It’s hard for me to see myself as others now see me. I’m almost 40, bald (although I shave my head thank you very much!), I wear a suit to work, own a house, drive a sedan, have a son…for all intents and purposes I’m a white, middle class dad whose nearing middle age. I’m closer to the demographic of Men of a Certain Age than I am Friends. And yet I don’t feel like it. In so many ways […]
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The Viewfinder: Kanye West Releases Controversial “Monster” Video
Months after leaked versions have started to surface on Youtube, camp Kanye has officially made public his “Monster” music video. Already besieged by controversy – this video is littered with dead white women, always a sore spot for mainstream America – this spot arrives with a brand-new disclaimer, and the knowledge that you can Google a bevy of articles and petitions pleading for its demise. The clip’s divisiveness can be discussed in the comments, of course; but quality is king, […]
Family Feud
Just last week, Blerd and I discussed the evolution of “Nothing Compares 2 U” through its various permutations. Although we gave a brief background about The Family there, it’s worth recounting. The Family were one in a string of many 1980s side projects for Prince, providing another outlet for his then-rich font of creativity. In essence, The Family rose from the ashes of the final incarnation of The Time, which had completely disbanded in 1985. For The Family project, Prince recruited ex-Time members Jellybean Johnson, Jerome Benton, and St. Paul Peterson, […]
The Blerd & Gonzo Cover Convo: “Nothing Compares 2 U”
G: huzzah! B: good evening, sir! Up for a little covers action tonight? G: Hellz yeah. B: You wanna get the festivities started or shall i initiate? G: Go right ahead, sir. this was your pick B: Okey doke. Well first in line… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8854IiDjlw G: mmmmm. Susannah Melvoin. B: She was a minx…and still looks good! G: I know! The Melvoin twins still fine! B: You know, there was supposed to be a Family reunion (ha!) album like […]
This Week in Gay: Rick Welts & Don Lemon
I saw this article on Facebook yesterday, and it inspired me enough that I felt I had to write about it. NBA executive Rick Welts (president and chief executive of the Phoenix Suns) bravely came out in the article, an action that should have resounding repercussions in the homophobic world of professional sports, especially in light of Kobe Bryant’s careless (but not necessarily homophobic) use of the word “faggot” to describe a ref who’d teed him up during a game. Professional sports […]
Is There a New Modest Mouse Album on the Way??
It’s been four years since Modest Mouse released a full-length album (the excellent We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank), and while the band has toured pretty exhaustively as recently as last year, fans like me are still foaming at the mouth for new music from Isaac Brock, Johnny Marr and company. Well, there’s been no official announcement of a new album yet, but there are signs that point towards new music being made. Check out this video interview […]
A Double Dose of Beastie Boys
I’ve got to hand it to the Beastie Boys for keeping things interesting for so long. Diversity pays off, and Ad-Rock, MCA and Mike D. have proven to be among the versatile musicians to emerge from hip-hop’s golden age. They can still hold it down as a delightfully old school rap unit, they can rock it out, and they can jam out soul/funk style as well. It’s also interesting how they can maintain their audience despite taking ridiculously long pauses […]
Pass the Popcorn: “Still Bill”
Bill Withers seems like an unlikely subject for a movie, right? Even if you’re a soul music fan, hell-even if you were a Bill Withers fan up until the point that “Still Bill” was made, his life seemed like it was one of the least likely for even a documentary. An unassuming, regular-Joe singer/songwriter, Withers amassed a string of hits over the course of a decade before abruptly retiring to concentrate on family life. No drugs, no paralyzing car accidents, […]
The Viewfinder: Raphael Saadiq’s “Stone Rollin'”
This new Raphael Saadiq album looks like it’s gonna be a heater-as one would expect from a man who’s probably been the most consistent performer in R&B music for the past quarter-century. He’s already leaked a couple of tracks off of his upcoming Stone Rollin‘ CD, played an energetic set with Mick Jagger at this year’s Grammys, and he’s now unleashed the video for the groovealicious title track. Playing inside a sweaty club with luscious ladies all around-the perfect environment […]
A Blerd Birthday!
At the beginning of last year, I decided I had to make some choices. I wasn’t sure if writing was what I wanted to do anymore, and the main site that I was contributing to at the time wasn’t making me happy. After taking my leave from that site, I figured I’d take some time, try to rejuvenate a little, and then decide what I wanted to do as far as taking a “next step”. Well, folks-taking the “next step” […]
Roundball Soundoff 1/31/11: The Heat Index?
As a Knicks fan this season is so frustrating. We’ll beat teams like the Spurs and Heat but lose to the Kings and Cavs. I’d still take this season over the last 8 but this emotional rollercoaster of a season is draining. The Clippers have looked great in 2011. They dug too big a hole to make the playoffs this year but I’m already looking forward to seeing this team in the postseason in 2012. Who are your picks for […]
