Ah, the early nineties, when it was a generational statement to say you were bored. In the post-cocaine, post-yuppie world, many of the cultural heroes were shitheads in, or recently out of, school who didn’t know what do with their lives, and didn’t particularly care. Think Bart Simpson and Beavis and Butt-Head. Richard Linklater even…
Part of the trifecta of my favorite songs when I was a little kid (along with “Help” by The Beatles and “I Go To Extremes” by Billy Joel). The soaring guitar riff that works as the song’s hook is probably its most memorable element. I love the track’s feeling of synthesis. Even 25+ years later,…
When I was maybe twelve years old, my uncle and cousin (both devout born-again Christians) gave me two CD’s for Christmas: a Skillet album and a best-of Newsboys album. Both, unsurprisingly to me, have strong Christian messages. While I ended up enjoying both of them, I really stuck to The Newsboys (not to be confused…
Ah, Teenage Fanclub: the terribly named but wonderful band. Their best album is the terribly titled (and covered) but wonderful Bandwagonesque. It’s one of my favorite albums of all time: a slightly grungy blend of power pop and off-kilter indie sensibility. The band shows off fuzzy guitar licks without sacrificing the hooks. TFC rocks fairly simple tunes that glow…
I’ve never dug particularly deep into Neil Young’s discography, which is a shame, because the one album I’ve spun on repeat before is an absolute favorite of mine: The poetic Rust Never Sleeps. Young, with backing band Crazy Horse, blends live sets with studio recordings, all-acoustic numbers with electric powerhouses, all with some of the…
Grimes caught my eye following Pitchfork’s glowing reviews, particularly of this track: At the end of 2014, they called it the best song of the first half of the decade, with a very thoughtful analysis of the song’s and its music video’s politics and resonance. I agree with their take, but I won’t bother recapping…
There are songs in a category I call STATMYALTIYCHBBITGSOAT (song that, at the moment you are listening to it, you can’t help but believe it’s the greatest song of all time). It’s a classification reserved for the most rousing, epic tracks, “Won’t Get Fooled Again” definitely falls into the category, even post-memeification. From the opening chord…
The saga of Kesha’s repeated abuse by her producer and mentor, Dr. Luke, is heartbreaking on numerous levels. That such horrific things could happen to women who should ostensibly have the most agency of anyone — wealthy and revered — is terrifying, and it’s harrowing and awful to hear the stories. Thank goodness she’s finally…
I’m as baffled as anyone that Fall Out Boy has endured for more than a decade. Was there any band that seemed trendier in 2006, more destined to be a bullet point in a “Rememba the Early 2000’s?” listicle in 2018, than Fall Out Boy? That’s certainly what I expected. Yet they had a Top…
One of the annual traditions I’ve picked up in the past few years is playing to “This Will Be Our Year” as the very first song of the year. I’m pleased to say that tradition has continued in 2018. I mean, just listen to it. How can you feel pessimistic about the upcoming 365 days with this…