Tom Doyle

London

Writer at Freelance

Music writing writing music

Articles

Blondie’s Clem Burke: “I’m a rock’n’roller at heart…”

2 weeks ago | mojo4music.com | Tom Doyle

In remembrance of Blondie drummer Clem Burke, who has sadly passed away aged 70, MOJO revisits a career-spanning interview with the pop kings and queen of New York new wave. Fusing art and punk and classic pop in their Lower East Side crucible, Blondie became a poster on the world’s bedroom wall, uniquely iconic. But as their revelatory 2022 box set revealed, they were a band for all seasons, with strengths their fame obscured and, perhaps, ultimately undermined.
The Waterboys – Life, Death And Dennis Hopper Reviewed: Bonkers but brilliant celebration of late actor

2 weeks ago | mojo4music.com | Tom Doyle

Mike Scott salutes the wild at heart countercultural figure. The Waterboys★★★★SUN RECORDSSome years ago Mike Scott chanced upon an exhibition of the ’60s photo art of Dennis Hopper, best known as the radical, freewheeling actor/director.
My Morning Jacket Is Reviewed: Kentucky combo find new impetus on first album in four years

1 month ago | mojo4music.com | Tom Doyle

Louisvillians’ tenth LP polishes the production while leaving room for jams. My Morning Jacket★★★★ATOMore than a quarter of a century into their career, and after suffering a collective crisis in the latter half of the past decade that nearly saw them split, My Morning Jacket have found fresh impetus with Is, following their self-titled 2021 album. The big change here is their drafting in of an outside producer, Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam), and a sharper focus on melodies.
Steven Wilson The Overview Reviewed: Dazzlingly ambitious set from the modern day progfather

1 month ago | mojo4music.com | Tom Doyle

Neo prog overlord ponders the enhanced perspectives of viewing the Earth from space. Steven Wilson★★★★FICTIONTwo years ago, Steven Wilson curated an expansive 58-track box set compilation titled Intrigue: Progressive Sounds In UK Alternative Music 1979-89.
Mogwai The Bad Fire Review

Jan 23, 2025 | mojo4music.com | Tom Doyle

Though made under trying conditions, Mogwai’s eleventh album is a thing of beauty. Mogwai★★★★ROCK ACTIONAGAINST THE ODDS, Mogwai had a remarkably good pandemic. As the world fell quiet, like many musicians they found extra time and space to think and write, resulting in their tenth album, As The Love Continues, recorded in Warwickshire in 2020 with Dave Fridmann remotely producing via Zoom from upstate New York.
U2 How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb Review: Live-wire offcuts from 2004 LP

Nov 26, 2024 | mojo4music.com | Tom Doyle

Previously unreleased ‘shadow album’ to 2004’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. U2★★★★ISLANDThe post-millennial U2 reclaimed commercial ground with the back-to-basics, if oversmoothed All You Can’t Leave Behind, and wanted to go harder with its successor.
Father John Misty

Nov 20, 2024 | mojo4music.com | Tom Doyle

More soul-bearing, mind-bending grand statements from Josh Tillerman. Father John Misty★★★★BELLA UNIONJosh Tillman has always had a penchant for apocalyptic imagery, tied into his withering view of organised religion.
Michael Kiwanuka

Nov 14, 2024 | mojo4music.com | Tom Doyle

North Londoner continues to perfect his warm, soulful stew on fourth album. Michael Kiwanuka★★★★POLYDORTwice during his spellbinding set on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury this summer Michael Kiwanuka attempted to perform the intro to Solid Ground, the penultimate track on his last album Kiwanuka, before his malfunctioning synth forced him to abandon the song. “This is like my worst nightmare,” he sheepishly grinned, before quickly recomposing himself and seamlessly carrying on.
Classic Tracks: Model 500 ‘No UFOs’

Oct 23, 2024 | soundonsound.com | Tom Doyle

Widely credited with not just inventing techno but also coining the name, Juan Atkins tells the story of his genre-defining record, ‘No UFOs’. Listening now to ‘No UFOs’, Juan Atkins’ pioneering techno track released under the name Model 500, it’s hard to believe it was actually made in 1985.
Pretenders Live Review: Rock and roll masterclass from Chrissie Hynde and co.

Oct 22, 2024 | mojo4music.com | Tom Doyle

Postponed by injury, Chrissie Hynde’s gang roll back into London for a near flawless display. PretendersIF THERE’S A RANCOROUS MOOD amongst the Pretenders’ fans gathered here tonight at this most hallowed of London venues – where everyone from The Beatles to Bob Dylan (not to mention Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland) have previously trodden the boards – then it doesn’t show.