Everyone, and their monkey, bested me at last week’s Elvis picture quiz. Congratulations in particular to all the perfect scores – Rich Kamerman and Paul both somehow finished with only 2 seconds elapsed. This week you need to select the…
Natalia Lafourcade explores traditional Mexican music, Taylor Swift delivers a second surprise indie-folk album for 2020, and Gabriel Garzón-Montano plays arty and eclectic music inspired by his Colombian/French heritage. Natalia Lafourcade Un Canto por México, Vol. 1 Natalia Lafourcade has…
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years from 1965-1968, and…
Most people aced last week’s male vocalist quiz. Rich and Jim tied for fastest time, although Rich had the distinction of guessing the bonus question (Peter Gabriel’s Up). This week, we have what I think is the most quickfire quiz…
This week we look at the most recent releases from London neo-soul artist Cleo Sol (a member of Sault), L.A. R&B sisters Chloe x Halle, and Norwegian neo-progressive band Wobbler. Cleo Sol Rose in the Dark As well as two…
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years from 1965-1968, and…
Congratulations to Geoff Stephen who, with a little help with his wife, just pipped Tony in the 1990s lyrics quiz. This week you need to identify 20 male musical artists. It’s not too tricky, and will probably be a…
In this week’s new music reviews: a Colombian, an anonymous collective, and an Irishwoman walk into a bar…… Ela Minus Acts of Rebellion Gabriela Jimeno started her career as the drummer for Colombian hardcore band Ratón Pérez – they became…
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years from 1965-1968, and…
Congratulations to Max from , who scored a perfect 30/30 in last week’s 1970s lyrics quiz, with commiserations to Felix who knew them all but had technical difficulties. This week, same format but in the 1990s: This one’s a…
Three recent albums – a solo album by Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker, enthralling with just voice and guitar. An archival release from Americana legend Gillian Welch, covering the first volume of 48 songs she recorded in one weekend in 2016.…
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years from 1965-1968, and…
Congratulations to Music Enthusiast Jim, who scored the fastest time while completing the Away song titles quiz. Good work as well to 2loud2old and Paul, who also recorded perfect scores. This week we are identifying 1970s songs by their opening…
Originating at Charterhouse School, one of England’s most prestigious public schools, Genesis recorded their first album as teenagers in 1968. They spent their early years losing money and making long-winded progressive rock albums. Their use of gentle 12-string guitars and bass…
It took me a while to warm up to the sophisticated LA grooves of Steely Dan. Growing up, classic hits radio played precisely five Steely Dan songs; ‘Do It Again’, ‘Reelin’ In The Years’, ‘Rikki, Don’t Lose That Number’, ‘Hey…
Congratulations to everyone who tried out last week’s Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers quiz. Good job to Tony, Max, and the Punk Panther, who all scored 100%, and condolences to Rich who was foiled by a dastardly popup. This week…
This week we look at new releases from Nigerian Afrobeats/soul artist Tiwa Savage, indie-folk band Fleet Foxes, and musical polymath Sufjan Stevens. Tiwa Savage Celia Nigerian singer and actress Tiwatope Savage was a late bloomer. While graduating with a degree…
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years from 1965-1968, and…
Well done to Tony, Rich, Sheik Yerbouti, and Geoff, who all scored full marks in last week’s quiz (and everyone else did well too). Tony scored the fastest time. This week you need to identify Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers…
Formed in 1981, London’s Talk Talk enjoyed an unusual career trajectory. They started their record career as a passable synth-pop band, often compared to Duran Duran. Early hits like 1984’s ‘Such A Shame’ and ‘It’s My Life’ allowed them access…
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years from 1965-1968, and…
Congratulations to everyone who did well in last week’s Who’s That With Stevie Wonder quiz – I think every single contestant beat me! Looks like we should all Listen To What the Kamerman Said, after he recorded the fastest time…
