Imagine it’s 2002. September. Switzerland has just joined the United Nations. Um… Disturbed just released an album… but not The Sickness, the one after that. You know, with, like, “Liberate” and “Prayer” on it. Oh! The first OK Go record just came out! But most of America won’t know about them until they make that…
A lot of the reason I love Big Star is because I love the IDEA of Big Star. They’re an under-appreciated, long-forgotten (American!) band with semi-tragic story, a GREAT group name, three fantastic albums with a definite arc, a jangly power-pop sound, and — most importantly — a slate of great, emotive songs. Throw in…
Ready to be inspired? From South Africa, the voices behind Skylight connected with EarnThis.net to chat about hope, growth, and their debut album. Greg, Pete (who couldn’t join us), Brad, and Wes first transfixed me with their music, but over Skype they charmed me with their openness about issues close to their homes and hearts. …
I’ve mentioned in past articles that I feel a little bit underqualified or redundant when I try to encapsulate the greatness of some of the things on my list. Well, never will that be more true than for today’s entry. Grant is a bigger fan of U2 than most people are a fan of anything.…
(picture courtesy Starpool’s facebook page) This is part 3 of Will’s countdown of the top 100 ska-punk songs 80. All My Best Friends Are Metalheads – Less than Jake “This is a fair request, and I promise I will not judge any person only as a teenager.” This song preaches the simple and common message…
I think it’s safe to say that no band has had a career trajectory quite like Weezer. The rises and falls are numerous, and nobody is quite sure what their legacy is. Let’s walk through it. Sounding like a cross between The Beach Boys, Big Star, and The Rolling Stones, they did not fit into…
Last night’s awards show rollicked along with inspired live collaborations pushing crossover appeal to new heights, touching moments honoring timeless musical champions, and a whole lot of gold getting handed out. At least, I assume that’s how it continued: low on energy and staring down the barrel of a new week of work, I only…
The Doobie Brothers. The Steve Miller Band. James Taylor. Simon and Garufnkel. Lynyrd Skynyrd. John Denver. Elton John. These are among the artists who I loved before I loved music. Their songs I heard at home and on the radio, their greatest hits albums I played in my first CD player. They’re musicians who laid…
So, what is it that makes Taylor Swift appealing? What is it about her music that drew me in enough to make her the most embarrassing entry on my top 100 (or maybe runner up)? Before I try to answer those questions, let’s take a quick walk through her career to date. Swift burst on…
My friends and I did a “fantasy rock band” draft about a year ago. We set up a “roster” of frontman, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, drummer, songwriter, and “wildcard” for a mythical band. Then, like a fantasy football draft, we took turns choosing musicians to fill up that roster. The rule was you get that musician…