Sean Murphy loves music, books, and movies and can’t imagine a world without sub-titles. He was born in northern Virginia and has never found a compelling reason to leave. He studied English at George Mason University and has an MA in Literature. One of his thesis papers dealt with the utopian impulse in ‘70s rock (which, depending upon one’s perspective, at least partially explains why he opted not to purse that PhD in Cultural Studies). During his time at PopMatters he has written music and movie reviews, along with the occasional essay. Despite living just outside DC, he remains recalcitrant in his conviction that paychecks mean less than personal fulfillment and that the pursuit of peace is not ironic. Endorses, in no particular order: anyone who is similarly allergic to right-wing radio and reality TV, the Red Sox, miniature schnauzers, Pho and Blanton’s single barrel bourbon. Ambition: to write the pretty-good American novel. Other stuff, too: http://bullmurph.com/
Features
Tuesday, November 29 2011
The Past Is Calling: Reconsidering The Who’s 'Quadrophenia'
Everything Pete Townshend did up until 1973 set the stage for Quadrophenia. It’s all in there: the pre-teen angst, the teenage agonies and the post-teen despondency.
Friday, November 11 2011
Why Not Pink Floyd?
Pink Floyd is perhaps the first truly underground band that cultivated a sound that was too remarkable to remain obscure. They willed themselves to be huge, and their influence is undiminished today.
Monday, October 24 2011
Drag the Dream Into Existence: Reassessing Rush’s Masterpiece
Moving Pictures is, without any question, not only Rush’s masterpiece, but one of those rare albums that epitomizes an era. It's a template of sorts for the way rock albums were made in the early '80s.
Thursday, September 22 2011
R.E.M.: The Greatest American Band. Ever.
Where R.E.M -- like any band -- really distances themselves and makes their true case for greatness is in the lesser-known and semi-obscure songs.
Tuesday, August 2 2011
10 Albums That Supposedly Suck (But Don't)
Some of these are hopefully no-brainers, others may be head-scratchers. All of them are albums that deserve a fresh appraisal.
Columns
Friday, April 9 2010
Hellraisers: They Lived This Way Because Nobody Else Could
These guys were geniuses at life: living fully on their own terms, and after all the broken glass, bludgeoned livers, and wrecked relationships, the sum shined brighter than the scattered bits and pieces.
Reviews
Friday, January 13 2012
Human Connections, Missed Connections, Chance Connections: 'Three Colors: Blue, White, Red'
Krzysztof Kieślowski avoids explicit political and religious tautology to make a case for faith that is wholly human -- and humane.
Friday, January 6 2012
Gentle Giant: Three Friends / Octopus
It would be a shame if Gentle Giant did not receive another (or first) assessment, particularly for would-be fans who simply have not had the opportunity to experience their music.
Friday, December 16 2011
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Winterland
Hendrix, perhaps more than any rock guitarist (before or since) was willing -- and able -- to improvise, so it’s intriguing to hear his ever-evolving interpretations of these familiar songs.
Thursday, December 15 2011
New Zion Trio: Fight Against Babylon
Where Saft's previous Reggae-tinged efforts used distortion and dissonance to create a sort of ambient dub soundscape, his New Zion Trio seeks clarity and concision.
Friday, December 9 2011
Jethro Tull: Aqualung (40th Anniversary Special Edition)
Jethro Tull suffers if compared to the critically reviled acts of the progressive era, but in terms of their influence, longevity and versatility, they really are a unique entity in rock music.
Blogs
Friday, February 3 2012
Don Cornelius: Rest in Peace, Love, and Soul
Soul Train creator/host Don Cornelius will be remembered--and should hereafter be celebrated--for giving a voice to Black America, and he should also be acknowledged—and praised—for making White America less white.
Friday, December 16 2011
Sui Generis on the Rocks: An Appreciation of Christopher Hitchens
The best way to compliment a writer, as a writer, is to recognize, with neither regret nor resignation, that on your best day you will always stand in awe of what they achieved.
Thursday, November 17 2011
Black Magic: 15 Essential Original Lineup Black Sabbath Songs
The original lineup of one of heavy metal's first and greatest bands has recently announced it had reunited and is heading back into the studio, so now is as good a time as any to dive into the vault and celebrate some essential Black Sabbath offerings from that incarnation.
Thursday, November 10 2011
The Alchemist: Trey Spruance's Ongoing Quest for Greatness
If what eventually follows Secret Chiefs 3's Book of Horizons (2004) is half as good as the opening salvo (now seven years old, already!), we are in for something special, and Trey Spruance will begin to solidify his case as one of the most important -- if largely unheralded -- musicians of his time.
