Category Archives: Music

Taylor Swift, Auto-Didact

Posted on 8 August 2011 by

In this week’s Rolling Stone, Taylor Swift talks history. “I just read a 900-page book called The Kennedy Women,” she tells the magazine. “This morning I bought books about John Adams, Lincoln’s Cabinet, the Founding Fathers and Ellis Island.” Let’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Music | 1 Comment

Michael Jackson and Monoculture

Posted on 29 June 2009 by

[x-posted at Splice Today] Not even Lester Bangs could eulogize Michael Jackson as effectively as has the collective car stereo of my New Haven neighborhood. Each time I went out this weekend—for pizza, for a library book, for a mind-clearing … Continue reading →

Posted in All History is Local History, Music | Leave a comment

David Cook Loses His Cred

Posted on 28 April 2009 by

[Splice Today] When it comes to David Cook, last year’s American Idol, the best “road report” focuses on the ticket buying, not the concert going. See what I mean over at Splice Today.

Posted in All History is Local History, Music | Leave a comment

The worst thing about rewatching Almost Famous

Posted on 24 January 2009 by

. . . is hearing “The Chipmunk Song” play over the opening credits and realizing that it’s a harbinger of Jason Lee’s unfortunate future.

Posted in Music | Leave a comment

The Lester Bangs of Saudi Arabia?

Posted on 20 January 2009 by

[Gelf] A few months ago, the New York Times ran a front-page story on Accolade, a Saudi Arabian rock band composed of female college students. Most of the reaction to this story focused on the band—their MySpace friend count went … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, Music, The Media | Leave a comment