Dead Skin Mask

Marilyn Burns is the original Scream Queen, IMO. Here's the dinner scene of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, where she screams her lungs out. Warning: Distressing and disturbing.




Don't fret: she survived the ordeal.

Just Like Honey

- Lately, I've been preoccupied with the Jesus And Mary Chain. The first band to marry feedback with melody. Here's their first song from their first/best album, Psychocandy.



Wonderful noise. Here's another classic, Never Understand.



Devil-may-care at its best.

All In The Family

And I thought The Simpsons were the best. I was wrong. (Just testing out putting youtube clips here.)

Dreams

- I feel better. Thank you.

- You give and you give. and it's a lie that you don't expect something in return. It wears me out. It's worn me out.

- I may not look like one, but I don't get to where I am now without being tenacious. I could have given up on journalism after my former boss rubbished my reports. I could have been resigned to my fate to become an engineer, after getting a C5 in my GP the first time round.

So if you want to bring me down, I say: "Bring it on, punk."

- Nice dream.

It's Been Awhile

- Since I've felt so talentless. So f**k you all.

- Either you sink, or you swim. And I've always swam. So f**k you all.

- Don't over-analyse. Just try, try, and try again until it's right. So f**k you all.

- I feel numb. Too much is not enough.

The Saints Are Coming

- Go download this song. By U2 and Green Day, IMO the only two bands that matter now.

- Just had a long drive around the island, with Bruce Springsteen blasting in the car stereo. I realised I had to do a top 10 on a musician I'm still in awe of. So here goes.

10. Streets Of Philadelphia
Perhaps the most restrained song of his. Yet one of his most moving, a stark portrayal of an Aids victim for the film "Philadelphia".

9. Atlantic City
With a guitar and a four-track, he recorded this sad gambling tale. No need for refinement.

8. My Hometown
There are more famous songs from his "Born In The USA" album, but none as poignant.

7. Brilliant Disguise
The best song about a relationship falling apart.

6. Born To Run
His first hit, and he piles on the grandiosity. Beneath it, however, is a desperate tale that we can relate to - to leave our small neighbourhood and make it big.

5. I'm On Fire
A short interlude, but somehow, I find it extraordinarily moving.

4. Born In The USA
No it's not a patriotic song.

3. The River
Jobs can kill relationships. The heartbreaking line: "Is a dream a lie if it don't come true/Or is it something worse?"

2. Darkness On The Edge Of Town
His bleakest song, yet perhaps his truest.

1. Thunder Road
No other song encapsulates as much joy, pain, anger and happiness into four unforgettable minutes of rock and roll.