New Music Reviews: Animal Collective, Gang of Youths, Charli XCX
This week on the review table, there are new albums from anthemic Australian alt-rock band Gang of Youths – think…
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Keep readingNew Music Reviews: Animal Collective, Gang of Youths, Charli XCX
Nuggets: You Must Be A Witch by The Lollipop Shoppe
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First…
Music Quiz: Rock Quartets by First Names
Last week’s quiz about Antonyms was pretty straightforward, with a bunch of 20 Tony was fastest. This week is another…
The Anne of Green Gables Series: Ranked
My grandmother was a dedicated L.M. Montgomery fan. She had an entire display cabinet filled with Montgomery’s work and made…
Nuggets: A Question of Temperature by The Balloon Farm
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First…
Music Quiz: Missing Song Antonyms II
Congratulations to Eclectic Music Lover, who recorded a perfect 25/25 in last week’s quiz about Albums With At Least Four…
New Music Reviews: Big Thief, Jane Weaver, and Forenzics
I thoroughly enjoyed this week’s batch of records. Rootsy indie darlings Big Thief deliver the record that should stand as…
10 Best Eagles Songs
The four original Eagles played their first gig together at Disneyland, supporting Linda Ronstadt. Starting as a country-rock outfit, they…
Music Quiz: Albums with at Least Four Top Ten Hits
Congratulations to Tony and EclecticMusicLover, who both scored 12/12 in last week’s quiz. This week it’s all about commercial juggernauts…
Harness Your Hopes by Pavement: Great B-Sides
The streaming era has scattered previously held views on the hierarchy of popular music. Despite a critical pasting, Queen have…
Nuggets: Maid of Sugar – Maid of Spice by Mouse and the Traps
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First…
Aphoristic Album Reviews: The Missing Years
I’ve had a few issues with the WordPress Reader feed recently – this post both tests if it’s now working…
Music Quiz: Decade by Three Album Releases
Congratulations to Tony, who narrowly edged Sheik Yerbouti for bragging rights in last week’s Shopping List quiz. This week’s quiz…
New Music Reviews: Cate Le Bon, Heisei No Oto, and Howie Lee
The title New Music Reviews is a little misleading this week, given that one of the new releases is a…
Music Quiz: Album by Shopping Receipt
Last week’s Album by Shopping Receipt IV was a toughie, but a couple of contestants made it to 23/24 –…
Yes Albums Ranked from Worst to Best
Progressive rock behemoths Yes emerged from London in the late 1960s. Starting out as a psychedelic pop band, they became one of…
Nuggets: You Ain’t Tuff by The Uniques
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First…
Music Quiz: Album by Shopping Receipt III
Congratulations to Rich Kamerman, who scored the only 24/24 on last week’s quiz. This week, we’re looking at “Shopping Receipts”…
New Music Reviews: Mitski, Arooj Aftab, and Hikaru Utada
Welcome back to the first instalment of new music reviews for 2022. This week I feature three female artists in…
Music Quiz: Find the Band Member VIII
Noone scored a full 24/24 in last week’s quiz, but we did have a bunch of 23s. Tony had the…
Joni Mitchell: Albums Ranked from Worst to Best
Joni Mitchell emerged at a time when the women’s rights movement was still building steam. She had to fight for…
Nuggets: Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White by The Standells
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First…
Music Quiz: Find the Band Member VII
Congratulations to occasional contestant Heavy Metal Overlord, who scored the fastest time in last week’s Find The Band Member quiz.…
10 Worst Billy Joel Lyrics
I wasn’t planning to make more bad lyricist lists, but lots of people enjoyed the New Order list. Two obvious…
Nuggets: She’s My Baby by The Mojo Men
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First…
Music Quiz: Find the Band Member
Congratulations to Tony, who scored the fastest time in last week’s Find the Band Member II quiz, locating 24 famous…
The dB’s: Albums Ranked from Worst to Best
The dB’s came from the same era as R.E.M., and featured a similarly jangly sound. While R.E.M. became one of…
10 Best Lin-Manuel Miranda Songs
It’s been a ridiculously successful couple of years for Lin-Manuel Miranda. In 2019 his musical Hamilton was released onto DisneyPlus,…
Music Quiz: Find the Band Member II
Congratulations to Pierce from who snuck in a second faster than Tony to win last week’s challenge in a…
10 Worst New Order Lyrics
Great music isn’t always synonymous with great lyrics – early Beach Boys records dressed up Mike Love’s mundane teen dramas…
10 Best Queen Songs
In the 21st century, Queen have emerged as the most-loved band from the classic rock era. They enjoyed little critical…
Music Quiz: Find the Band Member III
It looks like Music Enthusiast Jim won last week’s quiz, leading a large number of perfect scores with the fastest…
