Issue 366

Spoon.

"I honestly think that we're one of the best bands that are out there," boasts Daniel. "Even though we don't have that advantage of being on the tip of everyone's tongue. You know, we're not a new band. We don't have that hype to us, but I think we're good, and eventually people find out about us."

Part of what makes the band work so well is the songwriting partnership between Daniel and fellow songwriter Jim Eno...

The Boat People
Yesyesyesyesyes
Frumpy/Shock

The Boat People are intelligent pop rockers for two reasons. Firstly their musical repertoire, despite always having a pop edge, is extremely broad in scope: big anthems, quiet folk, catchy choruses, a touch of punk. Secondly, their lyrics are such a friggin' delight to listen to, with metaphors, imagery and satire littered amongst a bit of straight talking.

They're fun, they're colourful and they've been underrated for way too long now...

Carl Barron.

As a child Barron didn't idolise stand up comedians but the passion to become a comedian was already there as, despite his love of tennis, it was obvious from a young age that sport would not be his forte. "I grew up watching Benny Hill and Jerry Lewis; I was obsessed with those guys, but they weren't really stand ups. I like Billy Connolly and Bill Cosby, but I wasn't really into stand up. I enjoy watching comedians and always wanted to be one, I just love funny weird guys on TV. I was okay at sport but not really good, so I thought maybe I'd be good at being strange..."