Snowmen making music

Best new music of 2010

It’s been a different sort of music listening year for me. Starting last January, I largely took a break from listening to popular music and reconnected with my first love, classical music. The last few years of increasingly commercial ‘indie’ … [read more]

More Audio Engine speakers

The best desktop speakers, ever

Everyone’s lamenting the decline of proper stereo equipment. Teens are losing their hearing to their tinny iPod earbuds and nobody knows what non-compressed music sounds like anymore. People don’t buy stereos these days — listening to music in one’s living … [read more]

Peter Gabriel Scratch My Back

Listening to: Peter Gabriel, Scratch My Back

A review of Peter Gabriel’s Scratch My Back (2010) It’s a tricky business, doing covers of well-known and well-loved songs. Perhaps not when you’re Keith Jarrett or Brad Mehldau and you can fall back on a long-established tradition of converting … [read more]

Neville Brothers Yellow Moon

Listening to: The Neville Brothers, Yellow Moon

A review of The Neville Brothers’ Yellow Moon Sometime in the late 80s or early 90s, I became interested in Daniel Lanois‘ music. Here was an enigmatic producer who had worked with Brian Eno, U2, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Robertson, Jon … [read more]

Diane Birch Bible Belt

Listening to: Diane Birch, Bible Belt

A review of Diane Birch’s Bible Belt It almost didn’t happen, my finding out about Diane Birch. My friend and coworker P. and I decided to visit our local Sunrise Records yesterday, on our way back from lunch. You know, … [read more]

The Beatles Remasters

Listening to: The Beatles stereo remasters

Is there a more valuable, interesting and diverse catalogue in popular music than this one? In twelve records, the Beatles changed the entire face of music several times over, imprinting their songs on our culture in a way that transcends … [read more]

Arctic Monkeys Humbug

Listening to: Arctic Monkeys, Humbug

A review of Arctic Monkeys’ Humbug (2009) In 2005/2006, the Arctic Monkeys were the British rock world’s most-hyped new rock ‘n’ roll sensation. Before they had ever released an album, the tornado of media opinion preceding them ensured they’d sell … [read more]