This is the time of year when the supporters of self-help, the boosters of betterment, the promoters of purposefulness, and everyone else who exalts in the ethics of uplift, start hymning the glories of making New Year’s resolutions. Oh, joy. The general belief is that the start of a new calendar year affords a kind… Continue reading Glancing Backward, Musically Speaking, in Order to Look Ahead
Tag: The Decemberists
When It Comes to Picking New Music, My Kids Are All Right
I’ve written a lot lately about sharing traditions with my children and delighting in their joy as they experience something new. But the more I’ve written, the more I’ve come to understand that, while it’s pleasurable to read them my favorite holiday bedtime stories, for instance, or pull out and play kitschy sing-a-long records from… Continue reading When It Comes to Picking New Music, My Kids Are All Right
Get What's Coming to You: The Rest of Your New Music Review Tax Relief
This is a follow-up to last week’s post, in which I prattled on a bit about the reasons for my flagging desire to buy new music. I blamed it on a number of different factors, including the economy, the weather, iGreed, psychotic behavior, boredom, third-world pirates, the government, even The Beatles. Truth is, it’s me,… Continue reading Get What's Coming to You: The Rest of Your New Music Review Tax Relief
Did You Hear What I've Heard, So Far This Year?
Musically speaking, 2009 has gotten off to a quiet start. Unlike the first six weeks of last year, which produced much-lauded roll-outs from the likes of Vampire Weekend, Radiohead, Bon Iver, The Magnetic Fields, MGMT, The Helio Sequence, The Mars Volta, Adele, and Nada Surf, among others, there have been few notable releases so far in… Continue reading Did You Hear What I've Heard, So Far This Year?
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