Friday, August 10 2012
Bruce Springsteen, Country Music Idol?
Country singers of all stripes have covered or referenced Bruce Springsteen in their songs, yet the reasons they do so, and what they see in his songs, is not as easy to read as you might expect.
Wednesday, August 8 2012
Fear and Hope in the Great Depression
Songs about the fates of small towns are nothing new. For as long as they've existed, and for as long as they've been changing, songwriters have found inspiration in the conflict of "then vs. now". Southeast Engine finds no shortage of tales to tell from the plight of Canaanville.
Tuesday, August 7 2012
In Defense Of… Jay-Z as the Most Important Person in Hip-Hop History
In light of Jay-Z being named executive producer of the NBA2K video game franchise last week, we look at just how far Mr. Carter has taken the boundaries of hip-hop and success -- and how or if the culture will survive once he decides to leave it for good.
Thursday, August 2 2012
‘American Pop’... Matters: Ron Thompson, the Illustrated Man Unsung
More than just a rock performance piece, American Pop is an engrossing drama with a pathos that burns through the animation cells in certain scenes even to this day.
Wednesday, July 25 2012
An Open Letter to Tom Cruise: How to Make a Movie Rock
Dear Tom Cruise: We know you are hurting from the failure of Rock of Ages. However, if you learn the lessons from the best rock-themed movies, you can still make a rock film for the ages.
Tuesday, July 24 2012
Change is in the Air (Waves)
How much do you really love your favorite local radio station? You'll find out when it goes off the air.
Friday, July 20 2012
If It Ain’t Got No Blastbeat, It’s Not My Revolution: Panopticon
Black metal is vicious and confrontational. But it has its bad side, too. Yet, there's a black metal act out there that provides all the necessary brutality, with none of the bigotry. It's revolutionary in both spirit and substance.
Tuesday, July 17 2012
What Nashville Might Learn from the Carolina Chocolate Drops
The Carolina Chocolate Drops show us why it's important that country music gets in touch with its real base: rural America and the many gifts that rural America offers.
Monday, July 16 2012
Three I’ve Ignored, Shame on Me: Elliot Sharp, Mike Reed & Joe McPhee
Like future friends who keep inviting you to parties even though you’ve never even RSVP'd, these artists have a benevolent persistence. Really, it’s about time I checked them out, and I'm glad I did.
Thursday, July 12 2012
Grimes and Female Celebrity
Grimes's Claire Boucher is the indie heroine of the year, which makes it all the more interesting that she's using her newfound celebrity to subtly challenge what we expect of women in the entertainment industry.
Tuesday, July 3 2012
Strange Tongues: Vivian Stanshall and ‘Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead’
With the re-release of his long-lost, much-mythologised début solo album, Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead, the legacy of the multi-talented Vivian Stanshall deserves fresh appraisal from the young, the curious and the weird...
Friday, June 29 2012
Profunda Gravis Metalli
Underground metal is a strange beast. It often struggles to celebrate its successes lest it somehow betray its outsider status. Well, to hell with composure and coolness.
Thursday, June 28 2012
In Defense Of ... “Call Me Maybe” As the Song of Summer 2012
With Carly Rae Jepsen's recent smash, we are reminded of how great pop music can be whenever it decides to return to fun and innocence.
Tuesday, June 26 2012
The Mute Generation: How Gen-X Lost Its Voice
The whole “voice of a generation” concept is pretty ridiculous to begin with, but in the case of my cohort, the so-called Generation X, it’s downright laughable.
Thursday, June 21 2012
Cock Roaches and Keith Richards: How Do Some Bands Seem to Last Forever?
The Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, Metallica and other rock groups have been around for decades. What are the keys to their longevity?
Wednesday, June 13 2012
In Defense Of ... Billy Corgan’s Foray Into Professional Wrestling
With the news that the Smashing Pumpkins leader is developing a reality television series around his Resistance Pro imprint, it's hard to bet against the singer's success as a businessman.
Tuesday, June 12 2012
Texas Music Triumphs in the iTunes Era
Some music labels aim to score the next flavor of the week; others, like Saustex in Texas, buckle down and see seminal and compelling backyard styles.
Monday, June 11 2012
Talkin’ Political Occupy Blues: Todd Snider
As Todd Snider's career has progressed, he has become more and more vocal about the plight of the poor, and about the powers that he views are keeping them there.
Friday, June 8 2012
Bruce Springsteen Shouts at the Hard of Hearing
Why has Springsteen set aside his storytelling in favor of social jeremiads? Who is he singing to? Why is he trying to do something different now, or is it just, as some critics claim, his brand of righteous rock as usual? The critical questions are not about the subjects, but instead, style, method and strategy.
Monday, June 4 2012
Think Twice About Your Music, It’s Alright: ReDigi and Murfie
Make a musical mistake? You could soon be whistling a new tune, thanks to two startups that shake up the secondary market and bring ownership back in style.