Today we look at new records from three veteran acts – an archival release from the late Tom Petty (who released his first record in the 1970s), The Flaming Lips (who released their first record in the 1980s), and The…
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years from 1965-1968, and…
Congratulations to Sheik Yerbouti and Tony, who both scored 9/10 in last week’s error message quiz. This week you need to identify the notable person with Stevie Wonder. I’m never very good at person identification – I missed some obvious…
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years from 1965-1968, and…
Alex Chilton was already a star when he joined forces with the Icewater. Icewater’s members – singer/guitarist Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel, and drummer Jody Stephens – had been playing in Memphis garage-rock bands. Despite the city’s heritage of blues…
Congratulations to tangerinetrees99, who scored the fastest time in last week’s musical instrument quiz, and well done to everyone who scored 100% (or got close!). Also, Tony from Mumbling About deserves kudos for scoring 100% in the tough Paul Westerberg…
This week we look at 2020 releases from Wales, Russia, and North Carolina (via Ghana). Enjoy! Kelly Lee Owens Inner Song Welsh musician Kelly Lee Owens sang in her school choir and played bass, but didn’t pursue electronic music until…
Against all odds, Phil Collins made a strong start to his tenure as Genesis’ lead vocalist. Recorded after Peter Gabriel left to pursue a solo career, 1976’s A Trick of the Tail was an impressive record. Collins couldn’t replicate Gabriel’s…
Kyoto math rock band Tricot’s 真っ黒 (Pure Black) was the first 2020 album I reviewed on this site. There have been other excellent records this year, from HAIM, Owen Pallett, and The 1975, but 真っ黒 is now facing its most…
Congratulations to John from , who scored the only 20/20 in last week’s quiz about Women in Music. This week we’ll see who knows their musical instruments – most of these are straightforward, but there were a couple I found…
I recently participated in an album draft, run by Hans from Like everyone else I picked 10 albums, but I used mine to also tell a story about music fandom. Here are ten albums that broadened my horizons about…
Congratulations to dark horse Luca, who scored 15/15 with the fastest time in last week’s Album Covers by Description Quiz. This week you need to identify the female artist from four options starting with the same letter. It’s one of…
This week I look at releases from three different continents, all wrestling with political and racial issues. Nigeria’s Burna Boy employs Afro-fusion, U.S. hip-hop duo Run The Jewels rattle off fast-paced hip-hop, while anonymous UK collective Sault sing about black-centric…
Winter is coming in the northern hemisphere, and 2loud2oldmusic celebrated by scoring the only 20/20 in last week’s quiz, nailing the Ne-Yo songs everyone else missed. This week you need to identify the album cover by its written description. …
Florida rock and roller Tom Petty distinguished himself with a lovable stream of self-deprecating hits. He emerged with a 1976 debut album that was inspired by mid-1960s acts like The Byrds, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones. Petty was ably…
By the time Jimi Hendrix released debut album Are You Experienced?, he certainly was experienced. After a stint in the army, training as a paratrooper, he played with the Isley Brothers, Little Richard, and his own band Jimmy James and…
At 10:21 pm last Thursday evening, Jim the Music Enthusiast asked the question “when will Tony win?” At 10:24pm, Tony clocked in with an impeccable 24/24 in the T Albums by 3 Singles quiz. This week is the same format,…
This week we cover some power-pop from New Zealand, some Americana from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and a mini-album from R&B artist Victoria Monét. The Beths Jump Rope Gazers Power pop is a great genre for one hit wonders,…
My first encounter with the music of Paul Westerberg was my sister’s copy of the Friends soundtrack. I wasn’t impressed – his rough-hewn vocals were out of place among slick alt-rock tracks from Hootie and the Blowfish, The Rembrandts, and…
