Katy Perry said it best in an interview: Ariana Grande has the best female vocal in pop music today. It’s difficult to fight such a statement, as bold as it stands. Despite being mocked for her height and youthful appearance, in addition to amassing a reputation as a diva and Mariah Carey copy cat, it’s…
10. Jessi J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj – “Bang Bang” I would call this my “guilty pleasure” selection, but, as Colton and I have repeatedly noted, there should be no guilt in the pleasure of a finely-crafted pop number. The Max Martin-produced “Bang Bang” is probably my favorite pop radio staple this decade, with a sizzling beat,…
Beach House are, mostly, well-understood by now. We expect them to craft heavenly dream pop that’s less noisy than classic shoegaze but not as sparsely bleak as all-time mopers like Red House Painters. As they’ve proved before on songs like ‘Myth’ and ‘Lazuli,’ they represent another in a long and distinguished line of bands who…
Ben Folds was 35 when he sang the words: “Everybody knows it sucks to grow up.” I’m not quite there yet, but my life now is not what it was in high school or college. My appreciation of music has transitioned through several phases. I won’t say I’m past my prime; things are just different…
Download link (you may have to right click and “Save As”) In case you missed it: here is a link to part 1, covering 1960-1990 This is the second half of the podcast Colton and I recorded in the wake of the Grammies walking through and evaluating the history of the Best New Artist award. (Spoiler alert:…
This is the third and final part of my Tomas Kalnoky/Streetllight Manifesto retrospective. Read part 1 here and part 2 here. After the release of Somewhere in the Between, Streetlight Manifesto’s incessant touring continued, as did their lofty promises. Within a year or two of the release of Somewhere in the Between, the Streetlight website announced a…
Ah, the jingle. Brainwashing at its most palatable. Like all aspects of advertising, jingles are carefully crafted to instill a need in you, the consumer. Without the company’s product, your life lacks meaning, and you are an inefficient, unsuccessful organism. You loser, you. Better do something about it right quick. The most insidious (and…
This is part 2 of my Tomas Kalnoky/Streetllight Manifesto retrospective. Read part 1 here. After BotAR broke up, Kalnoky got together a lineup that more resembled a traditional ska-punk band: trumpet, trombone, two saxes, guitar, bass, drums. This new band recorded an EP, signed a 5-album deal with Victory Records, and named themselves “Streetlight Manifesto.”…
Streetlight Manifesto is quite possibly my favorite band of all time. And they’re probably be my favorite musical artist — band or solo — of the past twenty five years. They’re responsible for my favorite concert ever and three of my favorite albums ever. I love love love them. And so I decided to…
This is part 1 of my Tomas Kalnoky/Streetlight Manifesto retrospective Streetlight Manifesto — in conjunction with Tomas Kalnoky’s various acts — is my favorte musical artist of the past quarter century. It was a steady uphill climb. Driven by Kalnoky’s unique and sublime songwriting, I’ve been a fan since he was a teenager writing for ska-punk…