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Robin Bresnark

Robin Bresnark

Robin Bresnark found himself interning (or was it "being interned"?) at Melody Maker in 1996 after accosting the then editor in a public toilet in Leeds. A bit of filing led to a bit of writing, which led to a lot of writing, which led to a fair dose of editing, which led to nothing. Along the way, he was the person responsible for breaking the likes of Coldplay, Travis, Muse and Embrace. You know: all the bands you hated but everyone else in the world loved. Fleeing like the rat bastard he is just before the MM ship sank, he went on to work in TV, DVD and other abbreviated arts, before taking a series of desk jobs for everyone from HMV to Cancer Research to the UK Government (squandering your hard-earned tax money). He's currently reinventing the way you shop. Thanks for asking.

53 articles

List of articles in the library

By date | By artist | Most recently added

The White Stripes: London Loves Us: The White Stripes

Report and Interview by Robin Bresnark, Detroit Metro Times, 8 August 2001

DETROIT, YOU HAVE a secret admirer. Admittedly, we're not terribly local, not all of us are single, and you certainly wouldn't want to come round ...

Embrace: Psychobabble: Embrace

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 27 October 1999

One wants to be microwaved, the other's ready to shoot a cow. Get on the couch, EMBRACE fellas! ...

Gomez: Barrowlands, Glasgow ****

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 27 October 1999

IT ALWAYS happens like this. You send your wee boys off to college, or indeed to war, and they come back big, strapping men. Yeah, ...

Sparklehorse: LA2, London

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 14 December 1996

REIN STORM ...

The Jesus & Mary Chain: The Jesus And Mary Chain: Snaps Crack-Ups and Strop!

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 4 April 1998

To find out if THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN are really "cracking up", we meet them in a pub with three photos from the past ...

Elliott Smith: Elliott Gold: Elliott Smith: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 12 September 1998

WE'RE A sad bunch of buggers, us lovers of soothing, emotional country rock. ...

Super Furry Animals: "I like the idea of creating cultural havoc"

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 19 January 2000

Wide open spaces, mountains and free-thinking cultural revolutionaries — no wonder SUPER FURRY ANIMALS love Spain's Basque country. What's more, the feeling's mutual. ...

Blink 182: Enema Of The State (MCA) *****

Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 16 October 1999

BOTTOMS aren't supposed to have hot shots of water blasted up them. They're not really supposed to dribble toxic effluent into a pool of bowel-cleansed ...

Robbie Williams: Life Thru A Lens (Chrysalis)

Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 4 October 1997

"WHAT'S HE ever done that's actually been any good?" ...

Radiohead: Creep Show: Radiohead: The Tramshed, London

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 19 October 1996

IN THE CORNER of this wretched party for the beautiful people hangs a photograph of Thom Yorke, pointing an accusing finger around the room; he's ...

Coldplay

Profile and Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 23 October 1999

Passionate angst rock ...

Elliott Smith: Alas Smith And Moans

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 8 May 1999

On the road in the US, we find the unassuming ELLIOTT SMITH still likes a drink, has put drugs behind him, but can't manage a ...

All Saints: Saint Misbehavin'!

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 7 February 1998

If you believe the tabloids, ALL SAINTS are a bunch of tune-nicking, three-in-a-bed romping, manager-bashing, Spice Girl wannabes. But is that bollocks? We join the ...

Mazzy Star: Starred For Life: Mazzy Star: Among My Swan (Capitol)

Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 2 November 1996

Mazzy star's new album sounds exactly like... Mazzy Star. Which is a blessing. ...

Catatonia: The Sex Files!

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 24 October 1998

Virtually unknown a year ago — 12 months later Cerys Matthews is voted the sexiest woman in rock in a Maker poll. How'd that happen!? ...

Korn: "I once did coke off The Bible"

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 17 May 2000

Before Korn's huge shows this week, we got them to tell us their favourite tour stories. It's not all fruit up drummers' arses and drugs. ...

Hepburn: Bug Night Out!

Report and Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 18 September 1999

Worried that they mere a little, y'know, pop, we take HEPBURN to an indie club in Manchester, get flirted with, discover all about their rampant sexuality ...

Supergrass: "It Felt Really Smart to be Doing it Again"

Report and Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 22 December 1999

A BLINDING THIRD ALBUM. A WORLD TOUR. COLLABORATIONS WITH THE MUPPETS AND ALI G. ALL IN A YEARS WORK FOR SUPERGRASS, AS GAZ COOMBES TELLS ...

U2: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 3 May 1997

SLOW DEATH IN VEGAS ...

Natalie Imbruglia: The People Who Shook the World in 1998, March: Natalie Imbruglia

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 19 December 1998

"WHEN YOU wish upon a star," sang some old bloke many, many years ago, "make no difference who you are." And, boy, did he know ...

Eels, Pulp: Pulp/Eels: Hereford Leisure Centre

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 17 November 1998

HAPPY! SAD. H-h-h-happy! Sad. You know those theatrical mask things, one with a smile big enough to house a Manic's packed lunch, the other with ...

Travis: Brave Free Travis!

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 21 June 1997

Forget irony, glibness and surface gloss — TRAVIS have. They're bursting with belief and unembarrassed about wearing their hearts on their sleeves. And they're going to be HUGE ...

Lauryn Hill: Evening News Arena, Manchester

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 12 June 1999

EX OFFENDER ...

Oasis: The Oasis Story, Part 1: From Rain to Definitely Maybe

Retrospective by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 19 January 2000

With Oasis' return imminent, the first instalment of our four-part history of the band traces their rise, from the Noel-free live debut to the era-defining ...

