Recent Music Columns

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Friday, November 6 2009

Metal, Back from Purgatory

By Michael Brett

The Rockist attends his most eagerly anticipated metal show in over a decade only to find... the Banana Splits?

(more The Rockist)

Wednesday, November 4 2009

The Music That Matters Part One: Bill Monroe and Ralph Rinzler

By Juli Thanki

In the late '30s and '40s, Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys were the biggest stars in country music, but when he appeared onstage at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival, he did so after a number of years spent toiling in relative obscurity.

(more Torch & Twang)

Monday, November 2 2009

Keeping Some Dirt Under the Grass: John Hartford and the Roots of Newgrass

By Bob Proehl

At a time when country music was shining like a new dime, John Hartford and his collaborators were digging into old time music to find something new.

(more Pickin' Down the Line)

Thursday, October 22 2009

Is there Virtue in Virtuosity?

By Will Layman

Two recent releases by leading saxophonists Chris Potter and James Carter raise the question of the utility—or the misuses—of virtuosity in jazz.

(more Jazz Today)

Wednesday, October 21 2009

Bluegrass Grows in Brooklyn

By Derek Beres

The Five Deadly Venoms are leading the charge of a thriving bluegrass scene in Brooklyn.

(more Global Beat Fusion)

Wednesday, October 14 2009

Castle Walls of Blood and Bone: An Interview with Converge

By Adrien Begrand

With four landmark albums this decade alone, Converge has saved its best work for last. Vocalist Jacob Bannon talks with PopMatters about his music, his art, and his insanely talented band.

(more Blood and Thunder)

Monday, October 12 2009

The Messengers

By Quentin B. Huff

K'naan's The Messengers series is a trilogy of episodes designed to highlight the genius of Nigeria's Fela Kuti, Jamaica's Bob Marley, and the United States' Bob Dylan.

(more Busted Headphones)

Thursday, October 8 2009

New Kids on the Block: Hangin’ Tough, Refusing to Let Go

By Monte Williams

In 1989, I loathed the New Kids on the Block with a passion and intensity that only junior high-aged children can bring to their study of popular culture, yet when Hangin’ Tough Live hit DVD, I had to see it.

(more Lowbrow Literati)

Wednesday, October 7 2009

Rosanne Cash on Johnny Cash’s List

By Juli Thanki

Johnny Cash was a serious scholar of music, and this knowledge was reflected in his own work, which included covers of everyone and everything from Jimmie Rodgers to Nine Inch Nails, oldtime hymns to reggae.

(more Torch & Twang)

Friday, October 2 2009

On the Sixth Day God Created Man…Chester: Part Three

By Iain Ellis

Manchester's working class population showed the world that trade unions can resist authority. Such solidarity and class consciousness is heard in the arrogant sneers of the Stone Roses and Oasis.

(more Alternative Rock Cultures)

Thursday, October 1 2009

They Came From Detroit

By Michael Brett

From Marshall Crenshaw looking spiffy in a powder gray suit with matching fedora to ... Carnival Cruise ship reggae?

(more The Rockist)

Kris Kristofferson: Leonard Cohen-esque

By Bob Proehl

Kristofferson at times evokes Leonard Cohen, with a voice that pulls the listener into the depths of darkened barrooms, whether to share a sob story or a bit of tongue-in-cheek sagacity. His 20th album is out soon.

(more Pickin' Down the Line)

Wednesday, September 30 2009

Wedding Players

By Ben Rubenstein

When it comes to controlling the behavior of revelers at a wedding fest -- or rather, rolling with the behavior of revelers at a wedding fest -- a live band can adapt far better than the average DJ.

(more Mixtape Confessions)

Truck Drivin’ Songwritin’ Man

By Andrew Gilstrap

Trucking songs, with their heart-of-gold waitresses, foggy nights, heavy loads, and rolling tires, must hit some modern emotional sweet spot, and musicians on the road share a kindred spirit with truckers.

(more Field Studies)

Tuesday, September 22 2009

Brazilian Funk and Cuban Soul Heat Up the Northern Climes

By Derek Beres

A killer samba beat and an irresistible Cuban Sway: Brazil's futuristic Otto and Cuban expat Alex Cuba deliver soulful sounds.

(more Global Beat Fusion)

Wednesday, September 16 2009

Jazz Cellist Peggy Lee’s ‘Fever’

By Will Layman

Peggy Lee—the cellist, not the late singer—is nevertheless all about singing of a sort. She talks to PopMatters about creativity and collaboration in the beautiful city of Vancouver.

(more Jazz Today)

Wednesday, September 9 2009

Digital Downsizing: CD to MP3 the Hard Way

By Glenn McDonald

When paring down your music collection, is it OK to prune songs off classic albums? An aesthetic (and moral) dilemma...

(more PopShots)

Tuesday, September 8 2009

Louisiana Woman, Texas Troubadour

By Juli Thanki

Need more duets in your life? Loretta Lynn and Ernest Tubb are among country music's best partnerships.

(more Torch & Twang)

Friday, September 4 2009

Ride This Time Machine Down a Road Less Traveled

By Mark Reynolds

Jump into that ’59 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz with the maxed-out tailfins, contemplate what an original Barbie doll could fetch on eBay, and enjoy this roll call of Reasons Why Everything Changed in 1959.

(more Negritude 2.0)

Thursday, September 3 2009

Drunk and Driven

By Michael Brett

Delilah's on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago is everything The Rockist wants in a bar. Loud. Comfortable. Cheap.

(more The Rockist)

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