Self-Righteous Brothers RUNNER-UP: Wack-Ass Egyptians … [Read more...]
METALLICA DIGS ITSELF A DEEPER HOLE
...The film takes for granted that rock 'n' roll, while it remains the soundtrack of youthful disaffection, has long since become a respectable middle-aged profession. Both Mr. Ulrich and Mr. Hetfield, the band's founding members, who started playing music together in the early 1980's, are married … [Read more...]
DYLAN’S TRACKS GLORIOUSLY BLOODED: Chuck Rips
...Mr. Ricks’ work is filled with offhand Empsonian brilliance, uncanny erudition and a belief in literary value that will, hopefully, finally shut up the poorly read types who waste time questioning whether Dylan’s works have earned the "right" to be called poetry. What a useless argument: Of … [Read more...]
CURRENT RELEASE ROUNDUP
The Pixies, Sonic Youth, Rocket From the Tombs, Los Lobos, Wilco, the Beastie Boys, and Sam Phillips channels PJ, in what Republicans might call a "big tent"... on WBUR. … [Read more...]
SCREEDS TO LIVE BY: Krugman, Indiana, Christgau
Since it opened, "Fahrenheit 9/11" has been a hit in both blue and red America, even at theaters close to military bases. Last Saturday, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took his Nascar crew to see it. The film's appeal to working-class Americans, who are the true victims of George Bush's policies, should give … [Read more...]
MORE ON MOORE: Village Voice
Goldstein on Hitchens: When someone is attacked with such operatic ferocity, one thing is certain: That person is successful. … [Read more...]
HEARTS AND MINDS: The Great Undecided
I'm wary of Michael Moore, but I want to see FARENHEIT 9/11 for myself. Hitchens is a pretty persuasive hatchet job, but Rosenbaum is generally worhtwhile, so perhaps it's somehow redemptive for Moore in the way that Iowa's victory was redemptive for Kerry. I do think it's telling that we're … [Read more...]
REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL
Today in Harvard Square, I saw someone wearing a Leon Fleisher t-shirt. … [Read more...]
OUT OF EAR’S REACH: Visions of Spam
An ambitious scholarly treatment of Dylan puts his lyrics beneath the microscope. By Tim Riley Posted on Slate, Monday, June 21, 2004 Cherish the cultural moment: Just as Bob Dylan sells his soul for a Victoria's Secret Venetian holiday, the academy ushers him into the Great Hall of Poets. With … [Read more...]
Rock Star Role Models Win New Fans
Thu Jun 17, 2004 10:00 AM ET By Jill Serjeant LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hip-swiveling Elvis, womanizer Mick Jagger and "Material Girl" Madonna may be some of rock 'n' roll's greatest musical icons but as positive role models, they've yet to win many fans. Think again, argues rock critic Tim Riley. … [Read more...]
CAKE OR DEATH: Hot Rhetoric and Slick Licks
Current Ellen Willis clips. We're not worthy. VERBAL HOOKS WITH SWING Sam Phillips A BOOT AND A SHOE (Nonesuch) Song title that lives up to its lyric: "I Dreamed That I Stopped Dreaming" Lyric: "When noone's listening I have so much to say..." from "How to Quit" KETCHUP The Raveonettes CHAIN GANG … [Read more...]
UNDERMINDING PHISH: Will 311 Benefit?
My Phish piece aired today. A lot of what I say could be applied to the Paradise show I saw 1989 when I covered them for the Phoenix. … [Read more...]
SEE THAT MY STAR IS KEPT CLEAN: Carson, Gore, Ray
Tom Carson is predictably, astutely hilarious in his Voice obit:...Reaganism had beauty. Even if you knew better, it was seductive. The best description, or possibly just evidence, I know is the oddly forgotten Talking Heads song "Road to Nowhere," from 1985's Americana-flavored Little Creatures. A … [Read more...]
EVEN RUSSERT BUCKLED
MORE ON COVERS: Deluged With Responses
Thank you to Tom Wilk and Doug Jones, who wrote in jogging my sieve of a memory: added John Fogerty's BLUE RIDGE RANGERS below. Does it strike anyone else what a good year 1973 was for covers? And as if to bless all this cosmic meandering, the Los Lobos record, THE RIDE, just came, and it's like a … [Read more...]