Over the past thirty years, the size of Big Star’s posthumously released catalog (including reissues, a box set, archival dig, biography, documentary and tribute concert), has grown to match their stature as a key influence in rock music. What’s remained […]
There’s an element of triumph in the unjustly-ignored-in-their-time Big Star being celebrated in retrospect. At the same time, the books [1 2 3 4], documentary, reissues [1 2 3], box sets [1 2] archival artifacts [1 2 3 4 5 […]
Wondering whether we’ll ever see another Fleetwood Mac album? Actually, one just came out—sort of. The record is billed as a Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie release, which makes sense in that those two provided all the vocals and wrote […]
An Appreciation The Cast The Band: Sons of Bill, consisting of the Wilson brothers, James (guitar), Sam (guitar), and Abe (keyboards), Joe Dickey (bass), and Todd Wellons (drums) The Guests: Seth Green (founding Sons of Bill bass player), Caroline Spence, […]
It happens with surprising frequency: an artist crafts something auspicious or even brilliant, and the record companies say “no thanks.” Decca got a shot at the fledgling Beatles and took a pass. Columbia decided that Leonard Cohen’s Various Positions—which contains […]
It’s always nice to bring in some fellow Northern California DJs to the column. In the case of this week’s spotlighted DJ, he’s even from my home turf of Sonoma County. Even though I’ve known Brian Griffith for many years, I’ve […]
Best described as somewhat of a super-star ensemble, the Orange Humble Band has a good excuse for their infrequent outings. Most of the members live half a world apart and have primary musical day jobs which necessitate their ongoing obligations […]
Chris Stamey has an impressive background. A key member of power pop outfits Sneakers and The dB’s, producer at Modern Recording, the studio he’s operated for the past two decades, and collaborator with the likes of Michael Stipe, Yo La Tengo, […]
The story of Big Star – a band once so obscure only critics, musicians and a small handful of in-the-know fans even knew of their brief existence – has now passed into popular culture. I’ve always considered myself a hardcore fan […]
You could almost call it the perfect storm for fans of Big Star: In addition to an exhaustive new biography of the power-pop godfathers (by U.K. writer Rob Jovanovic), In Space marks the group’s first studio recording in three decades. […]
