so many young American black musicians, traditional soul looks endangered. Twenty five-year-old R Kelly offers one answer to ...

Marvin Gaye: The Ostend of the Road

Film/DVD/TV Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 March 1994

Arena's vivid documentary evokes Marvin Gaye's final years ...

Credit To The Nation: Rapped by Rappers

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 April 1994

Matty Hanson — aka Credit To The Nation's MC Fusion — has come under fire for his views on the values of gangsta rappers. Is ...

Charlatans, The (UK), Pulp, Tindersticks: Brash trash — The Charlatans, Pulp, Tindersticks: Sound City, The Tramway, Glasgow

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 April 1994

The Charlatans and Pulp play the opening night concert at Sound City in Glasgow ...

Primal Scream: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 12 April 1994

Retro-rockers Primal Scream play Brixton ...

Hole: Live Through This (City Slang EFA 04935)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 April 1994

Love 'em or leave 'em ...

Blur: The Blur of the moment

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 April 1994

After several false starts, Blur have got it right with their album Parklife, which is set to leap into the charts at number one. ...

Dr. Dre, The Lady of Rage, Snoop (Doggy) Dogg: Bark without bite — Snoop Doggy Dogg & Dr. Dre: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 May 1994

Snoop Doggy Dogg comes over like a pup at the Brixton Academy ...

Bikini Kill: Bikini Kill/Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah (Kill Rock Stars KRS204)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 May 1994

THE BIGGEST act on this Washington label is these founding riot grrrls, whose first two mini-albums are re-released as a single tape/CD. The 32-minute running ...

Billy Joel: Earl's Court, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 9 May 1994

BILLY JOEL'S break-up with model Christie Brinkley has received more media coverage than anything he has done since he married her, so it was predictable ...

The Auteurs: Astoria 2, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 May 1994

THIS TIME last year, the pop press were grooming the Auteurs to be the next big thing. It didn't quite happen, and now, a good ...

The Stone Roses: Stone Roses, phone home

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 May 1994

Their debut LP was one of the eighties' finest. Yet five years on we're still waiting for the follow-up. Whatever became of the Stone Roses? ...

The Beastie Boys: Beastie work if you can get it

Profile by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 June 1994

After years in the doldrums the Beastie Boys are back-and packing out the Astoria ...

Diana Ross: NEC, Birmingham

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 June 1994

Diana Ross returns to celebrate a half-century, and a mysterious 30th anniversary, at Birmingham NEC ...

Johnny Cash: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 4 July 1994

"CAN YOU name anyone in this day and age who is as cool as Johnny Cash?", Rolling Stone magazine rhetorically asks. No one at this ...

Paul Oakenfold: Pick and Re-Mix

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 July 1994

Paul Oakenfold's new record has only his name on the cover. But he isn't a musician. He's the emperor of DJs ...

Chaka Demus and Pliers, General Levy: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 July 1994

THE RANKS of policemen who materialise outside Brixton Academy during shows by black artists were absent Friday night. Clearly, they had been informed that no ...

House Of Pain: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 August 1994

Pain, but no gain ...

Oasis: The Boys Are Back In Town

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 12 August 1994

Trashed hotels, fist fights, easy sex — Oasis have rediscovered rock's roots. They've also found the time to knock out a great tune ...

Prince: Come (Warner Bros 9362-45700-2)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 12 August 1994

WE COULD be forgiven for assuming that Prince — or The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, as he's officially titled — is uninterested in subjects ...

Kylie Minogue: Fever Kitsch

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 September 1994

From wholesome soap star to scantily clad sex kitten — Kylie Minogue has changed her image more times than she might care to remember. But ...

Blur, Pulp: Bedsitters' night out — Blur, Pulp: Alexandra Palace, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 October 1994

Minimalist pop has its day as Blur and Pulp share the bill at London's Alexandra Palace ...

East 17, PJ & Duncan, Shampoo, Take That: The New Bottom Line

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 October 1994

There was a time when sex in pop meant a shuttlecock down the jeans. The days of innocence are over. The steam age has begun. ...

Green Day: Astoria, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 October 1994

US band Green Day sing of misery and hatred but, live at the Astoria, it's just one big party ...

Madonna: Not CD of the week: Madonna: Bedtime Stories (Maverick 9362-45767-2)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 October 1994

"MAKING THIS album was a test of my sanity and stability," Madonna writes in the sleevenotes, admitting for the first time that she's not always ...

Suede: Effete of Clay — Suede: City Hall, Hull

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 October 1994

Brett Anderson forsakes camp as Suede struggle to impress in Hull ...

Blur, Elastica: Blur: Blurred Vision

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 November 1994

They are the names on everyone's lips, the pop heroes from Essex. Blur are being mentioned in the same breath as The Beatles, and yesterday ...

How To Get Backstage

Guide by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 November 1994

Feeling brazen? Ready to crawl? Caroline Sullivan offers the definitive guide to bum-rushing the show ...

Gene, Salad: Astoria 2, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 December 1994

AT LEAST one man at this long-sold-out gig was there because he believed Gene's frontman, Martin Rossiter, to be the late actor Leonard's son. He ...

Bjorn Again, The Bootleg Beatles, Gary Glitter: Hark! The Faded Popsters Sing

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 December 1994

As Christmas approaches, turkeys aren't the only ones preparing to hop into the silverfoil. Ageing pop stars too come out but once a year ...

Manic Street Preachers: Bible Of Hate: Manic Street Preachers: The Astoria, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 December 1994

SINCE achieving cult fame in 1990, the Welsh quartet have preached nihilism juiced up with arty quotes from the Situationists and literary figures. The not-entirely-novel ...

Jodeci: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 January 1995

Hot crotch buns ...

Lisa Germano, Sarah McLachlan, Saint Etienne: Stalkers: Ever-Present Possessive

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 January 1995

Business is booming in the protection business. Now many of those being protected are women pop stars targeted by dangerous stalkers ...

Bettie Serveert, Jeff Buckley: Jeff Buckley, Bettie Serveert: Astoria 2, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 January 1995

WHEN JEFF Buckley's debut album, Grace, was released last year, it received ferocious acclaim and spawned a resurgence of interest in Jeff's folk singing father, ...

Barry White: Rising to the big occasion — Barry White: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 March 1995

Seventies legend Barry White has them swooning in the Wembley Arena aisles with his unique brand of bedroom soul ...

Janet Jackson: Platinum bland — Janet Jackson: London Arena, Millwall

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 April 1995

Janet Jackson's voice may be average, but her dancing is that of a well-drilled athlete ...

Jimmy Nail: Hammersmith Apollo, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 April 1995

THIS ISN'T Jimmy Nail's First crack at rock stardom. In the seventies, the glowering Geordie was lead vocalist of a deservedly obscure punk group called ...

Warren G: Hammersmith Apollo, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 April 1995

OF THE adjectives applied to gangsta rappers, "endearing" is way down the list. Warren Griffin, the latest sensation from the wrong side of Long Beach, ...

Hole: Civic Hall, Wolverhampton

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 April 1995

In the name of Love: Caroline Sullivan on a stunning start to Hole's tour in Wolverhampton ...

Take That: Nobody Else (RCA)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 May 1995

THE TEENY horrors' recent attempts to grow up have been partially successful; the newly-acquired dreadlocks are frightening rather than alluring, but their third album is ...

Renegade Soundwave, Tricky: Tricky, Renegade Soundwave: The Grand, Clapham, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 May 1995

Cool, calm and very, very strange: Caroline Sullivan is haunted by Bristol rapper Tricky ...

Bon Jovi: The Noisy American

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 June 1995

Jon Bon Jovi was once the king of hairspray and spandex. Now he wants to be taken a lot more seriously. The hell-raising days are ...

Blur: Boys will be lads — Blur: Mile End Stadium, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 June 1995

A right old knees-up with Blur and their guests at Mile End ...

The Rolling Stones: Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 July 1995

Charlie upstages ye olde rock stars ...

Marianne Faithfull: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 July 1995

Better class of icon defies the years ...

R.E.M.: Cardiff Arms Park

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 July 1995

Invalids losing their direction ...

Take That: Then There Were Four — Take That: Manchester Arena

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 7 August 1995

Caroline Sullivan on how a Robbieless Take That fare at Manchester Arena ...

Cynthia Plaster Caster: Come Up And See My, Er...

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 August 1995

Caroline Sullivan meets the woman who persuaded Jimi Hendrix to dip his erect member into a jar of gooey pink dental mould. ...

Blur: Time for the Blur to Fly — Blur: NEC Arena, Birmingham

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 November 1995

Blur a flagging, studenty band? Those memories are now long gone as screaming teenyboppers everywhere fight to hear their heroes ...

Coolio: The Grand, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 January 1996

Gangsta takes rap to new level ...

Henry Rollins: Forum, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 8 January 1996

Monster made mellow: Caroline Sullivan wonders if mean rocker Henry Rollins can possibly be related to the loveable raconteur performing at the Forum ...

Melissa Etheridge: Shepherds Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 January 1996

Perky pioneer lacking magic ...

Placebo: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 8 February 1996

A LITTLE gender-uncertainty never hurt any band, and it might prove the making of Placebo. The Swedish-American trio is fortunate in boasting a singer, Brian ...

Pulp: Sorted for Kids — Pulp: Brighton Centre, Brighton

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 February 1996

In a police station one night, on stage the next, and the Pulp fans have never been happier. Caroline Sullivan reports ...

Supergrass: Bald truth, hairy moments — Supergrass: Apollo Theatre, Oxford

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 February 1996

Supergrass were named best new band at last week's Brit awards — but why? Noisy they may be, but subtle they're not. Caroline Sullivan went ...

Skunk Anansie: Skin Deep

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 April 1996

She has been described as Naomi Campbell crossed with Tank Girl, but is there more to the singer with Skunk Anansie than just good cheekbones? ...

k.d. lang: Academy, Birmingham

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 April 1996

A big-boned gal among friends ...

Oasis: Maine Road, Manchester

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 April 1996

Oasis promoted to relegation spot ...

Chris de Burgh: Hampton Court Palace, Surrey

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 June 1996

Chris de Burgh's banter saves the day at Hampton Court Palace, says Caroline Sullivan ...

Damon Albarn, Blur: Blur: Meet Damon, The Poet

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 July 1996

Blur's Damon Albarn tells CAROLINE SULLIVAN he is tired of being a star, tired of Yob Pop and tired off feuding. That's why he's reading ...

Gary Barlow, Take That, Robbie Williams: Gary Barlow: Gary Takes it All

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 July 1996

The least fancied member of smash-hit boy band Take That was the one with the bona fide music training. Now, Gary Barlow is writing songs ...

Spice Girls: The Spice Girls: Girls Just Wanna Be Loaded

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 July 1996

LAST WEEK, the world was as it should have been. Gary Barlow was number one, the summer's foreign novelty hit, 'Macarena', was panting just behind ...

The Divine Comedy: York Hall Leisure Centre, Bethnal Green, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 12 August 1996

Divine, darling, simply Divine ...

Charlatans, The (UK), Oasis: Blue Tones — The Charlatans: Knebworth, Herfordshire

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 August 1996

The Charlatans must have dreamt of upstaging Oasis. At Knebworth, they almost did. But it came at a horrible price, says Caroline Sullivan ...

Lewis Taylor: Lewis Taylor (Island) **** £9.99

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 August 1996

BRITISH SOUL stars are invariably compared to some American counterpart. Mark Morrison is derided as an R Kelly imitator and Seal as a composite of ...

