Joy Division and the Genius of Humanity
Sean MurphyTransmission 4x. Original: From the excellent movie Control: Playmobil Stop Motion: Caribbean steel-band: What else is there to say? (Here is some of what I said last November): If you…
The Ugly and Unlistenable Death Spiral of Eddie Van Halen
jamiecSammy Hagar seldom disappoints. When I heard he was tapped to replace ass-clown extraordinaire David Lee Roth in 1985, I anticipated uninspiring results. I was correct (your mileage may vary).…
No, Really: Jeff Beck is God
Since it happened to be Keith Relf's birthday, it seemed appropriate to pay tribute to him on Tuesday. Plus, as I attempted to articulate in that piece, he warrants celebration as…
Five From The Yardbirds To Remember Keith Relf
Keith Relf. Who? Exactly. Quite possibly the best vocalist you've never heard of, you still have heard him if you are passingly familiar with rock music. Trust me. He was…
Five from Van the Man on St. Pat’s Day
Van Morrison. St. Patrick's Day. That is all. "And It Stoned Me": "Into The Mystic": "The Way Young Lovers Do": "Tupelo Honey": "Cyprus Avenue":
Really Don’t Mind If You Sit This One Out: Understanding Prog-Rock, Part One
They don't make 'em like that no more, literally, figuratively, metaphorically or --especially-- sarcastically. They can't. For one thing, because they don't make album covers, or albums, anymore. Also…
Taking It All Too Hard: Unironic Love For Phil Collins
There must be some misunderstanding. Is he in or out? (You've got to get in to get out...) Not the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which Genesis was finally…
Music From The World Tomorrow: Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics
Even though I’m sincere when I insist that this release is the most impressive album I listened to in 2010, I’m not sure who I would recommend it to. That…
Halo of Ashes
It's Ash Wednesday, which affords me the opportunity to talk about the Screaming Trees. (What, did you think I was going to talk about the hopelessly outdated tradition of Catholics…
Mardi gras in my mind (Revisited)
Mardi gras makes me think of New Orleans and all the good things I associate with The Crescent City. Among many other things, New Orleans makes me think of snapping…