Comments

"Face Value" is actually a pretty good album. I'll even vouch for about half of the follow-up album, "Hello, I Must Be Going." But that's it for me.
I don't mind that these options exist, I just think it's sad that it's practically the default method of getting into new music. There's something inherently lazy about throwing up your arms and saying, "I don't have time for this! Recommend something for me, Apple overlords!"
While Noel still strikes me as the perpetually cranky old man, he does have a point here. I want my own music and my own collection. I'm not crazy about the fact that a bunch of people at Apple whom I've never met are suddenly recommending stuff to me. I understand the attraction, to an extent, but it seems like recommendations and "playlists you might like based on stuff you listen to" is becoming the prevailing way to get your music. It takes the power out of the listener's hands. I don't like that.
Vinyl is not a convenience format, and I'd venture to say that nobody out there is buying it because it's a compact way to get your music. It IS part of a lifestyle that caters to the ritualistic aspect of buying the record, putting it on the turntable, poring over liner notes, appreciating cover art the way it was intended, turning over the record after 20 minutes. I'm 46, I was buying records in the 80's, and way before that I was enjoying the record collections of my three older siblings. So for me, it's not about the hipster factor - it's a throwback to an era when music consumption was a truly tactile experience. And since most new releases come with download codes, there is a convenience factor built in. I'm hopeful that the vinyl will, in the words of an earlier commenter, "eventually plateau and shirnk back down to a much more niche market." When that happens, I'll probably still be buying.
"Pretty much all cars still come with a CD player..." http://www.avclub.com/article/start-saying-your-goodbyes-your-cars-cd-player-213907
"The former child star, who is probably best-known for his role in the cult classic film The Goonies..." And by "The Goonies," I hope you mean "Stand By Me."
I'm digging it. It definitely has a "rough around the edges" feel to it. If you like the fact that Nels Cline is in Wilco, you'll probably love this album. Favorite track so far is "Cold Slope."
If you're declaring the "death of music" because a reality TV star is on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, you're not making much of an effort to find good music.
"There are no bands or singers who become successful without overwhelming marketing...everything is stringently controlled, obvious and predictable and has exactly the same content. So, we are now in the era of marketed pop stars..." Wow, Morrissey, REALLY? I suppose you're also going to tell me that wrestling is staged and reality TV is scripted. Preaching to the choir...I doubt the average Moz fan or "alt weekly" reader is going to disagree with that.
Coleman predicted the future by accurately titling his 1959 album “The Shape of Jazz to Come.” Nearly a half-century later, his album “Sound Grammar” won the Pulitzer Prize for music. The man defined the word “innovation.” This is a huge loss.
"Persuasians?" They're not Asian. And Stereogum needs spellcheck.
Freddy Fender is going rise from the dead to be Dave's final musical guest.
Given the state of Bob's voice these days, I'd say he sounded pretty spectacular last night. That goes for the band as well. "Willfully strange?" "Meandering?" Bob's not exactly known for being smiley and chatty onstage or television, so this is pretty much par for the course. What were you expecting? Do you even know anything about Dylan? Jeez.
VNYL: From the people who brought you DIVX and Flooz.
I see your point, but - to be fair - the Honeydrippers album is from the '80s. BUT STILL.
I know a half-dozen used record (vinyl) stores here in the Boston area where I'm sure you can get every single unwanted record mentioned in this article (Jefferson Airplane, Dan Fogelberg, Lionel Richie, etc) for two bucks apiece, tops. That makes VNYL's monthly fee four times more expensive than it needs to be. Sounds like this was not completely thought out before execution. Build up a solid collection before beginning your operation - don't go hog wild at a dozen yard sales and then claim you have a collection to pick from. Also, who wants to "rent" records? Part of the attraction of vinyl's resurgence is being a collector, not a borrower.
Can we put a moratorium on the term "hand-curate?" It makes you sound like precious Wes Anderson fanboys.
Wow, I sure hope that was sarcasm. New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Baltimore, yeah - nobody ever plays those dumps.
Elvis makes sense - he's been on Dave's show a zillion times, he even guest hosted during "Shingles 2003." Tom's a frequent guest, and - speaking personally - his appearance on Dave's show back in '85 or '86 (promoting "Rain Dogs") was what made me a Waits fan. As far as Foo Fighters go - it's a given that they'll be on the show. Dave has referred to them as his favorite band, and they're big fans of his. I wouldn't be surprised if they're on the very last episode.
I'm not really in the best income bracket to afford Stones tickets, but a reissue of "Sticky Fingers" with a "generous selection" of unreleased material? Yes please!
Forget about the music for a minute - EVERYBODY PUT YOUR DAMN PHONES DOWN! Sorry to get into grumpy old man mode, but whatever happened to just watching the performance with your eyes instead of documenting every nanosecond so everyone on social media knows you're there? Morons.
Back when Oasis could get on a guestlist in the States. #BOOM
I guess I should give Modern Guilt another try. Having said that, I still believe that Midnite Vultures is too low here. It's top three material, easily. Even as a purely superficial, booty-shaking party album, it's a masterpiece, IMHO.
This tour needs an Echinacea sponsorship.
Good times! Meanwhile, I spent $25 to see Johnny Marr at a small club in Boston over the weekend and had the time of my life.
I agree wholeheartedly that the Jam were (and continue to be) severely under-appreciated on U.S. shores. Perhaps their early opening slot on a Blue Oyster Cult tour (true story) had something to do with their failed trajectory. Since their career was relatively short and they only released a handful of studio albums, I'm not so sure that their discography is suited to this kind of treatment. Paul Weller's solo career, however, is another story. Talk about under-appreciated!
TL;DR. Oasis' first couple of albums contained a handful of decent songs, but success went to their heads and they've been phoning it in ever since. To this day, I have no idea why these guys remain wildly popular in their native land.
The difference is that "Time Fades Away" is actually a really good album.
I'm pretty sure it was Ringo who came up with the "mocker" line, but I could be wrong.
I'm all for artists moving out of their comfort zones, stretching out, experimenting, etc, but in the case of Weezer, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Rivers needs to stop letting other people write (and sing) the songs, Ric Ocasek needs to be Weezer's producer in perpetuity, and Pat Wilson needs to give up his strange obsession with the guitar. Seriously, dude. You're a drummer. Deal with it.
New music category: TTRTT ("This techno-rave type thing")
Stereogum has officially entered the clickbait game.
It's the b-side of "Attack and Pick Away at Your Friend."
In all seriousness, I can only offer my observations as an outsider, but it seems to me that Morrissey's cancellation track record puts him in a negative light. People have grown tired of his erratic behavior and constantly cancelled/rescheduled dates. Perhaps he thought he could win some sympathy by throwing the blame on someone else for a change. "This time it's not my fault, I swear!" I understand that Morrissey has helped Kristeen's career tremendously over the years, but that's no reason to throw her under the bus. That's the best I can do in terms of sorting out my opinions, and I figure it's better to leave a thoughtful comment rather than the usual "HE SHOULD EAT A CHEESEBURGER" bullshit.
"I’d say the Black Keys’ talent is 90% Auerbach" Agreed. Coincidentally, it's kind of reminiscent of the Jack/Meg ratio with the White Stripes.
He should have been arrested in 1986 for grand larceny after stealing songwriting credit from Los Lobos.
Wow. Could we be more condescending to a younger generation by shoving a piece of antiquated technology in their faces and being disgusted by their ignorance? While we're at it, why don't we just tell them all to get off our lawn?