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Archive for the ‘Critics as Musicians’ Category

Critics who have embarrassed themselves, or been successful, by being musicians.

Neil Tennant Recalls Smash Hits Days in Word Magazine Podcast

Posted by s woods on May 30, 2011

I’m only about halfway through this podcast, but if you’re a fan of a) the Pet Shop Boys, b) Smash Hits magazine (Creem for New Pop Brit teens?), c) the years 1980-1983 or so, it’s a fairly useful discussion that fills in a lot of blanks about all three of those things. Particularly about Neil Tennant’s stint as a music journalist, which is a bigger deal than I was aware. Or maybe it’s treated like a big deal because, you know, he’s Neil Tennant. Anyway, some interesting stories here.

Via Word magazine… Click here.

Posted in Critics as Musicians, Podcast | Leave a Comment »

If It’s Wednesday, It Must Be Deborah

Posted by A.C. Rhodes on October 13, 2008

Nothing makes us happier than when a fellow rock writer and musician is seen fit to be featured in someone’s blog. Such was the case when Deborah Frost was interviewed for Life, Words & Rock ‘n’ Roll, Chicago scribe Stephanie Kuehnert’s blog about, you guessed it, rock and roll life. In it, Deb discusses her band, the Brain Surgeons, livelihood despite icky record labels and her band’s new record, Denial of Death. Described as rather lengthy, you will uncover many facts you may have glossed over before, like the rock royalty writer taking singing lessons from a celebrated opera coach and her first impromptu gig singing “Que Sera Sera” at a grand hotel in Palm Beach, FL.

There’s even a raffle for her goods more suggestive of another Florida coast. She also addresses the girlhood phenomena of two Beatle camps; those who wanted to be girlfriends, or members of the fab four themselves. So what are you waiting for? Hop to it. Then, of course, reread our fabulous interview with her.

Posted in Blabbin', Critics as Musicians | Leave a Comment »

Critics Making Noises With Their Mouths, Not Just Their Hands

Posted by s woods on January 8, 2008

Phil Dellio devoted his bi-monthly Sunday morning radio show last week (on CKLN in Toronto) by playing 90 minutes worth of music by rock critics, a theme you often hear about but don’t often get to hear (at least not compiled in one place).  It was a great set, featuring tunes by Vom (Meltzer), Insect Trust (Robert Palmer), Pet Shop Boys (Neil Tennant), Yo La Tengo (Ira Kaplan), Christopher Milk (John Mendelssohn), and, um, DJ Shoe (yours truly…)–among other critical luminaries, past and present.

Here’s Phil’s playlist. 

And here’s 3/4 of the show, which I was able to capture in mp3 format (I join in progress a little late, midway thru the Dictators, and was forced to fade out at the end during the Delinquents tune).

Sub-question: What other examples are there, good or bad, of critics making music, that Phil doesn’t cover here?

Posted in Critics as Musicians | 11 Comments »

 
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