R.E.M. – Lifes Rich Pageant – 1986 And then R.E.M. rocked.In my senior year at NYU my roommate and I decided to paint all over our dorm room. He, being much more talented than I and smarter, created enormous doodles and motifs. I painted “I believe in coyotes, I believe Continue Reading
Music Reviews
Reflecting Pool: REM – Fables of the Reconstruction
REM – Fables of the Reconstruction – 1985 The anticipation for Fables of the Reconstruction of the Fables or whatever the hell the guys were calling it, was palpable. How could it not be? REM was, by this time, OUR band. We heard them on college radio when we were Continue Reading
Reflecting Pool: REM – Reckoning
“There’s a splinter in your eye and it reads ‘react’. R. E. A. C. T.” R.E.M. – Reckoning – 1984 Often dismissed as Murmur part 2 (I have no empirical data for this, I just feel that way through conversations…and the fact that this album seems to never get talked Continue Reading
Reflecting Pool: REM – Murmur
R.E.M. – Murmur – 1983 If we agree that the birth of rock and roll was 1955 with Rock Around the Clock, and it’s 2011, then the midway point for rock music is 1983. The year Murmur was released.What can be said about Murmur that every rock critic hasn’t already Continue Reading
Reflecting Pool: REM – Chronic Town
Since I have been listening to Zevon and I know that Sentimental Hygiene was basically a Hindu Love Gods record with superstar guests and THAT was REM with Zevon as lead writer/singer AND I know that REM has a new album about to come out, I thought this would be Continue Reading
Listening Post: Warren Zevon – The Envoy
Warren Zevon – The Envoy – 1982 On “The Overdraft” Zevon takes the plunge into previously unexpected territory. He writes and sings and produces a song like Jim Steinman. Which means he’s the wrong guy to sing it. It belongs in Meat Loaf’s catalog. It’s also dig. I mean, BIG. Continue Reading
Listening Post: Warren Zevon – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School
Warren Zevon – Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School – 1980 Opening with strings, a parade snare and bigger all around sound, the title track of Bad Luck Streak is a semi-powerhouse. I say “semi” because I’m not convinced that Warren is comfortable trying to be a “rock star”. Fortunately Continue Reading
Listening Post: HelloGoodbye – Would It Kill You
HelloGoodbye – Would it Kill You – 2010 (Buy It)The blog-tweet string continues.3 years ago I heard “Hold it In” by Jukebox the Ghost on a blog via the Peel Blog aggregator. I became a fan. Then I heard about them going on tour with a band from socal called Continue Reading
Listening Post: Warren Zevon – Excitable Boy
Warren Zevon – Excitable Boy – 1978 The first side of Excitable Boy is an exercise in song craft, heartache, humor and brilliance. It can not be matched and probably hasn’t in it’s genre, except by Randy Newman, perhaps.The second side gets a bit funky, with “Night time in the Continue Reading
Listening Post: Warren Zevon – Warren Zevon
“Enjoy every sandwich”. Zevon and I have had the slightest relationship over the years. I love the songs I’ve heard and, even though Roland, Werewolves, Excitable Boy, etc, are amazing tunes, I never bothered to give any album more than a moment. Until now. Getting them on vinyl is easy Continue Reading