The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson said the song, “Be My Baby,” was “The greatest record ever produced.” He added, “I felt like I wanted to try to do something as good as that song and I never did. I’ve stopped trying.” Now that’s high praise. We lost Ronnie Spector this week. She was still a … Continue reading Sunday Music: Be My Baby
Tag: music
Podcast Of The Week: The Legend Of Paul’s Boutique
Paul’s Boutique, if you don’t know, is the Beastie Boys’ second album and arguably the Sgt. Pepper’s of hip-hop. It’s what happens when you push all the envelopes, all the buttons on the studio gear, (and maybe put down the bottle and pick up the bong, allegedly). The stories on its making are as epic … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: The Legend Of Paul’s Boutique
Sunday Music: Play That Country Tuba, Cowboy
My brother said the song stopped everyone dead when it came on in the kitchen he works. At the mercy of shuffle mode, his Spotify-shuffle picked out “Play That Country Tuba, Cowboy” from the obscure Vandals album, The Vandals Play Really Bad Original Country Tunes. Understandably, nobody else had ever heard it, and the song … Continue reading Sunday Music: Play That Country Tuba, Cowboy
Sunday Music: Just To Get By
The holidays can be tough, so here’s a little pick-me-up music in case you need it. Whatever you need to get by, just make sure you get by. https://youtu.be/UVtpXvzzXiA
Most-Read Cultish Creative Posts Of 2021
Welcome to 2022. One cool thing about writing in public is seeing what resonates (and trying to figure out why). Here are the most-read posts of 2021, per the data. What common threads do you see? I’m seeing a lot of lucky catches on searchable quotes and concepts from TV, books, and other media. Hmm. A … Continue reading Most-Read Cultish Creative Posts Of 2021
Hope For The Best. Expect The Worst. Happy New Year.
As 2021 draws to a close, I want to say thank you for everybody who reads these little emails/posts I’m sending. I know how many newsletters I personally subscribe (and have unsubscribed) to. The idea that you spend even a few minutes a day sharing a thought with me… I am incredibly grateful. Making these … Continue reading Hope For The Best. Expect The Worst. Happy New Year.
Sunday Music: Mele Kalikimaka
It's a sound of my childhood - not just the whole White Christmas album (the movie AND the Bing album), but this particular song. One part Bing's crooning, another part The Andrews Sisters harmonizing, and a dash of non-northeastern cold, bright and warm Hawaaiin magic. Happy holidays, thanks for being here with me. https://youtu.be/FezVApPddqU
Sunday Music: Remembering The Monkee With The Hat
As a proud member of the 1980s Nick at Nite generation, I’m no stranger to The Monkees (via all those glorious reruns). Michael Nesmith, aka the one with the hat, passed away this week. I’ve revisited the band and the TV show on more than one occasion (see this prior Monkees post here). They’re a … Continue reading Sunday Music: Remembering The Monkee With The Hat
Podcast Of The Week: Remembering Sondheim
NPR ran a series of 3 podcasts on the life and career of Stephen Sondheim full of Terry Gross interviews, clips from songs, and conversations with others about his influence. With his recent passing, I realized I only knew some bits and pieces and was so moved by the outpouring of love I figured I … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Remembering Sondheim
Sunday Music: Told Virgil Write Brick On My Brick
Virgil Abloh once took a bunch of off-the-shelf shirts, screen printed “Pyrex 23” on them, and sold them for 7x more than what he paid. His idol, Marcel Duchamp, had said (long before), “I don’t believe in art, I believe in artists.” And that’s what Abloh was all about. Putting a spin on it. Making … Continue reading Sunday Music: Told Virgil Write Brick On My Brick