668. The Rave-Ups, The Book of Your Regrets (1988) The Rave-Ups had the misfortune of discovering how a little taste of success could lead to nasty legal entanglements in the cutthroat music industry. Earthier rock ‘n’ roll players on the … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #668 to #665
Americans Are Sad About Politics. Who Could Blame Them? by Clare Malone Writing for FiveThirtyEight, Clare Malone explores the exhausting nature of the current culture for politically attuned citizens, defined by a cascade of norm-shredding outrages and out-and-out criminal actions … Continue reading Outside Reading — Red and White and Black and Blue edition
I’m supposed to be too cynical to enjoy a rock song that espouses uplift. Reared on the slashing defeatism of college rock heroes who wielded buzzing guitars like impenetrable shields, I am meant to feel my strongest kinship with songs … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Michael Kiwanuka, “You Ain’t The Problem”
Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough? is the third full-length release from the L.A.-based band Bleached, and I think it might be their first recording that truly shows off their talent. Prior outings have been imbued with a thrilling, devil-may-care … Continue reading The New Releases Shelf — Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough?
672. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, The Pacific Age (1986) “There are a lot of people out there who may now consider OMD to just be ‘If You Leave,’” bassist Andy McCluskey told Billboard upon the release of The Pacific … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #672 to #669
Achingly lovely and heart-rending in its poignancy, “Looking for America,” the new single from Lana Del Rey, is a perfectly timed reminder that pop music can be about important topics. Engaging with the monumental challenges of the day is one … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Lana Del Rey, “Looking for America”
The new Black Keys album, Let’s Rock, is their first in a decade without Danger Mouse behind the board. For four straight records, the noted studio maestro named after a cartoon rodent spy served as producer or co-producer for the … Continue reading The New Releases Shelf — Let’s Rock
676. Wire, Kidney Bingos (1988) With the release of the EP Kidney Bingos, Wire reaffirmed they were back in the business of being a band. Eight long years passed without a significant new recorded release from the band before their … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #676 to #673
The Triumph and Tragedy of Woodstock’s Forgotten Album Producer by David Browne The fiftieth anniversary shabby clone version of the famed Aquarian Exposition hilariously collapsed this week, sparing the universe the weird embarrassment of current crummy bands trying desperately to … Continue reading Outside Reading — It’s Your Trip, So Be My Guest edition
Championing my personal pick for the best new song of the week has been an ongoing endeavor since the start of this calendar year, and I haven’t previously had such a difficult time settling on a selection. This week brought … Continue reading This Week’s Model — Pom Pom Squad, “Honeysuckle”
Coffee for Two 