essay Archive
12 Jan 2025
Countdown to Christmas: Ten Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Songs About Santa Claus (Part 2 of 2)
Continued from Part One… 5. “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” – Bruce Springsteen (single, 1981) “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” is the oldest song on this list. First […]
11 Jan 2025
Countdown to Christmas: Ten Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Songs About Santa Claus (Part 1 of 2)
Hey, there are less than 365 days until Christmas! Ring in the season early! The enduring myth of Santa Claus has been a part of Western culture for centuries. The […]
08 Dec 2024
Music Blurbs, Vol. 4
More of my capsule commentaries. Dustin Kensrue Guitarist/singer/songwriter founded Thrice in the late 1990s when he was still attending high school in SoCal. Thrice – which has remained active save […]
06 Dec 2024
Take Five: Forgotten Classics from Robert Palmer
It’s easy to forget the facts now, but when Robert Palmer scored worldwide mega-success with his 1985 album Riptide, he was anything but an overnight success. In fact, Palmer’s career […]
26 Nov 2024
Take Five: Power Pop Classics from the Raspberries
Power pop is a rock subgenre that inevitably divides fans. The style is held in high regard by listeners who love the sharp hooks, strong melodies and exuberant arrangements that […]
24 Nov 2024
Music Blurbs, Vol. 3
More of my capsule commentaries. Alejandro Escovedo Alejandro Escovedo may not be a household name, but he’s lineage of musical royalty. Big brother and percussionist Coke Escovedo was a key […]
17 Nov 2024
Music Blurbs, Vol. 2
More of my capsule commentaries. Crowded House New Zealand guitarist, singer and songwriter Neil Finn launched Crowded House in 1987, out of the ashes of his previous group, Split Enz. […]
16 Nov 2024
Take Five: Great Judas Priest Tracks
Formed in Birmingham, England in 1969, heavy metal heroes Judas Priest released their debut album, Rocka Rolla in September 1974. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the band’s debut, […]
10 Nov 2024
Music Blurbs, Vol. 1
For awhile now, I’ve been writing “blurbs” for several altweeklies. These brief write-ups are a sort of capsule preview of artists who are (were) coming to town in the various […]
31 Oct 2024
Take Five: Elvis Costello Collaborations
Elvis Costello turned 70 in August. The prolific and gifted singer, songwriter and guitarist first came to the public’s notice during the punk/new wave area, but his artistry has always […]