What am I supposed to do? I am attracted to guys who are built like chicks and I am into bands who sound like Animal Collective; so obviously I am into Nico Haag who is guilty on both counts. And just because he has a slender frame, it doesn’t mean he isn’t manly. He is. He […]
Read more "Never Heard of ‘Em? #20: Bleeklino"Ten years ago, we thought Sufjan Stevens belonged to all of us. When he produced two state-themed albums, Michigan and Illinois, and announced a career plan to make an album for each of the remaining forty-eight states, we thought he would be our Walt Whitman. He would turn his unique musical and literary gifts over […]
Read more "Darkness and Light and Oregon"Great Western Valkyrie by Dave Keneston The inferno of passion emanating from Jay Buchanan’s vocal chords and Scott Holiday’s guitar is evident within the first seconds of “Electric Man” from Rival Sons’ new release, Great Western Valkyrie. This is rock n’ roll the way it was meant to be played. It’s what The Black Keys […]
Read more "Rock is Not Dead: Not if Rival Sons Have Their Say"by Dave Keneston It’s hard to imagine that the Allman Brothers Band may be coming to end after 2014. With the announcement of the departure of Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes, the future is uncertain at best. After 45 years of brotherhood and family, it’s only right to give respect and due acknowledgment to the […]
Read more "Top Ten Favorite “Duane Era” Allman Brothers Band Songs (Part Two of Two)"by Dave Keneston The Allman Brothers Band has undergone many incarnations throughout its 45 year history, but the most famous and influential era has to be the original lineup of Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, Jai Johanny Johanson (Jaimoe) and Butch Trucks. From early 1969 to Duane’s tragic death on October 29, […]
Read more "Top Ten Favorite “Duane Era” Allman Brothers Band Songs (Part One of Two)"“Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita…” Introduction: I’m 36 at the time of this writing, just about the same age as Dante Alighieri – “halfway along our life’s path” – when he himself descended into the Hell, noble Virgil (and occasionally Beatrice) at his side. Dante, I should mention, was not received into Hell as are most: […]
Read more "Top 10 Albums You Can Take Straight to Hell: 1 of 10"Veedon Fleece Van Morrison Polydor Records, Warner Bros. Records 1974 by Matt Meade Part I: Where I Tell you How Much I Love Van Morrison I never would have listened to this record had it not been for that breakup. Sometimes you need a good breakup to lead you into something. You use the end […]
Read more "The Van Morrison Insurance Policy for the Soul (In 5 Parts)"by Sarah Gray I work out what might be qualified as an “obsessive” amount, or so I’ve been told. I maintain those people are not, in fact, working out nearly enough. Music is an essential part of maintaining your motivation throughout a long workout. Of course you are tired after work, everyone is tired after […]
Read more "Run Like You Stole It – 10 Songs For A Kick Ass Run List"Maybe there is no point to this list. There’s no conflict here. There was never a time that I didn’t love Kate Bush. No hard won battle to overcome her progressive rock-opera proclivities. Never at odds with her vocal ascendancy over at least five octaves, occupying spaces that were ghoulish, languid, sexual, motherly. No personal affront […]
Read more "The Top 3 Kate Bush Albums of All Time: A Love Letter (1 of 3)"by Sarah Gray Since I, myself, was quite the angsty teen in the 90s, I will be giving you two (!) bonus songs for this decade. These songs are near and dear to my heart. I was such an angsty teen it has barely worn off. I still throw my clothes on the floor, do […]
Read more "Sticking it to the Man – Six Decades of Teen Angst (The 90s)"by Sarah Gray Music was always important in my family. My grandfather intended to be an opera singer (which, honestly, I cannot even begin to fathom) before he got “the call” and became a minister instead, which as you might imagine, is quite a longer story that in some way involves the army and meeting […]
Read more "The Lovers, the Dreamers, and Me"“One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show” Music has long been the medium through which mainstream Americans are most likely to become aware of, and then adopt, clever idioms used by those on the margins of society. A teenage Lil’ Wayne raps about his dental prosthesis circa 1998 and ten years later, it is national news […]
Read more "Yeah, But Do You Know What That Song Is Actually About? #1"
OLD SCHOOL RECORD REVIEW 