Commentary Archive
Why The Who’s ‘Tommy’ Was Such an Influential Release
January 3, 2014
Rock operas are a very daunting undertaking, rampant with historical failures and bloated reputations that make their creation somewhat of a rare occurrence. However, those actually daring enough to write a rock opera often look to The Who’s Tommy for inspiration. It’s the consummate rock opera, filled with a touching plot that incorporates music in
They Might Be Giants: A Template for Rising Indie-Rock Groups
January 3, 2014
Indie-rock mainstays They Might Be Giants released their 16th studio album, Nanobots, last year. It continues the group’s trend of short songs – often under three minutes – that pack an impressive mixture of experimentation and infectious hooks. The band’s scope of experimentalism has altered slightly throughout their 30+ year career, from early shows featuring
How Supernatural Introduced Santana To An Entirely New Generation
December 22, 2013
Carlos Santana’s place in Latin rock folklore had already been cemented. Arguably one of the most talented guitarists of his generation, the Mexican and his ever-changing backing band was widely hailed as the standout performer at Woodstock, was a constant fixture on the 70s music scene and even managed to sneak in a few hits
How Child Porn Charges Affected R. Kelly’s Career
December 21, 2013
“Bump N Grind,” “Sex Me,” “Half On A Baby” – Robert Sylvester Kelly had built his entire 90s career on presenting himself as the kind of smooth lothario who could send women into a frenzy with just a single raunchy chat-up line. However, his loverman routine attracted headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2002
Mana and the Rise of Visual Kei
December 20, 2013
The style of visual kei remains unknown to many western audiences, whose concept of ‘weird’ may not be enough to fully grasp the movement’s appeal. Artistic in nature, its participators are marked by elaborate costumes and make-up, often of an androgynous appearance. Some insist visual kei is strictly a fashion term, but those aware of
Tracing Leonard Cohen’s Relationship History Through Song
December 17, 2013
Few artists have written songs as fiercely personal as Leonard Cohen, the legendary folk artist whose discography includes stunning lyrical themes that touch on love, depression, and political tyranny. Considering that Cohen has been releasing music for about 46 years, most of his life has been chronicled by songs that range in clarity from subtle
Best Jay Z Guest Spots
October 1, 2013
One of the most prolific rappers of his generation, Jay Z has released 12 solo albums and four collaborative LPs since first showcasing his talents back in 1996. But his tally of Billboard chart entries has also been bolstered by a huge number of guest appearances on artists from the world of hip-hop, R&B and
Countering Classical Gripes Against Andrea Bocelli
September 29, 2013
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli has sold over 75 million records worldwide since bursting onto the classical scene at the Sanremo Festival in 1994, becoming the genre’s biggest selling artist in the process, as well as achieving nominations at the Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Awards, scoring eight Billboard classical chart number ones and receiving a
Best Contemporary Cover Versions of Rolling Stones Songs
September 28, 2013
Now entering their incredible 51st year together, The Rolling Stones started out their iconic career back in 1962 as a virtual covers band. They performed renditions of classic R&B and rock n’ roll tracks by the likes of Chuck Berry (“Come On”), Howlin Wolf (“Little Red Rooster”) and Buddy Holly (“Not Fade Away”), not to
Morrissey’s Most Depressing Songs
September 27, 2013
The jangly guitar riffs and epic indie-pop melodies often masked the rather depressing nature of The Smiths’ output. But Morrissey hasn’t earned his eternal miserablist reputation for nothing and amongst both his solo and former band’s back catalog, there are a plethora of songs that are so immediately unremittingly bleak that they make Leonard Cohen
