Thirty years ago, in 1988, the Sicilian Vespers released their self-titled debut LP. Comprised of Pittsburgh brothers David and Francis Rifugiato, the band delivered bouncily jagged punk pop music with notably off-kilter lead vocals. I take great delight in imagining … Continue reading One for Friday — The Sicilian Vespers, “Baccala”
864. Visage, Visage (1980) The new wave band Visage had their origins in the simple, noble act of trying to bring David Bowie music to the people. Steve Strange and Rusty Egan (the lead singer and drummer, respectively) successively set … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #864 to #861
This was written for my former online home, as part of a recurring feature I dubbed “Flashback Friday.” It amazes me that we’ve reached a point nearly fifty years after the break-up of the Beatles and the scruffy fella see … Continue reading From the Archive — The Beatles
Thirty years ago, in 1988, Close Lobsters released the EP What is There to Smile About. It was part of a very typical strategy to take every measure to ensure not too much time passed between new recordings for bands … Continue reading One for Friday — Close Lobsters, “What is There to Smile About”
868. Laurie Anderson, United States Live (1984) ”Since I tour a lot, especially in Europe, ‘I’ve frequently found myself sitting across the dinner table from people who ask me, ‘How can you live in a country like that?,’” Laurie Anderson … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #868 to #865
Thirty years ago, in the summer of 1988, Edie Brickell and New Bohemians released the album Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars. Without their lead singer’s name out in front, the band had spent a couple years gigging around the Deep Ellum … Continue reading One for Friday — Edie Brickell and New Bohemians, “Circle”
These posts are about the songs that just barely failed to cross the key line of chart success, entering the Billboard Top 40. Every song featured in this series peaked at number 41. in 1958, Frank Sinatra expertly divided him … Continue reading Top 40 Smash Near Misses — “Mr. Success”
872. Sting, …Nothing Like the Sun (1987) These days, I’m as prone as anyone to treat the performer born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner as a punchline of uncoolness, sitting swaddled in a couture turtleneck on some sprawling, misty English estate. … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #872 to #869
Thirty years ago, in 1988, Transvision Vamp released the album Pop Art. The British band’s debut album, Pop Art was positioned alongside the Primitives’ stellar Lovely as part of a mini-movement of brashly confident retro pop delivered by acts fronted … Continue reading One for Friday — Transvision Vamp, “Tell That Girl to Shut Up”
876. Screaming Trees, Invisible Lantern (1988) “When we did Invisible Lantern, we were probably ready to call it quits,” Van Conner, bassist of Screaming Trees, once acknowledged. “We all had crap jobs, and had no future. You weren’t making any … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #876 to #873
Coffee for Two 