Oasis: The Oasis Story, Part 3: From Noel's Brief Exit to Be Here Now

Retrospective by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 2 February 2000

The third instalment of our four-part history of Oasis charts "the tabloid years", when they became more famous for their actions than their music. ...

Cast, Travis: Brixton Academy, London

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 26 July 1997

ONE LONE balloon bobs over Brixton Academy's mad-for-it crowd. It flicks and twists its playful way across the room, through the strands of blue light ...

The Bluetones: The X-rated Files: The Bluetones

Report and Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 1 August 1998

MARK MORRISS lifts up his shirt and winces. It's not a pretty sight – a jumbled wash of red, black and blue, like a colour ...

Mark Owen: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 22 November 1997

BOOM, BAH-kaddah, boom-kaddah-dakka-dah, screeee!!! ...

Pavement: Fluttering to Deceive

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 18 September 1999

Since lo-fi gods PAVEMENT have a passion for horse racing, we take them to the local William Hill for some gambling tips... But is everything ...

UNKLE: Psyence Fiction (Mo'Wax)

Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 22 August 1998

SCI-FI ALLSTARS ...

Sonic Youth: A Thousand Leaves (Geffen)

Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 16 May 1998

Leaf It Out! ...

Sebadoh: Psychobabble: Sebadoh's Lou Barlow

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 29 May 1999

He'd consider making a necklace from his toes, when he's dead he wants his body to be cut up and distributed to people... And he's ...

Kylie Minogue: Kylie Minogue (deConstruction 12tks/50mins)

Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 27 September 1997

Mission impossible: With yet another musical direction has Kylie finally found her niche? ...

Dannii Minogue: Dannii: Girl (Eternal 10 Tks/56 Mins)

Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 20 September 1997

"DANNII, DEAREST," come the plummy tones of an Eternal Records exec. "Could you step in here a moment?" ...

Oasis: The Oasis Story, Part 4: From The Masterplan to Go Let It Out

Guide by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 9 February 2000

In the final part of our Oasis history, we recall the departures of Bonehead and Guigsy and look forward to Standing On The Shoulder Of ...

Black Eyed Peas: Behind The Front (Interscope) ****

Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 12 September 1998

EVERY ONCE in a while, some little sweetie in Hiphopsville receives one too many Valentines and gets all gooey on our asses. People generally think ...

theaudience: Crowd Trouble!

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 25 July 1998

THEAUDIENCE have it all.The big-mouthed gorgeous singer and the melody-packed tunes most bands would blow up a granny for. We meet them in Oxford and ...

Catatonia: The Hit-Man And Her

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 11 October 1997

Cerys from CATATONIA is on first name terms with hit men while the rest of the band are into mafia-type shenanigans. Blimey! Best not call ...

A, Ash, Feeder, Gay Dad: Ash, Feeder and Gay Dad: Indie Hard IV — With a Vengeance

Report and Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 25 September 1999

Well, Bruce Willis might have spanked Jeremy Irons' butt in the end, but this time the Yanks face a far more serious threat. We join ...

Natalie Imbruglia: Fluff-free pop goddess

Interview by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 18 October 1997

NATALIE IMBRUGLIA is teasingly biting her lower lip. I'd really love to join her. She has perfect hair, crystal clear eyes and the kind of ...

Simon Raymonde: Blame Someone Else (Bella Union 12 tks/55 mins)

Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 13 September 1997

EVERY NOTE trickles into your ears like the tongue of a gorgeous stranger. Sorry, but that's honestly what it's like. ...

Travis: Looking Good, Feeling Sublime — Travis: Good Feeling (Independiente 12tks/49mins)

Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 13 September 1997

TRAVIS have it all: the songs, the passion and now an album to adore... ...

Laika, Radiohead: Radiohead, Laika: Bridlington Spa

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 13 September 1997

YORKE SHOW HOST ...

Garbage: Version 2.0 (Mushroom)

Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 9 May 1998

LET'S GET MUCKY! ...

Kenickie: Underworld. London

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 4 January 1997

FLU, FLU, wretched, bastard flu. Wobbly, shaky, queasy arsehole flu. A touch of the sniffles, a grope of catarrh, a 50-quid hand job of nausea. ...

Puressence: Dingwalls, London

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 20 June 1998

STAR DATE 2048. The Devolved People's Republic of Failsworth launches the first charter flights to the moon, a civilian enterprise inspired by local heroes Puressence's ...

Gomez, Happy Mondays, Placebo, Stereophonics, Robbie Williams: Robbie Williams, Gomez, Happy Mondays, Placebo, Stereophonics: Slane Castle, Dublin

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 4 September 1999

RELIGHT MY EIRE! ...

3 Colours Red, Bush: Bush, 3 Colours Red: SFX Centre, Dublin

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 25 October 1997

BETWEEN ROCK AND A TIRED PLACE ...

Smashing Pumpkins: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 6 June 1998

SMASH'N'DRAB ...

Kristin Hersh: Strange Angels

Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 31 January 1998

WHERE AM I? What am I doing here? Relax... Kristin Hersh will unravel your knotted mind. ...

Tracy Bonham: The Borderline, London

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 14 September 1996

THE DUST mite is a disgusting little beast, preying on dead and rotting skin cells abandoned by the progress of life. Tracy Bonham, on the ...

Bernard Butler: Upstairs At The Garage, London

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 24 January 1998

BERNARD'S GOT a reputation. Grumpy, petulant sod, chip on his shoulder big enough to end a potato famine. But, in the Suede heyday, he used ...

Oasis, Supergrass: Wembley Arena, London

Live Review by Robin Bresnark, Melody Maker, 3 January 1998

DURACELL-ING THEMSELVES SHORT? ...

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