Jim Carroll

Editor RTÉ Brainstorm

Jim Carroll is the editor of RTÉ Brainstorm.

The Rattler: Jim Carroll on the unsubtle art of not giving a f**k

Have you read that Quincy Jones' interview with GQ yet? What do you mean you haven't? Take twenty minutes out of your day and read it right now. Go on, we'll be here when you come back. We'll make a pot of tea and find some biscuits and wait for you.

Culture • 06 Feb 18

The Rattler: Jim Carroll on Next Big Things

This is the time of year when everyone who writes about culture doesn't know which way to look. We spend December (and half of November by this stage) looking back on the year that was.

Music • 01 Feb 18

Lorde - a little Melodrama went a long way in 2017

The Rattler: Jim Carroll's Best International Albums of 2017

The narrative around the best albums of any given year is usually put together by hacks in November. That's when these lists are compiled, the placings arranged and the year in pop summarised in tens and twenties.

Music • 30 Dec 17

Lankum - if you haven't listened to Between the Earth and Sky, you should.

The Rattler: Jim Carroll's Best Irish Albums of 2017

Every year is a good year for music. There are always those magic moments in every 12 month period when you go wow at what you've just heard. It happens every year, every single year. You just have to keep your ears open.

Music • 27 Dec 17

"Oh no - just when we thought we were safe from that Tipperary idiot..."

The Rattler vs U2 - how long must they sing this song?

It was what they did to Charles Stewart Parnell which was the final straw. One night last week, U2 projected the cover of their new album onto the statue of Parnell which sits at the top of O'Connell Street in Dublin.

Music • 13 Dec 17

The Rattler: Jim Carroll on Rolling Stone's rise and fall

There's a pizza joint round our way which uses framed Rolling Stone magazine covers to dress the bare walls. As you chew on your pizza, you can take in the homage to the glory days when the cover of a music magazine was something to take to the bank.

Music • 22 Nov 17

The Rattler: Jim Carroll on why Oasis don't matter

There were many things you could have predicted about the Gallagher brothers when Oasis swaggered this way back in the dark ages.

Culture • 20 Oct 17

The Rattler: On the road with the sweethearts of the radio

Anyone who ever presented a few late night shows on a radio station in Dublin knew Jimmy or someone like him. He was the guy who got in touch asking you about tracks, tipping you off to new music and reminding you about old favourites.

Music • 11 Oct 17

Nirvana, with original drummer Chad Channing, circa the release of their debut album Bleach.

The Rattler: Jim Carroll on Sub Pop, Nirvana & life after grunge

It all began with a fanzine, made its reputation with the era-defining sound of grunge and continues a run of very strong and impressive releases to this very day.

Music • 20 Sep 17

The Rattler #4: Jim Carroll on LCD Soundsystem's dreamy comeback

The best place to begin your deep dive into the new album from LCD Soundsystem is to actually pick up a book. The book in question is Meet Me In the Bathroom, Lizzy Goodman's fantastic oral history of the last time New York bands were king.

Music • 05 Sep 17