Confessions of a Fanboy

I was drawn to Nirvana because of Cobain’s ability to mix anger and pop. I didn’t necessarily understand that then, but I get it now. There’s no shortage of irony that the dominant anti-pop band of the ’90s best songs were pop songs, cleverly disguised by Cobain’s genius.
I never really got much from [...]

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It gets lost in the insanity of the famous “This world is bullshit” speech at the MTV Music Awards that Fiona Apple has a hell of a voice and her debut, Tidal was a striking and occasionally brilliant record.
I first hear this record, and song, while I was working at a music store in Colorado [...]

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Damn if this song doesn’t open with some of the worst lyrics imaginable. That has to be the dopiest opening couplet of any non-country music song ever.
I make a big deal of it because in spite of that terrible opening, “Fix You” is just an amazing song. I can’t explain why [...]

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I was very late to the Pulp party, to the point where I am only now buying their proper albums. I have been listening to This is Hardcore and We Love Life over and over. I recently got a copy of the UK-only solo album from frontman Jarvis Cocker, Jarvis as well as Pulp’s Different [...]

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Blue Bella Records released four new albums earlier this month (Oct. 9). I’ve reviewed two of them for Blogcritics — Nick Moss & The Flip Tops and Gerry Hundt — and talked about both here on the site.
I’ve now finally gotten the chance to go back to listen to the two I hadn’t [...]

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Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ was released nine months before I was born (Jan. 1973). Hmm… nine months. Could my parents have been that cool? Probably not. I’m not named Clarence or Bruce. The Wild, The Innocent, The E-Street Shuffle was released a week before I was born (Sept. 11, [...]

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We can go ahead and call it a full-fledged pattern. The second night of a two-night run is where the new ones come out. Chicago’s first show had a great set list. Three songs were premiered during Chicago’s second: “Thunder Road,” “Tunnel of Love,” and “Spirit in the Night.” That’s [...]

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It’s not the most exotic or enthralling set list of the tour, but it’s far from ordinary. OK, there were no tour debuts; that doesn’t seem to be happening much on the first night of a multi-night stand. “Adam Raised a Cain” and “Cadillac Ranch” were both played. That doesn’t suck. [...]

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Once again, it pays to be patient (and I’m not just referring to my update). The second night of a two-night stand city is when you want to catch Bruce & Co. Five songs from Born to Run were played, including the debut of “Jungleland” (finally) and “Meeting Across The River.” Tunnel [...]

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Quick hitters, boys and girls…
I began recording this week’s podcast episode and should have it finished and uploaded tonight.
I’ve reviewed last night’s set list for Bruce Springsteen’s second concert at Madison Square Gardens. Great stuff. We’ll have the full run down later in the day.
In the meantime, I’m revisiting Born to Run. [...]

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