Michael Jackson: Look Who's Wearing Stalin's Shoes

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 7 September 1996

He's Bad, he's Dangerous, he's History... Wacko Jacko is invading Eastern Europe and showing what capitalism can do when it comes to the cult of ...

Johnny Mathis: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 September 1996

Play Misty for us again, ole buddy ...

Camden Crawl: Take Me Home

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 September 1996

After Britpop, C96. Caroline Sullivan runs a marathon of new music in north London. ...

The Fugees: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 October 1996

Incredibly hiphop: If the Fugees were any bigger, they'd explode. Caroline Sullivan finds out why ...

The Beautiful South: Zipless anoraks — The Beautiful South: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 November 1996

Their new album may have screamed in at number one but The Beautiful South are lousy live, says Caroline Sullivan ...

The Lightning Seeds: Ian Broudie: Number One Seed

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 November 1996

Ian Broudie is responsible for some of the most enduring pop music of the decade. So what's his excuse for making that football record, asks ...

Neneh Cherry: Cherry Picker — Neneh Cherry: Shepherds Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 12 December 1996

Caroline Sullivan on the sultry charms of Neneh Cherry at Shepherds Bush Empire ...

Kurt Cobain, Bob Marley & the Wailers, Elvis Presley, Thin Lizzy, Sid Vicious: Mummy's Little Rock'n'Roll Soldier

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 December 1996

They're mad, bad and dangerous to know, and the apple of their mothers eyes. Caroline Sullivan examines the closest of all relationships... ...

Kula Shaker: Abandon dope all ye who entertain

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 20 January 1997

Toff rockers Kula Shaker got away with telling fans to take lots of drugs; East 17's Essex boy Brian Harvey was crucified. That's pop, says ...

Ash: The Astoria, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 3 March 1997

Boys enjoy early night ...

Peter Andre: Fairfield Halls, Croydon

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 March 1997

And it's one for the tummy  Caroline Sullivan gets all worked up about Peter Andre   ...

The Divine Comedy: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 March 1997

Kitschy coup: Few pop musicians could carry it off, but Divine Comedy's orchestral manoeuvres impress Caroline Sullivan ...

Jonny Lang: Hanson: The little brat pack

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 May 1997

They're too young to drink at their own gigs. But Hanson are coming, and so is a new wave of pubescent poppers. Caroline Sullivan meets ...

David Bowie: Hanover Grand, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 4 June 1997

Bowie wants to meet his public so he plays a small London club – heaven or what? Some fans paid 100 pounds for a ticket. ...

Soul Coughing: Fleece and Firkin, Bristol

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 July 1997

Mr Weird and Mr Wonderful Caroline Sullivan chills out with the coolest singers from the States ...

Soul Coughing: Irresistible Bliss (London) £14.99 *****

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 August 1997

Caroline Sullivan is completely blissed out ...

Paul Weller: Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 4 August 1997

Pub rock without the pub ...

Morrissey: Maladjusted (Island) ** £14.99

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 8 August 1997

Nine self-pitying, lachrymose albums in a row — isn't it time Morrissey grew up? ...

U2: Wembley Stadium, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 August 1997

Bono and Co go big, only to come up with a lemon ...

Oasis: Westpoint Arena, Exeter

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 September 1997

Radical move to symbolism-uh! as Oasis tour goes Pink Floyd ...

The Fall: Mark E. Smith: By Gum, it's Mr Grumpy

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 September 1997

He's getting old and his teeth are falling out, but The Fall's Mark E. Smith is as fresh as ever, says Caroline Sullivan. ...

Portishead: Dread again — Portishead: Portishead (Go! Beat) *****

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 3 October 1997

If Portishead's first album spooked you out, their second one will really get to you, says Caroline Sullivan ...

Robbie Williams: The Show-Off Must Go On — Robbie Williams: The Waterfront, Norwich

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 4 October 1997

Robbie Williams doesn't need to get his kit off to impress, says Caroline Sullivan ...

Whitesnake: End of an earache — Whitesnake: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 October 1997

Hang up your air guitars: Whitesnake will rock no more. Caroline Sullivan is oddly moved ...

Louise: The Girl Next Door

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 October 1997

She is currently the UK's most successful female singer, she has been voted one of the sexiest women in the world, she even has a ...

Spice Girls: The Spice Girls: Abdi İpekçi Arena, Istanbul, Turkey

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 October 1997

Oriental Spice: Sponsor power, not bazaars, draws the Girls to Turkey ...

Five: Boys Will Be Boys Bands

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 October 1997

You've never heard of Five. The Spice Girls' inventors will make sure you do. Caroline Sullivan reports ...

Jewel: Daddy cruel — Jewel: Bloomsbury Theatre, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 October 1997

For a while on stage, Jewel exudes vulnerability. Then she tells you she wants to bash her father's teeth in. CAROLINE SULLIVAN reports ...

Peter Andre: Putting Away the Six-Pack

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 October 1997

With his doe eyes and firm stomach, Peter Andre was a classic teenybop chart success. Now he's set on R&B cred, and has some impressive ...

Spice Girls: The new product — Spice Girls: Spiceworld (Virgin) ***

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 October 1997

Between the T-shirts, mugs, movies, dolls and video games, the Spice Girls have put out a new album. Caroline Sullivan didn't hate it... ...

Björk: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 November 1997

Iceland's icon scares the hell out of Caroline Sullivan at the Shepherd's Bush Empire. ...

Mary J. Blige: Mary J Blige: From the Bronx to the Big Time

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 November 1997

Caroline Sullivan has an audience with Mary J Blige, queen of hip hop soul ...

M People: Just Pedestrian — M People, Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 November 1997

M People may do a lot for Peugeot, but Caroline Sullivan is not moved ...

Jamiroquai: Battersea Power Station, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 December 1997

ON THE face of it, Jamiroquai are an unlikely group to excite the passions they do. Singer Jason "Jay" Kay is the only member familiar ...

Spice Girls: Spice: The Final Frontier

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 December 1997

The tabloids have turned on them, their fans are leaving them — even Smash Hits readers voted them Worst Group. Is this the end for ...

Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Take That, Robbie Williams: Take That: That Was Then, This Is Now

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 January 1998

Two years after the split, the Take That boys are more famous than ever — and no longer just for the excesses of Robbie Williams. ...

Barry Manilow: Barry Glitter — Barry Manilow: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 January 1998

Could it be magic? When Mr Manilow sings, grannies swoon, moan, even storm the stage. Caroline Sullivan knows just how they feel ...

Bernard Butler: Upstairs at the Garage, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 March 1998

Young pretender goes it alone ...

Kylie Minogue: Kylie Minogue (deConstruction) *** £15.99

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 20 March 1998

Caroline Sullivan on the latest from the former pop kitten who's moving ever closer to that elusive musical maturity ...

Darren Day, Martine McCutcheon: Martine McCutcheon, Darren Day, Royal Philharmonic: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 March 1998

'Ere, ducks, give that girl an Oscar ...

Pulp: "Nice one, Jarvis!"

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 March 1998

Jarvis Cocker, latter-day folk hero, talks to Caroline Sullivan ...

Garbage: Trash Aesthetics

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 May 1998

'Only Happy When It Rains', 'Queer', 'Subhuman'. And those are just the titles of Garbage's harrowing songs. Caroline Sullivan on a band with a troubled ...

Gomez: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 May 1998

Bodysnatchers play the blues ...

Boyzone Stories

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 May 1998

What's next for the Irish boy band now that their main heart-throb has got married? Caroline Sullivantalks to Ronan Keating about pop, faith and a ...

Tricky: The Forum, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 May 1998

Choking on his own venom ...

Shirley Bassey: A Real Big Splendour — Shirley Bassey: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 June 1998

Only one woman can out-oomph Diana Ross. Caroline Sullivan salutes Shirley Bassey ...

Kula Shaker, John Lennon, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Gary Numan, Oasis, Elvis Presley, Pulp, Spice Girls, Sid Vicious: Mum's the word

Overview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 June 1998

They maybe rock icons, mad, bad and dangerous to know. But somewhere, some long-suffering woman remembers them in nappies. Caroline Sullivan on that great institution, ...

Hanson: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 June 1998

Teen hearts throb with teen music ...

Dana International: (Wo)man of the Summer: Dana International

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 June 1998

Caroline Sullivan gets past the girl talk with Eurovision winner Dana International ...

Glastonbury: Pop Feast Kicked Off By Football

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 June 1998

Caroline Sullivan sorts fab from drab ...

Tupac Shakur: Afeni Shakur: The Kick Inside

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 July 1998

It is two years since gangsta rapper Tupac Shakur's short life ended in a hail of bullets. Caroline Sullivan talks exclusively to his mother about ...

The Beastie Boys: Beastie Boys: Hello Nasty (Grand Royal)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 3 July 1998

Sick of introspective rock? Pining for the time when hip-hop was fun? So are the Beastie Boys. Caroline Sullivan fights for her right to party ...

Whitney Houston: Nynex, Manchester

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 July 1998

This town ain't hot enough... ...

Pulp: Finsbury Park, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 July 1998

"IS THIS the way they say the future's meant to feel?" asked Jarvis Cocker as his hands, seemingly independent of the rest of his body, ...

The Divine Comedy: Funny peculiar

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 August 1998

Neil Hannon, aka the Divine Comedy, belongs in the last century, says Caroline Sullivan — the man who penned the Father Ted theme tune is ...

Larry Graham, Chaka Khan, Prince: Stropping and Funking — Prince, Chaka Khan, Larry Graham: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 August 1998

The Artist Formerly Known As Prince did his best to stop Caroline Sullivan seeing his Wembley gig. When she sneaked her way in, this is ...

Mobo Workin'

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 9 October 1998

The Music Of Black Origin awards are now pop's trendiest bash, reflecting the dominant R&B influence in the charts. ...

The Cure, Hole: Hole, The Cure: The Forum, London ***

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 October 1998

WELL, IT'S one way of getting a rock critic out of the house. Just tell her a big band is going to make a secret ...

Ash: Civic Hall, Guildford

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 October 1998

GOING BY the number of teenage lovelies in the Civic Hall ladies' loo, Ash are hot with the girls of Guildford. Maybe it's just that ...

Fatboy Slim: You've Come A Long Way, Baby (Skint)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 October 1998

Big beats, monster choons — Norman Cook refuses to alter a chart-busting formula, says Caroline Sullivan ...

Marc Bolan, Rolan Bolan, Gloria Jones: When Marc Bolan died, pop lost its brightest star. This man lost his daddy

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 November 1998

Now Rolan Bolan is making his own bid for fame. Caroline Sullivan met him ...

Sepultura, Slayer: Metal mickey — Slayer, Sepultura: Astoria, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 November 1998

Sepultura and Slayer? Caroline Sullivan can't take it seriously ...

Massive Attack: London Arena, Millwall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 7 December 1998

Chilled-out prog hop struggling in a massive arena ...

Mercury Rev: Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 January 1999

IF YOU'VE chanced upon the term 'post-rock' and wondered what it meant, refer to Mercury Rev, who — at a guess — are the very ...

Bonnie "Prince" Billy: The great pretender — Bonnie "Prince" Billy: Water Rats, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 February 1999

Caroline Sullivan knows one thing about Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. He's common ...

Lauryn Hill: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 8 February 1999

When Lauryn Hill played Brixton, it looked like the venue was braced for a riot. But the only rampaging mob was on stage. Caroline Sullivan ...

