RINGO AT THE FLOWER SHOW

Contemporary Britain is still so much more a literate culture than America that the GUARDIAN gives away paperback books in its Sunday Observer (whereas the Mail gives away pop CDs). And this past Sunday's special Music section included a feature article on My Bloody Valentine by... Sean O'Hagan, who ran the Beatles monthly for years, and a rave review of Umalali, The Garifuna Women's Project, by Hendrix author Charlie Gillett. Enough to make you wonder whether the stateside reviewing culture is half this healthy. Ringo Starr did make an appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show after all, made all the papers.