All music discussion goes here, kiddos.
“Drop the “The.” Just “Alkaline Trio.” It’s cleaner” – Mike Park to Matt Skiba. Probably. Growing up in the northwest suburbs of the Chicagoland area, they were among the more well-known punk acts, despite getting little radio play. I’d say … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Alkaline Trio
The Stone Roses (1989) were and are Ian Brown – lead vocals, percussion, bongos; John Squire – guitar, backing vocals; Reni (Alan Wren) – drums, percussion, backing vocals; Mani (Gary Mounfield) – bass guitar. Album produced by John Leckie. This … Continue reading Album Spotlight: The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
The full chart from October 18, 1980: https://weeklytop40.wordpre… How’s the chart as a whole? We conclude our tour through the 80s with a visit to the turn of the decade. A year after Disco Demolition Night, there was still enough disco … Continue reading American Top 40 Flashback: October 18, 1980
The full chart: https://weeklytop40.wordpre… How’s the chart as a whole? It’s packed with star power. The only true one-hit wonder on this chart is Joyce Kennedy, and even that song was a duet with Jeffrey Osborne. The filler on this chart … Continue reading American Top 40 Flashback: October 13, 1984
Whether you know him as the novelty songwriter of ditties like “Yellow Snow” and “Valley Girl”, the crazy innovative musician that first showed up on the Steve Allen show playing a bicycle, the tireless free speech advocate the fought Tipper … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Frank Zappa
Warren Zevon was born in Chicago, IL in 1947. He was an esteemed singer-songwriter, often known for his cutting and hilarious lyrics and interesting ballads, first writing songs for vocalist Linda Ronstadt and the band The Turtles. He didn’t really … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Warren Zevon
The full chart: http://americantop40.wikia…. How’s the chart as a whole? 1987 is a huge year in pop; an echo of 1984 with blockbuster albums that are really quite good, a crop of breakout stars, and a goldmine of forgotten pop nuggets … Continue reading American Top 40 Flashback: October 3, 1987
The full chart: https://weeklytop40.wordpress.com/1981/09/26/us-top-40-singles-week-ending-september-26-1981/ How’s the chart as a whole? I regret wasting that F on last week’s chart from 1986. While that chart was full of tacky, disposable music, much of it was at least peppy and listenable. 1981, … Continue reading American Top 40 Flashback: September 26, 1981
“You can never give / the finger to the blind.” And with that bizarre, hilarious non-sequitur dryly delivered over a rubbery, wobbly slow-motion guitar riff, Luna took off. Luna was the successor to songwriter/guitarist Dean Wareham’s beloved cult band Galaxie … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Luna
Full chart: https://weeklytop40.wordpre… How’s the chart as a whole? Dreadful. I rate 1986 overall as a middle-of-the-pack 80s year, and I like the day-glo accents and British sophisti-pop that are hallmarks of the year. However, this chart is a showcase for … Continue reading American Top 40 Flashback: September 13, 1986
The full chart: https://weeklytop40.wordpre… How’s the chart as a whole? Freakin’ fantastic. 1983 is a banner year for pop music. I’m not sure the world of American pop music would ever feel so unified again: the rock of this year swung, … Continue reading American Top 40 Flashback: September 10, 1983
American Top 40 – September 4, 1982 – Here’s the link to the full chart. How’s the chart as a whole? Along with 1981, 1982 has the feel of a transitional year, with disco finally dead as a doornail and MTV … Continue reading American Top 40 Flashback: September 4, 1982
The full chart: https://weeklytop40.wordpress.com/1985/08/31/us-top-40-singles-for-the-week-ending-august-31-1985/ For about the last year, I’ve developed a Sunday ritual of listening to the syndicated rebroadcasts of Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 countdowns from the 70s and 80s. A list of stations that broadcast the programs can … Continue reading American Top 40 Flashback: August 31, 1985
Alt-metal, desert rock, stoner metal….the Queens of the Stone Age wear many shoes and they all manage to fit. In light of the recent release of their latest LP Villains, I’m going to take a look at the career of the … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Queens of the Stone Age
I bloody love The Dollyrots. Everything about them is a smile generator. They’re an explosion of happy pop-punk where you’re never more than 3 minutes from a “Whoo!” The Dollyrots are Kelly Ogden on bass and vocals and Luis Cabezas … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: The Dollyrots
I first became familiar with Jon Brion while watching Paul Thomas Anderson’s melodrama Magnolia somewhere around 2003. While watching what is, in my opinion, one of the best movies ever made (I felt that way while watching it that first time), I … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Jon Brion
As pop music junkies, I’m sure everyone reading this has that favorite band that came oh so close but never quite broke through; usually they have a decent first record or two, then make that leap into the awareness of … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: The Smithereens
Usually I do these chronologically, as most artists have a career arc of building to (x) and then declining, and that leads to a fairly easy narrative to construct. Juno Reactor don’t have any sort of narrative, as they seem … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Juno Reactor
Singer, songwriter, music producer, model, actress. Janelle Monáe wears a lot of hats. And a few suits. She is quirky without being annoying, creative while still being accessible, and eclectic while still having her own identity. She is beloved by … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Janelle Monáe
Being Brazilian musical royalty seems pretty cool. Besides the benefits of being rich, you get to grow up with incredible musicians hanging out with your fam all the time, jet-set around the world, and live off the goodwill of millions. … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Bebel Gilberto -Electro Bossa Nova Is Actually Pretty Great
The guiding voice and often the only voice (writer, composer, guitarist, pianist, and vocalist) behind the low-fi rock of the Mountain Goats, John Darnielle today is an acclaimed author whose early autobiographic rock songs turned into bizarre lovecraftian poetry and … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: The Mountain Goats
