When I write about music, I rely on comparisons. After learning the mnemonic device that asserted that all well-behaved youths of the male persuasion merited a reward of a chocolatey dessert, every other bit of musical instruction that brave souls … Continue reading The New Releases Shelf — Live Forever
431. Bow Wow Wow, When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (1983) The English band Bow Wow Wow were one of the earliest beneficiaries of the upstart cable network MTV. Bolstered by the distinctive look and cool charisma … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #431 to #429
It started with a promise: Well, it really started with a fan who posted a joking rendition of the Goo Goo Dolls hit in the style of Phoebe Bridgers, catching the eye of the artist herself. Then, on Election Day, … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers, “Iris”
434. Brian Eno/David Byrne, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (1981) In between making the second and third albums by Talking Heads, David Byrne and Brian Eno took a side trip. Two restless explorers, the Talking Heads frontman and … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #434 to #432
This song shouldn’t still be relevant. When Tracy Chapman made a rare television appearance this week, performing on the eve of Election Day for Late Night with Seth Meyers, she selected a song she wrote over thirty years ago and … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Tracy Chapman, “Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution”
437. Fabulous Poodles, Mirror Stars (1978) For reasons that are hard to discern, Epic Records thought the Fabulous Poodles had the potential to become a major rock band in the U.S. The quartet certainly had the chops, playing tight renditions … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #437 to #435
On “Angelina,” the new single from the L.A. band Kitten, they build a breezy pop sound and deploy a burrowing, irresistible hook to create a perfect song of summer. And why shouldn’t they? The summer never ends where they live, … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Kitten, “Angelina”
440. Depeche Mode, Speak & Spell (1981) “When we did Speak & Spell, we were very young and naive,” Dave Gahan said of Depeche Mode’s debut album. “We got slagged off for being teenyboppers because we didn’t care what was … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #440 to #438
I worked at a little college in the mountains for several years, mostly working with a student crew to book shows and other programs into our little coffeehouse. Those students definitely had their favorites, and, because they had excellent taste, … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Mal Blum, “Nobody Waits”
This perpetually trying year has scrambled a lot of traditions for everyone. Usually, my beloved college radio alma mater stages its biggest fundraiser — which happens to also be one of the biggest community events of the year — every … Continue reading Trivia Answer of the Day — Charlie Allen
Coffee for Two 