Balthvs Go for a Groovy Space Ride in Berkeley
Balthvs’ wide-ranging vibe includes influences from psychedelia, indie rock, dub reggae, surf rock, cumbia, Middle Eastern music, and more.
funk rock
The Enduring Mystery of the Jaynetts’ “Sally Go ‘Round the Roses”
The Jaynett’s ’60s pop single “Sally Go ‘Round the Roses” is equal parts all surface and inscrutable depth, which is why a range of artists cover it to this day.
All Things Reconsidered/Between the Grooves/Featured: Top of Home Page/Features/Music/Music Features
Between the Grooves of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’
In 1984, funk rock legend Prince combined music and film into a major extravaganza called Purple Rain, and it went to the top of the charts for 24 weeks in a row.
Red Hot Chili Peppers Bring Their Unlimited Love to Milan
Red Hot Chili Peppers mesmerize 70,000 fans with a decades-spanning set and emerge as heartfelt winners of Milan’s outstanding I-Days music festival.
Talking Heads’ ‘Speaking in Tongues’ at 40
Speaking in Tongues captures Talking Heads at the zenith of their funk freakout and just before a big gray suit would change everything. It’s an art-pop funk masterpiece.
All Things Reconsidered/Featured: Top of Home Page/Features/Interviews/Music/Music Features/Pop Past
Living Colour’s ‘Vivid’ Turns 35: An Interview with Vernon Reid
What better way to celebrate Living Colour’s landmark album Vivid on its 35th birthday than talking to the band’s guitarist and primary songwriter, Vernon Reid.
A Certain Ratio Move the Past Into the Future with ‘1982’
A Certain Ratio have always been willing to fiddle with their sound. That they do so in 1982 doesn’t surprise and fits with their rejuvenation in the 2020s.
Headlong Into the Dirty ’70s with the Rolling Stones’ ‘Goats Head Soup’
Is the Rolling Stones’ Goats Head Soup an underappreciated classic or a reckless work marking their descent into a misunderstood and chaotic era – and should we care?
Umphrey’s McGee Get into the Mystic in Petaluma
Any band that can keep it together for 25 years is to be commended, and Umphrey’s McGee have largely done it the old-fashioned way.
The Comet Is Coming Are Developing New Musical Genres
The Comet Is Coming’s sound is hard to define (psychedelic rave jazz?), landing them on confusing festival lineups. They couldn’t be happier about it.
‘Talking Heads: 77’ Pointed to the Future 45 Years Ago
Talking Heads: 77‘s power-pop short song format sounded familiar, but those herky-jerky rhythms, eccentric melodies, and strained yelping vocals led to New Wave.
Red Hot Chili Peppers Rock the Bay and It Feels So Good
Funky alt-rock stalwarts Red Hot Chili Peppers have ace guitarist John Frusciante back for his third tour of duty, an exciting development for longtime fans.