Of all the enduring figures of college rock’s heyday in the nineteen-eighties and early nineteen-nineties, no one mines their own history more effectively than Bob Mould. Across his last several albums, Mould has drawn upon most of the sounds that … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Bob Mould, “American Crisis”
This series of posts covers my long, beloved history interacting with the medium of radio, including the music that flowed through the airwaves. Last night, I commemorated a momentous birthday, crossing over to one of those ages that can leave … Continue reading Radio Days — Then and Now: May 31, 2020
504. Icehouse, Icehouse (1981) The band Icehouse introduced themselves to the world with the song “Icehouse” off of the album Icehouse. The heavily self-referential methodology wasn’t intention or even in place at first. Hailing from Australia, the band started in … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #504 to #501
In deeply unsettled days such as these, there might be no better and timelier message than the proclamation of endurance found in “I Will Try,” the new track from Painted Zeros. The chief creative outlet of singer-songwriter Katie Lau, Painted … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Painted Zeros, “I Will Try”
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. An inarguable legend of country music, Merle Haggard had only one Top 40 single during his career. He was dominant of the country charts, delivering thirty-six #1 songs (and two more collaborations with others that reached the pinnacle), including a stretch from 1971 to 1976 when practically every single landed at the top. Across sixteen singles, he the forlorn ballad “The Emptiest Arms in the World” stalled … Continue reading Top 40 Smash Near Misses — “Okie from Muskogee”
508. Ramones, Halfway to Sanity (1987) The photo shoot that provided the cover art for Halfway to Sanity provides a pretty solid temperature check of how the Ramones were feeling about being the Ramones at the point of their tenth … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #508 to #505
For our household, it started at the Hideout. Looking for concert stops to make on a road trip a couple years back, we went to a little club in Chicago and bought our tickets for a performer we’d never heard … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Shilpa Ray, “Manic Pixie Dream Cunt”
512. Depeche Mode, Music for the Masses (1987) For Music for the Masses, Depeche Mode’s sixth studio album, the band was in search of a new approach in the studio. Since their first recordings for Mute Records, Depeche Mode always … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #512 to #509
Buzzy guitars, a relentless beat, keening vocals racing through intricate lyrics, an irresistible hook that somehow gives was to another hook and maybe yet another hook, a squalling guitar solo, a false ending, and it’s all over in just over … Continue reading This Week’s Model — The Beths, “I’m Not Getting Excited”
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. Little Richard was like no one else. … Continue reading Top 40 Smash Near Misses — “Baby Face”
Coffee for Two 