Monthly Archives: May 2011

Newcomer’s Perspective: 10 favorite Bay Area acts I’ve discovered since moving here

Posted on May 23, 2011 by

It’s been a little more than six months since I relocated from Michigan to sometimes-sunny Oakland, and I’ve tried to delve into the local music scene. According to my obsessive cataloging of music in my iTunes library, there are roughly … Continue reading →

Posted in Bay Area Music, Local Bands, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Playlist: 7 songs to get your Rapture on for Saturday, May 21

Posted on May 20, 2011 by

Obviously, I’m not the first person to come up with the idea for a Rapture playlist, but I’ll take advantage of any opportunity to talk about what an awesome album “Bone Machine” is. Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Playlists | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Racking Up Plays: “Thanks for Nothing” by Middle Brother

Posted on May 18, 2011 by

From its simple harmonies to its tried-and-true subject, nothing about the song is particularly revolutionary, but its emotional turns and twists are perfectly executed. Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Racking Up Plays | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Annotated Decemberists No. 1: ‘Oceanside’

Posted on May 17, 2011 by

I don’t want to dwell too much on the song’s title because it might just be a pretty word, but there’s something odd about trying to get someone to come “oceanside” when they’re already at the beach. Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Overanalyzing Pop Culture, The Annotated Decemberists | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Amazon MP3 Store begs the question: How much Gregorian chant is too much?

Posted on May 13, 2011 by

Ninety-nine essential Gregorian chants??? I would argue that the number of Gregorian chants any music collection requires is one at most. Any more than that is inessential. Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous Ranting, Music, Overanalyzing Pop Culture | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

SONG DUEL!: “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac vs. “Dreams” by The Cranberries

Posted on May 12, 2011 by

In this installment, the bewitching vocal stylings of Stevie Nicks and Dolores O’Riordan face off to see which one will prevail as the other’s worst nightmare. Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Overanalyzing Pop Culture, SONG DUEL! | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Racking Up Plays: “Just for Show” by Atmosphere

Posted on May 6, 2011 by

“Just for Show” is a document of a nasty break-up, the type of quarrel I’d sometimes hear outside my window on warm summer nights when I lived within walking distance of the downtown bars, with shouts of, “Get out my face!” and “You wanna threaten me?” Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Racking Up Plays | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Report from the show: Big ups to Minnesota hip hop with Doomtree’s Dessa, Sims and Lazerbeak at Bottom of the Hill

Posted on May 6, 2011 by

San Francisco has been a favorite tour stop for the Doomtree family for as long as there’s been a Doomtree. At least that’s what the Minneapolis alternative hip hop crew’s star female player, Dessa, told a packed crowd at Bottom … Continue reading →

Posted in Bay Area Music, Music, Report From the Show | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Nitpicking the Hits: Jeremih, 50 Cent bring club culture and rape culture together with “Down on Me”

Posted on May 2, 2011 by

Jeremih is simply offering to let this girl continue to put drinks on his tab. How considerate! When I saw the title to this song, I assumed it was going to be about oral sex. I guess I misjudged the gentleman. Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Nitpicking the Hits, Overanalyzing Pop Culture | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment