“Bass Drum Dream: First Impressions of the Califone Track (Four Stars out of Five)”

I’m still waiting on my Stitches CD that I ordered from our own local record store, which is crumbling, decaying and “stitched together,” much like the shining attributes of Califone’s music itself. I believe the track is “Stitches” that you get on the website. Upon hearing it, the first thing I thought was, the guitar … Read more“Bass Drum Dream: First Impressions of the Califone Track (Four Stars out of Five)”

“Sampling: The Redheaded Stepchild of Hip-Hop”

*”I’m mad vexed it’s what the projects made me / Rebel to the grave there’s no way to barricade me.” – Inspectah Deck, Wu-Tang Clan . Yesterday I got through the better part of Beats, Rhymes & Life: What We Love and Hate About Hip-Hop, and found discussion of sampling glaringly missing from the text. … Read more“Sampling: The Redheaded Stepchild of Hip-Hop”

“Let the Hated Feel Blessed: Tracking Hip-Hop’s Functional Arc in Society”

* “He do it for the smelly hubbies / Seeds know what time it is like it’s time for Teletubbies” -MF Doom . MF Doom’s a funny guy, and for some reason, he’s not all that hated. I knew a guy, though, one time, who hated The Roots. It’s highly possible that this is because … Read more“Let the Hated Feel Blessed: Tracking Hip-Hop’s Functional Arc in Society”

“Dolby’s Rupees: ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ by The Beatles”

Too mighty to be cloistered on an album, this deliberately paced paean to life’s volcanic beauty otherwise not to be captured came in the prime of The Beatles’ power and maturity, 1969. Sounding like he could care less about flowers for hair, a man walking on the moon or even assassinations, Lennon belts out the … Read more“Dolby’s Rupees: ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ by The Beatles”

No Longer Human as Surrogate for the Bukowski Myth”

“They’ve fallen for the Bukowski myth, I’m actually a coward” – “Night Streets of Madness,” Tales of Ordinary Madness, Charles Bukowski . Ok, I’m reading this publication called No Longer Human written by Osamu Dazai in post-WWII Japan, and it’s totally superb. I have a feeling this will be the first in a series of … Read moreNo Longer Human as Surrogate for the Bukowski Myth”

“Tracking Purebred Rock and Roll by Decade”

Purebred rock and roll differs from alternative rock, and I am trying to redefine one thing and coin another here, by its “pure” reliance on major chords. Led Zeppelin would be one example of alternative rock, since they use minor chords, specifically, the blues scale. Nirvana, as well, is alternative, although, as it’s minor chords … Read more“Tracking Purebred Rock and Roll by Decade”

“Praying for a Movement in the Light: On the Cultural Hutch on American Grassroots Music”

I was thinkin’ on a tune, but now I can’t remember it. Anyway, it’s verified by the Jesus and Mary Chain song where it’s like, “People die in empty rooms / But we do not need this god almighty gloom.” Maybe it was “Time,” where he’s like “Desperation is the English way.” Anyway, “Spanish Bombs” … Read more“Praying for a Movement in the Light: On the Cultural Hutch on American Grassroots Music”