Robbie Williams: Sheffield Arena

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 February 1999

If the flat cap fits: is Robbie Williams the new Arthur Askey, asks Caroline Sullivan ...

Blur: 13

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 March 1999

Down and outstanding ...

Catatonia At The Brixton Academy

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 March 1999

'EVERY MORNING when I wake up, I thank the Lord I'm Welsh,' sings Catatonia's Cerys Matthews, and 3,000 people sing it back to her, voices ...

Martine McCutcheon, Barbara Windsor: Albert Square dancing

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 March 1999

EastEnders is having a right old knees-up at the moment. Caroline Sullivan talks to Martine McCutcheon about her million pound record deal and, below, finds ...

S Club 7: Warning: They're Part Spice Girl, Part Monkee...

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 8 April 1999

Seen the show, read the book, got the T-shirt? You soon will have. Caroline Sullivan prepares for S Club 7, coming to your TV screen ...

The Cranberries: Why, why, why, Dolores? The Cranberries: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 April 1999

Sure, Cranberries lead singer Dolores O'Riordan has a great voice — but that's no reason to marginalise the rest of the band, says Caroline Sullivan ...

All Saints: Saints Preserve Us

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 April 1999

All Saints keep marching on as Girl Power's most credible models. They talk to Caroline Sullivan about the good side of being bad ...

Suede: Glorious Kinky

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 April 1999

It is ten years since Suede released their seminal debut album. Caroline Sullivan meets one of the most influential bands of the nineties ...

Ike Turner, Ike & Tina Turner: Ike Turner: What Love Had To Do With It

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 May 1999

Ike Turner last spoke to his ex-wife Tina in 1986. Since then, he tells Caroline Sullivan, he's taken too much flak ...

The Bay City Rollers: Standing the Butt-Test of Time

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 May 1999

The Bay City Rollers were the Boyzone of their day — only bigger. And their fans, including Caroline Sullivan, still pay homage ...

Catatonia: Glowing In The Dark

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 May 1999

RED DRAGON flags, rugby shirts and the strains of 'Road Rage' drifting across the moist night air — it could only be Wales's second-biggest band ...

Backstreet Boys: Earl's Court, London **

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 June 1999

IT'S A DEPRESSING thought, but the Backstreet Boys have a strong claim to being the most popular group in the world right now. Although no ...

Gary Barlow: Stronger, Faster, Better — and Taller

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 July 1999

Gary Barlow may have been upstaged by the success of his former Take That colleague. Then again, says Caroline Sullivan, Robbie can't fly ...

Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin: Ifs and Butts: discs from Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 July 1999

As Latino pop looks set to take over the charts, Caroline Sullivan is only mildly impressed by the two artists leading the charge ...

Boyzone, The Corrs, Geri Halliwell, Martine McCutcheon, Mike + the Mechanics, Mark Morrison, Westlife: Boyzone, Westlife, Corrs, Geri Halliwell et al: Party in the Park, Hyde Park, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 July 1999

Famous for 10 minutes ...

Belle and Sebastian: Nobodies? Perfect

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 July 1999

Belle and Sebastian may not court fame, but they've sure found success. ...

Ben Christophers: Kashmir Club, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 July 1999

THE UK music business is amply stocked with Wellers and Hucknalls, and even the Williams slot is filled. What it has lacked, though, is a ...

Merz: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 July 1999

IF YOUR NAME WAS CONRAD, why would you change it to the even less euphonious Merz? There's a story behind it, as there is to ...

Destiny's Child: The Writing's on the Wall (Columbia)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 July 1999

THEIR HIPPYISH name apart, there's nothing about these Texas teenagers that hasn't been calibrated to comply with laws governing female R&B groups. ...

All Saints, Bananarama, Spice Girls, The Supremes: Girl Groups: Smash Hits

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 August 1999

So Mel C thinks Geri H is untalented, does she? When girl bands break up, says Caroline Sullivan, the pops get personal ...

Mark Morrison: How to beat a bad rap

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 August 1999

The baddest boy in pop is out of jail. But behind Mark Morrison's hard facade Caroline Sullivan finds a big pussycat who wants nothing more ...

Bros, Five, Spice Girls: Bob Herbert 1942-1999

Obituary by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 August 1999

BOB HERBERT, who has died in a car crash aged 57, didn't invent the idea of the packaged pop group, but, as the man responsible ...

Bernard Butler: He Won't be Suede

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 September 1999

Since leaving Suede in 1994, Bernard Butler has taken the battering of his life just for being "different and eccentric". But the strong and silent ...

The Clash, Joe Strummer: Joe Strummer: Definitely Not Admitting Defeat Yet

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 September 1999

"I THINK GOOD manners will come back. In America, kids saw punk rock as a licence to be as rude as possible. I didn't like ...

Moloko: Home, London **

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 October 1999

"WE," DECLARED the blonde girl in the DJ booth, "are the Moloko sound system." This was bad news indeed. Every band currently has what it ...

Christina Aguilera, BreZe: Life in Plastic, It's Fantastic

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 October 1999

Who are all these new singers who go straight in at No 1? Caroline Sullivan on the rise of the boil-in-the-bag pop star ...

The Bay City Rollers: My tartan heart

Retrospective by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 October 1999

Caroline Sullivan reflects on the life and love of a teenage Bay City Rollers fan ...

Gabrielle: Sunshine After Rainy Days

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 October 1999

After what she's been through, who'd begrudge Gabrielle her success? Not Caroline Sullivan. ...

Merz: Merz (Epic)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 October 1999

Don't wait until next year for Oasis or Radiohead — the debut album from Merz is here now, and it will leave you bewitched, says ...

Shack: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London — Fine songs, poor show

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 November 1999

TO LOOK AT THE QUARTET of off-duty plumbers who comprise Liverpool's Shack — which you can't do on their current album, HMS Fable, as it ...

Foo Fighters: At the Brixton Academy

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 November 1999

The number of rock drummers who've realised they were destined for headier things at the front of the stage can be counted on two fingers: ...

Marc Almond, Labelle, Dusty Springfield: Vicki Wickham: Ready, Vicki, Go!

Retrospective and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 November 1999

She's managed stars from Dusty Springfield to Marc Almond and has just won an award for her lifetime's work in the music industry. But outside ...

George Michael: Even older, but no wiser — George Michael: Songs from the Last Century (Virgin) **

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 December 1999

He has fought for credibility since his Wham! days — now he's blown it for ever, says Caroline Sullivan ...

The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur: The Notorious BIG: Born Again (Puff Daddy Records/Arista) **; 2Pac+Outlawz: Still I Rise (Interscope) ****

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 December 1999

Stiff competition: Caroline Sullivan checks out the latest from two late rappers ...

Oasis: What you on about?

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 January 2000

Caroline Sullivan is not convinced by the comeback single ...

Shola Ama: Jazz Café, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 March 2000

THE STORY GOES that west London teenager Shola Ama was singing to herself at Hammersmith tube station one day when, in true pop-legend fashion, a ...

Kirsty MacColl: Tropical Brainstorm

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 March 2000

Kirsty MacColl's first album since 1994 sees her flirting with Latin rhythms and cliched tourist-brochure lyrics. But, says Caroline Sullivan, it's better than you'd think ...

Angelica: The Monarch, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 20 April 2000

GIRL POP has rarely been less prepossessing. The choices these days boil down to factory-farmed mannequins like Atomic Kitten or fourth-generation copies of Hole that ...

Buena Vista Social Club, Omara Portuondo: Omara Portuondo: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 April 2000

Cuba's Edith Piaf ...

Pearl Jam: Wembley Arena — Forever grunge

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 May 2000

IN THE US, Pearl Jam are held up as everything a big rock band should be: unswervingly dedicated to their brooding art, with a complementary ...

Girl Thing: No more girl power

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 July 2000

Girl Thing were meant to be the new Spice Girls. But the public had other ideas. Caroline Sullivan reports ...

Jason Donovan: Jason gets sorted

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 October 2000

Jason Donovan was the golden boy of soap and pop 10 years ago. Then he went bald and it all fell apart. Now he's reinvented ...

Placebo: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 November 2000

IT'S HALLOWEEN, so it's fitting that the evening's main attraction is a petulant succubus wearing a tight purple suit and nail varnish. If you hadn't ...

Spice Girls, Westlife: Battle of the blands: Westlife versus the Spice Girls

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 November 2000

It was the biggest chart clash since Blur versus Oasis: Westlife versus the Spice Girls. What does that tell us about today's music business, asks ...

Cradle of Filth: Astoria, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 December 2000

AND A SATANIC Merry Christmas from Cradle of Filth, nice Ipswich boys whose idea of a great night is quaffing freshly-drawn virgin's blood to rev ...

All Saints: When The Saints Go Marching Out

Retrospective by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 January 2001

THEY'VE BEEN on the verge of it before, but this time it looks as though All Saints are finally splitting up. Caroline Sullivan laments the ...

Fun Lovin' Criminals: Loco (Chrysalis)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 February 2001

Felonious funk: Caroline Sullivan enjoys the wiseguy Lotharios of New York ...

Gay Dad: "We're back. Don't tell your friends"

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 March 2001

TWO YEARS AGO, when Gay Dad were at their most hyped, lead singer Cliff Jones predicted that his band's name would be remembered as "either ...

Nerina Pallot: Borderline, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 8 August 2001

AS NERINA PALLOT OBSERVES, radio seems to get behind just one female singer-songwriter a year, making the odds against success about the same as winning ...

Creed: Weathered

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 December 2001

ALTHOUGH VIRTUALLY unknown here, this Florida post-grunge trio sold nearly 1m copies of Weathered in its first week of American release. Something in singer Scott ...

The Hives: Astoria, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 December 2001

WITH ROCK'S CURRENT favourite flavour being the three-chord thrashing of the Strokes and White Stripes, the Hives couldn't have picked a better moment to offer ...

Mary J. Blige: "My Boyfriend Was Trying To Kill Me. There Were Weapons."

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 February 2002

THE WORLD LOVES a troubled diva, and for 10 years Mary Jane Blige has provided her public with a continuous flow of what her friend, ...

Ike Turner: Ronnie Scott's, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 February 2002

IF YOU didn't know Ike Turner was 70 before this show, you certainly did within minutes of his swaggering entrance. ...

Gwen Stefani, No Doubt: Gwen Stefani: "We'll make one more album, then I'll get pregnant"

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 February 2002

Gwen Stefani and No Doubt are back. But maybe not for very long. She talks to Caroline Sullivan ...

Angie Stone: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 March 2002

WHEN HER FIRST solo album appeared in 1999, soulstress Angie Stone was already 33, and more strapping than your average microbe-sized R&B singer. ...

Ali G: The joke's on you: Ali G's 'Me Julie'

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 March 2002

This week Ali G releases his first single, 'Me Julie'. Caroline Sullivan wishes he wouldn't. ...

Sheryl Crow

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 March 2002

Sheryl Crow tells Caroline Sullivan about Britney, Beyoncé and the state of rock'n'roll — 'I worry about how these girls are sexualised at such a young ...

Michelle Branch: The Spirit Room

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 12 April 2002

THE SONGWRITERLY BENT of the latest signing to Madonna's label will draw comparisons with Maverick's star turn, Alanis Morissette. The fundamental difference between the queen ...

Lisa Lopes: Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes

Obituary by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 April 2002

Rebel hit singer notorious for breaking the old R&B rules. ...