Crosby, Stills, Nash (and Young): Albums Ranked from Worst to Best
David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash were all members of famous 1960s bands before linking up as a trio.…
Nuggets: Story of My Life by The Unrelated Segments
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First…
Music Quiz: Find the Band Member IV
Congratulations to the contestants who scored 24/24 in last week’s quiz – it looks like jprobichaud from was the…
Goin’ Down by The Monkees – Great B-Sides
Famously, The Monkees started as a band created for a TV show – they were sometimes referred to as the…
Music Quiz: Find the Band Member V
Last week, in Find the Band Member VI, Rich Kamerman had the best score of 23/24 when I scheduled this…
New Music Reviews: Tricot, Ducks Ltd, and L’Rain
Welcome to the final batch of 2021 music reviews – I’ve reviewed 72 new releases this year, about as many…
Nuggets: I’m Five Years Ahead of My Time by The Third Bardo
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First…
Music Quiz: Find the Band Member VI
Congratulations to everyone who scored 20/20 in last week’s Album Covers II quiz, and also condolences to the contestants who…
New Music Reviews: Richard Dawson & Circle, Mr. Twin Sister, and Art School Girlfriend
We’ve had a few high-profile artists recently, but we’re back to the niches this week – the folk-prog of Richard…
Christmas With Jesus by Josh Rouse
Nebraskan singer-songwriter Josh Rouse is undervalued – his thoughtful and tuneful songs could have been hits in another era. He…
Music Quiz: Album Covers II
I had to post this week’s quiz a little early, so I might have missed some late entries for last…
New Music Reviews: Snail Mail, Tori Amos, Tirzah
It’s three releases from female solo artists this week. Two are sophomore records – Baltimore indie-rocker Snail Mail and London…
10 Best Covers of Carole King Songs
Before she released her record-breaking solo album Tapestry in 1971, Carole King had already enjoyed a prolific musical career. She’d…
Music Quiz: Click the Red Album
Congratulations to Tony, who just pipped Max and Eclectic Music Lover for the fastest time in last week’s Blackboard Musicians…
New Music Reviews – Lana Del Rey, Grouper, Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine
The most high-profile group of artists for a while – most music fans should have heard of Del Rey and…
Nuggets: Mirror Of Your Mind by We The People
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First…
Music Quiz: Blackboard Blitz Instrumentalists
As you’d expect from a niche quiz, last week’s London Calling competition threw up a range of scores. Congratulations to…
New Music Reviews: Low, Deafheaven, Sun-El Musician
It’s a strong week of records this week. Two records reflect changed style – Minnesota’s Low have added distorted guitars…
10 Best Echo & the Bunnymen Songs
Liverpool’s second-most famous band, Echo & the Bunnymen arrived in the post-punk era; they released their debut single in 1979.…
Music Quiz: Opening Lyrics of London Calling
Last week we looked at Best New Artist Grammy winners. There was a three-way tie for first place – Tony,…
New Music Reviews: Foxing, Magdalena Bay, and Jupiter & Okwess
Welcome to what’s probably the most obscure batch of reviews for this year – Missouri indie band Foxing, Miami synth-pop…
Nuggets: Bad Little Woman by The Shadows of Knight
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in…
Music Quiz: Best New Artist Grammy by Song
We had a tie last week in the White Album quiz – congratulations to Jim and Max, who tied with…
10 Best Moody Blues Songs
Birmingham band The Moody Blues have one of the most misleading names in popular music. It fit to start with…
Music Quiz: Opening Lyrics of The White Album
Congratulations to Rich “Taxman” Kamerman, who squeaked out the fastest time in last weeks 1960s quiz. There were lots of…
New Music Reviews: The War on Drugs, Spellling, and Brandi Carlile
This week we have roots-rock from The War on Drugs, art-rock from Spellling, and country/folk from Brandi Carlile. Two of…
Nuggets: Double Yellow Line by The Music Machine
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in…
Music Quiz: Complete the 1960s Song Title with a Picture
We had another tie last week with the quickfire Tic-Tac-Toe quiz. Tony and Geoff both solved the puzzle with 2:13…
10 Best Natalie Merchant Songs
Despite a dozen years with the 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie Merchant was still in her twenties when she departed for a…
Music Quiz: Tic-Tac-Toe
Congratulations to everyone who scored 26/26 in the 1990s Ruined by a Letter quiz – Tony easily recorded the fastest…
New Music Reviews: Billie Eilish, Little Simz, and Natalie Hemby
It’s not technically true, but it’s essentially sophomore albums today. Superstar Billie Eilish releases her second album, UK rapper Little…
Nuggets: Optical Sound by The Human Expression
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in…
Music Quiz: Ruined by a Letter 1990s #2
