Day 224: The Internet Strikes Back – The Dancing Gummy Bear

originally published August 11, 2012 I’ll be honest. I knew I’d write a few of these articles about music. I’d hoped I’d either get the chance to pontificate self-indulgently on music I feel the rest of the world should enjoy as much as I do, or maybe if I was lucky I’d unearth a new […]

Day 220: Robot Tuneage

originally published August 7, 2012 Some would claim that music in the 1980s was the ultimate combination of electronic sound and visual spectacle. They might attest that the popularization of music videos, combined with the synthesizer’s mightily shoving of the guitar out of the spotlight is the perfect illustration of this claim. I would disagree. […]

Day 200: A Man Confesses To His Friend, Using Two Hundred 80s Pop Song Titles

originally published July 18, 2012 Two old friends, Peter and Ian, are having a drink in Ian’s apartment. IAN: “Peter, what’s wrong? You seem to be under pressure. Do you need one more night of magic with those West End girls, buddy?” PETER: “I’m gonna tear your playhouse down with this news, Ian. It’ll sound […]

Day 188: Snipping Along In Perfect Harmony

originally published July 6, 2012 Sure, this may be the music that your grandparents used to roll their eyes at when their parents would play it on the ol’ Victrola. It might sound antiquated and kitchy to modern ears, but that’s simply an unfair generational bias. Some of the most well-crafted songwriting has gone into […]

Day 179: Reverend Marty’s Sermon On The Unholy Evils Of Bob Log III

originally published June 27, 2012 Ladies and gentlemen of the congregation, please be seated. I am here to talk to you today about your children. About what your children are listening to. Are you aware that right now, at this very moment, your young, precious angels may be under the spell of the blasphemous infestation […]

Day 177: Congratulations! You Have Discovered The Bonus Track!

originally published June 25, 2012 Today’s helpful article from the trusty e-quill of Mr. Handy serves to remind you that your music collection may in fact be larger than you think. Your favorite album may contain a hidden track, concealed from the general public by its omission from the album’s packaging, and designed to incite […]

Day 163: My Overdue Cliff Notes

originally published June 11, 2012 As a self-proclaimed music geek, I’ve assumed an obnoxious, smug confidence in the breadth of my knowledge of popular classics. I’ve sat through the entirety of Thick As A Brick, skipped out on buying Roxette tickets in high school so that I could see the Everly Brothers, and even named […]

Day 154: Bobbejaan – The Yodeling, Coaster-Loving Baboon

originally published June 2, 2012 It was only a matter of time before Ms. Wiki insisted I write about a Belgian country singer / amusement park tycoon. Of the millions who are no doubt out there, whistling, yodeling, and shilling tickets to the Tilt-O-Whirl, I have been directed to Bobbejaan Schoepen. Bobbejaan (whom I shall […]

Day 142: Your Emergency Handy Radio Guide

originally published May 21, 2012 The power has gone out. Your iPod is dead, your laptop is drained and you left your cell phone at work so you can’t even amuse yourself with that goddamn brick-breaker game. What’s left? You decide to light some candles and use that old portable FM radio to give you […]

Day 133: Of Folds And Smith

originally published May 12, 2012 It’s never easy writing about someone I admire. I run the risk of babbling, and sounding like a gushing fanboy, instead of the award-winning journalist that I’d rather pretend to be. A couple days ago I found a unique take on the Beatles, which allowed me to write intelligently about […]