So here’s two things I like about modern country: 1) There’s a greater emphasis placed on lyricism than in any other popular music genre these days. Ever listen to an hour or so of Top 40 radio and cringe at the pure stupidity of the lyrics? If I listened to Top 40 radio, I probably would. Even so, I hear enough modern pop music to wonder when the massive dumbing-down occurred. Listen to the average country hit-that is solid song […]
Spin Cycle
Spin Cycle: Okkervil River’s “I Am Very Far”
Austin’s Okkervil River are, in the most overgeneralized and reductive fashion, under the all-encompassing “indie rock” umbrella. As much as I like to label myself a pop savant of sorts, I often try to downplay my love of, say, Iron & Wine around friends – that sort of thing smacks too often of that most dreaded of music fans, the snob who prefers pretentious music that you just can’t get down with, and as such I avoid it and we […]
Spin Cycle: “Turtleneck & Chain” by The Lonely Island
It’s pretty fair to say that Andy Samberg has been one of the best things to happen to “Saturday Night Live” in the past ten years. A show that had become completely buzz-less picked up steam when Samberg started out with his Digital Shorts. Aided by his buddies Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer and celebrity cameos from everyone from Natalie Portman to Adam Levine, Samberg has provided plenty of watercooler moments over the past five years. Compiling those skits with […]
Spin Cycle: Raphael Saadiq’s “Stone Rollin'”
Following up on the retro sounds of his last album, The Way I See It, singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist (and former member of Tony Toni Tone and Lucy Pearl) Raphael Saadiq has decided on a similar format for his fourth solo album, Stone Rollin‘. Variously described as a ’70s tribute album/sequel to The Way I See It (which had a more ’60s vibe) or a “rock” album, Stone Rollin‘ is neither, really. While it’s instantly recognizable as a successor to The Way I […]
Jane’s Addiction 2011
Perry, Dave, and Stephen are baaaaaaaack! I love Jane’s Addiction. I love Nothing’s Shocking, Ritual, even Strays. To say I am excited for the upcoming release in August would be an understatement. The group is iconic. Perry Farrell’s voice is unmistakable, Dave Navarro makes his guitar scream so good and Stephen Perkins can do it all behind the kit. Your first taste of The Great Escape Artist was just released and it sounds like Jane’s have found the magic again. […]
Spin Cycle: Chris Brown’s “F.A.M.E.”
It would be too easy to trash Chris Brown’s new album, right? The guy’s a certified asshole. Not content to man up and apologize for his widely-publicized beating of Rihanna, he’s been a one-man self-implosion device since then-bitching about being blackballed, going on random Twitter rampages and most recently, going bananas after Robin Roberts dared ask him about the Rihanna beating on “Good Morning America”. But what does the fact that he’s an asshole have to do with his music? […]
Spin Cycle: “I Remember Me” by Jennifer Hudson
To say the last few years in Jennifer Hudson’s life have been a whirlwind would be an understatement. Since coming to prominence during the third season of “American Idol”, Hudson won an Academy Award, released her first album, won a Grammy Award, saw two hit singles spin off from the album (which sold over 3/4 of a million records), was crushed by the shocking murders of her mother, brother and nephew, got married (to a fellow reality show contestant), had […]