THE TOP 20 SONGS OF 2007

Remember when I said I was done with lists? I lied. Out of complete self-interest (or, more precisely, interest in self), I began wondering what were my favorite singles of the year. Lots of other folks picked theirs, so why not me? To arrive this list, I first reviewed what 2008 tracks had the highest [...]

COVER WARS: BRITNEY VS. MADONNA

Both are formerly hot chicks, one of whom got ls hot naturally, the other of whom got less hot through hard livin’. Neither are known for their songwriting. In fact, it’s hardly fair to call Brit a songwriter–Madonna was at least somewhat involved at all stages of her career. Nevertheless, I asked myself, “How do [...]

2 COOL MOVIES TO RENT

So, I’m feeling like crap today and I’m flat on my back watching a couple DVDs.  I’d heard of both of them, but never got the chance to see them, and it’s so rare that I rent two movies and neither of them suck. The first one is Hard Candy, which takes the whole victim-turns-on-the-creep [...]

TOMMIE PEDDER

Rainy Day Women (Everybody Must Get Stoned)-Tom Petty and Eddie Vedder (Bob Dylan cover) American Girl-Tom Petty and Eddie Vedder The Waiting-Tom Petty and Eddie Vedder

TWILIGHT HOTEL-“Highway Prayer”

Twilight Hotel occupy that strange space in the alt-country landscape occupied by artists from Canada who make Americana rock. I’m proud to make them one of my first 2008 reviews (album release date: January 29), because they have an authentic sound that offers more variety than the typical release in this genre. Highway Prayer, the [...]

DIGITAL PRIMATE–“Siege Mentality”

I should say, right off the top, that techno/house music isn’t my thing. But there’s a sense of humor, and a variance of rhythm, in Digital Primate’s “Siege Mentality” that made me listen to it all the way through. More than once. I don’t know if it was the foray in dancehall (“Career a Move [...]