The Saddest Songs I’ve Ever Heard
Recently it occurred to me that its been a long time since I’ve heard a new song that is really sad. I’ve encountered plenty of new music that is perverse or aims to be shocking, but not anything that I … Continued
The Best and Worst of 2016
It’s been another exciting year, and we want to thank you all for reading and, if applicable, posting comments on our blog. Once again, we would like to close out the year with some summary remarks about good and bad stuff … Continued
The Best and Worst of 2015
It’s been another exciting year, and we want to thank you all for reading and, if applicable, posting comments on our blog. Once again, we would like to close out the year with some summary remarks about good and bad stuff … Continued
Michaels and Morrissey
There are studies in contrast, and then there are studies in contrast. During the past six months I’ve read two autobiographies—of sorts—and the similarities and differences have been striking. The two authors work in very different fields, both of which … Continued
The Best and Worst of 2014
It’s been another exciting year, and we want to thank you all for reading and, if applicable, posting comments on our blog. Once again, we would like to close out the year with some summary remarks about good and bad stuff … Continued
The Big Deal About the Beatles
Recently a friend of mine shared with me his frustration over how some younger folks scoff at his love for the music of the Beatles. They dismiss them as an overrated boy band. So, he asked me, “When someone asks … Continued
U2’s Songs of Innocence: A Review
When U2 dropped their new album, Songs of Innocence, on half a billion people two weeks ago, it was greeted with a range of responses, from jubilation (“At last, the new U2 record is here!”) to annoyance (“What?! I didn’t … Continued
The Black Keys’ Turn Blue: A Review
Some of the great albums in music history have been borne out of divorce. From Bruce Springsteen’s Tunnel of Love to Willie Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger to Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks, it seems the devastation of the end … Continued
My Favorite Morrissey Songs
I’ve been reading Morrissey’s Autobiography (which I will review for Books and Culture soon), and of course this has sent me into quite a fit of listening to his music, both the Smiths and his solo stuff. The Pope of … Continued
Arcade Fire’s Reflektor: A Review
After three acclaimed albums—Funeral (2004), Neon Bible (2007), and The Suburbs (2010)—the expectations for Arcade Fire’s fourth album were exceptionally high, particularly when it was announced this one would be a double album. On The Suburbs, Win Butler and Co. … Continued