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  • Deep Cuts: Songs About Pictures (of You)

    Okay, so maybe the fact that I threw popcorn all over a theater didn’t endear me to the glitterati, but come on: I wasn’t going to get invited to more movie premieres anyway.

  • On Diffuser: The Importance of Being Sturgill

    I love country music, but I loathe whatever that sparkly, twangy beast is that currently calls itself country music. If you like it that’s cool, but I can’t stand it.

  • 214. Shocker

    Jody’s boss at the talent agency got us into the premiere of Wes Craven’s new movie, Shocker. The event was happening at Universal Studios — red carpet, paparazzi, the whole bit. The film’s cast and crew turned out, joined by a bunch of B and C-listers. Alice Cooper had a cut on the soundtrack, so…

  • From the Stacks: Jethro Tull – Clasping the Weathercock at Midnight

    Jethro Tull remains one of my favorite bands from the ’70s prog era, Heavy Horses and Songs From the Wood in particular. Unfortunately, like a lot of rockers from the Pinto decade, Ian Anderson and company had a hard time transitioning into the post punk ’80s: 1980’s A and ’82’s The Broadsword and the Beast…

  • On Diffuser: Are You an Indie Elitist?

    If you’ve been reading along for any amount of time, you know that I’m willing to ‘fess up to my musical sins and vices. I’ve postured as a Guy In Black T-Shirt Who Jams, roamed the earth in my post-punk finery, and for a period during my early childhood thrilled at the news of a…

  • From the Stacks: John Lennon – Miscellaneous Tracks

    Here we have a pretty cool 1996 bootleg CD from one (1) John Lennon. I’m not sure, but I think Mr. Lennon recorded previously with a  band named the Beagles or something like that.

  • Throw Beck Thursday: Everything You Need to Know About Being a Good Guy You Learned in the Sandbox

    I learned the secret to being a good citizen as a little boy. You probably did, too. When I was maybe four or so my mother accidentally taught me everything I’d ever need to know about the divided America of 2014. The event was a routine visit to a friend’s house, and as a preschooler…

  • On Diffuser: The Roots of Indie – Jane’s Addiction ‘Nothing’s Shocking’

    Did this 1988 album kick off the alternative ’90s? Read this Diffuser piece and decide for yourself. (Spoiler alert: Yes, it did.)

  • Deep Cuts: Bone Songs (Not Bonin’ Songs)

    Breaking my hand in a motorcycle accident wasn’t my first broken bones, nor were they my last. I’ve broken fingers, toes, nose, arms, ribs — even a hip. My left collar bone is crookeder than a congressman, having been broken in five different places. Sometimes I wonder whether future archeologists will dig up my bones…

  • On Diffuser: Nine Songs Ruined By Association

    Now and then a song ends up inextricably linked to a news story through no fault of its own. Over on Diffuser I laid out nine of the most notorious examples. How many can you guess before you click over?