The BellRays: Meet the BellRays

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 3 May 2002

POPTONES' last major release, the Hives' debut, was titled Your New Favourite Band, and it obligingly became the label's biggest seller to date. Prudently, the ...

Glastonbury

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 May 2002

"IF YOU LOOK right through the centre of the Pyramid stage," says Michael Eavis, waving at the steel framework that squats surreally in the middle ...

Toploader: Magic Hotel (S2)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 August 2002

TOPLOADER HAVE "good-time band" imprinted on their DNA. ...

The Crescent at 100 Club, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 7 September 2002

THE BUBBLING Liverpool scene has produced the weird (the Coral), the weirdly named (Hokum Clones) and the weirdly good (the Bandits). And then there are ...

Avril Lavigne: Mean Fiddler, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 September 2002

IT IS EASY TO SEE why Avril Lavigne was snapped up by a major label before she was old enough to drink at most of ...

Hear'Say, Gone Tomorrow

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 October 2002

In it for the fame, the manufactured popstars didn't have so much as a slogan to fall back on when the going got tough. Caroline ...

Robbie Williams: Robbie's £80m deal puts EMI on new path

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 October 2002

Record giant's move into entertainment business on wider front highlights changing situation at a time when classical market is faltering ...

Tom Jones, Wyclef Jean: Tom Jones: 'When You're Working With Bling-Blings, You Gotta Wear Bling-Blings'

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 October 2002

Caroline Sullivan is left breathless by Tom Jones's hip-hop makeover ...

Feeder: Comfort in Sound

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 October 2002

BY THE END of 2001, Welsh rock mid-tablers Feeder had quietly amassed 14 top 75 singles, only one of which, 'Buck Rogers', was familiar to ...

Justin Timberlake: Justified (Jive) **

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 November 2002

SOME SAY in all seriousness that this album of generic R&B crotch-grabbing will establish Britney's former squeeze as the new Michael Jackson. ...

Blue (England): Blue: One Love

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 8 November 2002

BLUE'S MELANCHOLY All Rise, probably the only hit of 2001 to feature accordion as lead instrument, was such a sterling example of what thoughtful production ...

Diana's Greatest Hits

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 November 2002

NEVER MIND the oak salt cellars and carved ashtrays in Paul Burrell's loft — it was Diana's CDs that give us the real measure of ...

Girls Aloud: Females with Attitude

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 December 2002

Despite the hype, could reality TV's Girls Aloud be the first girl band to matter since the Spice Girls? ...

Groove Armada: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 December 2002

AT FIVE MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT, two stiletto-booted teenage girls were scurrying toward Brixton Academy, clutching each other's hands, as if Nonentity from Pop Idol awaited ...

N.W.A, So Solid Crew: Why hip-hop must take its share of blame for spread of violence among teenagers

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 January 2003

DOES HIP-HOP glamorise gun culture? It depends who you ask. Guns have been part of the baggage of hip-hop since 1988, when Los Angeles's NWA ...

Glut of rival ceremonies gives industry a sobering warning

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 January 2003

BEFORE ANYONE says a disparaging word about the Brits, as invariably happens around now. bear in mind that, compared with America's stodgy Grammys, they are ...

Audioslave: Astoria, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 January 2003

TAKE THREE FORMER MEMBERS of politically correct punk-rappers Rage Against the Machine and add the singer from proto-grungists Soundgarden, and you have got the first ...

Hell Is for Heroes: The Neon Handshake

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 January 2003

NAMED AFTER A 1962 STEVE MCQUEEN war film, this London "post-hardcore" five-piece sound authentically irritated. Is it because their skater-boy wallet chains are slapping against ...

The Bay City Rollers, Courtney Love: Courtney Love: Love Will Tear Us Apart

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 February 2003

I WISH I'D saved the emails. There were eight, spanning December 1999 to April 2002, all written in unpunctuated lower-case. ...

Turin Brakes: Ether Song (Source) ****

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 February 2003

THIS MERCURY- and Brits-nominated duo have a patina of hipness, but their appearance on the launch night of BBC3 unmasked them as aspiring David Grays, ...

Har Mar Superstar: Notting Hill Arts Club, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 7 March 2003

IF THE EXHIBITIONIST known to his mother as Harold Martin Tillman is, as yet, a superstar only in his own mind, it's not for lack ...

The Kills: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 March 2003

NOT TO BE CONFUSED with the Thrills, the Kills emanate a frigid stylishness that dares anyone to scoff at their ludicrous stage names (somehow, it's ...

David Gates: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 April 2003

THOUGH GENERALLY OVERLOOKED in polls of top soft-rock songwriters, the former Bread frontman David Gates merits a place up there with Bacharach and the Bee ...

The Mars Volta: Mean Fiddler, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 April 2003

NO MUSICAL GENRE unites generations in revulsion quite like prog-rock. Decades on, it remains the pariah of pop, the only 1970s style that has never ...

Cradle of Filth: The Astoria, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 April 2003

Can a "black metal" band be properly satanic if the bassist is called Dave? This is one of several contradictions posed by the genre's only ...

Beck: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 April 2003

AS A PROFESSIONAL ENIGMA, Beck Hansen has a reputation to maintain, and it is tiring work. He feels compelled to stay one step ahead of ...

S Club 7: That's showbiz!

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 April 2003

S Club are mystified as to how they only made £400,000 each to their manager's £50m. It's called talent. ...

The Dandy Warhols: Dandy Warhols: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 May 2003

WELL, HERE'S A THING. An Oregon band best known for adopting the Spinal Tap adage "Have a good time all the time" are enchanting an ...

Good Charlotte: Astoria, London **

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 July 2003

THE MALADJUSTED young of the 1980s looked for comfort to the Smiths, whose main role was to assure British youth that, no matter how miserable ...

Monica: After the Storm

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 4 July 2003

THIS FORMER TEEN R&B SENSATION has spent the five years since her last album "dealing with my own development" — showbiz-speak for "pondering ways of ...

Kings of Leon: Electric Ballroom, London ***

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 July 2003

THE SUREST SIGN that Kings of Leon are having a moment is the 180 requests for this show's 40 press tickets. ...

Kosheen: Scala, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 July 2003

KOSHEEN'S AMIABLE TRIP-HOP ticks all the Espace generation's boxes: the Bristol trio have been endorsed by Ronan Keating and nominated in the watered-down dance category ...

Seal: Linbury Studio Theatre, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 August 2003

SEAL'S GOLDEN VOICE is the stuff of which summer weekends are made, so he has missed a trick by scheduling his new album for September, ...

The Rapture: A New York State Of Mind

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 September 2003

Out of time, ahead of fashion – the Rapture are the real sound of New York. If they can make it there, says Caroline Sullivan, ...

David Bowie: Reality

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 12 September 2003

LIKE ALL PROPER Dave albums, Bowie's 26th has at its core a concept, around which 11 songs uneasily cluster to articulate the master's daft vision. ...

It's A Family Affair

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 September 2003

Juggling a baby and a career is difficult enough for anyone – but how do you manage it when you're a pop star? Caroline Sullivan ...

Jamie Cullum: Bright Young Thing

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 September 2003

At 24, Jamie Cullum has a £1m record deal and a Mobo nomination. He talks to Caroline Sullivan about Nirvana, Prince William, and his mission ...

Fannypack: Beastie girls

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 October 2003

Fannypack are young, smutty and fresh — and they might just make hip-hop fun again. Caroline Sullivan meets them. ...

The Electric Soft Parade: The American Adventure

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 October 2003

THIS BRIGHTON brother-act have survived a Mercury prize nomination (for last year's debut, Holes in the Wall), a Q award for best newcomer and a ...

Sugababes: Wanna be in our gang?

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 October 2003

Sugababes were 15 when they released their first single. Three years and one line-up change later, they are the coolest, smartest girl band in the ...

Thea Gilmore: "It's sad the lengths girls go to, pouting on the cover of their CD"

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 October 2003

Thea Gilmore has released five albums, received rave reviews and turned down endless offers from major labels. And she's still only 23. She talks to ...

Hot Hot Heat: The Next Skinny Thing

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 3 November 2003

They're polite, prefer video games to groupies - and they're Canadian. Can Hot Hot Heat really be the new Strokes? Caroline Sullivan meets them. ...

Kylie Minogue: The Butt Stops Here

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 November 2003

So she's 35, but does that really mean Kylie should cover up, asks Caroline Sullivan ...

Last Christmas, I gave you my chart

Column by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 November 2003

Caroline Sullivan is appalled by this year's efforts for the Chrismas No 1, but finds some consolation in the thought that next year the singles ...

Stellastarr*: Islington Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 November 2003

TO HEAR THE GOTHY GUSHINGS of the current intake of New York art-rockers, you'd think the decade that inspires them, the 80s, began and ended ...

Wyclef Jean: "I preach to the streets"

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 November 2003

Why did Wyclef Jean help Tom Jones do hip-hop? Why has he got 62 guns? And what's he doing with 20,000 songs on a Dictaphone? ...

Amy Winehouse: Bush Hall, London ***½

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 December 2003

YOU WAIT ALL millennium for a commercial but unembarrassing British female singer, then two come along within weeks of each other.  ...

Michelle McManus: The stars in our eyes

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 December 2003

Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus may claim to be happy with her size, but pop's obsession with image could well put an end to that, ...

My Chemical Romance: I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love (Polydor) ***

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 9 April 2004

ALTHOUGH My Chemical Romance have tried to spice up their image by nicknaming their patch of suburban New Jersey "the Crimezone", it would be surprising ...

Jolie Holland: Bush Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 May 2004

AMY WINEHOUSE happened to be playing around the corner when Jolie Holland was making her London debut, a fact worth mentioning because both singers are ...

Earl Okin: The Unluckiest Man In Pop

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 May 2004

After 35 years in the business, Earl Okin is about to release his first album. He tells Caroline Sullivan why it's taken him so long ...

Jesse Malin: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 May 2004

JESSE MALIN'S THROUGH-A-BEER-GLASS-DARKLY take on American rock wouldn't be nearly as fashionable if it was sold under the name John Mellencamp. It just goes to ...

Devendra Banhart: ICA, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 June 2004

AS HIS FIRST NAME SUGGESTS, Devendra Banhart's parents were "alternative" types. He has certainly done them proud, growing up into a folk-hippy with a beard ...

Tim Booth: Bone

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 June 2004

THE OLD Rock Stars' Home that is Sanctuary Records has a new resident in the former James singer, and on his first solo album he ...

The Concretes: The Concretes

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 June 2004

This Swedish eight-piece is half band, half cottage industry: they design their own sleeves, direct their own animated videos and, for good measure, are sending ...

The unfortunate incident of the log in the night-time: Glasto on the box

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 June 2004

Caroline Sullivan will be enjoying Glastonbury from the safety of her sofa. She explains why she's delighted ...

Feist: Bush Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 July 2004

THIS VENUE has recently hosted a succession of newish female songwriters — Polly Paulusma, Jolie Holland -—who are doing a good job of making Dido ...

Dogs Die in Hot Cars: Please Describe Yourself

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 9 July 2004

Shame it's too late to change their terrible name, because Dogs Die in Hot Cars will find it splashed all over the place if their ...

Joss Stone: The Guardian profile: Joss Stone

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 July 2004

WITH HER ASTONISHINGLY MATURE, emotive black soul voice the Devon teenager is an R&B sensation in the US and a talent that knocks "reality-pop" for ...

