In Defense of Good Sax, Part One
Sean MurphyA writer whom I respect recently made an offhand observation that I'd like to challenge --not because his opinion isn't valid but rather because it seems representative of a casual…
Born in the USA: 30 Years Later
(I first wrote this piece in November, 2009 under the title "Born in the U.S.A. or, Every Day is Veterans Day". Today marks the 30th anniversary of the date this…
Born In The U.S.A. or, Every Day Is Veterans Day (Revisited)
I. Personal Remember when Born in the U.S.A. was ubiquitous? The album and the song. Bruce was already big, but he wasn’t over the top. Born in the U.S.A. put…
Revisiting Bruce’s Barbaric Yawp, via Louis CK
This righteous, eloquent and not uncomplicated rant by National Treasure Louis CK has, rightly, been getting a lot of buzz this week. I'm actually working on a separate piece discussing…
I Love Eleanor Friedberger More Than She Loves Playing Guitar
I am very much on the record of endorsing the Fiery Furnaces; indeed, I rank their 2006 joint Bitter Tea as my personal #10 choice for best albums of the…
A Not-So-Modest Proposal
Wouldn't it be fantastic if, in addition to bumper stickers and salutes at ball games, we supported funding and social programs (and give more than fleeting thoughts) for the well-being…
The Boss, The Big Man and the Best Rock Song of the ’70s (Revisited)
(6/18/2011: Reposted from two years ago. R.I.P., Big Man!) When the change was made uptown and the Big Man joined the band... The rest was history, wasn't it? I am,…
Compassion*
License registration, no I ain’t got none, But I got a clear conscience ‘bout the things that I done… When you find yourself singing Bruce Springsteen lyrics in New Jersey…
Born In The U.S.A. or, Every Day Is Veterans Day (Revisited)
I. Personal Remember when Born in the U.S.A. was ubiquitous? The album and the song. Bruce was already big, but he wasn’t over the top. Born in the U.S.A. put…
They Will Rock You, They Are The Champions: The Consummate American Bands (Revisited)
October ’08. In the spirit of two quintessentially American inventions (obsessions, really), baseball and rock and roll, it seemed like a swell idea to merge the two in a lighthearted…