Alby's Latest Posts
Bye Bye Biden
You can stop worrying that Joe Biden will clutter the Democratic presidential primary ballot. The New York Times reports that Biden was paid $200,000 for a speech supporting a Michigan Republican for re-election, infuriating Democrats who thought they had a shot at unseating Rep. Fred Upton. Mr. Biden was collecting $200,000 from the Economic Club […]
Song of the Day 1/23: Tom Petty, “Walls (Circus)”
A somewhat obscure item in the Petty catalog, “Walls” was written for Edward Burns’ 1996 rom-com “She’s the One” and released on the film’s soundtrack album, which got far less attention than a normal Petty album. As a single it reached only No. 69 on the Hot 100, despite background vocals (and, I suspect, the […]
Song of the Day 1/22: John Prine, “Souvenirs”
This time of year always reminds me of the first verse of this song — Christmas has come and gone, and every kid has broken at least one toy by now. Prine included it on his second album, with his friend and champion Steve Goodman lending his finger-picking and harmony. In this TV concert from […]
Song of the Day 1/21: Little Feat, “Cold, Cold, Cold”
A little obvious, maybe, but see if it doesn’t warm you up a little on this cold, cold, cold day. From 1972’s “Sailin’ Shoes.”
Song of the Day 1/20: Neil Finn, “Sinner”
My vote for most underrated songwriter of the rock era goes to Neil Finn, who’s been composing sophisticated tunes since joining his brother Tim’s band Split Enz in 1977, at the age of 18. He went on to found Crowded House before releasing two solo albums. Perhaps the best point of comparison for his music […]
I Don’t Love Kirsten Gillibrand, and Here’s Why
Take a look at this New York Times puff piece on their state’s shape-shifting, Wall Street-friendly, Jesus-humping junior senator taking her presidential campaign to Iowa. Ms. Gillibrand put emphasis on her upstate New York roots, bipartisanship and small-town political ancestry. So her angle is that she’s not really a Democrat. Unlike Senator Elizabeth Warren, another […]
Progress on the Killer Cop Front
The progress is slow and compromised, but it’s still highly unusual to get a murder conviction when a cop kills a civilian. Yet the Chicago trial of then-officer Jason Van Dyke concluded with an 81-month sentence for second-degree murder. Yes, there was clear dashcam evidence that 16-year-old Laquan McDonald, armed with only a penknife, was […]
Song of the Day 1/19: Robert Cray, “Smokin’ Gun”
Panicky Trump trolls are active this morning, hollering “fake news!” like a bunch of 9/11 truthers because they’re starting to realize they’ve been played for the fools they are. So here’s one for them: Robert Cray’s breakthrough tune about getting caught red-handed. I hope they play it at Trump’s sentencing.
Song of the Day 1/18: Dr. Feelgood, “She Does It Right”
Dr. Feelgood occupies a unique slot in rock history — the band that bridges the otherwise incomprehensible gap between England’s pub rock and punk rock scenes. Pub rock was a movement that, as the name suggests, took root in small venues across the country mostly as a reaction against the mountains of equipment (and high […]
Song of the Day 1/17: The Contours, “First I Look at the Purse”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frCr6eq2Vfc I quoted the title of this song the other day with a friend whose knowledge of ’50s and ’60s music is deeper than mine and was surprised when he said he had never heard it. So here it is. Smokey Robinson co-wrote it, but these might be the least romantic lyrics he ever had […]
If You Think the News Journal Is Bad Now, Just Wait
Here’s a bit of national business-page news you won’t see in your local upstate daily paper: Gannett, which owns the News Journal, has become the target of a hostile takeover bid by Alden Global Capital, a notorious hedge fund that operates a journalistic chop shop. It’s the outfit that bought the Denver Post and laid […]
Song of the Day 1/16: Randy Rainbow, “There Is Nothin’ Like a Wall”
You probably know about Randy Rainbow, the pre-eminent political musical parodist of the Trump age. He released this one two days ago and it’s gotten 360,000 plays on YouTube already. The set-up on this one is a mock interview with “RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 3 finalist” Mike Pence. The music starts at 1:14.
Song of the Day 1/15: “Pretty Pimpin,” Kurt Vile
It’s hard to explain Kurt Vile to someone who’s never heard him before. There’s a lo-fi vibe that runs through most of his work that, along with his penchant for goofy lyrics, reminds me of Pavement. Most of his songs are built on a repeating riff, but few are as catchy as “Pretty Pimpin,” from […]
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