essay Archive
29 Mar 2025
Five INXS Classics You Should Know
Every year, performance rights organization ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) recognizes the songwriters and publishers of that year’s most-performed songs. Australian band INXS won in ASCAP’s Pop […]
27 Mar 2025
The Five Songs That Inspired David Lee Roth’s Solo Debut
David Lee Roth is best known as the lead singer of hard rock heroes Van Halen. During that group’s heyday, Roth appeared on six albums, all of which went Diamond […]
11 Mar 2025
Five Guest Spots by R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe
R.E.M. was one of the most influential groups of their time. The quartet from Athens, Georgia helped define alternative rock, paving the way for a new breed of artists who […]
23 Feb 2025
Five Songs You Should Know Featuring Adrian Belew
Guitarist Adrian Belew is one of the most celebrated and versatile musicians in and beyond the rock idiom. The Kentucky native started out his musical endeavors as a drummer, moving […]
22 Feb 2025
Five Alvin Lee Tracks You Should Know
Alvin Lee came to fame fronting British blues-rock band Ten Years After. Heroes of Woodstock, TYA became a hot live attraction, releasing a string of well-received albums in the very […]
16 Feb 2025
Five Classics from Neil Innes
Neil Innes was a superb and witty songwriter. Much of his work came to the public’s attention thanks to his close friendship with the Beatles, but Innes’ work stands on […]
10 Feb 2025
Five BÖC Classics with Eric Bloom on Lead Vocal
Blue Öyster Cult reigns near the top among bands who helped bring heavy metal into the mainstream. Their approach – rock-solid riffs, intelligent lyrics that combined humor and a touch […]
09 Feb 2025
Music Blurbs, Vol. 8
More of my capsule commentaries. Louder Than Hell Remember the ‘80s? Louder Than Hell certainly does. Drawing from a variety of popular styles – hair metal, power balladry, mainstream rock, […]
08 Feb 2025
Five Rock Classics from ‘The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album’
Christmas is less than 11 months away! So… In November 1964, the Beach Boys released their seventh studio album. Their status as a recording act was then barely past its […]
04 Feb 2025
Five Great Genre-bridging Replacements Tracks
While mainstream rock has its pantheon (from the Beatles on down), alternative rock has a set of heroes all its own. And even the shortest list of alterna-rock heroes includes […]