Girls Aloud: How I Became a Girl Aloud

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 September 2004

Caroline Sullivan spends a week in the shoes — the very painful shoes — of the UK's number one girl band ...

Electric Six: Metro, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 October 2004

"SOME GROUND RULES", says Electric Six's Dick Valentine, by way of introduction. "If you touch me, I'll kill you. If you're a homo and you ...

Handsome Boy Modeling School: White People

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 November 2004

IF THE IDEA OF HANDSOME BOY MODELING SCHOOL doesn't annoy, it should. An R&B prank comprised of two US rap producers using pseudonyms and famous ...

The Dears at the ICA, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 12 November 2004

Generally described as "cinematic" — code for "prone to moroseness; just add muted horns" — the Dears are more a horror double-bill tonight. As Montreal's ...

Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby. ***

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 November 2004

A GENUINE CHARACTER — which immediately distinguishes her from 90% of other successful pop females — Gwen Stefani has made a solo debut that's as ...

Hanson: Boys To Men

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 4 January 2005

Hanson want to be taken seriously as an alt-rock band. But will anyone forgive their teeny-bop past? By Caroline Sullivan ...

A Single-Minded Pair: Rescuing Radio 1's Official Chart Show

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 February 2005

Tuned-in kids are turning off Radio 1's chart show. Can a new double act help it shake off its staid image, asks Caroline Sullivan. ...

Rilo Kiley: Marquee, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 March 2005

"YOU ROCK!" SQUEALED AN AMERICAN VOICE, in a fit of either delusion or rank flattery. What this country-influenced LA quartet notably don't do is rock. ...

Nas: Hip-Hop Violence: Pop Goes The Weasel

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 March 2005

FOR THE RECORD: guns don't go bang but pop, a noise a lot like a jumbo bottle of champagne being opened. As this was a ...

Black Eyed Peas: Brixton Academy, London ***

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 9 May 2005

ALMOST ALONE among hiphoppers, the Black Eyed Peas have a sense of humility, so they must cringe at their label's hype. Whoever decided this amiable LA fourpiece ...

M83: Scala, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 May 2005

DESPITE THE INADVERTENT HILARITY France is likely to contribute to Eurovision, it has been unfashionable for several years to accuse the French of pop ineptitude. ...

Moloko, Roisin Murphy: Roisin Murphy: Her Time Is Now

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 May 2005

When Moloko split up, Roisin Murphy found herself without a band, a plan or a partner. She tells Caroline Sullivan how half an hour of ...

Live8: Just Another Gig – With Added Feelgood Factor

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 June 2005

NEARLY EVERY A-lister worth the name is doing their bit, making Live8 the first truly all-star charity show since Live Aid. Madonna! U2! Coldplay! You ...

Tanita Tikaram: "I Was An Odd Kid"

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 June 2005

SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO, during her first flush of success as a precocious young songwriter, Tanita Tikaram was lampooned by 'Smash Hits'. Under a photo of ...

Damien Rice: Palladium, London ***

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 20 June 2005

THE MANY superlatives dished out to Damien Rice stem primarily from his ability to wow live crowds. ...

James Blunt: I was Blunt’s instrument

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 July 2005

"DOUBLE WHAMMY for Blunt," says a headline in this week's issue of trade magazine Music Week, acknowledging the fact that songwriter James Blunt is at ...

Madeleine Peyroux: "I'm an outcast"

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 August 2005

Madeleine Peyroux could be the new Norah Jones – if she didn't find the idea insulting. She tells Caroline Sullivan about walking out on her ...

The Dandy Warhols: Just Dandy

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 August 2005

Once upon a time the Dandy Warhols lived a spartan existence, struggling from gig to distant gig. Then someone made an unflattering documentary about them. ...

Laura Veirs: Bush Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 September 2005

THE RECENTLY COINED "AMERICANA" GENRE that Seattle songwriter Laura Veirs inhabits is underpinned by a yearning to reconnect with the land. In Veirs's case, this ...

Death of the album

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 3 October 2005

Why insist on 50 minutes of music when you could have a perfect 10 — or better still, a single? ...

Guillemots: Madame Jo-Jo's, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 October 2005

THIS WEEK'S BAND-OF-THE-MOMENT make an entrance that can be classified as either an exciting piece of theatre or a takeover of the venue by a ...

John Lennon: Lennon Online

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 November 2005

When You Can't Really Function You're So Full Of Fear, A Digital Downloader Is Something To Be ...

Ryan Adams: 29

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 December 2005

WITH ALMOST NO INFORMATION supplied by Adams, the advance publicity for 29 — the rootsy crooner's third album this year — amounted to a hotchpotch ...

Arctic Monkeys: Whatever They Say They Are, That's What They Are

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 January 2006

EARLIER THIS week, the Times dealt the Arctic Monkeys the backhanded compliment of labelling them "spotty poets". It's the "poets" that concerns us here. ...

Isobel Campbell: Bush Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 February 2006

AS AN ex-member of the potentates of twee, Belle and Sebastian, singer/cellist Isobel Campbell can't be expected to stride across the stage like a rock ...

Isobel Campbell: Bush Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 February 2006

As an ex-member of the potentates of twee, Belle and Sebastian, singer/cellist Isobel Campbell can't be expected to stride across the stage like a rock ...

Jaheim: Ghetto Classics

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 February 2006

REARED WITH THE USUAL HIP-HOP CV ("the projects", spells in the slammer), Jaheim Hoagland was so precociously naughty that, by age 16, he was already ...

Embrace: This New Day

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 March 2006

EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO, Embrace made the decade's least expected comeback when their aptly titled fourth album, Out of Nothing, reached number one. Their reappearance, after ...

Nada Surf: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 March 2006

OCCASIONALLY, an unknown band will be booked into a support slot months in advance, have a hit in the meantime and on the night find ...

The Zutons: Strange But True

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 April 2006

No one expected the Zutons to make it big - least of all themselves. Caroline Sullivan meets the best sci-fi trash-rock band in Britain. ...

Hilary Duff: Hammersmith Apollo, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 May 2006

ALL EXCEPT PUBESCENT GIRLS are entitled to ask: "Hilary who?" This 18-year-old actor/singer is a massive star in the eyes of Sugar magazine readers, but ...

Bic Runga: Today New Zealand, tomorrow the world

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 7 June 2006

Is Bic Runga the next great chanteuse? Caroline Sullivan finds out. ...

The Dixie Chicks: Dixie Chicks: 'We Had A Song At No 1. The Next Day It Was At No 70'

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 June 2006

NATALIE MAINES has a little cluster of black teardrops tattooed on her lower leg, trickling from her ankle down to her foot. Dixie Chicks' poised ...

Lostprophets: Liberation Transmission

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 June 2006

THEY'RE FROM SOUTH WALES and lumber songs with titles such as 'A Town Called Hypocrisy' and 'Always All Ways (Apologies, Glances and Messed-up Chances)', but ...

Justin Timberlake: Hammersmith Palais, London ***

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 July 2006

WHEN Janet Jackson's bosom slipped out mid-song at the 2004 Super Bowl, only one person came out of the affair unscathed. ...

The Costa del Sol: Elvis Has Left The Cantina

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 July 2006

ELVIS PRESLEY is having a grand time. He is cuddling up to tipsy girls and giving them individual verses of 'Return to Sender' as they ...

Christina Aguilera: Koko, London ****

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 July 2006

MAKING AN ENTRANCE worthy of Kylie, Christina Aguilera looks stunning. Having reined in her penchant for leather and cleavage and adopted a look inspired by ...

Peaches: Filth and Fury

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 July 2006

For Peaches, the famously X-rated rapper, the personal has just got political. Caroline Sullivan hears about her beef with Bush ...

Ice Cube: Respectability? It Can Wait

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 August 2006

He went from gangsta notoriety to Hollywood stardom. Now Ice Cube has returned to the studio – to show today's rappers where they've gone wrong. ...

Metric: King's College, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 August 2006

FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, the 20-strong music factory known as Broken Social Scene has been Canada's wellspring of all things indie. Metric are ...

Beyoncé: B'Day (Sony) ****

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 September 2006

LIKE MOST American singers of her magnitude, Beyoncé speaks in life-coach soundbites that portray recording an album as a spiritual rite of passage. ...

India.Arie: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 September 2006

INDIA ARIE is so personable that, on meeting her a few years ago, Nelson Mandela began the conversation by asking if she had a boyfriend. ...

Fergie Admits Drugs Shame!

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 8 September 2006

THE THREE GIRLS on the south London station platform couldn't have been more than 13, and as they waited for the train, they were singing, ...

Amy Winehouse: Bloomsbury Ballroom, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 September 2006

WHILE AMY Winehouse has been off making the follow-up to her 2003 Mercury-nominated debut album, Frank, her role as the new kid on the block ...

Jamelia: Walk With Me

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 September 2006

THERE'S NO DISPUTING Jamelia Davis's ability to turn out a fantastic single: her last album contained three of the best of that year in 'Superstar', ...

Lupe Fiasco: Islington Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 October 2006

LUPE FIASCO'S DEBUT LONDON HEADLINER was originally booked for the Scala, but transferred to the sterile Islington Academy after an unrelated shooting at the original ...

Razorlight: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 3 November 2006

EVERY BUDDING BRITISH ROCK STAR fantasises about the night he or she will be able to say the three little words that mean they have ...

My Chemical Romance: Brixton Academy, London ***

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 November 2006

AT 9:45 ON SUNDAY MORNING, it wasn't surprising to see a queue already straggling down the side of Brixton Academy. ...

Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape (Polydor) ****

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 December 2006

THE NO DOUBT SINGER'S solo output should be the blueprint for any aspiring pop star who doesn't want to sacrifice credibility for the sake of ...

Lady Sovereign: Scala, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 February 2007

"THE BIGGEST MIDGET IN THE GAME," all 5ft 1in of her, is no longer the gauche grime-girl from Wembley. Dropping in for one UK show ...

Bright Eyes: Koko, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 March 2007

IT IS A TRIBUTE to Conor Oberst's force of personality that the name Bright Eyes is now associated with him rather than with the rabbit-eulogising ...

Kate Nash: Spitz, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 March 2007

KATE NASH could not be more "now" if she had been invented by MySpace geneticists. Her vintage dresses, breathless blog and peevish tunes are so ...

Editors: Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 May 2007

TALK ABOUT ADVANCE WARNING — the first three songs of their set are called 'Bones', 'Bullets' and 'Blood', so nobody can claim to be surprised ...

Calvin Harris: Beat Route

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 June 2007

Calvin Harris had a solid career in fruit and veg to look forward to. Then the charts, fame and Kylie Minogue got in the way. ...

Elvis Perkins: All About My Mother: Elvis Perkins

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 June 2007

Elvis Perkins tells Caroline Sullivan how the tragic deaths of his famous parents have shaped his melancholy pop. ...

Ghosts: The World Is Outside

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 June 2007

THINGS HAVE COME to a pretty pass when the Feeling are influential enough to have spawned a genre of their own. ...

Grant-Lee Phillips: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 August 2007

THE CALIFORNIA SONGWRITER who shares his first name with America's two main civil war generals is anything but combative. Given to gentle jokes mid-performance, the ...

Scouting for Girls: 100 Club, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 August 2007

IF SCOUTING FOR GIRLS turn out to be notable for nothing else, they have at least saved the name Roy from extinction. But Roy Stride, ...

