Alby's Latest Posts
Another Tiresome Liberal Call for Someone to Resign
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, livened up a slow news day when he was found to have not merely posed for racist photos as a medical student, but to have actually put them in his med school yearbook. This has, naturally, set off a race among the the Awoken among us to call for […]
Song of the Day 2/1: Spirit, “I Got a Line on You”
Spirit’s biggest hit — its only song to reach the Top 40 — “I Got a Line on You” was released in late 1968 and hit No. 25 in early 1969. Composer Randy California was 18 at the time. Spirit was noted in its heyday for its jazz leanings, but as this tune shows, they […]
Song of the Day 1/31: Steely Dan, “Barrytown”
Another song from the ’70s that remains sadly relevant today, though I suppose Donald Fagan would have to update “I just read the Daily News” to “I just listen to Fox News and swear by every word.” Though Dan obsessives like to dig for autobiographical references — Barrytown is a hamlet near Bard College, so […]
Song of the Day, 1/30: Colin Hay, “Waiting For My Real Life to Begin”
Most people know Colin Hay from his days fronting Men at Work, the ’80s New Wave band from Australia that scored a huge international hit with “Down Under.” That was the heyday of MTV, and Hay’s exotropia (one eye points outwards) gave viewers an instant visual hook with their first video, “Who Can It Be […]
Dover Downs’ McGlynn Wrong Again — Sports Betting Did Put It in the Black
‘Memba when Dover Downs’ Denis McGlynn told anyone who would listen that sports betting wouldn’t make his racino profitable? According to this new Matt Bittle story quoting Captain Poormouth in the State News, Dover Downs cleared $666,000 last year on sports betting. Not coincidentally, its profits leaped in the year’s fourth quarter — football season. […]
Song of the Day 1/29: Caroline Rose, “Soul No. 5”
Here’s something different: A female solo artist who ridicules the patriarchy and has a good time doing it. Rose, a Long Islander, started out as a country/folk artist but got no attention until she exploded last year after reinventing herself as a millennial with a New Wave sound and an attention-grabbing fashion sense. Most importantly, […]
Song of the Day, 1/28: Squeeze, “The Truth”
Is there any lyricist more self-lacerating than Squeeze’s Chris Difford? His typical narrator can most often be found at the pub, confessing his sins and blaming himself for yet another failed love affair. This tune, from the band’s underrated “Play” LP, seems to have a broader point these days.
Song of the Day 1/27: Jonathan Clark, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”
Sunday seems like the right day for this elegiac reading of the Creedence classic. Jonathan Clark is one of those Los Angeles professionals who’s been a working musician most of his life but nobody’s ever heard of. He’s toured behind lots of acts playing bass and singing harmony, most notably appearing on nine of Dwight […]
Song of the Day 1/26: Chip Taylor, “Angel of the Morning”
As Mike Dinsmore pointed out yesterday, 1968 was a banner year for pop and rock music. One of the most enduring songs to hit the charts that year was this anthemic ballad, written by Chip Taylor two years earlier in emulation of the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday.” It had been recorded by a couple of […]
An Understander’s Guide to Gov. Carney’s Budget
The budget released by Gov. John Carney doesn’t officially mean a thing, because the General Assembly’s Joint Finance Committee puts together the state’s real budget, starting with hearings next Tuesday. But the JFC has to start somewhere, and that somewhere is Carney’s proposal. Matt Bittle of the Delaware State News has an accessible rundown along […]
Song of the Day 1/25: The Equals, “Police on My Back”
This one’s for Roger Stone, who famously has a criminal tattooed on his back. Most people know this tune because The Clash covered it, but the original was done in 1968 by The Equals, probably best remembered today because their founder and leader, Eddy Grant, went on to a solo career and a big hit […]
Song of the Day 1/24: They Might Be Giants, “Your Racist Friend”
I listen to a lot of old music, and one of the things I’ve noticed is how little has changed over the years. This song dates back to 1990, when Letterman still had hair and nobody had heard of Kurt Cobain, yet the party scene it describes could have been last week. Always an odd […]
Delaware Forced-Birthers Want Abortion Restrictions
This one hasn’t made it to El Som’s GA PG/PG roundup yet because it hasn’t been officially introduced. But the mere announcement by Sen. Bryant Richardson (R-Your Womb) that he would sponsor measures to ban abortion after 20 weeks and force women to undergo ultrasound procedures drew a front-page headline story in the Delaware State […]
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