This week, I’m going to share some cover songs that I like. “Locomotion” is one of only a handful of songs to reach #1 Billboard by two different artists, and, to my knowledge, the only one to hit the top 5 by three different artists across three different decades (’60s, ’70s, ’80s). It’s especially peculiar that…
This week, I’m going to share some cover songs that I like. Game of Thrones has become such a massive sensation that you can name-drop “Daenerys” or “Tyrion” or “Jon Snow” in casual conversation and assume people will know what you’re talking about. It’s one of this generation’s great zeitgeists. The show’s fantastic theme song…
This week, I’m going to share some cover songs that I like. Here’s what I wrote about “My Heart Will Go On” when I picked it as my 2015 “Best YouTube Cover.”: I’m a freakazoid obsessive of YouTube covers, and my big discovery of the year was Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, which recruits former members of…
One idea I’ve had for an Earn This article for years and years is “things I like the idea of, but don’t like in practice.” If you just explain the thing to me, I’ll think it’s awesome. But once I experience it, I’m tepid (or worse). Near the top of that list would be Sara…
This week, I’m going to share some cover songs that I like. On Facebook, I am a member of a group called “Dogspotting.” It’s a fantastic group. Members share pictures and videos of dogs they “spot” during their everyday life. The group has a long set of strict rules about what qualifies as a genuine “dogspot.” One of those…
Today marks 45 years since Dark Side of the Moon debuted. Nearly half a century later, it remains one of rock’s touchstones. Though its structure is fluid, its best moment is a distinct song: “Time.” It’s one of the only Pink Floyd songs I love without reservation; a masterpiece with a stunningly crafted soundscape. The accompanying words are depressing…
Did you know that the first Billboard #1 hit by a British band was a funky, sci-fi-inspired instrumental? “Telstar,” named after a satellite, has an earworm of a tune, transmitted through some sort of synthesize (Wikipedia says a “clavioline”). It boasts the vibe of a cheesy black-and-white alien movie, the type that would be featured on Count…
As I mentioned in my review of “Levels” by Nick Jonas, I am a fan of the Jo Bros. I think boy bands, in general, can make really appealing pop music. And I think Jonas Brothers, in particular, built a power pop sound, blending frothy pop hooks with rock instrumentation and dynamic harmonies. I considered…
NOFX is a band that, to quote S.T. Erlewine’s review of Punk in Drublic, is “a heavy, speed-addled, hook-conscious post-hardcore punk group.” Although their assault on the eardrums is a little relentless for my tastes, I have listened to a few of their albums to amusement. I also have a deep, abiding love for the band’s…
I have a joke I like to tell that my favorite Dylan song is “One Headlight”… written by Jakob Dylan, Bob’s son. (Okay, so it’s not much of a joke.) The Wallflowers are a rock band that are essentially a vehicle for Jakob Dylan. Their big moment came in the mid-’90s with the success of sophomore…