It looks like we had a dead heat last week – Rich from KamerTunes and Music Enthusiast Jim both scored 25/25 with 5:49 remaining. Congratulations to everyone who scored full marks, and it sounds like the rest of us need…
The Jam were huge in the UK during the punk era, scoring four top-ten albums and four number-one singles. They emerging from Woking, on the outskirts of London. The three-piece band were fast and aggressive enough to initially be considered…
As I wrote in an earlier Syd Barrett post: When people talk about wasted potential in rock and roll, it’s usually premature deaths like Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, or Kurt Cobain. But Pink Floyd’s original leader Syd Barrett also belongs on the list –…
Congratulations to everyone who scored 100% in last week’s Scrambled 1990s vocalist quiz, and especially to Sheik Yerbouti who just nudged out Tony, 2loud2old, and Geoff for the fastest time. This week we’re looking at 1970s artists on their album…
As a young music fan, I was reliant on greatest hits albums for my collection. I earned $3 for mowing the lawn and new albums cost $20, so compilations were a surefire way of getting bang for my buck. Compilations…
I’m just the right age to have accumulated a collection of friends who were obsessed by The Smashing Pumpkins. One friend went for at least two years where he listened to at least one Pumpkins song every single day. Another…
Congratulations to Tony from Mumbling About… who scored full marks with the quickest time last week while eliminating his options. This week’s challenge is double-pronged – you need to unscramble the anagram of a 1990s vocalist, then match it to…
Three more recent releases for your listening pleasure. Jessie Ware’s sophisticated dance-pop, Yves Tumor’s abrasive electronica, and Rina Sawayama’s brash pop. Enjoy! Jessie Ware What’s Your Pleasure? Jessie Ware is probably the UK’s most likeable mainstream pop star; I struggle…
Even before she released her first solo album, New York’s Carole King had already enjoyed a prolific music career. She’d inspired Neil Sedaka’s ‘Oh! Carol’ and written a hit song for her daughters’ babysitter (Little Eva’s ‘Loco-motion’). The 1960s hits…
Congratulations to John Snow from 2loud2oldmusic, who scored the fastest time in last week’s quiz (and was one of only two 100% scores, along with Rich). I know how much he likes memes, so…. This week’s quiz isn’t too tricky,…
The two figures at the centre of 1980s English indie-rock band The Smiths were an unlikely pairing. Vocalist Morrissey was socially awkward, literate, and camp, while guitarist Johnny Marr was an aspiring football player who trialled with Manchester City. Bonding…
Los Angeles power-pop band Weezer have pumped out records since 1994, but they’re largely beloved for their first pair of albums; 1994’s Weezer and 1996’s Pinkerton. Both records featured bass player Matt Sharp and were the only records Weezer made…
Last week’s 1960s Ruined by a Letter quiz was pretty easy once you figured out how it worked – lots of 100% scores, but Music Enthusiast Jim was the fastest. This week’s quiz is more straightforward in concept, but hopefully…
This week I look at new releases by pop-superstar-turned-indie-folkster Taylor Swift, singer songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, and chamber-pop artist Perfume Genius. Coincidentally, veteran drummer Jim Keltner plays on two of these releases. All three of these records are currently placed among…
If you’re not from Australasia, chances are that you’re not familiar with Dave Dobbyn – he’s ubiquitous in New Zealand, but obscure everywhere else. When a panel selected the New Zealand’s best ever popular songs in 2001, five Dave Dobbyn…
Last week’s debut quiz was pretty straightforward, and no-one got more than one question wrong. Bruce from Vinyl Connection powered through the quiz the fastest – comfortable in the 1970s (and with compatriot Olivia Newton-John included), Bruce completed the quiz…
Emerging in the late 1960s from Los Angeles, Spirit were an odd band even by the standards of an era when rock was in its infancy and genre rules hadn’t yet ossified. Spirit’s members ranged in age from 16 to…
Congratulation to Tony and Sheik Yerbouti, who both scored 100% in last week’s thyme and Gnarls Barkley quiz, with SY scoring the slightly faster time. This week we’re looking at debut albums. I enjoyed this quiz because it’s a mix…
