Music Review: David Essex, Rock On; David Essex; All The Fun Of The Fair (Reissues)
Published on December 4th, 2015 in: Current Faves, Music, Music Reviews, Reissues, Retrovirus, Reviews |By Hanna
With his own jukebox musical and sold-out comeback shows, David Essex has no need of a revival, though by now his career is so long that there are always parts of it that could use extra attention. A documentary from Alan G. Parker is slated for release soon, which is a good enough reason for Cherry Red to re-release Essex’s first three albums on CD: Rock On (1973), David Essex (1974), and All The Fun Of The Fair (1975). All three reissues are fairly straightforward, with the original album art, some informative liner notes by Phil Hendriks, and a couple of interesting bonus tracks.
Music Review: Arlo Hannigan, House And Home
Published on December 4th, 2015 in: Current Faves, Music, Music Reviews, Reviews |
If I were the sort of pithy writer who could sum up an album (or EP, as this is) in one word, I would say Arlo Hannigan’s new EP House And Home is intimate. I would, of course, be remiss in not adding, House And Home is gorgeous, rich, and immersive. There’s a feeling of space, both the wide open kind and the heavenly kind.
Today in Pop Culture: Who’s Still Alive?
Published on December 3rd, 2015 in: Music, Today In Pop Culture |
Around noon, on this date in 1979, a small crowd of music lovers gathered outside the doors of Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were smart fans. There was a concert that night. The ticket-holders had gotten there early because of a practice called “festival seating,” which laid out the promise of excellent seats on the floor, if you could get them. First come, first served. Think of it as fighting over a baseball which has popped up into the stands, except on a larger level.
The band playing that night was a small British outfit called The Who.
Today in Pop Culture: It’s Britmas, Bitch!
Published on December 2nd, 2015 in: Holidays, Music, Today In Pop Culture |
As Autumn gives way rapidly to Winter, a question enters the seasonal zeitgeist.
Has Britney Spears’ birthday become too commercialized? Are we seeing too much of it, too soon?
Today in Pop Culture: God Save Bill Grundy
Published on December 1st, 2015 in: Culture Shock, Music, Today In Pop Culture, TV |
Picture this.
You’re a television talk show host, what they call in Britain a “presenter.” It’s a good gig if you can get it. You’re a celebrity. You get recognized on the street. Pretty girls want your phone number. Life is good.
Today In Pop Culture: Crosby Meets Bowie
Published on November 30th, 2015 in: Culture Shock, Holidays, Music, Retrovirus, Today In Pop Culture, TV |
Pop quiz, hot shots.
Who was the biggest selling musical artist of the twentieth century? We’ll make this multiple choice, just to make it easier.
A) Elvis Presley
B) Madonna
C) Perry Como
D) Bachman-Turner Overdrive
If you guessed Bachman-Turner Overdrive, bless your heart.
Music Review: Love, Reel to Real
Published on November 30th, 2015 in: Current Faves, Music, Music Reviews, Reissues, Retrovirus, Reviews |
Love’s 1974 album Reel To Real doesn’t sound how you might expect Love to sound. It lacks the psychedelia and heavy rock of their best known work Forever Changes, and instead could be considered an Arthur Lee solo record. It’s funky. Super funky. And it’s fascinating.
Music Review: They Might Be Giants, Why?
Published on November 27th, 2015 in: Current Faves, Music, Music Reviews, Reviews |
They Might Be Giants can’t help but be They Might Be Giants. Since 1982, TMBG have been doling out idiosyncratic melodies with unusual instrumentation and clever, visual lyrics. Their jump to making music for families (not kids, specifically, but families) was less a jump than a side step, and a logical move. Those of us who listened to TMBG as yoofs have been known to foist cassettes of their music on our own children (who, if they have any taste at all, loved them) and one day, those children will foist hologidgets of TMBG on their children and thus the cycle will be repeated forever and ever, etcetera.
The Official Popshifter Podcast, Episode #04: Texas Gators
Published on November 27th, 2015 in: Blu-Ray, Concert Reviews, DVD, DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies, Music, Music Reviews, Podcasts, Reissues, Retrovirus, Reviews, Teh Sex |
Welcome to Episode 4 of The Official Popshifter Podcast. This one is titled “Texas Gators, Violent Pornography, and Tales from the Pit.”
Already, you should be enticed. It’s another fascinating discussion of American pop culture with Less Lee and X! Please enjoy. Preferably with a nice glass of cold Bosco.
Reviews:
DVD Review: The Farmer’s Daughters
Blu-Ray Review: The Beast (from Dirge Magazine)
Music Review: Protomartyr, The Agent Intellect
Published on November 26th, 2015 in: Current Faves, Music, Music Reviews, Reviews |
One of the glorious things about living in a college town is getting to listen to college radio. Flexible playlists, fresh new music, and DJs who haven’t quite learned to read out loud are only a few of the entertainment benefits. In fact, the first time I heard Protomartyr was on our local college station (WUTK – Volunteer Radio, baby). I thought the announcer said the name of the band was “Robo-Margaret.” I searched for that non-existent band for two days!