Monday, October 31 2011
All That Glitters: Led Zeppelin - “The Battle of Evermore”
Leaving behind heavy metal bombast for high fantasy, on "The Battle of Evermore" Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant duets with folk singer Sandy Denny for a thrilling mandolin-driven epic inspired by Celtic myth and some books about hobbits.
Tuesday, October 25 2011
All That Glitters: Led Zeppelin - “Rock and Roll”
In the hands of a force like Led Zeppelin, a tribute to the golden age of rock music will inevitably sound thoroughly '70s -- wantonly libidinous and bone-crushingly heavy.
Monday, October 17 2011
All That Glitters: Led Zeppelin - “Black Dog”
As part of an eight-week commemoration of the 40th anniversary of one of the most successful albums ever released, Sound Affects's Between the Grooves series examines Led Zeppelin's awe-inspiring fourth LP. First up is "Black Dog", a brazen expression of lust that balances its primal urges with nimble riffing and a clever arrangement.
Friday, September 9 2011
Counterbalance: Year One
In this special one-year anniversary edition of Counterbalance, Eric Klinger and Jason Mendelsohn discuss their first year combing through the pop music canon (as determined by Acclaimed Music's calculations of every best-of list available), share a few favorites, and justify a couple items on their expense account.
Monday, August 29 2011
Wherever He May Roam: Mick Wall Enters Night With a New Rock Bio
Besides writing the harrowing and hilarious drug memoir of his rock life, Paranoid, critic Mick Wall has written biographies on Iron Maiden, Axl Rose, as well as the definitive 2009 Led Zeppelin biography. He talks with PopMatters about his latest book, Enter Night.
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.
Graveyard: Hisingen Blues
The Swedish retro-rockers return with a an assured, surprisingly nuanced second album.
Tuesday, July 5 2011
Oi, You Alright?: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Journey from India to America
As an Indian PhD student at an American university, Sriram Dayanand was given a front row seat to the pre-Internet maelstrom that was the glory of rock 'n' roll. Now covering cricket for ESPN and Sports Illustrated, he details what it was like to journey from musical scarcity in India, to the rock pantheon of the United States.
Friday, April 29 2011
Counterbalance No. 31: ‘Led Zeppelin IV’
The apples turn to brown and black, the tyrant’s face is red, and Klinger and Mendelsohn are taking a look at the 1971 colossus Led Zeppelin IV. Does anyone remember laughter?
Monday, April 25 2011
Rocking Chair Blues: Howlin’ Wolf - Goin’ Down Slow
"Goin' Down Slow" is a dramatic tour de force in three minutes and 18 seconds, standing as the most emotionally-shattering performance on Rocking Chair.
