It’s the middle of February, and you know what that means: Valentine’s Day, one of the year’s most controversial holidays, is upon us. Similarly celebrated and hated, fussed over or made fun of, this all-sorts saint’s day is nonetheless an inexorability of our buy-or-die culture. Everywhere, from the corner grocery store to the gas station… Continue reading Are You Heart of Hearing?
Tag: Clem Snide
Glancing Backward to Look Forward
Because the month of January (named for the two-headed ancient god, Janus) teeters on the fence between the old year and the new, it offers a distinct vantage point for glancing backward at what has been, as a way to predict what may be lurking up ahead. In other words, it’s a time for deciding whether… Continue reading Glancing Backward to Look Forward
A Bouquet of 10 New Songs for Spring
When is a selection of new music like a flower garden? Right now, actually. With the year barely one-quarter old and the ravages of winter not quite a distant memory, there is plenty of budding already occurring, on the stem and in the ears. New songs are cropping up with the same frequency and intensity… Continue reading A Bouquet of 10 New Songs for Spring
Play Some New Music to Help You Forget the Tax Man Ever Cameth
I hate to admit it, but I have been suppressing my new-music-buying passion. Maybe it’s the economy, or maybe just the wintry Mid-Atlantic spring weather, but I’ve been reluctant lately to go on an iTunes shopping spree, or even thumb through the racks at the local Borders or Best Buy. It’s certainly not due to a… Continue reading Play Some New Music to Help You Forget the Tax Man Ever Cameth
Ten Recordings to Hear Before the End of the Year
I recently learned about a new compendium of delightfully useless information that should be must-reading for any music aficionado. Tom Moon, a critic and frequent contributor to NPR’s All Songs Considered (a must-listen for anyone interested in new music), has published a new book (and launched a Web site), 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die. Nearly four years… Continue reading Ten Recordings to Hear Before the End of the Year