There are certain recordsI have bought, entire collectionssometimes, in boxes no less, costing hundreds of dollars, of music that I have never heard, but nevertheless feel compelled, not only to hear, but to hold, to own, to possess. The literary equivalent: I’ve never read Moby Dick, say, but believe I should have, and vow toContinue reading “#775: K is for King Crimson (70-71)”
Tag Archives: Reviews
#774: K is for King Crimson (1969)
In the 80’s, there was an SNLknock-off on ABC called Fridays. On one episode, the musical guestwas a band called King Crimson. I don’t remember if, at the time, I had any awareness of this bandor if I was hearing the name for the first time, but I do know thatthis was the first timeContinue reading “#774: K is for King Crimson (1969)”
#773: K is for King, Carole
As a child I must have heard hersongs on the radio hundreds of times, and I remember distinctly that while my older brother was in his reel to reel phasehe had the album Tapestry in that format. Yeah, that was a thing: commercially availablereel to reel tapes of the great artistsof the day, late 60’s,Continue reading “#773: K is for King, Carole”
#772: K is for The Kills (with a Bonus Preamble About Kansas)
Preamble: Four Kansas albums in one dayproved too much for me. Especiallysince last night we attended The Dear Hunter concert and consumed even more prog rock. We got our daily prog allowance, I can tell you. So this morning, a quick preamble before The Killsabout the last Kansas album, The Absence of Presence. In short,Continue reading “#772: K is for The Kills (with a Bonus Preamble About Kansas)”
#771: K is for Kansas
It may be a kind of cursefor progressive rock bands to have big hits. “Carry OnMy Wayward Son” is arguablyone of the greatest and most catchy prog rock songsin history, rivaled only by maybe “Roundabout” from Yes. But what’s also clearis that after Leftoverture and Point of No Return anda sequence of a couple ofContinue reading “#771: K is for Kansas”
#769: J is for John, Elton John
I ran a search of all my poststo see how many times I had written about or at least namedElton John in a blog entry.The result: nineteen times. He was my first rock star idol. I was a fourth grader and my cousins played me Goodbye YellowBrick Road from start to finish. Almost immediately after,Continue reading “#769: J is for John, Elton John”
#768: J is for Jockstrap
Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye are the electronic experimental Englishpop duo of Jockstrap, who, with I Love You, Jennifer B, have released the only album I am aware of for which the listener gets to design their own album cover. The absolutely blank bright greenrecord jacket contains the record, of course, in translucent green, andContinue reading “#768: J is for Jockstrap”
#759: J is for Jellyfish
I cannot think of a better 90’s bandthat did not sound like the 90’s. Maybe The Posies or They Might BeGiants both come close, but thesecats, this Jellyfish band, I saw liveonce in their first iteration at a smallclub downtown shortly after that firstalbum, Bellybutton, and it was nearlya religious experience. Andy Sturmer, lead singingContinue reading “#759: J is for Jellyfish”
#746: J is for Japan
Even though I have never thought thatplace proper nouns make good names for rock bands, it makes some sense thata band from Kansas would call themselvesKansas, or a band from Boston would callthemselves Boston, or a band from America might call themselves America. This band here, Japan, one of my lasting absolute favorite bands fromContinue reading “#746: J is for Japan”
#743: J is for Jackson, Kara
I can’t remember the last timeI was as hypnotized by a voice. Or the last time I fell in love withan album that was, ostensibly, folk. When Kara Jackson tours, I think, she’s just a singer with an acoustic. And while the songs are powerful delivered in this stripped down way,this record is sonically complex.Continue reading “#743: J is for Jackson, Kara”
michael jarmer 