Arts and Entertainment
Song of the Day 6/6: Elton John, “Border Song”
Another sobering reminder that the 1960s never really ended and that the Boomers will fight this out unto the grave. This video of Elton John purports to show him performing the gospel-tinged song that provides the climax of Side 2 of his eponymous second LP in March 1970, a month before it was released as […]
Song of the Day 6/5: Bob Mould, “American Crisis”
Well, now Trump’s done it. He’s gone and pissed off former Hüsker Dü and Sugar frontman Bob Mould. Granted, that isn’t too hard to do — Mould has made a nearly 40-year career of getting tunefully pissed off — but it was only last year that he released an uncharacteristically optimistic LP, “Sunshine Rock.” The […]
Song of the Day 6/4: Roy Rogers, “Don’t Fence Me In”
Our Big Quivering President is furthering his image as an incompetent banana Republican dictator by installing more fencing around the House Painted White Because It’s Been Torched Before. The optics are terrible for him — the open plains such a foundational part of the American myth that even Cole Porter himself could write a classic […]
Song of the Day 6/3: Nate and Craig Anderson, “Books of the Bible”
This one’s a public service for our Big Phony President, who couldn’t name a book of the Bible to save his shriveled soul. I have no idea who the musicians are, but of the dozens of songs online dedicated to teaching kids the books of the Bible, this turn-of-the-millennium pop-punk production gave them the catchiest […]
Song of the Day 6/2: Sublime, “April 29, 1992”
The title is the date the Rodney King riots broke out in Los Angeles, when the cops who beat him were acquitted of assault — but lead singer and songwriter Bradley Nowell sings it as April 26. Apparently is was just a mistake, but given that Nowell was dead of a heroin overdose by the […]
Song of the Day 6/1: Nick Lowe, “I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass”
What started as peaceful protests over the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police turned violent, in Wilmington as well as other cities across the country. Lots of people wonder why. I’ma go with the idea that some people just love the sound of breaking glass.
‘Bulo’s Fave Tunes: May, 2020
Maybe it’s just because I had more time at home, or maybe it was just a great month for music. Either way, I’ve got a boatload of great tunes for you: Hey, that’s bleeping amazing. Chuck is Da Man. You say you want one more, maybe something a little more current? I’m here to please: […]
Song of the Day 5/30: Sly and the Family Stone, “Runnin’ Away”
The other single from Sly’s influential “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” album. “Family Affair is the No. 1 hit that fueled the 1971 LP’s sales; this one only reached No. 23, but despite its cynical lyrics it was one of the few tracks on the playlist with the laid-back, positive vibe that Stone left behind […]
Song of the Day 5/28: Pavement, “Spit on a Stranger”
As tempers flare over mask-wearing in public, there have been more than a few cases of aggrieved assholes who won’t don a face covering coughing on or spitting at people who challenge them over it. This should be their theme song. It appeared on Pavement’s final LP, 1999’s “Terror Twilight.” The neo-bluegrass band Nickel Creek, […]
Song of the Day 5/27: Ozzy Osbourne, “Crazy Train”
It’s been 40 years since Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Randy Rhoads released what became one of heavy metal’s most iconic songs. Though the guitar riff retains its grungy glory, the tune itself — written about the Cold War –sounds rather tame in retrospect, especially nowadays, when we have an off-his-rocker president steering the crazy train. […]
Song of the Day 5/26: Dobie Gray, “Drift Away”
“Drift Away” has been recorded by dozens of artists, but none of the covers matches what I always thought was the original by Dobie Gray. Turns out I was wrong — the original recording wasn’t by Gray but by one John Henry Kurtz, a country/swamp rock singer from Havertown, Pa., who released one LP, “Reunion,” […]
Song of the Day 5/24: Scorpions, “Wind of Change”
One consequence of the Trump presidency has been a recalibration of reality, and what is possible within its supposed confines, a condition that is not contained to matters relating to Trump. I can think of no other explanation for the weirdest story of the month, a podcast series by Orwell prize-winning US journalist Patrick Radden […]
Song of the Day 5/22: Spinal Tap, “Gimme Some Money”
Billionaires have taken to begging people to go back to work, using every tool at their disposal except higher wages and better benefits. The non-essential jobs, it turns out, are the ones at the top of the capitalism pyramid, and it takes a lot of cashflow to keep the money pump primed and flowing. Why, […]
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