Scissor Sisters, Siouxsie & The Banshees: Siouxsie to Ana Matronic: 'I Get The Voodoo Thing. My Dad Milked Snakes'

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 7 September 2007

Scissor Sister Ana Matronic idolises Siouxsie – so we brought the two together to discuss punks, parents and the male ego. By Caroline Sullivan ...

KT Tunstall: Wilton's Music Hall, London ***

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 12 September 2007

KATE TUNSTALL uses her initials for the same reason Joanne Rowling became JK — she thought a female name would generate preconceptions. Her music also ...

Erasure: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 September 2007

THE UK TOUR that ended with this Albert Hall show saw Erasure touch down in Preston and Grimsby – towns at the bottom of most ...

Robyn: Scala, London N1

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 3 November 2007

ROBYN’S WEBSITE makes the contentious claim that the Swedish singer is the "most killingest pop star on the planet", which will be news to, say, ...

Adele: Move Over, Amy…

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 November 2007

... and Lily, and Kate: there's a new star in town. Adele Adkins is only 19, but her voice has bewitched everyone from Jools Holland ...

George Pringle: The Social, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 November 2007

"JUST WAIT till my husband gets out of prison," sulks the skinny girl, poking a pinky into her mound of frothed hair. The audience titter ...

Ida Maria: Islington Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 December 2007

IDA MARIA IS LIKE A CHILD in charge of a bucking bronco — the bronco being her unique voice. It's an ululating yelp speckled with ...

CSS: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 December 2007

CANSEI DE Ser Sexy (as they initially were until they gave in to the English-speaking world's lack of enthusiasm for other tongues) have already grasped ...

Sia: King's College, London ***

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 December 2007

A GOOD HALF-DOZEN VOCALISTS have passed through the career-development lab that is Zero 7 (the dance act also known as producers of soft-furnishings pop to ...

Adele, Duffy, Laura Marling: Adele, Duffy et al: This Year's Vintage

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 January 2008

Caroline Sullivan on 2008's big female voices ...

The Feeling, The Hoosiers, Scouting for Girls: Is radio whistling the right tunes?

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 January 2008

Things are changing on the airwaves. Caroline Sullivan finds Radio 1 ditching rock for "pop". ...

Manic Street Preachers: The Manic Street Preachers: Nicky Wire reflects on the Musical Tradition of his Home Country

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 February 2008

"THERE'S A LOVELY Welsh word, cynefin, which means 'habitat'. It's the idea that there are factors in your environment that have an influence on you ...

The Fratellis: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 April 2008

SECURE IN HIS STANDING as one of rock's greats, the Who singer Roger Daltrey, organiser of the annual week of Teenage Cancer Trust gigs, was ...

The Long Blondes: Forum, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 April 2008

WINNING THE NME RADAR award for best new band in 2006 wasn't quite the turning point Sheffield's Long Blondes were entitled to expect. Their first ...

Girls Aloud: Brighton Centre ****

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 May 2008

GIRLS ALOUD long ago ceased to be a guilty pleasure, and are now just a pleasure. It defies the laws of reality TV that they're ...

Sandi Thom

Essay by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 20 May 2008

THE HYPING OF HER FIRST RECORD seemed a step too far. Can a new album restore this singer's popularity? ...

Kiss: Overblown, Overpaid And Over Here

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 May 2008

For the headliners of Download heavy metal festival, there are millions to be made, fans to ogle (and sometimes sleep with), and platform boots to ...

The Fratellis: "We don't want to be a pop band"

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 June 2008

IT'S LATE AFTERNOON outside Amsterdam's Paradiso club, and the small group of teenagers hanging around on the steps have just seen something to get excited ...

Duffy: Somerset House, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 July 2008

The biggest-selling artist in Britain this year? That would be Wales' Aimee Duffy, sales of whose Rockferry album passed the million mark a few weeks ...

Katy Perry: Water Rats, London **

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 September 2008

KATY PERRY has found the best way to ensure her debut UK gig is a sellout. Although she has had the No. 1 single for ...

The Dears: Porchester Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 October 2008

A WEST LONDON HALL that advertises itself as the ideal spot for weddings and birthday parties is a perverse place to find the Dears, a ...

Kaiser Chiefs: The Forum, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 October 2008

IN 2005, Kaiser Chiefs squeezed into a pop scene that was fixated on arch art-rockers. Today, the band are a neo-Britpop fixture, seemingly sent to ...

Hot Chip: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 November 2008

"WELCOME TO the Hot Chip show," shouts guitarist Al Doyle, as if priming the crowd for a Vegas cabaret act rather than five Londoners whose ...

McFly: Sheffield Arena

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 November 2008

REMEMBER THE days when boy bands were 10 a penny and schoolgirls would wage war over whether Take That or East 17 were more luscious? ...

Ryan Adams: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 November 2008

DESPITE WHAT Ryan Adams tells us tonight, it wasn't true that this was the first time he had ever played London "without being chemically challenged". ...

Live Music: Is This The End Of The Road?

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 November 2008

Gigs have been shoring up the ailing music industry – but they're not as popular as they once were. Caroline Sullivan reports on growing anxiety ...

Taio Cruz: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 4 December 2008

TAIO CRUZ HAS BEEN DESCRIBED as a British cross between Timbaland and John Legend — "British" being the operative word. A privately educated Londoner, Cruz ...

Lady Gaga, La Roux: Slaves To Synth

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 December 2008

The male guitar band is dead. The future is electro, female, DIY – and very in your face. Caroline Sullivan talks to the solo acts ...

The Ting Tings: The Day-Glo Duo: The Ting Tings

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 February 2009

"ALL I'VE BEEN thinking about," says Jules De Martino, the male half of the Ting Tings, seated in a swish Manchester restaurant, "is steak and ...

John Legend: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 March 2009

AS befits a singer who decided that his original surname, Stephens, didn't capture his essence, John Legend precedes his entrance with black-and-white footage of himself ...

Jason Mraz: Hammersmith Apollo, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 April 2009

WHILE THE WORLD has been going about its business, Jason Mraz has quietly sold 3.5m copies of his Grammy-nominated 2008 album, We Sing, We Dance, ...

The Enemy: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 April 2009

ANYONE WHO THINKS "the kids" are an apathetic lot who would rather vegetate in front of their Xboxes than start a revolution should see the ...

Lady Sovereign: 5 Cavendish Square, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 April 2009

LADY SOVEREIGN operates on hip-hop time, so it's compulsory for her to be an hour late for this low-key comeback show, at — oddly enough ...

Taylor Swift: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London ***

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 9 May 2009

COSY PLACES SUCH AS the Shepherd's Bush Empire can't figure much in Taylor Swift's schedule these days — the US's top-selling artist of 2008 must ...

Faith No More at The Brixton Academy

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 June 2009

FAITH NO MORE's first gig in 11 years starts on a promisingly high note. A keyboard tinkles a lullaby melody, a spotlight picks out singer ...

Michael Jackson

Obituary by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 June 2009

The self-styled King of Pop, whose musical gift was overshadowed by his private life ...

Sugababes: 'We Took Our Eye Off The Ball'

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 July 2009

After a brush with self-doubt, the Sugababes are back on form. Keisha Buchanan, Amelle Berrabah and Heidi Range talk about their new album, Get Sexy ...

Coldplay, Jay-Z: Coldplay/Jay-Z: Lancashire Cricket Club, Manchester

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 September 2009

THERE ARE only a few bands big enough to ask artists who are at the very top of their own genres to work as their ...

Spandau Ballet's Reunion: Once More With Girdles

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 October 2009

With 10 top 10 hits, Spandau Ballet were the epitome of 80s pop. After much bitterness and a court case, the band are reunited again ...

Dizzee Rascal: Roundhouse, London ****

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 October 2009

"DIZZEE RASCAL for prime minister, yeah?" As if to emphasise that he is more than just an east London grime MC these days, Rascal ended ...

JLS: 'We Became An Unshakable Force'

Report and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 October 2009

X Factor runners up don't usually win Mobos — but JLS were always meant for more than talent shows ...

Bon Jovi: Alan McGee meets Jon Bon Jovi

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 November 2009

When Creation boss and Oasis mentor Alan McGee confessed his admiration for veteran rocker Jon Bon Jovi on a Guardian blog, we just had to ...

Just Jack: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 November 2009

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT if Jack Allsopp had picked a stage name with a bit more brio — Barnstorming Jack, say — he might have fulfilled ...

Newton Faulkner: Union Chapel, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 November 2009

NEWTON FAULKNER seemed a whimsical choice to headline the final night of the annual Mencap Little Noise series — previous shows had featured more obvious ...

Travis: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 December 2009

GLASGOW FOLK-POPSTERS Travis named themselves after the psychotic Robert De Niro character in Taxi Driver, but anyone chancing on them halfway through their sold-out Christmas ...

Lostprophets: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 February 2010

THE SINGER WEARS A CHANEL WATCH and dates TV presenters, his bandmates have the angular facial planes of male models, and you can bet they ...

Rock Journalist Carol Clerk Broke the Mould

Obituary by Caroline Sullivan, Guardian Unlimited, 19 March 2010

Former Melody Maker news editor Carol Clerk, who died last week, was a role model for female music writers. She loved old-school rock – and ...

The Cranberries: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 April 2010

BANDS GIVE ALL sorts of reasons for reuniting, but the Cranberries' must be the most novel: in 2009, after five years apart, they decided to have ...

The Duke & the King: Union Chapel, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 April 2010

"AIN'T NO DUST CLOUD from heaven can keep us from our congregation! Can I get an 'amen'?" demands the Duke & the King's leader, Simone ...

LCD Soundsystem: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 April 2010

HAVING VOWED to disband LCD Soundsystem when he turned 40, James Murphy – who reached that milestone in February – is currently on his (presumably) ...

Alicia Keys: O2 Arena, London

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 May 2010

HOOKING UP with Jay-Z for 'Empire State of Mind' has elevated Alicia Keys to a level of stardom where it will no longer do to ...

Mystery Jets: Somerset House, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 9 July 2010

FOUR YEARS AFTER THEIR FIRST ALBUM, Mystery Jets must be resigned to the knowledge that, unless the music world tilts on its axis, their quirky pop ...

Erykah Badu: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 July 2010

THE LOT OF AN ERYKAH BADU fan isn't always a happy one. In the long queue outside Brixton Academy, two women are indignantly discussing the ...

Lady Antebellum: Shepherd's Bush Empire

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 August 2010

THE GULF BETWEEN UK AND US MUSICAL TASTES is epitomised by Nashville's Lady Antebellum. Back home, the trio's emollient country-pop — which, to British ears, ...

Stromae: Cheese (Mosaert)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 September 2010

IT'S DARING of Belgian rapper Stromae to give his first album a title that encourages gags about it being a load of fromage, and equally brave to ...

Rumer: Bloomsbury Theatre, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 September 2010

RUMER'S PRISTINE VOICE — a dead ringer for Karen Carpenter's — is best suited to the kind of luxurious easy-listening treatment that sold millions of ...

Mark Ronson and the Business Intl.: Hackney Empire, London ***

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 September 2010

IT'S NO LONGER UNUSUAL for producers to become artists in their own right, but Mark Ronson looks like he hasn't quite thought the whole thing ...

Paramore: O2 Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 November 2010

THEY'VE HAD A NO 1 ALBUM with Brand New Eyes and have sold out their UK arena tour, but Paramore aren't on the musical radar ...

