Hey Gibson, Let’s Talk Guitar Albums (Revisited)
Sean Murphy(August, 2010) Okay. Gibson (the fine folks who bring us some of our best guitars) has recently announced their selections of what they deem the Top 50 Guitar Albums ever.…
Thoughts on the Olympics, Improvisation and Jay Adams
The Olympics, particularly the two most popular sports from each season—the gymnastics and figure skating—sells itself, accurately, as an embodiment of competition and tension, complete with a touch of voyeurism.…
Got Mars?
So this is pretty neat, huh? Look at us Earthlings, getting our Mars on. It's too bad Ray Bradbury did not live long enough to see this, as he surely…
Forever Never Changes: Remembering Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee died six years ago this week (August 3, 2006). I not only am keen to remember --and celebrate-- his life and work, I also appreciate the fact that the piece I…
More (Free) Magic from Jon Madof’s Zion 80
If you are just arriving to the party, here is some more on Jon Madof, and his latest project, Zion 80. Jon has generously made yet another live performance…
The Only Band That Mattered, Part Two
Short but sweet: "Somebody Got Murdered" is a somewhat overlooked masterpiece from their most misunderstood album (Sandinista!). Is it just me or does this song, not only in sound but…
The Only Band That Mattered, Part One
Check it: a new documentary about The Clash coming out. Enough said. I'm so glad I was alive when The Clash roamed the earth so I can say I saw…
Via the Spectrum Road with Vernon Reid
Listening to Vernon Reid speak is like listening to Vernon Reid play the guitar: you need both ears and all your mind to keep up. Ideas flow eagerly, thoughts within…
Ten Albums That Supposedly Suck (But Do Not): #6 & #5
6. Cranes, Population 4 (1997) Cranes should have been huge for the same reason they could never be huge: they were too original, eccentric and off-putting to reach a mass…
Ten Albums That Supposedly Suck (But Do Not): #8 & #7
8. Fantômas, Fantômas (1999) This one is a bit of a stretch; it may even be cheating a little bit to include it since it’s not (necessarily) dismissed. On the…