Alby's Latest Posts
Song of the Day 5/16: Billy Preston, “Nothing From Nothing”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is deeply flawed, but it does serve to shine an annual spotlight on some musicians who have faded into obscurity. Billy Preston will be honored this year, 15 years after his death, with the Hall’s Musical Excellence Award, which it gives to sidemen, producers and the like. Sure, […]
DL Open Thread Sunday, May 16, 2021
We now have demonstrative proof that today’s Americans are stupider than Americans of the past. We had actual gas shortages in the 1970s, and officials didn’t have to issue warnings not to put gasoline in plastic bags. What could be stupider? How about pumping gas into a laundry basket? That stupid enough for ya? The […]
Song of the Day 5/14: Todd Rundgren, “Couldn’t I Just Tell You”
The poobahs who run the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally got around to admitting Todd Rundgren this year, in his 25th year of eligibility as a solo artist. That says a lot more about the people making these decisions than it does about Todd Rundgren, who has disdained the institution from the first. […]
DL Open Thread Friday, May 14, 2021
Sorry for the delay, we had some issues with WordPress. Joe Biden’s statement of support for Israel did not sit well with some progressives in Congress, so the media is celebrating their chance to dust off the “Democrats in disarray” headlines. Here’s a challenge for you: Find me an American who cares more about this […]
Song of the Day 5/13: Foo Fighters, “Big Me”
Yes, you are getting old. The Foo Fighters were among those selected for the 2021 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which means the band, which started as a solo project by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl after Kurt Cobain’s suicide, has been around for 25 years. Grohl, now 52 years old, has […]
DL Open Thread Thursday, May 13, 2021
Israel and the Palestinians are fighting again. This is news in the same sense that the weather is news — the particulars change, and sometimes there’s a hurricane, but the most common forecast from the meteorologists is “clouds and sun,” which pretty much covers the whole spectrum, doesn’t it? The violence has a clear cause […]
Song of the Day 5/12: Tré Burt, “Under the Devil’s Knee”
Protest songs are pretty common, but really effective ones are not. I heard this the other night on the folk show on WXPN, and I think it belongs in the latter category. All I know is about him is that he’s from Sacramento and has been signed by John Prine’s Oh Boy Records, signifying a […]
Song of the Day 5/11: Randy Rainbow, “Clang, Clang, Clang Went Josh Hawley”
Randy Rainbow, like the rest of the media, has mostly moved on from the Last Guy and has now focused his attention on the lesser imps and demons who populate Cult 45. Rainbow’s already-impressive production values also seem to have improved.
Song of the Day 5/10: Whitesnake, “Here I Go Again”
Tawny Kitaen, the model/actress who gained her greatest fame gyrating on the hood of a Jaguar in this Whitesnake video, died last week at age 59. Born Julie Kitaen, she began using “Tawny” by the time she was 12, and was a rock groupie at 14. She was living with Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby while […]
DL Open Thread Sunday, May 9, 2021
Former Gov. Pierre S. du Pont IV, known to all as Pete, died yesterday, age 86. Du Pont was elected governor in 1976 after the disastrous tenure of Sherman Tribbitt, and basically established the modern state of Delaware. He not only ushered in the legal usury that made Delaware a credit card capital, he pioneered […]
Song of the Day 5/8: Ringo Starr, “It Don’t Come Easy”
When the Beatles broke up, everyone knew that John, Paul and George would pursue solo careers. But what about Ringo? The guy Robert Christgau called “our representative on the Beatles” usually got one vocal turn per album and had scant songwriting experience. So people were surprised when this 1971 stand-alone single climbed the American charts, […]
Song of the Day 5/6: Steely Dan, “Don’t Take Me Alive”
Trying to determine the top five rock guitarists is like trying to establish the top five colors. It can only be done subjectively, and it begs the question — what does “best” mean? Do you base it on soloing, or is versatility important? Is speed crucial, or does melodic sense outweigh it? It’s a problem […]
DL Open Thread Thursday, May 6, 2021
Never, ever doubt who Republicans represent. Hint: It isn’t you, unless you own a business. The new GOP obsession is a “labor shortage,” which is what Republicans call it when businesses are forced to increase wages to find employees. Or, if they’re in control, as they are in Montana, they get their shitweasel governor to […]
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