And this week's winner in the "damning with faint praise" category is DJ Ritu, writing in the Eastern Eye. In her article "Asian Invasion Continues into 2005," she raves about Asian musicians hitting the mainstream and how the Bollywood scene is here to stay "and thank goodness for that." But then she snarks:

"Maybe the tiny Asian underground scene will expand a little. They have good opportunity to do so because non-Asian and 'coconut' journalists continue to give priority to every movement and player working within that genre. We'll have made more significant progress in terms of mainstream when it becomes palatable for these folks to write as consistently about some hardcore bhangra bands."

MEOW! Boy, she's right, the Asian Underground is just ALL OVER the mainstream media these days! Posters of breakbeat artists plastered throughout London promoting their bestselling albums, covers of Mixmag and DJ devoted to the explosion of the scene, hearing Shiva Soundsystem remixes while you do your grocery shopping...puh-leeze. And who are these 'coconut journalists'? Friend of SSS Rahul Verma, who had a feature on Bobby and Nihal's India tour in today's Independent? True, perhaps the mainstream hasn't caught up to Asian musicians other than Jay Sean and Raghav, but no need to hate on the Asian Underground, woman! Maybe she's mad 'cause Talvin won the Mercury Prize FIVE YEARS AGO, but come on, Bollycheese and bhangra still get more press, fans and money than these peeps.