Three recent releases for you to peruse. Canadian Owen Pallett’s new album ventures into Nick Drake territory with its acoustic guitar picking and strings. Paramore’s Hayley Williams first solo album is poppy, yet adult and restrained. London’s King Krule continues…
Congratulations to jprobichaud who scored the fastest recorded time in last week’s nonsense quiz, while Geoff and Max also scored 100%. This week we’re looking at missing members of sets. It was more reliant on culinary knowledge than I expected,…
Many significant UK rock acts from the 1960s and early 1970s were deeply rooted in the blues. Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, and Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac were among many young bands steeped in blues tradition. Queen took…
Congratulations to everyone who scored full marks in last week’s quiz, but especially to Tony who had the fastest time. This week we’re looking at songs with nonsense titles. I only knew about half, but using the process of…
HAIM’s first two records were fun. The trio of L.A. sisters had great harmonies, their eclectic approach recalled both Fleetwood Mac and 90s R&B, while Danielle Haim’s bluesy guitar added some edge. Their third record, however, is the biggest leap…
Congratulations to Max (Badfinger20), who won last week’s quiz by a substantial margin. He scored 25% more than than the next best candidate in our early influences quiz. This week is less of a music quiz, and more of a…
Fiona Apple’s been around for a long time, releasing her 1996 debut album Tidal at the age of 18. But she’s not prolific – Fetch the Bolt Cutters is only her fifth record, making each Apple release feel like an…
Iron Maiden’s third album, The Number of the Beast, was made under time pressure. The group had five weeks to record their first album with new lead singer Bruce Dickinson. The single ‘Run to the Hills’ was released in advance…
Last week lots of people scored a perfect 30/30 in the 1980s lyric quiz – congratulations to Rich Kamerman with the fastest recorded time. This week, Jim was interested in a blues quiz. The best I could find was this…
This week we look at two releases from the first quarter of the year, and one album that was scheduled to be released 45 years ago. Enjoy! Neil Young Homegrown Neil Young enjoyed an inspired golden age between May 1969’s…
Aretha Franklin was the Queen of Soul, a powerhouse vocalist and a talented pianist. Growing up in the Church, her music was always steeped in gospel. She delivered hits for a long period of time; her first R&B chart topper…
We’ve had 20 weeks of Spotify quizzes – congratulations to Sheik Yerbouti for the overall victory. Sheik scored 390 of a possible 400, which is equivalent to only missing one clue every second week over the competition. Tony finished a…
One glance at Mark Knopfler’s bandana will tell you that Dire Straits have never been fashionable. Emerging in 1978, at the height of punk, their literate bar-band rock appealed to conservative listeners not enamoured by the upstart sounds of The…
Van Morrison is a prolific recording artist, releasing more than 40 studio albums during his solo career, as well as fronting Them in the 1960s. He recorded a lot of non-album material, but his only non-album b-side that I’m aware…
Welcome to the final week of the Sporcle Spotify challenge! It’s been a long slog since mid-February, and we’ve had a global pandemic during the period. Here are the results so far – we had a lot of 19s last…
In my opinion, rock music has four literary giants (Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Nick Cave, and Leonard Cohen) and then a whole bunch of other excellent writer. I’m covering ten more of them on this list, and but essentially it’s…
Sting’s reputation is a little shaky as a solo artist. After leading The Police to the status of the biggest band in the world in 1983, he pursued a high-brow, jazzy direction in his solo career. When I first became…
Welcome to week 19 in the Sporcle Spotify challenge. Here are the results so far – it’s a very tight battle for first. Participant Week 18 Total Sheik Yerbouti 19 351 Tony 19 350 Geoff (1001) 18 335 jprobichaud 17…