Last week’s US Presidents quiz featured the cover image of Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album Sour. The second single from that…
Ween: Albums Ranked from Worst to Best
Aaron Freeman (Gene Ween) met Mickey Melchiondo (Dean Ween) in their eighth-grade typing class in 1984. They made several homemade albums…
10 Best 10,000 Maniacs Songs
The 10,000 Maniacs formed in upstate New York in 1981. They were initially an eclectic new wave outfit, with interesting…
Music Quiz: Musicians with a US President
Congratulations to EclecticMusicLover and Rich Kamerman who both scored 29/30 in last week’s Musicians with US Presidents II quiz. This…
New Music Reviews: Chvrches, Lorde, Faye Webster
One of my pet theories at Aphoristic Album Reviews is that artists peak with their fourth (and fifth) albums. Today,…
Nuggets: Journey To The Center Of The Mind by The Amboy Dukes
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in…
Music Quiz: Musicians with a US President II
Congratulations to Tony, whose 24/25 in last week’s Famous Albums Badly Drawn Quiz was a clear winner. This week you…
Nuggets: Are You Gonna Be There (At The Love In) by The Chocolate Watchband
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in…
Music Quiz: Famous Albums Badly Drawn
For most of the week, it looked like ‘Advance Australia Fair’ was going to ring around the medal ceremony. A…
New Music Reviews: Black Midi, Lindsey Buckingham, and Torres
Not as strong as last week’s crop of records – the new black midi record is excellent but I’m less…
10 Best Todd Rundgren Songs
Todd Rundgren emerged in the late 1960s as guitarist and songwriter for the Philadelphia rock band The Nazz. He’s scored…
Music Quiz: Who’s in the Band?
Congratulations to everyone who participated in last week’s badly drawn 1970s hits quiz. Especially to Eclectic Music Lover, who just…
New Music Reviews: Kacey Musgraves, Tinashe, and Tyler, The Creator
Three American artists this week, although Tyler, The Creator and Tinashe both have fathers with African heritage – Tyler’s father…
Nuggets: Too Many People by The Leaves
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in…
Music Quiz: Artist to Badly Drawn Songs 1970s
Congratulations to kingclover and ElecticMusicLover, who both scored 36/38 in last week’s tough ‘The’ Bands quiz. It included some obscure…
Music Quiz: ‘The’ Bands
Congratulations to Tony, who caffeined up and motored through last week’s Flip Flop albums quiz. This week is straightforward after…
New Music Reviews: Lucy Dacus, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Erika de Casier
I’ve been finding lots of albums in the good to very good range this year, but not many great ones.…
Nuggets: (Would I Still Be) Her Big Man by The Brigands
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in…
Music Quiz: Flip Flop Albums
Congratulatons to EclecticMusicLover, who easily won last week’s never had a #1 single. He scored 26/29, 3 ahead of J’s…
Singapore by Girls Aloud: Great B-Sides
Lots of dedicated music fans are sniffy about mainstream pop music from the 21st century. And if there’s anything worse,…
11 Best ABBA Songs
Swedish quartet ABBA were massively popular from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. They were effectively a supergroup when they…
Music Quiz: Never Had a #1 Single
Congratulations to Aaron, who just edged Tony and Rich for the fastest time last week. This week you need to…
New Music Reviews – Squid, Cleo Sol, and Andy Partridge
In an unplanned coincidence, today’s three recent releases are from English settlements ending with on. Post-punk band Squid from Brighton,…
Nuggets: Are You A Boy Or Are You A Girl by The Barbarians
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First…
Music Quiz: Band by Fan Store Product
Congratulations to tomwritesaboutstuff, who recorded the fastest time in last week’s acrostic puzzle quiz. This week you need to name…
10 Best Townes Van Zandt Songs
Singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt came from a prominent Texan family. Prodigiously intelligent, his family groomed him as a lawyer or…
Music Quiz: Mini Acrostic Puzzle
Congratulations to kingclover, who scored the only 100% score in last week’s finish that album quiz. We can continue on…
New Music Reviews: St. Vincent, Japanese Breakfast, Emeka Ogboh
There’s a strong batch of newish albums this week. The retro 1970s sleaze of St. Vincent’s Daddy’s Home, the diverse…
Nuggets: Wooly Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First…
Music Quiz: The Last Word Albums II
Congratulations to Eclectic Music Lover and Tony, who were the only 100% scores in last week’s Last Word Albums quiz.…
The 10 Worst Songs of the 1960s
The 1960s were a great time for popular music. The development of recording technology allowed new sounds, and the decade…
10 Best Beach Boys Songs
The Beach Boys emerged from Hawthorne California, with Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, along with their cousin Mike Love. Their…
