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From The Stacks: Don Croom – On With the Show
As you fans of Don Croom — or Croomsmen, as you like to be called — know, this is The Croom’s second album. You can’t afford polyester shirts like that without at least one album under your belt, after all. On With the Show captures The Croom in all his glory on the pipe organ…
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On Diffuser: This Is Your Alternative Rainy Day Playlist
Oh man, was I glad to finally see some rain here in California this week. For the last couple of years it’s been like living in a Steinbeck novel around here.
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From The Stacks: Phil Spector’s Christmas Album
If you only buy one holiday album by a convicted murderer this season, make it this one.
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Throw Beck Thursday: Red Herrings. They’re Just Like Hitler
A red herring isn’t a fish, but rather the stinkiest method to blow a discussion off course. Rhetoric’s most commonly used device gets its name from Lloyd “Red” Herring, a 1920s Three Card Monte master so skillful at taking your eye off the queen that he never lost a bet. I just confirmed that explanation…
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On Diffuser: The Roots of Indie – Jimmie Rodgers
Here’s your patient zero for country music, both literally and figuratively. Jimmie Rodgers suffered from tuberculosis throughout his short career, yet he still managed to define the sound that we call “country.” Without The Blue Yodeler, we have no Jeff Tweedy; of course, we don’t have Billy Ray Cyrus, either, but don’t hold that against…
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Deep Cuts: A Million Songs
You didn’t think this was actually going to be a list of one million songs, did you? That’s almost as naive as trusting me with a million dollars. I wouldn’t have trusted 22-year-old me with a block of expired cheese. It all worked out, though. Tales From the Crypt was saved from a production shutdown,…
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On Diffuser: December 8, 1980: The Day the ’70s Ended
Wow, 34 years. I still remember when I read the news that day, oh boy. If you’re around my age, your Beatles were the “are they going to get back together Beatles.” That was my John Lennon, so when Diffuser asked me to write about the anniversary of his death, that’s what I wrote about.…
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199. One In A Million
My pager shook in my pocket. I pulled over at the nearest pay phone. “Hey, John. What’s up?”
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On Diffuser: 8 Weeks of ‘Sonic Highways’ Coverage
For 8 weeks I’ve been staying in (or staying up late) Fridays, watching the Foo Fighters’ ‘Sonic Highways’ and writing recaps for Diffuser.fm. That’s one long Foo-king assignment, but I’m glad I saw the series. Here are all 8 write-ups summarized and hyperlinked in one easy package.
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On Diffuser: Bush’s ‘Sixteen Stone,’ 20 Years Later
Man, were we hard on this album when it came out. How dare Bush be popular? How dare Gavin Rossdale be attractive? Well, it’s 20 years later, and Sixteen Stone has sold 6 million copies. Read all about it here.
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