"Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl Not a Christmas song. Sorry, not sorry. Absolute belter of a track though. Mighty. Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts by sending me an email: rss@thomasrigby.com.

I just want to talk about the absolute masterpiece that is "West End Girl" by Lily Allen. Documenting her mental state during the breakdown of her marriage to the sheriff from Stranger Things, this concept album is vulnerable, heart-breaking, and hilarious. All the hallmarks of a Lily Allen album. Her turn of phrase...

"In Dulce Jubilo" by Mike Oldfield He of Tubular Bells fame, Mike Oldfield throws down the gauntlet for the most heavy metal Christmas song of all time — and it's not even heavy metal! This is a bouncy bombastic folk tune that gets the blood pumping and the foot tapping. Folk you can headbang to. Thanks for reading...

"A Mad Russian's Christmas" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra Orchestral heavy metal just works. In general, but especially at this time of year. Shredding Tchaikovsky conjures up images of swirling snow, pine trees, and wolves pacing a steam train through the forest. Or something. Thanks for reading this post via RSS!...

Daenerys Targaryen has a history of bad decisions, reckless behaviour, and burned bridges. Can a chance meeting with enigmatic do-gooder Tom change her for the better in time for Christmas? "Last Christmas" absolutely smashes it out of the park; year-round Christmas shop run by a woman called Santa, homeless people,...

"Gothic Christmas" by Within Temptation This has been on my Christmas playlist for so long. Straight up Scandinavian viking symphonic metal with operatic vocals and Norse mythology but it's all about Christmas. Firmly tongue in cheek and a genuinely decent song. Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your...

A year ago, I tested the responses from Google's Vision API using a tool called They See Your Photos which showed Google's analysis was riddled with inaccuracies and weird judgements. I ran another experiment this year to see what, if anything, had changed and –wow!– have there been changes! NoteI put a handful of...

Following the rules of sequels, this follow-up to 2022's "Haul Out The Holly" ramps up the Christmas and shows the student becomes the master by introducing a nemesis for Lacey Chabert's character who I'm still annoyed isn't called Holly. The "baddies" are unbelievably punchable; fame-hungry, competitive, festive...

Hallmark hit another homerun1 with this heartwarming Christmas romantic comedy. Lacey Chabert and a guy who isn't a Baldwin but looks very like a Baldwin star in this tale as old as time: she is not a fan of Christmas, he loves it. Will they? Won't they? The weakest/most wholesome "enemies to lovers" trope but then...

"O Come All Ye Faithful" by Bad Religion Back when I was a naughty little boy dragged along to Midnight Mass, this is how I'd sing along to the hymns; at least, I thought I sounded all clever and punk like Greg Graffin but I probably just sounded like an annoying kid ruining everyone else fun. Thanks for reading...

1st December - 7th December There's no real idea of "winding down for Christmas" where I work. Clients release budget and work ramps up towards pre-break deliverables. This is the long way of saying I've been busy! I had my annual review; good feedback from my peers. I am skirting the fine line between "invaluable"...

"Hating you for Christmas" by Everclear Shimmering along in that "post-Grunge" era that didn't seem to take off so much, Everclear had some absolute tunes. Weird flex to go Christmassy but I'm not mad at it! Thanks for reading this post via RSS! Let me know your thoughts by sending me an email: rss@thomasrigby.com.