The Messiah Will Come Again
Sean MurphyNo, not that Messiah. This Messiah: Actually, that's not true. We won't see Roy Buchanan again, since he left us back in 1988. Yet another unspeakably distressing musician suicide. Or was…
Henry Threadgill: This Brings Us To, Volume 1
This is a difficult review to write, knowing that the folks who follow Henry Threadgill are likely already aware of (or in possession of) this new release—his first in eight…
Six (Not So) Easy Pieces
Back in 2006, I recall reading many intriguing reviews of Daniel J. Levitin's book This Is Your Brain On Music. It's been on my Amazon wish list ever since, and…
If I Could Wave My Magic Wand…
It was twenty years ago today... No, seriously. Twenty years. Fall semester (because the world was still measured in summers and semesters), sophomore year. Out of all the indelible memories…
Sound & Vision: Featuring Jacob Miller
First of all, after Bob, somebody who I felt could have been a big star was Jacob Miller. Bob basically became a rock star in Jamaican music, and Jacob, I…
Sound & Vision: Featuring U-Roy
They sure don't make them like they used to. Album covers that is. In fact, they don't even make albums. Indeed, is anyone besides me even buying compact discs…
The Wisdom of Crowds: A Celebration of Humanity via YouTube (Part One: Music)
Everyone knows YouTube is the best shortcut to favorite, as well as forgotten video clips. And while it is well worth recognizing, and celebrating, the millions of anonymous DJs…
And in the end the list you take is equal to the list you make…
So: it's been five full decades that The Beatles have dominated music, our minds and, increasingly our wallets. Although its release was an understated affair, you might have heard something…
Alligator Lizards in the Air: In Search of the Sublimely Awful Lyric
I can think of a lot of rock bands who have written some laughably awful lyrics. So can you. Part of rock and roll's infectious (and mostly innocuous) appeal is…