Blogs
A Good Sign after a Bad Sign
During SXSW this year, roots music magazine Harp announced that it was shutting down. The music industry’s growing unwillingness to spend money on advertising left those reliant on label ads […]
Mac Rebennack, Competitive Eater
He’s no Kobayashi, but Dr. John accompanied the Village Voice‘s Richard Sietsema for a meal to see who could stand the hottest chiles. Here are the results: Three years ago, […]
Mandatory Reading
This weekend, I chaired a panel at the PotLuck Audio Conference on New Orleans music with Cosimo Matassa, Wardell Quezergue, Harold Battiste, Scott Billington and Mark Bingham. Bingham brought a […]
Zappa on Zappa
Dweezil Zappa brings the Zappa Plays Zappa tour to the House of Blues Wednesday. As technical and musicianly as Frank Zappa’s music is, for me it pointed to a life outside of […]
Bo Diddley homework
Since Bo Diddley died earlier this week, people have weighed in with their thoughts. Here are a few highlights: RockCritics.com has critic Robert Palmer’s spot-on take on the “Bo Diddley […]
Why Do It?
The DVD “A Skin, A Night” accompanies the release of the National’s EP The Virginia. The band’s “Fake Empire” was one of my favorite singles last year despite its dour […]
OffBeat contributor on Outkast
Perfect Sound Forever turned over its editorial chores to critic Robert Christgau, who selected work from his students at Princeton, where he teaches Cultural Criticism. OffBeat contributor Drew Hinshaw was […]
A Look Ahead to Voodoo?
Nate Chinen reviewed the reunited Stone Temple Pilots’ show in New York City on Sunday. Although I hope for the best, he perfectly described my long-time feeling about the band: “The […]
Horses & Masters of Reality
I hoped Philip Shaw’s Horses (Continuum)Â would help me get closer to Patti Smith’s debut album. Only “Gloria” and “Land” delivered the wild and dangerous art that her early 1970s press […]
The Sound of Percolation
Today I’m trying to get through some recent electropop CDs of one stripe or another, all of which entertain me. Sally Shapiro: Remix Romance Vol. 1 and 2 (Paper Bag): Swedish dance pop […]