For this week’s new music reviews, I’m looking at two Americana releases from early 2020. Both are in the zone where folk and country intersect, as previously explored by Gillian Welch and Townes Van Zandt. Both are fifth albums, from…
Scott Walker is one long-time favourite artist who I’ve barely mentioned on this site (edit – I have now). Born Noel Scott Engel, in Ohio, he moved to London and fronted vocal heartthrob group The Walker Brothers. When the trio…
Welcome to week 18 in the Sporcle Spotify challenge. Here are the results so far – the big mover this week is Scott, who emailed in a few weeks at once. Participant Week 17 Total Sheik Yerbouti 19 332 Tony…
Stewart Copeland, Sting, and Andy Summers were all veteran musicians when they formed The Police in London in 1977. Copeland had drummed for progressive rock band Curved Air, Sting had played in the jazz fusion band Last Exit, while Summers’…
Welcome to week 17 in the Sporcle Spotify challenge. Here are the results so far -congratulations to Geoff Stephen for a 20 on a tough quiz last week: Participant Week 16 Total Sheik Yerbouti 19 313 Tony 19 312 Geoff…
Three reviews of May releases – the pop/rock of Manchester’s The 1975, the synth-pop of Canada’s Carly Rae Jepsen, and the Americana of Alabama’s Jason Isbell. I’ve already a fan of all three artists, hence the quicker than usual turnaround.…
Chicago’s Jamila Woods is a writer and a recording artist, and as such she’s able to sing eloquently about racial issues. Her second album, 2019’s Legacy! Legacy!, was a neo-soul masterpiece, so recently I’ve gone back to her 2016 debut…
Welcome to week 16 in the Sporcle Spotify challenge. Here are the results so far: Participant Week 15 Total Sheik Yerbouti 18 294 Tony 19 293 Geoff (1001) 17 281 jprobichaud 17 280 Rich Kamerman 17 278 John (2loud2old) 18…
Normally my method for finding new music is to read about it, add it to a playlist, and listen to it over until I enjoy it. Normally this works well – I enjoyed all of the 51 albums that I…
Welcome to week 15 in the Sporcle Spotify challenge. Here are the results so far: Participant Week 14 Total Sheik Yerbouti 19 276 Tony 18 274 Geoff (1001) 18 264 jprobichaud 16 263 Rich Kamerman 17 261 Max (badfinger20) 17…
Writing about Dire Straits’ discography this week, I learned that 1985’s Brothers in Arms was one of ten albums nominated in 2010 for the title of best British album of the previous 30 years. I was especially intrigued by a…
There was a lot of great pop music in the 1960s, and Birmingham psychedelic rock band The Move are overlooked among the rush. They never made an impression in the US where the band they morphed into, Electric Light Orchestra,…
Welcome to week 14 in the Sporcle Spotify challenge. Here are the results so far: Participant Week 13 Total Sheik Yerbouti 20 257 Tony 20 256 jprobichaud 18 247 Geoff (1001) 19 246 Rich Kamerman 19 244 John (2loud2old) 19…
The lock-down album is something we’ll presumably see more of over the next few months. As far as I’m aware, the first 2020 lock-down record from a major artist is from English pop auteur Charli XCX. Charli, born Charlotte Aitchison,…
Welcome to week 13 in the Sporcle Spotify challenge. Here are the results so far: Participant Week 12 Total Sheik Yerbouti 19 237 Tony 20 236 jprobichaud 19 229 Geoff (1001) 18 227 Scott 18 226 Rich Kamerman 18 225…
Singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega emerged in the mid-1980s after serving an apprenticeship in folk music in New York’s Greenwich Village. Her introspective and gentle songs were immediately successful at a time when singer-songwriters weren’t popular. Her first two albums spawned hits…
Sometimes a record is so jammed with great songs that something worthy has to be shipped out to a b-side. Despite its huge success, Peter Gabriel’s So isn’t one of those records. Singles like ‘Red Rain’ and ‘Sledgehammer’ are terrific,…
Welcome to week 12 in the Sporcle Spotify challenge. Here are the results so far: Participant Week 11 Total Sheik Yerbouti 20 218 Tony 19 216 jprobichaud 19 210 Geoff (1001) 19 209 Scott 19 208 Rich Kamerman 19 207…
Pop music has become a much more respected art form in the past decade. Records like Taylor Swift’s 1989, Carly Rae Jepsen’s Emotion, and Robyn’s Honey have attained the acclaim usually reserved for more critically favoured musical genres. Dua Lipa’s…
