If Neil Young released Buried Treasures, it would be hailed as a return to form.
And when Drive-By Truckers evidence similarly unselfconscious immediacy, we praise their ability to inhabit characters.
But Rich Hopkins is for real, a regular guitar-toting guy who grew a conscience in the Peace Corps, cowriting his best songs to date with his hair-salon-owner girlfriend, Lisa Novak.
The Tucson troubadour’s 28th studio set offers Crazy Horse-style workouts and plangent psychedelic feedback jams, but, as shown by the bleakly beautiful Friend of the Shooter, they are increasingly engaged with the southwest’s dark underbelly.
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Chez, Chortle.com
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Idrie, Youtube
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Etienne, Chortle.com
Etienne, Chortle.com
Borathigh5, Youtube
Borathigh5, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter