Searching for Meg White by Melissa Giannini Melissa Giannini writes about her recent attempts to secure an interview with drummer Meg White, a journalistic task that’s always been difficult but has been essentially impossible in the decade-plus since the White … Continue reading Outside Reading — A Conductor of Acoustical Resonance edition
“Save the World,” the new single from Jason Isbell and his backing band, the 400 Unit, is laudably blunt in addressing the scourge of gun violence in the United States. Even as it’s clear that the lyrics are directly inspired … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “Save the World”
WEDNESDAY Rat Saw God (Dead Oceans) — The Asheville band Wednesday waste little time before showing how big they can go on the new album Rat Saw God. Both quick-hit opening track “Hot Rotten Grass Smell” (which runs just over … Continue reading Medium Rotation — Rat Saw God; Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?
40. Stray Cats, Built for Speed (1982) “Crowds around the world are receptive,” declared Brian Setzer, frontman of Stray Cats, shortly after the release of Built for Speed. “The kids were ready for us, but the record companies weren’t. Now … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #40 and #39
Jess Williamson is no newcomer. She’s been an admirably prolific singer-songwriter for at least ten years, releasing four proper studio albums and a couple EPs as a solo artist. Even so, I suspect that I’m not the only one who … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Jess Williamson, “Time Ain’t Accidental”
These posts celebrate the movie trailers, movie posters, commercials, print ads, and other promotional material that stand as their own works of art. Realistically, this is as plausible an origin story for the superheroic talent Tina Turner as any. Other … Continue reading The Art of the Sell — Pepsi-Cola, “Creation” with David Bowie & Tina Turner
I believe it’s largely forgotten that the ending of What’s Love Got to Do with It, the 1993 drama in which Angela Bassett portrayed music icon Tina Turner, was controversial at the time of the film’s release. Following nearly two … Continue reading Tina Turner, 1939 – 2023
DEATH VALLEY GIRLS Islands in the Sky (Suicide Squeeze Records) — Melancholy intertwines with hopefulness on Islands in the Sky, the fourth long-playing outing from Los Angeles’s grand conjurers of grindy, gnarly anthems. Frontwoman Bonnie Bloomgarden says the foundational inspiration … Continue reading Medium Rotation — Islands in the Sky; Good Luck
GINA BIRCH I Play My Bass Loud (Third Man) — In certain circles, Gina Birch is a legend. As bassist and vocalist for post-punk icons the Raincoats, Birch helped create music that was foundational to all manner of off-kilter, independently … Continue reading Medium Rotation — I Play My Bass Loud; Shook
42. The Psychedelic Furs, Forever Now (1982) “I enjoy surprising,” explained Richard Butler, the frontman of the Psychedelic Furs, while making the rounds to promote the band’s third album, Forever Now. “We have many hardcore fans, fans of the first … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #42 and #41
Coffee for Two 