Author Nick Hornby writes the words and musician Ben Folds puts the music to them. The September album “Lonely Avenue” is, on the surface, hard to resist. It features one of my favorite authors and the man […]
Chance, a commenter on these threads, feels that Belle and Sebastian’s October release, “Write About Love,” is weak; I think it’s decent. Actually, we’re both right. It may be weak by B&S standards, but it’s decent by […]
Continuing Las Vegas Musician Week at my blog, Jenny Lewis recently released a new album, and although it’s not as lyrically substantial as some of her previous efforts, it does achieve a nice, beachy sound […]
I think Brandon Flowers or his band, The Killers, will make a better album than “Flamingo” in the future, but this is a step in the direction of greatness. Working sans band, Flowers’ most impressive feat on […]
Here are my first impressions of the Season 2 premiere of “Glee” (7 p.m. Central Tuesdays, Fox).
What is the best cover song you’ve heard performed live by a band that has never recorded that song?
10. Smashing Pumpkins — “1979” — This song reminds me of driving around with my friends in Fargo, N.D., during my high school years. The “1979” of the title is a stand-in for anytime, I assume, since […]
20. Traveling Wilburys — “Handle with Care” — George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne singing about heartache around the same microphone. ‘Nuff said. 19. Dire Straits — “Walk of Life” — I remember this […]
30. Sarah McLachlan — “Full of Grace” — This song was not written for the sequence in “Becoming Part 2” that follows Buffy’s painful choice to send Angel to hell to save the world. But it seems […]
40. Camera Obscura — “Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken” — I was a few albums late to the party, but I loved Camera Obscura the moment I heard the church-organ-turned-pop-instrument intro on this entry. And I […]