pop Archive
26 Oct 2015
Album Review: The Zombies — Still Got That Hunger
File Next to: The Left Banke, Argent, The Kinks Call them late bloomers if you will. Compared to their fellow British invaders, The Zombies scored relatively few hits in the […]
19 Oct 2015
Album Review: Billy Joel — Streetlife Serenade (Hybrid Multichannel SACD)
I never bought Billy Joel‘s rock persona. I simply can’t stand the bulk of his Glass Houses era work; it feels forced and insincere to me. His earlier stints in […]
13 Oct 2015
Video Review: Jeff Lynne’s ELO — Live at Hyde Park
Electric Light Orchestra has long held a special, sentimental place in my heart. Way back in October 1978, I attended my first rock concert, ELO at The Omni sports arena […]
25 Sep 2015
Album Review: Marshall Crenshaw — #392: The EP Collection
For better or worse (actually, for better and worse) things used to be different: recording artists focused on their music, and the record company – or at least artist management […]
18 Sep 2015
Album Mini-review: The Jean-Paul Sartre Experience — I Like Rain
File Next to: The Chills, The Clean, Straitjacket Fits Sporting a playful name (eventually shortened in response to lawsuits) that had less than nothing to do with their sound, this […]
18 Sep 2015
Album Mini-review: Pugwash — Play This Intimately (As If Among Friends)
File Next to: Fountains of Wayne, XTC, Electric Light Orchestra This may just be the effort that pays off for guitarist-singer-songwriter Thomas Walsh and his bandmates. The Dublin-based band has […]
18 Sep 2015
Album Mini-review: Bill Wyman — Back to Basics
File next to: Pete Townshend’s Deep End, Ian Dury During his time (1962-1993) with the Rolling Stones, bassist Bill Wyman released three albums that displayed his particular (if low-key) musical […]
09 Sep 2015
Hundred-word Reviews for September, Part 8 of 8
This current round of hundred-word reviews wraps up with four archival/reissue releases from the fine folks at Omnivore Recordings, and a self-released retrospective form an overlooked Nashville group. Raging Fire […]
07 Sep 2015
Hundred-word Reviews for September, Part 6 of 8
Today I take quick looks at excellent reissue and compilation releases from three labels that excel at that kind of thing: Omnivore Recordings, Light in the Attic and Real Gone […]
04 Sep 2015
Hundred-word Reviews for September, Part 5 of 8
Lightening the mood a bit today with some power-pop leaning releases, leavened with some heavier, more adventurous sounds. The Prime Ministers – Youngstown Milk Run Don’t allow yourself to be […]