Famously, The Monkees started as a band created for a TV show – they were sometimes referred to as the Prefab Four. But as their career progressed, they asserted more influence over their career. On their third album, Headquarters, The…
Last week, in Find the Band Member VI, Rich Kamerman had the best score of 23/24 when I scheduled this post – apologies if you recorded your score later, as I’m on vacation. This week, it’s more of the same.…
Welcome to the final batch of 2021 music reviews – I’ve reviewed 72 new releases this year, about as many as I can manage in this one-man operation. There are two guitar bands this week – the retro jangle-pop of…
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 1965-1968 and was…
Congratulations to everyone who scored 20/20 in last week’s Album Covers II quiz, and also condolences to the contestants who scored 19/20 but missed The Doors’ Strange Days. Special congratulations to Jamie from , who scored the fastest time. This…
We’ve had a few high-profile artists recently, but we’re back to the niches this week – the folk-prog of Richard Dawson & Circle, the eclectic indie-pop of Mr. Twin Sister, and the dreamy ambient pop of Art School Girlfriend. Enjoy!…
Nebraskan singer-songwriter Josh Rouse is undervalued – his thoughtful and tuneful songs could have been hits in another era. He released some great records in the early 21st century – the concept album of Under Cold Blue Stars, about a…
I had to post this week’s quiz a little early, so I might have missed some late entries for last week’s Red Album quiz. But congratulations to 2Loud2Old Music, who recorded a perfect score with the best time. This week,…
It’s three releases from female solo artists this week. Two are sophomore records – Baltimore indie-rocker Snail Mail and London alternative R&B artist Tirzah both follow up their debuts. Both are worthy, but one is particularly great. Meanwhile, veteran Tori…
Before she released her record-breaking solo album Tapestry in 1971, Carole King had already enjoyed a prolific musical 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…
