320. Meat Puppets, Up On the Sun (1985) Any album describe as the “beer and pot” album in a band’s discography is sure to be a success on college radio, not that Meat Puppets necessarily needed the appeal of implied … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #320 to #318
The quality of the new cut from Sleigh Bells that I admire most is the way it take the tried-and-true tricks the band has been plying since the jump and gives them a winning spruce-up. On “Locust Laced,” the jackhammer-burst … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Sleigh Bells, “Locust Laced”
It’s reasonable to surmise that no modern musician with an already well-stocked discography was better prepared to persist in their creativity through an extended lockdown than John Darnielle. The frontman of the Mountain Goats started his now-lengthy tenure as a … Continue reading The New Releases Shelf — Dark in Here
This series of posts covers my long, beloved history interacting with the medium of radio, including the music that flowed through the airwaves. General programming was taken seriously at the college radio station where I spent the bulk of my … Continue reading Radio Days — Programming Clocks
For at least a little while longer, every new album is going to feel like it carries the woozy hangover of the lockdown times. I don’t know anything about the genesis of Faye Webster’s new album, I Know I’m Funny … Continue reading The New Releases Shelf — I Know I’m Funny haha
323. Peter Murphy, Love Hysteria (1988) Following the dissolution of the landmark band Bauhaus, it took Peter Murphy some time to find the track he wanted to ride on. Following his time as the frontman for the goth rock pioneers, … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #323 to #321
Just like that, we have new music from the punk rock find of 2021. A mere two months after their ferocious performance of “Racist, Sexist Boy” at the Los Angeles Public Library went viral, leading to network television appearances and … Continue reading This Week’s Model — The Linda Lindas, “Oh!”
Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land, the new album from Marina, opens with its title cut. An electrified drum beat and burbling synths are soon joined by Marina’s rich, low-tone vocals declaring “Our ancestors had to fight to survive/ Just … Continue reading The New Releases Shelf — Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land
This series of posts covers my long, beloved history interacting with the medium of radio, including the music that flowed through the airwaves. Any time I cross the threshold of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s student-run radio station, WWSP-FM, it … Continue reading Radio Days — Then and Now: July 18, 2021
326. Asia, Asia (1982) Steve Howe was exhausted. The guitarist had spent years trying to keep his longtime band Yes a going concern as key members came and went. Following the release of the 1980 album Drama, the recording of … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #326 to #324
Coffee for Two 