Back Off, Jerk: Primitive Radio Gods’ “Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand”
A few years ago, I came upon the following pronouncement in a rock critic’s snarky column: “Listening to Primitive Radio God’s ‘Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand’ on YouTube is the equivalent of watching child pornography.” Obviously, this jerk takes his music too seriously — or child abuse not seriously […]
Back Off, Jerk: ‘Invisible Touch’ and the Misconceptions of ’80s Genesis
Why has Genesis’ ’86 LP acquired such a bad rap? The answer can be found in a few misconceptions regarding pop music and the band’s overall motives.
Robert Plant – “Rainbow” (Song Review)
[rating=9.00] God bless Robert Plant! (For him, I guess that would be Odin or Pan.) The workingman’s Celt who burst on the rock scene as a grinning satyr has somehow managed to age gracefully as a performer. Embracing the limitations that time, moans, and smoke have placed on his voice, he has sought out musical […]
Jeff Tweedy – “I’ll Sing It” (Song Review)
The Wilco frontman’s new solo single builds to an affirmative, if not triumphant, conclusion.
Phish – “Waiting All Night” (Song Review)
Conventional wisdom has it that any Phish song with vocals is a loathsome thing. But that doesn’t tell the full story — and it doesn’t apply to new single ‘Fuego.’
Back Off, Jerk: In Defense of ‘Friends’ (‘Cheers’ for Gen-Xers)
The finale episode of NBC sitcom Friends aired 10 years ago this month. Michael Yellin reflects on the show’s highs, lows, quirks, and shark-jumps, all the while defending the show’s ultimate accomplishments. Once upon a time, there was a television show called Friends set in a city very much like New York, except that clean, spacious apartments […]
Back Off, Jerk: Yes – ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’
Michael Yellin goes long on Yes’ most controversial LP: “If prognerds were a rougher bunch, there would be a lot of busted noses over ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans.'”