READ BOOKS AND WATCH MOVIES

About Music

“Is it wrong, wanting to be at home with your record collection?” asks Rob Gordon, narrator and record store owner in High Fidelity, Nick Hornby’s timeless book about hopeless musical obsessives. Unwitting customers entering Gordon’s failing store Championship Vinyl get curator’s access to the magical and mystical world

of music obsessions. You too will be inspired to delve into music when you read the book or watch the movie, which translates surprisingly well to an American indie audience, thanks to a strong cast (John Cusack and Lisa Bonet).

You’ll also be captivated by real-life iconic rock critic Lester Bangs, immortalised by now-departed actor Philip Seymour Hoffman (RIP) in Cameron Crowe’s film Almost

Famous. Bangs describes the painful alchemy of his lifelong obsession: “Music, you know, true music, not just rock ’n’ roll, chooses you.” Something the movie’s heroes, William Miller and Penny Lane (an excellent Kate Hudson), duly discover. Sing Street, meantime, is a rollicking Irish romp through 1980s music. Those who remain infatuated with the culture and music from this decade (you, yes you!) will love the adventures of Cosmo (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) and Raphina (Lucy Boynton) as they venture into early music videos, peroxide, hairspray and eyeliner (for boys and girls). It includes the best quote ever: “No woman can truly love a man who listens to Phil Collins.” We agree!