In 2001 we posted a transcribed version of a “lost” Lester Bangs interview from 1980 Continue reading “Bangs Radio Interview 1980 (audio version)”
Bangs Radio Interview 1980 (audio version)
“American Pie” and 1972 (zoomcast)
Phil Dellio’s new book, Happy for a While: “American Pie,” 1972, and the Awkward, Confusing Now, is the subject of a wide-ranging (well, lengthy—we don’t really shift gears all that much) zoom call between Phil, Chuck Eddy, Continue reading ““American Pie” and 1972 (zoomcast)”
RockCritics DotCom’s Spring/Summer 2023 Extravaganza —
…starts tomorrow, June 1. Unless I’m not ready and it starts Continue reading “RockCritics DotCom’s Spring/Summer 2023 Extravaganza —”
Top however many singers of all-time
I was going to respond to Rolling Stone‘s recent 200 Greatest Singers list with my own Top 40 or Top 20 or even 5, but maybe I’ll just turn it over to you. Continue reading “Top however many singers of all-time”
Howard Druckman’s Top 12 Songs of 2022
Pictured above: TOBi
1. Julian Taylor – “Wide Awake”
The melody of “Wide Awake” is sunny; the instrumentation, charming Americana/roots; the singing, unaffected. But it’s the lyrics, bittersweet and heartfelt, layered with multiple meanings, that captivate me most. Continue reading “Howard Druckman’s Top 12 Songs of 2022”
Top 10: Plastic People of the Universe (Joe Yanosik)
By Joe Yanosik
(As a follow-up to the previous video post, Joe Yanosik, author of A Consumer Guide to the Plastic People of the Universe, offers up his personal PPU Top 10. Continue reading “Top 10: Plastic People of the Universe (Joe Yanosik)”
A Consumer Guide to the Plastic People of the Universe
In A Consumer Guide to the Plastic People of the Universe (2021), Joe Yanosik reviews and grades every known PPU record on the planet (including side projects and mutations, not to mention books and DVDs), all the while — through a series of “historical interludes” — telling the band’s remarkable story, from their post-Beatles/Velvets-obsessed roots in Prague to their critical (if somewhat unwitting) role in bringing down a repressive Soviet-backed regime. I mean, the MC5 were cool and all, but… Continue reading “A Consumer Guide to the Plastic People of the Universe”
My Lou Top 10 (Tim Powis)
By Tim Powis
My Lou Top 10—well, not exactly. That would include “Sweet Jane” (the final, Loaded version), “Heroin,” “Pale Blue Eyes,” the usual stuff. Ho hum. Here’s a more idiosyncratic or at least, I hope, less obvious selection. Continue reading “My Lou Top 10 (Tim Powis)”
Passing Thru Fire (and Hurricane Annie)
Tim Powis: My Interview With Lou Reed
It wasn’t supposed to be me. Or, considering how things turned out, maybe it was. At any rate, the original plan was that my boss, Alida, would go to New York to interview Lou Reed for Arts & Minds, the Bravo program I’d begun working at two or three months before. Continue reading “Passing Thru Fire (and Hurricane Annie)”
Top 50 Favourite Songs: Jill Blardinelli
Here are a couple of observations upon looking at my completed list.
I noticed that the country songs are very no-holds-barred romantic by both pre-rock, rock, and post-rock (is that what we’re in now?) standards.
I am intrigued by how much country songs (such as Luke Bryan’s) rock the way rock n’ roll used to do. “That’s My Kind of Night” sounded so appropriate next to my hard rock music choices of the seventies that made my list. Continue reading “Top 50 Favourite Songs: Jill Blardinelli”
Top 50 Favourite Songs: Aaron Aradillas
What makes a song great? Is it the beat? The vocals? The rhythm? Maybe it’s a particular drum or guitar solo. For me, it’s a combination of all those things and more. Like movies, a great song becomes part of your identity. You carry it with you even when you’re not listening to it. Continue reading “Top 50 Favourite Songs: Aaron Aradillas”
Lester letters, pt. 2
Vancouver Sun readers respond to Bangs’s John Lennon obituary, Dec 23, 1980. Continue reading “Lester letters, pt. 2”
Poe, Einstein, Bangs et al.
For Lester Bangs, on the 40th anniversary of his death. Continue reading “Poe, Einstein, Bangs et al.”
Caught in the Act of Listening
My latest YouTube mix began as an attempt (ill-fated) to make a sound collage of my recently posted Top 50 Favourite Songs list, but quickly mutated into something much narrower, in sound if not in scope. Continue reading “Caught in the Act of Listening”
A+ (Christgau)
Roughly a year ago I came across a Spotify playlist with every Christgau A+ album (1,693 songs, 104 hours and 41 minutes long), and one night, listening to it on shuffle play the idea struck me: wouldn’t it be cool to create an “A+” mix? Continue reading “A+ (Christgau)”
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