Beyonce “Love On Top” (2011)
In ‘Love On Top’ Queen Bey incorporates four key changes. And it sounds simply magnificent. Beyoncé is The Queen for plenty of reasons, but let it not be forgotten that amongst her many majestic traits she also possesses one astounding voice.... Read More
The Pretenders “Mystery Achievement” (1980)
There’s a real art to playing fake instruments. Air guitarists are obviously most prevalent, but finding the proper level of verisimilitude can be tricky. You’ve got to seek the right amount of exaggerated performance, of theatrics, while still enacting moves akin to actual guitar wailing..... Read More
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes “It’s Been A Long Time” (1991)
..the song that captured the evening’s magic vibe of reminiscence for us was ‘It’s Been A Long Time,’ an unapologetically sentimental and autobiographical soul ballad written by Van Zandt, reflecting back on youthful days around Asbury Park for three old friends: himself, Southside Johnny, and their third buddy, Bruce Springsteen.... Read More
Matthew Sweet “Morning Song” (2004)
..But music is such an amazing, powerful thing. A couple days before I’d been listening to a bunch of tunes by Matthew Sweet, and in the stillness his songs just kept running through my head, over and over, stuck in a loop. Especially this one, ‘Morning Song,’ as simple and beautiful a song... Read More
Beach Boys “Don’t Worry Baby” (1964)
The enigmatic Brian Wilson, known to some as America’s pop Mozart, is properly lauded for creating some of the most complex, multi-dimensional, and convention-challenging compositions in the history of pop/rock music. ‘Don’t Worry Baby’ is not one of those songs. It’s enduring genius is no less impressive... Read More
The Lovin’ Spoonful “Summer In The City” (1966)
There are just too many great summer songs to mention, but The Lovin' Spoonful made one of the best, "Summer In The City," and omitting one letter from a lyric may have made it the greatest ever.... Read More
X “4th Of July” (1987)
A perfect 4th of July song called 4th of July, by underrated L.A. punk band X, the simplest group ever to alphabetize in your record collection... Read More
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers “The Last DJ” (2002)
Something incredible happens when you tune in Sirius Radio channel 31. Supernatural, even. Tom Petty is still alive. Still there nonchalantly talking about music – his own, and that of multitudes of other artists. Still rambling from topic to topic in an excited but unhurried drawl. Still irreverent, a bit... Read More
J. Geils Band “(Ain’t Nothin’ But A) House Party” (1973)
Not that long ago the rock world lost a great, a guy whose name everyone knows, but I’m not sure whether everyone knows he was that name. Huh? John Warren Geils Jr., better known professionally as J. Geils, was, of course, the namesake for the long-time blues/rock powerhouse, the J. Geils Band, the group he...... Read More
Guster “Do You Love Me” (2010)
It was about 11:00PM on a warm, late-summer night last August at Thompson’s Point in Portland, Maine, the smell of salt air and spilled IPAs still present, as the starlit sky guided a muddy path for an eclectic group of giddy patrons departing the just-concluded concert by the band Guster. I was meandering slowly with...... Read More