The Bravery: Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 4 February 2011

THERE WAS A TIME, back in 2005, when it looked as if the Bravery would overtake the Killers as the US's premier purveyors of synthy, ...

Justin Bieber: NIA, Birmingham

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 March 2011

JUSTIN BIEBER fans will tell you there are two only kinds of people in the world: "Beliebers" and the rest of us. For those who ...

Katy Perry: Hammersmith Apollo, London ****

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 March 2011

KATY PERRY is strutting across the stage, a giant spray of feathers fanning out from her tiny backside, and she's singing, "I wanna see your ...

R Kelly: Hammersmith Apollo, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 April 2011

IT HAS been more than a decade since R Kelly, the self-proclaimed King of R&B, last passed through London – time enough for his original ...

Katy B: O2 Academy, Oxford

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 May 2011

IT'S NOT HARD TO GUESS that Katy B, for all her success in taking her personable version of UK funky into the Top 10, isn't ...

Wild Beasts: Sex-Obsessed and Scrupulously Polite

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 May 2011

ON A BALMY APRIL MORNING in east London, Hayden Thorpe is remembering the night last September when Wild Beasts failed to win the Mercury Prize ...

Friendly Fires: Heaven, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 May 2011

DESPITE A GOLD DEBUT album and Brit and Mercury nominations, Friendly Fires are still a long way from household-name status — something the St Albans ...

Hurts: Somerset House, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 July 2011

MANCHESTER ELECTRO-DUO Hurts are so in thrall to new-romantic stylishness that one review of last year's debut album, Happiness, suggested that even their gigs were ...

Amy Winehouse

Obituary by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 23 July 2011

Singer with a soul-steeped voice whose instantly successful Back to Black album reflected her tormented experience of love ...

Florence and the Machine: Hackney Empire, London ****

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 26 October 2011

PARENTS WHO worry that their teenage daughters have few pop role models other than the intemperately sexual Rihannas of the world should be pleased that ...

Ryan Adams: Union Chapel, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 November 2011

WHAT DOES A HELLRAISER DO when he reaches 37 and finds little hell left to raise? For Ryan Adams, whose unpredictability has kept fans enthralled ...

Lana Del Rey: Scala, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 November 2011

LANA DEL REY may become the most recognised stage name since fellow New Yorker Lady Gaga, but it's just as possible it will end up ...

Jill Scott: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 December 2011

"I HAD AN album out this year," Jill Scott informs a chokingly full Brixton Academy. The congratulatory bellows have hardly faded before she tartly adds: ...

One Direction: Hammersmith Apollo, London ***

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 January 2012

"SCREW BIEBER FEVER," tweeted a fan on the afternoon of this boy band's first London headline gig, "I've got a One Direction infection." ...

Boyz II Men: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, Guardian Unlimited, 29 January 2012

"I'VE NEVER HAD to say this to a crowd before," says Shawn Stockman, the tenor who puts a great deal of the quivering oomph into ...

Gym Class Heroes, Stooshe: Koko, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 January 2012

THE ONLY GIRL BAND tipped in the BBC Sound of 2012 poll, Stooshe have been excitably described as "Salt-n-Pepa meet Odd Future". But the comparison ...

Beth Jeans Houghton: Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 February 2012

IT'S NO surprise to learn that Beth Jeans Houghton has synesthesia, a condition that causes her to "taste" colours (red is just like Safeway crisps, ...

Snow Patrol: The O2, London ***

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 February 2012

WHEN SNOW PATROL released Fallen Empires, the 2011 album that comprises a substantial part of this gig, singer Gary Lightbody revealed that the new record ...

Whitney Houston

Obituary by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 February 2012

Superstar singer credited as the first 'pop diva', whose compelling talent was lost to drug addiction ...

Marina and the Diamonds: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 February 2012

MARINA "AND THE DIAMONDS" DIAMANDIS is about to release the follow-up to 2010's top-five debut album The Family Jewels, but there's something so exuberantly off-kilter ...

Sinéad O'Connor: "I define success differently"

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 March 2012

From her public search for a husband to attempted suicide and hospitalisation, the Irish singer has had a turbulent year even by her own standards. ...

The Cribs: ULU, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 March 2012

THEIR ONE-ALBUM ALLIANCE with Johnny Marr ended last year, but if the Jarman brothers from Wakefield, who comprise the Cribs, never repeat the Top 10 ...

JLS: O2, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 March 2012

WHO COULD HAVE predicted not one but two X Factor boybands would exceed their allotted 15 minutes? The onus is now on JLS to out-dazzle ...

Cher Lloyd: Indigo2, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 April 2012

EVEN ON HER FIRST HEADLINING TOUR, Cher Lloyd isn't constrained by lack of confidence: she wants nothing less than for fans to feel that "this is ...

Ronika: Old Blue Last, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 April 2012

"THE MADONNA OF THE MIDLANDS", as Nottingham singer/producer Ronika Sampson has been unenviably labelled, is having an intriguing effect on a quartet of young women ...

Happy Mondays: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 May 2012

IF YOU DISCOUNT HIS PROPENSITY for using the f-word, you could call Shaun Ryder a solid citizen these days. The Happy Mondays' leader is slim, ...

Rumer: St James's Church, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 May 2012

"I SPOKE TO PF SLOAN himself on the phone the other night, and he said, 'I'm praying for you.'" It's three songs into Rumer's set, ...

Alt-J: Borderline, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 20 June 2012

ONE OF POP'S great delights is its unpredictability: a month ago, who could have foreseen an unknown Cambridge art-rock quartet landing in the top 20 ...

Carly Rae Jepsen: Kiss (Polydor) **

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 20 September 2012

THIS Canadian Idol runner-up's super-hit 'Call Me Maybe' — the UK's second-biggest single of 2012 — was a polarising experience. ...

Cheryl Cole: O2 Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 8 October 2012

A RECENT bit of rebranding has seen Cheryl Cole styling herself as just "Cheryl", the inference being that she's reached a level of fame where ...

Chilly Gonzales: Barbican, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 October 2012

"HARMONY'S FRENCH, but the melancholy melody's so Slavic," raps Chilly Gonzales, words tumbling out in a Canadian-accented torrent. "Whether I rap fast or slow, the ...

Lady Antebellum: On This Winter's Night

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 December 2012

A CHRISTMAS ALBUM by America's unfathomably all-conquering Lady A? Why didn't they think of it before? In fact, they almost did — six of the 12 tracks ...

Kimbra: Vows

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 20 December 2012

NEW ZEALAND SONGWRITER Kimbra Johnson was the sinuous star turn on Gotye's 'Somebody That I Used to Know', and the exposure sent this solo debut into the ...

Ash: King's College, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2013

ASH HAVE BEEN rock stars for 12 years and four albums, yet, as singer Tim Wheeler has noted, they're still younger than some of the ...

Modestep: Evolution Theory (Max)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 January 2013

IF PENDULUM rule the teen-rave market, Modestep seem destined to reel in their little brothers and sisters. ...

Hurts: Heaven, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 February 2013

ONE THING IN HURTS' FAVOUR is that they're no bandwagon-jumpers — here's one band who will never sully their glaciated synth-pop by lobbing in a ...

Frightened Rabbit: Concorde 2, Brighton

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 February 2013

UNTIL RECENTLY, Glasgow's Frightened Rabbit were best-known for being bigger in America than at home. ...

One Direction: O2, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 February 2013

IF SIMON COWELL is in the house tonight as One Direction start their first UK arena tour, he might have to conclude that his earthly ...

Hurts: Exile

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 7 March 2013

AS ADAM ANT ONCE SAID, ridicule is nothing to be scared of — words Hurts should take to heart, as their second album will provoke ...

Phoenix: Bankrupt!

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 April 2013

BANKRUPT?  ...

Chvrches: Village Underground, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 May 2013

SEEING CHVRCHES (pronounced "churches") live is akin to discovering a 1980s edition of Top of the Pops, in which Clare Grogan of Altered Images has teamed ...

Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five: How we made: Jiggs Chase and Ed Fletcher on 'The Message'

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 May 2013

The producer and MC of the hip-hop classic recall trying to persuade Grandmaster Flash to grow a social conscience.               ...

Ke$ha: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 July 2013

AS YOU will grasp from her Twitter handle — @keshasuxx — Kesha Sebert likes to think of herself as mad, bad and dangerous.  ...

Rizzle Kicks: Roaring 20s

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 August 2013

SUNNY DISPOSITIONS and chirpy tunefulness saw Rizzle Kicks achieve a double-platinum debut in 2011.  ...

Caro Emerald: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 September 2013

POST-WINEHOUSE retro-jazz singer Caro Emerald already has a No 1 album under her belt, and even wider fame looks likely ...

Justin Timberlake: Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 September 2013

His ex-boyband DNA compels him to give the footwork as much prominence as the songs  ...

Dizzee Rascal: Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 September 2013

Beyond the celeb-friends roundup, Dizzee's agility and cheery-badman appeal is undeniable ...

John Mayer: O2, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 October 2013

The blues guitarist turned rock star surveys his discography for a tame but well-crafted show. ...

Tinie Tempah: Demonstration

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 October 2013

WHEN A label announces that one of its major autumn pop releases contains "no obviously constructed singles", it usually signals that the artist has lost their mojo.  ...

The Jonas Brothers: Why the Jonas Brothers were doomed from the start

Essay by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 October 2013

THE TRANSITION from boyband to adult musician is — whisper it — harder if you are in possession of a Y chromosome. ...

Avril Lavigne: Avril Lavigne

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 7 November 2013

'ROCK'N'ROLL', 'Here's to Never Growing Up', 'Bad Girl': the titles on Avril Lavigne's fifth album are self-explanatory. ...

Ariana Grande: "I'm not comfortable being forwardly sexual"

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 November 2013

She got her big break on a children's TV show, is adored by legions of teenage fans, and now she has released an album — ...

Crystal Fighters: Brixton Academy, London ****

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 November 2013

If you thought this sextet could only evoke Vampire Weekend and CSS, then think again: live, their passion can't be faulted ...

Mary J. Blige: "Whitney Houston's funeral freaked me out"

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 November 2013

The queen of hip-hop soul on giving up alcohol, getting fit and cutting out the drama in her life. ...

Little Boots: Heaven, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 November 2013

Pop's nearly woman evokes Kylie and Lady Gaga, but ultimately brings a wide-eyed intensity all her own ...

Childish Gambino: Because The Internet

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 December 2013

CHILDISH GAMBINO, the creation of US actor/standup Donald Glover, was initially seen by some as too plugged in to media circles to be persuasive as a rapper. ...

Palma Violets: Concorde 2, Brighton

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 December 2013

The London foursome are living the indie-god dream, mixing ramshackle punk-garage with irresistible visual appeal. ...

Suede: "Who says you can only do great stuff if you're damaged?"

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 Fall 2013

Good news for beautiful, conflicted outsiders: after 11 years, Suede are back – with an album that's as sharp as their singer's cheekbones. ...

Metronomy: Old Market, Brighton

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 January 2014

The band makes a euphoric homecoming loaded with new material that twitches and percolates like nu-rave Sly Stone ...

Rudimental: Academy Brixton, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 February 2014

Joined by a robust supporting cast — including Prince's new BFF Lianne La Havas — the London quartet deliver a ramshackle yet oddly cohesive sold-out ...

Clean Bandit: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 May 2014

This chart-topping dance/classical outfit create some genuinely unusual hybrid sounds, and they're consistently entertaining, if occasionally a bit daft ...

