Category: Playlists
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An Opinionated History of Modern Rock
Hypothesis: while it is usually impossible to pick a precise genesis of any cultural movement, for the purposes of this exercise, R.E.M.’s “Radio Free Europe” gave birth to “modern rock,” and Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” killed it. I slid in some obvious precursors to R.E.M. and covered the dénouement and fallout from OK Computer as well.…
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Beaver Hall, Junior Year
Inspired by the announcement of R.E.M.’s “Up” reissue, I took a trip back to Fall ’98, my first semester away at Penn State. Here’s the contemporaneous music that was spinning in my dorm room on the 4th floor of Beaver Hall. Listen on Apple Music, Spotify or Last.fm.
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Strong Enough?
Pulling the thread that connects Sheryl Crow’s “Strong Enough” and boygenius’s “Not Strong Enough” in both directions. Listen on Apple Music, Spotify or Last.fm.
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Janet F*cking Weiss
A testament to the sheer power and grace of Janet Weiss. Featuring Sleater-Kinney and Quasi, along with her time in the Jicks and select guest appearances. Listen on Apple Music, Spotify or Last.fm.
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Equations Unbalanced, Riddles Unsolved
Listening to “Pony Express Record” this week, I wondered “where are the rest of the bands that did this?” Admittedly, they’re hard to find, but that led me to creating this playlist: Where post-hardcore, math and feelings meet. A mix of scenes, but admittedly DC-heavy, light on “emo for emo’s sake” if it doesn’t have…
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Dudes Rock
A playlist vaguely inspired by 10 years of Celebration Rock, meant to be played loud while drinking ice-cold cheap domestics and shouting the lyrics back at your speakers. Playlist available on Apple Music and Spotify.
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Four Of A Perfect Pair
Collecting the work of King Crimson’s classic quartet, together and apart: Belew, Bruford, Fripp and Levin. Playlist available on Apple Music and Spotify.
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Missed My Connection in Heathrow
A playlist inspired by traveling for the first time in 2+ years and the attendant disorientation/depression that follows. (no, I did not go to London! it was just a vibe!) Playlist available on Apple Music and Spotify.
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My favorite albums of 2021
Once again, I pushed myself to listen to lots of new music this year. A full six of my top ten records were by artists who are either new or new to me… seven if you count Aeon Station, who are technically a “new” band. That’s pretty good, I think! Here’s a playlist: 10. Dan…
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Best of 2020 (The Albums)
I’ve done some sort of year end, “best of” list as long as I can remember. This probably hasn’t been the “best” year of music over that span, but it certainly has been the most important, to me. We’ve all had a trying year, to put it mildly. These are the albums that helped get…