Like a lot of sad, melodramatic kids, I spent large portions of my youth clinging to music as a lifeline. And almost as quickly as the stuff burrowed its way…
Nostalgia gets kind of a bad rap these days — and understandably so, given that it seems to be in the process of swallowing our pop culture and political discourse.…
Context is a crucial — and, as far as I’m concerned, underappreciated — component of the way we experience art. There’s a long list of books, records, and films I…
During one evening of my willfully misspent youth, my parents sat me down for a screening of Cool Hand Luke, hoping to show me what happens to smart-assed malcontents who…
Thanks to No Depression‘s year-end roundup, I spent the day acquainting myself with Aaron Lee Tasjan’s Silver Tears — a fine set of songs I’m just now hearing even though…
Ten years ago today, I spearheaded the launch of Popdose, a pop culture site dedicated to the idea that every piece of art is worth discussing and the fervent hope…
I didn’t set out to be a writer. Like countless others who’ve gone on to carve out a living in cultural commentary, my youthful dreams centered around making art myself;…
Weeks and weeks ago, I was tagged in one of those “name 10 albums that have stuck with you” Facebook posts. You aren’t supposed to think too much about the…
When James Taylor released his 12th album, Never Die Young, in January of 1988, I was 13 — just the right age to have little to no awareness of his…
I don’t care what’s included, there’s absolutely no possible configuration of Pink Floyd’s The Division Bell that could justify charging $135 for a deluxe box. I’m admittedly not a huge Floyd fan,…
I’d never heard of Secret Stash Records before the ever-indispensable Heavy Soul Brutha hipped me to the existence of Sonny Knight and the Lakers’ new I’m Still Here LP, but…
There’s just something about sibling harmony.