“When is a person no longer interested in being cool?” That was the question asked at a business meeting I attended this week. As you know, I’ve been doing a little soul searching and research on that very topic here in this column so I was naturally interested. For some context—as you may know I work in radio. Don’t let the fact that it’s an all news radio station on the AM portion of the dial fool you: it’s still […]
Monthly archive August, 2011
bLISTerd: Happy Anniversary, MTV!: The 50 Best Videos of the ’00s (40-31)
Madonna writhes around in a leotard, Dave Grohl channels Michael Douglas in “Falling Down”, and The White Stripes do “Conan” (in other words, #50-#41) can be found here . Now, here’s the next batch of new millennium video hits! (said in douchey DJ voice) 40. Burning Beard | Clutch (2005) “Burning Beard” by Clutch had me the moment Neil Fallon opened his maw and barked “Everyday/I wake up/Drink a lot of coffee and watch the CNN” (He also actually barks later […]
The Blerd Playlist: “I Feel The Earth Move (Songs For Earthquakes)”
As most of you know, the East Coast was rocked today by a seismic, 5.8 earthquake that caused chairs to fall over, cats to become briefly startled, and a rash of hasty, terrified status updates. As most of the Blerd staff is located in the Northeast – with the exception of our Californian contributors, who regard earthquakes with the same concern as a hearty fart – we were notably shaken by this disaster. In remembrance of those who were lost […]
Spin Cycle: Blue October’s “Any Man in America”
The average listener can’t, I have to imagine, want to be recommended a Blue October album on purpose. After all: no one but a connoisseur of angst (and, maybe, guyliner) is scouring the ‘net for Blue October reviews. But stranger things have happened than Blue October turning into a sorta-artistically viable band, right? Right? Regardless, Blue October’s new record, Any Man in America, is a late-career upswing in quality for this band. For once, lead singer Justin Furstenfeld sings and writes […]
Spin Cycle: Sly Stone’s “I’m Back…Family & Friends”
Here’s a question for you. Given all that Sly Stone has been through since his heyday four decades ago-not just the addiction but the general weirdness and shadowy stuff-wouldn’t it have been great for him to make a triumphant comeback? As far as second chances go, it would be pretty awesome. Well, folks, I hate to say it, but I don’t think a comeback’s gonna happen for Sly. The new I’m Back: Family & Friends is a weird mishmash of […]
Today in “For Real?”: The West Memphis 3 Are Free
One of popular culture’s most celebrated causes finally achieved some (sorta, kinda) closure yesterday when it was announced that Jason Baldwin, Jesse Misskelley, and Damien Echols – otherwise known as the West Memphis 3 – would be freed after 18 years of incarceration. The trio, convicted of a grisly triple murder in 1993, were set free after entering an Alford plea, an obscure plea that essentially admits guilt on paper, but allows the convicted to maintain innocence publicly. The “guilty” […]
Spin Cycle: Jeff Bridges’ Self-Titled Album
Whether he likes it or not, Jeff Bridges’ new self-titled album falls squarely in the long shadow of his award winning portrayal of fallen country singer “Bad” Blake in 2009’s Crazy Heart. The album’s line-up of contributors certainly doesn’t help separate it from the film: producer and Americana legend T-Bone Burnett returns after his award-winning direction on the Crazy Heart soundtrack, Ryan Bingham (of “The Weary Kind” fame) jumps in on vocals for a few tracks, and three of the […]
It’s Crazy Clown Time!: David Lynch Gets Set To Release Album
Through the years, David Lynch has worked in a variety of media – photography, sculpture, web series, furniture and his own line of coffee (no joke). But it’s Lynch’s film and television work for which he is best known, comprising a dossier of art house cult classics including Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive and the Twin Peaks series (which at times, I still can’t believe aired on prime time network television). Music has always been central to Lynch’s film […]