Mavis Staples: Union Chapel, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 June 2014

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME," Mavis Staples sings vampily. "How old am I? Sixteen years old." In fact, she turned 75 today, but 16 feels about ...

Example: Live Life Living

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 3 July 2014

ENCOURAGED BY THE SUCCESS of his 2011 album, Playing In The Shadows, singer/rapper Example plumped for an experimental, guitar-accented follow-up in 2012, only to find ...

Lostprophets, No Devotion: Lostprophets: "He Said He Was Innocent"

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 July 2014

When lead singer Ian Watkins pleaded guilty to 13 child sex offences, his former bandmates went into a state of shock. Now, still angry and ...

No Devotion: Islington Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 July 2014

FOR A NEW STARTUP, the Welsh-American sextet No Devotion come with disproportionate baggage. Five were members of Lostprophets, whose name became tarnished when singer Ian ...

Ariana Grande: My Everything

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 August 2014

IN HER 2013 debut album, Yours Truly, teen-actor-turned-pop-starlet Ariana Grande established a unique, nostalgia-based beachhead, interweaving '90s R&B and 1960s girl groups. ...

5 Seconds of Summer: Roundhouse, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 September 2014

THE SYDNEY FOURSOME 5 Seconds of Summer aren't just a boyband, they want us to know. Check the cover of their globally successful debut album: ...

Alt-J: Brighton Centre

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 September 2014

"I'M A FEMALE rebel," insists Miley Cyrus's disembodied voice, piercing the opening song of Alt-J's show. Stripped of twerking and tongue associations, the sampled line floats in ...

Jessie J: iTunes festival, Roundhouse, London ***

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 September 2014

Naff, good-hearted and prone to motivational guff, Jessie J has a big-sister kindliness that gets the fans bouncing ...

Ed Sheeran: iTunes festival, Roundhouse, London ****

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 September 2014

Choirmaster builds to a climax... but keeps his shirt on. The multimillion-selling star stretches English self-deprecation to the limits while creating a whole band's worth of ...

Meghan Trainor: An Interview

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 October 2014

Is the surprise megahit really a dig at thinner women? No way, says the singer, it's about loving and rocking whatever you've got ...

Culture Club: Heaven, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 October 2014

THE FIRST TIME Culture Club played this basement nightclub, Smash Hits' reviewer Neil Tennant didn't see much of a future for them. ...

James Bay: The new noise bubble: are critics' choice awards for new artists a blessing or a curse?

Comment by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 January 2015

Awards such as the BBC's Sound Of 2015 can be vital in helping new artists break through and get noticed by fans — but can ...

Fall Out Boy: American Beauty/American Psycho

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 January 2015

"THIS IS A really important record," Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz says of their sixth album. That's less self-aggrandising than it appears: he meant only that the long-serving ...

Hozier: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 3 February 2015

THE CRASHING DESOLATION of Andrew Hozier-Byrne's debut single, 'Take Me to Church', makes for a perversely delectable earworm. One of the most-streamed songs of last ...

Lionel Richie: O2 Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 March 2015

With the stamina of a performer half his age, the veteran soul star swings between raucous R&B and sweet ballads to the delight of an ...

Charli XCX: Concorde 2, Brighton

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 March 2015

"BRIGHTON, put your fucking middle fingers up!" are Charli XCX's first words as she launches her first UK tour as headliner. Brighton needs no encouragement: ...

Brandon Flowers: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 May 2015

THE KILLERS frontman delivers a buzzy rock'n'synth solo show — rounded off by a duet with Chrissie Hynde — but he can't shake his nice-guy ...

Jungle: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 June 2015

JUNGLE'S SHOW begins as more gigs should: with a terrifyingly poised eight-year-old breakdancer spinning on her head, effortlessly eclipsing the adult musicians behind her. Having ...

Taylor Swift: Apple royalties U-turn: is Taylor Swift the most powerful woman in music?

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 22 June 2015

Viewed as an advocate for artists and a game-changer, almost no other pop star could have made the corporate behemoth roll over. ...

Nick Jonas: Islington Academy, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 20 July 2015

THE FORMER TEEN STAR has shaved his head, picked up a guitar and is covering Outkast. But while his talent is undeniable, he needs to ...

Dave Gahan & Soulsavers: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 27 October 2015

DROPPING THE SYNTHS for Soulsavers' beefed up guitars, Basildon's Elvis is too charismatic to blend in with the band ...

Carly Rae Jepsen: Islington Assembly Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 8 December 2015

'The Call Me Maybe' singer infuses her 80s-textured pop with believability and uses her underdog status to win over the audience ...

Dua Lipa: Hope & Ruin, Brighton

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 19 January 2016

She invites comparisons with labelmate Lana Del Rey, but the young Londoner's lack of audience interaction make her seem as if she has nothing to ...

Alessia Cara: "Social media is like a fake reality and it's hard to block things out"

Profile and Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 10 March 2016

She's struck pop gold in the US and has befriended Taylor Swift and Drake – despite describing herself as an 'antisocial pessimist'. And then there's ...

Little Mix: Brighton Centre

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 March 2016

IT WOULD BE HARD TO FIND a less weird girl group than Little Mix, which makes the question posed on a screen — "Are you ...

Lukas Graham: Lukas Graham

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 31 March 2016

LUKAS GRAHAM FORCHHAMMER, to give this Danish songwriter/frontman his full name, has scored the biggest hit of 2016 so far with '7 Years'. ...

The Lumineers: O2 Academy Brixton, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 25 April 2016

LIKE MUMFORD & SONS, the Lumineers have adopted a strand of rootless country-folk that has no geographical connection to Nashville. Founding members Wesley Schultz and ...

The 5th Dimension: Elegant Pop Crooners Who Wowed The Mainstream

Retrospective by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 June 2016

MY PARENTS owned only two albums that weren't folk or opera. One was the original Broadway cast recording of the musical Hair, which was famous ...

Jesca Hoop, Iron & Wine: Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop: Union Chapel, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2 September 2016

The voices of Iron & Wine's Beam and Californian singer-songwriter Hoop pool mellifluously together until they seem made for each other. ...

Bastille: Wild World

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 8 September 2016

BEING HIGHLY successful seems not to have figured in frontman Dan Smith's aspirations for Bastille, whose 4m album sales have triggered ambivalence and self-doubt. ...

Sean Paul: Electric Ballroom, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 September 2016

The sparky showboater's glory days may be some way behind him, but his rueful rhythms haven't just aged well over the years – they carry ...

Angel Olsen: Concorde 2, Brighton

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 October 2016

ANGEL OLSEN'S BREAKTHROUGH ALBUM, 2014's Burn Your Fire for No Witness, brought the St Louis-born songwriter into contact with those she calls "weirdos" — people ...

Mary J. Blige, Maxwell: Mary J. Blige/Maxwell: O2 Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 October 2016

Blige commands the stage with raw rage and consciousness-raising while neo-soul pioneer Maxwell melts the room with trademark loose grooves. ...

Julia Holter: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 15 November 2016

The singer-songwriter cast a spell over the crowd with her cherished characters and carnival of sounds – but an industro-rock climax proved too much for ...

PWR BTTM: West Hill Hall, Brighton

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 4 December 2016

IF QUEER PUNK finds its commercial feet in 2017, it will be largely thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of PWR BTTM. On their debut UK ...

JoJo: Koko, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 18 January 2017

AFTER 10 YEARS OUT the singer is back, singing about depression, defiance and desire in a voice that skims from delicacy to sledgehammer vehemence. ...

Hurray for the Riff Raff: The Navigator

Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 9 March 2017

"I FEEL THAT the soul of New York is under attack," Americana songwriter and Bronx native Alynda Segarra recently said. Her sixth album as Hurray ...

Dua Lipa: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 14 April 2017

"THIS IS CRAZY," asserts Dua Lipa, which may be exaggerating the situation a bit. Being able to sell out the 2,000-capacity Shepherd's Bush Empire will ...

Mary J. Blige: Mary J Blige: Kew Gardens, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 July 2017

PERFORMING AMID amid a messy divorce, Mary J Blige delivers a hugely emotional set, her voice both racked and silky as she rebukes men for ...

Feist: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 July 2017

The Canadian indie-folk star transforms the sparse songs of recent album Pleasure into luminous ballads and splenetic blues-rock shredding. ...

Niall Horan: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 1 September 2017

FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPENT TWO NIGHTS camping on the pavement outside the Shepherd's Bush Empire, 18-year-old India Rain Harrison and her mother, Christine, are ...

Demi Lovato: O2 Arena, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 2018

Vulnerable but resolute, the singer pursues her "truth" in an affecting and revelatory show. ...

Dolores O'Riordan — obituary

Obituary by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 16 January 2018

LEAD SINGER of the Cranberries whose startling, steely voice enchanted audiences on hits such as 'Linger' and 'Zombie'. ...

5 Seconds of Summer: Heaven, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 6 April 2018

SYDNEY'S GUITAR POPSTERS nakedly woo their young female fans but cut the flirting as they pitch for the crossover adult market. ...

Natalie Prass: Bush Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 24 April 2018

The Virginia songwriter has added funk and soul to her swooning ballads and '60s pop, fired up by "all the crap that's going on in ...

Frightened Rabbit: Scott Hutchison, 1981-2018

Obituary by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 May 2018

SINGER AND WRITER of emotionally raw folk-rock songs that attracted a wide following for his band, Frightened Rabbit. ...

Janis Ian: How we made 'At Seventeen'

Interview by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 29 May 2018

Janis Ian, singer and songwriter ...

Ariana Grande: Koko, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 September 2018

"WHERE SHOULD WE START?" asks Ariana Grande, intimating that this unadvertised finale of a mini-tour called the Sweetener Sessions is to be a democratic affair. ...

Davido: O2 Arena, London — Afrobeats' alpha male takes Nigeria to the world

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 28 January 2019

Aided by Idris Elba and Popcaan, the Nigerian singer underlines his global credentials by tying together US rap and African pop ...

Marina and the Diamonds: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 7 May 2019

THE FAMILY IS OUT FOR Marina Diamandis tonight — not just the blood relatives, a dozen of whom have turned out to cheer on pop's ...

Ed Sheeran: No. 6 Collaborations (Atlantic)

Review by Caroline Sullivan, Metro, 15 July 2019

OTHERWISE known as Pop's Insanely Successful Mr Average, Ed Sheeran rouses many people to eye-rolling disbelief: four albums in, how can Ginger Ordinaire still be ...

Roxette: Marie Fredriksson obituary

Obituary by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 13 December 2019

COMMANDING FEMALE VOCALISTS were never more popular than in the late 1980s, and for a time Marie Fredriksson, whose voice could blister paint or seduce ...

Marc Almond: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 11 February 2020

Singing of Italian horror films and Hollywood cemeteries, Almond is on magnificently melodramatic form. ...

Alanis Morissette: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London


Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 5 March 2020

Morissette's acoustic outing for her smash-hit album's anniversary proves these songs are as lacerating as ever ...

Helen Reddy, 1941-2020

Obituary by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 30 September 2020

Australian singer who enjoyed huge success with her 1972 feminist anthem 'I Am Woman' ...

Celeste: Union Chapel

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 8 July 2021

The soul-jazz star's sold-out performance is unabashedly mainstream, but has real emotional heft. ...

Griff: Chalk, Brighton

Live Review by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 21 March 2022

After the baffling flop of her single 'Black Hole', the pop singer-songwriter is still ready to reach for the stars in this breezy, funny show ...

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