#722: G is for Green and Greep, Al and Geordie

Here’s an odd pairing for you rightnext to each other in the alphabet, the iconic soul singer Al Green and the contemporary prog rock madscientist guitar player singer GeordieGreep. Like the pairing of Glaspy andGlavor, I put them together here justso I can type their names side by side: Glaspy and Glavor, Green and Greep.OutsideContinue reading “#722: G is for Green and Greep, Al and Geordie”

#721: G is for Grant, John

I stumbled upon a live studio recording of Elbowperforming a song called“Kindling” from the Little Fictions album with a guestvocal performance by a guynamed John Grant. Who’s this person, I wondered. And I concluded, if he’s a friendof Elbow’s, he’s a friend ofmine, and then I watched thatvideo. Whoever this JohnGrant person was, he wasContinue reading “#721: G is for Grant, John”

#720: G is for Grandaddy

Before streaming, but longafter the days of asking a record store clerk to play something on the shop systemthat one was interested in hearing, there was the new tech developmentof the in-store listeningstation, some crazy multi-discplayer with a user interfaceand a decent pair of headphones,it gave you the perusal powerof a dozen or two dozenContinue reading “#720: G is for Grandaddy”

#719: G is for Gorillaz

These “guys” have been on my radar forever but something has prevented mefrom taking the plunge. Did I listen to some stuffthat I didn’t like? Was the cartoon character motif too much for me, like if I couldn’t identify the musiciansas real people I wasn’t able to take a chance? Even after I discoveredthat thisContinue reading “#719: G is for Gorillaz”

#710: F is for Freelance Whales

I love the name of this band. I like to think of whales out therefreelancing, as opposed to the otherwhales out there working for the manor some corporate interest. It’s funny. In so far as whales have jobs to do, you know, other than living as whales, I’d much rather champion the freelancers. It’s beenContinue reading “#710: F is for Freelance Whales”

#709: F is for FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks)

It took a collaboration with Sparksto get me interested in Franz Ferdinand,this alt rock group from Glasgow, now into their twentieth year or more as a band. This record, the only album I have of theirs,is titled simply FFS. Not officially a FranzFerdinand album, but rather a new supergroup collaboration with a new super groupname.Continue reading “#709: F is for FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks)”

#708: F is for Foxygen and Foxwarren

FoxygenWe Are the 21st Century, Ambassadors of Peace and Magic, is the bold title of this 2013album from Foxygen. It’s theonly record of theirs I have, one thatI remember liking, at least a little,but before I play it today I canremember nothing about itor who turned me on to itor how. It’s a retro affair,Continue reading “#708: F is for Foxygen and Foxwarren”

#707: F is for Foreigner

I“I guess it’s just the woman in youthat brings out the man in me,”an objectively dumb lyric. I’m not looking forward to this. I have five, that’s right, five Foreigner albums, inherited by my older brother who hasn’t plugged in a turntablefor decades now. Like the Flashdancesoundtrack, but in a very differentstylistic direction, I don’tContinue reading “#707: F is for Foreigner”

#706: F is for The Format

First of all, can we just agreethat The Format is about the worstband name ever. It does absolutely nothing for me. I can’t imaginewhat would inspire one of popmusic’s current best singers to choose such a stupid band name. However, Dog Problems is an infinitely bettertitle for an album. I don’t rememberhow I learned aboutContinue reading “#706: F is for The Format”

#705: F is for Folds, Ben

Ben Folds Five, a 90’s era rock trio, was for me the antidote to grunge. Here was a band with a pianoat the center that rocked harderthan any guitar. Ben was like a punk rock Elton John. Joined by two guys who seemed neitherpunk nor grunge, looked a littlebit like a couple of jazz nerds,Continue reading “#705: F is for Folds, Ben”